Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-201149
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share (1) |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of Registration Fee (1)(2) | ||||
Common Stock |
2,800,000 Shares | $71.99 | $201,572,000 | $23,423 | ||||
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(1) | Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based on the average of the high and low prices reported on the New York Stock Exchange on May 15, 2015. |
(2) | Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(3) | This Calculation of Registration Fee table shall be deemed to update the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the Companys Registration Statement of Form S-3 (File No. 333-201149) in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated December 19, 2014)
Dominion Resources, Inc.
2,800,000 Shares
Common Stock
This prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relate to the offer and sale of 2,800,000 shares of our common stock.
Our common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol D. The last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on May 20, 2015 was $71.89 per share.
The underwriter named in this prospectus supplement has agreed to purchase our common stock from us at a price of $71.96 per share, which will result in $201,488,000 of proceeds to us, before expenses. The underwriter may offer the shares of common stock for sale in transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise at market prices or at negotiated prices. See Underwriting for further information.
Investing in our common stock involves risks. For a description of these risks, see Risk Factors on page S-9 of this prospectus supplement, the Risk Factors section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The underwriter expects to deliver the shares of common stock to purchasers in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company on or about May 27, 2015.
UBS Investment Bank
The date of this prospectus supplement is May 20, 2015.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is in two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this common stock offering and certain other matters relating to us and our financial condition. The second part, the accompanying base prospectus, gives more general information about securities we may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to the common stock we are offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement. Generally, when we refer to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. To the extent the description of the common stock in the prospectus supplement differs from the description of common stock in the accompanying base prospectus, you should only rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which this document refers you, or in other offering materials filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We have not authorized anyone, and the underwriter has not authorized anyone, to provide you with different information. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any different or inconsistent information. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information which appears in this document and which is incorporated by reference in this document may only be accurate as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the date of the document in which incorporated information appears. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the date of such information.
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Prospectus Supplement
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S-4 | ||||
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S-7 | ||||
S-9 | ||||
S-9 | ||||
S-10 | ||||
S-11 | ||||
Material United States Federal Income Tax and Estate Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders |
S-12 | |||
S-16 | ||||
S-18 | ||||
S-18 | ||||
Base Prospectus
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21 | ||||
Virginia Stock Corporation Act and the Articles and the Bylaws |
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Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units |
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29 |
S-3
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our file number with the SEC is 001-08489. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SECs web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SECs 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 supplement and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update or supersede this information. We make some of our filings with the SEC on a combined basis with two of our subsidiaries, Virginia Electric and Power Company (Virginia Power) and Dominion Gas Holdings, LLC (Dominion Gas). Our combined filings with the SEC present separate filings by each of Virginia Power, Dominion Gas and the Company. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (other than any portions of the documents not deemed to be filed) and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), except those portions of filings that relate to Virginia Power or Dominion Gas as a separate registrant, until such time as all of the securities covered by this prospectus supplement have been sold:
| Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014; |
| Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015; and |
| Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed January 23, 2015, May 6, 2015 and May 20, 2015. |
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:
Corporate Secretary, Dominion Resources, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, Telephone (804) 819-2000.
We have included certain information in this prospectus supplement or other offering materials which is forward-looking information as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples include discussions as to our expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives and future financial or other performance or assumptions concerning matters discussed in this prospectus. This information, by its nature, involves estimates, projections, forecasts and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ substantially from those expressed in the forward-looking statement.
