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TABLE OF CONTENTS
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 24, 2009
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Xcel Energy Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| MINNESOTA (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
41-0448030 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
| 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 (612) 330-5500 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices) |
||
| RICHARD C. KELLY President and Chief Executive Officer Xcel Energy Inc. 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 (612) 330-5500 |
BENJAMIN G.S. FOWKE III Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Xcel Energy Inc. 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 (612) 330-5500 |
|
| (Names, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) | ||
Copies to:
| MICHAEL C. CONNELLY Vice President and General Counsel Xcel Energy Inc. 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 (612) 330-5500 |
ROBERT J. JOSEPH Jones Day 77 West Wacker Chicago, Illinois 60601 (312) 269-4176 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ý
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ý
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ý | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Smaller Reporting company o |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered / Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit / Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price / Amount of Registration Fee / |
|
|---|---|---|
| Junior Subordinated Debt Securities | ||
| Senior Debt Securities | (1) | |
| Common Stock (par value $2.50 per share) | ||
PROSPECTUS
Xcel Energy Inc.
414 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
(612) 330-5500
Senior Debt Securities
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
Common Stock
We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, together or separately, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the specific terms of the securities offered. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and certain of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any decision to invest in any of the securities described in this prospectus.
Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "XEL."
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is August 24, 2009.
As permitted under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, this prospectus incorporates important business information about Xcel Energy Inc. that is contained in documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission but that are not included in or delivered with this prospectus. You may obtain copies of these documents, without charge, from the web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov, as well as other sources. See "Where You Can Find More Information."
You may also obtain copies of the incorporated documents, without charge, upon written or oral request to the Corporate Secretary, Xcel Energy Inc., 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, (612) 330-5500.
When we refer to "Xcel Energy," "the company," "we," "us" and "our" in this prospectus under the headings "Xcel Energy Inc." and "Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges," we mean Xcel Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise. When such terms are used elsewhere in this prospectus, we refer only to Xcel Energy Inc. unless the context indicates otherwise.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents it incorporates by reference contain statements that are not historical fact and constitute "forward-looking statements." When we use words like "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "object," "outlook," "plan," "project," "possible," "potential," "should," or similar expressions, or when we discuss our strategy or plans, we are making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our future results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving judgments with respect to the future and other risks, including, among others:
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You are cautioned not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in more detail under "Business," "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis" and "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and other documents on file with the SEC. You may obtain copies of these documents as described under "Where You Can Find More Information."
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC's Public Reference Room 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.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") from the date of the prospectus until we sell all of the securities.
We do not provide annual reports to holders of our debt securities unless specifically requested by a holder.
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You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Corporate
Secretary
Xcel Energy Inc.
414 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 330-5500
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We are a public utility holding company with four utility subsidiaries: (i) Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation, which serves approximately 1.4 million electric customers and approximately 500,000 gas customers in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota; (ii) Public Service Company of Colorado, a Colorado corporation, which serves approximately 1.4 million electric customers and approximately 1.3 million gas customers in Colorado; (iii) Southwestern Public Service Company, a New Mexico corporation, which serves approximately 393,000 electric customers in portions of Texas and New Mexico; and (iv) Northern States Power Company, a Wisconsin corporation, which serves approximately 248,000 electric customers and approximately 104,000 gas customers in northern Wisconsin and the western portion of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
We were incorporated in 1909 under the laws of Minnesota as Northern States Power Company. On August 18, 2000, we merged with New Century Energies, Inc. and our name was changed from Northern States Power Company to Xcel Energy Inc.
Our principal executive offices are located at 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, and our telephone number at that location is (612) 330-5500. Our web site is http://www.xcelenergy.com. Our web site is provided for informational purposes only. No information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our web site is to be considered as part of this prospectus.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or supplement information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."
Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we intend to add the net proceeds from the sale of the securities described in this prospectus to our general funds and use those proceeds for general corporate purposes, primarily to fund our operating units and subsidiaries, and to repay debt. The specific allocation of the proceeds of a particular series of the securities will be described in the prospectus supplement.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Unaudited)
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Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
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Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 |
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2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges |
2.2 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.2 | |||||||||||||
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, (1) earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings plus fixed charges and investment tax credits; and (2) fixed charges consist of interest on long-term debt, other interest charges, the interest component on leases and amortization of debt discount, premium and expense.
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DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
The description below contains summaries of selected provisions of the indenture, including supplemental indentures, under which the senior debt securities (referred to herein as "senior debt securities") will be issued. These summaries are not complete. The indenture and the form of the supplemental indenture applicable to the senior debt securities have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement. You should read them for provisions that may be important to you. In the summaries below, we have included references to section numbers of the indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions.
We are not required to issue future issues of indebtedness under the senior unsecured indenture described in this prospectus. We are free to use other indentures or documentation, containing provisions different from those described in this prospectus, in connection with future issues of other indebtedness not under this registration statement.
The senior debt securities will be represented either by global senior debt securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), as depository ("Depository"), or its nominee, or by securities in certificated form issued to the registered owners, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the information under the heading "Book-Entry System" in this prospectus.
General
The senior debt securities will be issued in one or more new series under an indenture dated as of December 1, 2000 between us and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the "Senior Debt Trustee"). This indenture, as previously supplemented by supplemental indentures and as to be supplemented by a new supplemental indenture for each series of debt securities, is referred to in this prospectus as the "Senior Indenture." As of June 30, 2009, there were three series of senior debt securities in an aggregate principal amount of $912.6 million outstanding under the Senior Indenture.
