<PAGE> 1
================================================================================
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ____________TO __________
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-3187
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
TEXAS 74-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
1111 LOUISIANA
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002 (713) 207-3000
(Address and zip code of principal executive offices) (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
</TABLE>
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TITLE OF EACH CLASS NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
<S> <C>
Common Stock, without par value, New York Stock Exchange
and associated rights to purchase preference stock Chicago Stock Exchange
7% Automatic Common Exchange Securities due July 1, 2000 New York Stock Exchange
HL&P Capital Trust I 8.125% Trust Preferred Securities, Series A New York Stock Exchange
REI Trust I 7.20% Trust Originated Preferred Securities, Series C New York Stock Exchange
2.0% Zero-Premium Exchangeable Subordinated Notes due 2027 New York Stock Exchange
</TABLE>
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
Preferred Stock, cumulative, no par--$4 series
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-13265
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
DELAWARE 76-0511406
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
1111 LOUISIANA
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002 (713) 207-3000
(Address and zip code of principal executive offices) (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
</TABLE>
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TITLE OF EACH CLASS NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
<S> <C>
NorAm Financing I 6 1/4% Convertible Trust New York Stock Exchange
Originated Preferred Securities
6% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2012 New York Stock Exchange
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 2
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: None
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL
INSTRUCTION I(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-K AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM 10-K
WITH THE REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT.
Indicate by check mark whether each of the registrants: (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of each of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
Reliant Energy, Incorporated (Company) was $6,172,912,484 as of March 10, 2000,
using the definition of beneficial ownership contained in Rule 13d-3 promulgated
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and excluding shares held by
directors and executive officers. As of March 10, 2000, the Company had
293,355,835 shares of Common Stock outstanding, including 10,581,513 ESOP shares
not deemed outstanding for financial statement purposes. Excluded from the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding are 4,808,418 shares held by the
Company as treasury stock. As of March 10, 2000, all 1,000 outstanding shares of
Reliant Energy Resources Corp.'s Common Stock were held by the Company.
Portions of the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2000 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, which will be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 1999, are incorporated
by reference in Item 10, Item 11, Item 12 and Item 13 of Part III of this Form
10-K.
================================================================================
<PAGE> 3
THIS COMBINED ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K IS SEPARATELY FILED BY RELIANT
ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN RELATING TO RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. IS FILED BY RELIANT ENERGY,
INCORPORATED AND SEPARATELY BY RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. ON ITS OWN BEHALF.
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. MAKES NO REPRESENTATION AS TO INFORMATION
RELATING TO RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED (EXCEPT AS IT MAY RELATE TO RELIANT
ENERGY RESOURCES CORP.) AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, OR ANY OTHER AFFILIATE OR
SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
PART I
Item 1. Business.............................................................................................4
Item 2. Properties..........................................................................................24
Item 3. Legal Proceedings...................................................................................26
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.................................................26
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Company's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters..............................27
Item 6. Selected Financial Data of the Company..............................................................28
Company
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the
Company.............................................................................................30
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk..........................................54
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of the Company..........................................58
Resources
Item 7. Management's Narrative Analysis of the Results of Operations of Reliant Energy Resources Corp.
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries..................................................................106
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.........................................110
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of Resources...........................................111
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure...............141
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of Reliant Energy and Resources Corp..............................141
Item 11. Executive Compensation.............................................................................141
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.....................................141
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.....................................................142
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K....................................143
</TABLE>
1
<PAGE> 4
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
From time to time, Reliant Energy, Incorporated (Reliant Energy) and
Reliant Energy Resources Corp. (Resources Corp.) make statements concerning
their respective expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies,
future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements
which are not historical facts. These statements are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Although Reliant Energy and Resources Corp. believe that the
expectations and the underlying assumptions reflected in their respective
forward-looking statements are reasonable, they cannot assure you that these
expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements involve a
number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from
the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.
The following are among the important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements:
o state and federal legislative or regulatory developments
o national or regional economic conditions
o industrial, commercial and residential growth in service
territories of Reliant Energy, Resources Corp. and their
subsidiaries
o the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and
interest rates
o weather variations and other natural phenomena
o growth in opportunities for Reliant Energy's and Resources
Corp.'s diversified operations
o the results of financing efforts
o the ability to consummate and timing of consummation of pending
acquisitions and dispositions
o the speed, degree and effect of continued electric industry
restructuring in North America and Western Europe, and
o risks incidental to Reliant Energy's, Resources Corp.'s and
their subsidiaries' overseas operations, including the effects
of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates
For a discussion of some additional factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking
statements, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations of the Company -- Certain Factors Affecting Future
Earnings of the Company." Any forward-looking statements should be considered in
light of these important factors and in conjunction with the other documents
filed by Reliant Energy and Resources Corp. with the SEC.
New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking statements may emerge from time to time. It is not
possible for Reliant Energy or Resources Corp. to predict all of these factors,
or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual
results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any
forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which the statement is
made and neither Reliant Energy nor Resources Corp. undertakes any obligation to
update the information contained in the statement to reflect subsequent
developments or information.
2
<PAGE> 5
The following sections of this Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements
which you can identify by the words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect,"
"forecast," "goal," "objective," "projection" or other similar words:
o Business--
o Electric Operations--
Deregulation and Competition
Electric Operations Assets
Fuel
o Wholesale Energy --
Power Generation
Wholesale Energy Trading, Marketing and Risk Management
o Reliant Energy Europe --
UNA
European Energy Trading and Marketing
o Environmental Matters
o Legal Proceedings
o Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations of the Company --
o Results of Operation by Business Segment --
Wholesale Energy
Reliant Energy Europe
Reliant Energy Latin America
o Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings of the Company--
Competition and Restructuring of the Texas Electric Utility
Industry
Competition - Reliant Energy Europe Operations
Competition - Other Operations
Impact of the Year 2000 Issue and Other System
Implementation Issues
Entry into the European Market
Risk of Operations in Emerging Markets
Environmental Expenditures
o Liquidity and Capital Resources--
Company Consolidated Capital Requirements
Future Sources and Uses of Cash Flows
o New Accounting Issues
o Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
3
<PAGE> 6
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
GENERAL
Reliant Energy, Incorporated (Reliant Energy) is a Texas corporation
incorporated in 1906. Reliant Energy Resources Corp. (Resources Corp.) is a
Delaware corporation incorporated in 1996. The term "Company" is used in this
Form 10-K to refer collectively to Reliant Energy and its subsidiaries,
including Resources Corp. The term "Resources" is used in this Form 10-K to
refer collectively to Resources Corp. and its subsidiaries. The executive
offices of Reliant Energy and Resources Corp. are located at 1111 Louisiana,
Houston, TX 77002 (telephone number 713-207-3000). Prior to February 1999,
Reliant Energy conducted business under the name "Houston Industries
Incorporated" and Resources Corp. conducted business under the name "NorAm
Energy Corp."
The Company is a diversified international energy services company that
provides energy and energy services in North America, Western Europe and Latin
America through the following business segments:
o Electric Operations
o Natural Gas Distribution
o Interstate Pipelines
o Wholesale Energy
o Reliant Energy Europe
o Reliant Energy Latin America, and
o Corporate
For information about the revenues, operating income, assets and other
financial information relating to the Company's business segments, see
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations of the Company--Results of Operations by Business Segment," Note 18
to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, "Management's Narrative
Analysis of the Results of Operations of Reliant Energy Resources Corp. and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries" and Note 9 to Resources Corp.'s Consolidated
Financial Statements.
Resources is a domestic natural gas utility, an interstate natural gas
pipeline company and a provider of energy marketing services. Resources'
operations are described below in the consolidated description of the Company's
business segments.
ELECTRIC OPERATIONS
Electric Operations conducts operations under the name "Reliant Energy
HL&P," an unincorporated division of Reliant Energy. Electric Operations
generates, purchases, transmits and distributes electricity to approximately 1.7
million customers in a 5,000 square mile area on the Texas Gulf Coast, including
Houston, Texas, the nation's fourth largest city.
SERVICE AREA
Houston's economy, although it has become increasingly diversified over the
past ten years, is still focused on energy sector industries, such as oil
companies, petrochemical and refining complexes, industrial and petrochemical
construction firms and natural gas distribution and processing centers. During
the year ended December 31, 1999, energy sector industries accounted for
approximately 32% of Electric Operations' industrial electric base revenues and
4
<PAGE> 7
7% of its total electric base revenues. Other important sectors of Houston's
economy include the Port of Houston, the Johnson Space Center, the Texas Medical
Center and a growing electronics and computer industry.
Reliant Energy is a member of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas,
Inc. (ERCOT) and is interconnected to a transmission grid encompassing most of
the State of Texas.
DEREGULATION AND COMPETITION
In June 1999, the Texas legislature adopted the Texas Electric Choice Plan
(Legislation). The Legislation substantially amends the regulatory structure
governing electric utilities in Texas in order to allow retail competition
beginning January 1, 2002. In preparation for competition, the Company expects
to make significant changes in the electric utility operations it conducts
through Reliant Energy HL&P. Under the Legislation:
o beginning on January 1, 2002, most retail customers of
investor-owned electric utilities in Texas, including Reliant
Energy HL&P, will be entitled to purchase their electricity from
any of a number of "retail electric providers" which will have
been certified by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (Texas
Utility Commission)
o power generators will sell electric energy to wholesale
purchasers, including retail electric providers, at unregulated
rates beginning January 1, 2002
o by January 1, 2002, electric utilities in Texas, including Reliant
Energy HL&P, will have restructured their businesses in order to
separate power generation, transmission and distribution and
retail electric provider activities into different units
As required by the Legislation, the Company submitted a plan in January
2000 to accomplish the separation of its regulated operations into separate
units and is currently awaiting approval from the Texas Utility Commission. For
further information regarding the Legislation and its application to Reliant
Energy HL&P's operations and structure, see "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the
Company--Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings of the Company--Competition
and Restructuring of the Texas Electric Utility Industry" and Note 3 to the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, which Section and Note are
incorporated herein by reference.
ELECTRIC OPERATIONS ASSETS
As of December 31, 1999, Reliant Energy HL&P owned and operated 12 electric
generating stations (62 generating units), with a combined turbine nameplate
rating of 13,554,608 kilowatts (KW), and 215 major substation sites (242
substations) having a total installed rated transformer capacity of 54,763
megavolt amperes (Mva). Reliant Energy HL&P owns a 30.8% interest in the South
Texas Project Electric Generating Station (South Texas Project), a nuclear
generating plant with two 1,250 megawatt (MW) nuclear generating units.
5
<PAGE> 8
The following table contains information regarding Electric Operations'
system capability:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INSTALLED FIRM
NET PURCHASED CALCULATED
CAPABILITY POWER TOTAL NET MAXIMUM HOURLY FIRM % CHANGE RESERVE
AT PEAK CONTRACTS CAPABILITY DEMAND FROM MARGIN
YEAR (MW) (MW) (MW) DATE MW(1)(2) PRIOR YEAR (%)
------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------- --------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1995............... 13,921 445 14,366 Jul. 27 11,452 2.9 25.4
1996............... 13,960 445 14,405 Jul. 23 11,694 2.1 23.2
1997............... 13,960 445 14,405 Aug. 21 12,246 4.7 17.6
1998............... 14,040 320 14,360 Aug. 3 13,006 6.2 10.4
1999............... 14,052 320 14,372 Aug. 20 13,215 1.6 8.8
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Excludes loads on interruptible service tariffs, residential direct load
control and commercial/industrial load cooperative capability. Including
these loads, the maximum hourly demand served in 1999 was 14,642 MW
compared to 14,272 MW in 1998 and 13,459 MW in 1997.
(2) Maximum hourly firm demand in 1999 and 1998 were influenced by warmer than
normal weather at the time of the system peak.
Based on present trends, Reliant Energy estimates that the maximum hourly
firm demand for electricity in Reliant Energy HL&P's service area will grow at a
compound annual rate of approximately 1.5% over the next ten years. Assuming
average weather conditions and including the net effects of demand-side
management programs, Reliant Energy expects that Electric Operations' reserve
margin in excess of maximum hourly firm demand load requirements will be 15% in
2000 and 2001. The reduced reserve margins for 1999 and 1998 reflect the
extremely hot weather conditions in Electric Operations' service area during
those summers, which increased system peak loads by approximately 500 MW and 400
MW, respectively.
Electric Operations' sales of electricity during the summer months are
generally higher, and can be significantly higher, than sales during other
months of the year due to the reliance on air conditioning by customers in
Reliant Energy HL&P's service territory.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
For information about Electric Operations' capital expenditures, see
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations of the Company -- Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Company
Consolidated Capital Requirements."
FUEL
Electric Operations relies primarily on natural gas, coal and lignite for
the generation of electricity. Electric Operations' 1999 and 1998 historical
energy mix is set forth below. These figures represent Reliant Energy HL&P
generation and purchased power used to meet system load and for off-system
sales.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HISTORICAL ENERGY MIX (%)
-------------------------
1999 1998
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Natural gas ............ 35 33
Coal and lignite ....... 39 38
Nuclear ................ 8 8
Purchased power ........ 18 21
---- ----
Total ........ 100 100
==== ====
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE> 9
Reliant Energy HL&P's energy mix is not expected to vary materially during
the years 2000 and 2001 based on current assumptions regarding the cost and
availability of fuel, plant operation schedules, load growth, load management
and the impact of environmental regulations. Reliant Energy HL&P's energy mix
after the year 2001 could change materially as a result of the Legislation and
the advent of retail electric competition in 2002.
Natural Gas Supply. In 1999, Electric Operations purchased approximately
50% of its natural gas requirements under long-term contracts which will expire
in 2004. The largest supplier under such contracts is Midcon Texas Pipeline
Corporation, a unit of KN Energy, Inc. (comprising 28% of its natural gas
requirements). Electric Operations purchased the remaining 50% of its natural
gas requirements on the spot market. Substantially all of Electric Operations'
natural gas contracts contain pricing provisions based on fluctuating spot
market prices. Based on current market conditions, Reliant Energy believes it
will be able to replace the supplies of natural gas covered under expiring
long-term contracts with gas purchased on the spot market or under long-term or
short-term contracts. Electric Operations' 1999 natural gas consumption and cost
information are as follows:
1999 average daily consumption 728 Bbtu
1999 peak daily consumption 1,656 Bbtu
Average cost of natural gas $ 2.47 per MMBtu (1)
- ---------
(1) Compared to $2.18 per MMBtu in 1998 and $2.60 per MMBtu in 1997.
Although natural gas supplies have been sufficient in recent years,
available supplies are subject to disruption due to weather conditions,
transportation constraints and other events. As a result of these factors,
supplies of natural gas may become unavailable from time to time or prices may
increase rapidly in response to temporary supply constraints or other factors.
Coal and Lignite Supply. Electric Operations purchases approximately 80% of
the coal for its four coal-fired units under two long-term contracts from mines
in Wyoming. The first of these contracts will expire in 2010, and the second
will expire in 2011. Electric Operations obtains the remaining coal required to
operate these units under short-term contracts. Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Railroad transported the majority of Electric Operations' coal supply during
1999 under a rail transportation contract. A new long-term rail transportation
contract with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad went into effect in March
2000. Union Pacific Railroad Company also transported a portion of Electric
Operations' coal supply during 1999.
Electric Operations obtains the lignite used to fuel the two units of its
Limestone Electric Generating Station (Limestone) from a surface mine adjacent
to the plant. Reliant Energy owns the mining equipment, facilities and a portion
of the lignite reserves located at this mine. Reliant Energy believes the
lignite reserves the Company currently owns under lease and contract will be
sufficient to provide substantially all of the lignite requirements of Limestone
through 2015.
Nuclear Fuel Supply. The South Texas Project satisfies its fuel supply
requirements by:
o acquiring uranium concentrates
o converting uranium concentrates into uranium hexafluoride
o enriching uranium hexafluoride, and
o fabricating nuclear fuel assemblies
7
<PAGE> 10
The South Texas Project has contracted for the raw materials and services
necessary to operate the plant through the following years, respectively:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Raw material/services Year
- --------------------- --------
<S> <C>
Uranium................................................. 2002 (1)
Conversion.............................................. 2002 (2)
Enrichment.............................................. 2004 (3)
Fabrication............................................. 2005
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Contracts provide for over 50% of the uranium concentrates required through
2002. The South Texas Project expects to obtain the balance of uranium
concentrates through spot market and medium-term contracts.
(2) Contracts provide for up to 80% of the conversion needs through 2002 and up
to 40% of conversion needs through 2004. The South Texas Project expects to
obtain the balance of the conversion needs through the spot market.
(3) Contracts provide for up to 100% of enrichment services through 2001, up to
75% of enrichment services through 2003 and up to 40% of enrichment
services through 2004. The South Texas Project expects to obtain the
balance of enrichment services through spot market and medium and long-term
contracts.
Purchased Power Supply. Electric Operations purchases power from various
qualifying facilities exercising their rights under the Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. Such purchases are generally at the discretion
of the qualifying facility and are made pursuant to a pricing methodology
defined in Electric Operations' tariffs and approved by the Texas Utility
Commission. From time to time when market conditions dictate it, Electric
Operations also purchases power from various wholesale market participants
including qualifying facilities, exempt wholesale generators, power marketers
and other utilities.
8
<PAGE> 11
OPERATING STATISTICS OF ELECTRIC OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Electric Energy Generated and Purchased (Megawatt-Hours (MWH)):
Generated-- Net Station Output .................................. 60,496,310 59,974,160 56,066,845
Purchased ....................................................... 14,788,411 16,041,143 14,008,452
Net Interchange ................................................. 1,131 (677) 841
------------ ------------ ------------
Total .................................................... 75,285,852 76,014,626 70,076,138
Company Use, Lost and Unaccounted for Energy .................... (3,167,192) (3,281,851) (2,998,375)
------------ ------------ ------------
Total Energy Sold ........................................ 72,118,660 72,732,775 67,077,763
Electric Sales (MWH):
Residential ..................................................... 21,109,374 21,090,164 19,365,892
Commercial ...................................................... 16,671,917 16,329,354 15,474,761
Small Industrial(1) ............................................. 11,757,318 11,801,292 11,439,753
Large Industrial(1) ............................................. 14,427,128 14,805,199 14,380,499
Street Lighting-- Government and Municipal ...................... 138,311 133,644 127,761
------------ ------------ ------------
Total Firm Retail Sales .................................. 64,104,048 64,159,653 60,788,666
Other Electric Utilities ........................................ 224,849 203,542 190,878
------------ ------------ ------------
Total Firm Sales ......................................... 64,328,897 64,363,195 60,979,544
Interruptible ................................................... 5,309,656 5,028,990 4,278,458
Off-System and Ancillary ........................................ 2,519,260 3,137,870 1,742,993
Unbilled ........................................................ (39,153) 202,720 76,768
------------ ------------ ------------
Total .................................................... 72,118,660 72,732,775 67,077,763
============ ============ ============
Number of Customers (End of Period):
Residential ..................................................... 1,463,210 1,417,206 1,378,658
Commercial ...................................................... 203,322 196,941 190,437
Small Industrial(1) ............................................. 1,642 1,600 1,526
Large Industrial (Including Interruptible)(1) ................... 146 137 132
Street Lighting-- Government and Municipal ...................... 89 87 86
Other Electric Utilities (Including Off-System) ................. 23 29 20
------------ ------------ ------------
Total .................................................... 1,668,432 1,616,000 1,570,859
============ ============ ============
Operating Revenue (Thousands of Dollars):
Residential ..................................................... $ 1,773,925 $ 1,786,662 $ 1,662,177
Commercial ...................................................... 1,146,185 1,108,328 1,065,917
Small Industrial(1) ............................................. 642,857 637,124 616,419
Large Industrial(1) ............................................. 528,197 534,814 529,718
Street Lighting-- Government and Municipal ...................... 27,261 25,964 24,868
------------ ------------ ------------
Total Electric Revenue-- Firm Retail Sales ............... 4,118,425 4,092,892 3,899,099
Other Electric Utilities ........................................ 11,383 12,609 11,330
------------ ------------ ------------
Total Electric Revenue-- Firm Sales ...................... 4,129,808 4,105,501 3,910,429
Interruptible ................................................... 128,844 114,574 108,053
Off-System/Ancillary ............................................ 72,608 87,510 39,724
------------ ------------ ------------
Total Electric Revenue ................................... 4,331,260 4,307,585 4,058,206
Miscellaneous Electric Revenues (including Unbilled Revenues) ... 151,866 42,690 193,037
------------ ------------ ------------
Total .................................................... $ 4,483,126 $ 4,350,275 $ 4,251,243
============ ============ ============
Installed Net Generating Capability (KW) (End of Period) .......... 14,217,370 14,092,370 14,040,370
Cost of Fuel (Cents per MMBtu):
Gas ............................................................. 246.7 218.4 259.9
Coal ............................................................ 176.1 177.8 201.8
Lignite ......................................................... 142.3 119.1 108.4
Nuclear ......................................................... 43.5 48.0 54.2
Average .................................................. 186.9 169.9 186.8
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) For reporting purposes, customers of Electric Operations with an electric
demand in excess of 600 kilovolt-amperes are classified as industrial.
Small industrial customers typically are retail stores, office buildings,
universities and other customers not associated with large industrial
plants.
9
<PAGE> 12
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION
Natural Gas Distribution conducts operations through three divisions of
Resources Corp., Reliant Energy Arkla (Arkla), Reliant Energy Entex (Entex) and
Reliant Energy Minnegasco (Minnegasco). Natural Gas Distribution's operations
consist of intrastate natural gas sales to, and natural gas transportation for,
residential, commercial and industrial customers in Arkansas, Louisiana,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. The operations of Natural Gas
Distribution are regulated as gas utility operations in the jurisdictions served
by these divisions.
The Company has retained a financial adviser to assist it in evaluating
strategic alternatives for Arkla and Minnegasco, including divestiture.
Arkla. Arkla provides natural gas distribution services in Arkansas,
Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. The largest metropolitan areas served by Arkla
are Little Rock, Arkansas and Shreveport, Louisiana. In 1999, approximately 67%
of Arkla's total throughput was attributable to retail sales of gas and
approximately 33% was attributable to transportation services. Sales to
residential and commercial customers in 1999 accounted for approximately 92% of
Arkla's total gas revenues and 60% of natural gas volumes sold or transported by
Arkla.
Entex. Entex provides natural gas distribution services in 502 communities
in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The largest metropolitan area served by
Entex is Houston, Texas. In 1999, approximately 97% of Entex's total throughput
was attributable to retail sales of gas and approximately 3% was attributable to
transportation services. Sales to residential and commercial customers in 1999
accounted for approximately 85% of Entex's total gas revenues and 79% of natural
gas volumes sold or transported by Entex.
Minnegasco. Minnegasco provides natural gas distribution services in 243
communities in Minnesota. The largest metropolitan area served by Minnegasco is
Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1999, approximately 97% of Minnegasco's total
throughput was attributable to retail sales of gas and approximately 3% was
attributable to transportation services. Sales to residential and commercial
customers in 1999 accounted for approximately 93% of Minnegasco's total gas
revenues and 84% of natural gas volumes sold or transported by Minnegasco.
The demand for natural gas distribution services is seasonal. In 1999,
approximately 67% of Natural Gas Distribution's revenues were reported in the
first and fourth quarters. These patterns reflect the higher demand for natural
gas for heating purposes during those periods.
SUPPLY AND TRANSPORTATION
Arkla. In 1999, Arkla purchased approximately 40% of its natural gas supply
from Reliant Energy Services, Inc. (Reliant Energy Services), a subsidiary of
Resources Corp., 32% pursuant to third party contracts, with terms varying from
three months to one year, and 28% on the spot market. Arkla's major third party
natural gas suppliers in 1999 included Seagull Marketing Services, Inc.,
Marathon Oil Company, Cinergy Marketing and Trading, LLC, Aquila Energy
Marketing Corporation, PG&E Energy Trading - Gas Corporation and Oneok Gas
Marketing Company. Arkla transports substantially all of its natural gas
supplies under contracts with the Company's interstate pipeline subsidiaries.
These contracts will expire in March 2002.
Entex. In 1999, Entex purchased approximately 99% of its natural gas supply
pursuant to term contracts, with terms varying from one to five years, and 1% on
the spot market. Entex's major third party natural gas suppliers in 1999 were
Gulf Energy Marketing, Koch Energy Trading, Midcon Texas Pipeline Corporation, a
unit of KN Energy, Inc., and Enron North America Company. Entex transports its
natural gas supplies on both interstate and intrastate pipelines under long-term
contracts with terms varying from one to five years.
Minnegasco. In 1999, Minnegasco purchased approximately 70% of its natural
gas supply pursuant to term contracts, with terms varying from one to ten years,
with more than 30 different suppliers. Minnegasco purchased the remaining 30% on
the spot market. Most of the natural gas volumes under long-term contracts are
committed under
10
<PAGE> 13
terms providing for delivery during the winter heating season, November through
March. Minnegasco purchased approximately 58% of its natural gas requirements
from the following four suppliers in 1999: Pan-Alberta Gas Ltd., TransCanada Gas
Services Inc., Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, LLC and Reliant Energy
Services. Minnegasco transports its natural gas supplies on various interstate
pipelines under long-term contracts with terms varying from five to ten years.
Arkla and Minnegasco use various leased or owned natural gas storage
facilities to meet peak-day requirements and to manage the daily changes in
demand due to changes in weather. Minnegasco also supplements contracted
supplies and storage from time to time with stored liquefied natural gas and
propane-air plant production.
Although natural gas supplies have been sufficient in recent years,
available supplies are subject to disruption due to weather conditions,
transportation constraints and other events. As a result of these factors,
supplies of natural gas may become unavailable from time to time or prices may
increase rapidly in response to temporary supply constraints or other factors.
INTERSTATE PIPELINES
Interstate Pipelines provides interstate gas transportation and related
services through two wholly owned subsidiaries of Resources Corp.: (i) Reliant
Energy Gas Transmission Company (REGT) and (ii) Mississippi River Transmission
Corporation (MRT).
Interstate Pipelines owns and operates approximately 8,200 miles of
transmission lines and six natural gas storage facilities located across the
south-central United States. Interstate Pipelines stores, transports and
delivers natural gas on behalf of various shippers primarily to utilities,
industrial customers and third party pipeline interconnectors. Interstate
Pipelines also provides pipeline project management and facility operation
services to affiliates and third parties.
The Company has retained a financial adviser to assist it in evaluating
strategic alternatives for REGT and MRT, including divestiture.
In 1999, approximately 40% of Interstate Pipelines' total operating revenue
was attributable to services provided by REGT to Arkla and approximately 16% of
its operating revenues was attributable to services provided by MRT to Laclede
Gas Company (Laclede), an unaffiliated distribution company that provides
natural gas utility service to the greater St. Louis metropolitan area in
Illinois and Missouri. An additional 15% of Interstate Pipelines' operating
revenues was attributable to the transportation of gas marketed by Reliant
Energy Services. Interstate Pipelines provides service to Arkla and Laclede
under several long-term firm storage and transportation agreements. The
expiration dates for the service agreements with Laclede range from October 2000
through May 2001. Interstate Pipelines and Laclede are currently negotiating the
terms and conditions of a proposed renewal of these agreements. The service
agreement with Arkla is scheduled to expire in March 2002.
The business and operations of Interstate Pipelines may be affected by
seasonal changes in the demand for natural gas, the relative price of natural
gas in the Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast natural gas supply regions and, to a
lesser extent, general economic conditions.
WHOLESALE ENERGY
Wholesale Energy conducts its operations through: (i) Reliant Energy Power
Generation, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, Power Generation), a
subsidiary of Reliant Energy, (ii) Reliant Energy Services and (iii) Reliant
Energy Field Services, Inc. (Reliant Energy Field Services), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Resources Corp.
11
<PAGE> 14
Wholesale Energy's operations include:
o the acquisition, development and operation of domestic unregulated
power generation facilities
o sales of capacity, energy and ancillary services from domestic
unregulated power generation facilities
o wholesale energy trading, marketing and risk management services
in North America, and
o domestic natural gas gathering activities
POWER GENERATION
Power Generation participates in independent power markets through the
acquisition of existing power plants and the development of new power plants
(greenfield projects). Power Generation's business strategy is to develop a
commercial generation portfolio in key regions to support the Company's electric
and natural gas trading and marketing operations. Reliant Energy Services,
Wholesale Energy's trading and marketing unit, supplies fuel to these generating
plants and sells electricity produced by the plants. In 1999, Power Generation
generated and Reliant Energy Services sold, approximately 6.1 million MWHs of
electricity. Substantially all of these sales were in the California
marketplace.
Power Generation Projects. Power Generation owns fifteen electric
generating units at five sites (3,800 MW in the aggregate) located in southern
California. Reliant Energy Services serves as the plants' exclusive power
marketer and supplier of natural gas. Power Generation was required under the
agreements for the acquisition of these plants to enter into contracts with
Southern California Edison Company, the former owner, to operate and maintain
the plants through April and July 2000. These contracts have been renegotiated
and renewed through March 2003. Power Generation does, however, exercise
management authority over the plants' operations. For information on regulation
of these units, see "Regulation - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)"
below.
On October 6, 1999, Power Generation purchased the Indian River power
plant located near Titusville, Florida from the Orlando Utilities Commission
(OUC) for approximately $205 million. The Indian River power plant consists of
three conventional steam generation units fueled by both oil and natural gas.
The 619-megawatt generation station will continue to provide power to OUC under
a four-year power purchase agreement. Excess power generated by the plant will
be sold to the wholesale market, other utilities and rural electric cooperatives
within the area.
In December 1999, Power Generation's Sabine Cogeneration Project commenced
commercial operations. The Sabine Cogeneration Project is located in Orange,
Texas and consists of a 100 MW gas-fired cogeneration plant. Power Generation
has a 50% ownership interest in the project.
Power Generation has the following projects under construction or in
startup and testing phases:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PROJECT LOCATION INTEREST PROJECTED COMPLETION DATE
- ------------------------------------- ------------- -------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
El Dorado Boulder City, 50% Second Quarter of 2000
(490 MW gas-fired merchant plant) Nevada
Desert Basin Casa Grande, 100% Third Quarter of 2001
(560 MW gas-fired merchant plant) Arizona
Channelview Texas Project Channelview, 100% Third Quarter of 2002
(780 MW gas-fired cogeneration plant) Texas
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE> 15
In 1998 and 1999, Power Generation announced plans for the development of
several power projects which are not yet under construction. These projects have
a combined capacity of 1,800 MW and are located in Illinois, Rhode Island and
Florida. Negotiation of development contracts regarding these projects is
underway and each of these projects has obtained various construction permits
and zoning approvals and are expected to be under construction during the second
and third quarters of 2000.
In February 2000, Power Generation signed a definitive agreement to
purchase from Sithe Energies, Inc. non-rate regulated power generating assets
and sites located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland, having a net
generating capacity of more than 4,200 MW for an aggregate purchase price of
$2.1 billion, subject to certain adjustments. The acquisition is expected to
close in the second quarter of 2000 subject to obtaining certain regulatory
approvals and satisfying other closing conditions. The acquisition will be
accounted for as a purchase.
Reliant Energy expects Power Generation will continue to acquire and
develop non-rate regulated power projects. The amount of expenditures associated
with these activities is dependent upon the nature and extent of future project
opportunities and commitments; however, some of these expenditures could be
substantial. Power Generation could finance a portion of its non-rate regulated
power projects through the proceeds from project financings, lease agreements,
borrowings by subsidiaries or equity investments and loans from Reliant Energy
and financing subsidiaries of Reliant Energy.
The successful completion of other non-rate regulated power projects is
dependent upon a number of factors, which include:
o risks associated with siting, financing, construction and permitting
o the degree of success in obtaining governmental approvals
o the development of power markets
o the risk of termination of power sales contracts, if any, as a
result of a failure to meet certain construction milestones, and
o the uncertainties arising from the changing regulatory systems
affecting Power Generation's markets
Many of the facilities being acquired or developed by Power Generation are
"merchant plants," that is, plants lacking dedicated offtake customers, making
such facilities sensitive to market and regulatory factors and other
considerations.
For a description of the competitive conditions affecting Wholesale
Energy, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations - Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings of the
Company - Competition - Other Operations," which section is incorporated herein
by reference.
WHOLESALE ENERGY TRADING, MARKETING AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Reliant Energy Services buys, sells and trades natural gas, electric power,
crude oil and refined products, certain air emissions regulatory credits, coal
and weather derivatives. In addition, it offers physical and financial wholesale
energy marketing and price risk management products and services to a variety of
customers. These customers include natural gas distribution companies, electric
utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, power generators, marketers,
aggregators and large volume industrial customers.
Natural Gas. Reliant Energy Services purchases natural gas from a variety
of suppliers under daily, monthly, variable load, base load and term contracts
that include either market sensitive or fixed pricing provisions. It sells
natural gas under sales agreements that have varying terms and conditions, most
of which are intended to match seasonal and other changes in demand. Reliant
Energy Services sold 5.0 billion cubic feet (BCF) per day and 3.2 BCF per day of
natural gas in 1999 and 1998, respectively, most of which was sold to
non-affiliates.
13
<PAGE> 16
Reliant Energy Services' natural gas marketing activities include
contracting to buy natural gas from suppliers at various points of receipt,
aggregating natural gas supplies and arranging for their transportation,
negotiating the sale of natural gas, and matching natural gas receipts and
deliveries based on volumes required by customers.
Additionally, Reliant Energy Services, from time to time, arranges for the
transportation of the natural gas it markets. Transportation arrangements are
made with affiliated and non-affiliated interstate and intrastate pipelines
through a variety of means, including short-term and long-term firm and
interruptible agreements.
Reliant Energy Services also enters into various short-term and long-term
firm and interruptible agreements for natural gas storage in order to offer peak
delivery services to satisfy winter heating and summer electric generating
demands. Such services are also intended to provide an additional level of
performance security and backup services to its customers.
Electric Power. Reliant Energy Services sells electric power primarily to
electric utilities, municipalities and cooperatives and other marketing
companies. Reliant Energy Services sold over 112 million MWHs and 65 million
MWHs of electric power in 1999 and 1998, respectively. Reliant Energy Services
plans to continue to supply natural gas to, and purchase electricity for resale
from, non-rate regulated power plants in deregulated markets, including
generating plants currently owned or to be developed, acquired or operated by
Power Generation.
Crude Oil. Reliant Energy Services buys and sells crude oil and other
hydrocarbon products. Reliant Energy Services sold 8.6 million barrels of these
products primarily to end-use customers and other marketing companies in 1999.
Other Commodities and Weather Derivatives. Reliant Energy Services trades
and markets certain air emissions regulatory credits, coal and weather
derivatives.
Reliant Energy Services uses derivative financial instruments to:
o manage and hedge its fixed-price purchase and sale commitments
o provide fixed-price or floating-price commitments as a service to
its customers and suppliers
o reduce its exposure relative to the volatility of the cash market
prices, and
o protect its investment in storage inventories
In 1999, Reliant Energy Services financially settled on average over 25
trillion British thermal units equivalents (Tbtue) per day of energy derivative
financial instruments in its trading and price risk management activities,
compared to an average of over 11 Tbtue per day in 1998. Reliant Energy Services
is exposed in such transactions to the risk that fluctuating market prices may
adversely affect the Company's financial position or results of operations. For
additional information with respect to the Company's financial exposure to
derivative financial instruments, see Item 7A of this Form 10-K, Note 5 to the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and Note 2 to Resources Corp.'s
Consolidated Financial Statements.
In addition to the risk associated with price movements, credit risk is
also inherent in Reliant Energy Services' trading, marketing and risk management
activities. Credit risk relates to the risk of loss resulting from the
nonperformance of contractual obligations by a counterparty. The Company
maintains credit policies intended to minimize overall credit risk with regard
to its counterparties. For additional information on the Company's credit risk
management, see Note 5 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and
Note 2 to Resources Corp.'s Consolidated Financial Statements.
14
<PAGE> 17
Reliant Energy has established a Risk Oversight Committee, comprised of
corporate and business segment officers, that oversees all commodity price and
credit risks activities, including trading, marketing and risk management
activities of Wholesale Energy and Reliant Energy Europe. For additional
information regarding risk management accounting policies, see Note 5 to the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and Note 2 to Resources Corp.'s
Consolidated Financial Statements.
NATURAL GAS GATHERING
Reliant Energy Field Services provides natural gas gathering services,
including related liquids extraction and marketing activities. Reliant Energy
Field Services operates approximately 4,000 miles of gathering pipelines which
collect natural gas from more than 200 separate systems located in major
producing fields in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
The Company has retained a financial adviser to assist it in evaluating
strategic alternatives for Reliant Energy Field Services, including divestiture.
RELIANT ENERGY EUROPE
The Company established its Reliant Energy Europe business segment in the
fourth quarter of 1999. Reliant Energy Europe owns, operates and sells electric
power from generation facilities in the Netherlands and plans to participate in
the emerging wholesale energy trading and marketing industry in the Netherlands
and other countries in Europe.
UNA
During 1999, the Company completed the first two phases of its acquisition
of N.V. UNA (UNA), a Dutch power generation company. The Company acquired 40%
and 12% of UNA's capital stock on October 7, 1999 and December 1, 1999,
respectively. On March 1, 2000, the Company purchased the remaining 48% of the
shares of UNA. The total purchase price of the acquisition is approximately $2.4
billion (based on an exchange rate of 2.0565 Dutch guilders (NLG) per U.S.
dollar as of October 7, 1999), which includes a $426 million promissory note to
UNA. For additional information about this acquisition, including the Company's
accounting treatment of the acquisition, see Note 2 to the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNA is one of the Netherlands' four largest generating companies and is the
first Dutch generating company whose stock was sold to private investors under a
privatization program established under the Dutch Electricity Act. In 1999, UNA
generated more than 20% of the country's electricity production, excluding
electricity generated by cogeneration or other industrial processes. UNA serves
the provinces of North-Holland and Utrecht, as well as the municipalities of
Amsterdam and Utrecht, providing electricity for approximately two million
people and more than 12,000 commercial users. As of December 31, 1999, UNA owned
and operated 14 generating stations with 3,472 MW of capacity spread across five
sites. UNA's generating stations also supply several large municipalities with
hot water for district heating purposes. In 1999, approximately 47% of UNA's
generation output was natural gas fired, 19% was blast furnace fired and 34% was
coal fired.
In 1999, UNA and the three other largest Dutch generators supplied
approximately 60% of the electricity consumed in the Netherlands. Smaller Dutch
producers supplied about 28% of such consumed electricity and the remainder was
imported. The Dutch electricity market is expected to be gradually opened for
wholesale competition including certain commercial and industrial customers
beginning in 2001. Competition is expected to increase in subsequent years and
it is anticipated that the market for small businesses and residential customers
will become open to competition by 2007. The timing of the opening of these
markets is subject, however, to change at the discretion of the Minister of
Economic Affairs.
The markets and regulatory scheme in which UNA operates and the pending
changes therein are described in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company --Results of
Operations by Business Segment -- Reliant Energy Europe," "-- Certain Factors
Affecting Future Earnings
15
<PAGE> 18
of the Company -- Competition -- Reliant Energy Europe Operations" and "-- Entry
into the European Market," which descriptions are incorporated herein by
reference.
EUROPEAN ENERGY TRADING AND MARKETING
In October 1999, Reliant Energy formed Reliant Energy Trading & Marketing
B.V., a Dutch corporation (Reliant Energy Marketing Europe), in order to
participate in the emerging European energy trading and marketing businesses.
Reliant Energy Marketing Europe initially will focus on trading opportunities in
the Netherlands and expand into other European markets. Reliant Energy Europe
intends to trade in derivative products, including forwards, swaps, options and
futures. Reliant Energy Marketing Europe will initially concentrate on marketing
power to large industrial and commercial customers as well as distribution
companies in the Netherlands and Germany. At March 1, 2000, Reliant Energy
Marketing Europe had approximately 40 employees. Reliant Energy Marketing Europe
is expected to become the main marketer of UNA's electric generation output
beginning in 2001.
RELIANT ENERGY LATIN AMERICA
Reliant Energy Latin America conducts its operations through Reliant Energy
International, Inc. (Reliant Energy International), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Reliant Energy, and the international operations of Resources (Resources
International). Reliant Energy Latin America participates in the privatization
of generation and distribution facilities and independent power projects
primarily in Latin America.
Reliant Energy is evaluating the sale of the Company's Latin American
assets in order to pursue business opportunities that are in line with its
strategies for the U.S. and Western Europe.
For a discussion of risks associated with Reliant Energy Latin America's
operations, including the impact of currency fluctuations in countries such as
Brazil, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations of the Company -- Certain Factors Affecting Future
Earnings of the Company -- Risk of Operations in Emerging Markets,"
"Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk -- Foreign Currency
Exchange Rate Risk" in Item 7A of this Form 10-K and Note 7 to the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements.
MAJOR LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENTS
Argentina. As of December 31, 1999, approximately 11% of Reliant Energy
Latin America's investments were located in Argentina. The Company currently
owns a 100% interest in a corporation formed to develop, own and operate a 160
MW cogeneration project (Argener) located at a steel plant near San Nicolas,
Argentina and a 90% interest in a utility in north-central Argentina (EDESE).
Brazil. As of December 31, 1999, approximately 26% of Reliant Energy Latin
America's investments were located in Brazil. The Company indirectly owns 11.78%
of the common stock of Light Servicos de Eletricidade S.A. (Light), a publicly
held Brazilian corporation, which is the operator of an integrated electric
power and distribution system that serves a portion of the state of Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, including the city of Rio de Janeiro. The Company and the other
winning bidders in the government sponsored auction for Light formed a
consortium whose aggregate ownership interest of 51.35% represents a controlling
interest in Light. Light owns 77.81% of the common stock of Metropolitana
Electricidade de Sao Paulo S.A. (Metropolitana), an electric distribution
company that serves the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Colombia. As of December 31, 1999, approximately 46% of Reliant Energy
Latin America's investments were located in Colombia. The Company and
Corporacion EDC S.A.C.A. (CEDC), jointly own, through subsidiaries, 65% of the
stock of two Colombian electric distribution companies, Electricaribe and
Electrocosta. These companies serve approximately 1.2 million customers in the
Atlantic coastal region of Colombia, including the cities of Santa Marta,
Barranquilla and Cartagena.
16
<PAGE> 19
Additionally, the Company and CEDC jointly hold a 56.7% indirect
controlling ownership interest in Empresa de Energia del Pacifico S.A.E.S.P.
(EPSA), an electric utility system serving the Valle del Cauca province of
Colombia, including the area surrounding the city of Cali. In addition to its
distribution facilities, EPSA owns 850 MW of electric generation capacity. EPSA
also owns an 86.4% interest in Compania de Electricidad de Tulua (CET). CET, the
electric utility in Tulua, in the center of the Valle Del Cauca province, serves
37,000 customers and has three hydro-generating units.
Resources International owns interests in four natural gas distribution
concessions under construction in Colombia. As of December 31, 1999, aggregate
expenditures incurred with respect to these concessions were approximately $7
million.
El Salvador. As of December 31, 1999, approximately 15% of Reliant Energy
Latin America's investments were located in El Salvador. Reliant Energy Latin
America holds interests in three electric systems in El Salvador (ranging from
approximately 37% to 45%).
Other. The Company, together with various other investors, developed a coke
calcining and power generation facility in India. The Company's total investment
in this project is approximately $13 million. Resources International and a
local investor sold their interest in a natural gas distribution system in
northeastern Mexico in November 1999 for $8.4 million.
CORPORATE
The Company's Corporate business segment includes:
o the operations of Reliant Energy Retail which conducts retail gas
marketing services
o the operations of Reliant Energy Communications, Inc. (Reliant
Energy Communications) which offers enhanced data, voice and
Internet services to customers in Texas
o the operations of Reliant Energy Solutions, Inc. (Reliant Energy
Solutions) which provides a range of design-build and operational
energy services, including energy system and central plant retrofits
o the operations of Reliant Energy Thermal Systems, Inc. (Reliant
Energy Thermal Systems) which provides energy management and thermal
systems for site-specific projects, such as buildings, universities,
hospitals and district cooling systems for cities and large
metropolitan areas
o various office buildings and other real estate used in the Company's
business operations
o unallocated corporate costs, and
o inter-segment eliminations
Reliant Energy Retail, a wholly owned subsidiary of Resources Corp.,
markets natural gas and related energy services to commercial and industrial
customers who are served by large local gas distribution companies or are
connected to interstate and intrastate pipelines offering unbundled
transportation services. Included in Reliant Energy Retail's retail marketing
operations are subsidiaries of Resources Corp. that market and deliver natural
gas to large volume customers at market-based rates. Reliant Energy Retail also
sells natural gas in the deregulated Georgia market to residential and
commercial customers.
In September 1999, Reliant Energy Communications received its Special
Provider Certificate of Operating Authority from the Texas Utility Commission,
which allows it to offer telecommunications products and services
17
<PAGE> 20
throughout the state of Texas. Reliant Energy Communications is a
facilities-based carrier, offering enhanced data, voice and Internet services to
customers in Texas, with an initial focus on the business market in Houston.
Initial data services include private line, Internet access, frame relay, ATM,
ISDN and DSL. Switched voice products include a full range of local dialtone,
long-distance and wireless services. In October 1999, Reliant Energy
Communications became the first carrier to file the newly approved Texas 271
Agreement (T2A) with the Texas Utility Commission. The T2A is a standardized
interconnection agreement, which has been developed as part of the Federal
Telecommunications Act 271 implementation process by representatives of
industry, the Texas Utility Commission staff and Southwestern Bell in an effort
to ensure that competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) receive comparable
terms and conditions from Southwestern Bell.
REGULATION
The Company is subject to regulation by various federal, state, local and
foreign governmental agencies, including the regulations described below.
PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT
Holding Company Status. Reliant Energy is both a holding company and an
electric utility as defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935
(the 1935 Act); however, it is exempt from regulation as a holding company under
Section 3(a)(2) of the 1935 Act. Although Resources Corp. is a natural gas
utility company as defined under the 1935 Act, it is not a holding company
within the meaning of the 1935 Act. Reliant Energy and Resources Corp. remain
subject to regulation under the 1935 Act with respect to the acquisition of
certain voting securities of other domestic public utility companies and utility
holding companies.
Section 33(a)(1) of the 1935 Act exempts foreign utility company affiliates
of Reliant Energy and Resources Corp. from regulation as "public utility
companies," thereby permitting Reliant Energy and Resources Corp. to invest in
foreign utility companies without registration under the 1935 Act as a holding
company or approval by the SEC thereunder. The exemption, however, is subject to
the SEC having received certification from each state commission having
jurisdiction over the retail rates of any electric or gas utility company
affiliated with Reliant Energy or Resources Corp. that such commission has the
authority and resources to protect ratepayers subject to its jurisdiction and
that it intends to exercise its authority. The Texas Utility Commission and the
state regulatory commissions exercising jurisdiction over Resources Corp.
(Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas) have provided
such a certification to the SEC subject, however, to the right of such
commissions to revise or withdraw their certifications as to any future
acquisition of a foreign utility company. The Texas Utility Commission and the
state regulatory commissions of Arkansas and Minnesota have imposed limitations
on the amount of investments by utility companies (including Reliant Energy and
Resources Corp.) in foreign utility companies and, in certain cases, foreign
electric wholesale generating companies. These limitations are based upon the
Company's consolidated net worth, retained earnings, and debt and stockholders'
equity, respectively.
Subject to certain limited exceptions, Section 33(f)(1) of the 1935 Act
also prohibits any public utility from issuing any security for the purpose of
financing the acquisition, ownership or operation of a foreign utility company,
or assuming any obligation or liability in respect of any security of a foreign
utility company.
Proposals to Repeal the 1935 Act. In recent years, several bills have been
introduced in Congress that would repeal the 1935 Act. Repeal or significant
modification to the 1935 Act could have a significant impact on the Company and
the electric utility industry. At this time, however, the Company is not able to
predict the outcome of any bills to repeal the 1935 Act or the outlook for
additional legislation in 2000.
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (FERC)
The transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate
commerce is subject to regulation by the FERC under the Natural Gas Act (NGA)
and, to a lesser extent, the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, as amended. The
FERC
18
<PAGE> 21
has jurisdiction over, among other things, the construction of pipeline and
related facilities used in the transportation and storage of natural gas in
interstate commerce, including the extension, expansion or abandonment of such
facilities. The rates charged by interstate pipelines for interstate
transportation and storage services are also regulated by the FERC.
REGT and MRT periodically file applications with the FERC for changes in
their rates and charges designed to allow them to recover their costs of
providing service to customers (to the extent allowed by prevailing market
conditions), including a reasonable rate of return. These rates are normally
allowed to become effective after a suspension period, and in certain cases are
subject to refund under applicable law, until such time as the FERC issues an
order on the allowable level of rates. REGT is currently operating under rates
approved by the FERC which took effect in February 1995, and MRT is currently
providing services pursuant to a negotiated rate settlement approved by the FERC
in October 1997.
The FERC has recently adopted several changes to its regulation of
interstate pipeline construction projects and transportation rates and services.
In September 1999, the FERC issued a policy statement providing that, in most
instances, customers receiving service through new pipeline facilities will be
required to bear the cost of the facilities. In addition, companies seeking to
construct new pipeline facilities must demonstrate that the benefits of the
proposed facilities will outweigh any adverse effects on affected landowners,
the environment, the pipeline's customers, or existing pipelines and their
customers. On February 9, 2000, the FERC issued Order No. 637, which introduces
several measures to increase competition for interstate pipeline transportation
services. Order No. 637 authorizes interstate pipelines to propose
term-differentiated and peak/off-peak rates, and requires pipelines, including
MRT and REGT, to make tariff filings by May 1, 2000 to expand pipeline service
options for customers.
The California plants owned by the Company are subject to FERC jurisdiction
and regulation. The FERC permits the California plants to make sales at
negotiated market-based rates and has waived most of the regulatory requirements
otherwise applicable to regulated public utilities under the Federal Power Act.
Prior to January 1, 2000, special rules applied to the two California plants
which had been designated as "reliability must-run" facilities by the California
Independent System Operator Corporation. Units at these plants were required to
provide electric service to the system operator for reliability purposes at
rates and under terms and conditions regulated by the FERC. These plants have
not been designated as "reliability must-run" for the calendar year 2000 and
therefore may sell electricity at market-based rates at all times.
Reliant Energy Services is also subject to FERC jurisdiction under both the
NGA and the Federal Power Act. As a gas marketer, Reliant Energy Services makes
sales of natural gas in interstate commerce at wholesale pursuant to a blanket
certificate issued by the FERC, but the FERC does not otherwise regulate the
rates, terms or conditions of these gas sales. Reliant Energy Services is a
"public utility" under the Federal Power Act, and its wholesale sales of
electricity in interstate commerce are subject to a FERC-filed rate schedule
that authorizes Reliant Energy Services to make sales at negotiated,
market-based rates. Reliant Energy Services' market-based rate tariffs are filed
with the FERC. The FERC also imposes certain restrictions on Reliant Energy
Services' transactions with Electric Operations and with REGT and MRT, including
a prohibition on the receipt of goods or services on a preferential basis.
Similar restrictions apply to transactions between Reliant Energy Services and
Electric Operations under the Public Utility Regulatory Act of 1995 (now the
Texas Utilities Code).
19
<PAGE> 22
STATE AND LOCAL UTILITY REGULATIONS
Electric Operations. Currently, Reliant Energy HL&P conducts its electric
utility operations under a certificate of convenience and necessity granted by
the Texas Utility Commission. The certificate of convenience and necessity
covers the present service area and facilities of Electric Operations. In
addition, Reliant Energy HL&P holds non-exclusive franchises to provide electric
service within the incorporated municipalities in the service territory of
Electric Operations. None of these franchises expire before 2007.
Reliant Energy HL&P's electric utility operations are currently subject to
traditional cost-of-service regulation at rates regulated by the Texas Utility
Commission. In June 1999, Texas passed the Legislation, which will significantly
change the regulation of electric utility operators in the State of Texas. For
additional information, including information about the Legislation's effect on
competition in the retail electric and electric generation markets in Texas, see
"--Electric Operations-- Deregulation and Competition," "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the
Company--Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings of the Company--Competition
and Restructuring of the Texas Electric Utility Industry" and Note 3 to the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, which Sections and Note are
incorporated herein by reference. This competition is scheduled to commence
January 1, 2002.
Natural Gas Distribution Operations. In almost all communities in which
Natural Gas Distribution provides service, Resources operates under franchises,
certificates or licenses obtained from state and local authorities. The terms of
the franchises, with various expiration dates, typically range from ten to
thirty years. None of Natural Gas Distribution's material franchises expire
before 2005. In most cases, franchises to provide natural gas utility services
are not exclusive.
Substantially all of Natural Gas Distribution's retail sales are subject to
traditional cost-of-service regulation at rates regulated by the relevant state
public service commissions and, in Texas, by municipalities served by Natural
Gas Distribution. None of Natural Gas Distribution's local distribution
companies are currently a party to any material pending rate proceeding.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Under the 1954 Atomic Energy Act and the 1974 Energy Reorganization Act,
operation of nuclear plants is extensively regulated by the United States
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which has broad power to impose licensing
and safety requirements. In the event of non-compliance, the NRC has the
authority to impose fines or shut down nuclear plants, or both, depending upon
its assessment of the severity of the situation, until compliance is achieved.
The 1980 Federal Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act directed states to
assume responsibility for the disposal of low-level nuclear waste generated
within their borders. Under this Act, states may combine with other states and
seek consent from the U.S. Congress for regional compacts to construct and
operate low-level nuclear waste sites. Only two sites (the Envirocare facility
in Utah and the Barnwell facility in South Carolina) are currently licensed and
available to the South Texas Project for low-level waste disposal. The South
Texas Project had a contract with the operator of the Barnwell facility to
dispose of all of the South Texas Project's low-level nuclear waste through June
1999 at the facility. Currently, the South Texas Project continues to dispose
of its low-level nuclear waste under a short-term agreement at the Barnwell
facility.
An interstate compact among Texas, Maine and Vermont has sole access to a
Texas waste disposal facility. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission denied the application of the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste
Disposal Authority (Waste Disposal Authority) to build and operate a low-level
waste disposal facility in Hudspeth County, Texas. In the event the Barnwell
facility stops accepting waste before a Texas site is opened, the South Texas
Project would store its waste in an interim storage facility located at the
nuclear plant. The plant currently has storage capacity for at least five years
of low-level nuclear waste generated by the project.
20
<PAGE> 23
The Waste Disposal Authority is currently authorized to assess a planning
and implementation fee upon waste generators to fund development of the proposed
Texas disposal facility. However, the Texas legislature is considering several
measures that could change Reliant Energy HL&P's share of this assessment from
prior years.
For information regarding the NRC's regulation of nuclear decommissioning
trust funds, see Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
FOREIGN REGULATION
For a description of the contractual agreements and protocol under which
UNA will operate during the transition to a deregulated market, see
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations of the Company -- Results of Operations by Business Segment --
Reliant Energy Europe," which section is incorporated herein by reference.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
The Company is subject to a number of federal, state and local
environmental requirements that govern the discharge of emissions into the air
and water and regulate the handling of solid and hazardous waste. In general,
Federal statutes develop requirements which then are implemented by state and
local entities through enabling ordinances or legislation specific to the area.
As part of the Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, requirements and
schedules for attainment of health based air standards were developed. In Texas,
these requirements are being determined by the Texas Natural Resources
Conservation Commission (TNRCC) for areas that do not attain the federally
prescribed standards. The Houston area has been designated a non-attainment area
for ozone, and preliminary work done by the TNRCC indicates substantial (as much
as 90%) reductions in oxides of nitrogen (NOx), a product of the combustion
process associated with the generation of electric energy and a contributor to
ozone formation, may be necessary. While regulations have not been finalized for
the Houston area, the Company estimates that reductions of the magnitude
contemplated by the TNRCC will require substantial expenditures in the years
2000 through 2003 and will require modifications to reduce emissions from most
of the Company's generating assets in Texas. See "--Clean Air Act Expenditures"
below.
The Clean Air Act also required a study to determine if additional
regulations are needed to improve visibility in the southwestern United States.
Reliant Energy does not expect that this study will require the installation of
additional pollution controls on the Company's generating units, including the
generating units acquired by, or expected to be completed by, the Company.
The EPA was directed by the Clean Air Act to perform a study of the risk to
public health from emissions of toxic air pollutants from power plants, and to
regulate such emissions as necessary. The EPA issued a report to Congress in
February 1998. The report makes no determination as to the need to issue
regulations applicable to the utility industry, and such a determination is not
expected until the National Academy of Sciences completes a review of studies in
mid-2000. It is, therefore, not possible to make any determination as to the
potential need for additional controls on emissions from the Company's
facilities.
Clean Air Act Expenditures. The Company expects the majority of capital
expenditures associated with environmental matters to be incurred by Electric
Operations in connection with emission limitations for NOx under the Clean Air
Act. NOx reduction costs incurred by Electric Operations generating units in the
Houston, Texas area totaled approximately $7 million in 1999 and $7 million in
1998. The TNRCC is currently considering additional NOx reduction requirements
for electric generating units and other industrial sources located in the
Houston metropolitan area and the eastern half of Texas as a means to attain the
Clean Air Act standard for ozone. Although the magnitude and timing of these
requirements will not be established by the TNRCC until November 2000, NOx
reductions approaching the 90% level of emissions are anticipated. Expenditures
for NOx controls on Electric Operations generating units have been estimated at
$500 to $600 million during the period 2000 through 2003, with an estimated $80
million to be incurred during 2000. In addition, the Legislation created a
program mandating air emissions reductions for certain generating facilities of
Electric Operations. The Legislation provides for stranded cost recovery for
costs associated with this obligation incurred before May 1, 2003. For further
information regarding the Legislation, see Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements.
The Company's expenditures associated with respect to permits,
registrations and authorizations for operation of facilities under the statutes
regulating the discharge of pollutants into surface water, and for the handling
and disposal of solid wastes have not been, and are not expected to be,
material.
21
<PAGE> 24
For a discussion of specific environmental contingencies for the Company
and Resources, projected expenditures in connection with environmental matters,
and a quantification of costs associated with these matters, see "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the
Company -- Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings of the Company --
Environmental Expenditures," Note 14(h) to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements and Note 8(d) to Resources Corp.'s Consolidated Financial Statements.
Compliance with federal, state and local laws governing the discharge of
materials into the environment, or otherwise intended to protect the
environment, is not expected to have a material adverse impact on the
consolidated results of operations or financial position of the Company.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 1999, the Company had 14,256 full-time employees. The
following table sets forth the number of the Company's employees by business
segment as of December 31, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEGMENT NUMBER
- ------- ------
<S> <C>
Electric Operations ............ 6,739
Natural Gas Distribution ....... 4,879
Interstate Pipelines ........... 570
Wholesale Energy ............... 477
Reliant Energy Europe .......... 933
Reliant Energy Latin America ... 84
Corporate ...................... 574
------
Total .......................... 14,256
======
</TABLE>
The number of employees of Reliant Energy and its subsidiaries who are
represented by unions or other collective bargaining groups include (i) Electric
Operations, 2,789; (ii) Natural Gas Distribution, 1,557; (iii) Wholesale Energy,
5 and (iv) Reliant Energy Europe, 650.
22
<PAGE> 25
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF RELIANT ENERGY
(AS OF MARCH 10, 2000)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OFFICER
NAME AGE (1) SINCE PRESENT POSITION
- -------------------- -------- ----- -----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
R. STEVE LETBETTER 51 1978 Chairman, President, Chief Executive
Officer and Director
ROBERT W. HARVEY 44 1999 Vice Chairman
LEE W. HOGAN 55 1990 Vice Chairman and Director
STEPHEN W. NAEVE 52 1988 Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer
HUGH RICE KELLY 57 1984 Executive Vice President, General Counsel
and Corporate Secretary
MARY P. RICCIARDELLO 44 1993 Senior Vice President and Comptroller
DAVID M. MCCLANAHAN 50 1986 President and Chief Operating Officer,
Reliant Energy Delivery Group
JOE BOB PERKINS 39 1996 President and Chief Operating Officer,
Reliant Energy Wholesale Group
</TABLE>
- -----------------
(1) As of December 31, 1999
Mr. Letbetter has served as Chairman of Reliant Energy since January 2000 and as
President and Chief Executive Officer of Reliant Energy since June 1999. He has
been a director of Reliant Energy since 1995. He has served in various executive
officer capacities with the Company since 1978.
Mr. Harvey has served as Vice Chairman of Reliant Energy since June 1999. Prior
to joining the Company, he served as a director in the Houston office of
McKinsey & Company, Inc.
Mr. Hogan has served as Vice Chairman of Reliant Energy since June 1999. He has
been a director of Reliant Energy since 1995. He has served in various executive
officer capacities with the Company since 1990, including President and Chief
Operating Officer of Reliant Energy International between 1993 and 1997.
Mr. Naeve has served as Vice Chairman of Reliant Energy since June 1999 and as
Chief Financial Officer of Reliant Energy since 1997. Between 1997 and 1999, he
served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Reliant
Energy. He has served in various executive officer capacities with the Company
since 1988, including Vice President - Strategic Planning and Administration
between 1993 and 1996.
Mr. Kelly has served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary of Reliant Energy since 1997. Between 1984 and 1997, he served as
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Reliant
Energy.
Ms. Ricciardello has served as Senior Vice President and Comptroller of Reliant
Energy since June 1999 and as Vice President and Comptroller of Reliant Energy
since 1996. She has served in various executive officer capacities with the
Company since 1993.
23
<PAGE> 26
Mr. McClanahan has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Reliant Energy Delivery Group since 1999. Previously, he served as President and
Chief Operating Officer of the Reliant Energy HL&P division from 1997 to 1999.
He has served in various executive officer capacities with the Company since
1986, including Group Vice President - Finance and Regulatory Relations of
Reliant Energy HL&P from 1993 to 1996.
Mr. Perkins has served as President and Chief Operating Officer, Reliant Energy
Wholesale Group and as President and Chief Operating Officer, Reliant Energy
Power Generation, Inc. since 1998. In 1998, Mr. Perkins served as President and
Chief Operating Officer of Reliant Energy Power Generation Group. Between 1996
and 1998, Mr. Perkins served as Vice President - Corporate Planning and
Development. Prior to joining the Company, he served as Vice President of
Business Development and Corporate Secretary of Coral Energy Resources, L.P. and
Vice President and General Manager of Coral Power, L.L.C. Between 1994 and 1995,
he was Director of Business Development for Tejas Gas Corporation.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
CHARACTER OF OWNERSHIP
The Company and Resources own their principal properties in fee, except
that most electric lines and gas mains are located, pursuant to easements and
other rights, on public roads or on land owned by others.
Substantially all of the real estate, electric distribution system
properties, buildings and franchises owned directly by Reliant Energy (excluding
real estate and other properties of subsidiaries of Reliant Energy) are subject
to a lien created under a Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of November 1,
1944 (as supplemented, Mortgage) between Reliant Energy and South Texas
Commercial National Bank of Houston (Chase Bank of Texas, National Association,
as Successor Trustee). The lien of the Mortgage excludes cash, stock in
subsidiaries and certain other assets. Additionally, substantially all
properties of the subsidiaries of Reliant Energy Latin America and Wholesale
Energy that own interests in operating plants are subject to liens of creditors
of the respective subsidiaries.
ELECTRIC OPERATIONS
All of the electric generating stations and other operating properties of
Electric Operations are located in the state of Texas.
Electric Generating Stations. As of December 31, 1999, Reliant Energy HL&P
owned 12 electric generating stations (62 generating units) with a combined
turbine nameplate rating of 13,554,608 KW, including the Company's interest in
the South Texas Project.
South Texas Project. The Company is one of four owners of the South Texas
Project, a nuclear generating plant consisting of two 1,250 MW generating units,
with a combined turbine nameplate rating of 2,623,676 KW, in which the Company
has a 30.8% ownership interest.
Substations. As of December 31, 1999, the Company owned 215 major
substation sites (242 substations) having a total installed rated transformer
capacity of 54,763 Mva, including a 30.8% interest in one major substation with
an installed rated transformer capacity of 3,080 Mva.
Electric Lines -- Overhead. As of December 31, 1999, the Company owned
25,535 pole miles of overhead distribution lines and 3,646 circuit miles of
overhead transmission lines, including 502 circuit miles operated at 69,000
volts, 2,062 circuit miles operated at 138,000 volts and 1,082 circuit miles
operated at 345,000 volts.
24
<PAGE> 27
Electric Lines -- Underground. As of December 31, 1999, the Company owned
12,348 circuit miles of underground distribution lines and 14.9 circuit miles of
underground transmission lines, including 6.8 circuit miles operated at 69,000
volts and 8.1 circuit miles operated at 138,000 volts.
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION
Resources' approximately 55,000 linear miles of gas distribution mains vary
in size from one-half inch to 24 inches in diameter. Generally, in each of the
cities, towns and rural areas served by Natural Gas Distribution, Resources owns
the underground gas mains and service lines, metering and regulating equipment
located on customers' premises and the district regulating equipment necessary
for pressure maintenance. With a few exceptions, the measuring stations at which
Resources receives gas from its suppliers are owned, operated and maintained by
others, and the distribution facilities of Resources begin at the outlet of the
measuring equipment. These facilities, including odorizing equipment, are
usually located on the land owned by suppliers.
INTERSTATE PIPELINES
Resources owns and operates approximately 8,200 miles of gas transmission
lines and provides transportation service to various shippers across eight
states in the south-central and midwestern United States. Resources also owns
and operates six storage fields with a combined daily deliverability of
approximately 1.2 BCF per day and a combined working gas capacity of
approximately 51.8 BCF. Most of Interstate Pipelines' storage operations are in
north Louisiana and Oklahoma.
WHOLESALE ENERGY
As of December 31, 1999, Wholesale Energy owned and operated six electric
generating stations (18 generating units) with a combined nameplate rating of
4,515 MW. For additional information regarding the properties of Power
Generation, see "Business -- Wholesale Energy" in Item 1 of this Form 10-K,
which information is incorporated herein by reference. Resources owns and
operates gathering pipelines which collect gas from more than 200 separate
systems located in major producing fields in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and
Texas.
RELIANT ENERGY EUROPE
For information regarding the investments of Reliant Energy Europe, see
"Business -- Reliant Energy Europe" in Item 1 of this Form 10-K, which
information is incorporated herein by reference.
RELIANT ENERGY LATIN AMERICA
For information regarding the investments of Reliant Energy Latin America,
see "Business -- Reliant Energy Latin America" in Item 1 of this Form 10-K,
which information is incorporated herein by reference.
CORPORATE
For information regarding the properties of Corporate, see "Business --
Corporate" in Item 1 of this Form 10-K.
25
<PAGE> 28
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
(a) Reliant Energy.
For a description of certain legal and regulatory proceedings affecting the
Company, see Notes 3, 4, 14(h) and 14(i) to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements, which notes are incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Resources Corp.
For a description of certain legal and regulatory proceedings affecting
Resources, see Note 8(d) to Resources' Consolidated Financial Statements, which
note is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
No matters were submitted to a vote of Reliant Energy's security holders
during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.
26
<PAGE> 29
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE COMPANY'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
As of March 10, 2000, Reliant Energy's common stock was held of record by
approximately 80,930 shareholders. Reliant Energy's common stock is listed on
the New York and Chicago Stock Exchanges and is traded under the symbol "REI."
All of Resources Corp.'s common stock is held by Reliant Energy.
The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices of Reliant
Energy's common stock on the composite tape during the periods indicated, as
reported by Bloomberg, and the dividends declared for such periods. Dividend
payout was $1.50 per share in both 1999 and 1998. The dividend declared during
the fourth quarter of 1999 is payable in March 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARKET PRICE DIVIDEND
------------------------- DECLARED
HIGH LOW PER SHARE
----------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1999
First Quarter............................... $ 0.375
January 6................................. $ 32 1/4
March 31.................................. $ 26 1/16
Second Quarter.............................. $ 0.375
April 14.................................. $ 25 1/2
May 25.................................... $ 31 11/16
Third Quarter............................... $ 0.375
September 3............................... $ 28 5/8
September 28.............................. $ 26 5/16
Fourth Quarter.............................. $ 0.375
October 4................................. $ 28 7/16
December 31............................... $ 22 7/8
1998
First Quarter............................... $ 0.375
January 16................................ $ 25
March 31.................................. $ 28 15/16
Second Quarter.............................. $ 0.375
May 20.................................... $ 27 5/16
June 24................................... $ 32
Third Quarter............................... $ 0.375
August 7.................................. $ 26 5/8
September 30.............................. $ 32
Fourth Quarter.............................. $ 0.375
October 12................................ $ 29 7/16
November 16............................... $ 33 3/8
</TABLE>
The closing market price of Reliant Energy's common stock on December 31,
1999 was $22 7/8 per share.
Future dividends will be subject to determination based upon the results of
operations and financial condition of the Company, the Company's future business
prospects, any applicable contractual restrictions and such other factors as the
Company's Board of Directors considers relevant.
27
<PAGE> 30
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA OF THE COMPANY.
The following table sets forth selected financial data with respect to the
Company's consolidated financial condition and results of consolidated
operations and should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements and the related notes in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. In July
1995, the Company sold its former cable television subsidiary, the operations of
which were accounted for as discontinued operations. The selected financial data
includes the financial statement effect of UNA and Resources since the October
1999 acquisition and August 1997 acquisition, respectively. Both acquisitions
were accounted for under the purchase method. See Note 2 to the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding these
acquisitions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues ............................................. $ 15,302,810 $ 11,488,464 $ 6,878,225 $ 4,095,277 $ 3,729,271
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Income (loss) from continuing operations before
extraordinary item and preferred dividends
(1)(2)(3) .......................................... $ 1,665,731 $ (141,092) $ 421,110 $ 404,944 $ 397,400
Gain on sale of cable television subsidiary .......... 708,124
Extraordinary item, net of tax (4) ................... 183,261
Preferred dividends .................................. 389 390 162
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net income (loss) attributable to common
stockholders (1)(2)(3) ............................. $ 1,482,081 $ (141,482) $ 420,948 $ 404,944 $ 1,105,524
============ ============ ============ ============ ============
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations before extraordinary
item (1)(2)(3) ................................... $ 5.84 $ (.50) $ 1.66 $ 1.66 $ 1.60
Gain on sale of cable television
subsidiary ......................................... 2.86
Extraordinary item, net of tax (4) ................. (.64)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (1)(2)(3) ..... $ 5.20 $ (.50) $ 1.66 $ 1.66 $ 4.46
============ ============ ============ ============ ============
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations before extraordinary
item (1)(2)(3) ................................... $ 5.82 $ (.50) $ 1.66 $ 1.66 $ 1.60
Gain on sale of cable television subsidiary ........ 2.86
Extraordinary item, net of tax (4) ................. (.64)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share(1)(2)(3) .... $ 5.18 $ (.50) $ 1.66 $ 1.66 $ 4.46
============ ============ ============ ============ ============
Cash dividends declared per common share ............. $ 1.50 $ 1.50 $ 1.50 $ 1.50 $ 1.50
Dividend payout ratio from continuing
operations (1)(2)(3) ............................... 26% 96% 89% 94%
Return on average common equity (1)(2)(3)(4) ......... 30.8% (3.1%) 9.7% 10.2% 29.5%
Ratio of earnings from continuing operations to
fixed charges (1)(2)(3)(5) ......................... 5.28 2.40 2.75 2.70
At year-end:
Book value per common share ........................ $ 18.70 $ 15.16 $ 17.28 $ 16.41 $ 16.61
Market price per common share ...................... $ 22.88 $ 32.06 $ 26.75 $ 22.63 $ 24.25
Market price as a percent of book value ............ 122% 211% 155% 138% 146%
Total assets ....................................... $ 26,220,936 $ 19,138,522 $ 18,445,606 $ 12,287,857 $ 11,819,606
Long-term debt obligations, including current
maturities ....................................... $ 9,343,446 $ 7,198,202 $ 5,469,184 $ 3,254,413 $ 3,692,173
Trust preferred securities ......................... $ 705,272 $ 342,232 $ 362,172
Cumulative preferred stock ......................... $ 9,740 $ 9,740 $ 9,740 $ 135,179 $ 402,400
Capitalization:
Common stock equity .............................. 34% 36% 46% 53% 50%
Cumulative preferred stock ....................... 2% 5%
Trust preferred securities ....................... 5% 3% 3%
Long-term debt (including current maturities) .... 61% 61% 51% 45% 45%
Cash consideration for purchase of UNA, net ......... $ 832,742
Purchase of Resources, net of cash acquired ......... $ 1,422,672
Other business acquisitions ......................... $ 38,426
Non-rate regulated electric power plants ............ $ 188,832 $ 292,398
Investments and advances to unconsolidated
subsidiaries ...................................... $ 116,076 $ 445,042 $ 234,852 $ 495,379 $ 49,835
Capital expenditures ................................ $ 1,179,466 $ 743,455 $ 328,724 $ 324,075 $ 397,796
</TABLE>
28
<PAGE> 31
- -------------
(1) Includes a non-cash, unrealized accounting loss of $409 million, $764
million and $79 million (after-tax), or $1.44, $2.69 and $0.31 earnings per
share, on indexed debt securities in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. For
additional information on the indexed debt securities, see Note 8 to the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2) Includes a non-cash, unrealized accounting gain on the Company's investment
in Time Warner common stock of $1.575 billion (after-tax), or $5.53 basic
earnings per share, in 1999. For additional information on the investment
in Time Warner common stock, see Note 8 to the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements.
(3) Includes a $102 (after-tax) million loss due to the devaluation of the
Brazilian real in 1999, or $0.36 per share. For additional information on
the effect of the devaluation of the Brazilian real on the Company, see
Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
(4) The extraordinary item is a loss related to an accounting impairment of
certain generation related regulatory assets of Electric Operations. For
additional information, see Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements.
(5) Fixed charges exceed earnings by $185 million in 1998.
29
<PAGE> 32
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in combination with
the consolidated financial statements and notes of Reliant Energy, Incorporated
(Reliant Energy) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) contained in
Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
The Company is a diversified international energy services company that
provides energy and energy services in North America, Western Europe and Latin
America. It operates one of the nation's largest electric utilities in terms of
kilowatt-hour (KWH) sales, and its three natural gas distribution divisions
together form the nation's third largest natural gas distribution operation in
terms of customers served. The Company invests in international and domestic
electric utility privatizations, gas distribution projects and the development
of non-rate regulated power generation projects. The Company is also an
interstate natural gas pipeline, providing gas transportation, supply, gathering
and storage, and also engages in wholesale energy marketing and trading.
The Company's financial reporting segments include: Electric Operations,
Natural Gas Distribution, Interstate Pipelines, Wholesale Energy, Reliant Energy
Europe, Reliant Energy Latin America and Corporate. For segment reporting
information, see Notes 1(a) and 18 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements. For a description of the segments, see Note 1(a) to the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements and "Business" in Item 1 of this Form 10-K.
During 1999, the Company completed the first two phases of its acquisition
of N.V. UNA (UNA), a Dutch power generation company. The Company acquired 40%
and 12% of UNA's capital stock on October 7, 1999 and December 1, 1999,
respectively. On March 1, 2000, the Company purchased the remaining 48% of the
shares of UNA. The total purchase price of the acquisition was approximately
$2.4 billion (based on an exchange rate of 2.0565 NLG per U.S. dollar as of
October 7, 1999), which includes a $426 million promissory note to UNA. The
acquisition was accounted for as a purchase. Effective October 1, 1999, the
Company recorded 100% of the operating results of UNA. For additional
information about this acquisition, including the Company's accounting treatment
of the acquisition, see Note 2 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements.
In August 1997, the Company acquired Reliant Energy Resources Corp.
(Resources Corp.) and its subsidiaries (collectively, Resources), a natural gas
gathering, transmission, marketing and distribution company that conducted
business under the name "NorAm Energy Corp." prior to February 1999. The
acquisition was accounted for as a purchase; accordingly, the Company's results
of operations include the results of operations of Resources only for the period
after the acquisition date.
To enhance comparability between reporting periods, certain information in
this Form 10-K is presented on a pro forma basis and reflects the acquisition of
Resources as if it had occurred at the beginning of 1997 and the acquisition of
UNA as if it had occurred at the beginning of 1999 and 1998. Pro forma
purchase-related adjustments for these acquisitions include amortization of
goodwill and the allocation of the fair value of certain assets and liabilities.
In addition, pro forma adjustments have been made to reflect UNA's operating
results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The
pro forma results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the combined
results of operations that would have occurred had the acquisitions occurred on
such dates.
All dollar amounts in the tables that follow are in millions, except for
per share data.
30
<PAGE> 33
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACTUAL
------------------------------------------
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues ................................................... $ 15,303 $ 11,488 $ 6,878
Operating Expenses ......................................... (14,062) (10,022) (5,823)
---------- ---------- ----------
Operating Income ........................................... 1,241 1,466 1,055
Dividend Income ............................................ 26 41 41
Interest Expense and Other Charges ......................... (563) (539) (424)
Unrealized Gain on Time Warner Investment .................. 2,452
Unrealized Loss on Indexed Debt Securities ................. (630) (1,176) (121)
Income Tax (Expense) Benefit ............................... (899) 30 (206)
Extraordinary Item, Net of Tax ............................. (183)
Other Income - Net ......................................... 38 37 76
---------- ---------- ----------
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders ...... $ 1,482 $ (141) $ 421
========== ========== ==========
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share ............................ $ 5.20 $ (0.50) $ 1.66
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share .......................... $ 5.18 $ (0.50) $ 1.66
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRO FORMA
------------------------------------------
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues ................................................... $ 15,784 $ 12,320 $ 10,191
Operating Expenses ......................................... (14,436) (10,681) (8,985)
---------- ---------- ----------
Operating Income ........................................... 1,348 1,639 1,206
Dividend Income ............................................ 26 41 41
Interest Expense and Other Charges ......................... (640) (647) (533)
Unrealized Gain on Time Warner Investment .................. 2,452
Unrealized Loss on Indexed Debt Securities ................. (630) (1,176) (121)
Income Tax (Expense) Benefit ............................... (904) 24 (232)
Extraordinary Item, Net of Tax ............................. (183)
Other Income - Net ......................................... 56 58 76
---------- ---------- ----------
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders ...... $ 1,525 $ (61) $ 437
========== ========== ==========
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share ............................ $ 5.35 $ (0.21) $ 1.55
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share .......................... $ 5.33 $ (0.21) $ 1.55
</TABLE>
1999 (Actual) Compared to 1998 (Actual). The Company reported consolidated
earnings in 1999 of $1.482 billion ($5.20 per basic share) compared to a
consolidated net loss of $141 million ($0.50 per share) for 1998. The amount for
1999 reflects a $1.575 billion (after-tax) non-cash, unrealized accounting gain
on the Company's investment in Time Warner (TW) common stock (TW Common); a $409
million (after-tax) non-cash, unrealized accounting loss on indexed debt
securities; a $102 million (after-tax) loss resulting from the effect of the
devaluation of the Brazilian real on equity earnings of the Company's Brazilian
investments; and a $183 million (after-tax) extraordinary loss relating to an
accounting impairment of certain generation related regulatory assets of
Electric Operations. The reported loss for 1998 includes a $764 million
(after-tax) non-cash, unrealized accounting loss on indexed debt securities. For
information regarding the Company's investment in TW Common and Reliant Energy's
indexed debt securities, see Note 8 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements. For information regarding the $183 million extraordinary loss, see
"-- Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings of the Company -- Competition and
Restructuring of the Texas Electric Utility Industry" and Note 3 to the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
After adjusting for unusual and other charges (as described above) in both
years, net income for 1999 would have been $601 million ($2.11 per share)
compared to $623 million ($2.19 per share) for 1998. The $22 million decrease
31
<PAGE> 34
was primarily due to an $80 million, or $0.28 per share, gain on the sale of an
Argentine electric distribution system in 1998 and lower earnings in 1999 for
the Natural Gas Distribution, Interstate Pipelines and Wholesale Energy
segments. These decreases were partially offset by higher earnings in the
Reliant Energy Latin America segment (after adjusting for the loss due to the
devaluation of the Brazilian real) and earnings of Reliant Energy Europe which
acquired UNA in the fourth quarter of 1999 (see Note 2 to the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements).
1999 (Pro Forma) Compared to 1998 (Pro Forma). Consolidated pro forma
earnings in 1999 were $1.525 billion ($5.35 per basic share) compared to a
consolidated pro forma net loss of $61 million ($0.21 per share) for 1998. After
adjusting for unusual and other charges (as described above) in both years, pro
forma net income for 1999 would have been $644 million ($2.26 per share)
compared to $703 million ($2.48 per share) for 1998. The decrease in the 1999
period can be attributed to the same factors discussed above and a decline in
pro forma operating income of Reliant Energy Europe.
1998 (Actual) Compared to 1997 (Actual). The Company reported a
consolidated net loss for 1998 of $141 million ($0.50 per share) compared to
consolidated net income of $421 million ($1.66 per share) in 1997. The 1998
consolidated net loss resulted from the accounting treatment of Reliant Energy's
indexed debt securities, one series of which was issued in July 1997. The
Company recorded a non-cash, unrealized accounting loss (after-tax) of $764
million on such series of indexed debt securities in 1998. In 1997, the Company
recorded a non-cash, unrealized accounting loss (after-tax) of $79 million on
such series of indexed debt securities, which was partially offset by $37
million of non-recurring interest income related to a refund of federal income
taxes in 1997. For a discussion of Reliant Energy's indexed debt securities, see
Note 8 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
After adjusting for unusual and other charges (as described above) in both
years, net income for 1998 would have been $623 million ($2.19 per share)
compared to $463 million ($1.83 per share) in 1997. The $160 million increase in
adjusted net income for 1998 compared to 1997 was due to improved results from
Interstate Pipelines, Wholesale Energy and Reliant Energy Latin America
segments. Net income for 1998 included an $80 million, or $0.28 per share, gain
on the sale of an investment in an electric distribution system in Argentina.
Also contributing to the increase were earnings from the businesses acquired in
the acquisition of Resources. These effects were partially offset by additional
depreciation of regulated power generation assets in compliance with Reliant
Energy HL&P's rate of return cap, as described below, and increased interest
expense primarily related to the acquisition of Resources.
1998 (Pro Forma) Compared to 1997 (Pro Forma). The consolidated pro forma
net loss for 1998 was $61 million ($0.21 per share) compared to consolidated pro
forma net income of $437 million ($1.55 per share) in 1997. After adjusting for
unusual and other charges (as described above) in both years, pro forma net
income for 1998 would have been $703 million ($2.48 per share) compared to $479
million ($1.70 per share) in 1997. This increase in adjusted pro forma net
income for 1998 compared to 1997 was primarily due to the same factors discussed
above and $80 million of pro forma net income of UNA in 1998.
Interest Expense and Other Charges. In 1999, 1998 and 1997, interest
expense and other charges were $563 million, $539 million and $424 million,
respectively. Increased interest expense and other charges in 1999 compared to
1998 was primarily due to higher levels of short-term borrowings, long-term debt
and trust preferred securities. These increases were associated in part with the
acquisition of shares of UNA in the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company's
additional investment in TW Common in 1999, other acquisitions of businesses and
capital expenditures. The increase in 1999 was partially offset by a decrease in
the average interest rate for long-term debt. The increase in 1998 from 1997 was
primarily attributable to the acquisition of Resources in August 1997 and the
acquisitions of non-rate regulated electric power plants and equity investments
in Latin America in 1998.
Income Tax Expense. The effective tax rate for 1999, 1998, and 1997 was
35.1%, 17.7%, and 32.8% respectively. After adjusting for the following unusual
and other charges: unrealized accounting gain on the investment in TW Common,
unrealized accounting loss on indexed debt securities, loss due to the
devaluation of the Brazilian real, and non-recurring interest income related to
a refund of federal income taxes in 1997, the adjusted effective tax rate for
1999, 1998, and 1997 was 33.0%, 37.9% and 33.1%, respectively. The decrease in
effective tax rate in 1999 compared
32
<PAGE> 35
to 1998 was primarily due to the discontinuance of SFAS No. 71, "Accounting for
the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation" (SFAS No. 71), for the generation
operations of Electric Operations. For information regarding the discontinuance
of SFAS No. 71 to the generation operations of Electric Operations, see Note 3
to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. The increase in effective
tax rate in 1998 from 1997 was primarily due to non-deductible goodwill
resulting from the acquisition of Resources in August 1997.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
All business segment data (other than data relating to Electric Operations)
is presented on a pro forma basis and reflects the acquisition of Resources as
if it had occurred at the beginning of 1997 and the acquisition of UNA as if it
had occurred at the beginning of 1999 and 1998.
The following table presents operating income on an actual basis and a pro
forma basis for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 (in millions).
Certain amounts from the previous years have been reclassified to conform to the
1999 presentation of the financial statements. Such reclassifications do not
affect consolidated earnings.
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACTUAL PRO FORMA
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1999 1998 1997
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Electric Operations ............... $ 981 $ 1,002 $ 985 $ 981 $ 1,002 $ 985
Natural Gas Distribution .......... 125 145 57 125 145 156
Interstate Pipelines .............. 113 128 32 113 128 99
Wholesale Energy .................. 45 59 1 45 59 (15)
Reliant Energy Europe ............. 32 139 173
Reliant Energy Latin America ...... (23) 182 20 (23) 182 17
Corporate ......................... (32) (50) (40) (32) (50) (36)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total Consolidated ................ $ 1,241 $ 1,466 $ 1,055 $ 1,348 $ 1,639 $ 1,206
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
ELECTRIC OPERATIONS
Electric Operations conducts operations under the name "Reliant Energy
HL&P," an unincorporated division of Reliant Energy. Electric Operations
generates, purchases, transmits and distributes electricity to approximately 1.7
million customers in a 5,000 square mile area on the Texas Gulf Coast, including
Houston, Texas, the nation's fourth largest city.
In June 1999, the Texas legislature adopted the Texas Electric Choice
Plan (Legislation) that substantially amends the regulatory structure governing
electric utilities in Texas in order to allow retail competition beginning on
January 1, 2002. Prior to adoption of the Legislation, Electric Operations'
earnings were capped at an agreed overall rate of return formula on a calendar
year basis as part of the transition to competition plan (Transition Plan)
approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (Texas Utility Commission)
effective January 1, 1998. As a result of the Transition Plan, any earnings
prior to the Legislation above the maximum allowed return cap on invested
capital were offset by additional depreciation of Electric Operations' electric
generation assets. The Transition Plan also approved the implementation of base
rate credits to residential customers of 4% in 1998 and an additional 2% in
1999. Commercial customers whose monthly billing is 1000 kva or less received
base rate credits of 2% in 1998 and 1999. For more information regarding the
Transition Plan, see Notes 1(g) and 4 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements. For more information regarding the Legislation, see Note 3 to the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
33
<PAGE> 36
The following table provides summary data regarding the actual results of
operations of Electric Operations for 1999, 1998 and 1997 (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
-------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating Revenues:
Base Revenues(1) ......................... $ 2,968 $ 2,969 $ 2,839
Reconcilable Fuel Revenues(2) ............ 1,515 1,381 1,413
-------- -------- --------
Total Operating Revenues ............... 4,483 4,350 4,252
-------- -------- --------
Operating Expenses:
Fuel and Purchased Power ................. 1,569 1,455 1,477
Operation and Maintenance ................ 916 890 885
Depreciation and Amortization Expense .... 667 663 582
Other Operating Expenses ................. 350 340 323
-------- -------- --------
Total Operating Expenses ............... 3,502 3,348 3,267
-------- -------- --------
Operating Income ............................ $ 981 $ 1,002 $ 985
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Includes miscellaneous revenues, certain non-reconcilable fuel revenues and
certain purchased power-related revenues.
(2) Includes revenues collected through a fixed fuel factor and surcharges net
of adjustments for over/under recovery of fuel. See "--Operating Revenues--
Electric Operations."
OPERATING INCOME - ELECTRIC OPERATIONS
1999 Compared to 1998. Electric Operations' operating income for the year
ended December 31, 1999 was $981 million compared to $1,002 million for the
same period in 1998. The $21 million decrease was primarily due to the effects
of milder weather and additional base rate credits provided under the Transition
Plan partially offset by continued strong customer growth.
1998 Compared to 1997. Electric Operations' 1998 operating income was
$1,002 million compared to $985 million the previous year. The increase of $17
million in operating income was due to higher revenues from the unusually hot
weather in 1998 and customer growth partially offset by base rate credits
provided under the Transition Plan.
OPERATING REVENUES - ELECTRIC OPERATIONS
1999 Compared to 1998. Electric Operations' base revenues were $2,968
million for 1999, a decrease of $1 million from 1998. The effects of milder
weather in 1999 as compared to 1998 and additional base rate credits in 1999
were offset by continued strong customer growth and increased usage per
customer. Total KWH sales were consistent between the two periods.
Electric Operations' 10% increase in reconcilable fuel revenue in 1999
resulted primarily from increased natural gas prices. The Texas Utility
Commission provides for recovery of certain fuel and purchased power costs
through a fixed fuel factor included in electric rates. Revenues collected
through such factor are adjusted monthly to equal expenses; therefore, such
revenues and expenses have no effect on earnings unless fuel costs are
determined not to be recoverable. The adjusted over/under recovery of fuel costs
is recorded on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets as deferred credits or
regulatory assets, respectively. Electric Operations filed a fuel reconciliation
proceeding with the Texas Utility Commission on January 30, 1998 covering $3.5
billion of fuel costs for the three year period ending July 31, 1997. In
December 1998, the Texas Utility Commission issued a final order that allowed
Electric Operations to recover eligible fuel costs for the three-year period
ending July
34
<PAGE> 37
31, 1997, with some exceptions including a disallowance of $12 million in fuel
expense relating to the three-year period ending July 31, 1997.
1998 Compared to 1997. Electric Operations' $130 million increase in 1998
base revenues over 1997 was primarily the result of unusually hot weather and
the impact of customer growth, net of base rate credits implemented under the
Transition Plan. In 1998, Electric Operations implemented a base rate credit
which reduced revenues by $74 million. Growth in usage and number of customers
contributed an additional $48 million in base revenues in 1998.
Electric Operations' 2% decrease in reconcilable fuel revenue in 1998
resulted primarily from decreased natural gas prices. The decrease in natural
gas prices, however, was largely offset by increased KWH sales resulting from
hotter weather in 1998.
FUEL AND PURCHASED POWER EXPENSE -- ELECTRIC OPERATIONS
Fuel costs constitute the single largest expense for Electric Operations.
The mix of fuel sources for generation of electricity is determined primarily by
system load and the unit cost of fuel consumed. The average cost of fuel used by
Electric Operations in 1999 was $1.87 per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu)
($2.47 for natural gas, $1.76 for coal, $1.42 for lignite, and $0.44 for
nuclear). The average cost of fuel used by Electric Operations in 1998 was $1.70
per MMBtu ($2.18 for natural gas, $1.78 for coal, $1.19 for lignite, and $0.48
for nuclear). The average cost of fuel used by Electric Operations in 1997 was
$1.87 per MMBtu ($2.60 for natural gas, $2.02 for coal, $1.08 for lignite and
$0.54 for nuclear).
1999 Compared to 1998. Fuel and purchased power expenses in 1999 increased
by $114 million or 8% over 1998 expenses. The increase is a result of higher
costs for natural gas and higher reconcilable cost per unit of lignite. The
increase resulting from higher unit cost of fuel was partially offset by a $12
million charge to non-reconcilable fuel in 1998 as discussed above.
1998 Compared to 1997. Fuel and purchased power expenses in 1998 decreased
by $22 million or 1% below 1997 expenses. The decrease was driven by a decrease
in the average unit cost of natural gas.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSES, DEPRECIATION, AMORTIZATION AND OTHER -
ELECTRIC OPERATIONS
1999 Compared to 1998. Operation, maintenance and other operating expenses
increased $36 million in 1999, including $38 million due to transmission tariffs
within ERCOT. A portion of these transmission expenses were offset by an
increase of $28 million in transmission tariff revenue. State franchise taxes
increased $13 million in 1999 compared to 1998.
1998 Compared to 1997. Operation, maintenance and other operating expenses
increased $22 million in 1998 compared to 1997, including $9 million due to
transmission tariffs within ERCOT. These transmission expenses were largely
offset by an increase of $7 million in transmission tariff revenue. Franchise
fees paid to cities increased $11 million due to increased sales in 1998.
In 1998, the Company recorded additional depreciation expense for Electric
Operations of $194 million, which is $144 million more than recorded during
1997, as provided by the Transition Plan. The comparative increase was mitigated
because amortization of the investment in lignite reserves associated with a
canceled generation project was $62 million lower in 1998 than in 1997. For
information regarding the depreciation and amortization expense of Electric
Operations recorded in 1999 and 1998 pursuant to the Legislation and Transition
Plan, see Notes 1(d), 1(g), 3 and 4 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements.
35
<PAGE> 38
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION
Natural Gas Distribution conducts operations through three divisions of
Resources Corp., Reliant Energy Arkla, Reliant Energy Entex and Reliant Energy
Minnegasco. Natural Gas Distribution's operations consist of intrastate natural
gas sales to, and natural gas transportation for residential, commercial and
industrial customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma
and Texas.
The Company has retained a financial advisor to assist it in evaluating
strategic alternatives for Reliant Energy Arkla and Reliant Energy Minnegasco,
including divestiture.
The following table provides summary data regarding the actual results of
operations of Natural Gas Distribution for 1999 and 1998 and unaudited pro forma
results of operations for 1997 (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACTUAL PRO FORMA
------------------------------- -------------
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------- -------------
1999 1998 1997
------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating Revenues:
Base Revenues ................................. $ 802 $ 845 $ 874
Recovered Gas Revenues ........................ 1,095 1,034 1,388
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Operating Revenues .................... 1,897 1,879 2,262
------------- ------------- -------------
Operating Expenses:
Natural Gas ................................... 1,102 1,085 1,440
Operation and Maintenance ..................... 453 426 439
Depreciation and Amortization ................. 132 131 125
Other Operating Expenses ...................... 85 92 102
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Operating Expenses .................... 1,772 1,734 2,106
------------- ------------- -------------
Operating Income ................................. $ 125 $ 145 $ 156
============= ============= =============
Throughput Data (in billion cubic feet (BCF)):
Residential and Commercial Sales .............. 287 286 326
Industrial Sales .............................. 56 56 59
Transportation ................................ 46 44 42
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Throughput ............................ 389 386 427
============= ============= =============
</TABLE>
1999 (Actual) Compared to 1998 (Actual). Natural Gas Distribution's
operating income was $125 million in 1999 compared to $145 million in 1998. The
$20 million decrease was primarily attributable to an increase in operating
expenses, in particular employee benefits, and costs associated with the
implementation of an enterprise wide information system.
The $18 million or 1% increase in 1999 operating revenues compared to 1998
is primarily due to an increase in the price of purchased gas. Mild weather in
1999 continued to negatively impact the demand for natural gas heating.
1998 (Actual) Compared to 1997 (Pro Forma). Operating income was $145
million in 1998 compared to pro forma operating income of $156 million in 1997.
The $11 million decrease reflects the lower demand for natural gas heating that
resulted from milder weather in 1998. The negative impact of weather was
partially offset by (i) the favorable impact of purchased gas adjustments during
this period on Reliant Energy Arkla's operating income, (ii) lower operating
expenses and (iii) increased revenue resulting from Reliant Energy Minnegasco's
performance based rate plan.
The $383 million decrease in 1998 actual operating revenues compared to
1997 pro forma operating revenues is primarily attributable to a decrease in the
price of purchased gas and decreased sales volume primarily due to milder
weather in 1998.
36
<PAGE> 39
INTERSTATE PIPELINES
Interstate Pipelines provides interstate gas transportation and related
services through two wholly owned subsidiaries of Resources Corp., Reliant
Energy Gas Transmission Company (REGT) and Mississippi River Transmission
Corporation (MRT).
The Company has retained a financial advisor to assist it in evaluating
strategic alternatives for Interstate Pipelines, including divestiture.
The following table provides summary data regarding the actual results of
operations of Interstate Pipelines for 1999 and 1998 and unaudited pro forma
results of operations for 1997 (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACTUAL PRO FORMA
-------------------------------- -------------
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------- -------------
1999 1998 1997
------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating Revenues ................. $ 275 $ 282 $ 295
Operating Expenses:
Natural Gas ..................... 27 32 51
Operation and Maintenance ....... 71 64 82
Depreciation and Amortization ... 49 44 48
Other Operating Expenses ........ 15 14 15
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Operating Expenses ...... 162 154 196
------------- ------------- -------------
Operating Income ................... $ 113 $ 128 $ 99
============= ============= =============
Throughput Data (in BCF):
Natural Gas Sales .................. 15 16 18
Transportation ..................... 836 825 911
Elimination(1) .................. (14) (15) (17)
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Throughput ................... 837 826 912
============= ============= =============
</TABLE>
- -------
(1) Elimination of volumes both transported and sold.
1999 (Actual) Compared to 1998 (Actual). Interstate Pipelines' operating
income for 1999 was $113 million compared to $128 million for 1998. The $15
million decrease was due primarily to the settlement of a dispute related to
certain gas purchase contracts that resulted in the recognition of $6 million of
revenues in 1998, a reduction in depreciation and amortization in 1998 of $5
million related to a rate case settlement and an increase in operating expenses
in 1999, primarily employee benefit expenses.
Operating revenue for Interstate Pipelines decreased by $7 million in 1999
compared to 1998. The decrease was primarily attributable to the settlement of
outstanding gas purchase contract litigation in 1998 as discussed above. Natural
gas expense decreased $5 million in 1999 compared to 1998 primarily due to
expiration of gas supply contracts. Operation and maintenance expense increased
$7 million in 1999 as compared to 1998 primarily due to increases in employee
benefit expenses. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $5 million in
1999 due to a rate settlement recorded in 1998 as discussed above. The rate
settlement, effective January 1998, provided for a $5 million reduction in MRT's
depreciation rates retroactive to July 1996.
1998 (Actual) Compared to 1997 (Pro Forma). Interstate Pipelines' operating
income for 1998 was $128 million compared to $99 million for 1997 on a pro forma
basis. The $29 million increase in operating income for 1998 is primarily due to
$11 million of pre-tax, non-recurring items recorded in 1998 for favorable
litigation and rate case settlements as discussed above. The increase in
operating income also reflects improved operating margins and reductions in
operating expenses. The increase in operating income for 1998 was partially
offset by $7 million of non-recurring transportation revenues recorded in the
first quarter of 1997, as discussed below.
37
<PAGE> 40
Operating revenues for Interstate Pipelines decreased by $13 million in
1998 compared to pro forma 1997 revenues. The decrease in revenues is due in
part to $7 million of non-recurring transportation revenues recognized in the
first quarter of 1997. These revenues were recognized following a settlement
with Reliant Energy Arkla related to transportation service. The settlement with
Reliant Energy Arkla resulted in reduced transportation rates which also reduced
revenues for 1998. Lower spot prices in 1998 and reduced sales volumes also
contributed to the reduction in operating revenues. These decreases were
partially offset by the settlement of outstanding gas purchase contract
litigation, which resulted in the recognition of approximately $6 million of
revenues in 1998 as discussed above. The 9% decline in total throughput
reflected the impact of unseasonably warm winter weather.
Interstate Pipelines' 1998 operating expenses declined $42 million in
comparison to 1997 pro forma operating expenses. Contributing to the decrease
were the MRT rate settlement in 1998, the impact of cost control initiatives and
reduced pension and benefit expenses.
Natural gas expense decreased $19 million in 1998 compared to pro forma
natural gas expense in 1997 primarily due to lower gas sales volumes and lower
prices for purchased gas. Operation and maintenance expense decreased $18
million in 1998 in comparison to pro forma operation and maintenance expense for
1997. The decrease was primarily due to the impact of cost control initiatives,
reduced pension and benefit expenses and decreased maintenance due to milder
weather in the first quarter of 1998. Depreciation expense decreased $4 million
in 1998 compared to pro forma depreciation expense in 1997 primarily due to a
rate settlement recorded in 1998.
During 1999 and 1998, Interstate Pipelines' largest unaffiliated customer
was a natural gas utility that serves the greater St. Louis metropolitan area in
Illinois and Missouri. Revenues from this customer are generated pursuant to
several long-term firm storage and transportation agreements that currently are
scheduled to expire at various dates between October 2000 and May 2001.
Interstate Pipelines is currently negotiating with the natural gas utility to
renew these agreements. If such contracts are not renewed, the results of
operations of Interstate Pipelines could be adversely affected.
WHOLESALE ENERGY
Wholesale Energy conducts its operations through (i) Reliant Energy Power
Generation, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, Power Generation), (ii)
Reliant Energy Services, Inc. (Reliant Energy Services) and (iii) Reliant Energy
Field Services, Inc.
The Company has retained a financial advisor to assist it in evaluating
strategic alternatives for Reliant Energy Field Services, Inc., including
divestiture.
Wholesale Energy includes the acquisition, development and operation of,
and sales of capacity, energy and ancillary services from domestic unregulated
power generation facilities; wholesale energy trading, marketing and risk
management activities in North America; and domestic natural gas gathering
activities. Power Generation acquires and develops non-rate regulated power
generation facilities. From March 1997 through December 31, 1999, the Company
invested approximately $611 million in the acquisition and development of
domestic non-rate regulated power generation projects. As of December 31, 1999,
Power Generation had entered into commitments associated with various domestic
generation projects amounting to $324 million along with commitments to acquire
various generating equipment totaling $318 million for delivery from 2000 to
2001 that are to be used in future development projects. In February 2000, Power
Generation signed a definitive agreement to purchase from Sithe Energies, Inc.
its non-rate regulated power generating assets and sites located in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland having a net generating capacity of more
than 4,200 megawatts for an aggregate purchase price of $2.1 billion, subject to
certain adjustments. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter
of 2000 and is subject to obtaining certain regulatory approvals and satisfying
other closing conditions. The Company expects that Power Generation will
actively pursue the acquisition of additional generation assets and the
development of additional new non-rate regulated generation projects. Depending
on the timing and success of Power Generation's future efforts, the Company
believes that resulting expenditures could be substantial.
38
<PAGE> 41
To minimize the Company's risks associated with fluctuations in the price
of natural gas and transportation, the Company, primarily through Reliant Energy
Services, enters into futures transactions, swaps and options in order to hedge
against market price changes affecting (i) certain commitments to buy, sell and
move electric power, natural gas, crude oil and refined products, (ii) existing
natural gas storage and heating oil inventory, (iii) future power sales and
natural gas purchases by generation facilities, (iv) crude oil and refined
products and (v) certain anticipated transactions, some of which carry
off-balance sheet risk. Reliant Energy Services also enters into commodity and
weather derivatives in its trading and price risk management activities. For a
discussion of the Company's accounting treatment of derivative instruments, see
Note 5 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and "Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" in Item 7A of this Form 10-K.
The Company believes that energy trading, marketing and risk management
activities complement its strategy of developing and/or acquiring non-rate
regulated generation assets in key markets. Reliant Energy Services purchases
fuel to supply Power Generation's existing generation assets and sells
electricity produced by these assets. As a result, the Company has made, and
expects to continue to make, significant investments in developing Reliant
Energy Services' infrastructure including software, trading and risk control
resources.
The following table provides summary data regarding the actual results of
operations of Wholesale Energy for 1999 and 1998 and unaudited pro forma results
of operations for 1997 (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACTUAL PRO FORMA
------------------------------- -------------
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------- -------------
1999 1998 1997
------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating Revenues ......................................................... $ 7,949 $ 4,456 $ 3,042
Operating Expenses:
Natural Gas ............................................................. 3,959 2,413 2,645
Purchased Power ......................................................... 3,729 1,829 313
Operation and Maintenance ............................................... 184 132 90
Depreciation and Amortization ........................................... 26 18 7
Other Operating Expenses ................................................ 6 5 2
------------- ------------- -------------
Total Operating Expenses ............................................ 7,904 4,397 3,057
------------- ------------- -------------
Operating Income ........................................................... $ 45 $ 59 $ (15)
============= ============= =============
Operations Data:
Natural Gas (in BCF):
Sales ................................................................. 1,820 1,164 958
Gathering ............................................................. 270 237 242
------------- ------------- -------------
Total ............................................................... 2,090 1,401 1,200
============= ============= =============
Electricity (in MMWH):
Wholesale Power Sales ................................................. 112.1 65.2 25.0
============= ============= =============
</TABLE>
1999 (Actual) Compared to 1998 (Actual). Wholesale Energy reported
operating income of $45 million compared to $59 million for 1998. The $14
million decrease was due primarily to a decline in market prices for electricity
in the California market caused by milder than normal weather and increased
hydroelectric generation sold into the California market by competitors. This
decline more than offset significant increases in operating income in the
trading and marketing operation of Wholesale Energy.
Operating revenues for Wholesale Energy were $7.9 billion in 1999, a 78%
increase from 1998. The increase in revenues was primarily due to increased
trading volumes for power, gas and oil, as well as higher sales prices for these
same commodities.
39
<PAGE> 42
Natural gas and purchased power expense increased $3.4 billion in 1999, an
81% increase from 1998. The increase was primarily due to the corresponding
increase in trading sales volumes. Trading and marketing margin percentages
remained consistent between the two periods. Operation and maintenance expenses
in 1999 increased $52 million from 1998. The increase was primarily due to
increased operating expenses for the California plants which were acquired in
May 1998, increased development costs, and higher levels of trading and
marketing staffing to support the higher sales and expanded marketing efforts.
Depreciation and amortization in 1999 increased $8 million from 1998 due
primarily to a full year of depreciation for the California plants as well as
additional assets placed into operation during 1999.
1998 (Actual) Compared to 1997 (Pro Forma). Wholesale Energy reported
operating income of $59 million in 1998 compared to a pro forma loss of $15
million in 1997. This $74 million increase was due to improved operating results
of both non-rate regulated generating assets and trading and marketing
activities. Capitalization of previously expensed development costs related to
successful project starts in Nevada, California and Texas also contributed to
the increase. These improved results were partially offset by increased
operating expenses in the trading and marketing operations, as discussed below.
In 1997, operating income was negatively affected by hedging losses associated
with sales under peaking contracts and losses from the sale of unhedged natural
gas held in storage in the first quarter of 1997 totaling $17 million.
Operating revenues in 1998 increased $1.4 billion, a 46% increase from pro
forma 1997 operating revenues, due almost entirely to an increase in wholesale
power sales.
Operating expense in 1998 increased $1.3 billion, or 44% compared to pro
forma operating expense for 1997 primarily due to $1.5 billion in increased
power costs related to energy trading and marketing activities. Natural gas
expenses in 1998 decreased $232 million, or 9%, compared to pro forma 1997 due
to the reduction in the price of natural gas in 1998. Operation and maintenance
expense increased $42 million, or 47%, in 1998 as compared to 1997 primarily due
to power plant acquisitions in California and costs associated with staffing
increases in the trading and marketing operation to support increased sales and
marketing efforts. Also contributing to the increase was an increase in a credit
reserve due to increased counterparty credit and performance risk associated
with higher prices and higher volatility in the electric power market recorded
in the second quarter of 1998.
RELIANT ENERGY EUROPE
The Company established its Reliant Energy Europe business segment in the
fourth quarter of 1999. Reliant Energy Europe owns, operates and sells power
from generation facilities in the Netherlands and plans to participate in the
emerging wholesale energy trading and marketing industry in the Netherlands and
other countries in Europe.
During 1999, the Company completed the first two phases of its acquisition
of UNA, a Dutch power generation company. The Company acquired 40% and 12% of
UNA's capital stock on October 7, 1999 and December 1, 1999, respectively. On
March 1, 2000, the Company purchased the remaining 48% of the shares of UNA. The
total purchase price of the acquisition was approximately $2.4 billion (based on
an exchange rate of 2.0565 NLG per U.S. dollar as of October 7, 1999), which
includes a $426 million promissory note to UNA. The Reliant Energy Europe
segment includes the operations of UNA and its subsidiaries and the operations
of Reliant Energy Trading & Marketing B.V. (Reliant Energy Marketing Europe),
which operations commenced in the fourth quarter of 1999. For additional
information about this acquisition, including the Company's accounting
treatment of the acquisition, see Note 2 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements.
40
<PAGE> 43
The following table provides summary data for the unaudited pro forma
results of operations of Reliant Energy Europe for 1999 and 1998 (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRO FORMA
---------------------
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
---------------------
1999 1998
-------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Operating Revenues ................. $ 634 $ 832
Operating Expenses:
Fuel and Purchased Power ........ 284 435
Operation and Maintenance ....... 126 136
Depreciation and Amortization ... 85 88
-------- --------
Total Operating Expenses ...... 495 659
-------- --------
Operating Income ................... $ 139 $ 173
======== ========
</TABLE>
1999 (Pro Forma) to 1998 (Pro Forma). For the year ended December 31, 1999,
pro forma operating income was $139 million compared to pro forma operating
income of $173 million in 1998. The $34 million decrease in operating income
between periods was primarily due to reduced revenues resulting from lower
regulated returns and recovery of costs. Operating expenses in 1999 associated
with the start-up costs of the European trading and marketing operations also
contributed to the decline.
Pro forma revenues declined in 1999 from 1998 due to lower regulated
returns and recovery of costs and due to the effects of milder weather and
competition from cogeneration and increased import power from other countries,
which reduced the generation of electricity from UNA's plants. Pro forma fuel
expenses declined in 1999 from 1998 primarily due to reduced production of
electricity, as discussed above. Operation and maintenance expenses decreased
due to cost control initiatives and lower ongoing maintenance expenses.
UNA, the other large Dutch generating companies and the Dutch distribution
companies are currently operating under various agreements which regulate, among
other things, the rates UNA may charge for its generation output. Under the
Cooperative Agreement (OvS Agreement), UNA and the other generators agreed to
sell their generating output to a national production pool (SEP) and, in return,
receive a standardized remuneration. The remuneration includes fuel cost,
capital cost and the cost of operations and maintenance expenses. UNA operates
under the protocol (Protocol) which is an agreement under which the generators
agreed to provide capacity and energy to distributors for a total payment of NLG
3.4 billion (approximately $1.6 billion U.S. dollars) over the period 1997
through 2000 plus compensation of actual fuel costs. The OvS will expire
substantially by the beginning of 2001. The Protocol, which was entered into in
order to facilitate the transition from a regulated energy market into an
unregulated energy market, will also expire substantially by the beginning of
2001.
Beginning 2001, UNA will begin operating in a deregulated market. Based on
current estimates, Reliant Energy anticipates that UNA will undergo a
significant decline in revenues in 2001 attributable to the deregulation of the
market. Another factor that will affect the operating results of Reliant Energy
Europe is the imposition in 2002 of standard Dutch corporate tax rates of 35% on
UNA. In 1999 and prior years, UNA was not subject to a corporate income tax.
For additional information on these and certain other factors that may
affect the future results of operations of Reliant Energy Europe, see "--
Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings of the Company -- Competition --
Reliant Energy Europe Operations."
41
<PAGE> 44
RELIANT ENERGY LATIN AMERICA
Reliant Energy Latin America includes the results of operations of Reliant
Energy International, Inc. (Reliant Energy International) and the international
operations of Resources (Resources International). Reliant Energy Latin America
participates in the privatization of generation and distribution facilities and
independent power projects primarily in Latin America.
Reliant Energy is evaluating selling the Company's Latin American assets in
order to pursue business opportunities that are in line with its strategies for
the U.S. and Western Europe.
For information regarding foreign currency matters, including the impact of
the devaluation of the Brazilian real in 1999, see Note 7 to the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements, "-- Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings
of the Company -- Risks of Operations in Emerging Markets" and "Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" in Item 7A of this Form 10-K. For
additional information about the accounting treatment of certain of
International's foreign investments, see Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements.
The following table provides summary data regarding the actual results of
operations of Reliant Energy Latin America for 1999 and 1998 and pro forma
results of operations for 1997 (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACTUAL PRO FORMA
-------------------------- -----------
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------- -----------
1999 1998 1997
---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating Revenues ..................... $ 80 $ 259 $ 92
Operating Expenses:
Fuel ................................. 49 25 21
Operation and Maintenance ............ 49 48 50
Depreciation and amortization ........ 5 4 4
---------- ---------- ----------
Total Operating Expenses ..... 103 77 75
---------- ---------- ----------
Operating Income (Loss) ................ $ (23) $ 182 $ 17
========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
1999 (Actual) Compared to 1998 (Actual). In 1999, Reliant Energy Latin
America had an operating loss of $23 million compared to operating income of
$182 million in 1998. The operating loss for 1999 includes a $102 million
(after-tax) loss resulting from the effect of the devaluation of the Brazilian
real on equity earnings of the Company's Brazilian investments. In addition, the
decrease was due to a $138 million pre-tax gain on the sale of a 63% interest in
an Argentine electric distribution company in 1998 partially offset by increased
contributions from Argener and EDESE, a cogeneration project and a utility in
Argentina, and increased equity earnings in 1999.
1998 (Actual) Compared to 1997 (Pro Forma). Reliant Energy Latin America
had operating income of $182 million in 1998 compared to pro forma operating
income of $17 million in 1997. The increase in operating income is primarily due
to a $138 million pre-tax gain on the sale discussed above. Equity earnings from
investments in utility systems in El Salvador and Colombia acquired in 1998 also
contributed to the increase in operating income.
42
<PAGE> 45
CORPORATE
Corporate includes the operations of certain non-rate regulated retail
services businesses, a communications business offering enhanced data, voice and
other services to customers in Texas, certain real estate holdings and
unallocated corporate costs.
Corporate had an operating loss of $32 million for 1999 compared to a $50
million operating loss for 1998. The decreased loss was primarily due to
decreased state franchise taxes partially offset by increased general insurance
liability and information system expenses.
Corporate incurred an operating loss of $50 million for 1998 compared to a
pro forma operating loss of $36 million for 1997. The increased loss was
primarily due to development costs, increased expenses associated with
information system costs and increased liabilities associated with certain
compensation plans.
43
<PAGE> 46
CERTAIN FACTORS AFFECTING FUTURE EARNINGS OF THE COMPANY
Earnings for the past three years are not necessarily indicative of future
earnings and results. The level of future earnings depends on numerous factors
including (i) state and federal legislative or regulatory developments, (ii)
national or regional economic conditions, (iii) industrial, commercial and
residential growth in service territories of the Company, (iv) the timing and
extent of changes in commodity prices and interest rates, (v) weather variations
and other natural phenomena, (vi) growth in opportunities for the Company's
diversified operations, (vii) the results of financing efforts, (viii) the
ability to consummate and timing of consummation of pending acquisitions and
dispositions, (ix) the speed, degree and effect of continued electric industry
restructuring in North America and Western Europe, and (x) risks incidental to
the Company's overseas operations, including the effects of fluctuations in
foreign currency exchange rates.
In order to adapt to the increasingly competitive environment, the Company
continues to evaluate a wide array of potential business strategies, including
business combinations or acquisitions involving other utility or non-utility
businesses or properties, internal restructuring, reorganizations or
dispositions of currently owned businesses and new products, services and
customer strategies.
COMPETITION AND RESTRUCTURING OF THE TEXAS ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY
The electric utility industry is becoming increasingly competitive due to
changing government regulations, technological developments and the availability
of alternative energy sources.
Texas Electric Choice Plan. In June 1999, the Texas legislature adopted
legislation that substantially amends the regulatory structure governing
electric utilities in Texas in order to allow retail competition beginning with
respect to pilot projects for up to 5% of each utility's load in all customer
classes in June 2001 and for all other customers on January 1, 2002. In
preparation for that competition, the Company expects to make significant
changes in the electric utility operations it conducts through Reliant Energy
HL&P. Under the Legislation, on January 1, 2002, most retail customers of
investor-owned electric utilities in Texas will be entitled to purchase their
electricity from any of a number of "retail electric providers" which will have
been certified by the Texas Utility Commission. Power generators will sell
electric energy to wholesale purchasers, including retail electric providers, at
unregulated rates beginning January 1, 2002. For further information regarding
the Legislation, see Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
Stranded Costs. Pursuant to the Legislation, Reliant Energy HL&P will be
entitled to recover its stranded costs (i.e., the excess of net book value of
generation assets, as defined by the Legislation, over the market value of those
assets) and its regulatory assets related to generation. The Legislation
prescribes specific methods for determining the amount of stranded costs and the
details for their recovery. However, during the base rate freeze period from
1999 through 2001, earnings above the utility's authorized return formula will
be applied in a manner to accelerate depreciation of generation related plant
assets for regulatory purposes. In addition, depreciation expense for
transmission and distribution related assets may be redirected to generation
assets for regulatory purposes during that period. The Legislation also provides
for Reliant Energy HL&P, or a special purpose entity, to issue securitization
bonds for the recovery of generation related regulatory assets and stranded
costs. Any stranded costs not recovered through the securitization bonds will be
recovered through a non-bypassable charge to transmission and distribution
customers.
Accounting. At June 30, 1999, the Company performed an impairment test of
its previously regulated electric generation assets pursuant to SFAS No. 121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to
be Disposed Of", on a plant specific basis. The Company determined that $797
million of electric generation assets were impaired as of June 30, 1999. Of such
amounts, $745 million relate to the South Texas Project and $52 million relate
to two gas-fired generation plants. The Legislation provides recovery of this
impairment through regulated cash flows during the transition period and
through non-bypassable charges to transmission and distribution customers. As
such, a regulatory asset has been recorded for an amount equal to the impairment
loss and is included on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets as a
regulatory asset.
44
<PAGE> 47
The impairment analysis requires estimates of possible future market
prices, load growth, competition and many other factors over the lives of the
plants. The resulting impairment loss is highly dependent on these underlying
assumptions. In addition, after January 10, 2004, Reliant Energy HL&P must
finalize and reconcile stranded costs (as defined by the Legislation) in a
filing with the Texas Utility Commission. Any difference between the fair market
value and the regulatory net book value of the generation assets (as defined by
the Legislation) will either be refunded or collected through future
transmission and distribution rates. This final reconciliation allows
alternative methods of third party valuation of the fair market value of these
assets, including outright sale, stock valuations and asset exchanges. Because
generally accepted accounting principles require the Company to estimate fair
market values on a plant-by-plant basis in advance of the final reconciliation,
the financial impacts of the Legislation with respect to stranded costs are
subject to material changes. Factors affecting such change may include
estimation risk, uncertainty of future energy prices and the economic lives of
the plants. If events occur that make the recovery of all or a portion of the
regulatory assets associated with the generation plant impairment loss and
deferred debits created from discontinuance of SFAS No. 71, "Accounting for the
Effects of Certain Types of Regulation" pursuant to the Legislation no longer
probable, the Company will write off the corresponding balance of such assets as
a non-cash charge against earnings.
In the fourth quarter of 1999, Reliant Energy HL&P filed an application to
securitize its generation related regulatory assets as defined by the
Legislation. The Texas Utility Commission, Reliant Energy HL&P and other
interested parties have been discussing proposed methodologies for calculating
the amount of such assets to be securitized. The parties have reached an
agreement in principle as to the amount to be securitized, which reflects the
economic value of the nominal book amount which prior to the deregulation
legislation would have been collected through rates over a much longer time
period. The Company has determined that a pre-tax accounting loss of $282
million exists. Therefore, the Company recorded an after-tax extraordinary loss
of $183 million for this accounting impairment of these regulatory assets in
1999.
Transmission System Open Access. In February 1996, the Texas Utility
Commission adopted rules granting third-party users of transmission systems open
access to such systems at rates, terms and conditions comparable to those
available to utilities owning such transmission assets. Under the Texas Utility
Commission order implementing the rule, Reliant Energy HL&P was required to
separate, on an operational basis, its wholesale power marketing operations from
the operations of the transmission grid and, for purposes of transmission
pricing, to disclose each of its separate costs of generation, transmission and
distribution. Within ERCOT, an independent system operator (ISO) manages the
state's electric grid, ensuring system reliability and providing
non-discriminatory transmission access to all power producers and traders.
Transition Plan. In June 1998, the Texas Utility Commission approved the
Transition Plan filed by Reliant Energy HL&P in December 1997. Certain parties
have appealed the order approving the Transition Plan. The provisions of the
Transition Plan expired by their own terms as of December 31, 1999. For
additional information, see Note 4 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements.
COMPETITION -- RELIANT ENERGY EUROPE OPERATIONS
The European energy market is highly competitive. In addition, over the
next several years, an increasing consolidation of the participants in the Dutch
generating market is expected to occur.
Reliant Energy Europe competes in the Netherlands primarily against the
three other largest Dutch generating companies, various cogenerators of electric
power, various alternate sources of power and non-Dutch generators of electric
power, primarily from Germany. At present, the Dutch electricity system has
three operational interconnection points with Germany and two interconnection
points with Belgium. There are also a number of projects that are at various
stages of development and that may increase the number of interconnections in
the future including interconnections with Norway and the United Kingdom. The
Belgian interconnections are used to import electricity from France but a larger
portion of Dutch imports comes from Germany. In 1998, net power imports into the
Netherlands were approximately 11.7 terawatt hours. Based on current
information, it is estimated that net power imports into the Netherlands in 1999
increased significantly from 1998.
45
<PAGE> 48
In 1999, UNA and the three other largest Dutch generators supplied
approximately 60% of the electricity consumed in the Netherlands. Smaller Dutch
producers supplied about 28% and the remainder was imported. The Dutch
electricity market is expected to be gradually opened for wholesale competition
including certain commercial and industrial customers beginning in 2001.
Competition is expected to increase in subsequent years and it is anticipated
that the market for small businesses and residential customers will become open
to competition by 2007. The timing of the opening of these markets is subject,
however, to change at the discretion of the Minister of Economic Affairs.
The trading and marketing operations of Reliant Energy Europe will also be
subject to increasing levels of competition. As of March 1, 2000, there were
approximately 25 trading and marketing companies registered with the Amsterdam
Power Exchange. Competition for marketing customers is intense and is expected
to increase with the deregulation of the market. The primary elements of
competition in both the generation and trading and marketing side of Reliant
Energy Europe's business operations are price, credit-support and supply and
delivery reliability.
COMPETITION -- OTHER OPERATIONS
Wholesale Energy. By the third quarter of 2000, Reliant Energy expects that
the Company will own and operate over 8,000 MW of non-rate regulated electric
generation assets that serve the wholesale energy markets located in the states
of California and Florida, and the Southwest, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions
of the United States. Competitive factors affecting the results of operations of
these generation assets include: new market entrants, construction by others of
more efficient generation assets, the actions of regulatory authorities and
weather.
Other competitors operate power generation projects in most of the regions
where the Company has invested in non-rate regulated generation assets. Although
local permitting and siting issues often reduce the risk of a rapid growth in
supply of generation capacity in any particular region, over time, projects are
likely to be built which will increase competition and lower the value of some
of the Company's non-rate regulated electric generation assets.
The regulatory environment of the wholesale energy markets in which the
Company invests may adversely affect the competitive conditions of those
markets. In several regions, notably California and in the PJM Power Pool Region
(in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States), the independent system
operators have chosen to rely on price caps and market redesigns as a way of
minimizing market volatility.
The results of operations of the Company's non-rate regulated generation
assets are also affected by the weather conditions in the relevant wholesale
energy markets. Extreme seasonal weather conditions typically increase the
demand for wholesale energy. Conversely, mild weather conditions typically have
the opposite effect. In some regions, especially California, weather conditions
associated with hydroelectric generation resources such as rainfall and snowpack
can significantly influence market prices for electric power by increasing or
decreasing the availability and timing of hydro-based generation which is
imported into the California market.
Competition for acquisition of international and domestic non-rate
regulated power projects is intense. The Company competes against a number of
other participants in the non-utility power generation industry, some of which
have greater financial resources and have been engaged in non-utility power
projects for periods longer than the Company and have accumulated larger
portfolios of projects. Competitive factors relevant to the non-utility power
industry include financial resources, access to non-recourse funding and
regulatory factors.
Reliant Energy Services competes for sales in its natural gas, electric
power and other energy derivatives trading and marketing business with other
energy merchants, producers and pipelines based on its ability to aggregate
supplies at competitive prices from different sources and locations and to
efficiently utilize transportation from third-party pipelines and transmission
from electric utilities. Reliant Energy Services also competes against other
energy marketers on the basis of its relative financial position and access to
credit sources. This competitive factor reflects the tendency of energy
customers, wholesale energy suppliers and transporters to seek financial
guarantees and other assurances that
46
<PAGE> 49
their energy contracts will be satisfied. As pricing information becomes
increasingly available in the energy trading and marketing business and as
deregulation in the electricity markets continues to accelerate, the Company
anticipates that Reliant Energy Services will experience greater competition and
downward pressure on per-unit profit margins in the energy marketing industry.
Natural Gas Distribution. Natural Gas Distribution competes primarily with
alternate energy sources such as electricity and other fuel sources. In
addition, as a result of federal regulatory changes affecting interstate
pipelines, it has become possible for other natural gas suppliers and
distributors to bypass Natural Gas Distribution's facilities and market, sell
and/or transport natural gas directly to small commercial and/or large volume
customers.
Interstate Pipelines. The Interstate Pipelines segment competes with other
interstate and intrastate pipelines in the transportation and storage of natural
gas. The principal elements of competition among pipelines are rates, terms of
service, and flexibility and reliability of service. Interstate Pipelines
competes indirectly with other forms of energy available to its customers,
including electricity, coal and fuel oils. The primary competitive factor is
price. Changes in the availability of energy and pipeline capacity, the level of
business activity, conservation and governmental regulations, the capability to
convert to alternative fuels, and other factors, including weather, affect the
demand for natural gas in areas served by Interstate Pipelines and the level of
competition for transport and storage services.
FLUCTUATIONS IN COMMODITY PRICES AND DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
For information regarding the Company's exposure to risk as a result of
fluctuations in commodity prices and derivative instruments, see "Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" in Item 7A of this Report.
INDEXED DEBT SECURITIES (ACES AND ZENS) AND TIME WARNER INVESTMENT
For information on Reliant Energy's indexed debt securities and its
investment in TW Common, see "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
Market Risk" in Item 7A of this Report and Note 8 to the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements.
IMPACT OF THE YEAR 2000 ISSUE AND OTHER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
In 1997, the Company initiated a corporate-wide Year 2000 project to
address mainframe application systems, information technology (IT) related
equipment, system software, client-developed applications, building controls and
non-IT embedded systems such as process controls for energy production and
delivery. The evaluation of Year 2000 issues included those related to
significant customers, key vendors, service suppliers and other parties material
to the Company's operations.
Remediation and testing of all systems and equipment were completed during
1999. The Company did not experience any Year 2000 problems that significantly
affected the operations of the Company. The Company will continue to monitor and
assess potential future problems. Total direct costs of resolving the Year 2000
issue with respect to the Company were $29 million.
The Company is in the process of implementing SAP America, Inc.'s (SAP)
proprietary R/3 enterprise software. Although the implementation of the SAP
system had the incidental effect of negating the need to modify many of the
Company's computer systems to accommodate the Year 2000 problem, the Company
does not deem the costs of the SAP system as directly related to its Year 2000
compliance program. Portions of the SAP system were implemented in December
1998, March 1999 and September 1999, and it is expected that the final portion
of the SAP system will be fully implemented by the fourth quarter of 2002. The
cost of implementing the SAP system is currently estimated to be approximately
$237 million, inclusive of internal costs. As of December 31, 1999, $192 million
has been spent on the implementation.
47
<PAGE> 50
ENTRY INTO THE EUROPEAN MARKET
Reliant Energy Europe owns, operates and sells power from generation
facilities in the Netherlands and plans to participate in the emerging wholesale
energy trading and marketing industry in the Netherlands and other countries in
Europe. Reliant Energy expects that the Dutch electric industry will undergo
change in response to market deregulation in 2001. These expected changes
include the anticipated expiration of certain transition agreements which have
governed the basic tariff rates that UNA and other generators have charged their
customers. Based on current forecasts and other assumptions, the revenues of UNA
could decline significantly from 1999 revenues after 2000.
One of the factors that could have a significant impact on the Dutch energy
industry, including the operations of UNA, is the ultimate resolution of
stranded cost issues in the Netherlands. The Dutch government is currently
seeking to establish a transitional regime in order to solve the problem of
stranded costs, which relate primarily to investments and contracts entered into
by SEP and certain licensed generators prior to the liberalization of the
market. SEP is owned in equal shares by each of the four large Dutch generating
companies, including UNA.
In connection with the acquisition of UNA, the selling shareholders of UNA
agreed to indemnify UNA for certain stranded costs in an amount not to exceed
NLG 1.4 billion (approximately $639 million based on an exchange rate of 2.19
NLG per U.S. dollar as of December 31, 1999), which may be increased in certain
circumstances at the option of the Company up to NLG 1.9 billion (approximately
$868 million). Of the total consideration paid by the Company for the shares of
UNA, NLG 900 million (approximately $411 million) has been placed by the selling
shareholders in an escrow account to secure the indemnity obligations. Although
Reliant Energy believes that the indemnity provision will be sufficient to cover
UNA's ultimate share of any stranded cost obligation, this belief is based on
numerous assumptions regarding the ultimate outcome and timing of the resolution
of the stranded cost issue, the existing shareholders timely performance of
their obligations under the indemnity arrangement, and the amount of stranded
costs which at present is not determinable.
The Dutch government is expected to propose a legislative initiative
regarding stranded costs to the Dutch cabinet in March 2000. The proposed
legislation will be sent to the Dutch council of state for review. It is not
anticipated that the legislation will be reviewed by parliament until late in
the summer of 2000.
For information about the Company's exposure through its investment in
Reliant Energy Europe to losses resulting from fluctuations in currency rates,
see "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" in Item 7A of
this Form 10-K.
RISK OF OPERATIONS IN EMERGING MARKETS
Reliant Energy Latin America's operations are subject to various risks
incidental to investing or operating in emerging market countries. These risks
include political risks, such as governmental instability, and economic risks,
such as fluctuations in currency exchange rates, restrictions on the
repatriation of foreign earnings and/or restrictions on the conversion of local
currency earnings into U.S. dollars. The Company's Latin American operations are
also highly capital intensive and, thus, dependent to a significant extent on
the continued availability of bank financing and other sources of capital on
commercially acceptable terms.
Impact of Currency Fluctuations on Company Earnings. The Company owns
11.78% of the stock of Light Servicos de Eletricidade S.A. (Light) and, through
its investment in Light, a 9.2% interest in the stock of Metropolitana
Electricidade de Sao Paulo S.A. (Metropolitana). As of December 31, 1999 and
1998, Light and Metropolitana had total borrowings of $2.9 billion and $3.2
billion, respectively, denominated in non-local currencies. During the first
quarter of 1999, the Brazilian real was devalued and allowed to float against
other major currencies. The effects of devaluation on the non-local currency
denominated borrowings caused the Company to record an after-tax charge for the
year ended December 31, 1999 of $102 million as a result of foreign currency
transaction losses recorded by both Light and Metropolitana in such periods. For
additional information regarding the effect of the devaluation of the Brazilian
real, see Note 7(a) in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
48
<PAGE> 51
Light's and Metropolitana's tariff adjustment mechanisms are not directly
indexed to the U.S. dollar or other non-local currencies. To partially offset
the devaluation of the Brazilian real, and the resulting increased operating
costs and inflation, Light and Metropolitana received tariff rate increases of
16% and 21%, respectively, which were phased in during June and July 1999. Light
also received its annual rate adjustment in November 1999 resulting in a tariff
rate increase of 11%. The Company is pursuing additional tariff increases to
mitigate the impact of the devaluation; however, there can be no assurance that
such adjustments will be timely or that they will permit substantial recovery of
the impact of the devaluation.
Certain of Reliant Energy Latin America's other foreign electric
distribution companies have incurred U.S. dollar and other non-local currency
indebtedness (approximately $600 million at December 31, 1999). For further
analysis of foreign currency fluctuations in the Company's earnings and cash
flows, see "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk --
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk" in Item 7A of this Form 10-K.
Impact of Foreign Currency Devaluation on Projected Capital Resources. The
ability of Light and Metropolitana to repay or refinance their debt obligations
at maturity is dependent on many factors, including local and international
economic conditions prevailing at the time such debt matures. If economic
conditions in the international markets continue to be unsettled or deteriorate,
it is possible that Light, Metropolitana and the other foreign electric
distribution companies in which the Company holds investments might encounter
difficulties in refinancing their debt (both local currency and non-local
currency borrowings) on terms and conditions that are commercially acceptable to
them and their shareholders. In such circumstances, in lieu of declaring a
default or extending the maturity, it is possible that lenders might seek to
require, among other things, higher borrowing rates, and additional equity
contributions and/or increased levels of credit support from the shareholders of
such entities. For a discussion of the Company's anticipated capital
contributions in 2000, see "-- Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Future Sources
and Uses of Cash Flows -- Reliant Energy Latin America Capital Contributions and
Advances." In 2000, $1.6 billion of debt obligations of Light and Metropolitana
will mature. The availability or terms of refinancing such debt cannot be
assured. Currency fluctuation and instability affecting Latin America may also
adversely affect the Company's ability to refinance its equity investments with
debt.
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPENDITURES
The Company is subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations,
which require it to incur substantial costs to operate existing facilities,
construct and operate new facilities, and mitigate or remove the effect of
past operations on the environment.
Clean Air Act Expenditures. The Company expects the majority of capital
expenditures associated with environmental matters to be incurred by Electric
Operations in connection with new emission limitations under the Federal Clean
Air Act (Clean Air Act) for oxides of nitrogen (NOx). NOx reduction costs
incurred by Electric Operations generating units in the Houston, Texas area
totaled approximately $7 million in 1999 and $7 million in 1998. The Texas
Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) is currently considering
additional NOx reduction requirements for electric generating units and other
industrial sources located in the Houston metropolitan area and the eastern half
of Texas as a means to attain the Clean Air Act standard for ozone. Although the
magnitude and timing of these requirements will not be established by the TNRCC
until November, 2000, NOx reductions approaching 90% of the emissions level are
anticipated. Expenditures for NOx controls on Electric Operations' generating
units have been estimated at $500 million to $600 million during the period 2000
through 2003, with an estimated $80 million to be incurred during 2000. In
addition, the Legislation created a program mandating air emissions reductions
for certain generating facilities of Electric Operations. The Legislation
provides for stranded cost recovery for costs associated with this obligation
incurred before May 1, 2003. For further information regarding the Legislation,
see Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
49
<PAGE> 52
Site Remediation Expenditures. From time to time the Company has received
notices from regulatory authorities or others regarding its status as a
potentially responsible party in connection with sites found to require
remediation due to the presence of environmental contaminants. Based on
currently available information, Reliant Energy believes that remediation costs
will not materially affect its financial position, results of operations or cash
flows. There can be no assurance, however, that future developments, including
additional information about existing sites or the identification of new sites,
will not require material revisions to Reliant Energy's estimates. For
information about specific sites that are the subject of remediation claims, see
Note 14(h) to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and Note 8(d) to
Resources' Consolidated Financial Statements.
Mercury Contamination. Like other natural gas pipelines, the Company's
pipeline operations have in the past employed elemental mercury in meters used
on its pipelines. Although the mercury has now been removed from the meters, it
is possible that small amounts of mercury have been spilled at some of those
sites in the course of normal maintenance and replacement operations and that
such spills have contaminated the immediate area around the meters with
elemental mercury. Such contamination has been found by Resources at some sites
in the past, and the Company has conducted remediation at sites found to be
contaminated. Although the Company is not aware of additional specific sites, it
is possible that other contaminated sites exist and that remediation costs will
be incurred for such sites. Although the total amount of such costs cannot be
known at this time, based on experience of the Company and others in the natural
gas industry to date and on the current regulations regarding remediation of
such sites, the Company believes that the cost of any remediation of such sites
will not be material to the Company's or Resources' financial position, results
of operations or cash flows.
Other. In addition, the Company has been named as a defendant in litigation
related to such sites and in recent years has been named, along with numerous
others, as a defendant in several lawsuits filed by a large number of
individuals who claim injury due to exposure to asbestos while working at sites
along the Texas Gulf Coast. Most of these claimants have been workers who
participated in construction of various industrial facilities, including power
plants, and some of the claimants have worked at locations owned by the Company.
The Company anticipates that additional claims like those received may be
asserted in the future and intends to continue its practice of vigorously
contesting claims which it does not consider to have merit. Although their
ultimate outcome cannot be predicted at this time, the Company does not believe,
based on its experience to date, that these matters, either individually or in
the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
OTHER CONTINGENCIES
For a description of certain other legal and regulatory proceedings
affecting the Company, see Notes 3, 4 and 14 to the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements and Note 8 to Resources' Consolidated Financial Statements.