The businesses that we and our subsidiaries conduct are influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our ability to control. We have identified a number of these factors in our annual and other reports as described under the heading Risk Factors and we refer you to that discussion for further information. These factors include but are not limited to:
| Unusual weather conditions and their effect on energy sales to customers and energy commodity prices; |
| Extreme weather events and other natural disasters, including hurricanes, high winds, severe storms, earthquakes, flooding and changes in water temperatures and availability that can cause outages and property damage to facilities; |
| Federal, state and local legislative and regulatory developments, including changes in federal and state tax laws and regulations; |
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| Changes to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including those related to climate change, the tightening of emission or discharge limits for greenhouse gases and other emissions, more extensive permitting requirements and the regulation of additional substances; |
| Cost of environmental compliance, including those costs related to climate change; |
| Changes in enforcement practices of regulators relating to environmental standards and litigation exposure for remedial activities; |
| Changes in regulator implementation of environmental standards and litigation exposure for remedial activities; |
| Difficulty in anticipating mitigation requirements associated with environmental and other regulatory approvals; |
| Risks associated with the operation of nuclear facilities, including costs associated with the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, decommissioning, plant maintenance and changes in existing regulations governing such facilities; |
| Unplanned outages at facilities in which we have an ownership interest; |
| Fluctuations in energy-related commodity prices and the effect these could have on our earnings and our liquidity position and the underlying value of our assets; |
| Counterparty credit and performance risk; |
| Capital market conditions, including the availability of credit and the ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms; |
| Risks associated with Virginia Powers membership and participation in PJM Interconnection L.L.C., including risks related to obligations created by the default of other participants; |
| Fluctuations in the value of investments held in nuclear decommissioning trusts and in benefit plan trusts by us; |
| Fluctuations in interest rates; |
| Changes in rating agency requirements or credit ratings and their effect on availability and cost of capital; |
| Changes in financial or regulatory accounting principles or policies imposed by governing bodies; |
| Employee workforce factors including collective bargaining agreements and labor negotiations with union employees; |
| Risks of operating businesses in regulated industries that are subject to changing regulatory structures; |
| Impacts of acquisitions, divestitures, transfers of assets to joint ventures or Dominion Midstream Partners, LP (Dominion Midstream), and retirements of assets based on asset portfolio reviews; |
| Receipt of approvals for, and timing of, closing dates for acquisitions and divestitures; |
| The timing and execution of Dominion Midstreams growth strategy; |
| Changes in rules for regional transmission organizations and independent system operators in which we participate, including changes in rate designs, changes in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions (FERC) interpretation of market rules and new and evolving capacity models; |
| Political and economic conditions, including inflation and deflation; |
| Domestic terrorism and other threats to our physical and intangible assets, as well as threats to cybersecurity; |
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| Changes in demand for our services, including industrial, commercial and residential growth or decline in our service areas, changes in supplies of natural gas delivered to our pipeline and processing systems, failure to maintain or replace customer contracts on favorable terms, changes in customer growth or usage patterns, including as a result of energy conservation programs, the availability of energy efficient devices and the use of distributed generation methods; |
| Additional competition in industries in which we operate, including in electric markets in which our merchant generation facilities operate, and competition in the development, construction and ownership of certain electric transmission facilities in Virginia Powers service territory in connection with FERC Order 1000; |
| Changes in technology, particularly with respect to new, developing or alternative sources of generation and smart grid technologies; |
| Changes to regulated electric rates and regulated gas distribution, transportation and storage rates, including liquefied natural gas storage, collected by us; |
| Changes in operating, maintenance and construction costs; |
| Timing and receipt of regulatory approvals necessary for planned construction or expansion projects and compliance with conditions associated with such regulatory approvals; |
| The inability to complete planned construction, conversion or expansion projects at all, or with the outcomes or within the terms and time frames initially anticipated; |
| Adverse outcomes in litigation matters or regulatory proceedings; and |
| The impact of operational hazards, including adverse developments with respect to pipeline and plant safety or integrity, equipment loss, malfunction or failure, operator error, and other catastrophic events. |
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made.
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In this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the words Dominion, Company, we, our and us refer to Dominion Resources, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and its subsidiaries and predecessors.
The following summary contains basic information about this offering. It may not contain all the information that is important to you. The DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK and VIRGINIA STOCK CORPORATION ACT AND THE ARTICLES AND THE BYLAWS sections of the accompanying base prospectus contain more detailed information regarding our common stock. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying base prospectus.
DOMINION
Dominion, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia and incorporated in Virginia in 1983, is one of the nations largest producers and transporters of energy. Our strategy is to be a leading provider of electricity, natural gas and related services to customers primarily in the eastern region of the U.S. Our portfolio of assets includes approximately 24,600 megawatts of generating capacity, 6,455 miles of electric transmission lines and 12,200 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline. We operate one of the nations largest natural gas storage systems with 928 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serve utility and retail energy customers in 13 states.