The holders of the outstanding senior debt securities do not, and, unless the supplemental indenture that describes a particular series of senior debt securities provides otherwise with respect to that series, the holders of any senior debt securities offered by this prospectus will not, have the right to require us to repurchase the senior debt securities if we become involved in a highly leveraged or change in control transaction. The Senior Indenture does not have any provision that is designed specifically in response to highly leveraged or change in control transactions.
The senior debt securities will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The senior debt securities will rank on a parity in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and will rank senior to any of our subordinated indebtedness. As of June 30, 2009, we have one series of junior subordinated debt in the aggregate principal amount of $400 million outstanding and our unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness was approximately $912.6 million. The senior debt securities will be subordinated to any of our secured indebtedness, as to the assets securing such indebtedness. As of June 30, 2009, we had no secured indebtedness.
In addition, the senior debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries. We are a holding company and conduct business through our various subsidiaries. As a result, our cash flow and consequent ability to meet our debt obligations primarily depend on the earnings of our subsidiaries, and on dividends and other payments from our subsidiaries. Under certain circumstances, contractual and legal restrictions, as well as the financial condition and operating requirements of our subsidiaries, could limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries for the purpose of meeting debt service obligations, including the payment of principal and interest on the senior debt securities. Any rights to receive assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization and the consequent right of the holders of the senior debt securities to participate in those assets will be subject to the claims of that subsidiary's creditors, including trade creditors, except
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to the extent that we are recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary, in which case our claims would still be subordinate to any security interests in the assets of that subsidiary. As of June 30, 2009, our subsidiaries had approximately $16.0 billion of indebtedness and other liabilities outstanding.
The amount of securities that we may issue under the Senior Indenture is not limited. We are not required to issue all senior debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may reopen a series for issuances of additional senior debt securities of that series without the consent of the holders of the senior debt securities of that series.
When we offer to sell a particular series of senior debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a prospectus supplement relating to that series, including the following terms:
Any special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to senior debt securities sold at an original issue discount and any special U.S. federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any senior debt securities which are denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of senior debt securities.
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the senior debt securities will be denominated in U.S. dollars in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
Registration, Transfer and Exchange
Senior debt securities of any series may be exchanged for other senior debt securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, series and stated maturity and having the same terms and original issue date or dates. (Section 2.6 of the Senior Indenture).
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, senior debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed written instrument of transfer), at the office of the Senior Debt Trustee maintained for that purpose with respect to any series of senior debt securities and referred to in the applicable prospectus supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the Senior Indenture. Any transfer or exchange will be effected if the senior debt securities are duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in a form satisfactory
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to the Company and the Senior Debt Trustee and duly executed by the holder of the senior debt security as described in the Senior Indenture. (Section 2.6 of the Senior Indenture).
The Senior Debt Trustee will not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any senior debt securities of a series selected, called or being called for redemption except, in the case of any senior debt security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be so redeemed. (Section 2.6 of the Senior Indenture). See the information under the heading "Book-Entry System."
Payment and Paying Agents
Principal, interest and premium, if any, on senior debt securities issued in the form of global senior debt securities will be paid in the manner described below under the heading "Book-Entry System." Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest on senior debt securities that are in the form of certificated senior debt securities will be paid by check mailed to the holder at that person's address as it appears in the register for the senior debt securities maintained by the Senior Debt Trustee; however, a holder of $10,000,000 or more senior debt securities having the same interest payment dates will be entitled to receive payments of interest by wire transfer to a bank within the continental United States if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received by the Senior Debt Trustee on or prior to the applicable record date. (Section 2.12 of the Senior Indenture). Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal, interest at maturity and premium, if any, on senior debt securities in the form of certificated senior debt securities will be payable in immediately available funds at the office of the Senior Debt Trustee. (Section 2.12 of the Senior Indenture).
All monies paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on any senior debt security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after that principal, interest or premium has become due and payable will be repaid to us and the holder of that senior debt security will thereafter look only to us for payment of that principal, interest or premium. (Section 4.4 of the Senior Indenture).
Events of Default and Remedies
The following constitute events of default under the Senior Indenture:
(Section 7.1 of the Senior Indenture).
Acceleration of Maturity. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, either the Senior Debt Trustee or the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities may declare the principal amount of all senior debt securities to be due and payable immediately. At any time after an acceleration of the securities has been declared, but before a judgment or decree of the immediate payment of the principal amount of the securities has been obtained, if we pay or deposit with the Senior Debt Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and the principal and any premium which has become due otherwise than by acceleration and all defaults have
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been cured or waived, then that payment or deposit will cause an automatic rescission and annulment of the acceleration of the securities. (Section 7.1 of the Senior Indenture).
Indemnification of Senior Debt Trustee. The Senior Debt Trustee generally will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Senior Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered reasonable security or indemnity to the Senior Debt Trustee. (Section 8.2 of the Senior Indenture).
Right to Direct Proceedings. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities generally will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Senior Debt Trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Senior Debt Trustee, relating to the securities. However, the Senior Debt Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Senior Indenture or would expose the Senior Debt Trustee to personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to holders not joining in such proceeding. (Section 7.7 of the Senior Indenture).
Limitation on Rights to Institute Proceedings. No holder of the senior debt securities of a series will have any right to pursue a remedy under the Senior Indenture, unless:
(Section 7.4 of the Senior Indenture).
No Impairment of Right to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Senior Indenture, the holder of any senior debt security will have the absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on that senior debt security when due, and to institute suit for enforcement of that payment. This right may not be impaired without the consent of the holder. (Section 7.4 of the Senior Indenture).