50
<PAGE> 53
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
COMPANY CONSOLIDATED CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
The liquidity and capital requirements of the Company are affected
primarily by capital programs and debt service requirements. Expenditures in the
table reflect only expenditures made or to be made under existing contractual
commitments as of December 31, 1999. The Company expects to continue to
participate as a bidder in future acquisitions of independent power projects and
privatizations of generation facilities. Such capital requirements are expected
to be met with excess cash flows from operations, the proceeds of project
financings and the proceeds of Company borrowings. Additional capital
expenditures are dependent upon the nature and extent of future project
commitments (some of which may be substantial). The capital requirements for
1999 were, and as estimated for 2000 through 2004 are, as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 2000 (1) 2001 2002 2003 2004
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Electric Operations (with nuclear fuel) (2) .............. $ 573 $ 722 $ 885 $ 520 $ 524 $ 528
Natural Gas Distribution ................................. 206 197 161 162 162 165
Interstate Pipelines ..................................... 30 20 17 17 17 17
Wholesale Energy (2)(3) .................................. 530 720 225 265 192 126
Reliant Energy Europe .................................... 834 980 5 5 5 5
Reliant Energy Latin America ............................. 93
Corporate ................................................ 90 86 87 84 86 104
Payments of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements
and minimum capital lease (1) ......................... 936 409 773 670 741 58
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total ............................................... $ 3,292 $ 3,134 $ 2,153 $ 1,723 $ 1,727 $ 1,003
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
- -------
(1) Excludes the ACES (see Note 8 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements) as the ACES may be settled with the Company's investment in TW
Common.
(2) Beginning in 2002, capital requirements for current generation operations
of Reliant Energy HL&P are included in Wholesale Energy rather than in
Electric Operations.
(3) Amounts do not reflect capital requirements related to the $2.1 billion
cost of the pending Sithe power generating assets acquisition described in
Note 19 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
The net cash provided by/used in operating, investing and financing
activities for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 is as follows
(in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
--------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities ........... $ 1,162 $ 1,425 $ 1,111
Investing activities ........... (2,897) (1,230) (1,981)
Financing activities ........... 1,794 (218) 914
</TABLE>
Net cash provided by operations in 1999 decreased $263 million compared to
1998 reflecting a $142 million federal tax refund received in 1998 and other
changes in working capital. Net cash provided by operations in 1998 increased
$314 million over 1997 primarily due to incremental cash flow provided by the
business segments purchased in the Resources acquisition, increased sales at
Electric Operations due to unusually hot weather during the second and third
quarters of 1998, and the receipt of a federal tax refund in 1998.
Net cash used in investing activities increased $1.7 billion in 1999
compared to 1998 primarily due to the cash portion of the purchase price for 52%
of UNA totaling $833 million, the purchase of 9.2 million shares of TW Common
for $537 million, increased capital expenditures and the sale of an investment
in an Argentine electric distribution
51
<PAGE> 54
company in 1998 partially offset by equity investments made in 1998 by Reliant
Energy Latin America. Net cash used in investing activities decreased $751
million in 1998 compared to 1997 due primarily to the Resources acquisition in
1997.
Cash flows provided by financing activities increased approximately $2.0
billion in 1999 primarily due to cash received from short-term borrowings, the
net issuance of long-term debt and the issuance of trust preferred securities
aggregating $2.3 billion (see Notes 10 and 11 to the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements), partially offset by $91 million of purchases of Reliant
Energy's common stock. The net borrowings incurred during 1999 were utilized to
purchase TW Common, to complete the first and second phases of the acquisition
of UNA, to support increased capital expenditures, and to fund the working
capital requirements of the Company. Cash flows provided by financing activities
decreased approximately $1.1 billion in 1998 compared to 1997 primarily due to a
decline in short-term borrowings of $1.1 billion. The net borrowings incurred
during 1997 were utilized primarily to finance a portion of the cost of the
Resources acquisition.
FUTURE SOURCES AND USES OF CASH FLOWS
Credit Facilities. As of December 31, 1999, the Company had credit
facilities, including facilities of various financing subsidiaries, Resources
and UNA, which provide for an aggregate of $3.7 billion in committed credit. As
of December 31, 1999, $2.7 billion was outstanding under these facilities,
including commercial paper of $1.8 billion. Unused credit facilities totaled
$1.0 billion as of December 31, 1999. For further discussion, see Note 10(a) to
the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. In February 2000, a financing
subsidiary of the Company borrowed $500 million under a $650 million revolving
credit facility that was established in February 2000 and will terminate on
April 30, 2000. Proceeds were used by the financing subsidiary to purchase
Series G Preference Stock of Reliant Energy. The Company used the proceeds from
the sale of Preference Stock for general corporate purposes, including the
repayment of indebtedness. In addition, in March 2000, the Company borrowed $150
million under a revolving credit facility that was established in February 2000
and will terminate on May 31, 2000. The Company used the proceeds from the
borrowing for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of
indebtedness.
Shelf Registrations. At December 31, 1999, the Company had shelf
registration statements providing for the issuance of $230 million aggregate
liquidation value of its preferred stock, $580 million aggregate principal
amount of its debt securities and $125 million of trust preferred securities and
related junior subordinated debt securities (see Note 11 to the Company's
consolidated financial statements). In addition, the Company has a shelf
registration for 15 million shares of common stock which would have been worth
approximately $343 million as of December 31, 1999 based on the closing price of
the common stock as of such date.
Money Fund. Reliant Energy has a "money fund" through which it and certain
of its subsidiaries can borrow or invest on a short-term basis. Funding needs
are aggregated and borrowing or investing is based on the net cash position. The
money fund's net funding requirements are generally met with commercial paper.
Securitization. Reliant Energy HL&P has filed an application with the Texas
Utility Commission requesting a financing order authorizing the issuance by a
special purpose entity organized by the Company, pursuant to the Legislation, of
transition bonds relating to Reliant Energy HL&P's generation related regulatory
assets. The Company estimates that approximately $750 million of transition
bonds will be authorized by the Texas Utility Commission. Payments on the
transition bonds will be made out of funds derived from non-bypassable
transition charges assessed to Reliant Energy HL&P's transmission and
distribution customers. The offering and sale of the transition bonds will be
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and, absent any appeals, are
expected to be consummated in the second or third quarter of 2000. The
transition bonds will only be offered and sold by means of a prospectus. This
report does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to
buy nor will there by any sale of the transition bonds in any state in which
such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification under the securities laws of such state.
Acquisition of UNA. The Company completed the first and second phases of
the acquisition of 52% of UNA in the fourth quarter of 1999 which consisted of
total consideration of $833 million in cash and $426 million in a five-year
promissory note to UNA. The promissory note must be prepaid in certain
circumstances. On March 1, 2000, the remaining 48% of the UNA shares were
purchased for approximately $975 million in cash. The total purchase price,
payable in NLG, of
52
<PAGE> 55
approximately $2.4 billion includes the $426 million promissory note to UNA and
assumes an exchange rate of 2.0565 NLG per U.S. dollar (the exchange rate on
October 7, 1999). Funds for the March 1, 2000 obligation were obtained, in part,
from a Euro 600 million (approximately $596 million) three-year term loan
facility established in February 2000.
Acquisition of Sithe Assets. In February 2000, Power Generation signed a
definitive agreement to purchase from Sithe Energies, Inc. non-rate regulated
power generating assets and sites located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and
Maryland having a net generating capacity of more than 4,200 MW for an aggregate
purchase price of approximately $2.1 billion, subject to certain adjustments.
The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2000 subject to
obtaining certain regulatory approvals and satisfying other closing conditions.
The acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase. The Company has executed
bank commitment letters and expects to enter into a bridge loan prior to
obtaining permanent financing. The permanent financing is likely to include an
operating lease covering a portion of the generating assets.
Treasury Stock Purchases. As of December 31, 1999, the Company was
authorized under its common stock repurchase program to purchase an additional
$298 million of its common stock. The Company's purchases under its repurchase
program depend on market conditions, might not be announced in advance and may
be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions. For information on
the Company's purchases since December 31, 1999, see Note 19 to the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Reliant Energy Latin America Capital Contributions and Advances. Reliant
Energy Latin America expects to make capital contributions or advances in 2000
totaling approximately $108 million as a result of debt service payments at
certain of its holding companies. It is expected that part of these capital
contributions will be paid from a return of capital from one of its investments,
dividends from certain of its operating companies, proceeds from the sale of
certain of its investments and from additional capital contributions from
Reliant Energy.
Channelview Project. The Company's 780 MW gas-fired cogeneration plant
located in Channelview, Texas, which is currently under construction, is
expected to cost $463 million, $71 million of which had been incurred as of
December 31, 1999. The project has been financed through obtaining commitments
for an equity bridge loan of $92 million and a non-recourse loan of $369
million.
Other Sources/Uses of Cash. The Company participates from time to time in
competitive bids and the development of new projects for generating and
distribution assets. Although the Company believes that its current level of
cash and borrowing capability along with future cash flows from operations are
sufficient to meet the existing operational needs of its businesses, the Company
may, when it deems necessary, or when it develops or acquires new businesses and
assets, supplement its available cash resources by seeking funds in the equity
or debt markets.
NEW ACCOUNTING ISSUES
Effective January 1, 2001, the Company is required to adopt Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting For Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities," as amended (SFAS No. 133), which establishes accounting
and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain hedging
instruments embedded in other contracts (collectively referred to as
derivatives) and for hedging activities. The Company is in the process of
determining the effect of the adoption of SFAS No. 133 on its consolidated
financial statements.
53
<PAGE> 56
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
INTEREST RATE RISK
The Company has long-term debt, Company obligated mandatorily redeemable
preferred securities of subsidiary trusts holding solely junior subordinated
debentures of the Company (Trust Preferred Securities), securities held in the
Company's nuclear decommissioning trust, bank facilities, certain lease
obligations and interest rate swaps which subject the Company to the risk of
loss associated with movements in market interest rates.
At December 31, 1999, the Company had issued fixed-rate debt (excluding
indexed debt securities) and Trust Preferred Securities aggregating $5.8 billion
in principal amount and having a fair value of $5.6 billion. These instruments
are fixed-rate and, therefore, do not expose the Company to the risk of loss in
earnings due to changes in market interest rates (see Notes 10 and 11 to the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements). However, the fair value of these
instruments would increase by approximately $305 million if interest rates were
to decline by 10% from their levels at December 31, 1999. In general, such an
increase in fair value would impact earnings and cash flows only if the Company
were to reacquire all or a portion of these instruments in the open market prior
to their maturity.
The Company's floating-rate obligations aggregated $3.1 billion at December
31, 1999 (see Note 10 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements),
inclusive of (i) amounts borrowed under short-term and long-term credit
facilities of the Company (including the issuance of commercial paper supported
by such facilities), (ii) borrowings underlying a receivables facility and (iii)
amounts subject to a master leasing agreement under which lease payments vary
depending on short-term interest rates. These floating-rate obligations expose
the Company to the risk of increased interest and lease expense in the event of
increases in short-term interest rates. If the floating rates were to increase
by 10% from December 31, 1999 levels, the Company's consolidated interest
expense and expense under operating leases would increase by a total of
approximately $1.6 million each month in which such increase continued.
As discussed in Notes 1(l) and 6(c) to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements, the Company contributes $14.8 million per year to a trust
established to fund the Company's share of the decommissioning costs for the
South Texas Project. The securities held by the trust for decommissioning costs
had an estimated fair value of $145 million as of December 31, 1999, of which
approximately 40% were fixed-rate debt securities that subject the Company to
risk of loss of fair value with movements in market interest rates. If interest
rates were to increase by 10% from their levels at December 31, 1999, the
decrease in fair value of the fixed-rate debt securities would not be material
to the Company. In addition, the risk of an economic loss is mitigated. Any
unrealized gains or losses are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 71 as a
regulatory asset/liability because the Company believes that its future
contributions which are currently recovered through the rate-making process will
be adjusted for these gains and losses. For further discussion regarding the
recovery of decommissioning costs pursuant to the Legislation, see Note 3 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.
As discussed in Note 1(l) to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements, UNA holds fixed-rate debt securities, which had an estimated fair
value of $133 million as of December 31, 1999, that subject the Company to risk
of loss of fair value and earnings with movements in market interest rates. If
interest rates were to increase by 10% from their levels at December 31, 1999,
the decrease in fair value and loss in earnings from this investment would not
be material to the Company.
The Company has entered into interest rate swaps for the purpose of
decreasing the amount of debt subject to interest rate fluctuations. At December
31, 1999, these interest rate swaps had an aggregate notional amount of $64
million and the cost to terminate would not result in a material loss in
earnings and cash flows to the Company (see Note 5 to the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements). An increase of 10% in the December 31, 1999 level of
interest rates would not increase the cost of termination of the swaps by a
material amount to the Company. Swap termination costs would impact the
Company's earnings and cash flows only if all or a portion of the swap
instruments were terminated prior to their expiration.
54
<PAGE> 57
As discussed in Note 10(b) to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements, in November 1998, Resources sold $500 million aggregate principal
amount of its 6 3/8% TERM Notes which included an embedded option to remarket
the securities. The option is expected to be exercised in the event that the
ten-year Treasury rate in 2003 is below 5.66%. At December 31, 1999, the Company
could terminate the option at a cost of $11 million. A decrease of 10% in the
December 31, 1999 level of interest rates would increase the cost of termination
of the option by approximately $5 million.
EQUITY MARKET RISK
As discussed in Note 8 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements,
the Company owns approximately 55 million shares of TW Common, of which
approximately 38 million and 17 million shares are held by the Company to
facilitate its ability to meet its obligations under the ACES and ZENS,
respectively. Unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in the market
value of the Company's TW Common are recorded in the Consolidated Statement of
Operations. Increases in the market value of TW Common result in an increase in
the liability for the ZENS and ACES and are recorded as a non-cash expense. Such
non-cash expense will be offset by an unrealized gain on the Company's TW Common
investment. However, if the market value of TW Common declines below $58.25, the
ZENS payment obligation will not decline below its original principal amount. As
of December 31, 1999, the market value of TW Common was $72.31 per share. A
decrease of 10% from the December 31, 1999 market value of TW Common would not
result in a loss. As of March 1, 2000, the market value of TW Common was $84.38
per share. In addition, the Company has a $14 million investment in Cisco
Systems, Inc. as of December 31, 1999, which is classified as trading under SFAS
No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities"(SFAS
No. 115). In January 2000, the Company entered into financial instruments (a put
option and a call option) to manage price risks related to the Company's
investment in Cisco Systems, Inc. A decline in the market value of this
investment would not materially impact the Company's earnings and cash flows.
The Company also has a $9 million investment in Itron, Inc. (Itron) which is
classified as "available for sale" under SFAS No. 115. The Itron investment
exposes the Company to losses in the fair value of Itron common stock. A 10%
decline in the market value per share of Itron common stock from the December
31, 1999 levels would not result in a material loss in fair value to the
Company.
As discussed above under "-- Interest Rate Risk," the Company contributes
to a trust established to fund the Company's share of the decommissioning costs
for the South Texas Project which held debt and equity securities as of December
31, 1999. The equity securities expose the Company to losses in fair value. If
the market prices of the individual equity securities were to decrease by 10%
from their levels at December 31, 1999, the resulting loss in fair value of
these securities would not be material to the Company. Currently, the risk of an
economic loss is mitigated as discussed above under "--Interest Rate Risk."
FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE RISK
As further described in "Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings of the
Company -- Risks of Operations in Emerging Markets" in Item 7 of this Form 10-K,
the Company has investments in electric generation and distribution facilities
in Latin America with a substantial portion accounted for under the equity
method. In addition, as further discussed in Note 2 of the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements, during the fourth quarter of 1999, the
Company completed the first and second phases of the acquisition of 52% of the
shares UNA, a Dutch power generation company and completed the final phase of
the acquisition on March 1, 2000. These foreign operations expose the Company to
risk of loss in earnings and cash flows due to the fluctuation in foreign
currencies relative to the Company's consolidated reporting currency, the U.S.
dollar. The Company accounts for adjustments resulting from translation of its
investments with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar as a charge or
credit directly to a separate component of stockholders' equity. The Company has
entered into foreign currency swaps and has issued Euro denominated debt to
hedge its net investment in UNA. Changes in the value of the swap and debt are
recorded as foreign currency translation adjustments as a component of
stockholders' equity. For further discussion of the accounting for foreign
currency adjustments, see Note 1(m) in the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements. The cumulative translation loss of $77 million, recorded as of
December 31, 1999, will be realized as a loss in earnings and cash flows only
upon the disposition of the related investments. The cumulative translation loss
was $34 million as of
55
<PAGE> 58
December 31, 1998. The increase in cumulative translation loss from December 31,
1998 to December 31, 1999, was primarily due to the impact of devaluation of the
Brazilian real on the Company's investments in Light and Metropolitana.
In addition, certain of Reliant Energy Latin America's foreign operations
have entered into obligations in currencies other than their own functional
currencies which expose the Company to a loss in earnings. In such cases, as the
respective investment's functional currency devalues relative to the non-local
currencies, the Company will record its proportionate share of its investments'
foreign currency transaction losses related to the non-local currency
denominated debt. At December 31, 1999, Light and Metropolitana of which the
Company owns 11.78% and 9.2%, respectively, had total borrowings of
approximately $2.9 billion denominated in non-local currencies. As described in
Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, in 1999 the Company
reported a $102 million (after-tax) charge to net income and a $43 million
charge to other comprehensive income, due to the devaluation of the Brazilian
real. The charge to net income reflects increases in the liabilities at Light
and Metropolitana for their non-local currency denominated borrowings using the
exchange rate in effect at December 31, 1999 and a monthly weighted average
exchange rate for the year then ended. The charge to other comprehensive income
reflects the translation effect on the local currency denominated net assets
underlying the Company's investment in Light. As of December 31, 1999, the
Brazilian real exchange rate was 1.79 per U.S. dollar. An increase of 10% from
the December 31, 1999 exchange rate would result in the Company recording an
additional charge of $20 million and $23 million to net income and other
comprehensive income, respectively. As of March 1, 2000, the Brazilian real
exchange rate was 1.77 per U.S. dollar.
The Company attempts to manage and mitigate this foreign currency risk by
balancing the cost of financing with local denominated debt against the risk of
devaluation of that local currency and including a measure of the risk of
devaluation in its financial plans. In addition, where possible, Reliant Energy
Latin America attempts to structure its tariffs and revenue contracts to ensure
some measure of adjustment due to changes in inflation and currency exchange
rates; however, there can be no assurance that such efforts will compensate for
the full effect of currency devaluation, if any.
ENERGY COMMODITY PRICE RISK
As further described in Note 5 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements, the Company utilizes a variety of derivative financial instruments
(Derivatives), including swaps, over-the-counter options and exchange-traded
futures and options, as part of the Company's overall hedging strategies and for
trading purposes. To reduce the risk from the adverse effect of market
fluctuations in the price of electric power, natural gas, crude oil and refined
products and related transportation and transmission, the Company enters into
futures transactions, forward contracts, swaps and options (Energy Derivatives)
in order to hedge certain commodities in storage, as well as certain expected
purchases, sales, transportation and transmission of energy commodities (a
portion of which are firm commitments at the inception of the hedge). The
Company's policies prohibit the use of leveraged financial instruments. In
addition, Reliant Energy Services maintains a portfolio of Energy Derivatives to
provide price risk management services and for trading purposes (Trading
Derivatives).
The Company uses value-at-risk and a sensitivity analysis method for
assessing the market risk of its derivatives.
With respect to the Energy Derivatives (other than Trading Derivatives)
held by the Company as of December 31, 1999, an increase of 10% in the market
prices of natural gas and electric power from year-end levels would have
decreased the fair value of these instruments by approximately $12 million. As
of December 31, 1998, a decrease of 10% in the market prices of natural gas and
electric power from year-end levels would have decreased the fair value of these
instruments by approximately $3 million.
The above analysis of the Energy Derivatives utilized for hedging purposes
does not include the favorable impact that the same hypothetical price movement
would have on the Company's physical purchases and sales of natural gas and
electric power to which the hedges relate. Furthermore, the Energy Derivative
portfolio is managed to complement the physical transaction portfolio, reducing
overall risks within limits. Therefore, the adverse impact to the fair value
56
<PAGE> 59
of the portfolio of Energy Derivatives held for hedging purposes associated with
the hypothetical changes in commodity prices referenced above would be offset by
a favorable impact on the underlying hedged physical transactions, assuming (i)
the Energy Derivatives are not closed out in advance of their expected term,
(ii) the Energy Derivatives continue to function effectively as hedges of the
underlying risk and (iii) as applicable, anticipated transactions occur as
expected.
The disclosure with respect to the Energy Derivatives relies on the
assumption that the contracts will exist parallel to the underlying physical
transactions. If the underlying transactions or positions are liquidated prior
to the maturity of the Energy Derivatives, a loss on the financial instruments
may occur, or the options might be worthless as determined by the prevailing
market value on their termination or maturity date, whichever comes first.
With respect to the Trading Derivatives held by Reliant Energy Services,
consisting of natural gas, electric power, crude oil and refined products,
weather derivatives, physical forwards, swaps, options and exchange-traded
futures and options, the Company is exposed to losses in fair value due to
changes in the price and volatility of the underlying derivatives. During the
years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, the highest, lowest and average monthly
value-at-risk in the Trading Derivative portfolio was less than $10 million at a
95% confidence level and for a holding period of one business day. The Company
uses the variance/covariance method for calculating the value-at-risk and
includes delta approximation for option positions.
The Company has established a Risk Oversight Committee comprised of
corporate and business segment officers that oversees all commodity price and
credit risk activities, including derivative trading and hedging activities
discussed above. The committee's duties are to establish the Company's commodity
risk policies, allocate risk capital within limits established by the Company's
board of directors, approve trading of new products and commodities, monitor
risk positions and ensure compliance with the Company's risk management policies
and procedures and the trading limits established by the Company's board of
directors.
57
<PAGE> 60
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA OF THE COMPANY.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
REVENUES ........................................................... $ 15,302,810 $ 11,488,464 $ 6,878,225
EXPENSES:
Fuel and cost of gas sold ....................................... 6,748,325 4,840,505 2,865,701
Purchased power ................................................. 4,137,414 2,215,049 698,823
Operation and maintenance ....................................... 1,821,471 1,625,343 1,218,579
Taxes other than income taxes ................................... 443,964 471,656 374,702
Depreciation and amortization ................................... 911,122 870,093 665,374
------------ ------------ ------------
Total ....................................................... 14,062,296 10,022,646 5,823,179
------------ ------------ ------------
OPERATING INCOME ................................................... 1,240,514 1,465,818 1,055,046
------------ ------------ ------------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Unrealized gain in Time Warner investment ....................... 2,452,406
Unrealized loss on indexed debt securities ...................... (629,523) (1,176,211) (121,402)
Time Warner dividend income ..................................... 25,770 41,250 41,340
Interest income - IRS refund .................................... 56,269
Other, net ...................................................... 38,375 36,421 19,801
------------ ------------ ------------
Total ....................................................... 1,887,028 (1,098,540) (3,992)
------------ ------------ ------------
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES:
Interest ........................................................ 511,474 509,601 395,085
Distribution on trust preferred securities ...................... 51,220 29,201 26,230
Preferred dividends of subsidiary ............................... 2,255
------------ ------------ ------------
Total ....................................................... 562,694 538,802 423,570
------------ ------------ ------------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES, EXTRAORDINARY ITEM AND
PREFERRED DIVIDENDS ............................................. 2,564,848 (171,524) 627,484
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) ....................................... 899,117 (30,432) 206,374
------------ ------------ ------------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEM AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS .... 1,665,731 (141,092) 421,110
Extraordinary Item, net of income tax of $98,679 ................... 183,261
------------ ------------ ------------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PREFERRED DIVIDENDS ........................... 1,482,470 (141,092) 421,110
Preferred Dividends ................................................ 389 390 162
------------ ------------ ------------
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS .............. $ 1,482,081 $ (141,482) $ 420,948
============ ============ ============
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:
Income (Loss) Before Extraordinary Item ......................... $ 5.84 $ (.50) $ 1.66
============ ============ ============
Extraordinary Item .............................................. $ (.64) $ $
============ ============ ============
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders ........... $ 5.20 $ (.50) $ 1.66
============ ============ ============
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:
Income (Loss) Before Extraordinary Item ......................... $ 5.82 $ (.50) $ 1.66
============ ============ ============
Extraordinary Item .............................................. $ (.64) $ $
============ ============ ============
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders ........... $ 5.18 $ (.50) $ 1.66
============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
See Notes to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements
58
<PAGE> 61
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders .......... $ 1,482,081 $ (141,482) $ 420,948
Foreign currency translation adjustments (net of tax of $23,143,
$17,656 and $247) ............................................ (42,979) (32,790) (458)
Unrealized loss on available for sale securities (net of tax of
$373, $5,877 and $1,181) ..................................... (1,224) (10,370) (1,897)
------------ ------------ ------------
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ....................................... $ 1,437,878 $ (184,642) $ 418,593
============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
See Notes to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements
59
<PAGE> 62
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------
1999 1998
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents ............................................... $ 89,078 $ 29,673
Investment in Time Warner common stock .................................. 3,979,461
Accounts receivable - net ............................................... 1,104,640 726,377
Accrued unbilled revenues ............................................... 172,629 175,515
Fuel stock and petroleum products ....................................... 152,292 211,750
Materials and supplies, at average cost ................................. 188,167 171,998
Price risk management assets ............................................ 435,336 265,203
Prepayments and other current assets .................................... 131,666 88,655
------------ ------------
Total current assets .................................................. 6,253,269 1,669,171
------------ ------------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET ....................................... 13,267,395 11,503,114
------------ ------------
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill and other intangibles - net .................................... 3,034,361 2,098,890
Equity investments and advances to unconsolidated subsidiaries .......... 1,022,210 1,051,600
Investment in Time Warner preferred stock ............................... 990,000
Regulatory assets ....................................................... 1,739,507 1,313,362
Price risk management assets ............................................ 148,722 21,414
Deferred debits ......................................................... 755,472 490,971
------------ ------------
Total other assets .................................................... 6,700,272 5,966,237
------------ ------------
Total Assets .......................................................... $ 26,220,936 $ 19,138,522
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Short-term borrowings ................................................... $ 2,879,211 $ 1,812,739
Current portion of long-term debt ....................................... 4,382,136 397,454
Accounts payable ........................................................ 1,036,839 807,977
Taxes accrued ........................................................... 227,058 252,581
Interest accrued ........................................................ 116,274 115,201
Dividends declared ...................................................... 110,811 111,058
Price risk management liabilities ....................................... 424,324 227,652
Accumulated deferred income taxes ....................................... 415,591
Business purchase obligation ............................................ 431,570
Other ................................................................... 360,109 346,280
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities ............................................. 10,383,923 4,070,942
------------ ------------
DEFERRED CREDITS:
Accumulated deferred income taxes ....................................... 2,451,619 2,364,036
Unamortized investment tax credit ....................................... 270,243 328,949
Price risk management liabilities ....................................... 117,437 40,532
Benefit obligations ..................................................... 400,849 378,747
Business purchase obligation ............................................ 596,303
Other ................................................................... 1,027,648 490,468
------------ ------------
Total deferred credits ................................................ 4,864,099 3,602,732
------------ ------------
LONG-TERM DEBT ............................................................ 4,961,310 6,800,748
------------ ------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 14)
COMPANY OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARY
TRUSTS HOLDING SOLELY JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES OF THE COMPANY ..... 705,272 342,232
------------ ------------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY ...................................................... 5,306,332 4,321,868
------------ ------------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity ............................ $ 26,220,936 $ 19,138,522
============ ============
</TABLE>
See Notes to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements
60
<PAGE> 63
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders .......... $ 1,482,081 $ (141,482) $ 420,948
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization ................................ 911,122 870,093 665,374
Deferred income taxes ........................................ 601,627 (423,904) 35,523
Investment tax credit ........................................ (58,706) (20,123) (19,777)
Unrealized gain on Time Warner investment .................... (2,452,406)
Unrealized loss on indexed debt securities ................... 629,523 1,176,211 121,402
Extraordinary item ........................................... 183,261
Undistributed earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries ........ 28,308 (27,350) (3,142)
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable - net .................................. (333,195) 266,938 (436,580)
Inventories ................................................ 51,576 (121,793) 55,111
Accounts payable ........................................... 185,710 (92,652) 191,840
Other - net ................................................ (67,236) (60,579) 80,060
------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash provided by operating activities ............... 1,161,665 1,425,359 1,110,759
------------ ------------ ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures ........................................... (1,179,466) (743,455) (328,724)
Investment in Time Warner securities ........................... (537,055)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired .................... (871,168) (1,422,672)
Acquisition of non-rate regulated electric power plants ........ (188,832) (292,398)
Investments and advances to unconsolidated subsidiaries ........ (116,076) (445,042) (234,852)
Sale of equity investments in foreign electric system
projects ................................................ 242,744
Other - net .................................................... (4,288) 8,375 4,795
------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash used in investing activities ................... (2,896,885) (1,229,776) (1,981,453)
------------ ------------ ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from long-term debt - net ............................. 2,032,386 1,267,107 1,136,516
Payments of long-term debt ..................................... (935,908) (733,114) (780,186)
Proceeds from sale of trust preferred securities - net ......... 362,994 340,785
Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings - net ............. 822,868 (312,217) 787,084
Redemption of preferred stock .................................. (153,628)
Payment of common stock dividends .............................. (427,255) (426,265) (405,288)
Purchase of treasury stock ..................................... (90,708)
Other - net .................................................... 30,248 (13,133) (10,878)
------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities .... 1,794,625 (217,622) 914,405
------------ ------------ ------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS .............. 59,405 (22,039) 43,711
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD .................. 29,673 51,712 8,001
------------ ------------ ------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD ........................ $ 89,078 $ 29,673 $ 51,712
============ ============ ============
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash Payments:
Interest (net of amounts capitalized) .......................... $ 517,897 $ 502,889 $ 414,467
Income taxes ................................................... 401,703 484,376 171,539
</TABLE>
See Notes to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements
61
<PAGE> 64
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND SHARES)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
-------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PREFERENCE STOCK, NONE OUTSTANDING ...
=========== ----------- =========== ----------- =========== -----------
CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK
Balance, beginning of year ........ 97 $ 9,740 97 $ 9,740 1,347 $ 135,179
Redemption of preferred stock ..... (1,250) (125,439)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, end of year .............. 97 9,740 97 9,740 97 9,740
=========== ----------- =========== ----------- =========== -----------
COMMON STOCK, NO PAR; AUTHORIZED
700,000,000 SHARES
Balance, beginning of year ........ 296,271 3,136,826 295,357 3,112,098 262,748 2,447,117
Issuances related to benefit
and investment plans ............ 1,341 46,062 914 24,734 811 16,737
Issuances of common stock in
business acquisition ............ 47,840 1,011,924
Treasury shares retired ........... (16,042) (361,196)
Other ............................. (137) (6) (2,484)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, end of year .............. 297,612 3,182,751 296,271 3,136,826 295,357 3,112,098
=========== ----------- =========== ----------- =========== -----------
TREASURY STOCK
Balance, beginning of year ........ (103) (2,384) (93) (2,066) (16,042) (361,196)
Shares acquired ................... (3,524) (90,708)
Treasury stock retired ............ 16,042 361,196
Other ............................. 2 (204) (10) (318) (93) (2,066)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, end of year .............. (3,625) (93,296) (103) (2,384) (93) (2,066)
=========== ----------- =========== ----------- =========== -----------
UNEARNED ESOP STOCK
Balance, beginning of year ........ (11,674) (217,780) (12,389) (229,827) (13,371) (251,350)
Issuances related to benefit
plans ........................... 995 18,554 715 12,047 982 21,523
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, end of year .............. (10,679) (199,226) (11,674) (217,780) (12,389) (229,827)
=========== ----------- =========== ----------- =========== -----------
RETAINED EARNINGS
Balance, beginning of year......... 1,445,081 2,013,055 1,997,490
Net income......................... 1,482,081 (141,482) 420,948
Common stock dividends - $1.50 per
share............................ (426,981) (426,492) (405,383)
----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, end of year............... 2,500,181 1,445,081 2,013,055
----------- ----------- -----------
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Balance, beginning of year......... (49,615) (6,455) (4,100)
Foreign currency translation
adjustments...................... (42,979) (32,790) (458)
Unrealized loss on available for
sale securities.................. (1,224) (10,370) (1,897)
----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, end of year............... (93,818) (49,615) (6,455)
----------- ----------- -----------
Total Stockholders' Equity......... $ 5,306,332 $ 4,321,868 $ 4,896,545
=========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
62
<PAGE> 65
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) Nature of Operations.
Reliant Energy, Incorporated (Reliant Energy), formerly Houston Industries
Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company), is a
diversified international energy services company. Reliant Energy is both an
electric utility company and a utility holding company.
The Company's financial reporting segments include the following: Electric
Operations, Natural Gas Distribution, Interstate Pipelines, Wholesale Energy,
Reliant Energy Europe, Reliant Energy Latin America and Corporate. Electric
Operations includes the operations of Reliant Energy HL&P, an electric utility.
Natural Gas Distribution consists of natural gas sales to, and natural gas
transportation for, residential, commercial and industrial customers. Interstate
Pipelines includes the interstate natural gas pipeline operations. Wholesale
Energy is engaged in the acquisition, development and operation of non-rate
regulated power generation facilities as well as the wholesale energy trading,
marketing and risk management services, and the natural gas gathering business
in North America. Reliant Energy Europe, which was formed in 1999, is engaged in
the operation of power generation facilities in the Netherlands and plans to
participate in wholesale energy trading and marketing in Europe. Reliant Energy
Latin America primarily participates in the privatization of foreign generation
and distribution facilities and independent power projects in Latin America.
Corporate includes the Company's unregulated retail electric and gas services
businesses, a communications business, certain real estate holdings and
corporate costs.
In February 1999, the Company began doing business as Reliant Energy,
Incorporated. On May 5, 1999, the Company's shareholders approved an amendment
to its Restated Articles of Incorporation to change its name to "Reliant Energy,
Incorporated."
(b) Business Acquisitions.
For information regarding the Company's accounting for the acquisition of
capital stock of N.V. UNA (UNA) in 1999 and the acquisition of Reliant Energy
Resources Corp. (Resources Corp.) and its subsidiaries (collectively,
Resources), formerly NorAm Energy Corp., by the Company in 1997, see Note 2.
(c) Texas Electric Choice Plan and Discontinuance of SFAS No. 71 for Electric
Generation Operations.
For information regarding the Texas Electric Choice Plan (Legislation) and
discontinuance of SFAS No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of
Regulation" (SFAS No. 71), for Reliant Energy HL&P's electric generation
operations, see Note 3.
(d) Regulatory Assets.
The Company applies the accounting policies established in SFAS No. 71 to
the accounts of transmission and distribution operations of Reliant Energy HL&P
and Natural Gas Distribution and to certain of the accounts of Interstate
Pipelines. For information regarding Reliant Energy HL&P's electric generation
operations' discontinuance of the application of SFAS No. 71 and the effect on
its regulatory assets, see Note 3.
The following is a list of regulatory assets/liabilities reflected on the
Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 1999, detailed by
Electric Operations and other segments.
63
<PAGE> 66
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ELECTRIC TOTAL
OPERATIONS OTHER COMPANY
---------- ----- -------
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Recoverable impaired plant costs-- net ................................ $ 587 $ $ 587
Recoverable electric generation related regulatory assets-- net........ 952 952
Regulatory tax liability-- net ........................................ (45) (45)
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt ................................... 69 69
Other deferred debits/credits.......................................... (18) 4 (14)
---------- ----- -------
Total........................................................ $ 1,545 $ 4 $ 1,549
---------- ----- -------
</TABLE>
Included in the above table is $191 million of regulatory liabilities
recorded as other deferred credits in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet
as of December 31, 1999, which primarily relates to the over recovery of
Electric Operations' fuel costs, gains on nuclear decommissioning trust funds,
regulatory tax liabilities and excess deferred income taxes.
Under a "deferred accounting" plan authorized by the Public Utility
Commission of Texas (Texas Utility Commission), Electric Operations was
permitted for regulatory purposes to accrue carrying costs in the form of
allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) on its investment in the
South Texas Project Electric Generating Station (South Texas Project) and to
defer and capitalize depreciation and other operating costs on its investment
after commercial operation until such costs were reflected in rates. In
addition, the Texas Utility Commission authorized Electric Operations under a
"qualified phase-in plan" to capitalize allowable costs (including return)
deferred for future recovery as deferred charges. These costs are included in
recoverable electric generation related regulatory assets.
In 1991, Electric Operations ceased all cost deferrals related to the South
Texas Project and began amortizing such amounts on a straight-line basis. Prior
to January 1, 1999, the accumulated deferrals for "deferred accounting" were
being amortized over the estimated depreciable life of the South Texas Project.
Starting in 1991, the accumulated deferrals for the "qualified phase-in plan"
were amortized over a ten-year phase-in period. The amortization of all deferred
plant costs (which totaled $26 million for each of the years 1998 and 1997) is
included on the Company's Statements of Consolidated Income as depreciation and
amortization expense. Pursuant to the Legislation (see Note 3), the Company
discontinued amortizing deferred plant costs effective January 1, 1999.
In 1999, 1998 and 1997, the Company, as permitted by the 1995 rate case
settlement (Rate Case Settlement), also amortized $22 million, $4 million and
$66 million (pre-tax), respectively, of its investment in certain lignite
reserves associated with a canceled generating station. The remaining investment
in these reserves of $14 million is included in the above table as a component
of recoverable electric generation related regulatory assets and will be
amortized fully by December 31, 2001.
For additional information regarding recoverable impaired plant costs and
recoverable electric generation related assets, see Note 3.
If, as a result of changes in regulation or competition, the Company's
ability to recover these assets and liabilities would not be assured, then
pursuant to SFAS No. 101, "Regulated Enterprises Accounting for the
Discontinuation of Application of SFAS No. 71" (SFAS No. 101) and SFAS No. 121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to
be Disposed Of" (SFAS No. 121), the Company would be required to write off or
write down such regulatory assets and liabilities, unless some form of
transition cost recovery continues through rates established and collected for
their remaining regulated operations. In addition, the Company would be required
to determine any impairment to the carrying costs of plant and inventory assets.
64
<PAGE> 67
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(e) Principles of Consolidation.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Reliant
Energy and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries including, effective
as of their acquisition dates, the accounts of UNA and Resources. All
significant intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in
consolidation.
Investments in entities in which the Company has an ownership interest
between 20% and 50% or is able to exercise significant influence are accounted
for using the equity method. For additional information regarding investments
recorded using the equity method of accounting, see Note 7.
(f) Property, Plant and Equipment and Goodwill.
Property, plant and equipment includes the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------
1999 1998
------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C>
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Electric ............................................ $ 16,725,004 $ 13,941,275
Natural gas ......................................... 1,941,668 1,686,159
Interstate pipelines ................................ 1,330,969 1,302,829
Other property ...................................... 136,079 72,299
------------ ------------
Total ............................................. 20,133,720 17,002,562
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization ...... 6,866,325 5,499,448
------------ ------------
Property, plant and equipment - net ............... $ 13,267,395 $ 11,503,114
============ ============
</TABLE>
Property, plant and equipment are stated at original cost. See Note 3 for
discussion of the impairment of previously regulated electric generation plant
and equipment. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed. The cost of utility
plant and equipment retirements is charged to accumulated depreciation.
Goodwill is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 to 40 years.
The Company had $139 million and $77 million accumulated goodwill and other
intangibles amortization at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The
Company will periodically compare the carrying value of its goodwill to the
anticipated undiscounted future net cash flows from the businesses whose
acquisition gave rise to the goodwill and as of yet no impairment is indicated.
(g) Depreciation and Amortization Expense.
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on economic
lives or a regulatory mandated method. The range of plant and equipment
depreciable lives for electric, natural gas, interstate pipelines and other
property are 2 to 58 years, 5 to 50 years, 5 to 75 years and 3 to 40 years,
respectively. Depreciation expense for 1999 was $552 million compared to $561
million for 1998 and $488 million for 1997. Goodwill amortization relating to
acquisitions including UNA and Resources was $62 million, $55 million and $22
million in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. For additional information
regarding goodwill in connection with the respective acquisitions of UNA and
Resources, see Note 2. Other amortization expense, including amortization of
regulatory assets, was $297 million, $254 million and $155 million in 1999, 1998
and 1997, respectively. For information regarding amortization of deferred plant
costs and investments in certain lignite reserves included in regulatory assets
in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, see Note 1(d). For information regarding the
amortization of recoverable impaired plant costs included in regulatory assets
in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, see Note 3.
In June 1998, the Texas Utility Commission issued an order approving a
transition to competition plan (Transition Plan) filed by Electric Operations in
December 1997. In order to reduce Electric Operations' exposure to potentially
stranded costs related to generation
65
<PAGE> 68
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
assets, the Transition Plan permitted the redirection to generation assets of
depreciation expense that Electric Operations otherwise would apply to
transmission, distribution and general plant assets. In addition, the Transition
Plan provides that all earnings above a stated overall annual rate of return on
invested capital be used to recover Electric Operations' investment in
generation assets. Electric Operations implemented the Transition Plan effective
January 1, 1998 and pursuant to its terms, recorded an aggregate of $104 million
in additional depreciation and $99 million in redirected depreciation for the
first six months in 1999 and $194 million in additional depreciation and $195
million in redirected depreciation in 1998 pursuant to the Transition Plan. Due
to the discontinuance of SFAS No. 71 to Electric Operations' generation
operations, the provisions for additional and redirected depreciation of the
Transition Plan are no longer applied. For additional information regarding
this legislation, see Note 3.
Pursuant to the Legislation, the Company is allowed to recover the
generation related regulatory assets reported in the Company's Form 10-K as of
December 31, 1998. Therefore, the Company discontinued amortizing certain
generation related regulatory assets effective as of January 1, 1999.
The Company's depreciation expense included $50 million of additional
depreciation relating to the South Texas Project in 1997. The depreciation
expense recorded for the South Texas Project was made pursuant to the terms of
the Company's 1995 Rate Case Settlement.
(h) Fuel Stock and Petroleum Products.
Gas inventory (primarily using the average cost method) was $93 million and
$96 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Coal and lignite
inventory balances (using last-in, first-out) were $46 million and $31 million
at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Oil inventory balances, principally
heating oil, were $13 million and $85 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998,
respectively. Heating oil that is used in trading operations is marked-to-market
in connection with the price risk management activities as discussed in Note 5.
(i) Revenues.
The Company records electricity and natural gas sales under the accrual
method, whereby unbilled electricity and natural gas sales are estimated and
recorded each month. Reliant Energy Latin America revenues include electricity
sales of majority owned foreign electric utilities, which are also recorded
under the accrual method, and equity income (net of foreign taxes) in equity
investments. In 1998, Reliant Energy Latin America's revenues included the gain
on the sale of an Argentine distribution system. In 1998, the Company adopted
mark-to-market accounting for its energy price risk management and trading
activities. (See Notes 1(o) and 5).
(j) Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows.
For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash equivalents are considered to be
short-term, highly liquid investments readily convertible to cash.
(k) Income Taxes.
The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return. The Company
follows a policy of comprehensive interperiod income tax allocation. The Company
uses the liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes and measures
deferred income taxes for all significant income tax temporary differences.
Investment tax credits were deferred and are being amortized over the estimated
lives of the related property. For additional information regarding income
taxes, see Note 13.
(l) Investment in Other Debt and Equity Securities.
The debt and equity securities held in the Company's nuclear
decommissioning trust are classified as "available-for-sale" and, in accordance
with SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities" (SFAS No. 115), are reported at estimated fair value of $145 million
as of December 31, 1999
66
<PAGE> 69
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
and $119 million as of December 31, 1998 in the Company's Consolidated Balance
Sheets in deferred debits. The liability for nuclear decommissioning is reported
in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets in other deferred credits. Any
unrealized losses or gains are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 71 as a
regulatory asset/liability.
The Company also holds certain other marketable equity securities
classified as "available-for-sale" and reports such investments at estimated
fair value in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets as deferred debits and
any unrealized gain or loss, net of tax, as a separate component of
stockholders' equity and other comprehensive income. At December 31, 1999 and
1998, the accumulated unrealized loss, net of tax, relating to these equity
securities was $17 million and $16 million, respectively.
UNA holds $133 million of debt securities which are classified as "trading"
in accordance with SFAS No. 115. As of December 31, 1999, this investment is
recorded in deferred debits in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. For
information regarding the Company's investment in Time Warner common stock which
is classified as "trading" under SFAS No. 115, see Note 8.
(m) Foreign Currency Adjustments.
Foreign subsidiaries' assets and liabilities where the local currency is
the functional currency have been translated into U.S. dollars using the
exchange rate at the balance sheet date. Revenues, expenses, gains and losses
have been translated using the weighted average exchange rate for each month
prevailing during the periods reported. Cumulative adjustments resulting from
translation have been recorded in stockholders' equity in other comprehensive
income. However, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the
U.S. dollar can have an impact on the reported equity earnings of the Company's
foreign investments. For additional information about the Company's investments
in Brazil and the devaluation of the Brazilian real in 1999, see Note 7.
When the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, the financial statements
of such foreign subsidiaries are remeasured in U.S. dollars using historical
exchange rates for non-monetary accounts and the current rate at the respective
balance sheet date and the weighted average exchange rate for all other balance
sheet and income statement accounts, respectively. All exchange gains and losses
from remeasurement and foreign currency transactions are included in
consolidated net income.
(n) Reclassifications and Use of Estimates.
Certain amounts from the previous years have been reclassified to conform
to the 1999 presentation of financial statements. Such reclassifications do not
affect earnings.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities,
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(o) Change in Accounting Principle.
For discussion of discontinuance of SFAS No. 71 to the Reliant Energy
HL&P's electric generation operations, see Note 3.
In the fourth quarter of 1998, the Company adopted mark-to-market
accounting for all of its energy price risk management and trading activities.
Under mark-to-market accounting, the Company records the fair value of energy
related derivative financial instruments, including physical forward contracts,
swaps, options and exchange-traded futures and option contracts at each balance
sheet date. Such amounts are recorded as price risk management assets and
liabilities in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The realized and
unrealized gains and losses are
67
<PAGE> 70
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
recorded as a component of revenues. The Company applied mark-to-market
accounting retroactively to January 1, 1998. There was no material cumulative
effect resulting from this accounting change.
The Company adopted Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 98-10, "Accounting for
Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities" (EITF
98-10) in 1999. The adoption of EITF 98-10 had no material impact on the
consolidated financial statements.
(p) New Accounting Pronouncement.
Effective January 1, 2001, the Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 133,
"Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" as amended (SFAS
No. 133), which establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative
instruments, including certain hedging instruments embedded in other contracts
and for hedging activities. The Company is in the process of determining the
effect of adopting SFAS No. 133 on its consolidated financial statements.
(2) BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS
During 1999, the Company completed the first two phases of the acquisition
of UNA, a Dutch power generation company. The Company acquired 40% and 12% of
UNA's capital stock on October 7, 1999 and December 1, 1999, respectively. The
aggregate purchase price paid by the Company in connection with the first two
phases consisted of a total of $833 million in cash and $426 million in a
five-year promissory note to UNA. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement,
the Company purchased the remaining shares of UNA on March 1, 2000 for
approximately $975 million. The commitment for this purchase was recorded as a
business purchase obligation in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December
31, 1999 based on an exchange rate of 2.19 Dutch guilders (NLG) per U.S. dollar
(the exchange rate on December 31, 1999). A portion ($596 million) of the
business purchase obligation was recorded as a non-current liability as this
portion of the obligation was financed with a three-year term loan facility (see
Note 19). Effective October 1, 1999, the Company has recorded 100% of the
operating results of UNA. The total purchase price, payable in NLG, of
approximately $2.4 billion includes the $426 million promissory note to UNA and
assumes an exchange rate of 2.0565 NLG per U.S. dollar (the exchange rate on
October 7, 1999). The Company recorded the acquisition under the purchase method
of accounting with assets and liabilities of UNA reflected at their estimated
fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets
acquired of approximately $840 million was recorded as goodwill and is being
amortized over 35 years. On a preliminary basis, the Company's fair value
adjustments included increases in property, plant and equipment, long-term debt,
and related deferred taxes. The Company expects to finalize these fair value
adjustments during 2000; however, it is not anticipated that any additional
adjustments will be material.
In August 1997 , the former parent corporation (Former Parent) of the
Company, merged with and into Reliant Energy, and NorAm Energy Corp., a natural
gas gathering, transmission, marketing and distribution company (Former NorAm),
merged with and into Resources Corp. Effective upon the mergers (collectively,
the Merger), each outstanding share of common stock of Former Parent was
converted into one share of common stock (including associated preference stock
purchase rights) of the Company, and each outstanding share of common stock of
Former NorAm was converted into the right to receive $16.3051 cash or 0.74963
shares of common stock of the Company. The aggregate consideration paid to
Former NorAm stockholders in connection with the Merger consisted of $1.4
billion in cash and 47.8 million shares of the Company's common stock valued at
approximately $1.0 billion. The overall transaction was valued at $4.0 billion
consisting of $2.4 billion for Former NorAm's common stock and common stock
equivalents and $1.6 billion of Former NorAm debt. The Company recorded the
acquisition under the purchase method of accounting with assets and liabilities
of Former NorAm reflected at their estimated fair values. The Company recorded
the excess of the acquisition cost over the fair value of the net assets
acquired of $2.1 billion as goodwill and is amortizing this amount over 40
years. The Company's fair value adjustments included increases in property,
plant and equipment, long-term debt, unrecognized pension and postretirement
benefits liabilities and related deferred taxes.
68
<PAGE> 71
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The Company's results of operations incorporate UNA's and Resources'
results of operations only for the period beginning with the effective date of
their respective acquisition. The following tables present certain actual
financial information for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997;
unaudited pro forma information for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998,
as if the acquisition of UNA had occurred on January 1, 1999 and 1998; and
unaudited pro forma information for the year ended December 31, 1997, as if the
Merger with Resources had occurred on January 1, 1997.
ACTUAL AND PRO FORMA COMBINED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
--------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
ACTUAL PRO FORMA ACTUAL PRO FORMA ACTUAL PRO FORMA
-------- --------- -------- --------- -------- ---------
(UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues................................. $ 15,303 $15,784 $ 11,488 $ 12,320 $ 6,878 $ 10,191
Net income (loss) attributable to
common stockholders................... 1,482 1,525 (141) (61) 421 437
Basic earnings per share................. 5.20 5.35 (.50) (.21) 1.66 1.55
Diluted earnings per share............... 5.18 5.33 (.50) (.21) 1.66 1.55
</TABLE>
These pro forma results are based on assumptions deemed appropriate by the
Company's management, have been prepared for informational purposes only and are
not necessarily indicative of the combined results that would have resulted if
the acquisition of UNA had occurred on January 1, 1999 and 1998 and the Merger
with Resources had occurred on January 1, 1997. Purchase related adjustments to
results of operations include amortization of goodwill and the effects on
depreciation, amortization, interest expense and deferred income taxes of the
assessed fair value of certain UNA and Resources assets and liabilities.
(3) TEXAS ELECTRIC CHOICE PLAN AND DISCONTINUANCE OF SFAS NO. 71 FOR ELECTRIC
GENERATION OPERATIONS
In June 1999, the Texas legislature adopted the Texas Electric Choice Plan
(Legislation). The Legislation substantially amends the regulatory structure
governing electric utilities in Texas in order to allow retail competition
beginning with respect to pilot projects for up to 5% of each utility's load in
all customer classes in June 2001 and for all other customers on January 1,
2002. In preparation for that competition, the Company expects to make
significant changes in the electric utility operations it conducts through
Reliant Energy HL&P. In addition, the Legislation requires the Texas Utility
Commission to issue a number of new rules and determinations in implementing the
Legislation.
The Legislation defines the process for competition and creates a
transition period during which most utility rates are frozen at rates not in
excess of their present levels. The Legislation provides for utilities to
recover their generation related stranded costs and regulatory assets (as
defined in the Legislation).
Retail Choice. Under the Legislation, on January 1, 2002, most retail
customers of investor-owned electric utilities in Texas will be entitled to
purchase their electricity from any of a number of "retail electric providers"
which will have been certified by the Texas Utility Commission. Retail electric
providers will not own or operate generation assets and their sales rates will
not be subject to traditional cost-of-service rate regulation. Retail electric
providers which are affiliates of electric utilities may compete substantially
statewide for these sales, but rates they charge within the affiliated electric
utility's traditional service territory are subject to certain limitations at
the outset of retail choice, as described below. The Texas Utility Commission
will prescribe regulations governing quality, reliability and other aspects of
service from retail electric providers. Transmission between the regulated
utility and its current and future competitive affiliates is subject to
regulatory scrutiny and must comply with a code of conduct established by the
Texas Utility Commission. The code of conduct governs interactions between
employees of regulated and current and future unregulated affiliates as well as
the exchange of information between such affiliates.
69
<PAGE> 72
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Unbundling. By January 1, 2002, electric utilities in Texas such as Reliant
Energy HL&P will restructure their businesses in order to separate power
generation, transmission and distribution, and retail activities into different
units. Pursuant to the Legislation, the Company submitted a plan in January 2000
to accomplish the required separation of its regulated operations into separate
units and is awaiting approval from the Texas Utility Commission. The
transmission and distribution business will continue to be subject to
cost-of-service rate regulation and will be responsible for the delivery of
electricity to retail consumers.
Generation. Power generators will sell electric energy to wholesale
purchasers, including retail electric providers, at unregulated rates beginning
January 1, 2002. To facilitate a competitive market, Reliant Energy HL&P and
most other electric utilities will be required to sell at auction entitlements
to 15% of their installed generating capacity no later than 60 days before
January 1, 2002. That obligation to auction entitlements continues until the
earlier of January 1, 2007 or the date the Texas Utility Commission determines
that at least 40% of the residential and small commercial load served in the
electric utility's service area is being served by non-affiliated retail
electric providers. In addition, a power generator that owns and controls more
than 20% of the power generation in, or capable of delivering power to, a power
region after the reductions from the capacity auction (calculated as prescribed
in the Legislation) must submit a mitigation plan to reduce generation that it
owns and controls to no more than 20% in the power region. The Legislation also
creates a program mandating air emissions reductions for non-permitted
generating facilities. The Company anticipates that any stranded costs
associated with this obligation incurred before May 1, 2003 will be recoverable
through the stranded cost recovery mechanisms contained in the Legislation.
Rates. Base rates charged by Reliant Energy HL&P on September 1, 1999 will
be frozen until January 1, 2002. Effective January 1, 2002, retail rates charged
to residential and small commercial customers by the utility's affiliated retail
electric provider will be reduced by 6% from the average rates (on a bundled
basis) in effect on January 1, 1999. That reduced rate will be known as the
"price to beat" and will be charged by the affiliated retail electric provider
to residential and small commercial customers in Reliant Energy HL&P's service
area who have not elected service from another retail electric provider. The
affiliated retail electric provider may not offer different rates to residential
or small commercial customer classes in the utility's service area until the
earlier of the date the Texas Utility Commission determines that 40% of power
consumed by that class is being served by non-affiliated retail electric
providers or January 1, 2005. In addition, the affiliated retail electric
provider must make the price to beat available to eligible consumers until
January 1, 2007.
Stranded Costs. Reliant Energy HL&P will be entitled to recover its
stranded costs (i.e., the excess of net book value of generation assets (as
defined by the Legislation) over the market value of those assets) and its
regulatory assets related to generation. The Legislation prescribes specific
methods for determining the amount of stranded costs and the details for their
recovery. However, during the base rate freeze period from 1999 through 2001,
earnings above the utility's authorized return formula will be applied in a
manner to accelerate depreciation of generation related plant assets for
regulatory purposes. In addition, depreciation expense for transmission and
distribution related assets may be redirected to generation assets for
regulatory purposes during that period.
The Legislation provides for Reliant Energy HL&P, or a special purpose
entity, to issue securitization bonds for the recovery of generation related
regulatory assets and stranded costs. These bonds will be sold to third parties
and will be amortized through non-bypassable charges to transmission and
distribution customers. Any stranded costs not recovered through the
securitization bonds will be recovered through a non-bypassable charge to
transmission and distribution customers. Costs associated with nuclear
decommissioning that have not been recovered as of January 1, 2002, will
continue to be subject to cost-of-service rate regulation and will be included
in a non-bypassable charge to transmission and distribution customers.
In November 1999, Reliant Energy HL&P filed an application with the Texas
Utility Commission requesting a financing order authorizing the issuance by a
special purpose entity organized by the Company, pursuant to the Legislation, of
transition bonds related to Reliant Energy HL&P's generation-related regulatory
assets. The Company believes the Texas Utility Commission will authorize the
issuance of approximately $750 million of
70
<PAGE> 73
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
transition bonds. Payments on the transition bonds will be made out of funds
derived from non-bypassable transition charges to Reliant Energy HL&P's
transmission and distribution customers. The offering and sale of the transition
bonds will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and, absent any
appeals, are expected to be consummated in the second or third quarter of 2000.
Accounting. Historically, Reliant Energy HL&P has applied the accounting
policies established in SFAS No. 71. In general, SFAS No. 71 permits a company
with cost-based rates to defer certain costs that would otherwise be expensed to
the extent that it meets the following requirements: (1) its rates are regulated
by a third party; (2) its rates are cost-based; and (3) there exists a
reasonable assumption that all costs will be recoverable from customers through
rates. When a company determines that it no longer meets the requirements of
SFAS No. 71, pursuant to SFAS No. 101 and SFAS No. 121, it is required to write
off regulatory assets and liabilities unless some form of recovery continues
through rates established and collected from remaining regulated operations. In
addition, such company is required to determine any impairment to the carrying
costs of deregulated plant and inventory assets in accordance with SFAS No. 121.
In July 1997, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board reached a consensus on Issue No. 97-4, "Deregulation
of the Pricing of Electricity - Issues Related to the Application of FASB
Statements No. 71, Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation,
and No. 101, Regulated Enterprises Accounting for the Discontinuation of
Application of FASB Statement No. 71" (EITF No. 97-4). EITF No. 97-4 concluded
that a company should stop applying SFAS No. 71 to a segment which is subject to
a deregulation plan at the time the deregulation legislation or enabling rate
order contains sufficient detail for the utility to reasonably determine how the
plan will affect the segment to be deregulated. In addition, EITF No. 97-4
requires that regulatory assets and liabilities be allocated to the applicable
portion of the electric utility from which the source of the regulated cash
flows will be derived.
The Company believes that the Legislation provides sufficient detail
regarding the deregulation of the Company's electric generation operations to
require it to discontinue the use of SFAS No. 71 for those operations. Effective
June 30, 1999, the Company applied SFAS No. 101 to its electric generation
operations. Reliant Energy HL&P's transmission and distribution operations
continue to meet the criteria of SFAS No. 71.
In 1999, the Company evaluated the recovery of its generation related
regulatory assets and liabilities. The Company determined that a pre-tax
accounting loss of $282 million exists because it believes only the economic
value of its generation related regulatory assets (as defined by the
Legislation) will be recovered. Therefore, the Company recorded a $183 million
after tax extraordinary loss in the fourth quarter of 1999. If events were to
occur that made the recovery of certain of the remaining generation related
regulatory assets no longer probable, the Company would write off the remaining
balance of such assets as a non-cash charge against earnings. Pursuant to EITF
No. 97-4, the remaining recoverable regulatory assets will not be written off
and will become associated with the transmission and distribution portion of the
Company's electric utility business. For details regarding the Reliant Energy
HL&P's regulatory assets, see Note 1(d).
At June 30, 1999, the Company performed an impairment test of its
previously regulated electric generation assets pursuant to SFAS No. 121 on a
plant specific basis. Under SFAS No. 121, an asset is considered impaired, and
should be written down to fair value, if the future undiscounted net cash flows
expected to be generated by the use of the asset are insufficient to recover the
carrying amount of the asset. For assets that are impaired pursuant to SFAS No.
121, the Company determined the fair value for each generating plant by
estimating the net present value of future cash inflows and outflows over the
estimated life of each plant. The difference between fair value and net book
value was recorded as a reduction in the current book value. The Company
determined that $797 million of electric generation assets were impaired as of
June 30, 1999. Of such amounts, $745 million relates to the South Texas Project
and $52 million relates to two gas-fired generation plants. The Legislation
provides recovery of this impairment through regulated cash flows during the
transition period and through non-bypassable charges to transmission and
distribution customers. As such, a regulatory asset has been recorded for an
amount equal to the
71
<PAGE> 74
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
impairment loss and is included on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets as
a regulatory asset. In addition, the Company recorded an additional $12 million
of recoverable impaired plant costs in the third quarter of 1999 related to
previously incurred costs that are now estimated to be recoverable pursuant to
the Legislation. During the third and fourth quarter of 1999, the Company
recorded amortization expense related to the recoverable impaired plant costs
and other deferred debits created from discontinuing SFAS No. 71 of $221
million. The Company will continue to amortize this regulatory asset as it is
recovered from regulated cash flows.
The impairment analysis requires estimates of possible future market
prices, load growth, competition and many other factors over the lives of the
plants. The resulting impairment loss is highly dependent on these underlying
assumptions. In addition, after January 10, 2004, Reliant Energy HL&P must
finalize and reconcile stranded costs (as defined by the Legislation) in a
filing with the Texas Utility Commission. Any difference between the fair market
value and the regulatory net book value of the generation assets (as defined by
the Legislation) will either be refunded or collected through future
non-bypassable charges. This final reconciliation allows alternative methods of
third party valuation of the fair market value of these assets, including
outright sale, stock valuations and asset exchanges. Because generally accepted
accounting principles require the Company to estimate fair market values on a
plant-by-plant basis in advance of the final reconciliation, the financial
impacts of the Legislation with respect to stranded costs are subject to
material changes. Factors affecting such change may include estimation risk,
uncertainty of future energy prices and the economic lives of the plants. If
events occur that make the recovery of all or a portion of the regulatory assets
associated with the generation plant impairment loss and deferred debits created
from discontinuance of SFAS No. 71 pursuant to the Legislation no longer
probable, the Company will write off the corresponding balance of such assets as
a non-cash charge against earnings. One of the results of discontinuing the
application of SFAS No. 71 for the generation operations is the elimination of
the regulatory accounting effects of excess deferred income taxes and investment
tax credits related to such operations. The Company believes it is probable that
some parties will seek to return such amounts to ratepayers and accordingly, the
Company has recorded an offsetting liability.
Following are the classes of electric property, plant and equipment at
cost, with associated accumulated depreciation at December 31, 1999 (including
the impairment loss discussed above) and December 31, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TRANSMISSION CONSOLIDATED
AND GENERAL ELECTRIC PLANT IN
GENERATION DISTRIBUTION AND INTANGIBLE SERVICE
------------ ------------ -------------- -----------------
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
December 31, 1999:
Original cost............................ $ 11,202 $ 4,531 $ 992 $ 16,725
Accumulated depreciation................. 4,767 1,263 251 6,281
----------- ----------- ----------- --------------
Property, plant and equipment - net(1)... $ 6,435 $ 3,268 $ 741 $ 10,444
=========== =========== =========== ==============
December 31, 1998:
Original cost............................ $ 8,843 $ 4,196 $ 902 $ 13,941
Accumulated depreciation................. 3,822 1,276 207 5,305
----------- ----------- ----------- --------------
Property, plant and equipment - net(1)... $ 5,021 $ 2,920 $ 695 $ 8,636
=========== =========== =========== ==============
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Includes non-rate regulated domestic and international generation
facilities of $696 million and $338 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998,
respectively, and international distribution facilities of $32 million and
$19 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Also, includes
property, plant and equipment of UNA of $1.8 billion at December 31, 1999.
In order to reduce potential exposure to stranded costs related to
generation assets, Reliant Energy HL&P redirected $99 million and $195 million
of depreciation in the six months ended June 30, 1999, and the year ended
December 31, 1998, respectively, from transmission and distribution related
plant assets to generation assets for regulatory and financial reporting
purposes. Such redirection was in accordance with the Company's Transition
72
<PAGE> 75
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Plan. See Note 4 for additional information regarding the Transition Plan. The
Legislation provides that depreciation expense for transmission and distribution
related assets may be redirected to generation assets during the base rate
freeze period from 1999 through 2001. For regulatory purposes, the Company has
continued to redirect transmission and distribution depreciation to generation
assets. Beginning June 30, 1999, redirected depreciation expense cannot be
recorded by the electric generation operations portion of Reliant Energy HL&P
for financial reporting purposes as this portion of electric operations is no
longer accounted for under SFAS No. 71. During the third and fourth quarters of
1999, $99 million in depreciation expense has been redirected from transmission
and distribution for regulatory purposes and has been established as an embedded
regulatory asset included in transmission and distribution related plant and
equipment balances. As of December 31, 1999 and 1998, the cumulative amount of
redirected depreciation for regulatory purposes is $393 million and $195
million, respectively.
The Company reviewed its long-term purchase power contracts and fuel
contracts for potential loss in accordance with SFAS No. 5, "Accounting for
Contingencies" and Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43, Chapter 4, "Inventory
Pricing." Based on projections of future market prices for wholesale
electricity, the analysis indicated no loss recognition is appropriate at this
time.
Other Accounting Policy Changes. As a result of discontinuing SFAS No. 71,
the accounting policies discussed below related to Electric Operations'
generation operations have been changed effective July 1, 1999. Allowance for
funds used during construction will no longer be accrued on generation related
construction projects. Instead, interest will be capitalized on these projects
in accordance with SFAS No. 34, "Capitalization of Interest Cost."
Previously, in accordance with SFAS No. 71, Reliant Energy HL&P deferred
the premiums and expenses that arose when long term debt was redeemed and
amortized these costs over the life of the new debt. If no new debt was issued,
these costs were amortized over the remaining original life of the retired debt.
Effective July 1, 1999, costs resulting from the retirement of debt attributable
to the generation operations of Reliant Energy HL&P will be recorded in
accordance with SFAS No. 4, "Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of
Debt," unless such costs will be recovered through regulated cash flows. In that
case, these costs will be deferred and recorded as a regulatory asset by the
entity through which the source of the regulated cash flows will be derived.
During the third and fourth quarters of 1999, the generation portion of Reliant
Energy HL&P incurred $11 million of losses from extinguishment of debt which
Reliant Energy HL&P's transmission and distribution operations have recorded as
a regulatory asset. This regulatory asset will be amortized along with
recoverable impaired plant costs as the assets are recovered pursuant to the
Legislation.
(4) TRANSITION PLAN
In June 1998, the Texas Utility Commission issued an order in Docket No.
18465 approving the Company's Transition Plan filed by Electric Operations in
December 1997. The Transition Plan included base rate credits to residential
customers of 4% in 1998 and an additional 2% in 1999. Commercial customers whose
monthly billing is 1,000 kva or less are entitled to receive base rate credits
of 2% in each of 1998 and 1999. The Company implemented the Transition Plan
effective January 1, 1998. For additional information regarding the Transition
Plan, see Note 1(g).
Review of the Texas Utility Commission's order in Docket No. 18465 is
currently pending before the Travis County District Court. In August 1998, the
Office of the Attorney General for the State of Texas and a Texas municipality
filed an appeal seeking, among other things, to reverse the portion of the Texas
Utility Commission's order relating to the redirection of depreciation expenses
under the Transition Plan. The Office of the Attorney General has withdrawn its
appeal, but the Texas municipality continues to maintain its appeal. Because of
the number of variables that can affect the ultimate resolution of an appeal of
Texas Utility Commission orders, the Company cannot predict the outcome of this
matter or the ultimate effect that adverse action by the courts could have on
the Company.
73
<PAGE> 76
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(5) DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
(a) Price Risk Management and Trading Activities.
The Company offers energy price risk management services primarily related
to natural gas, electricity, crude oil and refined products, weather, coal and
certain air emissions regulatory credits. The Company provides these services by
utilizing a variety of derivative financial instruments, including fixed and
variable-priced physical forward contracts, fixed and variable-priced swap
agreements and options traded in the over-the-counter financial markets and
exchange-traded energy futures and option contracts (Trading Derivatives).
Fixed-price swap agreements require payments to, or receipts of payments from,
counterparties based on the differential between a fixed and variable price for
the commodity. Variable-price swap agreements require payments to, or receipts
of payments from, counterparties based on the differential between industry
pricing publications or exchange quotations.
Prior to 1998, the Company applied hedge accounting to certain physical
commodity activities that qualified for hedge accounting. In 1998, the Company
adopted mark-to-market accounting for all of its price risk management and
trading activities. Accordingly, since 1998, such Trading Derivatives are
recorded at fair value with realized and unrealized gains (losses) recorded as a
component of revenues. The recognized, unrealized balance is included in price
risk management assets/liabilities (See Note 1(o)).
The notional quantities, maximum terms and the estimated fair value of
Trading Derivatives at December 31, 1999 and 1998 are presented below (volumes
in billions of British thermal units equivalent (Bbtue) and dollars in
millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VOLUME-FIXED
VOLUME-FIXED PRICE MAXIMUM
PRICE PAYOR RECEIVER TERM (YEARS)
------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1999
Natural gas................................................. 936,716 939,416 9
Electricity................................................. 251,592 248,176 10
Crude oil and refined products.............................. 143,857 144,554 3
1998
Natural gas................................................. 937,264 977,293 9
Electricity................................................. 122,950 124,878 3
Crude oil and refined products.............................. 205,499 204,223 3
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FAIR VALUE AVERAGE FAIR VALUE (a)
------------------------ ------------------------
ASSETS LIABILITIES ASSETS LIABILITIES
--------- ----------- --------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1999
Natural gas............................................. $ 319 $ 299 $ 302 $ 283
Electricity............................................. 131 98 103 80
Crude oil and refined products.......................... 134 145 127 132
--------- --------- --------- ---------
$ 584 $ 542 $ 532 $ 495
========= ========= ========= =========
1998
Natural gas............................................. $ 224 $ 212 $ 124 $ 108
Electricity............................................. 34 33 186 186
Crude oil and refined products.......................... 29 23 21 17
--------- --------- --------- ---------
$ 287 $ 268 $ 331 $ 311
========= ========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
- ----------
(a) Computed using the ending balance of each quarter.
74
<PAGE> 77
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
In addition to the fixed-price notional volumes above, the Company also has
variable-priced agreements, as discussed above, totaling 3,797,824 and 1,702,977
Bbtue as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Notional amounts reflect
the volume of transactions but do not represent the amounts exchanged by the
parties to the financial instruments. Accordingly, notional amounts do not
accurately measure the Company's exposure to market or credit risks.
All of the fair values shown in the tables above at December 31, 1999 and
1998 have been recognized in income. The fair value as of December 31, 1999 and
1998 was estimated using quoted prices where available and considering the
liquidity of the market for the Trading Derivatives. The prices and fair values
are subject to significant changes based on changing market conditions.
The weighted-average term of the trading portfolio, based on volumes, is
less than one year. The maximum and average terms disclosed herein are not
indicative of likely future cash flows, as these positions may be changed by new
transactions in the trading portfolio at any time in response to changing market
conditions, market liquidity and the Company's risk management portfolio needs
and strategies. Terms regarding cash settlements of these contracts vary with
respect to the actual timing of cash receipts and payments.
In addition to the risk associated with price movements, credit risk is
also inherent in the Company's risk management activities. Credit risk relates
to the risk of loss resulting from non-performance of contractual obligations by
a counterparty. The following table shows the composition of the total price
risk management assets of the Company as of December 31, 1999 and 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, 1999 DECEMBER 31, 1998
------------------------ ---------------------------
INVESTMENT INVESTMENT
GRADE (1) TOTAL GRADE (1) TOTAL
----------- ---------- ----------- ------------
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Energy marketers.................................. $ 172 $ 183 $ 103 $ 124
Financial institutions............................ 119 119 62 62
Gas and electric utilities........................ 184 186 47 48
Oil and gas producers............................. 6 30 7 8
Industrials....................................... 4 5 2 3
Independent power producers....................... 4 6 1 1
Others............................................ 64 67 45 47
----------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Total........................................ $ 553 596 $ 267 293
=========== ===========
Credit and other reserves......................... (12) (6)
---------- -----------
Energy price risk management assets (2)........... $ 584 $ 287
========== ===========
</TABLE>
- ---------
(1) "Investment Grade" is primarily determined using publicly available credit
ratings along with the consideration of credit support (e.g., parent
company guarantees) and collateral, which encompass cash and standby
letters of credit.
(2) As of December 31, 1999, the Company had no credit risk exposure to any
single counterparty that represents greater than 5% of price risk
management assets.
(b) Non-Trading Activities.
To reduce the risk from market fluctuations in the revenues derived from
electric power, natural gas and related transportation, the Company enters into
futures transactions, swaps and options (Energy Derivatives) in order to hedge
certain natural gas in storage, as well as certain expected purchases, sales and
transportation of natural gas and electric power (a portion of which are firm
commitments at the inception of the hedge). Energy Derivatives are also utilized
to fix the price of compressor fuel or other future operational gas requirements
and to protect natural
75
<PAGE> 78
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
gas distribution earnings against unseasonably warm weather during peak gas
heating months, although usage to date for this purpose has not been material.
The Company applies hedge accounting with respect to its derivative financial
instruments utilized in non-trading activities.
The Company utilizes interest-rate derivatives (principally interest-rate
swaps) in order to adjust the portion of its overall borrowings which are
subject to interest rate risk and also utilizes such derivatives to effectively
fix the interest rate on debt expected to be issued for refunding purposes. In
addition, in 1999, the Company entered into foreign currency swaps to hedge a
portion of its investment in UNA.
For transactions involving either Energy Derivatives or interest-rate and
foreign currency derivatives, hedge accounting is applied only if the derivative
(i) reduces the risk of the underlying hedged item and (ii) is designated as a
hedge at its inception. Additionally, the derivatives must be expected to result
in financial impacts which are inversely correlated to those of the item(s) to
be hedged. This correlation (a measure of hedge effectiveness) is measured both
at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, with an acceptable level
of correlation of at least 80% for hedge designation. If and when correlation
ceases to exist at an acceptable level, hedge accounting ceases and
mark-to-market accounting is applied.
In the case of interest-rate swaps associated with existing obligations,
cash flows and expenses associated with the interest-rate derivative
transactions are matched with the cash flows and interest expense of the
obligation being hedged, resulting in an adjustment to the effective interest
rate. When interest rate swaps are utilized to effectively fix the interest rate
for an anticipated debt issuance, changes in the market value of the
interest-rate derivatives are deferred and recognized as an adjustment to the
effective interest rate on the newly issued debt.
In the case of the foreign currency swaps which hedge a portion of the
Company's investment in UNA, income or loss associated with the foreign currency
derivative transactions is recorded as foreign currency translation adjustments
as a component of stockholders' equity. Such amounts generally offset amounts
recorded in stockholders' equity as adjustments resulting from translation of
the hedged investment into U.S. dollars.
Unrealized changes in the market value of Energy Derivatives utilized as
hedges are not generally recognized in the Company's Statements of Consolidated
Income until the underlying hedged transaction occurs. Once it becomes probable
that an anticipated transaction will not occur, deferred gains and losses are
recognized. In general, the financial impact of transactions involving these
Energy Derivatives is included in the Company's Statements of Consolidated
Income under the captions (i) fuel expenses, in the case of natural gas
transactions and (ii) purchased power, in the case of electric power
transactions. Cash flows resulting from these transactions in Energy Derivatives
are included in the Company's Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows in the same
category as the item being hedged.
At December 31, 1999, the Company was fixed-price payors and fixed-price
receivers in Energy Derivatives covering 33,108 billion British thermal units
(Bbtu) and 5,481 Bbtu of natural gas, respectively. At December 31, 1998, the
Company was fixed-price payors and fixed-price receivers in Energy Derivatives
covering 42,498 Bbtu and 3,930 Bbtu of natural gas, respectively. Also, at
December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Company was a party to variable-priced Energy
Derivatives totaling 44,958 Bbtu and 21,437 Bbtu of natural gas, respectively.
The weighted average maturity of these instruments is less than one year.
The notional amount is intended to be indicative of the Company's level of
activity in such derivatives, although the amounts at risk are significantly
smaller because, in view of the price movement correlation required for hedge
accounting, changes in the market value of these derivatives generally are
offset by changes in the value associated with the underlying physical
transactions or in other derivatives. When Energy Derivatives are closed out in
advance of the underlying commitment or anticipated transaction, however, the
market value changes may not offset due to the fact that price movement
correlation ceases to exist when the positions are closed, as further discussed
below. Under such circumstances, gains (losses) are deferred and recognized as a
component of income when the underlying hedged item is recognized in income.
76
<PAGE> 79
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The average maturity discussed above and the fair value discussed in Note
15 are not necessarily indicative of likely future cash flows as these positions
may be changed by new transactions in the trading portfolio at any time in
response to changing market conditions, market liquidity and the Company's risk
management portfolio needs and strategies. Terms regarding cash settlements of
these contracts vary with respect to the actual timing of cash receipts and
payments.
(c) Trading and Non-trading -- General Policy.
In addition to the risk associated with price movements, credit risk is
also inherent in the Company's risk management activities. Credit risk relates
to the risk of loss resulting from non-performance of contractual obligations by
a counterparty. While as yet the Company has experienced only minor losses due
to the credit risk associated with these arrangements, the Company has
off-balance sheet risk to the extent that the counterparties to these
transactions may fail to perform as required by the terms of each such contract.
In order to minimize this risk, the Company enters into such contracts primarily
with counterparties having a minimum Standard & Poor's or Moody's rating of BBB-
or Baa3, respectively. For long-term arrangements, the Company periodically
reviews the financial condition of such firms in addition to monitoring the
effectiveness of these financial contracts in achieving the Company's
objectives. Should the counterparties to these arrangements fail to perform, the
Company would seek to compel performance at law or otherwise obtain compensatory
damages in lieu thereof. The Company might be forced to acquire alternative
hedging arrangements or be required to honor the underlying commitment at
then-current market prices. In such event, the Company might incur additional
losses to the extent of amounts, if any, already paid to the counterparties. In
view of its criteria for selecting counterparties, its process for monitoring
the financial strength of these counterparties and its experience to date in
successfully completing these transactions, the Company believes that the risk
of incurring a significant financial statement loss due to the non-performance
of counterparties to these transactions is minimal.
The Company's policies also prohibit the use of leveraged financial
instruments.
The Company has established a Risk Oversight Committee, comprised of
corporate and business segment officers that oversees all commodity price and
credit risk activities, including the Company's trading, marketing and risk
management activities. The committee's duties are to establish the Company's
commodity risk policies, allocate risk capital within limits established by the
Company's board of directors, approve trading of new products and commodities,
monitor risk positions and ensure compliance with the Company's risk management
policies and procedures and trading limits established by the Company's board of
directors.
(6) JOINTLY OWNED ELECTRIC UTILITY PLANT
(a) Investment in South Texas Project.
The Company has a 30.8% interest in the South Texas Project, which consists
of two 1,250 megawatt (MW) nuclear generating units and bears a corresponding
30.8% share of capital and operating costs associated with the project. As of
December 31, 1999, the Company's investment in the South Texas Project was $382
million (net of $2.1 billion accumulated depreciation which includes an
impairment loss recorded in 1999 of $745 million). For additional information
regarding the impairment loss, see Note 3. The Company's investment in nuclear
fuel was $44 million (net of $251 million amortization) as of such date.
The South Texas Project is owned as a tenancy in common among its four
co-owners, with each owner retaining its undivided ownership interest in the two
nuclear-fueled generating units and the electrical output from those units. The
four co-owners have delegated management and operating responsibility for the
South Texas Project to the South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company
(STPNOC). STPNOC is managed by a board of directors comprised of one director
from each of the four owners, along with the chief executive officer of STPNOC.
The four owners provide oversight through an owners' committee comprised of
representatives of each
77
<PAGE> 80
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
of the owners and through the board of directors of STPNOC. Prior to November
1997, the Company was the operator of the South Texas Project.
(b) Nuclear Insurance.
The Company and the other owners of the South Texas Project maintain
nuclear property and nuclear liability insurance coverage as required by law and
periodically review available limits and coverage for additional protection. The
owners of the South Texas Project currently maintain $2.75 billion in property
damage insurance coverage, which is above the legally required minimum, but is
less than the total amount of insurance currently available for such losses.
This coverage consists of $500 million in primary property damage insurance and
excess property insurance in the amount of $2.25 billion. With respect to excess
property insurance, the Company and the other owners of the South Texas Project
are subject to assessments, the maximum aggregate assessment under current
policies being $17 million during any one policy year. The application of the
proceeds of such property insurance is subject to the priorities established by
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations relating to the safety of
licensed reactors and decontamination operations.
Pursuant to the Price Anderson Act, the maximum liability to the public of
owners of nuclear power plants was $8.9 billion as of December 31, 1999. Owners
are required under the Price Anderson Act to insure their liability for nuclear
incidents and protective evacuations by maintaining the maximum amount of
financial protection available from private sources and by maintaining secondary
financial protection through an industry retrospective rating plan. The
assessment of deferred premiums provided by the plan for each nuclear incident
is up to $84 million per reactor, subject to indexing for inflation, a possible
5% surcharge (but no more than $10 million per reactor per incident in any one
year) and a 3% state premium tax. The Company and the other owners of the South
Texas Project currently maintain the required nuclear liability insurance and
participate in the industry retrospective rating plan.
There can be no assurance that all potential losses or liabilities will be
insurable, or that the amount of insurance will be sufficient to cover them. Any
substantial losses not covered by insurance would have a material effect on the
Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
(c) Nuclear Decommissioning.
The Company contributes $14.8 million per year to a trust established to
fund its share of the decommissioning costs for the South Texas Project. For a
discussion of the accounting treatment for the securities held in the Company's
nuclear decommissioning trust, see Note 1(l). In July 1999, an outside
consultant estimated the Company's portion of decommissioning costs to be
approximately $363 million. The consultant's calculation of decommissioning
costs for financial planning purposes used the DECON methodology (prompt
removal/dismantling), one of the three alternatives acceptable to the NRC and
assumed deactivation of Units Nos. 1 and 2 upon the expiration of their 40-year
operating licenses. While the current and projected funding levels currently
exceed minimum NRC requirements, no assurance can be given that the amounts held
in trust will be adequate to cover the actual decommissioning costs of the South
Texas Project. Such costs may vary because of changes in the assumed date of
decommissioning and changes in regulatory requirements, technology and costs of
labor, materials and equipment. Pursuant to the Legislation, costs associated
with nuclear decommissioning that have not been recovered as of January 1, 2002,
will continue to be subject to cost-of-service rate regulation and will be
included in a non-bypassable charge to transmission and distribution customers.
(7) EQUITY INVESTMENTS AND ADVANCES TO UNCONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
The Company accounts for investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries under
the equity method of accounting where (i) the ownership interest in the
affiliate ranges from 20% to 50%, (ii) the ownership interest is less than 20%
but the Company exercises significant influence over operating and financial
policies of such affiliate or (iii) the interest in the affiliate exceeds 50%
but the Company does not exercise control over the affiliate.
78
<PAGE> 81
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The Company's equity investments and advances in unconsolidated
subsidiaries at December 31, 1999 and 1998 were $1 billion and $1.1 billion,
respectively. The Company's equity loss from these investments, was $14 million
in 1999. For 1998 and 1997, the Company's equity income from these investments
was $71 million and $49 million, respectively. Dividends received from these
investments amounted to $14 million, $44 million and $46 million in 1999, 1998
and 1997, respectively.
(a) Reliant Energy Latin America.
Reliant Energy is evaluating the sale of the Company's Latin American
assets in order to pursue business opportunities that are in line with its
strategies for the U.S. and Western Europe.
As of December 31, 1999, Reliant Energy Latin America indirectly holds
interests in Light Servicos de Eletricidade S.A. (Light) (11.78%) which
transmits and distributes electricity in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and holds 77.81%
of the common stock of Metropolitana Electricidade de Sao Paulo S.A.
(Metropolitana) which transmits and distributes electricity in Sao Paulo,
Brazil; three Colombian electric systems, Empresa de Energia del Pacifico
S.A.E.S.P. (EPSA) (28.35%), Electricaribe (34.61%), and Electrocosta (35.17%);
and three electric systems in El Salvador (ranging from approximately 37% to
45%). In addition, Reliant Energy Latin America indirectly holds interests in
natural gas systems in Colombia and a power generation plant in India.
As of December 31, 1999 and 1998, Light and Metropolitana had total
borrowings of $2.9 billion and $3.2 billion denominated in non-local currencies.
During the first quarter of 1999, the Brazilian real was devalued and allowed to
float against other major currencies. The effects of devaluation on the
non-local currency denominated borrowings caused the Company to record, as a
component of its equity earnings, an after-tax charge for the year ended
December 31, 1999 of $102 million as a result of foreign currency transaction
losses recorded by both Light and Metropolitana. At December 31, 1999 and 1998,
one U.S. dollar could be exchanged for 1.79 Brazilian real and 1.21 Brazilian
real, respectively. Because the Company uses the Brazilian real as the
functional currency to report Light's equity earnings, any decrease in the value
of the Brazilian real below its December 31, 1999 level will increase Light's
liability represented by the non-local currency denominated borrowings. This
amount will also be reflected in the Company's consolidated earnings, to the
extent of the Company's ownership interest in Light. Similarly, any increase in
the value of the Brazilian real above its December 31, 1999 level will decrease
Light's liability represented by such borrowings.
In April 1998, Light purchased 74.88% of the common stock of Metropolitana.
The purchase price for the shares was approximately $1.8 billion and was
financed with proceeds from bank borrowings. In August 1998, Reliant Energy
Latin America and another unrelated entity jointly acquired, through
subsidiaries, 65% of the stock of two Colombian electric distribution companies,
Electricaribe and Electrocosta, for approximately $522 million. The shares of
these companies are indirectly held by an offshore holding company jointly owned
by the Company and the other entity. In addition, in 1998, the Company acquired,
for approximately $150 million, equity interests in three electric distribution
systems located in El Salvador.
In June 1997, a consortium of investors which included Reliant Energy Latin
America acquired for $496 million a 56.7% controlling ownership interest in
EPSA. Reliant Energy Latin America contributed $152 million of the purchase
price for a 28.35% ownership interest in EPSA.
In May 1997, Reliant Energy Latin America increased its indirect ownership
interest in an Argentine electric utility from 48% to 63%. The purchase price of
the additional interest was $28 million. On June 30, 1998, Reliant Energy Latin
America sold its 63% ownership interest in this Argentine affiliate and certain
related assets for approximately $243 million. Reliant Energy Latin America
acquired its initial ownership interests in the electric utility in 1992. The
Company recorded an $80 million after-tax gain from this sale in the second
quarter of 1998.
79
<PAGE> 82
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(b) Wholesale Energy Domestic.
In April 1998, the Company formed a limited liability corporation to
construct and operate a 490 MW electric generation plant in Boulder City, Nevada
in which the Company retained a 50% interest. The plant is anticipated to be
operational in the second quarter of 2000. In October 1998, the Company entered
into a partnership to construct and operate a 100 MW cogeneration plant in
Orange, Texas in which its ownership interest is 50%. The plant began commercial
operation in December 1999. As of December 31, 1999, the Company's net
investment in these projects is $78 million and its total projected net
investment is approximately $90 million.
(c) Combined Financial Statement Data of Equity Investees and Advances to
Unconsolidated Subsidiaries.
The following tables set forth certain summarized financial information of
the Company's unconsolidated affiliates as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 and for
the years then ended or periods from the respective affiliates' acquisition date
through December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, if shorter:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------ ----------- -----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Income Statement:
Revenues................................................. $ 4,421,942 $ 2,449,335 $ 2,011,927
Operating expenses....................................... 3,329,559 1,762,166 1,460,248
Net income............................................... (310,667) 514,005 403,323
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------
1999 1998
------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C>
Balance Sheet:
Current assets........................................................ $ 1,553,166 $ 1,841,857
Noncurrent assets..................................................... 10,379,306 13,643,747
Current liabilities................................................... 2,714,621 4,074,603
Noncurrent liabilities................................................ 4,440,985 6,284,821
Owners' equity........................................................ 4,776,866 5,126,180
</TABLE>
(8) INDEXED DEBT SECURITIES (ACES AND ZENS) AND TIME WARNER SECURITIES
(a) Original investment in Time Warner Securities.
On July 6, 1999, the Company converted its 11 million shares of Time Warner
Inc. (TW) convertible preferred stock (TW Preferred) into 45.8 million shares of
Time Warner common stock (TW Common). Prior to the conversion, the Company's
investment in the TW Preferred was accounted for under the cost method at a
value of $990 million in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The TW
Preferred was redeemable after July 6, 2000, had an aggregate liquidation
preference of $100 per share (plus accrued and unpaid dividends), was entitled
to annual dividends of $3.75 per share until July 6, 1999 and was convertible by
the Company. The Company recorded pre-tax dividend income with respect to the TW
Preferred of $20.6 million in 1999 prior to the conversion and $41.3 million in
both 1998 and 1997. Due to the conversion, the Company will no longer receive
the quarterly pre-tax dividend of $10.3 million that was paid on the TW
Preferred but will receive dividends, if declared and paid, on its investments
in TW Common. Effective on the conversion date, the shares of TW Common were
classified as trading securities under SFAS No. 115 and an unrealized gain was
recorded in the amount of $2.4 billion ($1.5 billion after tax) to reflect the
cumulative appreciation in the fair value of the Company's investment in Time
Warner securities.
80
<PAGE> 83
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(b) ACES.
In July 1997, in order to monetize a portion of the cash value of its
investment in TW Preferred, the Company issued 22.9 million of its unsecured 7%
Automatic Common Exchange Securities (ACES) having an original principal amount
of approximately $1.052 billion. The market value of ACES is indexed to the
market value of TW Common. In July 2000, the ACES will be mandatorily
exchangeable for, at the Company's option, either shares of TW Common at the
exchange rate set forth below or cash with an equal value. The current exchange
rate is as follows:
MARKET PRICE OF TW COMMON EXCHANGE RATE
Below $22.96875 2.0 shares of TW Common
$22.96875 - $27.7922 Share equivalent of $45.9375
Above $27.7922 1.6528 shares of TW Common
Prior to maturity, the Company has the option of redeeming the ACES if (i)
changes in federal tax regulations require recognition of a taxable gain on the
Company's TW investment and (ii) the Company could defer such gain by redeeming
the ACES. The redemption price is 105% of the closing sales price of the ACES as
determined over a period prior to the day redemption notice is given. The
redemption price may be paid in cash or in shares of TW Common or a combination
of the two.
By issuing the ACES, the Company effectively eliminated the economic
exposure of its investment in TW securities to decreases in the price of TW
Common below $22.96875. In addition, the Company retained 100% of any increase
in TW Common price up to $27.7922 per share and 17% of any increase in market
price above $27.7922.
Prior to the July 1999 conversion of the TW Preferred, any increase in the
market value of TW Common above $27.7922 was treated for accounting purposes as
an increase in the payment amount of the ACES equal to 83% of the increase in
the market price per share and was recorded by the Company as a non-cash
expense. As a result, the Company recorded in 1999 (prior to conversion), 1998
and 1997 a non-cash, unrealized accounting loss of $435 million, $1.2 billion
and $121 million, respectively (which resulted in an after-tax earnings
reduction of $283 million, or $0.99 per share, $764 million, or $2.69 per share,
and $79 million, or $0.31 per share, respectively). Following the conversion of
TW Preferred into TW Common, changes in the market value of the Company's TW
Common and the related offsetting changes in the liability related to the
Company's obligation under the ACES will be recorded in the Company's Statement
of Consolidated Income.
(c) ZENS.
On September 21, 1999, the Company issued approximately 17.2 million of its
2.0% Zero-Premium Exchangeable Subordinated Notes due 2029 (ZENS) having an
original principal amount of approximately $1.0 billion. At maturity the holders
of the ZENS will receive in cash the higher of the original principal amount of
the ZENS or an amount based on the then-current market value of TW Common, or
other securities distributed with respect to TW Common (one share of TW Common
and such other securities, if any, are referred to as reference shares). Each
ZENS has an original principal amount of $58.25 (the closing market price of the
TW Common on September 15, 1999) and is exchangeable at any time at the option
of the holder for cash equal to 95% (100% in certain cases) of the market value
of the reference shares attributable to one ZENS. The Company pays interest on
each ZENS at an annual rate of 2% plus the amount of any quarterly cash
dividends paid in respect of the quarterly interest period on the reference
shares attributable to each ZENS. Subject to certain conditions, the Company has
the right to defer interest payments from time to time on the ZENS for up to 20
consecutive quarterly periods. As of December 31, 1999, no interest payments on
the ZENS had been deferred.
81
<PAGE> 84
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Of the $980 million net proceeds from the offering, the Company used $443
million for general corporate purposes, including repayment of Company
indebtedness. The Company used $537 million of the net proceeds to purchase 9.2
million shares of TW Common, which are classified as trading securities under
SFAS No. 115. Unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in the market
value of the TW Common are recorded in the Company's Statements of Consolidated
Income.
An increase above $58.25 (subject to certain adjustments) in the market
value per share of TW Common results in an increase in the Company's liability
for the ZENS and is recorded by the Company as a non-cash expense. If the market
value per share of TW Common declines below $58.25 (subject to certain
adjustments), the liability for the ZENS would not decline below the original
principal amount. However, the decline in market value of the Company's
investment in the TW Common would be recorded as an unrealized loss as discussed
above.
Prior to the purchase of additional shares of TW Common on September 21,
1999, the Company owned approximately 8 million shares of TW Common that were in
excess of the 38 million shares needed to economically hedge its ACES
obligation. For the period from July 6, 1999 to the ZENS issuance date, losses
(due to the decline in the market value of the TW Common during such period) on
these 8 million shares were $122 million ($79 million after tax). The 8 million
shares of TW Common combined with the additional 9.2 million shares purchased
are expected to be held to facilitate the Company's ability to meet its
obligation under the ZENS.
The following table sets forth certain summarized financial information of
the Company's investment in TW securities and the Company's ACES and ZENS
obligations.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TW INVESTMENT ACES ZENS
------------- ----------- -----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at January 1, 1997............................... $ 990,000
Issuance of indexed debt securities...................... $ 1,052,384
Loss on indexed debt securities.......................... 121,402
----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1997............................. 990,000 1,173,786
Loss on indexed debt securities.......................... 1,176,211
----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1998............................. 990,000 2,349,997
Issuance of indexed debt securities...................... $ 1,000,000
Purchase of TW Common.................................... 537,055
Loss on indexed debt securities.......................... 388,107 241,416
Gain on TW Common........................................ 2,452,406
----------- ----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1999............................. $ 3,979,461 $ 2,738,104 $ 1,241,416
=========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
(9) PREFERRED STOCK AND PREFERENCE STOCK
(a) Preferred Stock.
At December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Company had 10,000,000 authorized shares
of cumulative preferred stock, of which 97,397 shares were outstanding. As of
such dates, the Company's only outstanding series of preferred stock was its
$4.00 Preferred Stock. The $4.00 Preferred Stock pays an annual dividend of
$4.00 per share, is redeemable at $105 per share and has a liquidation price of
$100 per share.
82
<PAGE> 85
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(b) Preference Stock.
At December 31, 1999 and 1998, Reliant Energy had 10,000,000 authorized
shares of preference stock which were designated and outstanding, as
shown below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, 1999 DECEMBER 31, 1998
------------------------- -------------------------
LIQUIDATION SHARES SHARES SHARES SHARES
VALUE PER SHARE DESIGNATED OUTSTANDING DESIGNATED OUTSTANDING
--------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Series A $ 1,000 700,000 700,000
Series B $ 100,000 27,000 17,000 27,000 17,000
Series C $ 100,000 1,575 1,575 1,575
Series D Euro 100,000(1) 5,880 5,880
Series E $ 100,000 3,160 3,160
Series F $ 100,000 2,400 2,400
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) As of December 31, 1999, one U.S. dollar could be exchanged for 1.0062
Euros.
The Series A Preference Stock is issuable in accordance with the Company's
Shareholder Rights Agreement upon the occurrence of certain events. Each share
of common stock of the Company includes one associated preference stock purchase
right (Company Right). Under certain circumstances, each Company Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of
one-thousandth of a share (Fractional Share) of Series A Preference Stock,
without par value, at a purchase price of $42.50 per Fractional Share, subject
to adjustments.
The Series C Preference Stock was redeemed in March 1999. The Series B, D,
E and F Preference Stock are not deemed outstanding for financial reporting
purposes because the sole holders of each series are wholly owned financing
subsidiaries of the Company.
83
<PAGE> 86
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(10) LONG-TERM DEBT AND SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, 1999 DECEMBER 31, 1998
-------------------------- -------------------------
LONG-TERM CURRENT (1) LONG-TERM CURRENT (1)
-----------------------------------------------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Short-term borrowings:
Commercial paper........................................... $ 1,793,268 $ 1,360,239
Lines of credit (2)........................................ 563,472 150,000
Receivables facilities..................................... 350,000 300,000
Other (3).................................................. 172,471 2,500
----------- -----------
Total short-term borrowings................................... 2,879,211 1,812,739
----------- -----------
Long-term debt:
Reliant Energy
ACES (4)................................................... 2,738,104 $ 2,349,997
ZENS (4)................................................... 1,241,416
Debentures................................................. $ 350,000 350,000
7.88% to 9.38% due 2001 to 2002 as of December 31, 1999
and 1998
First mortgage bonds....................................... 1,261,217 150,000 1,875,732 170,500
4.90% to 9.15% due 2002 to 2027 as of December 31, 1999
4.90% to 9.15% due 2000 to 2027 as of December 31, 1998
Pollution control bonds.................................... 1,045,900 581,385
4.70% to 5.95% due 2011 to 2030 as of December 31, 1999
4.90% to 5.25% due 2015 to 2029 as of December 31, 1998
Notes payable.............................................. 529 31 561 31
12.50% due 2017 as of December 31, 1999 and 1998
Capitalized lease obligations.............................. 12,502 1,229 13,742 1,140
Financing Subsidiaries (directly or indirectly held by
Reliant Energy)
Notes payable.............................................. 525,000
7.12% to 7.40% due 2001 to 2002 as of December 31, 1999
Reliant Energy International, Inc.
Notes payable, 9.00% due 2003 as of December 31, 1999 and
1998..................................................... 92,667 27,905 126,522 22,345
Reliant Energy Power Generation, Inc.
Notes payable.............................................. 70,247
Various market rates due 2002 as of December 31, 1999
N.V. UNA (3)(5)
Debentures................................................. 390,626
3.50% to 9.13% due 2000 to 2010 as of December 31, 1999
Resources Corp. (5)
Convertible debentures..................................... 92,727 104,617
6.0% due 2012
Debentures................................................. 961,545 1,010,919
6.38% to 8.90% due 2003 to 2008 as of December 31, 1999
6.38% to 10.00% due 2003 to 2019 as of December 31, 1998
Medium-term notes.......................................... 150,275 177,591
8.77% to 9.23% maturing 2001 as of December 31, 1999
8.77% to 9.39% maturing 2000 to 2001 as of December 31,
1998
Notes payable.............................................. 223,451 203,116 203,438
7.50% to 9.39% due 2000 as of December 31, 1999
7.50% to 8.88% due 1999 to 2000 as of December 31, 1998
Unamortized discount and premium.............................. 8,075 6,566
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total long-term borrowings.................................... 4,961,310 4,382,136 6,800,748 397,454
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total borrowings........................................... $ 4,961,310 $ 7,261,347 $ 6,800,748 $ 2,210,193
=========== =========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
- ----------------------
(1) Includes amounts due within one year of the date noted.
(2) Includes borrowings which are denominated in Euros as of December 31, 1999.
The assumed exchange rate is 1.0062 Euros per U.S. dollar (exchange rate on
December 31, 1999).
(3) Borrowings are primarily denominated in Dutch guilders. The assumed
exchange rate is 2.19 NLG per U.S. dollar (exchange rate on December 31,
1999).
(4) For additional information regarding ACES and ZENS, see Note 8. As ZENS are
exchangeable at any time at the option of the holders, these notes are
classified as a current portion of long-term debt.
(5) At the respective acquisition dates of UNA and Resources, the debt was
adjusted to fair market value as of that date. Included in unamortized
premium and discount is unamortized premium related to fair value
adjustments
84
<PAGE> 87
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
of long-term debt of approximately $48 million and $33 million at December
31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, and is being amortized over the respective
remaining term of the related long-term debt.
(a) Short-term Borrowings.
As of December 31, 1999, the Company has credit facilities, which included
facilities of various financing subsidiaries, UNA and Resources Corp., with
financial institutions which provide for an aggregate of $3.7 billion in
committed credit. The facilities expire as follows: $1.8 billion in 2000, $1.6
billion in 2002 and $0.3 billion in 2003. Interest rates on borrowings are based
on the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) plus a margin, Euro interbank
deposits plus a margin, a base rate or at a rate determined through a bidding
process. Credit facilities aggregating $1.2 billion are unsecured. These credit
facilities contain covenants and requirements which must be met to borrow funds.
Such covenants are not anticipated to materially restrict the Company from
borrowing funds under such facilities. As of December 31, 1999, unused credit
facilities totaled $1.0 billion. In addition, one of the credit facilities
includes a $65 million sub-facility under which letters of credit may be
obtained. Letters of credit under the sub-facility aggregated $9.3 million as of
December 31, 1999.
The Company sells commercial paper to provide financing for general
corporate purposes. As of December 31, 1999, $1.8 billion of commercial paper
was outstanding. The commercial paper borrowings are supported by various credit
facilities discussed above including a $1.6 billion revolving credit facility
expiring in 2002, a $200 million revolving credit facility expiring in 2000 and
a $350 million revolving credit facility expiring in 2003.
As of December 31, 1999, the Company, through UNA, has $170 million
(assuming an exchange rate of 2.19 NLG per U.S. dollar, exchange rate as of
December 31, 1999) of short-term borrowings arranged via brokers or directly
from financial institutions. These borrowings are used by UNA to meet its
short-term liquidity requirements.
The weighted average interest rate on short-term borrowings in 1999, 1998
and 1997 was 5.84%, 5.77% and 6.12%, respectively.
(b) Long-term Debt.
Maturities of long-term debt and sinking fund requirements for the Company
are approximately $409 million in 2000, $773 million in 2001, $670 million in
2002, $741 million in 2003 and $58 million in 2004. Maturities in 2000 exclude
indexed debt securities (see Note 8) which may be settled with the Company's
investment in TW Common.
Substantially all physical assets used in the conduct of the business and
operations of Electric Operations are subject to liens securing the First
Mortgage Bonds. Sinking fund requirements on the First Mortgage Bonds may be
satisfied by certification of property additions at 100% of the requirements as
defined by the Mortgage and Deed of Trust. Sinking or improvement/replacement
fund requirements for 1999 and prior years have been satisfied by certification
of property additions. The replacement fund requirement to be satisfied in 2000
is approximately $327 million.
At December 31, 1999, Resources Corp. had issued and outstanding $92.7
million aggregate principal amount of its 6% Convertible Subordinated Debentures
due 2012 (Subordinated Debentures). The holders of the Subordinated Debentures
receive interest quarterly and have the right at any time on or before the
maturity date thereof to convert each Subordinated Debenture into 0.65 shares of
Company common stock and $14.24 in cash. During 1999, Resources Corp. purchased
$12.0 million aggregate principal amount of its Subordinated Debentures.
In November 1998, Resources Corp. issued $500 million aggregate principal
amount of its 6 3/8% Term Enhanced ReMarketable Securities (TERM Notes).
Included within the TERM Notes is an embedded option sold to an investment bank
which gives the investment bank the right to remarket the TERM Notes commencing
in November 2003 if it chooses to exercise the option. The TERM Notes are
unsecured obligations of Resources Corp.
85
<PAGE> 88
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
which bear interest at an annual rate of 6 3/8% through November 1, 2003. On
November 1, 2003, the holders of the TERM Notes are required to tender their
notes at 100% of their principal amount. The portion of the proceeds
attributable to the option premium will be amortized over the stated term of the
securities. If the option is not exercised by the investment bank, Resources
Corp. will repurchase the TERM Notes at 100% of their principal amount on
November 1, 2003. If the option is exercised, the TERM Notes will be remarketed
on a date, selected by Resources Corp., within the 52-week period beginning
November 1, 2003. During such period and prior to remarketing, the TERM Notes
will bear interest at rates, adjusted weekly, based on an index selected by
Resources Corp. If the TERM Notes are remarketed, the final maturity date of the
TERM Notes will be November 1, 2013, subject to adjustment, and the effective
interest rate on the remarketed TERM Notes will be 5.66% plus Resources Corp.'s
applicable credit spread at the time of such remarketing.
For the year ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, the Company
capitalized interest of $19 million, $14 million and $11 million, respectively,
including allowance for funds used during construction related to debt.
During the year ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, the Company
recorded losses from the extinguishment of debt of $22 million, $20 million and
$17 million, respectively. As these costs will be recovered through regulated
cash flows, these costs have been deferred and a regulatory asset has been
recorded. For further discussion regarding the accounting, see Note 3.
(11) TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
In February 1999, Reliant Energy and two newly created and wholly owned
Delaware statutory business trusts (REI Trust I and REI Trust II), registered
$500 million of trust preferred securities and related junior subordinated debt
securities. In February 1999, REI Trust I issued $375 million aggregate amount
of preferred securities to the public. The trust preferred securities accumulate
distributions at a rate of 7.20% payable quarterly in arrears, have a stated
liquidation amount of $25 per preferred security and must be redeemed by March
2048. REI Trust I used the proceeds to purchase $375 million aggregate principal
amount of junior subordinated debentures from the Company having an interest
rate and maturity date that correspond to the distribution rate and mandatory
redemption date of the trust preferred securities. The Company used the proceeds
from the sale of the debentures for general corporate purposes, including the
repayment of short-term debt. Under the registration statement, $125 million of
these securities remain available for issuance. The issuance of all securities
registered by the Company is subject to market and other conditions.
In February 1997, two Delaware statutory business trusts established by the
Company (HL&P Capital Trust I and HL&P Capital Trust II) issued (i) $250 million
of trust preferred securities and (ii) $100 million of capital securities,
respectively. The trust preferred securities have a distribution rate of 8.125%
payable quarterly in arrears, a stated liquidation amount of $25 per trust
preferred security and must be redeemed by March 2046. The capital securities
have a distribution rate of 8.257% payable quarterly in arrears, a stated
liquidation amount of $1,000 per capital security and must be redeemed by
February 2037. HL&P Capital Trust I and II used the proceeds to purchase
$350 million aggregate principal amount of subordinated debentures from the
Company having interest rates and maturity dates that correspond to the
distribution rate and the mandatory redemption dates of the trust preferred
securities.
The Company accounts for HL&P Capital Trust I and II and REI Trust I as
wholly owned consolidated subsidiaries. The subordinated debentures are the
trusts' sole asset and their entire operations. The Company has fully and
unconditionally guaranteed, on a subordinated basis, all of HL&P Capital Trust I
and II and REI Trust I's obligations with respect to the preferred securities
and capital securities. The preferred securities and capital securities are
mandatorily redeemable upon the repayment of the subordinated debentures at
their stated maturity or earlier redemption. Subject to certain limitations, the
Company has the option of deferring payments of interest on the subordinated
debentures. During any deferral or event of default, the Company may not pay
dividends on its capital stock. As of December 31, 1999, no interest payments on
the subordinated debentures had been deferred.
86
<PAGE> 89
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
In June 1996, a Delaware statutory business trust established by Resources
Corp. (Resources Trust) issued $172.5 million of convertible preferred
securities to the public. The convertible preferred securities have a
distribution rate of 6.25% payable quarterly in arrears, a stated liquidation
amount of $50 per convertible preferred security and must be redeemed by 2026.
The Resources Trust used the proceeds to purchase $172.5 million of 6.25%
convertible junior subordinated debentures from Resources Corp. having an
interest rate and a maturity date that correspond to the distribution rate and
the mandatory redemption date of the convertible preferred securities. Resources
Corp. accounts for Resources Trust as a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary.
The convertible junior subordinated debentures represent Resources Trust's sole
assets and its entire operations. Resources Corp. has fully and unconditionally
guaranteed, on a subordinated basis, all of Resources Trust's obligations with
respect to the convertible preferred securities. The convertible preferred
securities are mandatorily redeemable upon the repayment of the convertible
junior subordinated debentures at their stated maturity or earlier redemption.
Each convertible preferred security is convertible at the option of the holder
into $33.62 of cash and 1.55 shares of Reliant Energy common stock. During 1999
and 1998, convertible preferred securities aggregating $0.2 million and $15.5
million, respectively, were converted, leaving $0.7 million and $0.9 million
liquidation amount of convertible preferred securities outstanding at December
31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Subject to certain limitations, Resources Corp.
has the option of deferring payments of interest on the convertible junior
subordinated debentures. During any deferral or event of default, Resources
Corp. may not pay dividends on its common stock to Reliant Energy. As of
December 31, 1999, no interest payments on the debentures had been deferred.
(12) STOCK-BASED INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS AND RETIREMENT PLANS
(a) Incentive Compensation Plans.
The Company has Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plans (LICP) and other
incentive compensation plans that provide for the issuance of stock-based
incentives (including performance-based stock compensation, restricted shares,
stock options and stock appreciation rights) to key employees of the Company,
including officers. As of December 31, 1999, 485 current and former employees
participated in the plans. A maximum of approximately 24 million shares of
common stock may be issued under these plans. Under the LICP, beginning one year
after the grant date, the options become exercisable in one-third increments
each year. As of December 31, 1999, the weighted-average remaining contractual
life of outstanding options was 8.3 years. Performance-based stock compensation
issued and restricted shares granted were 294,271 in 1999, 98,413 in 1998 and
704,865 in 1997.
87
<PAGE> 90
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Stock option activity for the years 1997 through 1999 is summarized below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
NUMBER PRICE AT DATE OF
OF SHARES GRANT OR EXERCISE
-------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Outstanding at December 31, 1996......................................... 498,652 $21.7796
Options granted....................................................... 382,954 $21.0673
Options converted at acquisition(1)................................... 622,504 $12.9002
Options exercised(1).................................................. (281,053) $ 9.2063
Options withheld for taxes............................................ (72)
Options canceled...................................................... (148,418)
----------
Outstanding at December 31, 1997......................................... 1,074,567 $19.0728
----------
Options granted....................................................... 2,243,535 $26.3112
Options exercised(1).................................................. (287,591) $15.6576
Options withheld for taxes............................................ (6,854)
Options canceled...................................................... (78,003)
----------
Outstanding at December 31, 1998......................................... 2,945,654 $24.8668
----------
Options granted....................................................... 3,806,051 $26.7372
Options exercised(1).................................................. (83,610) $19.3819
Options canceled...................................................... (205,124)
----------
Outstanding at December 31, 1999......................................... 6,462,971 $25.9937
==========
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER
OF SHARES
------------
<S> <C>
December 31, 1999 Exercisable at:
$7.00 - 19.84........................................................................... 147,953
$21.01 - 30.25.......................................................................... 1,202,421
December 31, 1998 Exercisable at:
$7.00 - 19.84........................................................................... 158,695
$20.01 - 35.18.......................................................................... 373,160
December 31, 1997 Exercisable at:
$7.00 - 17.75........................................................................... 302,256
$20.01 - 35.18.......................................................................... 343,048
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Effective upon the Merger with Resources Corp., each holder of an unexpired
Resources Corp. stock option, whether or not then exercisable, was entitled
to elect to either (i) have all or any portion of their Resources Corp.
stock options canceled and "cashed out" or (ii) have all or any portion of
their Resources Corp. stock options converted to Reliant Energy's stock
options. There were 828,297 Resources Corp. stock options converted into
622,504 of Reliant Energy's stock options at the Merger date. Options
exercised during 1999, 1998 and 1997 included approximately 26,000, 210,000
and 277,000 shares, respectively, related to Resources Corp. stock options
which were converted at the Merger.
In accordance with SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,"
the Company applies the rules contained in Accounting Principles Opinion No. 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and discloses the required pro forma
effect on net income and earnings per share of the fair value based method of
accounting for stock compensation as required by SFAS No. 123.
88
<PAGE> 91
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The following pro forma summary of the Company's consolidated results of
operations has been prepared as if the fair value based method of accounting for
employee stock compensation had been applied:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
---------- ---------- -----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders as reported..... $1,482,081 $ (141,482) $ 420,948
SFAS No. 123 effect................................................... (5,120) (6,383) (2,374)
--------- ---------- ----------
Pro forma net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders....... $1,476,961 $ (147,865) $ 418,574
========== ========== ==========
Pro forma basic earnings per share.................................... $ 5.18 $ (.50) $ 1.66
Pro forma diluted earnings per share.................................. 5.16 (.52) 1.65
</TABLE>
The fair value of options granted during 1999, 1998 and 1997 was calculated
using the Black-Scholes model. The significant assumptions incorporated in the
Black-Scholes model in estimating the fair value of the options include (i) an
interest rate of 5.10%, 5.65% and 6.58% for 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively,
that represents the interest rate on a U.S. Treasury security with a maturity
date corresponding with the option term, (ii) an option term of ten years, (iii)
volatility of 21.23%, 24.01% and 22.06% for 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively,
calculated using daily stock prices for the period prior to the grant date and
(iv) expected common dividends of $1.50 per share representing annualized
dividends at the date of grant.
(b) Pension.
The Company has a noncontributory retirement plan which covers the
employees of the Company. Prior to 1999, Resources had two noncontributory
retirement plans: (i) the plan which covered the employees of Resources other
than Minnegasco employees and (ii) the plan which covered Minnegasco employees.
The plans provided retirement benefits based on years of service and
compensation. Effective January 1, 1999, the two Resources noncontributory
retirement plans were merged into the Company's plan. The Company's funding
policy is to review amounts annually in accordance with applicable regulations
in order to achieve adequate funding of projected benefit obligations. The
assets of the plan consist principally of common stocks and high-quality,
interest-bearing obligations. The net periodic pension costs, prepaid pension
costs and benefit obligation have been determined separately for each plan prior
to the plans being merged.
Net pension cost for the Company includes the following components:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
-------------- -------------- ---------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Service cost-- benefits earned during the period...................... $ 33,700 $ 33,436 $ 26,848
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation......................... 88,393 85,132 67,641
Expected return on plan assets........................................ (140,496) (121,196) (86,372)
Net amortization...................................................... (5,361) 6 6
----------- ---------- -----------
Net pension cost............................................ (23,764) (2,622) 8,123
Transfer of obligation to STPNOC...................................... (6,077)
SFAS No. 88-- curtailment expense..................................... 12,947
----------- ---------- -----------
Total pension cost (benefit)................................ $ (23,764) $ (2,622) $ 14,993
=========== ========== ===========
</TABLE>
89
<PAGE> 92
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Following are reconciliations of the Company's beginning and ending
balances of its retirement plan benefit obligation, plan assets and funded
status for 1999 and 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------
1999 1998
----------- -----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C>
CHANGE IN BENEFIT OBLIGATION
Benefit obligation, beginning of year ......... $ 1,389,444 $ 1,246,582
Service cost .................................. 33,700 33,436
Interest cost ................................. 88,393 85,132
Benefits paid ................................. (97,946) (69,182)
Plan amendments ............................... (161,326)
Actuarial (gain) loss ......................... (181,548) 254,802
----------- -----------
Benefit obligation, end of year ............... $ 1,232,043 $ 1,389,444
=========== ===========
CHANGE IN PLAN ASSETS
Plan asset, beginning of year ................. $ 1,429,882 $ 1,304,023
Benefits paid ................................. (97,946) (69,182)
Employer contributions ........................ 47,406
Actual investment return ...................... 181,177 147,635
----------- -----------
Plan assets, end of year ...................... $ 1,513,113 $ 1,429,882
=========== ===========
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDED STATUS
Funded status ................................. $ 281,070 $ 40,438
Unrecognized transition asset ................. (5,401) (7,205)
Unrecognized prior service cost ............... (137,950) (148,400)
Unrecognized actuarial loss ................... 11,742 240,864
----------- -----------
Net amount recognized ......................... $ 149,461 $ 125,697
=========== ===========
ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS
Discount rate ................................. 7.5% 6.5%
Rate of increase in compensation levels ....... 3.5 - 5.5% 3.5 - 5.5%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets ... 10.0% 10.0%
</TABLE>
The transitional asset at January 1, 1986, is being recognized over
approximately 17 years, and the prior service cost is being recognized over
approximately 15 years for the Company's plan. The unrecognized transitional
asset, prior service cost and net (gain) or loss related to the Resources' plans
were recognized at the Merger date.
In 1998, the Company's board of directors approved the amendment and
restatement of the retirement plan, effective January 1, 1999, which converted
the present value of the accrued benefits under the existing pension plans into
a cash balance pension plan. Under the cash balance formula, each participant
has an account, for recordkeeping purposes only, to which credits are allocated
annually based on a percentage of the participant's pay. The applicable
percentage for 1999 is 4%. The purpose of the plan change is to continue to
provide uniform retirement income benefits across all employee groups, which are
competitive both within the energy services industry as well as with other
companies within the United States. The Company will continue to reflect the
costs of the pension plan according to the provisions of SFAS No. 87,
"Employers' Accounting for Pensions" as amended. As a result of the January 1,
1999 amendment and restatement, which is reflected in the December 31, 1998
disclosure, the Company's projected benefit obligation declined $161 million.
The actuarial gains and losses are due to changes in certain actuarial
assumptions.
90
<PAGE> 93
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
In addition to the noncontributory plans discussed above, the Company
maintains a non-qualified plan which allows participants to retain the benefits
to which they would have been entitled under the Company's noncontributory plan
except for the federally mandated limits on such benefits or on the level of
salary on which such benefits may be calculated. Prior to 1999, Resources
maintained certain similar non-qualified plans. Effective January 1, 1999,
Resources' non-qualified plans were merged into Reliant Energy's non-qualified
plan. The related benefit obligation at December 31, 1999 and 1998, was $28
million and $26 million, respectively. Expense of approximately $5 million
associated with these non-qualified plans was recorded each year during 1999,
1998 and 1997, respectively.
(c) Savings Plan.
Reliant Energy has an employee savings plan that qualifies as cash or
deferred arrangements under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (IRC). Under the plan, participating employees may contribute a
portion of their compensation, pre-tax or after-tax, up to a maximum of 16% of
compensation. In 1999, the savings plan was amended so that Reliant Energy now
matches 75% to 125% of the first 6% of each employee's compensation contributed,
subject to a vesting schedule, based on certain performance goals achieved by
the Company. Through 1998, Reliant Energy matched 70% of the first 6% of each
employee's compensation contributed, subject to a vesting schedule.
Substantially all of Reliant Energy's match is invested in Reliant Energy common
stock.
In October 1990, Reliant Energy amended its savings plan to add a leveraged
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) component. Reliant Energy may use ESOP
shares to satisfy its obligation to make matching contributions under the
savings plan. Debt service on the ESOP loan is paid using all dividends on
shares in the ESOP, interest earnings on funds held in the ESOP and cash
contributions by Reliant Energy. Shares of Reliant Energy common stock are
released from the encumbrance of the ESOP loan based on the proportion of debt
service paid during the period.
The Company recognizes benefit expense for the ESOP equal to the fair value
of the ESOP shares committed to be released. The Company credits to unearned
ESOP shares the original purchase price of ESOP shares committed to be released
to plan participants with the difference between the fair value of the shares
and the original purchase price recorded to common stock. Dividends on allocated
ESOP shares are recorded as a reduction to retained earnings; dividends on
unallocated ESOP shares are recorded as a reduction of debt or accrued interest
on the ESOP loan.
The ESOP shares were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------
1999 1998
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Allocated shares transferred/distributed from the savings plan.............. 2,115,536 1,916,508
Allocated shares............................................................ 5,967,159 5,171,613
Unearned shares............................................................. 10,679,489 11,674,063
------------ ------------
Total original ESOP shares............................................. 18,762,184 18,762,184
============ ============
Fair value of unearned ESOP shares.......................................... $244,293,311 $374,270,460
</TABLE>
Prior to April 1, 1999, Resources had an employee savings plan that covered
substantially all Resources employees other than Reliant Energy Minnegasco
employees. Under the terms of the Resources savings plan, employees could
contribute up to 12% of total compensation in 1998 and 1997, which contributions
up to 6% were matched by the Company. Beginning January 1, 1999, employees could
contribute up to 16% of total compensation, which contribution up to 6% were
matched by the Company. Prior to April 1, 1999, the Reliant Energy Minnegasco
employees were covered by a savings plan, the terms of which were somewhat
similar to the Resources savings plan. Effective April 1, 1999, the Resources
and the Reliant Energy Minnegasco savings plans were merged into the Company's
savings plan.
91
<PAGE> 94
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The Company's savings plan benefit expense was $26 million, $25 million and
$22 million in 1999, 1998, and 1997, respectively.
(d) Postretirement Benefits.
The Company records the liability for postretirement benefit plans other
than pensions (primarily health care) under SFAS No. 106, "Employer's Accounting
for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions" (SFAS No. 106). The Company is
amortizing over a 22 year period approximately $213 million to cover the
"transition cost" of adopting SFAS No. 106 (i.e., the Company's liability for
postretirement benefits payable with respect to employee service years accrued
prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 106). The unrecognized transitional asset and
net (gain) loss related to the Resources plans were recognized at the Merger
date.
As provided in the 1995 Rate Case Settlement, Reliant Energy HL&P is
required to fund during each year in an irrevocable external trust approximately
$22 million of postretirement benefit costs which are included in its rates.
Reliant Energy Minnegasco is required to fund postretirement benefit costs for
the amount included in its rates. The Company, excluding Reliant Energy HL&P and
Reliant Energy Minnegasco, will continue funding its postretirement benefits on
a pay-as-you-go basis.
Net postretirement benefit cost for the Company includes the following
components:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
--------- -------- --------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Service cost-- benefits earned during the period ....... $ 5,073 $ 8,060 $ 8,927
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation .......... 26,259 17,270 14,176
Expected (return) loss on plan assets .................. (8,986) (5,977) (4,515)
Net amortization ....................................... 14,629 3,298 4,011
-------- -------- --------
Net postretirement benefit cost ................... 36,975 22,651 22,599
Transfer of obligation to STPNOC ....................... 173
-------- -------- --------
Total cost ........................................ $ 36,975 $ 22,651 $ 22,772
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
Following are reconciliations of the Company's beginning and ending
balances of its postretirement benefit plans benefit obligation, plan assets and
funded status for 1999 and 1998.
92
<PAGE> 95
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------
1999 1998
---------- ---------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C>
CHANGE IN BENEFIT OBLIGATION
Benefit obligation, beginning of year .................................. $ 409,811 $ 269,531
Service cost ........................................................... 5,073 8,060
Interest cost .......................................................... 26,259 17,270
Benefits paid .......................................................... (21,846) (20,662)
Participant contributions .............................................. 3,633 2,960
Acquisitions ........................................................... 12,414
Plan amendments ........................................................ 98,918
Actuarial (gain) loss .................................................. (40,242) 33,734
--------- ---------
Benefit obligation, end of year ........................................ $ 395,102 $ 409,811
========= =========
CHANGE IN PLAN ASSETS
Plan asset, beginning of year .......................................... $ 84,068 $ 56,340
Benefits paid .......................................................... (21,846) (20,662)
Employer contributions ................................................. 32,559 32,889
Participant contributions .............................................. 3,633 2,960
Actual investment return ............................................... 6,414 12,541
--------- ---------
Plan assets, end of year ............................................... $ 104,828 $ 84,068
========= =========
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDED STATUS
Funded status .......................................................... $(290,274) $(325,743)
Unrecognized transition (asset) or obligation .......................... 134,917 144,046
Unrecognized prior service cost ........................................ 91,976 98,918
Unrecognized actuarial (gain) loss ..................................... (97,758) (61,530)
--------- ---------
Net amount recognized at end of year ................................... $(161,139) $(144,309)
========= =========
ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS
Discount rate .......................................................... 7.5% 6.5%
Rate of increase in compensation levels ................................ 3.5 - 5.5% 3.5 - 5.5%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets ............................ 10.0% 10.0%
Health care cost trend rates - Under 65 ................................ 5.8% 6.0%
Health care cost trend rates - 65 and over ............................. 6.2% 6.7%
</TABLE>
The assumed health care rates gradually decline to 5.4% for both medical
categories by 2001.
If the health care cost trend rate assumptions were increased by 1%, the
accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 1999 would be
increased by approximately 4.9%. The annual effect of the 1% increase on the
total of the service and interest costs would be an increase of approximately
4.6%. If the healthcare cost trend rate assumptions were decreased by 1%, the
accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 1999 would be
decreased by approximately 4.8%. The annual effect of the 1% decrease on the
total of the service and interest costs would be a decrease of 4.4%.
In 1998, the Company's board of directors approved an amendment, effective
January 1, 1999, which created an account balance based on credited service at
December 31, 1998. Under the new plan, each participant has an account, for
recordkeeping purposes only, to which a $750 credit is allocated annually. This
account balance vests after 5 years of service after age 50. At retirement the
account balance can be used to purchase medical benefits. It may not be taken as
cash. The Company will continue to reflect the costs of the retiree medical plan
according to the provisions of SFAS No. 106 as amended. As a result of the
January 1, 1999 amendment, which is reflected in
93
<PAGE> 96
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
the December 31, 1998 disclosure, the Company's benefit obligation increased $99
million. The plan amendment had no impact on 1998 expense.
The actuarial gains and losses are due to changes in certain actuarial
assumptions.
(e) Postemployment Benefits.
The Company records postemployment benefits based on SFAS No. 112,
"Employer's Accounting for Postemployment Benefits," which requires the
recognition of a liability for benefits provided to former or inactive
employees, their beneficiaries and covered dependents, after employment but
before retirement (primarily health care and life insurance benefits for
participants in the long-term disability plan). Net postemployment benefit costs
were $11 million in 1999 and were not material in 1998 and 1997.
(13) INCOME TAXES
The Company's current and deferred components of income tax expense
(benefit) are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current ......................................................... $ 297,490 $ 439,322 $ 199,011
Deferred ........................................................ 601,627 (469,754) 7,363
------------ ------------ ------------
Income tax expense (benefit) .................................... $ 899,117 $ (30,432) $ 206,374
============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective
income tax rate is below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Income (loss) before income taxes .............................. $ 2,564,848 $ (171,524) $ 627,484
Preferred dividends of subsidiary .............................. 2,255
------------ ------------ ------------
Total ..................................................... 2,564,848 (171,524) 629,739
Federal statutory rate ......................................... 35% 35% 35%
------------ ------------ ------------
Income taxes at statutory rate ................................. 897,697 (60,033) 220,409
------------ ------------ ------------
Net addition (reduction) in taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit ....... 24,764 16,853 (9)
Amortization of investment tax credit ....................... (20,551) (20,123) (19,777)
Excess deferred taxes ....................................... (4,543) (4,011) (5,570)
Difference between book and tax depreciation
for which deferred taxes have not been normalized ......... 37,069 27,466
Equity dividend exclusion ................................... (980) (5,075)
Equity income - foreign affiliates .......................... (789) (23,241) (17,011)
Goodwill .................................................... 18,045 18,049 7,242
Other - net ................................................. (15,506) 5,985 (1,301)
------------ ------------ ------------
Total ..................................................... 1,420 29,601 (14,035)
------------ ------------ ------------
Income tax expense (benefit) ................................... $ 899,117 $ (30,432) $ 206,374
============ ============ ============
Effective rate ................................................. 35.1% 17.7% 32.8%
</TABLE>
UNA Tax Holiday. Under 1999 Dutch tax law relating to the Dutch electricity
industry, UNA qualifies for a zero tax rate through December 31, 2001. The tax
holiday applies only to the Dutch income earned by UNA. Beginning January 1,
2002, UNA will be subject to Dutch corporate income tax at standard statutory
rates.
94
<PAGE> 97
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
Permanent Reinvestment. As of December 31, 1999 the Company had
approximately $29 million of foreign income which is considered to be
permanently reinvested in foreign operations. Of this amount, $3 million is
related to the Company's operations in Argentina and $26 million is related to
the Company's operations in the Netherlands.
Following are the Company's tax effects of temporary differences between
the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and
their respective tax bases:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------
1999 1998
------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets:
Current:
Unrealized loss on indexed debt securities .............................. $ 674,497
------------ ------------
Non-current:
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards ............................ 34,536 $ 38,659
Employee benefits ....................................................... 98,388 153,367
Disallowed plant cost - net ............................................. 58,058 56,219
Unrealized loss on indexed debt securities .............................. 454,165
Operating loss carryforwards ............................................ 38,954 23,178
Foreign income .......................................................... 49,850 32,685
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ..................... 40,906 11,764
Contingent liabilities associated with discontinuance of SFAS No. 71 .... 73,639
Other ................................................................... 114,845 46,797
Valuation allowance ..................................................... (19,139) (8,591)
------------ ------------
Total non-current deferred tax assets ................................. 490,037 808,243
------------ ------------
Total deferred tax assets - net ...................................... $ 1,164,534 $ 808,243
------------ ------------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Current:
Unrealized gain on Time Warner investment ............................... $ 1,090,088
------------ ------------
Non-current:
Depreciation ............................................................ 2,318,958 $ 2,090,014
Regulatory assets - net ................................................. 379,814 609,694
Capitalized taxes, employee benefits and removal costs .................. 47,907 60,099
Unrealized gain on Time Warner investment ............................... 222,942
Deferred state income taxes ............................................. 68,952 70,000
Deferred gas costs ...................................................... 32,361 13,237
Other ................................................................... 93,664 106,293
------------ ------------
Total non-current deferred tax liabilities ............................ 2,941,656 3,172,279
------------ ------------
Total deferred tax liabilities ....................................... 4,031,744 3,172,279
------------ ------------
Accumulated deferred income taxes - net ......................... $ 2,867,210 $ 2,364,036
============ ============
</TABLE>
Tax Attribute Carryforwards. At December 31, 1999, the Company had
approximately $492 million of state net operating losses available to offset
future state taxable income through the year 2019. In addition, the Company has
approximately $28 million of federal alternative minimum tax credits which are
available to reduce future federal income taxes payable over an indefinite
period and approximately $1 million of state alternative minimum tax credits
that are available to reduce future state income taxes payable through the year
2002. The valuation allowance reflects a net increase of $11 million in 1999.
This net increase results from a reassessment of the Company's usage of state
tax attributes, including the future ability to use state net operating loss and
alternative
95
<PAGE> 98
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
minimum tax credit carryforwards offset by changes in valuation
allowances provided for expiring state net operating loss carryforwards.
Tax Refund Case. In July 1990, the Company paid approximately $105 million
to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) following an IRS audit of 1983 and 1984
federal income tax returns. In November 1991, the Company filed a refund suit in
the U.S. Court of Federal Claims seeking the return of $52 million of tax and
$36 million of accrued interest, plus interest on both of those amounts accruing
after July 1990. In September 1997, the United States Court of Appeals upheld a
lower court ruling that the Company was due a refund of federal income taxes
during 1983 and 1984 attributable to fuel cost overrecoveries that subsequently
were refunded to Reliant Energy HL&P's customers. In February 1998, the Company
received a refund of approximately $142 million in taxes and interest paid in
July 1990, including interest accrued since 1990 in the amount of approximately
$57 million. After giving effect to the Company's deferred recognition of the
1990 tax payment and payment of federal income taxes due on the accrued interest
on the refund, the refund had the effect of increasing the Company's earnings in
the fourth quarter of 1997 by $37 million (after-tax).
(14) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
(a) Commitments.
The Company has various commitments for capital expenditures, fuel,
purchased power and operating leases. Commitments in connection with Electric
Operations' capital program are generally revocable by the Company, subject to
reimbursement to manufacturers for expenditures incurred or other cancellation
penalties. Wholesale Energy has entered into commitments associated with various
non-rate regulated generating projects aggregating $324 million along with
various generating equipment purchases aggregating $318 million for delivery
from 2000 to 2001 that are anticipated to be used for future development
projects. The Company's other commitments have various quantity requirements and
durations. However, if these requirements could not be met, various alternatives
are available to mitigate the cost associated with the contracts' commitments.
(b) Fuel and Purchased Power.
Reliant Energy HL&P is a party to several long-term coal, lignite and
natural gas contracts which have various quantity requirements and durations.
Minimum payment obligations for coal and transportation agreements that extend
through 2011 are approximately $187 million in 2000, $188 million in 2001 and
$188 million in 2002. Purchase commitments related to lignite mining and lease
agreements, natural gas purchases and storage contracts, and purchased power are
not material to the operations of the Company.
Currently Reliant Energy HL&P is allowed recovery of these costs through
base rates for electric service. As of December 31, 1999, certain of these
contracts are above market. The Company anticipates that stranded cost
associated with these obligations will be recoverable through the stranded cost
recovery mechanisms contained in the Legislation. For information regarding the
Legislation, see Note 3.
(c) Operations Agreement with City of San Antonio.
As part of the 1996 settlement of certain litigation claims asserted by
the City of San Antonio with respect to the South Texas Project, the Company
entered into a 10-year joint operations agreement under which the Company and
the City of San Antonio, acting through the City Public Service Board of San
Antonio (CPS), share savings resulting from the joint dispatching of their
respective generating assets in order to take advantage of each system's lower
cost resources. Under the terms of the joint operations agreement entered into
between CPS and Electric Operations, the Company has guaranteed CPS minimum
annual savings of $10 million and a minimum cumulative savings of $150 million
over the 10-year term of the agreement. Based on current forecasts and other
assumptions regarding the combined operation of the two generating systems, the
Company anticipates that the savings resulting from joint operations will equal
or exceed the minimum savings guaranteed under the joint operating agreement. In
1999, 1998
96
<PAGE> 99
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
and 1997, savings generated for CPS' account were approximately $14 million, $14
million and $22 million, respectively. Through December 31, 1999, cumulative
earnings generated for CPS' account were approximately $64 million.
(d) Transportation Agreement.
Resources had an agreement (ANR Agreement) with ANR Pipeline Company (ANR)
which contemplated that Resources would transfer to ANR an interest in certain
of Resources' pipeline and related assets. The interest represented capacity of
250 Mmcf/day. Under the ANR Agreement, an ANR affiliate advanced $125 million to
Resources. Subsequently, the parties restructured the ANR Agreement and
Resources refunded in 1995 and 1993, $50 million and $34 million, respectively,
to ANR. Resources recorded $41 million as a liability reflecting ANR's use of
130 Mmcf/day of capacity in certain of Resources' transportation facilities. The
level of transportation will decline to 100 Mmcf/day in the year 2003 with a
refund of $5 million to ANR. The ANR Agreement will terminate in 2005 with a
refund of the remaining balance.
(e) Lease Commitments.
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the
Company's obligations under non-cancelable long-term operating leases at
December 31, 1999 which primarily relate to Resources principally consisting of
rental agreements for building space, data processing equipment and vehicles,
including major work equipment (in millions):
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
2000 .................................... $ 16
2001 .................................... 15
2002 .................................... 10
2003 .................................... 8
2004 .................................... 7
2005 and beyond ......................... 25
----
Total .............................. $ 81
----
</TABLE>
(f) Letters of Credit.
At December 31, 1999, the Company had letters of credit totaling
approximately $14 million under which it is obligated to reimburse drawings, if
any.
(g) Cross Border Leases.
During the period from 1994 through 1997, under cross border lease
transactions, UNA leased several of its power plants and related equipment and
turbines to non-Netherlands based investors and concurrently leased the
facilities back under sublease arrangements with remaining terms as of December
31, 1999 of two to 25 years. Such transactions involve the Company providing to
a foreign investor an ownership right in (but not necessarily title to) an
asset, with a leaseback of the asset. The net proceeds to UNA of the
transactions are being amortized to income over the lease terms. At December 31,
1999, the deferred gain on these transactions totaled $87 million assuming an
exchange rate of 2.19 NLG per U.S. dollar (the exchange rate on December 31,
1999). UNA utilized proceeds from the head lease transactions to prepay sublease
obligations as well as provide a source for payment of end of term purchase
options and other financial undertakings. The leased property remains on the
financial statements of UNA and continues to be depreciated. In the case of
early termination of the cross border leases, UNA would be contingently liable
for certain payments to the sublessors, which at December 31, 1999 are estimated
to be $254 million. Prior to March 1, 2000, UNA will be required by some of the
lease agreements to obtain standby letters of credit in favor of the sublessors
in the event of early termination in the amount of $205 million (assumes an
exchange rate of 2.19 NLG per U.S. dollar, the exchange rate on December 31,
1999). Commitments for such letters of credit have been obtained as of December
31, 1999.
97
<PAGE> 100
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
(h) Environmental Matters.