We are focused on expanding our investment in regulated and long-term contracted electric generation, transmission and distribution and regulated natural gas transmission and distribution infrastructure within and around our existing footprint. Our nonregulated operations include merchant generation, energy marketing and price risk management activities. Our operations are conducted through various subsidiaries, including Virginia Power, a regulated public utility that generates, transmits and distributes electricity for sale in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, and Dominion Gas, a holding company for the majority of our regulated natural gas businesses, which conduct business activities through an interstate natural gas transmission pipeline system and storage facilities, a local natural gas distribution network and natural gas gathering, processing and treatment facilities. We also own the general partner and 70.9% of the limited partner interests in Dominion Midstream, which owns a $50 million preferred equity interest and the general partner interest in Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP, which owns liquefied natural gas import, storage, regasification and transportation assets, and also owns all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission, LLC, which owns and operates nearly 1,500 miles of FERC-regulated interstate natural gas pipeline in South Carolina and southeastern Georgia.
Our address and telephone number are: 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, Telephone (804) 819-2000.
Recent Development
On May 6, 2015, at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Dominion, our shareholders approved an amendment to Dominions Amended and Restated Bylaws. This amendment allows a special meeting of shareholders to be called by the Corporate Secretary upon the written request of shareholders owning continuously for a period of at least one year prior to the date of such request more than 25% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. As stated in the base prospectus, prior to this amendment the ownership requirement was more than one-third of all of our outstanding shares of common stock. The amendment was effective immediately.
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THE OFFERING
Common Stock Offered |
2,800,000 shares of common stock. |
Common Stock to be Outstanding after the Offering(1) |
593,472,699 shares |
Use of Proceeds |
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, to finance capital expenditures and to repay short-term debt including commercial paper. If more than 5% of the net proceeds of this offering, not including underwriting compensation, will be received by affiliates of the underwriter in this offering, this offering will be conducted in compliance with FINRA Rule 5121, as administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Pursuant to that rule, the appointment of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary in connection with this offering. |
New York Stock Exchange Symbol |
D |
Risk Factors |
An investment in shares of our common stock is subject to risks. Please refer to the section entitled Risk Factors beginning on page S-9 and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in shares of our common stock. |
(1) | Based on 590,672,699 shares outstanding as of May 19, 2015. |
S-8
Investing in our common stock involves risks. Some of these risks relate to our business and some relate to this offering. In consultation with your own financial and legal advisers, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the discussion of risks that we have incorporated by reference herein and set forth below before deciding whether an investment in our common stock is suitable for you.
Risks Relating to Our Business
Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our control. We have identified a number of these factors under the heading Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
Risks Relating to this Offering
The price of our common stock may be adversely affected by the issuance and sale of our common stock, including pursuant to this offering. We cannot predict the effect that issuances or sales of our common stock, including pursuant to this offering, may have on the market price for our common stock. The issuance and sale of substantial amounts of common stock, including issuances and sales pursuant to this offering, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, to finance capital expenditures and to repay short-term debt, which as of April 30, 2015 included $1.374 billion in outstanding commercial paper with a weighted average yield of 0.5609% per year and a weighted average maturity of approximately 29 days.
S-9
The table below shows our unaudited capitalization on a consolidated basis as of March 31, 2015. The As Adjusted column reflects our capitalization after giving effect to this offering of common stock and the intended use of the net proceeds from this offering. You should read this table along with our audited financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as well as the unaudited information presented in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. See WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION on page S-4 and USE OF PROCEEDS on page S-9.
