<PAGE>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+The information in this prospectus supplement is not complete and may be +
+changed. This prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell these securities +
+and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where +
+such offer or sale is not permitted. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject to Completion, dated September 30, 2000
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus dated January 6, 2000)
7,000,000 Premium Income Equity Securitiessm ("PIESsm")
Consisting of 7,000,000 Corporate PIES
[LOGO OF DOMINION]
Dominion Resources, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each PIES being offered will be a Corporate PIES, which is a unit consisting of
a stock purchase contract and a senior note issued by Dominion.
. The stock purchase contract will obligate the holder to purchase from
Dominion, no later than , 2004 for a price of $50, the following number
of common shares of Dominion:
. if the average closing price of the common shares over a 20-trading day
period before , 2004 equals or exceeds $ , common shares;
. if the average closing price is less than $ but greater than $ , a
number of common shares equal to $50 divided by the average closing
price; and
. if the average closing price is less than or equal to $ , common
shares.
. The senior note will have a principal amount of $50. The holder will pledge
the senior note to secure the holder's obligation to purchase the common
shares under the related stock purchase contract.
. Payments will accumulate under the stock purchase contracts and the senior
notes at the combined rate of % per year, payable on , , and
of each year, beginning , 2001.
Dominion has applied to list the Corporate PIES on the New York Stock Exchange
under the trading symbol " ." Trading of the Corporate PIES on the New York
Stock Exchange is expected to commence within five business days after the date
of this prospectus supplement.
Investing in the Corporate PIES involves risks.
For a description of these risks, see "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-13.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Per Corporate PIES Total
------------------ -----
<S> <C> <C>
Public Offering Price.................................. $ $
Underwriting Discount.................................. $ $
Proceeds to Dominion................................... $ $
</TABLE>
Any accumulated interest payments on the senior notes and any contract
adjustment payments on the stock purchase contracts that are a part of the
Corporate PIES from , 2000 should be added to the Public Offering Price.
Dominion has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to
1,050,000 additional Corporate PIES on the same terms and conditions set forth
above solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Lehman Brothers Inc. expects to deliver the Corporate PIES on or about ,
2000.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehman Brothers
Banc of America Securities LLC
Credit Suisse First Boston
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
, 2000
"Premium Income Equity Securities" and "PIES" are service marks owned by Lehman
Brothers Inc.
<PAGE>
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is in two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement,
which describes the specific terms of the PIES we are offering and certain
other matters relating to us and our financial condition. The second part, the
base prospectus, gives more general information about securities we may offer
from time to time, some of which does not apply to the PIES we are offering.
Generally, when we refer to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts of
this document combined. If the description of the PIES in the prospectus
supplement differs from the description of stock purchase contracts and stock
purchase units in the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on the
information in the prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to
which this document refers you. We have not, and the underwriters have not,
authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides
you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This
document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The
information in this document may only be accurate as of the date of this
document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects may have changed since that date.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement Prospectus
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
Where You Can Find More Information...................................... S-3
Forward-Looking Statements............................................... S-3
Prospectus Supplement Summary............................................ S-5
Risk Factors............................................................. S-13
Dominion................................................................. S-16
Recent Developments...................................................... S-19
Use of Proceeds.......................................................... S-20
Common Share Dividends and Price Range................................... S-21
Capitalization........................................................... S-22
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges....................................... S-23
Accounting Treatment..................................................... S-23
Description of the PIES.................................................. S-24
Description of the Purchase Contracts.................................... S-27
Certain Provisions of the Purchase Contracts, the Purchase Contract
Agreement and the Pledge Agreement...................................... S-36
Description of the Senior Notes.......................................... S-39
Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement..................................... S-45
United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences............................................................ S-47
ERISA Considerations..................................................... S-55
Underwriting............................................................. S-58
Legal Matters............................................................ S-60
Experts.................................................................. S-60
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
About This Prospectus..................................................... 2
Where You Can Find More Information....................................... 2
The Company............................................................... 3
The Trusts................................................................ 3
Use of Proceeds........................................................... 3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges........................................ 4
Description of Debt Securities............................................ 4
Additional Terms of Senior Debt Securities................................ 12
Additional Terms of Junior Subordinated Debentures........................ 13
Description of the Trust Preferred Securities............................. 15
Description of the Guarantees............................................. 25
Relationship Among the Trust Preferred Securities, the Guarantee and the
Junior Subordinated Debentures Held by the Trust......................... 29
Accounting Treatment...................................................... 29
Description of Capital Stock.............................................. 30
Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units.......... 31
Virginia Stock Corporation Act and the Articles and the Bylaws............ 31
Plan of Distribution...................................................... 34
Legal Opinions............................................................ 35
Experts................................................................... 35
</TABLE>
S-2
<PAGE>
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Dominion files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. Dominion's SEC filings are available to the
public over the Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may
also read and copy any document Dominion files at the SEC's public reference
rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago. Please call the SEC at 1-800-
SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. You may also
read and copy these documents at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20
Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information Dominion
files with them, which means that Dominion can disclose important information
to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by
reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and later
information that Dominion files with the SEC will automatically update or
supersede this information. Dominion incorporates by reference the documents
listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act), until such time as all of the securities covered by this
prospectus supplement have been sold:
. Annual Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31,
1999;
. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000 and June
30, 2000; and
. Current Reports on Form 8-K and Form 8-K/A, filed January 3, 2000, February
1, 2000, March 23, 2000, June 21, 2000, June 22, 2000, July 11, 2000 and
September 11, 2000.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at: Corporate Secretary, Dominion, 120 Tredegar Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219, Telephone (804) 819-2000.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Dominion has included certain information in this document which is "forward-
looking information" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Examples include discussions as to our expectations, beliefs, plans,
goals, objectives and future financial or other performance or assumptions
concerning matters discussed in this document. This information, by its nature,
involves estimates, projections, forecasts and uncertainties that could cause
actual results or outcomes to differ substantially from those expressed.
Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict,
involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often
beyond our ability to control. Dominion has identified a number of these
factors in its filings with the SEC, including its most recent Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement,
and Dominion refers you to those reports for further information. They include
fluctuations in energy-related commodities prices, weather conditions, the
risks of operating businesses in regulated industries that are in the process
of becoming deregulated, completing the
S-3
<PAGE>
integration of Consolidated Natural Gas Company ("CNG") with the remainder of
Dominion's business and completing the divestitures of Dominion Capital, Inc.
and Virginia Natural Gas, Inc. required of Dominion in connection with the CNG
transaction as well as those we are making to focus our attention on the
northeast quadrant of the United States.
S-4
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
In this prospectus supplement, the words "Dominion," "Company," "we," "our"
and "us" refer to Dominion Resources, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and its
subsidiaries and predecessors, unless the context otherwise indicates.
The following summary contains basic information about this offering. It may
not contain all the information that is important to you. The "Description of
the PIES," "Description of the Purchase Contracts," "Certain Provisions of the
Purchase Contracts, the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge Agreement"
and "Description of the Senior Notes" sections of this prospectus supplement
contain more detailed information regarding the terms and conditions of the
PIES. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and in
the accompanying base prospectus.
DOMINION
Dominion is a fully integrated gas and electric energy holding company
headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. As of June 30, 2000, we had approximately
$29 billion in assets.
Our primary operating segments are:
Dominion Energy--Dominion Energy manages our 19,000 megawatt portfolio of
electric power generation, our 7,600 miles of gas transmission pipeline and a
885 billion cubic foot natural gas storage network. It also guides our
generation growth strategy and our commodity trading, marketing and risk
management activities. We currently operate generation facilities in
Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Illinois.
Dominion Delivery--Dominion Delivery manages our local electric and gas
distribution systems serving 3.8 million customers, our 6,000 miles of
electric transmission lines and our customer service operations. We currently
operate transmission and distribution systems in Virginia, West Virginia,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Dominion Delivery also includes
Dominion Telecom with its 3,620 route-mile fiber optic network and related
telecommunications and advanced data services located principally in the
northeast quadrant of the United States.
Dominion Exploration & Production--Dominion Exploration & Production
manages our onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and production
activities. With approximately 2.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas
equivalent reserves and 320 billion cubic feet of annual production, Dominion
Exploration & Production is one of the nation's largest independent oil and
gas operators. We operate on the outer continental shelf and deep water areas
of the Gulf of Mexico, western Canada, the Appalachian Basin and other
selected regions in the continental United States.
Dominion's address and telephone number are Dominion, 120 Tredegar Street,
Richmond, Virginia 23219, Telephone (804) 819-2000.
S-5
<PAGE>
THE OFFERING
Corporate PIES
Dominion is offering 7,000,000 PIES, consisting of 7,000,000 Corporate PIES,
to the public for $50 each. Each Corporate PIES is a unit consisting of two
parts:
. a purchase contract for Dominion's common shares; and
. a senior note.
Purchase Contract
Dominion has entered into a purchase contract agreement with The Chase
Manhattan Bank, which will act as purchase contract agent for all of the
holders of the Corporate PIES, and for all of the holders of the Treasury PIES,
described below. The purchase contract that you purchase, as a component of the
Corporate PIES, will be issued under the purchase contract agreement. It
creates a contractual arrangement between you and Dominion for the purchase of
Dominion's common shares.
Under the purchase contract, you will be obligated to purchase, for each of
your Corporate PIES, common shares at a purchase price of $50. You will not be
obligated to pay the purchase price, and you will not receive your common
shares, until , 2004, which has been set as the purchase contract settlement
date. The number of common shares that you will be entitled to receive on that
date will depend on the average closing price of the common shares over a 20
trading-day period prior to that date. Until you actually purchase the common
shares, your obligation to pay the $50 purchase price will be secured by the
senior note that is a part of your Corporate PIES, which will be pledged as
collateral. More information about the purchase contracts is provided under the
heading "Description of the Purchase Contracts" starting on page S-27.
Senior Note
Each Corporate PIES you purchase also will include a senior note. The
principal amount of each senior note is $50.
Payments to Corporate PIES Holders
As a holder of Corporate PIES, you will be entitled to receive cash payments
consisting of (1) payments under the purchase contract and (2) interest
payments on the senior note, at a combined rate of % per year.
. Payments under the Purchase Contract. Dominion will pay you quarterly
contract adjustment payments of $ (which is equal to % per year of the
$50 stated amount) on your purchase contract. Dominion will pay the contract
adjustment payments on , , and of each year, with the first
payment being made on , 2001 and the last payment being made on ,
2004, unless your purchase contract is settled or terminates before that
date.
. Interest Payments on the Senior Note. In addition, Dominion will pay you
quarterly cash interest payments on your senior note on the same dates that
contract adjustment payments are made. You will receive an interest payment
of $ each quarter. This amount is equal to % per year of the $50
principal amount. Interest payments will
S-6
<PAGE>
accumulate from , 2000 and will continue until , 2004. If you continue to
own your senior note after that date, then Dominion will pay you interest
payments on your senior note, which will accumulate from , 2004 until ,
2006, at a reset rate that is described in more detail starting on page S-41.
Limited Voting Rights
You will not have any voting or other rights with respect to the common
shares until you pay the $50 purchase price and purchase the common shares.
Prior to that purchase, if you hold Corporate PIES, you may vote only with
respect to the modification of the senior notes.
Pledge Arrangement
When you purchase a Corporate PIES, you will pledge the senior note that is a
part of that Corporate PIES as collateral to secure your obligation to purchase
common shares on , 2004 under the related purchase contract. Dominion has
entered into a pledge agreement under which will act as collateral agent and
hold your senior note until the $50 purchase price has been paid. Even though
your senior note will be pledged as collateral, you will be the beneficial
owner of the senior note.
Treasury PIES
Once you own Corporate PIES, you may create Treasury PIES by substituting
U.S. treasury securities for the Dominion senior notes that are a part of the
Corporate PIES. A Treasury PIES will be a unit consisting of:
. a purchase contract for Dominion's common shares that is identical to the
purchase contract that is a part of the Corporate PIES; and
. a 1/20 undivided beneficial ownership interest in a zero-coupon U.S.
treasury security (CUSIP No. ) that has a principal amount at maturity of
$1,000 and matures on , 2004, the business day prior to the purchase
contract settlement date (the "Treasury Security").
Terms of Substitution
You may substitute Treasury Securities for senior notes at any time on or
prior to , 2004. This date is the seventh business day prior to the purchase
contract settlement date. Because the Treasury Security has a principal amount
at maturity of $1,000, you must substitute Treasury PIES for Corporate PIES in
multiples of 20. In order to make a substitution, you must:
. for each group of 20 Corporate PIES you wish to substitute, transfer a
Treasury Security to , which is acting as the securities intermediary
under the pledge arrangement. The securities intermediary then will deposit
the Treasury Security in the collateral account maintained under the pledge
arrangement. The Treasury Security will become the collateral supporting
your obligation to purchase the common shares, and the collateral agent will
release $1,000 principal amount of senior notes from the pledge. Those
senior notes then will be freely tradable and will not be a part of a
Corporate PIES or a Treasury PIES;
. submit your Corporate PIES in multiples of 20. For each group of 20
Corporate
S-7
<PAGE>
PIES you submit, you will receive 20 Treasury PIES; and
. pay to the collateral agent any fees or expenses incurred in connection with
the substitution.
Payments to Treasury PIES Holders
If you substitute Treasury PIES for Corporate PIES, you will continue to
receive contract adjustment payments under your purchase contract, but you will
not receive any other distributions on the Treasury PIES. Instead, you will
accrue original issue discount on the Treasury Securities that you deposited
with the securities intermediary. As long as you continue to own the senior
notes that had been a part of your Corporate PIES, you will receive interest
payments on them, separately from the Treasury PIES.
Recreating Corporate PIES
Once you have created Treasury PIES, you may subsequently recreate Corporate
PIES at any time on or prior to , 2004. Because the Treasury Security has a
principal amount at maturity of $1,000, you must recreate Corporate PIES from
Treasury PIES in multiples of 20. In order to recreate Corporate PIES, you
must:
. for each group of 20 Corporate PIES to be recreated, transfer $1,000
aggregate principal amount of senior notes to the securities intermediary.
The securities intermediary then will deposit the senior notes in the
collateral account maintained under the pledge arrangement. The $1,000
principal amount of senior notes will become the collateral supporting your
obligation to purchase the common shares, and the collateral agent will
release the Treasury Security from the pledge. That Treasury Security then
will be freely tradable and will not be a part of any PIES;
. submit your Treasury PIES in multiples of 20. For each group of 20 Treasury
PIES you submit, you will receive 20 Corporate PIES; and
. pay to the collateral agent any fees or expenses incurred in connection with
the substitution.
Settlement of Purchase Contracts; Remarketing
. Settlement of Purchase Contracts. For each purchase contract that is a part
of your Corporate PIES, you will be obligated to pay, on , 2004, $50 to
purchase Dominion's common shares. You may choose to deliver a cash payment
of $50, or, if you do not, your senior note held as collateral under the
pledge arrangement will be sold to the public for $50.125 ("remarketed") and
the proceeds will be used to pay the amount due under your purchase contract.
Except as described below, Dominion will be responsible for all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the remarketing.
. Remarketing of Senior Notes. On , 2004, which is the third business day
prior to the purchase contract settlement date, Lehman Brothers Inc. will
remarket:
. senior notes that are part of Corporate PIES, if the holders of those
Corporate PIES either (1) elect to have those senior notes remarketed or
S-8
<PAGE>
(2) fail to deliver cash payments for the common shares when those
payments are due under the purchase contract; and
. senior notes that are not part of Corporate PIES, including as a result
of the creation of Treasury PIES, to the extent the holders of those
senior notes elect to have those senior notes remarketed.
After the senior notes have been remarketed, the interest rate on all
outstanding senior notes, including those senior notes that were not
remarketed, will be the rate determined by the remarketing. If Lehman Brothers
cannot remarket the senior notes, the interest rate will be equal to a two-
year benchmark treasury rate plus a spread ranging from 300 to 700 basis
points depending on the credit ratings of the senior notes at that time.
. Remarketing Procedures.
. Your senior notes will be remarketed:
(1) if you do not notify the purchase contract agent that you will pay
cash for the common shares by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on ,
2004, which is the seventh business day prior to the purchase contract
settlement date; or
(2) if you notify the purchase contract agent that you will pay cash but
you do not deliver the cash by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on or
prior to , 2004, which is the fifth business day prior to the
purchase contract settlement date.
. On , 2004, Lehman Brothers will use commercially reasonable efforts to
sell your senior notes, together with all other senior notes being
remarketed, at a price of $50.125 per senior note.
. If the remarketing is successful, then:
. your senior notes will be sold, and the interest rate on the senior
notes will be reset to be the lowest rate that Lehman Brothers
determined was necessary to allow it to remarket the senior notes at a
price of $50.125 per senior note;
. $50 per senior note received from the sale will be delivered to Dominion
as payment for the common shares;
. $0.125 per senior note received from the sale will be paid to Lehman
Brothers; and
. you will receive the common shares.
. Failed Remarketing. If Lehman Brothers cannot remarket the senior notes,
then Dominion will be entitled to exercise its rights as a secured party and
take possession of your senior notes. Your obligation to purchase the common
shares then will be fully satisfied, and you will receive the common shares.
. Cash Payment in Lieu of Remarketing. If you choose not to participate in the
remarketing and instead pay cash for your common shares, then:
. Dominion will receive $50 in cash from you for each of your purchase
contracts;
. you will receive the common shares;
. your senior notes will be released from the pledge arrangement and
distributed to you. Starting on the date of
S-9
<PAGE>
settlement and continuing until , 2006, interest payments on the senior
notes will be payable at the new rate determined by Lehman Brothers in the
remarketing; and
. the new rate on your senior notes will be based upon a value of $50.125.
Settlement of Treasury PIES
Unless you notify the purchase contract agent that you will pay for the
common shares with cash, upon settlement of the Treasury PIES, Dominion will
receive the proceeds at maturity of the Treasury Securities being held as
collateral under the pledge arrangement. This will satisfy your obligation to
deliver the purchase price for the common shares, and you will receive the
common shares.
Number of Common Shares Purchased
Unless you elect to settle your purchase contracts early (see "Description of
the Purchase Contracts--Early Settlement" starting on page S-30), the number of
common shares you will receive under each purchase contract will depend on the
average of the closing price per share (or the last reported sale price, if no
closing price is reported) of the common shares as reported on the New York
Stock Exchange for a period of 20 trading days ending on , 2004. This date
is the third trading day prior to the purchase contract settlement date. If,
for any trading day, the trading of the common shares is suspended, or if the
common shares do not trade at least once on the NYSE on that day, then that day
will not be considered to be part of the 20-trading day period.
The number of common shares you will receive for each Corporate PIES will be
determined by one of the following settlement rates:
. if the average closing price equals or exceeds $ , you will
receive common shares;
. if the average closing price is less than $ but greater than $ , you
will receive a number of common shares equal to $50 divided by the average
closing price, rounded upward or downward to the nearest 1/10,000th of a
share; and
. if the average closing price is less than or equal to $ , you will
receive common shares.
In certain circumstances, the applicable settlement rate will be subject to
adjustment. You can find more information about the settlement rate starting on
page S-27.
Dominion will not issue any fractional common shares. If, however, you are
settling more than one purchase contract, then any fractional common shares
will be aggregated. For any fractional share not issuable, Dominion will pay
you the value of that fractional share in cash.
Early Settlement
You may satisfy your obligation to purchase common shares under your purchase
contract before the purchase contract settlement date on , 2004. If you
choose early settlement, you will pay $50 in cash on or prior to:
(1) , 2004, if you are settling Corporate PIES; this date is the seventh
business day prior to the purchase contract settlement date, or
S-10
<PAGE>
(2) , 2004, if you are settling Treasury PIES; this date is the second
business day prior to the purchase contract settlement date.
To effect early settlement:
. you must deliver to the purchase contract agent a notice indicating your
election to "settle early;"
. you must deliver a cash payment of $50 for each purchase contract being
settled;
. you will receive, for each Corporate PIES or Treasury PIES you surrender,
both:
. common shares, regardless of the market price of the common shares on
the date of early settlement and subject to adjustment in certain
circumstances; and
. your senior note if you are settling a Corporate PIES or a 1/20
undivided beneficial interest in a Treasury Security if you are settling
Treasury PIES.
You will not receive any further contract adjustment payments from Dominion.
You will continue to receive interest payments on your senior note.
You may settle Treasury PIES early only in multiples of 20.
Termination of Purchase Contracts
The purchase contracts will terminate immediately and automatically if
certain bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events occur with respect to
Dominion. If the purchase contracts terminate upon one of these events, then
your rights and obligations under your purchase contracts also will terminate,
including your right to receive accrued contract adjustment payments and your
obligation to pay for, and your right to receive, common shares. Upon
termination, you will receive your senior note or your Treasury Security. If
Dominion becomes the subject of a bankruptcy case, then there may be a delay
between the time the purchase contracts terminate and the time you receive your
pledged senior note or Treasury Security, as the case may be. You may find more
information about how the purchase contracts terminate on page S-35.
Listing on an Exchange
Dominion's common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
ticker symbol "D."
Dominion has applied to list the Corporate PIES on the NYSE under the symbol
" ." Trading of the Corporate PIES on the NYSE is expected to commence within
five business days after the date of this prospectus supplement. If either the
Treasury PIES or the senior notes are traded at a volume that satisfies
applicable exchange listing requirements, then Dominion will try to list those
securities on the national securities exchanges or associations on which the
Corporate PIES are then listed or quoted.
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
Because a Corporate PIES will consist of a purchase contract and a senior
note, the purchase price of each Corporate PIES will be allocated between the
purchase contract and the related senior note in proportion to their relative
fair market values at the time of purchase.
S-11
<PAGE>
Dominion intends to report the contract adjustment payments as income to you,
but you may want to consult your tax advisor concerning alternative
characterizations.
If you own Corporate PIES, you will include in gross income the interest
income on the senior notes when such interest income is paid or accrues in
accordance with your regular method of tax accounting.
If you own Treasury PIES, you will be required to include in gross income
your allocable share of any original issue discount or acquisition discount on
the Treasury Securities that accrues in such year.
Because there is no statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly
addressing the tax treatment of the PIES or instruments similar to the PIES,
you are urged to consult your own tax advisor concerning the tax consequences
of an investment in the PIES.
For additional information, see "United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences" starting on page S-47.
Use of Proceeds
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Corporate PIES for
general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt. See "Use of
Proceeds" on page S-20. This debt may include a portion of our short-term debt,
including commercial paper, issued in connection with our acquisition of CNG.
S-12
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
An investment in PIES involves a number of risks. Before deciding to buy any
PIES, you should carefully consider the following information, together with
the other information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying
prospectus and the documents that are incorporated by reference in the
accompanying prospectus about risks concerning an investment in PIES.
The Corporate PIES consist of purchase contracts to acquire Dominion's common
shares and senior notes issued by Dominion. When considering an investment in
Corporate PIES, you are making an investment decision with regard to the common
shares and the senior notes as well as the Corporate PIES. You should carefully
review the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus about all of these securities.
Number of common shares that you will receive under a purchase contract will
depend on future common share price; you will bear the risk of decline in
equity value.
The terms of the PIES differ from those of ordinary convertible securities.
The number of common shares that you will receive upon the settlement of a
purchase contract is not fixed, but instead will depend on the market value of
the common shares near the time of settlement. The aggregate market value of
the common shares you may receive upon settlement of the purchase contract may
be more or less than the stated amount of $50 per PIES. If the market value of
the common shares near the time of settlement is less than or equal to $ ,
the aggregate market value of the common shares issuable upon settlement
generally will be less than $50, and the investment in the PIES will result in
a loss. Therefore, you will bear the full risk of a decline in the market value
of the common shares prior to settlement of the purchase contracts. Any such
loss could be substantial.
Opportunity for equity appreciation is less than common share ownership.