Notice of Default. The Senior Debt Trustee is required to give the holders notice of the occurrence of a default within 90 days of the default, unless the default is cured or waived. Except in the case of a payment default on the senior debt securities, or a default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installments, the Senior Debt Trustee may withhold the notice if its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees or responsible officers determines in good faith that it is in the interest of holders to do so. (Section 7.8 of the Senior Indenture). We are required to deliver to the Senior Debt Trustee each year a certificate as to whether or not we are in compliance with the conditions and covenants under the Senior Indenture. (Section 5.5 of the Senior Indenture).
Modification
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we and the Senior Debt Trustee may modify and amend the Senior Indenture from time to time.
We will not need the consent of the holders for the following types of amendments:
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(Section 12.1 of the Senior Indenture).
We will need the consent of the holders of each outstanding security affected by a proposed amendment if the amendment would cause any of the following to occur:
(Section 12.2 of the Senior Indenture).
Amendments other than those described in the above two paragraphs will require the approval of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities.
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Defeasance and Discharge
We may be discharged from all obligations relating to the senior debt securities and the Senior Indenture (except for specified obligations such as obligations to register the transfer or exchange of securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated securities and maintain paying agencies) if we irrevocably deposit with the Senior Debt Trustee, in trust for the benefit of holders of securities, money or U.S. government obligations (or any combination thereof) sufficient to make all payments of principal, premium and interest on the securities on the dates those payments are due. To discharge these obligations, we must deliver to the Senior Debt Trustee an opinion of counsel that the holders of the securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or discharge of the Senior Indenture. Upon any discharge of our obligations as described above, we will be deemed to have paid and discharged our entire indebtedness represented by the senior debt securities and our obligations under the senior debt securities. (Section 4.1 of the Senior Indenture).
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets; No Financial Covenants
We will not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or sell, or otherwise dispose all or substantially all of our assets unless the successor or transferee corporation assumes by supplemental indenture our obligations to pay the principal, interest and premium on all the securities and our obligation to perform every covenant of the Senior Indenture that we are to perform or observe, and we or the successor or transferee corporation, as applicable, are not immediately following such consolidation or merger, or sale, or disposition in default in the performance of any such covenant. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, the successor or transferee corporation will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise all of our rights and powers under the Senior Indenture with the same effect as if the successor corporation had been named as us in the Senior Indenture and we will be released from all obligations under the Senior Indenture. Regardless of whether a sale or transfer of assets might otherwise be considered a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, the Senior Indenture also specifically permits any sale, transfer or conveyance of our non-utility subsidiaries if, following such sale or transfer, the securities are rated by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. at least as high as the ratings accorded the securities immediately prior to the sale, transfer or disposition. (Sections 11.1 and 11.2 of the Senior Indenture).
The Senior Indenture does not contain any financial or other similar restrictive covenants.
Resignation or Removal of Senior Debt Trustee
The Senior Debt Trustee may resign at any time by notifying us in writing and specifying the day that the resignation is to take effect. The resignation will not take effect, however, until the later of the appointment of a successor trustee and the day the resignation is to take effect. (Section 8.10 of the Senior Indenture).
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities may remove the Senior Debt Trustee at any time. In addition, so long as no event of default or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default has occurred and is continuing, we may remove the Senior Debt Trustee upon notice to the holder of each security outstanding and written notice to the Senior Debt Trustee. (Section 8.10 of the Senior Indenture).
Governing Law
The Senior Indenture and the senior debt securities will be governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Minnesota.
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Concerning the Senior Debt Trustee
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the Senior Debt Trustee. We maintain banking relationships with the Senior Debt Trustee in the ordinary course of business. The Senior Debt Trustee also acts as trustee for our junior subordinated debt securities and certain debt securities of our subsidiaries.
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DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
The description below contains summaries of selected provisions of the indenture, including supplemental indentures, under which the unsecured junior subordinated debt securities will be issued. These summaries are not complete. The indenture and the form of the supplemental indenture applicable to the junior subordinated debt securities have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement. You should read them for provisions that may be important to you. In the summaries below, we have included references to section numbers of the indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. In this "Description of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities" we refer to securities issued under the Subordinated Indenture as the "junior debt securities."
We are not required to issue future issues of indebtedness under the indenture described in this prospectus. We are free to use other indentures or documentation, containing provisions different from those described in this prospectus, in connection with future issues of other indebtedness not under this registration statement.
The junior subordinated debt securities will be represented either by global junior subordinated debt securities registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, or by securities in certificated form issued to the registered owners, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the information under the heading "Book-Entry System" in this prospectus.
General
The junior subordinated debt securities will be issued in one or more new series under a junior subordinated indenture to be entered into between us and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the "Subordinated Debt Trustee"). This indenture, as it may be supplemented by a supplemental indenture for each series of junior subordinated debt securities, is referred to in this prospectus as the "Subordinated Indenture." As of June 30, 2009, we have one series of junior subordinated debt in the aggregate principal amount of $400 million outstanding under the Subordinated Indenture.
The junior subordinated debt securities will be our unsecured obligations and will rank junior in right of payment to our Senior Indebtedness, as described under the caption "—Subordination." As of June 30, 2009, our outstanding Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) was approximately $912.6 million.
