424B5
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(B)(5)
Registration
No. 333-136108
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT (TO PROSPECTUS DATED JULY 28, 2006)
Peabody
Energy Corporation
$675,000,000
4.75% Convertible Junior
Subordinated Debentures Due 2066
We are offering
$675,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our 4.75% convertible
junior subordinated debentures, which we refer to as the
convertible debentures, with a final maturity date of December
15, 2066. We will use our commercially reasonable efforts,
subject to the occurrence of a market disruption event (as
described herein), to raise sufficient net proceeds from the
issuance of qualifying capital securities (as described herein)
to pay holders the principal amount of the convertible
debentures, together with accrued and unpaid interest, including
any compounded interest thereon, on December 15, 2041, the
scheduled maturity date.
The convertible
debentures will be our unsecured obligations, ranking junior to
all of our existing and future senior and subordinated debt
(excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising
in the ordinary course of business), except for any future debt
that by its terms ranks equal to or junior to the convertible
debentures. Interest on the convertible debentures will accrue
from the issue date at a fixed rate equal to 4.75% per
year, and will be payable in arrears semi-annually on June 15
and December 15 of each year, commencing on June 15, 2007.
We may elect to, and
if and to the extent that a mandatory trigger event (as
described herein) has occurred and is continuing will be
required to, defer interest payments on the convertible
debentures. After five years of deferral at our option, or upon
the occurrence of a mandatory trigger event, we generally must
sell warrants or preferred stock with specified characteristics
and use the funds from that sale to pay deferred interest,
although this obligation is subject to limitations (as described
herein) and any failure to comply with this obligation would
constitute a covenant breach but not an event of default. In no
event, however, may we defer payments of interest on the
convertible debentures for more than 10 years, and an event
of default will result if all accrued and unpaid interest in
respect of the convertible debentures is not paid in full within
30 days after the tenth anniversary of the commencement of
any deferral. In the event of our bankruptcy, insolvency or
receivership, any claim in respect of interest that accrued
during a mandatory interest deferral period in excess of two
years of accrued and unpaid interest (including any compounded
interest thereon) on the convertible debentures will be
extinguished.
Under the
circumstances described in this prospectus supplement, holders
may convert their convertible debentures into cash and, if
applicable, shares of our common stock, in the case of
conversion following a notice of redemption or upon a non-stock
change of control, or, in all other cases, into perpetual
preferred stock and, if applicable, shares of our common stock.
The consideration delivered upon conversion will be based upon a
conversion rate of 16.1421 shares of our common stock per
$1,000 principal amount of convertible debentures (which is
equal to an initial conversion price of approximately $61.95 per
share), subject to adjustment. Upon the occurrence of any
non-stock change of control on or prior to December 20, 2036,
under certain circumstances, we will increase the conversion
rate for a limited time as described herein.
Any perpetual
preferred stock delivered upon the conversion of convertible
debentures will have a cumulative dividend rate of 3.0875% of
liquidation preference and will be subject to remarketing after
December 15, 2046 or earlier upon the first occurrence of a
change of control, in which a holder may elect whether to
participate.
Peabody Energy
Corporations common stock is quoted on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol BTU. The last reported
sale price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on
December 14, 2006 was $44.25 per share.
The convertible
debentures will not be subject to redemption prior to December
20, 2011. Between December 20, 2011 and December 19, 2036 we may
redeem the convertible debentures, in whole or in part, if for
at least 20 trading days within the 30 consecutive trading days
immediately prior to the date on which notice of redemption is
given, the closing sale price of our common stock has exceeded
130% of the then prevailing conversion price. On or after
December 20, 2036, whether or not the redemption condition is
satisfied, we may redeem the convertible debentures, in whole or
in part. Any redemption will be at a cash redemption price of
100% of the principal amount of the convertible debentures to be
redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including any
compounded interest, to the date of redemption.
For a more detailed
description of the convertible debentures, see Description
of the Convertible Debentures beginning on
page S-48.
Investing in the
convertible debentures involves risks. See Risk
Factors beginning on page S-24.
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Price to
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Underwriting
Discounts
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Proceeds to
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Public(1)
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and
Commissions
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Peabody
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Per
Convertible Debenture
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100
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%
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2.3833
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%
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97.6167
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%
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Total
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$
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675,000,000
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$
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16,087,500
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$
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658,912,500
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(1)
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Plus
accrued interest, if any, from December 20, 2006.
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We have granted the
underwriters the right to purchase up to an additional
$75,000,000 principal amount of convertible debentures, solely
to cover overallotments.
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.
The underwriters
expect to deliver the convertible debentures to purchasers on
December 20, 2006.
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LEHMAN
BROTHERS
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MORGAN
STANLEY
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CITIGROUP
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BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
BNP PARIBAS
CALYON SECURITIES (USA) INC.
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HSBC
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS
CREDIT SUISSE
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ABN AMRO ROTHSCHILD LLC
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES
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December 14,
2006
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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Prospectus Supplement
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S-2
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S-24
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S-42
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S-42
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S-42
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S-43
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S-45
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S-48
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S-78
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S-92
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S-97
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S-105
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S-108
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S-109
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S-109
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S-109
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Prospectus
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About
this Prospectus
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Cautionary
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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Summary
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1
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Ratio of
Earnings to Fixed Charges
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3
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Use of
Proceeds
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3
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Dividend
Policy
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3
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Description
of Debt Securities
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4
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Description
of Capital Stock
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9
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Description
of Warrants
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15
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Description
of Units
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16
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Plan of
Distribution
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17
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Legal
Matters
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18
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Experts
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18
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Where
You Can Find More Information
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18
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Incorporation
of Certain Documents by Reference
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18
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This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus
supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering.
The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more
general information, some of which may not apply to this
offering.
If the description of the offering varies between the prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on
the information in the prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, any
free writing prospectus prepared by us and the accompanying
prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
additional or different information. If anyone provides you with
additional, different or inconsistent information, you should
not rely on it. We are offering to sell the convertible
debentures, and seeking offers to buy the convertible
debentures, only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are
permitted. You should not assume that the information we have
included in this prospectus supplement, any free writing
prospectus prepared by us or the accompanying prospectus is
accurate as of any date other than the date of this prospectus
supplement, any free writing prospectus prepared by us or the
accompanying prospectus or that any information we have
incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than
the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our
business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects may have changed since those dates.
Unless otherwise indicated, (i) the exchange rate used in
translating Australian dollars into U.S. dollars was
determined by reference to an assumed exchange rate of A$1 =
US$0.7447, which was based on prevailing rates from
October 18, 2006 through October 23, 2006 and
(ii) all information contained in this prospectus
supplement assumes no exercise of the underwriters option
to purchase an additional $75,000,000 principal amount of
convertible debentures to cover overallotments.
S-1
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
This summary does not contain all of the information that you
should consider before investing in the convertible debentures.
You should read the entire prospectus supplement, any free
writing prospectus prepared by us and the accompanying
prospectus carefully, including the matters discussed under the
caption Risk Factors, Cautionary Notice
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and the detailed
information and financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus. When used in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus, the terms we,
our, and us, except as otherwise
indicated or as the context otherwise indicates, refer to
Peabody Energy Corporation
and/or its
applicable subsidiary or subsidiaries.
Peabody
Energy Corporation
We are the largest private-sector coal company in the world. In
the first nine months of 2006, we sold 182.9 million tons
of coal. During 2005, our sales of 239.9 million tons of
coal included sales to approximately 350 electricity
generating and industrial plants in 15 countries. Our coal
products fuel approximately 10% of all U.S. electricity
generation and 3% of worldwide electricity generation. At
December 31, 2005, we had 9.8 billion tons of proven
and probable coal reserves, more than double the reserves of any
other U.S. coal producer. Financial results for 2005
included $4.6 billion in revenues, $518.4 million in
operating profit, $422.7 million in net income and
$870.4 million in Adjusted EBITDA. Financial results for
the nine months ended September 30, 2006 included
$3.9 billion in revenues, $519.9 million in operating
profit, $425.7 million in net income and
$809.0 million in Adjusted EBITDA. See Summary
Financial and Operating Data for the definition of
Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure, and a discussion
of its usefulness as a measure of our overall financial and
operating performance and a reconciliation of income from
continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA.
We own, through our subsidiaries, majority interests in 34 coal
operations located throughout all major U.S. coal producing
regions and in Australia. Additionally, we own a minority
interest in one mine through a joint venture arrangement. During
2005, we shipped 75% of our U.S. mining operations
coal sales from the western United States and the remaining 25%
from the eastern United States. Most of our production in the
western United States is low-sulfur coal from the Powder
River Basin. Our overall western U.S. coal production has
increased from 37 million tons in fiscal year 1990 to
154.3 million tons during 2005, representing a compounded
annual growth rate of 10%. In the West, we own and operate mines
in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. In the East, we
own and operate mines in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and West
Virginia. We also own five mines in Queensland, Australia, in
addition to the Australian mines acquired in the Excel
Acquisition (as described in Recent
Developments), which produce both thermal and
metallurgical coal, largely for the export markets. We generated
81% of our 2005 production from non-union mines. We expect full
year 2006 production of approximately 230 million tons and
total sales of approximately 255 million tons, including 12
to 14 million tons of metallurgical coal.
During 2005, 87% of our sales (by volume) were to
U.S. electricity generators, 9% were to customers outside
the United States and 4% were to the U.S. industrial
sector. Coal continues to fuel more U.S. electricity
generation than all other energy sources combined. In 2005,
coal-fueled plants generated an estimated 51.3% of the
nations electricity, followed by nuclear (20.1%),
gas-fired (17.4%) and hydroelectric (6.7%) units. We believe
that growing demand for energy will strengthen the use of coal.
We also believe that U.S. and global coal consumption will
continue to increase as coal-fueled generating plants utilize
their existing excess capacity and as new coal-fueled plants are
constructed. Coal is an attractive fuel for electricity
generation because it is:
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Abundant: Coal makes up more than 85% of
fossil fuel reserves in the United States. The nation has an
estimated
250-year
supply of coal, based on current usage rates.
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Low-Cost: At an average delivered price of
$1.48 per million British thermal units, or Btu, to
U.S. generating plants in 2005, coals cost advantage
over natural gas is significant. The delivered price of natural
gas averaged $6.74 per million Btu in 2005.
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Increasingly Clean: Aggregate emissions from
U.S. coal-fueled plants have declined significantly since
1970, even as coal consumption by electricity generators has
more than tripled.
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S-2
Approximately 90% of our coal sales during 2005 were under
long-term contracts (one year or greater). As of
December 31, 2005, our sales backlog, including backlog
subject to price reopener
and/or
extension provisions, was over one billion tons, and the average
volume-weighted remaining term of our long-term contracts was
approximately 3.2 years, with remaining terms ranging from
one to 19 years. As of September 30, 2006, we had
14 million tons of planned U.S. production uncommitted
for 2007, the vast majority of which is bituminous coal, with an
additional 12 million tons available for repricing, and
approximately 60 to 65 tons of planned U.S. production
uncommitted for 2008, with an additional 37 million tons
available for repricing. We have an annual metallurgical coal
production capacity of 12 to 14 million tons (excluding the
additional capacity obtained in the Excel Acquisition as
described in Recent Developments).
In addition to our mining operations, we market, broker and
trade coal. Our total tons traded were 36.2 million during
2005. In 2005, we opened a business development, sales and
marketing office in Beijing, China to pursue potential long-term
growth opportunities in this market. Our other energy-related
commercial activities include the development of mine-mouth
coal-fueled generating plants, the management of our vast coal
reserve and real estate holdings, transportation services and,
more recently, participation in projects that convert coal into
natural gas and transportation fuels.
Competitive
Strengths
We believe our strengths will enable us to continue to grow and
increase financial value.
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We are the worlds largest private-sector producer and
marketer of coal and the largest reserve holder of any private
sector coal company.
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We are the largest producer and marketer of low-sulfur coal in
the United States.
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We have a large portfolio of long-term coal supply agreements
that is complemented by available production in attractive
markets for sale at market prices.
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We are one of the safest and most productive producers of coal
in the United States.
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We serve a broad range of high quality customers with mining
operations located throughout all major U.S. coal producing
regions and in Australia.
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We have received numerous awards for our reclamation excellence.
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Our management team has a proven record of success.
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Risk
Factors
While we strive to maintain these strengths, our industry and
company are subject to risks that could adversely affect our
business. For example, we cannot assure you that in the future
we will be able to sell coal as profitably as at present. Supply
chain, transportation and geology are uncertain. Additionally,
our company and our customers are subject to extensive
governmental regulations that create significant costs and
restrictions and that could become more onerous in the future.
For a more complete discussion of the risks related to our
company, you should read the information presented under the
heading Risk Factors in this prospectus supplement
and in our periodic reports.
Business
Strategy
We utilize four core business strategies to create value:
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Executing the Basics Safe, low-cost
operations provide us the foundation to grow and create value.
We achieve improvements in both safety and productivity by
targeting cost and productivity improvements that require little
or no additional capital. Eight of our mines set new production
records in 2005, and our Rawhide, Caballo and North Antelope
Rochelle mines were the three most productive coal mines in the
nation based on tons per worker hours according to
U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety & Health
Administration data. In 2005, our emphasis on safe, low-cost
operations resulted in a 33% improvement to our already-low
accident rate. Our safety record has improved 48% in the past
three years. We also use the same methods to achieve
environmental excellence. In 2005, we were recognized with 11
awards, including five top awards from the U.S. Department
of the Interior.
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Capitalizing on Organic Growth Opportunities
We control the most proven and probable coal reserves of any
private-sector coal company in the world, which enables low-cost
development to serve growing customer demand. We have an
industry-leading track record of being able to construct,
develop and deliver on organic growth initiatives. Over the past
five years, we have developed new and expanded capacity that is
equivalent to two-thirds of U.S. coal industry growth.
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Expanding in High Growth Global Markets The
United States, China and India represent nearly 90% of the
forecasted growth in the worlds coal industry through
2030. We sell coal to customers in 15 countries on six
continents. We also have opened an office in Beijing, increased
import activities for South American coal into the United
States, and recently entered the European trading markets.
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Participating in New Generation and Btu Conversion
Projects We are developing mine mouth
electricity generating plants using our coal reserves. We have
entered into several agreements to develop
coal-to-liquids
and
coal-to-natural
gas facilities. We have entered into a joint development
agreement with Rentech to evaluate sites near our coal reserves
for
coal-to-liquids
projects that would transform coal into diesel and jet fuel. We
are exploring the development of a commercial-scale coal
gasification project. The facility is expected to use technology
from ConocoPhillips to transform coal into pipeline-quality
synthetic natural gas.
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Coal
Market Outlook
We believe long-term coal market fundamentals are strong
worldwide, as the U.S., China, India and other nations increase
coal demand for electricity generation and steelmaking.
The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5% in 2005 and
an annual rate of 1.6% in the third quarter of 2006 as reported
by the U.S. Commerce Department, and the CIA World Factbook
reports that Chinas economy grew 9.9% in 2005. We expect
that demand for coal and coal-based electricity generation in
the United States will be driven by the growing economy,
capacity constraints of nuclear generation and high prices of
natural gas and oil. The Energy Information Administration
(EIA) projects that the high price of oil will lead
to an increase in demand for unconventional sources of
transportation fuel, including
coal-to-liquids,
and that coal will begin to displace natural gas-fired
generation of electricity, including the addition of
coal-to-liquids
plants.
Demand for Powder River Basin coal is increasing, particularly
for our ultra-low sulfur products. The Powder River Basin
represents more than half of our production. We control
approximately 3.5 billion tons of proven and probable
reserves in the Southern Powder River Basin and we sold
102.7 million tons of coal from this region in the first
nine months of 2006, an increase of 10.5% over the comparable
period in the prior year.
Global coal markets continue to grow, also driven by increased
demand from growing economies. Chinas economy grew 10.9%
in the second quarter of 2006 as reported by the National Bureau
of Statistics of China. Metallurgical coal continues to sell at
a significant premium to steam coal, and metallurgical markets
remain strong as global steel production grew more than 9%
through September 2006. We expect to capitalize on the strong
global market for metallurgical coal primarily through
production and sales of metallurgical coal from our Appalachia
operations and our Australian operations. See Risk
Factors for additional considerations regarding the coal
market.
Recent
Developments
Excel Acquisition. On July 5, 2006, we
signed a merger implementation agreement to acquire Excel Coal
Limited (Excel), one of the largest independent coal
companies in Australia, by means of a scheme of arrangement
transaction under Australian law. The merger implementation
agreement was amended on September 18, 2006, and we agreed
to pay A$9.50 per share (US$7.16 as of the amendment date) for
the outstanding shares of Excel. On September 20, 2006, as
part of the amended agreement, we acquired 19.99% of the
outstanding shares of Excel at a price of A$9.50 per share
(US$7.16 as of September 20, 2006) (the Advance
Purchase), resulting in a payment of approximately
A$408.3 million (US$307.8 million as of
September 20, 2006). On October 25, 2006, we acquired
the remaining interest in Excel not previously acquired in the
Advance Purchase for A$9.50 per share (US$7.07), a total of
approximately A$1.63 billion (US$1.21 billion). The
total acquisition price, including the Advance Purchase, was
approximately
S-4
US$1.52 billion, plus assumed debt of approximately
US$277 million (net of cash) as of October 25, 2006.
The Excel Acquisition was funded from the net proceeds of our
October 12, 2006 offering of
73/8% senior
notes due 2016 and
77/8% senior
notes due 2026, as well as borrowings under our senior unsecured
credit facility.
Excels major assets include:
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Wambo Open-Cut Mine This Hunter Valley
operation produces a premium thermal coal and serves export
customers from the Port of Newcastle. Wambo produced
3.5 million tons in 2005.
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North Wambo Underground Mine This operation
is under development and is expected to begin shipments in 2007,
with production targeted to reach approximately 3 million
tons per year over the next several years. The mine plans to
produce thermal and semi-soft coking coal for shipment to
customers through the Port of Newcastle.
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Metropolitan Mine This longwall operation
produced 1.6 million tons of hard and semi-hard coking coal
in 2005. Metropolitan serves domestic and export steel
producers, shipping from Port Kembla.
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Wilpinjong Mine This new open-cut mine is
expected to produce 5 million tons of thermal coal in 2007,
and is scheduled to ramp up to more than 7 million tons per
year within two years that will be shipped to export customers
through the Port of Newcastle in addition to serving a domestic
electricity generator.
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Millennium Mine This open-cut mine is in the
Bowen Basin near our existing metallurgical coal mines.
Millennium is expected to begin shipments of its coking coal
later this year, with 2007 production targeted at 2 million
tons and targeting 3 million tons per year over the next
several years. Millennium offers rail and port synergies with
our existing operations.
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Conarco Farm-In Agreement Through a farm-in
agreement with the Conarco Group, Excel may earn up to a 75%
interest by the staged spending of up to A$12 million
(US$9 million) over the next several years in two areas
that cover a combined 1.65 million acres in Queensland near
existing coal mines and infrastructure.
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Reserves Excel Coal controls more than
500 million tons of proven and probable metallurgical and
thermal coal reserves, and substantial additional coal
resources, in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia.
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Our rationale for the Excel Acquisition was:
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The Excel Acquisition is expected to triple our annual
production capacity in the worlds largest coal-exporting
nation. Australia provides nearly one-third of the worlds
exports, serving primarily the fast-growth markets of Asia. The
U.S. Energy Information Administration projects demand for
Australian metallurgical and thermal coal products will grow 55%
by 2030.
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The combination of our Australian operations and Excels
assets creates a major new player in the Australian coal sector,
with substantial market diversity, a broad portfolio of
metallurgical and thermal coal products, both domestic and
seaborne customers and the capacity to utilize multiple rail
lines and ports.
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Prior to the Excel Acquisition, we produced nine million tons
per year of mostly metallurgical coal in Queensland. The Excel
Acquisition provides us with extensive growth opportunities from
existing operations, along with major metallurgical and thermal
coal mines in the latter stages of development. Excel produced
approximately 5.6 million tons of coal in 2005. These
operations are expected to produce up to 15 million tons in
2007, and up to 20 million tons in 2008, from coal mines in
New South Wales and Queensland. The Excel Acquisition also
provides substantial synergies in the areas of sales and
trading, and reserve holdings in Queensland near our existing
operations. Excel has more than 500 million tons of
metallurgical and thermal coal reserves.
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The Excel Acquisition expands our existing Queensland base. In
the past five years, we purchased the Wilkie Creek thermal coal
mine, acquired the Burton and North Goonyella metallurgical coal
mines, developed the Eaglefield metallurgical mine, and
developed the Baralaba thermal and PCI mine. It also marks a
return to New South Wales, where we have significant experience
and prior success.
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S-5
The
Offering
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Issuer |
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Peabody Energy Corporation. |
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Offered Securities |
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4.75% convertible junior subordinated debentures. |
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Principal Amount |
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$1,000 per convertible debenture. |
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Aggregate Principal Amount |
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$675,000,000 (plus up to an additional $75,000,000 principal
amount of convertible debentures pursuant to the option we have
granted to underwriters to purchase additional convertible
debentures to cover overallotments). |
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Scheduled Maturity Date |
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As described under Payment at Scheduled
Maturity, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts,
subject to the occurrence of a market disruption event (as
defined under Description of the Convertible
Debentures Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement
Mechanism), to raise sufficient net proceeds from the
issuance of qualifying capital securities (as defined under
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Payment at Scheduled Maturity) to pay holders the
principal amount of the convertible debentures, together with
accrued and unpaid interest, including any compounded interest
thereon, on December 15, 2041 (the scheduled maturity
date). |
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Final Maturity Date |
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Any unpaid principal amount of the convertible debentures,
together with accrued and unpaid interest, including any
compounded interest thereon, will be due and payable on
December 15, 2066, the final maturity date. |
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Interest |
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Interest on the convertible debentures will accrue from the
issue date until the earliest of the final maturity date or the
date on which the convertible debentures are converted, redeemed
or paid at scheduled maturity, at a fixed rate equal to
4.75% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on
June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on
June 15, 2007. |
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We may elect to, and if, and to the extent that a mandatory
trigger event (as described under Mandatory
Trigger Events) has occurred and is continuing will be
required to, defer interest payments on the convertible
debentures. These deferral mechanisms, as well as limitations on
the sources we may use to fund interest payments under specified
circumstances, are described under Optional
Deferral and Consequences of a Mandatory
Trigger Event. Additional restrictions on our ability to
make payments (including payments of interest) on the
convertible debentures and on any related claim in the event of
our bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership are described under
Subordination, Capital
Replacement and Limitation on Claims in
the Event of our Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Receivership. |
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Use of Proceeds |
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We estimate that our net proceeds from our sale of the
convertible debentures in this offering, after deducting
underwriting discounts and estimated expenses of the offering,
will be approximately $654.8 million. We intend to use
these net proceeds to repay indebtedness, including reducing
indebtedness currently outstanding under our revolving credit
facility and term loan facility, each of which were used to
finance, in part, the acquisition of Excel Coal |
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Limited (the Excel Acquisition), and for working
capital and general corporate purposes. Our revolving credit
facility commitment is scheduled to terminate and the loans
thereunder are scheduled to mature in September 2011 and our
term loan facility is scheduled to mature in September 2011. As
of December 5, 2006, the floating interest rate on both our
revolving credit facility and our term loan facility was 6.3%.
For a more detailed discussion of these facilities, see
Description of Other Indebtedness. Affiliates of
Lehman Brothers, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup and certain of the
other underwriters are lenders under these facilities and,
accordingly, will receive a portion of the proceeds from this
offering. See Underwriting. |
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Indenture |
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We will issue the convertible debentures under the Subordinated
Indenture described in the attached prospectus and a
supplemental indenture thereto to be dated as of
December 20, 2006, each between Peabody Energy Corporation,
as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
In this prospectus supplement, we refer to that indenture, as
supplemented by the supplemental indenture, and as further
supplemented or amended from time to time, as the
indenture. |
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Trustee and Paying Agent |
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U.S. Bank National Association. |
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Subordination |
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The convertible debentures will be our unsecured obligations,
ranking junior to all existing and future senior and
subordinated debt (excluding trade accounts payable or accrued
liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business) of
Peabody Energy Corporation, except for any future debt that by
its terms ranks equal to or junior to the convertible
debentures, as described under Description of the
Convertible Debentures Subordination. The
convertible debentures will rank equal in right of payment with
obligations we owe, from time to time, to our trade creditors. |
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Substantially all of our existing indebtedness is senior to the
convertible debentures. In addition, the convertible debentures
will be effectively subordinated to all indebtedness of our
subsidiaries. |
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The indenture places no limitation on the amount of additional
indebtedness that we or any of our subsidiaries may incur. We
expect to incur additional indebtedness in the future. |
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Anticipated Ratings |
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We anticipate that the convertible debentures will be assigned
the following ratings by the following rating agencies: |
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Moodys Investors Service: Ba2
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Standard & Poors: B |
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Fitch Ratings: BB− |
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An explanation of the significance of ratings may be obtained
from the rating agencies. Generally, rating agencies base their
ratings on such material and information, and such of their own
investigations, studies and assumptions, as they deem
appropriate. The rating of the convertible debentures should be
evaluated independently from similar ratings of other
securities. A rating of a security is not a recommendation to
buy, sell or hold securities and |
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may be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or
withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. Each
rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. |
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Conversion Rights |
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Unless earlier redeemed, holders may convert their convertible
debentures, in whole or in part, under the circumstances
described below and, depending on the particular basis for
conversion, will receive cash or shares of perpetual preferred
stock and, if the conversion value (as defined below) of the
convertible debentures exceeds their principal return (as
defined below), shares of our common stock, at any time on or
prior to December 15, 2036: |
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during any calendar quarter if, for at least 20 of
the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the
commencement of that calendar quarter, the closing sale price of
our common stock exceeds 140% of the then applicable conversion
price for the convertible debentures;
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at any time following the issuance of a notice of
redemption in respect of the convertible debentures until the
business day immediately preceding the redemption date; |
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during the 10 trading days after any
five-consecutive-trading-day period during which the trading
price per $1,000 principal amount of convertible debentures for
each day of such measurement period is determined, after a
request as described under Description of the Convertible
Debentures Conversion Upon Satisfaction of Trading
Price Condition to conduct such measurement, to be less
than 98% of the product of the closing sale price of our common
stock and the conversion rate in effect on such day; |
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during the 35 calendar days following the occurrence
of a change of control (as defined under
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Conversion Rights Conversion Upon a Change of
Control); or |
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during prescribed periods upon the occurrence of
certain corporate events described under Description of
the Convertible Debentures Conversion
Rights Conversion Upon Specified Corporate
Transactions. |
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In addition, unless earlier redeemed, the convertible debentures
will be convertible at any time after December 15, 2036 to
(and including) December 15, 2041. |
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The initial conversion rate is 16.1421 shares of common
stock per $1,000 principal amount of convertible debentures,
which represents an initial conversion price of approximately
$61.95 per share, subject to adjustment as described under
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Conversion Procedures Conversion Rate
Adjustments. The conversion rate will be applied as
described below to determine the consideration holders will
receive upon conversion. |
S-8
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Settlement of Conversion Following a Notice of Redemption or
Upon a Non-Stock Change of Control |
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In the case of conversion either following a notice of
redemption or upon a non-stock change of control (as defined
under Description of the Convertible
Debentures Conversion Procedures
Determination of the Make-Whole Amount), with respect to
each $1,000 principal amount of convertible debentures
surrendered for conversion, we will deliver: |
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a cash payment in the amount of $1,000 (the
principal return), and |
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if the conversion value of the convertible
debentures converted is greater than the principal return, a
number of shares of our common stock (the net
shares) equal to the sum of the daily share amounts for
each of the 20 consecutive trading days in the conversion
reference period. |
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The conversion value of each $1,000 principal amount
of convertible debentures that are converted will equal the
average of the products for each of the 20 consecutive trading
days during the conversion reference period of (i) the
applicable conversion rate for such day multiplied by
(ii) the volume-weighted average price (as defined under
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Conversion Procedures Settlement Upon
Conversion) per share of our common stock on such day. |
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The daily share amount for a given trading day
equals the amount obtained by (i) multiplying the
volume-weighted average price for such day by the conversion
rate applicable on such day, (ii) subtracting $1,000 from
the resulting product and (iii) dividing the resulting
difference by 20 times the volume-weighted average price for
such day; provided, however, that the daily share amount will in
no case be less than zero. |
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Conversion reference period means: |
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for convertible debentures that are converted
following a notice of redemption or during the period beginning
on the 20th trading day prior to December 15, 2041,
the 20 consecutive trading days beginning on the third trading
day following (a) the redemption date or
(b) December 15, 2041, as the case may be; and |
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in all other instances, the 20 consecutive trading
days beginning on the third trading day following the conversion
date. |
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Upon any such conversion, holders will generally not receive any
cash payment representing accrued and unpaid interest for the
current interest period. Holders will, however, receive an
additional cash amount equal to the amount of optionally or
mandatorily deferred interest on the convertible debentures,
plus any compounded interest thereon, to the last trading day of
the conversion reference period. |
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Settlement of Other Conversions |
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Except in the case of a conversion following a notice of
redemption or upon a non-stock change of control, with respect
to each $1,000 |
S-9
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principal amount of convertible debentures surrendered for
conversion, we will deliver: |
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one share of perpetual preferred stock with a
liquidation preference of $1,000 (the amount of the principal
return), and |
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if the conversion value of the convertible
debentures converted is greater than the principal return, the
net shares (in an amount equal to the sum of the daily share
amounts for each of the 20 consecutive trading days during the
conversion reference period). |
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Upon any such conversion, holders will generally not receive any
cash payment representing accrued and unpaid interest for the
current interest period. The shares of perpetual preferred stock
delivered to a holder upon any such conversion will, however,
have initial accumulated dividends at issuance equal to the
amount of any optionally or mandatorily deferred interest on the
convertible debentures converted, plus any compounded interest
thereon, to the last trading day of the conversion reference
period. |
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Make-Whole Amount |
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Upon the occurrence of a non-stock change of control on or prior
to December 20, 2036, under certain circumstances, we will
increase the conversion rate, for the time period described
herein, by a specified number of additional shares, as described
under Description of the Convertible
Debentures Conversion Procedures
Determination of the Make-Whole Amount. The number of
additional shares will be determined based on the price paid per
share of our common stock in the transaction constituting a
non-stock change of control and the effective date of such
transaction. Notwithstanding the provision described in this
paragraph, in no event will the total number of shares of our
common stock issuable upon conversion exceed 22.5988 per $1,000
principal amount of convertible debentures, subject to
adjustment. |
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No increase to the conversion rate will be made upon a non-stock
change of control if the stock price in connection with such
non-stock
change of control is less than $44.25 or more than $300.00 (in
each case, subject to adjustment). |
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Perpetual Preferred Stock |
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The perpetual preferred stock issued to holders upon a
conversion of convertible debentures: |
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will entitle holders to receive, when, as and if
declared by our board of directors out of funds legally
available for the payment of dividends, cumulative dividends at
an annual rate of 3.0875% of liquidation preference (65% of the
interest rate borne by the convertible debentures) or, following
any remarketing, at the reset rate (as described under
Remarketing of the Perpetual Preferred
Stock); |
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will be subject to |
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the capital replacement intention
provisions described under Capital Replacement
Intention Upon Optional Redemption or Cash Conversion
below, and
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while a mandatory trigger event
continues, a prohibition on our declaration of any dividends
other than those funded |
S-10
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through the sale of qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred
stock (each as defined under Warrant and
Preferred Stock Settlement Mechanism), |
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will benefit from our obligation to raise funds
using the warrant and preferred stock settlement mechanism while
a mandatory trigger event continues or after we have failed to
declare and pay dividends for a period of five consecutive
years, which funds must be applied to pay accumulated dividends
after the payment in full of any deferred interest on the
convertible debentures, subject to the limitations described
under Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement
Mechanism; |
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will entitle holders thereof to elect two members of
our board of directors, together with certain other holders of
our capital stock, if we fail to declare and pay dividends for
ten consecutive years (or, following remarketing, six dividend
payment dates, whether or not consecutive); |
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may, at the holders election, be remarketed
after December 15, 2046 or earlier, upon the first change
of control to occur, if we do not exercise our right to redeem
them;
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will have a liquidation preference of
$1,000 per share; |
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will be redeemable at our option at any time, out of
funds legally available therefor, at a cash redemption price
equal to their liquidation preference plus any accumulated
dividends (though such redemption may only be in whole, and not
in part, unless the redemption is being made in connection with,
and in the same proportion as, a partial redemption of the
convertible debentures); |
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will not be convertible.
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Any deferred interest on the convertible debentures at the time
of notice of conversion, plus any compounded interest thereon,
will be reflected as accumulated dividends on the perpetual
preferred stock at issuance. |
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For so long as any convertible debentures remain outstanding,
the terms of the indenture will prohibit us from paying
dividends, including accumulated dividends, on the perpetual
preferred stock during any deferral period for the convertible
debentures. See Description of the Convertible
Debentures Certain Restrictions During Optional or
Mandatory Deferral Periods. Additional limitations on our
ability to declare dividends on the perpetual preferred stock
are described under Description of the Perpetual Preferred
Stock Limitations on Declaration of Dividends. |
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Declaration of a dividend on the perpetual preferred stock at
any permissible time will be at the discretion of our board of
directors, who will not be required to declare any dividend on
the perpetual preferred stock payable in respect of any dividend
period, except in accordance with the warrant and preferred
stock settlement mechanism. Any dividend that is not declared
will accumulate. |
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In the event of our liquidation, winding-up or dissolution,
whether voluntary or not, prior to the redemption of the
perpetual preferred |
S-11
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stock, holders of perpetual preferred stock will have no claim
in respect of amounts representing dividends that accumulated
while a mandatory trigger event occurred and was continuing, to
the extent the amount of such dividends exceeds two years of
accumulated and unpaid dividends on the perpetual preferred
stock. |
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Remarketing of Perpetual Preferred Stock |
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After December 15, 2046 or earlier upon the first
occurrence of a change of control, unless the perpetual
preferred stock has been redeemed or has been called for
redemption, holders may elect to have their shares of perpetual
preferred stock remarketed. A holder of convertible debentures
may, upon a change of control other than a non-stock change of
control, simultaneously elect to convert the convertible
debentures and have perpetual preferred stock otherwise
deliverable to such holder in respect of such conversion
remarketed in such a remarketing. |
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Pursuant to the remarketing agreement described under
Description of the Perpetual Preferred Stock
Remarketing Remarketing Agreement, a
nationally recognized securities dealer selected by us as the
remarketing agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts
to remarket the perpetual preferred stock tendered for sale in a
remarketing, at a reset dividend rate determined by the
remarketing agent to be the rate necessary for the perpetual
preferred stock to be remarketed at a price equal to at least
the sum of (x) $1,000 per share and (y) the
remarketing agent fee per share of perpetual preferred stock
provided for in the remarketing agreement, plus accumulated
dividends to the remarketing date. We may elect for the reset
dividend rate to be a three-month LIBOR-based floating rate,
rather than a fixed rate, with quarterly rather than semi-annual
payment dates, and may also change the optional redemption
provisions of the perpetual preferred stock for purposes of the
remarketing, in each case to the extent that such election is
not, in the reasonable judgment of the remarketing agent, likely
to adversely affect the ability of the remarketing agent to
remarket the perpetual preferred stock. |
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Remarketing will initially occur on the sixth trading day after
the remarketing election period. In the event a successful
remarketing does not occur on such date, an additional
remarketing will occur on the eleventh trading day after the
last day of the remarketing election period, and, if a
successful remarketing does not occur on such date, on the
sixteenth trading day after the last day of the remarketing
election period. If a successful remarketing does not occur on
the sixteenth trading day after the last day of the remarketing
election period, a final remarketing will occur on the
21st trading day after the last day of the remarketing
election period (the final remarketing date). |
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If the remarketing agent is unable to place successfully all
perpetual preferred stock tendered for remarketing at a price
equal to at least the sum of (x) $1,000 and (y) the
remarketing agent fee per share of perpetual preferred stock
provided for in the remarketing agreement, plus accumulated
dividends to the remarketing date, on the final remarketing
date, a final failed remarketing shall have
occurred. In the event of a final failed remarketing, no
perpetual |
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preferred stock will be sold in the remarketing. See
Description of the Perpetual Preferred Stock
Remarketing. |
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In the event of a successful remarketing, dividends will become
payable at the reset rate, and any changes to the optional
redemption provisions will take effect, as of the reset
effective date, which will be the third business day
immediately following the successful remarketing. In the case of
a final failed remarketing, the dividend rate applicable to the
perpetual preferred stock will be reset as of the third business
day immediately following the final remarketing date (which will
be the reset effective date for a final failed remarketing), to
a floating annual rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 400 basis
points, and dividends will thereafter be paid quarterly (on each
three-month anniversary of the reset effective date) rather than
semi-annually. |
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All changes to the terms of the perpetual preferred stock as a
result of a successful remarketing or a final failed
remarketing, whether to the dividend rate, dividend payment
dates or the optional redemption provisions, will apply to all
perpetual preferred stock, whether remarketed or otherwise.
Other than with respect to the dividend rate, dividend payment
dates and the optional redemption provisions, the terms of all
perpetual preferred stock, whether remarketed or otherwise, will
remain unchanged. |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the reset rate will in no event
be less than the dividend rate then in effect on the perpetual
preferred stock, which initially will be 3.0875% of the
liquidation preference. |
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Redemption |
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The convertible debentures will not be subject to redemption
prior to December 20, 2011. |
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Between December 20, 2011 and December 19, 2036 we may
redeem the convertible debentures, in whole or in part, at the
par redemption price described below if for at least 20 trading
days within the 30 consecutive trading days immediately prior to
the date on which notice of redemption is given, the closing
sale price of our common stock has exceeded 130% of the then
prevailing conversion price. |
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On or after December 20, 2036, whether or not the
redemption condition described above is satisfied, we may redeem
the convertible debentures, in whole or in part, at the par
redemption price. |
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We may not redeem any outstanding convertible debentures unless: |
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all accrued and unpaid interest, including any
compounded interest thereon, has been paid in full on or prior
to the redemption date for all interest periods terminating on
or before the redemption date; and |
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if any perpetual preferred stock is outstanding at
that time, we have first given notice to redeem the perpetual
preferred stock (in the same proportion as our redemption of the
convertible debentures, if such redemption is in part), which
will require that we have funds legally available, under
Delaware law, to effect |
S-13
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such redemption (see Description of the Perpetual
Preferred Stock Redemption). |
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The par redemption price will be a cash amount equal
to 100% of the principal amount of the convertible debentures to
be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not
including, the date of redemption. |
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Whether paid in connection with a redemption of convertible
debentures or otherwise, any mandatorily deferred interest and
any optionally deferred interest accrued after the first five
years of an optional deferral period may, and any compounded
interest thereon, be paid only from the net proceeds received
from the sale of qualifying warrants and qualifying preferred
stock in accordance with the warrant and preferred stock
settlement mechanism. |
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Capital Replacement Intention Upon Optional Redemption or Cash
Conversion |
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At the time of |
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any redemption of convertible debentures or
perpetual preferred stock, or |
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any conversion of convertible debentures that would
require the principal return to be paid in cash (which would
apply to conversions either upon a notice of redemption or upon
a non-stock change of control), |
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we intend to fund any cash payment upon such redemption or
conversion, as the case may be, with net proceeds received by us
from the sale, during the
180-day
period prior to the date of redemption or conversion, by us or
our subsidiaries to third-party purchasers, of securities for
which we will receive equity credit, at the time of sale, that
is equal to or greater than the equity credit attributed to the
convertible debentures or perpetual preferred stock at the time
of such redemption or conversion, in the opinion of our board of
directors reasonably construing the standards employed by the
rating agency that then attributes the greatest equity credit to
the convertible debentures in making such determinations. |
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Payment at Scheduled Maturity |
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On the scheduled maturity date, December 15, 2041, we will
pay holders the principal amount of the convertible debentures,
together with accrued and unpaid interest, including any
compounded interest thereon, if we successfully fund this
payment through the sale of qualifying capital securities. |
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We will be required to use our commercially reasonable efforts,
subject to the occurrence of a market disruption event, to raise
sufficient net proceeds to fund payment of the convertible
debentures at scheduled maturity through the issuance of
qualifying capital securities during a six-month period ending
on the date we give notice of the payment we will make on the
scheduled maturity date. We will also be permitted, but not
required, to apply an amount equal to up to (x) 400% of the
net proceeds from any issue and sale of our common stock or
rights to acquire our common stock and (y) 100% of the net
proceeds from any issue and sale of our mandatorily convertible
preferred stock, debt exchangeable for |
S-14
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equity or other replacement capital securities that are
convertible into common stock (each as defined under
Capital Replacement) to fund our payment obligation.