The aggregate market value of the common shares you may receive upon
settlement of a purchase contract generally will exceed the stated amount of
$50 only if the average closing price of the common shares over the 20-trading
day period preceding settlement equals or exceeds $ , which we call the
"Threshold Appreciation Price." The Threshold Appreciation Price represents an
appreciation of % over the current market price. Therefore, during the period
prior to settlement, an investment in the PIES affords less opportunity for
equity appreciation than a direct investment in the common shares. If the
applicable average closing price exceeds $ , which we call the "Reference
Price," but falls below the Threshold Appreciation Price, you will realize no
equity appreciation on the common shares for the period during which you own
the purchase contract. Furthermore, if the applicable average closing price
equals or exceeds the Threshold Appreciation Price, you will realize only %
of the equity appreciation for that period above the Threshold Appreciation
Price. See "Description of the Purchase Contracts-- General" starting on page
S-27 for an illustration of the number of common shares that you would receive
at various average market prices.
S-13
<PAGE>
Market price for the common shares is uncertain.
It is impossible to know whether the market price of the common shares will
rise or fall. Numerous factors influence the trading prices of the common
shares including those described under "Forward-Looking Statements."
Number of common shares issuable upon settlement of purchase contracts will be
adjusted only for certain specified transactions.
The number of common shares issuable upon settlement of each purchase
contract is subject to adjustment only for share splits and combinations, share
dividends and certain other specified transactions involving Dominion. See
"Description of the Purchase Contracts--Anti-Dilution Adjustments" starting on
page S-33. The number of common shares issuable upon settlement of each
purchase contract is not subject to adjustment for other events, such as
employee share programs, offerings of common shares for cash (including the
Dominion Direct Investment dividend reinvestment and stock purchase program) or
in connection with acquisitions or certain other transactions involving
Dominion, which may adversely affect the price of the common shares. The terms
of the PIES do not restrict Dominion's ability to offer common shares in the
future or to engage in other transactions that could dilute the common shares.
Dominion has no obligation to consider the interests of the holders of the PIES
for any reason.
You will have no rights as common shareholders.
Until you acquire common shares upon settlement of your purchase contract,
you will have no rights with respect to the common shares, including voting
rights, rights to respond to tender offers and rights to receive any dividends
or other distributions on the common shares. Upon settlement of your purchase
contract, you will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of common
shares only as to actions for which the applicable record date occurs after the
settlement date.
Trading markets for PIES and senior notes are subject to uncertainties.
It is impossible to predict how the Corporate PIES, the Treasury PIES and the
senior notes will trade in the secondary market or whether the market for any
of these securities will be liquid or illiquid. The Corporate PIES and the
Treasury PIES are novel securities. There currently is no secondary market for
the PIES to be issued in this offering, and there can be no assurance as to the
liquidity of any trading market that may develop, the ability of holders to
sell their securities in that market or whether any such market will continue.
Dominion has applied to list the Corporate PIES on the NYSE under the symbol
" ". However, listing on the NYSE does not guarantee the depth or liquidity
of the market for the Corporate PIES. If holders of the Corporate PIES convert
their Corporate PIES into Treasury PIES by substituting Treasury Securities for
the senior notes, the liquidity of the Corporate PIES could be adversely
affected. Moreover, if the number of Corporate PIES falls below the NYSE's
requirement for continued listing, whether as a result of the conversion of
Corporate PIES into Treasury PIES or otherwise, the Corporate PIES could be
delisted from the NYSE, or trading in the Corporate PIES could be suspended.
S-14
<PAGE>
Lehman Brothers has advised Dominion that it presently intends to make a
market for the Corporate PIES, the Treasury PIES and the senior notes. However,
it is not obligated to do so and it may discontinue any market making at any
time.
Your pledged securities will be encumbered.
Although holders of PIES will be beneficial owners of the underlying pledged
senior notes, in the case of Corporate PIES, and pledged Treasury Securities,
in the case of Treasury PIES, those pledged securities will be pledged to
secure the obligations of the holders under the purchase contracts. Therefore,
for so long as the purchase contracts remain in effect, holders will not be
allowed to withdraw their pledged securities from this pledge arrangement
except in the limited circumstances described in this prospectus supplement.
Delivery of securities is subject to potential delay if Dominion becomes
subject to a bankruptcy proceeding.
Notwithstanding the automatic termination of the purchase contracts, if
Dominion becomes the subject of a case under the Bankruptcy Code, imposition of
an automatic stay under Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code may delay the
delivery to you of your securities being held as collateral under the pledge
arrangement.
Purchase contract agent has limited obligations to you.
The purchase contract agent will have only limited obligations to you as a
holder of the PIES under the terms of the purchase contract agreement. The
purchase contract agreement is not an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939. Therefore, the purchase contract agent will not qualify as a trustee
under the Trust Indenture Act, and you will not benefit from the protections of
that law, such as disqualification of an indenture trustee for "conflicting
interests," provisions preventing an indenture trustee from improving its own
position at the expense of the security holders and the requirement that an
indenture trustee deliver reports at least annually with respect to the
indenture trustee and the securities. See "Certain Provisions of the Purchase
Contracts, the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge Agreement--
Information Concerning the Purchase Contract Agent" on page S-38.
S-15
<PAGE>
DOMINION
Dominion is a fully integrated gas and electric energy holding company
headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. As of June 30, 2000, we had approximately
$29 billion in assets.
Our primary operating segments are:
Dominion Energy--Dominion Energy manages our 19,000 megawatt portfolio of
electric power generation, our 7,600 miles of gas transmission pipeline and
a 885 billion cubic foot natural gas storage network. It also guides our
generation growth strategy and our commodity trading, marketing and risk
management activities. We currently operate generation facilities in
Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Illinois.
Dominion Delivery--Dominion Delivery manages our local electric and gas
distribution systems serving 3.8 million customers, our 6,000 miles of
electric transmission lines and our customer service operations. We
currently operate transmission and distribution systems in Virginia, West
Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Dominion Delivery also
includes Dominion Telecom with its 3,620 route-mile fiber optic network and
related telecommunications and advanced data services located principally in
the northeast quadrant of the United States.
Dominion Exploration & Production--Dominion Exploration & Production
manages our onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and production
activities. With approximately 2.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas
equivalent reserves and 320 billion cubic feet of annual production,
Dominion Exploration & Production is one of the nation's largest independent
oil and gas operators. We operate on the outer continental shelf and deep
water areas of the Gulf of Mexico, western Canada, the Appalachian Basin and
other selected regions in the continental United States.
Opportunities
Dominion is operating in an industry undergoing fundamental change. We
believe that the United States energy markets are currently characterized by
increasing demand that is outpacing supply. This situation results from
increased use of energy, inadequate investment in new generation facilities and
the need to replace older power plants. Further, a new com-
petitive environment is emerging from a past characterized by cost-of-service
rate regulation and monopoly franchise territories. This situation creates
opportunities for development of new generation capacity and acquisition of
existing generation assets. We believe these opportunities will be significant
as capacity shortages persist and various industry participants seek to divest
generation assets to comply with regulatory directives and implement changing
business strategies.
We believe similar opportunities exist in our delivery and exploration and
production businesses as demand outpaces supply. Today's commodity prices
reflect the current demand for natural gas and oil and, with more than 90% of
new power plants under development planning to use natural gas for fuel, we
believe the long term fundamentals of delivery and production of natural gas
and oil will remain strong.
Changes in the energy markets also require that producers and their principal
customers manage the risks associated with
S-16
<PAGE>
producing and delivering energy commodities. Knowledgeable industry
participants are able to market energy commodities profitably and to manage the
risks associated with commodity market price fluctuations.
Competitive Strengths
We believe that we are well positioned in the new energy environment based on
our following competitive strengths:
Size and Scale--Our size and scale give us the critical mass needed to
provide the financial strength, flexibility and economies of scale necessary
to compete in the new energy marketplace. In addition, our size has provided
better access to capital and improved opportunities for expansion.
MAIN to Maine Focus--We are concentrating our efforts in the Midwest,
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, which we call the
"MAIN to Maine" region. In the power industry, "MAIN" means the Middle
American Interconnected Network, which
comprises the states of Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana.
The MAIN to Maine region is home to approximately 40% of the nation's demand
for energy. It also has some of the nation's highest energy prices and, as a
result, is rapidly moving toward industry deregulation and restructuring.
Our CNG acquisition, completed in early 2000, substantially increased our
concentration of assets and customers in the region.
Integrated Asset Base--We have the capability to discover and produce gas,
store it, sell it or use it to generate power; we can generate electricity
to sell to customers in our retail markets or in wholesale transactions.
This optionality gives us the ability to produce and sell energy in whatever
form we find most useful and economic. We also operate North America's
largest natural gas storage system, which gives us the flexibility to
provide supply when it is most economically advantageous to do so. As a
fully integrated enterprise active in all aspects of the energy supply
chain, we have the ability to optimize the value of our energy portfolio to
maximize return on invested capital.
Market Knowledge--We capitalize on our in-depth knowledge of our trading
and customer markets. Specifically, our knowledge of the energy trading
market allows us to not only manage market risks but also to maximize the
value of our energy portfolio. As our industry deregulates, we know that we
must remain focused on reliably and efficiently serving our customer base in
order to retain existing customers and add new ones.
Investor Focus--The financial interests of our employees and management
are strongly aligned with the interests of our investor base. They own more
than 16 million shares and together would be Dominion's largest shareholder.
Incentive programs in the form of stock options further align the interests
of our employees with those of our investors.
Focused Growth
Our growth strategy is focused on the MAIN to Maine region and building on the
platform provided by our current asset base.
Dominion Energy--During the period from 2000 to 2005, we plan to have
added nearly 10,000 megawatts of
S-17
<PAGE>
generation capacity through new plants, expanded capacity and acquisitions.
As part of this plan, 1,100 megawatts of gas-fired generation capacity are
already on line. An additional 800 megawatts is under construction or in
regulatory approval stages in Virginia. We recently announced our agreement
to acquire, for approximately $1.3 billion, the 2,000 megawatt Millstone
nuclear facility in Connecticut. We have sited four new generation plants
with combined capacity of approximately 2,000 megawatts along the Dominion
gas pipelines in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Additional
anticipated capacity expansion of 4,000 megawatts is also planned, including
capacity expansions at our Elwood facility in Illinois. To support these
plans, we have acquired or have options to acquire 45 General Electric
turbines and eight steam turbines which will be sufficient to support our
8,000 megawatts of generation expansion.
Dominion Delivery--We expect continued growth in our distribution business
as a result of increasing our customer base and improving our operational
efficiencies through technological advances and development. In the
telecommunications market, we believe that the rapid growth in bandwidth
demand occurring in the U.S. will continue. In particular, we believe
significant opportunities for bandwidth expansion exist in smaller markets
that have not yet been targeted by the expansion strategies of the major
participants in the telecommunications industry. We have recently announced
our decision to expand Dominion Telecom in the MAIN to Maine region,
initially through acquisitions of existing fiber capacity and through joint
development projects with third parties. We have targeted expansion of our
fiber optic network to 7,000 route- miles by the end of 2001.
Dominion Exploration & Production--Over the next four years, we plan 10 to
15 percent average annual growth in BCFe production. We anticipate that this
growth will be primarily drill-bit driven from existing resources including
our offshore and Gulf Coast exploration program. Other growth will be
acquisition driven, such as our recent $85 million acquisition of operating
wells and undeveloped locations from Suemaur Exploration Partners and
others.
Because of the changes our industry is undergoing, we continue to encounter
opportunities for acquisitions of assets and business combinations that would
be consistent with our strategic principles. We regularly investigate any
opportunities we learn about that may increase shareholder value or build on
our existing asset platform. We often participate in bidding and negotiating
processes for those transactions. Any acquisitions or combinations of this type
will likely require us to access external financing sources or issue additional
equity.
As we build our geographically focused business, we are also divesting our
assets outside of the targeted MAIN to Maine region. We recently sold our Latin
American power generation assets to Duke Energy International for approximately
$405 million. During the second quarter of this year, we agreed to sell CNG's
Argentine operations for $145 million to Sempra Energy International. We also
agreed to sell our 80% interest in a British power station to PowerGen plc for
approximately $80 million. We are actively
S-18
<PAGE>
exploring the sale of CNG's remaining international operations in Australia.
Other divestitures will also be completed as a result of regulatory
requirements imposed in connection with the CNG merger. As part of the SEC
order approving the merger under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of
1935, we are required to divest Dominion Capital. The SEC has allowed three
years for this to be accomplished and several transactions related to this
requirement are in negotiation. Also, during the merger approval process, we
and CNG agreed to divest Virginia Natural Gas, CNG's gas distribution
subsidiary located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We have an agreement to sell
VNG to AGL Resources, Inc. for $550 million with closing expected early in the
fourth quarter of 2000. Proceeds from these transactions and from the sales of
non-core assets described above are expected to raise more than $1.5 billion
which will be applied to reduce debt.
Principal Subsidiaries
Dominion's principal subsidiaries include Virginia Electric and Power Company
(Dominion Virginia Power), a regulated public utility engaged in the
generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in Virginia
and northeastern North Carolina, and CNG, a producer, transporter, distributor
and retail marketer
of natural gas serving customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York
and various cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Dominion's other
principal subsidiaries include Dominion Energy, Inc., an independent power and
natural gas subsidiary, and Dominion Capital, Inc., its financial services
subsidiary.
In 1999, the Governor of Virginia signed into law the Virginia Electric
Utility Restructuring Act establishing a detailed plan to restructure the
electric utility industry in Virginia. The new law provides for deregulation of
generation and implementation of customer choice beginning in 2002.
The new law also requires, among other things, the functional separation of
the generation, transmission and retail distribution of incumbent electric
utilities. Virginia electric utilities are required to file their functional
separation plans with the Virginia State Corporation Commission by January 1,
2001.
Our legal structure is not currently the same as the operating segments we
use to manage our business. The functional separation of Dominion Virginia
Power's regulated and unregulated businesses may, with regulatory approval,
provide us with the opportunity to realign our legal structure with our
operating segments.
For additional information about our company, see "Where You Can Find More
Information" on page S-3.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On September 28, 2000, we closed the sale of our 80% interest in a British
power station to PowerGen plc for approximately $80 million.
Dominion is continuing to evaluate its future compliance plans regarding
certain Clean Air Act issues at its coal-fired generating stations. The
required implementation date for the EPA's rule on ozone season (May-September)
NOX emissions has recently been established at May 31, 2004. Therefore,
Dominion will go forward with previously disclosed plans to
S-19
<PAGE>
install NOX reduction equipment at its Dominion Virginia Power coal stations
over the next four years. In order to reduce emissions of SO\\2\\, Dominion has
previously announced plans to install additional scrubbers at its Mt. Storm,
West Virginia coal station to be operational by January 2002. In addition, the
previously disclosed planned replacement of existing coal fired generation at
Dominion Virginia Power's Possum Point, Virginia facility with a new, cleaner
combined cycle gas unit will also reduce emissions. The aggregate financial
impact of these capital expenditures, currently estimated by Dominion to be
approximately $950 million over the next four years, has been incorporated in
Dominion's current financial plans and earnings targets. Dominion is in
discussions with the EPA concerning the implementation of certain additional
environmental controls at Dominion Virginia Power's coal-fired generating
stations in connection with the resolution of various Clean Air Act matters
described in Dominion's filings with the SEC which are incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Corporate PIES for
general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt. This debt may
include a portion of our short-term debt, including commercial paper, issued in
connection with our acquisition of CNG. At September 29, 2000 the weighted
average maturity date of Dominion's approximately $1.8 billion of outstanding
commercial paper was approximately 24.31 days and the weighted average interest
rate was approximately 6.83%.
S-20
<PAGE>
COMMON SHARE DIVIDENDS AND PRICE RANGE
The common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"D." The following table sets forth the range of intra-day high and low sale
prices, as reported on the NYSE Composite Tape, and the cash dividends declared
on the common shares for the periods indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Price Range High Low Dividends
----------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1998
First Quarter................................... $42 15/16 $39 3/8 $0.645
Second Quarter.................................. 42 1/16 37 13/16 0.645
Third Quarter................................... 44 15/16 39 5/16 0.645
Fourth Quarter.................................. 48 15/16 44 3/8 0.645
1999
First Quarter................................... $47 1/16 $36 7/8 0.645
Second Quarter.................................. 44 13/16 36 9/16 0.645
Third Quarter................................... 47 3/16 43 0.645
Fourth Quarter.................................. 49 3/8 39 1/4 0.645
2000
First Quarter................................... $43 1/8 $34 13/16 0.645
Second Quarter.................................. 47 1/2 38 1/16 0.645
Third Quarter (through September 29, 2000)...... 59 13/16 42 13/16 0.645
</TABLE>
On September 29, 2000, the last reported sale price of the common shares on
the NYSE was $58 1/16 per share.
Dividends on Dominion's common shares are paid as declared by Dominion's
board of directors. Dividends are typically paid on the 20th of March, June,
September and December. Dividends can be paid by check or electronic deposit,
or may be reinvested.
S-21
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The table below shows our capitalization on a consolidated basis as of June
30, 2000. The "As Adjusted for Completed Offerings" column reflects our
capitalization after giving effect to our July 10, 2000 offerings of
$700,000,000 Series B 7.625% Senior Notes due 2005 and $400,000,000 Series C
7.600% Senior Notes due 2003 and our September 11, 2000 offerings of
$200,000,000 7.40% Series D Remarketable Notes due 2012, $250,000,000 7.82%
Series E Remarketable Notes due 2014 and $250,000,000 Floating Rate Series F
Remarketable Notes due 2012 (collectively, the "Completed Offerings"), and the
use of the net proceeds from those offerings.
The "As Fully Adjusted" column reflects our capitalization after giving
effect to the Completed Offerings and this offering of PIES, and the use of the
net proceeds from those offerings.
You should read this table along with our audited financial statements
contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as the
information presented in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. See "Where You Can
Find More Information" on page S-3.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
June 30, 2000
------------------------------
As Adjusted
for Completed As Fully
Actual Offerings Adjusted
------- ------------- --------
(in millions)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Short-term debt/1........................./.. $ 5,961 $ 4,145 $ 3,805/2/
Long-term debt, PIES and capital lease
obligations................................. 9,258 11,058 11,408
Obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred
securities of subsidiary trusts............. 385 385 385
Preferred stock.............................. 509 509 509
Common shareholders' equity.................. 6,487 6,487 6,487
------- ------- -------
Total capitalization......................... $22,600 $22,584 $22,594
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
--------
/1/Includes securities due within one year.
/2/Assumes approximately $340 million net proceeds to Dominion from this
offering. Excludes any proceeds that will result if the underwriters exercise
their over-allotment option in connection with this offering.
S-22
<PAGE>
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
These computations reflect Dominion's consolidated earnings and consolidated
fixed charges including proportionate interests in the earnings and fixed
charges of certain other companies in which we hold an equity interest. For
this ratio, earnings is determined by adding total fixed charges (excluding
interest capitalized), income taxes, minority common stockholders equity in
net income and amortization of interest capitalized to income from continuing
operations after eliminating equity in undistributed earnings and adding back
losses of companies of which at least 20% but less than 50% of total equity is
owned by Dominion. For this purpose, total fixed charges consists of (1)
interest on all indebtedness and amortization of debt discount and expense,
(2) interest capitalized and (3) an interest factor attributable to rentals.
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Twelve Months Ended December
31,
Six Months Ended ------------------------------
June 30, 2000/1/ 1999/2/ 1998 1997/3/ 1996 1995
---------------- ------- ---- ------- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1.08 2.02 2.36 1.97 2.71 2.55
</TABLE>
--------
/1/If Dominion had completed the CNG acquisition as of January 1, 2000, the
pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the six months ended June
30, 2000 would be 1.18x. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2000
includes $391 million in restructuring and other acquisition-related costs
resulting from the CNG acquisition and a write-down at Dominion Capital,
Inc. Dominion is required to divest its financial services business as a
result of the acquisition of CNG. Excluding this charge from the calculation
above results in a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the six months
ended June 30, 2000 of 1.89x.
/2/Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 1999 includes the one-
time after-tax charge of $255 million resulting from the discontinued
application by Virginia Power of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation," to its
generation operations. Excluding this charge from the calculation above
results in a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended
December 31, 1999 of 2.48x.
/3/Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 1997 includes the one-
time charge of $157 million for the windfall profits tax levied by the
United Kingdom government. Excluding this charge from the calculation above
results in a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended
December 31, 1997 of 2.22x.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
The purchase contracts are forward trans-actions in Dominion's common
shares. Upon settlement of a purchase contract, Dominion will receive the
stated amount of $50 on the purchase contract and will issue the required
number of common shares. The stated amount received will be credited to the
common stock account in shareholders' equity. The present value of the
contract adjustment payments will initially be charged to equity, with an
offsetting credit to liabilities.
Prior to the issuance of common shares upon settlement of the purchase
contracts, Dominion expects that the PIES will be considered in Dominion's
earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method. Under this
method, the number of common shares used in calculating earnings per share is
deemed to be increased by the excess, if any, of the number of shares issuable
upon settlement of the purchase contracts over the number of shares that could
be purchased by Dominion in the market at the average market price during the
period using the proceeds receivable upon settlement. As a result, Dominion
expects there will be no dilutive effect on its earnings per share except
during periods when the average market price of the common shares is above the
Threshold Appreciation Price.
S-23
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE PIES
The following description sets forth certain terms of the PIES. It
supplements the description of the Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase
Units in the accompanying prospectus and, to the extent it is inconsistent
with the prospectus, replaces the description in the prospectus. The terms of
the PIES will include those stated in the purchase contract agreement between
Dominion and the purchase contract agent. The following description of certain
terms of the PIES and the descriptions of certain terms of the purchase
contract agreement, the purchase contracts and the pledge agreement under the
captions "Description of the Purchase Contracts," "Certain Provisions of the
Purchase Contracts, the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge Agreement"
and "Description of the Senior Notes" in this prospectus supplement and
"Description of Capital Stock--Common Stock" in the accompanying prospectus
contain a description of all of their material terms but do not purport to be
complete. For additional information, you should refer to the forms of the
purchase contract agreement, including the forms of the PIES, and the pledge
agreement, including definitions of certain terms used therein, that will be
filed with the SEC as exhibits to a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Corporate PIES
Each Corporate PIES offered hereby is a unit initially consisting of:
. a stock purchase contract under which (1) the holder will purchase from
Dominion on the purchase contract settlement date ( , 2004), or upon
early settlement, for $50, a number of newly issued common shares equal to
the Settlement Rate described below under "Description of the Purchase
Contracts--General" and (2) Dominion will pay contract adjustment payments
to the holder; and
. a senior note with a principal amount of $50.
The senior note will be pledged under the pledge agreement to secure the
holder's obligation to purchase common shares under the purchase contract.
The purchase price of each Corporate PIES will be allocated between the
purchase contract and the senior note comprising such Corporate PIES in
proportion to their respective fair market values at the time of purchase.
Dominion expects that, at the time of issuance, the fair market value of each
purchase contract will be $0 and the fair market value of each senior note
will be $50. Although this position will not be binding on the IRS, it will
generally be binding on each beneficial owner of a Corporate PIES. See "United
States Federal Income Tax Consequences--Corporate PIES--Allocation of Purchase
Price" on page S-49.
So long as a PIES is in the form of Corporate PIES, the related senior note
will be pledged to the collateral agent to secure the holder's obligation to
purchase common shares under the related purchase contract.
Creating Treasury PIES by Substituting Treasury Securities
Each holder of Corporate PIES may create Treasury PIES by substituting for
the senior notes that are a part of the Corporate PIES Treasury Securities
having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount
of those senior notes.
S-24
<PAGE>
Each Treasury PIES will be a unit consisting of:
. a stock purchase contract under which (1) the holder will purchase from
Dominion on the purchase contract settlement date, or upon early settlement,
for $50, a number of newly issued common shares equal to the Settlement Rate
and (2) Dominion will pay contract adjustment payments to the holder; and
. a 1/20 undivided beneficial ownership interest in a related Treasury
Security having a principal amount at maturity equal to $1,000 and maturing
on or prior to the business day preceding the purchase contract settlement
date.
The term "business day" means any day other than Saturday or Sunday or a day
on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by
law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the indenture trustee
for the senior notes is closed for business.
The Treasury Security will be pledged under the pledge agreement to secure
the holder's obligation to purchase common shares under the purchase contract.
Holders of Corporate PIES may create Treasury PIES at any time on or prior to
the seventh business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date.
Because Treasury Securities are issued in integral multiples of $1,000, holders
of Corporate PIES may create Treasury PIES only in integral multiples of 20.