In addition, the junior subordinated debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred stockholders. We are a holding company and conduct business through our various subsidiaries. As a result, our cash flow and consequent ability to meet our debt obligations primarily depend on the earnings of our subsidiaries, and on dividends and other payments from our subsidiaries. Under certain circumstances, contractual and legal restrictions, as well as the financial condition and operating requirements of our subsidiaries, could limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries for the purpose of meeting debt service obligations, including the payment of principal and interest on the junior subordinated debt securities. Any rights to receive assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization and the consequent right of the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities to participate in those assets will be subject to the claims of that subsidiary's creditors, including trade creditors, except to the extent that we are recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary, in which case our claims would still be subordinate to any security interests in the assets of that subsidiary. As of June 30, 2009, our subsidiaries had approximately $16.0 billion of indebtedness and other liabilities outstanding.
Unless the supplemental indenture that describes a particular series of junior subordinated debt securities provides otherwise with respect to that series, the holders of any junior subordinated debt
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securities offered by this prospectus will not have the right to require us to repurchase the junior subordinated debt securities if we become involved in a highly leveraged or change in control transaction. The Subordinated Indenture does not have any provision that is designed specifically in response to highly leveraged or change in control transactions.
The amount of junior debt securities that we may issue under the Subordinated Indenture is not limited. We are not required to issue all junior subordinated debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may reopen a series for issuances of additional junior subordinated debt securities of that series without the consent of the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities of that series.
When we offer to sell a particular series of junior subordinated debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a prospectus supplement relating to that series, including the following terms:
Any special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to junior subordinated debt securities sold at an original issue discount and any special U.S. federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any junior subordinated debt securities which are denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of junior subordinated debt securities.
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the junior subordinated debt securities will be denominated in U.S. dollars in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
Subordination
Each series of junior subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below). If:
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then the holders of Senior Indebtedness generally will have the right to receive payment, in the case of the first instance above, of all amounts due or to become due upon that Senior Indebtedness, and, in the case of the second and third instances, of all amounts due on that Senior Indebtedness, or we will make provision for those payments, before the holders of any junior subordinated debt securities have the right to receive any payments of principal or interest on their securities. (Sections 14.1 and 14.9 of the Subordinated Indenture).
"Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to any series of junior subordinated debt securities, the principal, premium, interest and any other payment in respect of any of the following (whether outstanding on the date of execution of the Subordinated Indenture or thereafter incurred):
Senior Indebtedness will not include trade accounts payable, accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, indebtedness to our subsidiaries or any indebtedness which is by its terms junior to or on parity with the junior subordinated debt securities. (Section 1.1 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions in the Subordinated Indenture irrespective of the amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Senior Indebtedness. We may not amend the Subordinated Indenture to change the subordination of any outstanding Senior Indebtedness without the consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness that such amendment would adversely affect. (Sections 12.2 and 14.7 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Indebtedness that we may issue.
Registration, Transfer and Exchange
Junior subordinated debt securities of any series may be exchanged for other junior subordinated debt securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, series and stated maturity and having the same terms and original issue date or dates. (Section 2.6 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, junior subordinated debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed written instrument of transfer), at the office of the Subordinated Debt Trustee maintained for that purpose with respect to any series of junior subordinated debt securities and referred to in the
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applicable prospectus supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the Subordinated Indenture. Any transfer or exchange will be effected if the junior subordinated debt securities are duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in a form satisfactory to the Company and the Subordinated Debt Trustee and duly executed by the holder of the junior subordinated debt security as described in the Subordinated Indenture. (Section 2.6 of the Subordinated Indenture).
The Subordinated Debt Trustee will not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any junior subordinated debt securities of a series selected, called or being called for redemption except, in the case of any junior subordinated debt security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be so redeemed. (Section 2.6 of the Subordinated Indenture). See the information under the heading "Book-Entry System."
Payment and Paying Agents
Principal, interest and premium, if any, on junior subordinated debt securities issued in the form of global junior subordinated debt securities will be paid in the manner described below under the heading "Book-Entry System." Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest on junior subordinated debt securities that are in the form of certificated junior subordinated debt securities will be paid by check mailed to the holder at that person's address as it appears in the register for the junior subordinated debt securities maintained by the Subordinated Debt Trustee; however, a holder of $10,000,000 or more junior subordinated debt securities having the same interest payment dates will be entitled to receive payments of interest by wire transfer to a bank within the continental United States if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received by the Subordinated Debt Trustee on or prior to the applicable record date. (Section 2.12 of the Subordinated Indenture). Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal, interest at maturity and premium, if any, on junior subordinated debt securities in the form of certificated junior subordinated debt securities will be payable in immediately available funds at the office of the Subordinated Debt Trustee. (Section 2.12 of the Subordinated Indenture).
All monies paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on any junior subordinated debt security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after that principal, interest or premium has become due and payable will be repaid to us and the holder of that junior subordinated debt security will thereafter look only to us for payment of that principal, interest or premium. (Section 4.4 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Events of Default and Remedies
Unless we provide otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the following will constitute events of default under the Subordinated Indenture with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities of any series:
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(Section 7.1 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Acceleration of Maturity. If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to a series of junior subordinated debt securities, either the Subordinated Debt Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. At any time after an acceleration of a series of securities has been declared, but before a judgment or decree of the immediate payment of the principal amount of those securities has been obtained, if:
then that holders' rescission and the payment or deposit will cause an automatic rescission and annulment of the acceleration of the securities of that series. (Section 7.1 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Indemnification of Subordinated Debt Trustee. The Subordinated Debt Trustee generally will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Subordinated Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered reasonable security or indemnity to the Subordinated Debt Trustee. (Section 8.2 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Right to Direct Proceedings. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of a series generally will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Subordinated Debt Trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Subordinated Debt Trustee, relating to the securities of that series. Notwithstanding, the Subordinated Debt Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Subordinated Indenture or would expose the Subordinated Debt Trustee to personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to holders not joining in such proceeding. (Section 7.7 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Limitation on Rights to Institute Proceedings. No holder of the junior subordinated debt securities of a series will have any right to pursue a remedy under the Subordinated Indenture, unless:
(Section 7.4 of the Subordinated Indenture).