We will be contractually obligated to third parties not to fund
payment at scheduled maturity with funds from any source other
than those described in this paragraph, as described below under
Capital Replacement. |
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If we have not raised sufficient funds for payment in full at
the scheduled maturity date, we will be required (x) to
make a partial payment using the proceeds, if any, that we were
able to raise and (y) to attempt payment pursuant to the
procedures described above on each successive interest payment
date after the scheduled maturity date and before the final
maturity date until payment in full is made. |
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Capital Replacement on or following the Scheduled Maturity Date |
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Prior to or concurrently with the initial issuance of the
convertible debentures, we will enter into a capital replacement
covenant in which we will covenant for the benefit of holders of
a specified series of our long-term indebtedness that neither we
nor any of our subsidiaries will pay the convertible debentures
pursuant to the provision described above under
Payment at Scheduled Maturity or
redeem or repurchase convertible debentures on or following
the scheduled maturity date and prior to December 15, 2046,
unless the amount of such payment, the redemption price or the
repurchase price, as the case may be, does not exceed the sum of: |
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400% of our net cash proceeds from the issue and
sale of our common stock or rights to acquire our common stock; |
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our net cash proceeds from the issue and sale of our
mandatorily convertible preferred stock or debt exchangeable for
equity; and |
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our net cash proceeds from the issue and sale of
other replacement capital securities (as defined under
Capital Replacement) |
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in each case, during the six months prior to the notice date for
the relevant payment, redemption or repurchase. |
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The capital replacement covenant is not intended to be for the
benefit of holders of the convertible debentures, will not be
enforceable by them, and will not be among the terms of the
indenture or the convertible debentures. The capital replacement
covenant will have no effect on our obligation to repay the
convertible debentures with the proceeds of qualifying capital
securities on the scheduled maturity date or on the absolute and
unconditional nature of our obligation to pay holders the
principal amount of (and accrued and unpaid interest on) the
convertible debentures on the final maturity date. |
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Optional Deferral |
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As long as no event of default with respect to the convertible
debentures has occurred and is continuing, subject to the
conditions below, we may defer payments of interest on the
convertible debentures. We refer to this as optional
deferral. Upon optional deferral, any optionally deferred
interest will continue to accrue and compound semi-annually, to
the extent permitted by applicable law, from time to time, at
the applicable rate of interest on the convertible debentures. |
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After five years of optional deferral (calculated from the first
payment date as of which we defer payments on the convertible
debentures due to optional deferral), we generally must sell
qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred stock and use the
funds from that sale to pay deferred interest as described under
Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement
Mechanism. This obligation, however, is subject to
limitations: we will not be required to sell qualifying warrants
or qualifying preferred stock during the continuation of a
market disruption event, and the maximum amount of qualifying
warrants and qualifying preferred stock that we are required to
sell will be limited by the warrant cap and the preferred stock
cap described below under Warrant and
Preferred Stock Settlement Mechanism. In addition, any
breach of our obligation to fund payments through the sale of
qualifying warrants and qualifying preferred stock would
constitute a covenant breach but not an event of default
permitting acceleration of the principal amount of the
convertible debentures. The remedy of holders of the convertible
debentures for any covenant breach may be limited to direct
monetary damages (if any). See Events of
Default. |
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Notwithstanding the limitations described above, in no event may
we defer payments of interest on the convertible debentures
beyond the date that is 10 consecutive years after the date on
which we began the deferral of interest (whether due to optional
deferral, mandatory deferral, or any combination thereof) or
past the final maturity date of, or any redemption date for, the
convertible debentures. An event of default will result if all
accrued and unpaid interest, including any compounded interest
thereon, in respect of the convertible debentures has not been
paid in full within 30 days after the tenth anniversary of
the commencement of any interest deferral. |
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Mandatory Trigger Events |
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A mandatory trigger event will have occurred with respect to any
interest period if on the
30th day
prior to the interest payment date for such period (each such
30th day
a trigger determination date), on the basis of our
most recent publicly reported quarterly financial information: |
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(i) our Leverage Ratio for each of the three most recently
completed fiscal quarters is equal to or greater than 6.0; and |
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(ii) our Interest Coverage Ratio for each of the three most
recently completed fiscal quarters is less than or equal to 2.0. |
|
|
|
Leverage Ratio, for any fiscal quarter, means our
Adjusted Debt at the end of such fiscal quarter divided by the
sum of (a) four times our Adjusted EBITDA for such fiscal
quarter and (b) our Annual Rent Expense. |
|
|
|
Interest Coverage Ratio, for any fiscal quarter,
means the sum of (a) four times our Adjusted EBITDA for
such fiscal quarter and (b) one-third of our Annual Rent
Expense, divided by the sum of (x) four times our Adjusted
Interest for such fiscal quarter and (y) one-third of our
Annual Rent Expense. |
S-16
|
|
|
|
|
See Description of the Convertible Debentures for
further information, including definitions of the terms
Adjusted Debt, Adjusted EBITDA,
Adjusted Interest and Annual Rent
Expense. |
|
|
|
As of September 30, 2006, our Leverage Ratio was 2.3x and
our Interest Coverage Ratio was 9.9x. |
|
Consequences of a Mandatory Trigger Event |
|
During the period beginning on any interest payment date for
which a mandatory trigger event has occurred until (but not
including), the earliest of |
|
|
|
the first subsequent interest payment date for which
no mandatory trigger event has occurred (the mandatory
deferral period), |
|
|
|
the date that is 10 consecutive years after the date
on which we began the deferral of interest (whether due to
optional deferral, mandatory deferral, or any combination
thereof), |
|
|
|
the occurrence of an event of default, or |
|
|
|
the final maturity date of the convertible
debentures, |
|
|
|
we may not pay interest on the convertible debentures unless we
obtain funds for such payment through the sale of qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock. We refer to the deferral
of interest following the occurrence of a mandatory trigger
event as mandatory deferral. Any deferred interest
that is accrued and unpaid during the occurrence and
continuation of a mandatory deferral period will continue to
accrue and compound, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
at the applicable rate of interest on the convertible debentures. |
|
|
|
Upon the occurrence of a mandatory trigger event, we generally
must sell qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred stock and
use the funds from that sale to pay deferred interest as
described under Warrant and Preferred Stock
Settlement Mechanism. This obligation is, however, subject
to limitations: we will not be required to sell qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock during the continuation
of a market disruption event, and the maximum amount of
qualifying warrants and qualifying preferred stock that we are
required to sell will be limited by the warrant cap and the
preferred stock cap described below under
Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement
Mechanism. In addition, any breach of this obligation
would constitute a covenant breach but not an event of default
permitting acceleration of the principal amount of the
convertible debentures. The remedy of holders of the convertible
debentures for any covenant breach may be limited to direct
monetary damages (if any). See Events of
Default. |
|
|
|
Notwithstanding the limitations described above, in no event may
we defer payments of interest on the convertible debentures
beyond the date that is 10 consecutive years after the date on
which we began the deferral of interest (whether due to optional
deferral, mandatory deferral, or any combination thereof) or
past the final maturity date of, or any redemption date for, the
convertible debentures. An event of default will result if all
accrued and unpaid interest, including any compounded interest
thereon, in respect of the |
S-17
|
|
|
|
|
convertible debentures has not been paid in full within
30 days after the tenth anniversary of the commencement of
any interest deferral. |
|
Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement Mechanism |
|
At the times described under Description of the
Convertible Debentures Option to Defer Interest
Payments and Consequences of a Mandatory
Trigger Event, we will be required, subject to the
occurrence of a market disruption event and the limits imposed
by the warrant cap and the preferred stock cap (as described
below), to sell qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred
stock during the six month period prior to the notice date for
the applicable payment and to apply the net proceeds of such
sale to pay all deferred interest, including any compounded
interest thereon. Instead of selling qualifying preferred stock,
we may sell depositary shares representing the right to receive
such preferred stock. |
|
|
|
Qualifying warrants means warrants to purchase our
common stock that: |
|
|
|
have an exercise price greater than the most recent
closing sale price of our common stock as of their date of
issuance; and |
|
|
|
we are not entitled to redeem for cash and the
holders of which are not entitled to require us to repurchase
for cash in any circumstances. |
|
|
|
Qualifying preferred stock means our non-cumulative
perpetual preferred stock (or depositary shares representing
interests in such preferred stock) that (a) is non-callable,
(b) is subject to a binding capital replacement covenant or
(c) has capital replacement intention disclosure and
includes provisions that, from and after the occurrence of the
failure to satisfy one or more financial tests set forth in the
terms of such securities or related transaction agreements,
prohibit the issuer of such securities from paying any deferred
distributions in an amount exceeding the net proceeds of the
sale of our common stock, rights to purchase our common stock or
qualifying preferred stock. |
|
|
|
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will we be required
to sell additional qualifying warrants after we have sold
qualifying warrants in respect of 84,000,000 shares of
common stock (the warrant cap) nor will we be
permitted to sell additional qualifying preferred stock after we
have sold an amount of qualifying preferred stock having an
aggregate liquidation preference equal to 25% of the aggregate
principal amount of the convertible debentures at the time of
their original issuance (the preferred stock cap). |
|
|
|
The perpetual preferred stock will also benefit from our
obligation to raise funds using the warrant and preferred stock
settlement mechanism, and sales of qualifying warrants and
qualifying preferred stock to fund dividends in respect of the
perpetual preferred stock will also be counted in calculating
when the warrant cap or the preferred stock cap has been reached. |
|
Limitations on Deferrals |
|
No deferral, whether optional or mandatory, may extend beyond
the final maturity date of, or any redemption date for, the |
S-18
|
|
|
|
|
convertible debentures. In addition, no interest deferral
period, whether optional or mandatory (or a combination
thereof), may continue for more than 10 years. An interest
deferral period will commence on the first interest payment date
on which interest is deferred and will end on the first date
thereafter on which all deferred interest, including any
compounded interest thereon, is paid in full. |
|
Payment Restrictions |
|
On any date on which accrued interest through the most recent
interest payment date has not been paid in full (including
during any optional or mandatory interest deferral period) and
until such time as all accrued and unpaid interest through the
most recent interest payment date, together with any compounded
interest, is paid in full, we will not, and will not permit any
of our subsidiaries to, declare or pay any dividends or any
distributions on, or make any payments of interest, principal or
premium, or any guarantee payments on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire or make a liquidation payment on, any capital stock of
the company or any debt securities of the company or guarantees
of the company ranking equal with or junior to the convertible
debentures, with exceptions that are detailed under
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Certain Restrictions During Optional or Mandatory Deferral
Periods. |
|
Limitation on Claims in the Event of our Bankruptcy, Insolvency
or Receivership |
|
In the event of our bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership,
whether voluntary or not, prior to the final maturity date or
redemption of the convertible debentures, any claim in respect
of interest that accrued during a mandatory interest deferral
period in excess of two years of accrued and unpaid interest
(including any compounded interest thereon) on the convertible
debentures will be extinguished. |
|
Events of Default |
|
The indenture will provide for the following events of default
with respect to the convertible debentures: |
|
|
|
default for 30 calendar days in the payment of any
interest on the convertible debentures, including any compounded
interest, when it becomes due and payable (however, a default
under this bullet will not occur if we have deferred interest,
as permitted under the indenture, in connection with an optional
deferral or mandatory deferral); |
|
|
|
deferral of interest on the convertible debentures,
due to optional deferral or mandatory deferral, or a combination
thereof, that continues for 10 consecutive years after the date
on which we began the deferral of interest, without all accrued
and unpaid interest, including any compounded interest thereon,
having been paid in full within 30 days after the tenth
anniversary of the commencement of such deferral; |
|
|
|
default in the payment of the principal of the
convertible debentures when due; and |
|
|
|
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and
reorganization, whether voluntary or not. |
|
|
|
The events of default contained in the indenture under which the
convertible debentures will be issued (and the circumstances
under |
S-19
|
|
|
|
|
which payment of the convertible debentures may be accelerated)
will not include failure to comply with or breach of our other
covenants in the indenture applicable to the convertible
debentures, including those described under
Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement
Mechanism and Payment at Scheduled
Maturity. In the case of any breach of covenant that will
not give rise to an event of default, there will be no right to
declare the principal amount of the convertible debentures, or
accrued and unpaid interest, including any compounded interest
thereon, immediately payable, and the remedy of holders of the
convertible debentures for any covenant breach may be limited to
direct monetary damages (if any). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the indenture will acknowledge that in the case of any failure
to deliver consideration deliverable in respect of any
conversion, monetary damages would not be adequate and will
provide for specific performance as the remedy for any such
failure. |
|
Form |
|
The convertible debentures will be represented by one or more
global securities registered in the name of Cede & Co.,
as nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. Beneficial
interests in the convertible debentures will generally be
evidenced by, and transfers thereof will be effected only
through, records maintained by the participants in DTC. |
|
Governing Law |
|
New York. |
|
U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment |
|
We intend to take the position that the convertible debentures
will be classified as our indebtedness for all U.S. federal
tax purposes. The convertible debentures are novel financial
instruments and there is no statutory, judicial or
administrative authority that directly addresses the
U.S. federal income tax treatment of securities similar to
the convertible debentures. Thus, no assurance can be given that
the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) or a court
will agree with this characterization. We agree, and by
purchasing a convertible debenture, you will agree (except with
respect to withholding as provided under Certain
U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax
Considerations
Non-U.S. Holders
Payments of Interest) to treat the convertible debentures
as indebtedness for all U.S. federal tax purposes. If the
IRS were to successfully challenge the characterization of the
convertible debentures as indebtedness, interest payments on the
convertible debentures would be treated for such purposes as
dividends to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings
and profits and
non-U.S. holders
would be subject to withholding tax on such payments. See
Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax
Considerations. Accordingly, an investment in the
convertible debentures may not be suitable for non-U.S. holders.
Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the
U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the
convertible debentures. |
For a discussion of certain risks that should be considered in
connection with an investment in the convertible debentures, see
Risk Factors.
S-20
Summary
Financial and Operating Data
We have derived the summary historical financial data for our
company for the years ended and as of December 31, 2003,
2004 and 2005 from our audited financial statements. We have
derived the summary historical financial data for our company
for the nine months ended and as of September 30, 2005 and
2006 from our unaudited interim financial statements. In the
opinion of management, the unaudited interim financial
statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal
recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair
presentation of this information. The results of operations for
interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results
that may be expected for the entire year. You should read the
following table in conjunction with the financial statements,
the related notes to those financial statements, and
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations, which are
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
On April 15, 2004, we acquired three coal operations from
RAG Coal International AG. Our results of operations for the
year ended December 31, 2004 include the results of
operations of the two mines in Queensland, Australia and the
results of operations for the Twentymile Mine in Colorado from
the April 15, 2004 purchase date. The acquisition was
accounted for as a purchase.
Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2003
include early debt extinguishment costs of $53.5 million
pursuant to our debt refinancing in the first half of 2003. In
addition, results included expense relating to the cumulative
effect of accounting changes, net of income taxes, of
$10.1 million. This amount represents the aggregate amount
of the recognition of accounting changes pursuant to the
adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement
Obligations, the change in method of amortization of
actuarial gains and losses related to net periodic
postretirement benefit costs and the effect of the rescission of
Emerging Issues Task Force Issue
No. 98-10,
Accounting for Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and
Risk Management Activities. These accounting changes are
further discussed in Note 7 to our audited financial
statements of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005, which are
incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.
In anticipation of the sale of Citizens Power, which occurred in
August 2000, we classified Citizens Power as a discontinued
operation as of March 31, 2000. Results in 2004 include a
$2.8 million loss, net of taxes, from discontinued
operations related to the settlement of a Citizens Power
indemnification claim. Citizens Power is presented as a
discontinued operation for all periods presented.
The data in the following table does not include historical
results from Excel and should be read in conjunction with
(i) the unaudited pro forma financial information,
(ii) our historical audited financial statements and
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report
on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005, (iii) our
historical unaudited financial statements and
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations in our Quarterly
Report on
Form 10-Q
for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, and
(iv) the historical audited statements of Excel, each of
which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
S-21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Audited)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
|
Results of Operations
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
|
|
$
|
2,729,323
|
|
|
$
|
3,545,027
|
|
|
$
|
4,545,323
|
|
|
$
|
3,343,620
|
|
|
$
|
3,805,838
|
|
Other revenues
|
|
|
85,973
|
|
|
|
86,555
|
|
|
|
99,130
|
|
|
|
66,156
|
|
|
|
87,348
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
2,815,296
|
|
|
|
3,631,582
|
|
|
|
4,644,453
|
|
|
|
3,409,776
|
|
|
|
3,893,186
|
|
Costs and expenses
|
|
|
2,670,510
|
|
|
|
3,384,884
|
|
|
|
4,126,070
|
|
|
|
3,048,779
|
|
|
|
3,373,246
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating profit
|
|
$
|
144,786
|
|
|
$
|
246,698
|
|
|
$
|
518,383
|
|
|
$
|
360,997
|
|
|
$
|
519,940
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
98,540
|
|
|
|
96,793
|
|
|
|
102,939
|
|
|
|
76,088
|
|
|
|
79,130
|
|
Early debt extinguishment costs
|
|
|
53,513
|
|
|
|
1,751
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
(4,086
|
)
|
|
|
(4,917
|
)
|
|
|
(10,641
|
)
|
|
|
(6,401
|
)
|
|
|
(6,026
|
)
|
Income tax provision (benefit)
|
|
|
(47,708
|
)
|
|
|
(26,437
|
)
|
|
|
960
|
|
|
|
29,300
|
|
|
|
10,905
|
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
3,035
|
|
|
|
1,282
|
|
|
|
2,472
|
|
|
|
1,526
|
|
|
|
10,267
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
41,492
|
|
|
$
|
178,226
|
|
|
$
|
422,653
|
|
|
$
|
260,484
|
|
|
$
|
425,664
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,839
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative effect of accounting
changes
|
|
|
(10,144
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
31,348
|
|
|
$
|
175,387
|
|
|
$
|
422,653
|
|
|
$
|
260,484
|
|
|
$
|
425,664
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per share from
continuing operations
|
|
$
|
0.19
|
|
|
$
|
0.72
|
|
|
$
|
1.62
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
$
|
1.61
|
|
Diluted earnings per share from
continuing operations
|
|
$
|
0.19
|
|
|
$
|
0.70
|
|
|
$
|
1.58
|
|
|
$
|
0.97
|
|
|
$
|
1.58
|
|
Weighted average shares used in
calculating basic earnings per share
|
|
|
213,638,084
|
|
|
|
248,732,744
|
|
|
|
261,519,424
|
|
|
|
261,591,722
|
|
|
|
263,631,134
|
|
Weighted average shares used in
calculating diluted earnings per share
|
|
|
219,342,512
|
|
|
|
254,812,632
|
|
|
|
268,013,476
|
|
|
|
267,711,408
|
|
|
|
269,320,801
|
|
Dividends declared per share
|
|
$
|
0.11
|
|
|
$
|
0.13
|
|
|
$
|
0.17
|
|
|
$
|
0.1225
|
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
Other Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating activities
|
|
$
|
188,861
|
|
|
$
|
283,760
|
|
|
$
|
702,759
|
|
|
$
|
422,169
|
|
|
$
|
434,298
|
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
(192,280
|
)
|
|
|
(705,030
|
)
|
|
|
(584,202
|
)
|
|
|
(343,079
|
)
|
|
|
(777,817
|
)
|
Financing activities
|
|
|
48,598
|
|
|
|
693,404
|
|
|
|
(4,915
|
)
|
|
|
10,015
|
|
|
|
157,646
|
|
Tons sold (unaudited, in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United States
|
|
|
201.9
|
|
|
|
221.1
|
|
|
|
231.6
|
|
|
|
172.4
|
|
|
|
176.3
|
|
Australia
|
|
|
1.3
|
|
|
|
6.1
|
|
|
|
8.3
|
|
|
|
6.0
|
|
|
|
6.6
|
|
Operating profit (unaudited):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United States
|
|
$
|
143,438
|
|
|
$
|
209,700
|
|
|
$
|
353,405
|
|
|
$
|
285,511
|
|
|
$
|
361,348
|
|
Australia
|
|
|
1,348
|
|
|
|
36,998
|
|
|
|
164,978
|
|
|
|
75,486
|
|
|
|
158,592
|
|
Depreciation, depletion and
amortization (unaudited):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United States
|
|
$
|
233,455
|
|
|
$
|
261,060
|
|
|
$
|
285,990
|
|
|
$
|
210,712
|
|
|
$
|
233,385
|
|
Australia
|
|
|
881
|
|
|
|
9,099
|
|
|
|
30,124
|
|
|
|
21,709
|
|
|
|
29,718
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
(unaudited):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United States
|
|
$
|
408,053
|
|
|
$
|
508,872
|
|
|
$
|
667,816
|
|
|
$
|
515,824
|
|
|
$
|
620,022
|
|
Australia
|
|
|
2,225
|
|
|
|
50,372
|
|
|
|
202,582
|
|
|
|
101,345
|
|
|
|
188,932
|
|
Capital expenditures (unaudited):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United States
|
|
$
|
155,050
|
|
|
$
|
132,279
|
|
|
$
|
298,969
|
|
|
$
|
174,389
|
|
|
$
|
245,013
|
|
Australia
|
|
|
1,393
|
|
|
|
19,665
|
|
|
|
85,335
|
|
|
|
53,950
|
|
|
|
47,431
|
|
Federal coal lease expenditures
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
114,653
|
|
|
$
|
118,364
|
|
|
$
|
118,364
|
|
|
$
|
178,193
|
|
Purchase of mining assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
141,195
|
|
|
|
56,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges(2)
|
|
|
0.98
|
|
|
|
2.04
|
|
|
|
3.86
|
|
|
|
3.63
|
|
|
|
4.96
|
|
Balance Sheet Data (at end of
period):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
5,280,265
|
|
|
$
|
6,178,592
|
|
|
$
|
6,852,006
|
|
|
$
|
6,654,795
|
|
|
$
|
7,228,537
|
|
Total debt
|
|
|
1,196,539
|
|
|
|
1,424,965
|
|
|
|
1,405,506
|
|
|
|
1,407,294
|
|
|
|
1,702,603
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
1,132,057
|
|
|
|
1,724,592
|
|
|
|
2,178,467
|
|
|
|
2,037,275
|
|
|
|
2,369,632
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income from continuing operations
before deducting early debt extinguishment costs, net interest
expense, income taxes, minority interests, asset retirement
obligation expense and depreciation, depletion and amortization.
Adjusted EBITDA is used by management to measure |
S-22
|
|
|
|
|
operating performance, and management also believes it is a
useful indicator of our ability to meet debt service and capital
expenditure requirements. We believe that the amounts shown for
Adjusted EBITDA as presented in this prospectus supplement are
not materially different from the amounts calculated under the
definition of Consolidated Cash Flow used in the indentures for
our existing senior notes and in calculating Consolidated EBITDA
under our senior unsecured credit facility, such measures being
necessary to calculate our Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and
Consolidated Leverage Ratio. In order to incur debt under our
existing indentures, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio must be at
least 2.0 to 1.0, and under the senior unsecured credit facility
we must maintain a Consolidated Leverage Ratio of 3.75x for each
period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or prior to
December 31, 2007, 3.50x for each period of four
consecutive fiscal quarters ending after January 1, 2008
and on or prior to December 31, 2008 and 3.25x for each
period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending after
January 1, 2009 and thereafter, as tested at the end of
each such four consecutive fiscal quarter period. Adjusted
EBITDA is not a recognized term under U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and does not
purport to be an alternative to operating income, net income or
cash flows from operating activities as determined in accordance
with GAAP as a measure of profitability or liquidity. Because
Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated identically by all companies,
our calculation may not be comparable to similarly titled
measures of other companies. |
Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
41,492
|
|
|
$
|
178,226
|
|
|
$
|
422,653
|
|
|
$
|
260,484
|
|
|
$
|
425,664
|
|
Income tax provision (benefit)
|
|
|
(47,708
|
)
|
|
|
(26,437
|
)
|
|
|
960
|
|
|
|
29,300
|
|
|
|
10,905
|
|
Depreciation, depletion and
amortization
|
|
|
234,336
|
|
|
|
270,159
|
|
|
|
316,114
|
|
|
|
232,421
|
|
|
|
263,103
|
|
Asset retirement obligation expense
|
|
|
31,156
|
|
|
|
42,387
|
|
|
|
35,901
|
|
|
|
23,751
|
|
|
|
25,911
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
98,540
|
|
|
|
96,793
|
|
|
|
102,939
|
|
|
|
76,088
|
|
|
|
79,130
|
|
Early debt extinguishment costs
|
|
|
53,513
|
|
|
|
1,751
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Income
|
|
|
(4,086
|
)
|
|
|
(4,917
|
)
|
|
|
(10,641
|
)
|
|
|
(6,401
|
)
|
|
|
(6,026
|
)
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
3,035
|
|
|
|
1,282
|
|
|
|
2,472
|
|
|
|
1,526
|
|
|
|
10,267
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
|
$
|
410,278
|
|
|
$
|
559,244
|
|
|
$
|
870,398
|
|
|
$
|
617,169
|
|
|
$
|
808,954
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by
$3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Excluding $53.5 million of early debt extinguishment costs
incurred for the year ended December 31, 2003, the ratio of
earnings to fixed charges would have been 1.34x for such year. |
S-23
RISK
FACTORS
An investment in our convertible debentures involves risks.
Before deciding to invest in the convertible debentures, you
should carefully consider, in addition to the other information
contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus
supplement, the following risk factors:
Risks
Related to our Business
If a
substantial portion of our long-term coal supply agreements
terminate, our revenues and operating profits could suffer if we
were unable to find alternate buyers willing to purchase our
coal on comparable terms, including price, to those in our
contracts.
Most of our sales are made under coal supply agreements, which
are important to the stability and profitability of our
operations. The execution of a satisfactory coal supply
agreement is frequently the basis on which we undertake the
development of coal reserves required to be supplied under the
contract. For the year ended December 31, 2005, 90% of our
sales volume was sold under long-term coal supply agreements. At
December 31, 2005, our coal supply agreements had remaining
terms ranging from one to 19 years and an average
volume-weighted remaining term of approximately 3.2 years.
Many of our coal supply agreements contain provisions that
permit the parties to adjust the contract price upward or
downward at specified times. We may adjust these contract prices
based on inflation or deflation
and/or
changes in the factors affecting the cost of producing coal,
such as taxes, fees, royalties and changes in the laws
regulating the mining, production, sale or use of coal. In a
limited number of contracts, failure of the parties to agree on
a price under those provisions may allow either party to
terminate the contract. We sometimes experience a reduction in
coal prices in new long-term coal supply agreements replacing
some of our expiring contracts. Coal supply agreements also
typically contain force majeure provisions allowing temporary
suspension of performance by us or the customer during the
duration of specified events beyond the control of the affected
party. Most coal supply agreements contain provisions requiring
us to deliver coal meeting quality thresholds for certain
characteristics such as Btu, sulfur content, ash content,
grindability and ash fusion temperature. Failure to meet these
specifications could result in economic penalties, including
price adjustments, the rejection of deliveries or termination of
the contracts. Moreover, some of these agreements permit the
customer to terminate the contract if transportation costs,
which our customers typically bear, increase substantially. In
addition, some of these contracts allow our customers to
terminate their contracts in the event of changes in regulations
affecting our industry that increase the price of coal beyond
specified limits.
The operating profits we realize from coal sold under supply
agreements depend on a variety of factors. In addition, price
adjustment and other provisions may increase our exposure to
short-term coal price volatility provided by those contracts. If
a substantial portion of our coal supply agreements were
modified or terminated, we could be materially adversely
affected to the extent that we are unable to find alternate
buyers for our coal at the same level of profitability. Market
prices for coal vary by mining region and country. As a result,
we cannot predict the future strength of the coal market overall
or by mining region and cannot assure you that we will be able
to replace existing long-term coal supply agreements at the same
prices or with similar profit margins when they expire. In
addition, one of our largest coal supply agreements is the
subject of ongoing litigation and arbitration.
The
loss of, or significant reduction in, purchases by our largest
customers could adversely affect our revenues.
For the year ended December 31, 2005, we derived 21% of our
total coal revenues from sales to our five largest customers. At
December 31, 2005, we had 79 coal supply agreements with
these customers expiring at various times from 2006 to 2011. We
are currently discussing the extension of existing agreements or
entering into new long-term agreements with some of these
customers, but these negotiations may not be successful and
those customers may not continue to purchase coal from us under
long-term coal supply agreements. If a number of these customers
significantly reduce their purchases of coal from us, or if we
are unable to sell coal to them on terms as favorable to us as
the terms under our current agreements, our financial condition
and results of operations could suffer materially.
S-24
We had been supplying coal to the Mohave Generating Station
pursuant to a long-term coal supply agreement through our Black
Mesa Mine. The mine suspended its operations on
December 31, 2005, and the coal supply agreement expired on
that date. As a part of an alternate dispute resolution, our
subsidiary, Peabody Western is participating in mediation with
the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe and the owners of the Mohave
Generating Station and the Navajo Generating Station to resolve
the complex issues surrounding groundwater and other disputes
involving the two generating stations. On June 19, 2006,
the owners of the Mohave Generating Station announced that they
were halting efforts to reopen the plant and that they would try
to sell it. There is no assurance that the Mohave Generating
Station will resume operations. The Mohave plant was the sole
customer of the Black Mesa Mine, which sold 4.6 million
tons of coal in 2005. During 2005, the mine generated
$29.8 million of Adjusted EBITDA, which represented 3.4% of
our total 2005 Adjusted EBITDA of $870.4 million.
If
transportation for our coal becomes unavailable or uneconomic
for our customers, our ability to sell coal could
suffer.
Transportation costs represent a significant portion of the
total cost of coal and the cost of transportation is a critical
factor in a customers purchasing decision. Increases in
transportation costs and the lack of sufficient rail and port
capacity could lead to reduced coal sales. As of
December 31, 2005, certain coal supply agreements, which
account for less than 5% of our tons sold, permit the customer
to terminate the contract if the cost of transportation
increases by an amount over specified levels in any given
12-month
period.
Coal producers depend upon rail, barge, trucking, overland
conveyor and ocean-going vessels to deliver coal to markets.
While our coal customers typically arrange and pay for
transportation of coal from the mine or port to the point of
use, disruption of these transportation services because of
weather-related problems, infrastructure damage, strikes,
lock-outs, lack of fuel or maintenance items, transportation
delays or other events could temporarily impair our ability to
supply coal to our customers and thus could adversely affect our
results of operations. For example, two primary railroads serve
the Powder River Basin mines. Due to the high volume of coal
shipped from all Powder River Basin mines, the loss of access to
rail capacity could create temporary congestion on the rail
systems servicing that region.
Risks
inherent to mining could increase the cost of operating our
business.
Our mining operations are subject to conditions that can impact
the safety of our workforce, or delay coal deliveries or
increase the cost of mining at particular mines for varying
lengths of time. These conditions include fires and explosions
from methane gas or coal dust; accidental minewater discharges;
weather, flooding and natural disasters; unexpected maintenance
problems; key equipment failures; variations in coal seam
thickness; variations in the amount of rock and soil overlying
the coal deposit; variations in rock and other natural materials
and variations in geologic conditions. We maintain insurance
policies that provide limited coverage for some of these risks,
although there can be no assurance that these risks would be
fully covered by our insurance policies. Despite our efforts,
significant mine accidents could occur and have a substantial
impact.
Our
mining operations are extensively regulated, which imposes
significant costs on us, and future regulations and developments
could increase those costs or limit our ability to produce
coal.
Federal, state and local authorities regulate the coal mining
industry with respect to matters such as employee health and
safety, permitting and licensing requirements, air quality
standards, water pollution, plant and wildlife protection,
reclamation and restoration of mining properties after mining is
completed, the discharge of materials into the environment,
surface subsidence from underground mining and the effects that
mining has on groundwater quality and availability. In addition,
significant legislation mandating specified benefits for retired
coal miners affects our industry. Numerous governmental permits
and approvals are required for mining operations. We are
required to prepare and present to federal, state or local
authorities data pertaining to the effect or impact that any
proposed exploration for or production of coal may have upon the
environment. The costs, liabilities and requirements associated
with these regulations may be costly and time-consuming and may
delay commencement or continuation of exploration or production.
The possibility exists that new legislation
and/or
regulations and orders related to the environment or employee
health and safety may be adopted and may materially adversely
affect our mining operations, our cost structure
and/or
S-25
our customers ability to use coal. New legislation or
administrative regulations (or judicial interpretations of
existing laws and regulations), including proposals related to
the protection of the environment that would further regulate
and tax the coal industry, may also require us or our customers
to change operations significantly or incur increased costs. The
majority of our coal supply agreements contain provisions that
allow a purchaser to terminate its contract if legislation is
passed that either restricts the use or type of coal permissible
at the purchasers plant or results in specified increases
in the cost of coal or its use. These factors and legislation,
if enacted, could have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, the United States, Australia and more than 160
other nations are signatories to the 1992 Framework Convention
on Climate Change, which addresses emissions of greenhouse
gases, such as carbon dioxide. In December 1997, in Kyoto,
Japan, the signatories to the convention established a binding
set of emission targets for developed nations. Although the
specific emission targets vary from country to country, the
United States would be required to reduce emissions to 93% of
1990 levels over a five-year budget period from 2008 through
2012. Although the United States has not ratified the emission
targets and no comprehensive regulations focusing on greenhouse
gas emissions are in place in the U.S., these restrictions,
whether through ratification of the emission targets or other
efforts to stabilize or reduce greenhouse gas emissions, could
adversely affect the price and demand for coal. According to the
Department of Energys Energy Information Administration,
Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States
2003, coal accounts for 31% of greenhouse gas emissions in
the United States, and efforts to control greenhouse gas
emissions could result in reduced use of coal if electricity
generators switch to lower carbon sources of fuel. Legislation
was introduced in Congress in 2006 to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions in the United States. Such or similar federal
legislative action could be taken in 2007 or later years. In
addition, a number of states in the United States have taken
steps to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. For example, seven
northeastern states (New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine,
Connecticut, Delaware and New Jersey) entered into the Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) agreement in December 2005 to
reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, and in August
2006 finalized a model rule to help implement the agreement;
Maryland has approved legislation that may result in its joining
the RGGI in 2007; the California legislature in August 2006
approved legislation supported by the governor of California
allowing the imposition of statewide caps on and cuts in carbon
dioxide emissions; and Arizonas governor signed an
executive order in September 2006 that calls for the state to
reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Although the manner in which
such state limits will be implemented is uncertain, further
developments in connection with legislation, regulations or
other limits on carbon dioxide emissions could have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition or results of
operations.
A number of laws, including in the U.S. the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA
or Superfund), impose liability relating to contamination by
hazardous substances. Such liability may involve the costs of
investigating or remediating contamination and damages to
natural resources, as well as claims seeking to recover for
property damage or personal injury caused by hazardous
substances. Such liability may arise from conditions at formerly
as well as currently owned or operated properties, and at
properties to which hazardous substances have been sent for
treatment, disposal, or other handling. Liability under CERCLA
and similar state statutes is without regard to fault, and
typically is joint and several, meaning that a person may be
held responsible for more than its share, or even all of, the
liability involved. Our mining operations involve some use of
hazardous materials. In addition, we have accrued for liability
arising out of contamination associated with Gold Fields Mining,
LLC (Gold Fields), a dormant, non-coal-producing
subsidiary of ours that was previously managed and owned by
Hanson PLC, or with Gold Fields former affiliates. A
predecessor owner of ours, Hanson PLC transferred ownership of
Gold Fields to us in the February 1997 spin-off of its energy
business. Gold Fields is currently a defendant in several
lawsuits and has received notices of several other potential
claims arising out of lead contamination from mining and milling
operations it conducted in northeastern Oklahoma. Gold Fields is
also involved in investigating or remediating a number of other
contaminated sites. Although we have accrued for many of these
liabilities known to us, the amounts of other potential losses
cannot be estimated. Significant uncertainty exists as to
whether claims will be pursued against Gold Fields in all cases,
and where they are pursued, the amount of the eventual costs and
liabilities, which could be greater or less than our accrual.
Although we believe many
S-26
of these liabilities are likely to be resolved without a
material adverse effect on us, future developments, such as new
information concerning areas known to be or suspected of being
contaminated for which we may be responsible, the discovery of
new contamination for which we may be responsible, or the
inability to share costs with other parties that may be
responsible for the contamination, could have a material adverse
effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Our
expenditures for postretirement benefit and pension obligations
could be materially higher than we have predicted if our
underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect.
We provide postretirement health and life insurance benefits to
eligible union and non-union employees. We calculated the total
accumulated postretirement benefit obligation under Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 106,
Employers Accounting for Postretirement Benefits
Other Than Pensions, which we estimate had a present value
of $1,034.3 million as of December 31, 2005,
$75.0 million of which was a current liability. We have
estimated these unfunded obligations based on assumptions
described in the notes to our audited consolidated financial
statements. If our assumptions do not materialize as expected,
cash expenditures and costs that we incur could be materially
higher. Moreover, regulatory changes could increase our
obligations to provide these or additional benefits.
We are party to an agreement with the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation (the PBGC) and TXU Europe Limited, an
affiliate of our former parent corporation, under which we are
required to make specified contributions to two of our defined
benefit pension plans and to maintain a $37.0 million
letter of credit in favor of the PBGC. If we or the PBGC give
notice of an intent to terminate one or more of the covered
pension plans in which liabilities are not fully funded, or if
we fail to maintain the letter of credit, the PBGC may draw down
on the letter of credit and use the proceeds to satisfy
liabilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended. The PBGC, however, is required to first apply
amounts received from a $110.0 million guaranty in place
from TXU Europe Limited in favor of the PBGC before it draws on
our letter of credit. On November 19, 2002, TXU Europe
Limited was placed under the administration process in the
United Kingdom (a process similar to bankruptcy proceedings in
the United States) and continues under this process.
In addition, certain of our subsidiaries participate in two
defined benefit multi-employer pension funds that were
established as a result of collective bargaining with the United
Mine Workers of America (the UMWA) pursuant to the
National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement as periodically
negotiated. The UMWA 1950 Pension Plan provides pension and
disability pension benefits to qualifying represented employees
retiring from a participating employer where the employee last
worked prior to January 1, 1976. This is a closed group of
beneficiaries with no new entrants. The UMWA 1974 Pension Plan
provides pension and disability pension benefits to qualifying
represented employees retiring from a participating employer
where the employee last worked after December 31, 1975.
Contributions to these funds could increase as a result of
future collective bargaining with the UMWA, a shrinking
contribution base as a result of the insolvency of other coal
companies who currently contribute to these funds, lower than
expected returns on pension fund assets, higher medical and drug
costs or other funding deficiencies.
The United Mine Workers of America Combined Fund was created by
federal law in 1992. This multi-employer fund provides health
care benefits to a closed group of our retired former employees
who last worked prior to 1976, as well as orphaned beneficiaries
of bankrupt companies who were receiving benefits as orphans
prior to the 1992 law. No new retirees will be added to this
group. The liability is subject to increases or decreases in per
capita health care costs, offset by the mortality curve in this
aging population of beneficiaries. Another fund, the 1992
Benefit Plan created by the same federal law in 1992, provides
benefits to qualifying retired former employees of bankrupt
companies who have defaulted in providing their former employees
with retiree medical benefits. Beneficiaries continue to be
added to this fund as employers default in providing their
former employees with retiree medical benefits, but the overall
exposure for new beneficiaries into this fund is limited to
retirees covered under their employers plan who retired
prior to October 1, 1994. A third fund, the 1993 Benefit
Fund, was established through collective bargaining and provides
benefits to qualifying retired former employees who retired
after September 30, 1994 of certain
S-27
signatory companies who have gone out of business and have
defaulted in providing their former employees with retiree
medical benefits. Beneficiaries continue to be added to this
fund as employers go out of business.
Based upon the enactment of the Medicare Prescription Drug,
Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, we estimated future
cash savings which allowed us to reduce our projected
postretirement benefit obligations and related expense. Failure
to achieve these estimated future savings under all benefit
plans could adversely affect our financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows.
A
decrease in the availability or increase in costs of key
supplies or commodities such as diesel fuel, steel, explosives
and tires could decrease our anticipated
profitability.
Our mining operations require a reliable supply of replacement
parts, explosives, fuel, tires, steel-related products
(including roof control) and lubricants. If the cost of any of
these inputs increased significantly, or if a source for these
supplies or mining equipment were unavailable to meet our
replacement demands, our profitability could be reduced from our
current expectations. Recent consolidation of suppliers of
explosives has limited the number of sources for these
materials, and our current supply of explosives is concentrated
with one supplier. Further, our purchases of some items of
underground mining equipment are concentrated with one principal
supplier. In the past year, industry-wide demand growth has
exceeded supply growth for certain surface and underground
mining equipment and
off-the-road
tires. As a result, lead times for some items have increased
significantly.
Our
future success depends upon our ability to continue acquiring
and developing coal reserves that are economically
recoverable.
Our recoverable reserves decline as we produce coal. We have not
yet applied for the permits required or developed the mines
necessary to use all of our reserves. Furthermore, we may not be
able to mine all of our reserves as profitably as we do at our
current operations. Our future success depends upon our
conducting successful exploration and development activities or
acquiring properties containing economically recoverable
reserves. Our current strategy includes increasing our reserves
through acquisitions of government and other leases and
producing properties and continuing to use our existing
properties. The federal government also leases natural gas and
coalbed methane reserves in the West, including in the Powder
River Basin. Some of these natural gas and coalbed methane
reserves are located on, or adjacent to, some of our Powder
River Basin reserves, potentially creating conflicting interests
between us and lessees of those interests. Other lessees
rights relating to these mineral interests could prevent, delay
or increase the cost of developing our coal reserves. These
lessees may also seek damages from us based on claims that our
coal mining operations impair their interests. Additionally, the
federal government limits the amount of federal land that may be
leased by any company to 150,000 acres nationwide. As of
December 31, 2005, we leased a total of 62,330 acres
from the federal government. The limit could restrict our
ability to lease additional federal lands.
Our planned mine development projects and acquisition activities
may not result in significant additional reserves and we may not
have continuing success developing additional mines. Most of our
mining operations are conducted on properties owned or leased by
us. Because title to most of our leased properties and mineral
rights are not thoroughly verified until a permit to mine the
property is obtained, our right to mine some of our reserves may
be materially adversely affected if defects in title or
boundaries exist. In addition, in order to develop our reserves,
we must receive various governmental permits. We cannot predict
whether we will continue to receive the permits necessary for us
to operate profitably in the future. We may not be able to
negotiate new leases from the government or from private parties
or obtain mining contracts for properties containing additional
reserves or maintain our leasehold interest in properties on
which mining operations are not commenced during the term of the
lease. From time to time, we have experienced litigation with
lessors of our coal properties and with royalty holders.
A
decrease in the price or our production of metallurgical coal
could decrease our anticipated profitability.
We have annual capacity to produce approximately 12 to
14 million tons of metallurgical coal (excluding the
additional capacity obtained in the Excel Acquisition as
described in Prospectus Supplement Summary
Recent Developments). Prices for metallurgical coal at the
end of 2005 and during 2006 are near historically high levels.
As a result, our projected margins from these sales have
increased significantly, and will represent
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a larger percentage of our overall revenues and profits in the
future. To the extent we experience either production or
transportation difficulties that impair our ability to ship
metallurgical coal to our customers at anticipated levels, our
profitability will be reduced in 2006.
After the first quarter of 2007, the majority of our
metallurgical coal production has not yet been priced. As a
result, a decrease in metallurgical coal prices could decrease
our profitability.
Our
financial performance could be adversely affected by our
substantial debt.
Our financial performance could be affected by our substantial
indebtedness. As of September 30, 2006, on a pro forma
basis giving effect to (i) the convertible debentures
offered hereby, (ii) the senior notes issued on
October 12, 2006, (iii) borrowings under our senior
unsecured credit facility and (iv) the application of the
estimated net proceeds of these offerings and borrowings in
connection therewith, including the consummation of the Excel
Acquisition, we would have had approximately
$3,299.7 million of indebtedness outstanding on a
consolidated basis. The indentures governing the convertible
debentures offered hereby and our recently offered senior notes
do not limit the amount of indebtedness that we may issue, and
the indentures governing our other senior notes permit the
incurrence of additional indebtedness.
The degree to which we are leveraged could have important
consequences, including, but not limited to:
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making it more difficult for us to pay interest and satisfy our
debt obligations;
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increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and
industry conditions;
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requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of our cash
flow from operations to the payment of principal of, and
interest on, our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability
of the cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures,
research and development or other general corporate uses;
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limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund
future working capital, capital expenditures, research and
development or other general corporate requirements;
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limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to,
changes in our business and in the coal industry; and
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placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to less
leveraged competitors.
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If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund
our debt service obligations, we may be forced to sell assets,
seek additional capital or seek to restructure or refinance our
indebtedness. These alternative measures may not be successful
and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service
obligations. In the absence of such operating results and
resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and
might be required to sell material assets or operations to
attempt to meet our debt service and other obligations. The
senior unsecured credit facility and the indentures governing
certain of our notes restrict our ability to sell assets and use
the proceeds from the sales. We may not be able to consummate
those sales or to obtain the proceeds which we could realize
from them and these proceeds may not be adequate to meet any
debt service obligations then due.
The
covenants in our senior unsecured credit facility and the
indentures governing our senior notes impose restrictions that
may limit our operating and financial flexibility.
Our senior unsecured credit facility, the indentures governing
our senior notes and the convertible debentures offered hereby
and the instruments governing our other indebtedness contain a
number of significant restrictions and covenants that limit our
ability and our subsidiaries ability to:
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incur liens and debt or provide guarantees in respect of
obligations of any other person;
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issue redeemable preferred stock and non-guarantor subsidiary
preferred stock;
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increase our common stock dividends above specified levels;
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make redemptions and repurchases of capital stock;
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make loans and investments;
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prepay, redeem or repurchase debt;
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engage in mergers, consolidations and asset dispositions;
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engage in affiliate transactions;
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amend certain debt and other material agreements, and issue and
sell capital stock of subsidiaries; and
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restrict distributions from subsidiaries.
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Operating results below current levels or other adverse factors,
including a significant increase in interest rates, could result
in our being unable to comply with the financial covenants
contained in our senior unsecured credit facility. If we violate
these covenants and are unable to obtain waivers from our
lenders, our debt under these agreements would be in default and
could be accelerated by our lenders. If our indebtedness is
accelerated, we may not be able to repay our debt or borrow
sufficient funds to refinance it. Even if we are able to obtain
new financing, it may not be on commercially reasonable terms,
on terms that are acceptable to us or at all. If our debt is in
default for any reason, our business, financial condition and
results of operations could be materially and adversely
affected. In addition, complying with these covenants may also
cause us to take actions that are not favorable to holders of
the convertible debentures and may make it more difficult for us
to successfully execute our business strategy and compete
against companies who are not subject to such restrictions.
An
inability of contract miner or brokerage sources to fulfill the
delivery terms of their contracts with us could reduce our
profitability.
In conducting our trading, brokerage and mining operations, we
utilize third party sources of coal production, including
contract miners and brokerage sources, to fulfill deliveries
under our coal supply agreements. Recently, certain of our
brokerage sources and contract miners have experienced adverse
geologic mining
and/or
financial difficulties that have made their delivery of coal to
us at the contractual price difficult or uncertain. Our
profitability or exposure to loss on transactions or
relationships such as these is dependent upon the reliability
(including financial viability) and price of the third-party
supply, our obligation to supply coal to customers in the event
that adverse geologic mining conditions restrict deliveries from
our suppliers, our willingness to participate in temporary cost
increases experienced by our third-party coal suppliers, our
ability to pass on temporary cost increases to our customers,
the ability to substitute, when economical, third-party coal
sources with internal production or coal purchased in the
market, and other factors.
If the
coal industry experiences overcapacity in the future, our
profitability could be impaired.
During the mid-1970s and early 1980s, a growing coal market and
increased demand for coal attracted new investors to the coal
industry, spurred the development of new mines and resulted in
production capacity in excess of market demand throughout the
industry. Similarly, increases in future coal prices could
encourage the development of expanded capacity by new or
existing coal producers.
We
could be negatively affected if we fail to maintain satisfactory
labor relations.
As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately 8,300
employees. As of December 31, 2005, approximately 39% of
our hourly employees were represented by unions and they
generated 19% of our 2005 coal production. Relations with our
employees and, where applicable, organized labor are important
to our success. The labor contract for the majority of our
represented employees expires on December 31, 2006. We
could incur the risk of strikes and higher labor costs if the
labor negotiations are not completed on mutually acceptable
terms. In addition, the UMWA has identified Peabody as a target
for union organizing activities.
Due to the higher labor costs and the increased risk of strikes
and other work-related stoppages that may be associated with
union operations in the coal industry, our competitors who
operate without union labor may have a competitive advantage in
areas where they compete with our unionized operations. If some
or all of our current non-union operations were to become
unionized, we could incur an increased risk of work stoppages,
reduced productivity and higher labor costs.
United
States
Approximately 64% of our U.S. miners are non-union and are
employed in the states of Wyoming, Colorado, Indiana, New
Mexico, Illinois and Kentucky. The UMWA represented
approximately 30% of our subsidiaries hourly employees,
who generated 14% of our domestic production during the year
ended December 31, 2005. An additional 6% of our hourly
employees are represented by labor unions other than the
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UMWA. These employees generated 2% of our production during the
year ended December 31, 2005. Hourly workers at our mine in
Arizona are represented by the UMWA under the Western Surface
Agreement of 2000, which is effective through September 1,
2007. Our union labor east of the Mississippi River is primarily
represented by the UMWA and the majority of union mines are
subject to the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement. The
current five-year labor agreement is effective through
December 31, 2006. Our subsidiaries withdrew from the
Bituminous Coal Operators Association in early 2006 and
will be negotiating their own labor agreement with the UMWA for
mines located east of the Mississippi River.