To create 20 Treasury PIES, a Corporate PIES holder is required to:
. deposit with the securities intermediary a Treasury Security having a total
principal amount at maturity of $1,000; and
. transfer to the purchase contract agent 20 Corporate PIES, accompanied by a
notice stating that the Corporate PIES holder has deposited a Treasury
Security with the securities intermediary and requesting that the purchase
contract agent instruct the collateral agent to release the related $1,000
principal amount of senior notes.
Upon receiving instructions from the purchase contract agent and confirmation
of receipt of the Treasury Security by the securities intermediary, the
collateral agent will cause the securities intermediary to release the related
$1,000 principal amount of senior notes from the pledge and deliver them to the
purchase contract agent, on behalf of the holder, free and clear of Dominion's
security interest. The purchase contract agent then will:
. cancel the 20 Corporate PIES;
. transfer the related $1,000 principal amount of senior notes to the holder;
and
. deliver 20 Treasury PIES to the holder.
The Treasury Security will be substituted for the senior notes and will be
pledged to the collateral agent to secure the holder's obligation to purchase
common shares under the related purchase contracts. The senior notes thereafter
will trade separately from the Treasury PIES.
Holders who create Treasury PIES or recreate Corporate PIES, as discussed
below, will be responsible for any fees or expenses payable to the collateral
agent in connection with substitutions of collateral. See "Certain Provisions
of the Purchase Contracts, the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge
Agreement--Miscellaneous" on page S-39.
S-25
<PAGE>
Recreating Corporate PIES
Each holder of Treasury PIES may recreate Corporate PIES by:
. depositing with the securities intermediary $1,000 principal amount of
senior notes; and
. transferring to the purchase contract agent 20 Treasury PIES, accompanied by
a notice stating that such holder has deposited $1,000 principal amount of
senior notes with the securities intermediary and requesting that the
purchase contract agent instruct the collateral agent to release the related
Treasury Security.
Upon receiving instructions from the purchase contract agent and confirmation
of receipt of the senior notes by the securities intermediary, the collateral
agent will cause the securities intermediary to release the related Treasury
Security from the pledge and deliver it to the purchase contract agent, on
behalf of the holder, free and clear of Dominion's security interest therein.
The purchase contract agent then will:
. cancel the 20 Treasury PIES;
. transfer the related Treasury Security to the holder; and
. deliver 20 Corporate PIES to the holder.
Holders of Treasury PIES may recreate Corporate PIES at any time on or prior
to the seventh business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date.
Current Payments
Holders of Corporate PIES will be entitled to receive aggregate cash
distributions at a rate of % of the $50 purchase price per year from and after
, 2000, payable quarterly in arrears, subject to increase as described
under "Description of the Purchase Contracts--Contract Adjustment Payments"
starting on page S-31. The quarterly payments on the Corporate PIES will
consist of (1) contract adjustment payments payable by Dominion at the rate of
% of the stated amount per year until , 2004 and (2) cumulative cash
interest payments payable on the related senior notes payable at the rate of %
of the principal amount per year.
If a holder of Corporate PIES creates Treasury PIES by substituting Treasury
Securities for the senior notes, the only payments that such holder will
receive on the Treasury PIES will be the quarterly contract adjustment
payments. Instead of payments with respect to any senior notes, original issue
discount will accrue on the related Treasury Securities.
Listing of the Corporate PIES, the Treasury PIES and the Senior Notes
Dominion has applied to list the Corporate PIES on the NYSE under the trading
symbol " ." Trading of the Corporate PIES on the NYSE is expected to commence
within five business days after the date of this prospectus supplement. If the
Treasury PIES are separately traded to a sufficient extent that applicable
exchange listing requirements are met, Dominion will try to cause them to be
listed on the same national securities exchange as the Corporate PIES are
listed.
Miscellaneous
Dominion or its affiliates may purchase from time to time any of the PIES
that are then outstanding by tender, in the open market or by private
agreement.
S-26
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS
General
Each purchase contract that is a part of a PIES will obligate its holder to
purchase, and Dominion to sell, on the purchase contract settlement date, a
number of newly issued common shares equal to the rate described below (the
"Settlement Rate"), for $50 in cash unless the purchase contract terminates
prior to such date or is settled early at the holder's option. The number of
common shares issuable upon settlement of each purchase contract on the
purchase contract settlement date will be determined as follows, subject to
adjustment as described under "--Anti-Dilution Adjustments" below:
. If the Applicable Market Value (as defined below) is greater than or equal
to the Threshold Appreciation Price of $ , then each purchase contract
will be settled for common shares. The Threshold Appreciation Price
represents an appreciation of % above the Reference Price of $ .
. If the Applicable Market Value is less than the Threshold Appreciation Price
but greater than the Reference Price, then each purchase contract will be
settled for a number of common shares determined by dividing the stated
amount of $50 by the Applicable Market Value.
. If the Applicable Market Value is less than or equal to the Reference Price,
then each purchase contract will be settled for common shares.
For illustrative purposes only, the following table shows the number of
common shares issuable upon settlement of each purchase contract at various
assumed Applicable Market Values. The table assumes that there will be no
adjustments to the Settlement Rate described under "--Anti-Dilution
Adjustments" below. There can be no assurance that the actual Applicable Market
Value will be within the range set forth below.
Given the Reference Price of $ and the Threshold Appreciation Price of
$ , a holder of PIES would receive on the purchase contract settlement date
the following number of common shares:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Applicable
Market
Value Number of Common Shares
---------- -----------------------
<S> <C>
</TABLE>
As the foregoing table illustrates, if, on the purchase contract settlement
date, the Applicable Market Value is greater than or equal to $ , Dominion
will be obligated to deliver common shares for each purchase contract. As a
result, the holder would receive % of the appreciation in the market value of
the common shares above $ . If, on the purchase contract settlement date, the
Applicable Market Value is less than $ but greater than $ , Dominion will
be obligated to deliver a number of common shares equal to $50 divided by the
Applicable Market Value, and Dominion would retain all appreciation in the
market value of the common shares for that period. If, on the purchase contract
settlement date, the Applicable Market Value is less than or equal to $ ,
Dominion will be obligated to deliver common shares for each purchase
contract, regardless of the market price of the common shares. As a result, the
holder would realize the
S-27
<PAGE>
entire loss on the decline in market value of the common shares for that
period.
The "Applicable Market Value" means the average of the Closing Prices of the
common shares on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days ending on the third
Trading Day preceding the purchase contract settlement date.
The "Closing Price" of the common shares, on any date of determination,
means:
(1) the closing sale price (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the
last reported sale price) of the common shares on the NYSE on such date
or, if the common shares are not listed for trading on the NYSE on any
such date, as reported in the composite transactions for the principal
United States securities exchange on which the common shares are so
listed, or if the common shares are not so listed on a United States
national or regional securities exchange, as reported by The Nasdaq
Stock Market; or
(2) if the common shares are not so reported, the last quoted bid price for
the common shares in the over-the-counter market as reported by the
National Quotation Bureau or a similar organization, or, if such bid
price is not available, the average of the mid-point of the last bid and
ask prices of the common shares on such date from at least three
nationally recognized independent investment banking firms retained for
this purpose by Dominion.
"Trading Day" means a day on which the common shares:
(1) are not suspended from trading on any national or regional securities
exchange or association or over-the-counter market at the close of
business; and
(2) have traded at least once on the national or regional securities
exchange or association or over-the-counter market that is the primary
market for the trading of the common shares.
No fractional common shares will be issued by Dominion upon settlement of a
purchase contract. In lieu of a fractional share, the holder will receive an
amount of cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the Applicable Market
Value. If, however, a holder surrenders for settlement at one time more than
one purchase contract, then the number of common shares issuable pursuant to
such purchase contracts will be computed based upon the aggregate number of
purchase contracts surrendered.
Prior to the settlement of a purchase contract, the common shares underlying
the purchase contract will not be outstanding for any purpose, and the holder
of the purchase contract will not have any voting rights, rights to dividends
or other distributions or other rights or privileges of a shareholder of
Dominion by virtue of holding such purchase contract.
By accepting a Corporate PIES or a Treasury PIES, a holder will be deemed to
have:
. irrevocably authorized the purchase contract agent as attorney-in-fact to
enter into and perform under the related purchase contract on behalf of such
holder;
S-28
<PAGE>
. agreed to be bound by, and to have consented to, the terms and provisions of
the related purchase contract;
. irrevocably authorized the purchase contract agent as attorney-in-fact to
enter into and perform under the pledge agreement on behalf of such holder;
and
. agreed to be bound by the pledge arrangement contained in the pledge
agreement.
In addition, each holder of Corporate PIES or Treasury PIES will be deemed to
have agreed to treat itself as the owner of the related senior notes, or the
Treasury Securities, as the case may be, in each case for U.S. federal, state
and local income and franchise tax purposes.
Settlement through Remarketing
Holders of Corporate PIES who fail to notify the purchase contract agent, on
or prior to the seventh business day preceding the purchase contract settlement
date, of their intention to effect settlement of the related purchase contracts
with separate cash in the manner described under "--Notice to Settle with
Cash," or who so notify the purchase contract agent but fail to deliver such
separate cash on or prior to the fifth business day preceding the purchase
contract settlement date, will have their senior notes remarketed on the third
business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date. Under the
remarketing agreement between Dominion and Lehman Brothers, Lehman Brothers
will use its commercially reasonable efforts to remarket those senior notes,
together with any senior notes not then a part of the Corporate PIES as to
which the holders have requested remarketing, on such date at a price of
100.25% of the total principal amount of such senior notes. The proceeds from
the remarketing of the senior notes that are a part of the Corporate PIES will
automatically be applied (1) to satisfy in full such Corporate PIES holders'
obligations to purchase common shares under the related purchase contracts and
(2) will pay the remarketing fee to Lehman Brothers for such remarketing. See
"Description of the Senior Notes--Interest Rate Reset by Remarketing" starting
on page S-41.
As long as the PIES or the senior notes are evidenced by one or more global
security certificates deposited with The Depository Trust Company, Dominion
will request, not later than 15 nor more than 30 calendar days prior to the
remarketing date, that DTC notify its participants holding senior notes or
Corporate PIES of the remarketing and of the procedures to be followed for
settlement with separate cash. See "Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement"
starting on page S-45 and "Description of Debt Securities--Global Securities"
in the accompanying prospectus. If required by applicable securities laws,
Dominion will try to have in effect a registration statement covering the
senior notes to be remarketed in a form that Lehman Brothers may use in
connection with the remarketing process.
If Lehman Brothers cannot remarket the senior notes, a "Failed Remarketing"
will occur, and Dominion will be entitled to exercise its rights as a secured
party and, subject to applicable law, retain the senior
notes pledged as collateral under the pledge agreement or sell them in one or
more private sales. In either case, the obligations of the holders under the
related purchase contracts would be satisfied in full. If Dominion exercises
its rights as a secured
S-29
<PAGE>
creditor, any accrued and unpaid interest payments on those senior notes will
be paid in cash by Dominion to the purchase contract agent for payment to the
holders of the Corporate PIES of which those senior notes are a part. Dominion
will cause a notice of such Failed Remarketing to be published no later than
the business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date in a daily
newspaper in the English language of general circulation in New York City,
which is expected to be The Wall Street Journal.
Notice to Settle with Cash
A holder of a Corporate PIES or a Treasury PIES wishing to settle the related
purchase contract with separate cash must notify the purchase contract agent by
delivering a "Notice to Settle by Separate Cash" on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New
York City time on:
. the seventh business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date, in
the case of a Corporate PIES; and
. the second business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date, in
the case of a Treasury PIES.
A holder wishing to settle with separate cash must deliver to the securities
intermediary cash payment in the form of a certified or cashier's check or by
wire transfer, in each case in immediately available funds payable to or upon
the order of the securities intermediary. Payment must be delivered prior to
11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the fifth business day prior to the purchase
contract settlement date in the case of a Corporate PIES, or on the business
day prior to the purchase contract settlement date in the case of Treasury
PIES. Upon receipt of the cash payment, the related senior notes or Treasury
Securities, as the case may be, will be released from the pledge arrangement
and transferred to the purchase contract agent for distribution to the holder
of the related PIES. If the payment is not delivered by that time and date,
then the related senior notes will be remarketed or Dominion will receive at
maturity the principal amount of the related Treasury Securities in full
satisfaction of such holder's obligations under the related purchase contract.
Any cash received by the securities intermediary upon separate cash
settlement will be invested promptly in permitted investments and paid to
Dominion on the purchase contract settlement date. Any funds received by the
securities intermediary in respect of the investment earnings from such
investments will be distributed to the purchase contract agent for payment to
the holders who settled with cash.
Early Settlement
A holder of Corporate PIES or Treasury PIES may settle the related purchase
contracts prior to the purchase contract settlement date by delivering to the
purchase contract agent:
. a completed "Election to Settle Early" form; and
. payment, payable to Dominion in immediately available funds, in an amount
equal to $50 multiplied by the number of purchase contracts being settled.
A holder of Corporate PIES may settle early the related purchase contracts at
any time on or prior to the seventh business day
S-30
<PAGE>
preceding the purchase contract settlement date. A holder of Treasury PIES also
may settle early at any time prior to the second business day preceding the
purchase contract settlement date, but only in integral multiples of 20
Treasury PIES.
Upon early settlement, Dominion will issue, and the holder will be entitled
to receive, newly issued common shares for each Corporate PIES or Treasury
PIES, regardless of the market price of the common shares on the date of early
settlement but subject to adjustment under the circumstances described under
"--Anti-Dilution Adjustments" below. The holder's right to receive future
contract adjustment payments will terminate. Dominion will cause (1) the common
shares to be issued and (2) the related senior notes or Treasury Securities, as
the case may be, securing such purchase contracts to be released from the
pledge under the pledge agreement, and, within three business days following
the settlement date, each will be transferred to the purchase contract agent
for delivery to the holder or the holder's designee.
If the purchase contract agent receives a completed "Election to Settle
Early" and payment of $50 for each PIES being settled early by 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on any business day, then that day will be considered the
settlement date. If the purchase contract agent receives the foregoing after
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any business day or at any time on a day that
is not a business day, then the next business day will be considered the
settlement date. As long as the PIES are evidenced by one or more global
security certificates deposited with DTC, procedures for early settlement also
will be governed by standing arrangements between DTC and the purchase contract
agent.
Contract Adjustment Payments
Contract adjustment payments will be fixed at a rate per year of % of the
$50 stated amount per purchase contract, subject to increase as described
below. Contract adjustment payments payable for any period will be computed (1)
for any full quarterly period on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months, (2) for any period shorter than a full quarterly period, on the basis
of a 30-day month and (3) for periods of less than a month, on the basis of the
actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. Contract adjustment payments
will accrue from , 2000 and will be payable quarterly in arrears on
, , , and , of each year, commencing , 2001.
If a Reset Transaction (as defined below) occurs, the rate at which the
contract adjustment payments accrue will be adjusted to equal the Adjusted
Contract Adjustment Payment Rate from the effective date of the Reset
Transaction to, but not including, the earlier of:
. the effective date of any later Reset Transaction, or
. the purchase contract settlement date.
"Reset Transaction" means a merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange
to which the entity that is the issuer of the common shares for which the
purchase contracts are then to be settled is a party, a sale of all or
substantially all the assets of that entity, a recapitalization of the common
shares or a distribution described in clause (4) of the first paragraph under
"--Anti-Dilution Adjustments" below, after the effective date of which
transaction or distribution the purchase contracts are then to be settled for:
S-31
<PAGE>
. shares of an entity the common shares of which had a Dividend Yield for the
four fiscal quarters of that entity preceding the public announcement of
that transaction or distribution that was more than 250 basis points
(0.0250) higher than the Dividend Yield on Dominion's common shares, or
other common shares then issuable upon settlement of the purchase contracts,
for the four fiscal quarters preceding the public announcement of such
transaction or distribution, or
. shares of an entity that announces a dividend policy prior to the effective
date of the transaction or distribution which policy, if implemented, would
result in a Dividend Yield on that entity's common shares for the next four
fiscal quarters that would result in such a 250 basis point increase.
The "Adjusted Contract Adjustment Payment Rate," with respect to any Reset
Transaction, will be the rate per year that is the arithmetic average of the
rates quoted by two Reference Dealers selected by Dominion or its successor as
the rate at which contract adjustment payments should accrue so that the fair
market value, expressed in dollars, of a Corporate PIES immediately after the
later of:
. the public announcement of the Reset Transaction, or
. the public announcement of a change in dividend policy in connection with
the Reset Transaction,
will equal the average Trading Price of a Corporate PIES for the 20 Trading
Days immediately preceding the date of public announcement of the Reset
Transaction. However, the Adjusted Contract Adjustment Payment Rate will not be
less than % per year.
The "Dividend Yield" on any security for any period means the dividends paid
or proposed to be paid pursuant to an announced dividend policy on such
security for such period divided by, if with respect to dividends paid on such
security, the average Closing Price of such security during such period and, if
with respect to dividends proposed to be paid on such security, the Closing
Price of such security on the effective date of the related Reset Transaction.
"Reference Dealer" means a dealer engaged in the trading of convertible
securities.
"Trading Price" of a security on any date of determination means:
. the closing sale price or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last
reported sale price of a security, regular way, on the NYSE on such date;
. if that security is not listed for trading on the NYSE on any such date, the
closing sale price as reported in the composite transactions for the
principal United States securities exchange on which that security is so
listed;
. if that security is not so listed on a United States national or regional
securities exchange, the closing sale price as reported by The Nasdaq Stock
Market;
. if that security is not so reported, the price quoted by Interactive Data
Corporation for that security or, if Interactive Data Corporation is not
quoting such price, a similar quotation service selected by Dominion;
. if that security is not so quoted, the average of the mid-point of the last
bid and ask prices for that security from at least two dealers recognized as
market-makers for such security; or
S-32
<PAGE>
. if that security is not so quoted, the average of the last bid and ask
prices for that security from a Reference Dealer.
Contract adjustment payments will be payable to the holders of purchase
contracts as they are registered on the books and records of the purchase
contract agent on the relevant record dates. So long as the PIES remain in
book-entry only form that record date will be the business day prior to the
relevant payment dates. Contract adjustment payments will be paid through the
purchase contract agent, which will hold amounts received in respect of the
contract adjustment payments for the benefit of the holders of the purchase
contracts that are a part of such PIES. Subject to any applicable laws and
regulations, each payment will be made as described under "--Book-Entry
Issuance" below. If the PIES do not remain in book-entry only form, the
relevant record dates will be the 15th business day prior to the relevant
payment dates. If any date on which contract adjustment payments are to be made
is not a business day, then payment of the contract adjustment payments payable
on that date will be made on the next day that is a business day and without
any interest in respect of any such delay. However, if such business day is in
the next calendar year, payment will be made on the prior business day.
Anti-Dilution Adjustments
The formula for determining the Settlement Rate will be subject to adjustment
(as set forth in the purchase contract) upon the occurrence of specified
events, including:
(1) the payment of dividends and other distributions on Dominion's common
shares made in common shares;
(2) the issuance to all holders of common shares of rights, options or
warrants entitling them, for a period of up to 45 days, to subscribe for
or purchase common shares at less than their Current Market Price;
(3) subdivisions, splits or combinations of common shares;
(4) distributions to all holders of common shares of evidences of
indebtedness or assets, including securities but excluding any dividend
or distribution covered by clause (1) or (2) above and any dividend or
distribution paid exclusively in cash;
(5) distributions consisting exclusively of cash to all holders of common
shares in an aggregate amount that, together with (a) other all-cash
distributions made within the preceding 12 months and (b) any cash plus
the fair market value, as of the expiration of the tender or exchange
offer referred to below, of consideration payable in respect of any
tender or exchange offer by Dominion or any of its subsidiaries for all
or any portion of the common shares concluded within the preceding 12
months, exceeds 15% of Dominion's total market capitalization on the
date of the distribution; total market capitalization is the product of
the Current Market Price of the common shares multiplied by the number
of common shares then outstanding; and
(6) the successful completion of a tender or exchange offer made by Dominion
or any of its subsidiaries for the common shares that involves an
aggregate consideration having a fair
S-33
<PAGE>
market value that, together with (a) any cash and the fair market value
of other consideration payable in respect of any tender or exchange offer
by Dominion or any of its subsidiaries for the common shares concluded
within the preceding 12 months and (b) the total amount of any all-cash
distributions to all holders of Dominion's common shares made within the
preceding 12 months, exceeds 15% of Dominion's total market
capitalization on the expiration of such tender or exchange offer.
"Current Market Price" per common share on any day means the average of the
daily Closing Prices for the five consecutive Trading Days selected by Dominion
commencing not more than 30 Trading Days before, and ending not later than, the
earlier of the day in question and the day before the "ex date" with respect to
the issuance or distribution requiring such computation. For purposes of this
paragraph, the term "ex date," when used with respect to any issuance or
distribution, will mean the first date on which the common shares trades
regular way on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market without the
right to receive such issuance or distribution.
In the case of certain reclassifications, consolidations, mergers, sales or
transfers of assets or other transactions pursuant to which the common shares
are converted into the right to receive other securities, cash or property,
each purchase contract then outstanding would become, without the consent of
the holder of the related Corporate PIES or Treasury PIES, as the case may be,
a contract to purchase on the purchase contract settlement date only the kind
and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon consummation
of the transaction by a holder of the number of common shares that would have
been received by the holder of the related Corporate PIES or Treasury PIES
immediately prior to the date of consummation of the transaction if the holder
had then settled such purchase contract.
If at any time Dominion makes a distribution of property to its shareholders
that would be taxable to shareholders as a dividend for United States federal
income tax purposes (for example, distributions of evidences of indebtedness or
assets of Dominion, but generally not share dividends or rights to subscribe to
capital shares) and, pursuant to the Settlement Rate adjustment provisions of
the purchase contract agreement, the Settlement Rate is increased, such
increase may give rise to a taxable dividend to holders of the PIES. See
"United States Federal Income Tax Consequences--Purchase Contracts--Adjustment
to Settlement Rate" on page S-51.
In addition, Dominion may make such increases in the Settlement Rate as it
deems advisable in order to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of its
capital shares resulting from any dividend or distribution of capital shares,
or rights to acquire capital shares, or from any event treated as such for
income tax purposes or for any other reason.
Adjustments to the Settlement Rate will be calculated to the nearest
1/10,000th of a share. No adjustment in the Settlement Rate will be required
unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in
the Settlement Rate. However, any adjustments not required to be made by
S-34
<PAGE>
reason of the foregoing will be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment.
Whenever the Settlement Rate is adjusted, Dominion must deliver to the
purchase contract agent a certificate setting forth the Settlement Rate,
detailing the calculation of the Settlement Rate and describing the facts upon
which the adjustment is based. In addition, Dominion must notify the holders of
the PIES of the adjustment within ten business days of any event requiring such
adjustment and describe in reasonable detail the method by which the Settlement
Rate was adjusted.
Each adjustment to the Settlement Rate will result in a corresponding
adjustment to the number of common shares issuable upon early settlement of a
purchase contract.
If an adjustment is made to the Settlement Rate, an adjustment also will be
made to the Applicable Market Value solely to determine which Settlement Rate
will be applicable on the purchase contract settlement date.
Termination
The purchase contracts and the obligations and rights of Dominion and of the
holders of the PIES thereunder, including the holders' right to receive
contract adjustment payments and the obligation and right to purchase and
receive common shares, will terminate immediately and automatically upon the
occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with
respect to Dominion. Upon termination, the collateral agent will release the
related senior notes or Treasury Securities, as the case may be, from the
pledge arrangement and cause the securities intermediary to transfer such
senior notes or Treasury Securities to the purchase contract agent for
distribution to the PIES holders. Upon termination, however, that release and
distribution may be subject to a delay. In the event that Dominion becomes the
subject of a case under the Bankruptcy Code, the delay may occur as a result of
the automatic stay under the Bankruptcy Code and continue until such automatic
stay has been lifted.