(unaudited) March 31, 2015 |
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Actual | As Adjusted |
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Short-term debt(1) |
$ | 5,022 | $ | 4,821 | ||||
Long-term debt: |
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Senior Notes and other long-term debt |
17,896 | 17,896 | ||||||
Junior Subordinated Notes |
1,373 | 1,373 | ||||||
Remarketable Subordinated Notes |
2,084 | 2,084 | ||||||
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Total long-term debt(2),(3) |
21,353 | 21,353 | ||||||
Total equity |
12,416 | 12,617 | ||||||
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Total capitalization |
$ | 38,791 | $ | 38,791 | ||||
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(1) | Includes securities due within one year, which includes a $1.7 million gain on fair value hedges. |
(2) | Includes a $13.6 million gain on fair value hedges. |
(3) | Includes the effect of unamortized discount ($(56.7) million) net of unamortized premium ($18.3 million). |
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COMMON STOCK PRICE RANGE AND DIVIDENDS
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol D. The following table sets forth the range of intra-day high and low sale prices, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, and the cash dividends declared on the common stock for the periods indicated:
Price Range | ||||||||||||
High | Low | Dividends | ||||||||||
2012 |
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First Quarter |
$ | 53.68 | $ | 48.87 | $ | 0.5275 | ||||||
Second Quarter |
54.69 | 49.87 | 0.5275 | |||||||||
Third Quarter |
55.62 | 52.15 | 0.5275 | |||||||||
Fourth Quarter |
53.89 | 48.94 | 0.5275 | |||||||||
2013 |
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First Quarter |
$ | 58.25 | $ | 51.92 | $ | 0.5625 | ||||||
Second Quarter |
61.85 | 53.79 | 0.5625 | |||||||||
Third Quarter |
64.04 | 55.51 | 0.5625 | |||||||||
Fourth Quarter |
67.97 | 61.36 | 0.5625 | |||||||||
2014 |
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First Quarter |
$ | 72.22 | $ | 63.14 | $ | 0.6000 | ||||||
Second Quarter |
73.75 | 67.06 | 0.6000 | |||||||||
Third Quarter |
71.62 | 64.71 | 0.6000 | |||||||||
Fourth Quarter |
80.89 | 65.53 | 0.6000 | |||||||||
2015 |
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First Quarter |
$ | 79.89 | $ | 68.25 | $ | 0.6475 | ||||||
Second Quarter (through May 20, 2015) |
74.34 | 70.07 |
On May 20, 2015, the last reported sale price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $71.89 per share.
Dividends on our common stock are paid as declared by Dominions board of directors. On May 13, 2015, our board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.6475 per share payable on June 20, 2015 to shareholders of record on May 29, 2015. Dividends are typically paid on the 20th of March, June, September and December of each year. Dividends can be paid by check or electronic deposit, or may be reinvested.
As of March 31, 2015, we had approximately 589 million shares of our common stock outstanding, and there were approximately 131,000 holders of record of our common stock.
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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND ESTATE TAX
CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS
The following is a summary of the material United States federal income and, to a limited extent, United States federal estate tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock. Except where noted, this summary deals only with common stock that is held as a capital asset (generally, property held for investment) by a non-U.S. holder (as defined below).
A non-U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of our common stock that, for United States federal income tax purposes, is an individual, corporation (or entity treated as a corporation), estate or trust and is not any of the following:
| an individual citizen or resident of the United States, including without limitation an alien individual who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States or who meets the substantial presence test under Section 7701(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code); |
| a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| an estate, the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| a trust if (1) its administration is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person. |
This summary is based upon provisions of the Code and Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in United States federal income and estate tax consequences different from those summarized below. This summary does not address all aspects of United States federal income and estate taxation and does not deal with foreign, state, local, gift or alternative minimum tax or other tax considerations that may be relevant to non-U.S. holders in light of their personal circumstances. In addition, this summary does not address tax considerations applicable to investors that may be subject to special treatment under the United States federal income tax laws such as (without limitation):
| United States expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; |
| shareholders that hold our common stock as part of a straddle, appreciated financial position, synthetic security, hedge, conversion transaction, constructive sale or other integrated investment or risk reduction transaction; |
| shareholders that acquired our common stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation or through a tax-qualified retirement plan; |
| shareholders that are partnerships or entities treated as partnerships for United States federal income tax purposes, or other pass-through entities, and owners thereof; |
| financial institutions and banks; |
| insurance companies; |
| persons that hold in excess of 5% of our common stock; |
| controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid United States federal income tax; |
| real estate investment trusts and regulated investment companies; |
| tax-exempt entities; |
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| governmental organizations; |
| dealers in securities or foreign currencies; and |
| traders in securities that use the mark-to-market method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes. |
If a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holding our common stock, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the United States federal income tax considerations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock by such partnership.
We have not sought any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with such statements and conclusions.
INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF OUR COMMON STOCK SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GIFT TAX LAWS OR THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAXING JURISDICTION OR ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.
Distributions
If we make distributions on our common stock, such distributions will generally constitute dividends for United States federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. To the extent such distributions exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will constitute a return of capital and will first reduce the non-U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in our common stock, but not below zero, and then will be treated as gain from the sale of our common stock (see Gain on Disposition of Common Stock below). To the extent a distribution constitutes a dividend for United States federal income tax purposes, such dividend paid to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock ordinarily will be subject to withholding of United States federal income tax at a rate of 30%, or such lower rate as may be specified under an applicable income tax treaty. In order to receive a reduced treaty rate, a non-U.S. holder must provide the applicable withholding agent with IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor form) properly certifying eligibility for the reduced rate.
Dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the non-U.S. holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base of the non-U.S. holder) generally will be exempt from the withholding tax described above (provided that certain certification requirements described below are satisfied) and instead will be subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated United States federal income tax rates in the same manner as if the non-U.S. holder were a United States person as defined under the Code. In order to obtain this exemption from withholding tax, a non-U.S. holder must provide the applicable withholding agent with an IRS Form W-8ECI (or applicable successor form) properly certifying eligibility for such exemption. Any such effectively connected dividends received by a foreign corporation may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a rate of 30% or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
A non-U.S. holder of our common stock may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under these rules if the non-U.S. holder is eligible for a reduced rate of United States withholding tax and an appropriate claim for refund is timely filed with the IRS.
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Gain on Disposition of Common Stock
Subject to the discussions below under Information Reporting and Backup Withholding and Foreign Account Tax Compliance, a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax on any gain realized upon the disposition of our common stock unless:
| the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the non-U.S. holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base of the non-U.S. holder); |
| the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met; or |
| our common stock constitutes a United States real property interest by reason of our status as a United States real property holding corporation (USRPHC) for United States federal income tax purposes at any time within the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the non-U.S. holders holding period for shares of our common stock. |
A non-U.S. holder who has gain that is described in the first bullet point immediately above will generally be subject to tax on the net gain derived from the disposition under regular graduated United States federal income tax rates. In addition, a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as is specified by an applicable tax treaty) on its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, as adjusted for certain items.
A non-U.S. holder who meets the requirements described in the second bullet point immediately above will be subject to a flat 30% tax (or lower applicable income tax treaty rate) on the gain derived from the disposition, which may be offset by United States source capital losses, even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States.
With respect to our status as a USRPHC, we believe we are not currently and do not anticipate becoming a USRPHC for United States federal income tax purposes (and the remainder of this discussion assumes we are and will be a USRPHC). However, if we were to become a USRPHC and as long as our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, a non-U.S. holder will be taxed on gain recognized on the disposition of our common stock as a result of our status as a USRPHC only if the non-U.S. holder actually or constructively holds or held more than 5% of our common stock at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or, if shorter, the non-U.S. holders holding period for our common stock. If we were to become a USRPHC and our common stock were not considered to be regularly traded on an established securities market, all non-U.S. holders would be subject to United States federal income tax on a disposition of our common stock and a 10% withholding tax would apply to the gross proceeds from the sale of our common stock by a non-U.S. holder.
Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors with respect to the application of the foregoing rules to their ownership and disposition of our common stock.
Federal Estate Tax
Our common stock beneficially owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a citizen or resident of the United States (as specifically defined for United States federal estate tax purposes) at the time of death generally will be includible in the individuals gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes and may be subject to United States federal estate tax unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
We must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the amount of dividends paid to such holder and any tax withheld with respect to such dividends, regardless of whether withholding was required. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and withholding also may be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides under the provisions of an applicable tax treaty.
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A non-U.S. holder may be subject to backup withholding for dividends paid to such holder unless such holder certifies on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or another appropriate form) that it is a non-U.S. holder (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person as defined under the Code), or such holder otherwise establishes an exemption.
Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding may apply to the proceeds of a sale of our common stock by a non-U.S. holder within the United States or conducted through certain United States-related financial intermediaries, unless the beneficial owner certifies on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or another appropriate form) that it is a non-U.S. holder (and the withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a United States person as defined under the Code), or such owner otherwise establishes an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a non-U.S. holders United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance
Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)), impose a 30% withholding tax on any dividends on our common stock and on the gross proceeds from a disposition of our common stock (if such disposition occurs after December 31, 2016), in each case if paid to a foreign financial institution or a non-financial foreign entity (including, in some cases, when such foreign financial institution or entity is acting as an intermediary), unless (i) in the case of a foreign financial institution, such institution enters into an agreement with the United States government to withhold on certain payments, and to collect and provide to the United States tax authorities substantial information regarding United States account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with United States owners), (ii) in the case of a non-financial foreign entity, such entity certifies that it does not have any substantial United States owners or provides the withholding agent with a certification (generally on an IRS Form W-8-BEN-E) identifying the direct and indirect substantial United States owners of the entity, or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules and provides appropriate documentation (such as an IRS Form W-8-BEN-E). Under certain circumstances, a holder of our common stock might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. Intergovernmental agreements governing FATCA between the United States and certain other countries may modify the foregoing requirements for certain holders of our common stock.