Australia
The Australian coal mining industry is highly unionized and the
majority of workers employed at our Australian Mining Operations
are members of trade unions. The Construction Forestry Mining
and Energy Union represents our hourly production employees. Our
Australian hourly employees are approximately 4% of our hourly
workforce and generated 4% of our total production in the year
ended December 31, 2005. Negotiations are underway to renew
the labor agreement at our Wilkie Creek Mine. The Eaglefield
Mine operates under a labor agreement that expires in May 2007.
The Burton and North Goonyella Mines operate under agreements
due to expire in 2008.
Our
operations could be adversely affected if we fail to
appropriately secure our obligations.
U.S. federal and state laws and Australian laws require us
to secure certain of our obligations to reclaim lands used for
mining, to pay federal and state workers compensation, to
secure coal lease obligations and to satisfy other miscellaneous
obligations. The primary method for us to meet those obligations
is to post a corporate guarantee (i.e. self bond) or to provide
a third-party surety bond. As of September 30, 2006, we had
$692.7 million of self bonds in place primarily for our
reclamation obligations. As of September 30, 2006, we also
had outstanding surety bonds with third parties of
$487.0 million, of which $347.2 million was for
post-mining reclamation, $80.1 million was for coal lease
obligations and $59.7 million was for workers
compensation and other obligations. These bonds are typically
renewable on a yearly basis. Surety bond issuers and holders may
not continue to renew the bonds or may demand additional
collateral upon those renewals. Our failure to maintain, or
inability to acquire, surety bonds or to provide a suitable
alternative would have a material adverse effect on us. That
failure could result from a variety of factors including the
following:
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lack of availability, higher expense or unfavorable market terms
of new surety bonds;
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restrictions on the availability of collateral for current and
future third-party surety bond issuers under the terms of our
indentures or senior unsecured credit facility; and
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the exercise by third-party surety bond issuers of their right
to refuse to renew the surety.
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Our ability to self bond reduces our costs of providing
financial assurances. To the extent we are unable to maintain
our current level of self bonding, due to legislative or
regulatory changes or changes in our financial condition, our
costs would increase.
Our
ability to operate our company effectively could be impaired if
we lose key personnel or fail to attract qualified
personnel.
We manage our business with a number of key personnel, the loss
of a number of whom could have a material adverse effect on us.
In addition, as our business develops and expands, we believe
that our future success will depend greatly on our continued
ability to attract and retain highly skilled and qualified
personnel. We cannot assure you that key personnel will continue
to be employed by us or that we will be able to attract and
retain qualified personnel in the future. We do not have
key person life insurance to cover our executive
officers. Failure to retain or attract key personnel could have
a material adverse effect on us.
Due to the current demographics of our mining workforce, a high
portion of our current hourly employees are eligible to retire
over the next decade. Failure to attract new employees to the
mining workforce could have a material adverse effect on us.
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Terrorist
attacks and threats, escalation of military activity in response
to such attacks or acts of war may negatively affect our
business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Terrorist attacks and threats, escalation of military activity
in response to such attacks or acts of war may negatively affect
our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our
business is affected by general economic conditions,
fluctuations in consumer confidence and spending, and market
liquidity, which can decline as a result of numerous factors
outside of our control, such as terrorist attacks and acts of
war. Future terrorist attacks against U.S. targets, rumors
or threats of war, actual conflicts involving the United States
or its allies, or military or trade disruptions affecting our
customers may materially adversely affect our operations. As a
result, there could be delays or losses in transportation and
deliveries of coal to our customers, decreased sales of our coal
and extension of time for payment of accounts receivable from
our customers. Strategic targets such as energy-related assets
may be at greater risk of future terrorist attacks than other
targets in the United States. In addition, disruption or
significant increases in energy prices could result in
government-imposed price controls. It is possible that any, or a
combination, of these occurrences could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Our
ability to collect payments from our customers could be impaired
if their creditworthiness deteriorates.
Our ability to receive payment for coal sold and delivered
depends on the continued creditworthiness of our customers. Our
customer base has changed with deregulation as utilities have
sold power plants to their non-regulated affiliates or third
parties. These new power plant owners or other customers may
have credit ratings that are below investment grade. If
deterioration of the creditworthiness of our customers occurs,
our $225.0 million accounts receivable securitization
program and our business could be adversely affected.
Our
certificate of incorporation and by-laws include provisions that
may discourage a takeover attempt.
Provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and
by-laws and Delaware law could make it more difficult for a
third party to acquire us, even if doing so might be beneficial
to our stockholders. Provisions of our by-laws and certificate
of incorporation impose various procedural and other
requirements that could make it more difficult for stockholders
to effect certain corporate actions. For example, a change of
control of our company may be delayed or deterred as a result of
the stockholders rights plan adopted by our board of
directors. These provisions could limit the price that certain
investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of
our common stock and may have the effect of delaying or
preventing a change in control.
We may
be unable to successfully integrate the acquired Excel
operations and realize the full cost savings we
anticipate.
The process of integrating the operations of the Excel coal
mines could cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in,
the activities of the business or the development of new mines.
Among the factors considered by our board of directors in
approving the Excel Acquisition were anticipated cost savings
and synergies that could result from such transaction. We cannot
give any assurance that these savings and synergies will be
realized within the time periods contemplated or at the expected
costs or that they will be realized at all.
There
may be unknown environmental or other risks inherent in the
Excel Acquisition.
We may not be aware of all of the risks associated with the
Excel Acquisition. Any discovery of adverse information
concerning the coal mines acquired by the Excel Acquisition
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations. We will need to make
capital expenditures that may be significant to maintain the
assets we acquired by the Excel Acquisition and to comply with
regulatory requirements, including environmental laws.
S-32
Risks
Related to the Convertible Debentures and Perpetual Preferred
Stock
We
will require a significant amount of cash to service our
indebtedness. Our ability to generate cash depends on many
factors beyond our control.
Our ability to pay principal and interest on and to refinance
our debt, including the convertible debentures, and to make
payments in respect of the perpetual preferred stock, depends
upon the operating performance of our subsidiaries, which may be
affected by, among other things, general economic, financial,
competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors, many of
which are beyond our control.
Based on our current level of operations, we believe our cash
flow from operations, available cash and available borrowings
under our credit facilities will be adequate to meet our future
liquidity needs for at least the next year, barring any
unforeseen circumstances that are beyond our control. We cannot
assure you, however, that our business will generate sufficient
cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be
available to us under our credit facilities or otherwise in an
amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness,
including the convertible debentures, or to fund our other
liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of
our indebtedness, including the convertible debentures, on or
before maturity. We cannot assure you that we will be able to
refinance any of our indebtedness, including the convertible
debentures, on commercially reasonable terms, on terms
acceptable to us or at all.
The
convertible debentures will be subordinated to substantially all
of our other debt.
The convertible debentures will be our unsecured obligations,
ranking junior to all existing and future senior indebtedness
(including all existing subordinated indebtedness but excluding
trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the
ordinary course of business) of Peabody Energy Corporation, as
described under Description of the Convertible
Debentures Subordination. This means that no
direct or indirect payment, in cash, property or securities, by
set-off or otherwise, may be made or agreed to be made on
account of the convertible debentures or interest thereon, or in
respect of any payment, redemption, retirement, purchase or
other acquisition of the convertible debentures, if we default
in the payment of any principal, or premium, if any, or interest
on any senior indebtedness, or if an event of default occurs
with respect to any senior indebtedness permitting the holders
to accelerate the maturity thereof and written notice of such
event of default, requesting that payments on the convertible
debentures cease, is given to us by the holders of such senior
indebtedness, unless and until such default in payment or event
of default has been cured or waived or ceases to exist, provided
that the subordination provisions will not limit the rights of
the holders of the convertible debentures to convert their
convertible debentures into perpetual preferred stock and common
stock (but not cash). In addition, in connection with any
insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar
proceeding relating to us, our creditors or our property and in
certain other circumstances, payments that would otherwise be
made on the convertible debentures will generally be paid to the
holders of senior indebtedness, or their representatives, in
accordance with the priorities existing among these creditors at
that time until the senior indebtedness is paid in full.
As of September 30, 2006, on a pro forma basis giving
effect to (i) the convertible debentures offered hereby,
(ii) the senior notes issued on October 12, 2006,
(iii) borrowings under our senior unsecured credit facility
and (iv) the application of the estimated net proceeds of
these offerings and borrowings in connection therewith,
including the consummation of the Excel Acquisition, our
consolidated indebtedness, substantially all of which will rank
senior to our obligations under the convertible debentures,
aggregated approximately $3,299.7 million. The indenture
places no limitation on the amount of additional indebtedness
that we or any of our subsidiaries may incur. We expect to incur
additional indebtedness in the future.
Due to the subordination provisions contained in the indenture
governing the convertible debentures, in the event of our
bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership, funds which we might
otherwise use to pay the holders of the convertible debentures
would instead be used to pay the holders of our indebtedness
until such indebtedness was paid in full. As a result of such
payments, the holders of such other indebtedness would likely
recover more, ratably, than the holders of the convertible
debentures in the event of our bankruptcy, insolvency or
receivership, and holders of the convertible debentures might
not receive anything at all.
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We
will be dependent on dividends and other discretionary
distributions from our subsidiaries to make payments in respect
of the convertible debentures and the perpetual preferred stock.
The convertible debentures and the perpetual preferred stock
will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness of our
subsidiaries.
We will be dependent on dividends and other discretionary
distributions from our subsidiaries to make payments in respect
of the convertible debentures and the perpetual preferred stock.
We derive substantially all of our revenues from our
subsidiaries. All obligations of our subsidiaries would have to
be satisfied before any of the assets of such subsidiaries would
be available for distribution, upon a liquidation or otherwise,
to us. As of September 30, 2006, on a pro forma basis
giving effect to (i) the convertible debentures offered
hereby, (ii) the senior notes issued on October 12,
2006, (iii) borrowings under our senior unsecured credit
facility and (iv) the application of the estimated net
proceeds of these offerings and borrowings in connection
therewith, including the consummation of the Excel Acquisition,
our subsidiaries would have had total third party indebtedness
and other liabilities (including trade payables and accrued
expenses) of approximately $1,169.0 million.
We also have joint ventures and subsidiaries in which we own
less than 100% of the equity so that, in addition to the
structurally senior claims of creditors of those entities, the
equity interests of our joint venture partners or other
shareholders in any dividend or other distribution made by these
entities would need to be satisfied on a basis proportionate to
our interest. These joint ventures and
less-than-wholly-owned
subsidiaries may also be subject to contractual or regulatory
restrictions that limit their ability to distribute cash to us
and, as a result, we may not be able to access their cash flows
to help service the convertible debentures or to pay dividends
on the perpetual preferred stock.
You will not have any claim as a creditor against our
subsidiaries, and indebtedness and other liabilities, including
trade payables, whether secured or unsecured, of our
subsidiaries will effectively be senior to your claims against
those subsidiaries.
Despite
our and our subsidiaries current level of indebtedness, we
may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could
further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial
indebtedness.
We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial
additional indebtedness in the future. Our senior unsecured
credit facility provides borrowing capacity of
$2.75 billion, consisting of a $1.8 billion revolving
credit facility and a $950.0 million term loan facility.
The term loan facility consists of a $440.0 million
tranche, which has been drawn to replace our prior term loan
facility, and a $510.0 million delayed draw term loan
sub-facility, which has been fully drawn to provide a portion of
the funding for the Excel Acquisition. If we incur any
additional indebtedness that ranks equal to the convertible
debentures, the holders of such indebtedness will be entitled to
share ratably with the holders of the convertible debentures in
any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency,
liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other
winding-up
of us. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of
proceeds paid to you. If new debt is added to our current debt
levels, the related risks that we and our subsidiaries now face
could intensify.
We may
elect, or be required, to extend the date scheduled for payments
of interest in respect of the convertible debentures and
dividends in respect of the perpetual preferred stock and funds
for those payments may be restricted.
We may defer interest payments on the convertible debentures in
our sole discretion (subject to the limitations described under
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Option to Defer Interest Payments) and dividends in
respect of the perpetual preferred stock will be payable only
when, as and if declared by our board of directors.
In addition, if we fail to achieve specified leverage and
interest coverage ratios, a mandatory trigger event will occur
and we will be required to defer interest payments on the
convertible debentures, and prohibited from declaring dividends
in respect of the perpetual preferred stock, except to the
extent that such payments are funded through the sale of
qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred stock in accordance
with and subject to the warrant and preferred stock settlement
mechanism. We are not required to sell qualifying warrants or
qualifying preferred stock, and we will not do so, during any
market disruption event. In addition, we will not be required to
sell qualifying warrants or permitted to sell qualifying
preferred stock to the extent that doing
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so would exceed the warrant cap or the preferred stock cap
described under Description of the Convertible
Debentures Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement
Mechanism.
Our ability to raise proceeds to pay interest on the convertible
debentures or dividends on the perpetual preferred stock by
selling qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred stock will
depend on, among other things, market conditions at the time,
our financial performance and a variety of other factors beyond
our control, including our ability to obtain any required
consents or approvals, such as any corporate, governmental or
regulatory authorization that may be required. Accordingly,
there could be circumstances where we would wish to pay interest
on the convertible debentures or dividends on the perpetual
preferred stock and sufficient cash is available for that
purpose, but we may not because we have been unable to obtain
proceeds from sales of qualifying warrants or qualifying
preferred stock sufficient for that purpose. In addition, our
ability to pay dividends on the perpetual preferred stock is
further restricted by Delaware law, which limits the funds
legally available for that purpose, as described under
Description of the Perpetual Preferred Stock
Limitations on Declaration of Dividends. Restrictions on
dividend payments may also be imposed by our present or future
debt instruments.
During any deferral period in respect of the convertible
debentures, interest will accrue and compound on the convertible
debentures at the applicable interest rate, though there is no
guarantee that such compounded interest will sufficiently
compensate you for your loss as a result of us not making
scheduled interest payments, or that we will be able to pay
deferred interest and such compounded interest at the time we
are no longer permitted to defer payment. See Description
of the Convertible Debentures Option to Defer
Interest Payments. Dividends in respect of the perpetual
preferred stock are not subject to compounding.
Your
rights with respect to deferred interest in respect of the
convertible debentures or accumulated dividends in respect of
the perpetual preferred stock will be limited in the event of
our bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership.
In the event of our bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership,
whether voluntary or not, any claim in respect of interest that
accrued during a mandatory interest deferral period in excess of
two years of accrued and unpaid interest (including any
compounded interest thereon) on the convertible debentures will
be extinguished. In addition, in the event of our liquidation,
winding up or dissolution, whether voluntary or not, holders of
perpetual preferred stock will have no claim in respect of
amounts representing dividends that accumulated while a
mandatory trigger event occurred and was continuing, to the
extent the amount of such dividends exceeds two years of
accumulated and unpaid dividends on the perpetual preferred
stock.
If the
holders of the convertible debentures or our perpetual preferred
stock, as applicable, amend or waive our covenants to
mandatorily defer interest or refrain from declaring a dividend
under certain circumstances or to pay interest or dividends only
with proceeds from the sale of qualifying warrants or qualifying
preferred stock while a mandatory trigger event continues, our
credit ratings may be negatively affected.
The provisions of the convertible debentures and (other than as
required by Delaware law) the provisions of the perpetual
preferred stock that limit the circumstances under which we may
pay interest or dividends, or the funds we may use to do so, may
be amended, and compliance with these covenants may be waived,
by the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount
of the convertible debentures or a majority of the aggregate
liquidation preference of the perpetual preferred stock, as the
case may be. No holder of our senior indebtedness or senior
subordinated indebtedness will have the right to enforce these
covenants (although the capital replacement covenant described
under Capital Replacement The Capital
Replacement Covenant is enforceable by holders of a
specified series of our long-term indebtedness that ranks senior
to the convertible debentures). Although, in the short term,
holders of the convertible debentures or the perpetual preferred
stock may have an economic incentive to waive these covenants in
order to receive current or deferred interest or dividends, as
the case may be, if such covenants are waived and we pay
interest or dividends other than in accordance with the terms of
the relevant securities, our credit ratings could be negatively
affected, which in turn, might have an adverse effect on our
business and financial condition and on the market values of the
convertible debentures and the perpetual preferred stock.
S-35
The
convertible debentures are convertible into cash and common
stock only after a notice of redemption or upon a non-stock
change of control.
You will be entitled to convert your convertible debentures only
under specified circumstances, and conversions of the
convertible debentures other than after a notice of redemption
or upon a non-stock change of control will be settled through
the delivery of perpetual preferred stock rather than cash or
common stock (except that you will be entitled to receive shares
of common stock in respect of the amount, if any, by which the
conversion value of the convertible debentures exceeds their
principal amount). The perpetual preferred stock may trade at a
discount to the convertible debentures as a result of the fact
that dividends are payable in respect of the preferred stock at
a lower rate than the interest payable in respect of the
convertible debentures, the greater subordination of the
perpetual preferred stock, discretionary nature of the
declaration of dividends in respect of the perpetual preferred
stock and the non-convertible nature of the perpetual preferred
stock. You will only be able to convert your convertible
debentures if the applicable conditions are met, and upon any
conversion you may not receive the value of the shares of common
stock represented by the conversion ratio applicable to the
convertible debentures.
The
trading price of the perpetual preferred stock issued upon
conversion of the convertible debentures may be less than the
$1,000 principal amount of the convertible
debentures.
The dividend rate and other terms of the perpetual preferred
stock received upon conversion may not be the same as the terms
of similar securities issued at the time. As a result, the
perpetual preferred stock may trade at prices below the $1,000
liquidation preference per share of perpetual preferred stock.
Additionally, if holders convert their convertible debentures at
a time when few convertible debentures have been or are being
converted, there may be no liquid market for the perpetual
preferred stock.
The
price of our common stock, and therefore of the convertible
debentures, may fluctuate significantly.
Stock markets have experienced significant price and trading
volume fluctuations, and the market prices of companies in our
industry have been volatile. It is impossible to predict whether
the price of our common stock will rise or fall. Trading prices
of our common stock will be influenced by our operating results
and prospects and by economic, financial and other factors. In
addition, general market conditions, including the level of, and
fluctuations in, the trading prices of stocks generally, and
sales of substantial amounts of common stock by us, or the
perception that such sales could occur, could affect the price
of our common stock and make it more difficult for us to raise
funds through future offerings of equity securities. In
addition, because the convertible debentures are convertible and
the conversion value in relation to any conversion will depend
upon the price of our common stock, volatility or depressed
prices for our common stock could have a similar effect on the
trading price of the convertible debentures.
Future
sales of our preferred stock and common stock in the public
market could adversely affect the trading price of our perpetual
preferred stock and common stock and the value of the
convertible debentures and our ability to raise funds in new
stock offerings.
Future sales of substantial amounts of our preferred stock, our
common stock or other equity-related securities in the public
market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could
adversely affect prevailing trading prices of the perpetual
preferred stock and our common stock and the value of the
convertible debentures and could impair our ability to raise
capital through future offerings of equity or equity-related
securities. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any,
that future sales of equity or equity-related securities, will
have on the trading price of our perpetual preferred stock or
our common stock or the value of the convertible debentures.
If we
increase the cash dividend on our common stock and an adjustment
to the conversion rate results, you will generally be deemed to
have received a taxable dividend without the receipt of any
cash.
If we increase the cash dividend on our common stock and an
adjustment to the conversion rate results, you will generally be
deemed to have received a taxable dividend subject to
U.S. federal income tax even though you have not received
any cash or property. If you are a
non-U.S. holder
(as defined in Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate
Tax Considerations), such deemed dividend may be subject
to U.S. federal
S-36
withholding tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be
specified by an applicable income tax treaty. See Certain
U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Considerations.
We
anticipate that brokers and financial institutions acting as
withholding agents will withhold tax at a 30% rate (or lower
treaty rate) on interest payments to
non-U.S. holders
of the convertible debentures.
Although we intend to take the position that the convertible
debentures are indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, we anticipate that brokers and financial institutions
acting as withholding agents will withhold tax at a 30% rate (or
lower treaty rate) on interest payments on the convertible
debentures paid to
non-U.S.
holders. Assuming the IRS does not challenge the treatment of
the convertible debentures as indebtedness,
non-U.S. holders
should be able to claim a refund for any such withholding,
provided such interest would be eligible for the portfolio
interest exemption (as defined under Certain
U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Considerations).
If however, contrary to our position, the convertible debentures
were recharacterized as equity, holders would not be able to
claim any such refund and payments on the convertible debentures
would generally be subject to the 30% U.S. federal
withholding tax (or lower treaty rate) discussed above. See
Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax
Considerations. Accordingly, an investment in the
convertible debentures may not be suitable for
non-U.S.
holders.
Non-U.S.
holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S.
federal income tax consequences of an investment in the
convertible debentures.
If
interest payments are deferred, holders will be required to
recognize income for U.S. federal income tax purposes in
advance of the receipt of cash attributable to such income, and
deferral could adversely affect the trading price of the
convertible debentures.
If interest on the convertible debentures is deferred, you will
be required to recognize interest income for U.S. federal
income tax purposes (in the form of original issue discount,
determined on a constant yield method) before you receive the
cash attributable to such income. In addition, you may not
receive this cash if you sell the convertible debentures before
any payments are made in satisfaction of deferred interest. See
Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax
Considerations Interest Income and Original Issue
Discount and Certain U.S. Federal Income and
Estate Tax Considerations Sale and Retirement of
Convertible Debentures.
We have no current intention of exercising our right to defer
payments of interest on the convertible debentures and do not
expect that payments of interest on the convertible debentures
will be deferred as a result of a mandatory trigger event.
However, should interest on the convertible debentures be
deferred, either because we exercise our right to defer interest
or because of the occurrence of a mandatory trigger event, the
market price of the convertible debentures is likely to be
affected adversely. In addition, the existence of our right to
defer payments of interest on the convertible debentures or the
fact that payments of interest on the convertible debentures
will be deferred upon the occurrence of a mandatory trigger
event may mean that the market price for the convertible
debentures may be more volatile than other securities that do
not provide for this right or possibility of deferral.
The
conversion rate of the convertible debentures may not be
adjusted for all diluting events that may adversely affect the
trading price of the convertible debentures or perpetual
preferred stock issued upon conversion of the convertible
debentures.
The conversion rate of the convertible debentures is subject to
adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, including the
issuance of stock dividends on our common stock, the issuance of
rights or warrants, the payment of certain cash dividends on our
common stock and our purchase of our common stock in certain
tender or exchange offers, as described under Description
of the Convertible Debentures Conversion
Procedures Conversion Rate Adjustments. The
conversion rate will not be adjusted for certain other events,
such as third party tender or exchange offers, that may
adversely affect the trading price of the convertible debentures
or the perpetual preferred stock issued upon conversion of the
convertible debentures.
The
increase in the conversion rate upon the occurrence of a
non-stock change of control may not adequately compensate
you.
If a non-stock change of control (as defined herein) occurs on
or prior to December 20, 2036, the conversion rate of the
convertible debentures may be increased for a period of 35 days,
as set forth under
S-37
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Conversion Procedures Determination of the
Make-Whole Amount. Although any such increase in the
conversion rate is intended to compensate holders of convertible
debentures for the lost option value of their convertible
debentures, it may not adequately compensate holders for such
loss.
The
terms of the convertible debentures will not contain restrictive
covenants and provide only limited protection in the event of a
change of control.
The indenture under which the convertible debentures will be
issued will not contain restrictive covenants that would protect
you from several kinds of transactions that may adversely affect
you. In particular, the indenture will not contain covenants
that will limit our ability to pay dividends or make
distributions on or redeem our capital stock (except during a
deferral period) or limit our ability to incur additional
indebtedness and, therefore, may not protect you in the event of
a highly leveraged transaction or other similar transaction.
Your ability to convert your convertible debentures and receive
cash and, to the extent that the conversion value exceeds the
principal return, shares of common stock is limited to the
transactions specified in the definition of a non-stock
change of control under Description of the
Convertible Debentures Conversion Rights
Conversion Upon a Change of Control. Similarly, the
circumstances under which we are required to adjust the
conversion rate upon the occurrence of a non-stock change
of control are limited to circumstances in which a
convertible debenture is converted in connection with such a
transaction as set forth under Description of the
Convertible Debentures Conversion Rights
Conversion Upon a Change of Control and Description
of the Convertible Debentures Conversion
Procedures Determination of the Make-Whole
Amount. Accordingly, subject to restrictions contained in
our other debt agreements, we could enter into certain
transactions, such as acquisitions, refinancings or
recapitalizations, that could affect our capital structure and
the value of the convertible debentures and common stock but
would not constitute a non-stock change of control under the
convertible debentures.
We may
not be able to deliver cash owed in respect of conversion upon a
non-stock change of control.
Upon a non-stock change of control, holders of the convertible
debentures will be permitted to tender their convertible
debentures for conversion into cash and, if applicable, shares
of our common stock. However, if a non-stock change of control
occurs and holders tender their convertible debentures for
conversion, we may not have sufficient cash to pay the required
cash conversion consideration at that time and, even if we have
sufficient cash, we may be prohibited from making cash payments
to holders of the convertible debentures unless waivers or
consents are obtained. In the event that we do not have
sufficient cash to make required payments, we may be required to
seek third-party financing to do so. We may not be able to
obtain such financing on commercially reasonable terms, on terms
acceptable to us or at all. Moreover, we have other
indebtedness, including our senior notes, which might also be
subject to cash repayment in the event of a change of control
and future debt agreements may include similar provisions.
A change of control may also result in an event of default under
our credit facilities, which could cause the acceleration of our
other indebtedness, in which case, we would be required to repay
in full our senior indebtedness before we pay cash conversion
consideration in respect of the convertible debentures. Our
future indebtedness may also contain restrictions on our ability
to pay such cash consideration upon certain events, including
transactions that could constitute a change of control. Our
failure to pay cash conversion consideration would constitute an
event of default under the indenture and would have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition.
Holders
of the convertible debentures will have no rights as preferred
or common shareholders until they acquire perpetual preferred
stock or common shares upon conversion.
Until a holder acquires shares of perpetual preferred stock and
common stock, if any, upon conversion, such holder will have no
rights with respect to our capital stock, including voting
rights, rights to respond to tender offers, and rights to
receive dividends or other distributions on our capital stock.
Upon conversion, a holder will be entitled to exercise the
rights of a holder of perpetual preferred stock and common
stock, to the extent issued upon a conversion, only as to
matters for which the record date occurs after the holder
receives shares following the conversion reference period. For
example, in the event that an amendment is proposed to our
bylaws or certificate of incorporation, requiring shareholder
approval, and the record date for determining
S-38
the common shareholders of record entitled to vote on the
amendment occurs prior to the holder receiving shares of common
stock, to the extent issued upon a conversion, the converting
holder will not be entitled to vote on the amendment, although
it will nevertheless be subject to any changes in the powers,
preferences or special rights of our common stock. In addition,
holders of perpetual preferred stock will have no voting rights
except as expressly provided herein or otherwise required by the
laws of the State of Delaware from time to time.
We may
not pay our indebtedness under the convertible debentures on the
scheduled maturity date.
Under the indenture, we will be required, on December 15,
2041, the scheduled maturity date, and, to the extent
applicable, on each successive interest payment date thereafter
and before the final maturity date of the convertible debentures
on December 15, 2066, to use our commercially reasonable
efforts, subject to the occurrence of a market disruption event
(as defined under Description of the Convertible
Debentures Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement
Mechanism), to raise sufficient net proceeds from the
issuance of qualifying capital securities to permit payment of
the convertible debentures in full. However, we cannot assure
you that we will be able to sell sufficient qualifying capital
securities or any qualifying capital securities at all. In
addition to market disruption events, our ability to sell
qualifying capital securities may be affected by market
conditions, our financial performance and a variety of other
factors beyond our control, including our ability to obtain any
required consents or approvals, such as any corporate,
governmental or regulatory authorization that may be required.
Finally, even in the absence of a market disruption event, we
may fail to use our commercially reasonable best efforts to sell
qualifying capital securities or pay the indebtedness under the
convertible debentures and this will not result in an event of
default. See Holders of the convertible
debentures have limited rights to accelerate payment of the
convertible debentures under the indenture.
Any
remarketing of perpetual preferred stock may not
succeed.
After December 15, 2046, or earlier upon the first
occurrence of a change of control, holders of the perpetual
preferred stock received upon conversion may elect to have such
perpetual preferred stock remarketed. However, we cannot assure
you that any such remarketing will succeed. If a remarketing
does not succeed, holders of perpetual preferred stock will keep
their perpetual preferred stock but the dividend rate applicable
thereto will be reset in a manner that may disadvantage holders.
In addition, in the event of a transaction that does not
constitute a change of control or in the event that a change of
control has already occurred as to which there has been a
remarketing, we will not remarket the perpetual preferred stock,
even though such transaction could increase the amount of our
indebtedness, or otherwise adversely affect our capital
structure, thereby adversely affecting holders of perpetual
preferred stock.
Holders
of the convertible debentures have limited rights to accelerate
payment of the convertible debentures under the
indenture.
Holders of the convertible debentures or the trustee may
accelerate payment of principal and accrued and unpaid interest
on the convertible debentures only upon the occurrence of an
event of default under the indenture. These events of default
are:
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default for 30 calendar days in the payment of any interest on
the convertible debentures, including any compounded interest,
when it becomes due and payable (however, a default under this
bullet will not occur if we have deferred interest, as permitted
under the indenture, in connection with an optional or mandatory
deferral);
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deferral of interest on the convertible debentures, due to
optional deferral or mandatory deferral, or a combination
thereof, that continues for 10 consecutive years after the date
on which we began the deferral of interest, without all accrued
and unpaid interest, including any compounded interest, having
been paid in full within 30 days after the tenth
anniversary of the commencement of such deferral;
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default in the payment of the principal of the convertible
debentures when due; and
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization,
whether voluntary or not.
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S-39
A default by us or by any of our subsidiaries on any of our or
their indebtedness, respectively, or acceleration of any such
indebtedness, will not result in a cross-default or
cross-acceleration of the convertible debentures.
Events of default do not include failure to comply with or
breach of our other covenants in the indenture applicable to the
convertible debentures, including the covenant to sell
qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred stock through the
warrant and preferred stock settlement mechanism to pay deferred
interest. For example, if we are required to sell qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock, but we decide not to
sell shares even though no market disruption event has occurred
and neither the warrant cap nor the preferred stock cap would be
breached by our sale of additional qualifying warrants or
qualifying preferred stock as the case may be, it will not be an
event of default under the indenture and holders will have
limited remedies against us. Accordingly, a covenant breach,
other than the events of default described above, will not
result in the acceleration of payment of the convertible
debentures. Although failure to comply with such other covenants
could give rise to a claim against us relating to the specific
breach, the remedy of holders of the convertible debentures may
be limited to direct monetary damages, if any. In addition, only
the trustee or the holders of a majority of the convertible
debentures, if the trustee fails to institute such a proceeding,
may institute a proceeding against us on account of any such
breach. Furthermore, the indenture will not require the trustee
to take any action in case of such a breach (other than to give
notice of default under specified circumstances) unless so
directed by holders. See Description of the Convertible
Debentures Events of Default.
Trading
prices of the convertible debentures may not reflect the value
of accrued and unpaid interest on the convertible debentures and
trading prices of the perpetual preferred stock may not reflect
the value of accumulated dividends. Our right or obligation to
defer interest payments on the convertible debentures or not to
declare dividends in respect of the perpetual preferred stock
may cause the respective market prices of such securities to
decline.
If we defer interest payments on the convertible debentures in
the future, or do not declare dividends in respect of the
perpetual preferred stock, the market prices of those securities
may not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest
or accumulated dividends thereon. If you sell convertible
debentures or perpetual preferred stock during a deferral
period, you may not receive the same return on investment as
someone who continues to hold those securities. We have no
current intention of deferring interest payments on the
convertible debentures. However, the existence of our rights and
obligations to defer interest payments on the convertible
debentures and dividends on the perpetual preferred stock may
mean that their market price will be more volatile than the
market prices of other securities that are not subject to these
rights and obligations.
The
rating agencies that rate the convertible debentures may change
their rating methodologies, including their views on
notching practices, which could result in a
downgrade of the convertible debentures.
The rating methodologies for securities with features similar to
the convertible debentures are still developing and the rating
agencies may change their methodologies in the future. These
changes may include (but are not limited to) the relationship
between ratings assigned to an issuers senior securities
and ratings assigned to securities with features similar to the
convertible debentures, sometimes called notching.
If any of the rating agencies were to change their practices for
rating such securities in the future and one or more of the
ratings of the convertible debentures were subsequently
downgraded as a result of such changes, the trading price of the
convertible debentures may be negatively affected.
Your
ability to transfer the convertible debentures or the perpetual
preferred stock may be limited by the absence of an active
trading market.
We do not intend to apply for listing or quotation of the
convertible debentures or the perpetual preferred stock on any
securities exchange or stock market, although we expect that the
convertible debentures and the perpetual preferred stock will be
eligible for trading in DTCs same-day funds settlement
system. The liquidity of any market for the convertible
debentures or the perpetual preferred stock will depend on a
number of factors, including:
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the number of holders of convertible debentures or the perpetual
preferred stock;
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S-40
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our operating performance and financial condition;
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the market for similar securities;
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the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the
convertible debentures or the perpetual preferred stock; and
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prevailing interest rates.
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Historically, the market for convertible debt securities has
been subject to disruptions that have caused volatility in
price. We cannot assure you that the market for the convertible
debentures will be free from disruptions. Any disruptions could
have an adverse effect on holders of the convertible debentures.
In addition, perpetual preferred stock issued upon conversion of
convertible debentures in respect of which interest payments
have been deferred or perpetual preferred stock issued on a date
other than a dividend payment date may initially bear a
different amount of accumulated dividends than, and therefore
not be fungible with, perpetual preferred stock issued on other
dates, if any. Any such perpetual preferred stock will be issued
under a separate CUSIP number. Non-fungibility may adversely
affect the liquidity of the perpetual preferred stock.
Provisions
of the convertible debentures could discourage an acquisition of
us by a third party.
Certain provisions of the convertible debentures could make it
more difficult or more expensive for a third party to acquire
us. Upon the occurrence of certain transactions constituting a
change of control, holders of the convertible debentures will
have the right, at their option, to convert and thereby require
us to pay the principal amount of such converted debentures in
cash. In addition, the occurrence of certain change of control
transactions may result in the convertible debentures becoming
convertible for additional shares or result in antidilution
adjustments that may have the effect of making an acquisition of
us less attractive.
S-41
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We estimate that our net proceeds from our sale of the
convertible debentures in this offering, after deducting
underwriting discounts and estimated expenses of the offering,
will be approximately $654.8 million. We intend to use
these net proceeds to repay indebtedness, including reducing
indebtedness currently outstanding under our revolving credit
facility and term loan facility, each of which were used to
finance, in part, the Excel Acquisition, and for working capital
and general corporate purposes. Our revolving credit facility
commitment is scheduled to terminate and the loans thereunder
are scheduled to mature in September 2011, and our term loan
facility is schedule to mature in September 2011. As of
December 5, 2006, the floating interest rate on both our
revolving credit facility and our term loan facility was 6.3%.
Affiliates of Lehman Brothers, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup and
certain of the other underwriters are lenders under these
facilities and accordingly, will receive a portion of the
proceeds of this offering. See Underwriting. For a
more detailed description of these facilities, see
Description of Other Indebtedness Credit
Facilities.
PRICE
RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and
trades under the symbol BTU. The following table
sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales
prices per share as reported by the New York Stock Exchange,
retroactively adjusted to reflect
two-for-one
stock splits effective February 22, 2006 and March 30,
2005.
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Common Stock Price
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High
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Low
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Year Ended December 31,
2003:
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First quarter
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$
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7.40
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$
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6.13
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Second quarter
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8.78
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6.68
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Third quarter
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8.41
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7.15
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Fourth quarter
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10.75
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7.84
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Year Ended December 31,
2004:
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First quarter
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12.65
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9.11
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Second quarter
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14.00
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10.44
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Third quarter
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15.11
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12.69
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Fourth quarter
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21.70
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13.51
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Year Ended December 31,
2005:
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First quarter
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25.47
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18.37
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Second quarter
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28.23
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19.68
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Third quarter
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43.03
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26.01
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Fourth quarter
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43.48
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35.22
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Year Ended December 31,
2006:
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First quarter
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52.54
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41.24
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Second quarter
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76.29
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46.81
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Third quarter
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59.90
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32.94
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Fourth quarter (through
December 14, 2006)
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48.59
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34.05
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On December 14, 2006, the last reported sale price for our
common stock was $44.25 per share.
DIVIDEND
POLICY
We currently declare and pay quarterly dividends of
$0.06 per share. The declaration and payment of dividends
and the amount of dividends will depend on our results of
operations, financial condition, cash requirements, future
prospects, any limitations imposed by our debt instruments and
other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. The
payment of dividends is currently restricted by the terms of our
senior unsecured credit facility and the indentures governing
our existing senior notes. However, we presently expect that
dividends will continue to be paid.
S-42
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our consolidated historical
capitalization at September 30, 2006 on an actual basis and
as adjusted to give effect to (i) the $675 million
aggregate principal amount of convertible debentures offered
hereby, (ii) the issuance of $650 million aggregate
principal amount of
73/8%
senior notes due 2016 and $250 million aggregate principal
amount of
77/8%
senior notes due 2026 in a public offering on October 12,
2006, (iii) borrowings under our senior unsecured credit
facility and (iv) the application of the estimated net
proceeds of these offerings and borrowings in connection
therewith, including the consummation of the Excel Acquisition.
The calculations under the Adjustments and Pro
Forma as Adjusted columns of the table assume the
successful completion of this offering and the application of
the net proceeds as described in Use of Proceeds.
You should read this table in conjunction with our financial
statements and the notes to those statements appearing elsewhere
in this prospectus supplement, Summary Financial and
Operating Data, Use of Proceeds and the
unaudited pro forma financial information and
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations incorporated herein by
reference.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of September 30, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Excel
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition
|
|
|
Offering
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
Adjustments(1)
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
as Adjusted
|
|
|
|
(Dollars in thousands)
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
317,405
|
|
|
$
|
41,146
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
358,551
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revolving credit facility(2)
|
|
$
|
312,000
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(312,000
|
)
|
|
$
|
|
|
Term loan under senior unsecured
credit facility
|
|
|
440,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
440,000
|
|
Delayed draw term loan under
senior unsecured credit facility
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
510,000
|
|
|
|
(342,812
|
)
|
|
|
167,188
|
|
73/8% Senior
Notes due 2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
650,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
650,000
|
|
77/8% Senior
Notes due 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
246,883
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
246,883
|
|
67/8% Senior
Notes due 2013(3)
|
|
|
633,802
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
633,802
|
|
57/8% Senior
Notes due 2016
|
|
|
231,845
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
231,845
|
|
5% Subordinated Note
|
|
|
58,805
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
58,805
|
|
Convertible Debentures offered
hereby
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
675,000
|
|
|
|
675,000
|
|
Other long-term debt(4)
|
|
|
26,151
|
|
|
|
170,014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
196,165
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total debt
|
|
|
1,702,603
|
|
|
|
1,576,897
|
|
|
|
20,188
|
|
|
|
3,299,688
|
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
15,506
|
|
|
|
18,298
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,804
|
|
Stockholders equity(5):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock
|
|
|
2,667
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,667
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
1,562,113
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,562,113
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
956,790
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
956,790
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss)
|
|
|
(48,245
|
)
|
|
|
1,011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(47,234
|
)
|
Treasury stock
|
|
|
(103,693
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(103,693
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
2,369,632
|
|
|
|
1,011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,370,643
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$
|
4,087,741
|
|
|
$
|
1,596,206
|
|
|
$
|
20,188
|
|
|
$
|
5,704,135
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-43
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Assumes repayment of Excels revolving credit facility. |
|
(2) |
|
Our revolving credit facility provides for maximum borrowings
and/or
letters of credit of up to $1.8 billion. As of
September 30, 2006, we had $312.0 million of loans
outstanding and we had letters of credit of $398.8 million
outstanding under our revolving credit facility. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes $16.2 million for the fair value of interest rate
swaps related to the
67/8% Senior
Notes. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes Excels bond and capital lease obligations of
$106.2 million and $63.8 million, respectively. |
|
(5) |
|
As of September 30, 2006, there were 9.6 million stock
options outstanding, of which 2.7 million were vested and
exercisable. |
S-44
DESCRIPTION
OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS
The following are summaries of the material terms and conditions
of our principal indebtedness.
Credit
Facilities.
On September 15, 2006, we entered into a third amended and
restated credit agreement (as amended or otherwise modified from
time to time) with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative
agent, Citibank, N.A., as syndication agent, and the lenders
named therein, which amends and restates in full our existing
second amended and restated credit agreement, dated as of
March 21, 2003 (as amended or otherwise modified from time
to time), with Fleet National Bank, as administrative agent,
Wachovia Bank N.A. and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., each as
syndication agent, Fleet Securities, Inc., Wachovia Securities,
Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc., each as arranger, Morgan Stanley
Senior Funding, Inc. and U.S. Bank N.A., each as
documentation agents and the lenders from time to time party
thereto.
Our senior unsecured credit facility under the third amended and
restated credit agreement provides for a $1.8 billion
revolving credit facility and a $950.0 million term loan
facility. The revolving credit facility includes capacity
available for borrowing and the issuance of letters of credit
and also includes a $50.0 million sub-facility available
for same-day swingline loan borrowings. The term loan facility
consists of a $440.0 million portion, which was drawn at
closing, and a $510.0 million delayed draw term loan
sub-facility, which was drawn after closing to provide a portion
of the funding for the Excel Acquisition. Loans under the senior
unsecured credit facility are available to us in
U.S. dollars, with a sub-facility under the revolving
credit facility available to us in Australian dollars, pounds
sterling and Euros. Letters of Credit under the revolving credit
facility are available to us and our subsidiaries in
U.S. dollars with a sub-facility available in Australian
dollars, pounds sterling and Euros. Extensions of credit under
the senior unsecured credit facility are available to finance
the Excel Acquisition and related fees and expenses, the
financing of other capital expenditures, the refinancing of
obligations under our existing credit facilities and our ongoing
working capital and other corporate purposes. Availability of
the revolving credit facility is subject to satisfaction of
certain customary conditions. The revolving credit facility
commitment is scheduled to terminate and the loans thereunder
are scheduled to mature in September 2011. The term loan
facility is scheduled to mature in September 2011.
All borrowings under the senior unsecured credit facility (other
than swingline borrowings and borrowing denominated in
currencies other than U.S. dollars) bear interest, at our
option, at either: (A) a base rate equal to,
for any day, the higher of: (a) 0.50% per year above
the overnight federal funds effective rate, as published by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as in effect from time to
time; and (b) the annual rate of interest in effect for
that day as publicly announced by the administrative agent under
the senior unsecured credit facility as its prime
rate or (B) a eurocurrency rate equal to
the rate (adjusted for reserve requirements, deposit insurance
assessment rates and other regulatory costs for eurocurrency
liabilities) at which eurocurrency deposits in the relevant
currency for the relevant interest period (which will be one,
two, three, six or, subject to availability, nine or
12 months, as selected by us) are offered in the interbank
eurodollar market, as determined by the administrative agent
under the senior unsecured credit facility, plus in each case a
rate, dependent on the ratio of our debt as compared to our
adjusted consolidated EBITDA, ranging from 0.50% to 0% per
year for borrowings bearing interest at the base
rate and from 1.50% to 0.50% per year for borrowings
bearing interest at the Eurocurrency Rate. Swingline
borrowings will bear interest at a BBA LIBOR rate
equal to the rate (adjusted for reserve requirements, deposit
insurance assessment rates and other regulatory costs for
eurocurrency liabilities) at which deposits in the relevant
currency for a one month term are offered in the interbank
eurodollar market, as determined by the administrative agent,
plus a rate, dependent on the ratio of our debt as compared to
our adjusted consolidated EBITDA, ranging from 1.50% to
0.50% per year. Borrowings denominated in currencies other
than U.S. dollars will bear interest at the Eurocurrency
Rate.
We will be required to pay interest on borrowings bearing
interest at the eurocurrency rate at the end of the
selected interest period but no less frequently than quarterly.
For borrowings bearing interest at the base rate, we
will be required to pay interest quarterly.
We pay a usage-dependent commitment fee on the available unused
commitment under the revolving credit facility. The fee is
dependent upon the ratio of our debt compared to our adjusted
consolidated EBITDA and ranges from 0.125% to 0.300% of the
available unused commitment. For purposes of calculating the
S-45
commitment fee, swingline loans are not considered usage of the
revolving credit facility. The fee accrues quarterly in arrears
and is payable on the last business day of each March, June,
September and December.
We also pay a letter of credit fee calculated at a rate,
dependent on the ratio of our debt as compared to our adjusted
consolidated EBITDA, ranging from 1.50% to 0.50% per year
of the undrawn amount of each letter of credit and a fronting
fee equal to 0.125% per year of the undrawn amount of each
letter of credit. These fees are payable quarterly in arrears on
the first business day of each March, June, September and
December. In addition, we will also pay customary transaction
charges in connection with any letters of credit.
The rates that depend on the ratio of our debt as compared to
our adjusted consolidated EBITDA range from the high rate
specified if the ratio is greater than or equal to 3.25 to 1.0
to the low rate specified if the ratio is less than 1.0 to 1.0.
The $950.0 million term loan facility is subject to
quarterly amortization of 5.0% per year commencing on
March 31, 2007, with the final payment of all amounts
outstanding (including accrued interest) being due in September
2011.