Pledged Securities and Pledge Agreement
The senior notes that are a part of the Corporate PIES or, if substituted,
the Treasury Securities that are a part of the Treasury PIES (collectively, the
"Pledged Securities") will be pledged to the collateral agent for the benefit
of Dominion under the pledge agreement to secure the obligations of the holders
of the PIES to purchase common shares under the related purchase contracts. The
rights of the holders of the PIES with respect to the Pledged Securities will
be subject to Dominion's security interest therein. No holder of Corporate PIES
or Treasury PIES will be permitted to withdraw the Pledged Securities related
to such Corporate PIES or Treasury PIES from the pledge arrangement except:
(1) to substitute Treasury Securities for the related senior notes;
(2) to substitute senior notes for the related Treasury Securities (for both
(1) and (2), as provided for under "Description of the PIES--Creating
Treasury PIES by Substituting Treasury Securities" and "--Recreating
Corporate PIES" on pages S-24 and S-26); and
S-35
<PAGE>
(3) upon early settlement, settlement for separate cash or termination of
the related purchase contracts.
Subject to the security interest and the terms of the purchase contract
agreement and the pledge agreement, each holder of Corporate PIES will be
entitled, through the purchase contract agent and the collateral agent, to all
of the proportional rights and preferences of the related senior notes,
including interest payments, voting and repayment rights, and each holder of
Treasury PIES will retain beneficial ownership of the related Treasury
Securities pledged in respect of the related purchase contracts. Dominion will
have no interest in the Pledged Securities other than its security interest.
The securities intermediary will distribute, upon receipt of interest on the
Pledged Securities, payments to the purchase contract agent, which in turn will
distribute those payments, together with contract adjustment payments received
from Dominion, to the holders in whose names the PIES are registered at the
close of business on the record date prior to the date of such distribution.
Book-Entry Issuance
The depositary for the PIES will be DTC. The PIES will be issued only as
fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC's
nominee. The PIES will be issued in accordance with the procedures set forth
under "Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement" starting on page S-45.
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS, THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT
AND THE PLEDGE AGREEMENT
General
Distributions on the PIES will be payable, the purchase contracts and
documents related thereto will be settled and transfers of the PIES will be
registrable at the office of the purchase contract agent in the Borough of
Manhattan, New York City. In addition, if the PIES do not remain in book-entry
form, Dominion has the option to pay distributions on the PIES by check mailed
to the address of the person entitled thereto as shown on Dominion's security
register.
No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange
of the PIES, except for any tax or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection therewith.
Modification
Subject to limited exceptions, Dominion and the purchase contract agent may
not modify the terms of the purchase contracts or the purchase contract
agreement without the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the
outstanding purchase contracts, except that no modification may, without the
unanimous consent of the holders of each outstanding purchase contract affected
thereby:
. change any payment date;
. change the amount or type of collateral required to be pledged to secure a
holder's obligations under the purchase contract (except for the right of a
holder
S-36
<PAGE>
of Corporate PIES to substitute Treasury Securities for the pledged senior
notes or the right of a holder of Treasury PIES to substitute senior notes for
the pledged Treasury Securities), impair the right of the holder of any
purchase contract to receive interest on the collateral, or otherwise
adversely affect the holder's rights in or to the collateral;
. reduce any contract adjustment payments or change the place or currency of
payment;
. impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of a purchase
contract;
. reduce the number of common shares purchasable under a purchase contract,
increase the purchase price of the common shares on settlement of any
purchase contract, change the purchase contract settlement date or otherwise
adversely affect the holder's rights under a purchase contract; or
. reduce the above-stated percentage of outstanding purchase contracts whose
holders' consent is required for the modification or amendment of the
provisions of the purchase contracts or the purchase contract agreement.
However, if any amendment or proposal would adversely affect only the
Corporate PIES or only the Treasury PIES, then only the affected class of
holders will be entitled to vote on the amendment or proposal, and the
amendment or proposal will not be effective except with the consent of the
holders of not less than a majority of the class or, if referred to in the
listed items above, all of the holders of the class.
Subject to limited exceptions, Dominion, the collateral agent, the securities
intermediary and the purchase contract agent may not modify the terms of the
pledge agreement without the consent of the holders of not less than a majority
of the outstanding purchase contracts, except that no modification may, without
the unanimous consent of the holders of each outstanding PIES adversely
affected thereby:
. change the amount or type of collateral underlying a PIES (except for the
right of a holder of Corporate PIES to substitute Treasury Securities for
the pledged senior notes or the right of a holder of Treasury PIES to
substitute senior notes for the pledged Treasury Securities), impair the
right of the holder of any PIES to receive interest on the underlying
collateral or otherwise adversely affect the holder's rights in or to the
collateral;
. otherwise effect any action that, under the purchase contract agreement,
would require the consent of the holders of each outstanding PIES affected
thereby; or
. reduce the above-stated percentage of outstanding purchase contracts whose
holders' consent is required for the amendment.
However, if any amendment or proposal would adversely affect only the Corporate
PIES or only the Treasury PIES, then only the affected class of holders will be
entitled to vote on the amendment or proposal, and the amendment or proposal
will not be effective except with the consent of the holders of not less than a
majority of the class or, if referred to in the items listed above, all of the
holders of the class.
No Consent to Assumption
Each holder of Corporate PIES or Treasury PIES will be deemed under the terms
of the purchase contract agreement,
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by his or her acceptance of such PIES, to have expressly withheld any consent
to the assumption (also known as affirmance) of the related purchase contracts
by Dominion, its receiver, liquidator or trustee in the event that Dominion
becomes the subject of a case under the Bankruptcy Code or other similar state
or federal law providing for reorganization or liquidation.
Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance
Dominion will agree in the purchase contract agreement that it will not merge
or consolidate with any other entity or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey
all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any other entity or
group of affiliated entities unless:
. either Dominion is the continuing corporation or the successor corporation
is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States of America, a
state thereof or the District of Columbia and that this corporation
expressly assumes all the obligations of Dominion under the purchase
contracts, the purchase contract agreement and the pledge agreement by one
or more supplemental agreements in form reasonably satisfactory to the
purchase contract agent and the collateral agent; and
. Dominion or that successor corporation is not, immediately after such
merger, consolidation, sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance, in
default in the performance of any covenant or condition underlying the
purchase contract, the purchase contract agreement or the pledge agreement.
Governing Law
The purchase contracts, the purchase contract agreement and the pledge
agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the State of New York.
Information Concerning the Purchase Contract Agent
The Chase Manhattan Bank will be the purchase contract agent. The purchase
contract agent will act as the agent for the holders of the PIES from time to
time. The purchase contract agent will not be obligated to take any
discretionary action in connection with a default under the terms of the PIES
or the purchase contract agreement.
The purchase contract agreement will contain provisions limiting the
liability of the purchase contract agent. The purchase contract agreement also
will contain provisions under which the purchase contract agent may resign or
be replaced. Resignation or replacement would be effective upon the acceptance
of appointment by a successor.
Information Concerning the Collateral Agent
will be the collateral agent. The collateral agent will act solely as
the agent of Dominion and will not assume any obligation or relationship of
agency or trust for or with any of the holders of the PIES except for the
obligations owed by a pledgee of property to the owner thereof under the pledge
agreement and applicable law.
The pledge agreement will contain provisions limiting the liability of the
collateral agent. The pledge agreement also will contain provisions under which
the collateral agent may resign or be replaced. Resignation or replacement
would be effective upon the acceptance of appointment by a successor.
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Information Concerning the Securities Intermediary
will be the securities intermediary. All property delivered to the
securities intermediary pursuant to the purchase contract agreement or the
pledge agreement will be credited to a collateral account established by the
securities intermediary for the collateral agent. The securities intermediary
will treat the purchase contract agent as entitled to exercise all rights
relating to any financial asset credited to such collateral account, subject to
the provisions of the pledge agreement.
Information Concerning the Transfer Agents and Registrars
Dominion and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company are transfer agents
and registrars. You may contact Dominion at the address listed on page S-3 or
Continental located in New York, New York.
Miscellaneous
The purchase contract agreement will provide that Dominion will pay all fees
and expenses related to (1) the retention of the collateral agent and the
securities intermediary and (2) the enforcement by the purchase contract agent
of the rights of the holders of the PIES. However, holders who elect to
substitute the related Pledged Securities, thereby creating Treasury PIES or
recreating Corporate PIES, will be responsible for any fees or expenses payable
in connection with the substitution, as well as for any commissions, fees or
other expenses incurred in acquiring the Pledged Securities to be substituted.
Dominion will not be responsible for any of those fees or expenses.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES
The following description sets forth the specific terms of the senior notes.
It supplements, and should be read together with, the description of the Senior
Debt Securities in the accompanying prospectus under the caption "Description
of Debt Securities" and, to the extent it is inconsistent with the prospectus,
replaces the description in the prospectus. The senior notes form a part of the
Corporate PIES and, under certain circumstances, will trade separately from the
purchase contracts also forming a part of the Corporate PIES. The senior notes
will be issued under an indenture dated as of June 1, 2000, between Dominion
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as indenture trustee, as supplemented and amended
by the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of , 2000. The descriptions
in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain a
description of the material terms of the senior notes and the indenture but do
not purport to be complete. For additional information, refer to the indenture
that is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the
Seventh Supplemental Indenture and the form of senior notes that will be filed
with the SEC as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K. Capitalized terms
used in this section not otherwise defined in this prospectus supplement have
the meanings set forth in the indenture.
General
The senior notes will be unsecured senior obligations of Dominion. The senior
notes will be limited in aggregate principal amount to $402,500,000, which
includes up to $52,500,000 aggregate principal amount
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of senior notes issuable in connection with the exercise of the underwriters
over-allotment option.
The senior notes will not be subject to a sinking fund provision. The entire
principal amount of the senior notes will mature and become due and payable,
together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on , 2006.
The senior notes will initially be issued in the form of one or more fully
registered global certificates deposited with DTC. Under limited circumstances,
the senior notes may be issued in certificated form in exchange for the global
certificates. See "Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement" starting on page S-45.
In the event that the senior notes are issued in certificated form, the senior
notes will be in denominations of $50 and integral multiples thereof and may be
transferred or exchanged at the offices described below. Payments on senior
notes issued as global certificates will be made to DTC, a successor depositary
or, if no depositary is used, to a paying agent for the senior notes. If the
senior notes are issued in certificated form, principal and interest will be
payable, the transfer of the senior notes will be registrable and the senior
notes will be exchangeable for senior notes of other denominations of a like
aggregate principal amount at the corporate trust office or agency of the
indenture trustee in New York City. However, at the option of Dominion, payment
of interest may be made by check.
Ranking
The senior notes will be our direct, unsecured and unsubordinated
obligations, will rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured
indebtedness and will rank senior in right of payment to all our subordinated
indebtedness. The senior notes will be effectively subordinated to our secured
debt, if any.
Because we are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through
our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the senior notes is
dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability
of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us.
Holders of senior notes will generally have a junior position to claims of
creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, debtholders, secured
creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred
stockholders. As of June 30, 2000, Virginia Power had approximately 6.5 million
issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock. In addition to trade debt,
most of our operating subsidiaries have ongoing corporate debt programs used to
finance their business activities. As of June 30, 2000, our subsidiaries had
approximately $8.5 billion of outstanding long-term debt (including securities
due within one year).
The indenture contains no restrictions on the amount of additional
indebtedness that we may incur.
Interest
Each senior note will bear interest at the rate of % per year from , 2000
until the purchase contract settlement date on , 2004, and at the Reset Rate
thereafter, payable quarterly in arrears on , , , and , of each
year (each an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing , 2001, to the person in
whose name that senior note is registered, subject to certain exceptions, at
the close of business on the business day
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preceding such Interest Payment Date. If the senior notes do not remain in
book-entry only form, the record dates will be 15 business days prior to each
Interest Payment Date.
The interest rate on the senior notes outstanding on and after the purchase
contract settlement date will be reset to the Reset Rate on the third business
day preceding the purchase contract settlement date. The Reset Rate will be
equal to the rate per year that results from the remarketing of the senior
notes as described below under "--Interest Rate Reset by Remarketing". However,
if a Failed Remarketing occurs, the Reset Rate will be equal to (1) the Two-
Year Benchmark Treasury Rate plus (2) a spread ranging from 300 to 700 basis
points based on the credit ratings of the senior notes at that time.
The amount of interest payable on the senior notes for any period will be
computed (1) for any full quarterly period on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months, (2) for any period shorter than a full quarterly period,
on the basis of a 30-day month and (3) for any period less than a month, on the
basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. If any date on
which interest is payable on the senior notes is not a business day, then
payment of the interest payable on that date will be made on the next day that
is a business day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any
such delay) and with the same force and effect as if made on such date.
However, if such business day is in the next calendar year, then such payment
will be made on the preceding business day.
Interest Rate Reset by Remarketing
The interest rate on the senior notes will be reset to the Reset Rate on the
third business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date. The Reset
Rate will be the rate per year that results from the remarketing of the senior
notes that are a part of the Corporate PIES as to which the holders have not
given notice of their election to settle the related purchase contracts with
cash, or have given notice but failed to deliver cash, and the senior notes
that are not a part of the Corporate PIES as to which the holders have
requested remarketing. On the remarketing date, Lehman Brothers will use
commercially reasonable efforts to remarket those senior notes at a price equal
to 100.25% of the aggregate stated principal amount of the senior notes.
Remarketing Procedures. Set forth below is a summary of the procedures to be
followed in connection with a remarketing of the senior notes:
As long as the PIES or the senior notes are evidenced by one or more global
security certificates deposited with DTC, Dominion will request, not later than
15 nor more than 30 calendar days prior to the remarketing date, that DTC
notify its participants holding senior notes or Corporate PIES of the
remarketing.
Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the seventh business day
preceding the purchase contract settlement date (also four business days prior
to the remarketing date), any holder of senior notes that are a part of the
Corporate PIES may elect to have those senior notes remarketed. Holders of
Corporate PIES that do not give notice prior to that time of their intention to
settle their related purchase contracts for separate cash, and holders who give
notice but fail to deliver cash prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
fifth business day prior to the purchase contract settlement
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date, will be deemed to have consented to the disposition of the senior notes
that are a part of their Corporate PIES in the remarketing. Holders of senior
notes that are not a part of the Corporate PIES who wish to have their senior
notes remarketed must give notice of their election to the indenture trustee
prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such fifth business day. Any such
notice will be irrevocable and may not be conditioned upon the level at which
the Reset Rate is established in the remarketing.
If none of the holders elects, or is deemed to have elected, to have senior
notes remarketed in the remarketing, the Reset Rate will be the rate determined
by Lehman Brothers, in its sole discretion, as the rate that would have been
established had a remarketing been held on the remarketing date.
If Lehman Brothers determines that it will be able to remarket all the senior
notes tendered or deemed tendered for purchase at a price of 100.25% of the
aggregate stated principal amount of such senior notes prior to 4:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the remarketing date, Lehman Brothers will determine the
Reset Rate, which will be the rate, rounded to the nearest one-thousandth
(0.001) of one percent, per year that Lehman Brothers determines, in its sole
judgment, to be the lowest rate per year that will enable it to remarket all
the senior notes tendered or deemed tendered for remarketing at that price.
If, by 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the remarketing date, Lehman
Brothers is unable to remarket all the senior notes tendered or deemed tendered
for purchase, a Failed Remarketing will be deemed to have occurred, and Lehman
Brothers will so advise DTC, the indenture trustee and Dominion. If a Failed
Remarketing occurs, the Reset Rate will be equal to (1) the Two-Year Benchmark
Treasury Rate plus (2) a spread ranging from 300 to 700 basis points based on
the credit ratings of the senior notes at that time, determined in accordance
with the terms of the remarketing agreement.
"Two-Year Benchmark Treasury Rate" means the bid side rate displayed at 10:00
a.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding the purchase
contract settlement date for direct obligations of the United States having a
maturity comparable to the remaining term to maturity of the senior notes, as
agreed upon by Dominion and Lehman Brothers. This rate will be as displayed in
the Telerate system or, if the Telerate system is no longer available or, in
the opinion of Lehman Brothers, after consultation with Dominion, no longer an
appropriate system from which to obtain such rate, such other nationally
recognized quotation system as, in the opinion of Lehman Brothers, after
consultation with Dominion, is appropriate. If this rate is not so displayed,
the Two-Year Benchmark Treasury Rate will be calculated by Lehman Brothers as
the yield to maturity for direct obligations of the United States having a
maturity comparable to the remaining term to maturity of the senior notes,
expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as
applicable, and applied on a daily basis, and computed by taking the arithmetic
mean of the secondary market bid rates, as of 10:30 a.m., New York City time,
on the third business day preceding the purchase contract settlement date of
three leading United States government securities dealers selected by Lehman
Brothers after consultation with Dominion. These dealers
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may include Lehman Brothers or an affiliate.
By approximately 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on the remarketing date, so
long as there has not been a Failed Remarketing, Lehman Brothers will advise:
. DTC, the indenture trustee and Dominion, of the Reset Rate determined in the
remarketing and the number of senior notes sold in the remarketing;
. each person purchasing senior notes in the remarketing or the appropriate
DTC participant of the Reset Rate and the number of senior notes such person
is to purchase; and
. each such purchaser to give instructions to its DTC participant to pay the
purchase price on the purchase contract settlement date in same day funds
against delivery of the senior notes purchased through the facilities of
DTC.
In accordance with DTC's normal procedures, on the purchase contract
settlement date, the transactions described above with respect to each senior
note tendered for purchase and sold in the remarketing will be executed through
DTC, and the accounts of the respective DTC participants will be debited and
credited and such senior notes delivered by book entry as necessary to effect
purchases and sales of the senior notes. DTC will make payment in accordance
with its normal procedures.
If any holder selling senior notes in the remarketing fails to deliver those
senior notes, the direct or indirect DTC participant of the selling holder and
of any other person that was to have purchased senior notes in the remarketing
may deliver to that other person a number of senior notes that is less than the
number of senior notes that otherwise was to be purchased by that person. In
that event, the number of senior notes to be so delivered will be determined by
the direct or indirect participant, and delivery of the lesser number of senior
notes will constitute good delivery.
The right of each holder to have senior notes tendered for purchase will be
limited to the extent that:
. Lehman Brothers conducts a remarketing pursuant to the terms of the
remarketing agreement;
. Lehman Brothers is able to find a purchaser or purchasers for tendered
senior notes; and
. the purchaser or purchasers deliver the purchase price therefor to Lehman
Brothers.
Lehman Brothers is not obligated to purchase any senior notes that would
otherwise remain unsold in the remarketing. Neither Dominion nor Lehman
Brothers will be obligated in any case to provide funds to make payment upon
tender of senior notes for remarketing.
Except as described below, Dominion will be liable for any and all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the remarketing.
Remarketing Agent. The remarketing agent will be Lehman Brothers. Dominion
and Lehman Brothers will enter into the remarketing agreement which provides
that Lehman Brothers will act as the exclusive remarketing agent and will use
commercially reasonable efforts to remarket securities tendered or deemed
tendered for purchase in the remarketing at a price of 100.25% of their
principal amount. Under
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certain circumstances, some portion of the senior notes tendered in the
remarketing may be purchased by the remarketing agent.
The remarketing agreement provides that the remarketing agent will incur no
liability to Dominion or to any holder of the Corporate PIES or the senior
notes in its individual capacity or as remarketing agent for any action or
failure to act in connection with a remarketing or otherwise, except as a
result of the negligence or willful misconduct on its part. The remarketing
agent will receive .25% of the principal amount of the proceeds received in the
remarketing as its remarketing fee.
Dominion has agreed to indemnify the remarketing agent against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, arising
out of or in connection with its duties under the remarketing agreement.
The remarketing agreement also will provide that the remarketing agent may
resign and be discharged from its duties and obligations thereunder. However,
no resignation will become effective unless a nationally recognized broker-
dealer has been appointed by Dominion as successor remarketing agent and the
successor remarketing agent has entered into a remarketing agreement with
Dominion. In that case, Dominion will use reasonable efforts to appoint a
successor remarketing agent and enter into a remarketing agreement with that
person as soon as reasonably practicable.
Limitation on Liens
While any of the senior notes are outstanding, we are not permitted to create
liens upon any Principal Property (as defined below) or upon any shares of
stock of any Material Subsidiary (as defined below), which we now own or own in
the future, to secure any of our debt, unless at the same time we provide that
any out-standing senior notes will also be secured by that lien on an equal and
ratable basis. However, we are generally permitted to create the following
types of liens:
(1) purchase money liens on future pro-perty acquired by us; liens of any kind
existing on property or shares of stock at the time they are acquired by
us; conditional sales agreements and other title retention agreements on
future property acquired by us (as long as none of those liens cover any of
our other properties);
(2) liens on our property or any shares of stock of any Material Subsidiary
that exist as of the date the senior notes are first issued; liens on the
shares of stock of any corporation, which liens existed at the time that
corporation became a Material Subsidiary; certain liens typically incurred
in the ordinary course of business;
(3) liens in favor of the United States (or any State), any foreign country or
any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of those
jurisdictions, to secure payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to
secure any debt incurred for the purpose of financing the purchase price or
the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to those liens,
including, for example, liens to secure debt of the pollution control or
industrial revenue bond type;
(4) debt that we may issue in connection with a consolidation or merger of
Dominion or any Material Subsidiary with or into any other company
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(including any of our affiliates or Material Subsidiaries) in exchange for
secured debt of that company (Third Party Debt) as long as that debt (i) is
secured by a mortgage on all or a portion of the property of that company,
(ii) prohibits secured debt from being incurred by that company, unless the
Third Party Debt is secured on an equal and ratable basis or (iii)
prohibits secured debt from being incurred by that company;
(5) debt of another company that we must assume in connection with a
consolidation or merger of that company, with respect to which any of our
property is subjected to a lien;
(6) liens on any property that we acquire, construct, develop or improve after
the date the senior notes are first issued that are created before or
within 18 months after the acquisition, construction, development or
improvement of the property and secure the payment of the purchase price or
related costs;
(7) liens in favor of Dominion, our Material Subsidiaries or our wholly- owned
subsidiaries;
(8) the replacement, extension or renewal of any lien referred to above in
clauses (1) through (7) as long as the amount secured by the liens or the
property subject to the liens is not increased; and
(9) any other lien not covered by clauses (1) through (8) above as long as
immediately after the creation of the lien the aggregate principal amount
of debt secured by all liens created or assumed under this clause (9) does
not exceed 10% of our common shareholders' equity.
When we use the term "lien" in this section, we mean any mortgage, lien,
pledge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind; "Material
Subsidiary" means each of our subsidiaries (excluding Dominion Capital, Inc.)
whose total assets (as determined in accordance with GAAP) represent at least
20% of Dominion's total assets on a consolidated basis; and "Principal
Property" means any of Dominion's plants or facilities located in the United
States that in the opinion of our Board of Directors or management is of
material importance to the business conducted by Dominion and our consolidated
subsidiaries taken as whole.
Book-Entry Issuance
The depositary for the senior notes will be DTC. The senior notes will be
issued only as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede &
Co., DTC's nominee. The senior notes will be issued in accordance with the
procedures set forth under "Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement" below.
BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT
Upon issuance, all book-entry securities will be represented by one or more
fully registered global certificates. Each global security will be deposited
with DTC or its custodian and will be registered in the name of DTC or a
nominee of DTC. DTC will thus be the only registered holder of these
securities.
The following is based on information furnished to us by DTC:
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State
of New York, a member of the Federal
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Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the Uniform
Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions
of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities of its
participants ("Participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of
securities transactions among its Participants in these securities through
electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the Participants, thereby
eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC's
Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the
underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. Persons who
are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by DTC only through
Participants.
DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC and the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to DTC's system is also available to others
including securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either
directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules applicable to DTC
and its Participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of securities within the DTC system must be made by or through
Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC's
records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of securities
("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect
Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation
from DTC of their purchases, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive
written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as
periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants
through which the Beneficial Owners purchased securities. Transfers of
ownership interests in the securities are to be accomplished by entries made on
the books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial
Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in
securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the
securities is discontinued.
DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the securities. DTC's
records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts
the securities are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The
Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on
behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants,
by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and
Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements
among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time.