No Impairment of Right to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Subordinated Indenture, the holder of any junior subordinated debt security will have the absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on that junior subordinated debt security when due and payable, and to institute suit for enforcement of that
13
payment. This right may not be impaired without the consent of the holder. (Section 7.4 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Notice of Default. The Subordinated Debt Trustee is required to give the holders of a series of securities notice of the occurrence of a default within 90 days of the default with respect to that series, unless the default is cured or waived. Except in the case of a payment default on the junior subordinated debt securities, or a default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installments, the Subordinated Debt Trustee may withhold the notice if its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees or responsible officers determines in good faith that it is in the interest of holders of the series of affected securities to do so. (Section 7.8 of the Subordinated Indenture). We are required to deliver to the Subordinated Debt Trustee each year a certificate as to whether or not we are in compliance with the conditions and covenants under the Subordinated Indenture. (Section 5.5 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Defeasance and Discharge
We may be discharged from all obligations relating to the junior subordinated debt securities and the Subordinated Indenture (except for specified obligations such as obligations to register the transfer or exchange of securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated securities and maintain paying agencies) if we irrevocably deposit with the Subordinated Debt Trustee, in trust for the benefit of holders of securities, money or U.S. government obligations (or any combination thereof) sufficient to make all payments of principal, premium and interest on the securities on the dates those payments are due. To discharge these obligations, we must deliver to the Subordinated Debt Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or similar pronouncement by the Internal Revenue Service or that there has been a change in law, in either case to the effect that the holders of the securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or discharge of the Subordinated Indenture, and holders will be subject to tax in the same manner, in the same amounts and same time as would have been the case absent such defeasance. Upon any discharge of our obligations as described above, we will be deemed to have paid and discharged our entire indebtedness represented by the junior subordinated debt securities and our obligations under the junior subordinated debt securities. (Section 4.1 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Modification
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we and the Subordinated Debt Trustee may modify and amend the Subordinated Indenture from time to time.
We will not need the consent of the holders for the following types of amendments:
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(Section 12.1 of the Subordinated Indenture).
We will need the consent of the holders of each outstanding security affected by a proposed amendment if the amendment would cause any of the following to occur:
(Section 12.2 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Amendments other than those described in the above two paragraphs will require the approval of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of all series, provided that if there are securities of more than one series outstanding and if a proposed amendment would directly affect the rights of holders of securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the approval of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, will be required.
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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets; No Financial Covenants
We will not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or sell, or otherwise dispose all or substantially all of our assets unless the successor or transferee corporation assumes by supplemental indenture our obligations to pay the principal, interest and premium on all the securities and our obligation to perform every covenant of the Subordinated Indenture that we are to perform or observe, and we or the successor or transferee corporation, as applicable, are not immediately following such consolidation or merger, or sale, or disposition in default in the performance of any such covenant. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, the successor or transferee corporation will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise all of our rights and powers under the Subordinated Indenture with the same effect as if the successor corporation had been named as us in the Subordinated Indenture and we will be released from all obligations under the Subordinated Indenture. Regardless of whether a sale or transfer of assets might otherwise be considered a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, the Subordinated Indenture also specifically permits any sale, transfer or conveyance of our non-utility subsidiaries if, following such sale or transfer, the securities are rated by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. at least as high as the ratings accorded the securities immediately prior to the sale, transfer or disposition. (Sections 11.1 and 11.2 of the Subordinated Indenture).
The Subordinated Indenture does not contain any financial or other similar restrictive covenants.
Resignation or Removal of Subordinated Debt Trustee
The Subordinated Debt Trustee may resign with respect to securities of any series at any time by notifying us in writing and specifying the day that the resignation is to take effect. The resignation will not take effect, however, until the later of the appointment of a successor trustee and the day the resignation is to take effect. (Section 8.10 of the Subordinated Indenture).
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may remove the Subordinated Debt Trustee as trustee of that series of securities at any time. In addition, so long as no event of default or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to securities of any series, we may remove the Subordinated Debt Trustee with respect to securities of that series upon notice to the holder of each security of that series outstanding and written notice to the Subordinated Debt Trustee. (Section 8.10 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Governing Law
The Subordinated Indenture and the junior subordinated debt securities will be governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Minnesota. (Section 15.4 of the Subordinated Indenture).
Concerning the Subordinated Debt Trustee
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the Subordinated Debt Trustee. We maintain banking relationships with the Subordinated Debt Trustee in the ordinary course of business. The Subordinated Debt Trustee also acts as trustee for our senior debt securities and certain debt securities of our subsidiaries.
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Each series of senior debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, collectively referred to in this section as "debt securities," offered by this prospectus may be issued in the form of one or more global debt securities representing all or part of that series of debt securities. This means that we will not issue certificates for that series of debt securities to the holders. Instead, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, a global debt security representing that series will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, or its successor as the Depository and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository. However, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, if the aggregate principal amount of any issue exceeds $500 million, one certificate will be issued with respect to each $500 million of principal amount, and an additional certificate will be issued with respect to any remaining principal amount of such issue.
The Depository will keep a computerized record of its participants (for example, your broker) whose clients have purchased securities represented by a global debt security. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificated debt security, a global debt security may not be transferred, except that the Depository, its nominees and their successors may transfer a global debt security as a whole to one another.