The third amended and restated credit agreement imposes certain
restrictions on us, including restrictions on our ability to:
incur or suffer to exist debt or provide guarantees; grant or
suffer to exist liens; enter into agreements with negative
pledge clauses; pay dividends or make other distributions in
respect of capital stock; make loans, investments, advances and
acquisitions; sell our assets; make redemptions and repurchases
of capital stock or otherwise return capital; liquidate or
dissolve; engage in mergers or consolidations; engage in
affiliate transactions; change our business; and restrict
distributions from subsidiaries. In addition, the senior
unsecured credit facility provides that we must meet or exceed
certain interest coverage ratios and must not exceed certain
leverage ratios. The senior unsecured credit facility also
includes customary events of default.
If an event of default under our senior unsecured credit
facility occurs and is continuing, the commitments thereunder
may be terminated and the principal amount outstanding
thereunder, together with all accrued unpaid interest and other
amounts owed thereunder, may be declared immediately due and
payable and any letters of credit outstanding may be required to
be cash collateralized.
A substantial number of our direct and indirect domestic
subsidiaries guarantee our obligations under the senior
unsecured credit facility.
Our obligations under the senior unsecured credit facility and
the related guarantee obligations of our subsidiaries are
unsecured.
73/8% Senior
Notes due 2016 and
77/8% Senior
Notes due 2026
On October 12, 2006, we issued $650 million aggregate
principal amount in senior notes, which bear interest at
73/8%
and are due in November 2016 and $250 million aggregate
principal amount in senior notes, which bear interest at
77/8%
and are due in November 2026. Interest on the notes is payable
each May 1 and November 1. The notes, which are
unsecured, are guaranteed by all our existing domestic
subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, any
domestic subsidiary that executes a guarantee under our senior
unsecured credit facility will be required to guarantee the
notes. The indentures governing the senior notes contain
covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to create
liens and enter into sale and lease-back transactions. The notes
are redeemable at any time at a redemption price equal to 100%
of the principal amount plus a make-whole premium (as set forth
in the indenture).
57/8% Senior
Notes due 2016
As of September 30, 2006, we had outstanding
$231.8 million aggregate principal amount in senior notes,
which bear interest at
57/8%
and are due in April 2016. Interest on the notes is payable each
April 15 and October 15. The notes, which are unsecured,
are guaranteed by our restricted subsidiaries as
defined in the indenture governing the senior notes. The
indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit our
ability to incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred
stock, pay dividends or make other distributions, make other
restricted payments and investments, create liens, sell assets
and merge or consolidate with other entities. Many of these
covenants will terminate if two specified ratings agencies
assign the senior notes investment grade ratings and no event of
default exists under the indenture governing these senior notes.
The notes are redeemable prior to April 15, 2009 at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a
make-whole premium (as defined in the indenture) and on or after
April 15, 2009 at fixed redemption prices as set forth in
the indenture.
S-46
67/8% Senior
Notes due 2013
As of September 30, 2006, we had outstanding
$650 million aggregate principal amount in senior notes,
which bear interest at
67/8%
and are due in March 2013. Interest on the notes is payable each
March 15 and September 15. The notes, which are unsecured,
are guaranteed by our restricted subsidiaries as
defined in the indenture governing the senior notes. The
indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit our
ability to incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred
stock, pay dividends or make other distributions, make other
restricted payments and investments, create liens, sell assets
and merge or consolidate with other entities. Many of these
covenants will terminate if two specified ratings agencies
assign the senior notes investment grade ratings and no event of
default exists under the indenture governing these senior notes.
The notes are redeemable prior to March 15, 2008 at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a
make-whole premium (as defined in the indenture) and on or after
March 15, 2008 at fixed redemption prices as set forth in
the indenture.
5.0% Subordinated
Note
The 5.0% subordinated note, which had an original face
value of $400.0 million and had a face value of
$60.0 million as of September 30, 2006, is recorded
net of discount at an imputed annual interest rate of
approximately 12.0%, resulting in a long-term debt carrying
amount of $58.8 million as of September 30, 2006.
Interest and principal are payable each March 1, and the
remaining $60.0 million is due March 1, 2007. The note
is a subordinated and unsecured obligation of our subsidiary,
Peabody Holding Company, LLC. The terms of the note permit the
merger, consolidation or the sale of assets of Peabody Holding
Company, LLC, as long as the successor corporation following the
merger or consolidation (if Peabody Holding Company, LLC does
not survive) expressly assumes payment of principal and interest
on and performance of the covenants and conditions of the note.
Off
Balance Sheet Arrangements
Surety Bonds. Federal and state laws require
surety bonds to secure our obligations to reclaim lands
disturbed for mining, to pay federal and state workers
compensation and to satisfy other miscellaneous obligations. The
amount of these bonds varies constantly, depending upon the
amount of acreage disturbed and the degree to which each
property has been reclaimed. Under federal law, partial bond
release is provided as mined lands (1) are backfilled and
graded to approximate original contour, (2) are
re-vegetated and (3) achieve pre-mining vegetative
productivity levels on a sustained basis for a period of five to
10 years.
We use a combination of surety bonds, corporate guarantees (i.e.
self bonds) and letters of credit to secure our financial
obligations for post-mining reclamation, workers
compensation, postretirement healthcare benefits, leases and
pensions. As of September 30, 2006 we had outstanding
surety bonds with third parties for these obligations totaling
$487.0 million, letters of credit of $398.9 million,
and an additional $692.7 million in self-bonding
obligations.
Accounts Receivable Securitization Program. In
March 2000, we established an accounts receivable securitization
program. Under the program, undivided interests in a pool of
eligible trade receivables that have been contributed to our
wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary (Seller)
are sold, without recourse, to a multi-seller, asset-backed
commercial paper conduit (Conduit). Purchases by the
Conduit are financed with the sale of highly rated commercial
paper. On September 16, 2004, we closed on an expansion of
the accounts receivable securitization facility, and on
September 30, 2005, we further amended and restated the
agreement governing the terms of the facility. Under the terms
of the amended agreement, the total facility capacity was
increased from $140 million to $225 million and the
receivables of additional wholly-owned subsidiaries of ours are
now eligible to participate in the facility. The maturity of the
facility was also extended to September 2009. The amount of
undivided interests in accounts receivable sold to the Conduit
were $225.0 million as of September 30, 2006.
S-47
DESCRIPTION
OF THE CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
We will issue the 4.75% convertible junior subordinated
debentures under the Subordinated Indenture described in the
attached prospectus and a supplemental indenture thereto to be
dated December 20, 2006, each between Peabody Energy
Corporation, as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association,
as trustee. In this prospectus supplement, we refer to the
Subordinated Indenture, as supplemented by the supplemental
indenture, and as further supplemented or amended from time to
time, as the indenture.
The terms of the convertible debentures include those stated in
the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference
to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
Trust Indenture Act). The following description of
the particular terms of the convertible debentures supplements,
and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces, the
description of the debt securities set forth in the accompanying
prospectus under the heading Description of Debt
Securities and together therewith is a summary of the
provisions of the indenture that we consider material. It does
not restate the indenture in its entirety. We urge you to read
the indenture because it, and not this description, will define
your rights as a holder of the convertible debentures. You may
request copies of the indenture at our address set forth under
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.
Unless otherwise specified, references herein to holders are to
registered holders. The registered holder of a convertible
debenture will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
Only registered holders will have rights under the indenture.
Unless otherwise specified, the words we
us and our as used in this section refer
only to Peabody Energy Corporation and not to any of its
subsidiaries.
General
We will initially issue $675,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of the convertible debentures (and may issue up to an additional
$75,000,000 principal amount of convertible debentures pursuant
to the option we have granted to underwriters to purchase
additional convertible debentures solely to cover
overallotments). We may from time to time, without the consent
of the existing holders, issue additional convertible debentures
having the same terms and conditions as the convertible
debentures being offered hereby in all respects, except for
issue date, issue price and, if applicable, the first payment of
interest thereon and the date from which interest shall accrue.
Additional convertible debentures issued in this manner will
constitute a single series with the previously outstanding
convertible debentures.
As described under Payment at Scheduled
Maturity, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts,
subject to the occurrence of a market disruption event, to raise
sufficient net proceeds from the issuance of qualifying capital
securities to pay holders the principal amount of the
convertible debentures, together with accrued and unpaid
interest, including any compounded interest thereon, on
December 15, 2041 (the scheduled maturity date).
Subject to the foregoing, the final maturity date of the
convertible debentures will be December 15, 2066. The
entire principal amount of the convertible debentures will
mature and become due and payable, together with accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, including any compounded interest
thereon, on such date.
The convertible debentures will not be subject to any sinking
fund provision.
Interest
Interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to 4.75% from (and
including) the date of initial issuance or from the last date in
respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for to,
but excluding, the next interest payment date, until the date on
which the convertible debenture is converted, date at which
payment is made on scheduled maturity (scheduled maturity
payment date), redemption date or final maturity date, as
the case may be. Subject to certain requirements during any
optional deferral period or mandatory deferral period described
below, interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears on
June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on
June 15, 2007. The term interest period as used
in this prospectus supplement refers to each period from and
including an interest payment date to, but excluding, the next
interest payment date, date on which the convertible debenture
is converted, scheduled maturity payment date or redemption
date, as the
S-48
case may be, except that the initial interest period will
commence on, and include, the date of initial issuance of the
convertible debentures and will end on, and exclude, the first
interest payment date.
We may elect to, and if and to the extent that a mandatory
trigger event (as defined under Mandatory
Deferral of Interest Payments) has occurred and is
continuing will be required to, defer interest payments on the
convertible debentures. Those deferral mechanisms, as well as
limitations on the sources we may use to fund interest payments
under specified circumstances, are described under
Option to Defer Interest Payments and
Mandatory Deferral of Interest Payments.
Additional restrictions on our ability to make payments
(including payments of interest) on the convertible debentures
and on any related claim in the event of our bankruptcy,
insolvency or receivership are described under
Subordination, Capital
Replacement and Limitation on Claims in
the Event of our Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Receivership.
The amount of interest payable for any full interest period will
be computed on the basis of a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months. The amount of interest payable for any period shorter
than a full interest period will be computed on the basis of
30-day
months and, for periods of less than a
30-day
month, the actual number of days elapsed in that period. In the
event that any date on which interest is payable is not a
business day, payment of the interest payable on such date will
be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day
(without any payment of interest or other amounts in respect of
any such delay). Interest not paid on any payment date,
including interest that is deferred pursuant to an optional
deferral period or a mandatory deferral period, as described
under Option to Defer Interest Payments
and Mandatory Deferral of Interest
Payments, will accrue and compound semi-annually at the
applicable rate of interest on the convertible debentures until
paid.
Business day means any day which is not a Saturday,
a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking
institutions or trust companies located in New York City are
authorized or obligated by law to close.
For so long as the convertible debentures are held in book-entry
only form, interest is payable on each payment date to the
person in whose name a given convertible debenture is registered
at the close of business on the business day before the interest
payment date. In the event that the convertible debentures will
not continue to remain in book-entry only form or are not in the
form of a global certificate, we will have the right to select
record dates, which will be at least one business day before an
interest payment date.
Subordination
The payment of principal of and interest on the convertible
debentures will be, to the extent provided in the indenture,
subordinated to the prior payment in full of all existing and
future senior indebtedness, as defined below.
Subject to the qualifications described below, the term
senior indebtedness includes principal of, and
interest and premium (if any) on, the following:
|
|
|
|
|
all of our indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of the
issuance of the convertible debentures or thereafter created,
incurred or assumed, which is for money borrowed, or which is
evidenced by a note, bond, indenture or similar instrument;
|
|
|
|
all of our obligations under leases required or permitted to be
capitalized under generally accepted accounting principles;
|
|
|
|
all of our reimbursement obligations with respect to any letter
of credit, bankers acceptance, security purchase facility
or similar credit transactions;
|
|
|
|
all conditional sales agreements or agreements or obligations to
pay deferred purchase prices other than in the ordinary course
of business;
|
|
|
|
all obligations of the types referred to in the preceding bullet
points of another person, the payment of which we are
responsible or liable for as obligor, guarantor or
otherwise; and
|
|
|
|
amendments, modifications, renewals, extensions, deferrals and
refundings of any of the above types of indebtedness.
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S-49
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing,
however, senior indebtedness will not include:
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trade accounts payable or indebtedness incurred for the purchase
of goods, materials or property, or for services obtained in the
ordinary course of business or for other liabilities arising in
the ordinary course of business;
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any indebtedness which by its terms is expressly made equal or
junior in rank to the convertible debentures; or
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obligations we owe to our subsidiaries.
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The convertible debentures will rank senior to all of our equity
securities, including any qualifying preferred stock or
perpetual preferred stock we may issue in the future.
The senior indebtedness will continue to be senior indebtedness
and entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions
irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any
term of the senior indebtedness or extension or renewal of the
senior indebtedness.
No direct or indirect payment, in cash, property or securities,
by set-off or otherwise, may be made or agreed to be made on
account of the convertible debentures or interest thereon, or in
respect of any payment, redemption, retirement, purchase or
other acquisition of the convertible debentures, if:
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we default in the payment of any principal, or premium, if any,
or interest on any senior indebtedness, whether at maturity or
at a date fixed for prepayment or declaration or
otherwise, or
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an event of default occurs with respect to any senior
indebtedness permitting the holders to accelerate the maturity
thereof and written notice of such event of default, requesting
that payments on the convertible debentures cease, is given to
us by the holders of such senior indebtedness,
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unless and until such default in payment or event of default has
been cured or waived or ceases to exist, provided that this
section will not limit the rights of the holders of the
convertible debentures to convert their convertible debentures
into perpetual preferred stock and common stock (but not cash),
as described under Conversion Rights.
All existing and future senior indebtedness, which will include,
without limitation, interest accruing after the commencement of
any proceeding, assignment or marshalling of assets described
below, will first be paid in full before any payment, whether in
cash, securities or other property, will be made by us on
account of the convertible debentures in the event of:
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any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar
proceeding relating to us, our creditors or our property;
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any proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution or other
winding-up
of us, voluntary or involuntary, whether or not involving
insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings;
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any assignment by us for the benefit of creditors; or
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any other marshalling of our assets,
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provided that this section will not limit the rights of the
holders of the convertible debentures to convert their
convertible debentures into perpetual preferred stock and common
stock (but not cash), as described under
Conversion Rights.
In any such event, payments that would otherwise be made on the
convertible debentures will generally be paid to the holders of
senior indebtedness, or their representatives, in accordance
with the priorities existing among these creditors at that time
until the senior indebtedness is paid in full.
No present or future holder of any senior indebtedness will be
prejudiced in the right to enforce the subordination of the
convertible debentures by any act or failure to act on our part.
In the event that, notwithstanding any of the foregoing
prohibitions, the trustee or the holders of the convertible
debentures receive any payment on account of or in respect of
the convertible debentures at a time
S-50
when a responsible officer of the trustee or such holder has
actual knowledge that such payment should not have been made to
it, the trustee or such holder will hold such payment in trust
for the benefit of, and, upon written request, will pay it over
to, the holders of the senior indebtedness or their agents or
representatives, for application to the payment of all
principal, premium, if any, and interest then payable with
respect to any senior indebtedness.
Senior indebtedness will only be deemed to have been paid in
full if the holders of such indebtedness have received cash,
securities or other property equal to the amount of the
outstanding senior indebtedness.
After payment in full of all existing and future senior
indebtedness, holders of the convertible debentures will be
subrogated to the rights of any holders of senior indebtedness
to receive any further payments that are applicable to the
senior indebtedness until all the convertible debentures are
paid in full. In matters between holders of the convertible
debentures and any other type of our creditors, any payments
that would otherwise be paid to holders of senior indebtedness
and that are made to holders of the convertible debentures
because of this subrogation will be deemed a payment by us on
account of senior indebtedness and not on account of the
convertible debentures.
Due to the subordination provisions described above, funds we
would otherwise use to pay the holders of the convertible
debentures will be used to pay the holders of senior
indebtedness to the extent necessary to pay the senior
indebtedness in full. See Risk Factors The
convertible debentures will be subordinated to substantially all
of our other debt.
The indenture places no limitation on the amount of additional
indebtedness that may be incurred by us. We expect to incur
additional indebtedness constituting senior indebtedness in the
future.
In addition to the limitations described above, in the event of
our bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership, whether voluntary or
not, prior to the final maturity date, payment at scheduled
maturity or redemption of the convertible debentures, any claim
in respect of interest that accrued during a mandatory interest
deferral period in excess of two years of accrued and unpaid
interest (including any compounded interest thereon) on the
convertible debentures will be extinguished. See
Limitation on Claims in the Event of Our
Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Receivership.
Conversion
Rights
Unless earlier redeemed holders may convert their convertible
debentures, in whole or in part:
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at any time on or prior to December 15, 2036 if any of the
conditions described below are met and
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at any time after December 15, 2036 to (and including)
December 15, 2041 (or, if that is not a trading day, the
first trading day thereafter) regardless of whether any such
conditions are met.
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The initial conversion rate for the convertible debentures is
16.1421 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount
of convertible debentures, subject to adjustment as described
under Conversion Procedures
Conversion Rate Adjustments, which represents an initial
conversion price of approximately $61.95 per share.
The amount of consideration delivered for each $1,000 principal
amount of convertible debentures that are converted will be
determined as described under Conversion
Procedures Settlement Upon Conversion and will
be delivered in the form of cash (in the case of conversion
following a notice of redemption or upon a non-stock change of
control) or perpetual preferred stock (in all other cases) and,
if applicable, shares of our common stock.
The right to convert any convertible debentures will expire at
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 15, 2041
(or if not a trading day, the first trading day thereafter) or,
if we call the convertible debentures for redemption prior to
that, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day
immediately preceding the redemption date (unless we default in
the payment of the redemption price).
A holder may convert only in denominations of $1,000 principal
amount and whole multiples thereof. The conversion
price on any day will equal $1,000 divided by the
conversion rate in effect on that day.
S-51
Whenever we become aware that the convertible debentures have
become convertible, we will notify holders of convertible
debentures at their addresses shown in the register of the
registrar. In addition, we will publish this information on our
Internet site or otherwise publicly disclose it.
Conversion
on or Prior to December 15, 2036
At any time on or prior to December 15, 2036, holders may
convert their convertible debentures (subject to prior
redemption) only during the specified periods under the
following circumstances:
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during any calendar quarter if, for at least 20 of the 30
consecutive trading days immediately preceding the commencement
of that calendar quarter, the closing sale price of our common
stock exceeds 140% of the then applicable conversion price for
the convertible debentures;
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at any time following the issuance of a notice of redemption in
respect of the convertible debentures until the business day
immediately preceding the redemption date;
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during the 10 trading days after any
five-consecutive-trading-day period during which the trading
price per $1,000 principal amount of convertible debentures for
each day of such measurement period is determined, after a
request as described under Conversion Upon
Satisfaction of Trading Price Condition to conduct such
measurement, to be less than 98% of the product of the closing
sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate in effect
on such day;
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during the 35 calendar days following any change of
control (as defined under Conversion
Upon a Change of Control); or
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during prescribed periods upon the occurrence of certain
corporate events described under Conversion
Upon Specified Corporate Transactions.
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Conversion
Upon Satisfaction of Closing Sale Price Condition
Holders will have the right to convert their convertible
debentures on or prior to December 15, 2036 during any
calendar quarter commencing after the date of original issuance
of the convertible debentures, if the closing sale price of our
common stock for at least 20 trading days in the period of 30
consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the
preceding calendar quarter is more than 140% of the then
applicable conversion price for the convertible debentures.
Closing sale price of our common stock or any other
security on any trading day means the closing sale price of our
common stock or such other security (or if no closing sale price
is reported, the average of the closing bid and closing ask
prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the
average closing bid and the average closing ask prices) on such
date as reported in composite transactions for the New York
Stock Exchange or on the principal U.S. stock exchange or
interdealer quotation system as is used for purposes of
measuring trading days in accordance with the definition below.
A trading day in respect of our common stock or any
other security means any day on which the New York Stock
Exchange or, if our common stock or such other security is not
listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the principal
U.S. stock exchange or interdealer quotation system on
which our common stock or such other security is listed,
admitted for trading or quoted, is open for trading or, if our
common stock or such other security is not so listed, admitted
for trading or quoted, any business day. If our common stock or
such other security is so listed, admitted for trading or
quoted, trading days only include those days that
have a scheduled closing time of 4:00 p.m. (New York City
time) or the then standard closing time for regular trading on
the relevant exchange or interdealer quotation system and do not
include any day on which any suspension or limitation imposed on
trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits
permitted by the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise) in our
common stock or such other security or in any options, contracts
or future contracts relating thereto, occurs or exists for more
than one half hour in the aggregate if such suspension or
limitation occurs or exists at any time before 1:00 p.m.
(New York City time) on such day.
S-52
Conversion
Upon Notice of Redemption
If at any time on or prior to December 15, 2036 we call the
convertible debentures for redemption, holders will have the
right to convert their convertible debentures until
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the last business day
prior to the redemption date, after which time their right to
convert, in relation to the convertible debentures called for
redemption, will expire unless we default in the payment of the
redemption price.
Conversion
Upon Satisfaction of Trading Price Condition
Holders will have the right to convert their convertible
debentures on or prior to December 15, 2036 during the 10
trading days immediately following any
five-consecutive-trading-day period in which the trading price
per $1,000 principal amount of convertible debentures for each
day of such measurement period is determined, after a request as
described below to conduct such measurement, to be less than 98%
of the product of the closing sale price of our common stock and
the conversion rate in effect on such day.
The trustee shall have no obligation to determine the trading
price of the convertible debentures unless we have requested
that it make such determination. We shall have no obligation to
make such request unless so requested in writing by a holder
that provides us with reasonable evidence that the trading price
per $1,000 principal amount of convertible debentures would be
less than 98% of the product of the closing sale price of our
common stock and the conversion rate then in effect. If a holder
submits such a request, we shall instruct the trustee to
determine the trading price of the convertible debentures
beginning on the next trading day and on each successive trading
day until the trading price is greater than or equal to 98% of
the product of the closing sale price of our common stock and
the conversion rate then in effect for five consecutive trading
days. If the trading price condition has been met, we shall so
notify the holders of the convertible debentures. If, at any
point after the trading price condition has been met, such
condition shall no longer be satisfied, we shall so notify the
holders of convertible debentures.
The trading price per $1,000 principal amount of
convertible debentures on any date of determination means
the average of the secondary market bid quotations per $1,000
principal amount of convertible debentures obtained by the
trustee for $2,000,000 principal amount of the convertible
debentures at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time,
on such determination date from three independent nationally
recognized securities dealers we select, provided that if three
such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the trustee, but two
such bids are obtained, then the average of the two bids shall
be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by
the trustee, this one bid shall be used. If the trustee cannot
reasonably obtain at least one bid for $2,000,000 principal
amount of the convertible debentures from a nationally
recognized securities dealer, then the trading price per $1,000
principal amount of convertible debentures will be deemed to be
less than 98% of the product of the closing sale price of our
common stock and the conversion rate then in effect.
Conversion
Upon a Change of Control
If a change of control (as defined below) occurs, holders will
have the right to convert their convertible debentures at any
time beginning on the effective date of the change of control
and until and including the date which is 35 calendar days after
the effective date of the change of control. If a holder
converts convertible debentures in connection with a change of
control, the holder will receive per $1,000 principal amount of
convertible debentures then converted conversion consideration,
determined as set forth under Conversion
Procedures Settlement Upon Conversion, based
on the kind and amount of cash, securities and other assets or
property that a holder of a number of shares of common stock
equal to the conversion rate would have owned or been entitled
to receive in such transaction. In the case of any conversion in
connection with a non-stock change of control the effective date
of which is on or prior to December 20, 2036, under certain
circumstances, we will increase the conversion rate applicable
to a conversion in relation to such change of control by a
number of additional shares of our common stock determined as
set forth under Conversion
Procedures Determination of the Make-Whole
Amount.
S-53
Change of control means the occurrence of any of the
following:
(1) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in
one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially
all of our assets and those of our subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, to any person (as such term is used in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act);
(2) the adoption of a plan relating to our liquidation or
dissolution;
(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without
limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is
that any person (as defined above) becomes the
beneficial owner (as such term is defined in
Rule 13d-3
and
Rule 13d-5
under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than
50% of our voting stock (measured by voting power rather than
number of shares), excluding any transaction in which the voting
stock that comes to be beneficially owned by such person as a
result of the transaction is voting stock newly issued in
connection with, or for the purpose of, the transaction; or
(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of our
board of directors are not continuing directors.
The definition of change of control includes a phrase relating
to the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of
all or substantially all of our assets taken as a
whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting
the phrase substantially all, there is no precise
established definition of the phrase under applicable law.
Accordingly, the ability of a holder of convertible debentures
to claim rights arising from a change of control as a result of
a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less
than all of our assets to another person or group may be
uncertain.
Continuing directors means, as of any date of
determination, any member of our board of directors who
(i) was a member of our board of directors on the original
issue date of the convertible debentures or (ii) was
nominated for election or elected to our board of directors with
the approval of a majority of the continuing directors who were
members of our board of directors at the time of such nomination
or election.
We will notify holders and the trustee as promptly as
practicable following the date we publicly announce any change
of control transaction but, to the extent practicable, in no
event less than 20 trading days prior to the anticipated
effective date of such transaction.
As described under Description of the Perpetual Preferred
Stock Remarketing Remarketing
Procedures, the first occurrence of a change of control
prior to December 15, 2046 will trigger remarketing rights
with respect to our perpetual preferred stock. A holder of
convertible debentures may, upon a change of control other than
a non-stock change of control, simultaneously elect to convert
the convertible debentures and have perpetual preferred stock
otherwise deliverable to such holder in respect of such
conversion remarketed in such a remarketing.
Conversion
Upon Specified Corporate Transactions
Holders will have the right to convert their convertible
debentures if we:
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distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common
stock rights or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or
purchase, for a period expiring within 60 calendar days of the
record date for such distribution, shares of our common stock at
a price less than the average of the closing sale prices of our
common stock for the five consecutive trading days immediately
preceding, but not including, the date of first public
announcement of the distribution; or
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S-54
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distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common
stock, cash, debt securities (or other evidence of indebtedness)
or other assets (excluding dividends or distributions described
in clauses (1) or (3) of the first paragraph under
Conversion Procedures Conversion
Rate Adjustments, and the amount of cash dividends not in
excess of the dividend threshold amount (as defined below) per
share of common stock per quarter), which distribution, together
with all other such distributions within the preceding twelve
months, has a per-share fair market value exceeding 20% of the
average of the closing sale prices of our common stock for the
five consecutive trading days ending on the date immediately
preceding, but not including, the date of the first public
announcement of the distribution.
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We will notify holders at least 25 trading days prior to the
ex-dividend date for such distribution. Once we have given such
notice, holders may surrender their convertible debentures for
conversion at any time until the earlier of 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the business day immediately preceding, but
not including, the ex-dividend date or any announcement by us
that such distribution will not take place. A holder may not
convert any convertible debentures based on this conversion
contingency if that holder will otherwise participate in the
distribution without conversion as a result of holding the
convertible debentures.
Conversion
After December 15, 2036
After December 15, 2036 to (and including) December 15, 2041
(or, if that is not a trading day, the first trading day
thereafter), holders may convert their convertible debentures
(subject to prior redemption) regardless of whether any of the
conditions described above are met. The right to convert any
convertible debentures will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on December 15, 2041 (or, if that is not a trading
day, the first trading day thereafter).
Conversion
Procedures
Procedures
to be Followed by a Holder
To convert, the holder of a beneficial interest in a global
convertible debenture must complete, or cause to be completed
the appropriate instruction form for conversion pursuant to
DTCs conversion program and, if required, pay funds equal
to interest payable on the next interest payment date to which
the holder is not entitled and, if required, pay all taxes or
duties, if any. In order to exercise the conversion right with
respect to any convertible debenture in certificated form, we
must receive at the office or agency maintained by us for that
purpose in The City of New York or, at the option of the holder
of such convertible debenture, the corporate trust office, such
convertible debenture with the original or facsimile of the form
entitled Conversion Notice on the reverse thereof,
duly completed and manually signed, together with such
convertible debenture duly endorsed for transfer, accompanied by
any required funds. Such notice shall also state the name or
names (with address or addresses) in which the certificate or
certificates for any shares of our common stock or perpetual
preferred stock which shall be issuable on such conversion shall
be issued, and shall be accompanied by transfer or similar
taxes, if required.
The conversion date will be the date on which a holder has
satisfied all of the foregoing requirements. The person in whose
name any shares of common stock or perpetual preferred stock
issued upon conversion of convertible debentures is registered
shall be treated as a shareholder of record on and after the
last trading day of the conversion reference period, all
anti-dilution adjustments to the conversion rate and
determinations as to entitlement to interest shall be carried
out through that date in respect of the convertible debentures
converted and upon that date the converting holder will no
longer be a holder of such convertible debentures.
Holders will not be required to pay any taxes or duties relating
to the issuance or delivery of perpetual preferred stock or
common stock if they exercise their conversion rights, but they
will be required to pay any tax or duty that may be payable
relating to any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of
perpetual preferred stock or common stock in names other than
their own. Certificates representing perpetual preferred stock
or common stock will be issued and delivered only after all
applicable taxes and duties, if any, payable by a holder have
been paid in full.
S-55
Settlement
Upon Conversion
Holders tendering convertible debentures will be entitled to
receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of convertible
debentures they convert, cash (in the case of conversion
following a notice of redemption or upon a non-stock change of
control) or perpetual preferred stock (in all other cases) and,
if applicable, shares of our common stock, as provided below.
For purposes of the discussion below, the following terms, have
the following meanings:
Conversion value means the average of the products
for each of the 20 consecutive trading days in the conversion
reference period of:
(1) the conversion rate in effect for such day, taking into
account additional shares, if any, under the circumstances
described under Determination of the
Make-Whole Amount; multiplied by
(2) the volume-weighted average price of our common stock
for such day.
The volume-weighted average price per share of our
common stock on any trading day will be the volume-weighted
average price on the New York Stock Exchange or, if our common
stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on the
principal U.S. stock exchange or interdealer quotation
system on which our common stock is then traded, from
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on that
trading day as displayed by Bloomberg (under the heading
Bloomberg VWAP on Bloomberg page BTU
<equity> AQR in respect of the period from
(9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such
trading day) (or if such volume-weighted average price is not
available, the market value of one share on such trading day as
our board of directors determines in good faith using a
volume-weighted method).
The daily share amount for a given trading day
equals the amount obtained by (i) multiplying the
volume-weighted average price for such day by the conversion
rate applicable on such day, (ii) subtracting $1,000 from
the resulting product and (iii) dividing the resulting
difference by 20 times the volume-weighted average price for
such day, provided, however, that the daily share amount will in
no case be less than zero.
Conversion reference period means:
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for convertible debentures that are converted following a notice
of redemption or during the period beginning on the
20th trading day prior to December 15, 2041, the 20
consecutive trading days beginning on the third trading day
following (a) the redemption date or (b) December 15,
2041, as the case may be; and
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in all other instances, the 20 consecutive trading days
beginning on the third trading day following the conversion date.
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Conversion Upon Notice of Redemption or Conversion in
Connection with a Non-Stock Change of Control
If conversion occurs pursuant to Conversion
Rights Conversion Upon Notice of Redemption or
in connection with a non-stock change of control pursuant to
Conversion Rights Conversion Upon
a Change of Control, with respect to each $1,000 principal
amount of convertible debentures surrendered for conversion, we
will deliver:
(1) a cash payment in the amount of $1,000 (the
principal return); and
(2) if the conversion value of the convertible debentures
converted is greater than the principal return, a number of
shares of our common stock (the net shares) equal to
the sum of the daily share amounts for each of the 20
consecutive trading days during the conversion reference period.
We will round the number of shares that is deliverable down to
the nearest whole number and will deliver cash in lieu of any
fractional shares of common stock that would otherwise be
deliverable.
Potential limitations on our ability to deliver cash owed in
respect of any conversion upon a non-stock change of control are
described under Risk Factors Risks Related to
the Convertible Debentures and
S-56
Perpetual Preferred Stock We may not be able to
deliver cash owed in respect of conversion upon a non-stock
change of control.
Upon any such conversion, holders will not receive any cash
payment representing accrued and unpaid interest for the current
interest period, except as provided below under
Additional Information Regarding
Settlement. Holders, however, will receive an additional
cash amount equal to the amount of optionally or mandatorily
deferred interest on the convertible debentures, plus any
compounded interest thereon, to the last trading day of the
conversion reference period.
The conversion value, principal return, number of net shares, if
any, deliverable upon conversion and amount of cash deliverable
in lieu of fractional shares, if any, will be determined by us
at the end of the conversion reference period.
Conversion
Other than Upon Notice of Redemption or in Connection with a
Non-Stock Change of Control
If conversion occurs other than pursuant to
Conversion Rights Conversion Upon
Notice of Redemption or in connection with a non-stock
change of control pursuant to Conversion
Rights Conversion Upon a Change of Control,
with respect to each $1,000 principal amount of convertible
debentures surrendered for conversion, we will deliver:
(1) perpetual preferred stock with a liquidation preference
equal to $1,000 (the principal return); and
(2) if the conversion value of the convertible debentures
converted is greater than $1,000, the net shares (in an amount
equal to the sum of the daily share amounts for each of the 20
consecutive trading days during the conversion reference period).
We will round the number of shares that is deliverable down to
the nearest whole number and will deliver cash in lieu of any
fractional shares of common stock that would otherwise be
deliverable.
Upon any such conversion, holders will not receive any cash
payment representing any accrued interest for the current
interest period, except as provided below under
Additional Information Regarding
Settlement. Upon any such conversion, however, the shares
of perpetual preferred stock delivered to a holder will have
initial accumulated dividends at issuance equal to the amount of
optionally or mandatorily deferred interest on the convertible
debentures, plus compounded interest thereon, as of the last day
of the conversion reference period. The issuance of the
perpetual preferred stock with accumulated dividends could
subject holders to the constructive distribution provisions of
Section 305 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code), and corporate holders to the
limitations of Section 1059 of the Code. See Certain
U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Considerations.
The conversion value, number of net shares, if any, deliverable
upon conversion and amount of cash deliverable in lieu of
fractional shares, if any, will be determined by us at the end
of the conversion reference period.
As described under Description of the Perpetual Preferred
Stock Remarketing Remarketing
Settlement, if, prior to the expiration of the remarketing
election period, a holder of convertible debentures elects to
convert the convertible debentures upon a change of control
other than a non-stock change of control and simultaneously
elects to remarket the perpetual preferred stock received, in
the event of a successful remarketing the holder will receive
the amount received for such perpetual preferred stock in such
successful remarketing rather than the perpetual preferred stock
otherwise deliverable. In the event that a holder has elected to
convert the convertible debentures and have perpetual preferred
stock otherwise deliverable to such holder in respect of such
conversion remarketed in such a remarketing, the remarketing
agent shall be advised of such election and such shares shall be
delivered by us to the remarketing agent in time to enable the
remarketing agent to settle any successful remarketing of such
perpetual preferred stock, even if such delivery must occur
prior to the otherwise applicable settlement date for the
related conversion.
S-57
Additional
Information Regarding Settlement
We will deliver the cash or perpetual preferred stock, the net
shares, if any, payment in respect of deferred interest, if any,
and cash in lieu of fractional shares, if any, as promptly as
practicable after the final day of the conversion reference
period, but in no event later than three business days
thereafter; provided, however, that upon a change of control
other than a non-stock change of control, if a holder has
simultaneously elected to convert the convertible debentures and
have perpetual preferred stock otherwise deliverable to such
holder in respect of such conversion remarketed in such a
remarketing, such shares shall be delivered by us to the
remarketing agent in time to enable the remarketing agent to
settle any successful remarketing of such perpetual preferred
stock, even if such delivery must occur prior to the otherwise
applicable settlement date for the related conversion.
If the last trading day of the conversion reference period for
any conversion falls after the record date for an interest
payment but prior to the corresponding interest payment date, a
holder will receive on the corresponding interest payment date
the interest accrued and unpaid on such convertible debentures,
notwithstanding the holders conversion of those
convertible debentures prior to the interest payment date,
assuming the holder was the holder of record on the
corresponding record date. However, except as provided in the
next sentence, at the time a holder surrenders such convertible
debentures for conversion, the holder must pay us an amount
equal to the interest that has accrued and will be paid on the
convertible debentures being converted on the corresponding
interest payment date. A holder is not required to make such
payment:
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if the holder converts convertible debentures in connection with
a redemption and we have specified a redemption date that would,
if it were the conversion date for any convertible debentures,
result in the last trading day of the conversion reference
period for those convertible debentures falling after a record
date and on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date;
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if the holder converts convertible debentures in connection with
a non-stock change of control and the final date upon which
convertible debentures may be converted to qualify for receipt
of the related make-whole amount would, if it were the
conversion date for any convertible debentures, result in the
last trading day of the conversion reference period for those
convertible debentures falling after a record date and on or
prior to the corresponding interest payment date;
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to the extent of any overdue or deferred interest, including any
compounded interest, if overdue or deferred interest exists at
the time of conversion with respect to such convertible
debentures; or
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if the holder converts convertible debentures following the last
record date for interest prior to December 15, 2041.
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For purposes of this paragraph, we will assume that all days
scheduled to be trading days at the time of any conversion
ultimately qualify as trading days.
Except as described under Conversion Rate
Adjustments, we will not make any payment or other
adjustment for dividends on any common stock issued upon
conversion of the convertible debentures. Accrued interest, if
any, to the date of conversion not paid in cash is deemed to be
paid in full with the perpetual preferred stock, cash or shares
of our common stock delivered upon conversion, rather than
cancelled, extinguished or forfeited.
Conversion
Rate Adjustments
We will adjust the conversion rate (as well as the stock prices
and additional share amounts set forth in the table of
make-whole amounts described under
Determination of the Make-Whole Amount)
if any of the following events occurs:
(1) we issue to all or substantially all holders of our
common stock shares of our common stock as a dividend or
distribution on our common stock;
(2) we issue to all or substantially all holders of our
common stock rights or warrants entitling them for a period
expiring within 60 days after the record date for such
distribution to purchase shares of our
S-58
common stock at less than the average of the closing sale prices
of our common stock for the five consecutive trading days
immediately preceding the first public announcement of such
issuance of rights or warrants, provided that with respect to
any rights provided for in our stockholder rights agreement, or
in any future rights plan we adopt, that have separated from the
shares of our common stock in accordance with the provisions of
the applicable stockholder rights agreement so that the holders
of the convertible debentures would not be entitled to receive
any rights in respect of common stock issuable upon conversion
of the convertible debentures, if any, the adjustment will be
made pursuant to clause (4) below;
(3) we subdivide or combine our outstanding shares of
common stock;
(4) we distribute to all or substantially all holders of
shares of our common stock our capital stock, assets (including
shares of any subsidiary or business unit of ours) or debt
securities or certain rights to purchase our securities
(excluding any rights described in clause (2) above and any
cash dividends or other cash distributions), in which event the
conversion rate will be adjusted by multiplying such conversion
rate by a fraction, the numerator of which will be the current
market price (as defined below) of our common stock, and the
denominator of which will be the current market price of our
common stock minus the fair market value, as determined by our
board of directors, of the portion of those assets, debt
securities, shares of capital stock or rights so distributed
applicable to one share of our common stock. If we distribute
capital stock of, or similar equity interests in, a subsidiary
or other business unit of ours, then the conversion rate will be
adjusted, based on the market value of the securities so
distributed relative to the market value of our common stock, in
each case based on the average closing sale price of those
securities (where such closing sale prices are available) and
our common stock for the 10 trading days commencing on and
including the fifth trading day after the ex-dividend
date (as defined below) for such distribution on the New
York Stock Exchange or the principal U.S. stock exchange or
interdealer quotation system on which the securities are then
listed or quoted by multiplying the conversion rate by a
fraction of which the numerator shall be such market value per
share of our common stock plus such market value of securities
so distributed per share of our common stock and the denominator
shall be such market value per share of our common stock;
(5) we distribute cash dividends or other cash
distributions to all or substantially all holders of our common
stock, other than (i) distributions described in
clause (6) below or (ii) any dividend or distribution
in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up,
in which event the conversion rate will be increased so that it
equals the rate determined by multiplying the conversion rate in
effect on the trading day prior to the date on which
ex-dividend trading commences for such distribution
on the New York Stock Exchange or the principal U.S. stock
exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the securities
are then listed or quoted by a fraction:
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the numerator of which shall be the current market price of a
share of common stock on such date, less the dividend threshold
amount; and
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the denominator of which shall be such current market price less
the per-share amount of such distribution; or
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(6) we or any of our subsidiaries distribute cash or other
consideration in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer for
our common stock, where such cash and the value of any such
other consideration per share of our common stock validly
tendered or exchanged exceeds the closing sale price of our
common stock on the trading day immediately following the
expiration date for such tender or exchange offer, in which
event the conversion rate will be increased by multiplying such
conversion rate by a fraction, the numerator of which will be
the sum of (i) the fair market value, as determined by our
board of directors, of the aggregate consideration payable for
all shares of our common stock we purchase in such tender or
exchange offer and (ii) the product of the number of shares
of our common stock outstanding as of such expiration date, less
such purchased shares, and the closing sale price of our common
stock on the trading day immediately following the expiration
date of the tender or exchange offer, and the denominator of
which will be the product of the number of shares of our common
stock outstanding as of such expiration date, including any such
purchased shares, and the closing sale price of our common stock
on the trading day immediately following the expiration date of
the tender or exchange offer.
S-59
Ex-dividend date means the first date on which the
shares of our common stock trade on the applicable exchange or
in the applicable market, regular way, without the
right to receive the relevant issuance or distribution.
Dividend threshold amount means $0.06 per
quarter, appropriately adjusted from time to time to take into
account the occurrence, on or before the date of determination,
of any event that would require an anti-dilution adjustment and
to account for any change in the frequency of payment of our
regular dividend. Whenever the conversion rate is adjusted, the
dividend threshold amount shall be adjusted by multiplying such
dividend threshold amount by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the conversion rate prior to adjustment and the denominator
of which is the conversion rate following such adjustment.
Current market price of our common stock on any day
means the average of the closing sale price per share of our
common stock for each of the five consecutive trading days
ending on the earlier of the day in question and the day before
the ex-dividend date with respect to the issuance or
distribution requiring such computation.
In the event of:
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any reclassification of our common stock;
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a consolidation, merger, binding share exchange or combination
involving us; or
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a sale or conveyance to another person or entity of all or
substantially all of our property and assets;
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in which holders of our common stock would be entitled to
receive capital stock, other securities, other property, assets
or cash for their common stock, upon conversion of convertible
debentures,
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the consideration received in settlement of any conversion will
be determined as set forth under Settlement
Upon Conversion, based on the kind and amount of cash,
securities and other assets or property that a holder of a
number of shares of common stock equal to the conversion rate
would have owned or been entitled to receive in such
transaction; and
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holders will generally be entitled to receive, with respect to
any net share amount delivered upon conversion, the same type
(and the same proportions) of consideration that holders would
have been entitled to receive if they had owned a number of
shares of our common stock equal to the conversion rate
immediately prior to any of these events.
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In the event holders of our common stock have the opportunity to
elect the form of consideration to be received in such
transaction, the type and amount of consideration that holders
of convertible debentures would have been entitled to receive
will be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and
amounts of consideration received by the holders of our common
stock that affirmatively make an election (or, if a
majority of electing holders chose a single option, the types
and amounts of consideration received by those majority electing
holders).
Holders may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have
received a distribution or dividend subject to U.S. federal
income tax as a result of an adjustment or the non-occurrence of
an adjustment to the conversion rate. Holders will generally be
deemed to have received such a distribution or dividend as a
result of adjustments made in respect of taxable dividends to
holders of our common stock and in respect of a change of
control. See Certain U.S. Federal Income and Estate
Tax Considerations U.S. Holders
Constructive Distributions and Certain
U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax
Considerations
Non-U.S. Holders
Dividends and Constructive Dividends.
We may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and in
accordance with the indenture, from time to time, increase the
conversion rate if our board of directors determines that this
increase would be in our best interests. Any such determination
by our board will be conclusive. In addition, we may increase
the conversion rate if our board of directors deems it advisable
to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of common stock
resulting from any dividend or distribution of our common stock
or rights distribution or similar event.
S-60
We will not be required to make an adjustment in the conversion
rate unless the adjustment would require a change of at least 1%
in the conversion rate. However, we will carry forward any
adjustments that are less than 1% of the conversion rate and
make such carried forward adjustments, regardless of whether the
aggregate adjustment is less than 1%, within one year of the
first such adjustment carried forward, upon any call for
redemption, upon a change of control or on December 15, 2041.
Except as described above in this section and in
Determination of the Make-Whole Amount,
we will not adjust the conversion rate.
Determination
of the Make-Whole Amount
If a non-stock change of control occurs on or prior to December
20, 2036, and a holder elects to convert convertible debentures
in connection with such non-stock change of control, we will
increase the applicable conversion rate for the convertible
debentures surrendered for conversion in connection therewith by
a number of additional shares of our common stock (the
additional shares), as described below. A conversion
of convertible debentures will be deemed for these purposes to
be in connection with such a change of control
transaction if the notice of conversion of the convertible
debentures is received by the conversion agent from and
including the effective date of the non-stock change of control
transaction up to and including the date that is 35 days
after such date.