Although voting with respect to the securities is limited, in those cases
where a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or
vote with respect to securities. Under its usual procedures,
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DTC would mail an Omnibus Proxy to us as soon as possible after the record
date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to
those Direct Participants to whose accounts the securities are credited on the
record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
Payments on the securities will be made to DTC in immediately available
funds. DTC's practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the
relevant payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on
DTC's records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive
payments on the relevant payment date. Payments by Participants to Beneficial
Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is
the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or
registered in "street name", and will be the responsibility of the Participant
and not of DTC or Dominion, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements
as may be in effect from time to time. Payment to DTC is our responsibility,
disbursement of the payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of
DTC, and disbursement of the payments to the Beneficial Owners is the
responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
Except as provided in this prospectus supplement, a Beneficial Owner of
securities will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of securities.
Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to
exercise any rights under the securities. The laws of some jurisdictions
require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of
securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer
beneficial interests in a global security.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under
those circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depositary is not
obtained, securities certificates will be printed and delivered to the holders
of record. Additionally, we may decide to discontinue use of the system of
book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor depositary) with respect to
the securities. In that event, certificates for the securities will be printed
and delivered to the holders of record.
We have no responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Participants of
their respective obligations as described in this prospectus supplement or
under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the PIES, the senior
notes and the common shares acquired under a purchase contract. Unless
otherwise stated, this summary applies only to "U.S. Holders" who purchase
Corporate PIES upon original issuance for an amount equal to the initial
offering price and who hold the PIES, the senior notes and the common shares
acquired under the purchase contract as capital assets.
A "U.S. Holder" is:
. a person who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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. a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under the laws of
the United States or any subdivision thereof;
. an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income
taxation, regardless of its source; or
. a trust (1) that is subject to the supervision of a court with the United
States and the control of one or more United States persons as described in
Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code") or (2) that has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S.
Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.
The tax treatment of a holder may vary depending on the holder's particular
situation. This summary does not deal with special classes of holders. For
example, this summary does not address:
. tax consequences to holders who may be subject to special tax treatment,
such as banks, thrifts, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment
companies, insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies, or tax-
exempt investors,
. tax consequences to traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market
method of accounting,
. tax consequences to persons who will hold the PIES, the senior notes or the
common shares acquired under the purchase contract as a position in a
"straddle", "synthetic security", "hedge", "integrated transaction",
"constructive sale transaction" or "conversion transaction",
. tax consequences to holders of PIES, senior notes or common shares acquired
under a purchase contract whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar,
. tax consequences to shareholders, partners or beneficiaries of a holder of
PIES, senior notes or common shares acquired under a purchase contract,
. alternative minimum tax consequences, if any, or
. any state, local or foreign tax consequences.
If you are not a United States person (within the meaning of Section 7701
(a)(30) of the Code), you are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding
the United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in the PIES,
including the potential application of United States withholding taxes.
This summary is based upon the Code, Treasury regulations (including proposed
Treasury regulations) issued thereunder, IRS rulings and pronouncements and
judicial decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change, possibly
on a retroactive basis. Any changes may be applied retroactively in a manner
that could cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the
consequences described below, possibly adversely affecting a U.S. Holder.
No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the
treatment of the PIES or instruments similar to the PIES for United States
federal income tax purposes. As a result, no assurance can be given that the
IRS will agree with the tax consequences described herein. You are urged to
consult your own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to you of
the purchase, ownership and disposition of the PIES in light of your own
particular circumstances, including the tax consequences under state, local,
foreign and
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other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in United States federal or
other tax laws.
Corporate PIES
Allocation of Purchase Price
A U.S. Holder's acquisition of a Corporate PIES will be treated as an
acquisition of a unit consisting of the purchase contract and the senior note
that comprise the Corporate PIES. The purchase price of each Corporate PIES
will be allocated between the purchase contract and the senior note in
proportion to their respective fair market values at the time of purchase. This
allocation will establish the U.S. Holder's initial tax bases in the purchase
contract and the senior note. Dominion will report the fair market value of
each senior note as $50 and the fair market value of each purchase contract as
$0. Although this position will not be binding on the IRS, it will be binding
upon each U.S. Holder unless the U.S. Holder explicitly discloses a contrary
position on a statement attached to the U.S. Holder's timely filed United
States federal income tax return for the taxable year in which a Corporate PIES
is acquired. Thus, absent such disclosure, a U.S. Holder should allocate the
purchase price for a Corporate PIES in accordance with the foregoing. The
remainder of this discussion assumes that this allocation of the purchase price
will be respected for United States federal income tax purposes. If the
allocation were not respected by the IRS, the senior notes could be deemed to
be issued at a discount, and you could be subject to the Treasury regulations
requiring the accrual of original issue discount on a constant-yield-to-
maturity method regardless of your regular method of accounting.
Senior Notes
Interest Income
Generally, a U.S. Holder should include stated interest on the senior notes
in income as ordinary income when paid or accrued, in accordance with such U.S.
Holder's regular method of tax accounting.
Sales, Exchanges or Other Dispositions of Senior Notes
A U.S. Holder will recognize capital gain or loss on a sale, exchange, or
other disposition of a senior note, including the remarketing thereof, in an
amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. Holder
on the disposition of the senior note (less any accrued interest, which will be
taxable as such, if not previously included in income) and the U.S. Holder's
adjusted tax basis in the senior note. Capital gains of individuals derived
from capital assets held for more than one year are subject to capital gains
tax rates which are lower than ordinary income tax rates. A U.S. Holder's
ability to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations.
Purchase Contracts
Income from Contract Adjustment Payments
There is no direct authority addressing the treatment of the contract
adjustment payments under current law, and the treatment is unclear. Contract
adjustment payments may constitute taxable income to a U.S. Holder when
received or accrued, in accordance with the U.S. Holder's method of tax
accounting. To the extent Dominion is required to file information returns with
respect to contract adjustment payments, it intends to report the contract
adjustment
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<PAGE>
payments as taxable income to each U.S. Holder. U.S. Holders should consult
their own tax advisors concerning the treatment of contract adjustment
payments, including the possibility that any payment may be treated as a loan,
purchase price adjustment, rebate or payment analogous to an option premium,
rather than being includible in income on a current basis. The treatment of
contract adjustment payments could affect a U.S. Holder's tax basis in a
purchase contract or in the common shares acquired under a purchase contract or
the amount realized by a U.S. Holder upon the sale or disposition of a PIES or
the termination of a purchase contract. See "--Acquisition of Common Shares
under a Purchase Contract," "--Termination of Purchase Contract" and "--Sale or
Disposition of PIES."
Acquisition of Common Shares under a Purchase Contract
A U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss on the purchase of
common shares under a purchase contract, except possibly with respect to any
cash received in lieu of a fractional common share. Subject to the following
discussion, a U.S. Holder's aggregate initial tax basis in the common shares
acquired under a purchase contract generally should equal the purchase price
paid for the common shares plus the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the purchase
contract, if any, less the portion of the purchase price and tax basis
allocable to the fractional share. Payments of contract adjustment payments
that have been received in cash by a U.S. Holder but not included in income
should reduce the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the purchase contract or in the
common shares to be received thereunder. See "--Income from Contract Adjustment
Payments". The holding period for common shares acquired under a purchase
contract will commence on the day of the acquisition of such common shares.
Ownership of Common Shares Acquired under the Purchase Contract
Any dividend on common shares paid by Dominion out of its current or
accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal
income tax purposes) will be includible in income by the U.S. Holder when
received. Any such dividend will be eligible for the dividends received
deduction if received by an otherwise qualifying corporate U.S. Holder that
meets the holding period and other requirements for the dividends received
deduction.
Upon a sale or exchange of common shares, a U.S. Holder generally will
recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount
realized and the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the common shares. Capital
gains of individuals derived in respect of capital assets held for more than
one year are subject to capital gains tax rates which are lower than ordinary
income tax rates. A U.S. Holder's ability to deduct capital losses is subject
to limitations.
Early Settlement of Purchase Contract
A U.S. Holder will not recognize gain or loss on the receipt of the U.S.
Holder's proportionate share of the senior notes or Treasury Securities upon
early settlement of a purchase contract and will have the same tax basis in
such senior notes or Treasury Securities as before such early settlement.
Termination of Purchase Contract
If a purchase contract terminates, a U.S. Holder will recognize capital gain
or loss
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<PAGE>
equal to the difference between the amount realized (if any) upon such
termination and the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis (if any) in the purchase
contract at the time of the termination. Payments of contract adjustment
payments received by a U.S. Holder but not included in income should either
reduce the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the purchase contract or result in an
amount realized on the termination of the purchase contract. Any contract
adjustment payments included in a U.S. Holder's income but not paid should
increase the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the purchase contract (see "--Income
from Contract Adjustment Payments" above). Capital gains of individuals derived
in respect of capital assets held for more than one year are subject to capital
gains tax rates which are lower than ordinary income tax rates. A U.S. Holder's
ability to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations. A U.S. Holder will
not recognize gain or loss on the receipt of the U.S. Holder's proportionate
share of senior notes or Treasury Securities upon termination of the purchase
contract and will have the same tax basis in such senior notes or Treasury
Securities as before the termination.
If a termination of the purchase contract occurs when it has negative value,
see "--Sale or Disposition of PIES". U.S. Holders should consult their tax
advisors regarding a termination of the purchase contract at a time when the
purchase contract has negative value.
Adjustment to Settlement Rate
U.S. Holders of PIES might be treated as receiving a constructive
distribution from Dominion if (1) the Settlement Rate is adjusted and as a
result of such adjustment the proportionate interest of U.S. Holders of PIES in
the assets or earnings and profits of Dominion is increased and (2) the
adjustment is not made pursuant to a bona fide, reasonable anti-dilution
formula. An adjustment in the Settlement Rate would not be considered made
pursuant to a bona fide formula if the adjustment were made to compensate a
U.S. Holder for certain taxable distributions with respect to the common
shares. Thus, under certain circumstances, an increase in the Settlement Rate
might give rise to a taxable dividend to U.S. Holders of PIES even though the
U.S. Holders would not receive any cash related thereto.
Treasury PIES
Substitution of Treasury Securities to Create Treasury PIES
A U.S. Holder of Corporate PIES that delivers Treasury Securities to the
securities intermediary in substitution for senior notes generally will not
recognize gain or loss upon the delivery of the Treasury Securities or the
release of the senior notes to the U.S. Holder. The U.S. Holder will continue
to include in income any interest on the senior notes, and the U.S. Holder's
basis in the senior notes and the purchase contract will not be affected by the
delivery and release.
Ownership of Treasury Securities
A U.S. Holder's initial tax basis in the Treasury Securities that are part of
the Treasury PIES will be equal to the amount paid for the Treasury Securities.
A U.S. Holder generally will include in income any original issue discount or
acquisition discount includible with respect to the Treasury Securities. In
general, you will be required to include in income each year that you hold a
Treasury Security the portion of the original issue discount or acquisition
S-51
<PAGE>
discount that accrues on the Treasury Security in such year.
Substitution of Senior Notes to Recreate Corporate PIES
A U.S. Holder of Treasury PIES that delivers senior notes to the securities
intermediary to recreate Corporate PIES generally will not recognize gain or
loss upon the delivery of such senior notes or the release of the Treasury
Securities to the U.S. Holder. The U.S. Holder will continue to include in
income any interest, original issue discount or acquisition discount with
respect to such Treasury Securities and the senior notes, and the U.S. Holder's
tax basis in the Treasury Securities, the senior notes and the purchase
contract will not be affected by such delivery and release.
Sale or Disposition of PIES
Upon a disposition of PIES, a U.S. Holder will be treated as having sold,
exchanged or disposed of the purchase contracts and the senior notes, or, in
the case of Treasury PIES, the Treasury Securities, that comprise such PIES and
generally will have capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the
portion of the proceeds to the U.S. Holder allocable to the purchase contracts
and the senior notes, or Treasury Securities, as the case may be, and the U.S.
Holder's respective adjusted tax bases in the purchase contract and the senior
notes, or Treasury Securities. For purposes of determining gain or loss, your
proceeds will not include any amount equal to accrued and unpaid interest on
the senior note or Treasury Security or any amount with respect to accrued
contract adjustment payments not previously included in income, which amounts
will be treated as ordinary income. Capital gains of individuals derived in
respect of capital assets held for more than one year are subject to capital
gains tax rates which are lower than ordinary income tax rates. A U.S. Holder's
ability to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations. If a disposition of
the PIES occurs when the purchase contract has negative value, the U.S. Holder
should be considered to have received additional consideration for the senior
notes or Treasury Securities in an amount equal to the negative value and to
have paid the amount to be released from the U.S. Holder's obligation under the
purchase contract. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding a
disposition of the PIES at a time when the purchase contract has negative
value.
Payments to a U.S. Holder of contract adjustment payments that have not
previously been included in the income of the U.S. Holder should either reduce
the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the purchase contract or result in an increase
in the amount realized on the disposition of the purchase contract. Any
contract adjustment payments included in a U.S. Holder's income but not paid
should increase the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the purchase contract. See "--
Corporate PIES--Purchase Contracts--Income from Contract Adjustment Payments".
Non-United States Holders
The following summary discusses the U.S. federal income tax consequences to
Non-United States Holders. You are a "Non-United States Holder" if you are not
a U.S. Holder. This summary does not represent a detailed description of the
federal income tax consequences to Non-United States Holders in light of their
particular circumstances. For example, it does not represent a detailed
description of
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the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to Non-United States
Holders subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws
(including if the Non-United States Holder is a "controlled foreign
corporation", "passive foreign investment company" or "foreign personal holding
company"). As discussed above, the PIES will be treated by the holders and by
Dominion as a unit consisting of a purchase contract and a senior note or
Treasury Security, as the case may be. The following discussion is subject to
the discussion below concerning backup withholding.
United States Federal Withholding Tax
The 30% U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any payment of
principal or interest (including original issue discount) on a senior note or
Treasury Security provided that:
. the Non-United States Holder does not actually (or constructively) own 10%
or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of Dominion's
voting stock within the meaning of the Code and the U.S. Treasury
Regulations;
. the Non-United States Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation that is
related to Dominion through stock ownership;
. the Non-United States Holder is not a bank whose receipt of interest on the
senior notes or Treasury Securities is described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of
the Code; and
. (a) the Non-United States Holder provides its name and address on an IRS
Form W-8 (or successor form), and certifies, under penalty of perjury, that
such holder is not a U.S. person or (b) a financial institution holding the
senior notes or Treasury Securities on the Non-United States Holder's behalf
certifies, under penalty of perjury, that it has received an IRS Form W-8
(or successor form) from the beneficial owner and provides Dominion with a
copy.
If a Non-United States Holder cannot satisfy the requirements of the
"portfolio interest" exception, payments of premium (if any) and interest made
to the Non-United States Holder generally will be subject to a 30% withholding
tax.
Dominion will generally withhold a 30% withholding tax on contract adjustment
payments and dividends paid on the common shares acquired under a purchase
contract.
A Non-United States Holder may reduce or eliminate the 30% withholding tax on
interest, contract adjustment payments or dividends discussed above if such
holder provides Dominion, or their respective paying agents, as the case may
be, with a properly executed
. IRS Form 1001 (or successor form) properly claiming an exemption from, or a
reduction of, such withholding tax under the benefit of an applicable tax
treaty or
. IRS Form 4224 (or successor form) stating that payment with respect to the
PIES, senior notes, Treasury Securities or common shares is not subject to
withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the beneficial
owner's conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
Under future regulations generally applicable to payments made after
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<PAGE>
December 31, 2000, Non-United States Holders will generally be required to
provide an IRS Form W-8 in lieu of IRS Form 1001 and IRS Form 4224, although
alternative documentation may be applicable in certain situations.
The 30% withholding tax will not apply to any gain or income that a Non-
United States Holder receives on the sale, exchange, or other disposition of
the Corporate PIES, the Treasury PIES, the senior notes, Treasury Securities or
common shares acquired under the purchase contract.
United States Federal Income Tax
If the Non-United States Holder is engaged in a trade or business in the
United States and interest on the senior notes, original issue discount on the
Treasury Securities, dividends on the common shares and, to the extent they
constitute taxable income, contract adjustment payments from the purchase
contracts are effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business,
the Non-United States Holder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that
interest, original issue discount, dividends and purchase contract payments
(although exempt from the 30% withholding tax) on a net income basis in the
same manner as if such holder were a U.S. person as defined under the Code. In
addition, if the Non-United States Holder is a foreign corporation, such holder
may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower applicable treaty
rate) of its earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments
that are effectively connected with the conduct by such holder of a trade or
business in the United States. For this purpose, interest on senior notes,
original issue discount on the Treasury Securities, dividends on the common
shares and, to the extent they constitute taxable income, the contract
adjustment payments from the purchase contracts will be included in earnings
and profits.
Generally, a Non-United States Holder will not be subject to United States
federal income taxes on any amount which constitutes gain or income upon sale,
exchange, retirement or other disposition of a PIES, senior note, Treasury
Security or common shares, unless (1) the gain is effectively connected with
the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by the Non-United
States Holder, (2) the Non-United States Holder is an individual who is present
in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that
disposition, and certain other conditions are met, or (3) in the case of PIES
or common shares, Dominion is or has been a "U.S. real property holding
corporation" for United States federal income tax purposes.
Dominion has not determined whether it is a "U.S. real property holding
corporation" for United States federal income tax purposes. If it is or becomes
a U.S. real property holding corporation, so long as the common shares continue
to be regularly traded on an established securities market, Non-United States
Holders will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the disposition of a
purchase contract or common shares if such holder holds or has held (at any
time during the shorter of the five year period preceding the date of
disposition of such holder's holding period) less than 5% of the total
outstanding purchase contracts or common shares, respectively.
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Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting
If you are a U.S. Holder, unless you are an exempt recipient such as a
corporation, payments under the PIES, the senior notes, the Treasury Securities
or the common shares acquired under a purchase contract, the proceeds received
with respect to fractional common shares upon settlement of a purchase
contract, and the proceeds received from the sale, exchange or other
disposition of the PIES, the senior notes, the Treasury Securities or the
common shares acquired under a purchase contract may be subject to information
reporting and United States federal backup withholding tax at the rate of 31%
if the U.S. Holder thereof fails to supply an accurate taxpayer identification
number or otherwise fails to comply with applicable United States information
reporting or certification requirements.
If you are a non-United States Holder, no information reporting (except
possibly with respect to contract adjustment payments to the extent they
constitute taxable income) or backup withholding will be required with respect
to payments made by Dominion or any paying agent, if a statement described
above under "Non-United States Holders" has been received (and the payor does
not have actual knowledge that the beneficial owner is a U.S. Holder).
Any amounts so withheld will be allowed as a credit against such U.S.
Holder's United States federal income tax liability.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
Generally, employee benefit plans that are subject to the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), plans, individual retirement
accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or provisions under
applicable federal, state, local, foreign or other laws or regulations that are
similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code ("Similar Laws") and entities
whose underlying assets are considered to include "plan assets" of such plans,
accounts and arrangements (each, a "Plan") may purchase the Corporate PIES
subject to the determination by the investing fiduciary of the Plan that the
Plan's investment in the Corporate PIES satisfies ERISA's fiduciary
responsibility requirements and other requirements applicable to investments by
Plans. Accordingly, among other factors, the investing fiduciary should
consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification
requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and
instruments governing the Plan.
Under regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL"), in the case
of an investment by a Plan subject to ERISA in an "equity interest" of an
entity that is neither a "publicly-offered security" nor a security issued by
an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the
Plan's assets include both the equity interest and an undivided interest in
each of the entity's underlying assets, unless it is established that the
entity is an "operating company" or equity participation in the entity by
"benefit plan investors" is not "significant". An "equity interest" is an
interest in an entity other than an instrument that is treated as indebtedness
under applicable local law and which has no substantial equity features. In
order to be
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considered "publicly-offered securities," the Corporate PIES must be (1) freely
transferable, (2) part of a class of securities that is widely held and (3)(a)
part of a class of securities registered under section 12(b) or 12(g) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or (b) sold to the Plan as part of an offering
of securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933 (provided the class of securities is
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 within 120 days after the
end of the issuer's fiscal year). In order to be considered an "operating
company," Dominion must constitute an entity that is primarily engaged,
directly or through a majority owned subsidiary or subsidiaries, in the
production or sale of a product or service other than the investment of
capital. Equity participation in an entity by "benefit plan investors" is
"significant" on any date if, immediately after the most recent acquisition of
any equity interest in the entity, 25% or more of the value of any class of
equity interests in the entity is held by "benefit plan investors." "Benefit
plan investors" include Plans and similar plans that are not subject to ERISA
or the Code. However, no efforts will be made to monitor "benefit plan
investor" participation.
Dominion anticipates that investing Plans' assets will not include an
undivided interest in each of Dominion's underlying assets (a) because the
Corporate PIES will be considered "publicly-offered securities," and/or (b)
because Dominion will, at all relevant times, be considered an "operating
company." However, due to the facts and circumstances nature of the inquiries,
no assurances can be given that the DOL or any particular court would agree
that Dominion qualifies as an "operating company" and/or that all of the
necessary conditions have been satisfied for the Corporate PIES to constitute
"publicly-offered securities".
If the underlying assets of Dominion were to be deemed to be "plan assets" of
Plans under ERISA, this would result, among other things, in (1) the
application of the prudence and other fiduciary responsibility standards of
ERISA to activities engaged in by Dominion and (2) the possibility that certain
transactions in which Dominion might seek to engage could constitute
"prohibited transactions" under ERISA and the Code. If a prohibited transaction
occurs for which no exemption is available, any fiduciary that has engaged in
the prohibited transaction could be required (1) to restore to the Plan any
profit realized on the transaction and (2) to reimburse the Plan for any losses
suffered by the Plan as a result of the investment. In addition, each
"disqualified person" (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) involved
could be subject to an excise tax equal to 15% of the amount involved in the
prohibited transaction for each year the transaction continues and, unless the
transaction is corrected within statutorily required periods, to an additional
tax of 100%. Plan fiduciaries who decide to invest in the Corporate PIES could,
under certain circumstances, be liable for prohibited transactions or other
violations as a result of their investment in the Corporate PIES or as co-
fiduciaries for actions taken by or on behalf of Dominion. With respect to an
individual retirement account ("IRA") that invests in the Corporate PIES, the
occurrence of a prohibited transaction involving the individual who established
the IRA, or his or her beneficiaries, would cause the IRA to lose its tax-
exempt status.
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In addition, Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit Plans
from engaging in specified transactions involving plan assets with persons or
entities who are "parties in interest," within the meaning of ERISA, or
"disqualified persons," within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code. The
acquisition and/or ownership of the Corporate PIES by a Plan with respect to
which Dominion, another entity affiliated with the Corporate PIES or their
sale, or any of their respective affiliates is considered a party in interest
or a disqualified person may constitute or result in a prohibited transaction
under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, unless those Corporate
PIES are acquired and are held in accordance with an applicable statutory,
class or individual prohibited transaction exemption. In this regard, the DOL
has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions, which are called "PTCEs,"
that may apply to the acquisition and holding of the Corporate PIES. These
class exemptions include PTCE 84-14 respecting transactions determined by
independent qualified professional asset managers, PTCE 90-1 respecting
insurance company pooled separate accounts, PTCE 91-38 respecting bank
collective investment trust funds, PTCE 95-60 respecting life insurance company
general accounts and PTCE 96-23 respecting transactions determined by in-house
asset managers.
Any fiduciary proposing to acquire the Corporate PIES for or on behalf of a
Plan, directly or indirectly, should consult with counsel for the Plan and
should not acquire the Corporate PIES unless it is determined that the
acquisition and holding of the Corporate PIES by the Plan (1) does not and will
not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section
406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or otherwise trigger any penalties or
liabilities under, or violate in any way, ERISA, the Code or any Similar Laws,
and (2) will satisfy the applicable fiduciary requirements imposed under ERISA
or under any applicable Similar Laws. Any such acquisition and/or holding by a
Plan (directly or indirectly) will be deemed a representation by the Plan and
the fiduciary effecting the investment for or on behalf of the Plan that the
acquisition and holding (1) satisfies the applicable fiduciary requirements of
ERISA and all other applicable Similar Laws, and (2) is either (a) not a
prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code and is otherwise permissible
under applicable Similar Laws or (b) entitled to exemptive relief from the
prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code in accordance with one
or more of the PTCEs mentioned above or another available statutory, class or
individual prohibited transaction exemption, and is otherwise permissible under
all applicable Similar Laws.