The rules under FATCA are new and complex. Prospective investors are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on an investment in our common stock.
THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AND THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF UNITED STATES FEDERAL GIFT TAX LAWS, STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS AND TREATIES.
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Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement, dated the date of this prospectus supplement (Underwriting Agreement), UBS Securities LLC as sole underwriter has agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell, 2,800,000 shares of our common stock.
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligation of the underwriter to purchase and pay for the shares, is subject to, among other things, the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and certain other conditions. The underwriter is obligated to take and pay for all of the shares if any are taken.
The underwriter may receive from purchasers of the shares nominal brokerage commissions in amounts agreed with the purchasers. The underwriter proposes to offer the shares of common stock offered hereby from time to time for sale in one or more transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or negotiated prices, subject to receipt of acceptance by it and subject to its right to reject any order in whole or in part. The underwriter may effect such transactions by selling the shares to or through dealers and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriter and/or purchasers of shares for whom they may act as agents or to whom they may sell as principal. The difference between the price at which the underwriter purchases shares and the price at which the underwriter resells such shares may be deemed underwriting compensation.
We estimate that the total expenses of the offering of common stock, not including the underwriting discount, will be approximately $200,000.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriter and its controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
In order to facilitate the offering, the underwriter may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our common stock. Specifically, the underwriter may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in our common stock for the underwriter. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of our common stock, the underwriter may bid for, and purchase, shares of our common stock in the open market. Finally, the underwriter may reclaim selling concessions allowed to a dealer for distributing our common stock in the offering, if they repurchase previously distributed shares of our common stock in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price for our common stock above independent market levels. The underwriter is not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.
The underwriter and its affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and currently perform and may in the future perform various investment or commercial banking, lending, trust and financial advisory services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriter and its affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriter and its affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Lock-Up Agreements
We and our executive officers and directors have agreed not to, without the prior written consent of the underwriter, for a period of 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, directly or indirectly, (i) offer,
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issue, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of our common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock (collectively, common securities), or file any registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the foregoing (other than a shelf registration statement from which no such securities are offered) or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of shares of our common stock or of common securities, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of our common stock or such common securities, in cash or otherwise, other than (A) any shares of our common stock issued by us upon exercise of an option, warrant, or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date of this prospectus supplement; (B) up to an aggregate of 400,000 shares by our executive officers and directors; (C) any shares of our common stock issued, or options to purchase such shares granted (or the filing of any registration statement relating to such shares or options) in connection with any of our employee benefit plans, employee stock purchase plans, non-employee director stock plans, dividend reinvestment plans, employee retirement plans and the Dominion Direct Investment plan or the sale of shares of our common stock, including through the exercise of stock options, by any executive officer or director under a Rule 10b5-1 plan that was in effect prior to the date of this prospectus supplement; (D) the entry by any executive officer or director into a new Rule 10b5-1 plan, provided that no sales or other distributions pursuant to a new 10b5-1 plan may occur until the expiration of the 30-day period; (E) the sale or surrender to us by any of our executive officers or directors of any options or common stock underlying options or any restricted stock in order to pay the exercise price or taxes associated with the exercise of options or vesting of restricted stock; (F) any issuance by us of common stock in connection with acquisitions that close more than 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement or any acquisition in which the party or parties receiving the common stock agree to be bound by these restrictions; (G) any issuance and sale by us of common stock in connection with any early settlement (upon the occurrence of a fundamental change or otherwise) of any purchase contract underlying a 2014 Series A Corporate Unit or 2014 Series A Treasury Unit, 2013 Series A Corporate Unit or 2013 Series A Treasury Unit or 2013 Series B Corporate Unit or 2013 Series B Treasury Unit, as applicable, by the holder thereof; (H) transfers by any person, other than us, by gift, will or intestacy, or to affiliates or immediate family members, provided that the transferee agrees to be bound by these restrictions, and no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act or other public announcement, shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution; and (I) in connection with any action by directors and officers in their capacities as such that is necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate any transaction by Dominion that is permitted under the Underwriting Agreement. The underwriter, in its sole discretion, may release the common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time.