A non-stock change of control is any change of
control described by clause (1) or (3) under the
definition of change of control under
Conversion Rights Conversion Upon
a Change of Control, other than a transaction in which at
least 90% of the consideration, excluding cash payments for
fractional shares and cash payments pursuant to dissenters
appraisal rights, for our common stock consists of common stock
traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or
interdealer quotation system (or which will be so traded or
quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such change
of control).
The number of additional shares will be determined by reference
to the table below, based on the effective date of, and the
price paid per share of our common stock (the stock
price) in, the transaction constituting the non-stock
change of control. If holders of our common stock receive only
cash in the transaction constituting the non-stock change of
control, the stock price will equal the cash amount paid per
share; in all other cases, the stock price will equal the
average closing sale price of our common stock (as defined under
Conversion Rights Conversion Upon
Satisfaction of Trading Price Condition) over the
five-trading-day period ending on the trading day immediately
preceding the effective date.
The following table sets forth the stock price and number of
additional shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of
convertible debentures used to compute the conversion rate.
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Stock Price
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Effective Date
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$44.25
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$50.00
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$61.95
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$70.00
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$80.00
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$90.00
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$100.00
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$150.00
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$200.00
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$250.00
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$300.00
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December 20, 2006
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6.4567
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5.3046
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3.7514
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3.0841
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2.4995
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2.0869
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1.7842
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1.0135
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0.6903
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0.5082
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0.3898
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December 15, 2007
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6.4567
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5.0169
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3.4396
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2.7747
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2.2044
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1.8121
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1.5315
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0.8524
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0.5813
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0.4298
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0.3311
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December 15, 2008
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6.4567
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4.6806
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3.0657
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2.4003
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1.8461
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1.4792
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1.2272
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0.6639
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0.4544
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0.3377
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0.2613
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December 15, 2009
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6.4567
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4.3532
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2.6590
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1.9771
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1.4323
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1.0938
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0.8770
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0.4565
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0.3154
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0.2358
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0.1832
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December 15, 2010
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6.4567
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4.1037
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2.2414
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1.4958
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0.9368
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0.6315
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0.4667
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0.2344
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0.1649
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0.1239
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0.0966
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December 15, 2011
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6.4567
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4.0340
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1.9783
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0.9928
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0.0443
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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December 15, 2012
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6.4567
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4.0195
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1.9700
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0.9883
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0.0441
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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December 15, 2013
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6.4567
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4.0074
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1.9627
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0.9843
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0.0439
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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December 15, 2014
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6.4567
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3.9967
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1.9557
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0.9803
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0.0437
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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December 15, 2015
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6.4567
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3.9896
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1.9504
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0.9772
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0.0436
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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December 15, 2016
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6.4567
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3.9853
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1.9448
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0.9730
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0.0433
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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December 15, 2021
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6.4567
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4.0519
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1.9726
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0.9859
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0.0439
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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December 15, 2026
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6.4567
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4.1903
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2.0336
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1.0147
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0.0451
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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December 15, 2031
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6.4567
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4.3221
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2.0831
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1.0360
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0.0459
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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December 20, 2036
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6.4567
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4.4722
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2.1236
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1.0508
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0.0464
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|
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0.0000
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|
|
0.0000
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|
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0.0000
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|
|
0.0000
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0.0000
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0.0000
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S-61
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the total number
of common shares issuable upon conversion exceed
22.5988 per $1,000 principal amount of convertible
debentures, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the
conversion rate as set forth under Conversion
Procedures Conversion Rate Adjustments.
The exact stock price and effective date of the non-stock change
of control may not be set forth on the table. In such event:
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If the stock price is between two stock price amounts on the
table or the effective date is between two dates on the table,
the number of additional shares will be determined by
straight-line interpolation between the number of additional
shares set forth for the higher and lower stock price amounts
and the two dates, as applicable, based on a 365 day year.
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If the stock price is more than $300.00 per share (subject to
adjustment as described below), the number of additional shares
will be zero.
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If the stock price is less than $44.25 (subject to adjustment as
described below), the number of additional shares will be zero.
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The stock prices set forth in the first row of the table will be
adjusted as of any date on which the conversion rate of the
convertible debentures is adjusted as set forth under
Conversion Procedures Conversion
Rate Adjustments (other than any increase to the
conversion rate for a non-stock change of control as described
in this section). The adjusted stock prices will equal the stock
prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
conversion rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise
to the stock price adjustment and the denominator of which is
the conversion rate as so adjusted. The number of additional
shares will be adjusted in the same manner as the conversion
rate as set forth under Conversion
Procedures Conversion Rate Adjustments.
Redemption
The convertible debentures will not be subject to redemption
prior to December 20, 2011.
Between December 20, 2011 and December 19, 2036 we may redeem
the convertible debentures, in whole or in part, at the par
redemption price described below if, for at least 20 trading
days within the 30 consecutive trading days immediately prior to
the date on which notice of redemption is given, the closing
sale price of our common stock has exceeded 130% of the then
prevailing conversion price for the convertible debentures,
determined as described above.
On or after December 20, 2036, whether or not the redemption
condition described above is satisfied, we may redeem the
convertible debentures at any time, in whole or in part, at the
par redemption price described below.
We may not redeem any outstanding convertible debentures unless:
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all accrued and unpaid interest, including any compounded
interest thereon, has been paid in full on or prior to the
redemption date for all interest periods terminating on or
before the redemption date; and
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if any perpetual preferred stock is outstanding at that time, we
have first given notice to redeem the perpetual preferred stock
(in the same proportion as our redemption of the convertible
debentures, if such redemption is in part), which will require
that we have funds legally available, under Delaware law, to
effect such redemption (see Description of the Perpetual
Preferred Stock Redemption).
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For purposes of clarification, this restriction does not apply
to our obligation to repay the convertible debentures at the
scheduled maturity date as described under
Payment at Scheduled Maturity.
The par redemption price will be cash amount equal
to 100% of the principal amount of the convertible debentures to
be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not
including, the date of redemption.
Whether paid in connection with a redemption of convertible
debentures or otherwise, any mandatorily deferred interest and
any optionally deferred interest accrued after the first five
years of an optional deferral
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period, and any compounded interest thereon, may be paid only
from the net proceeds received from the sale of qualifying
warrants and qualifying preferred stock in accordance with the
warrant and preferred stock settlement mechanism.
Redemption Procedures
We will mail, or cause the trustee to mail, notice of every
redemption of convertible debentures by first class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of the convertible
debentures to be redeemed at their respective last addresses
appearing on our books (provided that if the convertible
debentures are held in book-entry form through DTC, we may give
such notice in any manner permitted by DTC). Such notice will be
at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the
date fixed for redemption. Any notice made as provided in this
paragraph will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given,
whether or not a holder receives such notice, but failure duly
to give such notice, or any defect in such notice or in the
mailing of such notice, to any holder of convertible debentures
designated for redemption will not affect the redemption of any
other convertible debentures.
Each notice will state (i) the redemption date;
(ii) the redemption price; (iii) that the convertible
debentures are being redeemed pursuant to the indenture,
together with the facts permitting such redemption; (iv) if
less than all outstanding convertible debentures are to be
redeemed, the principal amounts and, to the extent that the
convertible debentures are not all held in global form, the
identification of the particular convertible debentures to be
redeemed; (v) the place or places where the convertible
debentures are to be redeemed; and (vi) that interest on
the convertible debentures to be redeemed will cease to accrue
on the redemption date provided that the required payment is
made. Notice of redemption, once given, will be irrevocable.
Any convertible debentures to be redeemed pursuant to the
aforementioned notice will, on the date fixed for redemption,
become due and payable at the redemption price. From and after
such date, such convertible debentures will cease to bear
interest provided that the required payment is made. Upon
surrender of any such convertible debentures for redemption in
accordance with said notice, such convertible debentures will be
paid by us at the par redemption price. If any convertible
debentures called for redemption are not so paid upon surrender
thereof for redemption, the redemption price will, until paid,
bear interest from the redemption date at the rate of interest
borne by the convertible debentures. Any convertible debentures
redeemed only in part will be surrendered in accordance with the
provisions of the indenture. In exchange for the unredeemed
portion of such surrendered convertible debentures, new
convertible debentures in an aggregate principal amount equal to
the unredeemed portion will be issued.
Payment
at Scheduled Maturity
On December 15, 2041 (the scheduled maturity date), we will pay
holders the principal amount of the convertible debentures,
together with accrued and unpaid interest, including any
compounded interest thereon, if we successfully fund this
payment through the sale of qualifying capital securities.
Qualifying capital securities means replacement
capital securities (as defined under Capital
Replacement) other than common stock, rights to acquire
common stock and securities convertible into common stock.
We will be required to use our commercially reasonable efforts,
subject to the occurrence of a market disruption event (as
defined under Warrant and Preferred Stock
Settlement Mechanism), to raise sufficient net proceeds to
fund payment at scheduled maturity through the issuance of
qualifying capital securities during a six-month period ending
on the date we give notice of the payment we will make on the
scheduled maturity date. We will also be permitted, but not
required, to apply an amount up to (x) 400% of the net
proceeds from any issue and sale of our common stock or rights
to acquire our common stock and (y) 100% of the net
proceeds from any issue and sale of our mandatorily convertible
preferred stock, debt exchangeable for equity (each as defined
under Capital Replacement) or other replacement
capital securities that are convertible into common stock to
fund our payment obligation. We will be contractually obligated
to third parties not to fund payment at scheduled maturity with
funds from any source other than those described in this
paragraph, as described under Capital Replacement.
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Commercially reasonable efforts to sell our
qualifying capital securities means commercially reasonable
efforts to complete the offer and sale of our qualifying capital
securities to third parties that are not subsidiaries of ours in
public offerings or private placements. We will not be
considered to have made commercially reasonable efforts to
effect a sale of qualifying capital securities if we determine
to not pursue or complete such sale due to pricing
considerations.
If we have not raised sufficient funds for payment in full at
the scheduled maturity date, we will be required (x) to
make a partial payment using the proceeds, if any, that we were
able to raise and (y) to attempt payment pursuant to the
procedures described above on each successive interest payment
date after the scheduled maturity date and before the final
maturity date until payment in full is made.
Net proceeds that we are permitted to apply to payment of the
convertible debentures on and after the scheduled maturity date
will be applied first, to pay mandatorily deferred interest (to
the extent of eligible proceeds under the warrant and preferred
stock settlement mechanism), second, to pay optionally deferred
interest (to the extent of such eligible proceeds if and to the
extent required), third, to pay current interest that we are not
paying from other sources and, fourth, to pay the principal of
the convertible debentures, subject to a minimum principal
amount of $5 million to be repaid on the scheduled maturity
date or any successive interest payment date. However, if we are
obligated to sell qualifying capital securities and apply the
net proceeds to payments of principal of or interest on any
other outstanding securities that rank equal to the convertible
debentures, then on any date and for any period the amount of
net proceeds received by us from those sales and available for
such payments will be applied to the convertible debentures and
other equal-ranking securities pro rata in accordance with their
respective outstanding principal amounts.
A covenant breach will occur if we do not use our commercially
reasonable efforts to sell qualifying capital securities as
described above, or do not apply those proceeds to payment of
the convertible debentures. Although a covenant breach would not
constitute an event of default permitting the holders to
accelerate the principal amount of the convertible debentures,
it could give rise to a claim against us relating to the
specific breach. The remedy of holders of the convertible
debentures for any covenant breach could, however, be limited to
direct monetary damages (if any). See Events
of Default.
Procedures
We will mail, or cause the trustee to mail, notice of every
payment of the convertible debentures pursuant to this
section ( Payment at Scheduled
Maturity) by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed
to the holders of the convertible debentures to be redeemed at
their respective last addresses appearing on our books. The date
of such notice will be at least 10 business days and not more
than 15 business days before the date fixed for payment. Each
notice will state (i) the scheduled maturity payment date;
(ii) the payment amount and the manner of its calculation;
(iii) that the convertible debentures are being paid
pursuant to the indenture; (iv) in the case of partial
payment, the principal amounts of the convertible debentures to
be paid; (v) the place or places where the convertible
debentures are to be paid; and (vi) that interest on the
convertible debentures to be paid will cease to accrue on the
scheduled maturity payment date.
Any convertible debentures to be paid pursuant to the
aforementioned notice will, on the date fixed for payment,
become due and payable at the price for payment. From and after
such date, such convertible debentures will cease to bear
interest. If any convertible debentures called for payment are
not so paid, the payment price will, until paid, bear interest
from the scheduled maturity payment date at the rate prescribed
therefor in the convertible debentures. Any convertible
debentures paid only in part will be surrendered in accordance
with the provisions of the indenture. In exchange for the
portion of such surrendered convertible debentures that is not
paid, new convertible debentures in an aggregate principal
amount equal to that portion will be issued.
Deferral
of Interest Payments
We may elect to, and if and to the extent that a mandatory
trigger event has occurred and is continuing will be required
to, defer interest payments on the convertible debentures.
During the deferral period resulting from any such deferral,
interest on the convertible debentures will not be currently
payable, but will continue to accrue and compound semi-annually
to the extent permitted by applicable law, at the applicable
rate of
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interest on the convertible debentures. Upon the termination of
a deferral period, we will be required to pay all deferred
interest then accrued and unpaid, together with interest
thereon, to the extent permitted by applicable law, compounded
semi-annually at the applicable rate of interest on the
convertible debentures, which we refer to as compounded
interest.
Notwithstanding any other term of the convertible debentures, in
no event may we defer payments of interest on the convertible
debentures beyond the date that is 10 consecutive years (20
consecutive semi-annual interest periods) after the date on
which we began the deferral of interest (whether due to optional
deferral, mandatory deferral, or any combination thereof) or
past the final maturity date of, or redemption date for, the
convertible debentures. An event of default will result if all
accrued and unpaid interest, including any compounded interest
thereon, in respect of the convertible debentures has not been
paid in full within 30 days after the tenth anniversary of
the commencement of interest deferral. In addition, no deferral
period, unless settled through the warrant and preferred stock
settlement mechanism, may end on a date other than an interest
payment date.
Option to
Defer Interest Payments
As long as no event of default with respect to the convertible
debentures has occurred and is continuing, subject to the
conditions below, we may defer payments of interest on the
convertible debentures at any time and from time to time. We
refer to this as optional deferral. Upon optional
deferral, any optionally deferred interest will continue to
accrue and compound semi-annually, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, from time to time, at the applicable rate of
interest on the convertible debentures.
After five years of optional deferral (calculated from the first
payment date as of which we defer payments on the convertible
debentures due to optional deferral), we generally must sell
qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred stock and use the
funds from that sale to pay deferred interest as described under
Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement
Mechanism. This obligation is, however, subject to
limitations: we will not be required to sell qualifying warrants
or qualifying preferred stock during the continuation of a
market disruption event, and the maximum amount of qualifying
warrants and qualifying preferred stock that we are required to
sell will be limited. Notwithstanding these limitations, in no
event may we defer payments of interest on the convertible
debentures beyond the date that is 10 consecutive years after
the date on which we began the deferral of interest (whether due
to optional deferral, mandatory deferral, or any combination
thereof) or past the final maturity date of, or redemption date
for, the convertible debentures. An event of default will result
if all accrued and unpaid interest, including any compounded
interest thereon, in respect of the convertible debentures has
not been paid in full within 30 days after the tenth
anniversary of the commencement of an interest deferral.
We have no present intention of exercising our right to defer
payments of interest.
The period commencing on the payment date on which payment is
optionally deferred and ending on the date on which optionally
deferred interest, plus compounded interest thereon, is paid in
full is referred to herein as the optional deferral
period. We refer to interest deferred pursuant to optional
deferral as optionally deferred interest. Upon the
termination of any optional deferral period and the payment of
all amounts then due, we may commence a new optional deferral
period, subject to the above requirements, there being no limit
to the number of such new optional deferral periods that we may
elect.
In calculating when we have completed five years of optional
deferral for purposes of determining when the provisions
described under Warrant and Preferred Stock
Settlement Mechanism apply, we will not count the period
of any mandatory deferral period occurring within the relevant
optional deferral period. Thus, the expiration of five years of
optional deferral may occur subsequent to the fifth anniversary
of the date upon which we first deferred payments on the
convertible debentures due to optional deferral.
We will give notice of an optional deferral not more than
60 days and not less than 15 days prior to the related
interest payment date, and such notice, once given, will be
irrevocable and the deferral of payments on the related interest
payment date shall be an optional deferral; provided that if a
mandatory trigger event has occurred on the trigger
determination date in relation to such interest payment date,
the provisions governing
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the mandatory deferral of interest payments described under
Mandatory Deferral of Interest Payments
will be applicable.
A covenant breach will occur if we do not sell qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock to pay any outstanding
optionally deferred interest after five years of optional
deferral even though a market disruption event has not occurred
and neither the warrant cap nor the preferred stock cap would be
breached by the sale of additional qualifying warrants or
qualifying preferred stock, respectively. Although a covenant
breach would not constitute an event of default permitting the
holders to accelerate the principal amount of the convertible
debentures, it would give rise to a claim against us relating to
the specific breach. The remedy of holders of the convertible
debentures for any covenant breach could, however, be limited to
direct monetary damages (if any). Failure to pay interest will
constitute an event of default, giving rise to a right of
acceleration, only if deferred interest and any compounded
interest thereon is not paid in full within 30 days after
the tenth anniversary of the first interest payment date on
which an interest payment is deferred or at the final maturity
date. See Events of Default.
Mandatory
Deferral of Interest Payments
During the period beginning on any interest payment date for
which a mandatory trigger event has occurred until (but not
including), the earliest of
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the first subsequent interest payment date for which no
mandatory trigger event has occurred (the mandatory
deferral period),
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the date that is 10 consecutive years after the date on which we
began the deferral of interest (whether due to optional
deferral, mandatory deferral, or any combination thereof),
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the occurrence of an event of default, or
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the final maturity date of the convertible debentures,
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we may not pay interest on the convertible debentures on the
related interest payment date unless we obtain funds for such
payment through the sale of qualifying warrants or qualifying
preferred stock in accordance with and subject to the warrant
and preferred stock settlement mechanism. We refer to the
mandatory deferral of interest payments after the occurrence of
a mandatory trigger event as a mandatory deferral,
to interest so deferred as mandatorily deferred
interest, and to the period in which interest is deferred
as a mandatory deferral period. Any deferred
interest that is accrued and unpaid during the occurrence and
continuation of a mandatory deferral period will continue to
accrue and compound, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
at the applicable rate of interest on the convertible debentures.
Upon the occurrence of a mandatory trigger event, we generally
must sell qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred stock and
use the funds from that sale to pay deferred interest as
described under Warrant and Preferred Stock
Settlement Mechanism. This obligation is, however, subject
to limitations: we will not be required to sell qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock during the continuation
of a market disruption event, and the maximum amount of
qualifying warrants and qualifying preferred stock that we are
required to sell will be limited. Notwithstanding these
limitations, in no event may we defer payments of interest on
the convertible debentures beyond the date that is 10
consecutive years after the date on which we began the deferral
of interest (whether due to optional deferral, mandatory
deferral, or any combination thereof) or past the final maturity
date of, or redemption date for, the convertible debentures.
Mandatory trigger event with respect to each payment
date means a determination by us on the day (which we refer to
as the trigger determination date) that is the 30th day
prior to such payment date (or, in the event that such date is
not a business day, the immediately preceding business day) that
both of the following conditions exist as of such trigger
determination date:
(i) our Leverage Ratio for each of the three most recently
completed fiscal quarters has been equal to or greater than
6.0; and
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(ii) our Interest Coverage Ratio for each of the three most
recently completed fiscal quarters has been less than or equal
to 2.0.
For purposes of determining whether a mandatory trigger event
has occurred on any relevant trigger determination date, any
deferred interest payments resulting from an optional deferral
will be counted as if they had been paid in cash.
If, because of a change in GAAP that, considered cumulatively
with any other such changes, causes or results in a change in an
accounting principle or a restatement, our Leverage Ratio or our
Interest Coverage Ratio is higher or lower than it would have
been absent such change, then for purposes of making the
calculations described above, commencing with the fiscal quarter
for which such change in GAAP becomes effective, our Leverage
Ratio and our Interest Coverage Ratio, as applicable, will be
calculated on a pro forma basis as if such change had not
occurred.
By not later than the 15th day prior to each interest
payment date for which a mandatory trigger event has occurred,
we will give notice of such occurrence to the holders of the
convertible debentures. Such notice, in addition to stating that
interest payments must be paid in accordance with the warrant
and preferred stock settlement mechanism or otherwise deferred,
will set forth the results of the financial tests that triggered
the mandatory trigger event. We may, on the applicable interest
payment date, make interest payments from proceeds received from
the sale of qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred stock in
accordance with the warrant and preferred stock settlement
mechanism, and to the extent interest is paid in full on such
interest payment date, no mandatory deferral period will
commence.
The consequences of a mandatory trigger event and the related
restrictions on interest payments will continue until we no
longer fail both of the tests described in clauses (i) and
(ii) above on a subsequent trigger determination date.
As used in this section, for any fiscal quarter:
Leverage Ratio, for any fiscal quarter, means our
Adjusted Debt at the end of such fiscal quarter divided by the
sum of (a) four times our Adjusted EBITDA for such fiscal
quarter and (b) our Annual Rent Expense.
Interest Coverage Ratio, for any fiscal quarter,
means the sum of (a) four times our Adjusted EBITDA for
such fiscal quarter and (b) one-third of our Annual Rent
Expense, divided by the sum of (x) four times our Adjusted
Interest for such fiscal quarter and (y) one-third of our
Annual Rent Expense.
GAAP means, at any date or for any period,
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect
on such date or for such period.
Adjusted Debt means (i) long-term debt and
short-term debt, including any junior subordinated debt, but
excluding any preferred stock on our balance sheet as of the end
of that fiscal quarter, plus (ii) seven times Annual Rent
Expense, plus (iii) the amount sold under our accounts
receivable securitization program during that quarter.
Adjusted EBITDA means (i) quarterly net income
or net loss, plus (ii) quarterly tax expense, plus
(iii) Adjusted Interest, plus (iv) quarterly
depreciation and amortization, in each case, for that fiscal
quarter.
Annual Rent Expense means the annual rent expense of
the most recently completed fiscal year.
Adjusted Interest means (i) quarterly debt
interest expense plus (ii) the quarterly cost of sale
associated with sales of accounts receivable under our accounts
receivable securitization program during that quarter and
(iii) quarterly debt extinguishment expense if not
otherwise included in quarterly debt interest expense. For the
avoidance of doubt, Adjusted Interest shall include the amount
of any accrued and unpaid deferred interest, whether optionally
or mandatorily deferred.
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Satisfaction
of Interest
Any mandatorily deferred interest, and compounded interest
thereon, may be paid only from the net proceeds received from
the sale of qualifying warrants and qualifying preferred stock
in accordance with the warrant and preferred stock settlement
mechanism. Optionally deferred interest accrued (a) during
the first five years (subject to an extension to the extent of
any mandatory deferral period occurring therein) of an optional
deferral period may be paid from any available source of cash,
and (b) thereafter may be paid only from the net proceeds
received from the sale of qualifying warrants and qualifying
preferred stock in accordance with the warrant and preferred
stock settlement mechanism. Upon the sale of qualifying warrants
or qualifying preferred stock in accordance with the warrant and
preferred stock settlement mechanism, the proceeds thereof will
be applied first to the payment of any mandatorily deferred
interest, and second to any optionally deferred interest.
Certain
Restrictions During Optional or Mandatory Deferral
Periods
On any date on which accrued interest through the most recent
interest payment date has not been paid in full (including
during any optional or mandatory deferral period) and until such
time as all accrued but unpaid interest, together with any
compounded interest thereon, is paid in full, we will not, and
will not permit any controlled subsidiary (as defined below) to:
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declare or pay any dividends on, make distributions regarding,
or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with
respect to, any shares of capital stock of the company, other
than:
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(1) purchases of our capital stock in connection with
employee or agent benefit plans or under any dividend
reinvestment plan;
(2) purchases or repurchases of shares of our capital stock
pursuant to a contractually binding requirement to buy stock
existing prior to the commencement of the deferral period,
including under a contractually binding stock repurchase plan;
(3) in connection with the reclassification of any class or
series of our capital stock, or the exchange or conversion of
one class or series of our capital stock for or into another
class or series of our capital stock, in each case if the
resulting capital stock ranks equal to or junior to the capital
stock so reclassified, exchanged or converted;
(4) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of our
capital stock in connection with the conversion or exchange
provisions of that capital stock or the security being converted
or exchanged;
(5) dividends or distributions in the form of our capital
stock or rights to acquire our capital stock, where the dividend
stock or stock underlying the dividend rights is the same class
as the stock on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equal
to or junior to such stock;
(6) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the
implementation of a shareholders rights plan, or issuances
of capital stock under any such plan in the future, or
redemptions or repurchases of any rights outstanding under a
shareholders rights plan;
(7) acquisitions of our capital stock previously issued in
connection with acquisitions of businesses made by us (which
acquisitions are made by us in connection with the satisfaction
of indemnification obligations of the sellers of such
businesses); or
(8) the payment of any dividend during an optional or
mandatory deferral period within 60 days after the date of
declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration no optional
deferral was in effect and no mandatory trigger event had
occurred;
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make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on
or pay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by us
that rank equal to or junior to the convertible debentures,
other than (1) any payment, repurchase or redemption in
respect of debt securities that rank equal to the convertible
debentures (parity debt securities) made ratably and
in proportion to the respective amount of (a) accrued and
unpaid amounts on such parity debt securities, on the one hand,
and (b) accrued and
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unpaid amounts on the convertible debentures, on the other hand
or (2) the exchange or conversion of one class or series of
such debt securities for or into another class or series of our
securities, in each case if the resulting securities rank equal
to or junior to the securities so exchanged or converted; or
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make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by us
of the debt securities of any subsidiary, if such guarantee
ranks equal to or junior to the convertible debentures, other
than any payment in respect of guarantees that rank equal to the
convertible debentures (parity guarantees) made
ratably and in proportion to the respective amounts of
(1) accrued and unpaid amounts on such parity guarantees,
on the one hand, and (2) accrued and unpaid amounts on the
convertible debentures, on the other hand.
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A controlled subsidiary, for purposes of the
restrictions above, is any corporation in which we own, directly
or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting stock.
Warrant
and Preferred Stock Settlement Mechanism
Under the circumstances described under Option
to Defer Interest Payments and Mandatory
Deferral of Interest Payments, we will be required to
satisfy our obligation to pay interest by selling qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock, or any combination
thereof, the sale of which will provide a cash amount to be paid
to the holders of the convertible debentures in satisfaction of
accrued but unpaid interest, together with any compounded
interest. Instead of selling qualifying preferred stock, we may
sell depositary shares representing the right to receive such
preferred stock.
We will not be obligated to sell qualifying warrants or
qualifying preferred stock, and may satisfy deferred interest
payments with cash from any source, at the final maturity date,
at the tenth anniversary of the commencement of any interest
deferral or upon the occurrence of an event of default under the
convertible debentures.
We will not be obligated to sell qualifying warrants or
qualifying preferred stock upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of a market disruption event. Moreover:
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we will not be required to sell qualifying warrants under the
warrant and preferred stock settlement mechanism to the extent
that the number of shares of our common stock underlying such
warrants exceeds 84,000,000 shares (this limitation is
referred to as the warrant cap) and
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we will not be permitted to sell qualifying preferred stock
under the warrant and preferred stock settlement mechanism to
the extent that the aggregate liquidation preference assigned to
such preferred shares exceeds 25% of the aggregate principal
amount of the convertible debentures at the time of their
original issuance (this limitation is referred to as the
preferred stock cap).
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If the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock shall
have been changed into a different number of shares or a
different class by reason of any stock split, reverse stock
split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization,
split-up, combination, exchange of shares or other similar
transaction, then the warrant cap will be correspondingly
adjusted.
The net proceeds received by us from the issuance of qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock during the 180 days
prior to the notice date for the relevant interest payment will,
at the time such proceeds are delivered to the trustee to
satisfy the relevant interest payment, be deemed to satisfy our
obligations to pay interest on the convertible debentures
pursuant to the warrant and preferred stock settlement
mechanism. During the occurrence and continuation of a market
disruption event, we will not be required to sell qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock as provided hereunder; if
we have reached the warrant cap, we will not be required to sell
warrants as provided hereunder; and if we have reached the
preferred stock cap, we will not be permitted to sell qualifying
preferred stock as provided hereunder. However, a covenant
breach will occur if we do not sell qualifying warrants or
qualifying preferred stock even though a market disruption event
has not occurred and neither the warrant cap nor the preferred
stock cap would be breached by the sale of additional qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock, respectively. Although a
covenant breach would not constitute an event of default
permitting the holders to accelerate the principal amount of the
convertible
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debentures, it could give rise to a claim against us relating to
the specific breach. The remedy of holders of the convertible
debentures for any covenant breach could, however, be limited to
direct monetary damages (if any). See Events
of Default.
Neither the warrant cap nor the preferred stock cap shall
relieve us of our obligation to issue the number of warrants or
shares of qualifying preferred stock that we can issue without
breaching either of the respective caps and to apply the
proceeds thereof in partial payment of deferred interest.
Funds raised through the warrant and preferred stock settlement
mechanism will be applied first to the payment of accrued and
unpaid interest on the convertible debentures and second to the
payment of accumulated dividends on the perpetual preferred
stock. Amounts paid to holders pursuant to the warrant and
preferred stock settlement mechanism will be applied first to
any outstanding mandatorily deferred interest and any compounded
interest thereon and secondly to any outstanding optionally
deferred interest and any compounded interest thereon.
The perpetual preferred stock will also benefit from our
obligation to raise funds using the warrant and preferred stock
settlement mechanism and apply those funds to pay accumulated
dividends after the payment in full of any deferred interest on
the convertible debentures and sales of qualifying warrants and
qualifying preferred stock to fund dividends in respect of the
perpetual preferred stock will also be counted in calculating
when the warrant cap or the preferred stock cap has been reached.
As used in this section:
Qualifying warrants means warrants to purchase our
common stock that:
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have an exercise price greater than the most recent closing sale
price of our common stock as of their date of issuance; and
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we are not entitled to redeem for cash and the holders of which
are not entitled to require us to repurchase for cash in any
circumstances.
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We intend to issue qualifying warrants with exercise prices at
least 10% above the most recent closing sale price of our common
stock as of their date of issuance.
Qualifying preferred stock means our non-cumulative
perpetual preferred stock (or depositary shares representing
interests in such preferred stock) that (a) is
non-callable, (b) is subject to a binding capital
replacement covenant or (c) has capital replacement
intention disclosure and includes provisions that, from and
after the occurrence of the failure to satisfy one or more
financial tests set forth in the terms of such security or
related transaction agreements until, but excluding, a date
specified in such security or related transaction agreements,
prohibit us from paying any deferred distributions in an amount
exceeding the net proceeds of the sale of our common stock,
rights to purchase our common stock or qualifying preferred
stock.
Market disruption event means the occurrence or
existence of any of the following events or sets of
circumstances:
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we may not issue relevant securities without obtaining the
consent or approval of a regulatory body (including, without
limitation, any securities exchange) or governmental authority,
and we have used commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such
consent or approval but such consent or approval has not yet
been obtained;
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we do not have sufficient common stock available for
issuance in respect of qualifying warrants or sufficient
qualifying preferred stock available for issuance
(as defined below) to raise sufficient proceeds to pay the
interest payments on the convertible debentures and accumulated
dividends on the perpetual preferred stock and we have used
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent or
approval of our shareholders to increase the amount of our
authorized common stock or qualifying preferred stock but such
consent or approval has not been obtained; provided that the
foregoing market disruption event will not relieve us of our
obligation to issue the number of shares of qualifying preferred
stock available for issuance or the number of qualifying
warrants for which we have common stock available for issuance,
and to apply the proceeds thereof in partial payment of deferred
interest;
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trading in securities generally (or our common stock or
preferred stock specifically) on the principal exchange on which
our common stock or preferred stock is then listed and traded
(as of today, the New York Stock Exchange) shall have been
suspended or the settlement of such trading generally shall have
been materially disrupted;
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(a)(1) the United States shall have become engaged in
hostilities, (2) there shall have been an escalation in
hostilities involving the United States or (3) there shall
have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the
United States or (b) there shall have occurred any material
adverse change in (1) domestic or international economic,
political or financial conditions (including from terrorist
activities) or (2) the effect of international conditions
on the financial markets in the United States that, in any of
the circumstances described in clauses (a) or (b) of
this bullet, materially disrupts trading in securities generally
on the New York Stock Exchange or any other national securities
exchange on which our common stock or preferred stock is then
listed or traded or on trading in, or the issuance and sale of,
relevant securities;
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a material disruption has occurred or banking moratorium has
been declared in commercial banking or securities settlement or
clearance services;
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minimum or maximum prices have been fixed, or maximum ranges for
prices of securities are required on the New York Stock Exchange
or by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC) or other governmental authority which, in
either case, materially disrupts or otherwise has a material
effect on trading in, or the issuance and sale of, relevant
securities; or
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an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which the
offering document for such offer and sale of securities would,
in our judgment, contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
either (1) the disclosure of that event at such time, in
our judgment, would have a material adverse effect on our
business or (2) the disclosure relates to a previously
undisclosed proposed or pending material development or business
transaction, the disclosure of which would impede our ability to
consummate such transaction, provided that no single suspension
period contemplated by this bullet may exceed 90 consecutive
days and multiple suspension periods contemplated by this bullet
may not exceed an aggregate of 180 days in any twelve-month
period
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where relevant securities means qualifying warrants
or qualifying preferred stock in the case of our obligation to
pay interest by selling qualifying warrants or qualifying
preferred stock as described above, or qualifying capital
securities in the case of our obligation to use our commercially
reasonable efforts to issue qualifying capital securities as
described under Payment at Scheduled
Maturity above.
If no mandatory deferral period is continuing and prior to a
trigger determination date we determine that, based on the most
recent publicly available financial statements, a mandatory
trigger event will occur on such trigger determination date, we
will commence good faith efforts, reasonably promptly following
such determination, to begin the process of selling qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock, subject to the
occurrence of a market disruption event (as well as the warrant
cap and the preferred stock cap, if applicable), to raise the
funds necessary to make the next interest payment on the
convertible debentures.
Our common stock available for issuance pursuant to
qualifying warrants will be calculated as follows. First we will
determine the number of our authorized and unissued shares of
common stock. Then we will subtract from that number the number
of those shares of common stock that we are unable to issue due
to their reservation for other purposes.
Our qualifying preferred stock available for
issuance will be calculated in two steps. First, we will
deduct from the number of our authorized and unissued shares of
preferred stock the maximum number of such shares that can be
issued under existing reservations and commitments under which
we are able to determine such maximum number. After we deduct
that number of shares from our authorized and unissued shares,
we will allocate on a pro rata basis, or such other basis as we
determine is appropriate, the remaining available shares to the
warrant and preferred stock settlement mechanism and to any
other similar commitment that is of an indeterminate nature and
under which we are then required to issue shares. The definition
of
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qualifying preferred stock available for issuance
will have the effect of giving absolute priority for issuance to
those reservations and commitments under which we are able to
determine the maximum number of shares issuable irrespective of
when they were entered into.
We will be permitted to modify the definition of
qualifying preferred stock available for issuance
and the related provisions of the indenture without the consent
of holders of the convertible debentures, provided that
(i) we have determined, in our reasonable discretion, that
such modification is not materially adverse to such holders and
(ii) the rating agencies then rating the convertible
debentures confirm the then current ratings of the convertible
debentures.
A covenant breach will occur if we do not use our commercially
reasonable efforts to seek the consent of our shareholders to
increase the number of our authorized preferred shares or common
shares, respectively, in accordance with the foregoing
paragraph. Although a covenant breach would not constitute an
event of default permitting the convertible debentures to be
accelerated, it would give rise to a claim against us relating
to the specific breach. The remedy of holders of the convertible
debentures for any covenant breach could, however, be limited to
direct monetary damages (if any). See Events
of Default.
In the event that net proceeds received by us from the issuance
of qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred stock are not
sufficient to satisfy the full amount of deferred interest on
the convertible debentures and compounded interest thereon, such
net proceeds will be paid to the holders of the convertible
debentures on a pro rata basis; provided, however, that if we
have outstanding securities in addition to the convertible
debentures that rank equal to the convertible debentures and
under which we are obligated to sell qualifying warrants or
qualifying preferred stock and apply the net proceeds to payment
of deferred interest, then on any date and for any period the
amount of net proceeds received by us from such sales and
available for payment of such deferred interest will be applied
to the convertible debentures and such other securities on a pro
rata basis.
Covenant
Against Repurchases of Warrants and Preferred Stock
If any deferral period lasts longer than one year, we will not
repurchase any qualifying warrants or any qualifying preferred
stock sold at any time pursuant to the warrant and preferred
stock settlement mechanism described above, or any of our common
stock, until the first anniversary of the date on which all
deferred interest on the convertible debentures, and compounded
interest thereon, and accumulated dividends on the perpetual
preferred stock have been paid. Failure by us to adhere to this
requirement will constitute a covenant breach but not an event
of default.
Limitation
on Claims in the Event of Our Bankruptcy, Insolvency or
Receivership
The indenture provides that the holders of convertible
debentures, by their acceptance of the convertible debentures,
agree that in the event of our bankruptcy, insolvency or
receivership, whether voluntary or not, prior to the final
maturity date or redemption or repayment of the convertible
debentures, any claim in respect of interest that accrued during
a mandatory interest deferral period in excess of two years of
accrued and unpaid interest (including any compounded interest
thereon) on the convertible debentures will be extinguished;
provided that such limitation shall not reduce the amounts
holders of senior indebtedness would have been entitled to
receive in the absence thereof.
Merger
and Consolidation
Subject to the make-whole provisions described under
Conversion Procedures
Determination of the Make-Whole Amount, the general
provisions of the indenture relating to our possible merger or
consolidation, and possible transfers of our assets, will apply
to the convertible debentures. You should refer to the
description of these provisions under Description of Debt
Securities Merger and Consolidation in the
accompanying prospectus.
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If, as a result of any merger or similar transaction, the
convertible debentures become convertible into common stock or
other securities issued by a third party, such third party must
fully and unconditionally guarantee all obligations of ours or
our successor under the convertible debentures and the indenture.
Events of
Default
An event of default with respect to the convertible debentures
means:
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default for 30 calendar days in the payment of any interest on
the convertible debentures, including any compounded interest,
when it becomes due and payable (however, a default under this
bullet will not occur if we have deferred interest, as permitted
under the indenture, in connection with an optional or mandatory
deferral);
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deferral of interest on the convertible debentures, due to a
mandatory deferral or optional deferral, or combination thereof,
that continues for 10 consecutive years after the date on which
we began the deferral of interest, without all accrued and
unpaid interest, including any compounded interest, having been
paid in full within 30 days after the tenth anniversary of
the commencement of such deferral;
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default in the payment of the principal of the convertible
debentures when due; and
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization,
whether voluntary or not.
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If an event of default occurs and is continuing, we will not be
required to sell qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred
stock to make deferred interest payments and may make such
payments using cash from any source.
Events of default with respect to the convertible debentures,
which replace the events of default described in
Description of Debt Securities Events of
Default in the accompanying prospectus, do not include
failure to comply with or breach of our other covenants in the
indenture with respect to the convertible debentures, including
the covenant to sell qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred
stock through the warrant and preferred stock settlement
mechanism to meet certain interest payment obligations. Although
a covenant breach would not constitute an event of default
permitting the convertible debentures to be accelerated, it
would give rise to a claim against us relating to the specific
breach. The remedy of holders of the convertible debentures for
any covenant breach could, however, be limited to direct
monetary damages (if any). See Risk Factors
Risks Related to the Convertible Debentures and Perpetual
Preferred Stock Holders of the convertible
debentures have limited rights to accelerate payment of the
convertible debentures under the indenture.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indenture will acknowledge
that in the case of any failure to deliver consideration
deliverable in respect of any conversion, monetary damages would
not be adequate and will provide for specific performance as the
remedy for any such failure.
A covenant breach will only give rise to possible remedies if it
continues for 90 days after delivery of the notices
specified below. Our failure (if any) to sell qualifying
warrants or qualifying preferred stock through the warrant and
preferred stock settlement mechanism in accordance with the
provisions of the indenture in the event that no market
disruption event has occurred and we are not restricted by both
the warrant cap and the preferred stock cap will result in the
limited remedies against us described above, and will not
include the right of holders to accelerate payment of principal
on the convertible debentures. See Risk
Factors Risks Related to the Convertible Debentures
and Perpetual Preferred Stock Holders of the convertible
debentures have limited rights to accelerate payment of the
convertible debentures under the indenture.
Within 90 days after a default, the trustee must give to
the holders of the convertible debentures notice of all uncured
and unwaived defaults by us known to it. However, except in the
case of default in payment, the trustee may withhold such notice
if it determines that doing so is in the interest of the holders
of the convertible debentures.
Holders of the convertible debentures may not themselves
institute a proceeding against us on account of a covenant
breach unless, among other things, the trustee fails to
institute such a proceeding, subject to the terms of the
indenture. However, the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the convertible debentures may direct the trustee to
bring such a proceeding if a covenant breach continues for a
period of 90 days after
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delivery of the specified notice to us from the trustee or to us
and the trustee from the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the convertible debentures, subject to the terms of
the indenture. The indenture will not require the trustee to
take any action in case of a covenant breach (other than to give
notice of such default to the holders of the convertible
debentures under certain circumstances, as described above)
unless so directed by the holders and unless, if so requested by
the trustee, an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it is
granted by the holders.
If an event of default occurs in respect of any outstanding
convertible debentures, the trustee or the holders of at least
25% in principal amount of the outstanding convertible
debentures may declare the principal amount, and all unpaid and
accrued interest and any compounded interest (other than
interest with respect to which holders have agreed to waive
their rights in case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency
or receivership, whether voluntary or not) to be due and payable
immediately by written notice thereof to us, and to the trustee
if given by the holders of the convertible debentures, subject
to the terms of the indenture. However, the payment of
principal, and interest on the convertible debentures will
remain subordinated to the extent provided in the indenture. In
addition, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration
but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has
been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of
the convertible debentures may, subject to specified conditions,
rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default,
other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, or interest
on the convertible debentures have been cured or waived as
provided in the indenture. See Modification
and Waiver. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any holder may
bring an action against us for specific performance if we fail
to deliver to that holder consideration due upon a conversion of
convertible debentures other than a conversion upon notice of
redemption or in connection with a non-stock change of control.
Satisfaction
and Discharge
The satisfaction and discharge provisions of the indenture will
apply to the convertible debentures. You should read these
provisions of the indenture. The defeasance provisions of the
Subordinated Indenture will not, however, apply to the
convertible debentures.
Modification
and Waiver
Generally, our rights and obligations and the holders
rights may be modified with the consent of holders of a majority
of the outstanding convertible debentures. No modification or
amendment may occur without the consent of each affected holder
of a convertible debenture, however, if that modification or
amendment would do any of the following:
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change the scheduled or final maturity date of the principal of,
or the date of any interest payment due upon, the convertible
debentures;
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reduce the principal amount of, or the interest on, the
convertible debentures;
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adversely affect the rights of the holders to convert the
convertible debentures;
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reduce the amount of or change the form of consideration due to
holders of the convertible debentures upon their conversion
thereof;
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change the currency of payment of the convertible debentures;
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impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on the convertible debentures or adversely affect the
right of payment, if any, at the option of the holder; or
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reduce the percentage of holders necessary to modify or amend
the indenture or to waive any past default.
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The indenture shall provide that we and the trustee, may make
modifications without the consent of the holders of convertible
debentures in order to do the following:
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evidence the assumption by a successor entity of the obligations
of the obligor under the indenture;
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convey security for the convertible debentures to the trustee;
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add covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of
the holders of convertible debentures;
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provide for the issuance of convertible debentures in coupon or
fully registered form;
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cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any defect or
inconsistency in the indenture;
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make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions
arising under the indenture that shall not adversely affect the
interests of any holder of convertible debentures in any
material respect;
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evidence the appointment of a successor trustee or more than one
trustee;
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surrender any right or power conferred upon us;
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comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to maintain the
qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended;
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add or modify any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under an indenture that we and the trustee may
deem necessary or desirable and that will not in the good faith
opinion of our board of directors and the trustee adversely
affect the interests of convertible debentures;
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modify the existing covenants and events of default solely in
respect of, or add new covenants or events of default that apply
solely to, convertible debentures not yet issued and
outstanding; or
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to provide for guarantees of the convertible debentures and to
specify the ranking of the obligations of the guarantors under
their respective guarantees.
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The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the convertible debentures then outstanding may, on
behalf of the holders of all convertible debentures, waive any
past default under the indenture except (1) a default in
the payment of principal, or any interest on the convertible
debentures or (2) a default in respect of a covenant or
provision of the indenture which cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of each affected holder of the convertible
debentures then outstanding.
Governing
Law
The indenture and the convertible debentures will be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
New York.