Beneficial interests in global debt securities will be shown on, and transfers of interests will be made only through, records maintained by the Depository and its participants. The laws of some jurisdictions require that some purchasers take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global debt security.
We will wire principal, interest and any premium payments to the Depository or its nominee. We and the applicable Trustee will treat the Depository or its nominee as the owner of the global debt security for all purposes, including any notices and voting. Accordingly, we, the applicable Trustee and any paying agent will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on a global debt security to owners of beneficial interests in a global debt security.
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, DTC will act as Depository for debt securities issued as global debt securities. The debt securities will be registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC's partnership nominee).
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that its participants ("Direct Participants") deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants' accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation ("DTCC"). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The DTC Rules applicable to its Participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. More information about DTC can be found at http://www.dtcc.com and http://www.dtc.org.
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Purchases of debt securities under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each debt security ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in debt securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the debt securities is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all securities deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC's partnership nominee, Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the debt securities; DTC's records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the debt securities within an issue are being redeemed, DTC's practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the debt securities unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC's procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Redemption proceeds, distributions, and dividend payments on the debt securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC's practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts, upon DTC's receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the applicable Trustee on payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC nor its nominee, the applicable Trustee, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions, and dividend payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of us or the applicable Trustee, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the debt securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the applicable Trustee. Under such
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circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, debt security certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, debt security certificates will be printed and delivered to DTC.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system has been obtained from DTC, and we and any underwriters, dealers or agents are not responsible for the performance by DTC of its obligations under the rules and procedures governing its operations or otherwise.
Any underwriters, dealers or agents of any debt securities may be Direct Participants of DTC.
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The following summary description sets forth some of the general terms and provisions of the common stock. Because this is a summary description, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a more detailed description of the common stock, you should refer to the provisions of our Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
General
Our capital stock consists of two classes: common stock, par value $2.50 per share (1,000,000,000 shares currently authorized of which 455,725,244 shares were outstanding as of July 17, 2009); and preferred stock, par value $100 per share (7,000,000 shares authorized, of which the following series were outstanding as of July 17, 2009: $3.60 Series—275,000 shares; $4.08 Series—150,000 shares; $4.10 Series—175,000 shares; $4.11 Series—200,000 shares; $4.16 Series—99,800 shares; and $4.56 Series—150,000 shares). Our board of directors is authorized to provide for the issue from time to time of preferred stock in series and, as to each series, to fix the designation, dividend rates and times of payment, redemption price, and liquidation price or preference as to assets in voluntary liquidation. Cumulative dividends, redemption provisions and sinking fund requirements, to the extent that some or all of these features are or may be present when preferred stock is issued, could have an adverse effect on the availability of earnings for distribution to the holders of the common stock or for other corporate purposes.
Dividend Rights
Before we can pay any dividends on our common stock, the holders of our preferred stock are entitled to receive their dividends at the respective rates provided for in the terms of the shares of their series. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations—Common Stock Dividends" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of factors affecting our payment of dividends.
Limitations on Payment of Dividends on and Acquisitions of Common Stock
So long as any shares of our preferred stock are outstanding, dividends (other than dividends payable in common stock), distributions or acquisitions of our common stock:
As described above, under these provisions, dividend payments may be restricted if our capitalization ratio (on a holding company basis only, i.e., not on a consolidated basis) is less than 25 percent. For those purposes, the capitalization ratio is equal to the (i) common stock plus surplus divided by (ii) the sum of common stock plus surplus plus long-term debt. Based on this definition, our capitalization ratio at June 30, 2009 was 44.3 percent. Although we have preferred stock outstanding, the restrictions do not place any effective limit on our ability to pay dividends because the restrictions are only triggered when the capitalization ratio is less than 25 percent or will be reduced to less than
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25 percent through dividends (other than dividends payable in common stock), distributions or acquisitions of our common stock.
Because we are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries, our cash flow and ability to pay dividends will be dependent on the earnings and cash flows of our subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of those earnings to us in the form of dividends, or in the form of repayments of loans or advances to us. Some of our subsidiaries may have restrictions on their ability to pay dividends including covenants under their borrowing arrangements and mortgage indentures, and possibly also restrictions imposed by their regulators.
Voting Rights
The holders of shares of preferred stock of the $3.60 Series are entitled to three votes for each share held, and the holders of our common stock and of all of our other series of preferred stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. If, however, dividends payable on any series of our preferred stock are in default in an amount equal to the amount payable during the immediately preceding twelve-month period, the holders of shares of preferred stock, voting as a class and without regard to series, are entitled to elect the smallest number of directors necessary to constitute a majority of our board of directors and the holders of shares of common stock, voting as a class, are entitled to elect our remaining directors.
The affirmative vote or consent of the holders of various specified percentages of preferred stock is required to effect selected changes in our capital structure and other transactions that might affect their rights. Except to the extent required by law, holders of common stock do not vote as a class in case of any modification of their rights.
Change of Control
Our Bylaws and the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, as amended (the "Minnesota BCA"), contain provisions that could discourage or make more difficult a change of control of our company.
Election of Directors. In electing directors, shareholders may cumulate their votes in the manner provided in the Minnesota BCA. Cumulative voting rights may make it more difficult for a group owning a significant amount of our voting securities to effect a complete change in the board of directors than would be the case if cumulative voting did not exist.