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UNDERWRITING
Dominion has entered into the underwriting agreement with the underwriters
named below pursuant to which, and subject to its terms and conditions,
Dominion has agreed to sell to the underwriters and the underwriters have
agreed to purchase from Dominion all of the Corporate PIES. Set forth below is
the total number of Corporate PIES that each of the underwriters will purchase.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of
Corporate
Underwriters PIES
------------ ---------
<S> <C>
Lehman Brothers Inc. ................................................
Banc of America Securities LLC.......................................
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation...............................
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated....................................................
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated....................................
---------
7,000,000
=========
</TABLE>
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligation of the underwriters
to purchase the Corporate PIES is subject to the satisfaction of certain
conditions, including the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, the
underwriters must purchase all of the Corporate PIES if they purchase any of
them.
The underwriters have advised Dominion that they will offer the Corporate
PIES directly to the public initially at the offering price and to certain
dealers at the offering price less a selling concession not to exceed $ per
Corporate PIES. The underwriters may allow and these dealers may reallow a
concession not to exceed $ per Corporate PIES to other dealers. After the
initial offering of the Corporate PIES, the underwriters may change the public
offering price, the concession to selected dealers and the reallowance to other
dealers.
Dominion has granted to the underwriters an option to purchase an aggregate
of up to an additional 1,050,000 Corporate PIES solely to cover over-
allotments, at the initial offering price to the public. Any or all of the
option may be exercised at any time on or before 30 days after the date of the
underwriting agreement. To the extent that the option is exercised, the
underwriters will be committed, subject to certain conditions, to purchase up
to such number of additional Corporate PIES.
Dominion has agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute
to payments which the underwriters would be required to make regarding any
liabilities that they may have under the Securities Act.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Corporate
PIES. Dominion has applied to list the Corporate PIES on the NYSE, and trading
is expected to commence within five business days after the date of this
prospectus supplement. In order to meet one of the requirements for listing on
the NYSE, Lehman Brothers has undertaken to sell the Corporate PIES to a
minimum of 400 beneficial owners. The underwriters have advised Dominion that
they presently intend to make a market in the Corporate PIES as permitted by
applicable laws and regulations. The underwriters are not obligated to make a
market in the Corporate PIES, however, and they may discontinue this market
making at any time in their sole discretion. Accordingly, Dominion cannot
assure investors that there will be adequate liquidity or adequate trading
markets for the Corporate PIES.
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In connection with the offering of the Corporate PIES, the underwriters may
engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the Corporate PIES.
These transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging,
fixing or maintaining the price of the Corporate PIES. If the underwriters
create a short position in the Corporate PIES in connection with this offering,
by selling more Corporate PIES than are listed on the cover page of this
prospectus supplement, then the underwriters may reduce that short position by
purchasing Corporate PIES in the open market. In general, the purchase of a
security for the purpose of stabilization or reducing a short position could
cause the price of that security to be higher than it might otherwise be in the
absence of those purchases.
Neither Dominion nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction
as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described
above may have on the price of the Corporate PIES. In addition, neither
Dominion nor the underwriters make any representation that anyone will engage
in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be
discontinued without notice.
Dominion and its executive officers and directors have agreed, subject to
limited exceptions, without the prior written consent of Lehman Brothers on
behalf of the underwriters, during the period ending 60 days after the date of
this prospectus, not to directly or indirectly:
. offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to
purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of
any PIES, common shares, purchase contracts or any securities of Dominion
similar to the PIES or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for PIES, common shares, purchase contracts or any
securities of Dominion similar to the PIES, or file any registration
statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the above; or
. enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of PIES,
common shares, purchase contracts or any securities of Dominion similar
to the PIES, whether any such transaction described above is to be
settled by delivery of PIES, common shares, purchase contracts or any
securities of Dominion similar to the PIES or such other securities, in
cash or otherwise.
These restrictions do not apply to:
. the sale of the PIES to the underwriters;
. Treasury PIES or Corporate PIES that may be created or recreated upon the
substitution of pledged securities or common shares issuable upon early
settlement of the Corporate PIES or Treasury PIES;
. the issuance by Dominion of any common shares upon the exercise of an
option or warrant, or the conversion of a security outstanding on the
date of this prospectus;
. the issuance by Dominion of common shares, or options to purchase any
common shares granted, in connection with
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our employee benefit plans, employee share purchase plans, non-employee
director stock plans, dividend reinvestment plans and the Dominion Direct
Investment plan;
. the sale or surrender to Dominion by any of its executive officers or
directors of any options or common shares underlying options in order to
pay the exercise price or taxes associated with the exercise of options;
. the issuance by Dominion of common shares in connection with acquisitions
that close more than 60 days after this offering or any acquisition in
which the party receiving the common shares agrees to be bound by such
restrictions;
. the filing by Dominion of a shelf registration statement from which
Dominion will not offer any such securities during the 60-day period;
. transactions by any person other than Dominion relating to common shares
or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the
completion of the offering of the PIES; or
. transfers by any person, other than Dominion, by gift, will or intestacy,
or to affiliates or immediate family members, provided that the
transferee agrees to be bound by such restriction.
Purchasers of PIES offered by this prospectus may be required to pay stamp
taxes and other charges under the laws and practices of the country of
purchase, in addition to the offering price listed on the cover of this
prospectus.
Any offers in Canada will be made only under an exemption from the
requirements to file a prospectus in the relevant province of Canada.
The underwriters and their affiliates have, directly and indirectly, provided
investment and commercial banking or financial advisory services to Dominion
and its affiliates, for which they have received customary fees and
commissions, and expect to provide these services to Dominion and its
affiliates in the future, for which they expect to receive customary fees and
commissions.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the offering of the purchase
contracts, the common shares and the senior notes will be passed upon for
Dominion by McGuireWoods LLP, and for the underwriters by Mays & Valentine,
L.L.P. In addition, certain legal matters will be passed upon for the
underwriters by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, New York, New York. In rendering
its opinion, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett will rely upon McGuireWoods LLP as to
all matters of Virginia law.
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus supplement by
reference from Dominion's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference,
and has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given
upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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The audited historical consolidated financial statements of CNG incorporated
by reference in Dominion's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 1, 2000,
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, have been so
incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of that firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
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Prospectus
[LOGO OF DOMINION RESOURCES INC.]
DOMINION RESOURCES, INC.
120 Tredegar Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 819-2000
$4,500,000,000
Senior Debt Securities
Junior Subordinated Debentures
Trust Preferred Securities and Related Guarantee
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Stock Purchase Contracts
Stock Purchase Units
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is
a criminal offense.
This prospectus is dated January 6, 2000.
<PAGE>
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission utilizing a shelf registration process.
Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of
the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a
total dollar amount of $4,500,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a
general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell
securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific
information about the terms of that offering. Material United States federal
income tax considerations applicable to the offered securities will also be
discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement
may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You
should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with
additional information described under the heading WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the
Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and
copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference rooms in Washington,
D.C., New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-
SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. You may also
read and copy these documents at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange,
20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with
them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is
an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with
the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We
incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings
made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 until we sell all of the securities.
. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998;
. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999, June
30, 1999 and September 30, 1999;
. Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 29, 1999; and
. The description of our common stock contained in Form 8-B (Item 4) dated
April 29, 1983.
You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at the following address:
Corporate Secretary
Dominion Resources, Inc.
120 Tredegar Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 819-2000
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not
authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not
making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not
permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or
any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on
the front of those documents.
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THE COMPANY
Dominion Resources, Inc. is a diversified utility holding company
headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Our principal operating subsidiaries are
Virginia Electric and Power Company, a regulated public utility, engaged in
the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy,
Dominion Energy, Inc., an independent power and natural gas subsidiary, and
Dominion Capital, Inc., a financial services subsidiary. We also own an 80%
interest in and operate a 365 megawatt natural gas fired generating facility
in the United Kingdom.
In May 1999, we entered into a merger agreement with Consolidated Natural
Gas Company (CNG), one of the nation's largest producers, transporters,
distributors and retail marketers of natural gas. The merger is scheduled to
close on January 28, 2000. As a result of the merger with CNG, we will become
a registered public utility holding company under the provisions of the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (1935 Act). Because of limits the 1935 Act
will impose on our non-utility activities, it will be necessary for us to
divest ourselves of Dominion Capital, Inc. after the merger.
THE TRUSTS
Each of Dominion Resources Capital Trust II and Dominion Resources Capital
Trust III is a statutory business trust newly formed under Delaware law by us,
as sponsor for the Trust, and Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware, who will serve as
trustee in the State of Delaware for the purpose of complying with the
provisions of the Delaware Business Trust Act. The trust agreement for each of
the Trusts will be amended and restated substantially in the form filed as an
exhibit to the registration statement, effective when securities of the Trusts
are initially issued. The amended trust agreement will be qualified as an
indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
Each Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of
. issuing two classes of trust securities, trust preferred securities and
trust common securities, which together represent undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of each Trust;
. investing the gross proceeds of the trust securities in our Junior
Subordinated Debentures;
. making distributions; and
. engaging in only those other activities necessary, advisable or incidental
to the purposes listed above.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the sole assets of each Trust,
and our payments under the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Agreement as
to Expenses and Liabilities will be the sole revenue of each Trust.
No separate financial statements of any Trust are included in this
prospectus. We consider that these financial statements would not be material
to holders of the Trust preferred securities because no Trust has any
independent operations and the purposes of each Trust are as described above.
We do not expect that any of the Trusts will be filing annual, quarterly or
special reports with the SEC.
The principal place of business of each of the Trusts will be c/o Dominion
Resources, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities will be used for
financing our merger with CNG, refinancing of our
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debt incurred in connection with that merger, and for other general corporate
purposes.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Twelve Twelve Months ended Dec. 31,
Months ended -----------------------------
Sep. 30, 1999(/2/) 1994 1995 1996 1997(/1/) 1998
------------------ ---- ---- ---- --------- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
2.07 2.77 2.55 2.71 1.97 2.36
</TABLE>
These computations include us and our subsidiaries, and certain other
companies in which we hold an equity interest. For these ratios, earnings is
determined by adding total fixed charges (excluding interest capitalized),
income taxes, minority common stockholders equity in net income and
amortization of interest capitalized to income from continuing operations
after eliminating equity in undistributed earnings and adding back losses of
companies in which at least 20% but less than 50% equity is owned. For this
purpose, total fixed charges consists of (1) interest on all indebtedness and
amortization of debt discount and expense, (2) interest capitalized and (3) an
interest factor attributable to rentals.
--------
(1) Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 1997 includes the one-
time charge of $156.6 million for the windfall profits tax levied by the
U.K. government. Excluding this charge from the calculation above results
in a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended
December 31, 1997 of 2.22x.
(2) Net income for the twelve months ended September 30, 1999 includes the
one-time charge of $254.8 million for the write-off of regulatory assets.
Excluding this charge from the calculation above results in a ratio of
earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended September 30, 1999
of 2.55x.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The term Debt Securities includes the Senior Debt Securities and the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. We will issue the Senior Debt Securities in one or
more series under a Senior Indenture between us and The Chase Manhattan Bank
as Trustee. We will issue the Junior Subordinated Debentures in one or more
series under our Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of December 1, 1997
between us and The Chase Manhattan Bank as Trustee, as supplemented from time
to time. The Indenture related to the Junior Subordinated Debentures is called
the Subordinated Indenture in this prospectus, and together, the Senior
Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are called Indentures. We have
summarized selected provisions of the Indentures below. The form of the Senior
Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture have been filed as exhibits to the
registration statement and you should read the Indentures for provisions that
may be important to you. In the summary below, we have included references to
section numbers of the Indentures so that you can easily locate these
provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified
in the Indentures.
General
The Senior Debt Securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and
will rank equally with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. The
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be our unsecured obligations and are
junior in
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right of payment to our Senior Indebtedness, as described under the caption
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES--SUBORDINATION.
Because we are a holding company that conducts all of our operations through
our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the Debt
Securities is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries
and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay
funds to us. Holders of Debt Securities will generally have a junior position
to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors,
debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any
preferred stockholders. Virginia Power has 6,890,140 issued and outstanding
shares of preferred stock. In addition to trade debt, all of our operating
subsidiaries have ongoing corporate debt programs used to finance their
business activities. As ofSeptember 30, 1999, our subsidiaries had
approximately $6.9 billion of outstanding debt.
Neither of the Indentures limits the amount of Debt Securites that we may
issue under it. We may issue Debt Securities from time to time under the
Indentures in one or more series by entering into supplemental indentures or
by our Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee authorizing the
issuance. A form of supplemental indenture to each of the Indentures is an
exhibit to the registration statement.
The Indentures do not protect the holders of Debt Securities if we engage in
a highly leveraged transaction.
Provisions of a Particular Series
The Debt Securities of a series need not be issued at the same time, bear
interest at the same rate or mature on the same date. The prospectus
supplement for a particular series of Debt Securities will specify the terms
of that series, including, if applicable, some or all of the following:
. the title and type of the Debt Securities;
. the total principal amount of the Debt Securities;
. the portion of the principal payable upon acceleration of maturity, if other
than the entire principal;
. the date or dates on which principal is payable or the method for
determining the date or dates, and any right that we have to change the date
on which principal is payable;
. the interest rate or rates, if any, or the method for determining the rate
or rates, and the date or dates from which interest will accrue;
. any interest payment dates and the regular record date for the interest
payable on each interest payment date, if any;
. any payments due if the maturity of the Debt Securities is accelerated;
. any optional redemption terms, or, with respect to the Senior Debt
Securities, any repayment terms;
. any provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the
Debt Securities, or, with respect to the Senior Debt Securities, any sinking
fund provisions;
. the currency in which payments will be made if other than U.S. dollars, and
the manner of determining the equivalent of those amounts in U.S. dollars;
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<PAGE>
. if payments may be made, at our election or at the holder's election, in a
currency other than that in which the Debt Securities are stated to be
payable, then the currency in which those payments may be made, the terms
and conditions of the election and the manner of determining those amounts;
. any index or formula used for determining principal, interest, or premium,
if any;
. the percentage of the principal amount at which the Debt Securities will be
issued, if other than 100% of the principal amount;
. whether to be issued in fully registered certificated form or book-entry
form, represented by certificates deposited with, or on behalf of, a
securities depositary and registered in the name of the depositary's nominee
(Book-Entry Debt Securities);
. denominations, if other than $1,000 each or multiples of $1,000;
. any changes to events of defaults or covenants; and
. any other terms of the Debt Securities. (Sections 201 & 301 of the Senior
Indenture & Sections 2.1 & 2.3 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The prospectus supplement will also indicate any special tax implications of
the Debt Securities and any provisions granting special rights to holders when
a specified event occurs.
Conversion or Redemption
No Debt Security will be subject to conversion, amortization, or redemption,
unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any
provisions relating to the conversion or redemption of Debt Securities will be
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, including whether
conversion is mandatory or at our option. If no redemption date or redemption
price is indicated with respect to a Debt Security, we may not redeem the Debt
Security prior to Stated Maturity. Debt Securities subject to redemption by us
will be subject to the following terms:
. redeemable on and after the applicable redemption dates;
. redemption dates and redemption prices fixed at the time of sale and set
forth on the Debt Security; and
. redeemable in whole or in part (provided that any remaining principal amount
of the Debt Security will be equal to an authorized denomination) at our
option at the applicable redemption price, together with interest, payable
to the date of redemption, on notice given not more than 60 nor less than 20
days prior to the date of redemption. (Section 1104 of the Senior Indenture
& Section 3.2 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
We will not be required to:
. issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Debt Securities of a series
during the period beginning 15 days before the date the notice is mailed
identifying the Debt Securities of that series that have been selected for
redemption; or
. register the transfer of, or exchange any Debt Security of that series
selected for redemption except the unredeemed portion of a Debt Security
being partially redeemed. (Section 305 of the Senior Indenture & Section 2.5
of the Subordinated Indenture.)
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Payment and Transfer; Paying Agent
The paying agent will pay the principal of any Debt Securities only if those
Debt Securities are surrendered to it. Unless we state otherwise in the
applicable prospectus supplement, the paying agent will pay principal, interest
and premium, if any, on Debt Securities, subject to such surrender, where
applicable, at its office or, at our option:
. by wire transfer to an account at a banking institution in the United States
that is designated in writing to the Trustee prior to the deadline set forth
in the applicable prospectus supplement by the person entitled to that
payment (which in the case of Book-Entry Debt Securities is the securities
depositary or its nominee); or
. by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to that interest as
that address appears in the security register for those Debt Securities.
(Sections 307 & 1001 of the Senior Indenture & Section 4.1 of the
Subordinated Indenture.)
Neither we nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any
aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests in a Book-Entry Debt Security, or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership
interests. We expect that the securities depositary, upon receipt of any
payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, in a Book-Entry Debt
Security, will credit immediately the accounts of the related participants with
payment in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal
amount of beneficial interest in the Book-Entry Debt Security as shown on the
records of the securities depositary. We also expect that payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Book-Entry Debt Security
will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as
is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer
form or registered in "street name" and will be the responsibility of the
participants.
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the
Trustee will act as paying agent for the Debt Securities, and the principal
corporate trust office of the Trustee will be the office through which the
paying agent acts. We may, however, change or add paying agents or approve a
change in the office through which a paying agent acts. (Section 1002 of the
Senior Indenture & Section 4.4 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Any money that we have paid to a paying agent for principal or interest on
any Debt Securities which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after that
principal or interest has become due will be repaid to us at our request. After
repayment to the Company, holders should look only to us for those payments.
(Section 1003 of the Senior Indenture & Section 12.4 of the Subordinated
Indenture.)
Fully registered securities may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate
trust office of the Trustee or at any other office or agency we maintain for
those purposes, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or
governmental charge. (Section 1002 of the Senior Indenture & Section 2.5 of the
Subordinated Indenture.)
Global Securities
We may issue some or all of the Debt Securities as Book-Entry Debt
Securities. Book-Entry Debt Securities will be represented by one or more fully
registered
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global certificates. Book-Entry Debt Securities of like tenor and terms up to
$200,000,000 aggregate principal amount may be represented by a single global
certificate. Each global certificate will be deposited and registered with the
securities depositary or its nominee or a custodian for the securities
depositary. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in
definitive form, a global certificate may generally be transferred only as a
whole unless it is being transferred to certain nominees of the depositary.
(Section 305 of the Senior Indenture & Section 2.5 of the Subordinated
Indenture.)
Unless otherwise stated in any prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust
Company will act as the securities depositary. Beneficial interests in global
certificates will be shown on, and transfers of global certificates will be
effected only through, records maintained by the securities depositary and its
participants. If there are any additional or differing terms of the depositary
arrangement with respect to the Book-Entry Debt Securities, we will describe
them in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Holders of beneficial interests in Book-Entry Debt Securities represented by
a global certificate are referred to as beneficial owners. Beneficial owners
will be limited to institutions having accounts with the securities depositary
or its nominee, which are called participants in this discussion, and to
persons that hold beneficial interests through participants. When a global
certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities is issued, the securities
depositary will credit on its book-entry, registration and transfer system the
principal amounts of Book-Entry Debt Securities the global certificate
represents to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial
interests in a global certificate will be shown only on, and the transfer of
those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained
by:
. the securities depositary, with respect to participants' interests; and
. any participant, with respect to interests the participant holds on behalf
of other persons.
As long as the securities depositary or its nominee is the registered holder
of a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities, that person
will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global certificate and the
Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents for all purposes. Except in limited
circumstances, beneficial owners:
. may not have the global certificate or any Book-Entry Debt Securities it
represents registered in their names;
. may not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated
Book-Entry Debt Securities in exchange for the global certificate; and
. will not be considered the owners or holders of the global certificate or
any Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents for any purposes under the Debt
Securities or the Indentures. (Section 2.2 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
We will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, on a
Book-Entry Debt Security to the securities depositary or its nominee as the
holder of the global certificate. The laws of some jurisdictions require that
certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in
definitive form. These laws
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may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global
certificate.
Payments participants make to beneficial owners holding interests through
those participants will be the responsibility of those participants. The
securities depositary may from time to time adopt various policies and
procedures governing payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating
to beneficial interests in a global certificate. None of the following will
have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the securities
depositary's or any participant's records relating to beneficial interests in
a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities, for payments
made on account of those beneficial interests or for maintaining, supervising
or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests:
. the Company;
. the Trustee;
. the Trust (only with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures if the
Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued to a Trust); or
. any agent of any of the above.
Covenants
Under the Indentures we will:
. pay the principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities when
due;
. maintain a place of payment;
. deliver an officer's certificate to the Trustee at the end of each fiscal
year confirming our compliance with our obligations under each of the
Indentures; and
. deposit sufficient funds with any paying agent on or before the due date for
any principal, interest or premium, if any. (Sections 1001, 1002, 1003 &
1006 of the Senior Indenture & Sections 4.1, 4.2 4.4 & 4.6 of the
Subordinated Indenture.)
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The Indentures provide that we may consolidate or merge with or into, or
sell all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, another
corporation or other entity, provided that any successor assumes our
obligations under the Indentures and the Debt Securities issued under the
Indentures. We must also deliver an opinion of counsel to the Trustee
affirming our compliance with all conditions in the applicable Indenture
relating to the transaction. When the conditions are satisfied, the successor
will succeed to and be substituted for us under the Senior Indenture, and we
will be relieved of our obligations under the Senior Indenture and the Debt
Securities issued under them. (Sections 801 & 802 of the Senior Indenture &
Sections 11.1, 11.2 & 11.3 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Events of Default
Event of Default when used in each of the Indentures, will mean any of the
following:
. failure to pay the principal or any premium on any Debt Security when due;
. with respect to the Senior Debt Securities, failure to deposit any sinking
fund payment when due that continues for 60 days;
. failure to pay any interest on any Debt Securities of that series, when due,
that continues for 60 days (or for 30 days in the case of any Junior
Subordinated
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Debentures); provided that, if applicable, for this purpose, the date on which
interest is due is the date on which we are required to make payment following
any deferral of interest payments by it under the terms of Junior Subordinated
Debentures that permit such deferrals;
. failure to perform any other covenant in the Indentures (other than a
covenant expressly included solely for the benefit of other series) that
continues for 90 days after the Trustee or the holders of at least 33% of the
outstanding Debt Securities (25% in the case of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures) of that series give us written notice of the default;
. certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company; or
. any other Event of Default included in the Indentures or any supplemental
indenture. (Section 501 of the Senior Indenture & Section 6.1 of the
Subordinated Indenture.)
In the case of a general covenant default described above, the Trustee may
extend the grace period. In addition, if holders of a particular series have
given a notice of default, then holders of at least the same percentage of Debt
Securities of that series, together with the Trustee, may also extend the grace
period. The grace period will be automatically extended if we have initiated
and are diligently pursuing corrective action.
An Event of Default for a particular series of Debt Securities does not
necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of Debt
Securities issued under the Indentures. Additional events of default may be
established for a particular series and, if established, will be described in
the applicable prospectus supplement.
If an Event of Default for any series of Debt Securities occurs and
continues, the Trustee or the holders of at least 33% (25%, in the case of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures) in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the Debt
Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens,
subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series can void the trust
agreement. (Section 502 of the Senior Indenture & Section 6.1 of the
Subordinated Indenture.)
The Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of Debt Securities of any
default (except in the payment of principal or interest) if it considers the
withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders. Other than
its duties in case of a default, a Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of
its rights or powers under the Indentures at the request, order or direction of
any holders, unless the holders offer the Trustee reasonable indemnity. If they
provide this reasonable indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal
amount of any series of Debt Securities may direct the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any power conferred upon the Trustee, for any series of Debt
Securities. (Sections 512, 601 & 602 of the Senior Indenture & Sections 6.6,
7.1 & 7.2 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The holder of any Debt Security will have an absolute and unconditional right
to receive payment of the principal, any premium and, within certain
limitations, any interest on that Debt Security on its maturity date or
redemption date and to
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enforce those payments. (Section 508 of the Senior Indenture & Section 14.2 of
the Subordinated Indenture.)