Selling Restrictions
European Economic Area
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), the underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State it has not made and will not make an offer of shares of common stock which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:
(a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
(b) to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the joint book-running managers for any such offer; or
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(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of common stock shall require us or the underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive, or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of the above, the expression an offer of common stock to the public in relation to any shares of common stock in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the common stock to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the common stock, as the same may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/EU.
Conflicts of Interest
As described in USE OF PROCEEDS on page S-9, some of the net proceeds of this offering may be used for the repayment of short-term debt, including commercial paper. If more than 5% of the net proceeds of this offering, not including underwriting compensation, will be received by affiliates of the underwriter in this offering, this offering will be conducted in compliance with FINRA Rule 5121, as administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Pursuant to that rule, the appointment of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary in connection with this offering.
Certain legal matters in connection with this common stock offering will be passed upon for us by McGuireWoods LLP, and for the underwriter by Troutman Sanders LLP which also performs certain legal services for us and our other affiliates on other matters.
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements 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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PROSPECTUS
DOMINION RESOURCES, INC.
120 Tredegar Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 819-2000
Senior Debt Securities
Junior Subordinated Debentures
Junior Subordinated Notes
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Stock Purchase Contracts
Stock Purchase Units
From time to time, we may offer and sell our securities. The securities we may offer may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for other securities of the Company.
We will file prospectus supplements and may provide other offering materials that furnish specific terms of the securities to be offered under this prospectus. The terms of the securities will include the initial offering price, aggregate amount of the offering, listing on any securities exchange or quotation system, investment considerations and the agents, dealers or underwriters, if any, to be used in connection with the sale of the securities. You should read this prospectus and any supplement or other offering materials carefully before you invest.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus is dated December 19, 2014.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell either separately or in units any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to an unspecified dollar amount.
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 or other offering materials that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Material federal income tax considerations applicable to the offered securities will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials as necessary. The prospectus supplement or other offering materials may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or other offering materials together with additional information described under the heading WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION. When we use the terms we, our, us, Dominion or the Company in this prospectus, we are referring to Dominion Resources, Inc.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our file number with the SEC is 001-08489. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SECs web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SECs public reference room at 100 F. Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 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 considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update or supersede this information. We make some of our filings with the SEC on a combined basis with two of our subsidiaries, Virginia Electric and Power Company (Virginia Power) and Dominion Gas Holdings, LLC (Dominion Gas). Our combined filings with the SEC present separate filings by each of Virginia Power, Dominion Gas and the Company. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (other than any portions of the documents not deemed to be filed) 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, except those portions of filings that relate to Virginia Power or Dominion Gas as a separate registrant, until we sell all of the securities:
| Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013; |
| Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2014; June 30, 2014; and September 30, 2014; |
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| Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed January 23, 2014, February 4, 2014, March 24, 2014, May 7, 2014, May 19, 2014, June 2, 2014, July 1, 2014, September 2, 2014, October 3, 2014 and November 25, 2014; and |
| the description of our common stock contained in Amendment No. 1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed June 25, 2013. |
You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at: Corporate Secretary, Dominion Resources, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, (804) 819-2000.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or to which this prospectus refers you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information which appears in this prospectus and which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus may only be accurate as of the date of this prospectus or the date of the document in which incorporated information appears. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
SAFE HARBOR AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
This prospectus or other offering materials may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements. Examples include discussions as to our expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives and future financial or other performance. These statements, by their nature, involve estimates, projections, forecasts and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ substantially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements may accompany the statements themselves; generally applicable factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those expressed in the forward-looking statements will be discussed in our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K incorporated by reference herein and in prospectus supplements and other offering materials.
By making forward-looking statements, we are not intending to become obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or other changes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as at their dates.
Dominion, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia and incorporated in Virginia in 1983, is one of the nations largest producers and transporters of energy. We presently serve nearly 5 million utility and retail energy customers in 10 states and operate one of the nations largest underground natural gas storage systems.