The Company is a defendant in litigation arising out of the environmental
remediation of a site in Corpus Christi, Texas. The litigation was instituted in
1985 by adjacent landowners. The litigation is pending before the United States
District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division. The
site was operated by third parties as a metals reclaiming operation. Although
the Company neither operated nor owned the site, certain transformers and other
equipment originally sold by the Company may have been delivered to the site by
third parties. The Company and others have remediated the site pursuant to a
plan approved by appropriate state agencies and a federal court. To date, the
Company has recovered or has commitments to recover from other responsible
parties $2.2 million of the more than $3 million it has spent on remediation.
In 1992, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (i)
identified the Company, along with several other parties, as "potentially
responsible parties" (PRP) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) for the costs of cleaning up a site
located adjacent to one of the Company's transmission lines in La Marque, Texas
and (ii) issued an administrative order for the remediation of the site. The
Company believes that the EPA took this action solely on the basis of
information indicating that the Company in the 1950s acquired record title to a
portion of the land on which the site is located. The Company does not believe
that it now or previously has held any ownership interest in the property
covered by the order and has obtained a judgment to that effect from a court in
Galveston County, Texas. Based on this judgment and other defenses that the
Company believes to be meritorious, the Company has elected not to adhere to the
EPA's administrative order, even though the Company understands that other PRPs
are proceeding with site remediation. To date, neither the EPA nor any other PRP
has instituted an action against the Company for any share of the remediation
costs for the site. However, if the Company was determined to be a responsible
party, the Company could be jointly and severally liable along with the other
PRPs for the aggregate remediation costs of the site (which the Company
currently estimates to be approximately $80 million in the aggregate) and could
be assessed substantial fines and damage claims. Although the ultimate outcome
of this matter cannot currently be predicted at this time, the Company does not
believe that this matter will have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
From time to time the Company has received notices from regulatory
authorities or others regarding its status as a PRP in connection with sites
found to require remediation due to the presence of environmental contaminants.
In addition, the Company has been named as defendant in litigation related to
such sites and in recent years has been named, along with numerous others, as a
defendant in several lawsuits filed by a large number of individuals who claim
injury due to exposure to asbestos while working at sites along the Texas Gulf
Coast. Most of these claimants have been workers who participated in
construction of various industrial facilities, including power plants, and some
of the claimants have worked at locations owned by the Company. The Company
anticipates that additional claims like those received may be asserted in the
future and intends to continue vigorously contesting claims which it does not
consider to have merit. Although their ultimate outcome cannot be predicted at
this time, the Company does not believe, based on its experience to date, that
these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or
cash flows.
(i) Other.
The Company is involved in legal, tax and regulatory proceedings before
various courts, regulatory commissions and governmental agencies regarding
matters arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which involve
substantial amounts. The Company's management regularly analyzes current
information and, as necessary, provides accruals for probable liabilities on the
eventual disposition of these matters. The Company's management believes that
the effect on the Company's respective financial statements, if any, from the
disposition of these matters will not be material.
98
<PAGE> 101
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
In February 1996, the cities of Wharton, Galveston and Pasadena filed suit,
for themselves and a proposed class of all similarly situated cities in Reliant
Energy HL&P's service area, against the Company and Houston Industries Finance
Inc. (formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) alleging underpayment
of municipal franchise fees. Plaintiffs in essence claim that they are entitled
to 4% of all receipts of any kind for business conducted within city
limits or with the use of city rights-of-way. Plaintiffs advance their claims
notwithstanding their failure to assert such claims over the previous four
decades. Because all of the franchise ordinances affecting Electric Operations
expressly impose fees only on the Company's own receipts and only from sales of
electricity for consumption within a city, the Company regards plaintiffs'
allegations as spurious and is vigorously contesting the case. The plaintiffs'
pleadings assert that their damages exceed $250 million. The 269th Judicial
District Court for Harris County has granted a partial summary judgment in
favor of the Company dismissing all claims for franchise fees based on sales tax
collections. Other motions for partial summary judgment were denied. A jury
trial of the remaining individual claims of the three named cities (but not the
entire class) began on February 14, 2000 and is expected to conclude by the end
of March 2000. The extent to which issues resolved in this trial may affect the
claims of the other class member cities cannot be determined until final
judgment is rendered. The Company believes that it is very unlikely that
resolution of this case will have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
(15) ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998
--------------------------- ---------------------------
CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR
AMOUNT VALUE AMOUNT VALUE
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Financial assets:
Investment in Time Warner securities.......................... $ 3,979,461 $ 3,979,461 $ 990,000 $ 2,843,585
Energy derivatives - non-trading ............................. 2,823
Foreign currency swaps ....................................... 6,011
Financial liabilities:
Long-term debt (excluding capital leases) .................... 9,329,715 9,212,871 7,183,320 7,470,785
Trust securities ............................................. 705,272 598,690 342,232 367,649
Interest rate swaps .......................................... 38 92 109 3,160
Energy derivatives - non-trading ............................. 1,105 8,166
</TABLE>
The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, investments in debt and
equity security classified as "available-for-sale" and "trading" in accordance
with SFAS No. 115 (except for Time Warner securities), and notes payable are
estimated to be equivalent to carrying amounts and have been excluded from the
above table. The remaining fair values have been determined using quoted market
prices of the same or similar securities when available or other estimation
techniques.
The fair value of financial instruments included in the trading operations
are marked-to-market at December 31, 1999 and 1998 (see Note 5). Therefore, they
are stated at fair value and are excluded from the table.
99
<PAGE> 102
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
(16) EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following table reconciles numerators and denominators of the
Company's basic and diluted earnings per share calculations:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------ ---------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Basic EPS calculation:
Income (loss) before extraordinary item and preferred
dividends........................................................ $ 1,665,731 $ (141,092) $ 421,110
Less: Preferred dividends.......................................... 389 390 162
------------ ---------- ----------
Income (loss) attributable to common stockholders before
extraordinary item.............................................. 1,665,342 (141,482) 420,948
Extraordinary item................................................. (183,261)
------------ ---------- ----------
Net income (loss).................................................. $ 1,482,081 $ (141,482) $ 420,948
============ ========== ==========
Weighted average shares outstanding................................ 285,040 284,095 253,599
Basic EPS:
Income (loss) before extraordinary item............................ $ 5.84 $ (.50) $ 1.66
============ ========== ==========
Extraordinary item................................................. $ (.64) $ $
============ ========== ==========
Net income (loss).................................................. $ 5.20 $ (.50) $ 1.66
============ ========== ==========
Diluted EPS calculation:
Net income (loss).................................................. $ 1,482,081 $ (141,482) $ 420,948
Plus: Income impact of assumed conversions
Interest on 6 1/4% convertible trust preferred securities.......... 30 668
------------ ---------- ----------
Total Effect....................................................... $ 1,482,111 $ (141,482) $ 421,616
============ ========== ==========
Assuming dilution
Weighted average shares outstanding................................... 285,040 284,095 253,599
Plus: Incremental shares from assumed conversions (1)
Stock options...................................................... 400 89
Restricted stock................................................... 701
6 1/4% convertible trust preferred securities...................... 23 510
------------ ---------- ----------
Weighted average shares assuming dilution.......................... 286,164 284,095 254,198
============ ========== ==========
Diluted EPS:
Income (loss) before extraordinary item............................ $ 5.82 $ (.50) $ 1.66
============ ========== ==========
Extraordinary item................................................. $ (.64) $ $
============ ========== ==========
Net income (loss).................................................. $ 5.18 $ (.50) $ 1.66
============ ========== ==========
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) No assumed conversions were included in the computation of diluted
earnings per share for 1998 because additional shares outstanding would
result in an anti-dilutive per share amount. The computation of diluted
EPS for 1998 excludes 492,000 shares of restricted stock and purchase
options for 434,000 shares of common stock which would be anti-dilutive if
exercised.
For the year ended December 31, 1999, the computation of diluted EPS
excludes purchase options for 433,915 shares of common stock that have exercise
prices (ranging from $28.72 to $32.22 per share) greater than the $27.58 per
share average market price for the period.
100
<PAGE> 103
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
(17) UNAUDITED QUARTERLY INFORMATION
Summarized quarterly financial data is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
-----------------------------------------------------------
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues ........................................................ $ 2,642,904 $ 3,657,828 $ 4,947,192 $ 4,054,886
Operating income ................................................ 187,665 291,122 494,288 267,439
Extraordinary item, net of tax .................................. 183,261
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders ........... (209,789) 74,664 1,689,990 (72,784)
Basic earnings (loss) per share (2)
Extraordinary item, net of tax ............................... (.64)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders ........ (.74) .26 5.92 (.26)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (2)
Extraordinary item, net of tax ............................... (.64)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders ........ (.74) .26 5.90 (.26)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
-----------------------------------------------------------
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues (1) .................................................... $ 2,631,322 $ 2,736,626 $ 3,465,487 $ 2,655,029
Operating income (1) ............................................ 281,735 454,208 506,994 222,881
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders (1) ....... (30,115) 41,484 251,709 (404,560)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share (2) ................. (.11) .15 .89 (1.42)
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Includes retroactive adjustment for change in accounting for energy price
risk management and trading activities to mark-to-market accounting for
the first, second and third quarters of 1998 (see Note 1(o)).
(2) Quarterly earnings per common share are based on the weighted average
number of shares outstanding during the quarter, and the sum of the
quarters may not equal annual earnings per common share.
(18) REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
The Company's determination of reportable segments considers the strategic
operating units under which the Company manages sales, allocates resources and
assesses performance of various products and services to wholesale or retail
customers in differing regulatory environments. Financial information for
Resources and UNA are included in the segment disclosures only for periods
beginning on their respective acquisition dates. The accounting policies of the
segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant
accounting policies except that certain executive benefit costs have not been
allocated to segments. The Company evaluates performance based on operating
income excluding certain corporate costs not allocated to the segments. The
Company accounts for intersegment sales as if the sales were to third parties,
that is, at current market prices.
The Company has identified the following reportable segments: Electric
Operations, Natural Gas Distribution, Interstate Pipelines, Wholesale Energy,
Reliant Energy Europe, Reliant Energy Latin America and Corporate. For
description of the financial reporting segments, see Note 1(a). Financial data
for business segments, products and services and geographic areas are as
follows:
101
<PAGE> 104
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RELIANT
ELECTRIC NATURAL GAS INTERSTATE WHOLESALE ENERGY
OPERATIONS DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES ENERGY EUROPE
---------- ------------ ---------- --------- ---------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
As of and for the year ended
December 31, 1999:
Revenues from external
customers .................. $ 4,483,126 $ 1,895,358 $ 121,514 $ 7,688,960 $ 152,865
Intersegment revenues ...... 1,202 153,580 260,317
Depreciation and
amortization ............... 666,968 132,424 49,127 25,323 20,737
Operating income ........... 981,006 124,863 113,018 45,308 32,049
Total assets ............... 9,940,685 3,386,596 2,211,842 2,773,070 3,247,290
Equity investments in and
advances to unconsolidated
subsidiaries ............... 78,041
Expenditures for
long-lived assets .......... 572,625 205,545 30,131 529,805 834,300
As of and for the year ended
December 31, 1998:
Revenues from external
customers .................. 4,350,275 1,877,185 126,988 4,289,006
Intersegment revenues ...... 1,167 155,508 167,152
Depreciation and
amortization ............... 663,740 130,658 44,025 18,204
Operating income ........... 1,002,409 144,447 128,328 59,170
Total assets ............... 10,404,447 3,141,762 2,050,636 1,535,007
Equity investments in and
advances to unconsolidated
subsidiaries ............... 42,252
Expenditures for
long-lived assets .......... 433,474 161,735 59,358 363,174
As of and for the year ended
December 31, 1997:
Revenues from external
customers .................. 4,251,243 920,125 49,655 1,288,357
Intersegment revenues ...... 505 58,678 76,301
Depreciation and
amortization ............... 582,040 52,374 19,088 2,633
Operating income ........... 985,484 56,842 31,978 912
Expenditures for
long-lived assets .......... 236,977 61,078 16,304 14,038
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RELIANT
ENERGY
LATIN RECONCILING
AMERICA CORPORATE ELIMINATIONS CONSOLIDATED
--------- --------- ----------- -----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
As of and for the year ended
December 31, 1999:
Revenues from external
customers .................. $ 79,717 $ 881,270 $15,302,810
Intersegment revenues ...... 73,648 $ (488,747)
Depreciation and
amortization ............... 5,817 10,726 911,122
Operating income ........... (23,021) (32,709) 1,240,514
Total assets ............... 1,155,500 4,645,403 (1,139,450) 26,220,936
Equity investments in and
advances to unconsolidated
subsidiaries ............... 944,169 1,022,210
Expenditures for
long-lived assets .......... 93,296 89,840 2,355,542
As of and for the year ended
December 31, 1998:
Revenues from external
customers .................. 258,945 586,065 11,488,464
Intersegment revenues ...... 97,181 (421,008)
Depreciation and
amortization ............... 3,820 9,646 870,093
Operating income ........... 181,707 (50,243) 1,465,818
Total assets ............... 1,242,689 1,679,876 (915,895) 19,138,522
Equity investments in and
advances to unconsolidated
subsidiaries ............... 1,009,348 1,051,600
Expenditures for
long-lived assets .......... 435,077 28,077 1,480,895
As of and for the year ended
December 31, 1997:
Revenues from external
customers .................. 92,028 276,817 6,878,225
Intersegment revenues ...... 34,853 (170,337)
Depreciation and
amortization ............... 3,470 5,769 665,374
Operating income ........... 19,510 (39,680) 1,055,046
Expenditures for
long-lived assets .......... 231,528 1,426,323 1,986,248
</TABLE>
102
<PAGE> 105
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME TO NET INCOME
(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
Operating income ..................................... $ 1,240,514 $ 1,465,818 $ 1,055,046
Interest income - IRS refund ......................... 56,269
Time Warner dividend income .......................... 25,770 41,250 41,340
Interest expense ..................................... (511,474) (509,601) (395,085)
Unrealized gain on Time Warner investment ............ 2,452,406
Unrealized loss on indexed debt securities ........... (629,523) (1,176,211) (121,402)
Distribution on trust securities ..................... (51,220) (29,201) (26,230)
Income tax benefit (expense) ......................... (899,117) 30,432 (206,374)
Other income (expense) ............................... 37,986 36,031 17,384
Extraordinary item, net of tax ....................... (183,261)
------------ ------------ ------------
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ 1,482,081 $ (141,482) $ 420,948
============ ============ ============
REVENUES BY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:
Retail power sales ................................... $ 4,483,126 $ 4,350,275 $ 4,251,243
Retail gas sales ..................................... 2,669,393 2,372,086 1,156,618
Wholesale energy and energy related sales ............ 7,808,401 4,248,181 1,271,400
Gas transport ........................................ 157,530 167,812 66,265
Income from Latin America investments ................ 79,717 258,945 92,028
Energy products and services ......................... 104,643 91,165 40,671
------------ ------------ ------------
Total ................................................ $ 15,302,810 $ 11,488,464 $ 6,878,225
============ ============ ============
REVENUES AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS BY GEOGRAPHIC AREAS:
REVENUES:
US ................................................... $ 14,953,546 $ 11,229,519 $ 6,786,197
Latin America ........................................ 79,717 258,945 92,028
Netherlands .......................................... 152,865
Other ................................................ 116,682
------------ ------------ ------------
Total ................................................ $ 15,302,810 $ 11,488,464 $ 6,878,225
============ ============ ============
LONG-LIVED ASSETS:
US ................................................... $ 15,664,491 $ 16,273,392
Latin America ........................................ 1,116,928 1,195,849
Netherlands .......................................... 3,186,146
Other ................................................ 102 110
------------ ------------
Total ................................................ $ 19,967,667 $ 17,469,351
============ ============
</TABLE>
103
<PAGE> 106
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(19) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
(a) Acquisition of Remaining Shares of UNA.
On March 1, 2000, the Company purchased the remaining 48% of the shares of
UNA for $975 million. Funds for the March 1, 2000 acquisition were obtained, in
part, from a Euro 600 million (approximately $596 million) three-year term loan
facility established in February 2000. See Note 2 for additional information
regarding the acquisition of UNA.
(b) Sithe Power Generating Assets Acquisition.
In February 2000, the Company signed a definitive agreement to purchase
from Sithe Energies, Inc. non-rate regulated power generating assets and sites
located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland having a net generating
capacity of more than 4,200 megawatts for an aggregate purchase price of $2.1
billion, subject to certain adjustments. The acquisition is expected to close in
the second quarter of 2000 and is subject to obtaining certain regulatory
approvals and satisfying other closing conditions. The acquisition will be
accounted for as a purchase.
(c) Other Financings.
In February 2000, a financing subsidiary of the Company borrowed $500
million under a $650 million revolving credit facility that was established in
February 2000 and terminates on April 30, 2000. Proceeds were used by the
financing subsidiary to purchase Series G Preference Stock of Reliant Energy.
The Company used the proceeds from the sale of Preference Stock for general
corporate purposes, including the repayment of indebtedness. In addition, in
March 2000, the Company borrowed $150 million under a revolving credit facility
that was established in February 2000 and terminates on May 31, 2000. The
Company used the proceeds from the borrowing for general corporate purposes,
including the repayment of indebtedness.
(d) Treasury Stock Purchases.
During the period from January 1, 2000 through March 1, 2000, the Company
purchased 1,183,800 shares of its common stock for approximately $27 million at
an average price of $23.07 per share.
(e) Natural Gas Distribution and Interstate Pipelines (Unaudited).
In March 2000, the Company announced that it had retained an investment
banking firm to assist it in evaluating strategic alternatives, including
divestiture, for (i) two of its natural gas distribution divisions, Reliant
Energy Arkla and Reliant Energy Minnegasco, (ii) its Interstate Pipelines'
operations and (iii) its natural gas gathering and pipeline services operations.
104
<PAGE> 107
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
Reliant Energy, Incorporated:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Reliant
Energy, Incorporated and its subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31,
1999 and 1998, and the related statements of consolidated income, consolidated
comprehensive income, consolidated cash flows and consolidated stockholders'
equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999. Our
audits also included the Company's financial statement schedule listed in Item
14(a)(2). These financial statements and the financial statement schedule are
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial statements and the financial statement schedule
based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Reliant Energy, Incorporated
and its subsidiaries at December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1999 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in
relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Houston, Texas
March 1, 2000
105
<PAGE> 108
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF RELIANT
ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND ITS CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES.
The following narrative and analysis should be read in combination with the
consolidated financial statements and notes of Reliant Energy Resources Corp.
(Resources Corp.) and its subsidiaries (collectively, Resources) contained in
Item 8 of the Form 10-K of Resources Corp. Prior to February 1999, Resources
Corp. conducted business under the name "NorAm Energy Corp."
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP.
In August 1997, the former parent corporation (Former Parent) of Reliant
Energy, Incorporated (Reliant Energy) merged with and into Reliant Energy, and
NorAm Energy Corp. (Former Resources) merged with and into Resources Corp.
Effective upon the mergers (collectively, the Merger), each outstanding share of
common stock of Former Parent was converted into one share of common stock
(including associated preference stock purchase rights) of Reliant Energy, and
each outstanding share of common stock of Former Resources was converted into
the right to receive $16.3051 cash or 0.74963 shares of common stock of Reliant
Energy. The aggregate consideration paid to Former Resources stockholders in
connection with the Merger consisted of $1.4 billion in cash and 47.8 million
shares of Reliant Energy's common stock valued at approximately $1.0 billion.
The overall transaction was valued at $4.0 billion consisting of $2.4 billion
for Former Resources' common stock and common stock equivalents and $1.6 billion
of Former Resources debt.
The Merger was recorded under the purchase method of accounting with assets
and liabilities of Former Resources reflected at their estimated fair values,
resulting in a "new basis" of accounting. In Resources' Consolidated Financial
Statements, periods which reflect the new basis of accounting are labeled as
"Current Resources" and periods which do not reflect the new basis of accounting
are labeled as "Former Resources."
Because Resources Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliant Energy,
Resources' determination of reportable segments considers the strategic
operating units under which Reliant Energy manages sales, allocates resources
and assesses performance of various products and services to wholesale or retail
customers in differing regulatory environments. Reliant Energy has identified
the following reportable segments: Electric Operations, Natural Gas
Distribution, Interstate Pipelines, Wholesale Energy, Reliant Energy Europe,
Reliant Energy Latin America and Corporate. Of these segments, the following
operations are conducted by Resources:
o Natural Gas Distribution
o Interstate Pipelines
o Wholesale Energy (which includes wholesale energy trading, marketing
and risk management services in North America and domestic natural gas
gathering operations of the Wholesale Energy segment but excludes the
operations of Reliant Energy Power Generation, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Reliant Energy)
o Reliant Energy Europe (which includes the energy trading and marketing
operations initiated in the fourth quarter of 1999 in the Netherlands
and other countries in Europe but excludes N.V. UNA, a Dutch power
company), and
o Certain Corporate operations
In March 2000, Reliant Energy announced that it had retained an investment
banking firm to assist it in evaluating strategic alternatives, including
divesture, for (i) two of its natural gas distribution divisions, Reliant Energy
Arkla and Reliant Energy Minnegasco, (ii) its Interstate Pipelines operations
and (iii) its natural gas gathering and pipeline services operations, including
divestiture.
Resources Corp. meets the conditions specified in General Instruction
I(1)(a) and (b) to Form 10-K and is thereby permitted to use the reduced
disclosure format for wholly owned subsidiaries of reporting companies
106
<PAGE> 109
specified therein. Accordingly, Resources Corp. has omitted from this Combined
Form 10-K the information called for by Item 4 (submission of matters to a vote
of security holders), Item 10 (directors and executive officers), Item 11
(executive compensation), Item 12 (security ownership of certain beneficial
owners and management) and Item 13 (certain relationships and related party
transactions) of Form 10-K. In lieu of the information called for by Item 6
(selected financial data) and Item 7 (management's discussion and analysis of
financial condition and results of operations) of Form 10-K, Resources Corp. has
included the following Management's Narrative Analysis of the Results of
Operations to explain material changes in the amount of revenue and expense
items of Resources between 1999, 1998 and 1997. Reference is hereby made to Item
1 (business), Item 2 (properties), Item 3 (legal proceedings), Item 5 (market
for common equity and related stockholder matters), Item 7A (quantitative and
qualitative disclosures about market risk) and Item 9 (changes in and
disagreements with accountants on accounting and financial disclosure) of this
Combined Form 10-K for additional information regarding Resources required by
the reduced disclosure format of General Instruction I to Form 10-K.
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Seasonality and Other Factors. Resources' results of operations are
affected by seasonal fluctuations in the demand for and, to a lesser extent, the
price of natural gas. Resources' results of operations are also affected by,
among other things, the actions of various federal and state governmental
authorities having jurisdiction over rates charged by Resources, competition in
Resources' various business operations, debt service costs and income tax
expense. For a discussion of certain other factors that may affect Resources'
future earnings see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations of the Company -- Certain Factors Affecting Future
Earnings of the Company -- Competition -- Other Operations" and "--
Environmental Expenditures -- Mercury Contamination" in Item 7 of Reliant
Energy's 1999 Form 10-K.
Accounting Impact of the Merger. The Merger created a new basis of
accounting for Resources, resulting in new carrying values for certain of
Resources' assets, liabilities and equity commencing upon the acquisition date.
Resources' financial statements for periods subsequent to the acquisition date
are not comparable to prior periods because of the following purchase accounting
adjustments:
o The impact of the amortization of newly-recognized goodwill
o The amortization of the revaluation of long-term debt
o The removal of the amortization previously associated with the pension
and postretirement obligations, and
o The deferred income tax expense associated with these adjustments
The total effect of these purchase accounting adjustments for the twelve
months ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 and the five months ended December 31,
1997, was a decrease to net income of $34 million, $26 million and $9 million,
respectively. Interest expense and related debt incurred by Reliant Energy to
fund the cash portion of the purchase consideration has not been "pushed down"
to Resources.
Because results of operations and other financial information for periods
before and after the acquisition date are not comparable, Resources is
presenting certain financial data on: (i) an actual basis for Resources for
1999, 1998 and 1997 and (ii) an unaudited pro forma basis for 1997 as if the
Merger had taken place at the beginning of 1997. These results do not
necessarily reflect the results which would have been obtained if the Merger had
actually occurred on January 1, 1997 or the results that may be expected in the
future.
107
<PAGE> 110
The following table sets forth selected financial and operating data on an
actual and unaudited pro forma basis for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998
and 1997, followed by a discussion of significant variances in period-to-period
results:
SELECTED FINANCIAL RESULTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACTUAL PRO FORMA (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR YEAR FIVE MONTHS SEVEN MONTHS YEAR
ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, JULY 31, DECEMBER 31,
1999 1998 1997 1997 1997
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating Revenues ............. $ 10,543,545 $ 6,758,412 $ 2,526,182 $ 3,313,591 $ 5,839,773
Operating Expenses ............. 10,245,862 6,448,107 2,434,282 3,141,295 5,597,716
Operating Income Before Merger
Transaction Costs ............ 297,683 310,305 91,900 172,296 242,057
Merger Transaction Costs (2) ... 1,144 17,256
Operating Income ............... 297,683 310,305 90,756 155,040 242,057
Interest Expense, net .......... 119,492 111,337 47,490 78,660 112,996
Distributions on Trust Preferred
Securities ................... 357 632 279 6,317 1,479
Other (Income), net ............ (11,138) (7,318) (2,243) (7,210) (9,453)
Income Tax Expense ............. 88,771 111,830 24,383 31,398 71,093
Extraordinary (Gain) ........... -- -- -- (237)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net Income ................... $ 100,201 $ 93,824 $ 20,847 $ 46,112 $ 65,942
============ ============ ============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) Unaudited pro forma results reflect purchase adjustments as if the Merger
had occurred on January 1, 1997.
(2) For expenses associated with the completion of the Merger, see Note 1(l) to
Resources' Consolidated Financial Statements.
1999 (Actual) Compared to 1998 (Actual). Resources' net income for 1999 was
$100 million compared to net income of $94 million in 1998. The $6 million
increase was primarily due to a significant increase in operating income of
Wholesale Energy's trading and marketing operations and a decrease in the
effective tax rate, partially offset by decreased earnings in the Natural Gas
Distribution and Interstate Pipelines segments and increased general insurance
liability expense. Although results of Wholesale Energy's trading and marketing
operations significantly improved, it continues to incur higher operating
expenses relating to staffing and personnel to support its increased sales and
marketing efforts.
Operating income decreased in 1999 by $13 million, or 4%, from 1998. The
decline was primarily due to increased operating expenses, in particular
employee benefit expenses, at the Natural Gas Distribution and Interstate
Pipelines segments and increased general liability insurance expense. The
decline was partially offset by increased operating income of Wholesale Energy's
trading and marketing operations.
Resources' operating revenues for 1999 were $10.5 billion compared to $6.8
billion for 1998. The $3.8 billion increase, or 56%, was primarily due to
increased wholesale trading and marketing revenues from increased trading
volumes for power, natural gas and oil, as well as higher sale prices for these
commodities.
Resources' operating expenses for 1999 were $10.2 billion compared to $6.4
billion in 1998. The $3.8 billion, or 59%, increase was primarily attributable
to an increase in volumes and cost of purchased power, natural gas and oil, as
discussed above. In addition, operating expenses also increased due to increased
employee benefit expenses for the Natural Gas Distribution and Interstate
Pipelines segments, increased operating expenses to support increased sales and
marketing of the Wholesale Energy trading and marketing operations (as discussed
above) and increased general insurance liability expense.
Resources' effective tax rate in 1999 was 47% compared to 54% in 1998. This
decrease was primarily due to a decrease in state income taxes resulting from
lower state taxable income in 1999 as compared to 1998.
108
<PAGE> 111
1998 (Actual) Compared to 1997 (Actual). Resources' consolidated net income for
1998 was $94 million compared to consolidated net income of $67 million in 1997.
The $27 million, or 40%, increase in net income for 1998 as compared to 1997 was
due to increased operating income from several business segments as discussed
below, partially offset by a decrease in operating income from the Natural Gas
Distribution segment due to the effects of warm weather. Also contributing to
the increase in net income was a reduction in interest expense due to the
refinancing of debt and reduced interest expense due to debt fair value
revaluation at the time of the Merger.
Operating income increased in 1998 by $65 million, or 26%, over 1997 due to
improved operating results at Interstate Pipelines, Corporate retail operations
and Wholesale Energy, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of warm
weather on the operations of Natural Gas Distribution. Operating income for 1997
included approximately $18 million of merger-related costs that did not recur in
1998. Improved results at Interstate Pipelines were due to continued cost
control initiatives and reduced benefits expenses, as well as the effects of a
rate case settlement and a dispute settlement which contributed to the increase
in operating income. In addition, margins at Wholesale Energy improved over
margins in 1997; however, this effect was partially offset by increased staffing
expenses to support increased sales and marketing efforts and an increase in
credit reserves. Improved results at Wholesale Energy were also due to the fact
that operating income in 1997 for Wholesale Energy was negatively impacted by
hedging losses associated with sales under peaking contracts and losses from the
sale of natural gas held in storage and unhedged in the first quarter of 1997
totaling $17 million.
Resources' operating revenues for 1998 were $6.8 billion as compared to
$5.8 billion in 1997. The $918 million, or 16%, increase was primarily
attributable to a $1.4 billion increase in wholesale trading revenue. Wholesale
trading revenue increased due to increased power and natural gas trading
volumes. The increase in trading revenues was offset by reduced revenues at
Resources' Natural Gas Distribution unit of $383 million, principally due to
warmer weather.
Resources' operating expenses for 1998 were $6.4 billion compared to $5.6
billion in 1997. The $854 million increase, or 15%, was primarily due to
increased natural gas and purchased power expenses associated with increased
wholesale trading activities. The increase in operating expenses was offset by
decreased natural gas purchases at the Natural Gas Distribution segment because
of lower volumes resulting from the warmer weather.
Resources' effective tax rate was 54% in 1998 compared to 46% in 1997. This
increase is primarily due to increased state income taxes and non-deductible
goodwill amortization. State income taxes increased as a result of higher
combined state taxable income in 1998 as compared to 1997.
1998 (Actual) Compared to 1997 (Pro Forma). Resources' consolidated net
income for 1998 was $94 million compared to pro forma net income of $66 million
in 1997. The $28 million increase, or 42%, in earnings for 1998 as compared to
pro forma 1997 earnings was due to increased operating income from several
business segments, as discussed below, partially offset by a decrease in
operating income from the Natural Gas Distribution segment due to the effects of
warmer weather.
Operating income increased in 1998 by $68 million, or 28%, over pro forma
1997 due to improved operating results at Interstate Pipelines, Corporate retail
operations and Wholesale Energy, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of
warm weather on the operations of Natural Gas Distribution. Improved results at
Interstate Pipelines were due to continued cost control initiatives and reduced
benefits expenses, as well as the effects of a rate case settlement and a
dispute settlement which contributed to the increase in operating income. In
addition, margins at Wholesale Energy improved over margins in 1997; however,
this effect was partially offset by increased staffing expenses to support
increased sales and marketing efforts and an increase in credit reserves at
Wholesale Energy. Operating income in 1997 for Wholesale Energy was negatively
impacted by hedging losses associated with sales under peaking contracts and
losses from the sale of natural gas held in storage and unhedged in the first
quarter of 1997 totaling $17 million.
Resources operating revenues for 1998 were $6.8 billion compared to pro
forma operating revenues of $5.8 billion in 1997. Resources operating expenses
for 1998 were $6.4 billion compared to pro forma operating expense of $5.6
billion in 1997. These increases are due to the same factors discussed above in
the comparison of 1998 and 1997 actual results.
109
<PAGE> 112
IMPACT OF YEAR 2000 ISSUES
Resources' total direct cost of resolving the Year 2000 issues was
approximately $6 million. For additional information regarding Year 2000 issues,
see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations of the Company -- Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings of the
Company -- Impact of the Year 2000 Issue and Other System Implementation Issues"
in Item 7 of Reliant Energy's 1999 Form 10-K.
NEW ACCOUNTING ISSUES
Reference is made to "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations of the Company -- New Accounting Issues" in
Item 7 of Reliant Energy's 1999 Form 10-K, for discussion of certain new
accounting issues that affect Resources.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
For information regarding Resources' exposure to interest rate, equity
market, foreign currency and commodity price risk, see "Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk--Interest Rate Risk," "--Equity Market
Risk," "--Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk," and "--Energy Commodity Price
Risk" in Item 7A of Reliant Energy's Report on Form 10-K, which information, to
the extent it relates to Resources, is incorporated herein by reference.
110
<PAGE> 113
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA OF RESOURCES.
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CURRENT RESOURCES FORMER RESOURCES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TWELVE MONTHS TWELVE MONTHS FIVE MONTHS SEVEN MONTHS
ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1999 DECEMBER 31, 1998 DECEMBER 31, 1997 JULY 31, 1997
----------------- ------------------ ----------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
REVENUES .............................................. $ 10,543,545 $ 6,758,412 $ 2,526,182 $ 3,313,591
EXPENSES:
Natural gas and purchased power .................... 9,307,445 5,603,973 2,063,986 2,623,670
Operation and maintenance .......................... 636,549 539,985 241,823 359,582
Depreciation and amortization ...................... 198,676 191,891 78,087 84,901
Taxes other than income taxes ...................... 103,192 112,258 50,386 73,142
Merger transaction costs ........................... 1,144 17,256
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
10,245,862 6,448,107 2,435,426 3,158,551
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
OPERATING INCOME ...................................... 297,683 310,305 90,756 155,040
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net .............................. (119,492) (111,337) (47,490) (78,660)
Distribution on trust preferred securities ......... (357) (632) (279) (6,317)
Other, net ......................................... 11,138 7,318 2,243 7,210
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
(108,711) (104,651) (45,526) (77,767)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND
EXTRAORDINARY ITEM ................................. 188,972 205,654 45,230 77,273
Income Tax Expense .................................... 88,771 111,830 24,383 31,398
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
INCOME BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEM ...................... 100,201 93,824 20,847 45,875
Extraordinary Gain on Early Retirement of
Debt, net of income taxes of $128 .................. 237
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
NET INCOME ............................................ $ 100,201 $ 93,824 $ 20,847 $ 46,112
============ ============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
See Notes to Resources' Consolidated Financial Statements
111
<PAGE> 114
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON STOCK (1) RETAINED
--------------------------- PAID IN EARNINGS
SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL (DEFICIT)
------------ ----------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FORMER RESOURCES:
Stockholders' Equity at December 31, 1996 ... 137,908,173 $ 86,193 $ 1,001,053 $ (286,703)
Net Income .................................. 46,112
Cash Dividends:
Common stock - $0.14 per share ............ (19,281)
Change in Market Value of Marketable
Equity Securities, net tax of ($3,329) ....
Conversion of Trust Preferred Securities .... 11,428,262 7,143 131,425
Other Issuances ............................. 347,527 216 5,796
Comprehensive Income ........................
------------ ----------- ------------ ------------
Balance at July 31, 1997 .................... 149,683,962 93,552 1,138,274 (259,872)
------------ ----------- ------------ ------------
CURRENT RESOURCES (POST MERGER):
Adjustments due to Merger:
Eliminate Former Resources Balances ....... (149,683,962) (93,552) (1,138,274) 259,872
Capital Contribution from Parent ............ 1,000 1 2,463,831
Net Income .................................. 20,847
Change in Market Value of Marketable
Equity Securities, net of tax of $3,193 ...
Comprehensive Income ........................
------------ ----------- ------------ ------------
Balance at December 31, 1997 ................ 1,000 1 2,463,831 20,847
------------ ----------- ------------ ------------
Net Income .................................. 93,824
Change in Market Value of Marketable
Equity Securities, net of tax of $5,877 ...
Comprehensive Income ........................
------------ ----------- ------------ ------------
Balance at December 31, 1998 ................ 1,000 1 2,463,831 114,671
------------ ----------- ------------ ------------
Net Income .................................. 100,201
Foreign currency translation adjustments,
net of tax of ($16) .......................
Change in Market Value of Marketable
Equity Securities, net of tax of $373 .....
Comprehensive Income ........................
------------ ----------- ------------ ------------
Balance at December 31, 1999 ................ 1,000 $ 1 $ 2,463,831 $ 214,872
============ ============ ============ ============
<CAPTION>
ACCUMULATED
OTHER TOTAL TOTAL
COMPRE- STOCK- COMPRE-
HENSIVE HOLDER'S HENSIVE
INCOME EQUITY INCOME
------------ ----------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
FORMER RESOURCES:
Stockholders' Equity at December 31, 1996 ... $ 5 $ 800,548
Net Income .................................. 46,112 $ 46,112
Cash Dividends:
Common stock - $0.14 per share ............ (19,281)
Change in Market Value of Marketable
Equity Securities, net tax of ($3,329) .... 5,874 5,874 5,874
Conversion of Trust Preferred Securities .... 138,568
Other Issuances ............................. 6,012 ------------
Comprehensive Income ........................ 51,986
------------ ----------- ============
Balance at July 31, 1997 .................... 5,879 977,833
------------ -----------
CURRENT RESOURCES (POST MERGER):
Adjustments due to Merger:
Eliminate Former Resources Balances ....... (5,879) (977,833)
Capital Contribution from Parent ............ 2,463,832
Net Income .................................. 20,847 20,847
Change in Market Value of Marketable
Equity Securities, net of tax of $3,193 ... (5,634) (5,634) (5,634)
Comprehensive Income ........................ ------------
15,213
------------ ----------- ============
Balance at December 31, 1997 ................ (5,634) 2,479,045
------------ -----------
Net Income .................................. 93,824 93,824
Change in Market Value of Marketable
Equity Securities, net of tax of $5,877 ... (10,370) (10,370) (10,370)
-----------
Comprehensive Income ........................ 83,454
------------ ----------- ============
Balance at December 31, 1998 ................ (16,004) 2,562,499
------------ -----------
Net Income ................................ 100,201 100,201
Foreign currency translation adjustments,
net of tax of ($16) ....................... 30 30 30
Change in Market Value of Marketable
Equity Securities, net of tax of $373 ..... (1,224) (1,224) (1,224)
------------
Comprehensive Income ........................ $ 99,007
------------ ----------- ============
Balance at December 31, 1999 ................ $ (17,198) $ 2,661,506
============ ===========
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) $0.625 par, authorized 250,000,000 shares. On the acquisition date,
Resources' pre-merger common stock was canceled and replaced with 1,000
shares of common stock (all of which are owned by Reliant Energy); see Note
1(b).
See Notes to Resources' Consolidated Financial Statements
112
<PAGE> 115
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
1999 1998
---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents ....................................... $ 81,347 $ 26,576
Accounts and notes receivable, principally customer ............. 980,560 682,552
Unbilled revenue ................................................ 150,961 145,131
Accounts and notes receivable - affiliated companies, net ....... 145,191
Materials and supplies, at average cost ......................... 35,121 33,947
Fuel, gas and petroleum products ................................ 80,135 161,085
Price risk management assets .................................... 435,336 265,203
Prepayments and other current assets ............................ 46,666 39,234
---------- ----------
Total current assets .......................................... 1,810,126 1,498,919
---------- ----------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET ............................... 2,973,882 2,815,028
---------- ----------
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net ................................................... 1,983,004 2,050,386
Prepaid pension asset ........................................... 110,626 102,034
Price risk management assets .................................... 148,722 21,414
Deferred debits ................................................. 186,437 119,754
---------- ----------
Total other assets ............................................ 2,428,789 2,293,588
---------- ----------
TOTAL ASSETS ...................................................... $7,212,797 $6,607,535
========== ==========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt ............................... $ 223,451 $ 203,438
Short-term borrowings ........................................... 534,584 300,000
Accounts payable, principally trade ............................. 776,546 574,276
Accounts and notes payable - affiliated companies, net .......... 95,601
Taxes accrued ................................................... 48,266 55,415
Interest accrued ................................................ 27,965 36,197
Customer deposits ............................................... 33,255 36,985
Price risk management liabilities ............................... 424,324 227,652
Other ........................................................... 119,111 172,616
---------- ----------
Total current liabilities............... 2,283,103 1,606,579
---------- ----------
DEFERRED CREDITS:
Accumulated deferred income taxes ............................... 532,725 497,762
Price risk management liabilities ............................... 117,437 40,532
Payable under capacity lease agreement .......................... 41,000 41,000
Benefit obligations ............................................. 161,144 158,762
Other ........................................................... 194,284 185,955
---------- ----------
Total deferred credits ........................................ 1,046,590 924,011
---------- ----------
LONG-TERM DEBT .................................................... 1,220,631 1,513,289
---------- ----------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 8)
RESOURCES OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARY TRUST HOLDING SOLELY JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES OF RESOURCES ......................................... 967 1,157
---------- ----------
STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY .............................................. 2,661,506 2,562,499
---------- ----------
Total Liabilities and Stockholder's Equity ................ $7,212,797 $6,607,535
========== ==========
</TABLE>
See Notes to Resources' Consolidated Financial Statements
113
<PAGE> 116
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CURRENT RESOURCES FORMER RESOURCES
--------------------------------------------------------------
TWELVE MONTHS TWELVE MONTHS FIVE MONTHS SEVEN
ENDED ENDED ENDED MONTHS
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, ENDED
1999 1998 1997 JULY 31, 1997
------------- ------------- ------------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income ............................................. $ 100,201 $ 93,824 $ 20,847 $ 46,112
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization ....................... 198,676 191,891 78,087 84,901
Deferred income taxes ............................... 58,055 31,810 36,770 14,589
Extraordinary gain .................................. (237)
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable-net ................. (303,838) 141,565 (351,179) 313,586
Accounts receivable/payable, affiliates ........... (1,343) 45,670 (10,106)
Inventories ....................................... 79,776 (102,125) (2,250) 9,980
Other current assets .............................. (16,020) 9,422 7,357 (8,843)
Accounts payable .................................. 202,270 (115,010) 125,971 (224,590)
Interest and taxes accrued ........................ (9,206) 13,454 (13,402) (19,996)
Other current liabilities ......................... (41,463) (12,531) 42,284 (22,633)
Net price risk management assets .................. (23,864) (18,433)
Restricted deposits ............................... (55,667) 42,630 (11,096) 3,396
Other-net ......................................... (52,512) (36,208) 24,373 3,007
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating
activities ................................... 135,065 285,959 (52,344) 199,272
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of Former Resources, net of cash acquired ..... (1,422,672)
Capital expenditures ................................... (288,760) (253,972) (93,414) (88,638)
Other, net ............................................. (12,770) 8,068 (1,079) (6,424)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash used in investing activities .......... (301,530) (245,904) (1,517,165) (95,062)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Cash portion of capital contribution from
Reliant Energy ...................................... 1,426,067
Payments of long-term debt ............................. (255,293) (249,253) (175,312) (230,667)
Proceeds from long-term debt ........................... 812,849 150,000
Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings - net ..... 234,584 (390,000) 341,500 (1,500)
Increase (decrease) in notes with affiliates - net ..... 242,135 (202,800) 22,100
Common and preferred stock dividends ................... (19,281)
Other, net ............................................. (190) (19,957) (9,164) (27,348)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities .... 221,236 (49,161) 1,605,191 (128,796)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS ...... 54,771 (9,106) 35,682 (24,586)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD ...... 26,576 35,682 27,981
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF THE PERIOD ............ $ 81,347 $ 26,576 $ 35,682 $ 3,395
=========== =========== =========== ===========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash Payments:
Interest (net of amounts capitalized) .................. $ 142,399 $ 111,217 $ 55,672 $ 67,100
Income taxes ........................................... 45,540 46,522 714 20,900
</TABLE>
See Notes to Resources' Consolidated Financial Statements
114
<PAGE> 117
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) Nature of Operations.
Reliant Energy Resources Corp. (Resources Corp.), formerly NorAm Energy
Corp., together with its subsidiaries (collectively, Resources) distributes
natural gas, transports natural gas through its interstate pipelines and
provides energy services including gathering, storage and wholesale energy
marketing, trading and risk management services. Resources Corp. is a Delaware
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliant Energy, Incorporated
(Reliant Energy).
Resources' natural gas distribution operations (Natural Gas Distribution)
are conducted by three unincorporated divisions: Reliant Energy Entex, Reliant
Energy Minnegasco and Reliant Energy Arkla. Resources' interstate pipeline
operations (Interstate Pipelines) are conducted by two wholly owned
subsidiaries, Reliant Energy Gas Transmission Company (REGT) and Mississippi
River Transmission Corporation (MRT). Resources' wholesale energy marketing,
trading and risk management activities in North America are conducted primarily
by Reliant Energy Services, Inc. (Reliant Energy Services) and gas gathering
activities are conducted by Reliant Energy Field Services, Inc. (Reliant Energy
Field Services). Resources' European energy trading and marketing activities are
conducted by Reliant Energy Trading & Marketing B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary.
Resources' retail marketing activities are conducted by Reliant Energy Retail,
Inc. (Reliant Energy Retail). Resources' principal operations are located in
Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
(b) Merger with Reliant Energy, Incorporated.
In August 1997, the former parent corporation (Former Parent) of Reliant
Energy, merged with and into Reliant Energy, and NorAm Energy Corp. (Former
Resources) merged with and into Resources Corp. Effective upon the mergers
(collectively, the Merger), each outstanding share of common stock of Former
Parent was converted into one share of common stock (including associated
preference stock purchase rights) of Reliant Energy, and each outstanding share
of common stock of Former Resources was converted into the right to receive
$16.3051 cash or 0.74963 shares of common stock of Reliant Energy. The aggregate
consideration paid to Former Resources stockholders in connection with the
Merger consisted of $1.4 billion in cash and 47.8 million shares of Reliant
Energy's common stock valued at approximately $1.0 billion. The overall
transaction was valued at $4.0 billion consisting of $2.4 billion for Former
Resources' common stock and common stock equivalents and $1.6 billion of Former
Resources debt.
The Merger was recorded under the purchase method of accounting with
assets and liabilities of Former Resources reflected at their estimated fair
values, resulting in a "new basis" of accounting. The periods which reflect the
new basis of accounting are labeled as "Current Resources" and periods which do
not reflect the new basis of accounting are labeled "Former Resources." Former
Resources' Statement of Consolidated Income for the seven months ended July 31,
1997 included certain adjustments from August 1, 1997 to the acquisition date
for pre-merger transactions.
115
<PAGE> 118
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Resources' Statements of Consolidated Income for periods after the
acquisition date are principally affected by (i) the amortization (over 40
years) of the newly-recognized goodwill, partially offset by the elimination of
the amortization of Resources' historical goodwill, (ii) the amortization (to
interest expense) of the revaluation of long-term debt, (iii) the removal of the
amortization (to operating expense) previously associated with the pension and
postretirement obligations as described above and (iv) the deferred income tax
expense associated with these adjustments. Interest expense on Reliant Energy's
debt which was used to fund the cash portion of the acquisition has not been
allocated or "pushed down" to Resources and is not reflected on Resources'
Consolidated Financial Statements. For these reasons, among others, certain
financial information for periods before and after the acquisition date is not
comparable.
If the Merger had occurred on January 1, 1997, Resources' unaudited pro
forma net income for 1997 would have been $66 million. Pro forma results, which
are based on assumptions deemed appropriate by Resources' management, have been
prepared for informational purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of
the results which would have resulted had the Merger actually taken place on
January 1, 1997.
(c) Regulatory Assets and Regulation.
Resources applies the accounting policies established in SFAS No. 71,
"Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation" (SFAS No. 71) to the
accounts of its Natural Gas Distribution operations and to MRT. Resources'
Natural Gas Distribution operations are subject to regulation at the state or
municipal level and the Interstate Pipelines operations of MRT are subject to
regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. As of December 31, 1999
and 1998, Resources had recorded as deferred debits and other deferred credits
approximately $4 million and $12 million, respectively, of net regulatory
assets.
If, as a result of changes in regulation or competition, Resources' ability
to recover these assets and liabilities would not be assured, then pursuant to
SFAS No. 101, "Regulated Enterprises Accounting for the Discontinuation of
Application of SFAS No. 71" and SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of
Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of," Resources would
be required to write off or write down such regulatory assets and liabilities.
(d) Principles of Consolidation.
Resources' Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of
Resources Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany
transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.
(e) Property, Plant and Equipment and Goodwill .
Property, plant and equipment includes the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------
1999 1998
------------- -------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C>
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Natural gas ............................ $ 1,941,668 $ 1,686,159
Interstate pipelines ................... 1,330,969 1,302,829
Other .................................. 25,841 13,976
------------- -------------
Total .............................. 3,298,478 3,002,964
Less accumulated depreciation .......... 324,596 187,936
------------- -------------
Property, plant and equipment - net .... $ 2,973,882 $ 2,815,028
============= =============
</TABLE>
116
<PAGE> 119
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Property, plant and equipment have been revalued to estimated fair market
value as of the Merger date in accordance with the purchase method of
accounting, and depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis over their
estimated useful lives. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed. The cost of
utility plant and equipment retirements is charged to accumulated depreciation.
Goodwill is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 40 years.
Resources had $128 million and $75 million accumulated goodwill amortization at
December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Resources will periodically compare
the carrying value of its goodwill to the anticipated undiscounted future net
cash flows from the businesses whose acquisition gave rise to the goodwill and
as of yet no impairment is indicated or expected.
(f) Depreciation and Amortization Expense.
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on economic
lives or a regulatory mandated method. The range of plant and equipment
depreciable lives for natural gas, interstate pipelines and other property is 5
to 50 years, 5 to 75 years and 3 to 20 years, respectively. Depreciation expense
for 1999 was $143 million compared to $137 million for 1998 and $132 million for
1997 of which $56 million relates to the five months ended December 31, 1997.
Approximately $53 million and $54 million of goodwill was amortized during 1999
and 1998, respectively. Approximately $30 million of goodwill was amortized
during 1997 of which $22 million represents amortization related to the Merger
and was incurred during the period from the acquisition date through December
31, 1997. Other amortization expense was $3 million, $1 million and $1 million
in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
(g) Fuel, Gas and Petroleum Products.
Gas inventory (primarily using the average cost method) was $78.5 million
and $79.9 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, and is valued at
the lower of cost or market. Fuel stock and petroleum products, principally
heating oil, were $1.6 million and $81.2 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998,
respectively, and are used in the trading operations and are marked-to-market in
connection with the price risk management activities as discussed in Note 2.
(h) Revenues.
Resources records natural gas sales under the accrual method, whereby
unbilled natural gas sales are estimated and recorded each month. Interstate
Pipelines records revenues as transportation services are provided. In 1998,
Resources adopted mark-to-market accounting for its energy price risk management
and trading activities (see Notes 1(q) and 2).
(i) Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows.
For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash equivalents are considered to be
short-term, highly liquid investments readily convertible to cash.
(j) Income Taxes.
Reliant Energy files a consolidated federal income tax return in which
Resources is included as of the acquisition date. The Company follows a policy
of comprehensive interperiod income tax allocation. The Company uses the
liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes and measures deferred
income taxes for all significant income tax temporary differences. For
additional information regarding income taxes, see Note 7.
117
<PAGE> 120
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(k) Investments in Marketable Equity Securities.
The Company holds certain equity securities classified as
"available-for-sale" and, in accordance with SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for
Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," reports such investments at
estimated fair value on Resources' Consolidated Balance Sheets as deferred
debits and any unrealized gain or loss, net of tax, as a separate component of
stockholder's equity and other comprehensive income. At December 31, 1999 and
1998, the accumulated unrealized loss, net of tax, relating to these equity
securities was approximately $17.2 million and $16.0 million, respectively.
(l) Merger Transaction Costs.
"Merger transaction costs" include expenses associated with completion of
the Merger, principally consisting of investment banking and legal fees.
(m) Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.
Accounts and notes receivable, principally customer, as presented on
Resources' Consolidated Balance Sheets are net of an allowance for doubtful
accounts of $21.3 million and $17.6 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998,
respectively.
(n) Related Party Transactions.
Reliant Energy has established a "money fund" through which Resources can
borrow or invest on a short-term basis. Net investments of Resources, included
in accounts and notes receivable-affiliated companies, totaled $181 million at
December 31, 1998. Interest income on such investments was $6.1 million and $5.1
million for the year ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Net
borrowings of Resources, included in accounts and notes payables-affiliated
companies, totaled $62 million at December 31, 1999. Interest expense on such
borrowings was $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31,
1999 and 1998, respectively. Interest income and expense on such investments and
borrowing for 1997 were not material.
Reliant Energy Services supplies natural gas to, purchases electricity for
resale from, and provides marketing and risk management services to unregulated
power plants in deregulated markets, acquired or operated by Reliant Energy
Power Generation, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliant Energy, or its
subsidiaries. During 1999 and 1998, the sales and services to Reliant Energy and
its affiliates totaled $197 million and $96 million, respectively. Purchases of
electricity from Reliant Energy and its affiliates were $116 million and $29
million in 1999 and 1998, respectively. Sales and purchases to/from Reliant
Energy and its affiliates were not material in 1997.
Reliant Energy provides certain corporate services to Resources which are
allocated to Resources or direct billed to Resources, including management
support, financial and tax accounting, information system support, treasury
support, legal services, regulatory support and other general services. During
1999, 1998 and 1997, the allocated and direct billed corporate services totaled
$34 million, $29 million and $19 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 1999 and 1998, net accounts payable to Reliant Energy
and its subsidiaries, which are not owned by Resources, was $34 million and $36
million, respectively.
Certain subsidiaries of Resources Corp. have entered into office rental
agreements with Reliant Energy. In 1999 and 1998, Resources paid $1.7 million
and $0.9 million of rent expense to Reliant Energy for each respective year.
118
<PAGE> 121
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(o) Foreign Currency Adjustments.
Assets and liabilities of Resources Corp.'s foreign subsidiaries where the
local currency is the functional currency have been translated into U.S.
dollars using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date. Revenues, expenses,
gains, and losses have been translated using the weighted average exchange rate
for each month prevailing during the periods reported. Cumulative adjustments
resulting from translation have been recorded in stockholder's equity and other
comprehensive income.
(p) Reclassifications and Use of Estimates.
Certain amounts from the previous years have been reclassified to conform
to the 1999 presentation of financial statements. Such reclassifications do not
affect earnings.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities,
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(q) Change in Accounting Principle.
In the fourth quarter of 1998, Resources adopted mark-to-market accounting
for all of its energy price risk management and trading activities. Under
mark-to-market accounting, Resources records the fair value of energy related
derivative financial instruments, including physical forward contracts, swaps,
options and exchange-traded futures and options contracts, at each balance sheet
date. Such amounts are recorded as price risk management assets and liabilities.
The realized and unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a component of
operating revenues. Resources has applied mark-to-market accounting
retroactively to January 1, 1998. There was no material cumulative effect
resulting from this accounting change.
Resources adopted Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 98-10, "Accounting for
Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities" (EITF
98-10) in 1999. The adoption of EITF Issue 98-10 had no material impact on the
consolidated financial statements.
(r) New Accounting Pronouncement.
Effective January 1, 2001, Resources is required to adopt Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities" as amended (SFAS No. 133), which establishes accounting
and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain hedging
instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities. Resources is
in the process of determining the effect of adopting SFAS No. 133 on its
consolidated financial statements.
(2) DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
(a) Price Risk Management and Trading Activities.
Resources offers energy price risk management services primarily related to
natural gas, electricity, crude oil and refined products, weather, coal and
certain air emissions regulatory credits. Resources provides these services by
utilizing a variety of derivative financial instruments, including fixed and
variable-priced physical forward contracts, fixed and variable-priced swap
agreements and options traded in the over-the-counter financial markets and
exchange-traded energy futures and option contracts (Trading Derivatives).
Fixed-price swap agreements require payments to, or receipts of payments from,
counterparties based on the differential between a fixed and variable price
119
<PAGE> 122
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
for the commodity. Variable-price swap agreements require payments to, or
receipts of payments from, counterparties based on the differential between
industry pricing publications or exchange quotations.
Prior to 1998, Resources applied hedge accounting to certain physical
commodity activities that qualified for hedge accounting. In 1998, Resources
adopted mark-to-market accounting for all of its price risk management and
trading activities. Accordingly, since 1998, such Trading Derivatives are
recorded at fair value with realized and unrealized gains (losses) recorded as a
component of revenues. The recognized, unrealized balance is included in price
risk management assets/liabilities (See Note 1(q)).
The notional quantities, maximum terms and the estimated fair value of
Trading Derivatives at December 31, 1999 and 1998 are presented below (volumes
in billions of British thermal units equivalent (Bbtue) and dollars in
millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VOLUME-FIXED VOLUME-FIXED MAXIMUM
PRICE PAYOR PRICE RECEIVER TERM (YEARS)
------------- -------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1999
Natural gas ....................... 936,716 939,416 9
Electricity ....................... 251,592 248,176 10
Crude oil and refined products .... 143,857 144,554 3
1998
Natural gas ....................... 937,264 977,293 9
Electricity ....................... 122,950 124,878 3
Crude oil and refined products .... 205,499 204,223 3
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE FAIR
FAIR VALUE VALUE (A)
----------------------------- -----------------------------
ASSETS LIABILITIES ASSETS LIABILITIES
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1999
Natural gas ....................... $ 319 $ 299 $ 302 $ 283
Electricity ....................... 131 98 103 80
Crude oil and refined products .... 134 145 127 132
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
$ 584 $ 542 $ 532 $ 495
============ ============ ============ ============
1998
Natural gas ....................... $ 224 $ 212 $ 124 $ 108
Electricity ....................... 34 33 186 186
Crude oil and refined products .... 29 23 21 17
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
$ 287 $ 268 $ 331 $ 311
============ ============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
- ---------
(a) Computed using the ending balance of each quarter.
In addition to the fixed-price notional volumes above, Resources also has
variable-priced agreements, as discussed above, totaling 3,797,824 and 1,702,977
Bbtue as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Notional amounts reflect
the volume of transactions but do not represent the amounts exchanged by the
parties to the financial instruments. Accordingly, notional amounts do not
accurately measure Resources' exposure to market or credit risks.
All of the fair values shown in the tables above at December 31, 1999 and
December 31, 1998 have been recognized in income. The fair value as of December
31, 1999 and 1998 was estimated using quoted prices where available and
considering the liquidity of the market for the Trading Derivatives. The prices
and fair values are subject to significant changes based on changing market
conditions.
The weighted-average term of the trading portfolio, based on volumes, is
less than one year. The maximum and average terms disclosed herein are not
indicative of likely future cash flows, as these positions may be changed by new
transactions in the trading portfolio at any time in response to changing market
conditions, market liquidity and
120
<PAGE> 123
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Resources' risk management portfolio needs and strategies. Terms regarding cash
settlements of these contracts vary with respect to the actual timing of cash
receipts and payments.
In addition to the risk associated with price movements, credit risk is
also inherent in Resources' risk management activities. Credit risk relates to
the risk of loss resulting from non-performance of contractual obligations by a
counterparty. The following table shows the composition of the total price risk
management assets of Resources as of December 31, 1999 and 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, 1999 DECEMBER 31, 1998
-------------------------- -------------------------
INVESTMENT INVESTMENT
GRADE (1) TOTAL GRADE (1) TOTAL
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Energy marketers ............................ $ 172 $ 183 $ 103 $ 124
Financial institutions ...................... 119 119 62 62
Gas and electric utilities .................. 184 186 47 48
Oil and gas producers ....................... 6 30 7 8
Industrials ................................. 4 5 2 3
Independent power producers ................. 4 6 1 1
Others ...................................... 64 67 45 47
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total .................................. $ 553 596 $ 267 293
========== ==========
Credit and other reserves ................... (12) (6)
---------- ----------
Energy price risk management assets (2) ..... $ 584 $ 287
========== ==========
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) "Investment Grade" is primarily determined using publicly available credit
ratings along with the consideration of credit support (e.g., parent
company guarantees) and collateral, which encompass cash and standby
letters of credit.
(2) As of December 31, 1999, Resources had no credit risk exposure to any
single counterparty that represents greater than 5% of price risk
management assets.
(b) Non-Trading Activities.
To reduce the risk from market fluctuations in the revenues derived from
electric power, natural gas and related transportation, Resources enters into
futures transactions, swaps and options (Energy Derivatives) in order to hedge
certain natural gas in storage, as well as certain expected purchases, sales and
transportation of natural gas and electric power (a portion of which are firm
commitments at the inception of the hedge). Energy Derivatives are also utilized
to fix the price of compressor fuel or other future operational gas requirements
and to protect natural gas distribution earnings against unseasonably warm
weather during peak gas heating months, although usage to date for this purpose
has not been material. Resources applies hedge accounting with respect to its
derivative financial instruments utilized in non-trading activities.
For transactions involving Energy Derivatives, hedge accounting is applied
only if the derivative (i) reduces the risk of the underlying hedged item and
(ii) is designated as a hedge at its inception. Additionally, the derivatives
must be expected to result in financial impacts which are inversely correlated
to those of the item(s) to be hedged. This correlation (a measure of hedge
effectiveness) is measured both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing
basis, with an acceptable level of correlation of at least 80% for hedge
designation. If and when correlation ceases to exist at an acceptable level,
hedge accounting ceases and mark-to-market accounting is applied.
Unrealized changes in the market value of Energy Derivatives utilized as
hedges are not generally recognized in Resources' Statements of Consolidated
Income until the underlying hedged transaction occurs. Once it becomes
121
<PAGE> 124
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
probable that an anticipated transaction will not occur, deferred gains and
losses are recognized. In general, the financial impact of transactions
involving these Energy Derivatives is included in Resources' Statements of
Consolidated Income under the captions (i) fuel expenses, in the case of natural
gas transactions and (ii) purchased power, in the case of electric power
transactions. Cash flows resulting from these transactions in Energy Derivatives
are included in Resources' Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows in the same
category as the item being hedged.
At December 31, 1999, Resources was fixed-price payors and fixed-price
receivers in Energy Derivatives covering 33,108 billion British thermal units
(Bbtu) and 5,481 Bbtu of natural gas, respectively. At December 31, 1998,
Resources was fixed-price payors and fixed-price receivers in Energy Derivatives
covering 42,498 Bbtu and 3,930 Bbtu of natural gas, respectively. Also, at
December 31, 1999 and 1998, Resources was a party to variable-priced Energy
Derivatives totaling 44,958 Bbtu and 21,437 Bbtu of natural gas, respectively.
The weighted average maturity of these instruments is less than one year.
The notional amount is intended to be indicative of Resources' level of
activity in such derivatives, although the amounts at risk are significantly
smaller because, in view of the price movement correlation required for hedge
accounting, changes in the market value of these derivatives generally are
offset by changes in the value associated with the underlying physical
transactions or in other derivatives. When Energy Derivatives are closed out in
advance of the underlying commitment or anticipated transaction, however, the
market value changes may not offset due to the fact that price movement
correlation ceases to exist when the positions are closed, as further discussed
below. Under such circumstances, gains (losses) are deferred and recognized as a
component of income when the underlying hedged item is recognized in income.
The average maturity discussed above and the fair value discussed in Note
10 are not necessarily indicative of likely future cash flows as these positions
may be changed by new transactions in the trading portfolio at any time in
response to changing market conditions, market liquidity and Resources' risk
management portfolio needs and strategies. Terms regarding cash settlements of
these contracts vary with respect to the actual timing of cash receipts and
payments.
(c) Trading and Non-trading -- General Policy.
In addition to the risk associated with price movements, credit risk is
also inherent in Resources' risk management activities. Credit risk relates to
the risk of loss resulting from non-performance of contractual obligations by a
counterparty. While as yet Resources has experienced only minor losses due to
the credit risk associated with these arrangements, Resources has off-balance
sheet risk to the extent that the counterparties to these transactions may fail
to perform as required by the terms of each such contract. In order to minimize
this risk, Resources enters into such contracts primarily with counterparties
having a minimum Standard & Poor's or Moody's rating of BBB- or Baa3,
respectively. For long-term arrangements, Resources periodically reviews the
financial condition of such firms in addition to monitoring the effectiveness of
these financial contracts in achieving Resources' objectives. Should the
counterparties to these arrangements fail to perform, Resources would seek to
compel performance at law or otherwise obtain compensatory damages in lieu
thereof. Resources might be forced to acquire alternative hedging arrangements
or be required to honor the underlying commitment at then-current market prices.
In such event, Resources might incur additional losses to the extent of amounts,
if any, already paid to the counterparties. In view of its criteria for
selecting counterparties, its process for monitoring the financial strength of
these counterparties and its experience to date in successfully completing these
transactions, Resources believes that the risk of incurring a significant
financial statement loss due to the non-performance of counterparties to these
transactions is minimal.
Reliant Energy's policies prohibit the use of leveraged financial
instruments.
Reliant Energy has established a Risk Oversight Committee, comprised of
corporate and business segment officers that oversees all commodity price and
credit risk activities, including Resources' trading, marketing and risk
122
<PAGE> 125
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
management activities. The Committee's duties are to establish Reliant Energy's
and Resources' commodity risk policies, allocate risk capital within limits
established by Reliant Energy's board of directors, approve trading of new
products and commodities, monitor risk positions and ensure compliance with
Reliant Energy's risk management policies and procedures and trading limits
established by Reliant Energy's board of directors.
(3) CAPITAL STOCK
Resources' Direct Stock Purchase Plan and Dividend Reinvestment Plan were
suspended and canceled in connection with the Merger.
(4) LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------- -----------------------------
DECEMBER 31, 1999 DECEMBER 31, 1998
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
LONG-TERM CURRENT (1) LONG-TERM CURRENT (1)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Short-term borrowings:
Receivables facilities ...................................... $ 350,000 $ 300,000
Commercial paper ............................................ 184,584
------------ ------------
Total short-term borrowings ................................... 534,584 300,000
------------ ------------
Long-term debt: (2)
Convertible debentures ...................................... $ 92,727 $ 104,617
6.0% due 2012
Debentures .................................................. 961,545 1,010,919
6.38% to 8.90% due 2003 to 2008 as of December 31, 1999
6.38% to 10.00% due 2003 to 2019 as of December 31, 1998
Medium-term notes ........................................... 150,275 177,591
8.77% to 9.23% maturing 2001 as of December 31, 1999
8.77% to 9.39% maturing 2000 to 2001 as of December 31, 1998
Notes payable ............................................... 223,451 203,116 203,438
7.50% to 9.39% due 2000 as of December 31, 1999
7.50% to 8.88% due 1999 to 2000 as of December 31, 1998
Unamortized discount and premium .............................. 16,084 17,046
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total long-term borrowings .................................... 1,220,631 223,451 1,513,289 203,438
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total borrowings ............................................ $ 1,220,631 $ 758,035 $ 1,513,289 $ 503,438
============ ============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) Includes amounts due within one year of the date.
(2) At the date of the Merger, the debt was adjusted to fair market value.
Included in unamortized discount and premium is unamortized premium related
to fair value adjustments of long-term debt of approximately $17.8 million
and $33.2 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, and is being
amortized over the respective remaining term of the related long-term debt.
123
<PAGE> 126
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(a) Short-term Borrowings.
In 1999, Resources met its short-term financing needs primarily through a
receivables facility and the issuance of commercial paper. Resources has a $350
million revolving credit facility (Resources Credit Facility) that expires in
2003. Borrowings under the Resources Credit Facility are unsecured and bear
interest at a rate based upon either the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR)
plus a margin, a base rate or a rate determined through a bidding process. The
Resources Credit Facility is used to support Resources' issuance of up to $350
million of commercial paper and includes a $65 million sub-facility under which
letters of credit may be obtained. As of December 31, 1999, Resources had $185
million of commercial paper outstanding having an average interest rate of
7.24%. There was no commercial paper and no loans outstanding under the
Resources Credit Facility at December 31, 1998. Letters of credit under the
sub-facility aggregated $9.3 million as of December 31, 1999.
Under a trade receivables facility (Receivables Facility) which expires in
August 2000, Resources sells, with limited recourse, an undivided interest
(limited to a maximum of $350 million as of December 31, 1999 and $300 million
as of December 31, 1998) in a designated pool of accounts receivable. The amount
of receivables sold and uncollected was $350 million and $300 million at
December 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998, respectively. The weighted average
interest rate was approximately 6.10% and 5.30% at December 31, 1999 and
December 31, 1998, respectively. Certain of Resources' remaining receivables
serve as collateral for receivables sold and represent the maximum exposure to
Resources should all receivables sold prove ultimately uncollectible.
(b) Long-term Debt.
Consolidated maturities of long-term debt and sinking fund requirements for
Resources are approximately $230 million in 2000, $157 million in 2001, $7
million in 2002, $507 million in 2003 and $7 million in 2004.
At December 31, 1999, Resources Corp. had issued and outstanding $92.7
million aggregate principal amount of its 6% Convertible Subordinated Debentures
due 2012 (Subordinated Debentures). The holders of the Subordinated Debentures
receive interest quarterly and have the right at any time on or before the
maturity date thereof to convert each Subordinated Debenture into 0.65 shares of
Reliant Energy common stock and $14.24 in cash. During 1999, Resources purchased
$12.0 million aggregate principal amount of its Subordinated Debentures.
Resources is required to make annual sinking fund payments of $6.5 million on
the Subordinated Debentures which began on March 15, 1997 and will continue on
each succeeding March 15 up to and including March 15, 2011. Resources (i) may
credit against the sinking fund requirements any Subordinated Debentures
redeemed by Resources and Subordinated Debentures which have been converted at
the option of the holder and (ii) may deliver purchased Subordinated Debentures
in satisfaction of the sinking fund requirements. Resources satisfied its 1999
and 1998 sinking fund requirements by delivering Subordinated Debentures
previously purchased.
In November 1998, Resources Corp. issued $500 million aggregate principal
amount of its 6 3/8% Term Enhanced ReMarketable Securities (TERM Notes).
Included within the TERM Notes is an embedded option sold to an investment bank
which gives the investment bank the right to remarket the TERM Notes commencing
in November 2003 if it chooses to exercise the option. The TERM Notes are
unsecured obligations of Resources Corp. which bear interest at an annual rate
of 6 3/8% through November 1, 2003. On November 1, 2003, the holders of the TERM
Notes are required to tender their notes at 100% of their principal amount. The
portion of the proceeds attributable to the option premium will be amortized
over the stated term of the securities. If the option is not exercised by the
investment bank, Resources will repurchase the TERM Notes at 100% of their
principal amount on November 1, 2003. If the option is exercised, the TERM Notes
will be remarketed on a date, selected by Resources Corp., within the 52-week
period beginning November 1, 2003. During such period and prior to remarketing,
the TERM Notes will bear interest at rates, adjusted weekly, based on an index
selected by Resources Corp. If the TERM Notes are remarketed, the final maturity
date of the TERM Notes will be November 1, 2013, subject to
124
<PAGE> 127
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
adjustment, and the effective interest rate on the remarketed TERM Notes will be
5.66% plus Resources' applicable credit spread at the time of such remarketing.
For the year ended December 31, 1999, and 1998, Resources capitalized
interest of $1.9 million and $1.6 million, respectively. There was no
capitalized interest in 1997.
During the year ended December 31, 1997, Resources recorded an after-tax
extraordinary gain of $237 thousand from the extinguishment of debt.
(c) Restrictions on Debt.
The Resources Credit Facility contains covenants and requirements which
must be met to borrow funds. Such covenants are not anticipated to materially
restrict Resources from borrowing funds under such facilities.
(5) TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
In June 1996, a Delaware statutory business trust established by Resources
Corp. (Resources Trust) issued $172.5 million of convertible preferred
securities to the public. The convertible preferred securities have a
distribution rate of 6.25% payable quarterly in arrears, a stated liquidation
amount of $50 per convertible preferred security and must be redeemed by 2026.
The Resources Trust used the proceeds to purchase $172.5 million of 6.25%
convertible junior subordinated debentures from Resources Corp. having an
interest rate and a maturity date that correspond to the distribution rate and
the mandatory redemption date of the convertible preferred securities. Resources
Corp. accounts for Resources Trust as a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary.
The convertible junior subordinated debentures represent Resources Trust's
sole assets and its entire operations. Resources Corp. has fully and
unconditionally guaranteed, on a subordinated basis, all of Resources Trust's
obligations with respect to the convertible preferred securities. The
convertible preferred securities are mandatorily redeemable upon the repayment
of the convertible junior subordinated debentures at their stated maturity or
earlier redemption. Each convertible preferred security is convertible at the
option of the holder into $33.62 of cash and 1.55 shares of Reliant Energy
common stock. During 1999 and 1998, convertible preferred securities aggregating
$0.2 million and $15.5 million, respectively, were converted, leaving $0.7
million and $0.9 million liquidation amount of convertible preferred securities
outstanding at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Subject to certain
limitations, Resources Corp. has the option of deferring payments of interest on
the convertible junior subordinated debentures. During any deferral or event of
default, Resource Corp. may not pay dividends to Reliant Energy. As of December
31, 1999, no interest payments on the debentures had been deferred.
(6) STOCK-BASED INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
(a) Incentive Compensation Plans.
Prior to the Merger, Resources had several incentive compensation plans
which provided for the issuance of stock-based incentives (including restricted
shares, stock options and stock appreciation rights) to directors and key
employees of Resources, including officers. The charge to earnings in 1997
related to these incentive compensation plans was $1.4 million. All stock
options granted under such plans were either converted into similar Reliant
Energy options or "cashed out" prior to the Merger. All restricted stock and
substantially all stock appreciation rights were "cashed out" with the Merger.
As of the acquisition date, less than 1,000 stock appreciation rights were
outstanding. The following is certain information relating to options issued
pursuant to Resources' incentive compensation plans.
125
<PAGE> 128
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE
NUMBER EXERCISE PRICE
OF SHARES PER SHARE
---------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Outstanding at December 31, 1996 ............ 1,507,928 $ 8.65
Options Exercised ........................... (147,092) $ 6.47
Options Forfeited/Expired ................... (10,682) $ 12.42
Options Cashed Out Upon Merger .............. (521,857)
Options Converted at Acquisition (1) ........ (828,297)
Outstanding at December 31, 1997 ............ --
</TABLE>
----------
(1) Effective upon the Merger, each holder of an unexpired Resources stock
option, whether or not then exercisable, was entitled to elect to either
(i) have all or any portion of their Resources stock options canceled and
"cashed out" or (ii) have all or any portion of their Resources stock
options converted to Reliant Energy stock options. There were 828,297
Resources stock options converted into 622,504 Reliant Energy stock options
at the acquisition date.
Resources applies the rules contained in Accounting Principles Opinion No.
25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." Had compensation cost been
determined in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123 "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation," based on the "fair value methodology," the impact on
Resources' earnings for 1997 would have been immaterial.
(b) Pension.
Prior to 1999, Resources had two noncontributory retirement plans which
covered substantially all employees: (1) the plan which covers Resources'
employees other than Reliant Energy Minnegasco employees and (2) the plan which
covers Reliant Energy Minnegasco employees. These plans provided retirement
benefits based on years of service and compensation. Effective January 1, 1999,
the two noncontributory retirement plans were merged into Reliant Energy's
noncontributory retirement plan. Resources' and Reliant Energy's funding policy
is to review amounts annually in accordance with applicable regulations in order
to achieve adequate funding of projected benefit obligations. The assets of the
plan consist principally of common stocks and high-quality, interest-bearing
obligations. The net periodic pension costs (benefits) and prepaid pension costs
and benefit obligation have been determined separately for each plan prior to
the plans being merged. Subsequent to the plans being merged into Reliant
Energy's plan, the net periodic pension costs (benefits), prepaid pension costs
and benefit obligation were determined based on the employees of Resources and
their respective compensation levels.
Net pension cost for Resources includes the following components:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FORMER
CURRENT RESOURCES RESOURCES
--------------------------------------------------- -----------
TWELVE MONTHS TWELVE MONTHS FIVE MONTHS SEVEN MONTHS
ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, JULY 31,
1999 1998 1997 1997
------------- ------------- ------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Service cost - benefits earned during the period .... $ 15,031 $ 13,466 $ 5,095 $ 7,220
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation ....... 35,184 33,357 15,015 20,313
Expected return on plan assets ...................... (61,243) (53,043) (23,856) (26,716)
Amortization(1) ..................................... (2,026) 66
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net pension cost (benefit) .......................... $ (13,054) $ (6,220) $ (3,746) $ 883
========== ========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Amortization after the acquisition date represents amortization of
unrecognized loss incurred after the acquisition date. For further
discussion of the accounting for the Merger see Note 1(b).
126
<PAGE> 129
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Reconciliations of Resources' beginning and ending balances of its benefit
obligation, plan assets and funded status for 1999 and 1998 are set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------
1999 1998
---------- ----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C>
CHANGE IN BENEFIT OBLIGATION
Benefit obligation, beginning of period ............ $ 553,210 $ 513,247
Service cost ....................................... 15,031 13,466
Interest cost ...................................... 35,184 33,357
Benefits paid ...................................... (35,306) (23,870)
Plan amendments .................................... (53,736)
Actuarial (gain) loss .............................. (121,162) 70,746
---------- ----------
Benefit obligation, end of period .................. $ 446,957 $ 553,210
========== ==========
CHANGE IN PLAN ASSETS
Plan asset, beginning of period .................... $ 624,362 $ 569,718
Benefits paid ...................................... (35,306) (23,870)
Actual investment return ........................... 30,911 78,514
---------- ----------
Plan assets, end of period ......................... $ 619,967 $ 624,362
========== ==========
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDED STATUS
Funded status ...................................... $ 173,010 $ 71,152
Unrecognized prior service cost .................... (48,459) (53,736)
Unrecognized actuarial (gain) loss ................. (13,925) 84,618
---------- ----------
Net amount recognized at end of year ............... $ 110,626 $ 102,034
========== ==========
ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS
Discount rate ...................................... 7.5% 6.5%
Rate of increase in compensation levels ............ 3.5 - 5.5% 3.5 -5.5%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets ........ 10.0% 10.0%
</TABLE>
In 1998, Reliant Energy's and Resources Corp.'s respective board of
directors approved the amendment and restatement of the retirement plan,
effective January 1, 1999, which converted the present value of the accrued
benefits under their existing pension plans into a cash balance pension plan.
Under the cash balance formula, each participant has an account, for
recordkeeping purposes only, to which credits are allocated annually based on a
percentage of the participant's pay. The applicable percentage for 1999 is 4%.
The purpose of the plan change is to continue to provide uniform retirement
income benefits across all employee groups, which are competitive both within
the energy services industry as well as with other companies within the United
States. Resources will continue to reflect the costs of the pension plan
according to the provisions of SFAS No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions"
as amended. As a result of the January 1, 1999 amendment and restatement, which
is reflected in the December 31, 1998 disclosure, Resources' benefit obligation
declined $54 million.
The actuarial gains and losses are due to changes in certain actuarial
assumptions.
Prior to 1999, in addition to the noncontributory plans, Resources
maintained certain non-qualified plans which allowed participants to retain the
benefits to which they would have been entitled under its noncontributory plans
except for the federally mandated limits on such benefits or on the level of
salary on which such benefits may be calculated. Effective January 1, 1999,
these non-qualified plans were merged into a similar plan of Reliant Energy. As
of December 31, 1999, Resources had recorded a prepaid benefit obligation of
$0.6 million related to these plans.
127
<PAGE> 130
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
As of December 31, 1998, a benefit obligation of $8.2 million was recorded
related to these plans. Expense of approximately $1 million associated with
these non-qualified plans was recorded each year during 1999, 1998 and 1997,
respectively.
(c) Savings Plan.
Prior to April 1, 1999, Resources had an employee savings plan which
covered substantially all employees other than Reliant Energy Minnegasco
employees. Under the terms of the Resources savings plan beginning January 1,
1999, employees could contribute up to 16% of total compensation, which
contributions up to 6% were matched by Resources. During 1998 and 1997,
employees could contribute up to 12% of total compensation, which contributions
up to 6% were matched by Resources. Prior to April 1, 1999, the Reliant Energy
Minnegasco employees were covered by a savings plan, the terms of which were
somewhat similar to the Resources savings plan. Effective April 1, 1999, the
Resources savings plan and the Reliant Energy Minnegasco savings plan were
merged into Reliant Energy's savings plan.
Reliant Energy's employee savings plan qualifies as cash or deferred
arrangements under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (IRC). Under Reliant Energy's plan, participating employees may
contribute a portion of their compensation, pre-tax or after-tax, up to a
maximum of 16% of compensation. In 1999, the savings plan was amended so that
Reliant Energy now matches 75% to 125% of the first 6% of each employee's
compensation contributed, subject to a vesting schedule, based on certain
performance goals achieved by Reliant Energy and its subsidiaries. Substantially
all of Reliant Energy's match is invested in Reliant Energy common stock.
Reliant Energy allocates to Resources the savings benefit expense related to the
employees of Resources.
Savings plan benefit expense related to Resources was $9.5 million, $10.8
million and $10.8 million in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Savings plan
expense related to Resources from the Merger date through December 31, 1997 was
$3.7 million.
(d) Postretirement Benefits.
Resources records the liability for postretirement benefit plans other than
pensions (primarily health care) under SFAS No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for
Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions."
The net postretirement benefit cost includes the following components:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FORMER
CURRENT RESOURCES RESOURCES
--------------------------------------------------- -----------
TWELVE MONTHS TWELVE MONTHS FIVE MONTHS SEVEN MONTHS
ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, JULY 31,
1999 1998 1997 1997
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Service cost - benefits earned during the period ...... $ 2,004 $ 635 $ 115 $ 164
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation ......... 9,060 6,660 3,561 4,948
Expected return on plan assets ........................ (583) (463) (73) (107)
Net amortization ...................................... 2,100 3,875
----------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net postretirement benefit cost ....................... $ 12,581 $ 6,832 $ 3,603 $ 8,880
=========== ========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
128
<PAGE> 131
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Reconciliations of Resources' beginning and ending balances of its
postretirement benefit plans benefit obligation, plan assets and funded status
for 1999 and 1998 are set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------
1999 1998
----------- ----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C>
CHANGE IN BENEFIT OBLIGATION
Benefit obligation, beginning of period ....... $ 144,069 $ 118,472
Service cost .................................. 2,004 635
Interest cost ................................. 9,060 6,660
Benefits paid ................................. (8,469) (11,569)
Participant contributions ..................... 1,996 1,856
Plan amendments ............................... 28,936
Actuarial gain ................................ (32,288) (921)
--------- ---------
Benefit obligation, end of period ............. $ 116,372 $ 144,069
========= =========
CHANGE IN PLAN ASSETS
Plan asset, beginning of period ............... $ 6,461 $ 4,502
Benefits paid ................................. (8,469) (11,569)
Employer contributions ........................ 8,871 11,163
Participant contributions ..................... 1,996 1,856
Actual investment return ...................... 328 509
--------- ---------
Plan assets, end of period .................... $ 9,187 $ 6,461
========= =========
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDED STATUS
Funded status ................................. $(107,185) $(137,608)
Unrecognized prior service cost ............... 25,881 28,936
Unrecognized actuarial (gain) loss ............ (22,195) 1,759
--------- ---------
Net amount recognized at end of year .......... $(103,499) $(106,913)
========= =========
ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS
Discount rate ................................. 7.5% 6.5%
Rate of increase in compensation levels ....... 3.5 - 5.5% 3.5 - 5.5%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets ... 10.0% 10.0%
Health care cost trend rates - Under 65 ....... 5.8% 6.0%
Health care cost trend rates - 65 and over .... 6.2% 6.7%
</TABLE>
The assumed health care rates gradually decline to 5.4% for both medical
categories by 2001.
If the health care cost trend rate assumptions were increased by 1%, the
accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 1999 would be
increased by approximately 5.3%. The annual effect of the 1% increase on the
total of the service and interest costs would be an increase of approximately
4.1%. If the healthcare cost trend rate assumptions were decreased by 1%, the
accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 1999 would be
decreased by approximately 5.3%. The annual effect of the 1% decrease on the
total of the service and interest costs would be a decrease of 4.2%.
In 1998, Reliant Energy's and Resources Corp.'s respective board of
directors approved an amendment, effective January 1, 1999, which created an
account balance based on credited service at December 31, 1998. Under the new
plan, each participant has an account, for recordkeeping purposes only, to which
a $750 credit is allocated annually. This account balance vests after 5 years of
service after age 50. At retirement the account balance can be used to purchase
medical benefits. It may not be taken as cash. Resources will continue to
reflect the costs of the retiree medical plan
129
<PAGE> 132
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
according to the provisions of SFAS No. 106 as amended. As a result of the
January 1, 1999 amendment, which is reflected in the December 31, 1998
disclosure, Resources' benefit obligation increased $29 million.
The actuarial gains and losses are due to changes to certain actuarial
assumptions.
(e) Postemployment Benefits.
Resources records postemployment benefits based on SFAS No. 112,
"Employer's Accounting for Postemployment Benefits," which requires the
recognition of a liability for benefits provided to former or inactive
employees, their beneficiaries and covered dependents, after employment but
before retirement (primarily health care and life insurance benefits for
participants in the long-term disability plan). Net postemployment benefit costs
were $11 million in 1999. Net postemployment benefit costs were not material in
1998 and 1997.
(7) INCOME TAXES
Reliant Energy files a consolidated federal income tax return, in which
Resources is included. Prior to the acquisition date, Resources Corp. and its
subsidiaries filed a consolidated federal income tax return. Resources'
pre-acquisition consolidated federal income tax returns have been audited and
settled through the year 1986. Investment tax credits are generally deferred and
amortized over the lives of the related assets. The unamortized investment tax
credit in deferred credits on Resources' Consolidated Balance Sheets was $7.5
million and $8.0 million for 1999 and 1998, respectively.
The components of Resources' income tax provision are set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CURRENT RESOURCES FORMER RESOURCES
--------------------------------------------------------- ------------------
TWELVE MONTHS TWELVE MONTHS FIVE MONTHS SEVEN MONTHS
ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, JULY 31,
1999 1998 1997 1997
------------------ -------------------------------------- ------------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Federal
Current........................... $ 27,732 $ 30,539 $ (12,005) $ 16,339
Deferred.......................... 53,335 61,020 36,673 12,795
Investment tax credit............. (536) (609) (262) (363)
State
Current........................... 3,520 7,235 536 833
Deferred.......................... 4,720 13,645 (559) 1,794
-------------- -------------- ------------- --------------
Income tax expense.................. $ 88,771 $ 111,830 $ 24,383 $ 31,398
============== ============== ============= ==============
</TABLE>
130
<PAGE> 133
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed by applying
the statutory federal income tax rate of 35% to income from continuing
operations. The reasons for this difference are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CURRENT RESOURCES FORMER RESOURCES
---------------------------------------------------- ----------------
TWELVE MONTHS TWELVE MONTHS FIVE MONTHS SEVEN MONTHS
ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, JULY 31,
1999 1998 1997 1997
--------------- ---------------- ------------- ----------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income before income taxes ........... $ 188,972 $ 205,654 $ 45,230 $ 77,273
Statutory rate ....................... 35% 35% 35% 35%
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Income taxes at statutory rate ....... 66,140 71,979 15,831 27,046
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Increase (decrease) in tax
resulting from:
State income taxes, net of
federal income tax benefit(1) ... 5,356 14,737 (9) 1,708
Investment tax credit .............. (536) (609) (262) (363)
Goodwill amortization .............. 17,746 17,971 7,242 2,430
Other, net ......................... 65 7,752 1,581 577
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Total ............................ 22,631 39,851 8,552 4,352
============== ============== ============== ==============
Income taxes ......................... $ 88,771 $ 111,830 $ 24,383 $ 31,398
============== ============== ============== ==============
Effective Rate ....................... 47.0% 54.4% 53.9% 40.6%
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Calculation of the accrual for state income taxes at the end of each year
requires that Resources estimate the manner in which its income for that
year will be allocated and/or apportioned among the various states in which
it conducts business, which states have widely differing tax rules and
rates. These allocation/apportionment factors change from year to year and
the amount of taxes ultimately payable may differ from that estimated as a
part of the accrual process. For these reasons, the amount of state income
tax expense may vary significantly from year-to-year, even in the absence
of significant changes to state income tax valuation allowances or changes
in individual state income tax rates.
131
<PAGE> 134
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to significant
portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 1999 and
1998, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------
1999 1998
---------- ----------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred Tax Assets:
Employee benefit accruals .............................. $ 23,137 $ 41,244
Gas purchase contract accruals ......................... 3,395 8,116
Operating loss carryforwards ........................... 38,954 23,178
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards ........... 34,239 38,361
Other .................................................. 63,076 33,615
Valuation allowance .................................... (19,139) (8,591)
--------- ---------
Total deferred tax assets - net ................ 143,662 135,923
--------- ---------
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment .......................... 547,646 522,944
Deferred gas costs ..................................... 35,756 13,237
Deferred state income taxes ............................ 68,952 70,000
Other .................................................. 24,033 27,504
--------- ---------
Total deferred tax liabilities ................. 676,387 633,685
--------- ---------
Accumulated deferred income taxes - net .... $ 532,725 $ 497,762
========= =========
</TABLE>
At December 31, 1999, Resources had approximately $492 million of state net
operating losses available to offset future state taxable income through the
year 2019. In addition, Resources has approximately $28 million of federal
alternative minimum tax credits which are available to reduce future federal
income taxes payable, if any, over an indefinite period (although not below the
tentative minimum tax otherwise due in any year), and approximately $1.2 million
of state alternative minimum tax credits which are available to reduce future
state income taxes payable, if any, through the year 2002. The valuation
allowance reflects a net increase of $10.5 million in 1999. This net increase
results from a reassessment of Resources' usage of state tax attributes,
including the future ability to use state net operating loss and alternative
minimum tax credit carryforwards, offset by changes in valuation allowances
provided for expiring state net operating loss carryforwards.
(8) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
(a) Lease Commitments.
The following table sets forth certain information concerning Resources'
obligations under non-cancelable long-term operating leases principally
consisting of rental agreements for building space and data processing equipment
and vehicles, including major work equipment (in millions):
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
2000......................................... $ 15
2001......................................... 14
2002......................................... 9
2003......................................... 8
2004......................................... 6
2005 and beyond.............................. 18
----------
Total........................................ $ 70
==========
</TABLE>
Resources has a master leasing agreement which provides for the lease of
vehicles, construction equipment, office furniture, data processing equipment
and other property. For accounting purposes, the lease is treated as an
132
<PAGE> 135
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
operating lease. At December 31, 1999, the unamortized value of equipment
covered by the master leasing agreement was $17 million. Resources does not
expect to lease additional property under this lease agreement.
Total rental expense for all leases was $33 million, $25 million and $24
million in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
(b) Indemnity Provisions.
At December 31, 1999 and 1998, Resources had a $0.5 million and $5.8
million, respectively, accounting reserve on its Consolidated Balance Sheets in
other deferred credits for possible indemnity claims asserted in connection with
its disposition of Resources' former subsidiaries or divisions, including the
sale of (i) Louisiana Intrastate Gas Corporation, a former Resources subsidiary
engaged in the intrastate pipeline and liquids extraction business; (ii) Arkla
Exploration Company, a former Resources subsidiary engaged in oil and gas
exploration and production activities; and (iii) Dyco Petroleum Company, a
former Resources subsidiary engaged in oil and gas exploration and production.
(c) Transportation Agreement.
Resources had an agreement (ANR Agreement) with ANR Pipeline Company (ANR)
which contemplated that Resources would transfer to ANR an interest in certain
of Resources' pipeline and related assets. The interest represented capacity of
250 Mmcf/day. Under the ANR Agreement, an ANR affiliate advanced $125 million to
Resources. Subsequently, the parties restructured the ANR Agreement and
Resources refunded in 1995 and 1993, respectively, $50 million and $34 million
to ANR or an affiliate. Resources recorded $41 million as a liability reflecting
ANR's or its affiliates' use of 130 Mmcf/day of capacity in certain of
Resources' transportation facilities. The level of transportation will decline
to 100 Mmcf/day in the year 2003 with a refund of $5 million to an ANR
affiliate. The ANR Agreement will terminate in 2005 with a refund of the
remaining balance.
(d) Environmental Matters.
To the extent that potential environmental remediation costs are quantified
within a range, Resources establishes reserves equal to the most likely level of
costs within the range and adjusts such accruals as better information becomes
available. In determining the amount of the liability, future costs are not
discounted to their present value and the liability is not offset by expected
insurance recoveries. If justified by circumstances within Resources' business
subject to SFAS No. 71, corresponding regulatory assets are recorded in
anticipation of recovery through the rate making process.
Manufactured Gas Plant Sites. Resources and its predecessors operated a
manufactured gas plant (MGP) adjacent to the Mississippi River in Minnesota
formerly known as Minneapolis Gas Works (FMGW) until 1960. Resources has
substantially completed remediation of the main site other than ongoing water
monitoring and treatment. The manufactured gas was stored in separate holders.
Resources is negotiating clean-up of one such holder. There are six other former
MGP sites in the Minnesota service territory. Remediation has been completed on
one site. Of the remaining five sites, Resources believes that two were neither
owned nor operated by Resources; two were owned by Resources at one time but
were operated by others and are currently owned by others; and one site was
previously owned and operated by Resources but is currently owned by others.
Resources believes it has no liability with respect to the sites it neither
owned nor operated.
At December 31, 1999 and 1998, Resources had accrued $18.8 million and
$15.2 million, respectively, for remediation of the Minnesota sites. At December
31, 1999, the estimated range of possible remediation costs was $10 million to
$49 million. The low end of the range was determined based on only those sites
presently owned or known to have been operated by Resources, assuming use of
Resources' proposed remediation methods. The upper end of the range was
determined based on the sites once owned by Resources, whether or not operated
by Resources.
133
<PAGE> 136
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The cost estimates of the FMGW site are based on studies of that site. The
remediation costs for the other sites are based on industry average costs for
remediation of sites of similar size. The actual remediation costs will be
dependent upon the number of sites remediated, the participation of other
potentially responsible parties, if any, and the remediation methods used.
Other Minnesota Matters. At December 31, 1999 and 1998, Resources had
recorded accruals of $1.2 million and $5.4 million, respectively (with a maximum
estimated exposure of approximately $13 million and $8 million at December 31,
1999 and 1998, respectively), for other environmental matters for which
remediation may be required.
In its 1995 rate case, Reliant Energy Minnegasco was allowed to recover
approximately $7 million annually for remediation costs. In 1998, Reliant Energy
Minnegasco received approval to reduce its annual recovery rate to zero.
Remediation costs are subject to a true-up mechanism whereby any over or under
recovered amounts, net of certain insurance recoveries, plus carrying charges,
are deferred for recovery or refund in the next rate case. At December 31, 1999
and 1998, Reliant Energy Minnegasco had over recovered $13 million, including
insurance recoveries. At December 31, 1999 and 1998, Reliant Energy Minnegasco
had recorded a liability of $20.0 million and $20.6 million, respectively, to
cover the cost of future remediation. Reliant Energy Minnegasco expects that
approximately 40% of its accrual as of December 31, 1999 will be expended within
the next five years. The remainder will be expended on an ongoing basis for an
estimated 40 years. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 71, a
regulatory asset has been recorded equal to the liability accrued. Resources
believes the difference between any cash expenditures for these costs and the
amount recovered in rates during any year will not be material to Resources'
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Issues relating to the identification and remediation of MGPs are common in
the natural gas distribution industry. Resources has received notices from the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and others regarding its
status as a potentially responsible party (PRP) for other sites. Based on
current information, Resources has not been able to quantify a range of
environmental expenditures for potential remediation expenditures with respect
to other MGP sites.
Mercury Contamination. Like other natural gas pipelines, Resources'
pipeline operations have in the past employed elemental mercury in meters used
on its pipelines. Although the mercury has now been removed from the meters, it
is possible that small amounts of mercury have been spilled at some of those
sites in the course of normal maintenance and replacement operations and that
such spills have contaminated the immediate area around the meters with
elemental mercury. Such contamination has been found by Resources at some sites
in the past, and Resources has conducted remediation at sites found to be
contaminated. Although Resources is not aware of additional specific sites, it
is possible that other contaminated sites exist and that remediation costs will
be incurred for such sites. Although the total amount of such costs cannot be
known at this time, based on experience by Resources and others in the natural
gas industry to date and on the current regulations regarding remediation of
such sites, Resources believes that the cost of any remediation of such sites
will not be material to Resources' financial position, results of operations or
cash flows.
Potentially Responsible Party Notifications. From time to time Resources
has received notices from regulatory authorities or others regarding its status
as a PRP in connection with sites found to require remediation due to the
presence of environmental contaminants. Considering the information currently
known about such sites and the involvement of Resources in activities at these
sites, Resources does not believe that these matters will have a material
adverse effect on Resources' financial position, results of operations or cash
flows.
134
<PAGE> 137
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Resources is a party to litigation (other than that specifically noted)
which arises in the normal course of business. Management regularly analyzes
current information and, as necessary, provides accruals for probable
liabilities on the eventual disposition of these matters. Management believes
that the effect on Resources' Consolidated Financial Statements, if any, from
the disposition of these matters will not be material.
(9) REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
Because Resources Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliant Energy,
Resources' determination of reportable segments considers the strategic
operating units under which Reliant Energy manages sales, allocates resources
and assesses performance of various products and services to wholesale or retail
customers in differing regulatory environments. Subsequent to the acquisition
date, segment financial data includes information for Reliant Energy and
Resources on a combined basis, except for Electric Operations which has no
Resources operations and Reliant Energy Latin America, which has minimal
Resources operations. Reconciling items included under the caption "Elimination
of Non-Resources Operations" reduce the consolidated Reliant Energy amounts by
those operations not conducted within the Resources legal entity. Operations not
owned or operated by Resources, but included in segment information before
elimination include primarily the operations and assets of Reliant Energy's
non-rate regulated power generation business, Reliant Energy's Dutch power
generation operation (N.V. UNA), Reliant Energy's investment in Time Warner
securities and non-Resources corporate expenses.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in
the summary of significant accounting policies except that certain executive
benefit costs have not been allocated to segments. Reliant Energy evaluates
performance based on operating income excluding certain corporate costs not
allocated to the segments. Reliant Energy and Resources Corp. account for
intersegment sales as if the sales were to third parties, that is, at current
market prices.
Reliant Energy has identified the following reportable segments: Electric
Operations, Natural Gas Distribution, Interstate Pipelines, Wholesale Energy,
Reliant Energy Europe, Reliant Energy Latin America and Corporate. Natural Gas
Distribution operations consist of natural gas sales to, and natural gas
transportation for, residential, commercial and certain industrial customers.
Interstate Pipelines conducts interstate natural gas pipeline operations.
Wholesale Energy is engaged in the acquisition, development and operation of
non-rate regulated power generation facilities, as well as the wholesale energy
marketing and natural gas gathering businesses in North America. Reliant Energy
Europe, which was formed in 1999, owns, operates and sells electric power from
generation facilities in the Netherlands and plans to participate in the
emerging wholesale energy marketing and trading industry in Europe. Corporate
includes the Reliant Energy's and Resources' unregulated retail electric and gas
services businesses, a communications business, certain real estate holdings of
Reliant Energy and corporate costs.
135
<PAGE> 138
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Financial data for business segments and products and services are as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RELIANT
NATURAL GAS INTERSTATE WHOLESALE ENERGY RECONCILING
DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES ENERGY EUROPE CORPORATE ELIMINATIONS
------------ ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Current Resources
As of and for the Year Ended
December 31, 1999:
Revenues from external
customers ....................... $ 1,895,358 $ 121,514 $ 7,688,960 $ 152,865 $ 881,270
Intersegment revenues ........... 1,202 153,580 260,317 73,648 $(488,747)
Depreciation and amortization ... 132,424 49,127 25,323 20,737 10,726
Operating income ................ 124,863 113,018 45,308 32,049 (32,709)
Total assets .................... 3,386,596 2,211,842 2,773,070 3,247,290 4,645,403 (1,139,450)
Equity investments in and
advances to unconsolidated
subsidiaries .................... -- -- 78,041
Expenditures for additions
to long-lived assets ............ 205,545 30,131 529,805 834,300 89,840
Current Resources
As of and for the Year Ended
December 31, 1998:
Revenues from external
customers ....................... 1,877,185 126,988 4,289,006 586,065
Intersegment revenues ........... 1,167 155,508 167,152 97,181 (421,008)
Depreciation and amortization ... 130,658 44,025 18,204 9,646
Operating income ................ 144,447 128,328 59,170 (50,243)
Total assets .................... 3,141,762 2,050,636 1,535,007 1,679,876 (915,895)
Equity investments in and
advances to unconsolidated
subsidiaries .................... 42,252
Expenditures for additions
to long-lived assets ............ 161,735 59,358 363,174 28,077
Current Resources
For the Five Months Ended
December 31, 1997:
Revenues from external
customers ....................... 920,125 49,655 1,288,357 276,817
Intersegment revenues ........... 505 58,678 76,301 34,853 (170,337)
Depreciation and amortization 52,374 19,088 2,633 5,769
Operating income ................ 56,842 31,978 912 (39,680)
Expenditures for additions
to long-lived assets ............ 61,078 16,304 14,038 1,426,323
Former Resources
For the Seven Months Ended
July 31, 1997:
Revenues from external
customers ....................... 1,340,966 86,465 1,589,032 297,128
Intersegment revenues ........... 672 100,246 88,188 35,285 (224,391)
Depreciation and amortization ... 57,120 17,230 1,629 8,922
Operating income ................ 113,607 76,730 (13,262) (22,035)
Expenditures for additions
to long-lived assets ............ 62,998 9,619 8,996 7,025
<CAPTION>
ELIMINATION
OF NON-
RESOURCES
OPERATIONS CONSOLIDATED
----------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Current Resources
As of and for the Year Ended
December 31, 1999:
Revenues from external
customers ....................... (196,422) $10,543,545
Intersegment revenues ...........
Depreciation and amortization ... (39,661) 198,676
Operating income ................ 15,154 297,683
Total assets .................... (7,911,954) 7,212,797
Equity investments in and
advances to unconsolidated
subsidiaries .................... (78,041)
Expenditures for additions
to long-lived assets ............ (1,400,861) 288,760
Current Resources
As of and for the Year Ended
December 31, 1998:
Revenues from external
customers ....................... (120,832) 6,758,412
Intersegment revenues ........... -- --
Depreciation and amortization ... (10,642) 191,891
Operating income ................ 28,603 310,305
Total assets .................... (883,851) 6,607,535
Equity investments in and
advances to unconsolidated
subsidiaries .................... (42,252)
Expenditures for additions
to long-lived assets ............ (358,372) 253,972
Current Resources
For the Five Months Ended
December 31, 1997:
Revenues from external
customers ....................... (8,772) 2,526,182
Intersegment revenues ...........
Depreciation and amortization ... (1,777) 78,087
Operating income ................ 40,704 90,756
Expenditures for additions
to long-lived assets ............ (1,424,329) 93,414
Former Resources
For the Seven Months Ended
July 31, 1997:
Revenues from external
customers ....................... 3,313,591
Intersegment revenues ...........
Depreciation and amortization ... 84,901
Operating income ................ 155,040
Expenditures for additions
to long-lived assets ............ 88,638
</TABLE>
136
<PAGE> 139
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CURRENT RESOURCES FORMER RESOURCES
------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED FIVE MONTHS ENDED SEVEN MONTHS
DECEMBER 31, 1999 DECEMBER 31, 1998 DECEMBER 31, 1997 ENDED JULY 31, 1997
----------------- ----------------- ----------------------- --------------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME TO
NET INCOME:
Operating income ....................... $ 297,683 $ 310,305 $ 90,756 $ 155,040
Interest expense ....................... (119,492) (111,337) (47,490) (78,660)
Distribution on trust preferred
securities .......................... (357) (632) (279) (6,317)
Income taxes ........................... (88,771) (111,830) (24,383) (31,398)
Other income (expense) ................. 11,138 7,318 2,243 7,210
Extraordinary gain ..................... 237
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net income ............................. $ 100,201 $ 93,824 $ 20,847 $ 46,112
============ ============ ============ ============
REVENUES BY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:
Retail gas sales ........................... $ 2,669,393 $ 2,372,086 1,156,618 1,597,285
Wholesale energy and energy related
sales ................................... 7,808,401 4,248,181 1,271,746 1,562,842
Gas transport .............................. 157,530 167,812 66,265 112,655
Energy products and services ............... 104,643 91,165 40,671 40,809
Elimination of non-Resources operations .... (196,422) (120,832) (9,118)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total ...................................... $ 10,543,545 $ 6,758,412 $ 2,526,182 $ 3,313,591
============ ============ ============ ============
REVENUES AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS BY
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS:
REVENUES:
US ......................................... $ 10,470,420 $ 6,879,244 $ 2,534,954 $ 3,313,591
Netherlands ................................ 152,865
Other ...................................... 116,682
Eliminations of non-Resources operations ... (196,422) (120,832) (8,772)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total ...................................... $ 10,543,545 $ 6,758,412 $ 2,526,182 $ 3,313,591
============ ============ ============ ============
LONG-LIVED ASSETS:
US ......................................... $ 6,050,501 $ 6,517,706
Netherlands ................................ 3,186,146
Other ...................................... 102 110
Eliminations of non-Resources operations ... (3,834,078) (1,409,200)
------------ ------------
Total ...................................... $ 5,402,671 $ 5,108,616
============ ============
</TABLE>
137
<PAGE> 140
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(10) ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998
------------------------------------------------------------------
CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR
AMOUNT VALUE AMOUNT VALUE
-------------- ------------- ------------- ---------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Financial assets of Resources:
Energy derivatives - non-trading........... $ 2,823
Financial liabilities of Resources:
Long-term debt............................. $1,444,082 $1,426,223 $1,716,727 $1,746,641
Trust preferred securities................. 967 1,030 1,157 1,467
Energy derivatives - non-trading........... 1,105 8,166
</TABLE>
The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, marketable equity securities
and notes payable are estimated to be equivalent to carrying amounts. The
remaining fair values have been determined using quoted market prices of the
same or similar securities when available or other estimation techniques.
The fair value of financial instruments included in the trading operations
are marked-to-market at December 31, 1999 and 1998 (see Note 2). Therefore, they
are stated at fair value and are excluded from the table above.
(11) UNAUDITED QUARTERLY INFORMATION
The following unaudited quarterly financial information includes, in the
opinion of management, all adjustments (which comprise only normal recurring
accruals) necessary for a fair presentation. Quarterly results are not
necessarily indicative of a full year's operations because of seasonality and
other factors, including rate increases and variations in operating expense
patterns.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
------------------------------ -------------- ---------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating revenues...................................$ 1,828,064 $ 2,430,890 $ 3,446,925 $ 2,837,666
Operating income..................................... 150,177 44,949 27,728 74,829
Net income (loss).................................... 70,973 5,956 (6,532) 29,804
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
-------------------------------------------------------------
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
QUARTER(1) QUARTER(1) QUARTER(1) QUARTER
------------------------------ -------------- ---------------
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating revenues...................................$ 1,754,541 $ 1,380,470 $ 1,927,156 $ 1,696,245
Operating income..................................... 143,494 15,734 23,653 127,424
Net income (loss).................................... 61,828 (4,873) (2,586) 39,455
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) First, second and third quarter of 1998 have been restated for the change
in accounting principal to mark-to-market accounting. For further
discussion , see Note 1(q).
138
<PAGE> 141
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(12) SUBSEQUENT EVENT (UNAUDITED).
In March 2000, Reliant Energy announced that it had retained an investment
banking firm to assist it in evaluating strategic alternatives, including
divestiture, for (i) two of its natural gas distribution divisions, Reliant
Energy Arkla and Reliant Energy Minnegasco, (ii) its Interstate Pipelines'
operations and (iii) its natural gas gathering and pipeline services operations.
139
<PAGE> 142
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
Reliant Energy Resources Corp.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Reliant
Energy Resources Corp. and its subsidiaries ("Resources") as of December 31,
1999 and 1998, and the related statements of consolidated income, consolidated
stockholder's equity and comprehensive income and consolidated cash flows for
the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, the five months ended December 31,
1997 and the seven months ended July 31, 1997. Our audits also included the
Resources' financial statement schedule listed in Item 14(a)(2) for the years
ended December 31, 1999 and 1998. These financial statements and the financial
statement schedule are the responsibility of Resources' management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and the
financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Reliant Energy Resources Corp.
and its subsidiaries at December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998,
the five months ended December 31, 1997 and the seven months ended July 31, 1997
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our
opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the
basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all
material respects the information set forth therein.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Houston, Texas
March 1, 2000
140
<PAGE> 143
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE RELIANT ENERGY AND RESOURCES
CORP.
(a) Reliant Energy.
The information called for by Item 10, to the extent not set forth under
Item 1 "Business --Executive Officers of Reliant Energy," is or will be set
forth in the definitive proxy statement relating to Reliant Energy's 2000 annual
meeting of shareholders pursuant to the Commission's Regulation 14A. Such
definitive proxy statement relates to a meeting of shareholders involving the
election of directors and the portions thereof called for by Item 10 are
incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Instruction G to Form 10-K.
(b) Resources Corp.
The information called for by Item 10 with respect to Resources Corp. is
omitted pursuant to Instruction I(2)(a) to Form 10-K (Omission of Information by
Certain Wholly Owned Subsidiaries).
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
(a) Reliant Energy.
The information called for by Item 11 is or will be set forth in the
definitive proxy statement relating to Reliant Energy's 2000 annual meeting of
shareholders pursuant to the Commission's Regulation 14A. Such definitive proxy
statement relates to a meeting of shareholders involving the election of
directors and the portions thereof called for by Item 11 are incorporated herein
by reference pursuant to Instruction G to Form 10-K.
(b) Resources Corp.
The information called for by Item 11 with respect to Resources Corp. is
omitted pursuant to Instruction I(2)(a) to Form 10-K (Omission of Information by
Certain Wholly Owned Subsidiaries).
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.
(a) Reliant Energy.
The information called for by Item 12 is or will be set forth in the
definitive proxy statement relating to Reliant Energy's 2000 annual meeting of
shareholders pursuant to the Commission's Regulation 14A. Such definitive proxy
statement relates to a meeting of shareholders involving the election of
directors and the portions thereof called for by Item 12 are incorporated herein
by reference pursuant to Instruction G to Form 10-K.
(b) Resources Corp.
The information called for by Item 12 with respect to Resources Corp. is
omitted pursuant to Instruction I(2)(a) to Form 10-K (Omission of Information by
Certain Wholly Owned Subsidiaries).
141
<PAGE> 144
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
(a) Reliant Energy.
The information called for by Item 13 is or will be set forth in the
definitive proxy statement relating to Reliant Energy's 2000 annual meeting of
shareholders pursuant to the Commission's Regulation 14A. Such definitive proxy
statement relates to a meeting of shareholders involving the election of
directors and the portions thereof called for by Item 13 are incorporated herein
by reference pursuant to Instruction G to Form 10-K.
(b) Resources Corp.
The information called for by Item 13 with respect to Resources Corp. is
omitted pursuant to Instruction I(2)(a) to Form 10-K (Omission of Information by
Certain Wholly Owned Subsidiaries).
142
<PAGE> 145
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(a)(1) Reliant Energy Financial Statements.
Statements of Consolidated Income for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1999...........................58
Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1999.............59
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1999 and 1998...............................................60
Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1999.......................61
Statements of Consolidated Stockholders' Equity for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1999.............62
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..............................................................63
Independent Auditors' Report - Company.................................................................105
Resources Corp. Financial Statements.
Statements of Consolidated Income for the Years Ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Five Months
Ended December 31, 1997 and the Seven Months Ended July 31, 1997.......................................111
Statements of Consolidated Stockholder's Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended
December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Five Months Ended December 31, 1997 and the Seven Months Ended
July 31, 1997..........................................................................................112
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1999 and 1998..............................................113
Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Five Months
Ended December 31, 1997 and the Seven Months Ended July 31, 1997.....................................114
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.............................................................115
Independent Auditors' Reports - Resources Corp.........................................................140
(a)(2) Reliant Energy Financial Statement Schedules for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1999.
The Company: II -- Reserves............................................................................145
Resources Corp. Financial Statement Schedules for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1999.
Resources: II -- Reserves.............................................................................146
The following schedules are omitted for each of the Company and Resources because of the absence of
the conditions under which they are required or because the required information is included in the
financial statements:
I, III, IV and V.
(a)(3) Exhibits...............................................................................................149
See Index of Exhibits for the Company (page 149) and Resources Corp. (page 156), which indexes also
include the management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as exhibits
to this Form 10-K by Item 601(b)(10)(iii) of Regulation S-K.
</TABLE>
143
<PAGE> 146
(b) Reports on Form 8-K.
The Company:
On October 18, 1999, a report on Form 8-K was filed reporting on the
Company's (1) completion of the first phase of its acquisition of the Dutch
Power Company N.V. UNA; (2) issuance of 2.0% Zero-Premium Exchangeable
Subordinated Notes due 2029 having an original principal amount of $1.0 billion;
(3) exercise of its option to convert its 11 million shares of Time Warner
convertible preferred stock into 45.8 million shares of Time Warner common
stock; and (4) preparation of an application to be filed with the Public Utility
Commission of Texas requesting a financing order authorizing the issuance by a
special purpose entity organized by the Company, pursuant to the Texas Electric
Choice Plan, of transition bonds relating to Reliant Energy HL&P's generation
related regulatory assets.
Resources:
There were no reports on Form 8-K filed in the fourth quarter of 1999.
144
<PAGE> 147
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE II -- RESERVES
FOR THE THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COLUMN C
--------------------------
COLUMN B ADDITIONS COLUMN D COLUMN E
------------- -------------------------- ------------- -------------
COLUMN A BALANCE AT CHARGED CHARGED DEDUCTIONS BALANCE AT
--------------------------------------------- BEGINNING TO TO OTHER FROM END
DESCRIPTION OF PERIOD INCOME ACCOUNTS RESERVES OF PERIOD
--------------------------------------------- ------------- ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended December 31, 1999:
Accumulated provisions deducted from
related assets on balance sheet:
Uncollectible accounts ................. $17,566 $16,296 $ 187 $12,575 $21,474
Deferred tax assets valuation .......... 8,591 10,548 -- -- 19,139
Reserves other than those deducted from
assets on balance sheet:
Property insurance ..................... (4,953) 2,187 -- 3,906 (6,672)
Injuries and damages ................... 2,497 878 -- 1,479 1,896
Non-regulated project contingencies .... 200 -- -- 200 --
Year Ended December 31, 1998:
Accumulated provisions deducted from
related assets on balance sheet:
Uncollectible accounts ................. 16,783 11,714 -- 10,931 17,566
Deferred tax assets valuation .......... 6,353 2,238 -- -- 8,591
Reserves other than those deducted from
assets on balance sheet:
Property insurance ..................... (3,567) 2,187 -- 3,573 (4,953)
Injuries and damages ................... 3,181 2,724 -- 3,408 2,497
Non-regulated project contingencies .... 1,780 693 -- 2,273 200
Year Ended December 31, 1997:
Accumulated provisions deducted from
related assets on balance sheet:
Uncollectible accounts ................. 5,625 16,843 5,685 16,783
Uncollectible advances ................. 33,159 -- -- 33,159 --
Deferred tax assets valuation .......... -- -- 9,300 2,947 6,353
Reserves other than those deducted from
assets on balance sheet:
Property insurance ..................... 70 2,187 -- 5,824 (3,567)
Injuries and damages ................... 1,128 5,215 -- 3,162 3,181
Non-regulated project contingencies .... 2,296 -- -- 516 1,780
</TABLE>
- --------------
Notes:
(a) Deductions from reserves represent losses or expenses for which the
respective reserves were created. In the case of the uncollectible accounts
reserve, such deductions are net of recoveries of amounts previously
written off.
(b) Charged to other account represents the provision for uncollectible
accounts and deferred tax assets acquired in business combinations.
145
<PAGE> 148
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
SCHEDULE II -- RESERVES
FOR THE THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COLUMN C
-------------------------
COLUMN B ADDITIONS COLUMN D COLUMN E
------------- ------------------------- ------------- -------------
COLUMN A BALANCE AT CHARGED CHARGED DEDUCTIONS BALANCE AT
----------------------------------------------- BEGINNING TO TO OTHER FROM END
DESCRIPTION OF PERIOD INCOME ACCOUNTS RESERVES OF PERIOD
------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- ----------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Accumulated provisions deducted from related
assets on balance sheet:
Uncollectible accounts
Year ended December 31, 1999.............. $ 17,566 $ 16,296 $ 12,575 $ 21,287
Year ended December 31, 1998.............. 16,783 11,714 10,931 17,566
Year ended December 31, 1997.............. 13,023 14,684 $ 2,383 13,307 16,783
Deferred tax assets valuation
Year ended December 31, 1999.............. 8,591 10,548 19,139
Year ended December 31, 1998.............. 6,353 2,238 8,591
Year ended December 31, 1997.............. 6,761 2,539 2,947 6,353
</TABLE>
- --------------
Notes:
(a) Deductions from reserves represent losses or expenses for which the
respective reserves were created. In the case of the uncollectible accounts
reserve, such deductions are net of recoveries of amounts previously
written off.
146
<PAGE> 149
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Houston, the State of Texas, on the fifteenth day of March, 2000.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
(Registrant)
By: /s/ R. Steve Letbetter
-------------------------
R. Steve Letbetter,
Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 15, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE
--------- -----
<S> <C>
/s/ R. Steve Letbetter
- --------------------------------------------- Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(R. Steve Letbetter) (Principal Executive Officer and Director)
/s/ Stephen W. Naeve
- --------------------------------------------- Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer
(Stephen W. Naeve) (Principal Financial Officer)
/s/Mary P. Ricciardello
- --------------------------------------------- Senior Vice President and Comptroller
(Mary P. Ricciardello) (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ James A. Baker, III Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(James A. Baker, III)
/s/ Richard E. Balzhiser Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Richard E. Balzhiser)
/s/ Milton Carroll Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Milton Carroll)
/s/ John T. Cater Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(John T. Cater)
/s/ O. Holcombe Crosswell Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(O. Holcombe Crosswell)
/s/ Robert J. Cruikshank Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Robert J. Cruikshank)
/s/ Linnet F. Deily Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Linnet F. Deily)
/s/ Lee W. Hogan Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Lee W. Hogan)
/s/ T. Milton Honea Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(T. Milton Honea)
/s/ Alexander F. Schilt Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Alexander F. Schilt)
</TABLE>
147
<PAGE> 150
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Houston, the State of Texas, on the fifteenth day of March, 2000.
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ R. Steve Letbetter
-------------------------
R. Steve Letbetter,
Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 15, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE
--------- -----
<S> <C>
/s/ R. Steve Letbetter
- --------------------------------------------- Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(R. Steve Letbetter) (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
/s/Mary P. Ricciardello
- --------------------------------------------- Vice President and Comptroller
(Mary P. Ricciardello) (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Stephen W. Naeve Sole Director
- ---------------------------------------------
(Stephen W. Naeve)
</TABLE>
148
<PAGE> 151
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP.
EXHIBITS TO THE COMBINED ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Exhibits not incorporated by reference to a prior filing are designated by
a cross (+); all exhibits not so designated are incorporated herein by reference
to a prior filing as indicated. Exhibits designated by an asterisk (*) are
management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed
as exhibits to this Form 10-K by Item 601(b)(10)(iii) of Regulation S-K.
(A) RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
2(a)(1) Agreement and Plan of Merger among former HI's Form 8-K dated 1-7629 2
Houston Industries Incorporated ("HI") August 11, 1996
Houston Lighting & Power ("HL&P" or "Reliant
Energy"), HI Merger, Inc. and NorAm dated
August 11, 1996
2(a)(2) Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger Registration Statement on 333-11329 2(c)
among HI, HL&P, HI Merger, Inc. and NorAm Form S-4
dated August 11, 1996
2(b)(1) Share Subscription Agreement dated March Form 10-Q for the quarter 1-3187 10.2
29, 1999 among Reliant Energy Wholesale ended March 31, 1999
Holdings (Europe) Inc., Provincie Noord
Holland, Gemeente Amsterdam, N.V.
Provinciaal En Gemeenelijk Utrechts
Stroomleveringsdedrijf, Reliant Power
Generation, Inc. and UNA
2(b)(2) Share Purchase Agreement dated March 29, Form 10-Q for the quarter 1-3187 10.3
1999 among Reliant Energy Wholesale ended March 31, 1999
Holdings (Europe) Inc., Provincie Noord
Holland, Gemeente Amsterdam, N.V.
Provinciaal En Gemeenelijk Utrechts
Stroomleveringsdedrijf, Reliant Power
Generation, Inc. and UNA
+2(b)(3) Deed of Amendment dated September 2, 1999
among Reliant Energy Wholesale Holdings
(Europe) Inc., Provincie Noord Holland,
Gemeente Amsterdam, N.V. Provinciaal En
Gemeenelijk Utrechts Stroomleveringsdedrijf,
Reliant Power Generation, Inc. and UNA
+2(c) Purchase Agreement dated as of February 19,
2000 among Reliant Energy Power Generation,
Inc., Reliant Energy, Sithe Energies, Inc. and
Sithe Northeast Generating Company, Inc.
3(a) Restated Articles of Incorporation of Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 3(a)
Reliant Energy, restated as of September 1997 December 31, 1997
3(b) Amendment to Restated Articles of Form 10-Q for the quarter 1-3187 3(b)
Incorporation of Reliant Energy, as of May 5, ended March 31, 1999
1999
+3(c) Amended and Restated Bylaws of Reliant Energy,
as of November 1999
3(d) Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of Form 10-Q for the quarter 1-3187 3(c)
Shares designated Series C Preference Stock ended March 31, 1998
+3(e) Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of
Shares designated Series D Preference Stock
+3(f) Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of
Shares designated Series E Preference Stock
+3(g) Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of
Shares designated Series F Preference Stock
+3(h) Articles/Certificate of Correction relating to
the Statement of Resolution Establishing Series
of Shares designated Series F Preference Stock
+3(i) Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of
Shares designated Series G Preference Stock
</TABLE>
149
<PAGE> 152
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
4(a)(1) Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated November 1, 1944 Form S-7 of HL&P filed on 2-59748 2(b)
between HL&P and Chase Bank of Texas, National August 25, 1977
Association (formerly, South Texas Commercial
National Bank of Houston), as Trustee as amended
and supplemented by 20 Supplemental Indentures
thereto
4(a)(2) Twenty-First through Fiftieth Supplemental HL&P's Form 10-K for the 1-3187 4(a)(2)
Indentures to Exhibit 4(a)(1) year ended December 31, 1989
4(a)(3) Fifty-First Supplemental Indenture to Exhibit HL&P's Form 10-Q for the 1-3187 4(a)
4(a)(1) dated as of March 25, 1991 quarter ended June 30, 1991
4(a)(4) Fifty-Second through Fifty-Fifth Supplemental HL&P's Form 10-Q for the 1-3187 4
Indentures to Exhibit 4(a)(1) each dated as quarter ended March 31, 1992
of March 1, 1992
4(a)(5) Fifty-Sixth and Fifty-Seventh Supplemental HL&P's Form 10-Q for the 1-3187 4
Indentures to Exhibit 4(a)(1) each dated as quarter ended September 30,
of October 1, 1992 1992
4(a)(6) Fifty-Eighth and Fifty-Ninth Supplemental HL&P's Form 10-Q for the 1-3187 4
Indentures to Exhibit 4(a)(1) each dated as quarter ended March 31, 1993
of March 1, 1993
4(a)(7) Sixtieth Supplemental Indenture to Exhibit HL&P's Form 10-Q for the 1-3187 4
4(a)(1) dated as of July 1, 1993 quarter ended June 30, 1993
4(a)(8) Sixty-First through Sixty-Third Supplemental HL&P's Form 10-K for the 1-3187 4(a)(8)
Indentures to Exhibit 4(a)(1) each dated as year ended December 31, 1993
of December 1, 1993
4(a)(9) Sixty-Fourth and Sixty-Fifth Supplemental HL&P's Form 10-K for the 1-3187 4(a)(9)
Indentures to Exhibit 4(a)(1) each dated as year ended December 31, 1995
of July 1, 1995
4(b)(1) Rights Agreement, dated July 11, 1990, HI's Form 8-K dated July 11, 1-7629 4(a)(1)
between the Company and Texas Commerce Bank, 1990
National Association, as Rights Agent (Rights
Agent), which includes form of Statement of
Resolution Establishing Series of Shares
designated Series A Preference Stock and form
of Rights Certificate
4(b)(2) Agreement and Appointment of Agent, dated as HI's Form 8-K dated July 11, 1-7629 4(a)(2)
of July 11, 1990, between the Company and 1990
the Rights Agent
</TABLE>
150
<PAGE> 153
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
4(b)(3) Form of Amended and Restated Rights Agreement Registration Statement on 333-11329 4(b)(1)
executed on August 6, 1997, including form of Form S-4
Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of
Shares Designated Series A Preference Stock and
form of Rights Agreement
4(c) Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1991, between HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 4(b)
the Company and NationsBank of Texas, quarter ended June 30, 1991
National Association, as Trustee
</TABLE>
Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K, the Company has
not filed as exhibits to this Form 10-K certain long-term debt instruments,
including indentures, under which the total amount of securities authorized do
not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis. The Company hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any such
instrument to the SEC upon request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
*10(a) Executive Benefit Plan of the Company and HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(a)(1),
First and Second Amendments thereto quarter ended March 31, 1987 10(a)(2),
effective as of June 1, 1982, July 1, and
1984, and May 7, 1986, respectively 10(a)(3)
*10(b)(1) Executive Incentive Compensation Plan of HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(b)
the Company effective as of January 1, ended December 31, 1991
1982
*10(b)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(b)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(a)
effective as of March 30, 1992 quarter ended March 31, 1992
*10(b)(3) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(b)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(b)
effective as of November 4, 1992 ended December 31, 1992
*10(b)(4) Third Amendment to Exhibit 10(b)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(b)(4)
effective as of September 7, 1994 ended December 31, 1994
*10(b)(5) Fourth Amendment to Exhibit 10(b)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(b)(5)
effective as of August 6, 1997 ended December 31, 1997
*10(c)(1) Executive Incentive Compensation Plan of HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(b)(1)
the Company effective as of January 1, quarter ended March 31, 1987
1985
*10(c)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(c)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(b)(3)
effective as of January 1, 1985 ended December 31, 1988
*10(c)(3) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(c)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(c)(3)
effective as of January 1, 1985 ended December 31, 1991
</TABLE>
151
<PAGE> 154
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
*10(c)(4) Third Amendment to Exhibit 10(c)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(b)
effective as of March 30, 1992 quarter ended March 31, 1992
*10(c)(5) Fourth Amendment to Exhibit 10(c)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(c)(5)
effective as of November 4, 1992 ended December 31, 1992
*10(c)(6) Fifth Amendment to Exhibit 10(c)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(c)(6)
effective as of September 7, 1994 ended December 31, 1994
*10(c)(7) Sixth Amendment to Exhibit 10(c)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(c)(7)
effective as of August 6, 1997 ended December 31, 1997
*10(d) Executive Incentive Compensation Plan of HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(b)(2)
Houston Lighting & Power Company quarter ended March 31, 1987
effective as of January 1, 1985
*10(e)(1) Executive Incentive Compensation Plan of HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(b)
the Company effective as of January 1, quarter ended June 30, 1989
1989
*10(e)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(e)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(e)(2)
effective as of January 1, 1989 ended December 31, 1991
*10(e)(3) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(e)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(c)
effective as of March 30, 1992 quarter ended March 31, 1992
*10(e)(4) Third Amendment to Exhibit 10(e)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(c)(4)
effective as of November 4, 1992 ended December 31, 1992
*10(e)(5) Fourth Amendment to Exhibit 10(e)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(e)(5)
effective as of September 7, 1994 ended December 31, 1994
*10(f)(1) Executive Incentive Compensation Plan of HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(b)
the Company effective as of January 1, ended December 31, 1990
1991
*10(f)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(f)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(f)(2)
effective as of January 1, 1991 ended December 31, 1991
*10(f)(3) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(f)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(d)
effective as of March 30, 1992 quarter ended March 31, 1992
*10(f)(4) Third Amendment to Exhibit 10(f)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(f)(4)
effective as of November 4, 1992 ended December 31, 1992
*10(f)(5) Fourth Amendment to Exhibit 10(f)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(f)(5)
effective as of January 1, 1993 ended December 31, 1992
*10(f)(6) Fifth Amendment to Exhibit 10(f)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(f)(6)
effective in part, January 1, 1995, and ended December 31, 1994
in part, September 7, 1994
*10(f)(7) Sixth Amendment to Exhibit 10(f)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(a)
effective as of August 1, 1995 quarter ended June 30, 1995
*10(f)(8) Seventh Amendment to Exhibit 10(f)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(a)
effective as of January 1, 1996 quarter ended June 30, 1996
*10(f)(9) Eighth Amendment to Exhibit 10(f)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(a)
effective as of January 1, 1997 quarter ended June 30, 1997
*10(f)(10) Ninth Amendment to Exhibit 10(f)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(f)(10)
effective in part, January 1, 1997, and ended December 31, 1997
in part, January 1, 1998
*10(g) Benefit Restoration Plan of the Company, HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(c)
effective as of June 1, 1985 quarter ended March 31, 1987
*10(h) Benefit Restoration Plan of the Company HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(g)(2)
as amended and restated effective as of ended December 31, 1991
January 1, 1988
*10(i)(1) Benefit Restoration Plan of the Company, HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(g)(3)
as amended and restated effective as of ended December 31, 1991
July 1, 1991
</TABLE>
152
<PAGE> 155
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
*10(i)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(i)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(i)(2)
effective in part, August 6, 1997, in ended December 31, 1997
part, September 3, 1997, and in part,
October 1, 1997
*10(j)(1) Deferred Compensation Plan of the Company HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(d)
effective as of September 1, 1985 quarter ended March 31, 1987
*10(j)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(j)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(d)(2)
effective as of September 1, 1985 ended December 31, 1990
*10(j)(3) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(j)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(e)
effective as of March 30, 1992 quarter ended March 31, 1992
*10(j)(4) Third Amendment to Exhibit 10(j)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(h)(4)
effective as of June 2, 1993 ended December 31, 1993
*10(j)(5) Fourth Amendment to Exhibit 10(j)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(h)(5)
effective as of September 7, 1994 ended December 31, 1994
*10(j)(6) Fifth Amendment to Exhibit 10(j)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(d)
effective as of August 1, 1995 quarter ended June 30, 1995
*10(j)(7) Sixth Amendment to Exhibit 10(j)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(b)
effective as of December 1, 1995 quarter ended June 30, 1995
*10(j)(8) Seventh Amendment to Exhibit 10(j)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(b)
effective as of January 1, 1997 quarter ended June 30, 1997
*10(j)(9) Eighth Amendment to Exhibit 10(j)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(j)(9)
effective as of September 1, 1997 ended December 31, 1997
*10(j)(10) Ninth Amendment to Exhibit 10(j)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(j)(10)
effective as of September 3, 1997 ended December 31, 1997
*10(k)(1) Deferred Compensation Plan of the Company HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(a)
effective as of January 1, 1989 quarter ended June 30, 1989
*10(k)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(k)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(e)(3)
effective as of January 1, 1989 ended December 31, 1989
*10(k)(3) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(k)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(f)
effective as of March 30, 1992 quarter ended March 31, 1992
*10(k)(4) Third Amendment to Exhibit 10(k)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(i)(4)
effective as of June 2, 1993 ended December 31, 1993
*10(k)(5) Fourth Amendment to Exhibit 10(k)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(i)(5)
effective as of September 7, 1994 ended December 31, 1994
*10(k)(6) Fifth Amendment to Exhibit 10(k)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(c)
effective as of August 1, 1995 quarter ended June 30, 1995
*10(k)(7) Sixth Amendment to Exhibit 10(k)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(c)
effective December 1, 1995 quarter ended June 30, 1995
*10(k)(8) Seventh Amendment to Exhibit 10(k)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(c)
effective as of January 1, 1997 quarter ended June 30, 1997
*10(k)(9) Eighth Amendment to Exhibit 10(k)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(k)(9)
effective in part October 1, 1997 and in ended December 31, 1997
part January 1, 1998
*10(k)(10) Ninth Amendment to Exhibit 10(k)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(k)(10)
effective as of September 3, 1997 ended December 31, 1997
*10(l)(1) Deferred Compensation Plan of the Company HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(d)(3)
effective as of January 1, 1991 ended December 31, 1990
*10(l)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(l)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(j)(2)
effective as of January 1, 1991 ended December 31, 1991
*10(l)(3) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(l)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(g)
effective as of March 30, 1992 quarter ended March 31, 1992
</TABLE>
153
<PAGE> 156
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
*10(l)(4) Third Amendment to Exhibit 10(l)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(j)(4)
effective as of June 2, 1993 ended December 31, 1993
*10(l)(5) Fourth Amendment to Exhibit 10(l)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(j)(5)
effective as of December 1, 1993 ended December 31, 1993
*10(l)(6) Fifth Amendment to Exhibit 10(l)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(j)(6)
effective as of September 7, 1994 ended December 31, 1994
*10(l)(7) Sixth Amendment to Exhibit 10(l)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(b)
effective as of August 1, 1995 quarter ended June 30, 1995
*10(l)(8) Seventh Amendment to Exhibit 10(l)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(d)
effective as of December 1, 1995 quarter ended June 30, 1996
*10(l)(9) Eighth Amendment to Exhibit 10(l)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(d)
effective as of January 1, 1997 quarter ended June 30, 1997
*10(l)(10) Ninth Amendment to Exhibit 10(l)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(l)(10)
effective in part August 6, 1997, in part ended December 31, 1997
October 1, 1997, and in part January 1,
1998
*10(l)(11) Tenth Amendment to Exhibit 10(l)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(i)(11)
effective as of September 3, 1997 ended December 31, 1997
*10(m)(1) Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan of HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(c)
the Company effective as of January 1, quarter ended June 30, 1989
1989
*10(m)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(m)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(f)(2)
effective as of January 1, 1990 ended December 31, 1989
*10(m)(3) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(m)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(k)(3)
effective as of December 22, 1992 ended December 31, 1992
*10(m)(4) Third Amendment to Exhibit 10(m)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(m)(4)
effective as of August 6, 1997 ended December 31, 1997
*10(n) Form of stock option agreement for HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(h)
nonqualified stock options granted under quarter ended March 31, 1992
the Company's 1989 Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Plan
*10(o) Forms of restricted stock agreement for HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(i)
restricted stock granted under the quarter ended March 31, 1992
Company's 1989 Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Plan
*10(p)(1) 1994 Long-Term Incentive Compensation HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(n)(1)
Plan of the Company effective as of ended December 31, 1993
January 1, 1994
*10(p)(2) Form of stock option agreement for HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(n)(2)
non-qualified stock options granted under ended December 31, 1993
the Company's 1994 Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Plan
*10(p)(3) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(p)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(e)
effective as of May 9, 1997 quarter ended June 30, 1997
*10(p)(4) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(p)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(p)(4)
effective as of August 6, 1997 ended December 31, 1997
*10(p)(5) Third Amendment to Exhibit 10(p)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(p)(5)
effective as of January 1, 1998 ended December 31, 1998
*10(q)(1) Savings Restoration Plan of the Company HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(f)
effective as of January 1, 1991 ended December 31, 1990
*10(q)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(q)(1) HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(l)(2)
effective as of January 1, 1992 ended December 31, 1991
*10(q)(3) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(q)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(q)(3)
effective in part, August 6, 1997, and in ended December 31, 1997
part, October 1, 1997
</TABLE>
154
<PAGE> 157
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
*10(r)(1) Director Benefits Plan, effective as of HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(m)
January 1, 1992 ended December 31, 1991
*10(r)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(r)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(m)(1)
effective as of August 6, 1997 ended December 31, 1998
*10(s)(1) Executive Life Insurance Plan of the HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(q)
Company effective as of January 1, 1994 ended December 31, 1993
*10(s)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(s)(1) HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10
effective as of January 1, 1994 quarter ended June 30, 1995
*10(s)(3) Second Amendment to Exhibit 10(s)(1) Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(s)(3)
effective as of August 6, 1997 ended December 31, 1997
*10(t) Employment and Supplemental Benefits HI's Form 10-Q for the 1-7629 10(f)
Agreement between HL&P and Hugh Rice Kelly quarter ended March 31, 1987
*10(u)(1) Houston Industries Incorporated Savings Company's Form 10-K for the 1-7629 10(s)(4)
Trust between the Company and The year ended December 31, 1995
Northern Trust Company, as Trustee (as
amended and restated effective April 1, 1999)
10(u)(2) Note Purchase Agreement between the HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(j)(3)
Company and the ESOP Trustee, dated as of ended December 31, 1990
October 5, 1990
+10(u)(3) Reliant Energy, Incorporated Master
Retirement Trust (as amended and restated
effective January 1, 1999 and renamed
effective May 5, 1999)
10(v)(1) Stockholder's Agreement dated as of July Schedule 13-D dated July 6, 5-19351 2
6, 1995 between the Company and Time 1995
Warner Inc.