Nomination Procedures. In addition to our board of directors, shareholders can nominate candidates for our board of directors. However, a shareholder must follow the advance notice procedures described in Article 2, Section 18 of our restated Bylaws. In general, a shareholder must submit a written notice of the nomination which includes the information required by our restated Bylaws to our Corporate Secretary at least 90 days before the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year's annual meeting of shareholders, along with the written consent of the nominee to serve as director. If, however, the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty days before or after such anniversary date, the notice must be so delivered or so mailed and received not less than ninety days before the annual meeting or, if later, within ten days after the first public announcement of the date of the annual meeting.
Shareholder Proposal Procedures. Shareholders must provide us advance notice of the introduction by them of business at annual meetings of our shareholders. For a shareholder to properly bring a proposal before an annual meeting, the shareholder must follow the advance notice procedures described in our Bylaws. In general, the shareholder must deliver a written notice to our Corporate Secretary describing the proposal and the shareholder's interest in the proposal not less than ninety days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year's annual meeting of shareholders. If, however, the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty days before or after such anniversary
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date, the notice must be so delivered or so mailed and received not less than ninety days before the annual meeting or, if later, within ten days after the first public announcement of the date of the annual meeting. Except to the extent otherwise required by law, the adjournment of an annual meeting of shareholders will not commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder's notice as required above.
Amendment of Bylaws. Under our Bylaws, our board of directors can adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws, subject to limitations under the Minnesota BCA and Article VII of our Restated Articles of Incorporation. Our shareholders also have the power to change or repeal our Bylaws.
Minnesota BCA. Section 302A.671 of the Minnesota BCA applies to potential acquirers of 20% or more of our voting shares. Section 302A.671 provides in substance that shares acquired by such acquirer will not have any voting rights unless the voting rights are either:
Section 302A.673 of the Minnesota BCA generally prohibits public Minnesota corporations, including us, from engaging in any business combination with a person or entity owning, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of our voting shares for a period of four years after the date of the transaction in which such person or entity became a 10% shareholder unless the business combination or the acquisition resulting in 10% ownership was approved by a committee of disinterested directors prior to the date such person or entity became a 10% shareholder.
Section 302A.675 of the Minnesota BCA provides in substance that a person or entity making a takeover offer (an "offeror") for us is prohibited from acquiring any additional shares of our company within two years following the last purchase of shares pursuant to the offer with respect to that class unless (i) the acquisition is approved by a committee of disinterested directors before the purchase of any shares by the offeror pursuant to the offer or (ii) our shareholders are afforded, at the time of the acquisition, a reasonable opportunity to dispose of their shares to the offeror upon substantially equivalent terms as those provided in the earlier takeover offer.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of liquidation, after the holders of all series of preferred stock have received $100 per share in the case of involuntary liquidation, and the then applicable redemption prices in the case of voluntary liquidation, plus in either case an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends, the holders of the common stock are entitled to the remaining assets.
Preemptive and Subscription Rights
No holder of our capital stock has the preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of our capital stock.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the Transfer Agent and Registrar for the common stock.
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We may sell the offered securities (a) through agents; (b) through underwriters or dealers; (c) directly to one or more purchasers; or (d) through a combination of any of these methods of sale. We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.
Legal opinions relating to the securities being offered by this prospectus will be rendered by our counsel, James L. Altman, 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Jones Day, Chicago, Illinois. James L. Altman is our Vice President and Deputy General Counsel and is the beneficial owner of less than 1% of our common stock.
Certain legal matters with respect to offered securities will be passed upon by counsel for any underwriters, dealers or agents, each of whom will be named in the related prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports (which reports [1] express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and financial statements schedules and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" and [2] express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting), which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The following is a statement of the estimated expenses (other than underwriting discounts) to be incurred by the Company in connection with one or more distributions of an assumed aggregate amount of $1,500,000,000 of securities registered under this registration statement. The assumed amount has been used to demonstrate the expenses of offering and does not represent an estimate of the amount of securities that may be registered or distributed because such amount is unknown at this time.
| |
Amount to Be Paid |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SEC Registration fee |
$ | * | |||
Accountants' Fees and Expenses |
225,000 | ||||
Counsel's Fees and Expenses |
400,000 | ||||
Trustees' Fees and Expenses, including Counsel and Authentication Fees |
20,000 | ||||
Printing of Registration Statement, Prospectus, Prospectus Supplements, Supplemental Indentures, etc. |
125,000 | ||||
Rating Agencies' Fees |
1,200,000 | ||||
Blue Sky |
25,000 | ||||
Miscellaneous expenses |
30,000 | ||||
Total, excluding SEC registration fees |
$ | 2,025,000 | |||
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota BCA permits indemnification of officers and directors of domestic or foreign corporations under certain circumstances and subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to authorization contained in our Restated Articles of Incorporation, Article 4 of our Bylaws contains provisions for indemnification of our directors and officers consistent with the provisions of Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota BCA. We have entered into indemnity agreements with our directors.