Book-Entry,
Delivery and Form
We will initially issue the convertible debentures in the form
of one or more global notes. Except as set forth below,
convertible debentures will be issued in registered, global form
in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000. Convertible debentures will be issued at the closing of
this offering only against payment in immediately available
funds. The global notes will be deposited upon issuance with the
trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company
(DTC), in New York, New York, and registered in the
name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC (such nominee
being referred to herein as the global note holder),
in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect
participant in DTC as described below. Except as set forth
below, the global notes may be transferred, in whole and not in
part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or
its nominee. Beneficial interests in the global notes may not be
exchanged for convertible debentures in certificated form except
in the limited circumstances described in the accompanying
prospectus. Except in the limited circumstances described in the
accompanying prospectus, owners of beneficial interests in the
global notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery
of convertible debentures in certificated form.
Transfers of beneficial interests in the global notes will be
subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its
direct or indirect participants (including, if applicable, those
of Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and its affiliates
(Euroclear) and Clearstream Banking S.A.
(Clearstream)), which may change from time to time.
S-75
Depositary
Procedures
The following description of the operations and procedures of
DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are provided solely as a matter
of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely
within the control of the respective settlement systems and are
subject to changes by them. We take no responsibility for these
operations and procedures and urge investors to contact the
system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company
created to hold securities for its participating organizations
(collectively, the participants) and to facilitate
the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities
between participants through electronic book-entry changes in
accounts of its participants. The participants include
securities brokers and dealers (including the underwriters),
banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations. Access to DTCs system is also available to
other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust
companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly
(collectively, the indirect participants). Persons
who are not participants may beneficially own securities held by
or on behalf of DTC only through the participants or the
indirect participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers
of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of
DTC are recorded on the records of the participants and indirect
participants. DTC has also advised us that, pursuant to
procedures established by it:
(1) upon deposit of the global notes, DTC will credit the
accounts of Participants designated by the underwriters with
portions of the principal amount of the global notes; and
(2) ownership of these interests in the global notes will
be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of these interests
will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with
respect to the participants) or by the participants and the
indirect participants (with respect to other owners of
beneficial interest in the global notes).
Euroclear and Clearstream may hold interests in the global notes
on behalf of their participants through customers
securities accounts in their respective names on the books of
their respective depositories. All interests in a global note,
including those held through Euroclear or Clearstream, may be
subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. Those
interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be
subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems. The
laws of some states require that certain persons take physical
delivery in definitive form of securities that they own.
Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a
global note to such persons will be limited to that extent.
Because DTC can act only on behalf of participants, which in
turn act on behalf of indirect participants, the ability of a
person having beneficial interests in a global note to pledge
such interests to persons that do not participate in the DTC
system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests,
may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing
such interests.
Except as described below, owners of interests in the global
notes will not have convertible debentures registered in their
names, will not receive physical delivery of convertible
debentures in certificated form and will not be considered the
registered owners or holders thereof under the
indenture for any purpose.
Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest on a
global note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be
payable to DTC in its capacity as the registered holder under
the indenture. Under the terms of the indenture, we and the
trustee will treat the persons in whose names the convertible
debentures, including the global notes, are registered as the
owners of the convertible debentures for the purpose of
receiving payments and for all other purposes. Consequently,
neither we, the trustee nor any agent of us or the trustee has
or will have any responsibility or liability for:
(1) any aspect of DTCs records or any
participants or indirect participants records
relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the global notes or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any of DTCs records or any participants or
indirect participants records relating to the beneficial
ownership interests in the global notes; or
(2) any other matter relating to the actions and practices
of DTC or any of its participants or indirect participants. DTC
has advised us that its current practice, upon receipt of any
payment in respect of securities such as the convertible
debentures (including principal and interest), is to credit the
accounts of
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the relevant participants with the payment on the interest
payment date unless DTC has reason to believe it will not
receive payment on such interest payment date. Each relevant
participant is credited with an amount proportionate to its
beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount of
the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments
by the participants and the indirect participants to the
beneficial owners of convertible debentures will be governed by
standing instructions and customary practices and will be the
responsibility of the participants or the indirect participants
and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the trustee or us.
Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC
or any of its participants in identifying the beneficial owners
of the convertible debentures, and we and the trustee may
conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on
instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.
Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in
accordance with DTCs procedures, and will be settled in
same-day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear
and Clearstream will be effected in accordance with their
respective rules and operating procedures. Subject to compliance
with the transfer restrictions applicable to the convertible
debentures described herein, cross-market transfers between the
participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or
Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected
through DTC in accordance with DTCs rules on behalf of
Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective
depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require
delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the
case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance
with the rules and procedures and within the established
deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or
Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets
its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its
respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement
on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the
relevant global note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in
accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement
applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream
participants may not deliver instructions directly to the
depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be
taken by a holder of convertible debentures only at the
direction of one or more participants to whose account DTC
has credited the interests in the global notes and only in
respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the
convertible debentures as to which such participant or
participants has or have given such direction. However, if there
is an event of default under the convertible debentures, DTC
reserves the right to exchange the global notes for legended
convertible debentures in certificated form, and to distribute
such convertible debentures to its participants.
Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the
foregoing to facilitate transfers of interests in the global
notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they
are under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform
such procedures, and may discontinue such procedures at any
time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any of their respective
agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC,
Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or
indirect participants of their respective obligations under the
rules and procedures governing their operations.
About the
Trustee
U.S. Bank National Association will act as trustee with
respect to the convertible debentures and will be the paying
agent and registrar for the convertible debentures. We and our
affiliates have entered, and from time to time may continue to
enter, into banking or other relationships with U.S. Bank
National Association or its affiliates. For example,
U.S. Bank National Association is a lender under our senior
unsecured credit facility and also serves as the trustee for our
73/8% Senior
Notes due 2016,
77/8% Senior
Notes due 2026,
57/8% Senior
Notes due 2016 and
67/8% Senior
Notes due 2013. In the event of any resulting conflict, the
trustee could be required to resign as trustee for those notes
or for the convertible debentures. We and our affiliates may
have other customary banking relationships (including other
trusteeships) with the trustee. The trustee may resign or be
removed by the holders of a majority of the convertible
debentures in certain circumstances, and a successor trustee may
be appointed by us to act with respect to the convertible
debentures.
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DESCRIPTION
OF THE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK
The terms of the perpetual preferred stock include those stated
in the certificate of designations for the perpetual preferred
stock and those imposed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
The following description of the particular terms of the
perpetual preferred stock supplements, and to the extent
inconsistent therewith replaces, the description of preferred
stock set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the heading
Description of Capital Stock and together therewith
is a summary of the provisions of the certificate of
designations that we consider material. It does not restate the
certificate of designations in its entirety. We urge you to read
the certificate of designations because it, and not this
description, will define your rights as a holder of the
perpetual preferred stock. You may request copies of the
certificate of designations at our address set forth under
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.
Unless otherwise specified, references herein to holders are to
registered holders.
Unless otherwise specified, the words we
us and our as used in this section refer
only to Peabody Energy Corporation and not to any of its
subsidiaries.
General
The perpetual preferred stock issued to holders upon a
conversion of convertible debentures:
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will entitle holders to receive, when, as and if declared by our
board of directors out of funds legally available for the
payment of dividends, cumulative dividends at an annual rate of
3.0875% of the liquidation preference or, following any
remarketing, at the reset rate (as described under
Remarketing);
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will be subject to
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the capital replacement intention provisions described under
Capital Replacement, and
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while a mandatory trigger event continues, a prohibition on our
declaration of any dividends other than those funded through the
sale of qualifying warrants or qualifying preferred stock;
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will benefit from our obligation to raise funds using the
warrant and preferred stock settlement mechanism while a
mandatory trigger event continues or after we have failed to
declare and pay dividends for a period of five consecutive years
and apply those funds to pay accumulated dividends after the
payment in full of any deferred interest on the convertible
debentures, subject to the limitations described under
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement Mechanism;
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will entitle holders thereof to elect two members of our board
of directors if we fail to declare and pay dividends for 10
consecutive years (or, following remarketing, six dividend
payment dates, whether or not consecutive) as described below
under Voting Rights;
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may, at the holders election, be remarketed after
December 15, 2046 or earlier, upon the first occurrence of
a change of control, if we do not exercise our right to redeem
them;
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will have a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share;
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will be redeemable at our option at any time, out of funds
legally available therefor, at a cash redemption price equal to
their liquidation preference plus any accumulated dividends
(though such redemption may only be in whole, and not in part,
unless the redemption is being made in connection with, and in
the same proportion as, a partial redemption of the convertible
debentures); and
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will not be convertible.
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Any deferred interest on the convertible debentures at the time
of notice of conversion, plus compounded interest thereon, will
be reflected as accumulated dividends on the perpetual preferred
stock at issuance.
In the event of our liquidation, winding up or dissolution,
whether voluntary or not, prior to the redemption of the
perpetual preferred stock, holders of perpetual preferred stock
will have no claim in respect
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of amounts representing dividends that accumulated while a
mandatory trigger event occurred and was continuing, to the
extent the amount of such dividends exceeds two years of
accumulated and unpaid dividends on the perpetual preferred
stock.
When issued, the perpetual preferred stock will be fully paid
and non-assessable. Holders of the perpetual preferred stock
will have no preemptive or preferential right to purchase or
subscribe for shares, obligations, warrants or other securities
of ours of any class.
Certain terms used in this section, Description of the
Perpetual Preferred Stock, are defined under
Description of the Convertible Debentures.
Dividends
Dividends on the perpetual preferred stock will be payable, on a
cumulative basis, when, as and if declared by our board of
directors out of funds legally available for the payment of
dividends at an annual rate (the dividend rate) of
3.0875% of the liquidation preference (65% of the interest rate
borne by the convertible debentures) and, following any
remarketing, at the reset rate, as described under
Remarketing from the reset effective
date. Certain limitations on our ability to declare dividends on
the perpetual preferred stock are described under
Limitations on Declaration of Dividends.
We will pay dividends when, as and if declared by our board of
directors out of funds legally available for the payment of
dividends on the perpetual preferred stock semi-annually on
June 15 and December 15 of each year (each a
dividend payment date), commencing on the first such
date following the conversion of the convertible debentures into
the perpetual preferred stock. If any dividend payment date is
not a business day, then dividends will be payable on the first
business day following such dividend payment date, without
accrual to the actual dividend payment date.
Declaration of a dividend on the perpetual preferred stock at
any permissible time will be at the discretion of our board of
directors, who will not be required to declare any dividend on
the perpetual preferred stock payable in respect of any dividend
period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, because we will be
required to raise funds using the warrant and preferred stock
settlement mechanism while a mandatory trigger event continues
or after we have failed to declare and pay dividends for five
consecutive years, subject to limitations described under
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement Mechanism, our
board of directors will be required to use the net proceeds
received by us pursuant to the warrant and preferred stock
settlement mechanism (after paying accrued and unpaid interest
on the convertible debentures), subject to the limitations
described under Limitations on Declarations of
Dividends, to declare and pay a dividend on the perpetual
preferred stock in an amount equal to accumulated dividends
thereon.
A dividend period is the period from and including a dividend
payment date to, but excluding, the next dividend payment date,
except that the initial dividend period will commence on, and
include, the original issuance date of the perpetual preferred
stock and will end on, and exclude, the first dividend payment
date. Dividends payable on the perpetual preferred stock for any
full dividend period will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months, and for any period other than a full dividend period
will be computed on the basis of
30-day
months and, for periods of less than a
30-day
month, the actual number of days elapsed in that period.
We will pay dividends on the perpetual preferred stock to record
holders as they appear on the perpetual preferred stock register
at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the immediately
preceding June 14, and December 14 (each, a
dividend record date). These dividend record dates
will apply regardless of whether a particular dividend record
date is a business day.
Dividends on the perpetual preferred stock will be cumulative.
Accordingly, if for any reason our board of directors does not
declare a dividend on the perpetual preferred stock payable in
respect of any dividend period, such dividend will accumulate
and holders of perpetual preferred stock will have the right to
receive, and we will have the obligation to pay, an amount equal
to the dividend for that dividend period at any redemption or
liquidation (subject to the limitation described below
Liquidation Preference), whether or not
we declare dividends on the perpetual preferred stock for any
future dividend period.
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Any perpetual preferred stock issued upon any conversion of
convertible debentures in respect of which interest payments
have been deferred will, at the time of its issuance, have
accumulated dividends equal to such deferred interest. As a
result, perpetual preferred stock issued upon conversion of
convertible debentures in respect of which interest payments
have been deferred may initially bear a different amount of
accumulated dividends than, and therefore not be fungible with,
perpetual preferred stock issued on other dates, if any.
Non-fungibility may adversely affect the liquidity of the
perpetual preferred stock. The issuance of the perpetual
preferred stock with accumulated dividends could subject holders
to the constructive distribution provisions of Section 305
of the Code and corporate holders to the limitations of
Section 1059 of the Code. See Certain
U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Considerations.
In connection with a remarketing, as described below under
Remarketing, the rate at which dividends
will be payable on the perpetual preferred stock will be reset.
The reset rate will become effective on the reset effective
date, which is the third business day immediately following a
successful remarketing (as defined under
Remarketing) or a final failed
remarketing (as defined under
Remarketing Remarketing
Procedures), as the case may be.
In the case of a successful remarketing, the reset rate will be
the annual rate (rounded to the nearest one-thousandth (0.001)
of one percent per year) the remarketing agent determines, in
its reasonable judgment, is the lowest fixed annual rate that
will enable it to remarket all of the perpetual preferred stock
tendered for sale in a remarketing at a price equal to at least
the sum of (x) 100% of the $1,000 liquidation preference
per share of perpetual preferred stock tendered and (y) the
remarketing agent fee per share of perpetual preferred stock
provided for in the remarketing agreement, plus an amount equal
to any accumulated dividends to the remarketing date. However,
we reserve the right to reset the dividend rate to a floating
annual rate based on
3-month
LIBOR (as defined below); provided that such determination is
not, in the reasonable judgment of the remarketing agent, likely
to adversely affect the ability of the remarketing agent to
remarket the perpetual preferred stock. In the case of a final
failed remarketing, the reset rate will be a floating annual
rate equal to
3-month
LIBOR plus 400 basis points. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
reset rate will in no event be less than the rate then in effect
on the perpetual preferred stock, which will initially be
3.0875% of liquidation preference.
In the event a successful remarketing does not occur on a
remarketing date other than the final remarketing date (as
defined under Remarketing
Remarketing Procedures), the dividend rate will not be
reset and will continue to equal the dividend rate then in
effect until a successful remarketing occurs or a final failed
remarketing occurs, as the case may be. In addition, if none of
the holders of perpetual preferred stock or converting holders
of convertible debentures elects to tender their perpetual
preferred stock for sale in a remarketing, the dividend rate
will not be reset and will continue to equal the dividend rate
then in effect.
The remarketing agent will advise each DTC participant that is
purchasing or selling perpetual preferred stock and us of the
reset rate established by approximately 4:30 p.m. (New York
City time) on a remarketing date if a successful remarketing or
a final failed remarketing occurs on that date, and we will
cause a notice of the reset rate to be communicated to holders
through DTC and published on our corporate Internet site on the
third business day immediately following such remarketing date,
as described under Remarketing
Remarketing Procedures.
3-month
LIBOR means, with respect to the second London banking day
prior to the reset effective date:
(a) the rate for
3-month
deposits in U.S. dollars commencing on the reset effective
date, as that rate appears on Moneyline Telerate Page 3750
(as described below) as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the
determination date, unless fewer than two such offered rates so
appear;
(b) if fewer than two offered rates appear, or no rate
appears, as the case may be, on the determination date on
Moneyline Telerate Page 3750, the rate calculated by the
remarketing agent based on at least two offered quotations after
requesting the principal London offices of each of four major
reference banks in the London interbank market to provide the
remarketing agent with offered quotations for deposits in
U.S. dollars for the period of three months commencing on
the reset effective date, to prime banks in the London interbank
market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on that
date and in a principal amount that is representative for a
single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that
time;
S-80
(c) if fewer than two offered quotations referred to in
clause (b) are provided as requested, the rate calculated
by the remarketing agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates
quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the
determination date by three major banks in New York City
selected by the remarketing agent for loans in U.S. dollars
to leading European banks for a period of three months and in a
principal amount that is representative for a single transaction
in U.S. dollars in that market at that time; or
(d) if the banks so selected by the remarketing agent are
not quoting as described in clause (c),
3-month
LIBOR as it has been most recently determined in accordance with
these provisions and, if
3-month
LIBOR has not been previously determined, the existing dividend
rate on the perpetual preferred stock.
Moneyline Telerate Page 3750 means the display
on Moneyline Telerate (or any successor service) on such page
(or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for
the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major
banks for U.S. dollars.
London banking day means a day on which commercial
banks are open for business, including dealings in
U.S. dollars, in London.
In connection with a remarketing, the times for the payment of
dividends on the perpetual preferred stock may be changed such
that dividends are paid on a quarterly basis instead of a
semi-annual basis.
Limitations
on Declaration of Dividends
Under Delaware law, we may pay dividends on the perpetual
preferred stock only to the extent that assets are legally
available to pay such dividends. Legally available assets for
the payment of dividends means the amount of our surplus as
determined under Delaware corporation law or, if there is no
surplus, under limited circumstances, net profits. When the need
to make a determination of legally available assets arises, the
amount of our surplus will be determined by our board of
directors in accordance with Delaware law. As of
September 30, 2006, our surplus was in excess of
approximately $2.37 billion.
In addition, our ability to declare dividends will be subject to:
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a prohibition on our declaration of any dividends other than
those funded through the sale of qualifying warrants or
qualifying preferred stock while a mandatory trigger event
continues (as described under Description of the
Convertible Debentures Mandatory Deferral of
Interest Payments); and
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any optional deferral of interest on the convertible debentures
because the terms of the indenture will prohibit us from paying
dividends on the perpetual preferred stock at any time when we
have deferred interest outstanding on the convertible
debentures. See Description of the Convertible
Debentures Certain Restrictions During Optional or
Mandatory Deferral Periods.
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In addition, our ability to declare dividends will also be
subject to the covenants contained in the indentures governing
our senior notes and the covenants contained in our senior
unsecured credit facility as well, as in agreements that may
govern the terms of any indebtedness we may incur in the future.
Ranking
The perpetual preferred stock, with respect to dividend rights
or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, will rank:
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senior to all classes of our common stock, our Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and each other class or
series of capital stock or series of preferred stock established
after the date hereof, the terms of which do not expressly
provide that such class or series ranks senior to or on a parity
with the perpetual preferred stock as to dividend rights or
rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution (which we will refer to collectively as
junior stock);
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on a parity, in all respects, with any class or series of
capital stock or series of preferred stock established after the
date hereof, the terms of which expressly provide that such
class or series will
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rank on a parity with the perpetual preferred stock as to
dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution (which we will refer to collectively as
parity stock);
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junior to each class or series of capital stock or series of
preferred stock established after the date hereof, the terms of
which expressly provide that such class or series will rank
senior to the perpetual preferred stock as to dividend rights or
rights upon our liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution (which we will refer to collectively as
senior stock); and
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junior to all of our existing and future debt obligations.
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While any perpetual preferred stock is outstanding, we may not
authorize or issue any class or series of senior stock (or any
security convertible into senior stock) without the affirmative
vote or consent of the holders of at least
662/3%
of the outstanding perpetual preferred stock. Without the
consent of any holder of perpetual preferred stock, however, we
may authorize, increase the authorized amount of, or issue any
class or series of parity stock or junior stock.
Unless the full dividends for the most recently ended dividend
period and all prior dividend periods on all outstanding
perpetual preferred stock and parity stock, if any, have been
declared and paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for the
payment thereof has been set aside for payment) we cannot
declare or pay any dividends on, or redeem, purchase or
otherwise acquire, any shares of parity stock or junior stock of
the company, other than:
(1) purchases of our capital stock in connection with
employee or agent benefit plans or under any dividend
reinvestment plan;
(2) purchases or repurchases of shares of our capital stock
pursuant to a contractually binding requirement to buy stock
existing prior to the first scheduled dividend declaration date
upon which a dividend was not declared, including under a
contractually binding stock repurchase plan;
(3) in connection with the reclassification of any class or
series of our capital stock, or the exchange or conversion of
one class or series of our capital stock for or into another
class or series of our capital stock, in each case if the
resulting capital stock ranks equal to or junior to the capital
stock so reclassified, exchanged or converted;
(4) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of our
capital stock in connection with the conversion or exchange
provisions of that capital stock or the security being converted
or exchanged;
(5) dividends or distributions in the form of our capital
stock or rights to acquire our capital stock, where the dividend
stock or stock underlying the dividend rights is the same class
as the stock on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equal
to or junior to such stock;
(6) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the
implementation of a shareholders rights plan, or issuances
of capital stock under any such plan in the future, or
redemptions or repurchases of any rights outstanding under a
shareholders rights plan;
(7) acquisitions of our capital stock previously issued in
connection with acquisitions of businesses made by us (which
acquisitions are made by us in connection with the satisfaction
of indemnification obligations of the sellers of such
businesses);
(8) the payment of any dividend during a mandatory deferral
period within 60 days after the date of declaration
thereof, if at the date of declaration no accumulated dividends
existed and no mandatory trigger event had occurred; or
(9) dividends paid on our parity stock to the extent that
dividends are paid on a proportionate or pro rata basis (based
on accumulated dividends per share of the perpetual preferred
stock and such parity stock) on the perpetual preferred stock
and such parity stock.
These restrictions will continue until full dividends on all
outstanding perpetual preferred stock and parity stock, if any,
for all dividend periods have been declared and paid (or
declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been
set aside for payment) on the perpetual preferred stock and any
parity stock for all
S-82
dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of
such declaration, payment, distribution, redemption, purchase or
acquisition.
Voting
Rights
Prior to any remarketing of the perpetual preferred stock, if
and whenever 20 consecutive semi-annual dividends payable on the
perpetual preferred stock are not paid, the number of directors
constituting our board of directors will be increased by two and
the holders of the perpetual preferred stock then outstanding
and all series of appointing preferred shares then outstanding,
voting together as a class, will have a right to elect those
additional directors to our board until all accumulated
dividends on the perpetual preferred stock have been paid in
full or until the shares of perpetual preferred stock are no
longer outstanding.
After any successful remarketing of the perpetual preferred
stock or any final failed remarketing of the perpetual preferred
stock, if and whenever six dividends, whether or not
consecutive, payable on the perpetual preferred stock are not
paid in full, the number of directors constituting our board of
directors will be increased by two and the holders of the
perpetual preferred stock then outstanding and all series of
appointing preferred shares then outstanding, voting together as
a class, will have a right to elect those additional directors
to our board until all accumulated dividends on the perpetual
preferred stock have been paid in full, provided that in no
event shall the holders of the perpetual preferred stock be
entitled pursuant to this paragraph and the preceding paragraph
to more than two directors in the aggregate.
The term of any director elected pursuant to the preceding two
paragraphs shall end on the day that all dividend arrearages are
paid in full or the perpetual preferred stock and appointing
preferred shares ceases to be outstanding and the number of
directors constituting our board of directors shall
automatically be reduced by two.
To exercise any right to elect directors as described above, any
holder may by written notice request that we call a special
meeting of the holders of the perpetual preferred stock for the
purpose of electing the additional directors and, if the failure
to pay accumulated dividends in full is continuing, we must call
that meeting within 35 days of the date of such written
request. If we fail to call such a meeting upon request, any
holder at that time may call a meeting by notice mailed to all
holders of perpetual preferred stock.
Except as provided herein or as otherwise required by the laws
of the State of Delaware from time to time, holders of the
perpetual preferred stock will have no voting rights.
As used in this section, appointing preferred shares
means any other class of parity stock established after the
designation of the perpetual preferred stock upon which like
director appointing rights have been conferred and are
exercisable.
Redemption
Mandatory
Redemption
We must redeem the perpetual preferred stock in whole, out of
funds legally available therefor, at a cash redemption price
equal to the $1,000 liquidation preference per share of
perpetual preferred stock, plus an amount equal to any
accumulated dividends, if we elect to terminate a remarketing on
a day prior to a remarketing date, as described under
Remarketing Remarketing
Procedures.
The redemption price shall be paid to holders of perpetual
preferred stock on the redemption date, which shall be the day
that is the third business day after we give notice of our
election to terminate a remarketing.
Optional
Redemption
We may redeem the perpetual preferred stock, at our option, in
whole, at any time, out of funds legally available therefor, at
a cash redemption price equal to the $1,000 liquidation
preference per share of perpetual preferred stock, plus an
amount equal to any accumulated dividends.
S-83
We may redeem the perpetual preferred stock, at our option, in
part, at any time, out of funds legally available therefor, if
the convertible debentures are then redeemable and we redeem the
outstanding convertible debentures in the same proportion as the
perpetual preferred stock.
The redemption price shall be paid to holders of perpetual
preferred stock on the redemption date, which shall be the day
that is specified in the notice of redemption. In the case of a
redemption required in order to effectuate a redemption of
convertible debentures, the date specified as the redemption
date in the notice of redemption must be the 30th business day
after the date on which we issue a written notice announcing the
redemption of the convertible debentures.
Under Delaware law, we may redeem the perpetual preferred stock
only to the extent that assets are legally available to do so.
Redemption Procedures
We will mail notice of every redemption of perpetual preferred
stock by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the
holders of record of the shares of perpetual preferred stock to
be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on our
books (provided that if the perpetual preferred stock is held in
book-entry form through DTC, we may give such notice in any
manner permitted by DTC). Such notice will be at least
30 days and not more than 60 days before the date
fixed for redemption, provided that the notice of redemption
must be given on the date that we elect to terminate a
remarketing, in the case of a redemption upon a termination of a
remarketing. Any notice made as provided in this paragraph will
be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not
a holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such
notice, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing of such
notice, to any holder of perpetual preferred stock designated
for redemption will not affect the redemption of any other
perpetual preferred stock.
Each notice of redemption will state:
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the redemption date;
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the number of shares of perpetual preferred stock to be redeemed;
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the CUSIP, ISIN or similar number of the shares of perpetual
preferred stock to be redeemed;
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the redemption price and the amount of accumulated dividends, if
any; and
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if certificated perpetual preferred stock has been issued, the
place or places where holders may surrender certificates
evidencing the perpetual preferred stock for payment of the
redemption price plus an amount equal to any accumulated
dividends.
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If notice of redemption has been given and if the paying agent
holds, on or before the redemption date, cash sufficient to pay
the aggregate redemption price of the perpetual preferred stock,
including an amount equal to any accumulated dividends, then, as
of the redemption date:
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dividends will cease to be payable on such perpetual preferred
stock;
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such perpetual preferred stock shall no longer be deemed
outstanding; and
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all rights of the holders of such perpetual preferred stock will
terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price,
including an amount equal to any accumulated dividends.
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Changes
to Redemption Provisions in Connection with a
Remarketing
In the event that on December 15, 2046, or earlier upon the
first occurrence of a change of control, we do not exercise our
right to redeem the perpetual preferred stock and holders of the
perpetual preferred stock elect to tender their perpetual
preferred stock for remarketing, as described below, we will
determine the optional redemption provisions of such perpetual
preferred stock applicable following the remarketing; provided,
however, that such provisions are not, in the reasonable
judgment of the remarketing agent, likely to adversely affect
the ability of the remarketing agent to remarket the perpetual
preferred stock.
S-84
Remarketing
After December 15, 2046 or earlier upon the first
occurrence of a change of control (as described under
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Conversion Prior to December 15, 2036
Conversion Upon a Change of Control), the holders of
perpetual preferred stock may elect to have their shares of the
perpetual preferred stock remarketed. At such times, to the
extent that the convertible debentures are then otherwise
convertible, holders of convertible debentures may also elect to
convert their convertible debentures and tender the perpetual
preferred stock issuable upon conversion, as well as any
additional perpetual preferred stock held by such holders, for
sale in a remarketing.
In order to participate in a remarketing, holders of perpetual
preferred stock must send a notice of election (as defined
below) during the remarketing election period (as defined under
Remarketing Procedures). Holders that do
not submit a notice of election with respect to their perpetual
preferred stock may not participate in the remarketing.
In the event of a final failed remarketing (as defined below),
shares of perpetual preferred stock that are issued upon
conversion of convertible debentures for purposes of a
remarketing will be delivered on the third business day
following the final remarketing date to the holders who
converted their convertible debentures, and perpetual preferred
stock earlier obtained will be returned to the holders who so
elected to participate in the remarketing.
Except as described under Dividends and
Redemption Changes to
Redemption Provisions in Connection with a
Remarketing, the terms of the perpetual preferred stock
will remain the same after a remarketing.
Remarketing
Procedures
The following is a summary of the procedures to be followed in
connection with a remarketing of the perpetual preferred stock.
We must give notice within five business days after December 15,
2046 or within five business days after the earlier first
occurrence of a change of control, which notifies all record
holders of perpetual preferred stock that the remarketing agent
will commence a remarketing on the initial remarketing date,
unless we elect to redeem the perpetual preferred stock. During
the period beginning at 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on
the business day immediately following December 15, 2046 or the
effective date of a change of control, and ending at
5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the tenth business day
immediately following the date of the notice referred to above
(which we refer to as the remarketing election
period), each holder of perpetual preferred stock and, if
the remarketing is triggered by the occurrence of a change of
control, any holder of convertible debentures converting in
connection with the occurrence of the change of control who wish
to have perpetual preferred stock otherwise deliverable to such
holder in respect of such conversion remarketed in such a
remarketing, may give a notice to us of its election, which we
refer to as a notice of election, to tender all or
any portion of such perpetual preferred stock for sale in a
remarketing and deliver such perpetual preferred stock to the
remarketing agent for remarketing. Any notice of election given
to us will be irrevocable and may not be conditioned upon the
level at which the reset rate is established in the remarketing.
The remarketing election period may be adjusted by us in order
to facilitate compliance with applicable law.
Promptly after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the last
day of the remarketing election period, we, based on the notices
of election received by us prior to such time, will give a
notice of the remarketing of the perpetual preferred stock to
DTC and the remarketing agent. Such notice will include a
statement setting forth:
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the number of shares of the perpetual preferred stock to be
tendered for sale in a remarketing;
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the initial remarketing date; and
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whether they will remarket the perpetual preferred stock at a
fixed or floating rate and any revised optional redemption
provisions that will apply to the perpetual preferred stock
tendered for sale in a remarketing.
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Pursuant to the remarketing agreement described under
Remarketing Agreement, on any
remarketing date, the remarketing agent will use its
commercially reasonable efforts to remarket the perpetual
preferred stock tendered for sale in a remarketing, at the
lowest annual fixed rate that will enable it to remarket all
perpetual preferred stock tendered for sale in a remarketing (or
at a floating rate based on
3-month
LIBOR if we so determine, provided that such determination does
not, in the reasonable judgment of the remarketing agent,
adversely affect the remarketing), at a price equal to at least
the sum of (x) 100% of the $1,000 liquidation preference
per share of perpetual preferred stock tendered for remarketing
and (y) the remarketing agent fee per share of perpetual
preferred stock tendered for remarketing provided in the
marketing agreement, plus an amount equal to any accumulated
dividends to the remarketing date. If on or prior to
4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any remarketing date, as
a result of such efforts, the remarketing agent is able to
successfully remarket all perpetual preferred stock tendered for
sale in a remarketing, a successful remarketing
shall have occurred.
A remarketing will initially occur on the sixth trading day
after the last day of the remarketing election period (which we
refer to as the initial remarketing date), and in
the event a successful remarketing does not occur on the initial
remarketing date, an additional remarketing will occur on the
eleventh trading day after the last day of the remarketing
election period (which we refer to as the second
remarketing date) and, if a successful remarketing does
not occur on the second remarketing date, on the sixteenth
trading day following the last day of the remarketing election
period (which we refer to as the third remarketing
date). If a successful remarketing does not occur on the
third remarketing, a final remarketing will occur on the
21st trading day after the last day of the remarketing
election period (which we refer to as the final
remarketing date). We refer to each of the initial
remarketing date, the second remarketing date, the third
remarketing date and the final remarketing date as a
remarketing date. The remarketing agent will advise
us with respect to the remarketing on each remarketing date.
If the remarketing agent is unable to place successfully all
perpetual preferred stock tendered for remarketing at a price
equal to at least the sum of (x) 100% of the $1,000
liquidation preference per share of perpetual preferred stock
tendered for remarketing and (y) the remarketing agent fee per
share of perpetual preferred stock tendered for remarketing
provided for in the remarketing agreement, plus an amount equal
to any accumulated dividends to the remarketing date as of
4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the final remarketing
date, a final failed remarketing shall have
occurred. In the event of a final failed remarketing, no
perpetual preferred stock will be sold in such remarketing, and
dividends will be payable on the perpetual preferred stock at
the reset rate starting on the reset effective date, as
described under Dividends.
By approximately 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a
remarketing date, the remarketing agent will advise, by
telephone or
e-mail:
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each DTC participant that is purchasing or selling perpetual
preferred stock in the remarketing and us of whether a
successful remarketing has occurred and if so, the reset rate
determined in the remarketing and the number of shares of
remarketed perpetual preferred stock sold;
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each purchaser of remarketed perpetual preferred stock (or the
DTC participant thereof) of the reset rate and the number of
shares of remarketed perpetual preferred stock such purchaser is
to purchase; and
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each purchaser to give instructions to its DTC participant to
pay the purchase price on the remarketing settlement date in
same day funds against delivery of the remarketed perpetual
preferred stock purchased through the facilities of the DTC
participant.
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If a final failed remarketing occurs, we will cause a notice
thereof to be communicated to holders through DTC and published
on our corporate Internet site on the third business day
immediately following the final remarketing date.
The right of each holder of perpetual preferred stock, and any
converting holders of convertible debentures, to have perpetual
preferred stock tendered for sale in a remarketing is subject to
the following:
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the terms of the remarketing agreement;
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the ability of the remarketing agent to find a purchaser or
purchasers for perpetual preferred stock offered in the
remarketing at a reset rate; and
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the delivery by such purchaser or purchasers of the purchase
price to the remarketing agent.
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We will use our commercially reasonable efforts to effect a
remarketing, but if we are unable to do so, the dividend rate
will be reset to the rate applicable in the case of a final
failed remarketing, as described under
Dividends. We may elect to terminate a
remarketing on any day prior to a remarketing date by giving DTC
and the remarketing agent notice of such termination; provided,
however, that if we so elect to terminate a remarketing, we must
elect to redeem the perpetual preferred stock, out of funds
legally available therefor, as described under
Redemption Mandatory
Redemption.
Remarketing
Settlement
In the event that a successful remarketing occurs,
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the remarketing agent will deduct, as a remarketing fee, an
amount provided for in the remarketing agreement per share of
perpetual preferred stock purchased in a remarketing multiplied
by the number of shares of perpetual preferred stock purchased
from the aggregate amount of proceeds from the sale of shares of
perpetual preferred stock; the remarketing agent will then remit
the remaining portion of such proceeds to us by 5:00 p.m.
on behalf of the selling holders (New York City time) on the
third business day immediately following the related remarketing
date for the benefit of the holders;
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holders of perpetual preferred stock issued upon conversion for
purposes of a remarketing will receive, on the third business
day following the related remarketing date (which we refer to as
the remarketing settlement date), per perpetual
preferred share received upon conversion of a convertible
debenture and then sold in a remarketing, $1,000 in cash, an
amount in cash equal to deferred interest on such convertible
debenture at the date of conversion, and a number of shares of
our common stock, if any, and cash in lieu of fractional shares,
if any, determined in accordance with Description of the
Convertible Debentures Conversion
Procedures Settlement Upon Conversion; and
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holders of perpetual preferred stock earlier obtained, whether
through an earlier conversion or otherwise, will receive, on the
remarketing settlement date, $1,000 in cash per share of
perpetual preferred stock sold in a remarketing, plus a cash
amount equal to any accumulated dividends on the perpetual
preferred stock.
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In the event a final failed remarketing occurs,
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holders of perpetual preferred stock issued upon conversion for
purposes of a remarketing will receive, on the remarketing
settlement date, consideration determined in accordance with
Description of the Convertible Debentures
Conversion Procedures Settlement Upon
Conversion; and
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holders of perpetual preferred stock earlier obtained, whether
through an earlier conversion or otherwise, will have their
perpetual preferred stock returned to them on the remarketing
settlement date.
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All perpetual preferred stock tendered for sale in a remarketing
will be automatically delivered to the account of the
remarketing agent through the facilities of DTC against payment
of the purchase price for such perpetual preferred stock on the
third business day immediately following the remarketing date on
which a successful remarketing occurred.
The remarketing agent will not be obligated to purchase any
perpetual preferred stock that would otherwise remain unsold in
a remarketing, but will not be prohibited from any such
purchases. Neither we nor the remarketing agent will be
obligated in any case to provide funds to make payment upon
tender of perpetual preferred stock for remarketing.
We may elect to effect a remarketing settlement only if the
perpetual preferred stock, at the time we effect a remarketing
settlement, is issued solely in global, fully registered form to
DTC. A remarketing will be terminated and will not be
consummated if, after we have initiated a remarketing but prior
to the related remarketing settlement date, the perpetual
preferred stock is no longer issued solely in global, fully
registered form to DTC.
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Remarketing
Agreement
We will enter into a remarketing agreement providing, among
other things, that the remarketing agent will use commercially
reasonable efforts to remarket the perpetual preferred stock
tendered for purchase in the remarketing at a price equal to at
least the sum of (x) 100% of the $1,000 liquidation
preference per share of perpetual preferred stock tendered for
remarketing and (y) the remarketing agent fee per share of
perpetual preferred stock provided for in the remarketing
agreement, plus an amount equal to any accumulated dividends to
the remarketing date.
The remarketing agreement will provide that the remarketing
agent will incur no liability to us or to any holder of the
perpetual preferred stock 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 gross
negligence or willful misconduct on its part.
We will agree to indemnify the remarketing agent against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or
contribute to payments that the remarketing agent may be
required to make, arising out of or in connection with its
duties under the remarketing agreement.
The remarketing agreement will provide that the remarketing
agent may resign and be discharged from its duties and
obligations thereunder; provided, however, that no such
resignation will become effective until we have appointed at
least one nationally recognized broker-dealer as successor
remarketing agent and such successor remarketing agent has
entered into a remarketing agreement with us. In such case, we
will use our commercially reasonable efforts to appoint a
successor remarketing agent and to enter into a remarketing
agreement with such person or entity as soon as reasonably
practicable.
Holders of perpetual preferred stock will be third-party
beneficiaries of the remarketing agreement, to the extent a
failed final remarketing occurs as a result of our failure to
perform our obligations under the remarketing agreement.
Liquidation
Preference
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, each holder of perpetual preferred stock will be
entitled to receive and to be paid out of our assets available
for distribution to our stockholders, before any payment or
distribution is made to holders of junior stock (including
common stock), but after any distribution on any of our
indebtedness or senior stock, a liquidation preference in the
amount of $1,000 per share of perpetual preferred stock, plus an
amount equal to accumulated dividends on the shares to the date
fixed for liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, provided however, that in the event of
our bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership, whether voluntary or
not, holders of perpetual preferred stock will have no claim in
respect of amounts representing dividends that accumulated while
a mandatory trigger event occurred and was continuing, to the
extent the amount of such dividends exceeds two years of
accumulated and unpaid dividends on the perpetual preferred
stock. If, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution, the amounts payable with respect to the
liquidation preference of the perpetual preferred stock and all
parity stock is not paid in full, the holders of the perpetual
preferred stock and the parity stock will share equally and
ratably in any distribution of our assets in proportion to the
full liquidation preference and accumulated dividends to which
they are entitled. After payment of the full amount of the
liquidation preference and accumulated dividends to which they
are entitled, the holders of the perpetual preferred stock will
have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Neither
the sale, assignment, transfer or lease of all or substantially
all our assets or business (other than in connection with our
liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution), nor our merger or consolidation into or with
any other person, will be deemed to be our voluntary or
involuntary liquidation,
winding-up
or dissolution.
The certificate of designations will not contain any provision
requiring funds to be set aside to protect the liquidation
preference of the perpetual preferred stock even though it is
substantially in excess of the par value thereof.
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Maturity
The perpetual preferred stock will not have a stated maturity
date. Accordingly, the perpetual preferred stock will remain
outstanding indefinitely unless it is redeemed.
Book-Entry,
Delivery and Form
We will initially issue the perpetual preferred stock in the
form of one or more fully-registered global security
certificates, representing the total aggregate number of shares
of perpetual preferred stock. The global security certificates
will be deposited upon issuance with the registrar as custodian
for DTC, in New York, New York, and registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC (such nominee being
referred to herein as the global security certificate
holder), in each case for credit to an account of a direct
or indirect participant in DTC as described below. Except as set
forth below, the global security certificates may be
transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee
of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial
interests in the global security certificates may not be
exchanged for perpetual preferred stock in certificated form
except in the limited circumstances described in the
accompanying prospectus. Except in the limited circumstances
described in the accompanying prospectus, owners of beneficial
interests in the global security certificates will not be
entitled to receive physical delivery of perpetual preferred
stock in certificated form.
Transfers of beneficial interests in the global security
certificates will be subject to the applicable rules and
procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants
(including, if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream,
which may change from time to time).
Depositary
Procedures
The following description of the operations and procedures of
DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are provided solely as a matter
of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely
within the control of the respective settlement systems and are
subject to changes by them. We take no responsibility for these
operations and procedures and urge investors to contact the
system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company
created to hold securities for its participants and to
facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those
securities between participants through electronic book-entry
changes in accounts of its participants. The participants
include securities brokers and dealers (including the
underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and
certain other organizations. Access to DTCs system is also
available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and
trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly.
Persons who are not participants may beneficially own securities
held by or on behalf of DTC only through the participants or the
indirect participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers
of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of
DTC are recorded on the records of the participants and indirect
participants. DTC has also advised us that, pursuant to
procedures established by it:
(1) upon deposit of the global security certificates, DTC
will credit the accounts of participants designated by the
underwriters with shares of the perpetual preferred stock
represented by the global security certificates; and
(2) ownership of these interests in the global security
certificates will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of
these interests will be effected only through, records
maintained by DTC (with respect to the participants) or by the
participants and the indirect participants (with respect to
other owners of beneficial interest in the global security
certificates).
Euroclear and Clearstream may hold interests in the global
security certificates on behalf of their participants through
customers securities accounts in their respective names on
the books of their respective depositories. All interests in a
global security certificate, including those held through
Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and
requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or
Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and
requirements of such systems. The laws of some states require
that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form
of securities that they own.
S-89
Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a
global security certificate to such persons will be limited to
that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of participants,
which in turn act on behalf of indirect participants, the
ability of a person having beneficial interests in a global
security certificate to pledge such interests to persons that do
not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in
respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a
physical certificate evidencing such interests.
Except as described below, owners of interests in the global
security certificates will not have notes registered in their
names, will not receive physical delivery of notes in
certificated form and will not be considered the registered
owners or holders thereof under the indenture for
any purpose.
Payments by us in respect of a global security certificate
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to
DTC in its capacity as the registered holder. We will treat the
persons in whose names the shares of perpetual preferred stock,
including the global security certificates, are registered as
the owners of the perpetual preferred stock for the purpose of
receiving payments and for all other purposes. Consequently,
neither we nor any agent of us has or will have any
responsibility or liability for:
(1) any aspect of DTCs records or any
participants or indirect participants records
relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the global security certificates or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTCs records
or any participants or indirect participants records
relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the global
security certificates; or
(2) any other matter relating to the actions and practices
of DTC or any of its participants or indirect participants. DTC
has advised us that its current practice, upon receipt of any
payment in respect of securities such as the perpetual preferred
stock, is to credit the accounts of the relevant participants
with the payment on the payment date unless DTC has reason to
believe it will not receive payment on such payment date. Each
relevant participant is credited with an amount proportionate to
its beneficial ownership of an interest in the total principal
or par amount of the relevant security as shown on the records
of DTC. Payments by the participants and the indirect
participants to the beneficial owners of perpetual preferred
stock will be governed by standing instructions and customary
practices and will be the responsibility of the participants or
the indirect participants and will not be the responsibility of
DTC, the trustee or us. We will not be liable for any delay by
DTC or any of its participants in identifying the beneficial
owners of the perpetual preferred stock, and we and the trustee
may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on
instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.
Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in
accordance with DTCs procedures, and will be settled in
same-day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear
and Clearstream will be effected in accordance with their
respective rules and operating procedures. Subject to compliance
with the transfer restrictions applicable to the perpetual
preferred stock described herein, cross-market transfers between
the participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or
Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected
through DTC in accordance with DTCs rules on behalf of
Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective
depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require
delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the
case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance
with the rules and procedures and within the established
deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or
Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets
its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its
respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement
on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the
relevant global security certificate in DTC, and making or
receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for
same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear
participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver
instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or
Clearstream.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be
taken by a holder of perpetual preferred stock only at the
direction of one or more participants to whose account DTC
has credited the interests in the global security certificates
and only in respect of such number of shares of the perpetual
preferred stock as to which such participant or participants has
or have given such direction.
Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the
foregoing to facilitate transfers of interests in the global
security certificates among participants in DTC, Euroclear and
Clearstream, they are under no
S-90
obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures,
and may discontinue such procedures at any time. Neither we nor
any of our agents will have any responsibility for the
performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective
participants or indirect participants of their respective
obligations under the rules and procedures governing their
operations.
Transfer
Agent, Paying Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent, paying agent and registrar for the perpetual
preferred stock will be American Stock Transfer and Trust
Company. American Stock Transfer and Trust Company also serves
as the registrar and transfer agent for our common stock and as
the administrator of our restricted stock plan.