10(v)(2) Registration Rights Agreement dated as of Schedule 13-D dated July 6, 5-19351 3
July 6, 1995 between the Company and Time 1995
Warner Inc.
10(v)(3) Amendment to Exhibits 10(v)(1) and HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(x)(4)
10(v)(2) dated November 18, 1996 ended December 31, 1996
10(v)(4) Certificate of Voting Powers, Schedule 13-D dated July 6, 5-19351 4
Designations, Preferences and Relative 1995
Participating, Optional or Other Special
Rights, and Qualifications, Limitations
or Restrictions Thereof of Series D
Convertible Preferred Stock of Time
Warner Inc.
*10(w)(1) Houston Industries Incorporated Executive Form 10-K for the
Deferred Compensation Trust, effective year ended December 31, 1995 1-7629 10(7)
as of December 19, 1995
*10(w)(2) First Amendment to Exhibit 10(w)(1) Form 10-Q for the quarter 1-3187 10
effective as of August 6, 1997 ended June 30, 1998
*10(x) Supplemental Pension Agreement, dated Registration Statement on 333-11329 10(aa)
July 17, 1996, between the Company and Form S-4
Lee W. Hogan
*10(y) Consulting Agreement, dated January 14, HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(bb)
1997, between the Company and Milton ended December 31, 1996
Carroll
*10(z)(1) Employment Agreement, dated February 25, HI's Form 10-K for the year 1-7629 10(cc)
1997, between the Company and Don D. ended December 31, 1996
Jordan
*10(z)(2) Amended and Restated Employment Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(z)(2)
Agreement, dated November 7, 1997, ended December 31, 1997
between the Company and Don D. Jordan
*10(aa)(1) Executive Severance Benefits Plan of the Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(aa)(1)
Company and Summary Plan Description ended December 31, 1997
effective as of September 3, 1997
*10(aa)(2) Form of Severance Agreements between the Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(aa)(2)
Company and each of the following ended December 31, 1997
executive officers: Lee W. Hogan, Hugh
Rice Kelly, R. Steve Letbetter, and
Stephen W. Naeve
</TABLE>
155
<PAGE> 158
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
*10(aa)(3) Form of Severance Agreements, between the Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(aa)(3)
Company and each of the following ended December 31, 1998
executive officers: David M. McClanahan,
Charles M. Oglesby, Joe Bob Perkins, and
Mary P. Ricciardello
+*10(aa)(4) Separation Agreement between Reliant Energy
and Don D. Jordan, effective December 1, 1999
*10(bb)(1) Employment Agreement, dated as of Form 10-K for the year 1-3187 10(bb)(1)
February 16, 1998, between Reliant Energy ended December 31, 1998
and Charles M. Oglesby, and Waiver and
Release pertaining thereto
*10(bb)(2) Employment Agreement, effective as of June Form 8-K for the quarter 1-3187 10(bb)(2)
1, 1999, between Reliant Energy and Don D. ended March 31, 1999
Jordan
+*10(bb)(3) Employment Agreement effective January 1, 1999
between Reliant Energy and Wayne D. Stinnett
+*10(bb)(4) Employment Agreement effective January 1, 1999
between Reliant Energy and Rollie G. Bohall
+*10(cc)(1) Reliant Energy Incorporated Savings Plan
(as amended and restated effective April 1,
1999)
+*10(cc)(2) Sixth Amendment to Exhibit 10(cc)(1)
effective as of April 1, 1999
+*10(cc)(3) Seventh Amendment to Exhibit 10(cc)(1)
dated April 29, 1999
+*10(dd) Reliant Energy, Incorporated Business Unit
Performance Share Plan effective as of
January 6, 1999
+12 Computation of Ratios of Earnings to
Fixed Charges
+21 Subsidiaries of Reliant Energy
+23 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
+27 Financial Data Schedule
99(a) Letter, dated February 2, 1999, from Form 10-K for the year 1-3187
Secretary of State of the State of Texas ended December 31, 1998
regarding Assumed Name filed by Houston
Industries Incorporated to conduct
business under the name Reliant Energy,
Incorporated
</TABLE>
(B) RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
2(a)(1) Agreement and Plan of Merger among the HI's Form 8-K dated August 1-7629 2
Company, HL&P, HI Merger, Inc. and NorAm 11, 1996
dated August 11, 1996
2(a)(2) Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Registration Statement on 333-11329 2(c)
Merger among the Company, HL&P, HI Form S-4
Merger, Inc. and NorAm dated August 11,
1996
3(a)(1) Certificate of Incorporation of Resources Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 3(a)(1)
December 31, 1997
3(a)(2) Certificate of Merger merging former Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 3(a)(2)
NorAm Energy Corp. with and into HI December 31, 1997
Merger, Inc. dated August 6, 1997
3(a)(3) Certificate of Amendment changing the Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 3(a)(3)
name to Reliant Energy Resources Corp. December 31, 1998
3(b) Bylaws of Resources Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 3(b)
December 31, 1997
4(a)(1) Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1986, NorAm's Form 10-K for the 1-13265 4.14
between NorAm and Citibank, N.A., as year ended December 31, 1986
Trustee
</TABLE>
156
<PAGE> 159
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
4(a)(2) First Supplemental Indenture to Exhibit Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 4(a)(2)
4(a)(1) dated as of September 30, 1988 December 31, 1997
4(a)(3) Second Supplemental Indenture to Exhibit Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 4(a)(3)
4(a)(1) dated as of November 15, 1989 December 31, 1997
4(a)(4) Third Supplemental Indenture to Exhibit Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 4(a)(4)
4(a)(1) dated as of August 6, 1997 December 31, 1997
4(b)(1) Indenture, dated as of March 31, 1987, NorAm's Registration 33-14586 4.20
between NorAm and Chase Manhattan Bank, Statement on Form S-3
N.A., as Trustee, authorizing 6%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures due
2012
4(b)(2) Supplemental Indenture to Exhibit Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 4(b)(2)
4(b)(1) dated as of August 6, 1997 December 31, 1997
4(c)(1) Indenture, dated as of April 15, 1990, NorAm's Registration 33-23375 4.1
between NorAm and Citibank, N.A., as Statement on Form S-3
Trustee
4(c)(2) Supplemental Indenture to Exhibit Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 4(c)(2)
4(c)(1) dated as of August 6, 1997 December 31, 1997
4(d)(1) Form of Indenture between NorAm and The NorAm's Registration 33-64001 4.8
Bank of New York as Trustee Statement on Form S-3
4(d)(2) Form of First Supplemental Indenture to NorAm's Form 8-K dated June 1-13265 4.01
Exhibit 4(d)(1) 10, 1996
4(d)(3) Second Supplemental Indenture to Exhibit Form 10-K for the year ended 1-3187 4(d)(3)
4(d)(1) dated as of August 6, 1997 December 31, 1997
4(e) Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1997, Registration Statement on 333-41017 4.1
between Resources and Chase Bank of Form S-3
Texas, National Association
4(f)(1) Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1998, Form 8-K dated February 5, 1-13265 4.1
between the Company and Chase Bank of 1998
Texas, National Association, as Trustee
4(f)(2) Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as Form 8-K dated February 5, 1-13265 4.2
of February 1, 1998, providing for the 1998
issuance of the Company's 6 1/2%
Debentures due February 1, 2008
</TABLE>
There have not been filed as exhibits to this Form 10-K certain long-term
debt instruments, including indentures, under which the total amount of
securities do not exceed 10% of the total assets of Resources. Resources hereby
agrees to furnish a copy of any such instrument to the SEC upon request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REPORT OR SEC FILE OR
EXHIBIT REGISTRATION REGISTRATION EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION STATEMENT NUMBER REFERENCE
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
10(a) Service Agreement by and between NorAm's Form 10-K for the 1-13265 10.20
Mississippi River Transmission year ended December 31, 1989
Corporation and Laclede Gas Company
dated August 22, 1989
+12 Computation of Ratios of Earnings to
Fixed Charges
+27 Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
157
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT (2)(b)(3)
DEED OF AMENDMENT
This deed of amendment, hereinafter referred to as the "Deed of Amendment", is
entered into on this second day of September 1999
by and among
1. RELIANT ENERGY WHOLESALE HOLDINGS (EUROPE) INC.,
a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA,
having its principal offices at 1111 Louisiana, Houston, Texas,
United States of America, herein represented by Charles M. Oglesby,
hereinafter referred to, together with any successors and permitted
assignees, as the "New Partner";
and
2. PROVINCIE NOORD HOLLAND
having its seat at Haarlem, the Netherlands,
herein represented by [N. Klijn],
hereinafter referred to as the "Province of North Holland";
and
3. GEMEENTE AMSTERDAM
having its seat at Amsterdam, the Netherlands,
herein represented by [G. ter Horst],
hereinafter referred to as the "City of Amsterdam";
and
4. PROVINCIE UTRECHT,
having its seat at Utrecht, the Netherlands,
herein represented by [D.H. Kok],
hereinafter referred to as the "Province of Utrecht";
and
5. GEMEENTE UTRECHT,
having its seat at Utrecht, the Netherlands,
herein represented by [H.H.W. Kernkamp],
hereinafter referred to as the "Municipality of Utrecht";
and
1
<PAGE> 2
6. N.V. PROVINCIAAL EN GEMEENTELIJK UTRECHTS
STROOMLEVERINGSBEDRIJF
having its registered office at Utrecht, the Netherlands,
herein represented by [M. ten Klooster],
hereinafter referred to as "Pegus";
and
7. RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED,
a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas, United
States of America, with its principal offices located at 1111
Louisiana, Houston, Texas USA, herein represented by [Charles M.
Oglesby], hereinafter referred to as "Ultimate Parent 1";
and
8. RELIANT ENERGY POWER GENERATION, INC.,
a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware,
United States of America, with its principal offices at
1111 Louisiana, Houston, Texas, United States of America, herein
represented by Charles M. Oglesby, hereinafter referred to as the
"Ultimate Parent 2"
and
9. N.V. ENERGIEPRODUKTIEBEDRIJF UNA
having its registered office at Utrecht, the Netherlands,
herein represented by [P. Koppen de Neve],
hereinafter referred to as the "Company";
2
<PAGE> 3
(The New Partner, Province of North Holland, City of Amsterdam, Pegus, Province
of Utrecht, City of Utrecht, Ultimate Parent 1, Ultimate Parent 2 and the
Company hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties" and each
individually as a "Party").
WHEREAS:
A. The Parties have entered into the Partnership Agreement (the
"Partnership Agreement"), the Share Purchase Agreement ("Share Purchase
Agreement"), and the Share Subscription Agreement ("Share Subscription
Agreement"), each dated as of March 29, 1999 (the Partnership
Agreement, Share Purchase Agreement, Share Subscription Agreement and
any agreement pursuant thereto, including all schedules and annexes, as
amended, collectively being referred to herein as the "Partnership
Documentation");
B. Pursuant to the Partnership Documentation, the Existing Partners and
the Company have requested that the Minister of Economic Affairs
("MEA") approve the transactions contemplated by the Partnership
Documentation on or prior to September 3, 1999; and
C. In order to obtain the approval of the MEA, the Parties have agreed to
amend certain provisions in the Partnership Documentation on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Deed of Amendment, while preserving
the other terms and conditions of the Partnership Documentation, which
other terms and conditions shall, to the extent not amended by this
Deed of Amendment, continue in full force and effect.
IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms used in this Deed of Amendment and not otherwise
defined in this Deed of Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in Schedule 1.1, as amended pursuant to this Deed of Amendment, to
the Partnership Agreement, except as the context may otherwise require.
ARTICLE 2 - AMENDMENTS TO PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.
2.1 The Parties agree to amend the Partnership Agreement as set
forth in this Article 2.
2.2 Article 11.8 of the Partnership Agreement shall be amended to
read in its entirety as follows:
11.8 Resolutions of the General Meeting with respect to
the settlement of Stranded Costs can only be adopted
with the Simple Majority of the Existing Partners.
3
<PAGE> 4
2.3 Article 13.1 shall be amended by the adding of the following
phrase at the beginning of the first sentence:
"Except as otherwise provided in the Share Purchase
Agreement,"
2.4 Article 20.1 of the Partnership Agreement shall be amended to
read in its entirety as follows:
20.1 Until the Third Completion Date, and unless pursuant
to this Partnership Agreement (including Article
20.2) and the Share Purchase Agreement, the
Shareholders shall not sell, transfer, pledge,
encumber or otherwise dispose of any Shares to a
third party without the Unanimous Approval of the
other Shareholders.
2.5 Article 20.4 of the Partnership Agreement shall be amended to
read in its entirety as follows:
20.4 The Ultimate Parent 2 shall not sell, transfer,
pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of any shares
in the share capital of the New Partner to a third
party without the Unanimous Approval of the other
Shareholders, provided however that the aforesaid
restriction shall not apply to (i) any sale or
transfer of the shares in the share capital of the
New Partner to an Affiliate of Ultimate Parent 2
subject to the condition precedent that such
Affiliate shall assume the obligations of the New
Partner to this Partnership Agreement and any
agreement pursuant thereto or (ii) any pledge by
Ultimate Parent 2 of all or any portion of its
ownership interest in New Partner to an Affiliate of
Ultimate Parent 2 pursuant to a pledge agreement, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Existing Partners, which pledge shall be, to the
extent it relates to shares in New Partner also
pledged for the benefit of the Existing Partners,
subordinate to such pledge in favor of the Existing
Partners made pursuant to Article 2.3 of this Share
Purchase Agreement, and provided further, that at
such time as New Partner and its Affiliates have
acquired at least 75% of the issued and outstanding
Shares, Ultimate Parent 2 and its subsidiaries may
pledge or encumber the share capital of the New
Partner to a third party and the other Shareholders
hereby agree and consent to any such pledge or
encumbrance, any transfer to the pledgee and any
transfer by the pledgee to any other Person.
2.6 Schedule 1.1 (Definitions) to the Partnership Agreement shall
be amended as set forth below:
4
<PAGE> 5
2.6.1 The following definitions shall be deleted:
Adjustment Principles
Date of Payment
Definitive Stranded Costs
Estimated Stranded Costs
Existing Partners Accountant
Expected Allocation
New Partner's Accountant
Statement
2.6.2 The following definitions shall be added, in
alphabetical order:
"Second Tranche Option Date" shall be the date on
which the Existing Partners and/or the Company shall
have obtained all required consents necessary for the
Completion of the Second Tranche Shares and the Third
Tranche Shares. The date of the Second Tranche Option
Date shall be no later than 1 November 1999. The
Existing Partners and/or the Company shall promptly
provide notice to the New Partner when such consents
have been obtained).
2.6.3 The definition of "Stranded Costs" shall be amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
"Stranded Costs" shall mean the costs pertaining to
all obligations entered into prior to the withdrawal
of the Electricity Act of 1989 by the naamloze
vennootschap Samenwerkende
Elektriciteitsproduktiebedrijven (SEP) and/or the
Dutch electricity production companies in relation to
the Agreement of Cooperation (OvS) net of the
Company's share of (i) any contributions to SEP as
defined in Article 77(d) of the Bill dated as of June
3, 1999, amending, the Electricity Act of 1998 and
any other contributions by the Dutch government to
the Companies with respect to the aforementioned
obligations pursuant to this Bill or any regulation
or resolution pursuant thereto (the "Act"), (ii) the
sum of the value of the (financial and non-financial)
assets of SEP as realized either through the transfer
to the Companies or distribution of proceeds from the
sale of such assets or (iii) the final dividend
distributed by SEP following the effective
dissolution of SEP pursuant to the termination of the
OvS. The adjustments in (ii) and (iii) above shall be
reduced for purposes of this definition by NLG 125
million (in words one hundred and twenty five million
Dutch Guilders). "Stranded Costs" shall also include
"Legal Action Stranded Costs". These costs or
obligations include, without limiting the generality
of the foregoing,
5
<PAGE> 6
more specifically the realization of the district heating
projects, the construction and exploitation of the
experimental coal gasification installation "Demkolec" in
Buggenum, the import of electricity from France and Germany
and of electricity and gas from Norway and the construction of
an electricity transportation link between the Netherlands and
Norway. The assets of SEP include but are not limited to
TenneT and Demkolec.
2.7 Schedule 18.2 (First Completion Actions) and Schedule 7.2.a,
respectively, to the Partnership Agreement shall be amended as
set forth below.
2.7.1 The Company and the Existing Partners shall execute
and enter into the Escrow Agreement attached as
Appendix A (as defined in Section 9.4 of the Share
Purchase Agreement, as amended).
2.7.2 A new Section 1.1.19 shall be added to the First
Completion Conditions that shall read as follows:
The Existing Partners shall irrevocably instruct the
Notary in writing to arrange for the payment to the
Escrow Account of NLG 450 million of the First
Purchase Price to be received from Reliant Energy
Wholesale (Europe) CV to the Escrow Account.
2.8 A new Section [ ] shall be added to the Second Completion
Conditions that shall read as follows:
The Existing Partners shall irrevocably instruct the
Notary in writing to arrange for payment to the
Escrow Account of NLG 450 million of the Second
Purchase Price to be received from Reliant Energy
Wholesale (Europe) CV to the Escrow Account.
ARTICLE 3 - AMENDMENTS TO THE SHARE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
3.1 The Parties agree to amend the Share Subscription Agreement as
set forth in this Article 3.
3.2 Article 13.1 of the Share Subscription Agreement shall be
amended to read in its entirety as follows.
13.1 If the Partnership Agreement is terminated in
accordance with article 22 of the Partnership
Agreement, this Share Subscription Agreement shall
terminate in accordance with its terms, except that
the provisions of Article 12 shall continue to apply
in accordance with the terms thereof.
6
<PAGE> 7
3.3 The word "Purchase" appearing in Article 14.1 of the Share
Subscription Agreement shall be deleted and be replaced with
the word "Subscription".
ARTICLE 4 - AMENDMENTS TO THE SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
4.1 The Parties agree to amend the Share Purchase Agreement as set
forth in this Article 4.
4.2 Article 2.1.2 of the Share Purchase Agreement shall be amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
2.1.2 Subject to the Second Completion Conditions, the
Existing Partners hereby sell to the New Partner, and
the New Partner hereby purchases, from the Existing
Partners such number of Shares as is required to
provide the New Partner with a majority interest of
52% (in words: fifty two percent), in the issued and
outstanding share capital of the Company, whereby
each Existing Partner sells to the New Partner one
third of such number of Shares (the "Second Tranche
Shares").
4.3 Article 2.3 of the Share Purchase Agreement shall be amended
by adding at the end thereof the following:
Ultimate Parent 2 may also grant a second pledge with respect
to all or any portion of its ownership interest in New Partner
to an Affiliate of Ultimate Parent 2, which second pledge
shall be, to the extent it relates to shares in New Partner
also pledged for the benefit of the Existing Partners pursuant
to this Article 2.3, subordinate to such pledge in favor of
the Existing Partners on terms reasonably satisfactory to the
Existing Partners.
4.4 Article 6.1.2 of the Share Purchase Agreement shall be amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
6.1.2 the Completion of the Second Tranche Shares shall
take place on a Business Day after the Second Tranche
Option Date as specified in a written notice
delivered by the New Partner to the Existing
Partners, which notice shall be delivered at least 5
Business Days prior to the proposed date of the
Completion of the Second Tranche Shares. The
Completion of the Second Tranche Shares shall occur
no later than 1 December 1999.
4.5 Article 6.1.3 of the Share Purchase Agreement, shall be
amended to read in its entirety as follows:
7
<PAGE> 8
6.1.3 the Completion of the Third Tranche Shares, shall
take place in the following manner:
(i) On the Second Completion Date, each Existing
Partner may, at its option and by delivery
of written notice to the New Partner, to
elect to sell all, but not part, of its
remaining Shares to the New Partner, such
closing to occur on March 1, 2000; or
(ii) If an Existing Partner does not exercise its
option to sell its Third Tranche Shares
pursuant to Article 6.1.3(i) above, then
such Existing Partner may sell its Third
Tranche Shares after the Second Completion
Date pursuant to the delivery of a Request
subject to Article 6.1.4 of the Share
Purchase, such closing to occur within 60
(in words: sixty) Business Days of such
Request, but in no event later than 31
December 2006 (the "Third Completion Date").
4.6 Article 6.1.4 of the Share Purchase Agreement shall be amended
and restated in its entirety as follows:
6.1.4 The Request referred to in Article 6.1.3(ii) shall be
submitted to the New Partner at least 120 (in words:
one hundred twenty) days prior to the Third
Completion Date or 60 (in words: sixty) days after
the Third Completion Conditions have been fulfilled
or waived by the Party to whose benefit these
Completion Conditions inure, whichever is later.
4.7 Schedule 2.2.2 of the Share Purchase Agreement shall be
amended to provide for an increase in the aggregate Purchase
Price for the Second Tranche Shares equal to the sum of NLG
500 million (in words: five hundred million Dutch Guilders)
which shall be paid by the New Partner to the Existing
Partners on the Second Completion Date.
4.8 Article 9 of the Share Purchase Agreement (including the
Schedules) shall be amended to read in its entirety as
follows:
ARTICLE 9 STRANDED COSTS
9.1 The Existing Partners covenant and agree that they
will indemnify the Companies (collectively, the
Indemnified Parties) against, and hold each
Indemnified Party harmless from and in respect of,
all Stranded Costs not in excess of the
Indemnification Amount. Until the Second Completion
Date, the Indemnification Amount shall be equal to
the amount as shall be received by the Indemnifying
Parties on the First Completion Date (directly in
escrow). Effective the Second Completion Date, the
Indemnification Amount
8
<PAGE> 9
shall be increased up to the amount of NLG 1.400
million (in words: one billion four hundred million
Dutch Guilders).
9.2 All claims for indemnification under this Article 9
shall be asserted as follows in this Article 9.2.
(a) An Indemnified Party shall promptly notify
the Existing Partners from whom
indemnification is sought under this Article
9 (for purposes of this Article 9, the
"Indemnifying Parties") of any Stranded Cost
that it believes to be for its account (such
determination, a "Stranded Cost
Determination" and such notice, a "Stranded
Cost Claim Notice"). Any Stranded Cost Claim
Notice shall include an estimate, to the
extent feasible, of the amount of Stranded
Costs for which the Company believes it is
obligated (which estimate shall not be
conclusive of the final amount of that
claim): provided, however, that the failure
to promptly deliver a Stranded Cost Claim
Notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying
Parties of their obligations to the
Indemnified Party with respect to Stranded
Costs. Within 15 days after receipt of any
Stranded Cost Claim Notice (the "Election
Period"), the Indemnifying Parties shall
notify the Indemnified Party whether the
Indemnifying Parties desire, at the sole
cost and expense of the Indemnifying
Parties, to contest or challenge the
validity of the relevant Stranded Cost
Determination. For purposes of this Article
9, the Indemnifying Parties shall act
jointly and not separately. If the
Indemnifying Party shall fail to notify the
Indemnified Party that it desires to contest
or challenge the Stranded Cost
Determination, the Indemnifying Party shall
pay the amount of Stranded Costs covered by
the relevant Stranded Cost Determination.
(b) If the Indemnifying Parties notify the
Indemnified Party within the Election Period
that the Indemnifying Parties elect to
contest or challenge the validity of the
Stranded Cost Determination, then the
Indemnifying Parties shall have the right to
contest or challenge on behalf of the
Indemnified Parties the validity, at their
sole cost and expense, that Stranded Cost
Determination by all appropriate
proceedings, which proceedings shall be
prosecuted diligently by the Indemnifying
Parties to a final conclusion or settled at
the discretion of the Indemnifying Parties
in accordance with this Article 9.2.
(c) Notwithstanding Article 9.2(b), the
Indemnifying Parties shall not have the
right to contest or challenge the validity
of a Stranded Cost Determination if, in the
reasonable judgment of the Indemnified
Party, pursuing such contest or challenge
would (i) result in the loss
9
<PAGE> 10
of any material rights or licenses of the
Company or any of its Affiliates or (ii)
result in any injunction or other
governmental, judicial or arbitral directive
being imposed on the Company or any of its
Affiliates that materially interferes with
the existing or proposed business of the
Companies.
(d) The Indemnified Party will cooperate with
the Indemnifying Parties in any contest to
or challenge of a Stranded Cost
Determination; provided, however, that the
Indemnifying Parties shall not enter into
any settlement with respect to any Stranded
Cost Determination that (i) purports to
limit the activities of, or otherwise
restrict in any way, any Indemnified Party
or any Affiliate of any Indemnified Party,
(ii) results in any liens being imposed on
the properties or assets of the Company or
any of its Affiliates, (iii) impairs any
material business relationship maintained by
the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii)
results in penalties being owed by the
Company or any of its Affiliates, (iv)
results in the loss of any material rights
or licenses of the Company or any of its
Affiliates or (v) results in any injunction
or other governmental, judicial or arbitral
directive being imposed on the Company or
any of its Affiliates that materially
interferes with the existing or proposed
business of the Company and its Affiliates
or (vi) would involve amounts that exceed
the amount of indemnity to which the
Indemnified Parties are entitled under this
Article 9 without the prior consent of that
Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party is
hereby authorized, to file during the
Election Period, with prior written consent
of the Indemnifying Parties, any motion,
answer or other instrument that the
Indemnified Parties shall deem necessary or
appropriate to protect its interests or
those of the Indemnifying Parties. The
Indemnified Parties may participate in, but
not control, any defense or settlement of
any Stranded Cost Determination controlled
by the Indemnifying Parties pursuant to this
Article 9.2.
(e) If the Indemnifying Parties (i), within the
Election Period, fail to notify the
Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying
Parties elect to contest or challenge any
Stranded Cost Determination or (ii) elect to
contest or challenge a Stranded Cost
Determination but fail diligently and
promptly to contest, challenge or settle the
Stranded Cost Determination, then the
Indemnified Party shall have the right, but
not the obligation, to contest or challenge,
at the sole cost and expense of the
Indemnifying Parties, the Stranded Cost
Determination by all appropriate
proceedings, which proceedings shall be
promptly and vigorously prosecuted by the
Indemnified Party to a final conclusion or
settlement. The Indemnified Party shall have
full
10
<PAGE> 11
control of any such defense and proceedings.
The Indemnifying Parties may participate in,
but not control, any proceeding or
settlement controlled by the Indemnified
Party pursuant to this Article 9.2(e), and
the Indemnifying Parties shall bear their
own costs and expenses with respect to that
participation.
(f) The Indemnified Parties shall not (i) enter
into any definitive settlement agreement or
(ii) waive any rights with respect to
Stranded Costs without the prior written
consent of the Indemnifying Parties.
(g) The Company shall keep the New Partner and
the Existing Partners (i) fully informed of
any actions taken by the Company with
respect to settlement proposals with respect
to Stranded Costs and (ii) shall provide the
Existing Partners an opportunity to
participate in any negotiations regarding
the settlement of such costs. Subject to the
limitations in Article 9.2(d), the Existing
Partners shall be entitled to assume a
primary role in such negotiations; provided,
however, that (i) the Existing Partners
first agree to designate a joint
representative for that purpose and (ii) the
Company shall be entitled to consent to the
designation of such representative (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).
(h) Payments of all amounts owing by an
Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Article
9 shall be made within 30 days after the
date on which the Stranded Cost subject to
the Stranded Cost Claim Notice shall have
become final and binding on the Indemnifying
Party and the Indemnified Parties. Any
overdue payment under this Article 9 shall
bear interest at the rate of Euribor + 2%
per annum (based on a 360- day year) from
(and including) the due date until (but
excluding) the date the full payment is
actually received by the Indemnified
Parties. Any interest accrued pursuant to
the preceding sentence shall be due and
payable on the date the original amount
owing is paid.
9.2a In the event that the Indemnified Parties shall have
received any amounts pursuant to this Article 9 with
respect to Stranded Cost, the Indemnified Parties
shall utilise such amounts exclusively for the
payment of the Stranded Costs concerned.
9.3 The obligations of each of the Indemnifying Parties
under this Article 9 shall only be payable at 1/3 (in
words: one-third) of the amounts due under this
Article 9. The contractual obligation to indemnify
set forth in this Article 9 shall not be subject to
limitations specified in Section 13.6 of the Share
Purchase Agreement.
11
<PAGE> 12
9.4 Payment of any obligations, now existing or hereafter
accruing, of the Indemnified Parties under this
Article 9 shall be secured through an escrow account
(the "Escrow Account") in form and substance
satisfactory to the Indemnified Parties. The Existing
Partners shall maintain such account through December
31, 2003. The maximum amount subject to these
security arrangements shall be NLG 900 million (in
words: nine hundred million Dutch Guilders) (the
"Escrow Amount").
9.5 The Stranded Costs for district heating contracts
which have been allocated to the Company pursuant to
the Act shall be calculated only in accordance with
the formulas set out in Appendix B and for the
applicable heat sale volumes under each contract. The
Company's Stranded Costs for import or other Stranded
Cost contracts assigned to or assumed by the Company
shall be calculated as the difference between the
contract price and market price of the total volume
for the period. The other Stranded Costs assets and
liabilities assigned to the Company will be
calculated on the basis of a valuation method to be
agreed between the Indemnified Parties and the
Indemnifying Parties. If no agreement can be reached
within 20 days, an independent investment bank or
accounting firm or similar expert shall be appointed
by the Parties in order to carry out a valuation. If
the parties are unable to reach an agreement on the
basis of the advice from the independent expert, then
the dispute will be decided by arbitration in
accordance with the Dutch Arbitration Institute
("NAI").
9.6 With due observance of Article 9.7, a definitive and
final amount will be determined for (i) district
heating contracts on December 31, 2000, and (ii)
import or other Stranded Costs contracts assigned or
assumed by on December 31, 2002; unless the Existing
Partners notify the Company that they will not seek
to establish a final amount and (iii) other Stranded
Costs assets and liabilities of the Company at the
earlier of 30 days following the assignment or sale
of such liabilities or assets or 31 December 2002.
9.6.1 The net present value of the district
heating contracts shall be determined by
discounting the yearly amounts as defined
in Article 9.5 for the remaining years of
the contract.
9.6.2 The net present value of the import and
other Stranded Cost contracts shall be
determined by discounting the yearly
estimate of costs as defined in Article 9.5
for the remaining years of each contract,
taking into account the price indexes, the
flexibility of use and other optimisation
opportunities arising from such contracts.
9.6.3 The value of the other Stranded Cost assets
and liabilities other than the contracts
described in Article 9.5 allocated to the
Company, shall be calculated on
12
<PAGE> 13
the basis of a valuation method to be
agreed between the Indemnified Parties and
the Indemnifying Parties. If no agreement
can be reached within 20 days, an
independent investment bank or accounting
firm or similar expert shall be appointed
by the Parties in order to carry out a
valuation. If the parties are unable to
reach an agreement on the basis of the
advice from the independent expert, then
the dispute will be decided by arbitration
in accordance with the Dutch Arbitration
Institute ("NAI").
If no determination of Stranded Costs with
respect to the foregoing contracts, assets
or liabilities has been made that has
become binding and definitive for the
Company, the Parties will jointly designate
an independent investment banking firm
and/or other firm of international
reputation having special expertise in the
electric sector. For the purpose of
calculating a net present value, a discount
rate of 7% will be used. If the parties are
unable to reach an agreement on the basis
of the advice from the independent expert,
then the dispute will be decided by
arbitration in accordance with the Dutch
Arbitration Institute ("NAI").
Any changes or expenses incurred in
connection with the investment banker's or
independent experts' reviews shall be
allocated 50% to the New Partner and 50% to
the Existing Partners.
9.7 The Indemnification by the Indemnifying Parties
pursuant to this Article 9 shall not be limited in
time. Any agreements, arrangements or settlements
between the Parties including those referred to in
Article 9.5 and 9.6 through 9.6.3 shall not affect in
any way, whatsoever this Indemnification.
4.9 Article 14.1 of the Share Purchase Agreement shall be amended by
adding after the word "terms" and before the period the following:
"except that the provisions of Article 9 and Article 13 shall continue
to apply in accordance with the terms thereof"
4.10 Article 13.7 of the Share Purchase Agreement shall be amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
13.7 (a) The maximum amount of all payments required to be
made by the Existing Partners under Article 9 of this
Share Purchase Agreement shall not exceed NLG 1.4
billion (in words: one billion four hundred million
Dutch Guilders).
(b) The maximum amount of all final awards of Damages
payable by the Existing Partners with respect to
breaches of the Warranties shall not exceed NLG 500
million (in words: five hundred million Dutch
Guilders).
13
<PAGE> 14
(c) The New Partner may elect by written notice to
the Existing Partners to reallocate any unused
portion of the NLG 500 million amount referred to
under Article 13.7(b) to the Company rather than to
the New Partner for use by the Company to offset the
burden associated with Stranded Costs.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following
items shall not be included in any calculations under
13.7(a) or 13.7(b) above: (x) any payments to adjust
the estimated First Purchase Price to the actual
First Purchase Price to reflect changes in net debt
and dividend payments as provided in Schedule 2.1.1,
(y) any requirements of an Existing Partner to pay
expenses under the provisions of the Partnership
Documentation including, but not limited to, articles
33.1 and 40.7 of the Partnership Agreement and
articles 9.4 and 9.8.
4.11 Article 13.8 of the Share Purchase Agreement shall be amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
13.8 The New Partner shall not be entitled to make any
claim against the Existing Partners for any Breach or
Non-fulfilment unless notice in writing of such claim
is given prior to 1 May immediately following the
first full Fiscal Year of the Company after the First
Completion Date except for a claim for a Breach
relating to tax for which the New Partner shall not
be entitled to make any claim against the Existing
Partners unless written notice of such claim is given
prior to the end of the period during which the
relevant Dutch tax authorities are competent,
according to the laws of the Netherlands, to impose
an additional tax assessment ("navorderingsaanslag"
or "naheffingsaanslag") concerning events, omissions,
acts or behaviours that have taken place prior to the
First Completion Date increased by a period of six
months.
4.12 Article 13.10 of the Share Purchase Agreement shall be amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
13.10 The Existing Partners shall not owe Damages to the
New Partner by virtue of this Article 13 or otherwise
have obligations towards the New Partner if and to
the extent that the Damages ensue from or are related
to Stranded Costs.
4.13 The first sentence of Article 13.11 of the Share Purchase
Agreement shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
13.11 The amount of any award or Damages owed by the
Existing Partners to the New Partner shall at the
option of the Existing Partners be either paid
directly to the New Partner or subtracted from the
remaining unpaid amount, if any, of the Second
Purchase Price and the Third Purchase Price owed by
the New Partner to the Existing Partners.
14
<PAGE> 15
4.14 Article 13.12 shall be amended and restated in its entirety as
follows:
13.12 Notwithstanding Article 13.13 above, the Province of
Utrecht and the Municipality of Utrecht jointly
("niet hoofdelijk"), irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantee to the New Partner as guarantor for Pegus
prompt performance by Pegus of all its obligations
under or in connection with the Share Purchase
Agreement and such guarantee shall continue without
limitation as to time or as to amount.
4.15 Article 14 shall be amended and restated in its entirety as
follows:
All Parties to this Agreement waive any rights to (partially)
terminate, (partially) annul, (partially) rescind or request
the (partial) rescission or (partial) dissolution of this
Agreement.
4.16 The New Partner shall undertake and procure that the member of
the Management Board nor otherwise designated by the New
Partner shall not be dismissed prior to 31 December 2002.
ARTICLE 5 - MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Without prejudice to other provisions of the Partnership
Agreement that are by their terms generally applicable,
Articles 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31 through 36, 38 through 42 of
the Partnership Agreement shall govern this Deed of Amendment.
5.2 Except as provided for herein, the Partnership Documentation
shall continue in full force and effect.
5.3 Each of the Parties shall execute and deliver to the other
Parties such other instruments and will take such other
actions and execute and deliver such other documents or
instruments as may be reasonably required in order to carry
out, evidence and confirm the intended purposes of the
Partnership Documentation provided that this shall not
obligate any Party to waive any condition set forth in the
Partnership Documentation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Deed of Amendment has been executed by the
Parties hereto in ninefold on the date set out on page one
15
<PAGE> 16
SIGNED by
/s/ N. KLIJN
- ---------------------------------------------
for and on behalf of Provincie Noord Holland
by: [N. Klijn]
SIGNED by
/s/ G. TER HORST
- ---------------------------------------------
for and on behalf of Gemeente Amsterdam
By: [G. ter Horst]
SIGNED by
/s/ D.H. KOK
- ---------------------------------------------
for and on behalf of Provincie Utrecht
By: [D.H. Kok]
SIGNED by
/s/ H.H.W. KERNKAMP
- ---------------------------------------------
for and on behalf of Gemeente Utrecht
By: [H.H.W. Kernkamp]
SIGNED by
/s/ M. TEN KLOOSTER
- ---------------------------------------------
for and on behalf of N.V. Provinciaal en
Gemeentelijk Utrechts Stroomleveringsbedrijf
By: [M. ten Klooster]
SIGNED by
/s/ CHARLES M. OGLESBY
- ---------------------------------------------
for and on behalf of Reliant Energy Wholesale
Holdings (Europe) Inc.
By: Charles M. Oglesby
16
<PAGE> 17
SIGNED by
/s/ CHARLES M. OGLESBY
- ---------------------------------------------
Reliant Energy Power Generation, Inc.
By: Charles M. Oglesby
SIGNED by
/s/ CHARLES M. OGLESBY
- ---------------------------------------------
Reliant Energy, Incorporated
By: Charles M. Oglesby
SIGNED by
/s/ P. KOPPEN DE NEVE
- ---------------------------------------------
for and on behalf of N.V. Energieproduktiebedrijf UNA
By: [P. Koppen de Neve]
17
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 2(c)
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
dated as of February 19, 2000
Among
RELIANT ENERGY POWER GENERATION, INC.
as Buyer,
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED,
as Guarantor,
and
SITHE ENERGIES, INC.
and
Sithe Northeast Generating Company, Inc.,
as Sellers.
<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
ARTICLE 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.............................................2
Section 1.1 Definitions..................................................2
Section 1.2 Certain Interpretive Matters................................25
ARTICLE 2. PURCHASE AND SALE OF INTERCOMPANY NOTES, MID-ATLANTIC
STOCK AND LLC INTERESTS........................................26
Section 2.1 Purchase and Sale of Intercompany Notes, Mid-Atlantic Stock
and LLC Interests...........................................26
Section 2.2 Determination of Adjustment Amount and Preclosing Seller
Breach Amount...............................................27
Section 2.3 Terminated Obligations......................................32
Section 2.4 Senior Credit Facility and BECO Facility....................33
Section 2.5 Allocation of Aggregate Purchase Price......................34
ARTICLE 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE COMPANIES.........35
Section 3.1 Organization, Qualification and Power.......................35
Section 3.2 Condemnation................................................36
Section 3.3 No Conflict.................................................36
Section 3.4 Equity Interests............................................37
Section 3.5 Financial Statements........................................39
Section 3.6 Litigation; Compliance with Law; Permits....................41
Section 3.7 Tax Matters.................................................42
Section 3.8 Material Contracts..........................................47
Section 3.9 Capital Expenditures........................................48
Section 3.10 Brokers ....................................................48
Section 3.11 Labor Matters...............................................48
Section 3.12 ERISA. .....................................................49
Section 3.13 Events Subsequent to November 24, 1999......................53
Section 3.14 Title to Properties.........................................55
Section 3.15 Insurance...................................................56
Section 3.16 Transactions with Certain Persons...........................56
Section 3.17 Compliance With Environmental Laws..........................57
Section 3.18 Certain Matters Relating to GPU Assets and Development
Assets......................................................58
Section 3.19 Consents and Approvals......................................59
Section 3.20 Utility Regulation..........................................60
Section 3.21 Intellectual Property.......................................60
ARTICLE 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE SELLERS...........61
Section 4.1 Organization and Corporate Power............................61
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Section 4.2 Authorization; Validity.....................................62
Section 4.3 No Conflict.................................................62
Section 4.4 Ownership of Genco, Mid-Atlantic Stock and LLC Interests....62
ARTICLE 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER........................63
Section 5.1 Organization and Corporate Power............................63
Section 5.2 Authorization; Validity.....................................63
Section 5.3 No Conflict.................................................64
Section 5.4 Consents and Approvals......................................64
Section 5.5 Brokers ....................................................64
Section 5.6 Availability of Funds.......................................64
Section 5.7 No Knowledge of the Sellers' Breach.........................65
Section 5.8 Investment..................................................65
ARTICLE 6. ACCESS; ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS..................................65
Section 6.1 Access to Information; Continuing Disclosure................65
Section 6.2 Regulatory Approvals........................................67
Section 6.3 Further Assurances..........................................68
Section 6.4 Certain Tax Matters.........................................69
Section 6.5 Ordinary Course of Business.................................78
Section 6.6 Notice of Changes...........................................86
Section 6.7 Collective Bargaining Agreements............................86
Section 6.8 Pollution Control Bonds.....................................87
Section 6.9 Certain Benefits Matters....................................88
Section 6.10 WARN Act....................................................90
Section 6.11 Sithe Release from GPU Liabilities..........................91
Section 6.12 Change of Entity Names......................................91
Section 6.13 Interim Services Agreement..................................91
Section 6.14 Environmental Matters/ISRA..................................92
Section 6.15 Certain Rights Under Amended and Restated Transition Power
Purchase Agreements.........................................93
Section 6.16 Release of Certain Agreements...............................94
Section 6.17 GPU Post Closing Amounts....................................94
Section 6.18 Trading Contracts...........................................94
Section 6.19 Matters Relating to Keystone and Conemaugh..................95
ARTICLE 7. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS....................95
Section 7.1 No Injunction...............................................96
Section 7.2 Representations and Warranties..............................96
Section 7.3 Performance.................................................97
Section 7.4 Approvals and Filings.......................................97
Section 7.5 Opinion of Counsel..........................................97
Section 7.6 No Material Adverse Effect..................................97
</TABLE>
ii
<PAGE> 4
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Section 7.7 Buyer Permits...............................................98
Section 7.8 Resignations................................................98
ARTICLE 8. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF EACH SELLER.........98
Section 8.1 No Injunction...............................................98
Section 8.2 Representations and Warranties..............................98
Section 8.3 Performance.................................................99
Section 8.4 Approvals and Filings.......................................99
Section 8.5 Opinion of Counsel.........................................100
ARTICLE 9. CLOSING.......................................................100
Section 9.1 Time and Place.............................................100
Section 9.2 Payments and Terminated Obligations........................100
Section 9.3 Deliveries.................................................101
ARTICLE 10. TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT...................................102
Section 10.1 Methods of Termination....................................102
Section 10.2 Procedure Upon Termination and Consequences...............104
ARTICLE 11. SURVIVAL......................................................104
Section 11.1 Survival..................................................104
ARTICLE 12. ASSUMPTION OF GPU LIABILITIES; INDEMNIFICATION................105
Section 12.1 Assumption of GPU Liabilities; Indemnification............105
Section 12.2 Defense of Claims.........................................106
ARTICLE 13. OBLIGATIONS OF GUARANTOR......................................111
Section 13.1 Guarantee.................................................111
Section 13.2 Representations and Warranties Regarding Guarantor........112
Section 13.3 Covenants Relating to Buyer...............................113
ARTICLE 14. MISCELLANEOUS.................................................115
Section 14.1 Amendment and Modification................................115
Section 14.2 Waiver of Compliance......................................115
Section 14.3 Notices ..................................................115
Section 14.4 Binding Nature; Assignment................................117
Section 14.5 Entire Agreement..........................................118
Section 14.6 Expenses..................................................119
Section 14.7 Press Releases and Announcements; Disclosure..............119
Section 14.8 Acknowledgment............................................119
Section 14.9 Disclaimer Regarding Assets...............................121
Section 14.10 Governing Law.............................................122
Section 14.11 Nonforeign Affidavit......................................122
Section 14.12 Counterparts..............................................123
</TABLE>
iii
<PAGE> 5
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Section 14.13 Interpretation............................................123
Section 14.14 Confidentiality...........................................123
Section 14.15 Limitation on Due Inquiry.................................124
</TABLE>
iv
<PAGE> 6
SCHEDULES
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Schedule 1A - Development Assets
Schedule 1B - GPU Project Documents
Schedule 1C - General Description of Interim Services
Agreement
Schedule 1D - Executive Officers
Schedule 1E - Budgeted Development Costs
Schedule 2.3 - Terminated Obligations
Schedule 3.2 - Condemnation
Schedule 3.3 - Conflicts
Schedule 3.4 - Capital Stock
Schedule 3.5 - Financial Statements
Schedule 3.6 - Litigation; Compliance with Law; Permits
Schedule 3.7 - Tax Matters
Schedule 3.8 - Material Contracts
Schedule 3.9 - Capital Expenditures
Schedule 3.11 - Labor Matters
Schedule 3.12 - ERISA
Schedule 3.13 - Events Subsequent to November 24, 1999
Schedule 3.14 - Title to Properties
Schedule 3.16 - Transactions with Certain Persons
Schedule 3.17 - Environmental Matters
Schedule 3.18 - Certain GPU Matters
Schedule 3.19 - Seller Consents and Approvals
Schedule 3.21 - Intellectual Property
Schedule 4.3 - Sellers' Conflicts
Schedule 5.4 - Buyer Consents and Approvals
Schedule 6.5 - Exceptions to Ordinary Course of Business
</TABLE>
v
<PAGE> 7
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Schedule 6.5.2 - Contracts Not to Be Amended
Schedule 6.5.2(f)(A) - Trading Contracts at Signing
Schedule 6.5.2(f)(B) - Trading Contracts Executed Between Signing
and Closing
Schedule 6.5.2(j) - Outages
Schedule 6.16 - Released Agreements
Schedule 7.4 - Approvals and Filings to be Obtained or
Made by Buyer Prior to Closing
Schedule 7.5 - Opinion of Sellers' Counsel
Schedule 8.4 - Approvals and Filings to be Obtained or
Made by Sellers Prior to Closing
Schedule 8.5 - Opinion of Buyer's Counsel
Schedule 9.3A - Form of Transfer Instrument for LLC
Interests
Schedule 9.3B - General Transfer and Conveyancing
Instrument
Schedule 12.1 - Form of Assumption Instrument
</TABLE>
vi
<PAGE> 8
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2000 (this
"Agreement") is among Reliant Energy Power Generation, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Buyer"), Reliant Energy, Incorporated, a Texas corporation
("Guarantor"), Sithe Energies, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Sithe"), and Sithe
Northeast Generating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiary (as defined herein) of Sithe ("Genco" and, together with
Sithe, the "Sellers").
RECITALS
A. Sithe owns, through Genco, all of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of Sithe Mid-Atlantic Power Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Sithe
Mid-Atlantic"), and all of the limited liability company interests in each of
Sithe Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Sithe
Maryland Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Sithe New
Jersey Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Sithe Mid-Atlantic
and each of the limited liability companies referred to above, individually, a
"Company" and, collectively, the "Companies").
B. Sithe holds, through Genco, certain Intercompany Notes (as defined
herein) issued by the Companies.
C. The Companies collectively own, or will own at or prior to the
Closing (as defined herein) directly or indirectly through their wholly-owned
Subsidiaries, all of the GPU Assets (as defined herein), together with any
assets acquired after November 24, 1999 by Sithe or any of its Subsidiaries
relating primarily to the GPU Assets.
Purchase Agreement
<PAGE> 9
D. The Companies collectively own, or will own at or prior to the
Closing, directly or indirectly through their wholly-owned Subsidiaries, certain
rights and assets relating to generation projects under development in the
geographic area covered by PJM (as defined herein) that were not part of the
assets acquired from GPU.
E. Buyer desires to purchase from Genco, and Genco desires to sell to
Buyer, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, (a) all of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of Sithe Mid-Atlantic, (b) all of the
limited liability company interests in each of the other Companies and (c) all
of the Intercompany Notes held by Genco.
F. In order to induce the Sellers to enter into this Agreement,
Guarantor is willing to enter into this Agreement in order to guarantee Buyer's
obligation to pay, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein, the Guaranteed Obligations and for the other purposes set forth in
Article 13.
G. The Board of Directors of each of the Sellers, Guarantor and Buyer
have determined that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, is in the
best interests of each of the Sellers, Guarantor and Buyer, respectively, and
their respective stockholders.
NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the
following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
2
<PAGE> 10
"Acquired Assets" means collectively the GPU Assets and the Development
Assets.
"Adjusted Net Working Capital" means the result obtained by
subtracting the Base Net Working Capital from the Closing Net Working Capital.
"Adjustment Amount" means the difference between (i) the sum, without
duplication, of (a) Adjusted Net Working Capital, (b) Budgeted Capital
Expenditures and such additional amounts of Capital Expenditures as are allowed
under Section 6.5.2(i)(1) or (3), (c) Budgeted Development Costs (whether
expensed or capitalized) and such additional amounts of Development Costs as are
allowed under Section 6.5.2(i)(2), and (d) expenditures to which Buyer has
consented in writing, and (ii) the sum, without duplication, of (a) (1) any cash
proceeds from any dispositions of Acquired Assets (other than current assets)
that are obsolete, or (2) any salvage cash proceeds from the removal or
replacement of Acquired Assets that are capital assets that have not been
repaired or replaced or that have been repaired or replaced in accordance with
Section 6.5.2(b), (b) the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount, (c) insurance
proceeds received in connection with a casualty or property loss to the extent
Sellers have not previously repaired or replaced the covered property and (d)
the Mark to Market Adjustment Amount.
"Advisors" has the meaning as set forth in Section 14.8.2.
"Affiliate" means any Person that directly, or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control
with, another Person. For purposes of the foregoing, "control", with respect to
any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and
3
<PAGE> 11
policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities or by
contract or otherwise.
"Aggregate Purchase Price" has the meaning as set forth in Section
2.1.2.
"Agreement" has the meaning as set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
"Amended and Restated Transition Power Purchase Agreements" means (i)
the Amended and Restated Transition Power Purchase Agreement among Sithe,
Metropolitan Edison Company, Sithe Pennsylvania Holdings, LLC and Sithe Power
Marketing, dated as of November 24, 1999, (ii) the Amended and Restated
Transition Power Purchase Agreement among Sithe, Pennsylvania Electric Company,
Sithe Pennsylvania Holdings, LLC, Sithe Maryland Holdings, LLC and Sithe Power
Marketing, dated as of November 24, 1999, and (iii) the Amended and Restated
Transition Power Purchase Agreement among Sithe, Jersey Central Power and Light
Company, Sithe New Jersey Holdings, LLC and Sithe Power Marketing, dated as of
November 24, 1999.
"Assignment" means that certain Assignment and Transfer Agreement and
Bill of Sale, to be dated as of the Closing Date, substantially in the form of
Schedule 9.3B.
"Balance Sheets" means the Opening Balance Sheet, the December Balance
Sheet and the Closing Balance Sheet, all of which shall be prepared in
accordance with GAAP.
"Base Net Working Capital" means the Net Working Capital of the
Companies and their Subsidiaries on a combined basis as of November 24, 1999 as
determined from the Opening Balance Sheet.
4
<PAGE> 12
"BECO Facility" means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May
15, 1998, among Sithe New England Holdings, LLC, Bank of Montreal, as agent, and
the financial institutions party thereto, as amended, modified and supplemented.
"Benefit Arrangement" means any executive incentive arrangement,
consisting of: (i) any employment or individual personal services agreement
involving an annual base salary of at least $250,000 (with respect to any such
agreement that is an employment agreement) or annual compensation of at least
$250,000 (with respect to any other such agreement), but excluding any agreement
of at-will employment, (ii) any equity compensation plan and (iii) any deferred
compensation plan.
"Benefit Plans" has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.12.1.
"Budgeted Capital Expenditures" means those expenditures incurred
between January 1, 2000 and the Closing Date in accordance with Schedule 3.9.
"Budgeted Development Costs" means those costs incurred between January
1, 2000 and the Closing Date in the development of the Development Projects that
are set forth on Schedule 1E.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day
on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to be closed.
"Buyer" has the meaning as set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
"Buyer Group" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.1.1.
"Buyer's Representatives" has the meaning as set forth in Section
6.5.5(a).
"Buyer's Trading Representatives" has the meaning as set forth in
Section 6.5.5(b).
5
<PAGE> 13
"Capital Expenditures" means expenditures that may be capitalized in
accordance with GAAP using the same accounting policies (which are in accordance
with GAAP) as were used by the Sellers in the preparation of the Opening Balance
Sheet or that Buyer agrees in writing should be treated as capitalized expenses
under this Agreement.
"Cash Equivalents" means (i) cash, (ii) debt securities issued,
guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or
instrumentality thereof, (iii) certificates of deposit, eurodollar time
deposits, bankers' acceptances and bank deposits, (iv) repurchase obligations
for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (ii) and (iii)
above, and (v) commercial paper.
"CERCLA" means the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, as amended (42 U.S.C.ss.ss.9601-9675).
"CFO Certificate" has the meaning as set forth in Section 13.3.1.
"Chief Financial Officer of Guarantor" has the meaning as set forth in
Section 13.3.1.
"Charter Documents" means, with respect to any Person, the certificate
of incorporation, by-laws, articles of organization, limited liability company
agreement, partnership agreement, formation agreement or other similar
organizational documents of such Person.
"Closing" has the meaning as set forth in Section 9.1.
"Closing Date" has the meaning as set forth in Section 9.1.
"Closing Balance Sheet" means an audited combining balance sheet at the
Closing Date of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, which balance sheet shall
not reflect any intercompany payables or receivables, to be prepared in
accordance with GAAP, using the same accounting
6
<PAGE> 14
policies (which are in accordance with GAAP) as were used by the Sellers in the
preparation of the Opening Balance Sheet.
"Closing Net Working Capital" means the Net Working Capital of the
Companies and their Subsidiaries on a combined basis as of the Closing Date as
determined from the Closing Balance Sheet.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All
citations to the Code or to the regulations promulgated thereunder shall include
any amendments or any substitute or successor provisions thereto.
"Collective Bargaining Agreements" has the meaning as set forth in
Section 3.11.
"Company" has the meaning as set forth in Recital A.
"Confidential Acquired Asset Information" has the meaning as set forth
in Section 14.14(b).
"Confidential Information" has the meaning as set forth in Section
14.14(a).
"Confidentiality Agreement" has the meaning as set forth in Section
6.1.1.
"Contract" means a contract, agreement, note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, easement, lease, license, instrument or other obligation.
"December Balance Sheet" has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.5.
"Development Assets" means all rights of the Sellers and their
Affiliates relating primarily to the Development Projects, including but not
limited to those arising pursuant to the Contracts, Permits and Environmental
Permits and other rights listed on Schedule 1A, and all books and records
(including but not limited to proposals, studies and applications) relating to
the Development Projects; provided, that the term "Development Assets" shall not
include any
7
<PAGE> 15
GPU Assets and shall not include any assets of any Seller or any Affiliate of
any Seller that are not primarily related to the Development Projects.
"Development Costs" means costs incurred (whether capitalized or
expensed) in the development of the Development Projects including costs, fees
and expenses to be paid to third parties and costs chargeable by Sellers or
their Affiliates controlled by them to the Development Projects, in accordance
with Sithe's standard practices existing at the date hereof.
"Development Projects" means the Hunterstown, Erie West, Portland,
Atlantic, Seward and Gilbert generation projects under development by Sellers or
any of their Affiliates in the geographic area covered by PJM.
"Direct Claim" has the meaning as set forth in Section 12.2.3.
"DOJ" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.2.1.
"Due Date" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.4.12.
"Easement Agreements" means, collectively, those certain Easement
Agreements entered into pursuant to the Sithe/GPU Agreements with respect to
certain of the Real Property.
"Election" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.4.1.1.
"Emission Allowance" means all present and future authorizations to
emit specified units of pollutants or Hazardous Substances, which units are
established by a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the generating
facilities included in the Acquired Assets and relating to such Acquired Assets
under (i) an air pollution control and emission reduction program designed to
mitigate global warming or interstate or intra-state transport of air pollutants
or Hazardous Substances; (ii) a program designed to mitigate impairment of
surface waters, watersheds or groundwater; or (iii) any pollution reduction
program with a similar purpose. Emission
8
<PAGE> 16
Allowances include allowances, as described above, regardless as to whether the
Governmental Authority establishing such Emission Allowances designates such
allowances by a name other than "allowances."
"Emission Reduction Credits" means credits in units that are
established by a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the generating
facilities included in the Acquired Assets that have obtained the credits,
resulting from reductions in the emissions of air pollutants from an emitting
source or facility (including, without limitation, and to the extent allowable
under applicable law, reductions from shut-downs or control of emissions beyond
that required by applicable law) that: (i) have been identified by the
applicable state regulatory authorities as complying with applicable state laws
and regulations governing the establishment of such credits (including, without
limitation, that such emissions reductions are enforceable, permanent,
quantifiable and surplus); or (ii) have been certified by any other applicable
Governmental Authority as complying with the laws and regulations governing the
establishment of such credits (including, without limitation, that such
emissions reductions are enforceable, permanent, quantifiable and surplus). The
term includes Emission Reduction Credits that have been approved by any
applicable state regulatory agency and are awaiting United States Environmental
Protection Agency approval. The term also includes certified air emissions
reductions, as described above, regardless as to whether the Governmental
Authority certifying such reductions designates such certified air emissions
reductions by a name other than "emission reduction credits."
"Employee Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan, as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA.
9
<PAGE> 17
"Environmental Claim" means administrative or judicial actions, suits,
orders, claims, liens, notices, notices of violations, investigations,
complaints, requests for information, proceedings, or other written
communication, whether criminal or civil, pursuant to or arising under any
applicable Environmental Law by any Person to the extent based upon, alleging,
asserting, or claiming any actual or potential (a) violation of, or liability
under any Environmental Law, (b) violation of any Environmental Permit, or (c)
liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, removal costs, remedial costs,
response costs, natural resource damages, property damage, personal injury,
fines, or penalties arising out of, based on, resulting from, or related to the
presence, Release, or threatened Release into the environment of any Hazardous
Substances at any location related to the Acquired Assets, including, but not
limited to, any off-Site location to which Hazardous Substances, or materials
containing Hazardous Substances, were sent for handling, storage, treatment, or
disposal.
"Environmental Laws" means all applicable federal, state and local laws
and regulations, relating to pollution or protection of the environment, natural
resources or human health and safety, including laws and regulations relating to
Releases or threatened Releases of Hazardous Substances (including, without
limitation, Releases to ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land and
surface and subsurface strata) or otherwise relating to the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, release, transport, disposal
or handling of Hazardous Substances.
"Environmental Permits" means permits, certificates, certifications,
licenses, franchises and other governmental filings, notices, authorizations,
consents and approvals under Environmental Laws.
10
<PAGE> 18
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
"ERISA Affiliate" of any Company and any Subsidiary of any
Company means any other Person that, together with the relevant Company
or Subsidiary, is or was required to be treated as a single employer under
Section 414 of the Code.
"Estimated Closing Statement" has the meaning as set forth in Section
2.2.1.
"Estimated Adjustment Amount" has the meaning as set forth in Section
2.2.1.
"Excluded Liabilities" means the sum of (a) affiliate notes payable,
(b) GPU Post Closing Amounts, (c) maintenance reserves and (d) deferred taxes,
all as determined from the Balance Sheets.
"FERC" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.2.2.
"Financial Statements" has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.5.
"Financing Parties" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.3.
"Fixed Purchase Price" has the meaning as set forth in Section 2.1.2.
"FTC" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.2.1.
"Funded Debt" means indebtedness for borrowed money (other than under
the Intercompany Notes, and other than accounts payable and trade payables
incurred in the ordinary course of business).
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States, consistently applied.
"Genco" has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
"Good Operating Practices" mean any of the practices, methods and acts
engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the electric generation
industry or any of the practices,
11
<PAGE> 19
methods and acts engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the electric
generation industry or any of the practices, methods or acts which, in the
exercise of reasonable judgment in light of the facts known at the time the
decision was made, would have been expected to accomplish the desired result at
a reasonable cost consistent with good electric generation industry business
practices, reliability, safety and expedition during the relevant time period.
Good Operating Practices are not intended to be limited to the optimum
practices, methods or acts to the exclusion of all others, but rather to be
acceptable practices, methods or acts generally accepted in the industry.
"Governmental Authority" means any federal, state, local or other
governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, department,
board, or other governmental subdivision, court, tribunal, arbitrating body or
other governmental authority.
"GPU" means GPU, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation and a party to one or
more of the Sithe/GPU Agreements.
"GPU Assets" means all of the following:
(a) the "Purchased Assets" as defined in the Sithe/GPU Agreements
excluding assets identified or described in any Sithe/GPU Agreements as not
being included in the transactions contemplated in the Sithe/GPU Agreements, but
including any right that the Sellers and their Affiliates have to acquire the
stock or assets of York Haven Power Company and of Forked River station (but
excluding such stock or assets themselves);
(b) all rights of the Sellers and their Affiliates under the
GPU Project Documents and all rights, claims and causes of actions accrued
or accruing thereunder;
(c) all rights of the Sellers and their Affiliates under the
Sithe/GPU Agreements and all rights, claims and causes of action accrued or
accruing thereunder; and
12
<PAGE> 20
(d) all of the assets and rights of the Sellers and their
Affiliates, acquired or created since November 24, 1999 and used in connection
with, and relating primarily to, the assets referred to in clause (a) of this
definition, including without limitation such assets consisting of Real
Property, Inventories, tangible personal property, Contract rights (including
any rights to sell power), Real Property leases, Permits, Environmental Permits,
books and records, Emission Reduction Credits and Emission Allowances, unexpired
and transferable warranties and guaranties from third parties with respect to
Real Property or personal property, year 2000 compliance information, names of
plants (excluding the right to use the name "Sithe") and intellectual property;
provided, that the GPU Assets shall not include (i) any Cash Equivalents, (ii)
the name "Sithe" or any right of use thereof, or (iii) any corporate-wide
information, technology, financial reporting or accounting systems, including
software relating thereto and hardware not located on the premises of any
facility included in the GPU Assets; provided however, that Buyer shall be
furnished with data related to the GPU Assets in a form agreeable to Buyer and
the Sellers.
"GPU Liabilities" means all of the obligations and liabilities (whether
accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) of Sithe or any of its Subsidiaries
(or any of their respective successors or assigns) under (i) the GPU Project
Documents, including, without limitation, obligations arising out of GPU Project
Documents that consist of assumed Contracts and Easement Agreements, and
Permitted Liens, (ii) the "Assumed Liabilities" as defined in the Sithe/GPU
Agreements, (iii) the Sithe/GPU Agreements (other than transaction expenses,
including transfer taxes, incurred pursuant to the Sithe/GPU Agreements) and
(iv) the Intercompany Notes.
13
<PAGE> 21
"GPU Post Closing Amounts" means "Post-Closing Adjustments" as defined
in Section 3.3(c) of the Sithe/GPU Agreements.
"GPU Project Documents" means the agreements and documents listed on
Schedule 1B.
"GPU Sellers" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.8.
"Guaranteed Obligations" has the meaning as set forth in Section 13.1.
"Guarantor" has the meaning as set forth in the first paragraph
of this Agreement.
"Hazardous Substances" or "hazardous substances" means (a) any
petrochemical or petroleum products, coal ash, oil, radioactive materials,
radon gas, asbestos in any form that is friable, urea formaldehyde foam
insulation and transformers or other equipment that contain dielectric fluid
which contains levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in excess of 50 parts per
million, (b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as or included in
the definition of "hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous
materials," "hazardous constituents," "restricted hazardous materials,"
"extremely hazardous substances," "toxic substances," "contaminants,"
"pollutants," "toxic pollutants" or words of similar meaning and regulatory
effect under any applicable Environmental Law; and (c) any other chemical,
material or substance, exposure to which is prohibited, limited or regulated by
any applicable Environmental Law.
"HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Indemnifiable Loss" has the meaning as set forth in Section 12.1.
"Indemnifying Party" has the meaning as set forth in Section 12.2.1.
"Indemnitee" has the meaning as set forth in Section 12.1.
14
<PAGE> 22
"Independent Accounting Firm" means an independent accounting firm of
national reputation that is mutually appointed by Sithe and Buyer (other than
the regular outside accounting firm of any of Buyer, Guarantor or any Seller).
"Interim Services Agreement" shall mean that certain Interim Services
Agreement, to be entered into between Sithe and Buyer, a general description of
which is attached hereto as Schedule 1C.
"Inventories" means coal, fuel oil or alternative fuel inventories,
limestone, materials, spare parts, consumable supplies and chemical and gas
inventories relating to the operation of a generating facility included in
the Acquired Assets.
"Intercompany Notes" means (a) the promissory note, dated November 24,
1999, issued by Sithe Pennsylvania Holdings LLC to Genco in the principal amount
of $1,278,272,817.78, (b) the promissory note, dated November 24, 1999, issued
by Sithe New Jersey Holdings LLC to Genco in the principal amount of
$145,033,723.56, (c) the promissory note, dated November 24, 1999, issued by
Sithe Maryland Holdings LLC to Genco in the principal amount of $11,840,000.00,
(d) the promissory note, dated November 24, 1999, issued by Sithe Pennsylvania
Holdings LLC to Genco in the initial principal amount of $124,784,102.22, (e)
the promissory note, dated December 31, 1999, issued by Sithe Pennsylvania
Holdings LLC to Genco in the initial principal amount of $15,262,506.00, (f) the
promissory note, dated December 31, 1999, issued by Sithe New Jersey Holdings
LLC to Genco in the initial principal amount of $0.00, and (g) the promissory
note, dated December 31, 1999, issued by Sithe Maryland Holdings LLC to Genco in
the initial principal amount of $118,446.00 (as the principal balance
15
<PAGE> 23
owing under the promissory notes referred to in clauses (e), (f) and (g) may
change from time to time prior to the Closing in accordance with this
Agreement).
"ISRA" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.14.
"Keystone and Conemaugh Operating Agreements" means (i) the Conemaugh
Operating Agreement between Pennsylvania Electric Company and Conemaugh Station
Owners, dated as of December 1, 1967, as amended through the date hereof (the
last such amendment being dated November 24, 1999) and (ii) the Keystone
Operating Agreement between Pennsylvania Electric Company and Keystone Station
Owners, dated as of December 1, 1967 as amended through the date hereof (the
last such amendment being dated March 25, 1998).
"Keystone and Conemaugh Owners' Agreements" means (i) the Memorandum of
Owners' Agreement Conemaugh Steam Electric Station among Conemaugh Station
Owners, dated as of August 1, 1966; and (ii) the Memorandum of Owners' Agreement
Keystone Steam Electric Station among Keystone Station Owners, dated December 7,
1964.
"knowledge" or words to such effect means (a) with respect to any
Person that is an individual, the actual knowledge without independent
investigation of such Person and (b) (i) in the case of Sithe, the actual
knowledge of the executive officers listed on Schedule 1D after due inquiry by
one or more of such executive officers of (A) the plant managers of the
generating facilities included in the GPU Assets and (B) Martin Rosenberg,
pursuant to Section 6.5.4 and (ii) in the case of Buyer, the actual knowledge of
the executive officers listed on Schedule 1D.
"Liens" means liens, charges, restrictions, claims or encumbrances of
any nature.
"LLC Interests" has the meaning as set forth in Section 4.4.
16
<PAGE> 24
"Mark to Market Adjustment Amount" means the amount (which may be
positive or negative) by which the market value (as defined by the mid-point of
the bid and ask price, as agreed by Buyer and Seller) of any outstanding Trading
Contracts, as of the Closing Date, listed in Schedule 6.5.2(f)(A) varies from
the recorded value of such Trading Contracts at the Closing Date.
"material" or "materially," when used with respect to any Company or
any Subsidiary of any Company or any of the Acquired Assets (except when used to
modify the term "Lien" or "Liens" in Section 3.14), means material to (i) the
Companies and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) any Specified Plant
(as defined below in the definition of "Material Adverse Effect").
"Material Adverse Effect" means an effect that is or reasonably could
be expected to be materially adverse to the business, assets, condition
(financial or otherwise), prospects, properties or results of operations of (a)
the Companies and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) a Specified Plant
(as defined below), excluding in any case, (i) any changes, circumstances or
effects resulting from or relating to changes or developments in the economy,
financial markets, commodity markets (including power markets), laws,
regulations or rules in the applicable electric power markets (including,
without limitation, changes in laws or regulations affecting owners or providers
of electric generation, transmission or distribution as a group and not the
Companies exclusively) or in the political climate generally or in any specific
region and (ii) any changes in conditions or developments generally applicable
to the industries in which any of the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries is
involved. As used herein, each of the following shall be a "Specified Plant":
(1) the Shawville Station and associated GPU Assets taken as a whole;
17
<PAGE> 25
(2) the Portland Station and associated GPU Assets taken as a whole; and (3)
collectively, all GPU Assets taken as a whole that were conveyed to the Sellers
or their Affiliates under the Sithe/GPU Agreement identified in clause (d) of
the definition of Sithe/GPU Agreements.
"Material Contract" means each Contract to which any Company or any
Subsidiary of any Company is a party or by which any of them or any of their
respective property may be bound and which, in each case, is material to (a) the
Companies and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) any Specified Plant (as
defined above in the definition of "Material Adverse Effect"); provided,
however, that the term "Material Contract" shall not include the Project Office
Contracts.
"Mid-Atlantic Stock" has the meaning as set forth in Section 4.4.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Sections
3(37) and 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
"Net Working Capital" means the difference between (i) the sum of
(a) fuel inventory, including with respect to the Opening Balance Sheet, the
balance in any intercompany account with respect to fuel, (b) material and
supplies inventories, (c) other current assets, (d) other assets (excluding
land, property, plant & equipment, construction work in progress, project
development costs, goodwill, and long-term receivables from joint owners), and
(e) receivables from unaffiliated third parties (other than (1) insurance
receivables to the extent covered property is not being repaired or replaced and
(2) salvage receivables from the removal or replacement of Acquired Assets that
are capital assets that have not been repaired or replaced or that have been
repaired or replaced in accordance with Section 6.5.2(b)), and (ii) the sum of
(x) third party trade payables and (y) any other liabilities to unaffiliated
third parties other than (A) Excluded
18
<PAGE> 26
Liabilities, (B) any liabilities related to the capacity payments payable under
the transportation contract between Pennsylvania Power & Light Company,
Interstate Energy Company and Jersey Central Power & Light Company, for the
Gilbert Station, dated as of August 12, 1977, and (C) Taxes for which either
Seller is liable pursuant to Section 6.4, all as determined from the Balance
Sheets.
"Net Worth" means, with respect to any Person, (a) the total assets of
such Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, less (b) the total
liabilities of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, in
each case, determined in accordance with GAAP.
"NJDEP" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.14.
"N.J.S.A." has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.20.
"Northeast Management" means Sithe Northeast Management Company, a
Pennsylvania corporation.
"Opening Balance Sheet" has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.5.
"Other Transfer Taxes" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.4.3.2.
"Payor" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.4.2.
"Permits" means permits, certificates, certifications, licenses,
franchises and other filings, notices, authorizations, consents and approvals of
any Governmental Authority (other than Environmental Permits).
"Permitted Liens" has the meaning as set forth in Section 3.14.
"Person" means and includes an individual, a partnership, a joint
venture, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated
organization or a Governmental Authority.
"PJM" means the Pennsylvania - New Jersey - Maryland power pool.
19
<PAGE> 27
"Post-Closing Statement" has the meaning as set forth in Section 2.2.4.
"Preclosing Seller Breach Amount" shall mean the sum of the amount of
damages to Buyer, determined without regard to materiality or Material Adverse
Effect, resulting from a breach by the Sellers or any Company or any Subsidiary
of any Company of (i) the representations set forth in
(a) Sections 3.4.1 and 4.4 to the effect that the Sellers own 100% of
the equity interests in the Companies and each Subsidiary of the Companies free
and clear of any Liens, or
(b) Section 3.4.4 regarding the lack of business activities conducted
in the Companies and the Subsidiaries of the Companies other than in connection
with the acquisition, ownership, development and operation of the GPU Assets and
the absence of any Funded Debt (or any Liens related to any Funded Debt), or
(ii) the covenants set forth in paragraphs (b), (d), (f), (h) and (i)
of Section 6.5.2. For purposes of this definition, the damages to Buyer with
respect to a breach shall be deemed to be the monetary difference between (i)
the facts as represented as compared to the actual facts to which a specified
representation relates or (ii) the performance required by a specified covenant
as compared to actual performance. Such damages shall not include punitive,
incidental, special, exemplary or consequential damages, but only such actual
monetary differences as provided in the preceding sentence.
"Preclosing Seller Breach Amount Statement" has the meaning as set
forth in Section 2.2.1.
"Preparer" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.4.2.
20
<PAGE> 28
"Project Office Contracts" shall mean the Contracts which are entered
into or administered by the Keystone-Conemaugh Project Office on behalf of the
owners of the Keystone and Conemaugh generating stations.
"PUHCA" means the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended.
"Real Property" means those certain parcels of land (including all
buildings, facilities and other improvements thereon and all appurtenances
thereto and any and all easements and rights of ingress and egress) included in
the Acquired Assets, excluding the real property that are assets owned by the
York Haven Power Company and those related to the Forked River station (to which
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company have rights pursuant to the
Sithe/GPU Agreements).
"reasonable efforts" means commercially reasonable efforts.
"Recipient" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.4.6.1.
"Release" means release, spill, leak, discharge, dispose of, pump,
pour, emit, empty, inject, leach, dump or allow to escape into or through the
environment.
"Remediation" means action of any kind to address a Release or the
presence of Hazardous Substances at a Site or an off-Site location including,
without limitation, any or all of the following activities to the extent they
relate to or arise from the presence of a Hazardous Substance at a Site or an
off-Site location: (a) monitoring, investigation, assessment, treatment,
cleanup, containment, removal, mitigation, response or restoration work; (b)
obtaining any permits, consents, approvals or authorizations of any Governmental
Authority necessary to conduct any such activity; (c) preparing and implementing
any plans or studies for any such activity; (d) obtaining a written notice from
a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over a
21
<PAGE> 29
Site or an off-Site location under Environmental Laws that no material
additional work is required by such Governmental Authority; and (e) the use,
implementation, application, installation, operation or maintenance of removal
actions on a Site or an off-Site location, remedial technologies applied to the
surface or subsurface soils, excavation and off-Site treatment or disposal of
soils, systems for long term treatment of surface water or groundwater,
engineering controls or institutional controls, provided, that for purposes of
the foregoing, references to "off-Site" locations refer to such locations only
with respect to the period from November 24, 1999 to the Closing Date.
"Remediation Agreements" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.14.
"RES" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.18.
"Sellers" has the meaning as set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
"Sellers' Representatives" has the meaning as set forth in Section
6.5.5(a).
"Sellers' Trading Representatives" has the meaning as set forth in
Section 6.5.5(b).
"Senior Facility" means that certain Amended and Restated Senior
Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 19, 1997 and amended
and restated, among Sithe, certain Subsidiaries of Sithe, Bank of Montreal, as
agent, and the financial institutions party thereto, as amended, modified and
supplemented.
"Site" means, with respect to any generating facility included in the
Acquired Assets, the Real Property (including improvements) forming a part of,
or used or usable in connection with the operation of, such facility, including
any disposal sites included in the Real Property. Any reference to the Sites
shall include, by definition, the surface and subsurface elements, including
22
<PAGE> 30
the soils and groundwater present at the Sites, and any reference to items "at
the Sites" shall include all items "at, on, in, upon, over, across, under and
within" the Site.
"Sithe" has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
"Sithe/GPU Agreements" means, collectively (a) the Purchase and Sale
Agreement dated as of October 29, 1998, as amended by Amendments 1 through 9,
between Sithe and Jersey Central Power & Light Company, a New Jersey
corporation; (b) the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of October 29, 1998,
as amended by Amendments 1 through 9, between Sithe and Metropolitan Edison
Company, a Pennsylvania corporation; (c) the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated
as of October 29, 1998, as amended by Amendments 1 through 9, between Sithe and
Pennsylvania Electric Company, a Pennsylvania corporation; and (d) the Purchase
and Sale Agreement dated as of October 29, 1998, as amended by Amendments 1
through 9, among Jersey Central Power & Light Company, Metropolitan Edison
Company, GPU and Sithe; in each case together with the related documents,
instruments, agreements, including all closing statements, assignments, deeds,
Easement Agreements, assumptions, bills of sale and other transfer documents
executed or delivered in connection therewith.
"Sithe Mid-Atlantic" has the meaning as set forth in the Recitals.
"Sithe Power Marketing" shall mean Sithe Power Marketing, L.P.
"Subsidiary" of a Person means (i) any corporation, association or
other business entity of which 50% or more of the total voting power of shares
or other voting securities outstanding thereof is at the time owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other
Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership
or limited liability company (a) the sole general partner or the managing
general partner or managing
23
<PAGE> 31
member of which is such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such
Person (or any combination thereof) or (b) the only general partners or members
of which are such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person
(or any combination thereof). For purposes of clarification, neither the
Keystone generation facility nor the Conemaugh generation facility shall be
deemed to be Subsidiaries of any Company.
"Target Date" means the 90th day after the date of this Agreement.
"Tax Audit" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.4.6.1.
"Tax Item" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.4.12.
"Taxes" mean all federal, state, local, foreign and other net income,
gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise,
profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment,
excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, fuel,
gas import, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any
kind whatsoever imposed by any governmental entity, together with any interest
and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto,
and shall include all liability for the payment of any consolidated or combined
income taxes (including, without limitation, any United States federal
consolidated income tax liability) that is payable as a result of being a member
of, and which may be imposed upon, any affiliated group (as defined in Section
1504 (a) of the Code or other applicable law) of which any Taxpayer or Northeast
Management is a member, and the term "Tax" means any one of the foregoing Taxes.
"Taxpayer" means each Company and each Subsidiary of each Company other
than Northeast Management.
24
<PAGE> 32
"Tax Returns" means all returns, declarations, reports, statements and
other documents required to be filed in respect of Taxes, and the term "Tax
Return" means any one of the foregoing Tax Returns.
"Terminated Obligations" means (i) all (a) existing letters of credit
set forth on Schedule 2.3 and any replacements thereof entered into in the
ordinary course of business or (b) letters of credit issued after the date of
this Agreement for the account of (1) any Company or any Subsidiary of any
Company and as to which Sithe or any of its Subsidiaries has any reimbursement
or other similar obligations or (2) Sithe or any of its Subsidiaries in
connection with the GPU Assets, Development Assets or Development Projects, in
case of clause (1) or (2), incurred in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with Good Operating Practices or with the consent of Buyer and (ii)
the bonds listed on Schedule 2.3 required by the State of Pennsylvania in
connection with permits or licenses issued for the generating facilities of any
Company and any Subsidiary of any Company in Pennsylvania.
"Third Party Claim" has the meaning as set forth in Section 12.2.1.
"Trading Contracts" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.5.2(f).
"Unions" shall mean Local 459 of the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO ("IBEW"), Local 777 of the IBEW, and System Council
U-3 (consisting of Local Unions 327 and 1314) of the IBEW.
"WARN Act" has the meaning as set forth in Section 6.10.
Section 1.2 Certain Interpretive Matters. In this Agreement, unless
the context otherwise requires, the singular shall include the plural, the
masculine shall include the feminine and neuter, and vice versa. The term
"includes" or "including" shall mean "including without
25
<PAGE> 33
limitation." References to a Section, Article, Exhibit or Schedule shall mean a
Section, Article, Exhibit or Schedule of this Agreement, and reference to a
given agreement or instrument shall be a reference to that agreement or
instrument as modified, amended, supplemented and restated through the date as
of which such reference is made.
ARTICLE 2. PURCHASE AND SALE OF INTERCOMPANY NOTES, MID-
ATLANTIC STOCK AND LLC INTERESTS
Section 2.1 Purchase and Sale of Intercompany Notes, Mid-Atlantic Stock
and LLC Interests.
2.1.1 Transfer of Intercompany Notes, Mid-Atlantic Stock and LLC
Interests. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Articles 7
and 8, on the Closing Date Genco shall sell, convey, transfer, assign and
deliver to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase from Genco, the Intercompany Notes,
the Mid-Atlantic Stock and the LLC Interests.
2.1.2 Aggregate Purchase Price. The aggregate consideration
payable by Buyer to Genco for the transfer of the Intercompany Notes, the
Mid-Atlantic Stock and the LLC Interests pursuant to Section 2.1.1 shall be US$
2,100,000,000 (the "Fixed Purchase Price") plus the Adjustment Amount, which may
be a positive or negative number (the Adjustment Amount plus the Fixed Purchase
Price, the "Aggregate Purchase Price").
2.1.3 Allocation of Aggregate Purchase Price. Of the Aggregate
Purchase Price, an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, and
accrued and unpaid interest on, the Intercompany Notes shall be allocated to the
purchase of the Intercompany Notes; provided, that such amount shall in no event
exceed the Aggregate Purchase Price. The balance of the
26
<PAGE> 34
Aggregate Purchase Price, if any, shall be allocated to the purchase of the
Mid-Atlantic Stock and the LLC Interests.
Section 2.2 Determination of Adjustment Amount and Preclosing Seller
Breach Amount.
2.2.1 At least 12 Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Buyer
shall prepare and deliver to the Sellers a statement (the "Preclosing Seller
Breach Amount Statement") which shall include an estimate of the Preclosing
Seller Breach Amount, if any, and a description in reasonable detail of (i) each
event or fact giving rise to the estimated damages included in such estimated
Preclosing Seller Breach Amount and (ii) Buyer's good faith calculation as to
the monetary value of the damages attributable to such event or fact, in
accordance with the definition of Preclosing Seller Breach Amount set forth in
this Agreement. At least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the
Sellers shall prepare and deliver to Buyer an estimated closing statement (the
"Estimated Closing Statement") that shall set forth the Sellers' best estimate
of the Adjustment Amount (the "Estimated Adjustment Amount"), if any, including
a calculation of such Estimated Adjustment Amount in reasonable detail, provided
that, solely for the purpose of establishing the Estimated Adjustment Amount,
the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount shall be deemed to be Buyer's estimate of
the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount included in the Preclosing Seller Breach
Amount Statement and any supplement thereto submitted by Buyer in accordance
with this Section 2.2 no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing
Date. Solely for the purpose of establishing the amount of the Adjustment Amount
payable by Buyer to Genco at the Closing as part of the Aggregate Purchase
Price, the Estimated Adjustment Amount shall be deemed to be the Adjustment
Amount and Buyer shall
27
<PAGE> 35
pay the Fixed Purchase Price plus the Estimated
Adjustment Amount to Genco at the Closing, subject to this Section 2.2.
2.2.2 At any time from the date on which Buyer shall have delivered the
Preclosing Seller Breach Amount Statement to the Sellers until the 30th day
after the Closing Date, the Sellers may object in writing to the estimated
Preclosing Seller Breach Amount or any other information included in the
Preclosing Seller Breach Amount Statement, which objection should include a
description, in reasonable detail, of the basis for such objection. If Sellers
so object, the parties shall attempt to resolve such dispute by negotiation. If
the parties are unable to resolve such dispute within ten (10) Business Days of
receipt by Buyer of any objection by the Sellers, such dispute shall be
submitted to final and binding arbitration before Jo Ao Mo S/ENDISPUTE, or its
successor, pursuant to the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sec. 1 et
seq. Any party may commence the arbitration process called for in this Agreement
by filing a written demand for arbitration with Jo Ao Mo S/ENDISPUTE, with a
copy to the other parties. The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with
the provisions of Jo Ao Mo S/ENDISPUTE's Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and
Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The
parties will cooperate with Jo Ao Mo S/ENDISPUTE and with one another in
selecting an arbitrator from Jo Ao Mo S/ENDISPUTE's panel of neutrals, and in
scheduling the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator shall be instructed to
make a final determination with respect to the submitted dispute within sixty
(60) days of the date of the appointment. The arbitrator shall consider only the
alleged breaches described in the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount Statement and
in any supplement thereto submitted in writing by Buyer to the Sellers on or
prior to the Closing Date (which supplement, if any, shall contain the same type
28
<PAGE> 36
of information required to be included in the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount
Statement with respect to any alleged breaches described in such supplement),
which breaches may only be with respect to the matters specified in the
definition of Preclosing Seller Breach Amount set forth in this Agreement. The
Sellers may object to any supplement provided by Buyer in writing prior to the
30th day after the Closing Date, which objection should include a description,
in reasonable detail, of the basis for any such objection. The arbitrator shall
determine the amount of damages, if any, that constitute the Preclosing Seller
Breach Amount in accordance with the definition of Preclosing Seller Breach
Amount set forth in this Agreement. In no event may the amount of the Preclosing
Seller Breach Amount exceed the estimate of the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount
included in the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount Statement and any supplement
thereto submitted by Buyer to the Sellers in accordance with this Section 2.2.2.
The final determination of the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount resulting from
such arbitration shall be final and binding on the parties hereto. The parties
covenant that they will participate in the arbitration in good faith. The
provisions of this Section 2.2.2 may be enforced by any court of competent
jurisdiction.
2.2.3 In the event that the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount as
determined pursuant to Section 2.2.2 (whether by arbitration or by settlement of
the parties after the Closing), if any, is less than the estimate of the
Preclosing Seller Breach Amount, if any, included in the Preclosing Seller
Breach Amount Statement and any supplement thereto submitted by Buyer to the
Sellers in accordance with Section 2.2.2, then Buyer shall pay to Genco, no
later than five (5) Business Days after such determination pursuant to Section
2.2.2, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated
by Genco, the amount
29
<PAGE> 37
of such difference, plus interest on such amount from and
including the Closing Date to the date of payment at an annual rate of 18%. In
addition, in the event that the estimate of the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount,
if any, included in the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount Statement (and any
supplement thereto submitted by Buyer to the Sellers in accordance with Section
2.2.2) is more than 118% of the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount determined
pursuant to Section 2.2.2 (whether by arbitration or by settlement of the
parties after the Closing), then Buyer shall also include in such payment to
Genco the fees and expenses (including reasonable legal and accounting fees and
expenses) incurred by the Sellers in connection with the determination of the
Preclosing Seller Breach Amount pursuant to Section 2.2.2 (whether by
arbitration or by settlement of the parties after the Closing).
2.2.4 Within ninety (90) days following the Closing Date, the Sellers shall
prepare and deliver to Buyer a final closing statement (the "Post-Closing
Statement") that shall set forth the amount of the Adjustment Amount (other than
the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount). The Post-Closing Statement shall include
(i) the Opening Balance Sheet, expanded to include financial statement
footnotes, and (ii) the Closing Balance Sheet. The Sellers shall provide Buyer
and Buyer's independent auditors with copies of, or access to, records and other
information that Buyer may reasonably request with respect to the information
set forth on the Post-Closing Statement (other than the Preclosing Seller Breach
Amount). For purposes of the Post-Closing Statement, the values of fuel
inventories and materials and supplies inventories on the Closing Balance Sheet
will be determined after physical inventory observations, performed in
accordance with normal and customary industry practices, performed on or about
the Closing
30
<PAGE> 38
Date, at Buyer's cost, utilizing inventory valuation methods consistent with
those used on the Opening Balance Sheet.
2.2.5. Within thirty (30) days following the delivery of the
Post-Closing Statement by the Sellers to Buyer, Buyer may object to the
Adjustment Amount (other than the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount) in writing.
If Buyer so objects to the Adjustment Amount, the parties shall attempt to
resolve such dispute by negotiation. If the parties are unable to resolve such
dispute within thirty (30) days of any objection by Buyer, the parties shall
appoint the Independent Accounting Firm, and shall instruct such firm, at
Sithe's and Buyer's joint expense, to review the calculation of the Adjustment
Amount (other than the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount) and determine the
appropriate amount of the Adjustment Amount (other than the Preclosing Seller
Breach Amount), in accordance with this Agreement, within thirty (30) days of
such appointment. The parties agree to cooperate with the Independent Accounting
Firm and provide it with such information as it reasonably requests to enable it
to make such determination. The finding of such Independent Accounting Firm
shall be binding on the parties hereto.
2.2.6 Upon final determination of the Adjustment Amount (other than the
Preclosing Seller Breach Amount) pursuant to Section 2.2.5, whether by agreement
of the parties or as otherwise provided above, and regardless of whether the
Preclosing Seller Breach Amount has been finally determined, (a) if the
Adjustment Amount (assuming for this purpose that Preclosing Seller Breach
Amount is zero) is more than the Estimated Adjustment Amount (assuming for this
purpose that Preclosing Seller Breach Amount is zero), Buyer shall pay such
difference to Genco and (b) if the Adjustment Amount (assuming for this purpose
that Preclosing
31
<PAGE> 39
Seller Breach Amount is zero) is less than the Estimated Adjustment Amount
(assuming for this purpose that Preclosing Seller Breach Amount is zero), Genco
shall pay such difference to Buyer, in either case, no later than five (5)
Business Days after such determination, by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account designated by the payee.
2.2.7 Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to the
contrary, (a) in no event shall the Closing Balance Sheet or the calculation of
Net Working Capital include any accrual, reserve or liability with respect to
any matter included in the Preclosing Seller Breach Amount in excess of the
accrual, reserve or liability with respect thereto included in the Opening
Balance Sheet, (b) in no event shall any accrual, reserve or liability be
included on the Closing Balance Sheet or in the calculation of Net Working
Capital with respect to any matter disclosed in Section 3.2, 3.3, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8,
3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 3.17, 3.18, 3.19, 3.20 or 3.21, including any
disclosure schedule relating to any of the foregoing Sections (except (i) to the
extent that an accrual, reserve or liability with respect to such matter was
included on the Opening Balance Sheet, in which case no adjustment shall be made
to such accrual, reserve or liability for purposes of the Closing Balance Sheet
and (ii) for accruals for third party trade payables and accrued expenses
incurred in the ordinary course of business through the Closing Date) and (c)
there shall be no accrual, reserve or liability on the Closing Balance Sheet or
in the calculation of Net Working Capital with respect to any event or matter
which gave rise to or was part of a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 2.3 Terminated Obligations.
On the Closing Date, in addition to paying the Fixed Purchase
Price and the Estimated Adjustment Amount to the Sellers, Buyer shall provide
evidence of the delivery of
32
<PAGE> 40
substitute letters of credit or other security for each of the Terminated
Obligations in form and substance satisfactory to the beneficiary of each such
Terminated Obligation and use reasonable efforts to deliver to the Sellers
releases with respect to all Terminated Obligations as soon as reasonably
practicable. If Buyer is unable to effect any such substitution on or prior to
the Closing Date, Buyer will also indemnify and hold harmless each Seller from
and against any liabilities, claims, demands, judgments, losses, costs, damages
or expenses from and after the Closing Date that such Seller may sustain, suffer
or incur and that result from or arise out of or relate to that Terminated
Obligation until such time as substitutions of all such Terminated Obligations
are effected and releases thereto have been obtained; provided that Buyer shall
continue to use reasonable efforts to effect such substitution at all times
after the Closing Date with respect to the Terminated Obligations until such
time when the substitution of all Terminated Obligations has been effected. The
Sellers shall cooperate with and use reasonable efforts to assist Buyer in
obtaining any such releases; provided that none of the Companies, any Subsidiary
of any Company, any Seller or any Affiliate of any Seller shall be obligated to
seek any waiver or consent from any issuer of any Terminated Obligation; and
provided further, that the failure of either Seller to perform its obligations
in this Section shall not constitute an event that would, by itself, give rise
to any claim by Buyer or right of Buyer to terminate this Agreement.
Section 2.4 Senior Credit Facility and BECO
Facility. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Sellers shall, with respect to
each of the Senior Credit Facility and the BECO Facility, either (i) obtain
consent of the lenders under such facility to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) discharge all outstanding
obligations of the
33
<PAGE> 41
Sellers and their Affiliates under such facility. If the Sellers elect to follow
clause (ii), the Sellers and Buyer shall cooperate with one another to arrange
mutually satisfactory arrangements for the payment of the Aggregate Purchase
Price to assure that the outstanding obligations referred to in such clause (ii)
are discharged.
Section 2.5 Allocation of Aggregate Purchase Price. For United States
federal and applicable state income tax purposes, the Aggregate Purchase Price
and all other capitalized costs shall be allocated among the Mid-Atlantic Stock
and the assets of the other Companies and their Subsidiaries. In connection
therewith, Buyer shall prepare and submit to the Sellers a proposed allocation
of the Aggregate Purchase Price and all other capitalized costs among the
Mid-Atlantic Stock and the assets of the other Companies and their Subsidiaries
as soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing. Sellers shall approve and
agree to the proposed allocation unless Sellers reasonably determine that the
proposed allocation is improper. Each of Buyer and each of the Sellers agrees to
file Internal Revenue Service Form 8594, and all federal, state, local and
foreign tax returns, in a manner consistent with any such agreed upon
allocation. Each of Buyer and each of the Sellers agrees to provide the others
promptly with any information required to complete Form 8594. Buyer and the
Sellers shall notify and provide the others with reasonable assistance in the
event of an examination, audit or other proceeding regarding any allocation of
the Aggregate Purchase Price agreed to pursuant to this Section 2.5.
34
<PAGE> 42
ARTICLE 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE COMPANIES
Except as otherwise disclosed in this Agreement, or in any Schedule,
Sithe hereby represents and warrants to Buyer, as of the date hereof (except
where such representation or warranty is expressly made as of another specific
date), as follows:
Section 3.1 Organization, Qualification and Power.
3.1.1 Sithe Mid-Atlantic is a corporation duly incorporated,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
and is duly licensed or qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation
in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business transacted by it or the
character of the properties owned or leased by it requires such licensing or
qualification, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Each Company
other than Sithe Mid-Atlantic is a limited liability company duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
and is duly licensed or qualified to transact business as a foreign business
entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business transacted by it
or the character of the properties owned or leased by it requires such licensing
or qualification, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would
not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Each
Company has full power and authority to own, lease or otherwise hold its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.
3.1.2 Each Subsidiary of any Company that is a corporation is
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, and each Subsidiary of any Company that is a
partnership or limited liability company is duly
35
<PAGE> 43
formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its organization. Each Subsidiary of any Company is duly licensed or
qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation, limited liability
company or partnership, as applicable, in each jurisdiction in which the nature
of the business transacted by it or the character of the properties owned or
leased by it requires such licensing or qualification, except where the failure
to be so licensed or qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a Material Adverse Effect. Each Subsidiary of any Company has the requisite
corporate or organizational power and authority to own, lease or otherwise hold
its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.
Section 3.2 Condemnation. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.2 and
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect, none of the Companies and none of their Subsidiaries has received any
written notices of, and Sithe has no knowledge of, any pending or threatened
proceedings or governmental actions to condemn or take by power of eminent
domain all or any part of the Real Property and there have been no casualties or
condemnation proceedings relating to the Acquired Assets since November 24,
1999.
Section 3.3 No Conflict. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.3, the execution,
delivery and performance by the Sellers of this Agreement and the consummation
by the Sellers of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) violate,
conflict with or result in a breach of any provisions of the Charter Documents
of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company, (ii) violate any law,
regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to any Company or any
Subsidiary of any Company, or any order of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company, (iii) violate or
conflict with, or constitute
36
<PAGE> 44
(with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right
of termination, consent, cancellation or acceleration) under (a) any Contract
(other than the Project Office Contracts) to which any Company or any Subsidiary
of any Company is a party or (b) any Contract (other than the Project Office
Contracts) to which Sithe or any Affiliate of Sithe is a party that constitutes
a part of the Acquired Assets or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of
any Lien on the Acquired Assets or, to Sithe's knowledge, violate or conflict
with, or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default or give
rise to any right of termination, consent, cancellation or acceleration under
any Project Office Contract), except, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and
(iv), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
Section 3.4 Equity Interests.
3.4.1 Subsidiaries. The authorized, issued and outstanding
capital stock of Sithe Mid-Atlantic and each Subsidiary of each Company that is
a corporation are as set forth in Schedule 3.4. The limited liability company
interests, partnership interests or equity securities of each Company and each
Subsidiary of each Company that is not a corporation are as set forth in
Schedule 3.4. The stockholders of record of each Subsidiary of each Company that
is a corporation, and the owner or owners of each Subsidiary of each Company
that is not a corporation, are as set forth in Schedule 3.4. There is no
authorized or outstanding subscription, warrant, option, convertible security or
other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire from any
Company or from any Subsidiary of any Company equity interests or partnership
interests of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company. There is no
commitment on the part of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company to issue
shares,
37
<PAGE> 45
subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible securities, partnership interests
or other similar rights. No equity securities of any Company or any Subsidiary
of any Company are reserved for issuance for any such purpose. Neither any
Company nor any Subsidiary of any Company has any obligation (contingent or
otherwise) to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its equity
securities. Except for this Agreement and except for the limited liability
company operating agreements of the Companies and their Subsidiaries (other than
Sithe Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Management), there is no voting trust or
agreement, stockholders agreement, pledge agreement, buy-sell agreement, right
of first refusal, preemptive right or proxy relating to any equity securities of
any Company or any equity securities or partnership interests of any Subsidiary
of any Company.
3.4.2 Duly Authorized Shares. All of the shares of Mid-Atlantic
Stock and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Northeast
Management have been or at the Closing will be duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.
3.4.3 Other Equity Interests. Set forth on Schedule 3.4 is (i) a
list of each Person (other than any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company) in
which either any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company (A) has any direct or
indirect equity or other participation in, or (B) has any right (contingent or
otherwise) to acquire the same, and (ii) a description of the nature and amount
of each interest required to be set forth pursuant to clause (i). With respect
to such interests, either a Company or a Subsidiary of a Company owns, of record
and beneficially, the interests set forth opposite the name of the Company or
the Subsidiary, as the case may be, free and clear of any Liens. On the Closing
Date, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, either a
Company or a Subsidiary of a
38
<PAGE> 46
Company will own such interests free and clear of any Liens, except for any
Liens created by or at the behest of Buyer.
3.4.4 Activities of the Companies. Each of the Companies was
formed for the purpose of acquiring, owning, developing and operating the
Acquired Assets, and no such Company is currently engaged or in the past has
engaged in any activity since the date of its formation other than in connection
with the ownership, operation and development of the Acquired Assets. No
Subsidiary of any Company which Subsidiary is a limited liability company has
conducted any material business activities since the date of its formation,
other than the ownership, operation and development of the Acquired Assets, and
Northeast Management has not conducted any material business activities since
November 24, 1999, other than the ownership, operation and development of the
Acquired Assets. None of the Companies and none of the Subsidiaries of the
Companies has any Funded Debt.
Section 3.5 Financial Statements. Attached as Schedule 3.5 are
(i) an unaudited combining balance sheet of the Companies and their Subsidiaries
at November 24, 1999 (the "Opening Balance Sheet") and (ii) an unaudited
combining balance sheet of the Companies and their Subsidiaries at December 31,
1999 (the "December Balance Sheet") and the related combining unaudited
statements of income and cash flows of the Companies and their Subsidiaries for
the period from November 24, 1999 to December 31, 1999 (such statements
specified in clause (i) and (ii) collectively, the "Financial Statements").
Within 45 days after the date hereof (or, if such 45th day is not a Business
Day, the next Business Day thereafter), the Sellers shall deliver to Buyer a
supplement to Schedule 3.5 which shall (i) include a balance sheet analysis with
respect to each of the Financial Statements and (ii) set forth the components
39
<PAGE> 47
of each balance sheet line item (including the GPU Post Closing Amounts, the
liabilities related to the capacity payments payable under the transportation
contract between Pennsylvania Power & Light Company, Interstate Energy Company
and Jersey Central Power and Light Company for the Gilbert Station, long-term
receivables from joint owners, reserves for environmental obligations accrued,
the balance in any intercompany account with respect to fuel on the Opening
Balance Sheet only, and other reconciling items). Within 45 days after the date
hereof (or, if such 45th day is not a Business Day, the next Business Day
thereafter), the Sellers shall also provide Buyer with an analysis of the fuel
inventory at December 31, 1999, owned by Sithe Power Marketing with respect to
the Acquired Assets. The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP and fairly present the financial condition, on a combined and
individual basis, of the Companies and their Subsidiaries as of the dates
thereof and the results of their operations, on a combined and individual basis,
for the period covered thereby, except as set forth on Schedule 3.5 and except
for the absence of financial statement footnotes and subject to normal recurring
period-end adjustments. Neither any Company nor any Subsidiary of any Company
has any liability or obligation (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or
otherwise), other than (i) liabilities reflected (but only to the extent so
reflected) or reserved against on the Opening Balance Sheet or the December
Balance Sheet, (ii) the GPU Liabilities, (iii) liabilities or obligations (other
than Funded Debt) that have arisen since November 24, 1999 (with respect to the
Opening Balance Sheet) or December 31, 1999 (with respect to the December
Balance Sheet) in the ordinary course of business, none of which, individually
or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) liabilities or
obligations explicitly disclosed herein or in any
40
<PAGE> 48
Schedule, or (v) liabilities or obligations (other than Funded Debt) incurred in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement or any Contract listed on Schedule
3.8.
Section 3.6 Litigation; Compliance with Law; Permits.
3.6.1 Schedule 3.6 lists each action, suit, claim or proceeding
(including, but not limited to, any arbitration proceeding) pending or, to
Sithe's knowledge, threatened, and each investigation which, to Sithe's
knowledge, is pending or threatened, against any Company or any Subsidiary of
any Company or Sithe or any Affiliate of Sithe, at law or in equity, or before
or by any Governmental Authority that relates to (a) any Company or any
Subsidiary of any Company or (b) any Acquired Assets, which (in the case of (a)
or (b) above), if determined adversely to any Company or any Subsidiary of any
Company or Sithe or any Affiliate of Sithe, would reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes
of the preceding sentence, no representation is made with respect to (i) any
proceeding before any Governmental Authority initiated by any Company or any
Subsidiary of any Company in which any Company or any such Subsidiary of any
Company is an applicant for any Permit or Environmental Permit, to the extent
the matters considered in such proceeding are limited to the approval or
authority requested in such application, or (ii) proceedings initiated by a
third party in which any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company is an
intervener, and the subject matter of such intervention is of general
applicability to similarly-situated parties. Neither any Company nor any
Subsidiary of any Company is in default with respect to any order, writ,
injunction or decree known to or served upon such entity of any Governmental
Authority except for defaults which would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
41
<PAGE> 49
3.6.2 Except as set forth on Schedule 3.6, the Sellers and their
Affiliates controlled by them, including each Company and each Subsidiary of
each Company, are in compliance with all laws, rules, regulations and orders
applicable to the business and operations of the Acquired Assets and the
business of the Companies and their Subsidiaries (other than labor laws, which
are addressed in Section 3.11, and other than Environmental Laws, which are
addressed in Section 3.17), except where the failure to so comply would not
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
3.6.3 Except as set forth on Schedule 3.6, each Company and each
Subsidiary of each Company has all Permits and Environmental Permits necessary
to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to conduct its
business as currently conducted, except where the failure to obtain the same
would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.6, neither any Company nor any Subsidiary of
any Company has received any notification that it is in violation of any such
Permits and Environmental Permits except notifications of violations which would
not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Each
Company and each Subsidiary of each Company is in compliance with all such
Permits and Environmental Permits except where non-compliance would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.7 Tax Matters.
3.7.1 There have been properly completed and filed on a timely
basis and in correct form all Tax Returns required to be filed (i) on or prior
to the date hereof by any Taxpayer and (ii) after November 24, 1999 and on or
prior to the date hereof (and, to Sithe's knowledge on or prior to November 24,
1999), by Northeast Management. As of the time of
42
<PAGE> 50
filing, the foregoing Tax Returns of any Taxpayer and, to Sithe's knowledge, of
Northeast Management, were true and complete in all material respects.
3.7.2 Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a Material Adverse Effect, with respect to all amounts in respect of Taxes (i)
imposed on any Taxpayer with respect to all taxable periods or portions of
periods ending on or before the Closing Date and (ii) imposed on Northeast
Management with respect to all taxable periods or portions of periods beginning
after November 24, 1999 and ending on or before the Closing Date (and, to
Sithe's knowledge, with respect to all taxable periods or portions of periods
beginning on or before November 24, 1999 and ending on or before November 24,
1999), (a) all applicable Tax laws and regulations have been complied with in
all respects and (b) all such amounts required to be paid to taxing authorities
or others on or before the date hereof have been paid, except such Taxes, if
any, as are set forth in Schedule 3.7 that are being contested in good faith.
3.7.3 Except as set forth in Schedule 3.7 , no adjustments to the
Tax liability of any Taxpayer have been proposed in writing (and are currently
pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any Tax Return of any
Taxpayer, except for adjustments that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
All deficiencies asserted or assessments made as a result of any examinations
have been fully paid, or are fully reflected as a liability in the financial
statements of the applicable Taxpayer, or are being contested in good faith and
are described in Schedule 3.7 except for deficiencies or assessments that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as
set forth on Schedule 3.7, with respect to all taxable periods or portions of
periods beginning after November 24, 1999 (and, to Sithe's knowledge, with
respect to all taxable periods or portions of periods beginning before November
24, 1999 and
43
<PAGE> 51
ending on or before November 24, 1999) no adjustments to the Tax liability of
Northeast Management have been proposed in writing (and are currently pending)
by any taxing authority in connection with any Tax Return of Northeast
Management, except for adjustments that would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. To Sithe's knowledge, all material deficiencies asserted or assessments
made as a result of any examination have been fully paid or are fully reflected
as a liability in the financial statements of Northeast Management, or are being
contested in good faith and are described in Schedule 3.7.
3.7.4 Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7, there are no liens for
Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) on any of the
assets of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company.
3.7.5 Each of the Companies (other than Sithe Mid-Atlantic) and
each Subsidiary of each Company (other than Northeast Management) is properly
treated as a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes.
3.7.6 No property owned by any Company or any Subsidiary of any
Company (i) is property required to be treated as being owned by another Person
pursuant to the provisions of Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1954, as amended and in effect immediately prior to the enactment of the Tax
Reform Act of 1986, (ii) constitutes "tax-exempt use property" within the
meaning of Section 168(h)(1) of the Code or (iii) except for pollution control
facilities financed with the proceeds of Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (as
described in Section 6.8 of this Agreement), is "tax-exempt bond financed
property" within the meaning of Section 168(g) of the Code.
44
<PAGE> 52
3.7.7 Genco is not a foreign person within the meaning of Section
1445 of the Code.
3.7.8 Genco and each of Sithe Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
Management are members of a "selling consolidated group" as such term is defined
in Treasury Regulation Section 1.338(h)(10)-1(c).
3.7.9 Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7 and other than the
Sithe/GPU Agreements and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no Company and no Subsidiary of any Company
other than Northeast Management is a party to, is bound by or has any
obligations under any Tax sharing agreement, any Tax indemnification agreement
or similar contract or arrangement and (ii) to Sithe's knowledge, Northeast
Management is not a party to, is not bound by and has no obligation under any
Tax sharing agreement, any Tax indemnification agreement or similar contract or
arrangement.
3.7.10 Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7, no tax audits or
other administrative proceedings or court proceedings are presently pending with
regard to any Taxes for which any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company would
be liable except for audits or proceedings which would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
3.7.11 Except as would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, no Company and no Subsidiary of any
Company has executed or entered into (or prior to the close of business on the
Closing Date will execute or enter into) with any taxing authority (i) any
agreement, waiver or other document extending or having the effect of extending
or waiving the period for assessments or collection of any Taxes for which any
Company or any Subsidiary of any Company would or could be liable or (ii) any
closing
45
<PAGE> 53
agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code, or any predecessor provision
thereof or any similar provision of state, local or foreign tax law that relates
to the assets or operations of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company.
3.7.12 Except as would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, no Company and no Subsidiary of any
Company has made any payments, is obligated to make any payments, or is a party
to any agreement or other arrangement that could obligate it to make any
payments that would not be deductible under Section 280G of the Code.
3.7.13 Except as would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, each Company and each Subsidiary of each
Company has collected and withheld all Taxes that it has been required to
collect or withhold and has timely submitted all such collected and withheld
Taxes to the appropriate authorities. Each Company and each Subsidiary of each
Company has complied and is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations relating to the payment, withholding and information reporting
requirements relating to any Taxes required to be collected or withheld.
3.7.14 Neither Sithe Mid-Atlantic nor Northeast Management has
made an election or filed a consent under Section 341(f) of the Code or agreed
to have Section 341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection
(f) asset (as such term is defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by
such entity.
3.7.15 No claim has ever been made by an authority in a
jurisdiction where any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company does not or has
not filed tax returns that such Company or such Subsidiary of any Company is or
may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
46
<PAGE> 54
Section 3.8 Material Contracts. The Contracts listed in Schedule
3.8 include all of the Material Contracts and certain other Contracts that are
listed for the information of Buyer; provided, however, that no Contract shall
be deemed a Material Contract solely by reason of the fact that it is listed on
Schedule 3.8. Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 3.8: (i) each Contract
listed on Schedule 3.8 and, to Sithe's knowledge, each Project Office Contract,
is valid, binding and in full force and effect, and is enforceable by a Company
or a Subsidiary of a Company, as applicable, in accordance with its terms,
except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereinafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally, and general equitable principles
(whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), except those Contracts
which have expired or been terminated in the ordinary course of business or in
accordance with Good Operating Practices, and except as would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) each Company and each
Subsidiary of a Company that is a party to a Contract listed in Schedule 3.8 has
performed in all material respects the obligations required to be performed by
it to date under such Contract, except for such failure or failures to perform
which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect and, to Sithe's knowledge, each Company and each Subsidiary of a Company
that is a party to a Project Office Contract has performed in all respects the
obligations required to be performed by it to date under such Project Office
Contract, except for such failure or failures to perform which would not
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) there is
not, under any Contract listed on Schedule 3.8, or, to Sithe's knowledge, under
any Project Office Contract any default or event which, with notice or lapse of
time or both, would constitute a default on the part of any
47
<PAGE> 55
Company or any Subsidiary of any Company and neither any Company nor any
Subsidiary of any Company has received any notice of default, notice of force
majeure or notice of other suspension of performance or notice exercising a
right of renegotiation under any such Contract to which it is a party, except as
would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and
(iv) none of the Companies or their Subsidiaries is seeking the renegotiation or
substitute performance of any Contract listed Schedule 3.8, or to Sithe's
knowledge, any Project Office Contract, except as would not have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Section
3.8, the term "Contract listed on Schedule 3.8" shall not include any Project
Office Contract.
Section 3.9 Capital Expenditures. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.9,
as of the date of this Agreement, there are no capital expenditures that are
planned by any Company or any Subsidiaries of any Company through December 31,
2000.
Section 3.10 Brokers. None of the Sellers, any Company or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate of any Company has any contract, arrangement or
understanding with any investment banking firm, broker or finder with respect to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for Goldman, Sachs &
Co., whose fees shall be borne by the Sellers.
Section 3.11 Labor Matters. The Sellers have delivered to Buyer true
and correct copies of the agreements listed on Schedule 3.11 (the "Collective
Bargaining Agreements"). The Collective Bargaining Agreements constitute all
collective bargaining agreements to which any Seller, any Company or any
Subsidiary of any Company is a party or is subject and that relate to the
business and operations of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company. Other
than as set forth in Schedule 3.11, the applicable Company or the applicable
Subsidiary of any Company
48
<PAGE> 56
(a) is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations regarding
employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, and
wages and hours; (b) has not received written notice of any. unfair labor
practice complaint against it pending before the National Labor Relations Board;
(c) has no arbitration proceeding pending against it that arises out of or under
any collective bargaining agreement that relates to the business or operations
of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company, and (d) is not currently
experiencing, and has received no current threat of, any work stoppage, in each
case, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 3.12 ERISA.
3.12.1 Schedule 3.12 lists all Employee Benefit Plans and
Benefit Arrangements that are sponsored or contributed to by Sithe, any Company
or any Subsidiary of any Company covering the employees or former employees of
any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company ("Benefit Plans"). With respect to
each Benefit Plan, each Company and each Subsidiary of each Company has made
available to Buyer a true and correct copy of each of the following, as
applicable:
3.12.1.1 the current plan document (including all
amendments adopted since the most recent restatement) and its most recently
prepared summary plan description and all summaries of material modifications
prepared since the most recent summary plan description, and all material
employee communications relating to such plan;
3.12.1.2 a written description of any Benefit Plan for
which no plan document exists;
49
<PAGE> 57
3.12.1.3 annual reports or Code Section 6039D
information returns (IRS Form 5500 Series), including financial statements, if
applicable, for the last three years;
3.12.1.4 all contracts relating to any Benefit Plan with
respect to which any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company has any liability,
without limitation, each related trust agreement, insurance contract, service
provider contract, subscription or participation agreement, or investment
management agreement (including all amendments to each such document);
3.12.1.5 the most recent IRS determination letter or
other opinion letter with respect to the qualified status under Code Section
401(a) of any Benefit Plan intended to satisfy the qualification requirements of
Code Section 401(a); and
3.12.1.6 actuarial reports or valuations for the last
three years.
3.12.2 To Sithe's knowledge, except as set forth in Schedule
3.12 and except as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect, all Benefit Plans subject to ERISA and the Code covering
employees or former employees of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company
comply with ERISA and the Code.
3.12.3 Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12, all Employee
Benefit Plans intended to be qualified under Code Section 401 maintained by any
Company or any Subsidiary of any Company have received favorable determinations
with respect to such qualified status from the Internal Revenue Service or will
be amended as requested by the Internal Revenue Service within the remedial
amendment period prescribed under Section 401(b) of the Code so as to
50
<PAGE> 58
obtain such favorable determination. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12, to
Sithe's knowledge, nothing has occurred in the operation of any such plan that
would adversely affect its qualification under Section 401(a) of the Code.
3.12.4 None of the Companies, any Subsidiaries of any Company
or their respective ERISA Affiliates currently sponsors, contributes to or has
any obligation to contribute to any voluntary employees' beneficiary
association, as defined in Section 501(c)(9) of the Code.
3.12.5 No Employee Benefit Plan that is subject to Title IV of
ERISA and is sponsored by any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company or their
respective ERISA Affiliates has (i) incurred an accumulated funding deficiency,
whether or nor waived, within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section
302 of ERISA, or (ii) been a plan with respect to which a reportable event, as
defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, to the extent that the reporting of such event
to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has not been waived, has occurred
and is continuing, or will occur as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.12, neither any Company nor any Subsidiary of any Company, nor any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates, has incurred any liability under Section 4062(b) of
ERISA or to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in connection with any
Benefit Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or any withdrawal liability
with respect to any Benefit Plan, within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA.
3.12.6 Neither any Company nor any Subsidiary of any Company or
their respective ERISA Affiliates sponsors or has previously sponsored,
maintained, contributed to or incurred an obligation to contribute to any
Multiemployer Plan.
51
<PAGE> 59
3.12.7 Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12, to Sithe's
knowledge, no Person has engaged in or been a party to a transaction that is
prohibited under Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA and not exempt
under Section 4975 of the Code or Section 408 of ERISA, respectively, in
relation to any of the Employee Benefit Plans covering employees or former
employees of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company.
3.12.8 Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12 or as specifically
provided in Sithe/GPU Agreements or the Collective Bargaining Agreements, as of
the date hereof, no employee or former employee of any Company or any Subsidiary
of any Company shall accrue or receive additional benefits, service or
accelerated rights to payment of benefits under any Benefit Plan or become
entitled to severance, termination allowance or similar payments as a result of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.12.9 Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12 and other than
claims for benefits in the ordinary course, there is no material claim pending,
or, to Sithe's knowledge, threatened, involving any Benefit Plan by any Person
against such Benefit Plan. No Benefit Plan is subject to ongoing audit or other
administrative proceeding of the IRS, the Department of Labor or any other
governmental agency, and no Benefit Plan is the subject of any pending
application for administrative relief under any voluntary compliance program of
the IRS, the Department of Labor or any other governmental entity.
3.12.10 Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12, each Company and
each Subsidiary of each Company has made full and timely payment of all amounts
required to be contributed under the terms of each Benefit Plan.
52
<PAGE> 60
3.12.11 Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12, no Benefit Plan
provides for the continuation of medical or health benefits or death benefits
after an employee's termination of employment (including retirement) except for
continuation coverage required pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code and Part 6
of Title I of ERISA and the regulations thereunder.
3.12.12 Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12, or as
specifically provided in the Sithe/GPU Agreements or a Collective Bargaining
Agreement, neither any Company nor any Subsidiary of any Company is subject to
any legal obligation to enter into any new form of compensation or employment
agreement or to establish any new Employee Benefit Plan or benefit program of
any nature, including (without limitation) any stock option, stock or cash
award, non-qualified deferred compensation or executive compensation plan or
policy or to modify or change any existing Benefit Plan. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.12, or as specifically provided in the Sithe/GPU Agreements or a
Collective Bargaining Agreement, each Company and/or each Subsidiary of each
Company has the right to, in any manner, and without the consent of any
employee, beneficiary or dependent, employees' organization or other person,
terminate, modify or amend any Employee Benefit Plan (or their participation in
any such new Employee Benefit Plan) at any time sponsored, maintained or
contributed to by any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company, effective as of
any date before, on or after the Closing Date except to the extent that any
retroactive amendment would be prohibited by Section 204(g) of ERISA or would
adversely affect a vested accrued benefit or a previously granted award under
any such plan not subject to Section 204(g) of ERISA.
Section 3.13 Events Subsequent to November 24, 1999. Except (a) as set
forth in Schedule 3.13, (b) as specifically provided for by this Agreement or
consented to or approved in
53
<PAGE> 61
writing by Buyer or (c) for transactions between or among any Company and any
other Company and/or one or more of the Subsidiaries of any Company or between
or among Subsidiaries of any Company, since November 24, 1999 neither any
Company nor any Subsidiary of any Company, has:
3.13.1 incurred or guaranteed any Funded Debt;
3.13.2 acquired or disposed of, in either case in any manner,
any Acquired Assets or properties, other than (i) acquisitions and dispositions
in the ordinary course of business consistent with Good Operating Practices,
(ii) dispositions of obsolete assets, (iii) acquisitions and dispositions in
connection with property losses fully covered by insurance, (iv) acquisitions
and dispositions in the ordinary course of business in accordance with any
Contract listed on Schedule 3.8 or (v) distributions or other payments of Cash
Equivalents to any Seller or any Affiliate of any Seller;
3.13.3 amended its Charter Documents other than amendments to
remove the name "Sithe" from the name of any Company or Subsidiary of any
Company;
3.13.4 failed to pay and discharge on a timely basis any
liabilities which constitute current liabilities under GAAP, except for (i)
liabilities not yet due, (ii) liabilities which are subject to good faith
contest for which appropriate reserves have been established or (iii)
liabilities for which the failure to pay would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;
3.13.5 cancelled any indebtedness owed to any Company or any
Subsidiary of any Company or waived any rights of substantial value to any
Company or any Subsidiary of any
54
<PAGE> 62
Company, except for any such cancellations or waivers of intercompany
indebtedness or which, individually or in the aggregate, do not have a Material
Adverse Effect; or
3.13.6 entered into any agreement or commitment to take any of
the actions described in Sections 3.13.1 to 3.13.5.
Section 3.14 Title to Properties. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14,
the Companies and their Subsidiaries (a) have, or on the Closing Date will have,
good and valid title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the Acquired Assets
that consist of Real Property or tangible personal property and (b) own, lease
or have rights to use, or have rights with respect to, or on the Closing Date
will own, lease or have rights to use or have rights with respect, as
applicable, to all other material Acquired Assets (other than, in the case of
(a) or (b) above, material GPU Assets and the material Development Assets
disposed of in the ordinary course of business and consistent with Good
Operating Practices and dispositions that would not result in a breach of the
representations set forth in Section 3.13), free and clear of any material
Liens, except for: (i) Liens set forth in Schedule 3.14 or Liens incurred in the
ordinary course of business in connection with the performance of the terms of
any Contract listed on Schedule 3.8; (ii) Liens for current taxes not yet due
and payable or being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings,
Liens to lenders incurred on deposits made in the ordinary course of business in
connection with maintaining bank accounts, Liens in the ordinary course of
business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and
other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders,
statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government
contracts, governmental permits, licenses and approvals, performance and
return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations incurred in the ordinary
course of business, (iii)
55
<PAGE> 63
materialmen's, warehousemen's and mechanics' Liens and other Liens arising by
operation of law in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet due, and
(iv) zoning, entitlement, conservation restriction and other land use and
environmental regulations by Governmental Authorities, provided, in the case of
clauses (ii) and (iii) above, that none of the foregoing would have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Liens described
in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) are collectively referred to
as "Permitted Liens."
Section 3.15 Insurance. Each Company and the Subsidiaries of each
Company hold or are covered by valid policies of insurance of the types and in
such amounts as is customary for companies similarly situated. Prior to the
Closing Date, the Sellers shall provide a copy of each such policy, or if such
policy is not available, a broker's confirmation of coverage or binder, to
Buyer. Each Company and each Subsidiary of each Company is a named insured under
these policies or covered pursuant to a broad form named insured wording. The
Sellers shall use their reasonable efforts to have such policies endorsed to
provide that effective at and from the Closing Date, Buyer and its Affiliates
will be additional insureds, but only in respect of occurrences prior to the
Closing Date. The Sellers shall use reasonable efforts to assist Buyer in filing
any claims under such policies. In the event any such policies are
"claims-made", prior to the Closing Date the Sellers shall, in consultation with
Buyer, obtain terms to extend coverage thereunder for claims reported after the
Closing Date. Buyer may, at its option, accept or decline such terms and if
accepted, shall pay any premiums and related fees for the coverage extension.
Section 3.16 Transactions with Certain Persons. Except for liabilities
and obligations arising out of their employment relationship with any Company or
any Affiliate of any
56
<PAGE> 64
Company, and except as set forth in Schedule 3.8, 3.12 or 3.16, neither any
Company nor any Subsidiary of any Company has any outstanding liabilities or
obligations owing to or from any officer, director or employee of any Seller or
any of Sellers' Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) nor
any member of any such person's immediate family.
Section 3.17 Compliance With Environmental Laws. (a) Except as set
forth in Schedule 3.17, the Companies and their Subsidiaries are in compliance
with the applicable Environmental Laws, except where any such instance of
non-compliance would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.17, (i) no written notice of
any violation of the applicable Environmental Laws relating to the operations or
properties of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company has been received by,
and is pending against, any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company, except
where any such instance of non-compliance would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) there are no writs, injunctions,
consents, decrees, orders or judgments outstanding, or any pending actions,
suits, claims, or proceedings relating to compliance by any Company or any
Subsidiary of any Company with or liability of any of them under the applicable
Environmental Laws, including any Remediation of Hazardous Substances, except
where any such instance of non-compliance or liability would not have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth
on Schedule 3.17, there are no pending or, to Sithe's knowledge, threatened
investigations, actions, suits, claims, or proceedings relating to compliance by
any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company with or liability of any of them
under the applicable Environmental Laws except where any such instance of
non-compliance or liability would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse
57
<PAGE> 65
Effect. Schedule 3.17 lists all Emission Allowances and Emission Reduction
Credits included in the Acquired Assets.
(b) Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.17, (i) none of the Sellers, the
Companies or their Subsidiaries has received any written request for
information, or been notified in writing that it is a potentially responsible
party, under CERCLA or any similar state law with respect to the Real Property
or any other Acquired Asset and (ii) to Sithe's knowledge, since November 24,
1999, no Releases of Hazardous Substances have initiated at, from, in, on, or
under any Site, and no Hazardous Substances are present in, on, about or
migrating from any such Site that could reasonably be expected to give rise to
an Environmental Claim related to the Acquired Assets for which Remediation
reasonably could be required, except in any such case to the extent that any
such Releases would not, individually or in the aggregate, create a Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 3.18 Certain Matters Relating to GPU Assets and Development
Assets.
Except as set forth in Schedule 3.18:
3.18.1 All conditions precedent to closing set forth in the
Sithe/GPU Agreements or in any of the agreements that GPU or any of its
Affiliates entered into in connection with the closing of the transactions
contemplated by the Sithe/GPU Agreements (including, but not limited to,
continuing services agreements, interconnection agreements, transition power
purchase agreements and various easement, license, sublease and other
agreements) were satisfied or waived and all post-closing obligations thereunder
to be performed prior to the date hereof have been satisfied or waived.
3.18.2 All interconnection agreements contemplated by the
Sithe/GPU Agreements, including the interconnection agreements with respect to
the Keystone and
58
<PAGE> 66
Conemaugh facilities, have (a) been fully executed and delivered by the intended
parties thereto, and (b) been filed with FERC. The filing party has requested
that all such interconnection agreements become fully effective as of November
24, 1999.
3.18.3 No assets provided by the Sithe/GPU Agreements to have
been purchased by any Company or any of its Subsidiaries were excluded from
purchase under Section 7.3 of such agreements for failure to meet the conditions
therein.
3.18.4 Each of the Keystone and Conemaugh Operating Agreements
and the Keystone and Conemaugh Owners' Agreements are in full force and effect
and neither Sithe nor any of its Affiliates (including the Companies) has
received any notice of or has knowledge of any termination thereunder.
3.18.5 None of the Sellers or any Affiliates controlled by them
has any generation projects under development in the geographic area covered by
the PJM other than the Development Projects.
3.18.6 Except as set forth in the disclosure schedules hereto,
or otherwise provided in the Sithe/GPU Agreements, the Acquired Assets include
all of the assets and rights material to the operation of the generation
facilities included in the GPU Assets in accordance with Good Operating
Practices.
Section 3.19 Consents and Approvals. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.19, no registration or filing with, or consent or approval of or other action
by, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is or will be necessary for
the valid execution, delivery and performance by the Sellers of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than filings
required pursuant to the HSR Act.
59
<PAGE> 67
Section 3.20 Utility Regulation. Neither any Company nor any Subsidiary
of any Company is a "public utility company", a "holding company" or a
"subsidiary company" of a "holding company", each term as defined in PUHCA. Each
of the Generator Equity Interests constitutes an "exempt wholesale generator" as
such term is defined in PUHCA. As used in this Agreement, "Generator Equity
Interest" means any corporation, association, partnership or other business
entity owning any electric generating facilities and included in the Acquired
Assets. None of the Companies is (i) a "public utility" as that term is defined
in Section 102 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa. C.S. 102, an "electric
distribution company", or "electric generation supplier" as those terms are
defined in Section 2803 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. 2803, (ii) an
"electric company" or a "public service company" as defined in Section 1-101 of
the Public Utility Companies Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, (iii) an
"electric public utility" as defined in New Jersey Statutes Annotated
("N.J.S.A.") 48:3-51 or a "public utility" as defined in N.J.S.A. 48:2-13, (iv)
"engaged in the business of an electricity supplier" in the state of Maryland
within the meaning of Section 7-507 of the Public Utility Companies Article of
the Annotated Code of Maryland or (v) otherwise subject to regulation as to
rates or the provision of service by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission,
the Maryland Public Service Commission or the New Jersey Board of Public
Utilities. Sithe New Jersey Holdings LLC is an "electric power generator" as
that term is defined in N.J.S.A. 48:3-51.
Section 3.21 Intellectual Property. Except as disclosed in Schedule
3.21 (i) none of the Companies or their Subsidiaries is, nor has it received any
notice that it is, in default (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or
both, would be in default), under any contract to use Intellectual Property, and
(ii) to Sithe's knowledge, such Intellectual Property is not being
60
<PAGE> 68
infringed by any other Person. The Sellers have not received notice that they or
any of the Companies or the Subsidiaries of the Companies are infringing any
Intellectual Property of any other Person in connection with the operation or
business of the Acquired Assets, and, to the knowledge of Sellers, none of the
Sellers, the Companies or the Subsidiaries of the Companies are infringing any
Intellectual Property of any other Person the effect of which, individually or
in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect. "Intellectual Property"
means all patents and patent rights, trademarks and trademark rights, copyrights
and copyright rights owned by the Companies and their Subsidiaries and necessary
for the operation and maintenance of the Acquired Assets, and all pending
applications for registrations of patents, trademarks, and copyrights, as set
forth as part of Schedule 3.21.
ARTICLE 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE SELLERS
Except as otherwise disclosed in this Agreement or in any Schedule,
Sithe represents and warrants to Buyer, as of the date hereof (except where such
representation or warranty is expressly made as of another specific date), as
follows:
Section 4.1 Organization and Corporate Power. Each Seller is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of Delaware. Genco has full corporate power and authority to own the
Intercompany Notes, the Mid-Atlantic Stock and the LLC Interests and to transfer
the Intercompany Notes, the Mid-Atlantic Stock and the LLC Interests as provided
in this Agreement, and such transfer has been authorized by all requisite action
on the part of the Sellers. Sellers have full corporate power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform this Agreement.
61
<PAGE> 69
Section 4.2 Authorization; Validity. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by each Seller have been duly authorized by all
requisite action on the part of such Seller. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by each Seller and constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of such Seller, enforceable against such Seller in accordance with
its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereinafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally, and general equitable principles
(whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Section 4.3 No Conflict. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.3, the
execution, delivery and performance by each Seller of this Agreement and the
consummation by each Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i)
violate the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of such Seller, (ii)
violate any law or regulation applicable to such Seller, or (iii) violate or
conflict with, or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a
default under, any Contract by which such Seller or any of its assets is bound
except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not materially
adversely affect the Sellers' ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section 4.4 Ownership of Genco, Mid-Atlantic Stock and LLC Interests.
Sithe owns, indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
Genco. Genco owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Sithe
Mid-Atlantic (the "Mid-Atlantic Stock"), free and clear of any Liens. Genco owns
all of the limited liability company interests, as defined in Section 18-101 of
the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, of each of the Companies other than
Sithe Mid-Atlantic, and all voting and other rights appurtenant to the ownership
of such interests (such
62
<PAGE> 70
interests and rights, collectively, the "LLC Interests"), free and clear of any
Liens. Except for this Agreement and except for the limited liability company
agreements of the Companies and their Subsidiaries (other than Sithe
Mid-Atlantic and Sithe Northeast Management), there is no voting trust or
agreement, stockholders agreement, pledge agreement, buy-sell agreement, right
of first refusal, preemptive right, proxy or agreement or commitment to sell
relating to the Mid-Atlantic Stock and the LLC Interests or the capital stock or
other equity interests of any Subsidiary of any Company. On the Closing Date,
upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Buyer
will own the Mid-Atlantic Stock and the LLC Interests free and clear of any
Liens, except for any Liens created by or at the behest of Buyer.
ARTICLE 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer represents and warrants to the Sellers that, as of the date
hereof (except where such representation or warranty is expressly made only as
of a specific date) as follows:
Section 5.1 Organization and Corporate Power. Buyer is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
Delaware. Buyer has full corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform this Agreement.
Section 5.2 Authorization; Validity. The execution, delivery and
performance by Buyer of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all
requisite corporate action on the part of Buyer. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by Buyer and constitutes the valid and binding obligation
of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium
63
<PAGE> 71
or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally, and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law).
Section 5.3 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by
Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby will not (i) violate the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of
Buyer; (ii) violate any law or regulation applicable to Buyer, or any order of
any court or governmental agency or authority having jurisdiction over Buyer, or
(iii) violate or conflict with, or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time
or both) a default under, any Contract by which Buyer or any of its assets is
bound.
Section 5.4 Consents and Approvals. Except as set forth in Schedule
5.4, no registration or filing with, or consent or approval of or other action
by, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is or will be necessary for
the valid execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than filings
required pursuant to the HSR Act.
Section 5.5 Brokers. Neither Buyer nor any Subsidiary or Affiliate of
Buyer has any contract, arrangement or understanding with any investment banking
firm, broker, finder or similar agent with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except for Chase Securities Inc. whose fees
shall be borne by Buyer.
Section 5.6 Availability of Funds. At the Closing, Buyer will have
sufficient funds to pay the Aggregate Purchase Price and the Estimated
Adjustment Amount and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
64
<PAGE> 72
Section 5.7 No Knowledge of the Sellers' Breach. Buyer has no knowledge
of any breach by any Seller of any representation or warranty of such Seller or
of any condition or circumstance that would excuse Buyer from its timely
performance of its obligations hereunder.
Section 5.8 Investment. Buyer is not acquiring the Mid-Atlantic Stock
or the LLC Interests with a view to or for sale in connection with any
distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
ARTICLE 6. ACCESS; ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
Section 6.1 Access to Information; Continuing Disclosure
6.1.1 Access. The Sellers agree that from the date hereof until
the Closing Date, subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement (as
defined below) and for purposes of transition, upon reasonable notice from
Buyer, (i) the Sellers shall, and shall cause each Affiliate controlled by Sithe
to, provide to Buyer and its representatives (collectively, the "Buyer Group")
reasonable access, at reasonable times during normal business hours, to the
employees, auditors, counsel and consultants of the Sellers and the Affiliates
controlled by Sithe relating to, and to the properties, books and records of the
Sellers and the Affiliates controlled by Sithe relating to, the Acquired Assets
and the GPU Liabilities and shall promptly furnish to the Buyer Group
information as the Buyer Group may reasonably request; provided, that such
access shall be afforded to the Buyer Group as soon as practicable but in no
event more than two Business Days after receipt of notice, and only in such
manner so as not to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the normal operations
of the Companies or their Subsidiaries; and provided further, that neither
Seller nor any of their respective Affiliates shall be required to take any
action that would
65
<PAGE> 73
constitute a waiver of the attorney-client privilege or to supply to the Buyer
Group any information that any Company or any such Subsidiary of any Company is
under a legal obligation not to supply, and (ii) as soon as practicable after
request by Buyer or its representatives but in no event more than two Business
Days after receipt of notice, each Seller shall have, or cause the appropriate
Affiliate of Sithe to have, meetings or discussions with the Buyer Group
regarding the conduct of the business of each Company and its Subsidiaries, the
Acquired Assets, the GPU Liabilities and the effect thereon of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. All information furnished by or on behalf of any
Company or any Subsidiary of any Company hereunder to a member of the Buyer
Group shall be subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement dated as of
November 16, 1999 between Sithe and Buyer (the "Confidentiality Agreement").
Buyer shall not have the right to perform or conduct any environmental sampling
or testing at, in, on or underneath the Acquired Assets.
6.1.2 Transition. In furtherance of the foregoing Section 6.1.1
and to further transition planning activities, from the date hereof, the Sellers
shall permit designated representatives of Buyer and its Affiliates to use
office space at the offices of the Companies in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in order
to participate in transition planning. The Sellers will also designate certain
representatives located in Johnstown to work on a daily basis with Buyer's
designated representatives as a "transition team." The Companies shall keep
Buyer's designated representatives reasonably informed on a timely basis about
significant issues relating to the business of the Companies and their
Subsidiaries and the ownership, operation and development of the Acquired
Assets. Within 15 days of the date hereof, Buyer and the Sellers shall also
establish a transition planning committee, which shall meet (whether in person
or telephonically)
66
<PAGE> 74
not less than weekly and more frequently as appropriate to discuss matters
relating to Closing and the transition to ownership of the Companies and the
ownership, operation and development of the Acquired Assets by Buyer.
Section 6.2 Regulatory Approvals.
6.2.1 Antitrust Notification. Buyer and Sithe will as promptly
as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) days following the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, each file with the United States
Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") and the United States Department of Justice
(the "DOJ") the Notification and Report Form under the HSR Act, if any, required
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and as promptly as
practicable supply additional information, if any, requested in connection
herewith pursuant to the HSR Act. Such Notification and Report Form and
additional information, if any, submitted to the FTC or the DOJ shall be in
substantial compliance with the requirements of the HSR Act. Each of Buyer and
Sithe shall furnish to the other such information and assistance as the other
may reasonably request in connection with its preparation of any filing or
submission which is necessary under the HSR Act. Each of Buyer and Sithe shall
keep the other apprised in a prompt manner of the status and substance of any
communications with, and inquiries or requests for additional information from,
the FTC and the DOJ and shall comply promptly with any such inquiry or request.
Each of Buyer and Sithe will use its reasonable efforts to obtain the
termination or expiration of any applicable waiting period required under the
HSR Act for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.2.2 Regulatory Approval Process. Buyer and the Sellers shall,
as promptly as practical, but in no event later than thirty days following the
execution and delivery of this
67
<PAGE> 75
Agreement, submit or cause the submission, to the appropriate agency/ies or
third party/ies all declarations, filings and registrations listed on Schedules
7.4 and 8.4 required to be submitted by such Person or its Subsidiaries. The
parties agree to make a joint filing for any approval required under Section 203
of the Federal Power Act. With respect to any filings that will be submitted to
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"), Buyer and the Sellers shall
cooperate to share and develop information necessary for such filing(s) and
prepare drafts of such filing(s) within fifteen days following execution and
delivery of this Agreement and shall give each other reasonable opportunity to
comment on and to revise such draft filings(s) before such filing(s) are
submitted to FERC.