We have obtained insurance policies indemnifying us and our directors and officers against certain civil liabilities and related expenses
| Exhibit Number |
Description of Document | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| *1.01 | Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to common stock. | ||
| *1.02 | Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to senior debt securities. | ||
| *1.03 | Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to junior subordinated debt securities. | ||
| 3.01 | Restated Articles of Incorporation of Xcel Energy as amended on May 21, 2008. (Filed as Exhibit 3.01 to Xcel Energy's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 (file no. 001-03034) filed on August 1, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
II-1
| Exhibit Number |
Description of Document | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.02 | Bylaws of Xcel Energy. (Filed as Exhibit 3.01 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K dated August 12, 2008 (File No. 001-03034) and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.01 | Indenture dated December 1, 2000 between Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. (Filed as Exhibit 4.01 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K Report (File No. 001-03034) dated December 18, 2000 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.02 | Supplemental Indenture dated December 15, 2000 between Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, supplementing Indenture dated December 1, 2000. (Filed as Exhibit 4.02 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K Report (File No. 001-03034) dated December 18, 2000 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.03 | Supplemental Indenture No. 2 dated June 15, 2003 between Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, supplementing Indenture dated December 1, 2000. (Filed as Exhibit 4.01 to Xcel Energy's Form 10-Q Report (File No. 001-03034) dated August 15, 2003 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.04 | Supplemental Indenture No. 3, dated June 1, 2006 between Xcel Energy Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Trustee, supplementing Indenture dated December 1, 2000. (Filed as Exhibit 4.01 to Xcel Energy's Current Report on Form 8-K (File no. 001-03034) dated June 6, 2006 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.05 | Form of Supplemental Indenture for each series of senior debt securities. (Filed as Exhibit 4.04 to Xcel Energy's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File no. 333-134660) and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.06 | Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of January 1, 2008, by and between Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. (Filed as Exhibit 4.01 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K (File No. 001-03034) dated January 16, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.07 | Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated January 16, 2008, by and between Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, supplementing Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of January 1, 2008. (Filed as Exhibit 4.02 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K (File no. 001-03034) dated January 16, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.08 | Replacement Capital Covenant, dated January 16, 2008. (Filed as Exhibit 4.03 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K (File no. 001-03034) dated January 16, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| *4.09 | Form of Supplemental Indenture for each series of junior subordinated debt securities. | ||
| *5.01 | Opinion of James L. Altman as to the legality of the securities. | ||
| *12.01 | Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges. | ||
| *23.01 | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. | ||
| *24.01 | Power of Attorney. | ||
| *25.01 | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association to act as Trustee under the Senior Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Indenture. | ||
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
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in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
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(ii) If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(5) (i) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(A) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(B) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(C) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(D) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(ii) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(iii) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements of filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, and State of Minnesota, on the 24th day of August, 2009.
| XCEL ENERGY INC. | ||||
By: |
/s/ GEORGE E. TYSON II George E. Tyson II Vice President and Treasurer |
|||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| * Richard C. Kelly |
Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | August 24, 2009 | ||
* Teresa S. Madden |
Controller (Chief Accounting Officer) |
August 24, 2009 |
||
* Benjamin G.S. Fowke III |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
August 24, 2009 |
||
* C. Coney Burgess |
Director |
August 24, 2009 |
||
* Fredric W. Corrigan |
Director |
August 24, 2009 |
||
* Richard K. Davis |
Director |
August 24, 2009 |
||
Albert F. Moreno |
Director |
August 24, 2009 |
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Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| * Margaret R. Preska |
Director | August 24, 2009 | ||
* A. Patricia Sampson |
Director |
August 24, 2009 |
||
* Richard H. Truly |
Director |
August 24, 2009 |
||
* David A. Westerlund |
Director |
August 24, 2009 |
||
* Timothy V. Wolf |
Director |
August 24, 2009 |
| *By: | /s/ GEORGE E. TYSON II (Attorney-in-Fact) August 24, 2009 |
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| Exhibit Number |
Description of Document | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| *1.01 | Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to common stock. | ||
| *1.02 | Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to senior debt securities. | ||
| *1.03 | Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to junior subordinated debt securities. | ||
| 3.01 | Restated Articles of Incorporation of Xcel Energy as amended on May 21, 2008. (Filed as Exhibit 3.01 to Xcel Energy's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 (file no. 001-03034) filed on August 1, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 3.02 | Bylaws of Xcel Energy. (Filed as Exhibit 3.01 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K dated August 12, 2008 (File No. 001-03034) and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.01 | Indenture dated December 1, 2000 between Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. (Filed as Exhibit 4.01 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K Report (File No. 001-03034) dated December 18, 2000 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.02 | Supplemental Indenture dated December 15, 2000 between Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, supplementing Indenture dated December 1, 2000. (Filed as Exhibit 4.02 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K Report (File No. 001-03034) dated December 18, 2000 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.03 | Supplemental Indenture No. 2 dated June 15, 2003 between Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, supplementing Indenture dated December 1, 2000. (Filed as Exhibit 4.01 to Xcel Energy's Form 10-Q Report (File No. 001-03034) dated August 15, 2003 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.04 | Supplemental Indenture No. 3, dated June 1, 2006 between Xcel Energy Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Trustee, supplementing Indenture dated December 1, 2000. (Filed as Exhibit 4.01 to Xcel Energy's Current Report on Form 8-K (File no. 001-03034) dated June 6, 2006 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.05 | Form of Supplemental Indenture for each series of senior debt securities. (Filed as Exhibit 4.04 to Xcel Energy's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File no. 333-134660) and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.06 | Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of January 1, 2008, by and between Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. (Filed as Exhibit 4.01 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K (File No. 001-03034) dated January 16, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.07 | Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated January 16, 2008, by and between Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, supplementing Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of January 1, 2008. (Filed as Exhibit 4.02 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K (File no. 001-03034) dated January 16, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| 4.08 | Replacement Capital Covenant, dated January 16, 2008. (Filed as Exhibit 4.03 to Xcel Energy's Form 8-K (File no. 001-03034) dated January 16, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein). | ||
| *4.09 | Form of Supplemental Indenture for each series of junior subordinated debt securities. | ||
| *5.01 | Opinion of James L. Altman as to the legality of the securities. | ||
| *12.01 | Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges. | ||
| *23.01 | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. | ||
| *24.01 | Power of Attorney. | ||
| *25.01 | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association to act as Trustee under the Senior Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Indenture. | ||