Calculations
in Respect of the Perpetual Preferred Stock
We will be responsible for making all calculations called for
under the perpetual preferred stock, including, but not limited
to, the determination of the dividends payable on the perpetual
preferred stock. We or our agents will make these calculations
in good faith and, absent manifest error, such calculations will
be final and binding on holders of the perpetual preferred
stock. We will provide a schedule of these calculations to the
paying agent, and the paying agent will be entitled to rely upon
the accuracy of our calculations without independent
verification.
S-91
CAPITAL
REPLACEMENT
Capital
Replacement Intention Upon Optional Redemption or Cash
Conversion
At the time of
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any redemption of convertible debentures or perpetual preferred
stock, or
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any conversion of convertible debentures that would require the
principal return to be paid in cash (which would apply to
conversions either upon a notice of redemption or upon a
non-stock change of control),
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we intend to fund any cash payment upon such redemption or
conversion, as the case may be, with net proceeds received by us
from the sale, during the
180-day
period prior to the date of redemption or conversion, by us or
our subsidiaries to third-party purchasers, of securities for
which we will receive equity credit, at the time of sale, that
is equal to or greater than the equity credit attributed to the
convertible debentures or perpetual preferred stock at the time
of such redemption or conversion, in the opinion of our board of
directors reasonably construing the standards employed by the
rating agency that then attributes the greatest equity credit to
the convertible debentures in making such determinations.
Capital
Replacement Covenant From the Scheduled Maturity Date to, and
Including, December 15, 2046
Prior to or concurrently with the initial issuance of the
convertible debentures, we will enter into a capital replacement
covenant for the benefit of holders of a specified series of our
long-term indebtedness as described below. The following
summarizes the capital replacement covenant, but does not
restate the capital replacement covenant in its entirety. We
urge you to read the capital replacement covenant because it,
and not this description, is the governing instrument. You may
request copies of the capital replacement covenant at our
address set forth under Incorporation of Certain Documents
by Reference.
The definitions of certain terms used in this section are found
under Certain Definitions below. Unless
otherwise specified, the words we us and
our as used in this section refer only to Peabody
Energy Corporation and not to any of its subsidiaries.
The
Capital Replacement Covenant
Prior to or concurrently with the initial issuance of the
convertible debentures, we will enter into a capital replacement
covenant in which we will covenant for the benefit of persons
that buy, hold or sell a specified series of our long-term
indebtedness that ranks senior to the convertible debentures
(the specified series) that on or following the
scheduled maturity date and prior to December 15, 2046 neither
we nor any of our subsidiaries will pay the convertible
debentures pursuant to the provisions of the indenture described
under Description of the Convertible
Debentures Payment at Scheduled Maturity or
redeem or repurchase convertible debentures unless the amount of
such payment, the redemption price or the repurchase price, as
the case may be, does not exceed the sum of:
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400% of the aggregate amount of net cash proceeds we and our
subsidiaries have received from the sale of common stock and
rights to acquire common stock (including common stock issued
pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan or employee benefit
plans);
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the aggregate amount of net cash proceeds we and our
subsidiaries have received from the sale of mandatorily
convertible preferred stock or debt exchangeable for
equity, and
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the aggregate amount of net cash proceeds we and our
subsidiaries have received from the sale of any other
replacement capital securities (as defined below),
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in each case, during the six months prior to the notice date for
the relevant payment, redemption or repurchase.
S-92
Our ability to raise proceeds from sales of the securities
described above during the six months prior to the notice date
for a proposed payment, redemption or repurchase will depend on,
among other things, market conditions at that time as well as
the acceptability to prospective investors of the terms of those
securities.
Our covenants in the capital replacement covenant will run only
to the benefit of holders of the specified series of our
long-term indebtedness. The capital replacement covenant is not
intended to be for the benefit of holders of the convertible
debentures or perpetual preferred stock, will not be enforceable
by them, and will not be among the terms of the indenture or the
convertible debentures or the certificate of designations of the
perpetual preferred stock.
The capital replacement covenant will terminate upon the earlier
to occur of (i) December 15, 2046; (ii) the date on
which the holders of a majority of the principal amount of the
then outstanding specified series of long-term indebtedness
agree to terminate the capital replacement covenant;
(iii) the date on which we no longer have outstanding any
indebtedness eligible to qualify as the specified series
pursuant to the specifications for covered debt in
the capital replacement covenant; or (iv) the date on which
we have no outstanding convertible debentures.
The initial specified series of long-term indebtedness
benefiting from the capital replacement covenant will be our
77/8% Senior
Notes Due 2026. The capital replacement covenant will include
provisions requiring us to designate a new specified series if
the existing specified series approaches maturity, becomes
subject to a redemption notice or is reduced to less than
$100,000,000 in outstanding principal amount, subject to
additional procedures. We expect that, at all times from and
including December 15, 2041 and prior to December 15, 2046,
we will be subject to the capital replacement covenant and,
therefore, restricted in our ability to pay, redeem or
repurchase the convertible debentures during such period.
We will retain the right, at our option, to amend the capital
replacement covenant at any time, provided such amendment is not
adverse to the holders of the specified series of our long-term
indebtedness, (i) to exclude common stock or securities
convertible into common stock from the list of securities that
we are permitted to sell pursuant to the capital replacement
covenant, provided that we have been advised in writing by a
nationally recognized independent accounting firm that there is
more than an insubstantial risk that the failure to do so would
result in a reduction in our earnings per share as calculated
for financial reporting purposes, or (ii) to impose
additional restrictions on the type or amount of those
securities permitted to be sold. An amendment imposing such an
exclusion or such additional restrictions would not require the
consent of holders of the specified series of indebtedness
benefiting from the capital replacement covenant.
We will be prohibited, however, under the terms of the indenture
governing the convertible debentures from amending the capital
replacement covenant to impose additional restrictions on the
type or amount of qualifying capital securities that we may
include for purposes of determining when payment, redemption and
repurchase of the convertible debentures is permitted, unless we
secure the consent of holders of a majority by principal amount
of the convertible debentures. This prohibition will not apply
to additional restrictions on, or exclusions from, the type or
amount of common stock, rights to acquire common stock or
securities convertible into common stock that we may include for
purposes of determining when payment, redemption or repurchase
of the convertible debentures is permitted.
The capital replacement covenant will have no effect on the
absolute and unconditional nature of our obligation to pay
holders the principal amount of (and accrued and unpaid interest
on) the convertible debentures on the final maturity date or
upon an event of default resulting in acceleration.
Certain
Definitions
Replacement capital securities means securities
that, in the determination of our board of directors reasonably
construing the definitions and other terms of the capital
replacement covenant, satisfy one of the following descriptions:
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our common stock;
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our mandatorily convertible preferred stock;
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S-93
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our debt exchangeable for equity; or
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preferred stock or junior subordinated debt securities issued by
us or our subsidiaries that rank equal to or junior to the
convertible debentures upon our bankruptcy, insolvency or
receivership and meet one of the following criteria:
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(a) have no maturity or a maturity of at least
60 years with capital replacement intention disclosure and
(b) have an optional deferral provision;
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(a) have no maturity or a maturity of at least
60 years and (b) are non-cumulative;
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(a) have a maturity of at least 40 years and are
subject to a binding capital replacement covenant and
(b) have an optional deferral provision;
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(a) have a maturity of at least 40 years with capital
replacement intention disclosure and (b) are non-cumulative;
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(a) have a maturity of at least 40 years and
(b) have a mandatory trigger provision and an optional
deferral provision; or
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(a) have a maturity of at least 25 years and are
subject to a binding capital replacement covenant and
(b) are non-cumulative.
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Any of the foregoing replacement capital securities may be
convertible or exchangeable at any time in whole or in part at
the option of the issuer or the holder thereof into one or more
other securities so long as such other securities also qualify
as replacement capital securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any securities or combinations of
securities if issued by us to any of our subsidiaries, without
the contemporaneous issuance of a security or combination of
securities that otherwise would satisfy the definition of
replacement capital securities by the subsidiary to
a person other than a subsidiary of ours, shall not qualify as
replacement capital securities.
Debt exchangeable for equity means a security (or
combination of securities) that (a) gives the holder a
beneficial interest in (i) our debt securities that are
non-cumulative and that are our most junior subordinated debt
(or rank equal to our most junior subordinated debt) and
(ii) an interest in a stock purchase contract that will
result in the holder of the security acquiring a beneficial
interest in our common stock or qualifying preferred stock,
provided that the number of shares of common stock to be
acquired pursuant to the stock purchase contract shall be within
a range that is established at the time of issuance of the stock
purchase contract, (as defined under Description of the
Convertible Debentures Warrant and Preferred Stock
Settlement Mechanism), (b) includes a remarketing
feature pursuant to which the junior subordinated debt is
remarketed to new investors within five years from the date of
issuance of the security (or combination of securities) or
earlier in the event of any early settlement event based on one
or more financial tests or other express terms set forth in the
terms of such securities or related transaction agreements,
(c) provides for the proceeds raised in the remarketing to
be used to satisfy the holders payment obligations (if not
otherwise fulfilled) in respect of the required purchase of
common stock or qualifying preferred stock under the stock
purchase contract interest referenced above, (d) includes a
binding capital replacement covenant, provided that such capital
replacement covenant will apply to such security (or combination
of securities) and to any qualifying preferred stock and will
not include debt exchangeable for equity in the definition of
qualifying capital securities and (e) includes
a provision defining a failed remarketing and specifying that
the consequences of a failed remarketing will be that such
common stock or qualifying preferred stock will be acquired in
exchange for the junior subordinated debt.
Mandatorily convertible preferred stock means
preferred stock with (a) no prepayment obligation on the
part of the issuer thereof, whether at the election of the
holders or otherwise, and (b) a requirement that the
preferred stock convert into our common stock within three years
from the date of its issuance at a conversion ratio within a
range established at the time of issuance of the preferred stock.
Alternative payment mechanism means, with respect to
any securities, that such securities or related transaction
agreements include (1) a limitation on distributions in
bankruptcy provision and (2) a provision to
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the effect that, upon the occurrence of certain events specified
in such securities or related transaction agreements, we
(a) shall sell, or use our commercially reasonable efforts
to sell, our common stock, rights to purchase our common stock
and/or
qualifying preferred stock, unless a market disruption event (as
defined under Description of the Convertible
Debentures Warrant and Preferred Stock Settlement
Mechanism) has occurred and is continuing, in an amount
such that the net proceeds of such sale are equal to at least
the amount of accumulated and unpaid amounts on such securities
(including any compounded amounts thereon), and apply the
proceeds to pay such accumulated and unpaid amounts and
(b) shall not, from and after the occurrence of any of such
specified events until, but excluding, a date specified in such
securities or related transaction agreements, pay any
accumulated and unpaid amounts on such securities to the extent
such amounts exceed the net proceeds of such sale; provided
that the aggregate net proceeds from the issuance or sale of
qualifying preferred stock that may be used to pay accumulated
and unpaid amounts shall not exceed 25% of the initial aggregate
liquidation preference or principal amount of the replacement
capital securities; and provided further that the number
of shares of any common stock that may be issued or sold,
together with the number of shares of common stock underlying
any rights to purchase common stock that may be issued or sold,
to pay accumulated and unpaid amounts attributable to the first
five years of any deferral period (including compounded amounts
thereon), may be limited to an amount equal to 2% of the number
of shares of common stock outstanding contemporaneously with the
date of such issuance or sale.
Binding capital replacement covenant means, with
respect to any securities, a capital replacement covenant
substantially similar to the capital replacement covenant
applicable to the convertible debentures, but with immediate
effect rather than applying only from a date subsequent to the
issuance of such securities.
Capital replacement intention disclosure means, with
respect to any securities, that we have publicly stated our
intention, either in the prospectus or other offering document
under which such securities were initially offered for sale or
in filings with the SEC made by us under the Exchange Act prior
to or contemporaneously with the issuance of such securities,
that we will pay, redeem or repurchase such securities only if
we have received an amount of net proceeds at least equal to the
applicable payment, redemption or repurchase price of such
securities from the issuance of securities that are as, or more,
equity-like than such securities, within six months prior to the
applicable payment, redemption or repurchase date.
Limitation on distributions in bankruptcy provision
means, with respect to any securities, provisions in the terms
thereof or of the related transaction agreements that, upon any
liquidation, dissolution, winding up or reorganization, or in
connection with any insolvency, receivership or proceeding under
any bankruptcy law with respect to us, limit the claim of the
holders of such securities (other than non-cumulative preferred
stock) for distributions (or in the case of securities
containing a mandatory trigger provision, distributions that
accumulate during a period in which we fail to satisfy one or
more financial tests set forth in the terms of such securities
or related transaction agreements) to (x) 25% of the
principal amount of such securities then outstanding in the case
of securities not permitting the issuance and sale of qualifying
preferred stock pursuant to an alternative payment mechanism or
(y) two years of accumulated and unpaid distributions
(including any compounded amounts thereon) in all other cases.
Mandatory trigger provision means, with respect to
any securities, provisions in the terms thereof or of the
related transaction agreements that (a) (i) include an
alternative payment mechanism that becomes effective within two
years of a failure to satisfy one or more financial tests set
forth in the terms of such securities or related transaction
agreements or (ii) in the case of non-cumulative preferred
stock, include provisions that, from and after the occurrence of
the failure to satisfy any of such financial tests until, but
excluding, a date specified in such securities or related
transaction agreements, prohibit the issuer of such securities
from paying any deferred distributions in an amount exceeding
the net proceeds of the sale of our common stock, rights to
purchase our common stock or qualifying preferred stock and
(b) in the case of securities other than non-cumulative
preferred stock, prohibit us from repurchasing any of our common
stock prior to the date six months after the issuer applies the
net proceeds of the sales described in clause (a) to pay
such unpaid deferred distributions in full. No remedy other than
permitted remedies will arise by the terms of such
securities or related transaction agreements in favor of the
holders of such securities as a result of the issuers
failure to pay distributions because of the mandatory trigger
provision or as a result of the issuers exercise of its
right under
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an optional deferral provision until distributions have been
deferred for one or more distribution periods that total
together at least 10 years.
Non-cash cumulative means, with respect to any
securities, that the securities include (a) an optional
deferral provision and (b) an alternative payment mechanism
that becomes effective after the issuer of such securities has
deferred distributions on such securities for up to five years.
Non-cumulative means, with respect to any
securities, that either (a) the issuer may elect not to
make any number of periodic distributions or interest payments
without any remedy arising under the terms of the securities or
related agreements in favor of the holders, other than permitted
remedies or (b) except for purposes of the definition of
qualifying preferred stock, the securities are
non-cash cumulative.
Optional deferral provision means, with respect to
any securities, a provision in the terms thereof or of the
related transaction agreements that permits the issuer of such
securities to, in its sole discretion, defer in whole or in part
payment of distributions on such securities for up to
10 years without any remedy other than permitted remedies.
Permitted remedies means, with respect to any of our
securities, one or more of the following remedies:
(a) rights in favor of the holders of such securities
permitting such holders to elect one or more of our directors
(including any such rights required by the listing requirements
of any stock or securities exchange on which such securities may
be listed or traded), (b) complete or partial prohibitions
on our paying distributions on or repurchasing our common stock
or other securities that rank equal or junior as to
distributions to such securities for so long as distributions on
such securities, including unpaid distributions, remain unpaid
and (c) an alternative payment mechanism.
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CERTAIN
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain United States federal
income and estate tax considerations of the ownership of
convertible debentures and the shares of preferred stock and
common stock into which the convertible debentures may be
converted, as of the date hereof. Except where noted, this
summary deals only with a convertible debenture or share of
preferred stock or common stock held as a capital asset by a
holder who purchases the convertible debentures on original
issuance at their initial offering price, and does not
constitute a detailed description of the U.S. federal income and
estate tax considerations applicable to you if you are subject
to special treatment under the U.S. federal income or estate tax
laws, including if you are a dealer in securities or currencies,
a financial institution, a regulated investment company, a real
estate investment trust, a tax-exempt organization, an insurance
company, a person holding the convertible debentures or shares
of preferred stock or common stock as part of a hedging,
integrated, conversion or constructive sale transaction or a
straddle, a trader in securities that has elected the
mark-to-market
method of accounting for your securities, a person liable for
alternative minimum tax, a person who is an investor in a
pass-through entity, or a United States person whose
functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.
This summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and
U.S. Treasury regulations, rulings and judicial decisions as of
the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps
retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income and
estate tax considerations different from those summarized below.
This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income
and estate taxes and does not deal with all tax considerations
that may be relevant to holders in light of their personal
circumstances.
For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. holder
is a beneficial owner of a convertible debenture or share of
preferred stock or common stock that is:
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an individual citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or
under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia;
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an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income
taxation regardless of its source;
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a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of
a court within the United States and one or more United States
persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions
of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under
applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United
States person.
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The term
non-U.S. holder
means a beneficial owner of a convertible debenture or share of
preferred stock or common stock (other than a partnership) that
is not a U.S. holder.
If a partnership holds the convertible debentures or shares of
preferred stock or common stock, the tax treatment of a partner
will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the
activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a
partnership holding the convertible debentures or shares of
preferred stock or common stock, you should consult your own tax
advisors.
If you are considering the purchase of convertible debentures,
you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the
particular U.S. federal income and estate tax considerations to
you of the ownership of the convertible debentures, as well as
the consequences to you arising under the laws of any other
taxing jurisdiction.
Classification
of the Convertible Debentures
We intend to take the position that the convertible debentures
will be classified as our indebtedness for all U.S. federal
income tax purposes. These convertible debentures are novel
financial instruments and there is no statutory, judicial or
administrative authority that directly addresses the
U.S. federal income tax treatment of securities similar to
the convertible debentures. Thus, no assurance can be given that
the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) or a court
will agree with this characterization. If the IRS were to
successfully challenge
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the characterization of the convertible debentures as
indebtedness, interest payments on the convertible debentures
would be treated for such purposes as dividends to the extent of
our current or accumulated earnings and profits. In the case of
non-U.S. holders
(as defined above), distributions treated as dividends would be
subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate,
except to the extent reduced by applicable income tax treaty.
Except with respect to withholding as provided under
Non-U.S. Holders
Payments of Interest below, we agree, and by purchasing a
convertible debenture, you will agree to treat the convertible
debentures as indebtedness for all U.S. federal income tax
purposes, and the remainder of this discussion assumes such
treatment.
U.S. Holders
The following discussion is a summary of certain
U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to you
if you are a U.S. holder of convertible debentures.
Consequences
of Owning Convertible Debentures
Interest
Payments and Original Issue Discount
Under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations, a remote
contingency that stated interest will not be timely paid will be
ignored in determining whether a debt instrument is issued with
OID. We believe that, as of the date of this prospectus
supplement, the likelihood that we will exercise our option, or
be required, to defer payments of interest under the terms of
the convertible debentures is remote within the meaning of the
U.S. Treasury regulations. Accordingly, upon issuance we believe
the convertible debentures will not be treated as issued with
original issue discount (OID). Under such treatment,
you will generally be taxed on the stated interest on the
convertible debentures as ordinary income at the time it is paid
or accrued in accordance with your regular method of tax
accounting.
If, however, we defer payments of interest on the convertible
debentures, the convertible debentures will become OID
instruments at such time. In such case, you will be subject to
the special OID rules described below. If the convertible
debentures become OID instruments, they will generally be taxed
as OID instruments for as long as they remain outstanding.
Under the special OID rules, the following occurs:
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regardless of your method of accounting, you would accrue an
amount of interest income each year that approximates the stated
interest payments called for under the terms of the convertible
debentures using the
constant-yield-to-maturity
method of accrual described in section 1272 of the Code and
applicable U.S. Treasury regulations;
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the actual cash payments of interest you receive on the
convertible debentures would not be reported separately as
taxable income;
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any accrual of OID included in your gross income (whether or not
during a deferral period) with respect to the convertible
debentures will increase your tax basis in the convertible
debentures; and
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the amount of cash payments that you receive in respect of such
accrued OID will reduce your tax basis in such convertible
debentures.
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The IRS has not yet addressed in any rulings or other
interpretations the U.S. Treasury regulations dealing with OID
and the deferral of interest payments where the issuer of a debt
instrument has a right or obligation to defer interest payments.
It is possible that the IRS could assert that the convertible
debentures were issued initially with OID merely because of our
right or obligations under certain circumstances to defer
interest payments. If the IRS were successful in this regard,
you would be subject to the special OID rules described above,
regardless of whether we exercise our option or are required to
defer payments of interest on the convertible debentures.
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Sale,
Exchange, Redemption, or other Disposition of Convertible
Debentures
Except as provided below under Conversion of Convertible
Debentures you will generally recognize gain or loss upon
the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition of a
convertible debenture equal to the difference between the amount
realized (less accrued interest which will be taxable as such)
upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition and
your adjusted tax basis in the convertible debenture. Your tax
basis in a convertible debenture will generally be equal to the
amount you paid for the convertible debenture. Any gain or loss
recognized on a taxable disposition of the convertible debenture
will be capital gain or loss. If you are an individual and have
held the convertible debenture for more than one year, such
capital gain will be subject to reduced rates of taxation. Your
ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.
Conversion
of Convertible Debentures
If you receive a combination of cash and common stock in
exchange for your convertible debentures upon conversion, we
intend to take the position that you will recognize gain, but
not loss, equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair
market value of the common stock and cash received (except with
respect to any cash paid in lieu of fractional common shares and
with respect to amounts attributable to accrued interest which
would be taxable as such) over your adjusted tax basis in the
convertible debenture (excluding the portion of the tax basis
that is allocable to any fractional share) or (ii) the
amount of cash that you receive. The tax basis of the shares of
common stock received upon such a conversion (other than common
stock attributable to accrued interest, the tax basis of which
will equal its fair market value) will equal the adjusted tax
basis of the convertible debenture that was converted or
repurchased (excluding the portion of the tax basis that is
allocable to any fractional share), reduced by the amount of any
cash received (other than cash received in lieu of a fractional
share or cash attributable to accrued interest), and increased
by the amount of gain, if any, recognized (other than with
respect to a fractional share). Your holding period for shares
of common stock will include the period during which you held
the convertible debentures except that the holding period of any
common stock received with respect to accrued interest will
commence on the day after the date of receipt. Alternative
characterizations may be possible that could affect the amount,
timing and character of income realized by you upon the receipt
of a combination of cash and common stock. Such
characterizations might include treatment as in part an exchange
of a portion of the convertible debentures for cash and in part
a conversion of the remainder of the convertible debentures for
common stock. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the
tax treatment of the receipt of cash and common stock in
exchange for convertible debentures upon conversion.
If you receive a combination of preferred stock and common stock
upon conversion of your convertible debentures, you generally
will not recognize any gain or loss (except with respect to any
cash paid in lieu of fractional common shares and with respect
to amounts attributable to accrued interest which would be
taxable as such). Generally, your basis in the preferred stock
and common stock, if any, received upon such conversion of
convertible debentures will equal the basis of the converted
convertible debentures (plus any income attributable to accrued
interest) allocated based on relative fair market value (other
than any basis allocable to any fractional common shares) and
the holding period of such preferred stock and common stock will
include the holding period of the convertible debentures, except
that the holding period of any preferred stock or common stock
received with respect to accrued interest will commence on the
day after the date of receipt.
Cash received in lieu of a fractional share of common stock will
be treated as received in redemption of such fractional share
and gain or loss will be recognized by a holder in an amount
equal to the difference between the cash received and the
portion of the basis of the convertible debentures allocable to
such fractional interest. Such gain or loss will generally be
capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss
if the holding period for such convertible debentures was
greater than one year as of the date of the conversion.
Constructive
Distributions
The conversion rate of the convertible debentures will be
adjusted in certain circumstances. Under Section 305(c) of
the Code, adjustments (or failures to make adjustments) that
have the effect of increasing
S-99
your proportionate interest in our assets or earnings may in
some circumstances result in a deemed distribution to you.
Adjustments to the conversion rate made pursuant to a bona fide
reasonable adjustment formula that has the effect of preventing
the dilution of the interest of the holders of the convertible
debentures, however, will generally not be considered to result
in a deemed distribution to you. Certain of the possible
conversion rate adjustments provided in the convertible
debentures (including, without limitation, in respect of
Fundamental Changes as discussed in Description of
Convertible Debentures) may not qualify as being pursuant
to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula. In addition,
adjustments in respect of taxable dividends to holders of our
common stock will generally result in a deemed distribution to
you. If such adjustments are made, the U.S. holders of
convertible debentures will be deemed to have received a
distribution even though they have not received any cash or
property as a result of such adjustments.
Any deemed distributions will be taxable as a dividend, return
of capital, or capital gain in accordance with the earnings and
profits rules under the Code. It is not clear whether a
constructive dividend deemed paid to you would be eligible for
the preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax. It is also
unclear whether corporate holders would be entitled to claim the
dividends received deduction with respect to any such
constructive dividends.
Consequences
of Owning Preferred Stock and Common Stock
Dividends
Dividends on the preferred stock and common stock will be
dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent
paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as
determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and to such
extent will be taxable as ordinary income. It is unclear whether
our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be such
that all dividends paid with respect to the preferred stock and
common stock will qualify as dividends for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. Our accumulated earnings and profits and our
current earnings and profits in future years will depend in
significant part on our future profits or losses, which we
cannot accurately predict. To the extent that the amount of any
dividend paid on preferred stock or common stock exceeds our
current and accumulated earnings and profits attributable to
that share of stock, the dividend will be treated first as a
return of capital and will be applied against and reduce your
adjusted tax basis (but not below zero) in that share of stock.
This reduction in basis would increase any gain, or reduce any
loss realized by you on the subsequent sale, redemption or other
disposition of your preferred stock or common stock. The amount
of any such dividend in excess of your adjusted tax basis will
then be taxed as capital gain. For purposes of the remainder of
this discussion, it is assumed that dividends paid on the
preferred stock and common stock will constitute dividends for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. If you are a corporation,
dividends that are received by you may be eligible for a 70%
dividends-received deduction under the Code. However, the Code
disallows this dividends-received deduction in its entirety if
the stock with respect to which the dividend is paid is held by
you for less than 46 days during the
91-day
period beginning on the date which is 45 days before the
date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend with respect to such
dividend. (A
91-day
minimum holding period applies to certain dividend arrearages.)
It is possible that under Section 305(c) of the Code,
holders could be treated as receiving constructive dividends
with respect to any deferred dividends on the preferred stock or
to the extent the preferred stock is issued with a fair market
value that is less than its liquidation preference. Any such
dividends may result in a tax to holders of preferred stock
without the receipt of any cash or property.
Under current law, if you are an individual, dividends received
by you generally will be subject to a reduced maximum tax rate
of 15% through December 31, 2010, after which the rate
applicable to dividends is scheduled to return to the tax rate
generally applicable to ordinary income. The rate reduction will
not apply to dividends received to the extent that you elect to
treat the dividends as investment income, which may
be offset by investment expense. Furthermore, the rate reduction
will also not apply to dividends that are paid to you with
respect to preferred stock or common stock that is held by you
for less than 61 days during the
121-day
period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the
date on which the preferred stock or common stock becomes
ex-dividend with respect to such dividend. (A
91-day
minimum holding period applies to certain dividend arrearages.)
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In general, for purposes of meeting the holding period
requirements for both the dividends-received deduction and the
reduced maximum tax rate on dividends described above, you may
not count towards your holding period any period in which you
(a) have the option to sell, are under a contractual
obligation to sell, or have made (and not closed) a short sale
of the preferred stock or common stock, as the case may be, or
substantially identical stock or securities, (b) are the
grantor of an option to buy the preferred stock or common stock,
as the case may be, or substantially identical stock or
securities or (c) otherwise have diminished your risk of
loss by holding one or more other positions with respect to
substantially similar or related property. The U.S. Treasury
regulations provide that a taxpayer has diminished its risk of
loss on stock by holding a position in substantially similar or
related property if the taxpayer is the beneficiary of a
guarantee, surety agreement, or similar arrangement that
provides for payments that will substantially offset decreases
in the fair market value of the stock. In addition, the Code
disallows the dividends-received deduction as well as the
reduced maximum tax rate on dividends if the recipient of a
dividend is obligated to make related payments with respect to
positions in substantially similar or related property. This
disallowance applies even if the minimum holding period has been
met. You are advised to consult your own tax advisor regarding
the implications of these rules in light of your particular
circumstances.
You should consider the effect of section 246A of the Code,
which reduces the dividends-received deduction allowed with
respect to debt-financed portfolio stock. The Code
also imposes a 20% alternative minimum tax on corporations. In
some circumstances, the portion of dividends subject to the
dividends-received deduction will serve to increase a
corporations minimum tax base for purposes of the
determination of the alternative minimum tax. In addition, under
section 1059 of the Code, a corporate shareholder may be
required to reduce its basis in stock with respect to certain
extraordinary dividends. For example,
section 1059 could apply to cause all dividends to be
treated as extraordinary with respect to preferred stock issued
at a premium over its stated redemption price or issued with
accrued dividends because of deferral of interest on the
convertible debentures.
Because of tax considerations discussed above, the preferred
stock issuable upon conversion of a convertible debenture may
not, in some circumstances, be fungible with preferred stock
issued on other dates, if any, and may require a separate CUSIP
number.
You should consult your own tax adviser in determining the
application of the rules described in the previous paragraphs in
light of your particular circumstances.
Sale,
Exchange, Redemption or other Disposition of Preferred Stock or
Common Stock
A sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition (including
upon a remarketing) of the preferred stock or common stock will
generally result in gain or loss equal to the difference between
the amount realized upon the disposition and your adjusted tax
basis in such shares. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or
loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if your holding
period for such shares exceeds one year. If you are an
individual, such capital gain will be subject to reduced rates
of taxation. The deduction of capital losses is subject to
limitations.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information reporting requirements generally will apply to
payments of interest on the convertible debentures and dividends
on shares of preferred stock and common stock and to the
proceeds of a sale of a convertible debenture or share of
preferred stock or common stock paid to you unless you are an
exempt recipient such as a corporation. A backup withholding tax
will apply to those payments if you fail to provide your
taxpayer identification number, or certification of exempt
status, or if you fail to report in full interest and dividend
income.
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be
allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income
tax liability provided the required information is furnished to
the IRS.
S-101
Non-U.S. Holders
The following is a summary of the U.S. federal tax
consequences that will apply to you if you are a
non-U.S. holder
of convertible debentures or shares of preferred stock or common
stock. Special rules may apply to certain
non-U.S. holders
such as controlled foreign corporations,
passive foreign investment companies and
U.S. expatriates. Such entities should consult their own
tax advisors to determine the U.S. federal, state, local
and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them.
Payments
of Interest
We intend to take the position that the convertible debentures
are indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and,
therefore, that interest payments on the convertible debentures
may qualify for the portfolio interest exemption
discussed below. We may, however, and anticipate that brokers
and financial institutions acting as withholding agents will,
withhold a 30% tax (or lower applicable income tax treaty rate)
on interest payments on the convertible debentures. If, contrary
to our position, the convertible debentures were recharacterized
as equity, payments on the convertible debentures would
generally be subject to this 30% withholding tax (or lower
applicable income tax treaty rate). Assuming the IRS does not
challenge the treatment of the convertible debentures as
indebtedness,
non-U.S. holders
should be able to claim a refund for any such withholding
provided the payments to you of interest on a convertible
debenture fall within the portfolio interest
exemption. To meet the portfolio interest exemption, the
following must apply:
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interest paid on the convertible debenture is not effectively
connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United
States,
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you do not actually (or constructively) own 10% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock
within the meaning of the Code and applicable U.S. Treasury
regulations;
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you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to
us through stock ownership;
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you are not a bank whose receipt of interest on a convertible
debenture is described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the
Code; and
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either (a) you provide your name and address on an IRS Form
W-8BEN (or
other applicable form), and certify, under penalties of perjury,
that you are not a United States person or (b) you hold
your convertible debentures through certain foreign
intermediaries and satisfy the certification requirements of
applicable U.S. Treasury regulations.
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Non-U.S.
holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S.
federal income tax consequences of an investment in the
convertible debentures.
Special rules apply to
non-U.S. holders
that are pass-through entities rather than corporations or
individuals.
If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States
and interest on the convertible debentures is effectively
connected with the conduct of that trade or business and, if
required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to
a U.S. permanent establishment, then you will be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on that interest on a net income basis
(although you will be exempt from the 30% U.S. federal
withholding tax, provided you provide a completed IRS
Form W-8ECI
stating that interest is effectively connected with your conduct
of a trade or business in the United States) in the same manner
as if you were a United States person as defined under the Code.
In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be
subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower
applicable income tax treaty rate) of earnings and profits for
the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are effectively
connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United
States.
To the extent that shares received upon the conversion of the
convertible debentures by you are subject to U.S.
federal withholding tax and are not sufficient to comply
with the withholding agents U.S. federal withholding
obligations, the withholding agent may recoup or set-off such
liability against any amounts owed to you, including, but not
limited to, any actual cash dividends or distributions
subsequently made with respect
S-102
to such preferred stock or common stock, with respect to the
applicable U.S. federal withholding tax that the
withholding agent is required to pay on your behalf.
Dividends
and Constructive Dividends
Any dividends paid to you with respect to the shares of
preferred stock or common stock (and any deemed dividends, see
U.S. Holders Constructive
Distributions above) will be subject to U.S. federal
withholding tax at a 30% rate (or lower applicable income tax
treaty rate). In the case of any constructive dividend, it is
possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to
you, including, but not limited to, interest payments on the
convertible debentures, dividend payments on shares of your
preferred or common stock or sales proceeds subsequently paid or
credited to you. Dividends that are effectively connected with
the conduct of a trade or business within the United States and,
where a tax treaty applies, are attributable to a
U.S. permanent establishment, are not subject to the U.S.
federal withholding tax, but instead are subject to U.S. federal
income tax on a net income basis at applicable graduated
individual or corporate rates. Certain certification
requirements and disclosure requirements must be complied with
in order for effectively connected income to be exempt from
withholding. Any such effectively connected income received by a
foreign corporation may, under certain circumstances, be subject
to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or lower
applicable income tax treaty rate).
A
non-U.S. holder
of shares of preferred or common stock who wishes to claim the
benefit of an applicable treaty rate is required to satisfy
applicable certification and other requirements. If you are
eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax
pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty, you may obtain a
refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate
claim for refund with the IRS.
Sale,
Exchange, Redemption, Conversion or Other Disposition of
Convertible Debentures or Shares of Stock
You will recognize gain, if any, on the sale, exchange,
redemption or other taxable disposition of a convertible
debenture or share of preferred or common stock, as well as upon
the conversion of a convertible debentures into a combination of
cash and common stock or a combination of preferred and common
stock to the extent generally provided under
U.S. Holders. Nevertheless, any such gain
generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:
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that gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade
or business in the United States (and, if required by an
applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a
U.S. permanent establishment);
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you are 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
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you are a more than 5% holder as discussed below with respect to
U.S. real property holding corporations.
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If you are an individual described in the first bullet point
above, you will be subject to tax on the net gain derived from
the sale, exchange, redemption, conversion or other taxable
disposition under regular graduated U.S. federal income tax
rates. If you are an individual described in the second bullet
point above, you will be subject to a flat 30% tax on the gain
derived from the sale, exchange, redemption, conversion or other
taxable disposition, which may be offset by U.S. source capital
losses, even though you are not considered a resident of the
U.S. If you are a foreign corporation that falls under the first
bullet point above, you will be subject to tax on your net gain
in the same manner as if you were a United States person as
defined under the Code and, in addition, you may be subject to
the branch profits tax equal to 30% of your effectively
connected earnings and profits or at such lower rate as may be
specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
We believe that we are currently a United States real
property holding corporation for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. The rules relating to the sales of interests in United
States real property holding corporations are complex.
Generally, so long as our common stock continues to be regularly
traded on an established securities market, with respect to our
common stock, preferred stock or convertible debentures, only a
non-U.S. holder
who holds or held (at any time during the shorter of the five
year period preceding the
S-103
date of disposition or the holders holding period) more
than 5% of such class of interests could be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on the disposition of such common stock,
preferred stock, or convertible debentures, respectively.
Non-U.S. Holders
are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible
application of the rules relating to United States real property
holding corporations to the sale of their interests.
Any stock which you receive on the sale, exchange, redemption,
conversion or other disposition of a convertible debenture which
is attributable to accrued interest will be subject to
U.S. federal income tax in accordance with the rules for
taxation of interest described above under Payments of
Interest.
United
States Federal Estate Tax
Your estate will generally not be subject to U.S. federal estate
tax on convertible debentures beneficially owned by you at the
time of your death, provided that any payment to you on the
convertible debentures would be eligible for exemption from the
30% U.S. federal withholding tax under the portfolio
interest rule described above under Payments of
Interest without regard to the statement requirement
described in the last bullet point. However, if the convertible
debentures are recharacterized as equity for U.S. federal tax
purposes, the convertible debentures will be included in your
gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes unless an
applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise. In addition,
shares of preferred or common stock held by you at the time of
your death will be included in your gross estate for U.S.
federal estate tax purposes unless an applicable estate tax
treaty provides otherwise.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding
Generally, the payor must report to the IRS and to you the
amount of interest and dividends paid (or deemed to be paid) to
you and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to
those payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such
interest payments and any withholding may also be made available
to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside under
the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.
In general, you will not be subject to backup withholding with
respect to payments of interest or dividends that the payor
makes to you provided that the payor does not have actual
knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person,
as defined under the Code, and the payor has received from you
the statement described above in the last bullet point under
Payments of Interest.
In addition, no information reporting or backup withholding will
be required regarding the proceeds of the sale of a convertible
debenture or share of preferred or common stock made within the
United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related
financial intermediaries, if the payor receives the statement
described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to
know that you are a United States person, as defined under the
Code, or you otherwise establish an exemption.
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be
allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income
tax liability provided the required information is furnished to
the IRS in a timely manner.
S-104
UNDERWRITING
Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an
underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus
supplement, Lehman Brothers Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and the other
underwriters, for whom Lehman Brothers Inc., Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Citigroup Global
Markets Inc. are acting as representatives and joint
book-running managers, have severally agreed to purchase, and we
have agreed to sell to them, the principal amount of the
convertible debentures set forth opposite each
underwriters name below.
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Principal Amount
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Underwriters
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of Debentures
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Lehman Brothers Inc.
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$
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253,532,000
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Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated
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253,532,000
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
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113,856,000
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Banc of America Securities LLC
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18,502,000
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BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
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7,116,000
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Calyon Securities (USA) Inc.
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7,116,000
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HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
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7,116,000
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BMO Capital Markets Corp.
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2,846,000
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Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
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2,846,000
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ABN AMRO Rothschild LLC
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2,846,000
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PNC Capital Markets LLC
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2,846,000
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Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
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2,846,000
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Total
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$
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675,000,000
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The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are
obligated to purchase all of the convertible debentures if any
are purchased.
The following table summarizes the underwriting discounts and
commissions we will pay to the underwriters. These amounts are
shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the
underwriters option to purchase additional convertible
debentures. The underwriting fee is the difference between the
initial price to the public and the amount the underwriters pay
to us for the convertible debentures.
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No Exercise
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Full Exercise
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Per convertible debenture
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2.3833
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%
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2.3833
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%
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Total
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$
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16,087,500
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$
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17,875,000
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The underwriters propose to offer the convertible debentures
initially at the public offering price on the cover page of this
prospectus supplement and to certain dealers at the offering
price less a selling concession not to exceed $14.30 per
$1,000 in aggregate principal amount of the debentures. After
the initial public offering of the convertible debentures, the
underwriters may change the public offering price and discount
to broker/dealers.
The expenses of the offering that are payable by us are
estimated to be $4.1 million (excluding underwriting discounts
and commissions).
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for
30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, to
purchase up to $75 million aggregate principal amount of
additional convertible debentures at the public offering price
listed on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, less
underwriting discounts and commissions, if the underwriters sell
a greater aggregate principal amount of convertible debentures
than aggregate principal amount shown on the cover of this
prospectus supplement. The underwriters may exercise this option
solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made
in connection with the offering of the convertible debentures
offered by this prospectus supplement. To the extent the option
is exercised, each
S-105
underwriter will become obligated, subject to specified
conditions, to purchase approximately the same percentage of the
additional aggregate principal amount of convertible debentures
as the principal amount listed next to the underwriters
name in the preceding table bears to the aggregate principal
amount of convertible debentures listed next to the names of all
underwriters in the preceding table.
We have agreed that, without the prior written consent of Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the underwriters, we
will not, for a period of 45 days from the date of this
prospectus supplement, directly or indirectly:
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offer for sale, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter
into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be
expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time
in the future of) or file any registration statement in respect
of any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into
or exchangeable for our common stock (other than the convertible
debentures and shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans,
stock option plans or other employee compensation plans existing
on the date hereof or pursuant to currently outstanding options,
warrants or rights and shares to be issued as consideration in
an acquisition), or sell or grant options, rights or warrants
with respect to any shares of our common stock or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock (other
than the grant of such options or such rights pursuant to
employee benefit plans, stock option plans or other employee
compensation plans existing on the date hereof), or
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enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that
transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic
benefits or risks of ownership of such shares of common stock,
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whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by
delivery of our common stock or other securities, in cash or
otherwise.
The convertible debentures are a new issue of securities with no
established trading market. The underwriters intend to make a
secondary market for the convertible debentures. However, they
are not obligated to do so and may discontinue making a
secondary market for the convertible debentures at any time
without notice. If a trading market develops, no assurance can
be given as to how liquid that trading market for the
convertible debentures will be.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against liabilities
under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that the
underwriters may be required to make in that respect.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may engage in
stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate
covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with
Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
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Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying
security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a
specified maximum.
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Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of convertible
debentures in excess of the principal amount of the convertible
debentures the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which
creates a syndicate short position.
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Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the
convertible debentures in the open market after the distribution
has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.
A short position is more likely to be created if the
underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure
on the price of the convertible debentures in the open market
after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase
in the offering.
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Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling
concession from a broker/dealer when the convertible debentures
originally sold by such broker/dealer are purchased in a
stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions.
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These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions
and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining
the market price of the convertible debentures or preventing or
retarding a decline in the market price of the convertible
debentures. As a result, the price of the convertible debentures
may be
S-106
higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open
market. These transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at
any time.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the
Internet sites or through other online services maintained by
one or more of the underwriters and/or selling group members
participating in this offering, or by their affiliates. In those
cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and,
depending upon the particular underwriter or selling group
member, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders
online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a
specific aggregate principal amount of convertible debentures
for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such
allocation for online distributions will be made by the
representatives on the same basis as other allocations.
Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information
on any underwriters or selling group members web
site and any information contained in any other web site
maintained by an underwriter or selling group member is not part
of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this
prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed
by us or any underwriter or selling group member in its capacity
as underwriter or selling group member and should not be relied
upon by investors.
If you purchase convertible debentures offered in this
prospectus, you 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 page of
this prospectus.
Certain of our directors, Messrs. James, Lentz, Schlesinger
and Washkowitz, have been employed by or served as consultants
to Lehman Brothers Inc. within the past three years. The Board
has determined that these employment and consulting
relationships involve matters unrelated to us, and that these
relationships are not material to us.
In the ordinary course of business, Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated, Lehman Brothers Inc. and Citigroup Global
Markets Inc. and their affiliates have provided financial
advisory, investment banking and general financing and banking
services for us and our subsidiaries for customary fees. The
underwriters
and/or their
affiliates may provide such services to us in the future. Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated served as a co-manager in
connection with the initial public offering of our common stock,
and the April 2002, May 2003, and July 2003 offerings of our
common stock by certain selling stockholders. Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated also served as a joint
book-running manager in connection with our March 2003, March
2004 and October 2006 offerings of senior notes and our March
2004 equity offering. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
served as our financial advisor in connection with the
acquisitions of RAG in 2004 and Excel. Lehman Brothers Inc.
served as sole lead manager in connection with the initial
public offering of our common stock, led the April 2002, May
2003 and July 2003 offerings of our common stock by certain
selling shareholders, served as a joint book-running manager in
connection with our March 2003 and October 2006 offering of
senior notes and our March 2004 equity offering, and served as
lead underwriter in connection with our sale in a public
offering of limited partnership interests of Penn Virginia
Resource Partners, L.P. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. served as
a joint lead arranger in connection with our senior unsecured
credit facility and as a
co-manager
in connection with our October 2006 offering of senior notes.
Affiliates of the representatives and certain of the other
underwriters are lenders under our senior unsecured credit
facility.
In connection with our repayment of outstanding borrowings under
our credit facility, more than 10% of the net proceeds of this
offering may be received by affiliates of the underwriters.
Consequently, this offering is being conducted in compliance
with Rule 2710(h) of the Conduct Rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc (NASD).
Rule 2710(h) requires that the yield at which a debt issue
is to be distributed to the public can be no lower than that
recommended by a qualified independent underwriter,
as defined by the NASD. Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated is serving in that capacity and has performed due
diligence investigations and reviewed and participated in the
preparation of the registration statement of which this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a
part. We have agreed to indemnify Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated in its capacity as qualified independent
underwriter against certain liabilities under the Securities Act.