Section 6.3 Further Assurances. From time to time from the date hereof
until the Closing Date, as and when requested by any party hereto, the requested
party shall use reasonable efforts to execute and deliver, or cause to be
executed and delivered, all such documents and instruments and shall take, or
cause to be taken, all such further or other actions as such other party may
reasonably deem necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including, without limitation, such actions as are necessary in
connection with obtaining any third party consent or any regulatory filings
(including filings with FERC) identified on Schedule 7.4 or 8.4. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Sellers shall: (i) use reasonable
efforts to facilitate communication between Buyer and any Person having the
right to consent to the termination or substitution of any Terminated
Obligation, or to consent to the release of any obligation set forth on Schedule
6.16; and (ii) cooperate, and cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries to
cooperate, with Buyer in connection with any financing transactions, which
cooperation shall consist of making
68
<PAGE> 76
management of the Sellers, the Companies and the Subsidiaries of the Companies
available to potential financing sources and other Persons who may be involved
in potential financings (the "Financing Parties") (including any rating
agencies, attorneys, consultants, potential investors, lenders, placement agents
and underwriters) at management's offices on not less than two Business Days'
notice and only in such a manner so as not to unreasonably disturb or interfere
with the normal operations of Sithe and its Affiliates, and allowing the
Financing Parties and their representatives to conduct customary due diligence,
in each case, during normal business hours upon reasonable notice and subject to
the execution by such Financing Parties and each such representative of a
confidentiality agreement with the Sellers in form and substance consistent with
the Confidentiality Agreement; provided, however, the failure of either Seller
to perform its obligations in this sentence shall not constitute a breach of
this Agreement by either Seller or otherwise constitute an event that would, by
itself, give rise to any claim by Buyer or right of Buyer to terminate this
Agreement. In the event that any Acquired Asset shall not have been effectively
assigned, transferred or conveyed to the Companies or the Subsidiaries of the
Companies at the Closing, the Sellers shall convey such asset to Buyer as
promptly as is practicable after the Closing in the manner set forth in, and
subject to the limitations set forth in, the Assignment.
Section 6.4 Certain Tax Matters.
6.4.1 Election Under Section 338(h)(10).
6.4.1.1 The Sellers and Buyer shall make a joint
election for each of Sithe Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Management under Section
338(h)(10) of the Code and under any comparable provisions of state or local law
(an "Election") with
69
<PAGE> 77
respect to the purchase of the Mid-Atlantic Stock and the deemed purchase of all
outstanding capital stock of Northeast Management. The Sellers and Buyer shall
mutually execute and complete copies of IRS Form 8023 and any similar state or
local forms no later than 60 days prior to the due date (including extensions)
for filing such forms or the Tax Returns to which such forms must be attached.
If any changes are required in these forms as a result of information that is
first available after such forms are prepared, the parties will promptly agree
on such changes.
6.4.1.2 Buyer shall prepare and submit to the Sellers a
proposed allocation of the Modified Adjusted Deemed Sales Price (as defined in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.338(h)(10)-1(f)) for each of Sithe Mid-Atlantic
and Northeast Management among the assets of each such corporation as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date. Sellers shall approve and agree to the
proposed allocation unless Sellers reasonably determine that the proposed
allocation is improper. Neither Buyer nor the Sellers shall take any action
inconsistent with, or fail to take any action necessary for, the validity of the
Election, and, if an allocation schedule is agreed to among Buyer and the
Sellers, Buyer and the Sellers shall adopt and utilize the asset values as
determined on the allocation schedule for the purpose of all Tax Returns filed
by them unless otherwise required by applicable law.
6.4.2 Tax Returns. The Sellers shall cause the Companies and
their Subsidiaries to prepare and file at the Sellers' expense (i) all Tax
Returns of the Companies and their Subsidiaries which are required to be filed
(taking into account extensions of time to file) on or before the Closing Date
and (ii) all federal and state income and franchise Tax Returns of the
70
<PAGE> 78
Companies and their Subsidiaries for all periods ending on or prior to the
Closing Date. Buyer shall prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed)
at its own expense all other Tax Returns of the Companies and their
Subsidiaries. If either Buyer, on the one hand, or either Seller, on the other
hand, may be liable for any material portion of the Tax payable in connection
with any Tax Return to be filed by the other, the party responsible under this
Section 6.4.2 for filing such return (the "Preparer") shall prepare and deliver
to the other party (the "Payor") a copy of such return and any schedules, work
papers and other documentation then available that are relevant to the
preparation of the portion of such return for which the Payor is or may be
liable hereunder not later than 30 days before the Due Date (as defined in
Section 6.4.12 of this Agreement). The Preparer shall not file such return until
the earlier of either the receipt of written notice from the Payor indicating
the Payor's consent thereto, or the Due Date. The Payor shall have the option of
providing to the Preparer, at any time at least 15 days prior to the Due Date,
written instructions as to how the Payor wants any, or all, of the items for
which it may be liable reflected on such Tax Return. The Preparer shall, in
preparing such return, cause the items for which the Payor is liable hereunder
to be reflected in accordance with the Payor's instructions (unless, in the
opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel to the Preparer, complying with the
Payor's instructions would likely subject the Preparer to any criminal penalty
or to civil penalties) and, in the absence of having received such instructions,
in accordance with past practice.
If the Preparer fails to satisfy its obligations pursuant to this
Section 6.4.2, the Payor shall have no obligation to indemnify the Preparer for
any Taxes which are reflected on any such Tax
71
<PAGE> 79
Return if and to the extent the Payor was actually prejudiced by such failure,
and shall retain any and all remedies it may otherwise have which arise out of
such failure.
6.4.3 Transfer Taxes.
6.4.3.1 Sales and Real Property Taxes. All sales and use
and real property transfer taxes incurred in connection with this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne by Buyer, and Buyer at its
own expense shall file, to the extent required by applicable laws and
regulations, all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to
all such transfer or sales and use taxes, and, if required by applicable law,
Buyer shall cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries to join the execution of
any such Tax Returns or other documentation.
6.4.3.2 Other Transfer Taxes. All excise, transfer
(excluding real property transfer or gains taxes and excluding sales and use
taxes), stamp, documentary, filing, recordation and other similar taxes
(excluding real property transfer or gains taxes and excluding sales and use
taxes), together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto
and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties, resulting directly
from the sale and transfer by the Sellers to Buyer of the Mid-Atlantic Stock and
the LLC Interests (the "Other Transfer Taxes"), shall be borne by Buyer.
Notwithstanding Section 6.4.2 of this Agreement, which shall not apply to Tax
Returns relating to Transfer Taxes, any Tax Returns that must be filed in
connection with Transfer Taxes shall be prepared and filed when due by Buyer,
and Buyer will use its reasonable efforts to provide such Tax Returns to the
Sellers at least 10 days prior to the Due Date for such Tax Returns.
72
<PAGE> 80
6.4.4 Indemnification.
6.4.4.1 Sellers' Indemnification of Buyer. The Sellers
shall indemnify Buyer from, against and in respect of any Taxes imposed on any
Company or any Subsidiary of a Company with respect to any taxable period, or
portion thereof, ending on or before the Closing Date; provided, however, that
with respect to Northeast Management, the Sellers shall have no obligation to
indemnify Buyer for taxes with respect to any taxable period or portion thereof
ending on or before November 24, 1999.
6.4.4.2 Buyer's Indemnification of the Sellers. The
Buyer shall indemnify the Sellers from, against and in respect of any liability
of the Sellers or their Subsidiaries for (A) any Taxes imposed on any Company or
any Subsidiary of a Company with respect to any taxable period, or portion
thereof, beginning on or after the Closing Date; and (B) any Transfer Taxes for
which Buyer is liable pursuant to Section 6.4.3 hereof.
6.4.5 Computation of Tax Liabilities.
6.4.5.1 Proration of Taxes and Earnings and Profits. To
the extent permitted by law or administrative practice, the taxable years of
each Company and each Subsidiary of each Company shall end on and include the
Closing Date. Whenever it is necessary to determine the liability for Taxes, or
the earnings and profits, of any Company or any Subsidiary of a Company for a
portion of a taxable year or period that begins before and ends after the
Closing Date, the determination of the Taxes or the earnings and profits for the
portion of the year or period ending on, and the portion of the year or period
beginning after, the Closing Date shall be determined by assuming that the
73
<PAGE> 81
taxable year or period ended on and included the Closing Date, except that
exemptions, allowances or deductions that are calculated on an annual basis and
annual property taxes shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days in
the annual period elapsed through the Closing Date as compared to the number of
days in the annual period elapsing after the Closing Date.
6.4.5.2 Standalone Basis. Whenever it is necessary to determine
the liability of any Company or any Subsidiary of a Company for Taxes, such
liability shall be computed as if such Company or such Subsidiary of a Company
was not a member of Sithe's or Genco's consolidated, affiliated, combined or
unitary group for Tax purposes.
6.4.6 Contest Provisions.
6.4.6.1 Notification of Contests. Each of Buyer, on the one
hand, and the Sellers, on the other hand (the "Recipient"), shall notify the
Vice President - Taxes or chief tax officer of the other party in writing within
45 days of receipt by the Recipient of written notice of any pending or
threatened audits, adjustments or assessments (a "Tax Audit") which are likely
to affect the liability for Taxes of such other party. If the Recipient fails to
give such prompt notice to the other party, it shall not be entitled to
indemnification for any Taxes arising in connection with such Tax Audit if and
to the extent that such other party is actually prejudiced by such failure to
give notice.
6.4.6.2 Which Party Controls.
6.4.6.2.1 Sellers' Items. If such Tax Audit relates to any
taxable period, or portion thereof, ending on or before the Closing Date or for
any Taxes for
74
<PAGE> 82
which the Sellers are liable in full hereunder, the Sellers shall at their
expense control the defense and settlement of such Tax Audit.
6.4.6.2.2. Buyer's Items. If such Tax Audit relates to
any taxable period, or portion thereof, beginning on or after the Closing Date
or for any Taxes for which Buyer is liable in full hereunder, Buyer shall at its
expense control the defense and settlement of such Tax Audit.
6.4.6.2.3 Combined and Mixed Items. If such Tax Audit
relates to Taxes for which both the Sellers and Buyer are liable hereunder, to
the extent practicable such Tax Items (as defined in Section 6.4.12 of this
Agreement) will be distinguished and each party will control the defense and
settlement of those Taxes for which it is so liable. If such Tax Audit relates
to a taxable period, or portion thereof, beginning before and ending after the
Closing Date and any Tax Item cannot be identified as being a liability of only
one party or cannot be separated from a Tax Item for which the other party is
liable, the party which has the greater potential liability for those Tax Items
that cannot be so attributed or separated (or both) shall control the defense of
the Tax Audit, provided that such party defends the items as reported on the
relevant Tax Return and provided further that no such matter shall be settled
without the written consent of both parties, not to be unreasonably withheld.
6.4.6.2.4 Participation Rights. Any party whose
liability for Taxes may be affected by a Tax Audit shall be entitled to
participate at its expense in such defense and to employ counsel of its choice
at its expense.
75
<PAGE> 83
6.4.7 Buyer's Claiming, Receiving or Using of Refunds and
Overpayments. If after the Closing, Buyer, any Company, or any Subsidiary of a
Company (A) receives any refund or (B) utilizes the benefit of any overpayment
of Taxes which, in each case (A) and (B), (x) relates to Taxes paid by the
Sellers or any Company, or any Subsidiary of a Company with respect to a taxable
period, or portion thereof, ending on or before the Closing Date, or (y) is the
subject of indemnification by the Sellers pursuant to this Agreement, Buyer
shall promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, to the Sellers the entire
amount of the refund or overpayment (including interest) resolved or utilized by
Buyer, any Company, or any Subsidiary of a Company. The Buyer agrees to notify
the Sellers within 15 days following the discovery of a right to claim any such
refund or overpayment and the receipt of any such refund or utilization of any
such overpayment. The Buyer agrees to claim any such refund or to utilize any
such overpayment as soon as possible and to furnish to the Sellers all
information, records and assistance necessary to verify the amount of the refund
or overpayment.
6.4.8 Resolution of All Tax-Related Disputes. In the event that
the Sellers and Buyer cannot agree on the calculation of any amount relating to
Taxes or the interpretation or application of any provision of this Agreement
relating to Taxes, such dispute shall be resolved by a nationally recognized
accounting firm mutually acceptable to each of the Sellers and Buyer, whose
decision shall be final and binding upon all Persons involved and whose expenses
shall be shared equally by the Sellers, on the one hand, and Buyer on the other
hand.
6.4.9 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. Any and
all existing Tax sharing agreements or arrangements, written or unwritten,
binding any Company or any Subsidiary of a Company, shall be terminated as of
the Closing.
76
<PAGE> 84
6.4.10 Assistance and Cooperation. The parties agree that,
after the Closing Date:
6.4.10.1 Buyer, on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the
other hand, shall each assist the other (and cause its respective Affiliates to
assist) the other party in preparing any Tax Returns which such other party is
responsible for preparing and filing;
6.4.10.2 Buyer, on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the
other hand, shall cooperate fully in preparing for any Tax audits, or disputes
with taxing authorities, relating to any Tax Returns or Taxes of any Company or
any Subsidiary of a Company;
6.4.10.3 Buyer, on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the
other hand, shall make available to each other upon written request and to any
taxing authority as reasonably requested in writing all relevant books and
records relating to Taxes but only to the minimum extent necessary to enable the
other party to prepare Tax Returns or resolve disputes with taxing authorities
relating to Tax Returns or Taxes of a Company or a Subsidiary of a Company. Any
such information shall be kept strictly confidential;
6.4.10.4 Buyer, on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the
other hand, shall promptly furnish the other party with copies of all relevant
correspondence received from any taxing authority in connection with any Tax
Audit or information request relating to Taxes for which such other party may
have an indemnification obligation under this Agreement; and
77
<PAGE> 85
6.4.10.5 Except as otherwise provided herein, the party
requesting assistance or cooperation shall bear the other party's out-of-pocket
expenses in complying with such request to the extent that those expenses are
attributable to fees and other costs of unaffiliated third-party service
providers.
6.4.11 This Section 6.4 alone shall govern the procedure for
all Tax indemnification claims, notwithstanding any provision of Article 12.
6.4.12 For purposes of this Agreement, "Due Date" shall mean,
with respect to any Tax Return, the date such return is due to be filed (taking
into account any valid extensions); and "Tax Item" shall mean, with respect to
Taxes, any item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit or other tax
attribute.
Section 6.5 Ordinary Course of Business.
6.5.1 Prior to the Closing, except (i) as set forth on Schedule
3.13 or 6.5 or actions taken in the ordinary course of business pursuant to or
in connection with Contracts listed on Schedule 3.8, (ii) as specifically
provided for by this Agreement or consented to or approved in writing by Buyer
or (iii) for transactions between or among any Company and any other Company
and/or one or more of the Subsidiaries of any Company or between or among
Subsidiaries of any Company, the Sellers shall cause each Company and each
Subsidiary of each Company to:
(a) conduct its business in the ordinary course of business,
consistent with Good Operating Practices;
(b) maintain the insurance coverage described in Section 3.15,
including the filing and prosecution of any claims related to the Acquired
Assets; and
78
<PAGE> 86
(c) comply with all applicable laws and regulations relating to the Acquired
Assets, including without limitation, all Environmental Laws, except where the
failure to so comply would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a
Material Adverse Effect.
6.5.2 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and,
except as (i) contemplated in this Agreement, (ii) described in Schedule 6.5 or
(iii) required under applicable laws and regulations or by any Governmental
Authority, prior to the Closing, without the prior written consent of Buyer, the
Sellers shall not, directly or indirectly through their Subsidiaries, with
respect to the Acquired Assets:
(a) make any material change in the levels of Inventories
customarily maintained with respect to the GPU Assets and the Development
Assets, other than changes in the ordinary course of business consistent with
Good Operating Practices or that would not have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) sell, lease (as lessor), encumber, pledge, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any of the Acquired Assets (except for (i) Acquired Assets,
used, consumed or replaced in the ordinary course of business consistent with
Good Operating Practices, (ii) dispositions of obsolete assets in the ordinary
course of business consistent with Good Operating Practices, (iii) property
losses, (iv) dispositions in the ordinary course of business in accordance with
any Contract listed on Schedule 3.8 and (v) dispositions of Acquired Assets not
to exceed $10.0 million in the aggregate, except that no such disposition shall
be of any Acquired Assets necessary for the operation of a generating facility
included in the Acquired Assets), other than to encumber Acquired Assets with
Permitted Liens;
79
<PAGE> 87
(c) modify, amend, voluntarily terminate, waive or permit to
expire prior to the scheduled expiration date any Contracts listed on Schedule
3.8, Real Property leases or any of the Permits or Environmental Permits
associated with such Acquired Assets other than (i) in the ordinary course of
business, to the extent consistent with Good Operating Practices, (ii) as may be
required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Sithe/GPU Agreements or (iii) as may be required by applicable law, rule or
regulation;
(d) (i) enter into any commitment for the purchase, sale, or
transportation of fuel unless (A) such commitment is terminable on or before the
Closing Date either (1) automatically or (2) by option of any Company or any
Subsidiary of any Company (or after the Closing, by Buyer) without penalty or
premium in its sole discretion, (B) such commitment will by its terms be fully
performed on or before the Closing Date, (C) such commitment is for an amount of
fuel necessary to produce electricity sufficient to satisfy the obligations of
the Sellers or their Subsidiaries pursuant to any Contract entered into pursuant
to Section 6.5.2 (d)(ii)(C) or (D) the aggregate payment under such commitment
for fuel and all other outstanding commitments for fuel not previously approved
by Buyer would not exceed $5.0 million, or (ii) enter into any commitment for
the purchase or sale of electricity, capacity or related products unless (A)
such commitment is terminable on or before the Closing Date either (1)
automatically or (2) by option of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company
(or after the Closing, by Buyer) without penalty or premium in its sole
discretion, (B) such commitment will by its terms be fully performed on or
before the Closing Date, (C) such commitment is for the sale of electricity into
the PJM Energy Interchange Market, or a similar daily spot market, (1) for an
amount of electricity not to exceed, with respect to any generating facility
included in the GPU
80
<PAGE> 88
Assets, the maximum capacity for such generating facility at the time such
commitment is made and (2) for a term not to extend beyond the next Business Day
following such commitment or (D) the aggregate payment under such commitment for
electricity, capacity or related products and all other outstanding commitments
for electricity, capacity or related products not previously approved by Buyer
would not exceed $5.0 million;
(e) sell, lease or otherwise dispose of Emission Allowances, or
Emission Reduction Credits identified in Schedule 3.17, except to the extent
necessary to operate any of the Acquired Assets in accordance with this Section
6.5 or in accordance with Good Operating Practices;
(f) enter into any Contract relating to the Acquired Assets
(other than any such Contract described in Section 6.5.2(d)) unless (i) such
Contract is terminable on or before the Closing Date either (A) automatically or
(B) by option of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company (or, after the
Closing, by Buyer) without penalty or premium in its sole discretion, (ii) such
Contract will by its terms be fully performed on or before the Closing Date,
(iii) the aggregate payments under any such Contract entered into after the date
hereof and not previously approved by Buyer would not exceed $500,000
individually or together with all other such Contracts, $5,000,000 in the
aggregate, (iv) such Contract relates to any outage and is entered into in
accordance with Good Operating Practices or (v) such Contract is (A) listed on
Schedule 6.5.2(f)(A) or (B) entered into by Sithe Power Marketing with the
consent of Buyer and set forth on Schedule 6.5.2(f)(B), as such schedule may be
amended from time to time in accordance with Section 6.5.5(b) (any Contract
referred to in this clause (v), a "Trading Contract", and all such Contracts
collectively, the "Trading Contracts"); provided that notwithstanding anything
else
81
<PAGE> 89
herein to the contrary, any Seller or any Subsidiary of any Seller may at any
time prior to the Closing Date amend, modify, supplement or terminate any
Contract set forth on Schedule 6.5.2(f)(A), or remove any such Contract from
Schedule 6.5.2(f)(A), with or without the consent of Buyer.
(g) except as otherwise required by the terms of the Collective
Bargaining Agreements or the Sithe/GPU Agreements or, with the prior written
consent of Buyer not to be unreasonably withheld, as Sithe believes is necessary
for the operation of the business of the Companies and their Subsidiaries in
accordance with Good Operating Practices: (i) hire any new employees prior to
the Closing on terms that provide for an annual salary of more than $100,000;
(ii) increase salaries or wages of employees prior to the Closing other than in
the ordinary course of business and in accordance with the past practices of
Sithe or any Affiliate of Sithe; (iii) take any action prior to the Closing to
effect a change in a Collective Bargaining Agreement; (iv) take any action prior
to the Closing to increase the aggregate benefits payable to its employees other
than increases for non-union employees in the ordinary course of business and in
accordance with past practices of Sithe or any Affiliate of Sithe; or (v) enter
into any employment contracts or any collective bargaining agreements with labor
organizations representing such employees;
(h) modify, amend, voluntarily terminate, waive or permit to
expire prior to the scheduled expiration date any rights under or agree to any
termination of any of the Contracts listed on Schedule 6.5.2, to the extent that
any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination could reasonably be
expected to affect the rights of the Companies and their Subsidiaries after the
Closing Date without the prior consent of Buyer not to be unreasonably withheld,
other than such amendments, modifications or alterations as (i) have already
been
82
<PAGE> 90
agreed upon, in substance (as disclosed on Schedule 6.5) or (ii) reasonably
incidental to the operation of the Acquired Assets in the ordinary course of
business;
(i) make any Capital Expenditures or incur any Development
Costs except for (1) Budgeted Capital Expenditures plus additional Capital
Expenditures in an amount of up to 10% of the amount of Budgeted Capital
Expenditures, (2) Budgeted Development Costs plus additional Development Costs
in an amount of up to 10% of the amount of Budgeted Development Costs, (3)
Capital Expenditures necessary in order to comply with (A) applicable law or the
rules and regulations of any Governmental Authority or other entity having the
legal authority to regulate the activities of the Companies, the Subsidiaries of
the Companies or the Acquired Assets (including, without limitation, rules and
regulations relating to PJM) and (B) to comply with the decisions of the owners
of the Keystone and/or Conemaugh generating facilities with respect to the
operation of such facilities, and (4) Capital Expenditures for the account of
Sithe and its Subsidiaries, other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries; and
(j) make any changes in scheduled outages for the generating
facilities included in the Acquired Assets, which scheduled outages are set
forth on Schedule 6.5.2(j), except in accordance with Good Operating Practices;
and
(k) except as otherwise provided herein, enter into any written
or oral contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement with respect to any of
the proscribed transactions set forth in the foregoing paragraphs (a) through
(j).
6.5.3 Notwithstanding Section 6.5.1 or 6.5.2, (a) any Company
and any Subsidiary of any Company shall be permitted to distribute or otherwise
pay Cash Equivalents to any other Company or Subsidiary of any Company or any
Seller or any Affiliate of any Seller
83
<PAGE> 91
(other than Cash Equivalents constituting proceeds from a disposition of assets
made by a Company or a Subsidiary of a Company in breach of this Agreement
without regard to materiality), (b) Sithe Northeast Management may enter into
Contracts on behalf of the station owners under the Keystone and Conemaugh
Operating Agreements, (c) Sithe Pennsylvania Holdings, LLC may enter into
Contracts and otherwise perform its obligations as an owner in the Keystone and
Conemaugh stations that are contemplated under the Keystone or Conemaugh annual
station plan, under the Keystone coal supply plan or under the Conemaugh coal,
natural gas and limestone supply plan and (d) Sithe and its Subsidiaries (other
than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) may enter into letters of credit that
satisfy the requirements of clause (b) of the definition of "Terminated
Obligations".
6.5.4 The Sellers shall cause one or more of their executive
officers set forth on Schedule 1D to make due inquiry of (a) each plant manager
of the generating facilities included in the Acquired Assets and (b) Martin
Rosenberg, as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.6.1, 3.8 and the third sentence of Section 3.17 as of the
date hereof and the Closing Date (except that, with respect to the plant
managers, due inquiry regarding the representations and warranties contained in
Section 3.3 and Section 3.8 shall be as of the Closing Date only), to the extent
that any such representation or warranty is qualified as to Sithe's knowledge.
6.5.5 (a) Buyer hereby designates the two representatives of
Buyer or its Affiliates listed on Schedule 6.5 under the heading "Buyer's
Representatives" or such other representatives as Buyer may designate upon
written notice to the Sellers (the "Buyer's Representatives"), to be responsible
for determining whether consent to any action prohibited by
84
<PAGE> 92
this Section 6.5 (other than any action described in clause (b) below) shall be
given by Buyer. The Sellers hereby designate the two representatives of the
Sellers listed on Schedule 6.5 under the heading "Sellers' Representatives" or
such other representatives as the Sellers may designate upon written notice to
Buyer (the "Sellers' Representatives"), to contact Buyer's Representatives with
requests for consent to any action prohibited by this Section 6.5 (other than
any action described in clause (b) below). Buyer's Representatives shall respond
promptly (in writing) to any request for consent (which must be written, except
as set forth below) to the taking of any action under this Section 6.5 and Buyer
shall not unreasonably withhold (taking into account Buyer's interests) the
requested consent. If Buyer's Representatives do not respond to any request
within three (3) Business Days of its receipt, such consent will be deemed to
have been given. The Sellers' Representatives may rely on any consent given by
either of Buyer's Representatives. The time periods within which Buyer's
Representatives must respond shall commence on the date on which either of
Buyer's Representatives receives a written request for consent.
(b) Buyer hereby designates the two representatives of Buyer
listed on Schedule 6.5 under the heading "Buyer's Trading Representatives" or
such other representatives as Buyer may designate upon written notice to the
Sellers (the "Buyer's Trading Representatives"), to be responsible for
determining whether any consent to any action that relates to a commitment
referenced in Section 6.5.2(d) and that is to be entered into on the Business
Day of the request shall be given by Buyer. The Sellers hereby designate the two
representatives of the Sellers listed on Schedule 6.5 under the heading
"Sellers' Trading Representatives" or such other representatives as the Sellers
may designate upon written notice (the "Sellers' Trading
85
<PAGE> 93
Representatives") to contact Buyer's Trading Representatives with respect to any
such commitment. Such request may be made orally and such consent (x) shall not
be unreasonably withheld (taking into account Buyer's interests), (y) shall be
given as soon as practicable and (z) shall be deemed to have been given if
Buyers Trading Representatives do not respond within 2 hours of receipt of such
request. The Sellers' Trading Representatives may rely on any consent given by
either of Buyer's Trading Representatives. The time periods within which Buyer's
Trading Representatives must respond shall commence on the date and time on
which either of Buyer's Trading Representatives receives a request for consent.
Section 6.6 Notice of Changes. Prior to the Closing, each party will
promptly advise the other in writing with respect to any matter arising after
execution of this Agreement of which that party obtains knowledge (including,
without limitation, knowledge that if in existence on the date of this Agreement
and not disclosed by Buyer would have resulted in the breach of Section 5.7) and
which, if existing or occurring at the date of this Agreement, would have been
required to be set forth in this Agreement, including any of the Schedules.
Section 6.7 Collective Bargaining Agreements. Effective as of the
Closing, Buyer shall cause each Company and each Subsidiary of each Company to
perform its respective obligations under any Collective Bargaining Agreement
that covers the employees of any such entity for the duration of the term of any
such Collective Bargaining Agreement. Effective as of the Closing, Buyer shall
assume the Collective Bargaining Agreements in place of Sithe and shall
thereafter recognize the Unions in place of Sithe and comply with all applicable
obligations in place of Sithe under the Collective Bargaining Agreements. If,
after the Closing, Buyer sells, transfers, or otherwise conveys any of the
Acquired Assets covered by one or more of the
86
<PAGE> 94
Collective Bargaining Agreements, whether by transfer, lease, assignment,
corporate reorganization or otherwise, Buyer shall require, as an absolute
precondition of such sale, transfer, or conveyance, that the purchaser,
transferee, lessee or assignee of such assets assume the applicable Collective
Bargaining Agreement(s) and agree to be bound by the terms, conditions and
obligations thereof.
Section 6.8 Pollution Control Bonds. Notwithstanding any other
provision hereof, Buyer covenants and agrees that, after the Closing Date, Buyer
will not make any modifications to the "Purchased Assets" as defined under the
Sithe/GPU Agreements or take any action which, in and of itself, results in a
loss of the exclusion of interest on the "Pollution Control Revenue Bonds" as
defined under the Sithe/GPU Agreements issued on behalf of Jersey Central Power
& Light Company, Metropolitan Edison Company and Pennsylvania Electric Company
(the "GPU Sellers") in connection with such Purchased Assets from gross income
for federal income tax purposes under Section 103 of the Code. Actions with
respect to Purchased Assets shall not constitute a breach by Buyer of this
Section 6.8 in the following circumstances: (i) Buyer ceases to use or
decommissions any of the Purchased Assets or subsequently repowers such
Purchased Assets that are no longer used or decommissioned (but does not hold
such Purchased Assets for sale); (ii) Buyer acts with respect to Purchased
Assets in order to comply with requirements under applicable federal, state or
local environmental or other laws or regulations; or (iii) Buyer acts in a
manner the GPU Seller (i.e., a reasonable private provider of electricity of
similar stature as the GPU Seller) would have acted during the term of the
Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (including, but not limited to, applying new
technology). In the event Buyer acts or anticipates acting in a manner that will
cause a loss of the exclusion of interest on the Pollution
87
<PAGE> 95
Control Revenue Bonds from gross income for federal income tax purposes, Buyer
shall give prompt written notice to such effect. Buyer further covenants and
agrees that, in the event that Buyer transfers any of the "Purchased Assets" (as
described above), Buyer shall obtain from its transferee a covenant and
agreement that is analogous to Buyer's covenant and agreement pursuant to this
Section 6.8, including this sentence. In addition, Buyer shall not, without at
least 60 days' advance written notice to the GPU Seller, take any action which
would result in (x) a change in the use of the assets financed with the
Pollution Revenue Control Bonds from the use in which such assets were
originally intended, or (y) a sale of such assets separate from the generating
assets to which they relate; provided that no notice is required of the events
set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above. This covenant shall survive the
Closing and shall continue in effect so long as the Pollution Control Revenue
Bonds remain outstanding.
Section 6.9 Certain Benefits Matters.
6.9.1 Following the Closing, Buyer agrees to cause each Company
and each Subsidiary of each Company to honor and perform the obligations of such
Company and such Subsidiary under each Benefit Plan in accordance with the terms
of any such Benefit Plan and in accordance with the obligations imposed under
the Sithe/GPU Agreements and the Collective Bargaining Agreements; provided,
however, that Buyer, any Company and any Subsidiary of any Company may make any
lawful changes to any such Benefit Plan, or terminate any Benefit Plan, to the
extent permitted under the terms of such Benefit Plan, the Sithe/GPU Agreements,
the Collective Bargaining Agreements and applicable law. Effective as of the
Closing, Buyer shall assume in place of Sithe all the obligations of Sithe under
the Sithe/GPU Agreements that pertain to the Benefit Plans and shall cause Sithe
to be released from all such obligations. In the event
88
<PAGE> 96
that any employees of a Company or Subsidiary of a Company are covered under a
Benefit Plan sponsored by Sithe that is required to be maintained on behalf of
such employees pursuant to the Sithe/GPU Agreements or a Collective Bargaining
Agreement, Buyer shall, or shall cause the Company or the Subsidiary of any
Company that employs such employees either to assume the sponsorship of such
Benefit Plan, accept a spin-off of the portion of such Benefit Plan covering
such employees, adopt a new Employee Benefit Plan or amend an existing Employee
Benefit Plan to provide the required benefits, as Buyer may determine, provided
that Buyer shall notify Sithe of the manner in which it will meet the obligation
described in this sentence at least thirty (30) days before the Closing and
cause Sithe to be released from its obligations under the Sithe/GPU Agreements
effective upon the Closing. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude a
subsequent agreement by Buyer to assume the obligation to provide benefits under
any Employee Benefit Plan to any group of employees under one or more of the
Collective Bargaining Agreements with respect to service earned with a Company
or a Subsidiary of any Company for the period commencing November 24, 1999 and
ending on the Closing Date, subject to reimbursement of Buyer by Sithe for the
cost of any such benefits, calculated as Buyer and Sithe may agree, and subject
to the agreement of the Union that represents the affected employees.
6.9.2 Following the Closing, Buyer shall cause each Company and
each Subsidiary of each Company to (A) waive all pre-existing conditions,
exclusions, and waiting periods with respect to participation and coverage
requirements applicable to the employees of such Company and each such
Subsidiary and their covered dependents under any group health plan, within the
meaning of Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code, in which such employees may be
89
<PAGE> 97
eligible to participate after the Closing Date except to the extent that such
pre-existing conditions, exclusions and waiting periods were in effect in the
Benefit Plans that covered such employees prior to the Closing; (B) provide each
employee of such Company and each such Subsidiary with credit for payments made
by such employee or his covered dependents prior to the Closing Date for
purposes of satisfying any applicable deductible or out-of-pocket requirements
under any such group health plan, and (C) give credit, to employees of such
Company and each such Subsidiary, for purposes of satisfying any eligibility or
vesting requirements of (but not for purposes of benefit accrual under) any
Employee Benefit Plan, or other benefit program or arrangement in which
employees of such Company and each such Subsidiary may be eligible to
participate after the Closing Date, for services rendered by such employees
prior to the Closing Date to such Company and each such Subsidiary or, to the
extent recognized by the Benefit Plans, for services rendered to any other
Person; provided, that the foregoing shall not apply to the extent it would
result in duplication of benefits.
Section 6.10 WARN Act. Sellers and the Companies will provide Buyer on
or prior to the Closing Date with a written list of all employees of the
Companies or their Subsidiaries whose employment has been terminated and whose
work hours have been reduced within 90 calendar days preceding the Closing Date.
Such list will indicate the employee's site of employment, position or job
title, name, starting and ending dates of employment and date of employment
loss, termination, layoff and, if applicable, the amount of hour reduction. If a
plant closing or a mass layoff occurs or is deemed to occur with respect to any
Company or any Subsidiary of any Company or any of their respective facilities
in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or at any
time after the Closing, Buyer shall be
90
<PAGE> 98
solely responsible for providing all notices required under the Work Adjustment
and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 2109 et seq. or the
regulations promulgated thereunder (the "WARN Act") and for taking all remedial
measures, including, without limitation, the payment of all amounts, penalties,
liabilities, costs and expenses if such notices are not provided.
Section 6.11 Sithe Release from GPU Liabilities. If requested by Sithe,
Buyer shall use reasonable efforts to cause all third parties to release Sithe
and its Affiliates and their successors and assigns (other than the Companies
and their Subsidiaries) from all GPU Liabilities and to obtain the
acknowledgment or consent of any third party of or to the assumption by Buyer of
the GPU liabilities as provided in Article 12; provided that the failure to
cause such release or obtain such acknowledgement or consent shall not affect
Buyer's obligations under Article 12.
Section 6.12 Change of Entity Names. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that
the trade name "Sithe" shall not be deemed an Acquired Asset and that the
Sellers shall be permitted (but shall not be required), on or prior to the
Closing, to cause each Company and each Subsidiary of each Company to change its
name such that the name "Sithe" is not used in any such entity's name. Following
the Closing Date, Buyer shall, upon the request of any Seller, cause any Company
or any Subsidiary of any Company the name of which includes the name "Sithe" to
change its name within 90 days of such request to exclude the name "Sithe."
Section 6.13 Interim Services Agreement. As promptly as practicable but
in any event within 30 days of the date of this Agreement, Buyer and Sithe shall
negotiate in good faith and use reasonable efforts to enter into an Interim
Services Agreement with respect to the services and on the terms and conditions
described in Schedule 1C; provided that the execution and
91
<PAGE> 99
delivery of the Interim Services Agreement shall not be a condition to the
performance by any party of any of such party's obligations under this
Agreement.
Section 6.14 Environmental Matters/ISRA. Buyer acknowledges that Sithe
New Jersey Holdings, LLC has entered into agreements with the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection ("NJDEP") pursuant to the New Jersey
Industrial Site Recovery Act ("ISRA"), N.J.S.A. ss.ss. 13:1K-6 et seq.,
("Remediation Agreements") which obligate Sithe New Jersey Holdings, LLC to
conduct a Remediation of the Glen Gardner, Sayreville, Werner and Gilbert
generating facilities in conformance with applicable State standards. The
Sellers shall cause Sithe New Jersey Holdings, LLC to take such actions as are
necessary to obtain such authorizations as are required to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in compliance with ISRA, including
the filings of any General Information Notices and any other required ISRA
documents and applications. Buyer agrees to cooperate with the Sellers and Sithe
New Jersey Holdings, LLC in these efforts, which cooperation shall include, but
shall not be limited to, execution of, or consenting to, ISRA related
applications, submissions or remediation agreements with NJDEP and the
establishment of remediation funding sources satisfactory to NJDEP. Buyer agrees
that the Sellers and their Affiliates shall have no responsibility for
compliance with ISRA after Closing. Pursuant to Section 12.1 of this Agreement,
at Closing, Buyer shall assume all of the Sellers' ISRA obligations and
liabilities related to the GPU Assets and shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Sellers, their Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) and
their shareholders for any costs or liabilities associated with the remediation
of the GPU Assets, including those obligations and liabilities addressed in the
existing Remediation Agreements between Sithe New Jersey Holdings, LLC and NJDEP
and any
92
<PAGE> 100
further ISRA obligations or liabilities arising as a result of this Agreement,
provided, that Buyer's obligation to indemnify and hold harmless the Sellers,
their Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) and their
shareholders shall not apply to any fines or penalties imposed by NJDEP arising
out of Sellers' decision to close the transactions provided for in this
Agreement without obtaining NJDEP's authorizations pursuant to ISRA.
Section 6.15 Certain Rights Under Amended and Restated Transition Power
Purchase Agreements.
Buyer shall promptly (but in no event later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern
time, on February 23, 2000 provide the Sellers with written instructions setting
forth the amount, if any, of capacity with respect to which the applicable
Affiliates of the Sellers should exercise the put options. The Sellers shall
cause the applicable Affiliates to exercise the put options or refrain from such
exercise, in accordance with such instructions; provided, that Buyer shall have
consulted with the Sellers regarding the benefits to the Companies and their
Subsidiaries of complying with such instructions, and such instructions shall
not be inconsistent with the operation of the Companies and their Subsidiaries
in accordance with Good Operating Practices; and provided further, that in the
absence of any such written instructions from Buyer at or prior to 5:00 p.m.,
Eastern time, on February 23, 2000, Buyer shall be deemed to have consented to
either the exercise of such options (in whole or in part) or to a determination
not to exercise such options, in either case, as determined by either Seller (or
the applicable Affiliates) in the sole discretion of any such Person; and
provided, further, that neither the Sellers nor Buyer (nor their respective
Affiliates) shall be liable for any losses or damages alleged to have occurred
as a result of or arising out of any action or inaction consistent with any
instructions from Buyer given pursuant to this Section
93
<PAGE> 101
6.15 or, failing delivery of such instruction from Buyer at or prior to 5:00
p.m., Eastern time, on February 23, 2000, any discretionary action or inaction
by either Seller (or any of their Affiliates) with respect to Section 3.06 of
any of the Amended and Restated Transition Power Purchase Agreements. The
Sellers shall provide to Buyer copies of any and all correspondence from GPU or
any of its Affiliates regarding the "put option" or the "call option" under any
of the Amended and Restated Transition Power Purchase Agreements immediately
after receipt thereof.
Section 6.16 Release of Certain Agreements. Buyer and Sellers shall use
reasonable efforts to obtain for the benefit of each Seller and its Affiliates
(other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) a release from any and all
obligations and liabilities of such Seller and such Affiliates arising under, or
in connection with, each of the Contracts listed on Schedule 6.16.
Section 6.17 GPU Post Closing Amounts. The Sellers shall indemnify and
hold harmless Buyer from and against any liabilities, claims, demands,
judgments, losses, costs, damages or expenses from and after the Closing Date
that Buyer may sustain, suffer or incur and that result from or arise out of or
relate to the GPU Post Closing Amounts.
Section 6.18 Trading Contracts. On or prior to the Closing Date, the
Sellers shall cause Sithe Power Marketing, and Guarantor shall cause Reliant
Energy Services, Inc. ("RES") to enter into "back-to-back" Contracts pursuant to
which Sithe Power Marketing shall purchase from (or sell to) RES any fuel,
electricity, capacity or related products required to be sold by (or purchased
by) Sithe Power Marketing, as the case may be, pursuant to each Trading Contract
on substantially the same terms and conditions as are applicable to Sithe Power
Marketing under such Trading Contract. The Sellers shall use reasonable efforts
to cause Sithe Power Marketing to enter into the Trading Contracts described in
Section 6.5.2(f)(v)(B) using the form of enabling
94
<PAGE> 102
agreement provided to the Sellers by Buyer with such changes thereto as shall be
mutually acceptable to RES and Sithe Power Marketing.
Section 6.19 Matters Relating to Keystone and Conemaugh. From the date
hereof until the Closing Date, the Sellers shall, and shall cause Sithe
Pennsylvania Holdings LLC to, promptly notify Buyer of, and consult with Buyer
with respect to, any proposed vote of the owners under the Keystone and
Conemaugh Owners' Agreements. Buyer shall direct the vote of Sithe Pennsylvania
Holdings LLC or any other Subsidiary of Sellers entitled to vote under such
agreements with respect to any such matter, provided that Buyer agrees to
execute such vote in a manner consistent with Good Operating Practices.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Buyer does not provide written
direction to Sithe reasonably in advance of such proposed vote, but in any event
no later than one Business Day preceding the date of such proposed vote, Buyer
shall be deemed to have granted to Sithe Pennsylvania Holdings LLC the right to
exercise discretion with respect to the matter subject to such vote. Neither the
Sellers nor their Affiliates shall be liable for any losses or damages alleged
to have occurred as a result of or arising out of any vote by Sithe Pennsylvania
Holdings LLC under the Keystone and Conemaugh Owners' Agreements made in
accordance with this Section 6.19.
ARTICLE 7. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS
The obligations of Buyer under this Agreement shall be subject to the
satisfaction (or waiver by Buyer in its sole discretion), at or before the
Closing, of each of the following conditions, and the Sellers shall use
reasonable efforts to cause each of such conditions to be satisfied on or before
the Target Date and, in any event, as promptly as practicable:
95
<PAGE> 103
Section 7.1 No Injunction. No Governmental Authority shall have issued
any injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or
enacted any statute, rule or regulation that prohibits the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby; provided, that the parties shall use their
reasonable efforts to litigate against, and obtain the lifting of, any such
injunction or order.
Section 7.2 Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of each Seller contained in Articles 3 and 4 shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (in each case except (a)
where such representation or warranty is expressly made only as of a date other
than the date hereof, in which case such representation or warranty shall be
true and correct in all material respects as of such date, and (b) where such
representation or warranty is qualified by reference to materiality or a
Material Adverse Effect, in which case such representation or warranty shall be
true in all respects) as though such representations and warranties were made at
and as of the Closing Date, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement
or as may be specified in amendments to any of the Schedules provided at the
Closing (none of which amendments may disclose the occurrence of any event or
development which, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material
Adverse Effect); and Buyer shall have received at the Closing (i) a certificate
of each Seller dated the Closing Date and signed on behalf of such Seller by an
executive officer of such Seller to such effect, but only insofar as it is
applicable to the representations and warranties set forth in Article 3, which
certificate shall include a representation that one or more of the executive
officers listed on Schedule 1D have made due inquiry of (A) the plant managers
and (B) Martin Rosenberg not earlier than three (3) Business Days prior to the
Closing Date for purposes of affirming those representations and
96
<PAGE> 104
warranties referred to in Section 6.5.4 that are qualified as to Sithe's
knowledge, and (ii) a certificate of each Seller dated the Closing Date and
signed by an executive officer of such Seller, to such effect, but only insofar
as it is applicable to the representations and warranties set forth in Article
4.
Section 7.3 Performance. Each Seller shall have performed and complied
in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this
Agreement to be performed or complied with by such Seller at or prior to the
Closing (except where a covenant or agreement is qualified by reference to
materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case such covenant or agreement
shall be performed in all respects); and Buyer shall have received at the
Closing a certificate of each Seller dated the Closing Date and signed on behalf
of such Seller by an executive officer of such Seller to such effect.
Section 7.4 Approvals and Filings. All Permits, Environmental Permits,
consents, authorizations and approvals from, and all declarations, filings and
registrations with, Governmental Authorities or third parties that are listed on
Schedule 7.4 shall have been obtained or made without any conditions or terms
that, individually or in the aggregate, have or would have a Material Adverse
Effect. All waiting periods under the HSR Act shall have expired or been
properly terminated.
Section 7.5 Opinion of Counsel. Buyer shall have received an opinion or
opinions dated the Closing Date of counsel to the Sellers, covering the matters
set forth on Schedule 7.5.
Section 7.6 No Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this
Agreement, no events that have or would have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred and be continuing.
97
<PAGE> 105
Section 7.7 Buyer Permits. Buyer shall have obtained all Permits and
Environmental Permits listed on Schedule 7.4, to the extent necessary, to own
and operate the generating facilities included in the Acquired Assets in
accordance with past emissions and operating practices, except for those Permits
and Environmental Permits the absence of which would not individually or in the
aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 7.8 Resignations. Buyer shall have received the written
resignations of the directors, limited liability company managers and officers
of each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, effective as of the Closing
Date.
ARTICLE 8. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF EACH SELLER
The obligations of Sellers under this Agreement shall be subject to the
satisfaction (or waiver by the Sellers in their sole discretion) at or before
the Closing, of each of the following conditions, and Buyer shall use reasonable
efforts to cause each of such conditions to be satisfied on or before the Target
Date and, in any event, as promptly as practicable:
Section 8.1 No Injunction. No Governmental Authority shall have issued
any injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or
enacted any statute, rule or regulation that prohibits the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby; provided, that the parties shall use their
reasonable efforts to litigate against, and obtain the lifting of, any such
injunction or order.
Section 8.2 Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Buyer and Guarantor contained in Articles 5 and 13, respectively,
shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (in
each case except (a) where such representation or warranty is expressly made
only as of a date other than the date hereof, in which case such representation
or
98
<PAGE> 106
warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date) as
though such representations and warranties were made at and as of the Closing
Date, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement; and the Sellers shall
have received at the Closing (i) a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed
on behalf of Buyer by an executive officer of Buyer to such effect, but only
insofar as it is applicable to the representations and warranties set forth in
Article 5, and (ii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of
Guarantor by an executive officer of Guarantor to such effect, but only insofar
as it is applicable to the representations and warranties set forth in Article
13.
Section 8.3 Performance. Buyer shall have performed and complied in all
material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement
to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing (except where
a covenant or agreement is qualified by reference to materiality or Material
Adverse Effect, in which case such covenant or agreement shall be performed in
all respects); and the Sellers shall have received at the Closing a certificate,
dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of Buyer by an executive officer of
Buyer to such effect.
Section 8.4 Approvals and Filings. All Permits, Environmental Permits,
consents, authorizations and approvals from, and all declarations, filings and
registrations with, Governmental Authorities or third parties that are listed on
Schedule 8.4 shall have been obtained or made. All waiting periods under the HSR
Act shall have expired or been properly terminated.
99
<PAGE> 107
Section 8.5 Opinion of Counsel. The Sellers shall have received an
opinion or opinions dated the Closing Date of counsel to Buyer and Guarantor,
covering the matters set forth in Schedule 8.5.
ARTICLE 9. CLOSING
Section 9.1 Time and Place. Subject to the provisions of Articles 7 and
8, the closing of the sale by the Sellers and the purchase by Buyer of the
Intercompany Notes, the Mid-Atlantic Stock and the LLC Interests and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by Article 2 (the "Closing") shall
take place at the offices of Latham & Watkins, 885 Third Avenue, New York, New
York 10022 on the Target Date; provided, however, that, if all of the conditions
in Articles 7 and 8 are not satisfied by the Target Date, then, subject to
Article 10, the Closing shall take place on the fifth Business Day after the
date on which such conditions are satisfied (other than those conditions that by
their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment
or waiver of those conditions); and provided, further that, notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Closing may take place at such other place, at such other time,
or on such other date as the parties hereto may mutually agree (the date on
which the Closing occurs being herein referred to as the "Closing Date").
Section 9.2 Payments and Terminated Obligations.
9.2.1 Payment for Intercompany Notes, Mid-Atlantic Stock and
LLC Interests. At the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein, Buyer shall pay to Genco, by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account designated by the Sellers,
100
<PAGE> 108
the Fixed Purchase Price, as adjusted by the Estimated Adjustment Amount, in
United States dollars.
9.2.2 Terminated Obligations; Releases. At the Closing, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (a) Buyer shall
deliver to the applicable Company or Subsidiary of a Company (i) any letters of
credit in substitution for the Terminated Obligations that are required to be
delivered pursuant to Section 2.3 or (ii) evidence of other arrangements made in
satisfaction of Section 2.3 and (b) each Seller shall receive the releases
obtained pursuant to Sections 6.11 and 6.16.
Section 9.3 Deliveries.
9.3.1 Transfer Instruments. Genco shall deliver to Buyer (a)
the Intercompany Notes, duly endorsed in blank for transfer, (b) certificate(s)
evidencing the Mid-Atlantic Stock, duly endorsed in blank for transfer or
accompanied by a stock power duly executed in blank, (c) instruments of transfer
in substantially the form attached hereto as Schedule 9.3A, in order to
effectuate the transfer of the LLC Interests and (d) a general transfer and
conveyancing instrument with respect to the Acquired Assets in substantially the
form attached hereto as Schedule 9.3B duly executed by the Sellers.
9.3.2 Certificates; Opinions. Buyer and the Sellers shall
deliver to each other the certificates, opinions of counsel and other items
described in Articles 7 and 8.
9.3.3 Other Closing Transactions. Each of the parties shall
take such other actions required hereby to be performed by it prior to or on the
Closing Date, including, without limitation, satisfying the conditions set forth
in Articles 7 and 8, and providing evidence of such satisfaction consisting of
(i) the certificates required by Sections 7.2, 7.3, 8.2 and 8.3; (ii) copies
101
<PAGE> 109
of the consents, authorizations, approvals, declarations, filings and
registrations listed on Schedules 7.4 and 8.4, and (iii) copies of the opinions
of counsel required by Sections 7.5 and 8.5.
9.3.4 Senior Credit Facility and BECO Facility. The Sellers
shall deliver to Buyer, with respect to each of the Senior Credit Facility and
the BECO Facility, either (i) evidence of consent of the lenders under such
facility to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or (ii) a payoff letter evidencing the discharge of all outstanding obligations
of the Sellers and their Affiliates under such facility.
9.3.5 Additional Documents. Each party shall execute and
deliver to the other parties all documents which the other reasonably determines
are necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or to
demonstrate or evidence compliance with the terms or the accuracy of any
representation and warranty set forth herein. At the Closing, the Sellers shall
deliver to Buyer the stock certificates, certificates of organization, limited
liability company agreements and/or other instruments evidencing the Companies'
ownership of their respective Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE 10. TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT
Section 10.1 Methods of Termination. This Agreement may be terminated
and the transactions herein contemplated may be abandoned at any time prior to
the Closing Date:
10.1.1 by mutual consent of Sithe and Buyer; or
10.1.2 by Buyer at any time after September 30, 2000 if any of
the conditions provided for in Article 7 of this Agreement shall not have been
satisfied or waived in writing by
102
<PAGE> 110
Buyer in its sole discretion prior to such date; provided, that if any condition
in Article 7 has not been so satisfied or waived and diligent efforts are being
undertaken to satisfy such condition, including, but not limited to, efforts to
cure any breach of any representation or warranty, then the references to
September 30, 2000 in this Section 10.1.2 shall be extended for up to 90 days so
long as such diligent efforts continue; or
10.1.3 by Sithe at any time after September 30, 2000 if any of
the conditions provided for in Article 8 of this Agreement shall not have been
satisfied or waived in writing by Sithe in its sole discretion prior to such
date; provided, that if any condition in Article 8 has not been so satisfied or
waived and diligent efforts are being undertaken to satisfy such condition,
including, but not limited to, efforts to cure any breach of any representation
or warranty, then the references to September 30, 2000 in this Section 10.1.3
shall be extended for up to 90 days so long as such diligent efforts continue;
or
10.1.4 (a) by Buyer, upon not less than 30 days' prior written
notice, there has been a violation or breach by any Seller of any agreement,
representation or warranty contained in this Agreement which, individually or in
the aggregate, has or would have a Material Adverse Effect and which is not
susceptible to cure (or if so susceptible is not the subject of diligent efforts
on the part of the breaching party to cure; provided that no such efforts shall
affect the time periods set forth in Section 10.1.2); provided, that Buyer is
not in material violation or breach of its agreements, representations or
warranties contained in this Agreement, or (b) by Sithe upon not less than 30
days, prior written notice, if there has been a material violation or breach by
Buyer of any agreement, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement;
103
<PAGE> 111
provided, that the Sellers are not in material violation or breach of their
agreements, representations or warranties contained in this Agreement.
Section 10.2 Procedure Upon Termination and Consequences. Buyer or
Sithe, as the case may be, may terminate this Agreement when permitted pursuant
to Section 10.1 by delivering written notice of such termination, and such
termination shall be effective upon delivery of such notice in accordance with
Section 14.3. If this Agreement is terminated as provided herein:
10.2.1 Buyer will deliver all documents, work papers and other
materials relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, whether obtained
before or after the execution hereof, to the Sellers; and
10.2.2 no party hereto shall have any liability or further
obligation to any other party to this Agreement (i) except with respect to the
Confidentiality Agreement, which shall survive the termination of this
Agreement, including with respect to information that is subject to the
Confidentiality Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1, and the confidentiality
agreement dated February 8, 2000 between Buyer and Sithe which shall survive the
termination of this Agreement, (ii) except for such legal and equitable rights
and remedies which any party may have by reason of any breach or violation of
this Agreement by any other party prior to such termination and (iii) except
pursuant to Section 14.6.
ARTICLE 11. SURVIVAL
Section 11.1 Survival. The several representations and
warranties of each Seller contained in Article 4 (and in the certificate
delivered pursuant to Section 7.2(ii)), the
104
<PAGE> 112
representations and warranties of Buyer contained in Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3
(and the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.2(i) (only insofar as
applicable to Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3), the representations and warranties of
Guarantor contained in Sections 13.2.1, 13.2.2. and 13.2.3 (and the certificate
delivered pursuant to Section 8.2(ii) (only insofar as applicable to Sections
13.1, 13.2 and 13.3), the covenants and agreements of the Sellers contained in
Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, the last sentence of Section 6.3, 6.4, 6.16, 6.17,
10.2.1, Articles 11, 12 and 14, the covenants and agreements of Buyer contained
in Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 6.4, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.14,
6.16, Articles 11, 12 and 14, and the covenants and agreements of Guarantor
contained in Articles 11 and 13, shall survive the Closing. Except as provided
in the preceding sentence, the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements contained in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered pursuant
to this Agreement shall not survive the Closing and shall terminate
simultaneously therewith, and from and after the Closing no party shall have any
liability with respect to any such terminated representation, warranty, covenant
or agreement.
ARTICLE 12. ASSUMPTION OF GPU LIABILITIES; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 12.1 Assumption of GPU Liabilities; Indemnification. At the
Closing, Buyer shall assume, pursuant to an instrument substantially in the form
attached hereto as Schedule 12.1, all obligations and liabilities of any kind,
whether fixed, contingent, accrued or otherwise, that any Seller or any
Affiliate of any Seller (other than any Company or any Subsidiary of any
Company) or any of their respective successors or assigns may have under, with
respect to or in connection with the GPU Liabilities. Buyer shall indemnify,
defend and hold harmless each Seller, their Affiliates (other than the Companies
and their Subsidiaries) and their respective
105
<PAGE> 113
officers, directors, employees, shareholders, Affiliates and agents (each, an
"Indemnitee") from and against any and all claims, demands, suits, losses,
liabilities, damages, obligations, payments, costs and expenses (including,
without limitation, the costs and expenses of any and all actions, suits,
proceedings, assessments, judgments, settlements and compromises relating
thereto and reasonable attorneys' fees and reasonable disbursements in
connection therewith) (each, an "Indemnifiable Loss"), asserted against or
suffered by any Indemnitee relating to, resulting from or arising out of (i) the
GPU Liabilities or (ii) any Third Party Claims against any Indemnitee arising
out of or in connection with the Acquired Assets, including the acquisition,
ownership or operation thereof.
Section 12.2 Defense of Claims.
12.2.1 If any Indemnitee receives notice of the assertion of
any claim or of the commencement of any claims, action, or proceeding made or
brought by any Person (including Guarantor, Buyer, their respective Affiliates,
officers, directors and shareholders, and the successors and assigns of any such
Person) (a "Third Party Claim") with respect to which indemnification is to be
sought from a Person that is required to indemnify such Indemnitee (an
"Indemnifying Party"), the Indemnitee shall give such Indemnifying Party
reasonably prompt written notice thereof but in any event such notice shall not
be given later than ten (10) calendar days after the Indemnitee's receipt of
notice of such Third Party Claim. Such notice shall describe the nature of the
Third Party Claim in reasonable detail and shall indicate the estimated amount,
if practicable, of the Indemnifiable Loss that has been or may be sustained by
the Indemnitee. In addition, the Indemnitee shall transmit to the Indemnifying
Party a copy of all papers served with respect to such claim (if any). The
Indemnitee shall cooperate in good faith
106
<PAGE> 114
in such defense at the Indemnifying Party's expense. If the Indemnifying Party
shall acknowledge in writing to the Indemnitee that the Indemnifying Party shall
be obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under the terms of its indemnity
hereunder in connection with such Third Party Claim, then the Indemnifying Party
will have the right to participate in or, by giving written notice to the
Indemnitee, to elect to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim at such
Indemnifying Party's expense and by employing such Indemnifying Party's own
counsel; provided that the counsel for the Indemnifying Party who shall conduct
the defense of such Third Party Claim shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnitee. If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume the defense of any
Third Party Claim, the Indemnitee may compromise or settle such Third Party
Claim over the objection of the Indemnifying Party, which settlement or
compromise shall conclusively establish the Indemnifying Party's liability
pursuant to this Agreement.
12.2.2 (i) If, within ten (10) calendar days after an
Indemnitee provides written notice to the Indemnifying Party of any Third Party
Claims, the Indemnitee receives written notice from the Indemnifying Party that
such Indemnifying Party has elected to assume the defense of such Third Party
Claim as provided in Section 12.2.1, the Indemnifying Party will not be liable
for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection
with the defense thereof; provided, however, that if the Indemnifying Party
shall fail to take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently such Third
Party Claim within twenty (20) calendar days after receiving notice from the
Indemnitee, the Indemnitee may assume its own defense and the Indemnifying Party
shall be liable for all reasonable expenses thereof. (ii) Without the prior
written consent of the Indemnitee, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into
any settlement of
107
<PAGE> 115
any Third Party Claim which would lead to liability or create any financial or
other obligation or restriction on the part of the Indemnitee for which the
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder. If a firm offer is made
to settle a Third Party Claim without leading to liability or the creation of a
financial or other obligation on the part of the Indemnitee for which the
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder and the Indemnifying
Party desires to accept and agree to such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall
give written notice to the Indemnitee to that effect. If the Indemnitee fails to
consent to such firm offer within ten (10) calendar days after its receipt of
such notice, the Indemnifying Party shall be relieved of its obligations to
defend such Third Party Claim and the Indemnitee may contest or defend such
Third Party Claim. In such event, the maximum liability of the Indemnifying
Party as to such Third Party Claim will be the amount of such settlement offer
plus reasonable costs and expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee up to the date
of said notice.
12.2.3 Any claim by an Indemnitee on account of an
Indemnifiable Loss which does not result from a Third Party Claim (a "Direct
Claim") shall be asserted by giving the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt
written notice thereof, stating the nature of such claim in reasonable detail
and indicating the estimated amount, if practicable, and the Indemnifying Party
shall have a period of thirty (30) calendar days after the Indemnifying Party's
receipt of such notice within which to respond to such Direct Claim. If the
Indemnifying Party does not respond within such thirty (30) calendar day period,
the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have accepted such claim. If the
Indemnifying Party rejects such claim, the Indemnitee will be free to seek
enforcement of its right to indemnification under this Agreement.
12.2.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein:
108
<PAGE> 116
12.2.4.1 Any Indemnitee shall use reasonable efforts to
mitigate all losses, damages and the like relating to a claim under these
indemnification provisions, including availing itself of any defenses,
limitations, rights of contribution, claims against third Persons and other
rights at law or equity. The Indemnitee's reasonable efforts shall include the
reasonable expenditure of money to mitigate or otherwise reduce or eliminate any
loss or expenses for which indemnification would otherwise be due, provided that
the Indemnitee shall only be required to make expenditures if and to the extent
that the Indemnifying Party shall have advanced funds to the Indemnitee for such
expenditures after notice from the Indemnitee to the Indemnifying Party that
such an expenditure would be required.
12.2.4.2 Any Indemnifiable Loss shall be net of the
dollar amount of any insurance or other proceeds actually received by the
Indemnitee with respect to the Indemnifiable Loss, but shall not take into
account any income tax benefits to the Indemnitee, or any income taxes
attributable to the receipt of any indemnification payments hereunder. Any party
seeking indemnity hereunder shall use reasonable efforts to seek coverage
(including both costs of defense and indemnity) under applicable insurance
policies with respect to any such Indemnifiable Loss; provided, that the failure
to seek or obtain such coverage shall not affect such party's rights pursuant to
this Article 12, and provided, further, that no such party seeking
indemnification shall be required to enter into or maintain any insurance policy
or incur additional insurance premiums pursuant to this Section 12.2.4.2.
109
<PAGE> 117
The expiration or termination of any covenant or agreement
shall not affect the parties' obligations under this Section if the Indemnitee
provides the Indemnifying Party with proper notice of the claim or event for
which indemnification is sought prior to such expiration, termination or
extinguishment.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no party
(including an Indemnitee) shall be entitled to recover from any other party
(including an Indemnifying Party) for any liabilities, damages, obligations,
payments, losses, costs, or expenses under this Agreement any amount in excess
of the actual compensatory damages, court costs and reasonable attorney's and
other advisor fees suffered by such party. Buyer and the Sellers waive any right
to recover punitive, incidental, special, exemplary and consequential damages
arising in connection with or with respect to this Agreement. The provisions of
this last paragraph of Section 12.2.4.2. shall not preclude recovery of an
Indemnifiable Loss by an Indemnitee to the extent such Indemnifiable Loss is
payable to a third party in connection with a Third Party Claim.
12.2.5 A failure to give timely notice as provided in this
Section 12.2 shall not affect the rights or obligations of any party hereunder
except if, and only to the extent that, as a result of such failure, the party
which was entitled to receive such notice was actually prejudiced as a result of
such failure.
12.2.6 If the amount of any Indemnifiable Loss, at any time
subsequent to the making of an indemnity payment in respect thereof, is reduced
by recovery, settlement or otherwise under or pursuant to any insurance
coverage, or pursuant to any claim, recovery, settlement or payment by, from or
against any other entity, the amount of such reduction, less
110
<PAGE> 118
any costs or expenses incurred in connection therewith shall promptly be repaid
by the Indemnitee to the Indemnifying Party.
ARTICLE 13. OBLIGATIONS OF GUARANTOR
Section 13.1 Guarantee. In order to induce the Sellers to enter into
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and for
other good and valuable consideration received, Guarantor irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantees Buyer's obligation to pay promptly when due the
Aggregate Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (the
"Guaranteed Obligations"). No invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of
all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, or of any security therefor,
shall affect, impair or be a defense to the foregoing guarantee nor shall any
other circumstances which may otherwise constitute a defense available to, or
legal or equitable discharge of, Guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed
Obligations, or of any security therefor, or in respect of the foregoing
guarantee affect, impair or be a defense to the foregoing guarantee. The
liability of Guarantor hereunder is absolute, primary and unconditional and
shall not be subject to any offset, defense or counterclaim of Guarantor.
Guarantor also agrees that no Seller need attempt to collect any part of the
Guaranteed Obligations from Guarantor or others, but may require Guarantor to
make immediate payment of the Guaranteed Obligations when due or at any time
thereafter. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Guarantor hereby waives all
defenses, counterclaims and all suretyship defenses.
111
<PAGE> 119
Section 13.2 Representations and Warranties Regarding Guarantor.
Guarantor represents and warrants to the Sellers that, as of the date hereof
(except where such representation or warranty is expressly made only as of a
specific date) as follows:
13.2.1 Organization and Corporate Power. Guarantor is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Texas. Guarantor has full corporate power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform this Agreement.
13.2.2 Authorization; Validity. The execution, delivery and
performance by Guarantor of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all
requisite corporate action on the part of Guarantor. This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by Guarantor and constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of Guarantor, enforceable against Guarantor in accordance with its
terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally, and general equitable principles
(whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
13.2.3 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by
Guarantor of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (i) violate the articles of incorporation or
by-laws of Guarantor; (ii) violate any law or regulation applicable to
Guarantor, or any order of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over
Guarantor, or (iii) violate or conflict with, or constitute (with due notice or
lapse of time or both) a default under, any Contract by which Guarantor or any
of its assets is bound.
13.2.4 Consents and Approvals. No registration or filing with,
or consent or approval of or other action by, any Governmental Authority or any
other Person is or will be
112
<PAGE> 120
necessary for the valid execution, delivery and performance by Guarantor of its
obligations under this Agreement.
Section 13.3 Covenants Relating to Buyer.
13.3.1 Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees that, for a period
commencing on the Closing Date and terminating on the second anniversary of the
Closing Date, Guarantor shall cause Buyer at all times to maintain (i) a Net
Worth equal to the greater of (a) $611 million or (b) an amount that is not
significantly less than the Net Worth of Buyer immediately after the Closing,
and (ii) sufficient net assets to discharge and perform its obligations pursuant
to this Agreement. Not later than forty five (45) days after the Closing Date,
Guarantor shall deliver to the Sellers a certificate of the Chief Financial
Officer of Guarantor (or an officer of Guarantor serving in a similar capacity)
(the "Chief Financial Officer of Guarantor") setting forth the Net Worth of
Buyer and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the calendar month immediately
preceding the month in which the Closing occurs, on a pro forma basis to give
effect to the purchase of the Intercompany Notes, the LLC Interests and the
Sithe Mid Atlantic Stock (the "CFO Certificate") and certifying that the amount
set forth in the CFO Certificate has been derived from a historical balance
sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP and that the adjustments thereto are
based upon reasonable assumptions. Not later than (y) the 45th day after the
last day of each of the first, second and third fiscal quarters of Buyer and (z)
the 100th day after the last day of each fiscal year of Buyer, Guarantor shall
provide Sithe with a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of Guarantor to
the effect that Guarantor was in compliance with the provisions of this Section
13.3.1 during the preceding fiscal quarter (or fiscal year, in the case of any
such certificate delivered with respect to a fiscal year-end balance sheet).
113
<PAGE> 121
13.3.2 Upon the reasonable request of Sithe in connection with
a possible acquisition, merger, consolidation, financing or other similar
transaction, Buyer shall provide to Sithe, upon not less than 10 Business Days'
prior notice, the most recent year-end audited consolidated balance sheet of
Buyer and its Subsidiaries (and, if such request is made later than the 135th
day following the last day of Buyer's fiscal year, the most recent unaudited
consolidated balance sheet of Buyer and its Subsidiaries) together with a
certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of Buyer that such balance sheet or
balance sheets have been prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that in no
event shall Buyer be required to deliver the foregoing balance sheets pursuant
to this Section 13.3.2: (a) more frequently than twice in any 365-day period;
and (b) unless Buyer and Sithe (and any third party to which Sithe proposes to
provide copies of such balance sheets) shall have executed a confidentiality
agreement reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and Sithe. In addition, if there is a
claim or threatened claim against Sithe or any of its Affiliates with respect to
any matter as to which Buyer is obligated to provide indemnification pursuant to
Article 12 and, based on the advice of Sithe's independent auditors, in the
absence of evidence of Buyers ability to satisfy such obligation, such claim or
threatened claim will be required to be disclosed, in footnotes or otherwise, in
Sithe's consolidated financial statements, then upon the reasonable request of
Sithe, Buyer shall provide to Sithe, upon not less than 10 Business Days' prior
notice, the financial statements referred to the preceding sentence, but without
regard to the number of other requests that Sithe may have delivered during the
preceding 365-day period.
13.3.3 Notwithstanding Section 13.3.1, Guarantor may elect, at
any time on or prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date, to terminate
Section 13.3.1 by delivering to the Sellers a guarantee of all of Buyer's
obligations hereunder in form and substance satisfactory
114
<PAGE> 122
to the Sellers in their sole discretion by either (a) Guarantor or (b) another
Person, provided that such other Person has (i) a Net Worth greater than or
equal to the Net Worth of Guarantor immediately prior to the date of such
assumption and (ii) either (A) securities listed on a national securities
exchange in the United States, Britain, Japan, France, Germany, the Netherlands
or Belgium, (B) an investment grade credit rating for long term unsecured
indebtedness from either Standard and Poors Rating Group, a division of the
McGraw-Hill Industries, Inc., or Moody's Investors Services, Inc. or (C) a
financial condition reasonably acceptable to Sithe, as determined based upon
financial statements that are mutually acceptable to Guarantor and Sithe. Any
such guarantee shall terminate on the second anniversary of the Closing Date.
ARTICLE 14. MISCELLANEOUS
Section 14.1 Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may be amended,
modified and supplemented only by written agreement of Buyer and Sithe.
Section 14.2 Waiver of Compliance. Any failure of Buyer, on the one
hand, or any Seller, on the other hand, to comply with any obligation, covenant,
agreement or condition contained herein may be expressly waived in writing by
Sithe, in the event of any such failure by Buyer, or by Buyer, in the event of
any such failure by any Seller, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict
compliance shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any
subsequent or other failure.
Section 14.3 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and other
communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be
in writing and may be given by any of the following methods: (a) personal
delivery, (b) facsimile transmission,
115
<PAGE> 123
(c) registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or
(d) overnight courier service. Notices shall be sent to the appropriate party at
its address or facsimile number given below (or at such other address or
facsimile number for such party as shall be specified by notice given
hereunder).
If to either Seller, to:
Sithe Energies, Inc.
335 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Telecopy: (212) 351-0015
General Counsel
Telecopy: (212) 351-0019
with copies to:
Latham & Watkins
885 Third Avenue, Suite 1000
New York, New York 10022-4802
Attn: Roger H. Kimmel, Esq.
Samuel A. Fishman, Esq.
Telecopy: (212) 751-4864
or to such other Person or address as Sithe shall designate by notice
to Buyer.
If to Buyer to:
Reliant Energy Power Generation, Inc.
1111 Louisiana
Houston, Texas 77002
Telecopy No.: 713-207-9605
Attn: J. Douglas Divine
Senior Vice President
Generation Development, Wholesale Group
116
<PAGE> 124
with a copy to:
Reliant Energy, Incorporated
1111 Louisiana
Houston, Texas 77002
Telecopy: 713-207-0116
Attn: Michael L. Jines
Vice President and General Counsel, Wholesale
Group
or to such other Person or address as Buyer shall designate by notice
to Sithe.
All such notices, requests, demands, waivers and communications shall
be deemed received upon (i) actual receipt thereof by the addressee, (ii) actual
delivery thereof to the appropriate address or (iii) in the case of a facsimile
transmission, transmission thereof by the sender and issuance by the
transmitting machine of a confirmation slip that the number of pages
constituting the notice have been transmitted without error. In the case of
notices sent by facsimile transmission, the sender shall contemporaneously mail
a copy of the notice to the addressee at the address provided for above by first
class mail or by an overnight courier service, postage prepaid. However, such
mailing shall in no way alter the time at which the facsimile notice is deemed
received.
Section 14.4 Binding Nature; Assignment. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns, but neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the
parties hereto without prior written consent of (i) in the case of an assignment
by Buyer or Guarantor, Sithe or (ii) in the case of an assignment by any Seller,
Buyer; provided, that Buyer may assign and delegate its rights, interests and
obligations hereunder to one or more wholly-owned direct or indirect
Subsidiaries of Buyer or of Guarantor, upon written notice to
117
<PAGE> 125
Sithe (which shall contain a representation that the assignee is a wholly-owned
Subsidiary of Buyer or Guarantor) at or before the Closing Date, in which event
Buyer shall remain liable for all of its obligations under this Agreement and
such Subsidiary or Subsidiaries shall, together with Buyer, be jointly and
severally liable for such obligations. Nothing contained herein, express or
implied, is intended to confer on any Person other than the parties hereto or
their successors and assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the proviso contained in
the immediately preceding sentence, Buyer may not assign its rights, interests
and obligations hereunder if such assignment could reasonably be expected to
result in a delay or impediment to consummating those transactions hereunder
which by their terms are to be performed on the Closing Date, including, without
limitation, due to the need to obtain the consent of any third party, including
any Governmental Authority, not required for Buyer to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 14.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Schedules
and the Confidentiality Agreement, embodies the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein. This Agreement, including the Schedules, the Confidentiality Agreement
and the confidentiality agreement, dated February 8, 2000 between Buyer and
Sithe, supersede all prior drafts, agreements and understandings between or
among any or all of the parties with respect to such subject matter and
supersede any letters, memoranda or other documents or communications, whether
oral, written or electronic, submitted or made by (i) Buyer or its agents or
representatives to either Seller, Goldman, Sachs & Co. or any of their
respective Affiliates, agents or representatives, or (ii) either Seller,
Goldman, Sachs & Co. or their respective agents or representatives to Buyer or
any of its agents
118
<PAGE> 126
or representatives, in connection with the bidding process which occurred prior
to the execution of this Agreement or otherwise in connection with the
negotiation and execution of this Agreement. No communications by or on behalf
of any Seller, including responses to any questions or inquiries, whether
orally, in writing or electronically, and no information provided in any data
room or any copies of any information from any data room provided to Buyer or
any other information shall be deemed to (i) constitute a representation,
warranty or an agreement of such Seller, or (ii) be part of this Agreement.
Section 14.6 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided in
Section 2.2.3, each party to this Agreement will pay its own expenses in
connection with the negotiation of this Agreement, the performance of its
obligations hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein.
Section 14.7 Press Releases and Announcements; Disclosure. Prior to the
Closing Date, no press release or other public announcement or disclosure
related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein (including but
not limited to the terms and conditions of this Agreement) shall be issued or
made without the prior approval of Buyer and Sithe. The foregoing shall not
prohibit any disclosure required by law, provided such disclosure is made
pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement and that the disclosing party shall
consult with the other parties in advance of such disclosure.
Section 14.8 Acknowledgment.
14.8.1 Buyer acknowledges that neither any Seller, any Company,
any Subsidiary of any Company nor any other Person has made any representation
or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any
information regarding any Seller, any
119
<PAGE> 127
Company or any Subsidiary of any Company not included in this Agreement and
the Schedules. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no
representation or warranty is made with respect to any information in the
Confidential Offering Memorandum dated November 1999 or any supplement or
amendment thereto provided in connection with the solicitation of proposals to
enter into the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such information
having been provided for the convenience of Buyer in order to assist Buyer in
framing its due diligence efforts.
14.8.2 Buyer further acknowledges that (i) Buyer, either alone
or together with any Persons Buyer has retained to advise it with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby ("Advisors"), has knowledge and experience in
transactions of this type and in the business of the Companies and their
Subsidiaries and is therefore capable of evaluating the risks and merits of
acquiring the Intercompany Notes, the Mid-Atlantic Stock and the LLC Interests
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) it has relied
on its own independent investigation, and has not relied on any information or
representations furnished by any Seller, any Company, any Subsidiary of any
Company or any representative or agent of any thereof or any other Person
(except as specifically set forth herein), in determining to enter into this
Agreement, (iii) neither any Seller, any Company, any Subsidiary of any Company
nor any representative or agent of any thereof or any other Person has given any
investment, legal or other advice or rendered any opinion as to whether the
purchase of the Intercompany Notes, the Mid-Atlantic Stock and the LLC Interests
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby is prudent, and
Buyer is not relying on any representation or warranty by any Seller, any
Company, any Subsidiary of any Company or any representative or agent of any
thereof or any
120
<PAGE> 128
other Person except as set forth in this Agreement, (iv) Buyer has conducted
extensive due diligence, including a review of the documents contained in a data
room prepared by or on behalf of the Sellers, the Companies and the Subsidiaries
of the Companies; and (v) the Sellers made available to Buyer all documents,
records and books pertaining to the Companies and the Subsidiaries of the
Companies that Buyer's attorneys, accountants, Advisors, if any, and Buyer have
requested, and Buyer and its Advisors, if any, have had the opportunity to visit
the Companies and the Subsidiaries of the Companies, their facilities, plants,
development sites, offices and other properties, and ask questions and receive
answers concerning the Companies, the Subsidiaries of the Companies and the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 14.9 Disclaimer Regarding Assets. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, each Seller expressly disclaims any representations or
warranties of any kind or nature, express or implied, as to the condition, value
or quality of the assets or operations of the Companies or the Subsidiaries of
the Companies or the prospects (financial and otherwise), risks and other
incidents of the Companies or the Subsidiaries of the Companies and each Seller
specifically disclaims any representation or warranty of merchantability, usage,
suitability or fitness for any particular purpose with respect to such assets,
or any part thereof, or as to the workmanship thereof, or the absence of any
defects therein, whether latent or patent, or compliance with environmental
requirements, or as to the condition of, or the rights of any Company or any
Subsidiary of any Company, or their title to, any of their assets, or any part
thereof, or whether any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company possesses
sufficient Real Property or personal property interests to own or operate such
assets. Except as expressly provided herein, no Schedule or exhibit to this
Agreement, nor any other material or information
121
<PAGE> 129
provided by or communications made by any Seller, any Company, any Subsidiary of
any Company, or any of their respective representatives will cause or create any
warranty, express or implied, as to the condition, value or quality of such
assets. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no representation or
warranty is made with respect to the accuracy of any information provided in any
site tours or on any web site, or in any meetings with management or other
personnel of any Seller, any Company, any Subsidiary of any Company or their
respective representatives, except as expressly set forth herein.
Section 14.10 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving
effect to the choice of law principles thereof which would require the
application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than New York. Each party
consents to personal jurisdiction in any action arising out of or relating to
this Agreement brought in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of
New York, or any New York court within the County and State of New York having
subject matter jurisdiction as to a matter arising out of or relating to this
Agreement (and the appropriate appellate courts), and each of the parties hereto
agrees that (except as provided in Sections 2.2.2 and 2.2.3) any action
instituted by either of them against the other arising out of or relating to
this Agreement will be instituted exclusively in one of the above specified
courts.
Section 14.11 Nonforeign Affidavit. At or prior to the Closing, Genco
shall furnish Buyer an affidavit, stating, under penalty of perjury, that the
indicated number is the transferor's United States taxpayer identification
number and that the transferor is not a foreign person, pursuant to Section
1445(b)(2) of the Code. In the event that Genco fails to furnish such affidavit
to Buyer, Buyer shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Aggregate
Purchase
122
<PAGE> 130
Price federal income taxes to the extent required to be withheld pursuant to
Section 1445(a) of the Code.
Section 14.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed
counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission
shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this
Agreement.
Section 14.13 Interpretation. The article and section headings
contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
constitute a part hereof.
Section 14.14 Confidentiality. (a) (i) The terms and conditions of the
Confidentiality Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference into this
Agreement as of the Closing Date, as though fully set forth herein, except for
the following amendments: (A) the provisions thereof shall terminate five years
from the Closing Date; (B) the term "Confidential Information" as used therein
shall mean all information, whether written, oral or otherwise and on whatever
medium that is furnished to the Recipient (as defined in the Confidentiality
Agreement) and its Representatives (each as defined in the Confidentiality
Agreement) by Sithe which concerns Sithe, its affiliates, properties or assets
or the properties or assets of GPU, and all analyses, compilations, forecasts,
studies or other documents prepared by Recipient (as defined in the
Confidentiality Agreement) or its Representatives which contain such
information; and (C) the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement shall not
apply to any Confidential Information relating to the Acquired Assets (the
"Confidential Acquired Asset Information"). From and after
123
<PAGE> 131
the Closing Date, the term "Confidentiality Agreement" shall mean the
Confidentiality Agreement as so incorporated by reference herein and as so
modified.
(b) From and after the Closing Date, Sithe agrees to maintain
in confidence any Confidential Acquired Asset Information Sithe or any of its
Subsidiaries have (with the exception of any publicly available information) for
a period of five (5) years from the Closing Date to the same extent and subject
to the same terms, conditions and exceptions as apply to the Recipient pursuant
to Section 14.14(a) with respect to Confidential Information (including, without
limitation, those terms, conditions and exceptions that were incorporated by
reference therein), mutatis mutandis as though such terms, conditions and
exceptions were set forth in this Section 14.14(b).
Section 14.15 Limitation on Due Inquiry. To the extent due inquiry is
required to be made of Martin Rosenberg with respect to any representation or
warranty made under this Agreement as of any date after Martin Rosenberg ceases
to be an employee of Sithe or of an Affiliate of Sithe, such requirement shall
be deemed to have been satisfied if such due inquiry is made within fourteen
(14) days prior to or 14 days after the date on which Mr. Rosenberg ceases to be
an employee of Sithe or an Affiliate of Sithe.
124
<PAGE> 132
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed on the day and year first above written.
SITHE ENERGIES, INC.
By: /s/ WILLIAM V. KRIEGEL
--------------------------------
Name: William V. Kriegel
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
SITHE NORTHEAST GENERATING COMPANY, INC.
By: /s/ WILLIAM V. KRIEGEL
--------------------------------
Name: William V. Kriegel
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
RELIANT ENERGY POWER GENERATION, INC.
By: /s/ J. DOUGLAS DIVINE
--------------------------------
Name: J. Douglas Divine
Title: Senior Vice President,
Generation Development
Reliant Energy, Incorporated, is executing
this Agreement solely for the purposes
specified in Article 13.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED,
as Guarantor
By: /s/ J. DOUGLAS DIVINE
--------------------------------
Name: J. Douglas Divine
Title: Senior Vice President,
Generation Development
Purchase Agreement
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 3(c)
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
Adopted and Amended by Resolution of the Board of Directors on
November 3, 1999
ARTICLE I
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 1. Share Ownership. Shares for the capital stock of the Company
may be certificated or uncertificated. Owners of shares of the capital stock of
the Company shall be recorded in the share transfer records of the Company and
ownership of such shares shall be evidenced by a certificate or book entry
notation in the share transfer records of the Company. Any certificates
representing such shares shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board, if there
is one, the Chief Executive Officer, if there is one, the President or a Vice
President and either the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and shall be sealed
with the seal of the Company, which signatures and seal may be facsimiles. In
case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed
upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as
if he were such officer at the date of its issuance.
Section 2. Shareholders of Record. The Board of Directors of the
Company may appoint one or more transfer agents or registrars of any class of
stock of the Company. The Company may be its own transfer agent if so appointed
by the Board of Directors. The Company shall be entitled to treat the holder of
record of any shares of the Company as the owner thereof for all purposes, and
shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in,
such shares or any rights deriving from such shares, on the part of any other
person, including (but without limitation) a purchaser, assignee or transferee,
unless and until such other person becomes the holder of record of such shares,
whether or not the Company shall have either actual or constructive notice of
the interest of such other person.
Section 3. Transfer of Shares. The shares of the capital stock of the
Company shall be transferable in the share transfer records of the Company by
the holder of record thereof, or his duly authorized attorney or legal
representative. All certificates representing shares surrendered for transfer,
properly endorsed, shall be canceled and new certificates for a like number of
shares shall be issued therefor. In the case of lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated certificates representing shares
<PAGE> 2
for which the Company has been requested to issue new certificates, new
certificates or other evidence of such new shares may be issued upon such
conditions as may be required by the Board of Directors or the Secretary for the
protection of the Company and any transfer agent or registrar. Uncertificated
shares shall be transferred in the share transfer records of the Company upon
the written instruction originated by the appropriate person to transfer the
shares.
Section 4. Shareholders of Record and Fixing of Record Date. For the
purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any
meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive a
distribution by the Company (other than a distribution involving a purchase or
redemption by the Company of any of its own shares) or a share dividend, or in
order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose
(other than determining shareholders entitled to consent to action by
shareholders proposed to be taken without a meeting of shareholders), the Board
of Directors may provide that the share transfer records shall be closed for a
stated period of not more than sixty days, and in the case of a meeting of
shareholders not less than ten days, immediately preceding the meeting, or it
may fix in advance a record date for any such determination of shareholders,
such date to be not more than sixty days, and in the case of a meeting of
shareholders not less than ten days, prior to the date on which the particular
action requiring such determination of shareholders is to be taken. If the share
transfer records are not closed and no record date is fixed for the
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
shareholders, or shareholders entitled to receive a distribution (other than a
distribution involving a purchase or redemption by the Company of any of its own
shares) or a share dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed
or the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such
distribution or share dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the
record date for such determination of shareholders. When a determination of
shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as
herein provided, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof
except where the determination has been made through the closing of the share
transfer records and the stated period of closing has expired.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings. All meetings of shareholders shall be
held at the registered office of the Company, in the City of Houston, Texas, or
at such other place within or without the State of Texas as may be designated by
the Board of Directors or officer calling the meeting.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders shall
be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time
by the Board of Directors or as may otherwise be stated in the notice of the
meeting. Failure to designate a time for the annual meeting or to hold the
annual meeting at the designated time shall not work a dissolution of the
Company.
Page 2 of 21
<PAGE> 3
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders may
be called by the Chairman of the Board, if there is one, the Chief Executive
Officer, if there is one, the President, the Secretary, the Board of Directors,
the holders of not less than one-tenth of all of the shares outstanding and
entitled to vote at such meeting or such other persons as may be authorized in
the Articles of Incorporation of the Company.
Section 4. Notice of Meeting. Written or printed notice of all meetings
stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in case of a special
meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be
delivered not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the
meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the Chairman of
the Board, if there is one, the Chief Executive Officer, if there is one, the
President, the Secretary or the officer or person calling the meeting to each
shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meetings . If mailed, such notice
shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail
addressed to the shareholder at his address as it appears on the share transfer
records of the Company, with postage thereon prepaid.
Any notice required to be given to any shareholder, under any provision
of the Texas Business Corporation Act, as amended (TBCA), the Articles of
Incorporation of the Company or these Bylaws, need not be given to a shareholder
if notice of two consecutive annual meetings and all notices of meetings held
during the period between those annual meetings, if any, or all (but in no event
less than two) payments (if sent by first class mail) of distributions or
interest on securities during a 12-month period have been mailed to that person,
addressed at his address as shown on the share transfer records of the Company,
and have been returned undeliverable. Any action or meeting taken or held
without notice to such person shall have the same force and effect as if the
notice had been duly given. If such a person delivers to the Company a written
notice setting forth his then current address, the requirement that notice be
given to that person shall be reinstated.
Section 5. Voting List. The officer or agent having charge of the share
transfer records for shares of the Company shall make, at least ten days before
each meeting of shareholders, a complete list of the shareholders entitled to
vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof, arranged in alphabetical order,
with the address of and the number of shares held by each, which list, for a
period of ten days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the
registered office of the Company and shall be subject to inspection by any
shareholder at any time during usual business hours. Such list shall also be
produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject
to the inspection of any shareholder during the whole time of the meeting. The
original share transfer records shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the
shareholders entitled to examine such list or to vote at any meeting of
shareholders. Failure to comply with any requirements of this Section 5 shall
not affect the validity of any action taken at such meeting.
Section 6. Voting; Proxies. Except as otherwise provided in the
Articles of Incorporation of the Company or as otherwise provided in the TBCA,
each holder of shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote shall be
entitled to one vote for each share standing in his name on the records of the
Company, either in person or by proxy executed in writing by him or by his duly
Page 3 of 21
<PAGE> 4
authorized attorney-in-fact. A proxy shall be revocable unless expressly
provided therein to be irrevocable and the proxy is coupled with an interest. At
each election of directors, every holder of shares of the Company entitled to
vote shall have the right to vote, in person or by proxy, the number of shares
owned by him for as many persons as there are directors to be elected, and for
whose election he has a right to vote, but in no event shall he be permitted to
cumulate his votes for one or more directors.
Section 7. Quorum and Vote of Shareholders. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or these Bylaws,
the holders of a majority of shares entitled to vote, represented in person or
by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders, but, if a
quorum is not represented, a majority in interest of those represented may
adjourn the meeting from time to time. Directors shall be elected by a plurality
of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election of
directors at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present. With
respect to each matter other than the election of directors as to which no other
voting requirement is specified by law, the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company or in this Section 7 or in Article VII of these Bylaws, the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on that matter
and represented in person or by proxy at a meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be the act of the shareholders. With respect to a matter submitted to a
vote of the shareholders as to which a shareholder approval requirement is
applicable under the shareholder approval policy of the New York Stock Exchange,
Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act),
or any provision of the Internal Revenue Code, in each case for which no higher
voting requirement is specified by law, the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company or these Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the shares entitled to vote on, and voted for or against, that matter at a
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the shareholders,
provided that approval of such matter shall also be conditioned on any more
restrictive requirement of such shareholder approval policy, Rule 16b-3 or
Internal Revenue Code provision, as applicable, being satisfied. With respect to
the approval of independent public accountants (if submitted for a vote of the
shareholders), the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote on, and voted for or against, that matter at a meeting of
shareholders at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the shareholders.
Section 8. Presiding Officer and Conduct of Meetings. The Chairman of
the Board, if there is one, or in his absence, the Chief Executive Officer, if
there is one, or in his absence, the President shall preside at all meetings of
the shareholders or, if such officers are not present at a meeting, by such
other person as the Board of Directors shall designate or if no such person is
designated by the Board of Directors, the most senior officer of the Company
present at the meeting. The Secretary of the Company, if present, shall act as
secretary of each meeting of shareholders; if he is not present at a meeting,
then such person as may be designated by the presiding officer shall act as
secretary of the meeting. Meetings of shareholders shall follow reasonable and
fair procedure. Subject to the foregoing, the conduct of any meeting of
shareholders and the determination of procedure and rules shall be within the
absolute discretion of the officer presiding at such meeting (Chairman of the
Meeting), and there shall be no appeal from any ruling of the Chairman of the
Meeting with respect to procedure or rules. Accordingly, in any meeting of
shareholders or part thereof, the Chairman of
Page 4 of 21
<PAGE> 5
the Meeting shall have the sole power to determine appropriate rules or to
dispense with theretofore prevailing rules. Without limiting the foregoing, the
following rules shall apply:
(a) If disorder should arise which prevents continuation of
the legitimate business of meeting, the Chairman of the Meeting may
announce the adjournment of the meeting; and upon so doing, the meeting
shall be immediately adjourned.
(b) The Chairman of the Meeting may ask or require that anyone
not a bona fide shareholder or proxy leave the meeting.
(c) A resolution or motion proposed by a shareholder shall
only be considered for vote of the shareholders if it meets the
criteria of Article II, Section 9 (Proper Business -- Annual Meeting of
Shareholders) or Article II, Section 10 (Proper Business -- Special
Meeting of Shareholders), as the case may be. The Chairman of the
Meeting may propose any resolution or motion for vote of the
shareholders.
(d) The order of business at all meetings of shareholders
shall be determined by the Chairman of the Meeting.
(e) The Chairman of the Meeting may impose any reasonable
limits with respect to participation in the meeting by shareholders,
including, but not limited to, limits on the amount of time taken up by
the remarks or questions of any shareholder, limits on the number of
questions per shareholder and limits as to the subject matter and
timing of questions and remarks by shareholders.
(f) Before any meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors
may appoint three persons other than nominees for office to act as
inspectors of election at the meeting or its adjournment. If no
inspectors of election are so appointed, the Chairman of the Meeting
may, and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder's proxy
shall, appoint inspectors of election at the meeting of the
shareholders and the number of such inspectors shall be three. If any
person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to
act, the Chairman of the Meeting may, and upon the request of any
shareholder or a shareholder's proxy shall, appoint a person to fill
such vacancy.
The duties of the inspectors shall be to:
(i) determine the number of shares outstanding and
the voting power of each, the shares represented at the
meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity,
validity and effect of proxies and ballots;
(ii) receive votes or ballots;
Page 5 of 21
<PAGE> 6
(iii) hear and determine all challenges and questions
in any way arising in connection with the vote;
(iv) count and tabulate all votes;
(v) report to the Board of Directors the results
based on the information assembled by the inspectors; and
(vi) do any other acts that may be proper to conduct
the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the final certification of the
results of the election or other matter acted upon at a
meeting of shareholders shall be made by the Board of
Directors.
All determinations of the Chairman of the Meeting shall be conclusive
unless a matter is determined otherwise upon motion duly adopted by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the
shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in the election of
directors held by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at such
meeting.
Section 9. Proper Business -- Annual Meeting of Shareholders. At any
annual meeting of shareholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall
be a proper subject for the meeting and shall have been properly brought before
the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting of shareholders,
business (other than business relating to (i) any nomination of directors, which
is governed by Article III, Section 3, or (ii) any alteration, amendment or
repeal of the Bylaws or any adoption of new Bylaws, which is governed by Article
VII hereof) must (a) be specified in the notice of such meeting (or any
supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or
any duly authorized committee thereof), (b) otherwise be properly brought before
the meeting by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Meeting or the Board
of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (c) otherwise (i) be
properly requested to be brought before the meeting by a shareholder of record
entitled to vote in the election of directors generally, in compliance with the
provisions of this Section 9 and (ii) constitute a proper subject to be brought
before such meeting. For business to be properly brought before an annual
meeting of shareholders, any shareholder who intends to bring any matter (other
than a matter relating to (i) any nomination of directors, which is governed by
Article III, Section 3, or (ii) any alteration, amendment or repeal of the
Bylaws or any adoption of new Bylaws, which is governed by Article VII hereof)
before an annual meeting of shareholders and is entitled to vote on such matter
must deliver written notice of such shareholder's intent to bring such matter
before the annual meeting of shareholders, either by personal delivery or by
United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company. Such
notice must be received by the Secretary not less than 90 days nor more than 180
days prior to the date on which the immediately preceding year's annual meeting
of shareholders was held. In no event shall the public disclosure of an
adjournment of an annual meeting of shareholders commence a new time period for
the giving of a shareholder's notice as described above.
Page 6 of 21
<PAGE> 7
To be in proper written form, a shareholder's notice to the Secretary
shall set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the
annual meeting of shareholders (a) a brief description of the business desired
to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at
the meeting, (b) the name and address, as they appear on the Company's books and
records, of the shareholder proposing such business, (c) evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Secretary of the Company, of such shareholder's status as
such and of the number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Company
of which such shareholder is the beneficial owner, (d) a description of all
arrangements or understandings between such shareholder and any other person or
persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business
by such shareholder and any material interest of such shareholder in such
business and (e) a representation that such shareholder intends to appear in
person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the
meeting. No business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of shareholders
except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 9. Beneficial
ownership shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act. When used in these Bylaws, "person" has the meaning ascribed to such term
in Section 2(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as the context may
require.
Within thirty days after such shareholder shall have submitted the
aforesaid items, the Secretary or the Board of Directors of the Company shall
determine whether the proposed business has been properly requested to be
brought before the annual meeting of shareholders and shall notify such
shareholder in writing of its determination. If such shareholder fails to submit
a required item in the form or within the time indicated, or if the Secretary or
the Board of Directors of the Company determines that the proposed business
otherwise has not been properly requested, then such proposal by such
shareholder shall not be voted upon by the shareholders of the Company at such
annual meeting of shareholders. The Chairman of the Meeting shall, if the facts
warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a proposal made by a
shareholder of the Company pursuant to this Section 9 was not made in accordance
with the procedures prescribed by these Bylaws, and if he should so determine,
he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective proposal shall be
disregarded.
Nothing in this Section 9 shall be interpreted or construed to require
the inclusion of information about any such proposal in any proxy statement
distributed by, at the direction of, or on behalf of the Board of Directors or
the Company.
Section 10. Proper Business -- Special Meeting of Shareholders. At any
special meeting of shareholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall
have been stated in the notice of such meeting or shall otherwise have been
properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Chairman of
the Meeting or the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee
thereof).
Page 7 of 21
<PAGE> 8
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Classification of Board of Directors; Qualifications. (a)
The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by the Board of
Directors.
Each director elected by the holders of Preferred Stock pursuant to
Section 6 of Division A of Article VI of the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company (or elected by such directors to fill a vacancy) shall serve for a term
ending upon the earlier of the election of his successor or the termination at
any time of a right of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect members of the
Board of Directors.
At each annual election, the directors chosen to succeed those whose
terms then expire shall be of the same class as the directors they succeed,
unless, by reason of any intervening changes in the authorized number of
directors, the Board of Directors shall designate one or more directorships
whose term then expires as directorships of another class in order more nearly
to achieve equality of number of directors among the classes.
Notwithstanding the rule that the three classes shall be as nearly
equal in number of directors as possible, in the event of any change in the
authorized number of directors, each director then continuing to serve as such
shall nevertheless continue as a director of the class of which he or she is a
member until the expiration of his or her current term, or his or her prior
death, resignation, disqualification or removal. If any newly created
directorship may, consistent with the rule that the three classes shall be as
nearly equal in number of directors as possible, be allocated to any of the
three classes, the Board of Directors shall allocate it to that available class
whose term of office is due to expire at the earliest date following such
allocation. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of
Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(b) No person shall be eligible to serve as a director of the Company
subsequent to the annual meeting of shareholders occurring on or after the first
day of the month immediately following the month of such person's seventieth
birthday. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors resulting from any director
being rendered ineligible to serve as a director of the Company by the
immediately preceding sentence shall be filled by the shareholders entitled to
vote thereon at such annual meeting of shareholders. Any director chosen to
succeed a director who is so rendered ineligible to serve as a director of the
Company shall be of the same class as the director he or she succeeds.
No person shall continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors
if the director ceases for any reason to hold the principal employment or
position he or she held at the time first elected to the Board of Directors and
does not secure a comparable employment or position, as determined in the sole
judgment of the Board of Directors, within one year thereof.
No person who is also an employee of the Company or one of its
corporate affiliates shall
Page 8 of 21
<PAGE> 9
continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors after his or her
retirement, termination or downward change in status in the Company, as
determined in the sole judgment of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors may waive any qualification set forth above in
this Section 1(b) if it determines that the director has special skill,
experience or distinction having value to the Company that is not readily
available or transferable. Any such waiver shall be made by a majority of the
Board of Directors, excluding the director whose disqualification is being
waived.
No person shall be eligible for election or reelection or to continue
to serve as a member of the Board of Directors who is an officer, director,
agent, representative, partner, employee, or nominee of, or otherwise acting at
the direction of, or acting in concert with, (a) a "public-utility company"
(other than any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company) as such term is
defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
in effect on May 1, 1996 (35 Act), or (b) an "affiliate" (as defined in either
Section 2(a)(11) of the 35 Act or in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended) of any such "public-utility company" specified in clause (a)
immediately preceding.
Any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the
disqualification of a director by virtue of the above qualifications may be
filled as provided in Section 2 of this Article III.
The above qualifications and limitations notwithstanding, each director
shall serve until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified,
unless he or she shall resign, become disqualified, disabled or shall otherwise
be removed.
Section 2. Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be
filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office for
a term of office continuing only until the next election of one or more
directors by the shareholders entitled to vote thereon, or may be filled by
election at an annual or special meeting of the shareholders called for that
purpose; provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall not fill more than
two such directorships during the period between two successive annual meetings
of shareholders. Except as provided in Section 1 of this Article III, any
vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation,
disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled by the affirmative vote
of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though less than a
quorum of the Board of Directors, or may be filled by election at an annual or
special meeting of the shareholders called for that purpose. Any director
elected to fill any such vacancy shall hold office for the remainder of the full
term of the director whose departure from the Board of Directors created the
vacancy and until such newly elected director's successor shall have been duly
elected and qualified.
Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph of this Section 2, whenever
holders of outstanding shares of Preference Stock are entitled to elect members
of the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions of Section 6 of Division A
of Article VI of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company,
Page 9 of 21
<PAGE> 10
any vacancy or vacancies resulting by reason of the death, resignation,
disqualification or removal of any director or directors or any increase in the
number of directors shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of such
section.
Section 3. Nomination of Directors. Nominations for the election of
directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any shareholder
(Nominator) entitled to vote in the election of directors. Such nominations,
other than those made by the Board of Directors, shall be made in writing
pursuant to timely notice delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary
of the Company as set forth in this Section 3. To be timely in connection with
an annual meeting of shareholders, a Nominator's notice, setting forth the name
and address of the person to be nominated, shall be delivered to or mailed and
received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than ninety
days nor more than 180 days prior to the date on which the immediately preceding
year's annual meeting of shareholders was held. To be timely in connection with
any election of a director at a special meeting of the shareholders, a
Nominator's notice, setting forth the name of the person to be nominated, shall
be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the
Company not less than forty days nor more than sixty days prior to the date of
such meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than forty-seven
days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the special meeting of
the shareholders is given or made to the shareholders, the Nominator's notice to
be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the
seventh day following the day on which such notice of date of the meeting was
mailed or such public disclosure was made. At such time, the Nominator shall
also submit written evidence, reasonably satisfactory to the Secretary of the
Company, that the Nominator is a shareholder of the Company and shall identify
in writing (a) the name and address of the Nominator, (b) the number of shares
of each class of capital stock of the Company owned beneficially by the
Nominator, (c) the name and address of each of the persons with whom the
Nominator is acting in concert, (d) the number of shares of capital stock
beneficially owned by each such person with whom the Nominator is acting in
concert, and (e) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the
Nominator and each nominee and any other persons with whom the Nominator is
acting in concert pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be
made. At such time, the Nominator shall also submit in writing (i) the
information with respect to each such proposed nominee that would be required to
be provided in a proxy statement prepared in accordance with Regulation 14A
under the Exchange Act and (ii) a notarized affidavit executed by each such
proposed nominee to the effect that, if elected as a member of the Board of
Directors, he will serve and that he is eligible for election as a member of the
Board of Directors. Within thirty days (or such shorter time period that may
exist prior to the date of the meeting) after the Nominator has submitted the
aforesaid items to the Secretary of the Company, the Secretary of the Company
shall determine whether the evidence of the Nominator's status as a shareholder
submitted by the Nominator is reasonably satisfactory and shall notify the
Nominator in writing of his determination. The failure of the Secretary of the
Company to find such evidence reasonably satisfactory, or the failure of the
Nominator to submit the requisite information in the form or within the time
indicated, shall make the person to be nominated ineligible for nomination at
the meeting at which such person is proposed to be nominated. The presiding
person at each meeting of shareholders shall, if the facts warrant, determine
and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the
procedures prescribed by
Page 10 of 21
<PAGE> 11
these Bylaws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting
and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. Beneficial ownership shall be
determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
Section 4. Place of Meetings and Meetings by Telephone. Meetings of the
Board of Directors may be held either within or without the State of Texas, at
whatever place is specified by the officer calling the meeting. Meetings of the
Board of Directors may also be held by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other. Participation in such a meeting by means of
conference telephone or similar communications equipment shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting, except where a director participates in a
meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business
on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. In the
absence of specific designation by the officer calling the meeting, the meetings
shall be held at the principal office of the Company.
Section 5. Regular Meetings. The Board of Directors shall meet each
year immediately following the annual meeting of the shareholders for the
transaction of such business as may properly be brought before the meeting. The
Board of Directors shall also meet regularly at such other times as shall be
designated by the Board of Directors. No notice of any kind to either existing
or newly elected members of the Board of Directors for such annual or regular
meetings shall be necessary.
Section 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
may be held at any time upon the call of the Chairman of the Board, if there is
one, the Chief Executive Officer, if there is one, the President or the
Secretary of the Company or a majority of the directors then in office. Notice
shall be sent by mail, facsimile or telegram to the last known address of the
director at least two days before the meeting, or oral notice may be substituted
for such written notice if received not later than the day preceding such
meeting. Notice of the time, place and purpose of such meeting may be waived in
writing before or after such meeting, and shall be equivalent to the giving of
notice. Attendance of a director at such meeting shall also constitute a waiver
of notice thereof, except where he attends for the express purpose of objecting
to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not
lawfully called or convened. Except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws,
neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or
special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or
waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 7. Quorum and Voting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the
Articles of Incorporation of the Company or these Bylaws, a majority of the
number of directors fixed in the manner provided in these Bylaws as from time to
time amended shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except
as otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or
these Bylaws, the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any
meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Any regular or special
Page 11 of 21
<PAGE> 12
directors' meeting may be adjourned from time to time by those present, whether
a quorum is present or not.
Section 8. Compensation. Directors shall receive such compensation for
their services as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 9. Removal. No director of the Company shall be removed from
his office as a director by vote or other action of the shareholders or
otherwise except (a) with cause, as defined below, by the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares
of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors,
voting together as a single class, or (b) without cause by (i) the affirmative
vote of at least 80% of all directors then in office at any regular or special
meeting of the Board of Directors called for that purpose or (ii) the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in the
election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Except as may otherwise be provided by law, cause for removal of a
director shall be construed to exist only if: (a) the director whose removal is
proposed has been convicted, or where a director is granted immunity to testify
where another has been convicted, of a felony by a court of competent
jurisdiction and such conviction is no longer subject to direct appeal; (b) such
director has been found by the affirmative vote of at least 80% of all directors
then in office at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors
called for that purpose or by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been
negligent or guilty of misconduct in the performance of his duties to the
Company in a matter of substantial importance to the Company; or (c) such
director has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
mentally incompetent, which mental incompetency directly affects his ability as
a director of the Company.
Notwithstanding the first paragraph of this Section 9, whenever holders
of outstanding shares of Preference Stock are entitled to elect members of the
Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions of Section 6 of Division A of
Article VI of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, any director of the
Company may be removed in accordance with the provisions of such section.
No proposal by a shareholder to remove a director of the Company,
regardless of whether such director was elected by holders of outstanding shares
of Preference Stock (or elected by such directors to fill a vacancy), shall be
voted upon at a meeting of the shareholders unless such shareholder shall have
delivered or mailed in a timely manner (as set forth in this Section 9) and in
writing to the Secretary of the Company (a) notice of such proposal, (b) a
statement of the grounds, if any, on which such director is proposed to be
removed, (c) evidence, reasonably satisfactory to the Secretary of the Company,
of such shareholder's status as such and of the number of shares of each class
of the capital stock of the Company beneficially owned by such shareholder, (d)
a list of the names and addresses of other beneficial owners of shares of the
capital stock of the Company, if any, with whom such shareholder is acting in
concert, and of the number of shares of each class of the capital stock of the
Company beneficially owned by each such beneficial owner, and (e) an
Page 12 of 21
<PAGE> 13
opinion of counsel, which counsel and the form and substance of which opinion
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Directors of the Company
(excluding the director proposed to be removed), to the effect that, if adopted
at a duly called special or annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company by
the required vote as set forth in the first paragraph of this Section 9, such
removal would not be in conflict with the laws of the State of Texas, the
Articles of Incorporation of the Company or these Bylaws. To be timely in
connection with an annual meeting of shareholders, a shareholder's notice and
other aforesaid items shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the
principal executive offices of the Company not less than ninety nor more than
180 days prior to the date on which the immediately preceding year's annual
meeting of shareholders was held. To be timely in connection with the removal of
any director at a special meeting of the shareholders, a shareholder's notice
and other aforesaid items shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the
principal executive offices of the Company not less than forty days nor more
than sixty days prior to the date of such meeting; provided, however, that in
the event that less than forty-seven days' notice or prior public disclosure of
the date of the special meeting of shareholders is given or made to the
shareholders, the shareholder's notice and other aforesaid items to be timely
must be so received not later than the close of business on the seventh day
following the day on which such notice of date of the meeting was mailed or such
public disclosure was made. Within thirty days (or such shorter period that may
exist prior to the date of the meeting) after such shareholder shall have
delivered the aforesaid items to the Secretary of the Company, the Secretary and
the Board of Directors of the Company shall respectively determine whether the
items to be ruled upon by them are reasonably satisfactory and shall notify such
shareholder in writing of their respective determinations. If such shareholder
fails to submit a required item in the form or within the time indicated, or if
the Secretary or the Board of Directors of the Company determines that the items
to be ruled upon by them are not reasonably satisfactory, then such proposal by
such shareholder may not be voted upon by the shareholders of the Company at
such meeting of shareholders. The presiding person at each meeting of
shareholders shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting
that a proposal to remove a director of the Company was not made in accordance
with the procedures prescribed by these Bylaws, and if he should so determine,
he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective proposal shall be
disregarded. Beneficial ownership shall be determined as specified in accordance
with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
Section 10. Executive and Other Committees. The Board of Directors, by
resolution or resolutions adopted by a majority of the full Board of Directors,
may designate one or more members of the Board of Directors to constitute an
Executive Committee, and one or more other committees, which shall in each case
be comprised of such number of directors as the Board of Directors may determine
from time to time. Subject to such restrictions as may be contained in the
Company's Articles of Incorporation or that may be imposed by the TBCA, any such
committee shall have and may exercise such powers and authority of the Board of
Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Company as the
Board of Directors may determine by resolution and specify in the respective
resolutions appointing them, or as permitted by applicable law, including,
without limitation, the power and authority to (a) authorize a distribution, (b)
authorize the issuance of shares of the Company and (c) exercise the authority
of the Board of Directors vested in it pursuant to Article 2.13 of the TBCA or
such successor statute as may be in effect from time to time. Each
duly-authorized
Page 13 of 21
<PAGE> 14
action taken with respect to a given matter by any such duly-appointed committee
of the Board of Directors shall have the same force and effect as the action of
the full Board of Directors and shall constitute for all purposes the action of
the full Board of Directors with respect to such matter.
The designation of any such committee and the delegation thereto of
authority shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any member
thereof, of any responsibility imposed upon it or him by law, nor shall such
committee function where action of the Board of Directors cannot be delegated to
a committee thereof under applicable law. The Board of Directors shall have the
power at any time to change the membership of any such committee and to fill
vacancies in it. A majority of the members of any such committee shall
constitute a quorum. The Board of Directors shall name a chairman at the time it
designates members to a committee. Each such committee shall appoint such
subcommittees and assistants as it may deem necessary. Except as otherwise
provided by the Board of Directors, meetings of any committee shall be conducted
in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4 and 6 of this Article III as the
same shall from time to time be amended. Any member of any such committee
elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of
Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Company will be
served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract
rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of a member of
a committee shall not of itself create contract rights.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Company shall consist of a
President and a Secretary and such other officers and agents as the Board of
Directors may from time to time elect or appoint, which may include, without
limitation, a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Vice
Presidents (whose seniority and titles, including Executive Vice Presidents,
Senior Vice Presidents and such assistant or subordinate Vice Presidents, may be
specified by the Board of Directors), a Treasurer, one or more Assistant
Treasurers, and one or more Assistant Secretaries. Each officer shall hold
office until his successor shall have been duly elected and shall qualify or
until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the
manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices may be held by the same
person. Except for the Chairman of the Board, if any, no officer need be a
director.
Section 2. Vacancies; Removal. Whenever any vacancies shall occur in
any office by death, resignation, increase in the number of offices of the
Company, or otherwise, the officer so elected shall hold office until his
successor is chosen and qualified. The Board of Directors may at any time remove
any officer of the Company, whenever in its judgment the best interests of the
Company will be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to
the contract rights, if any, of the
Page 14 of 21
<PAGE> 15
person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of
itself create contract rights.
Section 3. Powers and Duties of Officers. The officers of the Company
shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their offices as well
as such powers and duties as from time to time shall be conferred by the Board
of Directors.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. General. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Indemnitee (as this and all other capitalized words are defined in this Article
or in Article 2.02-1 of the TBCA), to the fullest extent permitted, or not
prohibited, by the TBCA or other applicable law as the same exists or may
hereafter be amended (but in the case of any such amendment, with respect to
Matters occurring before such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment
permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than said law
permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment). The provisions set
forth below in this Article are provided as means of furtherance and
implementation of, and not in limitation on, the obligation expressed in this
Section 1.
Section 2. Advancement or Reimbursement of Expenses. The rights of the
Indemnitee provided under Section 1 of this Article shall include, but not be
limited to, the right to be indemnified and to have Expenses advanced (including
the payment of expenses before final disposition of a Proceeding) in all
Proceedings to the fullest extent permitted, or not prohibited, by the TBCA or
other applicable law. If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful, on the merits
or otherwise, in a Proceeding, but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as
to any Matter in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee
against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf
relating to each Matter. The termination of any Matter in a Proceeding by
dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result
as to such Matter. In addition, to the extent the Indemnitee is, by reason of
his Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise participates in any Proceeding at a
time when he is not named a defendant or respondent in the Proceeding, he shall
be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or
on his behalf in connection therewith. The Indemnitee shall be advanced
Expenses, within ten days after any request for such advancement, to the fullest
extent permitted, or not prohibited, by Article 2.02-1 of the TBCA; provided
that the Indemnitee has provided to the Company all affirmations,
acknowledgments, representations and undertakings that may be required of the
Indemnitee by Article 2.02-1 of the TBCA.
Section 3. Determination of Request. Upon written request to the
Company by an Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to these Bylaws, a
determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to an Indemnitee's
entitlement thereto shall be made in accordance with Article 2.02-1 of the TBCA;
provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control
Page 15 of 21
<PAGE> 16
shall have occurred, such determination shall be made by Special Legal Counsel
selected by the Indemnitee, unless the Indemnitee shall request that such
determination be made in accordance with Article 2.02-1F (1) or (2). The Company
shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Special Legal Counsel
incurred in connection with any such determination. If a Change in Control shall
have occurred, the Indemnitee shall be presumed (except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Article) to be entitled to indemnification under this Article
upon submission of a request to the Company for indemnification, and thereafter
the Company shall have the burden of proof in overcoming that presumption in
reaching a determination contrary to that presumption. The presumption shall be
used by Special Legal Counsel, or such other person or persons determining
entitlement to indemnification, as a basis for a determination of entitlement to
indemnification unless the Company provides information sufficient to overcome
such presumption by clear and convincing evidence or the investigation, review
and analysis of Special Legal Counsel or such other person or persons convinces
him or them by clear and convincing evidence that the presumption should not
apply.
Section 4. Effect of Certain Proceedings. The termination of any
Proceeding or of any Matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not
(except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article) of itself adversely
affect the right of the Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption
that (a) the Indemnitee did not conduct himself in good faith and in a manner
which he reasonably believed, in the case of conduct in his official capacity as
a director of the Company, to be in the best interests of the Company, or, in
all other cases, that at least his conduct was not opposed to the Company's best
interests, or (b) with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee
had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 5. Expenses of Enforcement of Article. In the event that an
Indemnitee, pursuant to this Article, seeks a judicial adjudication to enforce
his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, rights created under or
pursuant to this Article, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the
Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication but only
if he prevails therein. If it shall be determined in said judicial adjudication
that the Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the
indemnification or advancement of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication shall be reasonably
prorated in good faith by counsel for the Indemnitee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if a Change in Control shall have occurred, Indemnitee shall be
entitled to indemnification under this Section regardless of whether indemnitee
ultimately prevails in such judicial adjudication.
Section 6. Nonexclusive Rights. The rights of indemnification and to
receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Article shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may at any time be
entitled under applicable law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Company,
these Bylaws, agreement, insurance, arrangement, a vote of shareholders or a
resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of
this Article or any provision thereof shall be effective as to any Indemnitee
for acts, events and circumstances that occurred, in
Page 16 of 21
<PAGE> 17
whole or in part, before such amendment, alteration or repeal. The provisions of
this Article shall continue as to an Indemnitee whose Corporate Status has
ceased and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and
administrators.
Section 7. Invalidity. If any provision or provisions of this Article
shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever,
the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and, to the fullest extent possible,
the provisions of this Article shall be construed so as to give effect to the
intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
Section 8. Definitions. For purposes of this Article:
"Change of Control" means a change in control of the Company
occurring after the date of adoption of these Bylaws in any of the
following circumstances: (a) there shall have occurred an event
required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of
Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar
schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act, whether or not
the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; (b) any
"person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Exchange Act), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a
corporation or other entity owned directly or indirectly by the
shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of stock of the Company, shall have become the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30%
or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
voting securities without prior approval of at least two-thirds of the
members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such
person attaining such percentage interest; (c) the Company is a party
to a merger, consolidation, share exchange, sale of assets or other
reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which members
of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such
transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of
Directors thereafter; (d) during any fifteen month period, individuals
who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors
(including for this purpose any new director whose election or
nomination for election by the Company's shareholders was approved by a
vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who
were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors.
"Corporate Status" means the status of a person who is or was
a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee
(including an employee acting in his Designated Professional Capacity),
or agent or similar functionary of the Company or of any other foreign
or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole
proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which
such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the
Company. The Company hereby acknowledges that unless and until the
Company provides the Indemnitee with written notice to the contrary,
the
Page 17 of 21
<PAGE> 18
Indemnitee's service as a director, officer, partner, venturer,
proprietor, trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of an
Affiliate of the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be at the
Company's request. An Affiliate of the Company shall be deemed to be
(a) any foreign or domestic corporation in which the Company owns or
controls, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the shares entitled to
be voted in the election of directors of such corporation; (b) any
foreign or domestic partnership, joint venture, proprietorship or other
enterprise in which the Company owns or controls, directly or
indirectly, 5% or more of the revenue interests in such partnership,
joint venture, proprietorship or other enterprise; or (c) any trust or
employee benefit plan the beneficiaries of which include the Company,
any Affiliate of the Company as defined in the foregoing clauses (a)
and (b) or any of the directors, officers, partners, venturers,
proprietors, employees, agents or similar functionaries of the Company
or of such Affiliates of the Company.
"Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees,
retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness
fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs,
telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other
disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in
connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or
defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a
Proceeding.
"Indemnitee" includes any person who is, or is threatened to
be made, a witness in or a party to any Proceeding as described in
Section 1 or 2 of this Article by reason of his Corporate Status.
"Matter" is a claim, a material issue, or a substantial
request for relief.
"Proceeding" includes any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution proceeding,
investigation, administrative hearing and any other proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other, any appeal in
such action, suit, arbitration, proceeding or hearing, or any inquiry
or investigation, whether conducted by or on behalf of the Company, a
subsidiary of the Company or any other party, formal or informal, that
the Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the institution of
any such action, suit, arbitration, proceeding, investigation or
hearing, except one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5 of
this Article.
"Special Legal Counsel" means a law firm, or member of a law
firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither
presently is, nor in the five years previous to his selection or
appointment has been, retained to represent: (a) the Company or the
Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party; (b) any other
party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification
hereunder; or (c) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined
voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Special Legal Counsel" shall
not include any
Page 18 of 21
<PAGE> 19
person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then
prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either
the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the
Indemnitee's rights to indemnification under these Bylaws.
For the purposes of this Article, an employee acting in his
"Designated Professional Capacity" shall include, but not be limited
to, a physician, nurse, psychologist or therapist, registered surveyor,
registered engineer, registered architect, attorney, certified public
accountant or other person who renders such professional services
within the course and scope of his employment, who is licensed by
appropriate regulatory authorities to practice such profession and who,
while acting in the course of such employment, committed or is alleged
to have committed any negligent acts, errors or omissions in rendering
such professional services at the request of the Company or pursuant to
his employment (including, without limitation, rendering written or
oral opinions to third parties).
Section 9. Notice. Any communication required or permitted to the
Company under this Article shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company
and any such communication to the Indemnitee shall be addressed to his home
address unless he specifies otherwise and shall be personally delivered or
delivered by overnight mail or courier delivery.
Section 10. Insurance and Self-Insurance Arrangements. The Company may
procure or maintain insurance or other similar arrangements, at its expense, to
protect itself and any Indemnitee against any expense, liability or loss
asserted against or incurred by such person, incurred by him in such a capacity
or arising out of his Corporate Status as such a person, whether or not the
Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense or
liability. In considering the cost and availability of such insurance, the
Company (through the exercise of the business judgment of its directors and
officers) may, from time to time, purchase insurance which provides for any and
all of (a) deductibles, (b) limits on payments required to be made by the
insurer, or (c) coverage which may not be as comprehensive as that previously
included in insurance purchased by the Company. The purchase of insurance with
deductibles, limits on payments and coverage exclusions will be deemed to be in
the best interest of the Company but may not be in the best interest of certain
of the persons covered thereby. As to the Company, purchasing insurance with
deductibles, limits on payments, and coverage exclusions is similar to the
Company's practice of self-insurance in other areas. In order to protect the
Indemnitees who would otherwise be more fully or entirely covered under such
policies, the Company shall indemnify and hold each of them harmless as provided
in Section 1 or 2 of this Article, without regard to whether the Company would
otherwise be entitled to indemnify such officer or director under the other
provisions of this Article, or under any law, agreement, vote of shareholders or
directors or other arrangement, to the extent (i) of such deductibles, (ii) of
amounts exceeding payments required to be made by an insurer or (iii) that prior
policies of officer's and director's liability insurance held by the Company or
its predecessors would have provided for payment to such officer or director.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of this Section, no Indemnitee shall be
entitled to indemnification for the results of such person's conduct that is
intentionally adverse to the interests of the Company. This Section
Page 19 of 21
<PAGE> 20
is authorized by Section 2.02-1(R) of the TBCA as in effect on May 1, 1996, and
further is intended to establish an arrangement of self-insurance pursuant to
sthat section.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 1. Offices. The principal office of the Company shall be
located in Houston, Texas, unless and until changed by resolution of the Board
of Directors. The Company may also have offices at such other places as the
Board of Directors may designate from time to time, or as the business of the
Company may require. The principal office and registered office may be, but need
not be, the same.
Section 2. Resignations. Any director or officer may resign at any
time. Such resignations shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the
time specified therein, or, if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt
by the Chairman of the Board, if there is one, the Chief Executive Officer, if
there is one, the President or the Secretary. The acceptance of a resignation
shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the
resignation.
Section 3. Seal. The Corporate Seal shall be circular in form, shall
have inscribed thereon the name of the Company and may be used by causing it or
a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.
Section 4. Separability. If one or more of the provisions of these
Bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof and
these Bylaws shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable
provision or provisions had never been contained herein.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Section 1. Vote Requirements. The Board of Directors shall have the
power to alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws by the
affirmative vote of at least 80% of all directors then in office at any regular
or special meeting of the Board of Directors, subject to repeal or change by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all the
shares of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting
together as a single class.
Section 2. Shareholder Proposals. No proposal by a shareholder made
pursuant to Section 1 of this Article VII may be voted upon at an annual meeting
of shareholders unless such shareholder shall have delivered or mailed in a
timely manner (as set forth in this Section 2) and in writing to the
Page 20 of 21
<PAGE> 21
Secretary of the Company (a) notice of such proposal and the text of the
proposed alteration, amendment or repeal, (b) evidence reasonably satisfactory
to the Secretary of the Company, of such shareholder's status as such and of the
number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Company of which such
shareholder is the beneficial owner, (c) a list of the names and addresses of
other beneficial owners of shares of the capital stock of the Company, if any,
with whom such shareholder is acting in concert, and the number of shares of
each class of capital stock of the Company beneficially owned by each such
beneficial owner and (d) an opinion of counsel, which counsel and the form and
substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Board of
Directors of the Company, to the effect that the Bylaws (if any) resulting from
the adoption of such proposal would not be in conflict with the Articles of
Incorporation of the Company or the laws of the State of Texas. To be timely in
connection with an annual meeting of shareholders, a shareholder's notice and
other aforesaid items shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the
principal executive offices of the Company not less than ninety nor more than
180 days prior to the date on which the immediately preceding year's annual
meeting of shareholders was held. In no event shall the public disclosure of an
adjournment of an annual meeting of shareholders commence a new time period for
the giving of a shareholder's notice as described above.
Within thirty days after such shareholder shall have submitted the
aforesaid items, the Secretary or the Board of Directors of the Company shall
determine whether the items to be ruled upon by them are reasonably satisfactory
and shall notify such shareholder in writing of its determination. If such
shareholder fails to submit a required item in the form or within the time
indicated, or if the Secretary or the Board of Directors of the Company
determines that the items to be ruled upon by them are not reasonably
satisfactory, then such proposal by such shareholder may not be voted upon by
the shareholders of the Company at such annual meeting of shareholders. The
Chairman of the Meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to
the meeting that a proposal by a shareholder of the Company made pursuant to
Section 1 of this Article VII was not made in accordance with the procedures
prescribed by these Bylaws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare
to the meeting and the defective proposal shall be disregarded. Beneficial
ownership shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act.
Nothing in this Section 2 shall be interpreted or construed to require
the inclusion of information about any such proposal in any proxy statement
distributed by, at the direction of, or on behalf of the Board of Directors or
the Company.
No proposal by a shareholder made pursuant to Section 1 of this Article
VII shall be voted upon at a special meeting of shareholders unless such
proposal has been stated in the notice of such special meeting or shall
otherwise have been properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction
of the Chairman of the Meeting or the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized
committee thereof).
Page 21 of 21
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 3(e)
STATEMENT OF RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING SERIES OF SHARES
DESIGNATED
SERIES D PREFERENCE STOCK
OF
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
Pursuant to Article 2.13D of
the Texas Business Corporation Act
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 2.13D of the Texas Business
Corporation Act, the undersigned submits the following statement for the
purpose of establishing and designating a series of shares of its Preference
Stock, without par value, designated "Series D Preference Stock" and fixing and
determining the relative rights and preferences thereof:
1. The name of the company is RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED (the
"Company").
2. The following resolution establishing and designating a series of
shares and fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof,
was duly adopted by all necessary action on the part of the Company on
September 22, 1999:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Finance
Committee and the Preference Stock Committee, acting separately and/or
concurrently, by the Board of Directors of this Company in accordance with the
provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation, a series of Preference
Stock, without par value, of the Company be and hereby is created, and that the
designation and number of shares thereof and the preferences, limitations and
relative rights, including voting rights, of the shares of such series and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are as follows:
SERIES D PREFERENCE STOCK
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preference
Stock that shall be designated as "Series D Preference Stock," and the number
of shares constituting such series shall be 5,880. Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Finance Committee and the
Preference Stock Committee, acting separately and/or concurrently; provided,
however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series D
Preference Stock to less than the number of shares then issued and outstanding
plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise
<PAGE> 2
of outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding
securities issued by the Company.
2. Certain Defined Terms. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in that certain
Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") to be entered into among Reliant
Energy FinanceCo III LP, a Delaware limited partnership to be the Borrower
thereunder, the Company, the Banks party thereto, Chase Manhattan International
Limited as Administrative Agent, and Chase Securities, Inc. as Arranger, as in
effect at the time of the initial funding thereunder, and as such terms may be
amended in the Credit Agreement to the extent approved by the affirmative vote
of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of Series D
Preference Stock, voting separately as a class. In addition, the following
terms are used herein as defined below:
(i) "Computed Dividend Portion" means, within any
Dividend Interval Period, an amount equal to the interest expense accrued on
the indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower from the prior Dividend
Payment Date to the Determination Date for the current Dividend Interval
Period.
(ii) "Determination Date" means the date occurring five
Business Days prior to a Dividend Declaration Date.
(iii) "Dividend" means the dividend on the Series D
Preference Stock declared by the Company's Board of Directors with respect to a
Dividend Interval Period.
(iv) "Dividend Declaration Amount" means, as of any
Determination Date, the Preliminary Dividend Amount, less the sum of (a) the
Interest Reconciliation Amount, (b) the Support Agreement Reconciliation
Amount, and (c) the Other Sources Reconciliation Amount. The Dividend
Declaration Amount may be greater than or less than the Preliminary Dividend
Amount.
(v) "Dividend Declaration Date" means the date on which
Dividends on the Series D Preference Stock are declared (or would have been
declared but for the fact that the amount of the Dividend determined in
accordance herewith would have been zero) during a Dividend Interval Period by
the Company's Board of Directors.
(vi) "Dividend Interval Period" means the period
beginning on a Dividend Payment Date and extending to the next Dividend Payment
Date.
(vii) "Dividend Payment Date" means the date occurring
five Business Days after a Dividend Declaration Date.
<PAGE> 3
(viii) "Interest Reconciliation Amount" means an amount
equal to (a) the Preliminary Dividend Amount computed for the prior Dividend
Interval Period, less (b) the actual interest expense accrued on the
indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower during such period.
(ix) "Other Sources Reconciliation Amount" means, to the
extent applied to pay interest on the indebtedness for borrowed money of the
Borrower or available in cash on the current Determination Date therefor, the
amount of income or cash proceeds received by the Borrower from sources other
than pursuant to the Support Agreement (including, without limitation, interest
received on loans to Affiliates), from the Determination Date occurring in the
Prior Dividend Interval Period to the Determination Date occurring in the
current Dividend Interval Period.
(x) "Preliminary Dividend Amount" means the sum of the
Computed Dividend Portion and the Projected Dividend Portion.
(xi) "Projected Dividend Portion" means, within any
Dividend Interval Period, an amount equal to the projected interest expense
that will be accrued on the indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower
from the Determination Date for such Dividend Interval Period to the Dividend
Payment Date.
(xii) "Support Agreement Reconciliation Amount" means the
amount of cash payments made pursuant to the Support Agreement by the Company
to the Borrower from the Determination Date occurring in the immediately prior
Dividend Interval Period to the Determination Date occurring in the current
Dividend Interval Period.
3. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of (i)
any shares of any series of Preference Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series D Preference Stock with respect to dividends and (ii) any
shares of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Series D Preference Stock,
in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series of stock of the
Company ranking junior to the Series D Preference Stock, shall be entitled to
receive the amounts set forth below, when, as and if declared by the Board of
Directors in the manner described below out of assets of the Company legally
available for the purpose:
(a) On every regularly scheduled meeting of the Company's
Board of Directors while any shares of Series D Preference Stock remain
outstanding, the Board of Directors shall declare an aggregate Dividend (if a
positive amount) equal the lesser of (i) the Dividend Declaration Amount or
(ii) the Excess Cash Flow projected to be available as of the applicable
Dividend Payment Date with respect to the then current Dividend Interval
Period.
<PAGE> 4
(b) If, with respect to any Dividend Interval Period, the
aggregate Dividend declared by the Company's Board of Directors is less than
the Dividend Declaration Amount for such Dividend Interval Period because the
Excess Cash Flow projected to be available as of the applicable Dividend
Payment Date is less than the Dividend Declaration Amount, the amount of such
deficiency shall be added to the Dividend Declaration Amount computed for the
next Dividend Interval Period and such aggregate amount shall become the
Dividend Declaration Amount for such period. The Dividend for such succeeding
Dividend Interval Period shall equal the Dividend Declaration Amount unless
such amount would exceed the Excess Cash Flow projected to be available as of
the applicable Dividend Payment Date, in which case the Dividend shall be the
amount of the projected Excess Cash Flow.
(c) The aggregate Dividends paid on the shares of Series D
Preference Stock in accordance with this Section 3(A) shall be allocated pro
rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
(B) Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. The Board
of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares
of Series D Preference Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon.
4. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law or the
Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company or as otherwise provided
herein, the holders of shares of Series D Preference Stock shall have no voting
rights.
5. Certain Restrictions. At any time when dividends or distributions
payable on the Series D Preference Stock as provided in Section 3 are in
arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series D Preference Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Company shall not:
(i) declare dividends on, or redeem or purchase or
otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series D
Preference Stock; or
(ii) declare dividends on any shares of stock ranking on
a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up) with the Series D Preference Stock, except dividends declared ratably on
the Series D Preference Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders
of all such shares are then entitled.
6. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series D Preference Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall
be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares
shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued
<PAGE> 5
shares of Preference Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
Preference Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors, subject to any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein.
7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be made to the holders of
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series D Preference Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Series D Preference Stock shall have received
(U)100,000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment
(the "Series D Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full
amount of the Series D Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions
shall be made to the holders of shares of Series D Preference Stock.
(B) In the event that there are not sufficient assets available to
permit payment in full of the Series D Liquidation Preference and the
liquidation preferences of all other series of Preference Stock, if any, that
rank on a parity with the Series D Preference Stock, then such remaining assets
shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion
to their respective liquidation preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with
another Company nor the merger or consolidation of any other Company into or
with the Company shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Company within the meaning of this Section 7, but the sale, lease or
conveyance of all or substantially all of the Company's assets shall be deemed
to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company within the
meaning of this Section 7.
8. Redemption.
(A) The Company, at its option, may redeem shares of the Series D
Preference Stock in whole at any time and in part from time to time, at a
redemption price equal to (U)100,000 per share, plus, in the event all
outstanding shares of the Series D Preference Shares are to be redeemed, unpaid
accumulated dividends to the date of redemption.
(B) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding shares of the
Series D Preference Stock are to be redeemed, (i) the number of shares to be
redeemed shall be determined by the Board of Directors and the shares to be
redeemed shall be determined by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the
Board of Directors or by any other method that may be determined by the Board
of Directors in its sole discretion to be equitable.
<PAGE> 6
(C) Except to the extent notice is waived in accordance with
applicable law, notice of any such redemption shall be given by mailing to the
holders of the shares of Series D Preference Stock to be redeemed a notice of
such redemption, first class postage prepaid, not later than the twentieth day
and not earlier than the sixtieth day before the date fixed for redemption, at
their last address as the same shall appear upon the books of the Company. Each
such notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares to
be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be
redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the
redemption price; (iv) the place or places where certificates for such shares
are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that
dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the close of
business on such redemption date. Any notice that is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether
or not the shareholder received such notice, and failure duly to give such
notice by mail, or any defect in such notice, to any holder of Series D
Preference Stock shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other shares of Series D Preference Stock that are to be
redeemed. On or after the date fixed for redemption as stated in such notice,
each holder of the shares called for redemption shall surrender the certificate
evidencing such shares to the Company at the place designated in such notice
and shall thereupon be entitled to receive payment of the redemption price. If
fewer than all the shares represented by any such surrendered certificate are
redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.
(D) The shares of Series D Preference Stock shall not be subject to
the operation of any purchase, retirement or sinking fund.
9. Ranking. The Series D Preference Stock shall rank junior to all
series of the Company's Preferred Stock and pari passu with all other series of
the Company's Preference Stock (other than any such series of Preference Stock
the terms of which shall provide otherwise) in respect to dividend and
liquidation rights and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such
matters.
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series D Preference
Stock are outstanding, the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company
shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series D Preference Stock so as to
affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds
or more of the outstanding shares of Series D Preference Stock, voting
separately as a class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series D Preference Stock may be issued in
fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise any voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series D Preference Stock.
<PAGE> 7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED has caused this
Statement to be executed on its behalf by the undersigned officer this _____
day of September , 1999.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
/s/ MARC KILBRIDE
-----------------------------
Name: Marc Kilbride
Title: Treasurer
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 3(f)
STATEMENT OF RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING SERIES OF SHARES
DESIGNATED
SERIES E PREFERENCE STOCK
OF
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
Pursuant to Article 2.13D of
the Texas Business Corporation Act
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 2.13D of the Texas Business
Corporation Act, the undersigned corporation submits the following statement
for the purpose of establishing and designating a series of shares of its
Preference Stock, without par value, designated "Series E Preference Stock" and
fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof:
1. The name of the corporation is RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED (the
"Company").
2. The following resolution establishing and designating a series of
shares and fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof,
was duly adopted by all necessary action on the part of the Company on November
8, 1999:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Finance
Committee and the Preference Stock Committee, acting separately and/or
concurrently, by the Board of Directors of this Company in accordance with the
provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation, a series of Preference
Stock, without par value, of the Company be and hereby is created, and that the
designation and number of shares thereof and the preferences, limitations and
relative rights, including voting rights, of the shares of such series and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are as follows:
SERIES E PREFERENCE STOCK
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preference
Stock that shall be designated as "Series E Preference Stock," and the number
of shares constituting such series shall be 3,160. Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Finance Committee and the
Preference Stock Committee, acting separately and/or concurrently; provided,
however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series E
Preference Stock to less than the number of shares then issued and outstanding
plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise
<PAGE> 2
of outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding
securities issued by the Company.