Satisfaction; Discharge
We may discharge all our obligations (except those described below) to
holders of the Debt Securities issued under the Indentures, which Debt
Securities have not already been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and
which either have become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable
within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year, by
depositing with the Trustee an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when
due the principal, interest and premium, if any, on all outstanding Debt
Securities. However, certain of our obligations under the Indentures will
survive, including with respect to the following:
. remaining rights to register the transfer, conversion, substitution or
exchange of Debt Securities of the applicable series;
. rights of holders to receive payments of principal of, and any interest on,
the Debt Securities of the applicable series, and other rights, duties and
obligations of the holders of Debt Securities with respect to any amounts
deposited with the Trustee; and
. the rights, obligations and immunities of the Trustee under the Indentures.
(Section 401 of Senior Indenture & Section 12.1 of Subordinated Indenture.)
Modification of Indentures; Waiver
Under the Indentures our rights and obligations and the rights of the holders
may be modified with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by
the modification. No modification of the principal or interest payment terms,
and no modification reducing the percentage required for modifications, is
effective against any holder without its consent. (Section 902 of the Senior
Indenture & Section 10.2 of the Subordinated Indenture.) In addition, we may
supplement the Indentures to create new series of Debt Securities and for
certain other purposes, without the consent of any holders of Debt Securities.
(Section 901 of the Senior Indenture & Section 10.1 of the Subordinated
Indenture.)
The holders of a majority of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series
under the applicable Indenture with respect to which a default has occurred and
is continuing may waive a default for all those series, except a default in the
payment of principal or interest, or any premium, on any Debt Securities or a
default with respect to a covenant or provision which cannot be amended or
modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Security of
the series affected. (Section 513 of the Senior Indenture & Section 6.6 of the
Subordinated Indenture.)
In addition, under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series may waive in advance,
for that series, our compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the
Subordinated Indenture under which those Junior Subordinated Debentures were
issued. (Section 4.7 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Concerning the Trustee
The Chase Manhattan Bank is the Subordinated Indenture Trustee and the
Trustee under the Senior Indenture. We and certain of our affiliates maintain
deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The
Chase
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Manhattan Bank also serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which
securities of ours and of certain of our affiliates are outstanding. It has
purchased, and is likely to purchase in the future, our securities and
securities of our affiliates.
The Trustee will perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in
the Indentures unless an event of default under an Indenture occurs and is
continuing. The Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its powers
under the Indentures at the request of any holder of Debt Securities unless
that holder offers reasonable indemnity to the Trustee against the costs,
expenses and liabilities which it might incur as a result. (Section 601 of the
Senior Indenture & Section 7.1 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The Trustee administers its corporate trust business at 450 West 33rd Street,
New York, New York 10001 (Attention: Capital Markets Fiduciary Services).
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
Repayment at the Option of the Holder; Repurchases by the Company
We must repay the Senior Debt Securities at the option of the Holders prior
to the Stated Maturity Date only if specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, the Senior
Debt Securities subject to repayment at the option of the Holder will be
subject to repayment:
. on the specified Repayment Dates; and
. at a repayment price equal to 100% of the unpaid principal amount to be
repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued to the Repayment Date. (Section
1302 of the Senior Indenture.)
For any Senior Debt Security to be repaid, the Trustee must receive, at its
office maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City
not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the date of repayment:
. in the case of a certificated Senior Debt Security, the certificated Senior
Debt Security and the form in the Senior Debt Security entitled Option of
Holder to Elect Purchase duly completed; or
. in the case of a book-entry Senior Debt Security, instructions to that effect
from the beneficial owner to the securities depositary and forwarded by the
securities depositary. Exercise of the repayment option by the Holder will be
irrevocable. (Section 1303 of the Senior Indenture.)
Only the securities depositary may exercise the repayment option in respect
of beneficial interests in the book-entry Senior Debt Securities. Accordingly,
beneficial owners that desire repayment in respect of all or any portion of
their beneficial interests must instruct the participants through which they
own their interests to direct the securities depositary to exercise the
repayment option on their behalf. All instructions given to participants from
beneficial owners relating to the option to elect repayment will be
irrevocable. In addition, at the time the instructions are given, each
beneficial owner will cause the participant through which it owns its interest
to transfer its interest in the book-entry Senior Debt Securites or the global
certificate representing the related book-entry Senior Debt Securities, on the
securities depositary's records, to the Trustee. See DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT
SECURITIES--GLOBAL SECURITIES.
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Defeasance
We will be discharged from our obligations on the Senior Debt Securities of
any series at any time if we deposit with the Trustee sufficient cash or
government securities to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other
sums due to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the Senior Debt
Securities of the series. If this happens, the holders of the Senior Debt
Securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the Senior
Indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of Senior Debt
Securities and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated Senior Debt Securities.
(Section 402 of the Senior Indenture.)
Under federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, a discharge
may be treated as an exchange of the related Senior Debt Securities. Each
holder might be required to recognize gain or loss equal to the difference
between the holder's cost or other tax basis for the Senior Debt Securities and
the value of the holder's interest in the trust. Holders might be required to
include as income a different amount than would be includable without the
discharge. We urge prospective investors to consult their own tax advisers as
to the consequences of a discharge, including the applicability and effect of
tax laws other than the federal income tax law.
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
Additional Covenants Applicable to Junior Subordinated Debentures
Under the Subordinated Indenture, we will:
. maintain 100% ownership of any Trust to which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures have been issued while the Junior Subordinated Debentures remain
outstanding; and
. pay to any Trust to which the Junior Subordinated Debentures have been issued
any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature
(other than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or any other
taxing authority on that Trust, so that the net amounts received and retained
by that Trust (after paying any taxes, duties, assessments or other
governmental charges) will be not less than the Trust would have received had
no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges been
imposed. (Sections 4.8 & 4.9 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period
We can defer interest payments by extending the interest payment period for
the number of consecutive extension periods specified in the applicable
prospectus supplement (each, an Extension Period). Other details regarding the
Extension Period will also be specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement. No Extension Period may extend beyond the maturity of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. At the end of the Extension Period(s), we will pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid, together with interest compounded quarterly
at the rate for the Junior Subordinated Debentures, to the extent permitted by
applicable law. (Section 2.10 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
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During any Extension Period, we will not make distributions related to our
capital stock, including dividends, redemptions, repurchases, liquidation
payments, or guarantee payments. Also we will not make any payments, redeem or
repurchase any debt securities of equal or junior rank to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures or make any guarantee payments on any such debt
securities. We may, however, make the following types of distributions:
. dividends paid in common stock;
. dividends in connection with the implementation of a shareholder rights
plan;
. payments to a trust holding securities of the same series under a guarantee;
or
. repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of our capital
stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other
similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers,
directors or consultants.
Subordination
Each series of Junior Subordinated Debentures will be subordinate and junior
in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, to
all Senior Indebtedness as defined below. If:
. we make a payment or distribution of any of our assets to creditors upon our
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether in
bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise;
. a default beyond any grace period has occurred and is continuing with
respect to the payment of principal, interest or any other monetary amounts
due and payable on any Senior Indebtedness; or
. the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a
default on that Senior Indebtedness,
then the holders of Senior Indebtedness generally will have the right to
receive payment, in the case of the first instance, of all amounts due or to
become due upon that Senior Indebtedness, and, in the case of the second and
third instances, of all amounts due on that Senior Indebtedness, or we will
make provision for those payments, before the holders of any Junior
Subordinated Debentures have the right to receive any payments of principal or
interest on their Junior Subordinated Debentures. (Sections 14.1 and 14.9 of
the Subordinated Indenture.)
Senior Indebtedness means, with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the principal, premium, interest and any other payment in respect
of any of the following:
. all of our indebtedness for borrowed or purchased money that is evidenced by
notes, debentures, bonds or other written instruments;
. our obligations for reimbursement under letters of credit, banker's
acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for
our account;
. any of our other indebtedness or obligations with respect to commodity
contracts, interest rate commodity and currency swap agreements and other
similar agreements or arrangements; and
. all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding
categories which we have assumed or guaranteed.
Senior Indebtedness will not include our obligations to trade creditors or
indebtedness to our subsidiaries. (Section 1.1 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
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Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination
provisions in the Subordinated Indenture irrespective of the amendment,
modification or waiver of any term of the Senior Indebtedness. We may not
amend the Subordinated Indenture to change the subordination of any
outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures without the consent of each holder
of Senior Indebtedness that the amendment would adversely affect. (Sections
10.2 & 14.7 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Indebtedness
that we may issue.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
The following is a summary of the principal terms of the Trust Preferred
Securities. The form of amended trust agreement is filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or is
incorporated by reference. The terms of the Trust Preferred Securities will
include those stated in the amended trust agreement and those made part of the
amended trust agreement by the Trust Indenture Act.
General
Each Trust will exist until terminated as provided in its amended trust
agreement. Except under certain circumstances, we will be entitled to appoint,
remove, or replace trustees, who will conduct the business and affairs of each
Trust. The trustees of each Trust will consist of:
. two employees, officers or affiliates of the Company as Administrative
Trustees;
. a financial institution unaffiliated with us that will act as property
trustee and as indenture trustee for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act,
under the terms set forth in a prospectus supplement (the Property Trustee);
and
. one trustee with its principal place of business or who resides in the State
of Delaware and who will act under the terms set forth in a prospectus
supplement. (Sections 6.1 through 6.5 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
The amended trust agreement will authorize the Administrative Trustees to
issue, on behalf of the applicable Trust, two classes of trust securities,
Trust Preferred Securities and trust common securities, each of which will
have the terms described in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus
supplement. We will own all of the trust common securities. The trust common
securities will rank equally in right of payment, and payments will be made on
the trust common securities, proportionately with the trust preferred
securities. However, if an event of default occurs and is continuing under the
amended trust agreement, the rights of the holders of the trust common
securities to payment for distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption and otherwise, will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of
the trust preferred securities. We will acquire, directly or indirectly, trust
common securities in a total liquidation amount of approximately 3% of the
total capital of each of the Trusts. (Sections 3.6, 5.1, 5.2 and 7.1 of the
Amended Trust Agreement.)
The proceeds from the sale of the Trust Preferred Securities will be used by
the applicable Trust to purchase our Junior Subordinated Debentures. These
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be held in trust by the Property Trustee
for the benefit
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of the holders of the trust securities. We will guarantee the payments of
distributions and payments on redemption or liquidation with respect to the
Trust Preferred Securities, but only to the extent the Trust has funds
available to make those payments and has not made the payments. See DESCRIPTION
OF THE GUARANTEES.
The assets of the Trust available for distribution to the holders of Trust
Preferred Securities will be limited to payments from us under the Junior
Subordinated Debentures held by the Trust. If we fail to make a payment on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to
make related payments, including distributions, on its Trust Preferred
Securities.
The Guarantee, when taken together with our obligations under the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Subordinated Indenture and the amended trust
agreement, will provide a full and unconditional guarantee of amounts due on
the Trust Preferred Securities issued by the Trust.
The Trust Preferred Securities will have the terms, including distributions,
redemption, voting, liquidation rights and other preferred, deferred or other
special rights or restrictions that will be described in the amended trust
agreement or made part of the amended trust agreement by the Trust Indenture
Act or the Delaware Business Trust Act. The terms of the Trust Preferred
Securities will mirror the terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures held by
the Trust. In other words, the distribution rate and the distribution payment
dates and other payment dates for the Trust Preferred Securities will
correspond to the interest rate and interest payment dates and other payment
dates on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Holders of Trust Preferred
Securities have no preemptive or similar rights. (Section 7.1 of the Amended
Trust Agreement.)
Provisions of a Particular Series
Each Trust may issue only one series of Trust Preferred Securities. The
applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the principal terms of the
Trust Preferred Securities that will be offered, including:
. the name of the Trust Preferred Securities;
. the liquidation amount and number of Trust Preferred Securities issued;
. the annual distribution rate(s) or method of determining such rate(s), the
payment date(s) and the record dates used to determine the holders who are to
receive distributions;
. the date from which distributions will be cumulative;
. the optional redemption provisions, if any, including the prices, time
periods and other terms and conditions on which the Trust Preferred
Securities will be purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part;
. the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures and the related Guarantee may be distributed to holders of those
Trust Preferred Securities;
. any securities exchange on which the Trust Preferred Securities will be
listed;
. whether the Trust Preferred Securities are to be issued in book-entry form
and represented by one or more global certificates, and if so, the depository
for
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those global certificates and the specific terms of the depositary
arrangements; and
. any other relevant rights, preferences, privileges, limitations or
restrictions of the Trust Preferred Securities. (Article 7 of the Amended
Trust Agreement.)
The interest rate and interest and other payment dates of each series of
Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to a Trust will correspond to the rate at
which distributions will be paid and the distribution and other payment dates
of the Trust Preferred Securities of that Trust.
Extensions
We have the right under the Subordinated Indenture to defer payments of
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures by extending the interest
payment period from time to time on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The
Administrative Trustees will give the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities
notice of any Extension Period upon their receipt of notice from us. If
distributions are deferred, the deferred distributions and accrued interest
will be paid to holders of record of the Trust Preferred Securities as they
appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date next following
the termination of such deferral period. See DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES--OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD.
Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities will be made on the dates
payable to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of
distributions in the Property Account. The Trust's funds available for
distribution to the holders of the trust securities will be limited to payments
received from us on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. We have guaranteed the
payment of distributions out of monies held by the Trust to the extent set
forth under DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEES.
Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities will be payable to the
holders named on the securities register of the Trust at the close of business
on the relevant record dates, which, as long as the Trust Preferred Securities
remain in book-entry only form, will be one business day prior to the relevant
payment dates. Distributions will be paid through the Property Trustee who will
hold amounts received in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in the
Property Account for the benefit of the holders of the trust securities. In the
event that the Trust Preferred Securities do not continue to remain in book-
entry only form, the relevant record dates will conform to the rules of any
securities exchange on which the Trust Preferred Securities are listed and, if
none, the Administrative Trustees will have the right to select relevant record
dates, which will be more than 14 days but less than 60 days prior to the
relevant payment dates. In the event that any date on which distributions are
to be made on the Trust Preferred Securities is not a business day, then
payment of the distributions payable on that date will be made on the next
succeeding day which is a business day and without any interest or other
payment in respect of that delay, except that, if that business day is in the
next succeeding calendar year, the payment will be made on the immediately
preceding business day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on the record date. (Section 7.2 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
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Mandatory Redemption of Trust Preferred Securities
The Trust Preferred Securities have no stated maturity date, but will be
redeemed upon the maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or to the
extent the Junior Subordinated Debentures are redeemed prior to maturity. The
Junior Subordinated Debentures will mature on the date specified in the
applicable prospectus supplement and may be redeemed at any time, in whole but
not in part, in certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a Tax Event or an
Investment Company Event as described under SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION.
Upon the maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the proceeds of
their repayment will simultaneously be applied to redeem all the outstanding
trust securities at the Redemption Price. Upon the redemption of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, either at our option or as a result of a Tax Event or
an Investment Company Event, the proceeds from the redemption will
simultaneously be applied to redeem trust securities having a total liquidation
amount equal to the total principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures so redeemed at the redemption price; provided, that holders of trust
securities will be given not less than 20 nor more than 60 days' notice of the
redemption. In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding trust
securities are to be redeemed, the trust securities will be redeemed
proportionately. (Section 7.3 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Special Event Redemption
Both a Tax Event and an Investment Company Act Event constitute Special
Events for purposes of the redemption provisions described in the preceding
paragraph.
A Tax Event means that the Administrative Trustees have received an opinion
of independent tax counsel experienced in those matters to the effect that, as
a result of:
. any amendment to, change or announced proposed change in, the laws or
regulations of the United States or any of its political subdivisions or
taxing authorities, or
. any official administrative pronouncement, action or judicial decision
interpreting or applying those laws or regulations, which amendment or change
becomes effective or proposed change, pronouncement, action or decision is
announced on or after the date
. the Trust Preferred Securities are issued and sold there is more than an
insubstantial risk that:
. the Trust is or within 90 days would be subject to U.S. federal income tax
with respect to income accrued or received on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures,
. interest payable to the Trust on the Junior Subordinated Debentures is not or
within 90 days would not be deductible, in whole or in part, by us for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, or
. the Trust is or within 90 days would be subject to a material amount of other
taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
Investment Company Event means that the Administrative Trustees have received
an opinion of a nationally recognized independent counsel to the effect that,
as a result of an amendment to or change in the Investment Company Act or
regulations
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thereunder on or after the date the Trust Preferred Securities are issued and
sold, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be
considered an investment company and be required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act. (Section 1.1 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Redemption Procedures
The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding trust securities
unless all accrued and unpaid distributions have been paid on all trust
securities for all distribution periods terminating on or before the date of
redemption. In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding trust
securities are to be redeemed, the trust securities will be redeemed
proportionately.
If the Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of the trust securities
(which notice will be irrevocable), then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on
the redemption date, and if we have paid to the Property Trustee a sufficient
amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit
with the depositary funds sufficient to pay the applicable redemption price and
will give the depositary irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the
redemption price to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities, and the
paying agent will pay the applicable redemption price to the holders of the
trust common securities by check. If notice of redemption has been given and
funds deposited as required, then, immediately prior to the close of business
on the date of the deposit, distributions will cease to accrue and all rights
of holders of Trust Preferred Securities called for redemption will cease,
except the right of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities to receive
the redemption price but without interest on the redemption price. In the event
that any date fixed for redemption of Trust Preferred Securities is not a
business day, then payment of the redemption price payable on that date will be
made on the next succeeding day that is a business day, without any interest or
other payment in respect of any such delay, except that, if that business day
falls in the next calendar year, payment will be made on the immediately
preceding business day. In the event that payment of the redemption price in
respect of Trust Preferred Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not
paid either by the Trust or by us under the Guarantee, distributions on the
Trust Preferred Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate
from the original redemption date to the date of payment, in which case the
actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for
purposes of calculating the redemption price.
Subject to the foregoing and applicable law, including, without limitation,
U.S. federal securities laws, we or our subsidiaries may at any time, and from
time to time, purchase outstanding Trust Preferred Securities by tender, in the
open market or by private agreement. (Section 7.4 of the Amended Trust
Agreement.)
Conversion or Exchange Rights
The terms on which the Trust Preferred Securities are convertible into or
exchangeable for common stock or our other securities will be contained in the
applicable prospectus supplement. Those terms will include provisions as to
whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the
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option of the holder or at our option, and may include provisions under which
the number of shares of common stock or our other securities to be received by
the holders of Trust Preferred Securities would be subject to adjustment.
Distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
We will have the right at any time to dissolve the Trust and, after
satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of the Trust as provided by
applicable law, to cause Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to
the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities in a total stated principal
amount equal to the total stated liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred
Securities then outstanding. Prior to any such dissolution, we will obtain any
required regulatory approvals. The right to dissolve the trust and distribute
the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be conditioned on our receipt of an
opinion rendered by an independent tax counsel that the distribution would not
result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes by
the holders. (Section 8.1 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution
The amended trust agreement will state that the Trust will be dissolved:
. upon our bankruptcy;
. upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with
respect to us;
. upon the filing of a certificate of cancellation with respect to the Trust
after obtaining the consent of at least a majority in liquidation amount of
the Trust Preferred Securities, voting together as a single class;
. 90 days after the revocation of our charter, but only if the charter is not
reinstated during that 90-day period;
. upon the distribution of the related Junior Subordinated Debentures directly
to the holders of the trust securities;
. upon the redemption of all of the trust securities; or
. upon entry of a court order for the dissolution of us or the Trust. (Section
8.1 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
In the event of a dissolution, after the Trust pays all amounts owed to
creditors, the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities will be entitled to
receive:
. cash equal to the total liquidation amount of each Trust Preferred Security
specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, plus accumulated and
unpaid distributions to the date of payment, or
. Junior Subordinated Debentures in a total principal amount equal to the
total liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities.
If the Trust cannot pay the full amount due on its trust securities because
insufficient assets are available for payment, then the amounts payable by the
Trust on its trust securities will be paid proportionately. However, if an
event of default under the related amended trust agreement occurs, the total
amounts due on the Trust Preferred Securities will be paid before any
distribution on the trust common securities. Under certain circumstances
involving the dissolution of a Trust, subject to obtaining any required
regulatory approval, Junior Subordinated Debentures
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will be distributed to the holders of the trust securities in liquidation of
that Trust. (Section 8.2 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Trust Enforcement Events
An event of default under the Subordinated Indenture relating to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be an event of default under the amended trust
agreement (a Trust Enforcement Event). See DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES--EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
In addition, the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up or
termination of the Trust is also a Trust Enforcement Event, except in
connection with:
. the distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders of the
trust securities of the Trust,
. the redemption of all of the trust securities of the Trust, and
. mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by the amended trust
agreement of the Trust.
Under the amended trust agreement, the holder of the trust common securities
will be deemed to have waived any Trust Enforcement Event with respect to the
trust common securities until all Trust Enforcement Events with respect to the
Trust Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated.
Until all Trust Enforcement Events with respect to the Trust Preferred
Securities have been so cured, waived, or otherwise eliminated, the Property
Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the holders of the
Trust Preferred Securities and only the holders of the Trust Preferred
Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee with respect to
certain matters under the amended trust agreement and the Subordinated
Indenture. In the event that any Trust Enforcement Event with respect to the
Trust Preferred Securities is waived by the holders of the Trust Preferred
Securities as provided in the amended trust agreement, under the amended trust
agreement the holders of trust common securities have agreed that the waiver
also constitutes a waiver of the Trust Enforcement Event with respect to the
trust common securities for all purposes under the amended trust agreement
without any further act, vote or consent of the holders of trust common
securities. (Section 2.6 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
We and the Administrative Trustees must file annually with the Property
Trustee a certificate evidencing compliance with all the applicable conditions
and covenants under the amended trust agreement. (Section 2.4 of the Amended
Trust Agreement.)
Upon the occurrence of a Trust Enforcement Event the Property Trustee, as the
sole holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, will have the right under
the Subordinated Indenture to declare the principal of, interest and premium,
if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be immediately due and
payable.
If a Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the amended trust
agreement or the Subordinated Indenture to the fullest extent permitted by law
and subject to the terms of the amended trust agreement and the Subordinated
Indenture, any holder of Trust Preferred Securities may sue us, or seek other
remedies, to
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enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the amended trust agreement or the
Subordinated Indenture without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Property Trustee or any other person. If a Trust Enforcement Event occurs and
is continuing as a result of our failure to pay principal of or interest or
premium, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures when payable, then a
holder of the Trust Preferred Securities may directly sue us or seek other
remedies, to collect its proportionate share of payments owned. See
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE GUARANTEE AND THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES HELD BY THE TRUST.
Removal and Replacement of Trustees
Only the holders of trust common securities have the right to remove or
replace the trustees of the Trust, except that while an event of default in
respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures has occurred or is continuing,
the holders of a majority of the Trust Preferred Securities will have this
right. The resignation or removal of any trustee and the appointment of a
successor trustee will be effective only on the acceptance of appointment by
the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the amended trust
agreement. (Section 6.6 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Mergers, Consolidations or Amalgamations of the Trust
The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced
by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any other corporation or other body (each, a Merger Event), except
as described below. The Trust may, with the consent of a majority of its
Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the holders of its trust
securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by
another trust, provided that:
. the successor entity either
. assumes all of the obligations of the Trust relating to its trust
securities, or
. substitutes other securities for the trust securities that are
substantially similar to the trust securities, so long as the successor
securities rank the same as the trust securities for distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise;
. we acknowledge a trustee of the successor entity who has the same powers and
duties as the Property Trustee of the Trust, as the holder of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures;
. the Trust Preferred Securities are listed, or any successor securities will
be listed, upon notice of issuance, on the same securities exchange or other
organization that the Trust Preferred Securities are then listed;
. the Merger Event does not cause the Trust Preferred Securities or successor
securities to be downgraded by any nationally recognized rating agency;
. the Merger Event does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and
privileges of the holders of the trust securities or successor securities in
any material way, other than with respect to any dilution of the holders'
interest in the new entity;
. the successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the Trust;
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. prior to the Merger Event, we have received an opinion of counsel from a
nationally recognized law firm stating that
. the Merger Event does not adversely affect the rights of the holders of the
Trust Preferred Securities or any successor securities in any material way,
other than with respect to any dilution of the holders' interest in the new
entity, and
. following the Merger Event, neither the Trust nor the successor entity will
be required to register as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act; and
. we guarantee the obligations of the successor entity under the successor
securities in the same manner as in the Guarantee.