S-107
European
Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area
which has implemented the Prospectus Directive, each underwriter
has represented and agreed that with effect from and including
the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in
that Member State it has not made and will not make an offer of
convertible debentures to the public in that Member State,
except that it may, with effect from and including such date,
make an offer of convertible debentures to the public in that
Member State:
(a) at any time to legal entities which are authorised or
regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so
authorised or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to
invest in securities;
(b) at any time to any legal entity which has two or more
of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last
financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than
43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more
than 50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or
consolidated accounts; or
(c) at any time in any other circumstances which do not
require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to
Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of the above, the expression an offer of
convertible debentures to the public in relation to any
convertible debentures in any Member State means the
communication in any form and by any means of sufficient
information on the terms of the offer and the convertible
debentures to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide
to purchase or subscribe the convertible debentures, as the same
may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing
the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression
Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any
relevant implementing measure in that Member State.
United
Kingdom
Each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has only
communicated or caused to be communicated and will only
communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or
inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning
of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000) in connection with the issue or sale of the
convertible debentures in circumstances in which
Section 21(1) of such Act does not apply to us and it has
complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of such
Act with respect to anything done by it in relation to any
convertible debentures in, from or otherwise involving the
United Kingdom.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
You may access and read our SEC filings, through the SECs
Internet site at www.sec.gov. This site contains reports and
other information that we file electronically with the SEC. You
may also
read and copy any document we file at the SECs public
reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the public reference room. Our
filings with the SEC are also available to the public on our
website at http://www.peabodyenergy.com. Information
contained on our website is not part of this prospectus or any
prospectus supplement. In addition, reports, proxy statements
and other information concerning us may be inspected at the
offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10005.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, which
constitutes part of the registration statement, do not contain
all of the information presented in the registration statement
and its exhibits and schedules. Our descriptions in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus of the
provisions of documents filed as exhibits to the registration
statement or otherwise filed with the SEC are only summaries of
the terms of those documents that we consider material. If you
want a complete description of the content of the documents, you
should obtain the documents yourself by following the procedures
described above.
S-108
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
We have elected to incorporate by reference certain
information into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus, which means we can disclose important information to
you by referring you to another document filed separately with
the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to
be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus.
We incorporate by reference our:
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Annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005, as filed on
March 6, 2006 (as amended by the
Form 10-K/A
filed on March 7, 2006);
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Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 2006, as filed on
May 9, 2006, June 30, 2006, as filed on August 7,
2006, and September 30, 2006, as filed on November 7,
2006;
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on January 25, 2006, July 7, 2006,
September 7, 2006, September 18, 2006,
September 19, 2006, October 2, 2006 (as amended by the
8-K/A filed
with the SEC on November 13, 2006), October 5, 2006,
October 6, 2006, October 11, 2006, October 13,
2006, October 30, 2006 and December 13, 2006.
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Form 8-A
filed with the SEC on May 2, 2001; and
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Form 8-A
filed with the SEC on July 24, 2002 (as amended by the
Form 8-A/A
filed on March 29, 2005 and the
Form 8-A/A
filed on February 22, 2006).
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We are also incorporating by reference all other reports that we
file in the future with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until the date of the
completion of this offering; provided, however, that we are not
incorporating any information furnished under either
Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any current report on
Form 8-K.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement
and/or the
accompanying prospectus will be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus to the extent that a statement contained
in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or in
any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement
and/or the
accompanying prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement.
Any statement that is modified or superseded will not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
You may request copies of the filings, at no cost, by telephone
at
(314) 342-3400
or by mail at: Peabody Energy Corporation, 701 Market Street,
Suite 700, St. Louis, Missouri 63101, attention:
Investor Relations.
LEGAL
MATTERS
Certain legal matters with respect to the convertible debentures
will be passed upon for us by our counsel, Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York. Cleary
Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Shearman &
Sterling LLP advised the underwriters in connection with this
offering.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Peabody Energy
Corporation incorporated by reference in Peabody Energy
Corporations Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 (including schedules
appearing therein), and Peabody Energy Corporations
managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005
included and incorporated by reference therein, have been
audited by Ernst &Young LLP, independent registered
public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon,
included and incorporated by reference therein, and incorporated
herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and
managements assessment are incorporated herein by
reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority
of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
S-109
The consolidated financial statements of Excel Coal Limited and
its subsidiaries as of 30 June 2006, and for the year then
ended, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance
upon the report of KPMG, independent auditors, incorporated by
reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the
30 June 2006 financial statements refers to the adoption of
new accounting standards for financial instruments.
S-110
PROSPECTUS
Peabody Energy
Corporation
DEBT SECURITIES
COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE
RIGHTS
WARRANTS
UNITS
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
GUARANTEED DEBT
SECURITIES
Peabody Energy Corporation may offer and sell from time to
time, in one or more series, any one of the following
securities:
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unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or
other evidences of indebtedness which may be senior debt
securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated
debt securities,
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common stock,
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preferred stock,
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warrants, and
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units,
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or any combination of these securities. Peabody Energy
Corporations debt securities may be guaranteed by
substantially all of its domestic subsidiaries.
The common stock of Peabody Energy Corporation is traded on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BTU. We
will provide more specific information about the terms of an
offering of any securities in supplements to this prospectus.
You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus
supplement, as well as the risks contained or described in the
documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any
accompanying prospectus supplement, before you invest.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The date of this prospectus is July 28, 2006
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus describes the general terms of the securities to
be offered hereby. A prospectus supplement that will describe
the specific amounts, prices and other terms of the securities
being offered will be provided to you in connection with each
sale of securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. The
prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus prepared by
or on behalf of us may also add, update or change information
contained in this prospectus. To understand the terms of
securities offered pursuant to this prospectus, you should
carefully read this document with the applicable prospectus
supplement or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on
behalf of us. Together, these documents will give the specific
terms of the offered securities. You should also read the
documents we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus
described below under Incorporation of Certain Documents
By Reference.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by
reference or provided in this prospectus, any prospectus
supplement or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on
behalf of us. 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, any
prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus is accurate
as of any date other than the date on the front of those
documents.
CAUTIONARY
NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the information included in this prospectus and the
documents we have incorporated by reference include statements
of our expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs that
constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and are intended to come within the safe harbor
protection provided by those sections. These statements relate
to future events or our future financial performance. We use
words such as anticipate, believe,
expect, may, intend,
plan, project, will or other
similar words to identify forward-looking statements.
Without limiting the foregoing, all statements relating to our
future outlook, anticipated capital expenditures, future cash
flows and borrowings, and sources of funding are forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are based on
numerous assumptions that we believe are reasonable, but they
are open to a wide range of uncertainties and business risks and
actual results may differ materially from those discussed in
these statements.
Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially are:
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growth of domestic and international coal and power markets;
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coals market share of electricity generation;
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prices of fuels which compete with or impact coal usage, such as
oil or natural gas;
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future worldwide economic conditions;
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economic strength and political stability of countries in which
we have operations or serve customers;
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weather;
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success in integrating new acquisitions;
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transportation performance and costs, including demurrage;
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ability to renew sales contracts;
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successful implementation of business strategies;
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legislation, regulations and court decisions;
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new environmental requirements affecting the use of coal
including mercury and carbon dioxide related limitations;
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variation in revenues related to synthetic fuel production;
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changes in postretirement benefit and pension obligations;
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negotiation of labor contracts, employee relations and workforce
availability;
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availability and costs of credit, surety bonds and letters of
credit;
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the effects of changes in currency exchange rates;
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price volatility and demand, particularly in higher-margin
products and in our trading and brokerage businesses;
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risks associated with customer contracts, including credit and
performance risk;
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availability and costs of key suppliers or commodities such as
diesel fuel, steel, explosives and tires;
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reductions of purchases by major customers;
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geology, equipment and other risks inherent to mining;
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terrorist attacks or threats;
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performance of contractors, third party coal suppliers or major
suppliers of mining equipment or supplies;
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replacement of coal reserves;
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risks associated with developing new mines, expanded capacity
and our Btu conversion or generation development initiatives;
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implementation of new accounting standards and Medicare
regulations;
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inflationary trends, including those impacting materials used in
our business;
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the effects of interest rate changes;
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litigation, including claims not yet asserted;
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the effects of acquisitions or divestitures;
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impacts of pandemic illness; and
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changes to contribution requirements to multi-employer benefit
funds.
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When considering these forward-looking statements, you should
keep in mind the cautionary statements in this document and the
documents incorporated by reference. We will not update these
statements unless the securities laws require us to do so.
ii
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this
prospectus and does not contain all of the information that may
be important to you. This prospectus provides you with a general
description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell
securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement
that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other terms
of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may
also add, update or change information contained in this
prospectus. To understand the terms of our securities, you
should carefully read this document with the applicable
prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared
by or on behalf of us. Together, these documents will give the
specific terms of the securities we are offering. You should
also read the documents we have incorporated by reference in
this prospectus described below under Incorporation of
Certain Documents by Reference. When used in this
prospectus, the terms we, our, and
us, except as otherwise indicated or as the context
otherwise indicates, refer to Peabody Energy Corporation
and/or its
applicable subsidiary or subsidiaries.
The
Securities We May Offer
We may offer and sell from time to time:
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common stock;
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debt securities;
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preferred stock;
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warrants; and
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units.
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In addition, we may offer and sell from time to time debt
securities that may be guaranteed by substantially all of our
domestic subsidiaries.
Common
Stock
We may issue shares of our common stock, par value
$0.01 per share. Holders of common stock are entitled to
receive ratably dividends if, as and when dividends are declared
from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally
available for that purpose, after payment of dividends required
to be paid on outstanding preferred stock or series common
stock. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per
share and vote together, as one class, with the holders of our
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. Holders of
common stock have no cumulative voting rights in the election of
directors.
Debt
Securities
We may offer debt securities, which may be either senior, senior
subordinated or subordinated, may be guaranteed by substantially
all of our domestic subsidiaries, and may be convertible into
shares of our common stock. We may issue debt securities either
separately, or together with, upon conversion of or in exchange
for other securities. The debt securities that we issue will be
issued under one of two indentures among us, U.S. Bank
National Association, as trustee and, if guaranteed, the
subsidiary guarantors thereto. We have summarized general
features of the debt securities that we may issue under
Description of Debt Securities. We encourage you to
read the indentures, which are included as exhibits to the
registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Preferred
Stock
We may issue shares of our preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share, in one or more series. Our board of
directors will determine the dividend, voting, conversion and
other rights of the series of preferred stock being offered.
1
Warrants
We may issue warrants for the purchase of preferred stock or
common stock or debt securities of our company. We may issue
warrants independently or together with other securities.
Warrants sold with other securities as a unit may be attached to
or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants
under one or more warrant agreements between us and a warrant
agent that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Units
We may also issue units comprised of one or more of the other
securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each
unit may also include debt obligations of third parties, such as
U.S. Treasury securities. Each unit will be issued so that
the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security
included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the
rights and obligations of a holder of each included security.
Peabody
Energy Corporation
We are the largest private-sector coal company in the world.
During the year ended December 31, 2005, we sold
239.9 million tons of coal. During this period, we sold
coal to over 350 electricity generating and industrial plants in
15 countries. Our coal products fuel approximately 10% of all
U.S. electricity generation and 3% of worldwide electricity
generation. At December 31, 2005, we had 9.8 billion
tons of proven and probable coal reserves.
We are engaged in the production, distribution and sale of coal
to electricity generating and industrial plants throughout the
world. We own, through our subsidiaries, majority interests in
coal operations located throughout all major U.S. coal
producing regions and in Australia. Additionally, we own
minority interests in mines through joint venture arrangements.
Most of our production in the western United States is
low-sulfur coal from the Powder River Basin. In the West, we own
and operate mines in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.
In the East, we own and operate mines in Illinois, Indiana,
Kentucky and West Virginia. We also own mines in Queensland,
Australia. Most of our Australian production is low-sulfur,
metallurgical coal. We generate most of our production from
non-union mines.
In addition to our mining operations, we market, broker and
trade coal. In 2005, we opened a business development, sales and
marketing office in Beijing, China to pursue potential long-term
growth opportunities in this market. Our other energy related
commercial activities include the development of mine-mouth
coal-fueled generating plants, the management of our vast coal
reserve and real estate holdings, coalbed methane production,
transportation services, and, more recently, BTU conversion. Our
BTU conversion initiatives include participation in technologies
that convert coal into natural gas, liquids and hydrogen.
Our principal executive offices are located at 701 Market
Street, St. Louis, Missouri
63101-1826,
telephone
(314) 342-3400.
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RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges presented below should be
read together with the financial statements and the notes
accompanying them and Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Quarterly Report
for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 incorporated by
reference into this prospectus. For purposes of the computation
of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of
income before income taxes and minority interests plus fixed
charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense on all
indebtedness plus the interest component of lease rental
expense. A ratio of combined fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends to earnings will be included as necessary in the
applicable prospectus supplement if we issue and sell preferred
stock thereunder.
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Year
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Nine Months
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Year
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Year
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Year
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Year
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Quarter
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Ended
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Ended
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Ended
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Ended
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Ended
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Ended
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Ended
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March 31,
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December 31,
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December 31,
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December 31,
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December 31,
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December 31,
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March 31,
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2001
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2001
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2002
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2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
Charges(1)
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1.59x
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0.92x
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1.50x
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0.98x
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2.04x
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3.86x
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4.85x
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Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by
$9.6 million and $3.2 million for the nine months
ended December 31, 2001 and the year ended
December 31, 2003, respectively. Excluding
$38.6 million and $53.5 million of early debt
extinguishment costs incurred in the nine months ended
December 31, 2001 and the year ended December 31,
2003, respectively, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges was
1.23x and 1.34x during the respective periods. |
USE OF
PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will
use all or a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of our
securities offered by this prospectus and the prospectus
supplement for general corporate purposes. General corporate
purposes may include repayment of other debt, capital
expenditures, possible acquisitions and any other purposes that
may be stated in any prospectus supplement. The net proceeds may
be invested temporarily or applied to repay short-term or
revolving debt until they are used for their stated purpose.
DIVIDEND
POLICY
We currently declare and pay quarterly dividends of
$0.06 per share. The declaration and payment of dividends
and the amount of dividends will depend on our results of
operations, financial condition, cash requirements, future
prospects, any limitations imposed by our debt instruments and
other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors;
however, we presently expect that dividends will continue to be
paid.
3
DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description of the terms of the debt securities
summarizes certain general terms that will apply to the debt
securities offered by us. The description is not complete, and
we refer you to the indentures, which are included as exhibits
to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part. In addition, the terms described below may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified pursuant to one or more
supplemental indentures. Any such amendments, supplements or
modifications will be set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement. Capitalized items have the meanings assigned to them
in the indentures. The referenced sections of the indentures and
the definitions of capitalized terms are incorporated by
reference in the following summary.
The debt securities that we may issue will be senior, senior
subordinated or subordinated debt, may be guaranteed by
substantially all of our domestic subsidiaries, and may be
convertible into shares of our common stock.
The senior, senior subordinated or subordinated debt securities
that we may issue will be issued under separate indentures among
us, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and, if
guaranteed, the subsidiary guarantors thereto. Senior debt
securities will be issued under a Senior Indenture,
senior subordinated debt securities and subordinated debt
securities will be issued under a Subordinated
Indenture. Collectively, we refer to the Senior Indenture
and the Subordinated Indenture as the Indentures.
For purposes of the summary set forth below, obligor
refers to Peabody Energy Corporation. This summary of the
Indentures is qualified by reference to the Indentures. You
should refer to the Indentures in addition to reading this
summary. The summary is not complete and is subject to the
specific terms of the Indentures.
General
Under the Indentures, we will be able to issue from time to
time, in one or more series, an unlimited amount of debt
securities. Each time that we issue a new series of debt
securities, the supplement to the prospectus relating to that
new series will specify the terms of those debt securities,
including:
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designation, amount and denominations;
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percentage of principal amount at which the debt securities will
be issued;
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maturity date;
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interest rate and payment dates;
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terms and conditions of exchanging or converting debt securities
for other securities;
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the currency or currencies in which the debt securities may be
issued;
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redemption terms;
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whether the debt securities will be guaranteed by our
subsidiaries;
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whether the debt securities
and/or any
guarantees will be senior, senior subordinated or
subordinated; and
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any other specific terms of the debt securities, including any
deleted, modified or additional events of default or remedies or
additional covenants provided with respect to the debt
securities, and any terms that may be required by or advisable
under applicable laws or regulations.
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Unless otherwise specified in any prospectus supplement, the
debt securities will be issuable in registered form without
coupons and in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof. No service charge will be made for any transfer or
exchange of any debt securities, but the issuer may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Debt securities may bear interest at a fixed rate or a floating
rate. Debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate
that at the time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate
may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount.
Special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable
to discounted
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debt securities or to some debt securities issued at par that
are treated as having been issued at a discount for
U.S. federal income tax purposes will be described in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate
principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series
have given any request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent or waiver under the Indentures, the principal
amount of any series of debt securities originally issued at a
discount from their stated principal amount that will be deemed
to be outstanding for such purposes will be the amount of the
principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date
of the determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the
maturity thereof.
Payments relating to the debt securities generally will be paid
by us, at U.S. Bank National Associations corporate
trust office. However, we may elect to pay interest by mailing
checks directly to the registered holders of the debt
securities. You can transfer your debt securities at
U.S. Bank National Associations corporate trust
office.
Ranking
Unless otherwise described in the prospectus supplement for any
series, the debt securities that we issue will be unsecured and
will rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness.
We conduct a material amount of our operations through our
subsidiaries. Our right to participate as a shareholder in any
distribution of assets of any of our subsidiaries (and thus the
ability of holders of the debt securities that we issue to
benefit as creditors of Peabody Energy Corporation from such
distribution) is junior to creditors of that subsidiary. As a
result, claims of holders of the debt securities that we issue
will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of
our subsidiaries, except to the extent that we may be recognized
as a creditor of those subsidiaries or those subsidiaries
guarantee the debt securities.
Reopening
of Issue
We may, from time to time, reopen an issue of debt securities
without the consent of the holders of the debt securities and
issue additional debt securities with the same terms (including
maturity and interest payment terms) as debt securities issued
on an earlier date. After such additional debt securities are
issued they will be fungible with the previously issued debt
securities to the extent specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
Debt
Guarantees
Our debt securities may be guaranteed by substantially all of
our domestic subsidiaries, the subsidiary
guarantors. If debt securities are guaranteed by
subsidiary guarantors, that guarantee will be set forth in the
applicable Indenture or a supplemental indenture.
Payments with respect to subsidiary guarantees of our senior
subordinated debt securities and subordinated debt securities
will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in
full of all senior indebtedness of each such subsidiary
guarantor to the same extent and manner that payments with
respect to our senior subordinated debt securities and
subordinated debt securities are subordinated in right of
payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior
indebtedness.
Merger
and Consolidation
Unless otherwise described in the prospectus supplement of any
series, we may, under the applicable Indenture, without the
consent of the holders of debt securities, consolidate with,
merge with or into or transfer all or substantially all of our
assets to any other corporation organized under the laws of the
United States or any of its political subdivisions provided that:
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the surviving corporation assumes all of our obligations under
the applicable Indenture;
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at the time of such transaction, no event of default, and no
event that, after notice or lapse of time, would become an event
of default, shall have happened and be continuing; and
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certain other conditions are met.
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Modification
Generally, our rights and obligations and the holders
rights may be modified with the consent of holders of a majority
of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by
such modification. However, unless otherwise described in the
prospectus supplement of any series, no modification or
amendment may occur without the consent of the affected holder
of a debt security if that modification or amendment would do
any of the following:
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change the stated maturity date of the principal of, or any
installment of interest on, any of the holders debt
securities;
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reduce the principal amount of, or the interest (or premium, if
any) on, the debt security (including, in the case of a
discounted debt security, the amount payable upon acceleration
of maturity or provable in bankruptcy);
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change the currency of payment of the debt security;
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impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on the debt security or adversely affect the right of
repayment, if any, at the option of the holder;
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reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities necessary to
modify or amend the applicable Indenture or to waive any past
default;
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release a guarantor from its obligations under its guarantee,
other than in accordance with the terms thereof; or
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modify our obligations to maintain an office or agency in New
York City.
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A modification that changes a covenant or provision expressly
included solely for the benefit of holders of one or more
particular series will not affect the rights of holders of debt
securities of any other series.
Each Indenture provides that the obligor and U.S. Bank
National Association, as trustee, may make modifications without
the consent of the debt security holders in order to do the
following:
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evidence the assumption by a successor entity of the obligations
of the obligor under the applicable Indenture;
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convey security for the debt securities to U.S. Bank
National Association;
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add covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of
the debt security holders;
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provide for the issuance of debt securities in coupon or fully
registered form;
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establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series;
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cure any ambiguity or correct any defect in an Indenture that
does not adversely affect the interests of a holder;
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evidence the appointment of a successor trustee or more than one
trustee;
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surrender any right or power conferred upon us;
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comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to maintain the
qualification of the applicable Indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;
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add or modify any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under an Indenture that we and U.S. Bank
National Association may deem necessary or desirable and that
will not adversely affect the interests of holders of debt
securities;
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modify the existing covenants and events of default solely in
respect of, or add new covenants or events of default that apply
solely to, debt securities not yet issued and
outstanding; or
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to provide for guarantees of the debt securities and to specify
the ranking of the obligations of the guarantors under their
respective guarantees.
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Events of
Default
Under the Indentures, an event of default means, unless
otherwise described in the prospectus supplement of any series,
any one of the following:
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failure to pay interest on a debt security for 30 days;
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failure to pay principal and premium, if any, when due;
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failure to pay or satisfy a sinking fund installment when due;
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by Peabody Energy Corporation or by a guarantor of the debt
securities to perform any other covenant in the applicable
Indenture that continues for 60 days after receipt of
notice;
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certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization; or
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a guarantee being held in any judicial proceeding to be
unenforceable or invalid.
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An event of default relating to one series of debt securities
does not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect
to any other series issued under the applicable Indenture. If an
event of default exists with respect to a series of debt
securities, U.S. Bank National Association or the holders
of at least 25% of the then-outstanding debt securities of that
series may declare the principal of that series due and payable.
Any event of default with respect to a particular series of debt
securities may be waived by the holders of a majority of the
then-outstanding debt securities of that series, except for a
failure to pay principal premium or interest on the debt
security.
U.S. Bank National Association may withhold notice to the
holder of the debt securities of any default (except in payment
of principal, premium, interest or sinking fund payment) if
U.S. Bank National Association thinks that withholding such
notice is in the interest of the holders.
Subject to the specific duties that arise under the applicable
Indenture if an event of default exists, U.S. Bank National
Association is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or
powers under the applicable Indenture at the request of the
holders of the debt securities unless they provide reasonable
indemnity satisfactory to it. Generally, the holders of a
majority of the then-outstanding debt securities can direct the
proceeding for a remedy available to U.S. Bank National
Association or for exercising any power conferred on
U.S. Bank National Association as the trustee.
Trustees
Relationship
U.S. Bank National Association or its affiliates may from
time to time in the future provide banking and other services to
us in the ordinary course of its business. The Indentures
provide that we will indemnify U.S. Bank National
Association against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage
or expense incurred that arises from the trust created by the
applicable Indenture unless the loss, liability, claim, damage
or expense results from U.S. Bank National
Associations negligence or willful misconduct.
Global
Securities
We may issue some of the debt securities as global securities
that will be deposited with a depository identified in a
prospectus supplement. Global securities may be issued in
registered form and may be either temporary or permanent. A
prospectus supplement will contain additional information about
depository arrangements.
Registered global securities will be registered in the
depositorys name or in the name of its nominee. When we
issue a global security, the depository will credit that amount
of debt securities to the investors that
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have accounts with the depository or its nominee. The
underwriters or the debt security holders agent will
designate the accounts to be credited, unless the debt
securities are offered and sold directly by us, in which case,
we will designate the appropriate account to be credited.
Investors who have accounts with a depository, and people who
have an interest in those institutions, are the beneficial
owners of global securities held by that particular depository.
We will not maintain records regarding ownership or the transfer
of global securities held by a depository or to nominee. If you
are the beneficial owner of global securities held by a
depository, you must get information directly from the
depository.
As long as a depository is the registered owner of a global
security, that depository will be considered the sole owner of
the debt securities represented by that global security. Except
as set forth below, beneficial owners of global securities held
by a depository will not be entitled to:
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register the represented debt securities in their names;
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receive physical delivery of the debt securities; or
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be considered the owners or holders of the global security under
the applicable Indenture.
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Payments on debt securities registered in the name of a
depository or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its
nominee.
When a depository receives a payment, it must immediately credit
the accounts in amounts proportionate to the account
holders interests in the global security. The beneficial
owners of a global security should, and are expected to,
establish standing instructions and customary practices with
their investors that have an account with the depository, so
that payments can be made with regard to securities beneficially
held for them, much like securities held for the accounts of
customers in bearer form or registered in street
name.
A global security can only be transferred in whole by the
depository to a nominee of such depository or to another nominee
of a depository. If a depository is unwilling or unable to
continue as a depository and we do not appoint a successor
depository within ninety days, we will issue certificated debt
securities in exchange for all of the global securities held by
that depository. In addition, we may eliminate all global
securities at any time and issue certificated debt securities in
exchange for them. Further, we may allow a depository to
surrender a global security in exchange for certificated debt
securities on any terms that are acceptable to us and the
depository. Finally, an interest in the global security is
exchangeable for a certificated debt security if an event of
default has occurred as described above under Events of
Default.
If any of these events occur, we will execute, and
U.S. Bank National Association will authenticate and
deliver to the beneficial owners of the global security in
question, a new registered security in an amount equal to and in
exchange for that persons beneficial interest in the
exchange global security. The depository will receive a new
global security in an amount equal to the difference, if any,
between the amount of the surrendered global security and the
amount of debt securities delivered to the beneficial owners.
Debt securities issued in exchange for global securities will be
registered in the same names and in the same denominations as
indicated by the depositorys records and in accordance
with the instructions from its direct and indirect participants.
The laws of certain jurisdictions require some people who
purchase securities to actually take physical possession of
those securities. The limitations imposed by these laws may
impair your ability to transfer your beneficial interests in a
global security.
Conversion
Rights
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities
are convertible into shares of our common stock will be set
forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. These terms
will include the conversion price, the conversion period,
provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the
Holder or us, the events requiring an adjustment of the
conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the
event of the redemption of those debt securities.
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DESCRIPTION
OF CAPITAL STOCK
Our authorized capital stock consists of
(1) 800 million shares of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of which 264.5 million shares were
outstanding on March 31, 2006, (2) 10 million
shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share
(1.5 million of which are reserved for Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock), of which no shares are issued or
outstanding, (3) 40 million shares of series common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which no shares are
issued or outstanding and (4) 1.5 million shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of which no
shares are issued or outstanding. As of March 31, 2006,
there were 744 holders of record of our common stock. The
following description of our capital stock and related matters
is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of
incorporation and by-laws.
The following summary describes elements of our certificate of
incorporation and by-laws.
Common
Stock
Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on
all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders and vote
together, as one class, with the holders of our Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The holders of common
stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of
directors. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive
ratably dividends if, as and when dividends are declared from
time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally
available for that purpose, after payment of dividends required
to be paid on outstanding preferred stock or series common
stock, as described below. Upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, any business combination or a sale or disposition of
all or substantially all of the assets, the holders of common
stock are entitled to receive ratably the assets available for
distribution to the stockholders after payment of liabilities
and accrued but unpaid dividends and liquidation preferences on
any outstanding preferred stock or series common stock. The
common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights and is not
subject to further calls or assessment by us. There are no
redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common
stock.
Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock
Holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock (Series A Preferred Stock) are
entitled to receive quarterly dividend payments equal to the
greater of $1.00 per share or 400 times the per share
dividend declared on our common stock. Holders of Series A
Preferred Stock are entitled to 400 votes per share on all
matters to be voted upon by the stockholders and vote together,
as one class, with the holders of common stock. Upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our
Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to a liquidation
preference of $100 per share plus all accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock
or 400 times the amount to be distributed per share on our
common stock, whichever is greater. Liquidation distributions
will be made ratably with all shares ranking on parity with the
Series A Preferred Stock. In the event of any merger,
consolidation, combination or other transaction in which shares
of our common stock are exchanged for other securities, cash or
property, each share of the Series A Preferred Stock will
be exchanged for 400 times the amount received per share on our
common stock. Each of these rights of our Series A
Preferred Stock is protected by customary anti-dilution
provisions. The Series A Preferred Stock is not redeemable
and it will rank junior to any other series of our preferred
stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of assets.
Preferred
Stock and Series Common Stock
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of
directors to establish one or more series of preferred stock or
series common stock. With respect to any series of preferred
stock or series common stock, our board of directors is
authorized to determine the terms and rights of that series,
including:
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the designation of the series;
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the number of shares of the series, which our board may, except
where otherwise provided in the preferred stock or series common
stock designation, increase or decrease, but not below the
number of shares then outstanding;
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whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or non-cumulative
and the dividend rate of the series;
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the dates at which dividends, if any, will be payable;
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the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of
the series;
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the terms and amounts of any sinking fund provided for the
purchase or redemption of shares of the series;
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the amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up
of the affairs of our company;
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whether the shares of the series will be convertible into shares
of any other class or series, or any other security, of our
company or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification
of the other class or series or other security, the conversion
price or prices or rate or rates, any rate adjustments, the date
or dates as of which the shares will be convertible and all
other terms and conditions upon which the conversion may be made;
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restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of
any other class or series; and
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the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series.
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Unless required by law or by any stock exchange, the authorized
shares of preferred stock and series common stock, as well as
shares of common stock, are available for issuance without
further action by our stockholders.
Although we have no intention at the present time of doing so,
we could issue a series of preferred stock or series common
stock that could, depending on the terms of the series, impede
the completion of a merger, tender offer or other takeover
attempt. We will make any determination to issue preferred stock
or series common stock based on our judgment as to the best
interests of the company and our stockholders. We, in so acting,
could issue preferred stock or series common stock having terms
that could discourage an acquisition attempt or other
transaction that some, or a majority, of stockholders might
believe to be in their best interests or in which they might
receive a premium for their common stock over the market price
of the common stock.
Authorized
but Unissued Capital Stock
Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any
issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements
of the New York Stock Exchange, which would apply so long as the
common stock remains listed on the New York Stock Exchange,
require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or
exceeding 20% of the then-outstanding voting power or
then-outstanding number of shares of common stock. These
additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate
purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional
capital or to facilitate acquisitions.
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved
common stock, preferred stock or series common stock may be to
enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons
friendly to current management, which issuance could render more
difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our
company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or
otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management
and possibly deprive the stockholders of opportunities to sell
their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing
market prices.
Anti-Takeover
Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Charter and
By-laws
Delaware
Law
Our company is a Delaware corporation subject to
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 203 provides that, subject to certain exceptions
specified in the law, a Delaware corporation shall
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not engage in certain business combinations with any
interested stockholder for a three-year period
following the time that the stockholder became an interested
stockholder unless:
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prior to such time, our board of directors approved either the
business combination or the transaction which resulted in the
stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
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upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the
stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested
stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding
at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain
shares; or
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at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is
approved by our board of directors and by the affirmative vote
of holders of at least
662/3%
of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the
interested stockholder.
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Generally, a business combination includes a merger,
asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a
financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to
certain exceptions, an interested shareholder is a
person who together with that persons affiliates and
associates owns, or within the previous three years did own, 15%
or more of our voting stock.
Under certain circumstances, Section 203 makes it more
difficult for a person who would be an interested
stockholder to effect various business combinations with a
corporation for a three-year period. The provisions of
Section 203 may encourage companies interested in acquiring
our company to negotiate in advance with our board of directors
because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if
our board of directors approves either the business combination
or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an
interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the
effect of preventing changes in our board of directors and may
make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which
stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Certificate
of Incorporation; By-laws
Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws contain provisions
that could make more difficult the acquisition of the company by
means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise.
Classified Board. Our certificate of
incorporation provides that our board of directors will be
divided into three classes of directors, with the classes to be
as nearly equal in number as possible. As a result,
approximately one-third of the board of directors will be
elected each year. The classification of directors will have the
effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change
the composition of our board. Our certificate of incorporation
provides that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred
stock or series common stock to elect additional directors under
specified circumstances, the number of directors will be fixed
in the manner provided in our by-laws. Our certificate of
incorporation and by-laws provide that the number of directors
will be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a
resolution adopted by the board, but must consist of not less
than three directors. In addition, our certificate of
incorporation provides that, subject to any rights of holders of
preferred stock or series common stock and unless the board
otherwise determines, any vacancies will be filled only by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors,
though less than a quorum.
Removal of Directors. Under Delaware
General Corporation Law, unless otherwise provided in our
certificate of incorporation, directors serving on a classified
board may only be removed by the stockholders for cause. In
addition, our certificate of incorporation and by-laws provide
that directors may be removed only for cause and only upon the
affirmative vote of holders of at least 75% of the voting power
of all the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, voting together as a
single class.
Stockholder Action. Our certificate of
incorporation and by-laws provide that stockholder action can be
taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and
may not be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Our
certificate of incorporation and by-laws provide that special
meetings of stockholders can be called only by our chief
executive officer or pursuant to a resolution adopted by our
board of directors.
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Stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting or to
require that the board of directors call a special meeting of
stockholders.
Advance Notice Procedures. Our by-laws
establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders to make
nominations of candidates for election as directors, or bring
other business before an annual or special meeting of our
stockholders. This notice procedure provides that only persons
who are nominated by, or at the direction of our board of
directors, the chairman of the board, or by a stockholder who
has given timely written notice to the secretary of our company
prior to the meeting at which directors are to be elected, will
be eligible for election as directors. This procedure also
requires that, in order to raise matters at an annual or special
meeting, those matters be raised before the meeting pursuant to
the notice of meeting we deliver or by, or at the direction of,
our chairman or by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the
meeting and who has given timely written notice to the secretary
of our company of his intention to raise those matters at the
annual meeting. If our chairman or other officer presiding at a
meeting determines that a person was not nominated, or other
business was not brought before the meeting, in accordance with
the notice procedure, that person will not be eligible for
election as a director, or that business will not be conducted
at the meeting.
Amendment. Our certificate of
incorporation provides that the affirmative vote of the holders
of at least 75% of the voting power of the outstanding shares
entitled to vote, voting together as a single class, is required
to amend provisions of our certificate of incorporation relating
to the prohibition of stockholder action without a meeting, the
number, election and term of our directors and the removal of
directors. Our certificate of incorporation further provides
that our by-laws may be amended by our board or by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote, voting together as a single
class.
Rights
Agreement
On July 23, 2002, our board of directors adopted a
preferred share purchase rights plan. In connection with the
rights plan, our board of directors declared a dividend of one
preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of our
common stock. The rights dividend was paid on August 12,
2002 to the stockholders of record on that date.
Purchase Price. Each right entitles the
registered holder to purchase from us one quarter of one
one-hundredth of a share of our Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, or preferred shares, par value
$0.01 per share, at a price of $27.50 per one quarter
of one one-hundredth of a preferred share, subject to adjustment.
Flip-In. In the event that any person
or group of affiliated or associated persons acquires beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock, each
holder of a right, other than rights beneficially owned by the
acquiring person (which will thereafter be void), will
thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number
of shares of our common stock having a market value of two times
the exercise price of the right.
Flip-Over. If we are acquired in a
merger or other business combination transaction, or 50% or more
of our consolidated assets or earning power are sold after a
person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of
our outstanding common stock, each holder of a right (other than
rights beneficially owned by the acquiring person, which will be
void) will thereafter have the right to receive that number of
shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the
time of such transaction will have a market value of two times
the exercise price of the right.
Distribution Date. The distribution
date is the earlier of:
(1) 10 days following a public announcement that a
person or group of affiliated or associated persons have
acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our outstanding
common stock; or
(2) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by action of our board of directors prior to such
time as any person or group of affiliated persons acquires
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our outstanding common
stock) following the commencement of, or announcement of an
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intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership
by a person or group of 15% or more of our outstanding common
stock.
Transfer and Detachment. Until the
distribution date, the rights will be evidenced either by book
entry in our direct registration system or, with respect to any
of our common stock certificates outstanding as of
August 12, 2002, by such common stock certificate with a
copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto. Until the
distribution date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the
rights), the rights will be transferred with and only with the
common stock, and transfer of those shares will also constitute
transfer of the rights.
As soon as practicable following the distribution date, separate
certificates evidencing the rights will be mailed to holders of
record of our common stock as of the close of business on the
distribution date and the separate certificates evidencing the
rights alone will thereafter evidence the rights.
Exercisability. The rights are not
exercisable until the distribution date. The rights will expire
at the earliest of (1) August 11, 2012, unless that
date is extended, (2) the time at which we redeem the
rights, as described below, or (3) the time at which we
exchange the rights, as described below.
Adjustments. The purchase price
payable, and the number of preferred shares or other securities
or property issuable, upon exercise of the rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of
stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, or certain
distributions with respect to the preferred shares. The number
of outstanding rights and the number of one quarter of one
one-hundredths of a preferred share issuable upon exercise of
each right are also subject to adjustment if, prior to the
distribution date, there is a stock split of our common stock or
a stock dividend on our common stock payable in common stock or
subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of our common stock.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the purchase price
will be required until cumulative adjustments require an
adjustment of at least 1% in the purchase price. No fractional
preferred shares will be issued (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one quarter of one one-hundredth of a
preferred share, which may, at our election, be evidenced by
depositary receipts) and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash
will be made based on the market price of the preferred shares
on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
Preferred Shares. Preferred shares
purchasable upon exercise of the rights will not be redeemable.
Each preferred share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share but will be
entitled to an aggregate dividend of 400 times the dividend
declared per share of common stock. In the event of liquidation,
the holders of the preferred shares will be entitled to a
minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share
but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 400 times the
payment made per share of common stock. Each preferred share
will have 400 votes, voting together with the common stock.
Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other
transaction in which shares of our common stock are exchanged,
each preferred share will be entitled to receive 400 times the
amount received per share of common stock. These rights are
protected by customary anti-dilution provisions.
The value of the one quarter of one one-hundredth interest in a
preferred share purchasable upon exercise of each right should,
because of the nature of the preferred shares dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, approximate the value of one
share of our common stock.
Exchange. At any time after any person
or group acquiring beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our
outstanding common stock, and prior to the acquisition by such
person or group of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of our
outstanding common stock, our board of directors may exchange
the rights (other than rights owned by the acquiring person,
which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an
exchange ratio of one share of our common stock, or one quarter
of one one-hundredth of a preferred share (subject to
adjustment).
Redemption. At any time prior to any
person or group acquiring beneficial ownership of 15% or more of
our outstanding common stock, our board of directors may redeem
the rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per
right. The redemption of the rights may be made effective at
such time on such basis with such conditions as our board of
directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon
any
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redemption of the rights, the right to exercise the rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of rights will be to
receive the redemption price.
Amendments. The terms of the rights may
be amended by our board of directors without the consent of the
holders of the rights, including an amendment to lower certain
thresholds described above to not less than the greater of
(1) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of our
outstanding common stock then known to us to be beneficially
owned by any person or group of affiliated or associated persons
and (2) 10%, except that from and after such time as any
person or group of affiliated or associated persons acquires
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our outstanding common
stock, no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of
the holders of the rights.
Rights and Holders. Until a right is
exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a
stockholder of our company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends.
Anti-takeover Effects. The rights have
certain anti-takeover effects. The rights will cause substantial
dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on
terms not approved by our board of directors, except pursuant to
any offer conditioned on a substantial number of rights being
acquired. The rights should not interfere with any merger or
other business combination approved by our board of directors
since the rights may be redeemed by us at the redemption price
prior to the time that a person or group has acquired beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of our common stock.
Registrar
and Transfer Agent
The registrar and transfer agent for the common stock is
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Listing
The common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol BTU.
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DESCRIPTION
OF WARRANTS
The following description of the warrant agreements summarizes
certain general terms that will apply to the warrants that we
may offer. The description is not complete, and we refer you to
the warrant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC
promptly after the offering of any warrants and will be
available as described under the heading Incorporation of
Certain Documents by Reference in this prospectus.
We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock,
preferred stock or other securities. We may issue warrants
independently or as part of a unit with other securities.
Warrants sold with other securities as a unit may be attached to
or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants
under one or more warrant agreements between us and a warrant
agent that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we are
offering will include specific terms relating to the offering,
including a description of any other securities sold together
with the warrants. These terms will include some or all of the
following:
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the title of the warrants;
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the aggregate number of warrants offered;
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the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
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the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in
which the prices of the warrants may be payable;
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the designation, number and terms of the debt securities, common
stock, preferred stock or other securities or rights, including
rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the
value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities,
currencies or indices, purchasable upon exercise of the warrants
and procedures by which those numbers may be adjusted; the
exercise price of the warrants and the currency or currencies,
including composite currencies, in which such price is payable;
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the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;
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the designation and terms of any securities with which the
warrants are issued as a unit;
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if the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the
date on and after which the warrants and the other security will
be separately transferable;
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if the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the
foreign currency, currency unit or composite currency in which
the exercise price is denominated;
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any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised
at any one time;
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any terms relating to the modification of the warrants; and
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any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and
limitations relating to the transferability, exchange, exercise
or redemption of the warrants.
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Warrants issued for securities other than our debt securities,
common stock or preferred stock will not be exercisable until at
least one year from the date of sale of the warrant.
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DESCRIPTION
OF UNITS
The following descriptions of the units and any applicable
underlying security or pledge or depository arrangements
summarizes certain general terms that will apply to the
applicable agreements. These descriptions do not restate those
agreements in their entirety. We urge you to read the applicable
agreements because they, and not the summaries, define your
rights as holders of the units. We will make copies of the
relevant agreements available as described under the heading
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference in
this prospectus.
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may
issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities
described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit may
also include debt obligations of third parties, such as
U.S. Treasury securities. Each unit will be issued so that
the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security
included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the
rights and obligations of a holder of each included security.
The prospectus supplement will describe:
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the designation and terms of the units and of the securities
comprising the units, including whether and under what
circumstances the securities comprising the units may be held or
transferred separately;
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a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the
units;
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a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement,
transfer or exchange of the units; and
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whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global
form.
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PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus:
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to or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing
underwriters;
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through one or more underwriters without a syndicate for them to
offer and sell to the public;
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through dealers or agents; or
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to one or more purchasers directly.
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The applicable prospectus supplement will describe that
offering, including:
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the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents
involved in the sale of the offered securities;
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the purchase price and the proceeds to us from that sale;
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any underwriting discounts, commissions agents fees and
other items constituting underwriters or agents
compensation;
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any initial public offering price and any discounts or
concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
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any securities exchanges on which the offered securities may be
listed.
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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 offered 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 offered securities may be offered through an
underwriting syndicate represented by many underwriters. The
obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered
securities will be subject to certain conditions. The
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered
securities if any are purchased. Any initial public offering
price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or
paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
The offered securities may be sold directly by us or through
agents. Any agent will be named, and any commissions payable to
that agent will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any
agent will be acting on a best efforts basis.
We may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit
offers by specified institutions to purchase securities offered
by this prospectus pursuant to delayed delivery contracts
providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the
future. These contracts will be subject only to those conditions
set forth in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus
supplement will set forth the commission payable for soliciting
such contracts.
We may agree to indemnify underwriters, dealers or agents
against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act, and may also agree to contribute to payments
which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to
make.
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LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of each of the securities offered by this
prospectus will be passed upon for us by Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Peabody Energy
Corporation incorporated by reference in Peabody Energy
Corporations Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 (including schedules
appearing therein), and Peabody Energy Corporations
managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005
included and incorporated by reference therein, have been
audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered
public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon,
included and incorporated by reference therein, and incorporated
herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and
managements assessment are incorporated herein by
reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority
of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
You may access and read our SEC filings, through the SECs
Internet site at www.sec.gov. This site contains reports and
other information that we file electronically with the SEC. You
may also read and copy any document we file at the SECs
public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the public reference room. Our
filings with the SEC are also available to the public on our
website at http://www.peabodyenergy.com. Information contained
on our website is not part of this prospectus or any prospectus
supplement. In addition, reports, proxy statements and other
information concerning us may be inspected at the offices of the
New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New
York 10005.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this
prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the
registration statement, does not contain all of the information
presented in the registration statement and its exhibits and
schedules. Our descriptions in this prospectus of the provisions
of documents filed as exhibits to the registration statement or
otherwise filed with the SEC are only summaries of the terms of
those documents that we consider material. If you want a
complete description of the content of the documents, you should
obtain the documents yourself by following the procedures
described above.
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
We have elected to incorporate by reference certain
information into this prospectus, which means we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to another
document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this
prospectus.
We incorporate by reference our:
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Annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005, as filed on
March 6, 2006 (as amended by the
Form 10-K/A
filed on March 7, 2006);
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Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, as filed on
May 9, 2006;
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on May 10, 2006 and July 7,
2006; and
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Form 8-A
filed with the SEC on May 1, 2001, including any amendments
or supplements thereto.
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We are also incorporating by reference all other reports that we
file in the future with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until the date of the
completion of this offering; provided, however, that we are not
incorporating any information furnished under either
Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any current report on
Form 8-K.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to
be
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incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any
other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to
be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or
supersedes that statement. Any statement that is modified or
superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
You may request copies of the filings, at no cost, by telephone
at
(314) 342-3400
or by mail at: Peabody Energy Corporation, 701 Market Street,
Suite 700, St. Louis, Missouri 63101, attention:
Investor Relations.
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