2. Certain Defined Terms. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in that certain
Fiscal Agency Agreement, including the Exhibits thereto (the "Fiscal Agency
Agreement") to be entered into among Reliant Energy FinanceCo II LP, a Delaware
limited partnership (the "Issuer"), the Company and Chase Bank of Texas,
National Association, as in effect at the time of the initial issuance of Notes
thereunder, and as such terms may be amended in the Fiscal Agency Agreement in
accordance with the terms thereof. In addition, the following terms are used
herein as defined below:
(i) "Affiliates" means any person that, directly or
indirectly, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with
another person.
(ii) "Business Day" means a day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized
or required by law to close.
(iii) "Computed Dividend Portion" means, within any
Dividend Interval Period, an amount equal to the interest expense accrued on
the Notes from the prior Dividend Payment Date to the Determination Date for
the current Dividend Interval Period.
(iv) "Controlled" means, with respect to any Person, the
ability of another person (whether directly or indirectly and whether by the
ownership of voting securities, contract or otherwise) to appoint and/or remove
the majority of the members of the board of directors or other governing body
of that person (and "Control" shall be similarly construed).
(v) "Determination Date" means the date occurring five
Business Days prior to a Dividend Declaration Date.
(vi) "Dividend" means the dividend on the Series E
Preference Stock declared by the Company's Board of Directors with respect to a
Dividend Interval Period.
(vii) "Dividend Declaration Amount" means, as of any
Determination Date, the Preliminary Dividend Amount, less the sum of (a) the
Interest Reconciliation Amount, (b) the Support Agreement Reconciliation
Amount, and (c) the Other Sources Reconciliation Amount. The Dividend
Declaration Amount may be greater than or less than the Preliminary Dividend
Amount.
(viii) "Dividend Declaration Date" means the date on
which Dividends on the Series E Preference Stock are declared (or would have
been declared but for the fact that the amount of the Dividend determined in
accordance herewith would have been zero) during a Dividend Interval Period by
the Company's Board of Directors.
<PAGE> 3
(ix) "Dividend Interval Period" means the period
beginning on a Dividend Payment Date and extending to the next Dividend Payment
Date.
(x) "Dividend Payment Date" means the date occurring five
Business Days after a Dividend Declaration Date.
(xi) "Excess Cash Flow" means, for any period, any excess
funds of the Company after taking into account its cash requirements (including
debt service and preferred stock payments, but before common stock payments),
and any other expenditures in order to accommodate, with respect to Reliant
Energy HL&P and Reliant Energy Resources Corp., regulatory requirements and
sound utility financial and management practices, in each case, as determined
in the discretion of the Company's senior management.
(xii) "Interest Reconciliation Amount" means an amount
equal to (a) the Preliminary Dividend Amount computed for the prior Dividend
Interval Period, less (b) the actual interest expense accrued on the Notes
during such period.
(xiii) "Other Sources Reconciliation Amount" means, to
the extent applied to pay interest on the Notes or available in cash on the
current Determination Date therefor, the amount of income or cash proceeds
received by the Issuer from sources other than pursuant to the Support
Agreement (including, without limitation, interest received on loans to
Affiliates), from the Determination Date occurring in the Prior Dividend
Interval Period to the Determination Date occurring in the current Dividend
Interval Period.
(xiv) "Preliminary Dividend Amount" means the sum of the
Computed Dividend Portion and the Projected Dividend Portion.
(xv) "Projected Dividend Portion" means, within any
Dividend Interval Period, an amount equal to the projected interest expense
that will be accrued on the Notes from the Determination Date for such Dividend
Interval Period to the Dividend Payment Date.
(xvi) "Support Agreement Reconciliation Amount" means
the amount of cash payments made pursuant to the Support Agreement by the
Company to the Issuer from the Determination Date occurring in the immediately
prior Dividend Interval Period to the Determination Date occurring in the
current Dividend Interval Period.
3. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of (i)
any shares of any series of Preference Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series E Preference Stock with respect to dividends and (ii) any
shares of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Series E Preference Stock,
in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series of stock of the
Company ranking junior to the Series E Preference Stock, shall be entitled to
receive the amounts
<PAGE> 4
set forth below, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors in the
manner described below out of assets of the Company legally available for the
purpose:
(i) On every regularly scheduled meeting of the Company's
Board of Directors while any shares of Series E Preference Stock remain
outstanding, the Board of Directors shall declare an aggregate Dividend (if a
positive amount) equal to the lesser of (x) the Dividend Declaration Amount or
(y) the Excess Cash Flow projected to be available as of the applicable
Dividend Payment Date with respect to the then current Dividend Interval
Period.
(ii) If, with respect to any Dividend Interval Period,
the aggregate Dividend declared by the Company's Board of Directors is less
than the Dividend Declaration Amount for such Dividend Interval Period because
the Excess Cash Flow projected to be available as of the applicable Dividend
Payment Date is less than the Dividend Declaration Amount, the amount of such
deficiency shall be added to the Dividend Declaration Amount computed for the
next Dividend Interval Period and such aggregate amount shall become the
Dividend Declaration Amount for such period. The Dividend for such succeeding
Dividend Interval Period shall equal the Dividend Declaration Amount unless
such amount would exceed the Excess Cash Flow projected to be available as of
the applicable Dividend Payment Date, in which case the Dividend shall be the
amount of the projected Excess Cash Flow.
(iii) The aggregate Dividends paid on the shares of Series
E Preference Stock in accordance with this Section 3(A) shall be allocated pro
rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
(B) Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. The Board
of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares
of Series E Preference Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon.
(C) Dividends on the Series E Preference Stock are cumulative.
4. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law or the
Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company or as otherwise provided
herein, the holders of shares of Series E Preference Stock shall have no voting
rights.
5. Certain Restrictions. At any time when dividends or distributions
payable on the Series E Preference Stock as provided in Section 3 are in
arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series E Preference Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Company shall not:
(i) declare dividends on, or redeem or purchase or
otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series E
Preference Stock; or
<PAGE> 5
(ii) declare dividends on any shares of stock ranking on
a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up) with the Series E Preference Stock, except dividends declared ratably on
the Series E Preference Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders
of all such shares are then entitled.
(C) Notwithstanding the limitation on the amount of dividends
declared or to be declared on the shares of Series E Preference Stock set forth
in Section 3(A), for purposes of Section 7 and Section 8, the amount of accrued
and unpaid dividends payable on the Series E Preference Stock as of the date of
calculation of the Series E Liquidation Preference (as defined in Section 7
below) or any redemption price, as the case may be, for the Series E Preference
Stock shall be equal to the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest on
the Notes as of such date, plus premium, if any.
6. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series E Preference Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall
be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares
shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preference Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preference
Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors,
subject to any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be made to the holders of
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series E Preference Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Series E Preference Stock shall have received
$100,000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment
(the "Series E Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full
amount of the Series E Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions
shall be made to the holders of shares of Series E Preference Stock.
(B) In the event that there are not sufficient assets available to
permit payment in full of the Series E Liquidation Preference and the
liquidation preferences of all other series of Preference Stock, if any, that
rank on a parity with the Series E Preference Stock, then such remaining assets
shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion
to their respective liquidation preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with
another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of any other corporation
into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company within the meaning of this Section 7, but the sale,
lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Company's assets shall
be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company within
the meaning of this Section 7.
<PAGE> 6
8. Redemption.
(A) The Company, at its option, may redeem shares of the Series E
Preference Stock in whole at any time and in part from time to time, at a
redemption price equal to $100,000 per share plus an amount equal to accrued
and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the
date of redemption.
(B) Upon maturity of the Notes, by acceleration or otherwise, the
Company shall redeem the shares of the Series E Preference Stock in whole, at a
redemption price equal to the lesser of (i) the Company's Excess Cash Flow or
(ii) $100,000 per share plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends
and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of redemption.
(C) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding shares of the
Series E Preference Stock are to be redeemed, the number of shares to be
redeemed shall be determined by the Board of Directors and the shares to be
redeemed shall be determined by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the
Board of Directors or by any other method that may be determined by the Board
of Directors in its sole discretion to be equitable.
(D) Except to the extent notice is waived in accordance with
applicable law, notice of any such redemption shall be given by mailing to the
holders of the shares of Series E Preference Stock to be redeemed a notice of
such redemption, first class postage prepaid, not later than the twentieth day
and not earlier than the sixtieth day before the date fixed for redemption, at
their last address as the same shall appear upon the books of the Company. Each
such notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares to
be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be
redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the
redemption price; (iv) the place or places where certificates for such shares
are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that
dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the close of
business on such redemption date. Any notice that is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether
or not the shareholder received such notice, and failure duly to give such
notice by mail, or any defect in such notice, to any holder of Series E
Preference Stock shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other shares of Series E Preference Stock that are to be
redeemed. On or after the date fixed for redemption as stated in such notice,
each holder of the shares called for redemption shall surrender the certificate
evidencing such shares to the Company at the place designated in such notice
and shall thereupon be entitled to receive payment of the redemption price. If
fewer than all the shares represented by any such surrendered certificate are
redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.
(E) The shares of Series E Preference Stock shall not be subject to
the operation of any purchase, retirement or sinking fund.
9. Ranking. The Series E Preference Stock shall rank junior to all
series of the Company's Preferred Stock and pari passu with all other series of
the Company's Preference Stock
<PAGE> 7
(other than any such series of Preference Stock the terms of which shall
provide otherwise) in respect to dividend and liquidation rights and shall rank
senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series E Preference
Stock are outstanding, the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company
shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series E Preference Stock so as to
affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds
or more of the outstanding shares of Series E Preference Stock, voting
separately as a class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series E Preference Stock may be issued in
fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise any voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series E Preference Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED has caused this
Statement to be executed on its behalf by the undersigned officer this _____
day of November, 1999.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
/s/ MARC KILBRIDE
---------------------------------
Name: Marc Kilbride
Title: Treasurer
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 3(g)
STATEMENT OF RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING SERIES OF SHARES
DESIGNATED
SERIES F PREFERENCE STOCK
OF
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
Pursuant to Article 2.13D of
the Texas Business Corporation Act
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 2.13D of the Texas Business
Corporation Act, the undersigned corporation submits the following statement
for the purpose of establishing and designating a series of shares of its
Preference Stock, without par value, designated "Series F Preference Stock" and
fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof:
1. The name of the corporation is RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED (the
"Company").
2. The following resolution establishing and designating a series of
shares and fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof,
was duly adopted by all necessary action on the part of the Company on December
, 1999:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Finance
Committee and the Preference Stock Committee, acting separately and/or
concurrently, by the Board of Directors of this Company in accordance with the
provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation, a series of Preference
Stock, without par value, of the Company be and hereby is created, and that the
designation and number of shares thereof and the preferences, limitations and
relative rights, including voting rights, of the shares of such series and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are as follows:
SERIES F PREFERENCE STOCK
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preference
Stock that shall be designated as "Series F Preference Stock," and the number
of shares constituting such series shall be 2,100. Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Finance Committee and the
Preference Stock Committee, acting separately and/or concurrently; provided,
however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series F
Preference Stock to less than the number of shares then issued and outstanding
plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding rights, options
or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued by the Company.
<PAGE> 2
2. Certain Defined Terms. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in that certain
Fiscal Agency Agreement, including the Exhibits thereto (the "Fiscal Agency
Agreement") to be entered into among Reliant Energy FinanceCo II LP, a Delaware
limited partnership (the "Issuer"), the Company and Chase Bank of Texas,
National Association, as in effect at the time of the initial issuance of Notes
thereunder, and as such terms may be amended in the Fiscal Agency Agreement in
accordance with the terms thereof. In addition, the following terms are used
herein as defined below:
(i) "Affiliates" means any person that, directly or
indirectly, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with
another person.
(ii) "Business Day" means a day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized
or required by law to close.
(iii) "Computed Dividend Portion" means, within any
Dividend Interval Period, an amount equal to the interest expense accrued on
the Notes from the prior Dividend Payment Date to the Determination Date for
the current Dividend Interval Period.
(iv) "Controlled" means, with respect to any Person, the
ability of another person (whether directly or indirectly and whether by the
ownership of voting securities, contract or otherwise) to appoint and/or remove
the majority of the members of the board of directors or other governing body
of that person (and "Control" shall be similarly construed).
(v) "Determination Date" means the date occurring five
Business Days prior to a Dividend Declaration Date.
(vi) "Dividend" means the dividend on the Series F
Preference Stock declared by the Company's Board of Directors with respect to a
Dividend Interval Period.
(vii) "Dividend Declaration Amount" means, as of any
Determination Date, the Preliminary Dividend Amount, less the sum of (a) the
Interest Reconciliation Amount, (b) the Support Agreement Reconciliation
Amount, and (c) the Other Sources Reconciliation Amount. The Dividend
Declaration Amount may be greater than or less than the Preliminary Dividend
Amount.
(viii) "Dividend Declaration Date" means the date on
which Dividends on the Series F Preference Stock are declared (or would have
been declared but for the fact that the amount of the Dividend determined in
accordance herewith would have been zero) during a Dividend Interval Period by
the Company's Board of Directors.
(ix) "Dividend Interval Period" means the period
beginning on a Dividend Payment Date and extending to the next Dividend Payment
Date.
<PAGE> 3
(x) "Dividend Payment Date" means the date occurring five
Business Days after a Dividend Declaration Date.
(xi) "Excess Cash Flow" means, for any period, any excess
funds of the Company after taking into account its cash requirements (including
debt service and preferred stock payments, but before common stock payments),
and any other expenditures in order to accommodate, with respect to Reliant
Energy HL&P and Reliant Energy Resources Corp., regulatory requirements and
sound utility financial and management practices, in each case, as determined
in the discretion of the Company's senior management.
(xii) "Interest Reconciliation Amount" means an amount
equal to (a) the Preliminary Dividend Amount computed for the prior Dividend
Interval Period, less (b) the actual interest expense accrued on the Notes
during such period.
(xiii) "Other Sources Reconciliation Amount" means, to
the extent applied to pay interest on the Notes or available in cash on the
current Determination Date therefor, the amount of income or cash proceeds
received by the Issuer from sources other than pursuant to the Support
Agreement (including, without limitation, interest received on loans to
Affiliates), from the Determination Date occurring in the Prior Dividend
Interval Period to the Determination Date occurring in the current Dividend
Interval Period.
(xiv) "Preliminary Dividend Amount" means the sum of the
Computed Dividend Portion and the Projected Dividend Portion.
(xv) "Projected Dividend Portion" means, within any
Dividend Interval Period, an amount equal to the projected interest expense
that will be accrued on the Notes from the Determination Date for such Dividend
Interval Period to the Dividend Payment Date.
(xvi) "Support Agreement Reconciliation Amount" means
the amount of cash payments made pursuant to the Support Agreement by the
Company to the Issuer from the Determination Date occurring in the immediately
prior Dividend Interval Period to the Determination Date occurring in the
current Dividend Interval Period.
3. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of (i)
any shares of any series of Preference Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series F Preference Stock with respect to dividends and (ii) any
shares of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Series F Preference Stock,
in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series of stock of the
Company ranking junior to the Series F Preference Stock, shall be entitled to
receive the amounts set forth below, when, as and if declared by the Board of
Directors in the manner described below out of assets of the Company legally
available for the purpose:
<PAGE> 4
(i) On every regularly scheduled meeting of the Company's
Board of Directors while any shares of Series F Preference Stock remain
outstanding, the Board of Directors shall declare an aggregate Dividend (if a
positive amount) equal to the lesser of (x) the Dividend Declaration Amount or
(y) the Excess Cash Flow projected to be available as of the applicable
Dividend Payment Date with respect to the then current Dividend Interval
Period.
(ii) If, with respect to any Dividend Interval Period,
the aggregate Dividend declared by the Company's Board of Directors is less
than the Dividend Declaration Amount for such Dividend Interval Period because
the Excess Cash Flow projected to be available as of the applicable Dividend
Payment Date is less than the Dividend Declaration Amount, the amount of such
deficiency shall be added to the Dividend Declaration Amount computed for the
next Dividend Interval Period and such aggregate amount shall become the
Dividend Declaration Amount for such period. The Dividend for such succeeding
Dividend Interval Period shall equal the Dividend Declaration Amount unless
such amount would exceed the Excess Cash Flow projected to be available as of
the applicable Dividend Payment Date, in which case the Dividend shall be the
amount of the projected Excess Cash Flow.
(iii) The aggregate Dividends paid on the shares of
Series F Preference Stock in accordance with this Section 3(A) shall be
allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time
outstanding.
(B) Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. The Board
of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares
of Series F Preference Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon.
(C) Dividends on the Series F Preference Stock are cumulative.
4. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law or the
Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company or as otherwise provided
herein, the holders of shares of Series F Preference Stock shall have no voting
rights.
5. Certain Restrictions. At any time when dividends or distributions
payable on the Series F Preference Stock as provided in Section 3 are in
arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series F Preference Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Company shall not:
(i) declare dividends on, or redeem or purchase or
otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series F
Preference Stock; or
(ii) declare dividends on any shares of stock ranking on
a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up) with the Series F Preference Stock, except dividends declared ratably on
the Series F Preference Stock and all such parity stock on which
<PAGE> 5
dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which
the holders of all such shares are then entitled.
(C) Notwithstanding the limitation on the amount of dividends
declared or to be declared on the shares of Series F Preference Stock set forth
in Section 3(A), for purposes of Section 7 and Section 8, the amount of accrued
and unpaid dividends payable on the Series F Preference Stock as of the date of
calculation of the Series F Liquidation Preference (as defined in Section 7
below) or any redemption price, as the case may be, for the Series F Preference
Stock shall be equal to the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid interest on
the Notes as of such date.
6. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series F Preference Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall
be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares
shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preference Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preference
Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors,
subject to any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be made to the holders of
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series F Preference Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Series F Preference Stock shall have received
$100,000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment
(the "Series F Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full
amount of the Series F Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions
shall be made to the holders of shares of Series F Preference Stock.
(B) In the event that there are not sufficient assets available to
permit payment in full of the Series F Liquidation Preference and the
liquidation preferences of all other series of Preference Stock, if any, that
rank on a parity with the Series F Preference Stock, then such remaining assets
shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion
to their respective liquidation preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with
another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of any other corporation
into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company within the meaning of this Section 7, but the sale,
lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Company's assets shall
be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company within
the meaning of this Section 7.
8. Redemption.
<PAGE> 6
(A) The Company, at its option, may redeem shares of the Series F
Preference Stock in whole at any time and in part from time to time, at a
redemption price equal to $100,000 per share plus an amount equal to accrued
and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the
date of redemption.
(B) Upon maturity of the Notes, by acceleration or otherwise, the
Company shall redeem the shares of the Series F Preference Stock in whole, at a
redemption price equal to the lesser of (i) the Company's Excess Cash Flow or
(ii) $100,000 per share plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends
and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of redemption.
(C) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding shares of the
Series F Preference Stock are to be redeemed, the number of shares to be
redeemed shall be determined by the Board of Directors and the shares to be
redeemed shall be determined by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the
Board of Directors or by any other method that may be determined by the Board
of Directors in its sole discretion to be equitable.
(D) Except to the extent notice is waived in accordance with
applicable law, notice of any such redemption shall be given by mailing to the
holders of the shares of Series F Preference Stock to be redeemed a notice of
such redemption, first class postage prepaid, not later than the twentieth day
and not earlier than the sixtieth day before the date fixed for redemption, at
their last address as the same shall appear upon the books of the Company. Each
such notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares to
be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be
redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the
redemption price; (iv) the place or places where certificates for such shares
are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that
dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the close of
business on such redemption date. Any notice that is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether
or not the shareholder received such notice, and failure duly to give such
notice by mail, or any defect in such notice, to any holder of Series F
Preference Stock shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other shares of Series F Preference Stock that are to be
redeemed. On or after the date fixed for redemption as stated in such notice,
each holder of the shares called for redemption shall surrender the certificate
evidencing such shares to the Company at the place designated in such notice
and shall thereupon be entitled to receive payment of the redemption price. If
fewer than all the shares represented by any such surrendered certificate are
redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.
(E) The shares of Series F Preference Stock shall not be subject to
the operation of any purchase, retirement or sinking fund.
9. Ranking. The Series F Preference Stock shall rank junior to all
series of the Company's Preferred Stock and pari passu with all other series of
the Company's Preference Stock (other than any such series of Preference Stock
the terms of which shall provide otherwise) in respect to dividend and
liquidation rights and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such
matters.
<PAGE> 7
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series F Preference
Stock are outstanding, the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company
shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series F Preference Stock so as to
affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds
or more of the outstanding shares of Series F Preference Stock, voting
separately as a class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series F Preference Stock may be issued in
fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise any voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series F Preference Stock.
REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
<PAGE> 8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED has caused this
Statement to be executed on its behalf by the undersigned officer this _____
day of December, 1999.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
/s/ MARC KILBRIDE
---------------------------------
Name: Marc Kilbride
Title: Treasurer
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 3(h)
OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION SECTION
SECRETARY OF STATE P.O. BOX 13697
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-3697
ARTICLES/CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
This correction is submitted pursuant to article 1302-7.01, Texas Miscellaneous
Corporation Laws Act for a corporation or limited liability company, or
pursuant to section 2.13, Texas Revised Limited Partnership Act for a limited
partnership, to correct a document which is an inaccurate record of the entity
action, contains an inaccurate or erroneous statement, or was defectively or
erroneously executed, sealed, acknowledged or verified.
ARTICLE ONE
The name of the entity is Reliant Energy, Incorporated.
ARTICLE TWO
The document to be corrected is the Statement of Resolution Establishing Series
F Preference Stock which was filed in the Office of the Secretary of State on
the 8th day of December, 1999.
ARTICLE THREE
The inaccuracy, error, or defect to be corrected is:
The first sentence of paragraph 1 entitled "Designation and Amount" references
2,100 shares of Series F Preference Stock which should be 2,400.
ARTICLE FOUR
As corrected, the inaccurate, erroneous, or defective portion of the document
reads as follows:
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preference
Stock that shall be designated as "Series F Preference Stock,"
and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 2,400.
By: /s/ Mark Kilbride
----------------------------------------------
Its: Mark Kilbride, Treasurer
----------------------------------------------
An Authorized Corporate Officer or Director
or Limited Liability Company Member or Manager
or Limited Partnership General Partner
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 3(i)
STATEMENT OF RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING SERIES OF SHARES
designated
SERIES G PREFERENCE STOCK
of
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
Pursuant to Article 2.13D of
the Texas Business Corporation Act
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 2.13D of the Texas
Business Corporation Act, the undersigned corporation submits the following
statement for the purpose of establishing and designating a series of shares of
its Preference Stock, without par value, designated "Series G Preference Stock"
and fixing and determining the relative rights and preferences thereof:
1. The name of the corporation is RELIANT ENERGY,
INCORPORATED (the "Company").
2. The following resolution establishing and designating
a series of shares and fixing and determining the relative rights and
preferences thereof, was duly adopted by all necessary action on the part of
the Company on February 23, 2000:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the
Finance Committee and the Preference Stock Committee, acting
separately and/or concurrently, by the Board of Directors of this
Company in accordance with the provisions of the Restated Articles
of Incorporation, a series of Preference Stock, without par value,
of the Company be and hereby is created, and that the designation
and number of shares thereof and the preferences, limitations and
relative rights, including voting rights, of the shares of such
series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof
are as follows:
SERIES G PREFERENCE STOCK
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of
Preference Stock that shall be designated as "Series G Preference Stock," and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 6,825. Such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Finance Committee and
the Preference Stock Committee, acting separately and/or concurrently;
provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series
G Preference Stock to less than the number of shares then issued and
outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding
rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued
by the Company.
-1-
<PAGE> 2
2. Certain Defined Terms.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have
the respective meanings ascribed to them in that certain Credit Agreement (the
"Credit Agreement") to be entered into among Reliant Energy FinanceCo IV, LP, a
Delaware limited partnership to be the initial Borrower thereunder, the
Company, the lenders parties thereto, Chase Securities, Inc. as arranger and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as the Administrative Agent thereunder. In addition,
the following terms are used herein as defined below:
(i) "Computed Dividend Portion" means, within
any Dividend Interval Period, an amount equal to the interest
expense accrued on the indebtedness for borrowed money of the
Borrower from the prior Dividend Payment Date to the Determination
Date for the current Dividend Interval Period.
(ii) "Determination Date" means the date
occurring five Business Days prior to a Dividend Declaration Date.
(iii) "Dividend" means the dividend on the
Series G Preference Stock declared by the Company's Board of
Directors with respect to a Dividend Interval Period.
(iv) "Dividend Declaration Amount" means, as of
any Determination Date, the Preliminary Dividend Amount, less the
sum of (a) the Interest Reconciliation Amount, (b) the Support
Agreement Reconciliation Amount, and (c) the Other Sources
Reconciliation Amount. The Dividend Declaration Amount may be
greater than or less than the Preliminary Dividend Amount.
(v) "Dividend Declaration Date" means the date
on which Dividends on the Series G Preference Stock are declared (or
would have been declared but for the fact that the amount of the
Dividend determined in accordance herewith would have been zero)
during a Dividend Interval Period by the Company's Board of
Directors.
(vi) "Dividend Interval Period" means the period
beginning on a Dividend Payment Date and extending to the next
Dividend Payment Date.
(vii) "Dividend Payment Date" means the date
occurring five Business Days after a Dividend Declaration Date.
(viii) "Interest Reconciliation Amount" means an
amount equal to (a) the Preliminary Dividend Amount computed for the
prior Dividend Interval Period, less (b) the actual interest expense
accrued on the indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower
during such period.
-2-
<PAGE> 3
(ix) "Other Sources Reconciliation Amount" means
the sum of (a) to the extent applied to pay interest on the
indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower or available in cash
on the current Determination Date therefor, the amount of income or
cash proceeds received by the Borrower from sources other than
pursuant to the Support Agreement (including, without limitation,
interest received on loans to Affiliates), and (b) the cash proceeds
of new borrowings under the Credit Agreement that are utilized to
pay interest on outstanding borrowings thereunder, from the
Determination Date occurring in the Prior Dividend Interval Period
to the Determination Date occurring in the current Dividend Interval
Period.
(x) "Preliminary Dividend Amount" means the
sum of the Computed Dividend Portion and the Projected Dividend
Portion.
(xi) "Projected Dividend Portion" means, within
any Dividend Interval Period, an amount equal to the projected
interest expense that will be accrued on the indebtedness for
borrowed money of the Borrower from the Determination Date for such
Dividend Interval Period to the Dividend Payment Date.
(xii) "Support Agreement Reconciliation Amount"
means the amount of cash payments made pursuant to the Support
Agreement by the Company to the Borrower from the Determination Date
occurring in the immediately prior Dividend Interval Period to the
Determination Date occurring in the current Dividend Interval
Period.
3. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the
holders of (i) any shares of any series of Preference Stock ranking prior and
superior to the shares of Series G Preference Stock with respect to dividends
and (ii) any shares of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Series G
Preference Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series
of stock of the Company ranking junior to the Series G Preference Stock, shall
be entitled to receive the amounts set forth below, when, as and if declared by
the Board of Directors in the manner described below out of assets of the
Company legally available for the purpose:
(i) On every regularly scheduled meeting of the
Company's Board of Directors while any shares of Series G Preference
Stock remain outstanding, the Board of Directors shall declare an
aggregate Dividend (if a positive amount) equal to the lesser of (a)
the Dividend Declaration Amount or (b) the Excess Cash Flow
projected to be available as of the applicable Dividend Payment Date
with respect to the then current Dividend Interval Period.
(ii) If, with respect to any Dividend Interval
Period, the aggregate Dividend declared by the Company's Board of
Directors is less than the Dividend Declaration Amount for such
Dividend Interval Period because the Excess Cash Flow projected to
be available as of the applicable Dividend Payment Date is less than
the Dividend Declaration Amount, the amount of such deficiency shall
be added to the Dividend Declaration Amount computed for the next
Dividend Interval Period and such aggregate amount shall become the
Dividend
-3-
<PAGE> 4
Declaration Amount for such period. The Dividend for such succeeding
Dividend Interval Period shall equal the Dividend Declaration Amount
unless such amount would exceed the Excess Cash Flow projected to be
available as of the applicable Dividend Payment Date, in which case
the Dividend shall be the amount of the projected Excess Cash Flow.
(iii) The aggregate Dividends paid on the shares
of Series G Preference Stock in accordance with this Section 3(A)
shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such
shares at the time outstanding.
(B) Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders
of shares of Series G Preference Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution declared thereon.
4. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law
or the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company or as otherwise
provided herein, the holders of shares of Series G Preference Stock shall have
no voting rights.
5. Certain Restrictions. At any time when dividends or
distributions payable on the Series G Preference Stock as provided in Section 3
are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series G Preference Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Company shall not:
(i) declare dividends on, or redeem or purchase
or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series G Preference Stock; or
(ii) declare dividends on any shares of stock
ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) with the Series G Preference Stock,
except dividends declared ratably on the Series G Preference Stock
and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in
arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of
all such shares are then entitled.
6. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series G Preference
Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preference Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preference
Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors,
subject to any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise),
dissolution or winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be made to the
holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series G Preference Stock
unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series G Preference Stock shall
have received $100,000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions thereon, whether or
-4-
<PAGE> 5
not declared, to the date of such payment (the "Series G Liquidation
Preference"). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series G
Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the
holders of shares of Series G Preference Stock.
(B) In the event that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series G Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preference Stock, if any,
that rank on a parity with the Series G Preference Stock, then such remaining
assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Company
into or with another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of any other
corporation into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company within the meaning of this Section 7,
but the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Company's
assets shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company within the meaning of this Section 7.
8. Redemption.
(A) The Company, at its option, may redeem shares of the
Series G Preference Stock in whole at any time and in part from time to time,
at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share plus, in the event all
outstanding shares of the Series G Preference Stock are to be redeemed, unpaid
accumulated dividends to the date of redemption.
(B) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding
shares of the Series G Preference Stock are to be redeemed, (i) the number of
shares to be redeemed shall be determined by the Board of Directors and the
shares to be redeemed shall be determined by lot or pro rata as may be
determined by the Board of Directors or by any other method that may be
determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion to be equitable.
(C) Except to the extent notice is waived in accordance
with applicable law, notice of any such redemption shall be given by mailing to
the holders of the shares of Series G Preference Stock to be redeemed a notice
of such redemption, first class postage prepaid, not later than the twentieth
day and not earlier than the sixtieth day before the date fixed for redemption,
at their last address as the same shall appear upon the books of the Company.
Each such notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of
shares to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are
to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder;
(iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where certificates for
such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v)
that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the close
of business on such redemption date. Any notice that is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether
or not the shareholder received such notice, and failure duly to give such
notice by mail, or any defect in such notice, to any holder of Series G
Preference Stock shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other shares of Series G Preference Stock that are to be
redeemed. On or after the date fixed for redemption as stated in such notice,
each holder of the shares called for redemption shall surrender the certificate
evidencing such shares to the Company
-5-
<PAGE> 6
at the place designated in such notice and shall thereupon be entitled to
receive payment of the redemption price. If fewer than all the shares
represented by any such surrendered certificate are redeemed, a new certificate
shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.
(D) The shares of Series G Preference Stock shall not be
subject to the operation of any purchase, retirement or sinking fund.
9. Ranking. The Series G Preference Stock shall rank
junior to all series of the Company's Preferred Stock and pari passu with all
other series of the Company's Preference Stock (other than any such series of
Preference Stock the terms of which shall provide otherwise) in respect to
dividend and liquidation rights and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to
such matters.
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series G
Preference Stock are outstanding, the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
Company shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series G Preference
Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the
holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of Series G Preference
Stock, voting separately as a class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series G Preference Stock may be
issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to
such holder's fractional shares, to exercise any voting rights, receive
dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other
rights of holders of Series G Preference Stock.
REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
-6-
<PAGE> 7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED has
caused this Statement to be executed on its behalf by the undersigned officer
this ___ day of February, 2000.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
/s/ MARC KILBRIDE
--------------------------------
Name: Marc Kilbride
Title: Treasurer
-7-
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10(u)(3)
HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
MASTER RETIREMENT TRUST
(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 1999)
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
MASTER RETIREMENT TRUST
(As Renamed Effective May 5, 1999)
<PAGE> 2
HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
MASTER RETIREMENT TRUST
(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 1999)
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
MASTER RETIREMENT TRUST
(As Renamed Effective May 5, 1999)
I N D E X
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION...........................................................3
Section:
1.1 Definitions............................................................................3
Affiliated Corporation.................................................................3
Code...................................................................................3
Committee..............................................................................3
Company................................................................................3
Company Stock..........................................................................3
ERISA..................................................................................3
Group Trust(s).........................................................................3
Insurance Contracts....................................................................3
Investment Manager.....................................................................3
Master Trust...........................................................................4
Master Trust Fund......................................................................4
Participant............................................................................4
Participating Plan.....................................................................4
Plan...................................................................................4
Plan Administrator.....................................................................4
Prior Plan.............................................................................4
Prior Trust Agreement..................................................................4
Trustee................................................................................4
Valuation Date.........................................................................4
1.2 Construction...........................................................................4
ARTICLE II MASTER TRUST; PARTICIPATING PLANS......................................................6
Section:
2.1 Continuation of Master Trust...........................................................6
2.2 Participating Plans....................................................................6
ARTICLE III GENERAL DUTIES OF THE PARTIES..........................................................8
Section:
3.1 General Duties of the Company..........................................................8
</TABLE>
(i)
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C>
3.2 Investment Guidelines; Contributions; Employee Records.................................8
3.3 General Duties of Trustee..............................................................8
ARTICLE IV ACCOUNTS OF PARTICIPATING PLANS;
AUTHORITY OF COMPANY AND COMMITTEE....................................................10
Section:
4.1 Accounts of Participating Plans; Valuation............................................10
4.2 Exclusive Benefit of Employees Under Participating Plans..............................11
4.3 Authority of Company and Committee....................................................11
ARTICLE V INVESTMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND
DISBURSEMENT OF MASTER TRUST FUND.....................................................13
Section:
5.1 Investment of Master Trust Fund.......................................................13
5.2 Direction of Investment...............................................................15
5.3 Insurance or Annuity Contracts........................................................18
5.4 Voting of Securities..................................................................21
5.5 Powers of Trustee.....................................................................21
5.6 Payments and Distributions from Master Trust Fund.....................................23
5.7 Trustee's Dealings with Third Parties.................................................24
5.8 Ancillary Trustee.....................................................................25
ARTICLE VI FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRUSTEE.....................................................26
Section:
6.1 Composition of Committee and Plan Administrators......................................26
6.2 Evidence of Action by Company or Committee............................................26
6.3 Communications........................................................................27
6.4 Advice of Counsel or Plan Administrator...............................................27
6.5 Miscellaneous.........................................................................27
6.6 Fiduciary Responsibilities............................................................28
ARTICLE VII TAXES, EXPENSES AND COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEE...........................................30
Section:
7.1 Taxes and Expenses....................................................................30
7.2 Compensation of the Trustee...........................................................30
ARTICLE VIII SETTLEMENT OF ACCOUNTS; DETERMINATION OF INTERESTS
UNDER MASTER TRUST....................................................................31
Section:
8.1 Settlement of Accounts of Trustee.....................................................31
8.2 Determination of Rights and Benefits of Persons Claiming an Interest
in the Master Trust Fund; Enforcement of Master Trust Fund............................32
</TABLE>
(ii)
<PAGE> 4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE IX RESIGNATION, REMOVAL AND SUBSTITUTION OF
THE TRUSTEE...........................................................................33
Section:
9.1 Resignation of Trustee................................................................33
9.2 Removal of Trustee....................................................................33
9.3 Appointment of Successor Trustee......................................................33
9.4 Transfer of Master Trust Fund to Successor............................................33
ARTICLE X DURATION AND TERMINATION OF MASTER TRUST;
AMENDMENT.............................................................................34
Section:
10.1 Duration and Termination..............................................................34
10.2 Distribution Upon Termination.........................................................34
10.3 Loss of Qualification of a Participating Plan; Certain Withdrawals....................34
10.4 Amendment.............................................................................35
10.5 Acceptance or Rejection of Amendment by Affiliated Corporations.......................35
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................................36
Section:
11.1 Governing Law; No Bond Required of Trustee............................................36
11.2 Interest in Master Trust Fund; Assignment.............................................36
11.3 Invalid Provisions....................................................................36
11.4 Remedies..............................................................................36
11.5 Prohibition of Diversion..............................................................36
11.6 Headings for Convenience Only.........................................................36
11.7 Successors and Assigns................................................................36
</TABLE>
(iii)
<PAGE> 5
HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
MASTER RETIREMENT TRUST
(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 1999)
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
MASTER RETIREMENT TRUST
(As Renamed Effective May 5, 1999)
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT made and entered into as of the 1st day of January,
1999, by and between HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED (now known as Reliant
Energy, Incorporated), a Texas corporation (the "Company"), and THE NORTHERN
TRUST COMPANY, an Illinois corporation, as trustee;
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, by Agreement (the "1978 Trust Agreement") dated August 29, 1978
but effective as of October 1, 1978, between the Company and Texas Commerce Bank
National Association (the "Prior Trustee"), the Company amended, restated and
continued a trust established, effective July 1, 1953, in connection with the
Retirement Plan for Employees of Houston Lighting & Power Company, as adopted by
the Company effective July 1, 1953 (the "1953 Plan", said Plan as it presently
exists in the form of the Houston Industries Incorporated Retirement Plan,
amended and restated effective December 1, 1995 and as amended through the date
hereof, being incorporated herein by reference as fully as if set out in full
herein, together with any amendments thereto hereafter made); and
WHEREAS, the Company amended and restated the 1978 Trust Agreement in
the form of the Houston Industries Incorporated Master Retirement Trust,
effective January 1, 1994 (the "1994 Trust Agreement"), to accommodate the
consolidation with the KBLCOM Trust Agreement, as established effective January
1, 1991, and to provide for the investment and administration on a commingled
basis, together with the assets of other defined benefit plans of the Company or
such Affiliated Corporations; and
WHEREAS, effective December 1, 1995, the Company amended and restated
the 1953 Plan to provide for a retiree welfare benefits account pursuant to
Section 401(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and
to make certain other changes therein (the "Prior Plan"); and
WHEREAS, effective as of July 1, 1998, the Company appointed the Trustee
to replace the Prior Trustee as trustee of the 1994 Trust Agreement and in
connection therewith, the Company and Trustee amended, restated and continued
the 1994 Trust Agreement in the form of the Houston Industries Incorporated
Master Retirement Trust ("Prior Trust Agreement"); and
-1-
<PAGE> 6
WHEREAS, as a result of the merger by and among NorAm Energy Corp.
("NorAm"), Houston Industries Incorporated, Houston Lighting & Power Company and
HI Merger Inc., NorAm became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the
Company assumed the sponsorship of the NorAm Energy Corp. Employees Retirement
Plan (the "NorAm Plan") and the Minnegasco Division Employees' Pension Plan (the
"Minnegasco Plan"), and adopted the NorAm Energy Corp. Master Retirement Trust
(the "NorAm Trust") which held the assets of both the NorAm Plan and the
Minnegasco Plan, and the Company assumed all duties, rights and responsibilities
thereto as a party to the respective trust agreements in the place and stead of
NorAm and the Minnegasco division of NorAm, as applicable, effective as of
August 6, 1997.
WHEREAS, effective as of January 1, 1999, the Company authorized and
directed that the NorAm Plan and the Minnegasco Plan be consolidated with,
merged into, and continued in the form of the Prior Plan, and the Prior Plan be
amended, restated and continued in the form of the Reliant Energy, Incorporated
Retirement Plan, in order to reflect the merger, implement a cash balance plan,
and make certain other changes therein. In connection therewith, the Company
authorized and directed effective as of January 1, 1999, that all assets held
under the NorAm Trust be merged with and into the assets held under the Prior
Trust Agreement, and the Prior Trust Agreement be amended, restated and
continued in the form of the Houston Industries Incorporated Master Retirement
Trust.
WHEREAS, effective as of May 5, 1999, the name of the Company was
changed to Reliant Energy, Incorporated and the trust was renamed the Reliant
Energy, Incorporated Master Retirement Trust.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustee accepts the trust created hereby and
covenants that it will hold all property which it may receive hereunder, IN
TRUST, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated; and the parties hereto
agree as follows:
-2-
<PAGE> 7
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
1.1 Definitions: As used in the Master Trust, the following words and
phrases shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires a
different meaning:
AFFILIATED CORPORATION: Houston Industries Incorporated
(renamed Reliant Energy, Incorporated effective May 5, 1999), a Texas
corporation, and any corporation in which the shares owned or
controlled directly or indirectly by Houston Industries Incorporated
shall represent 50% or more of the voting power of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of such corporation.
CODE: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time
amended.
COMMITTEE: The Benefits Committee appointed by the Board of
Directors of the Company, which shall serve as a "named fiduciary"
hereunder and assist in the administration of the Master Trust Fund and
whose duties also include the administration of the Plan.
COMPANY: Prior to May 5, 1999, Houston Industries
Incorporated, a Texas corporation, and on and after May 5, 1999,
Reliant Energy, Incorporated or a successor to Reliant Energy,
Incorporated in the ownership of substantially all of its assets.
COMPANY STOCK: The common stock of the Company.
ERISA: Public Law No. 93-406, the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as from time to time amended.
GROUP TRUST(S): The Dietche & Field Investment Trust A, the
Sarofim Trust Co. Employee Benefit Investment Trust, the Oechsle
International Group Trust Fund for Employee Benefit Trusts, The Beutel
Trust and The Accel Fund or any other common, collective, group or
commingled trust selected by the Committee which is qualified under
Code Section 401(a) and exempt from tax under Code Section 501(a).
INSURANCE CONTRACTS: The insurance and annuity contracts as
provided in Section 5.2 hereof.
INVESTMENT MANAGER: The fiduciary or fiduciaries, if any,
appointed hereunder by the Committee and meeting the definition set
forth in Section 3(38) of ERISA.
-3-
<PAGE> 8
MASTER TRUST: The Houston Industries Incorporated Master
Retirement Trust, as amended and restated effective January 1, 1999,
and as the same may hereafter be amended from time to time. Effective
May 5, 1999, the Master Trust was renamed the Reliant Energy,
Incorporated Master Retirement Trust.
MASTER TRUST FUND: The fund or funds to be established under
the Master Trust and from which benefits under the Participating Plans
are to be paid. Such fund shall consist of all assets, money and
property, all investments made therewith and proceeds thereof and all
earnings and profits thereon, less the payments or other distributions
which, at the time of reference, shall have been made by the Trustee,
as authorized herein.
PARTICIPANT: Each employee, former employee, spouse or
beneficiary of an employee who is or was participating in the Plan in
accordance with the terms thereof.
PARTICIPATING PLAN: An employee benefit plan which is
maintained by the Company or an Affiliated Corporation and which
participates hereunder pursuant to Section 2.2 and as listed in Exhibit
A attached hereto.
PLAN: The Houston Industries Incorporated Retirement Plan, as
amended and restated effective January 1, 1999, and as thereafter
amended. Effective May 5, 1999, the Plan was renamed the Reliant
Energy, Incorporated Retirement Plan.
PLAN ADMINISTRATOR: The person or persons, or committee whose
duties include service as a "named fiduciary" hereunder and the
authority to control and manage the operation and administration of
each applicable Participating Plan.
PRIOR PLAN: The Houston Industries Incorporated Retirement
Plan, as amended and restated effective December 1, 1995 and as
thereafter amended.
PRIOR TRUST AGREEMENT: The trust agreement dated July 1, 1998
as thereafter amended, between the Company and the Trustee.
TRUSTEE: The Northern Trust Company, an Illinois corporation,
and its successors, which shall carry out its duties hereunder as a
"fiduciary" as provided in Section 3(21) of ERISA and shall have
discretion and authority as set fort herein.
VALUATION DATE: The close of business on the last business day
of each calendar month and any such other date or dates as the
Committee may deem appropriate; provided, however, that any such
interim valuation shall be exercised on a uniform and
non-discriminatory basis.
1.2 Construction: The masculine gender, where appearing in the Master
Trust, shall be deemed to include the feminine gender, and the singular may
include the plural, unless the context
-4-
<PAGE> 9
clearly indicates to the contrary. The words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" and
other similar compounds of the words "here" shall mean and refer to the entire
Master Trust, not to any particular provision or section. Article and Section
headings are included for convenience of reference and are not intended to add
to or subtract from the terms of the Master Trust.
-5-
<PAGE> 10
ARTICLE II
MASTER TRUST; PARTICIPATING PLANS
2.1 Continuation of Master Trust: The Company hereby continues with the
Trustee a Master Trust for the exclusive purposes of providing benefits to
employees of the Company and the Affiliated Corporations, and to the
beneficiaries of such employees, under each Participating Plan and defraying
reasonable expenses of administering such Participating Plans. Each such
Participating Plan, and each such Affiliated Corporation, as of the date hereof,
is listed in Exhibit A attached hereto. The Master Trust shall consist of (a)
such cash and other property held in trust by the Trustee under the Prior Trust
Agreement at the close of business on December 31, 1998, (b) such cash and other
property held in trust under the NorAm Energy Corp. Master Retirement Trust at
the close of business on December 31, 1998, and which was transferred to this
Master Trust, (c) such assets as may hereafter be transferred to the Trustee
from any separate trust or other funding medium established under any
Participating Plan and (d) such sums of money and such property acceptable to
the Trustee as shall from time to time be paid or delivered to the Trustee as a
contribution in respect of any Participating Plan, together with the income and
gains therefrom. All such assets, money and property, all investments made
therewith and proceeds thereof and all earnings and profits thereon, less the
payments or other distributions which, at the time of reference, shall have been
made by the Trustee, as authorized herein, are referred to herein as the "Master
Trust Fund." The Master Trust shall be maintained at all times as a domestic
trust in the United States.
2.2 Participating Plans: An employee benefit plan which is not already a
Participating Plan hereunder (as listed in Exhibit A attached hereto) may become
a Participating Plan hereunder only if the Company has determined that all of
the following requirements are met:
(a) The Company, any Affiliated Corporation or any combination
thereof, has established the plan;
(b) The plan is a "defined benefit plan" as defined in Section
3(35) of ERISA;
(c) The plan (and any other trust all or a part of whose
assets are to be transferred to the Master Trust) is qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code;
(d) The Master Trust is exempt from taxation under Code
Section 501(a);
(e) The Master Trust has been adopted as a trust under the
plan and as part of the plan by due corporate action of the Company or
Affiliated Corporation which maintains the plan, the Committee has
consented thereto and an instrument in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B has been executed by the Company or Affiliated Corporation
and such Committee and delivered to the Trustee; and
-6-
<PAGE> 11
(f) The Committee has notified the Trustee in writing of the
adoption of the Master Trust as a trust under such plan and the Trustee
has acknowledged thereto by execution of such instrument.
-7-
<PAGE> 12
ARTICLE III
GENERAL DUTIES OF THE PARTIES
3.1 General Duties of the Company:
A. The Company shall provide the Trustee with evidence acceptable to
the Trustee that each Participating Plan (and any such other trust) has been
duly adopted by the Company or Affiliated Corporation and has been determined to
be qualified under Code Section 401(a).
B. The Board of Directors of the Company shall appoint a Benefits
Committee, consisting of at least three individuals, which shall be authorized
under each Participating Plan to serve as a "named fiduciary" (within the
meaning of Section 402(a)(2) of ERISA) of the Participating Plans to assist in
the administration of the Master Trust as hereinafter provided. Each member of
the Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the
Company and the Company shall certify to the Trustee the names and specimen
signatures of the members of the Committee serving from time to time hereunder.
The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee from
any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses (including counsel fees approved
by the Committee), and liabilities (including any amounts paid in settlement
with the Committee's approval but excluding any excise tax assessed against any
member or members of the Committee pursuant to the provisions of Code Section
4975) arising from any act or omission of such member in connection with his
duties and responsibilities under this Trust Agreement, except when the same is
judicially determined to be due to the gross negligence and willful misconduct
of such member.
C. The Company shall from time to time certify to the Trustee the
name(s) (and specimen signature(s)) of the Plan Administrator.
3.2 Investment Guidelines; Contributions; Employee Records: From time to
time the Committee shall communicate in writing to any Investment Manager who
may be acting pursuant to Section 5.2 (and to the Trustee, if it is managing the
investment of any of the assets of the Master Trust pursuant to such Section)
the investment guidelines governing the portion of the assets of the Master
Trust managed by such Investment Manager or the Trustee. The Company shall make,
and shall cause the Affiliated Corporations to make, contributions to the
Participating Plans as the same may be allowed in accordance with the Plan and
applicable law and shall specify in writing to the Trustee the amount of such
contributions allocable to each Participating Plan. The Company shall keep and
shall cause the Affiliated Corporations to keep accurate books and records with
respect to their respective employees, including, without limitation, records as
to the periods of employment, compensation and ages of such employees.
3.3 General Duties of Trustee: The Trustee shall hold all property
received by it hereunder, which, together with the income and gains therefrom
and additions thereto, and less payments and other distributions therefrom,
shall constitute the Master Trust Fund. Except as otherwise hereinafter
provided, the Trustee shall manage, invest and reinvest the Master Trust Fund,
collect the income thereof, and make payments therefrom, all in accordance with
the terms of this
-8-
<PAGE> 13
Agreement. The Trustee shall be responsible only for the property actually
received by it hereunder. It shall have no duty or authority to compute any
amount to be paid to it by the Company, by any Affiliated Corporation or by any
participant in any Participating Plan, or to bring any action or proceeding to
enforce the collection from any such person of any contribution to the Master
Trust in respect of any Participating Plan.
-9-
<PAGE> 14
ARTICLE IV
ACCOUNTS OF PARTICIPATING PLANS;
AUTHORITY OF COMPANY AND COMMITTEE
4.1 Accounts of Participating Plans; Valuation: The Trustee shall
maintain separate accounts reflecting the proportional share in the Master Trust
Fund of each Participating Plan. The Trustee shall determine the value of the
assets of the Master Trust Fund as of each Valuation Date. Each such valuation
shall be made as promptly as practicable after the Valuation Date as of which it
is made. Each contribution to and payment and distribution from the Master Fund
shall be made as of the Valuation Date next preceding the date on which, as
applicable, the Trustee receives such contribution or receives notice from the
Company, the Committee or the appropriate Plan Administrator that such payment
or distribution is to be made, on the basis of the valuation of the Master Trust
Fund and of the proportional share of each Participating Plan in the Master
Trust Fund as of such Valuation Date (taking into account the liabilities of the
Master Trust Fund as of such Date). The assets in the Master Trust Fund shall be
allocated on a pro rata basis reflecting the interest in the Master Trust Fund
of each Participating Plan unless the Committee shall direct in writing that a
separate account or accounts are to be created within the Master Trust Fund to
hold assets allocable solely to a particular Participating Plan or Plans. If
such an account is created, income, distributions and gains and losses with
respect to the assets or group of assets held therein shall be attributable
solely to the proportional share of such Participating Plan or Plans.
At the close of business on the Valuation Date, the Trustee
shall render to the Committee a statement of account for the Master Trust Fund
using its pricing services for each respective type of security. In the absence
of a readily ascertainable value, the Trustee shall rely conclusively on the
determination of any Investment Manager (or the Committee if it has
responsibility for a portion of the Master Trust Fund) with respect to the fair
market value of those assets allocated such Investment Manager (or the
Committee), and the Trustee shall have no responsibility with respect to the
determination of the fair market value of such assets. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section, the Committee or its agent, in determining the
equitable share in the Master Trust Fund of any Participating Plan, may rely
upon the determination of the issuer of any insurance contract held as part of
the Master Trust Fund with respect to the value of such contract and may rely
upon the determination of any Investment Manager with respect to the value of
any interest of the Master Trust in any common, collective, commingled or group
trust fund maintained by such Investment Manager in which assets of the Master
Trust are permitted to be invested by Section 5.5(j) of this Agreement.
Any Investment Manager or the Committee who may be acting
pursuant to Section 5.2 (and the Trustee, if it is managing the investment of
any assets of the Master Trust pursuant to such Section) may in its discretion
transfer or direct the transfer to a liquidating account of any investment of
the portion of the Master Trust under its management which it determines should
be liquidated for the benefit of those Participating Plans whose assets are
commingled in the Master Trust on the date of determination and whose equitable
share in the Master Trust Fund on such date includes such investment. Any
investment that has been transferred to a liquidating account shall be
segregated and administered or realized upon solely for the benefit ratably of
such
-10-
<PAGE> 15
Participating Plans and shall be excluded in determining the equitable share in
the Master Trust Fund of any Participating Plan thereafter.
Notwithstanding the foregoing requirements of this Section
4.1, the Committee may direct the Trustee to establish and maintain a "Welfare
Benefits Account" or a "Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Account" within the
Master Trust Fund for one or more Participating Plans (hereinafter referred to
as a "Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Account"). Each such Post-Retirement
Medical Benefit Account shall be maintained for the sole purpose of paying
certain medical claims incurred by retired employees who are entitled to pension
benefits under the related Participating Plan and their eligible dependents in
accordance with Section 401(h) of the Code. The assets of each such
Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Account shall be separately accounted for on the
Trustee's books and records as a part of a particular Participating Plan but may
be commingled and invested with other assets of the Master Trust Fund at the
Committee's discretion. Additions to a Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Account
may be contributions from the Company or an Affiliated Corporation or by the
transfer(s) of assets from the portion of the related Participating Plan which
is not accounted for on the Trustee's books and records as a Post-Retirement
Medical Benefit Account, as directed by the Committee, which direction shall be
in accordance with Section 420 of the Code. The Committee shall designate the
contributions which are allocable to a Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Account
and shall designate the portion of the assets attributable to a Participating
Plan which is not accounted for on the Trustee's books and records as a
Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Account that is to be transferred to the
Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Account maintained within such Participating
Plan. The Trustee shall make the payments from a Post-Retirement Medical Benefit
Account at the written direction of the Committee, which direction shall be
pursuant to the related Participating Plan document and in accordance with
Section 420 of the Code and other applicable law. Such direction may provide for
the direct reimbursement of the Company or an Affiliated Corporation from the
Participating Plan's Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Account for certain
expenses the Company or an Affiliated Corporation has previously paid to provide
post-retirement medical plan coverage to retired employees who are entitled to
pension benefits under the related Participating Plan and their eligible
dependents. Upon the Committee's determination that all liabilities for benefit
payments under a Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Account have been satisfied,
the Committee shall direct the Trustee in writing to remit any remaining amounts
credited to such Account to the Company or one or more Affiliated Corporations,
except to the extent that such remaining amounts are attributable to a transfer
of assets from the portion of the Participating Plan which does not constitute a
Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Account, in which event such remaining amounts
shall be transferred back to such other portion of the Participating Plan.
4.2 Exclusive Benefit of Employees Under Participating Plans: At no
time prior to the satisfaction of all liabilities with respect to employees and
their beneficiaries under any Participating Plan shall any part of the equitable
share of such Participating Plan in the Master Trust Fund be used for, or
diverted to, any purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of such employees
and their beneficiaries or the payment of Participating Plan or Master Trust
administrative expenses.
4.3 Authority of Company and Committee: When the Master Trust is the
trust under the plan of any Affiliated Corporation, such Affiliated Corporation
shall be bound by the decisions,
-11-
<PAGE> 16
instructions, actions and directions of the Company, the Committee (or its
representative), each Plan Administrator (or their designees), and each
Investment Manager under this Agreement and the Trustee shall be indemnified by
the Company and such Affiliated Corporation for expenses and liabilities
incurred by relying upon such decisions, instructions, actions and directions,
or in the event such expenses or liabilities were incurred by the Trustee due to
the failure of such parties to carry out their responsibilities under the Plan
and each Participating Plan. The Trustee shall not be required to give notice to
or obtain the consent of any such Affiliated Corporation with respect to any
action which is taken by the Trustee pursuant to this Agreement.
-12-
<PAGE> 17
ARTICLE V
INVESTMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND
DISBURSEMENT OF MASTER TRUST FUND
5.1 Investment of Master Trust Fund: Except as provided elsewhere in
this Agreement, the Master Trust Fund may be invested, in accordance with the
procedures prescribed by Section 5.2, in any property, real, personal or mixed,
wherever situated, and whether or not productive of income or consisting of
wasting assets, including, without limitation, (i) common and preferred stocks,
bonds, notes and debentures (including convertible stocks and securities but not
including any stocks or securities of the Trustee or its affiliates), (ii)
leaseholds, mortgages (including, without limitation, any collective or part
interest in any bond and mortgage or note and mortgage), (iii) certificates of
deposit, demand or time deposits (including any such deposit with any bank
serving as trustee hereunder), (iv) shares of investment companies and mutual
funds, (v) interests in partnerships, trusts and limited liability companies,
insurance policies and contracts (including individual or group annuity
contracts), (vi) oil, mineral or gas properties, royalties, interests or rights
(including equipment pertaining thereto), without being limited to the classes
of property in which trustees are authorized to invest trust funds by any law,
or any rule of court, of any state and without regard to the proportion any such
property may bear to the entire amount of the Master Trust Fund, and (vii) any
common, collective, group or commingled trust fund, including but not limited to
the Dietche & Field Investment Trust A, the Sarofim Trust Co. Employee Benefit
Investment Trust, the Oechsle International Group Trust Fund for Employee
Benefit Trusts, The Beutel Trust and The Accel Fund and the Trustee may cause
the assets of the Master Trust Fund to be invested as part of the funds created
pursuant to the agreements of trust establishing the Dietche & Field Investment
Trust A, the Sarofim Trust Co. Employee Benefit Investment Trust, the Oechsle
International Group Trust Fund for Employee Benefit Trusts, The Beutel Trust and
The Accel Fund or any other common, collective, group or commingled trust for
the commingled, collective and common investment of assets of eligible
participating trusts, subject to all of the provisions of said agreements of
trust, such agreements of trust being herein incorporated by this reference as
fully as if set forth herein; provided, however, that (i) investments shall be
so diversified as to minimize the risk of large losses unless under the
circumstances it is clearly prudent not to do so, in the sole judgment of the
person who is directing the investment of the Master Trust Fund under the
provisions of Section 5.2, or in the sole judgment of the Trustee if it is
managing the Master Trust Fund under such provisions and (ii) investments shall
at all times be subject to the limitations set forth in the next following
paragraph.
The Committee shall not direct the Trustee to invest any
assets of the Master Trust Fund in any Company security which is not a
"qualifying Company security" nor in any Company real property which is not
"qualifying Company real property." Moreover, the Committee shall not direct the
Trustee to acquire any "qualifying Company securities" and/or "qualifying
Company real property" as an investment if such acquisition will result in the
Master Trust Fund holding more than 10% of the then fair market value of the
assets of the Master Trust Fund in "qualifying Company securities" and/or
"qualifying Company real property." For purposes of this paragraph, the term
"qualifying Company securities" means stock or marketable obligations of the
Company or an Affiliated Corporation, as defined in Section 407 of ERISA. The
term "qualifying Company real
-13-
<PAGE> 18
property" means parcels of real property leased to the Company or an Affiliated
Corporation if a substantial number of the parcels are disbursed geographically
and if each parcel is suitable for or adaptable to more than one use, as defined
in Section 407 of ERISA.
The Committee shall have the sole investment responsibility
with respect to retention, sale, purchase or voting of any Company Stock which
has not been allocated to an Investment Manager. The Trustee shall have custody
of such Company Stock and shall act with respect thereto only as directed by the
Committee. The Trustee shall not make any investment review of, consider the
propriety of holding or selling, or vote any such Company Stock. With respect to
such Company Stock, the Committee shall have the investment power granted to the
Trustee by Section 5.5 as limited by 4.2 and 5.1 of this Agreement, as if all
references therein to the Trustee referred to the Committee.
To the extent that any portion of the Master Trust Fund is
invested in mutual fund shares or bank commingled funds, the Committee shall
initially select funds to be invested in and shall be responsible for retaining
the availability of or terminating the availability of such funds. To the extent
the Trustee is required to enter into a custody agreement with the sponsor of a
bank commingled fund or such other type of fund, the Committee shall direct the
Trustee to enter into such agreement.
With the prior approval of the Committee, the Trustee or the
person directing the investment of a portion or all of the Master Trust Fund may
utilize investment practices and techniques which include but are not limited to
(i) securities lending, (ii) investments in futures contracts, forwards
contracts and options, (iii) swap agreements and (iv) indexed securities in
which value is linked to currencies, interest rates, commodities indices or
other financial indicators.
With regard to the lending of securities, the Committee may
direct the Trustee as fiduciary to lend securities of the Trust Fund held by the
Trustee by entering into a written agreement with the Trustee. The terms of the
agreement between the Committee and the Trustee shall be consistent with
Department of Labor Prohibited Transaction Exemption 81-6 or any successor
exemption. The written agreement between the Committee and the Trustee shall
direct the Trustee to enter into a loan agreement with a borrower or borrowers.
The Trustee shall transfer securities to the borrower and
invest or hold on behalf of the Trust Fund the collateral received in exchange
for the securities. Notwithstanding anything in this agreement to the contrary,
the borrower shall have the authority and responsibility to vote securities it
has borrowed. The Trustee shall maintain a record of the market value of the
loaned securities and shall be paid reasonable compensation as agreed to by the
Trustee and the Committee.
With regard to investments in futures, the Committee may
direct the Trustee to: (i) enter into such agreements as are necessary to
implement investment in futures contracts and options on futures contracts; (ii)
transfer initial margin to a futures commission merchant or third party
safekeeping bank pursuant to directions from an Investment Manager and (iii) pay
or demand margin in accordance with industry practice to or from such futures
commission merchant based on
-14-
<PAGE> 19
daily mark to market calculations. The Trustee shall have no investment or
custodial responsibility with respect to assets transferred to a futures
commission merchant or third party safekeeping bank.
Any property at any time received by the Trustee may be
retained in the Master Trust Fund. To the extent that the Trustee is managing
the Master Trust Fund under the provisions of Section 5.2, the Trustee may
invest and reinvest all or any portion of the Master Trust Fund collectively
with funds of other pension and profit-sharing trusts exempt from tax under
Section 501(a) of the Code by reason of qualifying under Section 401(a) of said
Code either in obligations selected by the Trustee or by investment collectively
through the medium of any common, collective or commingled trust fund which has
been or hereafter may be established by the Trustee or by any other bank in the
United States, the instrument or instruments establishing such trust fund or
funds, as amended from time to time, being made a part of this Agreement so long
as any portion of the Master Trust Fund shall be invested through the medium
thereof.
With respect to any portion of the Master Trust Fund which is
under the management of an Investment Manager or the Committee and except as
otherwise provided in paragraph three of this section regarding the lending of
securities, the Trustee shall not make any investment review of, consider the
propriety of holding or selling, or vote other than as directed by an Investment
Manager or the Committee, any assets of the Trust Fund allocated to an
Investment Manager or the Committee in accordance with Section 5.2, except that
if the Trustee shall not have received contrary instructions from the Investment
Manager or the Committee, the Trustee shall invest for short term purposes any
cash consisting of U.S. dollars, for which an Investment Manager or the
Committee has investment responsibility, in its custody in the short-term
collective investment fund maintained by the Trustee. For currencies other than
U.S. dollars, the Trustee shall invest cash for which an Investment Manager or
the Committee has investment responsibility as directed by the Investment
Manager or the Committee with respect to those assets of the Master Trust Fund
for which the Investment Manager or the Committee has investment responsibility
and such investments may include an interest bearing account of a foreign
custodian.
5.2 Direction of Investment: The Committee shall from time to time
specify by written notice to the Trustee whether the investment of the Master
Trust Fund (other than the portion thereof consisting of Insurance Contracts),
in the manner provided in Section 5.1, shall be managed solely by the Trustee,
or shall be directed by one or more Investment Managers, or whether both the
Trustee and one or more Investment Managers are to participate in investment
management and if so how the investment responsibility is to be divided with
respect to assets. In the event that the Committee shall fail to specify
pursuant to this Section 5.2 the person or persons who are to manage the
investment of the Master Trust Fund or any portion or portions thereof (other
than the portion or portions consisting of Insurance Contracts) the Trustee
shall manage the Master Trust Fund or such portion or portions pursuant to the
investment guidelines established by the Committee given in the exercise of that
Committee's responsibility.
Any Investment Manager appointed to manage the investment of a
part (or all) of the Master Trust Fund (other than the portion or portions
thereof consisting of Insurance Contracts) shall either (i) be registered as an
investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or under the laws
of any state, (ii) be a bank, as defined in that Act or under the laws of any
state, or (iii) be
-15-
<PAGE> 20
an insurance company qualified to perform investment management services under
the laws of more than one State. If investment of the Master Trust Fund (other
than the portion or portions thereof consisting of Insurance Contracts) is to be
directed in whole or in part by an Investment Manager, the Trustee shall be
given copies of the instruments appointing the Investment Manager and evidencing
his acceptance of such appointment and acknowledgment that he is a fiduciary of
each Participating Plan, and a certificate evidencing the Investment Manager's
registration under said Act or status as a bank or insurance company described
in the next preceding sentence. The Trustee may continue to rely upon such
instruments and certificate until otherwise notified in writing by the
Committee.
The Trustee shall follow the directions of the Investment
Manager regarding the investment and reinvestment of the portion or portions of
the Master Trust Fund as shall be under management by the Investment Manager,
and shall be under no duty or obligation to review any investment to be
acquired, held or disposed of pursuant to such directions nor to make any
recommendations with respect to the disposition or continued retention of any
such investment. The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for
acting without question on the direction of, or failing to act in the absence of
any direction from, the Investment Manager, unless the Trustee participated
knowingly in or knowingly undertook to conceal an act or omission of an
Investment Manager knowing such act or omission to be a breach of fiduciary
responsibility. The processing of investment orders by the Trustee pursuant to
the direction of an Investment Manager shall not constitute participating
knowingly.
The Investment Manager at any time and from time to time may
issue orders for the purchase or sale of securities directly to a broker, and in
order to facilitate such transaction the Trustee upon request shall execute and
deliver appropriate trading authorizations. Written notification of the issuance
of each such order shall be given promptly to the Trustee by the Investment
Manager, and the execution of each such order shall be confirmed to the Trustee
by the broker. Such notification shall be authority for the Trustee to pay for
securities purchased against receipt thereof and to deliver securities sold
against payment therefor, as the case may be. All notifications concerning
investments made by the Investment Manager shall be signed by such person or
persons, acting on behalf of the Investment Manager as may be duly authorized in
writing; provided, however, that the transmission to the Trustee of such
notifications by photostatic teletransmission with duplicate or facsimile
signature or signatures shall be considered a delivery in writing of the
aforesaid notifications until the Trustee is notified in writing by the
Investment Manager that the use of such devices with duplicate or facsimile
signatures is no longer authorized. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon
such directions which it receives by such means if so authorized by the
Investment Manager and shall in no way be responsible for the consequences of
any unauthorized use of such device which was not, in fact, known by the Trustee
at the time to be unauthorized. The Trustee shall, as promptly as possible,
comply with any written directions given by the Investment Manager hereunder,
and, where such directions are given by photostatic teletransmission with
facsimile signature or signatures, the Trustee shall be entitled to presume any
directions so given are fully authorized.
In the event that an Investment Manager should resign or be
removed by the Committee, the Trustee shall, upon receiving written notice of
such resignation or removal, manage,
-16-
<PAGE> 21
pursuant to Section 5.1, the investment of the portion of the Master Trust Fund
under management by such Investment Manager at the time of its resignation or
removal, unless and until it shall be notified of the appointment of another
Investment Manager as provided in this Section 5.2, for such portion of the
Master Trust Fund.
At any time and from time to time, the Committee may direct
the Trustee to transfer a specified portion or all of the Trust Fund as it shall
deem advisable to the trustees of the Dietche & Field Investment Trust A, the
Sarofim Trust Co. Employee Benefit Investment Trust, the Oechsle International
Group Trust Fund for Employee Benefit Trusts, The Beutel Trust and The Accel
Fund or any other common, collective, group or commingled trust described in
Section 5.1 (which trusts are hereinafter collectively called the "Group
Trusts"), if and only if a Group Trust is qualified under Code Section 401(a)
and exempt from tax under Code Section 501(a), and is maintained as a medium for
the commingled, collective and common investment of assets of eligible
participating trusts; and the Committee may direct the Trustee to withdraw all
or any part of the Trust Fund so transferred. The terms and provisions of the
agreements of trust establishing the Dietche & Field Investment Trust A, the
Sarofim Trust Co. Employee Benefit Investment Trust, the Oechsle Inter national
Group Trust Fund for Employee Benefit Trusts, The Beutel Trust and The Accel
Fund and the provisions of any amendments thereto, are hereby incorporated
herein by reference and shall be deemed a part of this Trust Agreement so long
as any portion of the Trust Fund shall be invested through the medium thereof.
The Trustee shall make any such transfer or withdrawal of all or any part of the
Trust Fund only upon the express direction of the Committee. The Trustee shall
be under no duty or obligation to review any investment acquired, held or
disposed of by the trustees of a Group Trust pursuant to the provisions thereof,
nor shall the Trustee be under a duty or obligation to review any investment
acquired, held or disposed of by the duly appointed trustees of any Group Trust
pursuant to the provisions establishing said Group Trust, and said trustees
shall have all fiduciary powers, responsibilities and liabilities arising under
this Trust Agreement with respect to the portion of the Trust Fund transferred
to them pursuant to the Committee's directions to be held under the terms and
provisions of the Group Trust. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Trustee from any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses (including counsel
fees approved by the Trustee) and liabilities (including any amounts paid in
settlement with the Trustee's approval but excluding any excise tax assessed
against the Trustee under Code Section 4975) arising from any act or omission of
the trustees of a Group Trust in connection with their duties and
responsibilities under this Trust Agreement with respect to the portion of Trust
Fund transferred to them, except to any extent prohibited under ERISA.
The Trustee shall have custody of and custodial responsibility
for all assets of the Master Trust Fund except as otherwise provided in this
agreement or as follows:
(a) The subtrustee of a subtrust shall have custody of and
custodial responsibility for any portion of the Master Trust Fund for
which investment responsibility has been allocated to it by the
Committee;
(b) The trustee of a collective or group trust fund (including
without limitation an Investment Manager or its bank affiliate) shall
have custody of and custodial responsibility for any portion of the
Master Trust Fund for which
-17-
<PAGE> 22
investment responsibility has been allocated to it by the Committee and
has been invested in such collective or group trust fund; and
(c) The Committee may direct in writing that the custody of
additional assets of the Master Trust Fund (other than those referred
to in paragraphs (a) and (b) immediately preceding this paragraph (c))
be maintained with one or more persons or entities designated by the
Committee to maintain custody of assets of a portion of the Master
Trust Fund (a "Custodial Agent"). In such event, the Committee shall
approve, and direct the Trustee to enter into, a custody agreement with
the Custodial Agent (which custody agreement may authorize the
Custodial Agent to maintain custody of such assets with one or more
subagents, including a broker or dealer registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or a nominee of such broker or dealer). The
Custodial Agent shall have custodial responsibility for any assets
maintained with the Custodial Agent or its subagents pursuant to the
custody agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
agreement, the Company (which has the authority to do so under the laws
of the state of Texas) agrees to indemnify the Trustee from any
liability, loss and expense, including legal fees and expenses, which
the Trustee may sustain by reason of acting in accordance with any
directions of the Committee pursuant to this paragraph (c). This
paragraph shall survive the termination of this agreement.
5.3 Insurance or Annuity Contracts: With respect to the investment of
the Master Trust Fund in Insurance Contracts, the Committee shall direct the
Trustee in the exercise of the powers set forth in Section 5.2 and the Trustee
shall exercise such powers in the manner directed in writing by the Committee.
It shall be the duty of the Trustee to act strictly in accordance with each
direction of the Committee relating to the investment of the Master Trust Fund
in Insurance Contracts and the Trustee shall not have any duty to question any
such direction. The Trustee shall not have any duty to review any such Insurance
Contracts held in the Master Trust Fund pursuant to such direction, or to make
suggestions to the Committee with respect to the exercise or non-exercise of any
of the said powers. The Trustee shall be under no liability for any loss of any
kind which may result by reason of any action taken by it in accordance with any
direction of the Committee or by reason of its failure to exercise any of the
said powers in respect of such Insurance Contracts because of the failure of the
Committee to give such direction, unless the Trustee knows that by following
such direction it will be participating in a breach of fiduciary duty by the
Committee. The processing of investment orders or other ministerial tasks taken
by the Trustee pursuant to the direction of the Committee shall not constitute
knowledge.
(a) The Trustee, upon written direction of the Committee,
shall pay from the Master Trust Fund such sums to such insurance
company or companies or other financial institutions (collectively
referred to as an "insurance company") as the Committee or the
appropriate Plan Administrator may direct for the purpose of procuring
individual or group annuity contracts and/or policies or contracts of
life insurance (hereinafter in this Section 5.3 referred to as
"Contracts"). The Committee shall prepare, or cause to be prepared in
such form as it shall prescribe, the application for any Contract to be
applied for under any or all of the Participating
-18-
<PAGE> 23
Plans and this Master Trust and the Trustee shall execute such
application. The Trustee shall receive and hold in the Master Trust
Fund, subject to the provisions hereinafter set forth in this Section,
all Contracts obtained pursuant to the Participating Plans.
(b) The Trustee shall be the complete and absolute owner of
Contracts held in the Master Trust Fund and, upon written direction of
the Committee, shall have power, without the consent of any other
person, to collect and receive all dividends or other payments of any
kind payable with respect to any Contract held in the Master Trust Fund
or to leave the same with the issuing insurance company; to convert
from one form to another any Contract held in the Master Trust Fund; to
change the person or persons designated in any Contract to receive the
proceeds; to designate any mode of settlement of the proceeds of any
Contract held in the Master Trust Fund; to sell or assign any Contract
held in the Master Trust Fund; to surrender for cash any Contract held
in the Master Trust Fund; to borrow sums of money from the issuing
insurance company upon any Contract or Contracts issued by it and held
in the Master Trust Fund, provided that the Trustee shall borrow such
sums only in respect of all Contracts for the time being held in the
Master Trust Fund and upon a uniform basis; to agree with the insurance
company issuing any Contract to any release, reduction, modification or
amendment thereof; and, without limitation of any of the foregoing, to
exercise any and all of the rights, options or privileges that belong
to the absolute owner of any Contract held in the Master Trust Fund or
that are granted by the terms of any such Contract or by the terms of
this Agreement. The Trustee shall have no discretion with respect to
the exercise of any of the foregoing powers or to take any other action
permitted by any Contract held in the Master Trust Fund, but shall
exercise such powers or take such action only upon the written
direction of the Committee; the Trustee shall have no duty to exercise
any of such powers or to take any such action unless and until it shall
have received such direction. The Trustee, upon the written direction
of the Committee, shall deliver any Contract held in the Master Trust
Fund to such person or persons as may be specified in the direction.
(c) The Trustee shall hold in the Master Trust Fund the
proceeds of any sale, assignment or surrender of any Contract held in
the Master Trust Fund and any and all dividends and other payments of
any kind received in respect to any Contract held in the Master Trust
Fund, and shall distribute and/or allocate such proceeds in accordance
with the directions of the Committee.
(d) If the Trustee shall have borrowed any sums of money upon
any Contract held in the Master Trust Fund, it shall have no duty to
repay any part of the money so borrowed, notwithstanding the fact that
thereafter it may have sufficient funds to make such repayment, unless
and until it shall have received written direction from the Committee
to make the repayment.
-19-
<PAGE> 24
(e) Upon the written direction of the Committee, the Trustee
shall pay from the Master Trust Fund premiums, assessments, dues,
charges and interest, if any, upon any Contract held in the Master
Trust Fund. The Trustee shall have no duty to make any such payment
unless and until it shall have received such direction. The written
direction of the Committee to pay the premiums becoming due on any
Contract specified in the direction shall be sufficient authority for
the Trustee to pay any and all bills presented to it for premiums or
the amount specified in any premium notice received from the insurance
company issuing the Contract, and for such purposes the Trustee may use
any money held by it as part of the Master Trust Fund at the time the
payment is due, unless the Committee shall have directed that such
money shall not be used for such purpose.
(f) Upon the direction of the Committee, the Trustee shall
have power to execute all necessary receipts and releases to any
insurance company issuing any Contract or Contracts held in the Master
Trust Fund, and, upon written advice from the Committee that the
proceeds of any Contract held in the Master Trust Fund have become
payable, shall make reasonable efforts to collect such sums as may
appear to be due; but the Trustee shall have no duty to begin or
maintain any action, suit or legal proceeding to collect the proceeds
of any Contract unless it is in possession of funds sufficient for the
purpose or unless it has been indemnified to its satisfaction for its
counsel fees, costs, disbursements and all other expenses and
liabilities to which it in its judgment may be subjected by beginning
or maintaining the action, suit or other legal proceeding. The Trustee
may use the proceeds of any Contract held in the Master Trust Fund to
defray the expenses incurred in connection with enforcing payment of
that Contract. The Trustee shall have power, with the written approval
of the Committee, to compromise and adjust claims arising out of any
Contract held in the Master Trust Fund upon such terms and conditions
as it may deem just, and the discretion of the Trustee shall be binding
and conclusive upon all persons interested in the Master Trust Fund.
(g) Any insurance company may deal with the Trustee as sole
owner of any Contract issued by it and held in the Master Trust Fund,
without inquiry as to the authority of the Trustee to act, and may
accept and rely upon any written notice, instruction, direction,
certificate or other communication from the Trustee believed by it to
be genuine and to be signed by an officer of the Trustee. No insurance
company shall be required to look into the terms of this Agreement, or
to question any action of the Trustee or to see that any action of the
Trustee is authorized by the terms of this Agreement.
(h) The Trustee shall follow directions of the Committee
concerning the exercise or non-exercise of any powers or options
concerning any Contract held in the Master Trust Fund. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company
hereby agrees to indemnify the Trustee and hold it harmless from and
against any claim or liability which may be asserted against the
Trustee by reason of its acting on any direction from the Committee or
failing to act
-20-
<PAGE> 25
in the absence of any such direction with respect to any Contract or
the acquisition of any Contract or exercise of any right of option
thereunder.
5.4 Voting of Securities: The Committee or its agent authorized to act
for the Committee pursuant to Section 6.2 herein shall have the power in its
discretion to exercise all voting rights with respect to any investment held in
the Master Trust Fund and to grant proxies, discretionary or otherwise, with
respect thereto, except that (a) at any time when an Investment Manager shall be
acting as provided in Section 5.2, the Investment Manager shall exercise its
discretion with respect to voting any securities under its management and shall
exercise all voting rights with respect thereto, (b) the Committee, as provided
in Section 5.1, shall have the sole responsibility with respect to the voting of
any Company Stock which has not been allocated to an Investment Manager and (c)
at any time when the securities are loaned as provided in Section 5.1, the
borrower shall have the authority and responsibility to vote securities it has
borrowed.
5.5 Powers of Trustee: Except as provided elsewhere in this Agreement,
the Trustee shall have the power to:
(a) Manage, sell, contract to sell, grant options to purchase,
convey, exchange, transfer, abandon, improve, repair, insure, lease for
any term even though commencing in the future or extending beyond the
term of the Trust, and otherwise deal with all property, real or
personal, in such manner, for such considerations and on such terms and
conditions as the Trustee decides;
(b) Participate in any plan of reorganization, consolidation,
merger, combination, liquidation or other similar plan relating to any
property held in the Master Trust Fund, and to consent to or oppose any
such plan or any action thereunder, or any contract, lease, mortgage,
purchase, sale or other action by any person or corporation;
(c) Deposit any property with any protective, reorganization
or similar committee; and to pay and agree to pay part of the expenses
and compensation of any such committee and any assessments levied with
respect to any property so deposited;
(d) Exercise conversion and subscription rights pertaining to
any property held in the Master Trust Fund;
(e) Extend the time of payment of any obligation held in the
Master Trust Fund;
(f) Enter into stand-by agreements for future investment,
either with or without a stand-by fee;
(g) Temporarily, hold any part of the assets in cash, without
liability for interest, pending investment thereof or the payment of
expenses or making of
-21-
<PAGE> 26
distributions therewith, notwithstanding the Trustee's receipt of
"float" from such uninvested cash;
(h) Invest in any type of deposit of the Trustee (or of a bank
related to the Trustee within the meaning of Code Section 414(b)) at a
reasonable rate of interest or in a common trust fund, as described in
Code Section 584, or in a collective investment fund, the provisions of
which govern the investment of such assets and which the Plan
incorporates by this reference, which the Trustee (or its affiliate as
defined in Code Section 1504) maintains exclusively for the collective
investment of money contributed by the bank (or the affiliate) in its
capacity as trustee and which conforms to the rules of the Comptroller
of the Currency;
(i) For the purposes of the Trust and with the prior approval
of the Committee, to borrow money from others, to issue its promissory
note or notes therefor, and to secure the repayment thereof by pledging
any property in its possession; provided, however, that the amount or
amounts of such loans shall not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the
market value of the Master Trust Fund as of the date of the borrowing,
and further provided that no such loan or advance shall be made by the
Trustee hereunder other than temporary advances to the Master Trust
Fund, on a cash or overdraft basis, on which no interest is payable;
and
(j) If an Investment Manager directing investment under
Section 5.2 is a bank, as defined in the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, to transfer to such Investment Manager all or any specified
assets in that part of the Master Trust Fund which is subject to such
Investment Manager's direction, for investment by such Investment
Manager through the medium of any common, collective, commingled or
group trust fund maintained by it which consists solely of assets of
trusts qualified under Code Section 401(a) and which is exempt from tax
under Code Section 501(a), whereupon the instrument establishing such
common, collective, commingled or group trust fund, as amended from
time to time, shall constitute a part of each Participating Plan the
assets of which are included in such part of the trust fund as long as
any portion of such assets shall be invested through the medium of such
common, collective, commingled or group trust fund.
(k) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article V to the
contrary, the Committee may authorize the Trustee to exercise in its
sole discretion the powers relating to the lending of securities (and
such other powers as may be incidental thereto) with respect to
securities or other property held in the Master Trust Fund and
designated to be subject to the discretion of the Trustee or an
Investment Manager as otherwise provided hereunder ("Subject Account").
If the Subject Account is otherwise subject to the discretion of an
Investment Manager, such Investment Manager shall retain investment
authority over such account other than the exercise or direction of the
powers relating to the lending of securities vested in the Trustee,
and, subject to the requirements of ERISA, shall not be responsible for
any act or omission of the Trustee.
-22-
<PAGE> 27
(l) The Trustee shall have the power in its discretion:
(i) To cause any investment to be registered and held
in its own name, in the name of a nominee, in the name of a
nominee of any system for the centralized handling of
securities, or in book-entry or bearer form (provided,
however, that the Trustee's books and records shall at all
times show that all such investments are a part of the Master
Trust Fund);
(ii) To collect and receive any and all money and
other property due to the Master Trust Fund and to give full
discharge therefor;
(iii) To settle, compromise or submit to arbitration
any claims, debts or damages due or owing to or from the
Master Trust; to commence or defend suits or legal proceedings
to protect any interest of the Master Trust; and to represent
the Master Trust in all suits or legal proceedings in any
court or before any other body or tribunal;
(iv) To organize under the laws of any state a
corporation for the purpose of acquiring and holding title to
any property which it is authorized to acquire under this
Agreement and to exercise with respect thereto any or all of
the powers set forth in this Agreement;
(v) To manage, operate, repair, improve, develop,
preserve, mortgage or lease for any period any real property
or any oil, mineral or gas properties, royalties, interests or
rights held by it directly or through any corporation, either
alone or by joining with others, using other Trust assets for
any of such purposes; to modify, extend, renew, waive or
otherwise adjust any or all of the provisions of any such
mortgage or lease; and to make provision for amortization of
the investment in or depreciation of the value of such
property; and
(vi) Generally to do all acts, whether or not
expressly authorized, which the Trustee may deem necessary or
desirable for the protection of the Master Trust Fund.
5.6 Payments and Distributions from Master Trust Fund: The Trustee
shall make such payments and distributions from the Master Trust Fund at such
time or times and to such person or persons, including a paying agent or agents
designated by the Committee or by a Plan Administrator as paying agent, as the
Committee shall direct in writing (or as a Plan Administrator of a Participating
Plan shall direct, with respect to the equitable share of such Plan in the
Master Trust Fund), provided, however, (i) that disbursements for ordinary
transaction costs associated with
-23-
<PAGE> 28
effecting the investment of transactions of the Master Trust Fund need not be
authorized by the Committee and (ii) that no payment or distribution in respect
of a Participating Plan shall exceed the equitable share in the Master Trust
Fund of such Participating Plan on the date such payment or distribution is
made. Any cash or property so paid or delivered to any such paying agent shall
be held in trust by such payee until disbursed in accordance with the
Participating Plan with respect to which the payment or distribution is made.
Upon written direction by the Committee, the Trustee shall transfer and deliver
such part of the equitable share of a Participating Plan or Plans in the Master
Trust Fund as may be specified in such direction to any other trust established
for the purpose of funding benefits under such Participating Plan or Plans or
under any other plan, qualifying under Code Section 401 established for the
benefit of participants in such Participating Plan or Plans or their
beneficiaries by the Company, any Affiliated Corporation or any successor or
transferee of the Company or such Affiliated Corporation; provided such transfer
shall be in conformity with the requirements of Federal law. Any written
direction of the Committee or of a Plan Administrator shall constitute a
certification that the distribution or payment so directed is one which the
Committee or Plan Administrator, as the case may be, is authorized to direct and
the Trustee shall not be responsible for the adequacy of the equitable share of
any Participating Plan to meet and discharge such distribution or payment.
The Trustee may make any distribution or payment required to
be made by it hereunder by mailing its check for the specified amount, or
delivering the specified property, to the person to whom such distribution or
payment is to be made, at such address as may have been last furnished to the
Trustee, or, if no such address shall have been so furnished, to such person in
care of the Company or the Committee or the appropriate Plan Administrator, or
(if so directed by the Committee or the appropriate Plan Administrator) by
crediting the account of such person or by transferring funds to such person's
account by bank wire or transfer. If a payment or distribution from the Trust is
not claimed, the Trustee shall promptly notify the Committee thereof and
thereafter handle such payment in accordance with the subsequent direction of
the Committee.
In the event that the Trustee is negligent in making any
distribution or payment hereunder and such negligence results in the making of
such distribution or payment in excess of the amount instructed by the Committee
or, in the case of a payment or distribution instructed by a Plan Administrator,
in excess of the amount instructed by the Plan Administrator, it shall be the
duty and the responsibility of the Trustee to pursue any action or proceeding
necessary, including the payment of all attorney fees and related fees and
expenses, to recover any such excess amounts. If the Trustee fails to recover
such amounts, the Trustee shall be solely responsible for the reimbursement of
the Master Trust Fund for such amounts to include reasonable interest thereon.
5.7 Trustee's Dealings with Third Parties: Any corporation, transfer
agent or other third party dealing with the Trustee shall not make, nor be
required by any person to make, any inquiry whether the Trustee has authority to
take or omit any action under this Trust Agreement or whether the Committee or a
Plan Administrator has instructed the Trustee to take or omit any such action,
but shall be fully protected in relying upon the certificate of the Trustee that
it has authority to take or omit such proposed action. The seal of the Trustee
affixed to any instrument executed by it shall constitute the Trustee's
certificate that it is authorized as Trustee hereunder to execute such
-24-
<PAGE> 29
instrument and proceed as may be provided for therein. No third party shall be
required to follow the application by the Trustee of any money or property which
may be paid or transferred to it.
5.8 Ancillary Trustee: If at any time the Master Trust Fund shall
consist in whole or in part of assets located in a jurisdiction in which the
Trustee is not authorized to act, the Trustee may appoint an individual or
corporation in such jurisdiction as ancillary trustee and may confer upon such
ancillary trustee, power to act solely with reference to such assets, and such
ancillary trustee shall remit all net income or proceeds from the sale of such
assets to the Trustee. The Trustee may pay such ancillary trustee reasonable
compensation and may absolve it from any requirement that it furnish bond or
other security unless otherwise required by law.
-25-
<PAGE> 30
ARTICLE VI
FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE TRUSTEE
6.1 Composition of Committee and Plan Administrators: The Plan and each
Participating Plan, if any, shall be administered by the applicable Plan
Administrator, and the Trustee shall not be responsible in any respect for such
administration. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the
Committee, or, in the case of a Participating Plan, any Plan Administrator, from
any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses (including counsel fees approved
by the Committee), and liabilities (including any amounts paid in settlement
with the Committee's approval but excluding any excise tax assessed against any
member or members of the Committee pursuant to the provisions of Code Section
4975) arising from any act or omission of such member in connection with his
duties and responsibilities under this Trust Agreement, except when the same is
judicially determined to be due to the gross negligence and willful misconduct
of such member. The foregoing right of indemnification shall be in addition to
any rights to which any member of the Committee, or, in the case of a
Participating Plan, any Plan Administrator, may otherwise be entitled as a
matter of law. When any member of the Committee, or, in the case of a
Participating Plan, any Plan Administrator, shall cease to act, the Company
shall promptly give written notice to that effect to the Trustee, but until such
notice is received by the Trustee it shall be fully protected in continuing to
rely upon the authority of such persons. If the full number of members of the
Committee, as provided under the Plan, or the full number of members of a Plan
Administrator provided for in a Participating Plan shall not at any time have
been designated, the remaining member or members acting at such time shall be
deemed to have all of the powers and duties of the Committee or such Plan
Administrator; or, if at any time there is no member of the Committee or of a
Plan Administrator, the Board of Directors of the Company or of such Affiliated
Corporation shall be deemed to be the Committee or such Plan Administrator, as
applicable.
6.2 Evidence of Action by Company or Committee: The Committee and each
Plan Administrator, respectively, shall certify to the Trustee the name or names
of any person or persons authorized to act for the Committee or for such Plan
Administrator. Until the Committee or the appropriate Plan Administrator
notifies the Trustee that any such person is no longer authorized to act for the
Committee or for such Plan Administrator, the Trustee may continue to rely on
the authority of such person. The Trustee may rely upon any certificate, notice
or direction purporting to have been signed on behalf of the Committee or on
behalf of a Plan Administrator which the Trustee believes to have been signed by
the Committee or by a Plan Administrator or the person or persons authorized to
act for the Committee or for a Plan Administrator.
Any action required by any provision of this Agreement to be
taken by the Board of Directors of the Company or of an Affiliated Corporation
shall be evidenced by a resolution of its Board of Directors, certified to the
Trustee over the signature of its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, and the
Trustee may rely upon, and shall be fully protected in acting in accordance
with, such resolution so certified to it. Unless other evidence with respect
thereto has been expressly prescribed in this Agreement, any other action of the
Company or of an Affiliated Corporation under any provision of this Agreement,
including any approval of, or exceptions to the Trustee's accounts, shall
-26-
<PAGE> 31
be evidenced by a certificate signed by an officer of the Company or of an
Affiliated Corporation, as the case may be, and the Trustee shall be fully
protected in relying upon such certificate.
Any action by the Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by a certification of one of its
Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents or other appropriate Trust Officers,
and the Company, each Affiliated Corporation which has adopted this Master
Trust, each Plan Administrator, the Committee and all other persons in interest
may rely upon, and shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with, such
certification.
6.3 Communications: Communications to the Trustee shall be addressed to
it at 50 LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60675. Communications to the
Committee, each Plan Administrator, the Company or any Affiliated Corporation
shall be addressed to it at 1111 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002, with a copy to
the Benefits Committee, attention: Secretary, P.O. Box 61867, Houston, Texas
77208, unless the Trustee, the Committee, the appropriate Plan Administrator,
the Company or any Affiliated Corporation, respectively, shall request that
communications be sent to another address. No communication shall be binding
upon the Master Trust Fund or the Trustee, or upon the Committee, any Plan
Administrator, the Company or any Affiliated Corporation until it is received by
the Trustee, the Committee, the appropriate Plan Administrator, the Company or
the appropriate Affiliated Corporation, as the case may be.
6.4 Advice of Counsel or Plan Administrator: The Trustee may consult
with any legal counsel, including counsel to the Company, the Committee or a
Plan Administrator, with respect to the construction of this Trust Agreement,
its duties hereunder, or any act which it proposes to take or omit.
6.5 Miscellaneous: The Trustee shall discharge its duties hereunder
with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then
prevailing that a prudent man acting in a like capacity and familiar with such
matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with
like aims. The Trustee, to the extent that it has investment discretion, shall
not be liable for any loss sustained by the Master Trust Fund by reason of the
purchase, retention, sale or exchange of any investment in good faith and in
accordance with the provisions of this Trust Agreement and of any applicable
Federal law.
The Trustee's duties and obligations shall be limited to those
expressly imposed upon it by this Master Trust, notwithstanding any reference to
the Participating Plans.
The Company, any Affiliated Corporation, the Committee or any
Plan Administrator, or all of them, at any time may employ as agent (to perform
any act, keep any records or accounts, or make any computations required of the
Company, an Affiliated Corporation, the Committee or any Plan Administrator by
this Trust Agreement or any Participating Plan) the corporation serving as
Trustee hereunder. Nothing done by said corporation as such agent shall affect
its responsibility or liability as Trustee hereunder.
-27-
<PAGE> 32
6.6 Fiduciary Responsibilities:
A. The Trustee, the Investment Managers, if any, the members of the
Committee and each Plan Administrator shall discharge their duties with respect
to the Master Trust solely in the interest of the participants in the respective
Participating Plans and their beneficiaries and with the care, skill, prudence,
and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent man acting
in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an
enterprise of a like character and with like aims.
B. No "fiduciary" (as such term is defined in Section 3(21) of ERISA,
or any successor statutory provision) under this Trust Agreement shall be liable
for an act or omission of another person in carrying out any fiduciary
responsibility where such fiduciary responsibility is allocated to such other
person by this Trust Agreement or pursuant to a procedure established in this
Trust Agreement except to the extent that:
(i) such fiduciary participated knowingly in, or knowingly
undertook to conceal, an act or omission of such other person, knowing
such act or omission to be a breach of fiduciary responsibility;
(ii) such fiduciary, by his failure to comply with Section
404(a)(1) of ERISA (or any successor statutory provision) in the
administration of his specific responsibilities which give rise to his
status as a fiduciary, has enabled such other person to commit a breach
of fiduciary responsibility;
(iii) such fiduciary has knowledge of a breach of fiduciary
responsibility by such other person, unless he makes reasonable efforts
under the circumstances to remedy the breach; or
(iv) such fiduciary is a "named fiduciary" (as such term is
defined in Section 402(a)(2) of ERISA, or any successor statutory
provision) and has violated his duties under Section 404(a)(1) of ERISA
(or any successor statutory provision):
(a) with respect to the allocation of fiduciary
responsibilities among named fiduciaries or the designation of
persons other than named fiduciaries to carry out fiduciary
responsibilities under this Trust Agreement;
(b) with respect to the establishment or
implementation of procedures for allocating fiduciary
responsibilities among named fiduciaries or for designating
persons other than named fiduciaries to carry out fiduciary
responsibilities under this Trust Agreement; or
(c) in continuing the allocation of fiduciary
responsibilities among named fiduciaries or the designation of
-28-
<PAGE> 33
persons other than named fiduciaries to carry out fiduciary
responsibilities under this Trust Agreement.
C. In the event that the Company incurs any liability, loss, claim,
suit or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) in connection with or
arising out of the negligent, intentionally tortious, fraudulent or criminal act
of the Trustee in carrying out its responsibilities under this agreement, the
Trustee shall indemnify and hold the Company harmless from and against any such
direct liability, loss, claim, suit or expense. Notwithstanding the above,
nothing contained in this Section 6.6C. shall limit the Trustee's right to
indemnification under Section 5.2(c) of this agreement or require the Trustee to
indemnify the Company for any action or inaction pursuant to Section 5.2(c) of
this agreement.
-29-
<PAGE> 34
ARTICLE VII
TAXES, EXPENSES AND COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEE
7.1 Taxes and Expenses: Brokerage fees, commissions, stock transfer
taxes and other charges and expenses incurred in connection with the purchase
and sale of securities for the Master Trust Fund or distribution thereof shall
be paid by the Trustee from the Master Trust Fund. All taxes imposed or levied
with respect to the Master Trust Fund or any part thereof, under existing or
future laws, shall be paid from the Master Trust Fund. The Trustee shall pay
from the Master Trust Fund, to the extent not paid by the Company and/or the
Affiliated Corporations which have adopted this Master Trust, its reasonable
expenses of management and administration of the Master Trust, including
reasonable compensation of counsel and any agents engaged by the Trustee to
assist it in such management and administration, the fees of any Investment
Manager and any specified expenses of administration of any Participating Plan
including, but not limited to, audit fees, investment consulting fees, and
actuarial and recordkeeping expenses.
Any amount paid from the Master Trust Fund which is
specifically allocable to a particular Participating Plan or Plans shall be
charged against the equitable share of such Participating Plan or Plans; any
amount paid from the Master Trust Fund which is allocable to all of the
Participating Plans shall be allocated to such Participating Plans on a pro rata
basis.
7.2 Compensation of the Trustee: The Trustee shall receive for its
services as Trustee hereunder such reasonable compensation which may be agreed
upon from time to time by the Company and the Trustee. All amounts due the
Trustee as compensation for its services shall be paid by the Company, or
prorated among the Company and the Affiliated Corporations which have adopted
this Master Trust in such a manner as they deem equitable, or disbursed by the
Trustee out of the Master Trust Fund, and, until paid, shall constitute a charge
upon the Master Trust Fund.
-30-
<PAGE> 35
ARTICLE VIII
SETTLEMENT OF ACCOUNTS;
DETERMINATION OF INTERESTS UNDER MASTER TRUST
8.1 Settlement of Accounts of Trustee: The Trustee shall keep accurate
and detailed accounts of all of its receipts, investments and disbursements
under this Agreement on a modified cash basis. The financial statements, books
and records of the Trustee with respect to the Master Trust shall be open to
inspection during business hours of the Trustee by the Company or the Committee
or their representatives, including, without limitation, independent certified
public accountants engaged by the Company or the Committee, on behalf of all
participants in the Participating Plans, to permit compliance with the reporting
and disclosure requirements of ERISA. However, such financial statements, books
and records may not be audited more frequently than twice in each fiscal year.
If an examination of the financial statements of the Participating Plans
requires a review of the underlying transactions affecting such financial
statements, such independent certified public accountants shall rely on the
report of the independent certified public accountants engaged by the Trustee to
review its procedures and controls, to the extent such reliance is permitted by
generally accepted auditing standards.
Within 90 days after the close of each calendar year, or any
termination of the duties of the Trustee, the Trustee shall prepare, sign and
mail in duplicate to the Company and the Committee an account of its acts and
transactions as Trustee hereunder. Such account shall include a statement of the
equitable share in the Master Trust Fund and in its component accounts of each
Participating Plan (and where appropriate of each Affiliated Corporation which
has adopted a Participating Plan) as of the last day of such year or other
period and a statement of the portion of the Master Trust Fund under management
by any Investment Manager as of the same date. If the Company finds the account
to be correct, the Company shall sign the instrument of settlement annexed to
one counterpart of the account and return such counterpart to the Trustee,
whereupon the account shall become an account stated. If within 90 days after
receipt of the account or any amended account the Company has not signed and
returned a counterpart to the Trustee, nor filed with the Trustee notice of any
objection to any act or transaction of the Trustee, the account or amended
account shall become an account stated. If any objection has been filed, and if
the Company is satisfied that it should be withdrawn or if the account is
adjusted to its satisfaction, the Company shall in writing filed with the
Trustee signify its approval of the account and it shall become an account
stated. In each case in which an account becomes an account stated, the account
shall be an account stated between the Trustee and the Company and any
Affiliated Corporation which had adopted a Participating Plan.
When an account becomes an account stated, such account shall
be finally settled, and the Trustee shall be completely discharged and released,
as if such account had been settled and allowed by a judgment or decree of a
court of competent jurisdiction in an action or proceeding in which the Trustee,
the Company and any Affiliated Corporation which has adopted a Participating
Plan were parties.
-31-
<PAGE> 36
The account of the Trustee's acts and transactions delivered
to the Committee shall be settled, and shall become an account stated, in the
same manner as the account delivered to the Company hereunder. When an account
becomes an account stated as between the Trustee and the Committee, the account
shall be finally settled and the Trustee shall be completely discharged and
released, as if such account had been settled and allowed by a judgment or
decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in an action or proceeding in which
the Trustee and the Committee were parties.
The Trustee, the Committee or the Company shall have the right
to apply at any time to a court of competent jurisdiction for judicial
settlement of any account of the Trustee not previously settled as hereinabove
provided. In any such action or proceeding it shall be necessary to join as
parties only the Trustee, the Committee and the Company (although the Trustee
may also join such other parties as it may deem appropriate), and any judgment
or decree entered therein shall be conclusive.
8.2 Determination of Rights and Benefits of Persons Claiming an
Interest in the Master Trust Fund; Enforcement of Master Trust Fund: The
Committee shall have authority to determine the existence, non-existence, nature
and amount of the rights and interests of all persons under the Participating
Plan and in or to the Master Trust Fund, and the Trustee shall have no power,
authority, or duty in respect of such matters, or to question or examine any
determination made by the Committee, or any direction given by the Committee to
the Trustee. The Company, other Employers and the Committee shall have
authority, either jointly or severally, to enforce this Trust Agreement on
behalf of any and all persons having or claiming any interest in the Master
Trust Fund or under this Trust Agreement or the Participating Plans.
-32-
<PAGE> 37
ARTICLE IX
RESIGNATION, REMOVAL AND SUBSTITUTION OF THE TRUSTEE
9.1 Resignation of Trustee: The Trustee may resign its duties hereunder
by filing with the Committee its written resignation. No such resignation shall
take effect until 60 days from the date thereof unless shorter notice is
acceptable to the Committee.
9.2 Removal of Trustee: The Trustee may be removed by the Board of
Directors of the Company at any time upon not less than 60 days' notice to the
Trustee, but such notice may be waived by the Trustee. Such removal shall be
effected by delivering to the Trustee a written notice of its removal executed
by the Company, and by giving notice to the Trustee of the appointment of a
successor Trustee in the manner hereinafter set forth.
9.3 Appointment of Successor Trustee: The appointment of a successor
Trustee hereunder shall be accomplished by and shall take effect upon the
delivery to the resigning or removed Trustee, as the case may be, of (a) an
instrument in writing appointing such successor Trustee, executed by the
Company, together with a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Company to such effect and (b) an acceptance in writing of the
office of successor Trustee hereunder executed by the successor so appointed,
both of which documents shall be acknowledged in like manner as this Trust
Agreement. The Company shall send notice of such appointment to each Affiliated
Corporation which has a Participating Plan, and to each member of the Committee
then in office and to each Plan Administrator. Any successor Trustee hereunder
may be either a corporation authorized and empowered to exercise trust powers or
one or more individuals. All of the provisions set forth herein with respect to
the Trustee shall relate to each successor Trustee so appointed with the same
force and effect as if such successor Trustee had been originally named herein
as the Trustee hereunder. If within 60 days after notice of resignation shall
have been given under the provisions of this Article IX a successor Trustee
shall not have been appointed, the resigning Trustee or any member of the
Committee may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a successor Trustee.
9.4 Transfer of Master Trust Fund to Successor: Upon the appointment of
a successor Trustee, the resigning or removed Trustee shall transfer and deliver
the Master Trust Fund and the records relating thereto to such successor
Trustee, after reserving such reasonable amount as it shall deem necessary to
provide for its expenses in the settlement of its accounts, the amount of any
compensation due it and any sums chargeable against the Master Trust Fund for
which it may be liable, but if the sums so reserved are not sufficient for such
purposes, the resigning or removed Trustee shall be entitled to reimbursement
for any deficiency from the successor Trustee and from the Company and each
Affiliated Corporation which has a Participating Plan, who shall be jointly and
severally liable therefor.
-33-
<PAGE> 38
ARTICLE X
DURATION AND TERMINATION OF MASTER TRUST; AMENDMENT
10.1 Duration and Termination: This Trust Agreement shall continue for
such time as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose for which it was created
but may be terminated at any time by the Company by action of its Board of
Directors. Notice of such termination shall be given to the Trustee by an
instrument in writing executed by the Company and acknowledged in the same form
as this Agreement, together with a certified copy of the resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Company authorizing such termination. The Company shall
notify the Committee and each Plan Administrator of such termination.
10.2 Distribution Upon Termination: If this Trust Agreement is
terminated, the Trustee upon the written direction of the Committee shall
liquidate the Master Trust Fund to the extent required for distribution and,
after its final account has been settled as provided in Article VIII, shall
distribute the net balance thereof to such person or persons, at such time or
times and in such proportions and manner as may be directed by the Committee or,
with respect to the equitable share of any Participating Plan, by the
appropriate Plan Administrator, or in the absence of such direction, as may be
directed by a judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. Upon
making such distributions, the Trustee shall be relieved from all further
responsibility. The powers of the Trustee hereunder shall continue so long as
any assets of the Master Trust Fund remain in its hands. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 10.2, the Company may promptly advise the
appropriate District Director of Internal Revenue of the termination of the
Master Trust and the Trustee may delay the final distribution to Participants in
the terminated Participating Plans until said District Director shall advise in
writing that such termination does not adversely affect the previously qualified
status of the terminated Participating Plan or Plans or the exemption from tax
of the Master Trust under Code Section 401(a) or 501(a).
10.3 Loss of Qualification of a Participating Plan; Certain
Withdrawals: The equitable share of any Participating Plan shall be immediately
segregated and withdrawn from the Master Trust Fund if the Plan ceases to be
qualified under Code Section 401(a) and the Company shall promptly notify the
Trustee of any determination by the Internal Revenue Service that any
Participating Plan has ceased to be so qualified. Each Affiliated Corporation
which has adopted the Master Trust shall have the right to withdraw from this
Master Trust upon six months' written notice to the Trustee and the Committee,
which written notice may be waived by the Trustee and the Committee. In the
event that any Affiliated Corporation which has adopted the Master Trust shall
cease to be an Affiliated Corporation of the Company, such corporation shall
withdraw from this Master Trust as soon as arrangements may be reasonably made
therefor, but in any event such withdrawal shall be made not more than six
months after the date such corporation ceases to be an Affiliated Corporation.
Upon such withdrawal, the Committee shall certify to the Trustee the interest in
the Master Trust Fund of the participants of such withdrawing corporation and
the Trustee shall thereupon separate such interest from the Master Trust Fund as
provided below in this Section. The Committee may at any time direct the Trustee
to segregate and withdraw the equitable share of any Participating Plan or that
portion of such equitable share as may be certified to the Trustee by the
Committee as allocable to any specified group or groups of employees or
beneficiaries.
-34-
<PAGE> 39
Whenever segregation is required, the Trustee shall withdraw from the Master
Trust Fund such assets as it shall in its absolute discretion deem to be equal
in value to the equitable share to be segregated. Such withdrawal from the
Master Trust Fund shall be in cash or in any property held in such Fund, or in a
combination of both, in the direction of the Committee. The Trustee shall
thereafter hold the assets so withdrawn as a separate trust fund in accordance
with the provisions either of this Agreement (which shall be construed in
respect of such assets as if the employer maintaining such Participating Plan
(determined without regard to whether any subsidiaries or affiliates of such
employer have joined in such Participating Plan) had been named as the Company
hereunder and as if the Plan Administrator for such Plan had been named as the
Plan Administrator hereunder) or of a separate trust agreement. Such segregation
shall not preclude later readmission to the Master Trust.
10.4 Amendment: By an instrument in writing delivered to the Trustee
executed pursuant to the order of the Company's Board of Directors and
acknowledged in the same form as this Agreement, the Company shall have the
right at any time and from time to time to amend this Agreement in whole or in
part except that the duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall not be
increased without the Trustee's written consent; provided, however, that no such
amendment shall authorize or permit, at any time prior to the satisfaction of
all liabilities with respect to employees and their beneficiaries under any
Participating Plan, any part of the equitable share of such Participating Plan
in the Master Trust Fund to be used for, or diverted to, any purposes other than
for the exclusive benefit of such employees and their beneficiaries.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may authorize any amendment or
modification to Article V of this Agreement regarding the selection of
investment advisors or investment options in which the Master Trust Fund may be
invested including, without limitation, the Group Trusts.
Any such amendment shall become effective upon (a) delivery to
the Trustee of the written instrument of amendment executed by the appropriate
officers of the Company, together with a certified copy of the resolution of the
Board of Directors of the Company authorizing such amendment and (b) endorsement
by the Trustee on such instrument of its receipt thereof, together with its
consent thereto if such consent is required.
10.5 Acceptance or Rejection of Amendment by Affiliated Corporations:
Each Affiliated Corporation which has a Participating Plan shall be presumed to
have consented to any amendment hereof made by the Company unless it shall
object thereto in writing within 30 days after receiving written notice of such
amendment. Any Affiliated Corporation not consenting to any amendment may obtain
a separation of its interest in the Master Trust Fund in accordance with the
provisions of Section 10.3 hereof, any time after 30 days after receipt of
written notice of such amendment, to which such Affiliated Corporation shall not
so consent.
-35-
<PAGE> 40
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Governing Law; No Bond Required of Trustee: Subject to the
provisions of ERISA, as they may be amended from time to time, which may be
applicable and provide to the contrary, this Trust Agreement and the Trust
hereby created shall be governed, construed, administered and regulated in all
respects under the laws of the State of Texas. No bond or other security for the
faithful performance of its duties hereunder shall be required of the Trustee
unless otherwise required by law.
11.2 Interest in Master Trust Fund; Assignment: No document shall be
issued evidencing any interest in the Master Trust or in the Master Trust Fund,
and no Participating Plan shall have the power to assign all or any part of its
equitable share of the Master Trust Fund or of its interest therein.
11.3 Invalid Provisions: If any provision or provisions of this Trust
Agreement shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or
invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Trust Agreement,
but shall be fully severable and the Trust Agreement shall be construed and
enforced as if said illegal or invalid provisions had never been inserted
herein.
11.4 Remedies: If a dispute arises between the Company and the Trustee,
such dispute shall be settled by agreement between the parties. In the absence
of an acceptable agreement resolving the dispute, such dispute shall be
submitted to a court of competent jurisdiction for judicial settlement thereof.
11.5 Prohibition of Diversion: Except as provided in Article VII
hereof, it shall be impossible under this Trust Agreement for any part of the
corpus or income of the Master Trust Fund to be used for, or diverted to,
purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of employees of the Company and
Affiliated Corporations which have a Participating Plan and the beneficiaries of
such employees. It shall also be impossible under this Trust Agreement for any
part of the Master Trust Fund to revert directly or indirectly to the Company or
any Affiliated Corporation which has a Participating Plan, except to the extent
such reversions are specifically authorized under Section 403(c)(2) of ERISA.
11.6 Headings for Convenience Only: The headings and subheadings in
this Trust Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not
to be used in construing this instrument or any provision thereof.
11.7 Successors and Assigns: This Trust Agreement shall bind and inure
to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and the Trustee,
respectively.
-36-
<PAGE> 41
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Trustee have caused these
presents to be executed by their duly authorized officers, in a number of copies
all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument which may be
sufficiently evidenced by any executed copy hereof, this 29th day of December,
1999, but effective as of January 1, 1999.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
By /s/ LEE W. HOGAN
-----------------------------------------
Name: Lee W. Hogan
------------------------------------
Title: Chairman of the Benefits Committee
-----------------------------------
ATTEST:
/s/ LYNN HARKEL-RUMFORD
- -----------------------------------
Secretary of the Benefits Committee
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, Trustee
By /s/ PATTY A. WEILAND
-----------------------------------------
Name: Patty A. Weiland
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President
-----------------------------------
ATTEST:
/s/ JOHN H. ST. LAUER
- -----------------------------------
Asst. Secretary
-37-
<PAGE> 42
EXHIBIT A
Participating Plans in the
Reliant Energy, Incorporated
Master Retirement Trust, under a Trust Agreement
with The Northern Trust Company,
Dated as of January 1, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name of Plan Plan Number
------------ -----------
<S> <C> <C>
1. Reliant Energy, 001
Incorporated
Retirement Plan
</TABLE>
A-1
<PAGE> 43
EXHIBIT B
To THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee:
The undersigned have duly adopted and hereby signify their
intention to join in and become a party to the Reliant Energy, Incorporated
Master Retirement Trust, dated as of January 1, 1999, between you and Reliant
Energy, Incorporated so that the defined benefit plans maintained for employees
of the undersigned may participate in the Master Trust established under such
Trust Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these presents
to be executed by their duly authorized officers and their seals to be hereto
affixed this _____ day of _______________________, 1999, but effective as of
January 1, 1999.
[AFFILIATED CORPORATION]
By
---------------------------------
Name:
----------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
ATTEST:
- ---------------------------------
B-1
<PAGE> 44
CONSENT BY THE BENEFITS COMMITTEE
The undersigned, being the Benefits Committee described in the
above-mentioned Trust Agreement, hereby consents to the above-mentioned
Affiliated Corporations joining in and becoming a party to such Trust Agreement.
The Benefits Committee hereby certifies to the Trustee that a copy of this
instrument has been received by each member of the Benefits Committee referred
to in such Trust Agreement.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
BENEFITS COMMITTEE
By
---------------------------------
Lee W. Hogan, Chairman
ATTEST:
- ---------------------------------
Secretary
B-2
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10(aa)(4)
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
THIS SEPARATION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into
by and between RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED, a Texas corporation (said
corporation, together with its successors and assigns permitted under this
Agreement, hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), and DON D. JORDAN (the
"Executive"), this first day of December, 1999.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, effective as of June 1, 1999, the Company and the
Executive entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the
"Employment Agreement") under which the Executive would be employed by the
Company until December 31, 2000; and
WHEREAS, Executive, with the express consent of the Board, has
elected to terminate his employment with the Company by reason of Retirement and
is therefore entitled to the payment of certain benefits pursuant to the
Employment Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to confirm and
clarify their agreements regarding the termination of Executive's employment, as
well as to provide for certain additional matters set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree to the following:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS:
"ADJUSTED BASE SALARY" shall mean an annual amount of
$1,635,000.
"ANNUAL BASE SALARY" shall mean the salary of the Executive
provided for in Section 3(B)(i) of the Employment Agreement, as adjusted
pursuant to Section 3(A)(i) for the calendar year 2000.
"BENEFICIARY" shall mean the person or persons, trustee or
trustees of a trust, partnership, corporation, limited liability partnership,
limited liability company or other entity named, in a writing filed with the
Company, to receive any compensation or benefit payable hereunder following the
Executive's death or, in the event no such person or entity is named or survives
the Executive, his estate. In the event of the Executive's death or a judicial
determination of his incompetence, reference in this Agreement to the Executive
shall be deemed, where appropriate, to refer to his Beneficiary, estate or other
legal representative.
"BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
"CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in
effect on the Effective Date and as thereafter amended.
<PAGE> 2
"DATE OF TERMINATION" shall mean December 31, 1999.
"DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN" shall mean each of the Deferred
Compensation Plan (amended and restated effective January 1, 1991), the Deferred
Compensation Plan (amended and restated effective January 1, 1989) and the
Deferred Compensation Plan (amended and restated effective September 1, 1985),
each of which is sponsored by the Company, as in effect from time to time.
"DIVIDEND DEFERRAL ACCOUNT" shall mean the bookkeeping account
maintained by the Company to track the dividends (and associated accumulated
interest) payable with respect to Stock Deferrals.
"EICP" shall mean the Company's Executive Incentive
Compensation Plan, as in effect from time to time, or any similar successor plan
adopted by the Company.
"EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT" shall mean that certain Amended and
Restated Employment Agreement For Don D. Jordan effective as of June 1, 1999.
"EMPLOYMENT PERIOD" shall mean the period commencing on June
1, 1999 and ending on December 31, 2000.
"LICP" shall mean the Company's Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Plan, as in effect from time to time, or any similar successor plan
adopted by the Company.
"RETIREMENT" shall mean the retirement of the Executive with
the express consent of the Board.
"SERP" shall mean the Benefit Restoration Plan of the Company.
"STOCK" shall mean the Common Stock, without par value, of the
Company.
"STOCK DEFERRALS" shall mean the shares of Stock and
accumulated dividends payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Employment Agreement,
but delivery of which is deferred pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement.
"STOCK DELIVERY DATE" shall mean January 1, 2001.
2. RETIREMENT OF EXECUTIVE PURSUANT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT:
Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate by reason of his
Retirement on the Date of Termination. The Company and Executive agree that
Executive's termination is a "retirement with the express consent of the Board"
within the meaning of the Employment Agreement. Except as specifically modified
herein, the Employment Agreement remains in effect.
2
<PAGE> 3
3. AGREEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN PAYMENTS AND BENEFITS:
A. For purposes of fulfilling the Company's obligations with respect to
Section 5(B)(i)(a) of the Employment Agreement:
(i) Executive's Annual Base Salary for the calendar year 2000
shall be deemed to be the Adjusted Base Salary.
(ii) Executive's EICP bonuses for the 1999 and 2000 calendar
years shall become payable on or before December 31, 1999, shall be
deemed to have been achieved at the "maximum" or "opportunity" level,
and shall be treated as regular bonuses subject to Executive's current
deferral election under the Deferred Compensation Plan.
(iii) Executive's Annual Base Salary that would have been
earned through December 31, 2000, shall become payable in full on or
before December 31, 1999, and shall be treated as regular salary
subject to Executive's current deferral election under the Deferred
Compensation Plan.
(iv) Executive's outstanding award under the LICP for the
1997-99 performance cycle shall be paid, depending on the achievement
of the relevant performance goals, in January 2000 in accordance with
the terms of the LICP. The amount paid pursuant to this subsection (iv)
shall not be eligible for deferral under the Deferred Compensation
Plan.
(v) Upon payment and/or crediting to Executive of the amounts
outlined above in subsections (i) - (iv), the Company's obligations
with respect to Section 5(B)(i)(a) of the Employment Agreement shall be
satisfied.
B. Executive's benefits under the company's retirement plan and SERP
will commence according to the terms of such plans as provided in Section
5(B)(i)(b) of the Employment Agreement. For purposes of determining Executive's
benefit payable pursuant to the SERP under Section 5(B)(i)(c) of the Employment
Agreement, Executive shall be treated as if he continued to earn the Annual Base
Salary throughout the remainder of the Employment Period and EICP bonuses for
1999 and for 2000 were credited in December 1999 and December 2000,
respectively, each at the "maximum" or "opportunity" level. For this purpose,
Executive's Annual Base Salary for the calendar year 2000 shall be deemed to be
the Adjusted Base Salary.
C. Executive and his family shall remain eligible for the Company's
welfare benefit plans until the end of the Employment Period as provided in
Section 5(B)(i)(d) of the Employment Agreement. Thereafter, Executive shall be
entitled to the welfare benefits in accordance with the plans, practices,
programs and policies of the Company to the extent applicable generally to other
peer executives of the Company.
D. During January 2000, Company shall pay to Executive a lump sum equal
to the amount that the Company would have contributed as an employer
contribution to the tax-qualified
3
<PAGE> 4
Savings Plan of the Company for the remainder of the Employment Period, had
Executive contributed at the maximum rate during said period. For this purpose,
Executive's Annual Base Salary for the calendar year 2000 shall be the Adjusted
Base Salary.
E. As provided in Section 5(B)(iii) of the Employment Agreement,
Executive shall be entitled, for the remainder of the Employment Period, to the
prompt reimbursement of all expenses incurred for civic or industry activities
undertaken on behalf of the Company which are of a similar nature and scope to
those expenses reimbursable by the Company to the Executive on the Effective
Date. In this connection, the Executive shall also be afforded reasonable use of
any Company aircraft.
F. The increase in Executive's Annual Base Salary for the year 2000
will satisfy the Company's obligation to provide off-site office space pursuant
to Section 5(D) for the calendar year 2000. After January 1, 2001, the Company
will continue to provide Executive with suitable executive office space and
secretarial help at an acceptable location outside the premises of any Company
location, as required pursuant to Section 5(D) of the Employment Agreement and
as specified in a letter to Executive from Robert Cruikshank dated September 2,
1998, until such time as mutually agreed by the parties to be no longer
necessary.
G. Executive's lump-sum payments pursuant to the Deferred Compensation
Plan shall commence as soon as practicable after January 1, 2001. Executive's
installment payments pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan shall commence
only as provided in Section 16 of the Employment Agreement.
H. For purposes of the Executive Benefits Plan, Executive's salary
shall be the Adjusted Base Salary.
I. Notwithstanding any provision of the EICP to the contrary, the
Company hereby agrees to cause the EICP to be administered so that any and all
amounts of salary and/or bonus earned by Executive with respect to calendar
years 1984 and 1985 and theretofore deferred by Executive and held under the
EICP with instructions from the Executive to pay in 15 annual installments (a)
shall be paid in said 15 annual installments, (b) shall remain in the EICP
earning interest at the rate prescribed therein until installment distributions
are made and (c) shall commence on June 1, 2002 and shall be paid at the same
times as the amounts payable under the second sentence of Section 3G above are
payable.
4. PRIOR STOCK AWARD:
A. DEFERRAL: By executing this Agreement, the Executive hereby
irrevocably elects to defer the receipt of any amounts which may be payable, or
shares of Stock which may be deliverable, to him on account of Section 6 of the
Employment Agreement (the "Stock Deferrals"). The Stock Deferrals shall be
implemented by a credit to a bookkeeping account maintained by the Company
evidencing the Executive's unfunded right to receive shares of Stock of the
Company on the Stock Deferral Date.
4
<PAGE> 5
B. DIVIDENDS AND INTEREST: The Company shall maintain a separate
bookkeeping account (the "Dividend Deferral Account") to reflect the dividends
accumulated on shares of Stock credited to the Deferral Account. The beginning
balance of the Dividend Deferral Account shall be the amount of any cash payment
to which the Executive would be entitled pursuant to Section 6(B) of the
Employment Agreement on account of accumulated dividends. From the date the
Stock Deferrals would otherwise be payable until the Stock Delivery Date, the
Dividend Deferral Account shall be credited, as of the date any dividend is
payable, with the amount of the dividend payable with respect to the shares of
Stock represented in the Deferral Account. Until paid to the Executive, amounts
credited to the Dividend Deferral Account shall be credited, on a quarterly
basis, with interest calculated at an annual rate equal to the composite yield
on Moody's Long-Term Corporate Bond Index for the applicable calendar quarter as
determined from Moody's Bond Record published by Moody's Investors' Service,
Inc. (or any successor thereto), or, if such yield is no longer published, a
substantially similar average selected by the Compensation Committee, plus 2%.
C. PAYMENT: Within 30 days after the Stock Delivery Date, shares of
Stock representing the Stock Deferrals shall be registered in the name of the
Executive and certificates representing such shares of Stock shall be delivered
to Executive. Unless the Company determines otherwise, shares of Stock delivered
to Executive shall consist of shares of Stock theretofore held by the Company in
its treasury or by a subsidiary of the Company. In addition, within 30 days
after the Stock Delivery Date, the Company shall deliver to the Executive a
lump-sum cash payment equal to the amount of the Dividend Deferral Account.
5. POST-EMPLOYMENT OBLIGATIONS:
A. Executive shall continue to be subject to the fiduciary and
confidentiality obligations of Section 10 of the Employment Agreement.
B. Until June 1, 2002, Executive shall make himself available to the
Company for consultation on a reasonable basis from time to time, and shall use
his best efforts to promote the goodwill of the Company through his various
civic and industry activities.
C. As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this
Agreement, Executive agrees that he will not (i) publicly criticize or disparage
the Company or any affiliate, or privately criticize or disparage the Company or
any affiliate in a manner intended or reasonably calculated to result in public
embarrassment to, or injury to the reputation of, the Company or any affiliate
in any community in which the Company or any affiliate is engaged in business;
(ii) directly or indirectly, acting alone or acting in concert with others,
institute or prosecute, or assist any person in any manner in instituting or
prosecuting, any legal proceedings of any nature against the Company or any
affiliate; subject, however, with respect to any legal action relating to
Executive's employment; (iii) commit damage to the property of the Company or
any affiliate or otherwise engage in any misconduct which is injurious to the
business or reputation of the Company or any affiliate; or (iv) take any other
action, or assist any person in taking any other action, that is materially
adverse to the interests of the Company or any affiliate or inconsistent with
fostering the goodwill of the Company or any affiliate; provided, however, that
the Executive will not be in breach of the covenant contained in (ii) above
solely by reason of his testimony which is compelled by process of law. As used
in this section, the term "affiliate" means the Company, any subsidiary, any
officer,
5
<PAGE> 6
director or executive of the Company or any subsidiary, and any former officer,
director or executive of the Company or any subsidiary.
D. Executive agrees that for a period of five years after the Date of
Termination, Executive will furnish such information and proper assistance as
may be reasonably necessary in connection with any litigation in which the
Company or any subsidiary is then or may become involved.
E. Executive and the Company agree to the press release set forth as
Exhibit A.
F. Executive and the Company agree that the Company's obligations
outlined in Sections 8, 9 and 16 of the Employment Agreement remain in effect as
outlined in those sections.
6. WAIVER AND RELEASE: As a condition precedent to the receipt of the
benefits under this Agreement, Executive shall execute a waiver and release of
claims, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
7. SUCCESSORS:
A. This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior
written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal
representatives.
B. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.
C. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect,
by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of
the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore
defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which
assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.
8. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS: All payments provided in this Agreement shall,
unless the plan or program pursuant to which they are made provide otherwise, be
paid in cash from the general funds of the Company, and no special or separate
funds shall be established and no other segregation of assets shall be made to
assure payment. The Executive shall have no right, title or interest whatever in
or to any investments which the Company may make to aid the Company in meeting
its obligations hereunder. Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action
taken pursuant to this provision, shall create or be construed to create a trust
of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between the Company and the Executive
or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive
payments from the Company hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the
right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.
6
<PAGE> 7
9. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS: Nothing in this Agreement
shall preclude the Company from consolidating or merging into or with, or
transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, another corporation
which assumes this Agreement and all obligations and undertakings of the Company
hereunder; provided that no such action shall diminish the Executive's rights
hereunder. Upon such a consolidation, merger or transfer of assets and
assumption, the term "Company" as used herein shall mean such other corporation.
10. MISCELLANEOUS:
A. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Texas, without reference to principles of conflict of
laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and
shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified
otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their
respective successors and legal representatives.
B. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or
certified-mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to the Executive: Don D. Jordan
5 Stayton Circle
Houston, Texas 77024
If to the Company: Reliant Energy, Incorporated
P.O. Box 4567
Houston, Texas 77210
ATTENTION: Mr. Hugh Rice Kelly
Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.
C. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
of this Agreement.
D. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this
Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld
pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
7
<PAGE> 8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the
Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors,
the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name and on its
behalf, all on the day and year first above written, but effective as of the
Effective Date.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
By /s/ ROBERT J. CRUIKSHANK
------------------------------------------
Robert J. Cruikshank, Chairman of the
Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors
By /s/ R.S. LETBETTER
------------------------------------------
R.S. Letbetter, Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE
/s/ DON D. JORDAN
---------------------------------------------
Don D. Jordan
8
<PAGE> 9
EXHIBIT A - AGREED PRESS RELEASE
<PAGE> 10
To: All Reliant Energy Employees
From: Hugh Rice Kelly -- Corporate Secretary
Subject: New Chairman of the Reliant Energy Board of Directors
Don D. Jordan has announced that he will retire as Chairman of the Board
effective December 31, 1999, after more than 44 years with the company. R. Steve
Letbetter, who has been serving as President and Chief Executive Officer since
June of 1999, has been named Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
the company.
Mr. Letbetter joined Houston Lighting & Power Company (then Reliant Energy's
principal operating unit) as assistant secretary and assistant treasurer in
1974. He later served as assistant comptroller, then comptroller, and was
elected vice president and comptroller in 1981. From 1983 to 1988 he was vice
president of regulatory relations. He then served as group vice president
finance and regulatory relations and in 1993, was elected president and chief
operating officer. He was named president and chief operating officer of Reliant
Energy in January 1997.
Mr. Letbetter serves on the board of directors of the Electric Power Research
Institute, the Association of Electric Companies of Texas, and the American Gas
Association. He also serves on the boards of Chase Bank - Houston, Central
Houston, Greater Houston Partnership and the Houston International Festival. He
also is a member of the Governor's Business Council, the Task Force Committee of
Texas A & M University Vision 2020, the Council of Overseers for the Rice
University Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management, and Lt. Governor Rick
Perry's Special Commission on 21st Century Colleges and Universities. In 1998 he
was a recipient of the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Texas A&M's Lowry Mays
College & Graduate School of Business, where he serves on the college's
Development Council.
<PAGE> 11
During his 25 years with Reliant Energy, Steve Letbetter has been instrumental
in shaping the company into the international energy business it is today. As
one of Reliant Energy's primary strategists, he has overseen our transition to a
combination gas/electric/energy services company and he has guided Reliant
Energy through the deregulation of our core businesses and the opening of new
markets.
Don Jordan's tenure as chairman and chief executive officer is among the longest
in the energy industry. He was initially elected chief executive officer of
Houston Lighting & Power Company in 1977 and named chairman in 1982.
A highly visible and public executive, Mr. Jordan has, throughout his career,
been very active in civic, industry and public affairs. He has just completed
three terms as president and then chairman of the Houston Livestock Show &
Rodeo, is a member of the boards of directors of the Greater Houston
Partnership, Edison Electric Institute and the Association of Electric Companies
of Texas. He is president of the World Energy Council and served as chairman of
the World Energy Congress in Houston, in September 1998. He is a director of
AEGIS Services, Inc., BJ Services Company, the Texas Medical Center, the Texas
Heart Institute, and is a member of the board of trustees of South Texas College
of Law. He is advisory director of Chase Bank of Texas, N.A. Mr. Jordan has also
served as chairman of nearly every national energy industry association as well
as numerous leading Houston organizations.
Some of the honors he has received include 1999 Honoree of the Houston Chapter
of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants; Wetlands Conservation
Award from Ducks Unlimited; International Businessman of the Year from the World
Affairs Council; People of Vision Award; Distinguished Alumnus from both the
University of Texas and South Texas College of Law; Distinguished Non-alumnus of
the University of Houston; South Texan of the Year from the Texas Chamber of
Commerce; 1998 Executive of the Year from World Cogeneration Magazine; Community
Service Award from the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce and 1998
Distinguished Citizen from the Rotary Club of Houston.
"All Reliant Energy employees can be proud to have had a leader like Don
Jordan," said Steve Letbetter.
"Don has worked tirelessly and extraordinarily effectively over a four-decade
career. He has led this organization successfully through energy shortages,
nuclear difficulties, regulatory and political obstacles, and a host of other
challenges. He's never failed to be concerned about employees and, as a result,
maintains personal friendships at every level of the organization. On top of
that, there has probably never been an executive in this city who has devoted
more of his personal time and energy to make Houston a better place to live. We
all wish him well in his future endeavors, and are proud to call him a friend
and colleague."
*******************************************************************************
Comments, suggestions and news items may be distributed to Reliant Energy
Corporate Communications via the following avenues:
<PAGE> 12
f
EXHIBIT B
WAIVER AND RELEASE
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
AND DON D. JORDAN
In exchange for the payment to me of benefits pursuant to that
certain Separation Agreement between Reliant Energy, Incorporated ("REI") and me
dated December 1, 1999 (the "Separation Agreement"), which are in addition to
any remuneration or benefits to which I am already entitled, I agree not to sue
and to release and forever discharge REI, and all of its subsidiaries,
affiliates and unincorporated divisions, and their respective officers,
directors, agents, servants, employees, successors, assigns, insurers, employee
benefit plans and fiduciaries, and agents of any of the foregoing (collectively,
the "Corporate Group"), and any and all other persons, firms, organizations, and
corporations, from any and all damages, losses, causes of action, expenses,
demands, liabilities, and claims on behalf of myself, my heirs, executors,
administrators, and assigns with respect to all matters relating to or arising
out of my employment with or separation from any member of the Corporate Group;
provided, however, that this Waiver and Release shall not apply to any claim or
cause of action to enforce or interpret any provision contained in the
Separation Agreement. Any claim or cause of action to enforce or interpret any
provision contained in the Separation Agreement must be asserted within the
later of 90 days after the date of this Waiver and Release, or 90 days after the
date I actually discover circumstances giving rise to such claim or cause of
action.
This Waiver and Release includes, but is not limited to,
claims and causes of action under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, including
the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990; the Civil Rights Act of 1866,
as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990; the Energy Reorganization Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 5851; the
Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988; the Pregnancy
Discrimination Act of 1978; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Fair Labor Standards
Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Texas Labor Code; claims in
connection with workers' compensation or "whistle blower" status; and/or
contract, tort, bodily injury or death, defamation, slander, wrongful
termination or any other state or federal regulatory, statutory or common law.
I affirm and agree that my employment relationship will end on
my Date of Termination as defined in the Separation Agreement and I then will
withdraw unequivocally, completely and finally from my employment and waive all
rights in connection with such relationship except to vested benefits and the
payments and benefits described in the Separation Agreement. I agree that this
Waiver and Release is valid. I agree that this Waiver and Release is
10
<PAGE> 13
fair, adequate and reasonable. I agree that my consent to this Waiver and
Release was with my full knowledge and was not procured through fraud, duress or
mistake.
I have read the Separation Agreement and it is incorporated
herein by reference.
I acknowledge that signing this Waiver and Release is an
important legal act and that I have been advised in writing to consult an
attorney prior to execution. I also understand that, in order to be eligible for
benefits under the Separation Agreement, I must sign and return this Waiver and
Release to the Corporate Secretary of REI no later than 5:30 p.m. on December
31, 1999. I acknowledge that I have been given 21 days to consider whether to
execute this Waiver and Release.
I understand that for a period of 7 calendar days following my
signing this Waiver and Release, I may revoke my acceptance of the offer of
Separation Agreement benefits by delivering a written statement to the Corporate
Secretary of REI, by hand or by registered-mail, in which case the Waiver and
Release will not become effective. In the event I revoke my acceptance of this
offer, the Corporate Group shall have no obligation to provide me benefits under
the Separation Agreement. I understand that failure to revoke my acceptance of
the offer within 7 days after the date I sign this Waiver and Release will
result in this Waiver and Release being permanent and irrevocable.
I agree that I have returned or will return immediately, and
maintain in strictest confidence and will not use in any way, any proprietary,
confidential, or other nonpublic information or documents relating to the
business and affairs of REI, its subsidiaries, affiliates and unincorporated
divisions. I acknowledge my continuing obligation of confidentiality regarding
proprietary or confidential information of REI. I shall maintain the strictest
confidence with respect to any and all information concerning the business or
affairs of REI which I acquired during the course of employment. Such
information includes, but is not limited to, business plans and studies,
regulatory plans or strategy information, prices and related pricing
information, memoranda, agreements, research, litigation, legal advice and work
product, discounts, computer and information systems (including software),
future plans, policies, inventions, ideas, technical data, products, services,
processes, procedures, and all other knowledge in whatever form used in
management, engineering, marketing, finance, litigation, operations, or
otherwise concerning the business of REI which is of a proprietary or
confidential nature. I hereby covenant not to use or disclose, and not to allow
others to use or disclose, any such information at any time without the express
written consent of the General Counsel of REI unless I am legally compelled to
do so by proper legal process. Should I be served with legal process seeking to
compel me to disclose any such information, I agree to notify the General
Counsel immediately, in order that REI may seek to resist such process if it so
chooses. REI agrees that if I am called upon by or on behalf of REI to serve as
a witness or consultant in or with respect to any potential litigation,
litigation, or regulatory proceeding, any such call shall be with reasonable
notice, shall not unnecessarily interfere with my later employment, and shall
provide for payment for my time and costs expended in such matters.
Both REI and I agree that the terms of this Waiver and Release
are CONFIDENTIAL and that any disclosure to anyone for any purpose whatsoever
(save and except disclosure to my spouse, to financial institutions as part of a
financial statement, to immediate family members and/or
11
<PAGE> 14
heirs, financial, tax and legal advisors, outplacement, executive search and/or
legal placement advisors, or as required by law; in the event confirmation of
any such information is requested, the request should be directed to the General
Counsel) by me or my agents, representatives, heirs, spouse, employees or
spokespersons shall be a breach of this Waiver and Release. REI and I also agree
to refrain from any criticisms or disparaging comments about each other or in
any way relating to my employment or separation, and REI and I specifically
acknowledge that our willingness to enter into this Waiver and Release is in
anticipation of our fidelity to this commitment. The above is not intended to
restrict me from seeking or engaging in other employment and, in that
connection, from making confidential disclosure to potential employers of such
facts or opinions as I may elect to convey, nor is it intended to restrict REI
from conducting such confidential internal communications as may be necessary to
manage this resignation in a businesslike way.