In addition, unless all of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities and
trust common securities approve otherwise, the Trust will not consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit
any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it,
if, in the opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel experienced in such
matters, the transaction would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be
classified other than as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(Section 3.15 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement
The holders of Trust Preferred Securities have no voting rights except as
discussed under DESCRIPTION OF TRUST SECURITIES--MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR
AMALGAMATIONS OF THE TRUST AND DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEES--AMENDMENTS, and
as otherwise required by law and the amended trust agreement.
The amended trust agreement may be amended if approved by a majority of the
Administrative Trustees of the Trust. However, if any proposed amendment
provides for, or the Administrative Trustees otherwise propose to effect,
. any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special
rights of the trust securities, whether by way of amendment to the amended
trust agreement or otherwise, or
. the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust other than under the
terms of its amended trust agreement,
then the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities as a single class will be
entitled to vote on the amendment or proposal. In that case, the amendment or
proposal will only be effective if approved by at least a majority in
liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities affected by the amendment
or proposal.
No amendment may be made to an amended trust agreement if that amendment
would:
. cause the Trust to be characterized as other than a grantor trust for U.S.
federal income tax purposes;
. reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Property Trustee; or
. cause the Trust to be deemed to be an investment company which is required to
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be registered under the Investment Company Act. (Section 11.1 of the Amended
Trust Agreement.)
The holders of a majority of the total liquidation amount of the Trust
Preferred Securities have the right to:
. direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Property Trustee; or
. direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee
under the amended trust agreement, including the right to direct the Property
Trustee, as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, to
. exercise the remedies available under the Subordinated Indenture with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
. waive any event of default under the Subordinated Indenture that is
waivable, or
. cancel an acceleration of the principal of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
In addition, before taking any of the foregoing actions, the Property Trustee
must obtain an opinion of counsel stating that, as a result of that action, the
Trust will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. (Section 7.5 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
As described in the form of amended trust agreement, the Property Trustee may
hold a meeting to have holders of Trust Preferred Securities vote on a change
or have them approve a change by written consent.
If a vote by the holders of Trust Preferred Securities is taken or a consent
is obtained, any Trust Preferred Securities owned by us or any of our
affiliates will, for purposes of the vote or consent, be treated as if they
were not outstanding, which will have the following consequences:
. we and any of our affiliates will not be able to vote on or consent to
matters requiring the vote or consent of holders of Trust Preferred
Securities; and
. any Trust Preferred Securities owned by us or any of our affiliates will not
be counted in determining whether the required percentage of votes or
consents has been obtained. Section 7.5 of the Amended Trust Agreement.)
Information Concerning the Property Trustee
For matters relating to compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, the Property
Trustee will have all of the duties and responsibilities of an indenture
trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee, other than during
the occurrence and continuance of a Trust Enforcement Event, undertakes to
perform only the duties that are specifically described in the amended trust
agreement and, upon a Trust Enforcement Event, must use the same degree of care
and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or
her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the Property Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the applicable amended
trust agreement at the request of any holder of Trust Preferred Securities
unless it is offered reasonable security or indemnity against the costs,
expenses and liabilities that it might incur. However, the holders of the Trust
Preferred
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Securities will not be required to offer such an indemnity where the holders,
by exercising their voting rights, direct the Property Trustee to take any
action following a Trust Enforcement Event. (Section 3.9 of the Amended Trust
Agreement.)
Information Concerning the Administrative Trustees
The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the
affairs of and to operate the Trust in a way that:
. will not cause it to be deemed to be an investment company required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act;
. will cause it to be classified as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax
purposes; and
. will cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures it holds to be treated as our
indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, so long
as it is consistent with applicable law or the certificate of trust or amended
trust agreement, that we and the Administrative Trustees determine to be
necessary or desirable for those purposes. (Section 3.6 of the Amended Trust
Agreement.)
DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEES
We will execute the Guarantees from time to time for the benefit of the
holders of the Trust Preferred Securities of the respective Trusts.
The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as Guarantee Trustee under each Guarantee.
The Guarantee Trustee will hold each Guarantee for the benefit of the holders
of the Trust Preferred Securities to which it relates.
The following description of the Guarantees is only a summary. The form of
Guarantee is an exhibit to the registration statement.
General
We will irrevocably and unconditionally agree under each Guarantee to pay the
Guarantee Payments that are defined below, to the extent specified in that
Guarantee, to the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities to which the
Guarantee relates, to the extent that the Guarantee Payments are not paid by or
on behalf of the related Trust. We are required to pay the Guarantee Payments
to the extent specified in the relevant Guarantee regardless of any defense,
right of set-off or counterclaim that we may have or may assert against any
person. (Section 5.1 of the Guarantee.)
The following payments and distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities of
a Trust are Guarantee Payments:
. any accrued and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the Trust
Preferred Securities of the Trust, but only to the extent that the Trust has
funds legally and immediately available for those distributions;
. the redemption price for any Trust Preferred Securities that the Trust calls
for redemption, including all accrued and unpaid distributions to the
redemption date, but only to the extent that the Trust
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has funds legally and immediately available for the payment; and
. upon a dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than in
connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to the
holders of Trust Securities of the Trust or the redemption of all the Trust
Preferred Securities of the Trust, the lesser of:
. the sum of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on
the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust to the payment date, to the
extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available for the
payment; and
. the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to
holders of the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust in liquidation of the
Trust. (Section 1.1 of the Guarantee.)
We may satisfy our obligation to make a Guarantee Payment by making that
payment directly to the holders of the related Trust Preferred Securities or by
causing the Trust to make the payment to those holders. (Section 5.1 of the
Guarantee.)
Each Guarantee will be a full and unconditional guarantee, subject to certain
subordination provisions, of the Guarantee Payments with respect to the related
Trust Preferred Securities from the time of issuance of those Trust Preferred
Securities, except that the Guarantee will only apply to the payment of
distributions and other payments on the Trust Preferred Securities when the
Trust has sufficient funds legally and immediately available to make those
distributions or other payments.
If we do not make the required payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
that the Property Trustee holds under a Trust, that Trust will not make the
related payments on its Trust Preferred Securities.
Subordination
Our obligations under each Guarantee will be unsecured obligations of the
Company. Those obligations will rank:
. subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our other liabilities,
other than obligations or liabilities that rank equal in priority or
subordinate by their terms;
. equal in priority with the Junior Subordinated Debentures that we may issue
and similar guarantees; and
. senior to our common stock. (Section 6.2 of the Guarantee.)
We have $257.7 million in Junior Subordinated Debentures outstanding that
will rank equal in priority with the Guarantees. We have common stock
outstanding that will rank junior to the Guarantees.
Each Guarantee will be a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This
means that the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly
against us, as guarantor, to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity.
(Section 5.4 of the Guarantee.)
The terms of the Trust Preferred Securities will provide that each holder of
the Trust Preferred Securities, by accepting those Trust Preferred Securities,
agrees to the subordination provisions and other terms of the related
Guarantee.
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Amendments
We may amend each Guarantee without the consent of any holder of the Trust
Preferred Securities to which that Guarantee relates if the amendment does not
materially and adversely affect the rights of those holders. We may otherwise
amend each Guarantee with the approval of the holders of at least 50% of the
outstanding Trust Preferred Securities to which that Guarantee relates.
(Section 9.2 of the Guarantee.)
Termination
Each Guarantee will terminate and be of no further effect when:
. the redemption price of the Trust Preferred Securities to which the Guarantee
relates is fully paid;
. we distribute the related Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of
those Trust Preferred Securities; or
. the amounts payable upon liquidation of the related Trust are fully paid.
(Section 7.1 of the Guarantee.)
Each Guarantee will remain in effect or will be reinstated if at any time any
holder of the related Trust Preferred Securities must restore payment of any
sums paid to that holder with respect to those Trust Preferred Securities or
under that Guarantee.
Material Covenants
We will covenant that, so long as any Trust Preferred Securities remain
outstanding, if there is an event of default under the Guarantee or the amended
trust agreement:
. we will not make distributions related to our debt securities that rank
equally with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, including any
payment of interest, principal or premium, or repayments, repurchases or
redemptions; and
. we will not make distributions related to our capital stock, including
dividends, redemptions, repurchases, liquidation payments, or guarantee
payments. We may, however, make the following types of distributions:
. dividends paid in common stock;
. dividends in connection with the implementation of a shareholder rights
plan;
. payments to a trust holding securities of the same series under a
guarantee; and
. repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of our capital
stock in connection with any benefit plan or other similar arrangement with
or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors or consultants.
(Section 6.1 of the Guarantee.)
Because we are a holding company that conducts all of our operations through
our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the Guarantees is
dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability
of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. The
Trust, as holder of the Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will
generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries,
including trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities,
guarantee holders and any preferred stockholders.
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Events of Default
An event of default will occur under any Guarantee if we fail to perform any
of our payment obligations under that Guarantee. The holders of a majority of
the Trust Preferred Securities of any series may waive any such event of
default and its consequences on behalf of all of the holders of the Trust
Preferred Securities of that series. (Section 2.6 of the Guarantee.) The
Guarantee Trustee is entitled to enforce the Guarantee for the benefit of the
holders of the Trust Preferred Securities of a series if an event of default
occurs under the related Guarantee. (Section 3.1 of the Guarantee.)
The holders of a majority of the Trust Preferred Securities to which a
Guarantee relates have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee
with respect to that Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
that the Guarantee Trustee holds under that Guarantee. Any holder of the
related Trust Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against us to enforce that holder's rights under the Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee or any other
person or entity. (Section 5.4 of the Guarantee.)
Concerning the Guarantee Trustee
The Chase Manhattan Bank is the Guarantee Trustee. It is also the Property
Trustee, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee and the Senior Indenture Trustee.
We and certain of our affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking
relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan Bank also
serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of ours
and certain of our affiliates are outstanding.
The Guarantee Trustee will perform only those duties that are specifically
set forth in each Guarantee unless an event of default under the Guarantee
occurs and is continuing. In case an event of default occurs and is continuing,
the Guarantee Trustee will exercise the same degree of care as a prudent
individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (Section
3.1 of the Guarantee.) Subject to those provisions, the Guarantee Trustee is
under no obligation to exercise any of its powers under any Guarantee at the
request of any holder of the related Trust Preferred Securities unless that
holder offers reasonable indemnity to the Guarantee Trustee against the costs,
expenses and liabilities which it might incur as a result. (Section 3.2 of the
Guarantee.)
Agreements as to Expenses and Liabilities
We will enter into an Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities under each
Trust Agreement. Each Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities will provide
that we will, with certain exceptions, irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantee the full payment of any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the
related Trust to each person or entity to whom that Trust becomes indebted or
liable. The exceptions are the obligations of the Trust to pay to the holders
of the related trust common or other similar interests in that Trust the
amounts due to the holders under the terms of those trust common securities or
those similar interests.
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RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE GUARANTEE AND THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES HELD BY THE TRUST
We will guarantee payments of distributions and redemption and liquidation
payments due on the Trust Preferred Securities, to the extent the trust has
funds available for the payments, to the extent described under DESCRIPTION OF
THE GUARANTEES. No single document executed by us in connection with the
issuance of the Trust Preferred Securities will provide for our full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Trust Preferred Securities. It
is only the combined operation of our obligations under the Guarantee, the
amended trust agreement and the Subordinated Indenture that has the effect of
providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Trust's
obligations under the Trust Preferred Securities.
As long as we make payments of interest and other payments when due on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures held by the Trust, those payments will be
sufficient to cover the payment of distributions and redemption and liquidation
payments due on the Trust Preferred Securities issued by the Trust, primarily
because:
. the total principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
equal to the sum of the total liquidation amount of the trust securities;
. the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will match the distribution rate and distribution and
other payment dates for the Trust Preferred Securities;
. we will pay for any and all costs, expenses and liabilities of the Trust
except its obligations under its Trust Preferred Securities; and
. each amended trust agreement will provide that the Trust will not engage in
any activity that is not consistent with the limited purposes of the Trust.
If and to the extent that we do not make payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the Trust will not have funds available to make payments of
distributions or other amounts due on its Trust Preferred Securities. In those
circumstances, you will not be able to rely upon the Guarantee for payment of
these amounts. Instead, you may directly sue us or seek other remedies to
collect your proportionate share of payments owed. If you sue us to collect
payment, then we will assume your rights as a holder of Trust Preferred
Securities under the amended trust agreement to the extent we make a payment to
you in any such legal action.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
Each Trust will be treated as a subsidiary of ours for financial reporting
purposes. Accordingly, our consolidated financial statements will include the
accounts of each Trust. The Trust Preferred Securities, along with other trust
preferred securities that we guarantee on an equivalent basis, will be
presented as a separate line item in our consolidated balance sheets, and
appropriate disclosures about the Trust Preferred Securities, the Guarantees
and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be included in the notes to the
consolidated financial statements. We will record distributions that each Trust
pays on the Trust Preferred Securities as an expense in our consolidated
statement of income.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
As of September 30, 1999, our authorized capital stock was 520,000,000
shares. Those shares consisted of: (a) 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
none of which were outstanding; and (b) 500,000,000 shares of common stock, of
which 190,807,645 shares were outstanding as of October 31, 1999. No holder of
shares of common stock or preferred stock has any preemptive rights.
Common Stock
Listing
Our outstanding shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol "D". Any additional common stock we issue will also
be listed on the NYSE.
Dividends
Common shareholders may receive dividends when declared by the Board of
Directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, stock or other form. In certain
cases, common shareholders may not receive dividends until we have satisfied
our obligations to any preferred shareholders. Under certain circumstances, the
Subordinated Indenture also restricts our ability to pay cash dividends.
Fully Paid
All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Any
additional common stock we issue will also be fully paid and non-assessable.
Voting Rights
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of
directors and other matters. Common shareholders are not entitled to cumulative
voting rights.
Other Rights
We will notify common shareholders of any shareholders' meetings according to
applicable law. If we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, either
voluntarily or not, common shareholders will share equally in the assets
remaining after we pay our creditors and preferred shareholders.
Transfer Agents and Registrars
We, along with Chase Mellon Shareholder Services, are transfer agent and
registrar. You may contact us at the address listed on page 2 or Chase Mellon
located in Ridgefield, New Jersey.
Preferred Stock
The following description of the terms of the preferred stock sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of our authorized preferred stock. If we
offer preferred stock, the specific designations and rights will be described
in the prospectus supplement and a description will be filed with the SEC.
Our Board of Directors can, without approval of shareholders, issue one or
more series of preferred stock. The Board can also determine the number of
shares of each series and the rights, preferences and limitations of each
series including the dividend rights, voting rights, conversion rights,
redemption rights and any liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series
of preferred stock, the number of shares constituting each series and the terms
and conditions of issue. In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock could
delay a change in control of the Company and make it harder to remove present
management. Under certain circumstances, preferred stock could also restrict
dividend payments to holders of our common stock.
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The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the
preferred stock will rank on a parity in all respects with any outstanding
preferred stock we may have and will have priority over our common stock as to
dividends and distributions of assets. Therefore, the rights of any preferred
stock that may subsequently be issued may limit the rights of the holders of
our common stock and preferred stock.
The transfer agent, registrar, and dividend disbursement agent for a series
of preferred stock will be named in a prospectus supplement. The registrar for
shares of preferred stock will send notices to shareholders of any meetings at
which holders of the preferred stock have the right to elect directors or to
vote on any other matter.
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders
to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified number of
shares of common stock at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this
prospectus as stock purchase contracts. The price per share of common stock and
the number of shares of common stock may be fixed at the time the stock
purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific
formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts
may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a stock purchase
contract and beneficial interests in debt securities, trust preferred
securities, preferred stock or debt obligations of third parties, including
U.S. treasury securities, securing the holders' obligations to purchase the
common stock under the stock purchase contracts, which we refer to in this
prospectus as stock purchase units. The stock purchase contracts may require us
to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice
versa, and these payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis. The stock
purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under those
contracts in a specified manner.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the stock
purchase contracts or stock purchase units, including, if applicable,
collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the stock purchase contracts
or stock purchase units.
VIRGINIA STOCK CORPORATION ACT AND THE ARTICLES AND THE BYLAWS
General
We are a Virginia corporation subject to the Virginia Stock Corporation Act
(the Virginia Act). Provisions of the Virginia Act, in addition to provisions
of our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, address corporate governance
issues, including the rights of shareholders. Some of these provisions could
hinder management changes while others could have an anti-takeover effect. This
anti-takeover effect may, in some circumstances, reduce the control premium
that might otherwise be reflected in the value of our common stock. If you are
buying this stock as part of a short-term investment strategy, this might be
especially important to you.
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We have summarized the key provisions below. You should read the actual
provisions of our Articles and Bylaws and the Virginia Act that relate to your
individual investment strategy.
Business Combinations
Our Articles require that any merger, share exchange or sale of substantially
all of the assets of the Company be approved by a plurality of the shares
represented at a meeting where a quorum is present. Abstentions and broker non-
votes have the same effect as a vote against the matter.
Section 13.1-725 of the Virginia Act contains several provisions relating to
transactions with interested shareholders. Interested shareholders are holders
of more than 10% of any class of a corporation's outstanding voting shares.
Transactions between a corporation and an interested shareholder are referred
to as affiliated transactions. The Virginia Act requires that material
affiliated transactions must be approved by at least two-thirds of the
shareholders not including the interested shareholder. Affiliated transactions
requiring this two-thirds approval include mergers, share exchanges, material
dispositions of corporate assets, dissolution or any reclassification of the
corporation with its subsidiaries which increases the percentage of voting
shares owned by an interested shareholder by more than five percent.
For three years following the time that a shareholder becomes an interested
shareholder, a Virginia corporation cannot engage in an affiliated transaction
with the interested shareholder without approval of two-thirds of the
disinterested voting shares, and majority approval of disinterested directors.
A disinterested director is a director who was a director on the date on which
an interested shareholder became an interested shareholder and was recommended
for election or elected by a majority of the disinterested directors then on
the board. After three years, the approval of the disinterested directors is no
longer required.
The provisions of the Virginia Act relating to affiliated transactions do not
apply if a majority of disinterested directors approve the acquisition of
shares making a person an interested shareholder.
The Virginia Act permits corporations to opt out of the affiliated
transactions provisions. We have not opted out.
The Virginia Act also contains provisions regulating certain control share
acquisitions, which are transactions causing the voting strength of any person
acquiring beneficial ownership of shares of a public corporation in Virginia to
meet or exceed certain threshold voting percentages (20%, 33 1/3%, or 50%).
Shares acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights unless the
voting rights are granted by a majority vote of all outstanding shares other
than those held by the acquiring person or any officer or employee-director of
the corporation. The acquiring person may require that a special meeting of the
shareholders be held to consider the grant of voting rights to the shares
acquired in the control share acquisition.
Our Bylaws give us the right to redeem the shares purchased by an acquiring
person in a control share acquisition. We can do this if the acquiring person
fails to deliver a statement to us listing information required by the Virginia
Act or if our shareholders vote not to grant voting rights to the acquiring
person.
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The Virginia Act permits corporations to opt out of the control share
acquisition provisions. We have not opted out.
Directors' Duties
The standards of conduct for directors of Virginia corporations are listed in
Section 13.1-690 of the Virginia Act. Directors must discharge their duties in
accordance with their good faith business judgement of the best interest of the
corporation. Directors may rely on the advice or acts of others, including
officers, employees, attorneys, accountants and board committees if they have a
good faith belief in their competence. Directors' actions are not subject to a
reasonableness or prudent person standard. Virginia's federal and state courts
have focused on the process involved with directors' decision-making and are
generally supportive of directors if they have based their decision on an
informed process. These elements of Virginia law could make it more difficult
to take over a Virginia corporation than corporations in other states.
Board of Directors
Members of our Board of Directors serve one-year terms and are elected
annually.
Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our shareholders can submit shareholder proposals and nominate candidates for
the Board of Directors if the shareholders follow advance notice procedures
described in our Bylaws.
To nominate directors, shareholders must submit a written notice to our
corporate secretary at least 60 days before a scheduled meeting. The notice
must include the name and address of the shareholder and of the nominee, a
description of any arrangements between the shareholder and the nominee,
information about the nominee required by the SEC, the written consent of the
nominee to serve as a director and other information.
Shareholder proposals must be submitted to our corporate secretary at least
90 days before the first anniversary of the date of our last annual meeting.
The notice must include a description of the proposal, the reasons for
presenting the proposal at the annual meeting, the text of any resolutions to
be presented, the shareholder's name and address and number of shares held and
any material interest of the shareholder in the proposal.
Director nominations and shareholder proposals that are late or that do not
include all required information may be rejected. This could prevent
shareholders from bringing certain matters before an annual or special meeting,
including making nominations for directors.
Meetings of Shareholders
Under our Bylaws, meetings of the shareholders may be called only by the
chairman of the board, the president or a majority of the Board of Directors.
This provision could have the effect of delaying until the next annual
shareholders' meeting shareholder actions which are favored by the holders of a
majority of our outstanding voting securities, because such person or entity,
even if it acquired a majority of our outstanding voting securities, would be
able to take action as a shareholder, such as electing new directors or
approving a merger, only at a duly called shareholders' meeting.
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Amendment of Articles and Bylaws
Generally, our Articles may be amended by a majority of the votes present by
each voting group entitled to vote on a given matter. Some provisions of the
Articles, however, may only be amended or repealed by a vote of at least two-
thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
Indemnification
We indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted under
Virginia law against all liabilities incurred in connection with their service
to us.
Limitation of Liability
Our Articles provide that our directors and officers will not be personally
liable for monetary damages to us for breaches of their fiduciary duty as
directors or officers, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our
shareholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law,
authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper personal
benefit from their action as directors or officers. This provision applies only
to claims against directors or officers arising out of their role as directors
or officers and not in any other capacity. Directors and officers remain liable
for violations of the federal securities laws and we retain the right to pursue
legal remedies other than monetary damages, such as an injunction or rescission
for breach of the officer's or director's duty of care.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the offered securities (a) through agents; (b) through
underwriters or dealers; or (c) directly to one or more purchasers.
By Agents
Offered securities may be sold through agents that we designate. The agents
agree to use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period
of their appointment.
By Underwriters
If underwriters are used in the sale, the offered securities will be acquired
by the underwriters for their own account. The underwriters may resell the
securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a
fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of
sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be
subject to certain conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase
all the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are
purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions
allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
Direct Sales
We may also sell offered securities directly. In this case, no underwriters
or agents would be involved.
General Information
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the
offered securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act of 1933
(the Act), and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any
profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be treated as
underwriting discounts and commissions under the Act. Any underwriters or
agents will be identified and their compensation described in a prospectus
supplement.
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We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify
them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Act, or
to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or
agents may be required to make.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform
services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their
businesses.
LEGAL OPINIONS
McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP, Richmond Virginia, counsel to the
Company, will issue an opinion about the legality of the offered securities for
us. As of December 20, 1999, partners of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP
own less than one half of one percent of our common stock. Certain matters
relating to the formation of the Trusts and the issuance of the Trust Preferred
Securities under Delaware law and the Trust Agreements will be passed upon by
Richards, Layton & Finger, special Delaware counsel to the Trusts and the
Company. Any underwriters will be advised about other issues relating to any
offering by their own legal counsel.
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998
have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in
their report, which is incorporated by reference, and has been so incorporated
in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts
in accounting and auditing.
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7,000,000 Premium Income Equity Securitiessm ("PIESsm")
Consisting of 7,000,000 Corporate PIES
[LOGO OF DOMINION RESOURCES INC.]
------------------------
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
, 2000
------------------------
Lehman Brothers
Banc of America Securities LLC
Credit Suisse First Boston
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
"Premium Income Equity Securities" and "PIES" are service marks
owned by Lehman Brothers Inc.