I understand that nothing in this Waiver and Release is
intended to prohibit, restrict or otherwise discourage me from engaging in any
activity related to matters of public or employee health or safety, specifically
to include activity protected under 42 U.S.C. Section 5851 and 10 C.F.R. Section
50.7, including, but not limited to, providing information to the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission ("NRC") or to REI regarding nuclear safety or quality
concerns, potential violations or other matters within the NRC's jurisdiction.
I acknowledge that this Waiver and Release and the Plan set
forth the entire understanding and agreement between me and the Corporate Group
concerning the subject matter of this Waiver and Release and supersede any prior
or contemporaneous oral and/or written agreements or representations, if any,
between me and REI or any other member of the Corporate Group. The invalidity or
enforceability of any provisions hereof shall in no way affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision.
/s/ DON D. JORDAN /s/ R. STEVE LETBETTER
- ---------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Don D. Jordan R. Steve Letbetter
January 4, 2000 January 5, 2000
- ---------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Don D. Jordan's Signature Date Company's Execution Date
12
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10(bb)(3)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of the 31st day
of March, 1999, by and between HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED D/B/A RELIANT
ENERGY, INCORPORATED, a Texas corporation having its principal place of business
in Houston, Harris County, Texas (said corporation, together with all of its
subsidiaries and affiliates thereof, hereinafter referred to as the "Company"),
and WAYNE D. STINNETT, JR., an individual currently residing in Harris County,
Texas ("Executive").
1. Employment of Executive: In consideration of the mutual covenants
and agreements herein contained, the Company and Executive wish to establish a
three year Employment Agreement retaining Executive's services as described
herein, establishing certain incentive, tenure and performance criteria related
to such employment and otherwise fixing Executive's benefits, base salary and
incentive compensation on a basis comparable to that of other members of senior
management of the Company. A principal objective of this Agreement is to
facilitate the full integration of Executive into the senior management
structure of the Company.
2. Term and Extent of Services: During the Term, as defined below,
Executive shall be employed in an executive position with the Company and shall
have all of the rights, powers and duties associated with those positions.
During the Term, Executive agrees to devote his services full-time to the
business of the Company and to perform to the best of his ability and with
reasonable diligence the duties and responsibilities assigned to him by the
appropriate management of the Company. The term hereof shall commence January 1,
1999 (the "Effective Date") and shall continue thereafter through, and expire at
the close of business on, December 31, 2001 (the "Term").
3. Compensation and Benefits:
(a) Salary: During the Term, Executive's salary shall be not less
than $195,000 per year, and shall be increased during the Term at the same time
and on the same basis as other executives.
(b) Annual Bonus: During the Term, Executive shall receive the
following annual bonus: (i) an amount paid in cash under the Executive Incentive
Compensation Plan (A) prior to 2000, based upon the short-term incentive target
bonus of 35% of Executive's salary under Section 3(a) and (B) after 1999, based
upon a short-term incentive target bonus adjusted on the same basis as for all
similarly situated executives (but in no event less than 35%); and (ii) an
amount paid under the Houston Industries Incorporated Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Plan, in the form provided under such plan as determined by the
Company, based upon the long-term incentive target bonus opportunity of 59% of
Executive's salary under Section 3(a); provided, however, that if Executive's
employment is terminated due to death or disability, or by the Company without
Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, and pursuant to Section 5(a), (b) or (d)
Executive continues to be eligible for an annual bonus under this Section
3(b)(ii), then, in lieu of each annual award that would otherwise have been
payable pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, the Company shall
make a cash payment in an amount equal to 59% of Executive's salary under
Section 3(a).
-1-
<PAGE> 2
(c) Benefits: During the Term, in addition to participation in the
annual bonus plans described in Section 3(b), Executive shall be eligible to
participate in all of the Company's other general and executive compensation and
benefit plans on a basis comparable to other similarly situated members of
senior management.
(d) Additional Incentive Compensation: The Company recognizes
Executive's area of responsibility as a strategically critical one for its
future growth. Therefore, as additional incentive for Executive to remain in the
employ of the Company during the Term and to use his best efforts to enhance the
value of the Company during the Term, if Executive is in the employ of the
Company on any December 31 occurring during the Term, then Executive shall
receive as additional compensation a single lump_sum cash payment, as soon as
reasonably practicable following any such December 31, if performance of the
Executive's business unit (with such business unit to be defined by mutual
agreement between the parties) during the entire calendar year ending on any
such December 31 ("Measurement Period") satisfies one of the following:
(i) for Threshold Performance, a total payment of $100,000;
(ii) for Target Performance, the $100,000 from (i) above and an
additional $133,333, for a total payment of $233,333; or
(iii) for Opportunity Performance, the $100,000 and $133,333 from
(i) and (ii) above, respectively, and an additional $100,000, for a total
payment of $333,333.
For purposes of this Section 3(d), the terms "Threshold Performance," "Target
Performance" and "Opportunity Performance" shall have the same meanings as under
the Company's Executive Incentive Compensation Plan and the determination of
whether any of these performance levels are met shall be based on the
performance of the applicable business unit during the annual Measurement Period
in good faith by the Company under a method deemed appropriate by the Company.
In the event that performance during a Measurement Period is determined to fall
between Threshold Performance and Target Performance, or between Target
Performance and Opportunity Performance, then the amount to be paid under this
Section shall be calculated by using straight-line interpolation between the
amounts set forth in Sections 3(d)(i) and 3(d)(ii), or in Sections 3(d)(ii) and
3(d)(iii), as appropriate. Any amounts paid to Executive under this Section 3(d)
shall not be included as "Compensation" for purposes of the Company's Retirement
and Savings Plans.
4. Special Lump-Sum Payment: As an inducement for Executive to enter
into this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive a one-time special lump-sum
cash payment of $600,000 at the end of the next full pay period following the
execution of this Agreement by the Company and Executive. The payment to
Executive under this Section 4 shall not be included as "Compensation" for
purposes of the Company's Retirement and Savings Plans.
5. Termination of Employment: Should Executive's employment terminate
prior to the end of the Term, the following provisions of this Section 5 shall
govern the rights of Executive under this Agreement:
-2-
<PAGE> 3
(a) Termination Due to Death: In the event Executive's employment
terminates during the Term as a result of Executive's death, the Company agrees
(i) to pay all compensation that would have been payable to Executive under
Sections 3(a) and 3(b) above during the remainder of the Term (had Executive's
employment continued during the remainder of the Term) to Executive's
beneficiary or beneficiaries under the group life insurance plan then sponsored
by the Company and (ii) to continue to provide, during the remainder of the
Term, all welfare benefit coverages that were provided under Section 3(c) above
to Executive's legal spouse and children on the date of his death.
(b) Termination Due to Disability: In the event Executive's
employment is terminated during the Term due to his disability within the
meaning of any long-term disability plan maintained by the Company and covering
Executive as of the date of Executive's disability, the Company agrees (i) to
pay Executive all compensation that would have been payable to Executive under
Sections 3(a) and 3(b) above during the remainder of the Term (had Executive's
employment continued during the remainder of the Term) and (ii) to continue to
provide, during the remainder of the Term, all welfare benefit coverages that
were provided under Section 3(c) above to or in respect of Executive on the date
of his disability, in addition to the benefits payable under the long-term
disability plan; provided, however, that any salary due under clause (i) of this
sentence shall be reduced by the amount of any long-term disability benefit
actually paid to Executive during the Term. It is the intention of this Section
5(b) that the total of disability payments and base salary paid to Executive
during the Term shall equal, but not exceed, Executive's base salary payable
under Section 3(a) during the Term.
(c) Termination by the Company for Cause: Any termination of
Executive's employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by an
appropriate officer of the Company and effected by written notice to Executive
within 12 months of such officer having actual knowledge of the event or
circumstances providing a basis for such termination. In the event the Company
terminates Executive's employment during the Term for Cause, he shall be
entitled to:
(i) his salary under Section 3(a) through the date of the
termination of his employment for Cause;
(ii) any other full year amounts earned, accrued or owing as of the
date of termination of employment but not yet paid as compensation by the
Company under Sections 3(b) or 3(d) above; and
(iii) other benefits for which he is eligible in accordance with
applicable plans or programs of the Company.
"CAUSE" means Executive's (i) Gross Negligence in the performance of
his duties, (ii) intentional and continued failure to perform his duties, (iii)
intentional engagement in conduct which is materially injurious to the Company
or its affiliates (monetarily or otherwise) or (iv) conviction of a felony or a
misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. For this purpose, an act or failure to
act on the part of Executive will be deemed "intentional" only if done or
omitted to be done by Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief
that his/her action or omission was in
-3-
<PAGE> 4
the best interest of the Company, and no act or failure to act on the part of
Executive will be deemed "intentional" if it was due primarily to an error in
judgment or ordinary negligence.
"GROSS NEGLIGENCE" as used herein carries the meaning used in Texas
law as of the Effective Date, which requires a specific intent by Executive to
cause substantial damage to the Company or an act or omission which, when viewed
objectively from the standpoint of Executive at the time in question, involves
an extreme degree of risk, considering the probability and magnitude of the
potential harm to the Company; and of which Executive has actual, subjective
awareness of the risk involved, but nevertheless proceeds with conscious
indifference to the rights or welfare of the Company.
(d) Termination Without Cause or Voluntarily with Good Reason: In
the event that, during the Term, the Company terminates Executive's employment
without Cause (other than due to disability or death) or Executive voluntarily
terminates employment for Good Reason, the Company agrees to pay Executive all
amounts that would have been payable under Sections 3(a), 3(b) and 3(d) and to
continue to provide all benefit coverages provided under Section 3(c) to the end
of the Term. The failure of Executive to terminate employment upon the
occurrence of Good Reason as to any one event constituting Good Reason shall not
affect his entitlement to terminate his employment as to any other such event.
"GOOD REASON" means:
(i) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions
of Sections 3(a) or 3(b) above, other than any failure not occurring in
bad faith that is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice
thereof from Executive;
(ii) relocation, without Executive's consent, of Executive's
principal office to any office or location more than 50 miles from the
principal office of Executive on the Effective Date;
(iii) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section
11, provided that the successor described in Section 11 has received at
least ten days prior written notice from the Company or Executive of the
requirements of Section 11; or
(iv) the assignment of Executive to a job or duty with the Company
that is not considered to be an executive level position.
(e) Voluntary Termination: Upon 30 days prior written notice to the
Company, Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment with the Company. A
voluntary termination pursuant to this Section 5(e) shall not include
termination under Sections 5(a), 5(b) or 5(d) above, and shall not be deemed a
breach of this Agreement by Executive. In the event Executive voluntarily
terminates his employment, he shall be entitled to:
(i) his base salary through the date of the termination of his
employment;
-4-
<PAGE> 5
(ii) any other amounts earned, accrued or owing as of the date of
termination of employment but not yet paid as compensation by the Company
under Sections 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d) above; and
(iii) other benefits for which he is eligible in accordance with
applicable plans or programs of the Company.
(f) Certain Benefit Calculations: Upon termination of employment
pursuant to Sections 5(b) or 5(d) above, for purposes of any eligibility and
benefit determinations under all benefit plans maintained by the Company and
applicable to Executive or his beneficiaries upon such termination, and for
purposes of eligibility for retiree medical coverage, (i) Executive will be
credited with service for the period remaining in the Term (the "Remaining
Term") and (ii) Executive's age on the last day of the Term shall be deemed to
have been his age at the date of actual termination of employment.
(g) No Mitigation; No Offset: In the event of any termination of
employment under this Section 5, Executive shall be under no obligation to seek
other employment, and there shall be no offset against amounts due Executive
under this Agreement on account of any remuneration attributable to any
subsequent employment that he may obtain.
(h) Nature of Payments: Any amounts due under this Section 5 are in
the nature of severance payments, liquidated damages, or both, and shall
compensate Executive, and the dependents, beneficiaries and estate of Executive
for any and all direct damages and consequential damages that they may suffer as
a result of the termination of Executive's employment, and are not in the nature
of a penalty.
(i) Miscellaneous: For purposes of determining the amount of any
payment under Sections 5(a), (b) and (d) based upon the achievement of a certain
performance level under Section 3(b) and (d), such amount shall be determined as
if the actual level of performance reached was "Target." In addition, the
Company, in its sole discretion, may determine to commute to a lump sum the
periodic cash payments otherwise payable pursuant to Sections 5(a), (b) and (d)
and pay the same in a lump sum based upon a present value calculation utilizing
an 8% interest assumption.
6. Confidentiality, Return of Property, and Covenant Not to Compete:
(a) Confidentiality. Executive agrees that in return for
consideration provided in Section 6(c) he will not disclose or make available to
any other person or entity, or use for his own personal gain, any Confidential
Information, except for such disclosures as required in the performance of his
duties hereunder. For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information"
shall mean any and all information, data and knowledge that has been created,
discovered, developed or otherwise become known to the Company or any of its
affiliates or ventures or in which property rights have been assigned or
otherwise conveyed to the Company or any of its affiliates or ventures, which
information, data or knowledge has commercial value in the business in which the
Company is engaged, except such information, data or knowledge as is or becomes
known to the public without violation of the terms of this Agreement. By way of
illustration, but not limitation,
-5-
<PAGE> 6
Confidential Information includes trade secrets, processes, formulas, know-how,
improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, inventions, techniques,
marketing plans, manuals, records of research, reports, memoranda, computer
software, strategies, forecasts, new products, unpublished financial statements
or parts thereof, budgets or other financial information, projections, licenses,
prices, costs, and employee, customer and supplier lists or parts thereof.
(b) Return of Property. Executive agrees that at the time of leaving
the Company's employ, he will deliver to the Company (and will not keep in his
possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) all Confidential Information, as
well as all other devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists,
correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials,
equipment, customer or client lists or information, or any other documents or
property (including all reproductions of the aforementioned items) belonging to
the Company or any of its affiliates or ventures, regardless of whether such
items were prepared by Executive.
(c) Covenant Not to Compete. Executive acknowledges that the
Company's business is by its nature a worldwide business (the "Business Area"),
and that the Company's business, research and products do not require that it
maintain a physical location close to its customers. Executive further
acknowledges that the skills, processes and information developed at the Company
could be utilized directly and to the Company's detriment (or the detriment of
any of the Company's affiliates or ventures) with any other business in the
Business Area involved in the utilities business (a "Competitive Product").
Executive also acknowledges that the nature of his position at the Company will
bring him into close contact with much of the Company's Confidential
Information. Accordingly, for separate and additional consideration of $200,000
payable to Executive by the Company in a lump-sum cash payment at the end of the
next full pay period following the execution and delivery to the Company by
Executive of this Agreement, Executive agrees to be bound by the following
restrictive covenants:
(i) During the Term, and for a period of 12 months after the
termination of the Term for any reason other than the death or disability
of Executive, Executive shall not, acting alone or in conjunction with
others, directly or indirectly, invest or engage, directly or indirectly,
in any business in the Business Area involved in researching, developing,
or marketing a Competitive Product or accept employment with or render
services to such a business as a director, officer, agent, employee,
independent contractor or consultant, or take any action inconsistent with
the fiduciary relationship of an employee to his employer; provided,
however, that the beneficial ownership by Executive of up to 5% of the
voting stock of any corporation subject to the periodic reporting
requirements of the Securities and Securities Exchange Act of 1934 shall
not violate this Section 6.
(ii) Executive further agrees that during the Term, and for a period
of 24 months after the termination of the Term for any reason other than
the death or disability of Executive, he shall not at any time, directly
or indirectly, (1) induce, entice or solicit (or attempt to induce, entice
or solicit) any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates or
ventures to leave the employment of the Company or any of its affiliates
or ventures or (2) contact, communicate with, solicit or attempt to
-6-
<PAGE> 7
solicit the business of any customer or acquisition prospect of the
Company or any of its affiliates or ventures with whom Executive had any
actual contact while employed at the Company.
(iii) Executive acknowledges that these restrictive covenants under
Section 6, for which he received consideration from the Company as
provided in this Section 6, are ancillary to otherwise enforceable
provisions of this Agreement and that these restrictive covenants contain
limitations as to time, geographical area, and scope of activity to be
restrained that are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint than
is necessary to protect the good will or other business interests of the
Company, such as the Company's need to protect its confidential and
proprietary information. Executive acknowledges that in the event of a
breach by Executive of these restrictive covenants, the covenants may be
enforced by temporary restraining order, preliminary or temporary
injunction, and permanent injunction. In that connection, Executive
acknowledges that in the event of a breach, the Company will suffer
irreparable injury for which there is no adequate legal remedy, in part
because damages caused by the breach may be difficult to prove with any
reasonable degree of certainty.
7. Notices: For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when personally delivered or when mailed by United States
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
If to the Company: Houston Industries Incorporated
d/b/a Reliant Energy, Incorporated
P.O. Box 4567
Houston, Texas 77210
ATTENTION: Chairman of the Board
If to Executive: Wayne D. Stinnett, Jr.
5000 Montrose Blvd., #16-G
Houston, Texas 77006
or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in
accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.
8. Applicable Law: The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the substantive laws of the State of Texas, including the Texas statute of
limitations, but without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of
such State.
9. Severability: If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that
any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity
or unenforceability of that provision shall
-7-
<PAGE> 8
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
10. Withholding of Taxes: The Company may withhold from any benefits
payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as may be
required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
11. No Assignment; Successors: Executive's right to receive payments or
benefits hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable, whether by pledge,
creation or a security interest or otherwise, whether voluntary, involuntary, by
operation of law or otherwise, other than a transfer by will or by the laws of
descent or distribution, and in the event of any attempted assignment or
transfer contrary to this Section 11 the Company shall have no liability to pay
any amount so attempted to be assigned or transferred. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive's personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes,
devises and legatees.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Company, its successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any company
into or with which the Company may merge or consolidate). The Company agrees
that it will not effect the sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of its assets unless either (a) the person or entity acquiring such assets
or a substantial portion thereof shall expressly assume by an instrument in
writing all duties and obligations of the Company hereunder or (b) the Company
shall provide, through the establishment of a separate reserve therefor, for the
payment in full of all amounts which are or may reasonably be expected to become
payable to Executive hereunder.
12. Payment Obligations Absolute: Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, the Company's obligation to pay (or cause one of its affiliates to
pay) Executive the amounts and to make the arrangements provided herein shall be
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances,
including, without limitation, any set-off, counter-claim, recoupment, defense
or other right which the Company (including its affiliates) may have against him
or anyone else. All amounts payable by the Company (including its affiliates
hereunder) shall be paid without notice or demand. Executive shall not be
obligated to seek other employment in mitigation of the amounts payable or
arrangements made under any provision of this Agreement, and the obtaining of
any other employment shall in no event effect any reduction of the Company's
obligations to make (or cause to be made) the payments and arrangements required
to be made under this Agreement.
13. Effect of Prior Agreements: This Agreement contains the entire
understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior employment
agreement or severance agreement between the Company or any predecessor of the
Company and the Executive, except that this Agreement shall not effect or
operate to reduce any benefit or compensation enuring to the Executive of a kind
elsewhere provided and not expressly provided or modified in this Agreement.
Specifically, but not by way of limitation, this Agreement supersedes and
replaces that certain Severance Agreement between the parties, dated July 16,
1996.
-8-
<PAGE> 9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered the 31st day of March, 1999, but effective as
of the Effective Date.
HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
D/B/A RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
By /s/ LEE W. HOGAN
---------------------------------
Lee W. Hogan,
Executive Vice President
EXECUTIVE
/s/ WAYNE D. STINNETT, JR.
-----------------------------------
Wayne D. Stinnett, Jr.
-9-
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10(bb)(4)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of the
5th day of April, 1999, by and between HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED D/B/A
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED, a Texas corporation having its principal place of
business in Houston, Harris County, Texas (said corporation, together with all
of its subsidiaries and affiliates thereof, hereinafter referred to as the
"Company"), and ROLLIE G. BOHALL, an individual currently residing in Harris
County, Texas ("Executive").
1. Employment of Executive: In consideration of the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and Executive wish to
establish a three year Employment Agreement retaining Executive's services as
described herein, establishing certain incentive, tenure and performance
criteria related to such employment and otherwise fixing Executive's benefits,
base salary and incentive compensation on a basis comparable to that of other
members of senior management of the Company. A principal objective of this
Agreement is to facilitate the full integration of Executive into the senior
management structure of the Company.
2. Term and Extent of Services: During the Term, as defined
below, Executive shall be employed in an executive position with the Company
and shall have all of the rights, powers and duties associated with those
positions. During the Term, Executive agrees to devote his services full-time
to the business of the Company and to perform to the best of his ability and
with reasonable diligence the duties and responsibilities assigned to him by
the appropriate management of the Company. The term hereof shall commence
January 1, 1999 (the "Effective Date") and shall continue thereafter through,
and expire at the close of business on, December 31, 2001 (the "Term").
3. Compensation and Benefits:
(a) Salary: During the Term, Executive's salary shall be not
less than $195,000 per year, and shall be increased during the Term at the same
time and on the same basis as other executives.
(b) Annual Bonus: During the Term, Executive shall receive
the following annual bonus: (i) an amount paid in cash under the Executive
Incentive Compensation Plan (A) prior to 2000, based upon the short-term
incentive target bonus of 40% of Executive's salary under Section 3(a) and (B)
after 1999, based upon a short-term incentive target bonus adjusted on the same
basis as for all similarly situated executives; and (ii) an amount paid under
the Houston Industries Incorporated Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, in
the form provided under such plan as determined by the Company, based upon the
long-term incentive target bonus opportunity of 72% of Executive's salary under
Section 3(a); provided, however, that if Executive's employment is terminated
due to death or disability, or by the Company without Cause or by Executive for
Good Reason, and pursuant to Section 5(a), (b) or (d) Executive continues to be
eligible for an annual bonus under this Section 3(b)(ii), then, in lieu of each
annual award that would otherwise have been payable pursuant to the Long-Term
Incentive Compensation Plan, the Company shall make a cash payment in an amount
equal to 72% of Executive's salary under Section 3(a).
-1-
<PAGE> 2
(c) Benefits: During the Term, in addition to participation
in the annual bonus plans described in Section 3(b), Executive shall be
eligible to participate in all of the Company's other general and executive
compensation and benefit plans on a basis comparable to other similarly
situated members of senior management.
(d) Additional Incentive Compensation: The Company recognizes
Executive's area of responsibility as a strategically critical one for its
future growth. Therefore, as additional incentive for Executive to remain in
the employ of the Company during the Term and to use his best efforts to
enhance the value of the Company during the Term, if Executive is in the employ
of the Company on any December 31 occurring during the Term, then Executive
shall receive as additional compensation a single lump-sum cash payment, as
soon as reasonably practicable following any such December 31, equal to
$385,616.85 following December 31, 1999, $360,738.34 following December 31,
2000, and $335,859.84 following December 31, 2001. Any amounts paid to
Executive under this Section 3(d) shall not be included as "Compensation" for
purposes of the Company's Retirement and Savings Plans.
4. Special Lump-Sum Payment: As an inducement for Executive to
enter into this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive a one-time special
lump-sum cash payment of $500,000 at the end of the next full pay period
following the execution of this Agreement by the Company and Executive. The
payment to Executive under this Section 4 shall not be included as
"Compensation" for purposes of the Company's Retirement and Savings Plans.
5. Termination of Employment: Should Executive's employment
terminate prior to the end of the Term, the following provisions of this
Section 5 shall govern the rights of Executive under this Agreement:
(a) Termination Due to Death: In the event Executive's
employment terminates during the Term as a result of Executive's death, the
Company agrees (i) to pay all compensation that would have been payable to
Executive under Sections 3(a), 3(b) and 3(d) above during the remainder of the
Term (had Executive's employment continued during the remainder of the Term) to
Executive's estate at the time or times such benefits would have otherwise been
payable and (ii) to continue to provide, during the remainder of the Term, all
welfare benefit coverages that were provided under Section 3(c) above to
Executive's legal spouse and children on the date of his death.
(b) Termination Due to Disability: In the event Executive's
employment is terminated during the Term due to his disability within the
meaning of any long-term disability plan maintained by the Company and covering
Executive as of the date of Executive's disability, the Company agrees (i) to
pay Executive all compensation that would have been payable to Executive under
Sections 3(a), 3(b) and 3(d) above during the remainder of the Term (had
Executive's employment continued during the remainder of the Term) at the time
or times such benefits would have otherwise been payable and (ii) to continue
to provide, during the remainder of the Term, all welfare benefit coverages
that were provided under Section 3(c) above to or in respect of Executive on
the date of his disability, in addition to the benefits payable under the
long-term disability plan; provided, however, that any base salary due under
Section 3(a) shall be reduced by the amount of any long-term disability benefit
actually paid to Executive during the Term. It is the intention of this Section
5(b) that the total of disability payments and base salary paid to Executive
during the Term
-2-
<PAGE> 3
shall equal, but not exceed, Executive's base salary payable under Section 3(a)
during the Term, but that payments under Section 3(b) and 3(d) shall not be
reduced by disability payments during the Term.
(c) Termination by the Company for Cause: Any termination of
Executive's employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by an
appropriate officer of the Company and effected by written notice to Executive
within 12 months of such officer having actual knowledge of the event or
circumstances providing a basis for such termination. In the event the Company
terminates Executive's employment during the Term for Cause, he shall be
entitled to:
(i) his salary under Section 3(a) through the date of the
termination of his employment for Cause;
(ii) any other full year amounts earned, accrued or owing as
of the date of termination of employment but not yet paid as
compensation by the Company under Section 3(b) or 3(d) above; and
(iii) other benefits for which he is eligible in accordance
with applicable plans or programs of the Company.
"CAUSE" means Executive's (i) Gross Negligence in the
performance of his duties, (ii) intentional and continued failure to perform
his duties, (iii) intentional engagement in conduct which is materially
injurious to the Company or its affiliates (monetarily or otherwise) or (iv)
conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. For this
purpose, an act or failure to act on the part of Executive will be deemed
"intentional" only if done or omitted to be done by Executive not in good faith
and without reasonable belief that his/her action or omission was in the best
interest of the Company, and no act or failure to act on the part of Executive
will be deemed "intentional" if it was due primarily to an error in judgment or
ordinary negligence.
"GROSS NEGLIGENCE" as used herein carries the meaning used in
Texas law as of the Effective Date, which requires a specific intent by
Executive to cause substantial damage to the Company or an act or omission
which, when viewed objectively from the standpoint of Executive at the time in
question, involves an extreme degree of risk, considering the probability and
magnitude of the potential harm to the Company; and of which Executive has
actual, subjective awareness of the risk involved, but nevertheless proceeds
with conscious indifference to the rights or welfare of the Company.
(d) Termination Without Cause or Voluntarily with Good
Reason: In the event that, during the Term, the Company terminates Executive's
employment without Cause (other than due to disability or death) or Executive
voluntarily terminates employment for Good Reason, the Company agrees to pay
Executive all amounts that would have been payable under Sections 3(a), 3(b)
and 3(d), at the time or times as such amounts would otherwise have been
payable if Executive had remained employed by the Company, and to continue to
provide all benefit coverages provided under Section 3(c) to the end of the
Term. The failure of Executive to terminate employment upon the occurrence of
Good Reason as to any one event constituting Good Reason shall not affect his
entitlement to terminate his employment as to any other such event.
-3-
<PAGE> 4
"GOOD REASON" means:
(i) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
provisions of Section 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, other than any
failure not occurring in bad faith that is remedied by the Company
within 30 days after receipt of notice thereof from Executive;
(ii) relocation, without Executive's consent, of Executive's
principal office to any office or location more than 50 miles from the
principal office of Executive on the Effective Date;
(iii) requirement by the Company that Executive spend more
than 50% of Executive's business time, measured over a six-month
period, in a location other than Houston, Texas, unless consented to
by Executive;
(iv) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy
Section 11, provided that the successor described in Section 11 has
received at least 10 days' prior written notice from the Company or
Executive of the requirements of Section 11; or
(v) the assignment of Executive to a job or duty with the
Company that is not considered to be an executive level position.
(e) Voluntary Termination: Upon 30 days' prior written notice
to the Company, Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment with the
Company. A voluntary termination pursuant to this Section 5(e) shall not
include termination under Section 5(a), 5(b) or 5(d) above, and shall not be
deemed a breach of this Agreement by Executive. In the event Executive
voluntarily terminates his employment, he shall be entitled to:
(i) his base salary through the date of the termination of
his employment;
(ii) any other amounts earned, accrued or owing as of the
date of termination of employment but not yet paid as compensation by
the Company under Sections 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d) above, including
proration of incentive payments under Sections 3(b) and 3(d) based on
the portion of the calendar year or relevant performance period that
has elapsed prior to termination; and
(iii) other benefits for which he is eligible in accordance
with applicable plans or programs of the Company.
(f) Certain Benefit Calculations: Upon termination of
employment pursuant to Section 5(b) or 5(d) above, for purposes of any
eligibility and benefit determinations under all benefit plans maintained by
the Company and applicable to Executive or his beneficiaries upon such
termination, and for purposes of eligibility for retiree medical coverage, (i)
Executive will be credited with service for the period remaining in the Term
(the "Remaining Term") and
-4-
<PAGE> 5
(ii) Executive's age on the last day of the Term shall be deemed to have been
his age at the date of actual termination of employment.
(g) No Mitigation; No Offset: In the event of any termination
of employment under this Section 5, Executive shall be under no obligation to
seek other employment, and there shall be no offset against amounts due
Executive under this Agreement on account of any remuneration attributable to
any subsequent employment that he may obtain.
(h) Nature of Payments: Any amounts due under this Section 5
are in the nature of severance payments, liquidated damages, or both, and shall
compensate Executive, and the dependents, beneficiaries and estate of Executive
for any and all direct damages and consequential damages that they may suffer
as a result of the termination of Executive's employment, and are not in the
nature of a penalty.
(i) Miscellaneous: For purposes of determining the amount of
any payment under Sections 5(a), (b) and (d) based upon the achievement of a
certain performance level under Section 3(b), such amount shall be determined
as if the actual level of performance reached was "Target."
6. Confidentiality, Return of Property, and Covenant Not to
Compete:
(a) Confidentiality: Executive agrees that in return for
consideration provided in Section 6(c) he will not disclose or make available
to any other person or entity, or use for his own personal gain, any
Confidential Information, except for such disclosures as required in the
performance of his duties hereunder. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Confidential Information" shall mean any and all information, data and
knowledge that has been created, discovered, developed or otherwise become
known to the Company or any of its affiliates or ventures or in which property
rights have been assigned or otherwise conveyed to the Company or any of its
affiliates or ventures, which information, data or knowledge has commercial
value in the business in which the Company is engaged, except such information,
data or knowledge as is or becomes known to the public without violation of the
terms of this Agreement. By way of illustration, but not limitation,
Confidential Information includes trade secrets, processes, formulas, know-how,
improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, inventions, techniques,
marketing plans, manuals, records of research, reports, memoranda, computer
software, strategies, forecasts, new products, unpublished financial statements
or parts thereof, budgets or other financial information, projections,
licenses, prices, costs, and employee, customer and supplier lists or parts
thereof.
(b) Return of Property: Executive agrees that at the time of
leaving the Company's employ, he will deliver to the Company (and will not keep
in his possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) all Confidential
Information, as well as all other devices, records, data, notes, reports,
proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints,
sketches, materials, equipment, customer or client lists or information, or any
other documents or property (including all reproductions of the aforementioned
items) belonging to the Company or any of its affiliates or ventures,
regardless of whether such items were prepared by Executive.
-5-
<PAGE> 6
(c) Covenant Not to Compete: Executive acknowledges that the
Company's business is by its nature a worldwide business (the "Business Area"),
and that the Company's business, research and products do not require that it
maintain a physical location close to its customers. Executive further
acknowledges that the skills, processes and information developed at the
Company could be utilized directly and to the Company's detriment (or the
detriment of any of the Company's affiliates or ventures) with any other
business in the Business Area involved in the utilities business (a
"Competitive Product"). Executive also acknowledges that the nature of his
position at the Company will bring him into close contact with much of the
Company's Confidential Information. Accordingly, for separate and additional
consideration of $100,000 payable to Executive by the Company in a lump-sum
cash payment at the end of the next full pay period following the execution and
delivery to the Company by Executive of this Agreement, Executive agrees to be
bound by the following restrictive covenants:
(i) During the Term, and for a period of 12 months after the
termination of the Term for any reason other than the death or
disability of Executive, Executive shall not, acting alone or in
conjunction with others, directly or indirectly, invest or engage,
directly or indirectly, in any business in the Business Area involved
in researching, developing, or marketing a Competitive Product or
accept employment with or render services to such a business as a
director, officer, agent, employee, independent contractor or
consultant, or take any action inconsistent with the fiduciary
relationship of an employee to his employer; provided, however, that
the beneficial ownership by Executive of up to 5% of the voting stock
of any corporation subject to the periodic reporting requirements of
the Securities and Securities Exchange Act of 1934 shall not violate
this Section 6.
(ii) Executive further agrees that during the Term, and for a
period of 24 months after the termination of the Term for any reason
other than the death or disability of Executive, he shall not at any
time, directly or indirectly, (1) induce, entice or solicit (or
attempt to induce, entice or solicit) any employee of the Company or
any of its affiliates or ventures to leave the employment of the
Company or any of its affiliates or ventures or (2) solicit or attempt
to solicit the business of any customer or acquisition prospect of the
Company or any of its affiliates or ventures with whom Executive had
any actual contact while employed at the Company.
(iii) Executive acknowledges that these restrictive covenants
under Section 6, for which he received consideration from the Company
as provided in this Section 6, are ancillary to otherwise enforceable
provisions of this Agreement and that these restrictive covenants
contain limitations as to time, geographical area, and scope of
activity to be restrained that are reasonable and do not impose a
greater restraint than is necessary to protect the good will or other
business interests of the Company, such as the Company's need to
protect its confidential and proprietary information. Executive
acknowledges that in the event of a breach by Executive of these
restrictive covenants, the covenants may be enforced by temporary
restraining order, preliminary or temporary injunction, and permanent
injunction. In that connection, Executive acknowledges that in the
event of a breach, the Company will suffer irreparable injury for
which there is no adequate legal remedy, in part because
-6-
<PAGE> 7
damages caused by the breach may be difficult to prove with any
reasonable degree of certainty. Notwithstanding the above provisions
of this Section 6 to the contrary, in the event Executive's employment
is terminated during the Term for Cause (as defined herein), the 12-
and 24-month periods referenced in paragraphs (c)(i) and (ii) above
shall commence as of the date of the Executive's termination of
employment with the Company.
7. Notices: For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given when personally delivered or when mailed by United States
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
If to the Company: Houston Industries Incorporated
d/b/a Reliant Energy, Incorporated
P.O. Box 4567
Houston, Texas 77210
ATTENTION: Chairman of the Board
If to Executive: Rollie G. Bohall
3226 Canadian
Katy, Texas 77493
or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in
accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.
8. Applicable Law: The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the substantive laws of the State of Texas, including the Texas statute of
limitations, but without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of
such State.
9. Severability: If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that
any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the
invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity
or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement and all other
provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
10. Withholding of Taxes: The Company may withhold from any benefits
payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as may be
required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
11. No Assignment; Successors: Executive's right to receive payments
or benefits hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable, whether by
pledge, creation or a security interest or otherwise, whether voluntary,
involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, other than a transfer by will or
by the laws of descent or distribution, and in the event of any attempted
assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 11 the Company shall have no
liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned or transferred. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
-7-
<PAGE> 8
enforceable by Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devises and legatees.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of the Company, its successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any
company into or with which the Company may merge or consolidate). The Company
agrees that it will not effect the sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of its assets unless either (a) the person or entity
acquiring such assets or a substantial portion thereof shall expressly assume
by an instrument in writing all duties and obligations of the Company hereunder
or (b) the Company shall provide, through the establishment of a separate
reserve therefor, for the payment in full of all amounts which are or may
reasonably be expected to become payable to Executive hereunder.
12. Payment Obligations Absolute: Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, the Company's obligation to pay (or cause one of its affiliates to
pay) Executive the amounts and to make the arrangements provided herein shall
be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances,
including, without limitation, any set-off, counter-claim, recoupment, defense
or other right which the Company (including its affiliates) may have against
him or anyone else. All amounts payable by the Company (including its
affiliates hereunder) shall be paid without notice or demand. Executive shall
not be obligated to seek other employment in mitigation of the amounts payable
or arrangements made under any provision of this Agreement, and the obtaining
of any other employment shall in no event effect any reduction of the Company's
obligations to make (or cause to be made) the payments and arrangements
required to be made under this Agreement.
13. Effect of Prior Agreements: This Agreement contains the entire
understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior employment
agreement or severance agreement between the Company or any predecessor of the
Company and the Executive, except that this Agreement shall not effect or
operate to reduce any benefit or compensation enuring to the Executive of a
kind elsewhere provided and not expressly provided or modified in this
Agreement. Specifically, but not by way of limitation, this Agreement
supersedes and replaces that certain Severance Agreement between the parties,
dated July 16, 1996.
-8-
<PAGE> 9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to
be executed and delivered the _____ day of _______________, 1999, but effective
as of the Effective Date.
HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
d/b/a RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
By /s/ LEE W.HOGAN
---------------------------------------------------
Lee W. Hogan,
Executive Vice President
EXECUTIVE
/s/ ROLLIE G. BOHALL
-------------------------------------------------------
Rollie G. Bohall
-9-
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10(CC)(1)
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
SAVINGS PLAN
(As Amended and Restated Effective April 1, 1999)
<PAGE> 2
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
SAVINGS PLAN
(As Amended and Restated Effective April 1, 1999)
I N D E X
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS..............................................................3
1.1 Account..................................................................3
1.2 Affiliate................................................................3
1.3 After-Tax Contributions..................................................3
1.4 After-Tax Contribution Account...........................................3
1.5 Anniversary Date.........................................................3
1.6 Beneficiary..............................................................3
1.7 Code.....................................................................3
1.8 Committee................................................................3
1.9 Company..................................................................3
1.10 Company Stock............................................................4
1.11 Compensation.............................................................4
1.12 Contribution.............................................................4
1.13 Defined Benefit Plan.....................................................4
1.14 Disability...............................................................4
1.15 Effective Date...........................................................4
1.16 Employee.................................................................4
1.17 Employer.................................................................5
1.18 Employer Contributions...................................................5
1.19 Employer Matching Account................................................5
1.20 Employer Matching Contributions..........................................5
1.21 ERISA....................................................................5
1.22 ESOP Account.............................................................5
1.23 ESOP Contributions.......................................................5
1.24 ESOP Fund................................................................5
1.25 Exempt Loan..............................................................5
1.26 Fiduciaries..............................................................5
1.27 Financed Stock...........................................................5
1.28 HII Participant..........................................................6
1.29 Investment Fund..........................................................6
1.30 Investment Manager.......................................................6
1.31 Leave for Business and Civic Reasons.....................................6
1.32 Minnegasco Participant...................................................6
</TABLE>
-i-
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C> <C>
1.33 Minnegasco Plan...........................................................6
1.34 NorAm Participant.........................................................6
1.35 NorAm Plan................................................................6
1.36 Participant...............................................................6
1.37 Plan......................................................................6
1.38 Plan Year.................................................................7
1.39 Pre-Tax Contributions.....................................................7
1.40 Pre-Tax Contribution Account..............................................7
1.41 Prior HII Plan............................................................7
1.42 Prior Plan................................................................7
1.43 Prior Plan Accounts.......................................................7
1.44 Prior Plan Participant....................................................7
1.45 Qualified Military Service................................................7
1.46 Retirement................................................................7
1.47 Retirement Date...........................................................7
1.48 Rollover Account..........................................................7
1.49 Service...................................................................8
1.50 Stock Suspense Account....................................................8
1.51 Trust Agreement...........................................................8
1.52 Trust Fund................................................................8
1.53 Trustee...................................................................8
1.54 Valuation Date............................................................8
1.55 Vesting Service...........................................................8
ARTICLE II ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN................................................9
2.1 Appointment of Committee..................................................9
2.2 Records of Committee......................................................9
2.3 Committee Action..........................................................9
2.4 Committee Disqualification................................................9
2.5 Committee Compensation and Expenses.......................................9
2.6 Committee Liability.......................................................9
2.7 Committee Determinations.................................................10
2.8 Information from Employer................................................11
2.9 Uniform Administration...................................................11
2.10 Reporting Responsibilities...............................................12
2.11 Disclosure Responsibilities..............................................12
2.12 Quarterly Statements.....................................................12
2.13 Allocation of Responsibility Among Fiduciaries for Plan and
Trust Administration.....................................................12
2.14 Annual Audit.............................................................13
2.15 Presenting Claims for Benefits...........................................13
</TABLE>
-ii-
<PAGE> 4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C> <C>
2.16 Claims Review Procedure.................................................14
2.17 Disputed Benefits.......................................................14
ARTICLE III PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN..........................................15
3.1 Eligibility of Employees................................................15
3.2 Employee Information....................................................15
3.3 Notification of Eligible Employees......................................15
3.4 Application by Participants.............................................15
3.5 Service Defined.........................................................15
3.6 Commencement and Termination of Service.................................17
3.7 Break In Service........................................................17
3.8 Effect of Re-employment Prior to a Break In Service.....................18
3.9 Effect of Re-employment After a Break In Service........................18
3.10 Vesting Service.........................................................19
3.11 Transferred Participants................................................19
ARTICLE IV CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PLAN..........................................22
4.1 Employer Contributions..................................................22
4.2 Pre-Tax Contributions...................................................22
4.3 After-Tax Contributions.................................................23
4.4 Actual Deferral Percentage..............................................24
4.5 Actual Deferral Percentage Limits.......................................25
4.6 Reduction of Pre-Tax Contribution Rates by Leveling Method..............26
4.7 Increase in Pre-Tax Contribution Rates..................................26
4.8 Excess Pre-Tax Contributions............................................26
4.9 Contribution Percentage and ESOP Percentage.............................28
4.10 Contribution Percentage and ESOP Percentage Limits......................29
4.11 Treatment of Excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions.......30
4.12 Multiple Use of Alternative Limitation..................................31
4.13 ESOP Contributions, Employer Matching Contributions and
Pre-Tax Contributions to be Tax Deductible..............................32
4.14 Maximum Allocations.....................................................32
4.15 Refunds to Employer.....................................................32
4.16 Rollover Contributions..................................................32
ARTICLE V PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS..................................................35
5.1 Trust Accounts..........................................................35
5.2 Valuation of Trust Fund.................................................36
5.3 Allocation to Accounts..................................................37
5.4 Treatment of Company Stock Purchased with an Exempt Loan................38
5.5 Maximum Annual Additions................................................40
5.6 Certain Conditions Applicable to Company Stock..........................48
</TABLE>
-iii-
<PAGE> 5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE VI PARTICIPANTS' BENEFITS.........................................................51
6.1 Termination of Service.........................................................51
6.2 Disability of Participants.....................................................51
6.3 Death of Participants..........................................................51
6.4 Retirement of Participants on or After Retirement Date.........................53
6.5 In-Service Distributions.......................................................53
6.6 Payments of Benefits...........................................................53
6.7 Payment of Distribution Directly to Eligible Retirement Plan...................56
6.8 Participation Rights Determined as of Valuation Date Coinciding
with or Preceding Termination of Employment....................................57
6.9 Treatment of Non-Vested Account Balances Upon Termination of Service...........57
6.10 Required Minimum Distributions.................................................58
6.11 Unclaimed Benefits.............................................................59
6.12 Optional Forms of Benefits.....................................................59
ARTICLE VII WITHDRAWALS AND LOANS..........................................................60
7.1 Withdrawal of After-Tax Contributions:.........................................60
7.2 Withdrawal of After-Tax and Pre-Tax Contributions On and After Age 59 1/2......60
7.3 Withdrawal from Prior Plan Accounts and Rollover Account.......................60
7.4 Conditions of Withdrawals......................................................61
7.5 Loans..........................................................................61
ARTICLE VIII INVESTMENT DIRECTIONS..........................................................63
8.1 Investment of Trust Fund.......................................................63
8.2 Diversification Election.......................................................64
8.3 Voting of Company Stock; Exercise of Other Rights..............................65
ARTICLE IX TRUST AGREEMENT AND TRUST FUND.................................................67
9.1 Trust Agreement................................................................67
9.2 Benefits Paid Solely from Trust Fund...........................................67
9.3 Committee Directions to Trustee................................................67
9.4 Trustee's Reliance on Committee Instructions...................................67
9.5 Authority of Trustee in Absence of Instructions from the Committee.............67
9.6 Compliance with Exchange Act Rule 10(b)(18)....................................68
ARTICLE X ADOPTION OF PLAN BY OTHER CORPORATIONS,
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN, AND
DISCONTINUANCE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TRUST FUND..............................69
10.1 Adoption by Employers..........................................................69
</TABLE>
-iv-
<PAGE> 6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C> <C>
10.2 Continuous Service.............................................................69
10.3 Amendment of the Plan..........................................................70
10.4 Termination of the Plan........................................................70
10.5 Distribution of Trust Fund on Termination......................................70
10.6 Effect of Discontinuance of Contributions......................................71
10.7 Merger of Plan with Another Plan...............................................71
ARTICLE XI TOP-HEAVY PLAN REQUIREMENTS....................................................73
11.1 General Rule...................................................................73
11.2 Vesting Provisions.............................................................73
11.3 Minimum Contribution Provisions................................................73
11.4 Limitation on Compensation.....................................................74
11.5 Limitation on Contributions....................................................74
11.6 Coordination with Other Plans..................................................75
11.7 Distributions to Certain Key Employees.........................................75
11.8 Determination of Top-Heavy Status..............................................75
ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.......................................................80
12.1 Terms of Employment............................................................80
12.2 Controlling Law................................................................80
12.3 Invalidity of Particular Provisions............................................80
12.4 Non-Alienability of Rights of Participants.....................................80
12.5 Payments in Satisfaction of Claims of Participants.............................81
12.6 Payments Due Minors and Incompetents...........................................81
12.7 Acceptance of Terms and Conditions of Plan by Participants.....................81
12.8 Impossibility of Diversion of Trust Fund.......................................81
12.9 Transition Period..............................................................81
10.3 Amendment of the Plan..........................................................70
10.4 Termination of the Plan........................................................70
</TABLE>
-v-
<PAGE> 7
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED SAVINGS PLAN
(As Amended and Restated Effective April 1, 1999)
Recitals
Houston Industries Incorporated, a Texas corporation doing business as
Reliant Energy, Incorporated, with its principal place of business in Houston,
Harris County, Texas (the "Company"), established a tax-qualified defined
contribution plan, effective July 1, 1973, for the benefit of its eligible
Employees and retained the right to amend such Savings Plan under Section 10.3
thereof (the "Savings Plan").
Effective January 1, 1989, the Savings Plan was amended to comply with
the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and to make certain other changes
therein. Effective October 5, 1990, the Savings Plan was amended and restated to
include an employee stock ownership plan which is a stock bonus plan intended to
qualify under Sections 401(a) and 4975(e)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), and as such is designed to invest primarily in
Company Stock. Effective July 1, 1995, the Savings Plan was again amended and
restated to make certain additional changes (the Savings Plan, as amended and
restated effective July 1, 1995, and as thereafter amended and in effect on
March 31, 1999, being herein referred to as the "Prior HII Plan").
Effective July 1, 1995, both the Houston Industries Incorporated Master
Savings Trust and Houston Industries Incorporated ESOP Trust were amended,
restated and continued in the form of a single trust known as the Houston
Industries Incorporated Savings Trust (the "Savings Trust"), with The Northern
Trust Company as trustee. The Savings Trust was intended to form a part of the
Prior Plan.
As a result of the merger by and among NorAm Energy Corp. ("NorAm"),
Houston Industries Incorporated, Houston Lighting & Power Company and HI Merger
Inc., NorAm became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the Company (1)
assumed the sponsorship of the NorAm Employee Savings & Investment Plan (the
"NorAm Plan") and the Minnegasco Division Employees' Retirement Savings Plan
(the "Minnegasco Plan"), and (2) adopted (x) the NorAm Plan trust, known as the
NorAm Employee Savings & Investment Plan Trust (the "NorAm Trust"), (y) the
Minnegasco Plan trust, known as the Employees' Retirement Savings Plan Trust
Agreement (the "Minnegasco Trust"), and (z) the Pooled Investment Trust
Agreement for the Arkla, Inc. Common Stock Pooled Trust (the "Pooled Investment
Trust"), a pooled investment trust holding commingled assets of the NorAm Trust
and Minnegasco Trust, and the Company assumed all duties, rights and
responsibilities thereto as a party to the respective trust agreements in the
place and stead of NorAm and the Minnegasco division of NorAm, as applicable,
effective August 6, 1997.
-1-
<PAGE> 8
Effective April 1, 1999, the Committee authorized and directed that (i)
the NorAm Plan and Minnegasco Plan be consolidated with, merged into, and
continued in the form of the Prior Plan, (ii) the Prior HII Plan be amended,
restated and continued in order to incorporate all prior amendments to the Prior
HII Plan, including the amendments incorporating certain changes required by the
Retirement Protection Act of 1994 under the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trades, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, the Small
Business Job Protection Act of 1996 and the Tax Reform Act of 1997, and to
provide for a continuation of at least substantially identical benefits for the
former participants of each of the NorAm Plan, the Minnegasco Plan and the Prior
HII Plan, respectively, (iii) all assets held under the NorAm Trust, the
Minnegasco Trust and the Pooled Investment Trust for the benefit of the
participants in the NorAm Plan and the Minnegasco Plan be merged with all the
assets held under the Savings Trust for the benefit of the participants in the
Prior HII Plan, (iv) the amended and restated Prior HII Plan reflect the change
in the name of the Plan sponsor from Houston Industries Incorporated to Reliant
Energy, Incorporated, and (v) certain other changes be made to the Prior HII
Plan so that, from and after April 1, 1999, the NorAm Plan, the Minnegasco Plan
and the Prior HII Plan shall constitute a "single plan" within the meaning and
purview of Section 414(l) of the Code, with the amended and restated Prior Plan,
named the Reliant Energy, Incorporated Savings Plan (hereinafter referred to as
the "Plan"), being the surviving plan for all legal purposes, including
reporting and disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended ("ERISA").
The Plan and Savings Trust are intended to meet the requirements of
Sections 401(a), 401(k), 501(a) and 4975(e)(7) of the Code and ERISA, as either
may be amended from time to time.
The provisions of the Plan shall apply to a Participant who continues
his Service after the Effective Date, and, except as otherwise expressly set
forth herein, the rights and benefits, if any, of a Prior Plan Participant (as
herein defined) who terminated his Service prior to the Effective Date shall be
determined under the provisions of the applicable Prior Plan (as herein defined)
in effect on the date his Service terminated.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Committee hereby merges the NorAm Plan and
Minnegasco Plan into the Prior HII Plan and amends, restates, and continues the
Prior HII Plan in the form of, and by the adoption of, the Plan as herein set
forth, effective April 1, 1999, except as otherwise indicated herein, to read as
follows:
-2-
<PAGE> 9
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the
following meanings unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:
1.1 ACCOUNT: Any of the accounts maintained for a Participant pursuant
to Section 5.1, or all such accounts collectively, as the context requires.
1.2 AFFILIATE: A corporation or other trade or business which, together
with an Employer, is "under common control" within the meaning of Section 414(b)
or (c), as modified by Section 415(h) of the Code; any organization (whether or
not incorporated) which is a member of an "affiliated service group" (within the
meaning of Section 414(m) of the Code) which includes the Employer; and any
other entity required to be aggregated with the Employer pursuant to regulations
under Section 414(o) of the Code.
1.3 AFTER-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS: Any amount contributed by a Participant to
the Trust Fund from his Compensation as "After-Tax Matched Contributions"
(formerly referred to as "After-Tax Basic Contributions") and "After-Tax
Unmatched Contributions" (formerly referred to as "After-Tax Excess
Contributions") pursuant to Section 4.3.
1.4 AFTER-TAX CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNT: The account or accounts maintained
for each Participant to reflect his After-Tax Matched Contributions and
After-Tax Unmatched Contributions, and adjustments relating thereto.
1.5 ANNIVERSARY DATE: January 1.
1.6 BENEFICIARY: Such natural person or persons, or the trustee of an
inter vivos trust for the benefit of natural persons, entitled to receive a
Participant's death benefits under the Plan, as provided in Section 6.3 hereof.
1.7 CODE: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
1.8 COMMITTEE: The Benefits Committee as described in Article II and,
in regard to any provision of this Plan under which an agent has been appointed
by the Benefits Committee pursuant to Article II to administer such provision of
this Plan, such agent.
1.9 COMPANY: Prior to May 5, 1999, Houston Industries Incorporated, a
Texas corporation doing business as Reliant Energy, Incorporated, and on and
after May 5, 1999, Reliant Energy, Incorporated or a successor to Reliant
Energy, Incorporated in the ownership of substantially all of its assets.
-3-
<PAGE> 10
1.10 COMPANY STOCK: Common stock or convertible preferred stock of the
Company which is readily tradeable on an established securities market.
1.11 COMPENSATION: The total cash compensation actually paid for
personal services to the respective Participant by the Employer during the
applicable payroll period plus any amounts contributed by an Employer pursuant
to a salary reduction agreement under Code Section 401(k) and any amounts not
includable in gross income of the Participant under Code Section 125.
Compensation specifically includes salaries, wages, commissions, overtime pay,
performance-based bonuses paid in cash, and any other payments of compensation
which would be subject to tax under Code Section 3101(a), without the dollar
limitations of Code Section 3121(a)(1). Compensation specifically excludes (i)
expense allowances; (ii) benefits received under the Long-Term Disability Plan
of an Employer; (iii) contributions of the Employer to or benefits under this
Plan or any other welfare or deferred compensation plan not expressly included
above; (iv) any payments made in connection with a Participant's termination of
employment or severance pay; and (v) Compensation taken into account under the
Plan for any Participant during a given Plan Year exceeding $160,000, or such
other dollar amount as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury or his
delegate from time to time. The Compensation of the respective Participants as
reflected by the books and records of the Employer shall be conclusive.
1.12 CONTRIBUTION: Any amount contributed to the Trust Fund pursuant to
the provisions of this Plan by the Employer or by a Participant from his
Compensation, including ESOP Contributions, Employer Matching Contributions,
Pre-Tax Matched Contributions, Pre-Tax Unmatched Contributions, After-Tax
Matched Contributions, and After-Tax Unmatched Contributions.
1.13 DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN: The Reliant Energy, Incorporated Retirement
Plan (formerly the Houston Industries Incorporated Retirement Plan) and/or any
other defined benefit plan (as defined in Section 415(k) of the Code) maintained
by the Company or by any Affiliate.
1.14 DISABILITY: A disability incurred by a Participant that satisfies
the requirements of Section 6.2.
1.15 EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 1999, except (A) as otherwise provided in
specific provisions of the Plan and (B) that provisions of the Plan required to
have an earlier effective date by application of statute and/or regulation shall
be effective as of the required effective date in such statute and/or
regulation.
1.16 EMPLOYEE: Any person employed by an Employer, and including (i)
any disabled individual on "Initial LTD Status" or inactive status under the
Long-Term Disability Plan of an Employer and (ii) any "leased employee" (as
defined in Section 414 of the Code, subject to Section 414(n)(5)) performing
services for an Employer. In addition to the above, the term "Employee" shall
include any person receiving remuneration for personal services (or would be
receiving such remuneration except for an authorized leave of absence) rendered
as an employee of
-4-
<PAGE> 11
a foreign affiliate (as defined in Code Section 3121(l)(6)) of an Employer to
which an agreement extending coverage under the Federal Social Security Act
entered into by an Employer under Section 3121(l) of said Code applies, provided
that such person is a citizen or resident of the United States.
1.17 EMPLOYER: The Company (including its successors) and any other
eligible organization that shall adopt this Plan pursuant to the provisions of
Article X, and the successors, if any, to such organization.
1.18 EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS: Collectively, the Employer Matching
Contributions and ESOP Contributions.
1.19 EMPLOYER MATCHING ACCOUNT: The account maintained to reflect the
Employer Matching Contributions to the Plan for each Participant and any
adjustments thereto made pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.
1.20 EMPLOYER MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS: Any amount, with the exception of
ESOP Contributions, contributed to the Trust Fund by the Employer pursuant to
Section 4.1.
1.21 ERISA: Public Law No. 93-406, the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
1.22 ESOP ACCOUNT: The account maintained for each Participant to
reflect the interest in the ESOP Fund allocated to each Participant.
1.23 ESOP CONTRIBUTIONS: The Employer Contributions to the Trust on
behalf of the ESOP Fund for the purpose of repayment of an Exempt Loan, as
described in Section 4.1.
1.24 ESOP FUND: The investment fund held by the Trustee which shall be
primarily invested and reinvested in shares of Company Stock.
1.25 EXEMPT LOAN: Any loan or other extension of credit made or
guaranteed by a disqualified person as defined in Code Section 4975(e)(2) that
is used to finance the purchase of Company Stock by the Trustee and that meets
the requirements of Section 5.6.
1.26 FIDUCIARIES: The Employer, the Committee, the Trustee, and any
other person designated as a Fiduciary with respect to the Plan or the Trust
Agreement, but only with respect to the specific responsibilities of each as
described in Section 2.13 hereof. Any person or group of persons may serve in
more than one fiduciary capacity with respect to the Plan.
1.27 FINANCED STOCK: Company Stock acquired with the proceeds of an
Exempt Loan; provided, however, that the number of shares of Financed Stock
shall be proportionately adjusted to
-5-
<PAGE> 12
reflect any share split, share dividend or combination of outstanding shares of
the Company Stock that were acquired with the proceeds of an Exempt Loan.
1.28 HII PARTICIPANT: A Participant who was participating in the Prior
HII Plan immediately prior to April 1, 1999.
1.29 INVESTMENT FUND: One of the Investment Funds held under the Trust
Fund, as described in Section 8.1, of which the ESOP Fund is not a part.
1.30 INVESTMENT MANAGER: The Investment Manager, if any, appointed by
the Committee under the Trust Agreement, as such term is defined by Section
3(38) of ERISA.
1.31 LEAVE FOR BUSINESS AND CIVIC REASONS: The period of an "Authorized
Absence" (as defined in Section 3.5) taken in order to hold an office or
position in a business or civic organization which has been approved by the
Committee.
1.32 MINNEGASCO PARTICIPANT: A Participant who was participating in the
Minnegasco Plan immediately prior to April 1, 1999.
1.33 MINNEGASCO PLAN: The Minnegasco Division Employees' Retirement
Savings Plan as in effect immediately prior to April 1, 1999.
1.34 NORAM PARTICIPANT: A Participant who was participating in the
NorAm Plan immediately prior to April 1, 1999.
1.35 NORAM PLAN: The NorAm Employee Savings & Investment Plan as in
effect immediately prior to April 1, 1999.
1.36 PARTICIPANT: A current or former eligible Employee who, pursuant
to the provisions of Article III hereof, has elected to participate in the Plan,
and who at any relevant time is either making, or has made, Pre-Tax Matched
Contributions and/or After-Tax Matched Contributions to the Plan, and for whom
contribution accounts continue to be held under the Plan. A former Employee
shall be deemed a Participant under the Plan as long as he has an Account in the
Trust Fund which has not been forfeited under Section 6.1 hereof and thus will
be entitled to exercise all the rights and privileges granted active Employees
who are Participants except as otherwise specifically provided in the case of
Participant loans under Section 7.5 hereof.
1.37 PLAN: The Reliant Energy, Incorporated Savings Plan set forth
herein, which is intended to constitute a profit-sharing plan under Section
401(a)(27) of the Code and an employee stock ownership plan under Section
4975(e)(7) of the Code, including all subsequent amendments hereto.
-6-
<PAGE> 13
1.38 PLAN YEAR: The 12-month period commencing on January 1 and ending
on December 31.
1.39 PRE-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS: Any amount deferred by a Participant from
his Compensation as "Pre-Tax Matched Contributions" (formerly referred to as
"Pre-Tax Basic Contributions") and "Pre-Tax Unmatched Contributions" (formerly
referred to as "Pre-Tax Excess Contributions") pursuant to Section 4.2.
1.40 PRE-TAX CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNT: The account or accounts maintained
for each Participant to reflect his Pre-Tax Matched Contributions and Pre-Tax
Unmatched Contributions to the Plan, and any adjustments thereto made pursuant
to the provisions of the Plan.
1.41 PRIOR HII PLAN: The Houston Industries Incorporated Savings Plan,
as amended and restated effective July 1, 1995 and as thereafter amended and in
effect on March 31, 1999.
1.42 PRIOR PLAN: The applicable of (i) the Minnegasco Plan, (ii) the
NorAm Plan and (iii) the Prior HII Plan.
1.43 PRIOR PLAN ACCOUNTS: The (i) "Prior Plan Matching Account," (ii)
"Prior Plan ESOP Account," (iii) "Cengas Account," and (iv) "Prior Plan 1999
Matching Account," as each such Prior Plan Account is defined in Section 5.1(a).
1.44 PRIOR PLAN PARTICIPANT: Any person who is in the employment of an
Employer or Affiliate on the Effective Date and was included in and covered by a
Prior Plan immediately prior thereto, or who is the alternate payee,
beneficiary, spouse or estate representative of such a person who died or was
receiving or entitled to receive benefits under a Prior Plan.
1.45 QUALIFIED MILITARY SERVICE: Any service in the uniformed services
(as defined in Chapter 43 of Title 38 of the United States Code or its
successor) by an Employee who is entitled to reemployment rights under such
chapter with respect to such service.
1.46 RETIREMENT: Termination of Service on or after the Retirement Date
of a Participant.
1.47 RETIREMENT DATE: With respect to Participants in the Houston
Industries Incorporated Savings Plan employed prior to January 1, 1988, the term
"Retirement Date" shall mean the first day of the calendar month coincident with
or next following the 65th birthday of a Participant; and, with respect to all
other Participants hired on or after January 1, 1988, such term shall mean the
later of (i) the Participant's attainment of age 65 or (ii) the fifth
anniversary of the Participant's commencement of participation in the Plan.
1.48 ROLLOVER ACCOUNT: An account maintained for an Employee or
Participant to record rollover contributions to this Plan pursuant to Section
4.16, and any allocations and adjustments thereto.
-7-
<PAGE> 14
1.49 SERVICE: An Employee's or Participant's period of employment with
an Employer or Affiliate, as determined in accordance with Article III.
1.50 STOCK SUSPENSE ACCOUNT: The suspense account maintained by the
Trustee in accordance with Section 5.1 and to which will be credited all shares
of Financed Stock prior to the allocation of such shares to the ESOP Accounts in
accordance with Section 5.3.
1.51 TRUST AGREEMENT: The Reliant Energy, Incorporated Savings Trust,
as amended and restated effective April 1, 1999, as it may hereafter be amended
from time to time.
1.52 TRUST FUND: All contributions of Employers and Participants, and
the investments and reinvestments thereof, held by the Trustee under the Trust
Agreement, together with all income, profits or increments thereon.
1.53 TRUSTEE: The Northern Trust Company, an Illinois corporation, or
any successor Trustee or Trustees under the relevant Trust Agreement.
1.54 VALUATION DATE: Any date on which the New York Stock Exchange is
open for trading and any date on which the value of the assets of the Trust Fund
is determined by the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.2. The last business day of
each March, June, September and December of each Plan Year shall be the
"quarterly Valuation Date" and the last business day of each December of each
Plan Year shall be the "annual Valuation Date."
1.55 VESTING SERVICE: The period of a Participant's Service considered
in the determination of his eligibility for benefits under the Plan, in
accordance with Article III.
Words used in this Plan and in the Trust Agreement in the singular
shall include the plural and in the plural the singular, and the gender of words
used shall be construed to include whichever may be appropriate under any
particular circumstances of the masculine, feminine or neuter genders.
-8-
<PAGE> 15
ARTICLE II
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
2.1 Appointment of Committee: The Board of Directors of the Company
shall appoint a Committee of not less than three persons, who may be Employees
of the Company, to perform the administrative duties set forth herein. The
Committee shall be the administrator of the Plan for the purposes of ERISA. Each
member of the Committee shall serve for such term as the Board of Directors of
the Company may designate or until his death, resignation or removal by the
Board. The Board of Directors of the Company shall promptly appoint successors
to fill any vacancies in the Committee.
2.2 Records of Committee: The Committee shall keep appropriate records
of its proceedings and the administration of the Plan. The Committee shall make
available to Participants and their Beneficiaries for examination, during
business hours, such records of the Plan as pertain to the examining person and
such documents relating to the Plan as are required by any applicable disclosure
acts.
2.3 Committee Action: The Committee may act through the concurrence of
a majority of its members expressed either at a meeting of the Committee, or in
writing without a meeting. Any member of the Committee, or the Secretary or
Assistant Secretary of the Committee (who need not be members of the Committee),
may execute on behalf of the Committee any certificate or other written
instrument evidencing or carrying out any action approved by the Committee. The
Committee may delegate any of its rights, powers and duties to any one or more
of its members or to an agent. The Chairman of the Committee shall be agent of
the Plan and the Committee for the service of legal process at the principal
office of the Company in Houston, Texas.
2.4 Committee Disqualification: A member of the Committee who may be a
Participant shall not vote on any question relating specifically to himself.
2.5 Committee Compensation and Expenses: The members of the Committee
shall serve without bond (unless otherwise required by law) and without
compensation for their services as such. The Committee may select and authorize
the Trustee to suitably compensate such attorneys, agents and representatives as
it may deem necessary or advisable to the performance of its duties. Expenses of
the Committee that shall arise in connection with the administration of the Plan
shall be paid by the Company or, if not paid by the Company, by the Trustee out
of the Trust Fund.
2.6 Committee Liability: Except to the extent that such liability is
created by ERISA, no member of the Committee shall be liable for any act or
omission of any other member of the Committee, nor for any act or omission on
his own part except for his gross negligence or willful misconduct, nor for the
exercise of any power or discretion in the performance of any duty assumed by
him hereunder. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the
Committee from any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses (including counsel
fees approved by the
-9-
<PAGE> 16
Committee) and liabilities (including any amounts paid in settlement with the
Committee's approval, but excluding any excise tax assessed against any member
or members of the Committee pursuant to the provisions of Section 4975 of the
Code) arising from any act or omission of such member in connection with duties
and responsibilities under the Plan, except where the same is judicially
determined to be due to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
member.
2.7 Committee Determinations: The Committee shall enforce this Plan in
accordance with its terms and shall have all powers necessary for the
accomplishment of that purpose, including, but not by way of limitation, the
following powers:
(a) To employ such agents and assistants, such counsel (who
may be of counsel to the Company) and such clerical, accounting,
administrative, and investment services as the Committee may require in
carrying out the provisions of the Plan;
(b) To authorize one or more of their number, or any agent, to
make payment, or to execute or deliver any instrument, on behalf of the
Committee, except that all requisitions for funds from, and requests,
directions, notifications, certifications, and instructions to, the
Trustee (except as provided in (i) below) or to the Company shall be
signed either by a member of the Committee or by the Secretary or
Assistant Secretary of the Committee;
(c) To determine from the records of the Company the
considered Compensation, Service and other pertinent facts regarding
Employees and Participants for the purpose of the Plan;
(d) To construe and interpret the Plan, decide all questions
of eligibility and determine the amount, manner and time of payment of
any benefits hereunder;
(e) To prescribe forms and procedures to be followed by
Employees for participation in the Plan, by Participants or
Beneficiaries filing applications for benefits, by Participants
applying for withdrawals or loans, and for other occurrences in the
administration of the Plan;
(f) To prepare and distribute, in such manner as the Committee
determines to be appropriate, information explaining the Plan;
(g) To furnish the Company and the Participants, upon request,
such annual reports with respect to the administration of the Plan as
are reasonable and appropriate;
(h) To certify to the Trustee the amount and kind of benefits
payable to Participants and their Beneficiaries;
-10-
<PAGE> 17
(i) To authorize all disbursements by the Trustee from the
Trust Fund by a written authorization signed either by a member of the
Committee or by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Committee;
provided, however, that disbursements for ordinary expenses incurred in
the administration of the Trust Fund and disbursements to Participants
need not be authorized by the Committee;
(j) In the event of any share split, share dividend or
combination of outstanding shares of Company Stock, to determine the
appropriate allocation of shares of Company Stock to the Stock Suspense
Account and the Accounts maintained for the Participants and to
determine the appropriate number of shares distributable to a
Participant under Section 6.6 hereof immediately following such share
split, share dividend or combination so as to effectuate the intent and
purpose of the Plan;
(k) To interpret and construe all terms, provisions,
conditions and limitations of this Plan and to reconcile any
inconsistency or supply any omitted detail that may appear in this Plan
in such manner and to such extent, consistent with the general terms of
this Plan, as the Committee shall deem necessary and proper to
effectuate the Plan for the greatest benefit of all parties interested
in the Plan;
(l) To make and enforce such rules and regulations for the
administration of the Plan as are not inconsistent with the terms set
forth herein; and
(m) In addition to all other powers herein granted, and in
general consistent with provisions hereof, the Committee shall have all
other rights and powers reasonably necessary to supervise and control
the administration of this Plan.
2.8 Information from Employer: To enable the Committee to perform its
functions, the Employer shall supply full and timely information to the
Committee of all matters relating to the dates of employment of its Employees
for purposes of determining eligibility of Employees to participate hereunder,
the Compensation of all Participants, their Retirement, death or other cause for
termination of employment, and such other pertinent facts as the Committee may
require; and the Committee shall advise the Trustee of such of the foregoing
facts as may be pertinent to the Trustee's administration of the Trust Fund.
2.9 Uniform Administration: Whenever in the administration of the Plan
any action is required by the Employer or the Committee, including, but not by
way of limitation, action with respect to eligibility of Employees,
Contributions, and benefits, such action shall be uniform in nature as applied
to all persons similarly situated, and no action shall be taken which will
discriminate in favor of Participants who are officers or shareholders of the
Employer, highly compensated Employees, or persons whose principal duties
consist of supervising the work of others.
-11-
<PAGE> 18
2.10 Reporting Responsibilities: As administrator of the Plan under
ERISA, the Committee shall file or distribute all reports, returns and notices
required under ERISA or other applicable law.
2.11 Disclosure Responsibilities: The Committee shall make available to
each Participant and Beneficiary such records, documents and other data as may
be required under ERISA, and Participants or Beneficiaries shall have the right
to examine such records at reasonable times during business hours. Nothing
contained in this Plan shall give any Participant or Beneficiary the right to
examine any data or records reflecting the Compensation paid to, or relating to
any Account of, any other Participant or Beneficiary, except as may be required
under ERISA.
2.12 Quarterly Statements: As soon as practicable after each quarterly
Valuation Date, the Committee shall prepare and deliver to each Participant a
written statement reflecting as of that quarterly Valuation Date:
(a) Such information applicable to contributions by and for
each such Participant and the increase or decrease thereof as a
consequence of valuation adjustments as may be pertinent in the
premises; and
(b) The balance in his Account as of that quarterly Valuation
Date.
2.13 Allocation of Responsibility Among Fiduciaries for Plan and Trust
Administration: The Fiduciaries shall have only those specific powers, duties,
responsibilities and obligations as are specifically given them under this Plan
or the Trust Agreement. In general, the Employer shall have the sole
responsibility for making the Contributions provided for under Sections 4.1, 4.2
and 4.3. The Company shall have the sole authority to appoint and remove the
Trustee and members of the Committee. The Company may amend or terminate, in
whole or in part, this Plan or the Trust Agreement. The Committee shall have the
sole responsibility for the administration of the Plan and the sole authority to
appoint and remove any Investment Manager which may be provided for under the
Trust. The Trustee shall have the sole responsibility for the administration of
the Trust Fund and shall have exclusive authority and discretion to manage and
control the assets held under the Trust Fund, except to the extent that the
authority to manage, acquire and dispose of the assets of the Trust Fund is
delegated to an Investment Manager, all as specifically provided in the Trust
Agreement. Each Fiduciary warrants that any directions given, information
furnished, or action taken by it shall be in accordance with the provisions of
the Plan or the Trust Agreement, as the case may be, authorizing or providing
for such direction, information or action. Furthermore, each Fiduciary may rely
upon any such direction, information or action of another Fiduciary as being
proper under this Plan or the Trust Agreement and is not required under this
Plan or the Trust Agreement to inquire into the propriety of any such direction,
information or action. It is intended under this Plan and the Trust Agreement
that each Fiduciary shall be responsible for the proper exercise of its own
powers, duties, responsibilities and obligations under this Plan and the Trust
Agreement and shall not be responsible for any act or failure to act of another
Fiduciary. No Fiduciary guarantees the Trust Fund in any manner against
investment loss or depreciation in asset value.
-12-
<PAGE> 19
2.14 Annual Audit: The Committee shall engage, on behalf of all
Participants, an independent Certified Public Accountant who shall conduct an
annual examination of any financial statements of the Plan and Trust Fund and of
other books and records of the Plan and Trust Fund as the Certified Public
Accountant may deem necessary to enable him to form and provide a written
opinion as to whether the financial statements and related schedules required to
be filed with the Internal Revenue Service, Securities and Exchange Commission,
or Department of Labor or furnished to each Participant are presented fairly and
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
consistent with that of the preceding Plan Year. If, however, the statements
required to be submitted as part of the reports to the Department of Labor are
prepared by a bank or similar institution or insurance carrier regulated and
supervised and subject to periodic examination by a state or federal agency and
if such statements are, in fact, made a part of the annual report to the
Department of Labor and no such audit is required by ERISA, then the audit
required by the foregoing provisions of this Section shall be optional with the
Committee.
2.15 Presenting Claims for Benefits: Any Participant or any other
person claiming under any deceased Participant may submit written application to
the Committee for the payment of any benefit asserted to be due him under the
Plan. Such application shall set forth the nature of the claim and such other
information as the Committee may reasonably request. Promptly upon the receipt
of any application required by this Section, the Committee shall determine
whether or not the Participant or Beneficiary involved is entitled to a benefit
hereunder and, if so, the amount thereof and shall notify the applicant of its
findings.
The Committee shall notify the applicant of the benefits
determination within a reasonable time after receipt of the claim, such time not
to exceed 90 days unless special circumstances require an extension of time for
processing the application. If such an extension of time for processing is
required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the applicant
prior to the end of the initial 90-day period. In no event shall such extension
exceed a period of 90 days from the end of such initial period. The extension
notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time
and the date by which the Committee expects to render its final decision. Notice
of the Committee's decision to deny a claim in whole or in part shall be set
forth in a manner calculated to be understood by the applicant and shall contain
the following:
(a) the specific reason or reasons for the denial;
(b) specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions on
which the denial is based;
(c) a description of any additional material or information
necessary for the applicant to perfect the claim and an explanation of
why such material or information is necessary; and
-13-
<PAGE> 20
(d) an explanation of the claims review procedures set forth
in Section 2.16 hereof.
If notice of denial is not furnished and if the claim is not granted within the
period of time set forth above, the claim shall be deemed denied for purposes of
proceeding to the review stage described in Section 2.16. Participants shall be
given timely written notice of the time limits set forth herein for
determination on claims, appeal of claim denial and decisions on appeal.
2.16 Claims Review Procedure: If an application filed by a Participant
or Beneficiary under Section 2.15 above shall result in a denial by the
Committee of the benefit applied for, either in whole or in part, such applicant
shall have the right, to be exercised by written request filed with the
Committee within 60 days after receipt of notice of the denial of his
application or, if no such notice has been given, within 60 days after the
application is deemed denied under Section 2.15, for the review of his
application and of his entitlement to the benefit for which he applied. Such
request for review may contain such additional information and comments as the
applicant may wish to present. The Committee shall reconsider the application in
light of such additional information and comments as the applicant may have
presented and, if the applicant shall have so requested, may grant the applicant
a formal hearing before the Committee in its discretion. The Committee shall
also permit the applicant or his designated representative to review pertinent
documents in its possession, including copies of the Plan document and
information provided by the Employer relating to the applicant's entitlement to
such benefit. The Committee shall render a decision no later than the date of
the Committee meeting next following receipt of the request for review, except
that (i) a decision may be rendered no later than the second following Committee
meeting if the request is received within 30 days of the first meeting and (ii)
under special circumstances which require an extension of time for rendering a
decision (including but not limited to the need to hold a hearing), the decision
may be rendered not later than the date of the third Committee meeting following
the receipt of the request for review. If such an extension of time for review
is required because of special circumstances, written notice of the extension
shall be furnished to the applicant prior to the commencement of the extension.
Notice of such final determination of the Committee shall be furnished to the
applicant in writing, in a manner calculated to be understood by him, and shall
set forth the specific reasons for the decision and specific references to the
pertinent provisions of the Plan upon which the decision is based. If the
decision on review is not furnished within the time period set forth above, the
claim shall be deemed denied on review.
2.17 Disputed Benefits: If any dispute shall arise between a
Participant or other person claiming under a Participant and the Committee after
review of a claim for benefits, or in the event any dispute shall develop as to
the person to whom the payment of any benefit under the Plan shall be made, the
Trustee may withhold the payment of all or any part of the benefits payable
hereunder to the Participant or other person claiming under the Participant
until such dispute has been resolved by a court of competent jurisdiction or
settled by the parties involved.
-14-
<PAGE> 21
ARTICLE III
PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN
3.1 Eligibility of Employees: An Employee eligible to participate under
the applicable Prior Plan immediately preceding the Effective Date shall be
eligible to become a Participant in this Plan as of the Effective Date. From and
after the Effective Date, each Employee who is eligible and who is not a
Participant and who began Service with an Employer on or after April 1, 1999
shall be initially eligible to participate in the Plan as soon as practicable
following the later of (i) the Effective Date or (ii) the date he first began
Service with such Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the following
individuals shall be ineligible to participate in this Plan: (i) an Employee who
is employed as a building trades worker under a construction industry collective
bargaining agreement providing specifically for retirement benefit payments to
be made thereunder for such building trades worker; (ii) an Employee who is a
"leased employee" as defined in Section 414(n) of the Code; (iii) an individual
who is designated, compensated, or otherwise classified or treated as an
independent contractor by an Employer or an Affiliate; and (iv) an individual
who is a non-resident alien and who receives no United States source earned
income from the Employer.
3.2 Employee Information: The Committee shall maintain records which
shall reflect as to each Employee his date of birth, all dates reflecting when
he entered into or left the employment of any Employer, and his years of Vesting
Service. The Employer shall make available to the Committee all such information
as may be required by the Committee for the purposes of maintaining such
information as to each Employee.
3.3 Notification of Eligible Employees: Each eligible Employee shall be
notified that he is eligible to participate in the Plan upon commencement of his
Service as soon as administratively practicable.
3.4 Application by Participants: Each Employee who shall become
eligible to participate in the Plan and who shall desire to become a Participant
shall complete an application in such form as may be prescribed by the Committee
in which the Participant shall elect to make and designate the amount of his
Contributions, as contemplated under Sections 4.2 and 4.3 hereof, and his choice
of investment options under Section 8.1 hereof.
3.5 Service Defined: For purposes of the Plan, the term "Service" shall
mean the following:
(a) With respect to Service prior to April 1, 1999, (i) for
Minnegasco Participants and NorAm Participants, all service determined
in accordance with the provisions of the Minnegasco Plan and NorAm
Plan, respectively, as of March 31, 1999; and (ii) for HII
Participants, all service determined based on each HII Participant's
service under the Reliant Energy, Incorporated Retirement Plan
-15-
<PAGE> 22
(formerly) the Houston Industries Incorporated Retirement Plan) as of
October 31, 1998, with such service increased by one year.
(b) With respect to Service after March 31, 1999, all years,
months and days of active employment with an Employer or an Affiliate
from and after April 1, 1999 as an Employee, a Participant or a
Participant on inactive status, as described in Section 3.11
("Transferred Participant"), including periods includable under
Sections 3.8 and 3.9, and the following periods of "Authorized Absence"
during which a Participant or Transferred Participant is:
(i) Absent due to Qualified Military Service,
provided that such Employee or Participant complies with all
prerequisites of applicable Federal law and applied for
reinstatement of employment pursuant to the procedures and
requirements of the Employer and, if applicable, the
Committee, to the extent consistent with applicable Federal
law; or
(ii) Absent due to accident or sickness as long as
the Employee or Participant is continued on the employment
rolls of the Employer and remains eligible to work upon his
recovery, provided that such Employee or Participant timely
applied for reinstatement of employment following his date of
recovery in accordance with the procedures and requirements of
the Employer and, if applicable, the Committee; or
(iii) Absent due to an authorized leave of absence,
including periods of Leave for Business and Civic Reasons,
subject to such conditions as may be approved by the Committee
consistently applied in a uniform and non-discriminatory
manner to all employees similarly situated.
(c) An Employee's or Participant's Service shall also include
any period required to be included as Service by federal law other than
ERISA or the Code, but only under the conditions and to the extent so
required by such federal law. In addition, the Committee, in its
discretion, may credit an individual with Service based on employment
with an entity other than the Employer, but only if and when such
individual becomes an Employee eligible to participate in the Plan
under this Article III and only if such crediting of Service (i) has a
legitimate business reason, (ii) does not by design or operation
discriminate significantly in favor of "highly compensated employees"
(as defined in Code Section 414(q)), and (iii) is applied to all
similarly-situated Employees eligible to participate in the Plan under
this Article III. Furthermore, in the event that the Plan constitutes a
plan of a predecessor employer within the meaning of section 414(a) of
the Code, service for such
-16-
<PAGE> 23
predecessor employer shall be treated as Service to the extent required
by Section 414(a) of the Code.
3.6 Commencement and Termination of Service:
(a) From and after April 1, 1999, an Employee's or
Participant's Service shall commence (or recommence) on the date he
first performs an "hour of service" within the meaning of Department of
Labor Regulation Section 2530.200b-2(a)(1) for an Employer or
Affiliate. All periods of Service shall be aggregated so that a
one-year period of Service shall be completed as of the date the
Employee or Participant completes 365 days of Service. Hours of service
and Service will be credited for employment with other members of an
affiliated service group (under Code Section 414(m)), a controlled
group of corporations (under Code Section 414(b)), or a group of trades
or businesses under common control (under Code Section 414(c)), of
which the Employer is a member.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Article III, a period
of Service of an Employee or Participant shall terminate on the date of
the first to occur of:
(i) His Retirement or death;
(ii) His quitting or discharge;
(iii) His deemed date of termination of employment
pursuant to his failure to return to work upon the expiration
of such an Authorized Absence; or
(iv) One year from the date the Employee or
Participant is absent from active employment for any reason
other than Retirement, quitting, discharge, Authorized Absence
or death.
For purposes of clause (iii) immediately above, an Employee's or
Participant's deemed date of termination shall be the earlier of (1)
the expiration date of such Authorized Absence or (2) one year from the
date such Authorized Absence commenced. Notwithstanding any provision
of this Plan to the contrary, contributions, benefits and service
credit with respect to Qualified Military Service will be provided in
accordance with Section 414(u) of the Code.
3.7 Break In Service:
(a) With respect to a termination of Service occurring prior
to April 1, 1999, a Break in Service shall be determined in accordance
with the "break in service" provisions of the applicable Prior Plan.
For purposes of eligibility and vesting, any
-17-
<PAGE> 24
Employee or Participant who has a Break In Service commencing prior to
April 1, 1999 shall have his rights surrounding such Break In Service
determined in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Prior
Plan in which he participated.
(b) With respect to a termination of Service occurring from
and after April 1, 1999, a Break In Service shall occur upon the
expiration of the 12 consecutive month period next following an
Employee's or a Participant's termination of Service, as determined in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3.6(b), unless such Employee
or Participant sooner recommences Service with an Employer or
Affiliate. In the event an Employee or Participant recommences Service
with an Employer or Affiliate prior to incurring a Break In Service,
the period of his interim absence shall constitute Service for all
purposes of the Plan, as provided under Section 3.8 below.
(c) Solely for purposes of determining whether a Break In
Service has occurred under this Plan, the Service of an individual who
is absent from work for maternity or paternity reasons shall not
terminate until the expiration of two years after the date such absence
commenced. For purposes of this paragraph, an absence from work for
maternity or paternity reasons means an absence (i) by reason of the
pregnancy of the Employee or Participant, (ii) by reason of the birth
of a child of the Employee or Participant, (iii) by reason of the
placement of a child with the Employee or Participant in connection
with the adoption of such child by such Employee or Participant or (iv)
for purposes of caring for such child for a period beginning
immediately following such birth or placement. In order for the absence
of a Participant or an Employee to qualify as a maternity/paternity
leave, the Participant must furnish the Committee in a timely manner,
with such information and documentation as the Committee shall
reasonably require to establish that the absence from work is for the
reasons referred to above and the number of days for which there was
such absence.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article III to the
contrary, for purposes of determining eligibility to participate and
vesting under the Plan, Service shall be continued during any leave
taken pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and no Break
In Service shall occur due, in whole or in part, to such leave.
3.8 Effect of Re-employment Prior to a Break In Service: In the event
an Employee or Participant is re-employed by an Employer or Affiliate prior to a
Break In Service, the period of his interim absence shall constitute Service for
eligibility and vesting purposes under the Plan.
3.9 Effect of Re-employment After a Break In Service: In the event an
Employee or Participant is re-employed by an Employer or Affiliate after a Break
In Service, the following rules
-18-
<PAGE> 25
shall apply in determining his participation in the Plan under Section 3.1 and
his Vesting Service under Section 3.10:
(a) Participation: If the re-employed person was not a
Participant during his prior period of Service, he shall be eligible to
commence participation in the Plan on the date of his re-employment if
he otherwise meets the requirements of Section 3.1. If the re-employed
Employee was a Participant during his prior period of Service, he shall
recommence participation in the Plan on the date of his re- employment
if he otherwise meets the requirements of Section 3.1, and any
forfeitures from his Employer Matching Account and ESOP Account shall
be reinstated to the extent provided in Section 6.9.
(b) Vesting Service: Any Vesting Service attributable to the
re-employed Employee's prior period of Service shall be reinstated as
of the date of his recommencement of participation in the Plan.
3.10 Vesting Service: Subject to the Break In Service
provisions of this Article III, a Participant's Vesting Service shall
equal the sum of the following:
(a) Vesting Service prior to April 1, 1999, which shall be (i)
for a Minnegasco or NorAm Participant, his Vesting Service as defined
under the Minnegasco Plan or NorAm Plan, as applicable, with respect to
Service earned prior to April 1, 1999, and (ii) for an HII Participant,
his Vesting Service determined under the Prior HII Plan, with respect
to Service earned prior to April 1, 1999, as determined under Section
3.5(a); and
(b) Vesting Service on and after April 1, 1999, which shall be
earned for each day of Service after the Participant's employment date
with an Employer or Affiliate.
3.11 Transferred Participants:
(a) For purposes of determining eligibility to participate in
the Plan and Vesting Service under this Article III, a Participant's
Service shall include his employment with an Affiliate after it becomes
an Affiliate; provided, however, that all such employment is determined
in accordance with the re-employment provisions of Section 3.8 and 3.9.
If an individual is transferred from an employment classification with
an Employer that is not covered by the Plan to an employment
classification that is so covered, or from an Affiliate that is not an
Employer to an employment classification with an Employer that is so
covered, his period of Service prior to the date of transfer shall be
considered for purposes of determining his eligibility to become a
Participant under Section 3.1 and for purposes of vesting under Section
6.1. In addition, if such transferred Participant had an account in a
qualified defined
-19-
<PAGE> 26
contribution plan maintained by such Affiliate, such account shall be
transferred to the Trust Fund under this Plan if the transfer is
permitted by the terms of said plan and if the Committee determines
that the transferred account will not fail to satisfy Section 401(a) or
411(d)(6) of the Code. Any transferred account shall be subject to the
provisions of this Plan; provided, however, that the vesting provisions
of the transferor plan shall continue to apply.
(b) If a Participant is transferred to employment with an
Employer or Affiliate which is not eligible employment covered by the
Plan, his participation in the Plan shall be suspended; provided,
however, that during the period of his employment in such ineligible
position:
(i) Subject to the re-employment provisions of
Sections 3.8 and 3.9, he shall be credited with Service in
accordance with this Article III;
(ii) He shall cease to have any right to make
Contributions pursuant to Sections 4.2 and 4.3;
(iii) His Employer Matching Account and ESOP Account
shall receive no Employer Matching Contribution or ESOP
Contribution allocations under Section 4.1;
(iv) He shall continue to participate in income
allocations of the earnings and/or losses of the Trust Fund
pursuant to Section 5.3;
(v) No distribution event shall be deemed to have
occurred under Section 6.1; and
(vi) The loan privileges under Article VII and the
provisions of Article VIII shall continue to apply.
In addition, the Committee may, at its discretion,
authorize the transfer of his Accounts under this Plan to the Trust
Fund funding the qualified defined contribution plan, if any, of the
Affiliate to which the Participant was transferred. In such event, the
provisions of the transferee plan shall govern.
(c) In addition and with respect to only those Participants
who previously had an account established under the STP Nuclear
Operating Company Savings Plan as of October 1, 1997, prior to their
employment after such date by an Employer covered by this Plan, the
period of employment of such Participant by STP Nuclear Operating
Company, a Texas nonprofit corporation, shall be deemed to be
-20-
<PAGE> 27
employment by an Affiliate hereunder for purposes of eligibility and
vesting and shall be calculated as provided in Section 3.11(a) above.
-21-
<PAGE> 28
ARTICLE IV
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PLAN
4.1 Employer Contributions: For each Plan Year during which an Exempt
Loan is outstanding, the Employer shall make an ESOP Contribution to the Trust
Fund in such amount and at such times as shall be determined by the Company.
The Employer shall also make an Employer Matching Contribution
(subject to adjustments for forfeitures and limitations on annual additions as
elsewhere specified in the Plan) in the amount, if any, necessary to result in a
total allocation under Article V to each Participant's ESOP Account of not less
than 75% of the total of his Pre-Tax Matched Contribution and After-Tax Matched
Contribution for the Plan Year. Further, the Employer shall make an additional
ESOP Contribution and/or Employer Matching Contribution, if necessary, to make
the allocation required under Section 5.3(d)(ii) with respect to dividends used
to repay an Exempt Loan.
In addition, for any Plan Year, the Employer, in its
discretion, may make an additional Employer Matching Contribution in an amount
(1) determined by the Chairman of the Committee on behalf of (i) Participants
who are in active Service as of the last day of the applicable Plan Year and
(ii) Participants (A) whose Service terminates during the applicable Plan Year
and who are age 55 or older with five years of Service as of such termination
date or (B) whose Service terminates during the applicable Plan Year due to
death or Disability, and (2) communicated to such eligible Participants within
90 days following the close of the applicable Plan Year.
To the extent specified in Section 5.3(d)(iii), any amounts
attributable to forfeitures will be applied to reduce, to the extent of such
forfeitures, the Employer Matching Contributions required to be made next
following the determination of any such forfeiture amounts and/or pay incident
expenses of the Plan.
In the event that a forfeiture arising under Section 6.1 is
reinstated under Section 6.9 because of the return to the employment of the
terminated Participant, or in the event that a forfeiture arising under Section
6.11 is reinstated in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.11 because of
an appropriate claim of forfeited unclaimed benefit by the Participant,
Beneficiary or other distributee, the Employer shall contribute, within a
reasonable time following such re-employment or claim, an amount equal to the
forfeiture to be reinstated.
4.2 Pre-Tax Contributions: Each Participant who has elected to defer a
portion of his salary as a Pre-Tax Matched Contribution to the Plan pursuant to
Section 3.4 shall defer as his Pre-Tax Matched Contribution to the Trust Fund
1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% or 6%, as he may designate, of his Compensation. In addition,
each Participant may also elect to defer any whole percent, up to a maximum of
10%, of his Compensation as a Pre-Tax Unmatched Contribution. Each Participant's
Pre-Tax Matched Contribution and Pre-Tax Unmatched Contribution, if any, shall
be contributed to the Trust Fund by the Employer as soon as practicable. A
Participant's Pre-Tax Contributions
-22-
<PAGE> 29
under this Plan and all other plans, contracts or arrangements of the Employer
shall not exceed a maximum contribution of $10,000, as adjusted by the Secretary
of the Treasury or his delegate, for each calendar year. In the event a
Participant's Pre-Tax Contributions exceed the applicable limit described in the
preceding sentence, or in the event the Participant submits a written claim
under the Plan, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Committee,
specifying an amount of Pre-Tax Contributions that will exceed the applicable
limit of Section 402(g) of the Code when added to the amounts deferred by the
Participant in other plans or arrangements, such excess (the "Excess
Deferrals"), plus any income and minus any loss allocable to such amount, shall
be returned to the Participant by the April 15 of the following year. Excess
Deferrals shall be treated as Annual Additions under Section 5.5 of the Plan.
Each Participant's Pre-Tax Contribution Account shall be fully vested and
non-forfeitable at all times.
When first electing to participate in the Plan, each
Participant shall give advance notification by electronic, telephonic, written
or other such manner as may be prescribed from time to time by the Committee, of
the amount he elects to defer as a Pre-Tax Matched Contribution and as a Pre-Tax
Unmatched Contribution. Each such election shall continue in effect during
subsequent Plan Years unless the Participant shall give timely notice of his
election to change or discontinue his Pre-Tax Matched Contribution or his
Pre-Tax Unmatched Contribution in accordance with procedures established from
time to time by the Committee.
A Participant may change the rate of his Pre-Tax Matched
Contribution and/or Pre-Tax Unmatched Contribution, with no restrictions on
frequency, by electronic, telephonic, written or other such manner as may be
prescribed from time to time by the Committee. A Participant may discontinue his
Pre-Tax Matched Contribution and/or Pre-Tax Unmatched Contribution, with no
restrictions on frequency, by electronic, telephonic, written or other such
manner as may be prescribed from time to time by the Committee. Any such change
or discontinuance in the rate of Pre-Tax Matched and/or Unmatched Contributions
shall be effective as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of the
change or discontinuance of elections.
4.3 After-Tax Contributions: Each Participant who has elected to make a
Pre-Tax Matched Contribution of less than 6% of his Compensation may elect to
make an After-Tax Matched Contribution to the Plan pursuant to Section 3.4 of
1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% or 6%, as he may designate, of his Compensation, provided
that the total of his Pre-Tax Matched Contribution, if any, and his After-Tax
Matched Contribution does not exceed 6% of his Compensation. In addition, each
Participant who has elected to make a Pre-Tax Unmatched Contribution of less
than 10% of his Compensation may elect to contribute to the Plan any whole
percent, up to a maximum of 10%, of his Compensation as an After-Tax Unmatched
Contribution; provided, however, that the total of his Pre-Tax Unmatched
Contribution, if any, and his After-Tax Unmatched Contribution does not exceed
10% of his Compensation. Each Participant's After-Tax Matched Contribution and
After-Tax Unmatched Contribution, if any, shall be withheld from each of his
paychecks and contributed to the Trust Fund by the Employer as soon as
practicable. Each Participant's After-Tax Contribution Account shall be fully
vested and non-forfeitable at all times.
-23-
<PAGE> 30
When first electing to participate in the Plan, each
Participant shall give advance notification by electronic, telephonic, written
or other such manner as may be prescribed from time to time by the Committee, of
the amount he elects to contribute as an After-Tax Matched Contribution and as
an After-Tax Unmatched Contribution. Each such election shall continue in effect
during subsequent Plan Years unless the Participant shall give timely notice of
his election to change or discontinue his After-Tax Matched Contribution or his
After-Tax Unmatched Contribution in accordance with procedures established from
time to time by the Committee.
A Participant may change the amount of his After-Tax Matched
Contribution and/or After-Tax Unmatched Contribution, with no restrictions on
frequency, by electronic, telephonic, written or other such manner as may be
prescribed from time to time by the Committee. A Participant may discontinue his
After-Tax Matched Contribution and/or After-Tax Unmatched Contribution, with no
restrictions on frequency, by electronic, telephonic, written or other such
manner as may be prescribed from time to time by the Committee. Any such change
or discontinuance in the amount of After-Tax Matched or Unmatched Contributions
shall be effective as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of the
change or discontinuance of elections.
4.4 Actual Deferral Percentage: The Actual Deferral Percentage for a
specified group of Employees for a Plan Year shall be the average of the ratios
(calculated separately for each Employee in such group) of:
(a) the amount of Pre-Tax Contributions (i) allocated to each
such Employee's Account under the Plan as of a date during the Plan
Year, without contingency on future participation in the Plan or
performance of future services, (ii) actually paid to the Plan on
behalf of each such Employee for such Plan Year no later than the end
of the 12-month period immediately following such Plan Year and (iii)
that relate to Compensation that either would have been received by the
Employee in such Plan Year (but for the deferral election) or are
attributable to services performed by the Employee in the Plan Year and
would have been received by the Employee within 2 1/2 months after the
close of the Plan Year (but for the deferral election); over
(b) the Employee's Compensation (as defined in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.414(s)-1(c)) for such Plan Year.
The Plan uses the Actual Deferral Percentage for Participants
who are Highly Compensated Employees (as defined in Section 4.5) for the current
Plan Year and the Actual Deferral Percentage for Participants who are non-Highly
Compensated Employees (1) for the current Plan Year, effective January 1, 1997
through December 31, 1998, and (2) for the preceding Plan Year, effective from
and after January 1, 1999, in performing the nondiscrimination testing required
under this Section IV. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the
contrary, an Employer may, to the extent permitted by the Code and applicable
regulations, elect to include as Compensation pre-tax or after-tax contributions
made under this Plan or any other plan of the Employer, and may
-24-
<PAGE> 31
elect to exclude as Compensation any Compensation received by a Participant
during the Plan Year while such Participant was not eligible to be a Participant
in the Plan.
An eligible Employee for the purpose of computing the Actual
Deferral Percentage is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.401(k)-1(g)(4).
The Actual Deferral Percentage of an eligible Employee who makes no Pre-Tax
Contributions is zero. The individual ratios and Actual Deferral Percentages
shall be calculated to the nearest 1/100 of 1% of an Employee's Compensation.
4.5 Actual Deferral Percentage Limits: The Actual Deferral Percentage
for the eligible Highly Compensated Employees for any Plan Year shall not exceed
the greater of (a) or (b), as follows:
(a) the Actual Deferral Percentage of Compensation for the
eligible non-Highly Compensated Employees times 1.25; or
(b) the lesser of (i) the Actual Deferral Percentage of
Compensation for the eligible non-Highly Compensated Employees times
2.0 or (ii) the Actual Deferral Percentage of Compensation for the
eligible non-Highly Compensated Employees plus two percentage points or
such lesser amount as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe to
prevent the multiple use of this alternative limitation with respect to
any Highly Compensated Employee.
"Highly Compensated Employee" shall mean any Employee and any
employee of an Affiliate who is a highly compensated employee under Section
414(q) of the Code, including any Employee and any employee of an Affiliate who:
(i) was a "5% owner" (as defined in Code Section
416(i)) during the current Plan Year or prior Plan Year; or
(ii) received Compensation during the prior Plan Year
(as defined in Section 5.5(d)(6)) in excess of $80,000, or
such other amount as determined by the Secretary of the
Treasury or his delegate, and, if elected by the Employer, was
in the "top-paid group" (the top 20% of payroll) for the Plan
Year, excluding Employees described in Code Section 414(q)(8).
In determining an Employee's status as a Highly Compensated
Employee within the meaning of Section 414(q), the entities set forth in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(q)-1T Q&A-6(a)(1) through (4) must be taken
into account as a single employer.
A former Employee shall be treated as a Highly Compensated
Employee if (1) such former Employee was a Highly Compensated Employee when he
separated from Service or (2) such former Employee was a Highly Compensated
Employee in Service at any time after attaining age 55.
-25-
<PAGE> 32
The Actual Deferral Percentage for any Highly Compensated
Employee who is eligible to have deferred contributions allocated to his account
under one or more plans described in Section 401(k) of the Code that are
maintained by an Employer or an Affiliate in addition to this Plan shall be
determined as if all such contributions were made to this Plan. For purposes of
determining whether the Actual Deferral Percentage limits of this Section are
satisfied, all Pre-Tax Contributions that are made under two or more plans that
are aggregated for purposes of Code Section 401(a)(4) or 410(b) (other than Code
Section 410(b)(2)(A)(ii)) are to be treated as made under a single plan, and if
two or more plans are permissively aggregated for purposes of Code Section
401(k), the aggregated plans must also satisfy Code Sections 401(a)(4) and
410(b) as though they were a single plan.
4.6 Reduction of Pre-Tax Contribution Rates by Leveling Method: If, on
the basis of the Pre-Tax Contribution rates elected by Participants for any Plan
Year, the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that neither of the
tests contained in (a) or (b) of Section 4.5 will be satisfied, the Committee
may reduce the Pre-Tax Contribution rate of any Participant who is among the
eligible Highly Compensated Employees to the extent necessary to reduce the
overall Actual Deferral Percentage for eligible Highly Compensated Employees to
a level which will satisfy either (a) or (b) of Section 4.5. The reductions in
Pre-Tax Contribution rates shall be made in a manner so that the Actual Deferral
Percentage of the affected Participants who elected the highest Actual Deferral
Percentage shall be first lowered to the level of the affected Participants who
elected the next to the highest Actual Deferral Percentage. If further overall
reductions are required to achieve compliance with (a) or (b) of Section 4.5,
both of the above-described groups of Participants will be lowered to the level
of Participants with the next highest Actual Deferral Percentage, and so on,
until sufficient total reductions in Pre-Tax Contribution rates have occurred to
achieve compliance with (a) or (b) of Section 4.5. The Committee may, in its
discretion, permit a Participant whose Pre-Tax Contributions are reduced under
this paragraph to contribute a like amount to his After-Tax Contribution
Account.
4.7 Increase in Pre-Tax Contribution Rates: If a Participant's Pre-Tax
Contribution is reduced below the level necessary to satisfy either (a) or (b)
of Section 4.5 for the Plan Year, such Participant may be eligible to increase
his Pre-Tax Contribution rate for the remainder of the Plan Year to a level not
in excess of that level which will satisfy the greater of (a) or (b) of Section
4.5. Such an increase in the Pre-Tax Contribution rate shall be made by
Participants on a uniform and non-discriminatory basis, pursuant to such rules
and procedures as the Committee may prescribe.
4.8 Excess Pre-Tax Contributions: As soon as possible following the end
of the Plan Year, the Committee shall determine whether either of the tests
contained in Section 4.5 were satisfied as of the end of the Plan Year, and any
excess Pre-Tax Contributions, plus any income and minus any loss attributable
thereto, of those Participants who are among the Highly Compensated Employees
shall be distributed to such Participants in the manner provided below based on
the amount of Pre-Tax Contributions. In addition, the Employer Contribution made
with respect to such excess Pre-Tax Contributions shall be forfeited and applied
to reduce future Employer Contributions
-26-
<PAGE> 33
otherwise required under Section 4.1. Such income shall include the allocable
gain or loss for the Plan Year only.
The amount of any excess Pre-Tax Contributions to be
distributed to a Participant shall be reduced by Excess Deferrals previously
distributed to him pursuant to Section 4.2 for the taxable year ending in the
same Plan Year. All excess Pre-Tax Contributions shall be returned to the
Participants no later than the last day of the following Plan Year. The excess
Pre-Tax Contributions, if any, of each Participant who is among the Highly
Compensated Employees shall be determined by computing the maximum Actual
Deferral Percentage which each such Participant may defer under (a) or (b) of
Section 4.5 and then reducing the Actual Deferral Percentage of some or all of
such Participants through the distribution of such excess Pre-Tax Contributions,
on the basis of the amount of Pre-Tax Contributions of such Participants, as
necessary to reduce the overall Actual Deferral Percentage for eligible
Participants who are among the Highly Compensated Employees to a level which
satisfies either (a) or (b) of Section 4.5, according to the following
procedures:
(a) the Pre-Tax Contributions of the Highly Compensated
Employee or Employees with the highest dollar amount of Pre-Tax
Contributions shall be reduced to equal the dollar amount of the
Pre-Tax Contributions of the Highly Compensated Employee or Employees
with the next highest dollar amount of Pre-Tax Contributions;
(b) the reduction amount determined in clause (a) shall be
distributed to the Highly Compensated Employee or Employees who had the
highest dollar amount of Pre-Tax Contributions prior to such reduction;
and
(c) the procedures in clauses (a) and (b) shall be repeated
until the total excess Pre-Tax Contributions are distributed and
compliance is achieved with (a) or (b) of Section 4.5.
If these distributions are made, the Actual Deferral Percentage is treated as
meeting the nondiscrimination test of Section 401(k)(3) of the Code regardless
of whether the Actual Deferral Percentage, if recalculated after distributions,
would satisfy Section 401(k)(3) of the Code. The above procedures are used for
purposes of recharacterizing excess Pre-Tax Contributions under Section
401(k)(8)(A)(ii) of the Code. For purposes of Section 401(m)(9) of the Code, if
a corrective distribution of excess Pre-Tax Contributions has been made, or a
recharacterization has occurred, the Actual Deferral Percentage for Highly
Compensated Employees is deemed to be the largest amount permitted under Section
401(k)(3) of the Code.
The income or loss attributable to the Participant's excess
Pre-Tax Contributions for the Plan Year shall be determined by multiplying the
income or loss attributable to the Participant's Pre-Tax Contribution Account
balance for the Plan Year by a fraction, the numerator of which is the excess
Pre-Tax Contribution and the denominator of which is the Participant's total
Pre-Tax
-27-
<PAGE> 34
Contribution Account balance. Excess Pre-Tax Contributions shall be treated as
Annual Additions under Section 5.5 of the Plan.
4.9 Contribution Percentage and ESOP Percentage:
A. Contribution Percentage: The Contribution Percentage for a specified
group of Employees for a Plan Year shall be the average of the ratios
(calculated separately for each Employee in such group) of:
(a) the total of the Employer Matching Contributions and the
After-Tax Contributions (the "Aggregate Contributions") paid under the
Plan on behalf of each such Employee for such Plan Year; to
(b) the Employee's Compensation (as defined in Section
4.4(b)).
The Plan uses the Contribution Percentage for Participants who are Highly
Compensated Employees for the current year and the Contribution Percentage for
Participants who are non-Highly Compensated Employees (1) for the current Plan
Year, effective January 1, 1997 through December 31, 1998, and (2) for the
preceding Plan Year, effective from and after January 1, 1999, in performing the
non-discrimination testing required under this Section IV. In computing the
Contribution Percentage, the Employer may elect to take into account After-Tax
and Pre-Tax Contributions made under this Plan or any other plan of the Employer
to the extent that the following requirements are satisfied:
(i) the amount of non-elective contributions,
including those qualified non-elective contributions treated
as Employer Matching Contributions for purposes of calculating
the Contribution Percentage, satisfies the requirements of
Section 401(a)(4) of the Code;
(ii) the amount of non-elective contributions,
excluding those qualified non-elective contributions treated
as Employer Matching Contributions for purposes of calculating
the Contribution Percentage and those qualified non-elective
contributions treated as elective contributions under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.401(k)-1(b)(5) for purposes of
calculating the Actual Deferral Percentage, satisfies the
requirements of Section 401(a)(4) of the Code;
(iii) the elective contributions, including those
treated as Employer Matching Contributions for purposes of
calculating the Contribution Percentage, satisfy the
requirements of Code Section 401(k)(3);
-28-
<PAGE> 35
(iv) the qualified non-elective contributions are
allocated to the Employee under the Plan as of a date within
the Plan Year and the elective contributions satisfy Treasury
Regulation Section 1.401(k)-1(b)(i) for the Plan Year; and, if
applicable, the Plan and the plans to which the qualified
non-elective contributions and elective contributions are
made, are or could be aggregated for purposes of Code Section
410(b).
A Participant's Contribution Percentage shall be determined after determining
the Participant's Excess Deferrals, if any, pursuant to Section 4.2, and after
determining the Participant's excess Pre-Tax Contributions pursuant to Section
4.8.
An eligible Employee for purposes of computing the
Contribution Percentage is defined in Treasury Regulation Section
1.401(m)-1(f)(4). The Contribution Percentage will be zero for an eligible
Employee who received no allocation of Aggregate Contributions.
B. ESOP Percentage: The ESOP Percentage for a specified group of
Employees for a Plan Year shall be the average of the ratios (calculated
separately for each Employee in such group) of:
(a) The total of the ESOP Contributions paid under the Plan on
behalf of each such Employee for such Plan Year; to
(b) The Employee's Compensation (as defined in Section
4.4(b)).
The Plan uses the ESOP Percentage for Participants who are Highly Compensated
Employees for the current year and the ESOP Percentage for Participants who are
non-Highly Compensated Employees (1) for the current Plan Year, effective
January 1, 1997 through December 31, 1998, and (2) for the preceding Plan Year,
effective from and after January 1, 1999, in performing the non-discrimination
testing required under this Section IV.
A Participant's ESOP Percentage shall be determined after
determining the Participant's Excess Deferrals, if any, pursuant to Section 4.2
and after determining the Participant's excess Pre-Tax Contributions pursuant to
Section 4.8.
An eligible Employee for purposes of computing the ESOP
Percentage is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.401(m)-1(f)(4). The ESOP
Percentage will be zero for an eligible Employee who received no allocation of
Aggregate Contributions.
4.10 Contribution Percentage and ESOP Percentage Limits: Each of the
Contribution Percentage and ESOP Percentage (with respect to each, the
"Applicable Percentage") for the eligible Employees for any Plan Year who are
Highly Compensated Employees shall not exceed the greater of (a) or (b), as
follows:
-29-
<PAGE> 36
(a) the Applicable Percentage for the eligible Employees who
are not Highly Compensated Employees times 1.25; or
(b) the lesser of (i) the Applicable Percentage for the
eligible Employees who are not Highly Compensated Employees times 2.0
or (ii) the Applicable Percentage for the eligible Employees who are
not Highly Compensated Employees plus two percentage points or such
lesser amount as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe to
prevent the multiple use of this alternative limitation with respect to
any Highly Compensated Employee.
The Applicable Percentage for any Highly Compensated Employee
for any Plan Year who is eligible to have matching employer contributions made
on his behalf or to make after-tax contributions under one or more plans
described in Section 401(a) of the Code that are maintained by an Employer or an
Affiliate in addition to this Plan shall be determined as if all such
contributions were made to this Plan.
In the event that this Plan must be combined with one or more
other plans in order to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 410(b), then
the Applicable Percentage shall be determined as if all such plans were a single
plan. If two or more plans are permissively aggregated for the purposes of Code
Section 410(b) (other than the average benefit percentage test), then the
Applicable Percentage shall be determined as if all such plans were a single
plan.
4.11 Treatment of Excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions:
If neither of the tests described above in Section 4.10 are satisfied with
respect to either Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions, the excess
Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as applicable), plus any income
and minus any loss attributable thereto, shall be forfeited or, if not
forfeitable, shall be distributed no later than the last day of the Plan Year
following the Plan Year in which such excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP
Contributions (as applicable) were made. Such income shall include the allocable
gain or loss for the Plan Year only. The income or loss attributable to the
Participant's excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable) for the Plan Year shall be determined by multiplying the income or
loss attributable to the Participant's Account for the Plan Year by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the excess Aggregate Contribution or ESOP
Contributions (as applicable), and the denominator of which is the Participant's
total Account balance. Excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions
shall be treated as Annual Additions under Section 5.5 of the Plan.
The excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable), if any, of each Participant who is among the Highly Compensated
Employees shall be determined by computing the maximum Contribution or ESOP
Percentage under (a) or (b) of Section 4.10 (as applicable) and then reducing
the Contribution or ESOP Percentage of some or all of such Participants whose
Contribution or ESOP Percentage exceeds the maximum through the distribution or
forfeiture of the excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable), on the basis of the amount of such excess contributions
attributable to such Participants, as necessary to
-30-
<PAGE> 37
reduce the overall Contribution or ESOP Percentage for eligible Participants who
are among the Highly Compensated Employees to a level which satisfies either (a)
or (b) of Section 4.10, according to the following procedures:
(a) the Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable) of the Highly Compensated Employee or Employees with the
highest dollar amount of such contributions shall be reduced to equal
the dollar amount of the Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions
(as applicable) of the Highly Compensated Employee or Employees with
the next highest dollar amount of such contributions;
(b) the reduction amount determined in clause (a) shall be
forfeited by or, if not forfeitable, distributed to the Highly
Compensated Employee or Employees who had the highest dollar amount of
Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as applicable) prior to
such reduction; and
(c) the procedures in clause (a) and (b) shall be repeated
until the total excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions
(as applicable) are forfeited and/or distributed and compliance is
achieved with (a) or (b) of Section 4.10.
If these forfeitures and/or distributions are made, the Contribution or ESOP
Percentage is treated as meeting the nondiscrimination test of Section 401(m)(2)
of the Code regardless of whether the Contribution or ESOP Percentage, if
recalculated after such forfeitures and/or distributions would satisfy Section
401(m)(2) of the Code. For purposes of Section 401(m)(9) of the Code, if a
corrective distribution of excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions
(as applicable) has been made, the Contribution or ESOP Percentage (as
applicable) for Highly Compensated Employees is deemed to be the largest amount
under Section 401(m)(2) of the Code.
For each Participant who is a Highly Compensated Employee, the
amount of excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as applicable)
is equal to the total Employer Contributions and After-Tax Contributions on
behalf of the Participant (determined prior to the application of this
paragraph) minus the amount determined by multiplying the Participant's actual
contribution ratio (determined after application of this paragraph) by his
Compensation used in determining such ratio. The individual ratios and
Contribution and ESOP Percentages shall be calculated to the nearest 1/100 of 1%
of the Employee's Compensation, as such term is used in paragraph (b) of Section
4.10.
4.12 Multiple Use of Alternative Limitation: The rules set forth in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.401(m)-2(b) for determination of multiple use of
the alternative methods of compliance with respect to Sections 4.5(b) and
4.10(b) are hereby incorporated into the Plan. If a multiple use of the
alternative limitation occurs with respect to two or more plans or arrangements
maintained by an Employer, it shall be treated as an excess Aggregate
Contribution and must be corrected by reducing the actual contribution ratio of
Highly Compensated Employees eligible both to make elective contributions to
receive matching contributions under the 401(k) arrangement or to make
-31-
<PAGE> 38
contributions under the 401(m) plan. Such reduction shall be by the leveling
process set forth in Section 4.11.
4.13 ESOP Contributions, Employer Matching Contributions and Pre-Tax
Contributions to be Tax Deductible: ESOP Contributions, Employer Matching
Contributions and Pre-Tax Contributions shall not be made in excess of the
amount deductible under applicable Federal law now or hereafter in effect
limiting the allowable deduction for contributions to profit-sharing plans. The
ESOP Contributions, Employer Matching Contributions and Pre-Tax Contributions to
this Plan when taken together with all other contributions made by the Employer
to other qualified retirement plans shall not exceed the maximum amount
deductible under Section 404 of the Code.
4.14 Maximum Allocations: Notwithstanding the above, the total Annual
Additions made to the Account of any Participant shall not exceed the limits
prescribed in Section 5.5.
4.15 Refunds to Employer: Once Contributions are made to the Plan by the
Employer on behalf of the Participants, they are not refundable to the Employer
unless a Contribution:
(a) was made by mistake of fact; or
(b) was made conditioned upon the contribution being allowed
as a deduction and such deduction was disallowed.
Any Contribution made by the Employer during any Plan Year in excess of the
amount deductible or any Contribution attributable to a good faith mistake of
fact shall be refunded to the Employer. The amount which may be returned to the
Employer is the excess of the amount contributed over the amount that would have
been contributed had there not occurred a mistake of fact or the excess of the
amount contributed over the amount deductible, as applicable. A Contribution
made by reason of a mistake of fact may be refunded only within one year
following the date of payment. Any Contribution to be refunded because it was
not deductible under Section 404 of the Code may be refunded only within one
year following the date the deduction was disallowed. Earnings attributable to
any such excess Contribution may not be withdrawn, but losses attributable
thereto must reduce the amount to be returned. In no event may a refund be due
which would cause the Account balance of any Participant to be reduced to less
than the Participant's Account balance would have been had the mistaken amount,
or the amount determined to be non-deductible, not been contributed.
4.16 Rollover Contributions: Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Plan, the Trustee shall be authorized to accept an "eligible rollover
distribution" within the meaning of Code Section 402(c)(4) on behalf of or from
a person who is (or who will be entitled under Section 3.1 to become) a
Participant in this Plan, provided that the transfer of the assets to this Plan
is one described in Section 402(c)(4), 403(a)(4) or 408(d)(3)(A)(ii) of the
Code. Such a transferred distribution is referred to herein as a "rollover
contribution."
-32-
<PAGE> 39
The acceptance of rollover contributions under this Section
4.16 shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) No rollover contribution shall be in an amount less than
$500.
(b) Rollover contributions shall be in cash only.
(c) No rollover contribution may be transferred to the Plan
without the prior approval of the Committee. The Committee shall
develop such procedures and may require such information from an
Employee desiring to make such a transfer as it deems necessary or
desirable. The Committee may act in its sole discretion in determining
whether to accept the transfer, and shall act in a uniform,
non-discriminatory manner in this regard.
(d) Upon approval by the Committee, a rollover contribution
shall be paid to the Trustee to be held in the Trust Fund.
(e) A separate Rollover Account shall be established and
maintained for each Employee who has made a rollover contribution. A
Rollover Account shall share in the earnings and/or losses of the Trust
Fund (and component Investment Funds in which such account may be
invested) commencing on the Valuation Date coincident with or next
following the date on which the transferred amount is placed in the
Trust Fund. The Employee's interest in his Rollover Account shall be
fully vested and non-forfeitable. If an Employee who is otherwise
eligible to participate in the Plan but who has not yet begun
participation under Section 3.1 of the Plan makes a rollover
contribution to the Plan, his Rollover Account shall represent his sole
interest in the Plan until he becomes a Participant.
(f) The Committee shall be entitled to rely on the
representation of the Employee that the rollover contribution is an
eligible rollover distribution. If, however, it is determined that a
transfer received from or on behalf of a Employee failed to qualify as
an eligible rollover distribution within the meaning of Code Section
402(c)(4), then the balance in the Employee's Rollover Account
attributable to the ineligible transfer shall, along with any earnings
thereon, as soon as is administratively practicable, be:
(1) segregated from all other Plan assets;
(2) treated as a non-qualified trust established by
and for the benefit of the Participant; and
-33-
<PAGE> 40
(3) distributed to the Employee.
Such an ineligible transfer shall be deemed never to have been a part of the
Plan or Trust.
-34-
<PAGE> 41
ARTICLE V
PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS
5.1 Trust Accounts: The Committee shall create and maintain adequate
records to reflect all transactions of the Trust Fund and to disclose the
interest in the Trust Fund of each Participant (whether on active or inactive
status), former Participant and Beneficiary.
(a) Accounts for Participants: Accounts shall be maintained
for each Participant as may be appropriate from time to time to reflect
his interest in the ESOP Fund and each Investment Fund in which he may
be participating at any time as contemplated under Section 8.1. The
interest in each Investment Fund attributable to the Contributions made
by or on behalf of each Participant under the Plan and Prior Plans
shall be reflected in a Pre-Tax Contribution Account and/or an
After-Tax Contribution Account for each Participant. The interest in
the Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund of each Participant attributable
to the Employer Matching Contributions made to the Plan shall be
reflected in an Employer Matching Account for each Participant. The
interest in the ESOP Fund of each Participant shall be reflected in an
ESOP Account for each Participant as described in Section 5.3. An
Employee or Participant also may have a Rollover Account.
The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, with respect to
certain amounts transferred to the Plan as of the Effective Date from
the Minnegasco and NorAm Plans, the following Prior Plan Accounts shall
be maintained:
(i) Prior Plan Matching Account: The interest in each
Investment Fund attributable to employer matching
contributions to the Minnegasco and NorAm Plans prior to
January 1, 1999 for Minnegasco and NorAm Participants,
respectively, shall be reflected in a Prior Plan Matching
Account;
(ii) Prior Plan ESOP Account: The interest in each
Investment Fund attributable to ESOP contributions to the
Minnegasco and NorAm Plans prior to January 1, 1999 for
Minnegasco and NorAm Participants, respectively, shall be
reflected in a Prior Plan ESOP Account;
(iii) Cengas Account: The interest in each Investment
Fund attributable to the after-tax contributions of certain
Minnegasco Participants under the Minnegasco, Inc. Retirement
Plan for Employees of the Former Cengas Division shall be
reflected in a Cengas Account; and
-35-
<PAGE> 42
(iv) Prior Plan 1999 Matching Account: The interest
in the Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund attributable to
employer matching contributions to the Minnegasco and NorAm
Plans for the period commencing on January 1, 1999 and ending
on March 31, 1999 for Minnegasco and NorAm Participants,
respectively, shall be reflected in a Prior Plan 1999 Matching
Account.
(b) Stock Suspense Account: There shall also be established
and maintained under the Trust a suspense account to be known as the
Stock Suspense Account.
(c) Rights in Trust Fund: The maintenance of individual
Accounts is only for accounting purposes, and a segregation of the
assets of the Trust Fund to each Account shall not be required.
Distribution and withdrawals made from an Account shall be charged to
the Account as of the date paid.
5.2 Valuation of Trust Fund: A valuation of the Trust Fund shall be made
as of each Valuation Date of each Plan Year. For the purposes of each such
valuation, the assets of each Investment Fund shall be valued at their
respective current market values, and the amount of any obligations for which
the Investment Fund may be liable, as shown on the books of the Trustee, shall
be deducted from the total value of the assets. For the purposes of maintenance
of books of account in respect of properties comprising the Trust Fund, and of
making any such valuation, the Trustee shall account for the transactions of the
Trust Fund on an accrual basis. The current market value shall, for the purposes
hereof, be determined as follows:
(a) Where the properties are securities which are listed on a
securities exchange, or which are actively traded over the counter, the
value shall be the net asset value, if appropriate, otherwise the last
recorded sales price. In the event transactions regarding such property
are recorded over more than one such exchange, the Trustee may select
the exchange to be used for purposes hereof. Recorded information
regarding any such securities published in The Wall Street Journal or
any other publication deemed appropriate may be relied upon by the
Trustee. If no transactions involving any such securities have been
recorded as of a particular Valuation Date, then such securities shall
be valued as provided in paragraph (b) below.
(b) Where paragraph (a) hereof shall be inapplicable in the
valuation of any properties, the Trustee shall obtain from at least two
qualified persons an opinion as to the value of such properties as of
the close of business on the particular Valuation Date. The average of
such estimates shall be used.
-36-
<PAGE> 43
5.3 Allocation to Accounts:
(a) Pre-Tax, After-Tax and Employer Matching Contributions:
Pre-Tax Contributions and After-Tax Contributions received in the Trust
Fund since the preceding Valuation Date shall be credited to the
respective Pre-Tax Contribution Accounts and After-Tax Contribution
Accounts of the Participants and invested in the Investment Funds in
accordance with their instructions pursuant to Section 8.1. Employer
Matching Contributions received in the Trust Fund since the preceding
Valuation Date shall be allocated to the Participants' Employer
Matching Accounts in the ratio that the sum of each Participant's
Pre-Tax Matched Contribution and After-Tax Matched Contribution for the
period bears to the total Pre-Tax Matched Contributions and After-Tax
Matched Contributions of all Participants for the period.
(b) ESOP Accounts: The ESOP Account of each Participant shall
be credited with his allocable portion of (i) the Company Stock
investment in the ESOP Fund purchased and paid for by the Trust (other
than Financed Stock) or contributed in kind by the Employer, (ii)
forfeitures from the ESOP Fund, (iii) the Company Stock investment in
the ESOP Fund released from the Stock Suspense Account and (iv) any
cash held in the ESOP Fund. Such allocation shall be made in the ratio
that the sum of each Participant's Pre-Tax Matched Contribution and
After-Tax Matched Contribution for the period bears to the total
Pre-Tax Matched Contributions and After-Tax Matched Contributions of
all Participants for the period. Allocations made pursuant to this
Section 5.3(b) shall be made as soon as practicable after the close of
each payroll period in an amount not to exceed 75% of the total of each
Participant's Pre-Tax Matched Contributions and After-Tax Matched
Contributions.
(c) Stock Suspense Account: The Stock Suspense Account shall
be credited as of Valuation Date occurring at the end of each payroll
period with the number of shares of Financed Stock purchased by the
Trustee since the preceding payroll period Valuation Date. In addition,
the Stock Suspense Account shall be credited with all ESOP
Contributions for the Plan Year which are to be used to repay Exempt
Loans. The Stock Suspense Account shall be debited with amounts used to
repay Exempt Loans and with the number of shares of Financed Stock that
are to be released from such Account in accordance with the provisions
of Section 5.3(b).
(d) Allocation Procedures: The Accounts of Participants,
former Participants and Beneficiaries shall be adjusted in accordance
with the following:
(i) Earnings of the Investment Fund: The earnings (or
loss) of the Investment Fund since the preceding Valuation
Date (including the appreciation or depreciation in value of
the assets of the Investment Fund) shall be allocated to the
Accounts of Participants (other than a terminated
Participant's Accounts which
-37-
<PAGE> 44
have become current obligations of the Investment Fund) in
proportion to the balances in such Accounts on the preceding
Valuation Date, but after first reducing each such Account
balance by any distribution from such Account since the
preceding Valuation Date.
(ii) Income and Appreciation in Value of Stock
Suspense Account and ESOP Accounts in the Trust Fund: The
income of the ESOP Fund shall be allocated in proportion to
the balances, as of the preceding Valuation Date, in the Stock
Suspense Account and the ESOP Accounts, but after first
reducing each such Account balance by any distributions or
charges from such Accounts since the preceding Valuation Date.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, if and
to the extent that dividends credited to Participants' ESOP
Accounts are used to amortize an Exempt Loan pursuant to
Section 5.6, an interest in the ESOP Fund with a fair market
value not less than the amount of such dividends must be
allocated to the Participants' ESOP Accounts (resulting from
the release of Financed Stock attributable to such use of
dividends to amortize the Exempt Loan) for the year of payment
of such dividends to the Plan, and the Company shall make such
additional Employer Matching Contributions as are necessary to
accomplish such result. Any dividends with respect to Financed
Stock that are used to amortize an Exempt Loan shall be used
first to repay current principal and then to repay current
interest with respect to such loan.
(iii) Forfeitures: As of each Valuation Date, any
amounts in the Employer Matching Accounts which have become
forfeitures since the preceding Valuation Date shall first be
made available to reinstate previously forfeited Account
balances of former Participants, if any, in accordance with
Section 6.9 and previous Participants who have unclaimed
benefits, if any, in accordance with Section 6.11 and/or to
pay incident expenses of the Plan. The remaining forfeitures
from the Employer Matching Accounts and all forfeitures from
the ESOP Accounts, if any, shall be used to reduce Employer
Matching Contributions as specified under Section 4.1.
5.4 Treatment of Company Stock Purchased with an Exempt Loan:
(a) Financed Stock: Any Company Stock purchased by the Trust
on behalf of the ESOP Fund with the proceeds of an Exempt Loan shall be
credited initially to the Stock Suspense Account.
-38-
<PAGE> 45
(b) Allocation from Stock Suspense Account to ESOP Accounts:
As of each monthly Valuation Date, and as of any special Valuation Date
if directed by the Committee, there shall be released an interest in
the ESOP Fund equal to the excess, if any, of shares of Financed Stock
determined in (i) over (ii), where (i) and (ii) are as follows: (i) is
equal to the product of the number of shares of Financed Stock not
released prior to January 1 of the current Plan Year multiplied by the
ratio of (y) the amount of principal and interest paid under the Exempt
Loan during the current Plan Year to (z) the sum of the amount
determined in clause (y) plus the total of all principal and interest
to be paid in the future, assuming if the interest rate is variable
that the interest rate in the future will be the same as that currently
in effect, and (ii) is equal to the number of shares of Financed Stock
previously released in the current Plan Year. The Company Stock
investment in the ESOP Fund released pursuant to the preceding sentence
shall be allocated to the Participants' ESOP Accounts in accordance
with the provisions of Section 5.3(b).
(c) Payments on Exempt Loans: As of each Valuation Date,
installment payments, including principal and interest, made by the
Trustee since the last preceding Valuation Date under Exempt Loans will
be debited to the Stock Suspense Account and to Participants' ESOP
Accounts under the provisions of Section 5.3 hereof. Specified income
shall not include shares of Company Stock attributable to any share
split or share dividend on outstanding shares.
For purposes of determining payments on Exempt Loans, payment
of principal and interest shall be accounted for substantially in
accordance with the following: All income ("specified income")
allocable to the Stock Suspense Account that is attributable to
collateral for the Exempt Loan or to ESOP Contributions shall be used,
before any ESOP Contributions are so used, to pay principal amounts due
under such Exempt Loan; ESOP Contributions shall be first applied to
repay interest under such Exempt Loan with any excess ESOP Contribution
used to fund current principal requirements not otherwise funded by the
specified income; if the specified income exceeds the amount necessary
to pay principal due on Exempt Loans for the Plan Year, then such
excess amount shall be first used to pay interest currently due with
respect to the Exempt Loans and any remaining amount of income may, at
the direction of the Committee, be used to prepay principal due on
Exempt Loans in succeeding periods. In the event that there are
insufficient funds available to make payments of principal or interest
on Exempt Loans when due, the Committee may direct (i) the Trustee to
obtain a new Exempt Loan in an amount sufficient to make such payments
or (ii) the Trustee to sell any Financed Stock which has not yet been
allocated to ESOP Accounts provided such sale meets the requirements of
the following sentence. In directing any such sale of Financed Stock,
the Committee shall consider all of the facts and circumstances
surrounding the proposed transaction and the reasons therefor and shall
act in the best interest of Plan Participants in accordance with the
applicable Treasury Regulations and ERISA.
-39-
<PAGE> 46
5.5 Maximum Annual Additions: Notwithstanding anything contained herein
to the contrary, the total Annual Additions made to the Account of a Participant
for any Plan Year commencing on or after the Effective Date shall be subject to
the following limitations:
(a) Single Defined Contribution Plan
1. If an Employer does not maintain any other qualified plan,
the amount of Annual Additions which may be allocated under this Plan
on a Participant's behalf for a Limitation Year shall not exceed the
lesser of the Maximum Permissible Amount or any other limitation
contained in this Plan.
2. Prior to the determination of the Participant's actual
Compensation for a Limitation Year, the Maximum Permissible Amount may
be determined on the basis of the Participant's estimated annual
Compensation for such Limitation Year. Such estimated annual
Compensation shall be determined on a reasonable basis and shall be
uniformly determined for all Participants similarly situated. Any
Employer contributions (including allocation of forfeitures) based on
estimated annual Compensation shall be reduced by any Excess Amounts
carried over from prior years.
3. As soon as is administratively feasible after the end of
the Limitation Year, the Maximum Permissible Amount for such Limitation
Year shall be determined on the basis of the Participant's actual
Compensation for such Limitation Year.
4. If there is an Excess Amount with respect to a Participant
for the Limitation Year, such Excess Amount shall be disposed of as
follows:
A. There shall first be returned to the Participant
his After-Tax Unmatched Contributions as defined in Section
4.3, if any, attributable to that Limitation Year, and then
his Pre-Tax Unmatched Contributions as defined in Section 4.2,
if any, attributable to that Limitation Year to the extent
such returned Contributions would reduce the Excess Amount. If
any such Excess Amount shall then remain, the Participant's
After-Tax Matched Contributions as defined in Section 4.3, if
any, attributable to that Limitation Year shall be returned to
the Participant, and the Employer Matching Contributions made
with respect to said After-Tax Matched Contributions shall be
reduced and allocated to a suspense account in the manner set
forth in Paragraph B below, both to the extent such returned
and reduced Contributions would reduce the Excess Amount. If
any such Excess Amount shall then remain, the Participant's
Pre-Tax Matched Contributions as defined in Section 4.2, if
any, attributable to that
-40-
<PAGE> 47
Limitation Year shall be returned to the Participant, and the
Employer Matching Contributions made with respect to said
Pre-Tax Matched Contributions shall be reduced and allocated
to a suspense account in the manner set forth in Paragraph B
below, both to the extent such returned and reduced
Contributions would reduce the Excess Amount. All such amounts
shall be adjusted for any income or loss allocated thereon.
B. The amount of the reduction of the Employer
Matching Contributions for the Participant shall be
reallocated out of the ESOP Account of such Participant and
shall be held in a suspense account which shall be applied as
a part of (and to reduce to such extent what would otherwise
be) the Employer Matching Contributions for all Participants
required to be made to the Plan during the next subsequent
calendar quarter or quarters. No portion of such Excess Amount
may be distributed to Participants or former Participants. If
a suspense account is in existence at any time during the
Limitation Year pursuant to this Paragraph B, such suspense
account shall not participate in the allocation of investment
gains or losses of the Trust Fund.
(b) Two or More Defined Contribution Plans
1. If, in addition to this Plan, the Employer maintains any
other qualified defined contribution plan, the amount of Annual
Additions which may be allocated under this Plan on a Participant's
behalf for a Limitation Year, shall not exceed the lesser of:
A. the Maximum Permissible Amount, reduced by the sum
of any Annual Additions allocated to the Participant's
accounts for the same Limitation Year under such other defined
contribution plan or plans; or
B. any other limitation contained in this Plan.
2. Prior to the determination of the Participant's actual
Compensation for the Limitation Year, the amount referred to in
paragraph 1.A. above may be determined on the basis of the
Participant's estimated annual Compensation for such Limitation Year.
Such estimated annual Compensation shall be determined on a reasonable
basis and shall be uniformly determined for all Participants similarly
situated. Any Employer Contribution (including allocation of
forfeitures) based on estimated annual Compensation shall be reduced by
any Excess Amounts carried over from prior years.
-41-
<PAGE> 48
3. As soon as is administratively feasible after the end of
the Limitation Year, the amounts referred to in paragraph 1.A. above
shall be determined on the basis of the Participant's actual
Compensation for such Limitation Year.
4. If a Participant's Annual Additions under this Plan and all
such other defined contribution plans result in an Excess Amount, such
Excess Amount shall be deemed to consist of the amounts last allocated.
5. If an Excess Amount was allocated to a Participant on an
allocation date of this Plan which coincides with an allocation date of
another plan, the Excess Amount attributed to this Plan will be the
product of:
A. the total Excess Amount allocated as of such date
(including any amount which would have been allocated but for
the limitations of Section 415 of the Code); times -----
B. the ratio of (i) the amount allocated to the
Participant as of such date under this Plan divided by (ii)
the total amount allocated as of such date under all qualified
defined contribution plans (determined without regard to the
limitations of Section 415 of the Code).
6. Any Excess Amounts attributed to this Plan shall be
disposed of as provided in paragraph (a) above.
(c) Defined Contribution Plan and Defined Benefit Plan
1. General Rule
If the Employer maintains (or has ever maintained) one or more
defined contribution plans and one or more defined benefit plans, the sum of the
"defined contribution plan fraction" and the "defined benefit plan fraction," as
defined below, cannot exceed 1.0 for any Limitation Year. For purposes of this
paragraph (c) of Section 5.5, employee contributions to a qualified defined
benefit plan are treated as a separate defined contribution plan, and all
defined contribution plans of an Employer are to be treated as one defined
contribution plan, and all defined benefit plans of an Employer are to be
treated as one defined benefit plan, whether or not such plans have been
terminated.
2. Reduction
If the sum of the defined contribution plan fraction and
defined benefit plan fraction exceeds 1.0, the annual benefit of the defined
benefit plan or plans will be reduced so that the sum of the fractions will not
exceed 1.0. If additional reductions are required for the sum of the fractions
-42-
<PAGE> 49
to equal 1.0, the reductions will then be made first to the Annual Additions of
the defined contribution plans.
3. Defined Contribution Fraction
A. General Rule: The defined contribution fraction
for any year is (i) divided by (ii), where (i) and (ii) are:
(i) the numerator: the sum of the actual
Annual Additions to the Participant's account at the
close of the Limitation Year; and
(ii) the denominator: the sum of the lesser
of the following amounts determined for such year and
for each prior year of service of the Employee:
a. 1.25 times the dollar
limitation in effect for each such year
(without regard to the special dollar
limitations for employee stock
ownership plans); or
b. 1.4 times 25% of the
Participant's Compensation for each such
year.
B. Special Adjustment to Defined Contribution Plan
Fraction: The numerator of the Defined Contribution Plan
Fraction of any Participant in the Plan on December 31, 1982
shall be reduced by an amount required to decrease the
combined fractions of such Participant to 1.0 as of December
31, 1982. The amount to be subtracted is the product of (i)
the excess of the sum of the fractions over 1.0 and (ii) the
denominator of the Defined Contribution Plan Fraction, as
computed through the Limitation Year ending December 31, 1982.
If the Employee was a Participant as of the end of
the first day of the first Limitation Year beginning after
December 31, 1986, in one or more defined contribution plans
maintained by the Employer which were in existence on May 6,
1986, the numerator of this fraction will be adjusted if the
sum of this fraction and the defined benefit fraction would
otherwise exceed 1.0 under the terms of this Plan. Under the
adjustment, an amount equal to the product of (i) the
-43-
<PAGE> 50
excess of the sum of the fractions over 1.0 times (ii) the
denominator of this fraction, will be permanently subtracted
from the numerator of this fraction. The adjustment is
calculated using the fractions as they would be computed as of
the end of the last Limitation Year beginning before January
1, 1987, and disregarding any changes in the terms and
conditions of the Plan made after May 5, 1986, but using the
Code Section 415 limitation applicable to the first Limitation
Year beginning on or after January 1, 1987.
The Annual Addition for any Limitation Year beginning
before January 1, 1987, shall not be recomputed to treat all
employee contributions as Annual Additions.
4. Defined Benefit Plan Fraction
A. General Rule: The defined benefit plan fraction
for any year is (i) divided by (ii), where:
(i) is the projected annual benefit of the
Participant under the Plan (determined as of the
close of the Limitation Year); and
(ii) is the lesser of:
a. 1.25 times the dollar
limitation (adjusted, if necessary) for
such year; or
b. 1.4 times 100% of the
Participant's Average Compensation
for the high three years (adjusted, if
necessary).
B. Special Rule for Accrued Benefits on December 31,
1982: In the case of an individual who before January 1, 1983
was a member in the Retirement Plan for Employees of Houston
Industries Incorporated whose current accrued benefit under
said Plan on December 31, 1982 exceeded the limitation of
Section 415(b) of the Code, as amended by the Tax Equity and
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, then, for purposes of
subsections (b) and (e) of said Section 415 of the Code, the
maximum permissible amount under the limitation described in
subsection (b) of Section 415 with respect to such individual
shall be equal to such current accrued benefit under
-44-
<PAGE> 51
said Plan; and for purposes hereof, the term "current accrued
benefit" shall be defined as provided in Section 415(b)(2) of
the Code.
Notwithstanding the above, if the Participant was a
participant as of the first day of the first Limitation Year
beginning after December 31, 1986, in one or more defined
benefit plans maintained by the Employer which were in
existence on May 6, 1986, the denominator of this fraction
will not be less than 125% of the sum of the annual benefits
accrued by the participant under such plans as of the close of
the last Limitation Year beginning before January 1, 1987,
disregarding any changes in the terms and conditions of the
Plan after May 5, 1986. The preceding sentence applies only if
the defined benefit plans individually and in the aggregate
satisfied the requirements of Code Section 415 for all
Limitation Years beginning before January 1, 1987.
5. Termination of Section 5.5(c)
From and after January 1, 2000, the provisions of this Section
5.5(c) shall no longer apply.
(d) Definitions
1. Employer: The Employer that adopts this Plan. In
the case of a group of employers which constitutes a
controlled group of corporations (as defined in Section 414(b)
of the Code as modified by Section 415(h)) or which
constitutes trades and businesses (whether or not
incorporated) which are under common control (as defined in
Section 414(c) as modified by Section 415(h)) or an affiliated
service group (as defined in Section 414(m)), all such
employers shall be considered a single Employer for purposes
of applying the limitations of this Section.
2. Annual Additions: With respect to each Plan Year
(Limitation Year), the total of the Employer Matching
Contributions, ESOP Contributions (except to the extent herein
provided), Pre-Tax Contributions, After-Tax Contributions,
forfeitures, and amounts described in Sections 415(e)(1) and
419(d)(2) of the Code, which are allocated to the
Participant's Account; excluding, however, any amounts
contributed to reinstate an amount forfeited or an unclaimed
benefit. Provided Code Section 415(c)(6) is satisfied, ESOP
Contributions used to repay interest on an Exempt Loan as
described in Section 5.6 of the Plan shall not constitute an
Annual Addition.
-45-
<PAGE> 52
Subject to the provisions of Section 415(c)(6) of the Code,
Annual Additions shall not include (i) forfeitures of Financed
Stock, or (ii) ESOP Contributions used to pay interest on the
Exempt Loan and charged against the Participant's Account.
3. Excess Amount: The excess of the Participant's
Annual Additions for the Limitation Year over the Maximum
Permissible Amount.
4. Limitation Year: A 12 consecutive month period
ending on December 31.
5. Maximum Permissible Amount: For a Limitation Year,
the Maximum Permissible Amount with respect to any Participant
shall be the lesser of:
A. $30,000, as adjusted by the Secretary of
the Treasury or his delegate; or
B. 25% of the Participant's Compensation for
the Limitation Year.
6. Compensation: For purposes of applying the
limitations of Code Section 415, Compensation shall include
the Participant's wages, salaries, fees for professional
service and other amounts received (without regard to whether
or not an amount is paid in cash) for personal services
actually rendered in the course of employment with an Employer
maintaining the Plan to the extent that the amounts are
includable in gross income (including, but not limited to,
commissions paid to salesmen, compensation for services on the
basis of a percentage of profits, commissions on insurance
premiums, tips, bonuses, fringe benefits, reimbursements and
expense allowances) and shall exclude the following:
A. (i) Contributions made by the Employer to
a plan of deferred compensation to the extent that,
before the application of the Code Section 415
limitations to the Plan, the contributions are not
includable in the gross income of the Employee for
the taxable year in which contributed, (ii) Employer
contributions made on behalf of an Employee to a
simplified employee pension plan described in Code
Section 408(k) to the extent such contributions are
-46-
<PAGE> 53
excludable from the Employee's gross income and
(iii) any distributions from a plan of deferred
compensation regardless of whether such amounts are
includable in the gross income of the Employee when
distributed, except any amounts received by an
Employee pursuant to an unfunded non-qualified plan
to the extent such amounts are includable in the
gross income of the Employee;
B. Amounts realized from the exercise of a
non-qualified stock option or when restricted stock
(or property) held by an Employee either becomes
freely transferable or is no longer subject to a
substantial risk of forfeiture;
C. Amounts realized from the sale, exchange
or other disposition of stock acquired under a
qualified stock option; and
D. Other amounts which receive special tax
benefits, such as premiums for group life insurance
(but only to the extent that the premiums are not
includable in the gross income of the Employee), or
contributions made by the Employer (whether or not
under a salary reduction agreement) towards the
purchase of any annuity contract described in Code
Section 403(b) (whether or not the contributions are
excludable from the gross income of the Employee).
For the purposes of this Section, Compensation shall
include any and all items which may be included in
Compensation under Code Section 415(c)(3)), including (i) any
elective deferral (as defined in Code Section 402(g)(3) and
(ii) any amount which is contributed or deferred by the
Employer at the election of the Employee and which is not
includable in the gross income of the Employee by reason of
Code Section 125 or 457, but shall exclude amounts that would
otherwise be excluded from an Employee's gross income by
reason of the application of Code Section 402(h)(1)(B) and, in
the case of Employer contributions made pursuant to a salary
reduction agreement, Code Section 403(b). The foregoing
notwithstanding, Compensation shall be limited to $160,000
(unless adjusted in the same manner as permitted under Code
Section 415(d)) for each "Limitation Year."
-47-
<PAGE> 54
7. Average Compensation: The average compensation
during a Participant's high three years of Service, which
period is the three consecutive calendar years (or, the actual
number of consecutive years of employment for those Employees
who are employed for less than three consecutive years with
the Employer) during which the Participant had the greatest
aggregate compensation from the Employer.
8. Annual Benefit: A benefit payable annually in the
form of a straight life annuity (with no ancillary benefits)
under a plan to which Employees do not contribute and under
which no rollover contributions are made.
5.6 Certain Conditions Applicable to Company Stock: It is the express
purpose of this Plan and the Trust Agreement to invest substantial sums in
Company Stock for the benefit of Participants in the Plan. Pursuant to this
purpose, the Trustee has borrowed funds either through installment purchase
contract, loan agreement or other instrument of indebtedness in order to
purchase Company Stock (with such indebtedness qualifying as an "Exempt Loan"
within the ambit of Section 54.4975-7(b)(1)(iii) of the Treasury Regulations).
Such loans shall continue to be primarily for the benefit of Participants and
their Beneficiaries within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section
54.4975-7(b)(3). In addition to other provisions of the Plan as may be
applicable from time to time, the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall be
especially applicable to indebtedness which was incurred to purchase Company
Stock and Company Stock purchased with loan proceeds.
(a) Use of Proceeds: All proceeds of such an Exempt Loan shall
continue to be used within a reasonable time after receipt by the
Trustee only for any or all of the following purposes: to purchase
Company Stock, to repay obligations incurred under the loan agreement
or to repay a prior Exempt Loan.
(b) Non-Recourse Loans Only: Any loan must continue to be
without recourse as against the Plan and the Trust Fund.
(c) Collateral: The only assets of the Plan and Trust Fund
that may be given as collateral for a loan are shares of Company Stock
acquired with the proceeds of the loan and those shares of Company
Stock that were used as collateral on a prior Exempt Loan repaid with
the proceeds of the current Exempt Loan; provided, however, that such
shares of Company Stock shall be proportionately adjusted upon any
share split, share dividend or combination of outstanding shares of
such Company Stock.
-48-
<PAGE> 55
(d) Creditor's Rights to Assets: No person entitled to payment
under the loan agreement shall have any right to assets of the Plan or
Trust Fund other than collateral given for the loan, contributions
(other than contributions of Company Stock) that are made under the
Plan to meet the Plan's obligations under the loan and earnings
attributable to such collateral and the investment of such
contributions.
(e) Transfers upon Default: In the event of default of the
Exempt Loan, the value of Plan assets transferred in satisfaction of
the loan must not exceed the amount of default. If the lender is a
"disqualified person," the loan must continue to provide for a transfer
of Plan assets upon default only upon and to the extent of failure of
the Plan to meet the payment schedule of the loan.
(f) Interest: The interest rate of any loan described herein
must not be in excess of a reasonable rate of interest. In determining
what is a reasonable rate of interest, all relevant factors will be
considered, including the amount and duration of the loan, the security
and guarantee (if any) involved, the credit standing of the Plan and
Trust Fund and the guarantor (if any), and the interest rate prevailing
for comparable loans. A variable interest rate is permissible if
determined to be reasonable.
(g) Release from Collateral or Suspense: The instrument
evidencing indebtedness shall continue to provide for release from
collateral or suspense in accordance with the provisions of Section
5.4(b) of the Plan.
(h) Limitation on Restrictions on Company Stock: No Company
Stock acquired with the proceeds of a loan described herein may be
subject to a put, call, or other option, or buy-sell or similar
arrangement while held by and when distributed from the Plan or its
related Trust Fund, whether or not the Plan is then an "ESOP" within
the ambit of Section 54.4975-7(b)(1) of the Treasury Regulations,
unless specifically required or permitted by such regulations.
(i) Limitations on Payments: The payments made during any Plan
Year, with respect to a loan described herein, may not exceed an amount
equal to the sum of the ESOP Contributions and any earnings received
during or previous to the current Plan Year on Company Stock purchased
with such loan, less payments previously made with respect to such
loan; provided, however, that payment may in any event be made from the
proceeds of the sale of any Company Stock which was purchased with the
loan and which has not yet been allocated to Participants' ESOP
Accounts in the event of default, or in the event of termination of the
Trust Fund, to the extent provided in Section 5.3(c) or Section 10.5,
or under other circumstances determined appropriate by the Committee
subject to the requirements of the last sentence of the second
paragraph of Subsection (c) of Section 5.4 of the Plan. The ESOP
Contributions and earnings described herein must be accounted for
separately
-49-
<PAGE> 56
on the books of account of the Plan and Trust until any Exempt Loan is
repaid, as is provided in the other provisions of Article V of this
Plan. For purposes of this Section 5.6(i), Company Stock purchased with
a loan shall reflect proportionate adjustments attributable to any
share split, share dividend or combination of outstanding shares of
Company Stock.
(j) Certain Rights with Respect to Financed Stock: Any
Financed Stock, if it is not publicly traded when distributed or is
subject to a trading limitation when distributed, must be subject to a
put option. The put option is to be exercisable only by the
Participant, the Participant's donees, or by a person (including an
estate or its distributee) to whom the Company Stock passes by reason
of a Participant's death. The put option must permit the Participant to
put the Company Stock to the Employer. The put option must be
exercisable during the 60 consecutive days beginning on the date that
the Company Stock subject to the put option is distributed by the Plan,
and for another 60 consecutive days during the Plan Year next following
the Plan Year in which the shares were distributed. The put option may
be exercised by the holder notifying the Employer in writing that the
put option is being exercised. The period during which a put option is
exercisable does not include any period when a distributee is unable to
exercise it because the party bound by the put option is prohibited
from honoring it by applicable Federal or State law. The price at which
the put option is exercisable is the fair market value of the Company
Stock on the date of the transaction determined in good faith based on
all relevant factors. In the discretion of the Committee, either (i)
payment under a put option will be in cash within 30 days after the put
option is exercised or (ii) if the payment in respect of a put option
is to repurchase Company Stock which is distributed as part of a total
distribution, then the amount to be paid may be paid in substantially
equal periodic payments not less frequently than annually over a period
beginning not later than 30 days after the exercise of the put option
and not exceeding five years provided that there is adequate security
provided and a reasonable interest paid on unpaid amounts. For purposes
of the preceding sentence, a total distribution means the distribution
within one taxable year to the recipient of the balance of the credit
of the recipient's Account. The provisions described in this
subparagraph (j) are non-terminable even if the exempt loan is repaid
or the Plan ceases to be an ESOP.
(k) Term of Exempt Loans: Any Exempt Loan made by the Plan or
Trust Fund for the purpose of purchasing Company Stock must continue to
be for a specific term and may not be payable on the demand of any
person, except in the case of default.
-50-
<PAGE> 57
ARTICLE VI
PARTICIPANTS' BENEFITS
6.1 Termination of Service: In the event of a Participant's termination
of service prior to the Effective Date, the vesting provisions of the applicable
Prior Plan as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date shall govern. In
the event of termination of Service on or after the Effective Date of any
Participant for any reason other than Disability, Retirement or death, a
Participant shall, subject to the further provisions of the Plan, be entitled to
receive (i) 100% of the values in his Pre-Tax Contribution Account, After-Tax
Contribution Account, Rollover Account and, if applicable, Cengas Account (as
defined in Section 5.1(a)), plus (ii) a portion of his Employer Matching
Account, ESOP Account and Prior Plan Accounts (excluding his Cengas Account)
determined by reference to his number of years of Vesting Service and the
following schedule:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Vesting
Years of Vesting Service Percentage
------------------------ ----------
<S> <C>
Less than 2 0%
2 but less than 3 25%
3 but less than 4 50%
4 but less than 5 75%
5 and more 100%
</TABLE>
If a Participant terminates Service and, at the time of
termination, the present value of the Participant's vested benefit is zero, the
Participant will be deemed to have then received a distribution of such vested
benefit. Any portion of the Employer Matching Account and ESOP Account of a
terminated Participant in excess of the vested portion specified herein shall be
forfeited to the extent provided in Section 6.9. Payment of benefits due under
this Section shall be made in accordance with Section 6.6.
6.2 Disability of Participants: If a Participant satisfies the
definition of "Disability" under the Company's Long-Term Disability Plan and
commences to receive disability benefits thereunder, such Participant shall be
fully vested in the entire amount of his Account as of the date of the
Disability and shall be entitled to receive such amount in accordance with
Section 6.6. The determination of whether a Participant has become "Disabled"
under the Company's Long-Term Disability Plan by such disability plan's
administrator shall be final and binding on all parties concerned.
6.3 Death of Participants: In the event of the death of any Participant,
the entire amount in the Account of such Participant shall be fully vested and
after receipt by the Committee of acceptable proof of death shall be payable as
follows:
-51-
<PAGE> 58
(a) The Participant's Account shall be distributed to the
Participant's surviving spouse, but if there is no surviving spouse, or
if the surviving spouse has previously consented by a qualified
election pursuant to Section 6.3(b), to the Beneficiary or
Beneficiaries designated by the Participant in a written designation
filed with his Employer. If no such designation shall have been so
filed, or if no designated Beneficiary survives the Participant or can
be located by the Committee, using reasonable diligence, within six
months of the Participant's death, then such Participant's Account
shall be distributed to the duly appointed and serving personal
representative of the Participant's estate, but only if that personal
representative can provide the Committee with what the Committee
reasonably determines is satisfactory documentary proof of that
appointment and of the personal representative's identity
(collectively, "Documentary Proof"); if, within six months of the
Participant's death, there is no duly appointed and serving personal
representative of the Participant's estate who has provided the
Committee with Documentary Proof, or if such decedent left no will,
then such Participant's Account shall be distributed to the
Participant's heirs at law, determined in accordance with the laws of
intestate succession of the state in which the Participant was
domiciled at the time of the Participant's death, provided that such
heirs provide the Committee with what the Committee reasonably
determines is satisfactory Documentary Proof of information the
Committee believes it needs to make the distribution to such heirs. No
designation of any Beneficiary other than the Participant's surviving
spouse shall be effective unless in writing and received by the
Participant's Employer and in no event shall it be effective as of the
date prior to such receipt. The former spouse of a Participant shall be
treated as a surviving spouse to the extent provided under a qualified
domestic relations order as described in Section 414(p) of the Code.
(b) The Participant's spouse may waive the right to be the
Participant's sole Beneficiary and consent to the Beneficiary
designation made by the Participant. The waiver must be in writing and
the spouse must acknowledge the effect of the waiver. The spouse's
waiver must be witnessed by a Plan representative or a notary public.
The Beneficiary designated by the Participant may not be changed
without the spouse's consent, unless the consent of the spouse permits
designation of Beneficiaries by the Participant without any requirement
of further consent by the spouse. The Participant may file a waiver
without the spouse's consent if it is established to the satisfaction
of the Committee that such written consent may not be obtained because
there is no spouse or the spouse may not be located. Any consent under
this Section 6.3(b) will be valid only with respect to the spouse who
signs the consent. Additionally, a revocation of a prior spousal waiver
may be made by a Participant without the consent of the spouse at any
time before the distribution of the Account. The number of revocations
shall not be limited.
-52-
<PAGE> 59
6.4 Retirement of Participants on or After Retirement Date: A
Participant's interest in the full balance of his Account shall be fully vested
and non-forfeitable upon reaching his Retirement Date. Any Participant who
terminates his Service on or after his Retirement Date shall attain a fully
vested non-forfeitable interest in the entire amount of his Account and shall be
entitled to receive the entire amount of his Account upon the termination of his
Service.
6.5 In-Service Distributions: Cash dividends paid with respect to
shares of Company Stock in a Participant's ESOP Account may be distributed at
least annually in the discretion of the Committee. Otherwise, except to the
extent that distribution of a Participant's Account is required prior to
termination of his employment under Section 6.10 hereof (in the case of a
Participant whose required beginning date occurs prior to his termination of
employment) or under Section 10.5 hereof relating to termination of the Plan, or
at the election of the Participant under Article VII hereof relating to certain
withdrawals and loans, no distribution or withdrawal of any benefits under the
Plan shall be permitted prior to the Participant's "separation from service,
death or disability" within the meaning of Code Section 401(k) and the
regulations thereunder other than a distribution authorized under the Plan upon
the occurrence of an event described in, and made in accordance with, Code
Section 401(k)(10) or any successor provision of the Code.
6.6 Payments of Benefits: Upon a Participant's entitlement to payment
of benefits under either Section 6.1, 6.2 or 6.4, he shall file his written
election on such form or forms, and subject to such conditions, as the Committee
shall prescribe. His election shall specify whether he wishes payment of his
benefits to be made as of such entitlement or to be deferred to the extent
provided below. If payments become due for any reason other than death or
Disability, and if the amounts due from the Participant's Accounts are in excess
of $5,000, payment of such amounts shall be deferred to the extent provided
below unless the Participant consents to earlier payment. If the Participant so
consents to an earlier payment, such payment shall be made as soon as
practicable. If the amounts due from the Participant's Accounts do not exceed
$5,000, payment of such amounts shall automatically be made in a lump-sum cash
payment as soon as possible following termination of employment for any reason.
In the case of a distribution under Section 6.3 on account of
the Participant's death, the Committee shall pay the entire amount in the
Participant's Accounts to the party or parties entitled thereto under Section
6.3 within five years after the death of such Participant.
Unless a Participant elects otherwise, payment of his benefits
under this Plan shall commence no later than as required under Section 6.10.
Subject to Section 6.10, any distribution to be made to a Participant under the
provisions of this Article VI shall be made within one week of the termination
of employment of such Participant, unless such Participant duly elects in
writing for a deferred distribution as provided above. A Participant or his
designated Beneficiaries (but only by his designated Beneficiaries in the event
of the death of a Participant without having made such an election), may elect
that the benefits payable to the Participant and/or Beneficiary be paid in one
of the following methods:
-53-
<PAGE> 60
(a) Lump-Sum Distributions: As a lump-sum distribution in
cash, provided that no lump-sum distribution may be paid to the
Participant or Beneficiary unless he has elected such distribution on
an election form prescribed by the Committee.
(b) Installment Payments: As monthly, quarterly, semi-annual
or annual installment payments over a specified term of ten years or
less, as elected by the Participant or Beneficiary, in cash
("Installment Payments"), provided that no Installment Payments may be
paid to the Participant unless he has elected such payments on an
election form prescribed by the Committee. After Installment Payments
commence, the Participant or Beneficiary shall have the right at any
time to convert the remaining balance of his Account to a lump-sum
distribution in cash.
(c) In-Kind Distributions: As a distribution in kind of the
shares held for his Account in the Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund and
the ESOP Fund as described below. If Company Stock acquired with the
proceeds of an Exempt Loan and available for distribution consists of
more than one class, a Participant shall receive substantially the same
proportion of each such class to the extent the distribution is a
distribution from the ESOP Fund. A Participant may elect to receive any
percentage, up to 100%, of the vested portion of his Accounts in the
Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund and the ESOP Fund in whole shares of
Company Stock as either: (1) a lump-sum distribution in whole shares,
with any remaining Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund balance and ESOP
Fund balance and any other Investment Fund balances distributed in cash
as a lump-sum distribution; or (2) Installment Payments in whole
shares, with any remaining Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund balance and
ESOP Fund balance and any other Investment Fund balances distributed in
cash as Installment Payments. If a Participant elects to receive the
entire vested portion of his Accounts in the Reliant Energy Common
Stock Fund and the ESOP Fund in whole shares of Company Stock, such
Participant shall be entitled to receive a number of whole shares of
Company Stock, plus the cash value of any partial shares of Company
Stock, necessary to equal the sum of (i) the value in the Reliant
Energy Common Stock Fund held in his Pre-Tax Contribution Account
and/or his After-Tax Contribution Account as of the Valuation Date
specified in Section 6.8, and (ii) the vested portion of the value in
the Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund held in his Employer Matching
Account and the vested portion of the value in the ESOP Fund held in
his ESOP Account as of such Valuation Date. If a Participant elects to
receive a percentage which is less than 100% of the vested portion of
his Accounts in the Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund and the ESOP Fund
in whole shares of Company Stock, then the result obtained from the
preceding formula shall be multiplied by such percentage to obtain the
number of whole shares of Company Stock and cash for partial shares of
Company Stock to be distributed to such Participant. The foregoing not
withstanding, an in-kind distribution may not be
-54-
<PAGE> 61
paid to the Participant unless he has elected such distribution on an
election form prescribed by the Committee.
(d) Joint and Survivor Annuity: As a joint and survivor
annuity solely with respect to the amounts in the Prior Plan Accounts
that represent the Cengas Account of a Minnegasco Participant who, at
time of distribution under this Section 6.6, is married or dies before
such distribution commences and his spouse survives him until the time
such distributions commence. Unless the Participant elects one of the
distribution options set forth above in (a) through (c) of this Section
6.6 ("optional forms of benefits"), pursuant to an election form
prescribed by the Committee, the Participant's benefit provided by
assets attributable to his Cengas Account shall be applied to the
purchase of a qualified joint and survivor annuity or, if the
Participant's death occurs on or before the date payments are to
commence, a qualified survivor annuity. The Committee shall direct the
Trustee to purchase an annuity contract based on considerations the
Committee in its sole discretion deems appropriate. Once an annuity has
been purchased, all benefits due to those assets shall be determined
pursuant to the terms of the annuity. In the case of a qualified joint
and survivor annuity, the applicable election period is the 90-day
period ending on the date Plan distributions commence.
Unless the Participant establishes to the satisfaction of the
Committee that he has no spouse or his spouse cannot be located, any
election in favor of an optional form of benefit must be consented to
by the Participant's spouse, with such consent witnessed by a notary
public, in order to be valid. The consent will be valid only for the
spouse who signs the consent, or in the event of a deemed election, the
designated spouse. A Participant may revoke without limit any prior
elections of an optional form of payment without the consent of the
spouse at any time before the commencement of benefits. If revoked, an
optional form cannot be subsequently elected without the spouse's
consent as provided above. A Participant may not modify any election
consented to by a spouse without the spouse's consent as provided
above. A spouse's consent may not be revoked without the written
consent of the Participant.
In case of a qualified joint and survivor annuity, within a
reasonable period prior to the commencement of benefits the Committee
shall provide each Participant with a written explanation of (i) the
terms and conditions of the qualified joint and survivor annuity; (ii)
the Participant's right to make the effect of an election to waive the
qualified joint and survivor annuity; (iii) the rights of a
Participant's spouse; and (iv) the right to make and the effect of a
revocation of a previous election to waive the qualified joint and
survivor annuity.
All amounts attributable to (i) any excess of the values
attributable to the interest in his Pre-Tax Contribution Account and/or his
After-Tax Contribution Account, and the vested portion
-55-
<PAGE> 62
of his interest in his Employer Matching Account, ESOP Account and Prior Plan
Accounts that are invested in the Reliant Common Stock Fund and the ESOP Fund,
over the interest therein provided to be distributed to him in kind, plus (ii)
any interest of such Participant in his Pre-Tax Contribution Account and/or his
After-Tax Contribution Account in any other Investment Fund, with the exception
of the Reliant Common Stock Fund shall be distributed in cash.
6.7 Payment of Distribution Directly to Eligible Retirement Plan:
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary
that would otherwise limit a Distributee's election under this Section
6.7, a Distributee may elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed
by the Committee, to have any portion of an Eligible Rollover
Distribution paid directly to an Eligible Retirement Plan specified by
the Distributee in a Direct Rollover.
(b) The terms used in Section 6.7(a) above shall have the
following meanings:
(i) Eligible Rollover Distribution: An Eligible
Rollover Distribution is any distribution of all or any
portion of the balance to the credit of the Distributee,
except that an Eligible Rollover Distribution does not
include: any distribution that is one of a series of
substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently
than annually) made for the life (or life expectancy) of the
Distributee or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of
the Distributee and the Distributee's designated Beneficiary,
or for a specified period of ten years or more; any
distribution to the extent that such distribution is required
under Section 401(a)(9) of the Code; and the portion of any
distribution that is not includable in gross income
(determined without regard to the exclusion for net unrealized
appreciation with respect to employer securities).
(ii) Eligible Retirement Plan: An Eligible Retirement
Plan is an individual retirement account described in Section
408(a) of the Code, an individual retirement annuity described
in Section 408(b) of the Code, an annuity plan described in
Section 403(a) of the Code, or a qualified trust described in
Section 401(a) of the Code, that accepts the Distributee's
Eligible Rollover Distribution. However, in the case of an
Eligible Rollover Distribution to the surviving spouse, an
Eligible Retirement Plan is an individual retirement account
or individual retirement annuity.
(iii) Distributee: A Distributee includes an Employee
or former Employee. In addition, the Employee's or former
Employee's
-56-
<PAGE> 63
surviving spouse and the Employee's or former Employee's
spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee under a
qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Section
414(p) of the Code, are Distributees with regard to the
interest of the spouse or former spouse.
(iv) Direct Rollover: A Direct Rollover is a payment
by the Plan to an Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the
Distributee.
(c) In the event that a Distributee, after receiving the
explanation required by Section 402(f) of the Code, does not
affirmatively elect a Direct Rollover under Section 6.7(a) above, the
Distributee shall be deemed to have elected not to have any portion of
the Eligible Rollover Distribution paid directly to an Eligible
Retirement Plan.
(d) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Section to the
contrary, a Distributee may not elect a Direct Rollover with respect to
Eligible Rollover Distributions under this Plan which are reasonably
expected to total less than $200 during any calendar year.
6.8 Participation Rights Determined as of Valuation Date Coinciding with
or Preceding Termination of Employment: In the case of any Participant whose
employment shall be terminated for any reason, no further credits or charges
arising from any source shall be made to the Accounts of any such terminating
Participant after the credits or charges made as of the Valuation Date
coinciding with or immediately preceding his termination of employment, except
for:
(a) Pre-Tax Contributions, After-Tax Contributions and
Employer Matching Contributions and ESOP Contributions made subsequent
to such Valuation Date;
(b) Withdrawals or distributions made subsequent to such
Valuation Date; or
(c) In the case of a delayed distribution pursuant to a
Participant's election as provided in Section 6.6, such subsequent
adjustments to the values in the Accounts of such Participant up to the
Valuation Date coinciding with or preceding the receipt of the
Participant's election for distribution.
6.9 Treatment of Non-Vested Account Balances Upon Termination of
Service: This Section 6.9 does not apply to Participants who are fully vested at
the time of termination of Service.
If a Participant receives an actual or deemed distribution
pursuant to Section 6.1 prior to the close of the second Plan Year following the
Plan Year in which the Participant's Service
-57-
<PAGE> 64
terminates, the non-vested portion of his Employer Matching Account, ESOP
Account and Prior Plan Accounts shall be forfeited and shall become available
for allocation as provided in Section 5.3(d)(iii). If a Participant who has
received an actual distribution as described in this paragraph thereafter
resumes Service under the Plan at any time, he shall be entitled to have the
forfeited amounts reinstated to such Accounts upon his recommencement of
participation in the Plan. If a Participant who has received a deemed
distribution as described in this paragraph thereafter resumes Service under the
Plan before incurring five consecutive one-year Breaks in Service, he shall be
entitled to have the forfeited amounts reinstated to such Accounts upon his
recommencement of participation in the Plan.
If a Participant does not receive a distribution of his vested
benefit by the close of the second Plan Year following the Plan Year in which
his Service terminates, but receives such a distribution before incurring five
consecutive one-year Breaks in Service, the non-vested balance in the
Participant's Employer Matching Account, ESOP Account and Prior Plan Accounts
shall be credited to a separate account at the time of distribution of the
vested benefit. If such a Participant is thereafter reemployed prior to
incurring five consecutive one-year Breaks in Service, the Participant's vested
interest in the separate account, including any gains or losses thereon, at any
subsequent relevant time shall be an amount "X" determined by the following
formula: X = P(AB + D) - D. For purposes of applying this formula: P is the
vested percentage at such relevant time; AB is the account balance at the
relevant time; D is the amount of the prior distribution to the Participant. If
the Participant is not reemployed before he has incurred five consecutive
one-year Breaks in Service, his separate account shall then be forfeited and
shall become available for allocation as described in Section 5.3(d)(iii).
If a Participant does not receive a distribution of his vested
benefit before incurring five consecutive one-year Breaks in Service, the
non-vested balance in the Participant's Employer Matching Account, ESOP Account
and Prior Plan Accounts shall then be forfeited and shall become available for
allocation as described in Section 5.3(d)(iii).
If more than one class of Company Stock acquired with an
Exempt Loan has been allocated to a Participant's ESOP Account and any amounts
are forfeited from such Account pursuant to this Section, the same proportion
shall be forfeited from each class.
6.10 Required Minimum Distributions: Notwithstanding any provision of
this Plan to the contrary, prior to January 1, 1999, for a Participant attaining
age 70 1/2 prior to January 1, 1999, any benefits to which a Participant is
entitled shall commence not later than the April 1 following the calendar year
in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2, whether or not such Participant's
employment had terminated in such year. Effective January 1, 1999, for a
Participant attaining age 70 1/2 after December 31, 1998, any benefits to which
a Participant is entitled shall commence not later than the April 1 following
the later of (i) the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2
or (ii) the calendar year in which the Participant's employment terminates
(provided, however, that clause (ii) of this sentence shall not apply in the
case of a Participant who is a "5% owner" (as defined in Section 416 of the
Code) with respect to the Plan Year ending in the calendar year in
-58-
<PAGE> 65
which such Participant attains age 70 1/2). If a Participant is receiving
distributions from his Account on January 1, 1999 pursuant to this Section 6.10
as in effect prior to January 1, 1999, but would not be required to receive
distributions under this Section 6.10 as in effect on January 1, 1999, then the
Participant may elect to cease distributions from his Account until the April 1
following the end of the calendar year in which such Participant terminates
employment. Distributions under this Section 6.10 shall be at least equal to the
required minimum distributions under Section 401(a)(9) of the Code; provided,
however, that any installment distributions pursuant to this Section 6.10 for
Participants who have not terminated employment shall be made over a period not
to exceed ten (10) years.
6.11 Unclaimed Benefits: If at, after or during the time when a benefit
hereunder is payable to any Participant, Beneficiary or other distributee, the
Committee, upon request of the Trustee, or at its own instance, shall mail by
registered or certified mail to such distributee, at his last known address, a
written demand for his present address or for satisfactory evidence of his
continued life, or both, and if such distributee shall fail to furnish the same
to the Committee within two years from mailing of such demand, then the
Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine that such Participant,
Beneficiary or other distributee has forfeited his right to such benefit and may
declare such benefit, or any unpaid portion thereof, terminated, as if the death
of the distributee (with no surviving Beneficiary) had occurred on the later of
the date of the last payment made thereon, or the date such Participant,
Beneficiary or other distributee first became entitled to receive benefit
payments. Any such forfeited benefit shall be applied as a part of (and to
reduce to such extent) the Employer Contributions required to be made next
following the date such forfeiture is declared to be forfeited by the Committee.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.11, any such forfeited benefit
shall be reinstated if a claim for the same is made by the Participant,
Beneficiary or other distributee at any time thereafter. The reinstatement shall
be made by a mandatory contribution by the Company, allocated solely to such
reinstatement.
6.12 Optional Forms of Benefits: Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to
the contrary, all optional forms of benefits which are "Section 411(d)(6)
protected benefits," as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.411(d)-4,
shall continue to be optional forms of benefits for Participants to whom the
optional forms apply, notwithstanding any subsequent amendment of the Plan
purporting to revise or delete any such optional form of benefit and
notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Article VI or Article VII, unless
otherwise permitted by applicable law.
-59-
<PAGE> 66
ARTICLE VII
WITHDRAWALS AND LOANS
7.1 Withdrawal of After-Tax Contributions: Pursuant to advance notice
given in the manner prescribed by the Committee from time to time and subject to
the conditions of Section 7.4, each Participant may elect to withdraw all or any
amounts attributable to his After-Tax Matched and Unmatched Contributions,
determined as of the Valuation Date immediately preceding the withdrawal date;
provided, however, that, to the extent applicable, a Participant must first
withdraw all amounts in his Cengas Account in accordance with Section 7.3 and
subject to written consent of his spouse in a manner prescribed by the
Committee. No amount withdrawn under this Section 7.1 shall be charged to the
After-Tax Matched Contributions of a Participant until the withdrawable amounts
attributable to the Participant's After-Tax Unmatched Contributions have been
withdrawn.
7.2 Withdrawal of After-Tax and Pre-Tax Contributions On and After Age
59 1/2: Pursuant to advance notice given in the manner prescribed by the
Committee from time to time and subject to the conditions of Section 7.4, in
addition to withdrawals that may be available under Section 7.1 and Section 7.3,
each Participant who is age 59 1/2 or older may elect to withdraw all or any
amounts attributable to his After-Tax Matched and Unmatched Contributions, the
vested portion of his Prior Plan Accounts, his Rollover Account and his Pre-Tax
Matched and Unmatched Contributions, determined as of the Valuation Date
immediately preceding the withdrawal date. Amounts withdrawn under this Section
7.2 shall be charged and withdrawn from a Participant's Accounts, to the extent
applicable, in the following order: (i) Cengas Account; (ii) After-Tax Unmatched
Contributions and then After-Tax Matched Contributions in his After-Tax
Contribution Account; (iii) vested portion of his Prior Plan Matching Account;
(iv) vested portion of his Prior Plan 1999 Matching Account; (v) vested portion
of his Prior Plan ESOP Account; (vi) Rollover Account; and (vii) Pre-Tax
Unmatched Contributions and then Pre-Tax Matched Contributions in his Pre-Tax
Contribution Account. The foregoing notwithstanding, any withdrawal from a
Participant's Cengas Account shall be subject to written consent of his spouse
in a manner prescribed by the Committee.
7.3 Withdrawal from Prior Plan Accounts and Rollover Account: Pursuant
to advanced notice given in a manner prescribed by the Committee from time to
time and subject to the conditions of Section 7.4, in addition to withdrawals
available under Section 7.1 and Section 7.2, a Participant, to the extent
applicable, may elect to withdraw all or any vested amounts in his Prior Plan
Accounts and his Rollover Account, determined as of the Valuation Date
immediately preceding the withdrawal date. Amounts withdrawn under this Section
7.3 shall be charged and withdrawn from a Participant's Accounts, to the extent
applicable, in the following order: (i) Cengas Account; (ii) vested portion of
his Prior Plan Matching Account; (iii) vested portion of his Prior Plan 1999
Matching Account; (iv) vested portion of his Prior Plan ESOP Account; and (v)
Rollover Account.
-60-
<PAGE> 67
Moreover, a Minnegasco Participant (1) whose Service terminates prior
to January 1, 2000 and (2) who as of such termination date is fully vested
(100%) in his Accounts and is age 55 or older (a "Minnegasco Retiree") may elect
to withdraw all or any amounts in his After-Tax Contributions Account, Pre-Tax
Contributions Account, Prior Plan Accounts and Rollover Account, determined as
of the Valuation Date immediately preceding the withdrawal date ("Minnegasco
Retiree Withdrawal"). Amounts withdrawn with respect to a Minnegasco Retiree
Withdrawal under this Section 7.3 shall be charged and withdrawn from a
Minnegasco Retiree's Accounts, to the extent applicable, in the following order:
(i) Cengas Account; (ii) After-Tax Contributions Account; (iii) Prior Plan
Matching Account; (iv) Prior Plan 1999 Matching Account; (v) Prior Plan ESOP
Account; (vi) Rollover Account; and (vii) Pre-Tax Contribution Account. The
foregoing notwithstanding, any withdrawal from a Minnegasco Retiree's Cengas
Account shall be subject to written consent of his spouse in a manner prescribed
by the Committee.
7.4 Conditions of Withdrawals: Each Participant who is under the age of
59 1/2 and who has less than five years of Service at the time he elects to
withdraw all or a portion of his After-Tax Matched Contributions shall be
suspended from participation in the Plan from the Valuation Date preceding the
distribution of the withdrawal until the date following six full months from the
date of such withdrawal provided the Committee or its agent has received prior
to such date the Participant's election (in the form and manner prescribed in
Section 3.4 hereof) to commence participation after such suspension. Moreover,
no withdrawal shall be permitted from the Prior Plan Matching Account or Prior
Plan 1999 Matching Account of a NorAm or Minnegasco Participant who is under the
age of 59 1/2 unless and until he is fully vested (100%) in such Accounts as of
the withdrawal date. Subject to the conditions under this Section 7.4 and under
Section 7.1, Section 7.2 and Section 7.3, as applicable, there shall be no limit
on the number of withdrawals a Participant may make from his Pre- Tax
Contribution Account, After-Tax Contribution Account, Prior Plan Accounts and
Rollover Account within any 12-month period; provided, however, that (i) a
Minnegasco Retiree shall not be permitted to make a Minnegasco Retiree
Withdrawal (as defined in Section 7.3) during the six-month period following the
date of his immediately preceding Minnegasco Retiree Withdrawal and (ii) the
minimum amount that a Participant or Minnegasco Retiree is permitted to withdraw
shall be the lesser of $500 or the entire balance of such Accounts. Except as
provided in Section 7.5 and under Article VI, no withdrawals shall be permitted
from a Participant's Employer Matching Account or ESOP Account. Notwithstanding
any provision in this Article VII to the contrary, to the extent any amounts
attributable to a Participant's Account or Accounts collateralizes a loan under
Section 7.5, such collateralized amounts shall not be eligible for withdrawal
under this Article VII.
7.5 Loans: Any Participant who is an Employee (including any such
Participant on an Authorized Absence) may make application to borrow from his
vested Accounts in the Trust Fund. In addition to Participants who are Employees
(including any such Participant on an Authorized Absence), loans shall be
available to any former Participant or any Beneficiary or "alternate payee" with
respect to a former Participant, but, if and only if, such person is a "party in
interest" with respect to the Plan within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(14) and
who must be eligible to obtain a Plan loan in order for exemptions set forth in
Department of Labor Regulation
-61-
<PAGE> 68
Section 2550.408b-1 to apply to the Plan (herein, together with Participants who
are Employees and those on Authorized Absence, collectively referred to as
"Borrower"). Upon receipt of a loan application from a Borrower, the Committee
may in its discretion direct the Trustee to make a loan to such Borrower. Such
loans shall be granted in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner pursuant to
the terms and conditions of a written loan procedure that shall be established
by the Committee and subject to amendment from time to time and at any time by
the Committee, with such written procedure hereby incorporated by reference as a
part of the Plan. The amount of the loan when added to the amount of any
outstanding loan or loans to the Borrower from any other plan of the Employer or
an Affiliate which is qualified under Code Section 401(a) shall not exceed the
lesser of (i) $50,000, reduced by the excess, if any, of the highest outstanding
balance of loans from all such plans during the one-year period ending on the
day before the date on which such loan was made over the outstanding balance of
loans from the Plan on the date on which such loan was made or (ii) 50% of the
present value of Borrower's vested Account balances under the Plan.
-62-
<PAGE> 69
ARTICLE VIII
INVESTMENT DIRECTIONS
8.1 Investment of Trust Fund: Except as provided in Article VII with
respect to Plan loans and as provided below with respect to the Employer
Matching Account, ESOP Fund, ESOP Account and Prior Plan 1999 Matching Account,
the Trustee shall divide the Trust Fund into Investment Funds, as set forth in
Attachment A hereto, with such attachment hereby incorporated by reference as a
part of the Plan, in accordance with the directions of the Participant and
following such rules and procedures prescribed by the Committee. Notwithstanding
any provision in this Section 8.1 to the contrary, a Participant may not direct
the investment of the amounts in his Employer Matching Account, ESOP Account or
Prior Plan 1999 Matching Account into any Investment Fund other than the Reliant
Energy Common Stock Fund, as described in Attachment A hereto, except as
provided in Section 8.2.
The Committee from time to time may revise the number and type of
Investment Funds provided in Attachment A. Subject to such rules and procedures
adopted by the Committee, each Participant shall have the right to direct the
Committee or any agent appointed by the Committee to administer the investment
of the Trust Fund to instruct the Trustee to invest his Pre-Tax Contributions,
After-Tax Contributions, and amounts in his Prior Plan Accounts, excluding the
Prior Plan 1999 Matching Account, and Rollover Account, and the earnings and
accretions thereon, in any whole percentages totaling 100% among the Investment
Funds.
With no restrictions on frequency, each Participant may by electronic,
telephonic, written or other such manner as may be prescribed from time to time
by the Committee and subject to any restrictions or conditions which may be
established by the Committee, direct the investment of his future After-Tax and
Pre-Tax Contributions or the transfer of the current values in his After-Tax
Contribution Account, Pre-Tax Contribution Account, Prior Plan Accounts,
excluding the Prior Plan 1999 Matching Account, and/or Rollover Account among
the various Investment Funds in any whole percentages totaling 100%. Any such
change in Investment Funds shall be effective as soon as reasonably practicable
following receipt of the change of Investment Funds, but in no event shall such
change be effective earlier than the close of business on the Valuation Date on
which such change is received. If a Participant fails to make a proper
designation, then his Account shall be invested as soon as administratively
feasible in the Investment Fund or Funds specified by the Committee from time to
time in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, interest, dividends and
other income and all profits and gains produced by each Investment Fund shall be
paid in such Investment Fund, and such interest, dividends and other income, and
profits or gains without distinction between principal and income, shall be
invested and reinvested, but only in property of the class hereinabove specified
for the particular Investment Fund. However, the Committee may direct that
dividends paid with respect to shares in the ESOP Fund be distributed on an
annual basis or more frequently in order that the deduction under Code Section
404(k) be available to the Company, in which event
-63-
<PAGE> 70
income that constitutes dividends on shares of Company Stock in the ESOP Fund
shall not be invested in Company Stock but shall be temporarily invested in cash
equivalents until distribution to Participants. In making payments in respect of
Exempt Loans, the Trustee shall utilize income and ESOP Contributions as is
specified in Section 5.3 hereof; namely, that income shall be first used to fund
principal payments and ESOP Contributions shall be first used to fund interest
payments. All purchases of Company Stock shall be made at prices which, in the
judgment of the Trustee, do not exceed the fair market value of such Company
Stock. Pending such investment or application of cash, the Trustee may retain
cash uninvested without liability for interest if it is prudent to do so, or may
invest all or any part thereof in Treasury Bills, commercial paper, or like
holdings.
It is hereby explicitly provided and expressly acknowledged
that up to 100% of the assets of the Plan held in the Trust Fund may be invested
in Common Stock, as contemplated by the exception provided in Section 407(b) of
ERISA.
8.2 Diversification Election:
(a) Subject to Section 8.2(b), each qualified Participant (as
defined herein) may elect within 90 days after the close of each Plan
Year in the initial election period (as defined herein), to direct the
investment of up to 25% of the sum of the balances in the Participant's
Employer Matching Account, ESOP Account, and Prior Plan 1999 Matching
Account (to the extent such portion exceeds the amount to which a prior
election to diversify under this Section 8.2(a) applies) into any or
all Investment Funds with the exception of the Reliant Energy Common
Stock Fund, and such diversification shall be made no later than as
required under Code Section 401(a)(28). In the Plan Year after the
initial election period, the percentage shall be 50% instead of 25%. A
qualified Participant is any Participant who has completed at least ten
years of participation in the Plan and applicable Prior Plan and who
has attained age 55. The initial election period means the five Plan
Year period beginning with the first Plan Year on or after January 1,
1992 in which the Participant first became a qualified Participant.
(b) If implemented by the Committee, effective as of the date
specified by the Committee, this Section 8.2(b) shall replace,
supersede and apply in lieu of Section 8.2(a), as follows:
(i) Each Participant who has (1) completed at least
ten years of participation in the Plan and applicable Prior
Plan and (2) attained age 55 (hereinafter, a "Qualified
Participant") may elect within 90 days after the close of each
Plan Year in the initial election period (as defined herein),
to direct the investment of up to 25% of the sum of the
balances in such Participant's Employer Matching Account, ESOP
Account, and Prior Plan 1999 Matching Account (to the extent
such portion exceeds the amount to which a prior election
-64-
<PAGE> 71
to diversify under this Section 8.2(a) applies) into any or
all Investment Funds with the exception of the Reliant Energy
Common Stock Fund, and such diversification shall be made no
later than as required under Code Section 401(a)(28). In the
Plan Year after the initial election period, the percentage
shall be 50% instead of 25%. The initial election period means
the five Plan Year period beginning with the first Plan Year
in which the Participant first became a Qualified Participant.
(ii) Each Participant may elect, once each calendar
year in the manner and subject to such rules, procedures and
overriding Plan limits as specified by the Committee, to
direct the investment of up to 50% of the balance in the
Participant's ESOP Account which are attributable to Employer
Contributions made to such account on or after the effective
date of the implementation of this Section 8.2(b) into any or
all Investment Funds with the exception of the Reliant Energy
Common Stock Fund; provided, however, that at least 50% of the
aggregate sum of the balances in the ESOP Accounts of all
Participants must be invested in Company Stock. Such election
shall be effective as soon as reasonably practicable following
receipt of the election to diversify, but in no event shall
the election be effective earlier than the close of business
on the Valuation Date on which the election is received. Any
amounts so diversified and reinvested may subsequently be
directed by the Participant in the same manner as amounts in
the Participant's After-Tax and Pre-Tax Contribution Accounts
as described in Section 8.1, except that none of the amounts
so diversified may be invested in the Reliant Energy Common
Stock Fund.
8.3 Voting of Company Stock; Exercise of Other Rights:
(a) Voting rights with respect to shares of Company Stock in
the ESOP Fund allocated to the ESOP Accounts of Participants and shares
in the Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund allocated to the Accounts of
Participants shall be voted by the Trustee in such manner as may be
directed by the respective Participants, with fractional shares being
voted on a combined basis to the extent possible to reflect the
direction of the voting Participants. The Trustee shall vote both
allocated shares of Company Stock for which they have not received
direction, as well as shares of Company Stock held in the Stock
Suspense Account, in the same proportion as directed shares are voted,
giving effect to all affirmative directions by Participants, including
directions to vote for or against, to abstain or to withhold the vote,
and the Trustee shall have no discretion in such matter.
-65-
<PAGE> 72
(b) In the event that there is a tender offer or exchange
offer for outstanding shares of Company Stock, rights with respect to
the tender offer or exchange offer shall be as with respect to voting
rights described in Section 8.3(a) above. If the Trustee shall not
receive timely instruction from a Participant as to the manner in which
to respond to such a tender offer, the Trustee shall not tender or
exchange any shares of Company Stock with respect to which such
Participant has the right to direction, and the Trustee shall have no
discretion in such matter. With respect to shares of Company Stock held
in the Stock Suspense Account and fractional shares of Company Stock
allocated to Participants' ESOP Accounts and Employer Matching
Accounts, voting rights and rights to tender or exchange in connection
with a tender offer or exchange offer for the shares of Company Stock
shall be exercised by the Trustee in the same proportion as they vote,
tender or exchange shares of Company Stock with respect to shares
allocated to the Participants' ESOP Accounts and Employer Matching
Accounts, and the Trustee shall have no discretion in such matter.
(c) Solicitation of exercise of Participants' voting rights by
management of the Company and others under a proxy or consent provision
applicable to all holders of Company Stock shall be permitted.
Solicitation of exercise of Participant tender or exchange offer rights
by management of the Company and others shall be permitted. The Trustee
shall notify Participants of each occasion for the exercise of voting
rights or rights with respect to a tender offer or exchange offer
within a reasonable time before such rights are to be exercised. Such
notification shall include all information distributed to shareholders
by the Company regarding the exercise of such rights. Copies of Company
written communications to Participants relating to each opportunity for
Participant exercise of rights under this Section 8.3 shall be promptly
furnished to the Trustee. The instructions received by the Trustee from
Participants shall be held by the Trustee in confidence and shall not
be divulged or released to any person, including the Committee or
officers or employees of the Company or its Affiliates. In the event
any shares of Company Stock held in the Stock Suspense Account are
tendered or exchanged pursuant to this Section 8.3, the proceeds shall
at the direction of the Board of Directors of the Company either (i) if
and to the extent the proceeds are attributable to unallocated Company
Stock be used to repay installment purchase or other indebtedness used
to purchase the Common Stock to which such proceeds are attributable or
(ii) be reinvested in Company Stock within 90 days, or within such
longer period as may be approved by the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue.
-66-
<PAGE> 73
ARTICLE IX
TRUST AGREEMENT AND TRUST FUND
9.1 Trust Agreement: As part of the Plan, the Company has entered into
the Trust Agreement with the Trustee. The provisions of such Trust Agreement are
herein incorporated by reference as fully as if set out herein, and the assets
held under said Trust Agreement on behalf of this Plan shall constitute the
Trust Fund.
9.2 Benefits Paid Solely from Trust Fund: All of the benefits provided
to be paid under Article VI hereof shall be paid by the Trustee out of the Trust
Fund to be administered under such Trust Agreement. Neither the Employer nor the
Trustee shall be responsible or liable in any manner for payment of any such
benefits, and all Participants hereunder shall look solely to such Trust Fund
and to the adequacy thereof for the payment of any such benefits of any nature
or kind which may at any time be payable hereunder.
9.3 Committee Directions to Trustee: The Trustee shall make only such
payments out of the Trust Fund as may be directed by the Committee. The Trustee
shall not be required to determine or make any investigation to determine the
identity or mailing address of any person entitled to any payments out of the
Trust Fund and shall have discharged its obligation in that respect when it
shall have sent checks or other papers by ordinary mail to such persons and
addresses as may be certified to it by the Committee.
9.4 Trustee's Reliance on Committee Instructions: In any case where the
Trustee shall be required hereunder to act upon instructions to be received from
the Committee, the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such
instructions which shall be in writing and signed by any member of, or Secretary
of, the Committee, and the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon the
authority to act of any person certified to it by the Company as a member of, or
Secretary of, the Committee until a successor to any such person shall be
certified to the Trustee by the Company.
9.5 Authority of Trustee in Absence of Instructions from the Committee:
If at any time the Committee shall be incapable for any reason of giving any
directions, instructions or authorizations to the Trustee as are herein provided
for and as may be required incidental to the administration of this Plan, the
Trustee may act and shall be completely protected and without liability in so
acting without such directions, instructions and authorizations as it in its
sole discretion deems appropriate and advisable under the circumstances for the
carrying out of the provisions of this Plan. In the event of termination of this
Plan for any reason, the Committee shall be authorized to give all such
instructions to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be protected in relying on
all such instructions, as may be necessary to make payment to any persons then
interested in the Trust Fund of all such amounts as are specified herein to be
paid under Section 10.5 hereof upon the termination of this Plan and the Trust
Agreement.
-67-
<PAGE> 74
9.6 Compliance with Exchange Act Rule 10(b)(18): At any time that the
Trustee makes open market purchases of Company Stock, the Trustee will either
(i) be an "agent independent of the issuer" as that term is defined in Rule
10(b)(18) promulgated pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act") or (ii) make such open market purchases in
accordance with the provisions, and subject to the restrictions, of Rule
10(b)(18) of the Exchange Act.
-68-
<PAGE> 75
ARTICLE X
ADOPTION OF PLAN BY OTHER CORPORATIONS,
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN, AND
DISCONTINUANCE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TRUST FUND
10.1 Adoption by Employers: Every Employer which shall have adopted the
Plan shall thereby become a participating Employer whose eligible Employees,
subject to the Plan provisions, shall make and receive Contributions and have
established for them Accounts under the Plan. Any corporation or other
organization with employees, now in existence or hereafter formed or acquired
which is not already an Employer under this Plan and which is otherwise legally
eligible may, with the approval of the Company as evidenced by action of the
Committee, adopt and become an Employer by executing and delivering to the
Committee and the Trustee an adoptive instrument specifying the classification
of its Employees who shall be eligible to participate in the Plan and evidencing
the terms of the Plan with respect to its eligible Employees. The adoptive
instrument may contain such changes and amendments in the terms and provisions
of the Plan as adopted by such Employer as may be desired by such Employer and
acceptable to the Committee. Any such Affiliate which shall adopt this Plan
shall designate the Company as its agent to act for it in all transactions
affecting the administration of the Plan and shall designate the Committee to
act for such corporation and its Participants in the same manner in which the
Committee may act for the Company and its Participants hereunder. The adoptive
instrument shall specify the effective date of such adoption of the Plan and
shall become, as to such corporation and its Employees, a part of this Plan.
Upon an Employer's liquidation, bankruptcy, insolvency, sale, consolidation or
merger to or with another organization that is not an Employer hereunder, in
which such Employer is not the surviving company, all obligations of that
Employer hereunder and under the Trust Agreement shall terminate automatically,
and the Trust Fund assets attributable to the Employees of such Employer shall
be held or distributed as herein provided unless, with the approval of the
Company as evidenced by action of the Committee, the successor to that Employer
assumes the duties and responsibilities of such Employer, by adopting this Plan
and the Trust Agreement, or by establishment of a separate plan and trust to
which the assets of the Trust Fund held on behalf of the Employees of such
Employer shall be transferred with the consent and agreement of that Employer.
Upon the consolidation or merger of two or more of the Employers under this Plan
with each other, the surviving Employer or organization shall automatically
succeed to all the rights and duties under the Plan and Trust Agreement of the
Employers involved.
10.2 Continuous Service: The following special provisions shall apply
to all Employers:
(a) An Employee shall be considered in continuous Service
while regularly employed simultaneously or successively by one or more
Employers.
(b) The transfer of a Participant from one Employer to another
Employer shall not be deemed a termination of Service.
-69-
<PAGE> 76
10.3 Amendment of the Plan: Except as otherwise expressly provided in
this Section, (i) the Company shall have the right to amend or modify this Plan
and the Trust Agreement (with the consent of the Trustee, if required) at any
time and from time to time to the extent that it may deem advisable and (ii) the
Committee shall have the right to amend or modify this Plan and the Trust
Agreement (with the consent of the Trustee, if required) to modify the
administrative provisions of the Plan, to change the Investment Funds offered
under the Plan and for any changes required by applicable law or by the Internal
Revenue Service to maintain the qualified status of the Plan and related Trust
at any time and from time to time to the extent that it may deem advisable. Any
such amendment or modification shall be set out in an instrument in writing duly
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company or the Committee, as the
case may be, and executed by an appropriate officer of the Company or member of
the Committee. Upon delivery by the Company of such an instrument amending the
Plan to the Trustee, this Plan shall be deemed to have been amended or modified
in such manner and to such extent and effective as of the date therein set
forth, and thereupon any and all Participants whether or not they shall have
become such prior to such amendment or modification shall be bound thereby. No
such amendment or modification shall, however, increase the duties or
responsibilities of the Trustee without its consent thereto in writing, or have
the effect of transferring to or vesting in any Employer any interest or
ownership in any properties of the Trust Fund, or of permitting the same to be
used for or diverted to purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of the
Participants and their Beneficiaries. No such amendment shall decrease the
Account of any Participant or shall decrease any Participant's vested interest
in his Account. No amendment shall directly or indirectly reduce a Participant's
non-forfeitable vested percentage in his benefits under Section 6.1 of this
Plan, unless each Participant having not less than three years of Service is
permitted to elect to have his non-forfeitable vested percentage in his benefits
computed under the provisions of Section 6.1 without regard to the amendment.
Such election shall be available during an election period, which shall begin on
the date such amendment is adopted, and shall end on the latest of (i) the date
60 days after such amendment is adopted, (ii) the date 60 days after such
amendment is effective, or (iii) the date 60 days after such Participant is
issued written notice of the amendment by the Committee or the Employer.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan or the Trust Agreement
may be amended in such manner as may be required at any time to make it conform
to the requirements of the Code or of any United States statutes with respect to
employees' trusts, or of any amendment thereto, or of any regulations or rulings
issued pursuant thereto, and no such amendment shall be considered prejudicial
to any then existing rights of any Participant or his Beneficiary under the
Plan.
10.4 Termination of the Plan: The Plan may be terminated pursuant to
the provisions of, and as of any subsequent date specified in, an instrument in
writing executed by the Company, and approved and authorized by the Board of
Directors of the Company, and which said instrument shall be delivered to the
Trustee.
10.5 Distribution of Trust Fund on Termination: In the event of a
termination of the Plan by the Company, the assets and properties of the Trust
Fund shall be valued and allocated as provided in Sections 5.2 and 5.3, and each
Participant shall be fully vested in all amounts attributable to his Employer
Matching Account, his ESOP Account and his Prior Plan Accounts, and thereafter,
each
-70-
<PAGE> 77
such Participant shall become entitled to distributions in respect of his
Accounts in the Plan in the manner as provided in Section 6.6 herein provided
that no Employer or Affiliate then establishes or maintains another defined
contribution plan (other than an employee stock ownership plan within the
meaning of Code Section 4975(e)(7) or Code Section 409 or a simplified employee
pension within the meaning of Code Section 408(k)). In the event the Plan is
terminated with respect to all Employers, any Company Stock held in the Suspense
Stock Account shall be sold to the extent necessary to pay the outstanding
principal balance and any accrued interest on any installment purchase contracts
and/or loan obligations of the Trust Fund incurred for the purpose of directly
or indirectly funding the purchase of such Stock, and any such installment
purchase contracts and/or loan obligations shall be paid in full prior to
distribution of the assets of the Trust Fund to Participants; provided, however,
that the Board of Directors of the Company may authorize distribution of Trust
Fund assets prior to satisfaction of installment purchase contracts and/or loan
obligations, but only if under applicable federal law such assets or income
attributable thereto cannot be used to repay such installment purchase contracts
or loan obligations.
10.6 Effect of Discontinuance of Contributions: If the Company shall
discontinue its Contributions to the Trust Fund, or suspend its Contributions to
the Trust Fund under such circumstances so as to constitute a discontinuance of
Contributions within the purview of the reasoning of Treasury Regulations
Section 1.401-6(c), then all amounts theretofore credited to the Accounts of the
Participants shall become fully vested, and throughout any such period of
discontinuance of Contributions, all other provisions of the Plan shall continue
in full force and effect other than the provisions for Contributions by an
Employer or Participants and the forfeiture provisions of Section 6.1.
10.7 Merger of Plan with Another Plan: In the case of any merger or
consolidation of the Plan with, or transfer in whole or in part of the assets
and liabilities of the Trust Fund to another trust fund held under, any other
plan of deferred compensation maintained or to be established for the benefit of
all or some of the Participants of this Plan, the assets of the Trust Fund
applicable to such Participants shall be transferred to the other trust fund
only if:
(a) Each Participant would (if either this Plan or the other
plan then terminated) receive a benefit immediately after the merger,
consolidation or transfer which is equal to or greater than the benefit
he would have been entitled to receive immediately before the merger,
consolidation or transfer (if this Plan had then terminated);
(b) Resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Employer
under this Plan, and of any new or successor employer of the affected
Participants, shall authorize such transfer of assets; and, in the case
of the new or successor employer of the affected Participants, its
resolutions shall include an assumption of liabilities with respect to
such Participants' inclusion in the new employer's plan; and
-71-
<PAGE> 78
(c) Such other plan and trust are qualified under Sections
401(a) and 501(a) of the Code.
-72-
<PAGE> 79
ARTICLE XI
TOP-HEAVY PLAN REQUIREMENTS
11.1 General Rule: For any Plan Year for which this Plan is a Top-Heavy
Plan, as defined in Section 11.8, and despite any other provisions of this Plan
to the contrary, this Plan shall be subject to the provisions of this Article
XI.
11.2 Vesting Provisions: Each Participant who has completed an "Hour of
Service" (as defined in Section 3.6(a) hereof) after the Plan becomes top-heavy
and while the Plan is top-heavy and who has completed the Vesting Service
specified in the following table shall be vested in his Account under this Plan
at least as rapidly as is provided in the following schedule; except that the
vesting provision set forth in Section 6.1 shall be used at any time in which it
provides for more rapid vesting:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Vesting
Years of Vesting Service Percentage
------------------------ ----------
<S> <C>
Less than 2 years 0%
2 but less than 3 years 20%
3 but less than 4 years 40%
4 but less than 5 years 60%
5 but less than 6 years 80%
6 years or more 100%
</TABLE>
If an Account becomes vested by reason of the application of the preceding
schedule, it may not therefore be forfeited by reason of re-employment after
retirement pursuant to a suspension of benefits provision, by reason of
withdrawal of any mandatory employee contributions to which employer
contributions were keyed, or for any other reason. If the Plan subsequently
ceases to be top-heavy, the preceding schedule shall continue to apply with
respect to any Participant who had at least three years of service (as defined
in Treasury Regulation Section 1.411(a)-8T(b)(3)) as of the close of the last
year that the Plan was top-heavy. For all other Participants, the
non-forfeitable percentage of their Accounts provided in the preceding schedule
prior to the date the Plan ceases to be top-heavy shall not be reduced.
11.3 Minimum Contribution Provisions: Each Participant who (i) is a
Non-Key Employee, as defined in Section 11.8 and (ii) is employed on the last
day of the Plan Year will be entitled to have contributions and forfeitures (if
applicable) allocated to his Account of not less than 3% (the "Minimum
Contribution Percentage") of the Participant's Compensation. This minimum
allocation percentage shall be provided without taking Pre-Tax Contributions
into account. A Non-Key Employee may not fail to receive a Minimum Contribution
Percentage because of a failure to receive a specified minimum amount of
Compensation or a failure to make mandatory employee or elective contributions.
This Minimum Contribution Percentage will be reduced for any Plan Year to the
percentage at which contributions (including forfeitures) are made or are
required to be made
-73-
<PAGE> 80
under the Plan for the Plan Year for the Key Employee for whom such percentage
is the highest for such Plan Year. For this purpose, the percentage with respect
to a Key Employee will be determined by dividing the contributions (including
forfeitures) made for such Key Employee by his total compensation (as defined in
Section 415 of the Code) not in excess of $160,000 for the Plan Year. Such
amount will be adjusted in the same manner as the amount set forth in Section
11.4 below.
Contributions considered under the first paragraph of this
Section 11.3 will include Employer contributions under this Plan and under all
other defined contribution plans required to be included in an Aggregation Group
(as defined in Section 11.8 below), but will not include Employer contributions
under any plan required to be included in such aggregation group if the plan
enables a defined benefit plan required to be included in such group to meet the
requirements of the Code prohibiting discrimination as to contributions in favor
of employees who are officers, shareholders, or the highly compensated or
prescribing the minimum participation standards. If the highest rate allocated
to a Key Employee for a year in which the Plan is top-heavy is less than 3%,
amounts contributed as a result of a salary reduction agreement must be included
in determining contributions made on behalf of Key Employees.
Employer Contributions made on behalf of Non-Key Employees
that are taken into account to satisfy the Minimum Contribution Percentage shall
not be treated as Employer Matching Contributions for purposes of determining
the Actual Contribution Percentage under Article IV and must meet the
non-discrimination requirements of Section 401(a)(4) without regard to Section
401(m).
Contributions considered under this Section 11.3 will not
include any contributions under the Social Security Act or any other federal or
state law.
11.4 Limitation on Compensation: Each Participant's Compensation taken
into account under this Article XI and under Section 1.11 for purposes of
computing benefits under this Plan will not exceed $160,000, as adjusted by the
Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate. Such amount will be adjusted
automatically for each Plan Year to the amount prescribed by the Secretary of
the Treasury or his delegate pursuant to regulations for the calendar year in
which such Plan Year commences.
11.5 Limitation on Contributions: Prior to January 1, 2000, in the event
that the Company, other Employer or an Affiliate (herein in this Article
collectively referred to as a "Considered Company") also maintains a defined
benefit plan providing benefits on behalf of Participants in this Plan, one of
the two following provisions will apply:
(a) If for the Plan Year this Plan would not be a Top-Heavy
Plan if "90%" were substituted for "60%" in Section 11.8, then the
percentage of 3% used in Section 11.3 is changed to 4%.
-74-
<PAGE> 81
(b) If for the Plan Year this Plan would continue to be a
Top-Heavy Plan if "90%" were substituted for "60%," in Section 11.8,
then the denominator of both the defined contribution plan fraction
and the defined benefit plan fraction will be calculated as set forth
in Section 5.5 for the limitation year ending in such Plan Year by
substituting "1.0" for "1.25" in each place such figure appears. This
subsection (b) will not apply for such Plan Year with respect to any
individual for whom there are no (i) Employer contributions,
forfeitures or voluntary non-deductible contributions allocated to
such individual or (ii) accruals earned under the defined benefit
plan. Furthermore, the transitional rule set forth in Section
415(e)(6)(B)(i) of the Code shall be applied by substituting
"Forty-One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($41,500)" for "Fifty-One
Thousand Eight Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars ($51,875)" where it
appears therein.
From and after January 1, 2000, the provisions of this Section
11.5 shall no longer apply.
11.6 Coordination with Other Plans: If another defined contribution or
defined benefit plan maintained by a Considered Company provides contributions
or benefits on behalf of a Participant in this Plan, the other plan will be
treated as part of this Plan pursuant to applicable principles prescribed by
U.S. Treasury Regulations or applicable IRS rulings (such as Revenue Ruling
81-202 or any successor ruling) to determine whether this Plan satisfies the
requirements of Sections 11.2, 11.3 and 11.4 and to avoid inappropriate
omissions or inappropriate duplication of minimum contributions. The
determination will be made by the Plan Administrator upon the advice of counsel.
In the event a Participant is covered by a defined benefit
plan which is top-heavy pursuant to Section 416 of the Code, a comparability
analysis (as prescribed by Revenue Ruling 81-202 or any successor ruling) shall
be performed in order to establish that the plans are providing benefits at
least equal to the defined benefit minimum.
11.7 Distributions to Certain Key Employees: Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Plan, the entire interest in this Plan of each Participant who
is a Key Employee, by reason of clause (iii) of subparagraph (c) of Section 11.8
in the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2, shall commence
to be distributed to such Participant not later than the April 1 following such
calendar year.
11.8 Determination of Top-Heavy Status: The Plan will be a Top-Heavy
Plan for any Plan Year if, as of the Determination Date, the aggregate of the
Accounts under the Plan (determined as of the Valuation Date) for Participants
(including former Participants) who are Key Employees exceeds 60% of the
aggregate of the Accounts of all Participants, excluding former Key Employees,
or if this Plan is required to be in an Aggregation Group in any such Plan Year
in which such Group is a Top-Heavy Group. In determining Top-Heavy status if an
individual has not performed one Hour of Service for any Considered Company at
any time during the five-year period ending on the
-75-
<PAGE> 82
Determination Date, any accrued benefit for such individual and the aggregate
Accounts of such individual shall not be taken into account.
For purposes of this Section, the capitalized words have the
following meanings:
(a) "Aggregation Group" means the group of plans, if any, that
includes both the group of plans required to be aggregated and the
group of plans permitted to be aggregated. The group of plans required
to be aggregated (the "required aggregation group") includes:
(i) each plan of a Considered Company in which a Key
Employee is a participant; and
(ii) each other plan, including collectively
bargained plans, of a Considered Company which enables a plan
in which a Key Employee is a participant to meet the
requirements of Code Section 401(a)(4) or 410.
The group of plans that are permitted to be aggregated (the
"permissive aggregation group") includes the required aggregation
group plus one or more plans of a Considered Company that is not part
of the required aggregation group and that the Considered Company
certifies as a plan within the permissive aggregation group. Such plan
or plans may be added to the permissive aggregation group only if,
after the addition, the aggregation group as a whole continues to
satisfy the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(4) and 410.
(b) "Determination Date" means for any Plan Year the last day
of the immediately preceding Plan Year.
(c) "Key Employee" means any Employee or former Employee under
this Plan who, at any time during the Plan Year in question or during
any of the four preceding Plan Years, is or was one of the following:
(i) An officer of a Considered Company having an
annual compensation greater than 50% of the amount in effect
under Code Section 415(b)(1)(A) for any such Plan Year.
Whether an individual is an officer shall be determined by the
Considered Company on the basis of all the facts and
circumstances, such as an individual's authority, duties and
term of office, not on the mere fact that the individual has
the title of an officer. For any such Plan Year, officers
considered to be Key Employees will be no more than the fewer
of:
(A) 50 employees; or
-76-
<PAGE> 83
(B) 10% of the employees or, if greater than
10%, three employees.
For this purpose, the highest paid officers shall be selected.
(ii) One of the ten employees owning (or considered
as owning, within the meaning of the constructive ownership
rules of Code Section 416(i)(1)(B)) the largest interests in
the Considered Company. An employee who has some ownership
interest is considered to be one of the top ten owners unless
at least ten other employees own a greater interest than that
employee. However, an employee will not be considered a top
ten owner for a Plan Year if the employee earns less than the
limitation in effect under Code Section 415(c)(1)(A) as in
effect for the calendar year in which the Determination Date
falls.
(iii) Any person who owns (or is considered as
owning, within the meaning of the constructive ownership rules
of Code Section 416(i)(1)(B)) more than 5% of the outstanding
stock of a Considered Company or stock possessing more than 5%
of the combined voting power of all stock of the Considered
Company.
(iv) Any person who has an annual compensation from
the Considered Company of more than One Hundred Fifty Thousand
Dollars ($150,000) and who owns (or is considered as owning,
within the meaning of the constructive ownership rules of Code
Section 416(i)(1)(B)) more than 1% of the outstanding stock of
the Considered Company or stock possessing more than 1% of the
outstanding stock of the Considered Company or stock
possessing more than 1% of the combined voting power of all
stock of the Considered Company. For purposes of this
subsection, Annual Compensation includes all items includable
as Compensation within the meaning of Section 11.8(k) and
further includes the amount otherwise excludable from an
employee's gross income by reason of Code Section 125,
402(e)(3) or 402(h)(1)(B).
For purposes of this subsection (c), a Beneficiary of a Key Employee
shall be treated as a Key Employee. For purposes of parts (iii) and
(iv), each Considered Company is treated separately in determining
ownership percentages; but all such Considered Companies shall be
considered a single employer in determining the amount of
compensation.
-77-
<PAGE> 84
(d) "Non-Key Employee" means any employee (and any Beneficiary
of an employee) who is not a Key Employee.
(e) "Top-Heavy Group" means the Aggregation Group if, as of
the applicable Determination Date, the sum of the present value of the
cumulative accrued benefits for Key Employees under all defined
benefit plans included in the Aggregation Group plus the aggregate of
the accounts of Key Employees under all defined contribution plans
included in the Aggregation Group exceeds 60% of the sum of the
present value of the cumulative accrued benefits for all employees,
excluding former Key Employees as provided in paragraph (i) below,
under all such defined benefit plans plus the aggregate accounts for
all employees, excluding former Key Employees as provided in paragraph
(i) below, under all such defined contribution plans. In determining
Top-Heavy status, if an individual has not performed one Hour of
Service for any Considered Company at any time during the five-year
period ending on the Determination Date, any accrued benefit for such
individual and the aggregate accounts of such individual shall not be
taken into account. If the Aggregation Group that is a Top-Heavy Group
is a required aggregation group, each plan in the group will be a
Top-Heavy Plan. If the Aggregation Group that is a Top-Heavy Group is
a permissive aggregation group, only those plans that are part of the
required aggregation group will be treated as Top-Heavy Plans. If the
Aggregation Group is not a Top-Heavy Group, no plan within such group
will be a Top-Heavy Plan.
In determining whether this Plan constitutes a Top-Heavy Plan, the
Committee (or its agent) will make the following adjustments:
(f) When more than one plan is aggregated, the Committee shall
determine separately for each plan as of each plan's Determination
Date the present value of the accrued benefits (for this purpose using
the actuarial assumptions set forth in the applicable plan) or account
balance. The results shall then be aggregated by adding the results of
each plan as of the Determination Dates for such plans that fall
within the same calendar year.
(g) In determining the present value of the cumulative accrued
benefit or the amount of the account of any employee, such present
value or account will include the amount in dollar value of the
aggregate distributions made to such employee under the applicable
plan during the five-year period ending on the Determination Date
unless reflected in the value of the accrued benefit or account
balance as of the most recent Valuation Date. The amounts will include
distributions to employees representing the entire amount credited to
their accounts under the applicable plan.
-78-
<PAGE> 85
(h) Further, in making such determination, such present value
or such account shall include any rollover contribution (or similar
transfer), as follows:
(i) If the rollover contribution (or similar
transfer) is initiated by the employee and made to or from a
plan maintained by another Considered Company, the plan
providing the distribution shall include such distribution in
the present value or such account and the plan accepting the
distribution shall not include such distribution in the
present value or such account unless the plan accepted it
before December 31, 1983.
(ii) If the rollover contribution (or similar
transfer) is not initiated by the employee or made from a plan
maintained by another Considered Company, the plan accepting
the distribution shall include such distribution in the
present value or such account, whether the plan accepted the
distribution before or after December 31, 1983; the plan
making the distribution shall not include the distribution in
the present value or such account.
(i) In any case where an individual is a Non-Key Employee with
respect to an applicable plan but was a Key Employee with respect to
such plan for any prior Plan Year, any accrued benefit and any account
of such employee will be altogether disregarded. For this purpose, to
the extent that a Key Employee is deemed to be a Key Employee if he or
she met the definition of Key Employee within any of the four
preceding Plan Years, this provision will apply following the end of
such period of time.
(j) "Valuation Date" means for purposes for determining the
present value of an accrued benefit as of the Determination Date the
date determined as of the most recent valuation date which is within a
12-month period ending on the Determination Date. For the first plan
year of a plan, the accrued benefit for a current employee shall be
determined either (i) as if the individual terminated service as of
the Determination Date or (ii) as if the individual terminated service
as of the valuation date, but taking into account the estimated
accrued benefit as of the Determination Date. The Valuation Date shall
be determined in accordance with the principles set forth in Q&A-T-25
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.416-1.
(k) For purposes of this Section, "Compensation" shall have
the meaning given to it in Section 5.5(d)(6) of the Plan.
-79-
<PAGE> 86
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
12.1 Terms of Employment: The adoption and maintenance of the provisions
of this Plan shall not be deemed to constitute a contract between the Employer
and any Employee, or to be a consideration for, or an inducement or condition
of, the employment of any person. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to
give to any Employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Employer or
to interfere with the right of the Employer to discharge any Employee at any
time, nor shall it be deemed to give the Employer the right to require any
Employee to remain in its employ, nor shall it interfere with any Employee's
right to terminate his employment at any time.
12.2 Controlling Law: This Plan and the Trust shall be construed,
regulated and administered under the laws of the State of Texas, subject,
however, to such determinations under the Plan as may be governed by ERISA and
related provisions of the Code.
12.3 Invalidity of Particular Provisions: In the event any provision of
this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or
invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Plan but shall be
fully severable, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if said
illegal or invalid provisions had never been inserted herein.
12.4 Non-Alienability of Rights of Participants: Except as otherwise
provided below and with respect to certain judgments and settlements pursuant to
Section 401(a)(13) of the Code, no interest, right or claim in or to the part of
the Trust Fund attributable to the Account of any Participant, or any
distribution of benefits therefrom, shall be assignable, transferable or subject
to sale, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, commutation, anticipation,
garnishment, attachment, execution, claim or levy of any kind, voluntary or
involuntary (excluding a levy on an Account, other than the Pre-Tax Contribution
Account, for taxes filed upon the Plan by the Internal Revenue Service to the
extent valid and enforceable under applicable federal law), including without
limitation any claim asserted by a spouse or former spouse of any Participant,
and the Trustee shall not recognize any attempt to assign, transfer, sell,
mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, commute or anticipate the same. The preceding
sentence shall also apply to the creation, assignment or recognition of a right
to any benefit payable with respect to a Participant pursuant to a domestic
relations order, unless such order is determined to be a qualified domestic
relations order, as defined in Section 414(p) of the Code. The Committee shall
establish a written procedure to be used to determine the qualified status of
such orders and to administer distributions under such orders. Further, to the
extent provided under the qualified domestic relations order, a former spouse of
a Participant shall be treated as a spouse for all purposes of the Plan. If the
Committee receives a qualified domestic relations order with respect to a
Participant, the amount assigned to the Participant's former spouse may be
immediately distributed, to the extent permitted by law, from the vested portion
of the Participant's Account.
-80-
<PAGE> 87
12.5 Payments in Satisfaction of Claims of Participants: Any
distribution to any Participant or his Beneficiary or legal representative, in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan, of the interest in the Trust Fund
attributable to his Pre-Tax Contribution Account and/or After-Tax Contribution
Account, and the vested portion of his Employer Matching Account and ESOP
Account, shall be in full satisfaction of all claims under the Plan against the
Trust Fund, the Trustee, the Company, and the Employer. The Trustee may require
that any distributee execute and deliver to the Trustee a receipt and a full and
complete release of the Employer as a condition precedent to any payment or
distribution under the Plan.
12.6 Payments Due Minors and Incompetents: If the Committee determines
that any person to whom a payment is due hereunder is a minor or is incompetent
by reason of physical or mental disability, the Committee shall have power to
cause the payments becoming due such person to be made to the guardian of the
minor or the guardian of the estate of the incompetent, or to the County Clerk
as allowed under law without the Committee or the Trustee being responsible to
see to the application of such payment. Payments made pursuant to such power
shall operate as a complete discharge of the Committee, the Trustee and the
Employer.
12.7 Acceptance of Terms and Conditions of Plan by Participants: Each
Participant, through execution of the application required under the terms of
the Plan as a condition of participation herein, for himself, his heirs,
executors, administrators, legal representatives and assigns, approves and
agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Plan and the Trust Agreement and
any subsequent amendments thereto and all actions of the Committee and the
Trustee hereunder. In consideration of the adoption of this Plan by the Employer
and the Contributions of the Employer to the Trust Fund, each Participant agrees
by the execution of his application to participate herein to release and hold
harmless to the extent permitted by ERISA the Employer, the Committee and the
Trustee from any liability for any act whatsoever, past, present, or future,
performed in good faith in such respective capacities pursuant to the provisions
of this Plan or the Trust Agreement.
12.8 Impossibility of Diversion of Trust Fund: Notwithstanding any
provision herein to the contrary, no part of the corpus or the income of the
Trust Fund shall ever be used for or diverted to purposes other than for the
exclusive benefit of the Participants or their Beneficiaries or for the payment
of expenses of the Plan. No part of the Trust Fund shall ever revert to the
Employer.
12.9 Transition Period: Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the
contrary, during the period of transition from the provisions of the Prior Plans
to this Plan, commencing March 16, 1999 and ending on or about May 15, 1999 as
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the following restrictions
shall apply: (i) Participants may not change their investment directions with
respect to future contributions or existing Account balances; (ii) Participants
may be limited in their ability to make changes in the amount of their Pre-Tax
and After-Tax Contributions; and (iii) loans, withdrawals and distributions
otherwise available under the Plan may be temporarily delayed, all in accordance
with such administrative procedures as may be decided by the Committee and
communicated to Participants during said transition.
-81-
<PAGE> 88
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the BENEFITS COMMITTEE OF RELIANT ENERGY,
INCORPORATED has executed these presents as evidenced by the signatures affixed
hereto of its officers hereunto duly authorized, in a number of copies, all of
which shall constitute but one and the same instrument, which instrument may be
sufficiently evidenced by any such executed copy hereof, this 16th day of
December, 1999, effective as of April 1, 1999.
BENEFITS COMMITTEE OF
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
By /s/ LEE W. HOGAN
------------------------------------
Lee W. Hogan
Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/ LYNNE HARKEL-RUMFORD
- ----------------------------------
Lynne Harkel-Rumford
Secretary
-82-
<PAGE> 89
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED SAVINGS PLAN
ATTACHMENT A
Effective April 1, 1999, the following Investment Funds are
available for investment of amounts in a Participant Account in accordance with
the provisions of Section 8.1 of the Plan:
(a) Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund: Contributions are
primarily invested and reinvested in Company Stock.
(b) Capital Appreciation Equity Fund: Contributions are
primarily invested and reinvested in a pool of stock mutual funds that
have a goal of long-term growth with little emphasis on current
income. The mutual funds buy stocks of rapidly growing companies or
companies with the potential for above average growth, including stock
of small and international companies.
(c) Growth & Income Equity Fund: Contributions are primarily
invested and reinvested in a pool of stock mutual funds that have a
goal of long-term growth and current income. The mutual funds buy
stocks of growing companies and companies that have a history of
paying dividends.
(d) International Equity Fund: Contributions are primarily
invested and reinvested in a pool of international stock mutual funds
that have a goal of long-term growth with little emphasis on current
income. These mutual funds buy stocks of growing and established
companies that have their principal business activities outside of the
United States and which show potential for growth.
(e) Balanced Fund: Contributions are primarily invested and
reinvested in both bond mutual funds investing in high-quality bonds
and stock mutual funds investing in a wide variety of companies.
(f) Fixed Income Fund: Contributions are primarily invested
and reinvested in a fixed income mutual fund. The mutual fund invests
in high-quality government and corporate bonds and other fixed income
securities.
(g) Money Market Fund: Contributions are primarily invested
and reinvested in a money market fund. The fund invests in high-quality
government and corporate fixed income securities with maturities of
less than one year.
(h) S&P 500 Index Fund: Contributions are primarily invested
and reinvested in a stock mutual fund that seeks to track the
investment performance of
A-1
<PAGE> 90
the S&P 500 Composite Index, which emphasizes stocks of large U.S.
Companies. The fund follows a simple, cost-effective index-matching
strategy.
The Committee reserves the right to add and/or delete
Investment Funds, with the exception of the Reliant Energy Common Stock Fund,
from time to time and at any time.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the BENEFITS COMMITTEE OF RELIANT ENERGY,
INCORPORATED has executed this Attachment A as evidenced by the signatures
affixed hereto of its officers hereunto duly authorized, in a number of copies,
all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument, which instrument
may be sufficiently evidenced by any such executed copy hereof, this 16th day
of December, 1999, effective as of April 1, 1999.
BENEFITS COMMITTEE OF
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
By /s/ LEE W. HOGAN
-----------------------------------
Lee W. Hogan
Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/ LYNNE HARKEL-RUMFORD
- -----------------------------------
Lynne Harkel-Rumford
Secretary
A-2
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10(cc)(2)
HI Benefits Committee
HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
SAVINGS PLAN
(As Amended and Restated Effective July 1, 1995)
Sixth Amendment
The Benefits Committee of Houston Industries Incorporated,
having reserved the right under Section 10.3 of the Houston Industries
Incorporated Savings Plan, as amended and restated effective July 1, 1995, and
thereafter amended (the "Plan"), to amend the Plan, does hereby amend the Plan
as follows:
1. Effective as of April 1, 1999, or such later date as
prescribed by paragraph 2 hereof, Section 8.2 of the Plan is hereby amended in
its entirety as follows:
"8.2 Diversification Election:
(a) Each Participant who has (i) completed at least ten
years of participation in the Plan and the Prior Plan and (ii)
attained age 55 (hereinafter, a "Qualified Participant") may elect
within 90 days after the close of each Plan Year in the initial
election period (as defined herein), to direct the investment of up
to 25% of the sum of the balances in such Participant's ESOP Account
and Employer Matching Account (to the extent such portion exceeds the
amount to which a prior election to diversify under this Section
8.2(a) applies) into any or all Investment Funds with the exception
of the HI Common Stock Fund, and such election shall be effective as
of the last Valuation Date in March. In each Plan Year after the
initial election period, the percentage shall be 50% instead of 25%.
The initial election period means the five Plan Year period beginning
with the first Plan Year in which the Participant first became a
Qualified Participant.
(b) Each Participant may elect, once each calendar year in
the manner and subject to such rules, procedures and overriding Plan
limits as specified by the Committee, to direct the investment of up
to 50% of the sum of the balances in the Participant's ESOP Account
and Employer Matching Account which are attributable to Employer
Contributions made with respect to periods on or after April 1, 1999
into any or all Investment Funds with the exception of the HI Common
Stock Fund; provided, however, that at least 50% of the aggregate sum
of the balances in the ESOP Accounts and Employer Matching Accounts
of all Participants must be invested in Company Stock. Such election
shall be effective as soon as reasonably practicable following
receipt of the election to diversify, but in no event
<PAGE> 2
shall the election be effective earlier than the close of business on
the Valuation Date on which the election is received. Any amounts so
diversified and reinvested may subsequently be directed by the
Participant in the same manner as amounts in the Participant's
After-Tax and Pre-Tax Contribution Accounts as described in Section
8.1, except that none of the amounts so diversified may be invested in
the HI Common Stock Fund."
2. This Amendment shall not become effective unless and until
(i) the Internal Revenue Service issues a favorable determination letter
indicating that the Amendment will not adversely affect the Plan's qualification
under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") or the
Plan's classification as an "Employee Stock Ownership Plan," as defined in
Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code, and (ii) the Benefits Committee (by formal
written resolution) elects to implement the terms of the Amendment on or after
April 1, 1999.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused these presents to
be executed by its duly authorized officer in a number of copies, all of which
shall constitute one and the same instrument, which may be sufficiently
evidenced by any executed copy hereof, this 29th day of April, 1999, but
effective as of the date specified herein.
BENEFITS COMMITTEE OF
HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
By LEE W. HOGAN
----------------------------
Lee W. Hogan, Chairman
ATTEST:
ELIZABETH P. WEYLANDT
- --------------------------------
Elizabeth P. Weylandt, Secretary
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10(cc)(3)
HI Benefits Committee
HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
SAVINGS PLAN
(As Amended and Restated Effective July 1, 1995)
Seventh Amendment
The Benefits Committee of Houston Industries Incorporated, having
reserved the right under Section 10.3 of the Houston Industries Incorporated
Savings Plan, as amended and restated effective July 1, 1995, and thereafter
amended (the "Plan"), to amend the Plan, does hereby amend the Plan, effective
as of the dates specified below, as follows:
1. Section 1.11 of the Plan is hereby amended, effective as of January
1, 1997, by deleting the fourth and fifth sentences thereof.
2. Section 3.7 of the Plan is hereby amended, effective as of December
12, 1994, by adding the following to the end of the first paragraph thereof:
"Notwithstanding any provisions of this Plan to the contrary,
contributions, benefits and service credit with respect to qualified
military service will be provided in accordance with Section 414(u) of the
Code."
3. Section 3.10 of the Plan is hereby amended, effective as of October
1, 1997, by adding the following new Subsection (c) to the end thereof:
"(c) In addition and with respect to only those Participants who previously
had an account established under the STP Savings Plan (as defined in
Section 8.4) as of October 1, 1997, prior to their employment after such
date by an Employer covered by this Plan, the period of employment of such
Participant by STP shall be deemed to be employment by an Affiliate
hereunder for purposes of eligibility and vesting and shall be calculated
as provided in Section 3.10(a) above."
-1-
<PAGE> 2
4. The second paragraph of Section 4.1 of the Plan is hereby amended,
effective as of January 1, 1999, to read as follows:
"The Employer shall also make an Employer Matching Contribution
(subject to adjustments for forfeitures and limitations on annual additions
as elsewhere specified in the Plan) in the amount, if any, necessary to
result in a total allocation under Article V to each Participant's Prior
Plan and ESOP Accounts of not less than 75% of the total of his Pre-Tax
Basic Contribution and After-Tax Basic Contribution for the Plan Year in
the case of HII Participants. Further, the Employer shall make an
additional ESOP Contribution and/or Employer Matching Contribution, if
necessary, to make the allocation required under Section 5.3(d)(ii) with
respect to dividends used to repay an Exempt Loan. In addition, in its
discretion, the Employer may make an additional Employer Matching
Contribution in an amount determined by the Board of Directors of the
Employer and communicated to the Participants within 90 days following the
close of the applicable Plan Year.
5. The fourth sentence of Section 4.2 of the Plan is hereby amended,
effective as of January 1, 1998, to read as follows:
"A Participant's Pre-Tax Contributions under this Plan and all other plans,
contracts or arrangements of the Employer shall not exceed a maximum
contribution of $10,000 (as adjusted by the Secretary of the Treasury) for
each calendar year."
6. The definition of "Highly Compensated Employee" in Section 4.5(b)
of the Plan is hereby amended, effective as of January 1, 1997, by inserting the
following as new paragraphs following the fourth paragraph thereto:
"Effective January 1, 1997, 'Highly Compensated Employee' shall mean
any Employee and any employee of an Affiliate who is a highly compensated
employee under Section 414(q) of the Code, including any Employee and any
employee of an Affiliate who:
(i) was a 5% owner during the current Plan year or prior Plan
Year; or
(ii) received Compensation during the Plan Year (as defined in
Section 5.5(d)(6) in excess of $80,000 or such other dollar amount as
may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate
and, if elected by the Employer, was in the 'top-paid group' (the top
20% of payroll) for the Plan Year, excluding Employees described in
Code Section 414(p)(8).
-2-
<PAGE> 3
In determining an Employee's status as a Highly Compensated Employee
within the meaning of Section 414(q), the entities set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.414(q)-1T Q&A-6(a)(1) through (4) must be taken into
account as a single employer.
A former Employee shall be treated as a Highly Compensated Employee if
(1) such former Employee was a Highly Compensated Employee when he
separated from Service, or (2) such former Employee was a Highly
Compensated Employee in Service at any time after attaining age 55."
7. The sixth paragraph of Section 4.5 of the Plan is hereby deleted,
effective as of January 1, 1997.
8. Section 4.8 of the Plan is hereby amended in its entirety,
effective as of January 1, 1997, to read as follows:
"4.8 Excess Pre-Tax Contributions: As soon as possible following the
end of the Plan Year, the Committee shall determine whether either of the
tests contained in Section 4.5 were satisfied as of the end of the Plan
Year, and any excess Pre-Tax Contributions, plus any income and minus any
loss attributable thereto, of those Participants who are among the Highly
Compensated Employees shall be distributed to such Participants in the
manner provided below based on the amount of Pre-Tax Contributions. In
addition, the Employer Contribution made with respect to such excess
Pre-Tax Contributions shall be forfeited and applied to reduce future
Employer Contributions otherwise required under Section 4.1. Such income
shall include the allocable gain or loss for the Plan Year only.
The amount of any excess Pre-Tax Contributions to be distributed to a
Participant shall be reduced by Excess Deferrals previously distributed to
him pursuant to Section 4.2 for the taxable year ending in the same Plan
Year. All excess Pre-Tax Contributions shall be returned to the
Participants no later than the last day of the following Plan Year. The
excess Pre-Tax Contributions, if any, of each Participant who is among the
Highly Compensated Employees shall be determined by computing the maximum
Actual Deferral Percentage which each such Participant may defer under (a)
or (b) of Section 4.5 and then reducing the Actual Deferral Percentage of
some or all of such Participants through the distribution of such excess
Pre-Tax Contributions, on the basis of the amount of Pre-Tax Contributions
of such Participants, as necessary to reduce the overall Actual Deferral
Percentage for eligible Participants who are among the Highly Compensated
Employees to a level which satisfies either (a) or (b) of Section 4.5,
according to the following procedures:
-3-
<PAGE> 4
(a) the Pre-Tax Contributions of the Highly Compensated Employee
or Employees with the highest dollar amount of Pre-Tax Contributions
shall be reduced to equal the dollar amount of the Pre-Tax
Contributions of the Highly Compensated Employee or Employees with the
next highest dollar amount of Pre-Tax Contributions;
(b) the reduction amount determined in clause (a) shall be
distributed to the Highly Compensated Employee or Employees who had
the highest dollar amount of Pre-Tax Contributions prior to such
reduction; and
(c) the procedures in clause (a) and (b) shall be repeated until
the total excess Pre-Tax Contributions are distributed and compliance
is achieved with (a) or (b) of Section 4.5.
If these distributions are made, the Actual Deferral Percentage is treated
as meeting the nondiscrimination test of Section 401(k)(3) of the Code
regardless of whether the Actual Deferral Percentage, if recalculated after
distributions, would satisfy Section 401(k)(3) of the Code. The above
procedures are used for purposes of recharacterizing excess Pre-Tax
Contributions under Section 401(k)(8)(A)(ii) of the Code. For purposes of
Section 401(m)(9) of the Code, if a corrective distribution of excess
Pre-Tax Contributions has been made, or a recharacterization has occurred,
the Actual Deferral Percentage for Highly Compensated Employees is deemed
to be the largest amount permitted under Section 401(k)(3) of the Code.
The income or loss attributable to the Participant's excess
Pre-Tax Contributions for the Plan Year shall be determined by multiplying
the income or loss attributable to the Participant's Pre-Tax Contribution
Account balance for the Plan Year by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the excess Pre-Tax Contribution and the denominator of which is the
Participant's total Pre-Tax Contribution Account balance. Excess Pre-Tax
Contributions shall be treated as Annual Additions under Section 5.5 of the
Plan."
9. Section 4.9 of the Plan is hereby deleted and the following
Sections renumbered accordingly, effective as of January 1, 1997, along with all
current references in the Plan affected by such deletion.
10. The second paragraph of Section 4.11 (prior to renumbering) of the
Plan is hereby deleted, effective as of January 1, 1997.
-4-
<PAGE> 5
11. Section 4.12 (prior to renumbering) of the Plan is hereby amended
in its entirety, effective as of January 1, 1997, to read as follows:
"4.12 Treatment of Excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP
Contributions: If neither of the tests described above in Section 4.11 are
satisfied with respect to either Aggregate Contributions or ESOP
Contributions, the excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable), plus any income and minus any loss attributable thereto, shall
be forfeited or, if not forfeitable, shall be distributed no later than the
last day of the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which such excess
Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as applicable) were made.
Such income shall include the allocable gain or loss for the Plan Year
only. The income or loss attributable to the Participant's excess Aggregate
Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as applicable) for the Plan Year shall
be determined by multiplying the income or loss attributable to the
Participant's Account for the Plan Year by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the excess Aggregate Contribution or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable), and the denominator of which is the Participant's total
Account balance. Excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions shall
be treated as Annual Additions under Section 5.5 of the Plan.
The excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable), if any, of each Participant who is among the Highly
Compensated Employees shall be determined by computing the maximum
Contribution Percentage under (a) or (b) of Section 4.11 and then reducing
the Contribution Percentage of some or all of such Participants whose
Contribution Percentage exceeds the maximum through the distribution or
forfeiture of the excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable), on the basis of the amount of such excess contributions
attributable to such Participants, as necessary to reduce the overall
Contribution Percentage for eligible Participants who are among the Highly
Compensated Employees to a level which satisfies either (a) or (b) of
Section 4.11, according to the following procedures:
(a) the Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable) of the Highly Compensated Employee or Employees with the
highest dollar amount of such contributions shall be reduced to equal
the dollar amount of the Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions
(as applicable) of the Highly Compensated Employee or Employees with
the next highest dollar amount of such contributions;
(b) the reduction amount determined in clause (a) shall be
forfeited by or, if not forfeitable, distributed to the Highly
Compensated Employee or Employees who had the highest dollar
-5-
<PAGE> 6
amount of Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable) prior to such reduction; and
(c) the procedures in clause (a) and (b) shall be repeated until
the total excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as
applicable) are forfeited and/or distributed and compliance is
achieved with (a) or (b) of Section 4.11.
If these forfeitures and/or distributions are made, the Contribution
Percentage is treated as meeting the nondiscrimination test of Section
401(m)(2) of the Code regardless of whether the Contribution Percentage, if
recalculated after such forfeitures and/or distributions would satisfy
Section 401(m)(2) of the Code. For purposes of Section 401(m)(9) of the
Code, if a corrective distribution of excess Aggregate Contributions or
ESOP Contributions (as applicable) has been made, the Contribution
Percentage for Highly Compensated Employees is deemed to be the largest
amount under Section 401(m)(2) of the Code.
For each Participant who is a Highly Compensated Employee, the amount of
excess Aggregate Contributions or ESOP Contributions (as applicable) is
equal to the total Employer Contributions and After-Tax Contributions on
behalf of the Participant (determined prior to the application of this
paragraph) minus the amount determined by multiplying the Participant's
actual contribution ratio (determined after application of this paragraph)
by his Compensation used in determining such ratio. The individual ratios
and Contribution Percentages shall be calculated to the nearest 1/100 of 1%
of the Employee's Compensation, as such term is used in paragraph (b) of
Section 4.11."
12. Section 4.13 (prior to renumbering) of the Plan is hereby deleted,
effective as of January 1, 1997.
13. Section 5.5(c) of the Plan is hereby amended, effective as of
January 1, 2000, by adding the following to the end thereof:
"5. Termination of Section 5.5(c)
From and after January 1, 2000, the provisions of this Section 5.5(c)
shall no longer apply."
-6-
<PAGE> 7
14. Clause (A) of Section 5.5(d)(5) of the Plan is hereby amended,
effective as of January 1, 1995, to read as follows:
"A. $30,000, as adjusted by the Secretary of the Treasury or his
delegate; or"
15. The last sentence of the last paragraph of Section 5.5(d)(6) of
the Plan is hereby amended, effective as of January 1, 1998, to read as follows:
"Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this definition, Compensation
shall include any and all items which may be included in Compensation under
Code Section 415(c)(3), including effective January 1, 1998, (i) any
elective deferral (as defined in Code Section 402(g)(3) and (ii) any amount
which is contributed or deferred by the Employer at the election of the
Employee and which is not includible in the gross income of the Employee by
reason of Code Section 125 or 457."
16. The first paragraph of Section 6.1 of the Plan is hereby amended,
effective January 1, 1999, to read as follows:
"6.1 Termination of Service: In the event of a termination of Service
on or after the Effective Date but prior to January 1, 1999, the provisions
of Section 6.1 of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to this Amendment
shall govern. In the event of a termination of Service on or after January
1, 1999, any Participant for any reason other than disability, Retirement
on or after Retirement Date or death, a Participant shall, subject to the
further provisions of the Plan, be entitled to receive 100% of the values
in his Pre-Tax Contribution Account and After-Tax Contribution Account,
plus a portion of his Employer Matching Account and ESOP Account determined
by reference to his number of years of Vesting Service and the following
table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Vesting
Years of Vesting Service Percentage
------------------------ ----------
<S> <C>
Less than 2 0%
2 but less than 3 25%
3 but less than 4 50%
4 but less than 5 75%
5 and more 100%"
</TABLE>
17. The first paragraph of Section 6.6 of the Plan is hereby amended,
effective as of January 1, 1998, by replacing any reference to "$3,500" with
"$5,000."
-7-
<PAGE> 8
18. Section 6.6(b) of the Plan is hereby amended in its entirety,
effective as of January 1, 1999, to read as follows:
"(b) As a distribution in kind of the shares held for his Account in
the HI Common Stock Fund and the ESOP Fund. If Company Stock acquired with
the proceeds of an Exempt Loan and available for distribution consists of
more than one class, a Participant shall receive substantially the same
proportion of each such class to the extent the distribution is a
distribution from the ESOP Fund. A Participant may elect to receive any
percentage, up to 100%, of the vested portion of his Accounts in the HI
Common Stock Fund and the ESOP Fund in whole shares of Company Stock, and
the remaining HI Common Stock Fund balance, ESOP Fund balance and other
Investment Fund balances in cash. If a Participant elects to receive the
entire vested portion of his Accounts in the HI Common Stock Fund and the
ESOP Fund in whole shares of Company Stock, such Participant shall be
entitled to receive a number of whole shares of Company Stock plus the cash
value of any partial shares of Company Stock necessary to equal the sum of
(i) the value in the HI Common Stock Fund held in his Pre-Tax Contribution
Account and/or his After-Tax Contribution Account as of the Valuation Date
specified in Section 6.8, and (ii) the vested portion of the value in the
HI Common Stock Fund held in his Employer Matching Account and the vested
portion of the value in the ESOP Fund held in his ESOP Account as of such
Valuation Date. If a Participant elects to receive a percentage which is
less than 100% of the vested portion of his Accounts in the HI Common Stock
Fund and the ESOP Fund in whole shares of Company Stock, then the result
obtained from the preceding formula shall be multiplied by such percentage
to obtain the number of whole shares of Company Stock and cash for partial
shares of Company Stock to be distributed to such Participant."
19. The third paragraph of Section 6.9 of the Plan is hereby amended,
effective as of January 1, 1999, by replacing any reference to "suspense" with
"separate."
20. Section 6.10 of the Plan is hereby amended in its entirety,
effective as of January 1, 1999, to read as follows:
"6.10 Required Minimum Distributions: Notwithstanding any provision of
this Plan to the contrary, prior to January 1, 1999, for a Participant
attaining age 70 1/2 prior to January 1, 1999, any benefits to which a
Participant is entitled shall commence not later than the April 1 following
the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2, whether or
not such Participant's employment had terminated in such year. Effective
January 1, 1999, for a Participant attaining age 70 1/2 after December 31,
1998, any benefits to which a Participant is entitled shall commence not
later than the April 1 following the latter of (i) the calendar year in
which the
-8-
<PAGE> 9
Participant attains age 70 1/2 or (ii) the calendar year in which the
Participant's employment terminates (provided, however, that clause (ii) of
this sentence shall not apply in the case of a Participant who is a
"five-percent owner" (as such term is defined in Section 416 of the Code)
with respect to the Plan Year ending in the calendar year in which such
Participant attains age 70 1/2). If a Participant is receiving
distributions from his Accounts on January 1, 1999 pursuant to this Section
6.10 as in effect prior to January 1, 1999, but would not be required to
receive distributions under this Section 6.10 as in effect on January 1,
1999, then the Participant may elect to cease distributions from his
Accounts until the April 1 following the end of the calendar year in which
such Participant terminates employment. Distributions under this Section
6.10 shall be at least equal to the required minimum distributions under
Section 401(a)(9) of the Code; provided, however, that any installment
distributions pursuant to this Section 6.10 for Participants who have not
terminated employment shall be made over a period not to exceed ten (10)
years."
21. The last sentence of Section 7.3 of the Plan is hereby amended,
effective as of January 1, 1999, to read as follows:
"Except as provided in Section 7.4 and under Article VI, no withdrawals
shall be permitted from a Participant's Pre-Tax Contribution Account,
Employer Matching Account or ESOP Account."
22. The last sentence of Section 7.4(b) of the Plan is hereby amended,
effective as of January 1, 1999, to read as follows:
"A Borrower may repay an outstanding loan in full at any time."
23. The first sentence of Section 12.4 of the Plan is hereby amended,
effective as of August 5, 1997, to read as follows:
"Except as otherwise provided below and with respect to certain judgments
and settlements pursuant to Section 401(a)(13) of the Code, no interest,
right or claim in or to the part of the Trust Fund attributable to the
Pre-Tax Contribution Account, the After-Tax Contribution Account, the
Employer Matching Account or the ESOP Account of any Participant, or any
distribution of benefits therefrom, shall be assignable, transferable or
subject to sale, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, commutation,
anticipation, garnishment, attachment, execution, claim or levy of any
kind, voluntary or involuntary (excluding a levy on an Account other than a
Pre-Tax Contribution Account for taxes filed upon the Plan by the Internal
Revenue Service), including without limitation any claim asserted by a
spouse or former spouse of any Participant, and the Trustee shall not
recognize any attempt to assign, transfer, sell, mortgage, pledge,
hypothecate, commute or anticipate the same."
-9-
<PAGE> 10
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Benefits Committee of Houston Industries
Incorporated has caused these presents to be executed by its duly authorized
Chairman in a number of copies, all of which shall constitute one and the same
instrument, which may be sufficiently evidenced by any executed copy hereof,
this 29th day of April, 1999, but effective as of the dates specified herein.
BENEFITS COMMITTEE OF
HOUSTON INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
By /s/ LEE W. HOGAN
----------------------------------
Lee W. Hogan, Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/ ELIZABETH P. WEYLANDT
- -----------------------------------------
Elizabeth P. Weylandt, Secretary
-10-
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10(dd)
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
BUSINESS UNIT PERFORMANCE SHARE PLAN
INTRODUCTION
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Reliant Energy, Incorporated Business Unit
Performance Share Plan (the "Plan") is to strengthen the alignment of financial
interests of selected employees in various Strategic Business Units ("SBUs") of
Reliant Energy, Incorporated (the "Company") and its Subsidiaries with those of
the Company's shareholders through the increased ownership of shares of the
Company's Common Stock by such employees. The Plan (i) enhances the Company's
ability to maintain a competitive position in attracting and retaining qualified
personnel, (ii) provides a means of rewarding the outstanding performance of
such employees, and (iii) enhances the interest of such employees in the
Company's continued success and progress by enabling them to obtain a
proprietary interest in the Company. The Plan provides for awards of performance
shares tied to, among other factors, the performance of particular SBUs of the
Company.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the
meanings below stated, subject to the provisions of Section 8.1.
"BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"CAUSE" means Executive's (a) gross negligence in the
performance of Executive's duties, (b) intentional and continued failure to
perform Executive's duties, (c) intentional engagement in conduct which is
materially injurious to the Company or its Subsidiaries (monetarily or
otherwise) or (d) conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral
turpitude. For this purpose, an act or failure to act on the part of Executive
will be deemed "intentional" only if done or omitted to be done by Executive not
in good faith and without reasonable belief that his/her action or omission was
in the best interest of the Company, and no act or failure to act on the part of
Executive will be deemed "intentional" if it was due primarily to an error in
judgment or negligence.
A "CHANGE IN CONTROL" or "CIC" shall be deemed to have
occurred upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) 30% OWNERSHIP CHANGE: Any Person makes an acquisition of
Outstanding Voting Stock and is, immediately thereafter, the beneficial
owner of 30% or more of the then Outstanding Voting Stock, unless such
acquisition is made
<PAGE> 2
directly from the Company in a transaction approved by a majority of
the Incumbent Directors; or any group is formed that is the beneficial
owner of 30% or more of the Outstanding Voting Stock; or
(b) BOARD MAJORITY CHANGE: Individuals who are Incumbent
Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members
of the Board; or
(c) MAJOR MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS: Consummation of a Business
Combination unless, immediately following such Business Combination,
(i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were
the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Voting Stock immediately prior
to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly,
more than 70% of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the
parent corporation resulting from such Business Combination in
substantially the same relative proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Outstanding
Voting Stock, (ii) if the Business Combination involves the issuance or
payment by the Company of consideration to another entity or its
shareholders, the total fair market value of such consideration plus
the principal amount of the consolidated long-term debt of the entity
or business being acquired (in each case, determined as of the date of
consummation of such Business Combination by a majority of the
Incumbent Directors) does not exceed 50% of the sum of the fair market
value of the Outstanding Voting Stock plus the principal amount of the
Company's consolidated long-term debt (in each case, determined
immediately prior to such consummation by a majority of the Incumbent
Directors), (iii) no Person (other than any corporation resulting from
such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly,
30% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the
parent corporation resulting from such Business Combination and (iv) a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the parent
corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Incumbent
Directors of the Company immediately prior to consummation of such
Business Combination; or
(d) MAJOR ASSET DISPOSITIONS: Consummation of a Major Asset
Disposition unless, immediately following such Major Asset Disposition,
(i) individuals and entities that were beneficial owners of the
Outstanding Voting Stock immediately prior to such Major Asset
Disposition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 70% of
the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (if it
continues to exist) and of the entity that acquires the largest portion
of such assets (or the entity, if any, that owns a majority of the
outstanding voting stock of such acquiring entity) and (ii) a majority
of the members of the board of directors of the Company (if it
continues to exist) and of the entity that acquires the largest portion
of such assets (or the entity, if any, that owns a majority of the
outstanding voting stock of such acquiring entity) were Incumbent
Directors of the Company immediately prior to consummation of such
Major Asset Disposition.
-2-
<PAGE> 3
For purposes of the foregoing,
(1) the term "Person" means an individual, entity or group;
(2) the term "group" is used as it is defined for purposes of
Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act");
(3) the term "beneficial owner" is used as it is defined for
purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act;
(4) the term "Outstanding Voting Stock" means outstanding
voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors; and any specified percentage or portion of the
Outstanding Voting Stock (or of other voting stock) shall be determined
based on the combined voting power of such securities;
(5) the term "Incumbent Director" means a director of the
Company (x) who was a director of the Company on September 1, 1997 or
(y) who becomes a director subsequent to such date and whose election,
or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved
by a vote of a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such
election or nomination, except that any such director shall not be
deemed an Incumbent Director if his or her initial assumption of office
occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest or other
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of a
Person other than the Board;
(6) the term "election contest" is used as it is defined for
purposes of Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act;
(7) the term "Business Combination" means (x) a merger or
consolidation involving the Company or its stock or (y) an acquisition
by the Company, directly or through one or more subsidiaries, of
another entity or its stock or assets;
(8) the term "parent corporation resulting from a Business
Combination" means the Company if its stock is not acquired or
converted in the Business Combination and otherwise means the entity
which as a result of such Business Combination owns the Company or all
or substantially all the Company's assets either directly or through
one or more subsidiaries; and
(9) the term "Major Asset Disposition" means the sale or other
disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions of
70% or more of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis; and any specified percentage or portion of the
assets of the Company shall be based on fair market value, as
determined by a majority of the Incumbent Directors.
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.
-3-
<PAGE> 4
"COMMITTEE" means the Special Stock Award Committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company.
"COMMON STOCK" means, subject to the provisions of Section
10.3, the presently authorized common stock, without par value, of the Company.
"COMPANY" means Reliant Energy, Incorporated, a Texas
corporation.
"DISABILITY" means a physical or mental impairment of
sufficient severity such that an Employee is both eligible for and in receipt of
benefits under the long-term disability provisions of the Company's benefit
plans.
"EMPLOYEE" means an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary.
"EMPLOYER" means the Company or Subsidiary that employs the
Employee.
"EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"FAIR MARKET VALUE" means the average of high and low sales
price of a share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange--Composite
Transactions reporting system, as reported in The Wall Street Journal on the
date as of which such value is being determined or, if no sales occurred on such
day, then on the next preceding day on which there were such sales.
"PARTICIPANT" means a person selected to participate in this
Plan pursuant to the terms hereof.
"PERFORMANCE CYCLE" means the period of time established by
the Committee of not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years used
when measuring the degree to which the Performance Objectives relating to an
award of Performance Shares have been met.
"PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES" means the criteria established by the
Committee for each Performance Cycle as the basis for determining the number of
shares of Common Stock which shall be vested with respect to each award of
Performance Shares.
"PERFORMANCE SHARES" means shares of Common Stock or units
denominated in shares of Common Stock granted by the Company to a Participant
pursuant to Section 5.1 subject to restrictions based on the achievement of
Performance Goals.
"PLAN" means the Reliant Energy, Incorporated Business Unit
Performance Sharing Plan, as set forth herein and as from time to time amended.
"STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNIT" or "SBU" means a unit or division of
the Company or a Subsidiary, or a functional unit of the Company, a Subsidiary,
or a group of Subsidiaries, designated as a Strategic Business Unit.
-4-
<PAGE> 5
"SUBSIDIARY" means a subsidiary corporation of the Company as
defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
ARTICLE III
RESERVATION OF SHARES
The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be
issued under this Plan shall not exceed Five Million (5,000,000) shares, subject
to adjustment as hereinafter provided. All or any part of such Five Million
shares may be issued pursuant to awards of Performance Shares. The shares of
Common Stock which may be granted pursuant to awards of Performance Shares will
consist of either authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of
Common Stock which have been issued and which shall have been heretofore or
hereafter reacquired by the Company as treasury shares. The total number of
shares authorized under this Plan shall be subject to increase or decrease in
order to give effect to the adjustment provision of Section 10.3 and to give
effect to any amendment adopted as provided in Section 9.1. The foregoing
limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan is a
limitation on the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued, net of any
shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Award implemented by delivery of
certificates that are returned to the Company as provided in Article V, but
subject to such other rules and procedures concerning the counting of shares
against the Plan maximum as the Committee may deem appropriate.
ARTICLE IV
PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN
4.1 ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE PERFORMANCE SHARES. Subject to the
restriction in the next following sentence, Performance Shares under this Plan
may be granted only to persons selected by the Committee who are Employees of
the Company or a Subsidiary on the date the award of Performance Shares is
granted. In no event shall an Employee who is an officer of the Company on the
date the grant otherwise would have been made be eligible for the grant of an
award hereunder.
4.2 PARTICIPATION NOT GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in this Plan or
in the instrument evidencing the grant of a Performance Shares shall in any
manner be construed to limit in any way the right of the Company or a Subsidiary
to terminate a Participant's employment at any time, without regard to the
effect of such termination on any rights such Participant would otherwise have
under this Plan, or give any right to such Participant to remain employed by the
Company or a Subsidiary in any particular position or at any particular rate of
compensation.
-5-
<PAGE> 6
ARTICLE V
PERFORMANCE SHARES
5.1 GRANT OF PERFORMANCE SHARES.
(a) SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the
Committee shall select the persons to whom Performance Shares shall be awarded.
Awards of Performance Shares shall generally be made at the beginning of a
Performance Cycle, but may, in the Committee's discretion, be made from time to
time during the term of a Performance Cycle.
(b) AWARD OF SHARES. The Committee shall determine the number of shares
of Common Stock covered by each award of Performance Shares awarded to a
Participant, as well as all other terms and conditions of each award of
Performance Shares. On or about the close of, and, if appropriate and in
accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.4, during the term of, the Performance Cycle,
the Committee shall determine whether restrictions set forth in Article VI
hereof shall lapse with respect to a portion or all of the shares awarded under
an award of Performance Shares.
The Committee may implement the grant of Performance Shares by
(i) credit to a bookkeeping account maintained by the Company evidencing the
accrual to a Participant of unsecured and unfunded rights to receive, subject to
the terms of the award of Performance Shares, shares of Common Stock or (ii)
delivery of certificates for shares of Common Stock to the Participant, who must
execute appropriate stock powers in blank and return the certificates and stock
powers to the Company to be held in escrow for future delivery in accordance
with the terms of the award of Performance Shares.
(c) FORM OF INSTRUMENT. Each award of Performance Shares shall be made
pursuant to an instrument prescribed in form by the Committee. Such instrument
shall specify the number of shares covered thereby, the relevant Performance
Goals and Performance Cycle, and the restrictions, if any, which, if not
achieved, may cause all or part of the shares to be forfeited.
5.2 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES. Each award of Performance Shares shall be
subject to the achievement of Performance Objectives by the Company, a
Subsidiary, a combination of Subsidiaries, a particular SBU, a combination of
SBUs, or any combination of the foregoing during the Performance Cycle with
respect to which the award of Performance Shares is made. The Committee shall
generally establish Performance Objectives prior to the beginning of each
Performance Cycle, but may, in the Committee's discretion, establish Performance
Objectives during the term of a Performance Cycle. The Committee may also
subject an award of Performance Shares to such other restrictions as the
Committee, in its discretion, deems appropriate. Once established, Performance
Objectives may be changed, adjusted or amended during the term of a Performance
Cycle only upon authorization by the Committee. The degree to which the
Performance Objectives are achieved shall serve as the basis for the Committee's
determination of the portion of a Participant's award of Performance Shares
which shall become vested by reason of the lapse of restrictions set forth in
Article VI. The Committee may waive the attainment of Performance
-6-
<PAGE> 7
Objectives (in whole or in part) during or after the close of a Performance
Cycle if the Committee deems it appropriate in light of a change of
circumstances.
5.3 RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO SHARES.
(a) AWARD BY BOOKKEEPING ENTRY. No Participant who is granted an award
of Performance Shares implemented by credit to a Company bookkeeping account
shall have any rights as a stockholder by virtue of such grant until shares are
actually issued or delivered to the Participant. The Committee may establish and
express in the instrument evidencing the award of Performance Shares the terms
and conditions under which the Participant granted such Performance Shares shall
be entitled to receive an amount equivalent to any dividend payable with respect
to the number of shares which, as of the record date for which dividends are
payable, have been credited but not delivered to the Participant. At the
Committee's discretion, any such dividend equivalents (i) may be paid at such
time or times during the period when the shares are as yet undelivered pursuant
to the terms of the award of Performance Shares, (ii) may be paid at the time
the shares to which the dividend equivalents apply are delivered, or (iii) may
be reflected by the credit of additional full or fractional shares to three
decimal places in an amount equal to the amount of such dividend equivalents
divided by the Fair Market Value of a full share on the date of payment of the
dividend on which the dividend equivalent is based, all as shall be expressed in
the written instrument evidencing the award of Performance Shares. Any
arrangements for the payment or credit of dividend equivalents shall be
terminated if, and to the extent that, under the terms and conditions so
established, the right to receive shares pursuant to the terms of the award of
Performance Shares shall terminate or lapse.
(b) AWARD BY STOCK CERTIFICATE. Each Participant to whom an award of
Performance Shares consisting of shares represented by a stock certificate has
been made shall have absolute ownership of such shares including the right to
vote the same and to receive dividends thereon, subject, however, to the terms,
conditions and restrictions, if any, described in this Plan and in the
instrument evidencing the grant of the Performance Shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares of Common Stock
transferred pursuant to an award of Performance Shares shall be held in escrow
pursuant to an agreement satisfactory to the Committee until such time as the
Committee shall have determined whether the restrictions set forth in Article VI
shall have lapsed. Each such escrow agreement shall provide, without limitation,
that the shares of Common Stock subject to such agreement are subject to the
restrictions set forth in Article VI.
ARTICLE VI
RESTRICTIONS
6.1 RESTRICTIONS. Each award of Performance Shares granted under this
Plan shall contain the following terms, conditions and restrictions and such
additional terms, conditions and restrictions as may be determined by the
Committee.
-7-
<PAGE> 8
Until the restrictions set forth in this Section 6.1 shall
lapse pursuant to this Article VI, shares of Common Stock awarded to a
Participant pursuant to each award of Performance Shares:
(a) shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise disposed of; and
(b) shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the
Participant to such shares shall terminate without any payment of
consideration by the Company, if the Participant's continuous
employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall terminate
for any reason, except as provided in Section 6.2, 6.3 or 6.4.
6.2 LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS DUE TO ACHIEVEMENT OF PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES.
On or about the close of each Performance Cycle, the Committee shall determine
whether, and if not, to what extent the Company and/or the relevant SBUs have
achieved the Performance Objectives established for such Performance Cycle. The
Committee shall notify each Participant who has received an award of Performance
Shares of the Committee's determination of the extent to which the Performance
Objectives established for the Performance Cycle have been achieved and the
number of shares, if any, of Common Stock with respect to which the restrictions
of Section 6.1 have lapsed. Any lapse of restrictions shall occur on the date
the Committee notifies the Participant in writing.
6.3 LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS DUE TO CERTAIN TERMINATIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.
Unless otherwise provided by the Committee with respect to a particular award of
Performance Shares, if a Participant who has been in the continuous employment
of any Employer since the date on which Performance Shares were granted to such
Participant shall, while in such employment and prior to the close of the
Performance Cycle with respect to which such Performance Shares were granted,
terminate employment by reason of death, Disability or retirement on or after
attainment of age fifty-five (55), or if the Participant's employment is
terminated without Cause, then:
(a) if such event occurs during the first year of the
Performance Cycle, all shares included in the award of Performance
Shares shall be canceled; and
(b) if such event occurs after such first year of the
Performance Cycle, then (1) the Committee will take such action as it
deems necessary or appropriate to determine the degree to which the
applicable Performance Objectives are expected to be achieved through
the end of the Performance Cycle in which such event occurs and
determine the number (if any) of shares which such Participant would
otherwise have been entitled to based on the attainment of such
achievement level and (2) the restrictions set forth in Section 6.1
shall lapse with respect to a number of shares equal to the product of
(A) the number of such shares determined under clause (1) immediately
above times (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
days elapsed in the Performance Cycle as of the date of such event and
the denominator of which is the total number of days in the Performance
Cycle.
-8-
<PAGE> 9
Any lapse of restrictions pursuant to this Section 6.3(b) shall occur
on the later of the end of the Performance Cycle and the date the
Committee notifies the Participant in writing.
6.4 TREATMENT UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL. Unless otherwise provided by the
Committee with respect to a particular award of Performance Shares,
notwithstanding any provision of Section 6.1 or any other provision of this
Plan, forthwith upon the occurrence of any Change in Control of the Company, the
Company shall pay cash to each Participant to whom an award of Performance
Shares has been made (and with respect to which the restrictions have not
previously lapsed) in an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock
granted under this Plan pursuant to outstanding awards of Performance Shares
times the Fair Market Value on the date of the Change in Control.
ARTICLE VII
TAX PAYMENTS
A Participant who has received shares of Common Stock pursuant
to an award of Performance Shares may also, at the discretion of the Committee,
receive from the Company a cash payment in an amount determined by the
Committee, if any, not to exceed that amount sufficient to pay such
Participant's tax liability with respect to (i) such shares and (ii) such cash
payment.
ARTICLE VIII
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
8.1 THE COMMITTEE. This Plan shall be administered solely by the
Committee. The Committee shall have full and final authority to interpret this
Plan and the instruments evidencing Performance Shares granted hereunder, to
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations, if any, relating to this
Plan and to make all determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Plan. The Committee's determination in all matters
referred to herein shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes and upon all
persons including, but without limitation, the Company, all Subsidiaries, the
shareholders of the Company, the Committee and each of the members thereof, as
well as Participants and Employees and their respective successors in interest.
8.2 LIABILITY OF COMMITTEE. No member of the Committee shall be liable
for anything done or omitted to be done by such member or by any other member of
the Committee or by any person to whom authority is delegated as provided in the
last sentence of Section 8.1 in connection with this Plan, except for the
willful misconduct of such member or as expressly required by law. The Committee
shall have power to engage outside consultants, auditors or other professionals
to assist in the fulfillment of the Committee's duties under this Plan at the
Company's expense.
8.3 DETERMINATION OF THE COMMITTEE. In making its determinations
concerning the individuals who will become Participants, as well as the number
of shares to be awarded to each
-9-
<PAGE> 10
Participant, the Committee shall take into account such factors as the Committee
may deem relevant. The Committee shall also determine the form of instrument
granting the Performance Shares to be issued under this Plan and the terms and
conditions to be included therein, provided such terms and conditions are not
inconsistent with the terms of this Plan. The Committee may, in its sole
discretion, waive any provisions of any award of Performance Shares, provided
such waiver is not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as then in effect.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN
9.1 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION. The Board may
amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time except that no
amendment or alteration that would impair the rights of any Participant under
any outstanding award of Performance Shares shall be made without such
Participant's consent.
9.2 TERMINATION. The Board may at any time terminate this Plan as of
any date specified in a resolution adopted by the Board. No Performance Shares
may be granted after this Plan has terminated. After this Plan has terminated,
the function of the Committee with respect to this Plan will be limited to
determinations, interpretations and other matters provided herein with respect
to Performance Shares previously granted.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
10.1 RESTRICTIONS UPON GRANT OF PERFORMANCE SHARES. The listing upon
the New York Stock Exchange or the registration or qualification under any
federal or state law of any shares of Common Stock to be granted pursuant to
this Plan (whether to permit the grant of Performance Shares or the resale or
other disposition of any such shares of Common Stock by or on behalf of the
Participants receiving such shares) may be necessary or desirable and, in any
event, if the Committee in its sole discretion so determines, delivery of the
certificates for such shares of Common Stock shall not be made until such
listing, registration or qualification shall have been completed. In such
connection, the Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to effect any
such listing, registration or qualification, provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to use its best efforts to effect such registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other than on Form S-8, as presently in
effect, or other such forms as may be in effect from time to time calling for
information comparable to that presently required to be furnished under Form
S-8.
10.2 RESTRICTIONS UPON RESALE OF UNREGISTERED STOCK. If the shares of
Common Stock that have been transferred to a Participant pursuant to the terms
of this Plan are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
pursuant to an effective registration statement, such Participant, if the
Committee deems it advisable, may be required to represent and agree in writing
(i) that any shares of Common Stock acquired by such Participant pursuant to
this Plan will not be sold except pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act
of 1933 (the "1933 Act"), pursuant to an
-10-
<PAGE> 11
effective registration statement under the 1933 Act, or pursuant to an exemption
from registration under said Act and (ii) that such Participant is acquiring
such shares of Common Stock for such Participant's own account and not with a
view to the distribution thereof.
10.3 ADJUSTMENTS.
(a) The existence of outstanding Performance Shares shall not affect in
any manner the right or power of the Company or its shareholders to make or
authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other
changes in the capital stock of the Company or its business or any merger or
consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or
prior preference stock (whether or not such issue is prior to, on a parity with
or junior to the Common Stock) or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company,
or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any
other corporate act or proceeding of any kind, whether or not of a character
similar to that of the acts or proceedings enumerated above.
(b) In the event of any subdivision or combination of outstanding
shares of Common Stock or declaration of a dividend on the Common Stock payable
in shares of Common Stock, the Committee may adjust proportionally the number of
shares of Common Stock reserved under this Plan and covered by outstanding
awards of Performance Shares denominated in Common Stock or units of Common
Stock and may also adjust, if it deems appropriate, any price criteria or other
determination in respect of such Performance Shares. In the event of any
consolidation or merger of the Company with another corporation or entity or the
adoption by the Company of a plan of exchange affecting the Common Stock or any
distribution to holders of Common Stock of securities or property (other than
normal cash dividends or dividends payable in Common Stock) or any
reclassification of this Common Stock, the Committee may make such adjustments
or other provisions as it may deem equitable, including adjustments to avoid
fractional shares, to give proper effect to such event. In the event of a
corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or
liquidating distribution, the Committee shall be authorized to issue or assume
Performance Shares, regardless of whether in a transaction to which Section
424(a) of the Code applies, by means of substitution of new Performance Shares
for previously issued Performance Shares or an assumption of previously issued
Performance Shares, or to make provision for the acceleration of the lapse of
restrictions with respect to Performance Shares and the termination of
unexercised rights with respect to Performance Shares in connection with such
transaction.
10.4 RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS.
(a) Certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to an
award of Performance Shares shall bear an appropriate legend conforming to the
requirements of applicable law referring to the terms, conditions and
restrictions described in this Plan and in the instruments evidencing the grant
of the Performance Shares. Any attempt to dispose of any such shares of Common
Stock in contravention of the terms, conditions and restrictions described in
this Plan or in the instruments evidencing the grant of the Performance Shares
shall be ineffective. The Company may also place appropriate "stop transfer"
instructions in the stock transfer books of the Company with respect to shares
of Common Stock covered by an award of Performance Shares.
-11-
<PAGE> 12
(b) Any shares of Common Stock received by a Participant as a stock
dividend on, or as a result of stock splits, combinations, exchanges of shares,
reorganizations, mergers, consolidations or otherwise with respect to, shares of
Common Stock received pursuant to an award of Performance Shares shall have the
same status and bear the same legend as the shares received pursuant to the
award of Performance Shares.
10.5 WITHHOLDING OF TAXES: The Committee shall deduct applicable taxes
(without regard to any alternative rule permitting the use of a flat percentage
rate in computing such applicable income tax withholding amounts) with respect
to any Performance Shares, and withhold, at the time of delivery or other
appropriate time, an appropriate amount of cash or number of shares of Common
Stock or a combination thereof for payment of taxes required by law, such
withholding to be administered on a uniform basis (not involving any election by
any Participant). If shares of Common Stock are used to satisfy tax withholding,
such shares shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value when the tax
withholding is required to be made.
10.6 POOLING OF INTERESTS: In the event that the Company is party to a
transaction which is otherwise intended to qualify for "pooling of interests"
accounting treatment then (a) the provisions of the Plan shall, to the extent
practicable, be interpreted so as to permit such accounting treatment, and (b)
to the extent that the application of clause (a) of this sentence does not
preserve the availability of such accounting treatment, then, to the extent that
any of the provisions of the Plan or the terms or provisions of any outstanding
award or the manner or timing of the adoption of the Plan or the making of any
award thereunder disqualifies the transaction as a "pooling" transaction, the
Board may amend any provisions of the Plan, amend the provisions of any
outstanding award and/or declare any of the provisions of the Plan or the entire
Plan as well as any outstanding awards null and void if and to the extent
necessary (including declaring such provision or provisions to be null and void
as of the date hereof) so that such transaction may be accounted for as a
"pooling of interests." All determinations with respect to this paragraph shall
be made by the Board, based upon the advice of the accounting firm whose opinion
with respect to "pooling of interests" is required as a condition to the
consummation of such transaction.
10.7 EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN: This Plan shall be effective as of January
6, 1999.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
By /s/ LEE W. HOGAN
---------------------------------------
Name: Lee W. Hogan
----------------------------------
Title: Vice Chairman
---------------------------------
ATTEST:
[ILLEGIBLE]
- -----------------------------
Assistant Corporate Secretary
-12-
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 12
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
---------- --------- ---------- --------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income from continuing operations .................. $1,665,731 $(141,092) $421,110 $404,944 $397,400
Income taxes for continuing operations ............. 899,117 (30,432) 206,374 200,165 199,555
Capitalized interest ............................... (18,942) (13,868) (10,593) (2,598) (4,692)
---------- -------- ---------- -------- --------
2,545,906 (185,392) 616,891 602,511 592,263
---------- -------- ---------- -------- --------
Fixed charges, as defined:
Interest ........................................ 511,474 509,601 395,085 307,382 296,385
Capitalized interest ............................ 18,942 13,868 10,593 2,598 4,692
Distribution on trust preferred securities ...... 51,220 29,201 26,230
Preference security dividend requirements
of subsidiary ................................. 3,360 33,619 44,933
Interest component of rentals charged to
operating expense ............................. 12,949 9,966 5,692 942 3,102
---------- -------- ---------- -------- --------
Total fixed charges ............................. 594,585 562,636 440,960 344,541 349,112
---------- -------- ---------- -------- --------
Earnings, as defined ............................... $3,140,491 $377,244 $1,057,851 $947,052 $941,375
========== ======== ========== ======== ========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ................. 5.28 2.40 2.75 2.70
========== ======== ========== ======== ========
</TABLE>
In 1998 earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by approximately
$185 million. This deficiency results from the $1.2 billion non-cash, unrealized
accounting loss recorded for the ACES. Excluding the effect of the non-cash,
unrealized accounting loss of $764 million, the ratio of earnings from
continuing operations to fixed charges would have been 2.76.
158
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 12
RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED)
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income from continuing operations ................. $100,201 $ 93,824 $ 66,722 $ 95,138 $ 65,529
Income taxes for continuing operations ............ 88,771 111,830 55,781 66,352 55,379
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
188,972 205,654 122,503 161,490 120,908
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Fixed charges, as defined:
Interest expense ............................... 119,492 111,337 126,150 132,557 157,959
Distribution on trust preferred securities ..... 357 632 6,596 5,842
Interest component of rentals charged to
operating expense ............................ 10,975 8,485 7,988 10,083 16,215
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total fixed charges ............................ 130,824 120,454 140,734 148,482 174,174
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Earnings, as defined .............................. $319,796 $326,108 $263,237 $309,972 $295,082
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ................ 2.44 2.71 1.87 2.09 1.69
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
159
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 21
SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
The following subsidiaries are deemed "significant subsidiaries" pursuant
to Item 601(b) (21) of Regulation S-K:
Reliant Energy Resources Corp., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly
owned subsidiary of Reliant Energy, Incorporated.
Reliant Energy Power Generation, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct
wholly owned subsidiary of Reliant Energy, Incorporated.
Reliant Energy Wholesale (Europe) Holdings BV, a Dutch corporation and an
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Reliant Energy, Incorporated.
Reliant Energy Capital (Europe), Inc., a Delaware corporation and an
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Reliant Energy, Incorporated.
Reliant Energy Europe, Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly
owned subsidiary of Reliant Energy, Incorporated.
Reliant Energy Wholesale (Europe) CV, a Dutch corporation and an indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Reliant Energy, Incorporated.
N.V. UNA, a Dutch corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Reliant Energy, Incorporated.
- -----------
(1) Pursuant to Item 601(b) (21) of Regulation S-K,registrant has omitted
the names of subsidiaries, which considered in the aggregate as a single
subsidiary, would not constitute a "significant subsidiary" (as defined
under Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X) as of December 31, 1999.
(2) Reliant Energy Resources Corp. also conducts business under the names of
its three unincorporated divisions: Reliant Energy Arkla, Reliant Energy
Entex and Reliant Energy Minnegasco.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Reliant Energy, Incorporated's
(i) Registration Statement on Form S-4 No. 333-11329; (ii) Registration
Statement on Form S-3 Nos. 33-46368, 33-54228, 333-20069, 333-32353, 333-33301,
333-33303, 333-58433, 333-70665, 333-81119 and 333-86403; (iii) Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 33-51417 on Form S-3; (iv)
Registration Statements on Form S-8 Nos. 333-32413, 333-32585, and 333-49333;
and (v) Post-Effective Amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 3 to Registration Statement No.
333-11329-99 on Form S-8 of our report dated March 1, 2000 (relating to the
consolidated financial statements of Reliant Energy, Incorporated (the
"Company")) appearing in this Combined Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company
and Reliant Energy Resources Corp. for the year ended December 31, 1999.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Houston, Texas
March 15, 2000
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000048732
<NAME> RELIANT ENERGY INCORPORATED
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 9,127,346
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 5,162,259
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 6,253,269
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 5,678,062
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 26,220,936
<COMMON> 2,890,229
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 2,406,363
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 5,296,592
705,272
9,740
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 4,948,808
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 1,085,943
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 1,793,268
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 4,380,907
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 12,502
<LEASES-CURRENT> 1,229
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 7,986,675
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 26,220,936
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 15,302,810
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 899,117
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 14,062,296
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 14,062,296
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 1,240,514
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 1,652,547
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 2,893,061
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 511,474
<NET-INCOME> 1,482,470
389
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 1,482,081
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 426,981
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 339,958
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 1,161,665
<EPS-BASIC> 5.20
<EPS-DILUTED> 5.18
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Resources'
financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001042773
<NAME> RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,447,272
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 1,526,610
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,810,126
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 2,428,789
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,212,797
<COMMON> 1
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 2,463,831
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 197,674
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 2,661,506
967
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 1,220,631
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 350,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 184,584
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 223,451
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 2,571,658
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 7,212,797
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 10,543,545
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 88,771
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 0
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 10,245,862
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 297,683
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 10,781
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 308,464
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 119,492
<NET-INCOME> 100,201
0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 100,201
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 95,392
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 135,065
<EPS-BASIC> 0
<EPS-DILUTED> 0
</TABLE>