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Our strategy is to be a leading provider of electricity, natural gas and related services to customers primarily in the eastern region of the U.S. Our portfolio of assets includes electric generating capacity, electric transmission lines, electric distribution lines, natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and gas distribution pipeline. Our generation mix is diversified and includes coal, nuclear, gas, oil, hydro, renewables and purchased power. We are focused on expanding our investment in regulated electric generation, transmission and distribution and regulated natural gas transmission and distribution infrastructure within and around our existing footprint. Our non-regulated activities include merchant generation, energy marketing and price risk management activities.
We are a holding company that conducts all of our operations through our subsidiaries. Our principal direct, legal subsidiaries include Virginia Power, a regulated public utility that generates, transmits and distributes electricity for sale in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, Dominion Gas, a holding company for the majority of our regulated natural gas businesses, which conduct business activities through an interstate natural gas transmission pipeline system and storage facilities, a local natural gas distribution network and natural gas gathering, processing and treatment facilities, and Dominion Energy, Inc., which is involved in merchant generation, energy marketing and price risk management activities.
We also own the general partner and 68.5% of the limited partner interests in Dominion Midstream Partners, LP, which owns a $50 million preferred equity interest and the general partner interest in Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP, which owns liquefied natural gas import, storage, regasification and transportation assets.
For additional information about us, see WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION on page 2.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus to finance capital expenditures and future acquisitions and to retire or redeem debt securities issued by us and for other general corporate purposes which may include the repayment of commercial paper and debt under any of our credit facilities.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The term Debt Securities includes the Senior Debt Securities, Junior Subordinated Debentures and Junior Subordinated Notes. We will issue the Senior Debt Securities in one or more series under our Senior Indenture to be entered into at a future date by us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee, as supplemented from time to time. We will issue the Junior Subordinated Debentures in one or more series under our Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of December 1, 1997 between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee, as supplemented from time to time. We will issue Junior Subordinated Notes in one or more series under our Junior Subordinated Notes Indenture dated as of June 1, 2006 between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Trustee, as amended and as supplemented from time to time. The indenture related to the Junior Subordinated Debentures is called the Subordinated Indenture in this prospectus and the indenture related to the Junior Subordinated Notes is called the Subordinated Indenture II; and together the Senior Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture II are called the Indentures. We have summarized selected provisions of the Indentures below. The Senior Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture II have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement and you should read the Indentures for provisions that may be important to you. In the summary below, we have included references to section numbers of the Indentures so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the Indentures.
General
The Senior Debt Securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt, except to the extent provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be our unsecured obligations and are junior in right of payment to our Senior Indebtedness, as described under the caption ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURESSubordination. The Junior Subordinated Notes will be our unsecured obligation and are junior in right of payment to our Priority Indebtedness, as described under the caption ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTESSubordination.
Because we are a holding company that conducts all of our operations through our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the Debt Securities is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay
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dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. Holders of Debt Securities will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred stockholders. As of September 30, 2014, our subsidiaries had approximately $10.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year).
The Indentures do not limit the amount of Debt Securities that we may issue. We may issue Debt Securities from time to time under the Indentures in one or more series by entering into supplemental indentures or by our Board of Directors or duly authorized officers authorizing the issuance.
The Indentures do not protect the holders of Debt Securities if we incur additional indebtedness or engage in a highly leveraged transaction.
Provisions of a Particular Series
The Debt Securities of a series need not be issued at the same time, bear interest at the same rate or mature on the same date. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a series, a series may be reopened, without notice to or consent of any holder of outstanding Debt Securities, for issuances of additional Debt Securities of that series. The prospectus supplement or other offering materials for a particular series of Debt Securities will describe the terms of that series, including, if applicable, some or all of the following:
| the title and type of the Debt Securities; |
| the total principal amount of the Debt Securities; |
| the portion of the principal payable upon acceleration of maturity, if other than the entire principal; |
| the date or dates on which principal is payable or the method for determining the date or dates, and any right that we have to change the date on which principal is payable; |
| the interest rate or rates, if any, or the method for determining the rate or rates, and the date or dates from which interest will accrue; |
| any interest payment dates and the regular record date for the interest payable on each interest payment date, if any; |
| any payments due if the maturity of the Debt Securities is accelerated; |
| any optional redemption terms, or any repayment terms; |
| any provisions that would obligate us to repurchase, repay or otherwise redeem the Debt Securities, or any sinking fund provisions; |
| the currency in which payments will be made if other than U.S. dollars, and the manner of determining the equivalent of those amounts in U.S. dollars; |
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| if payments may be made, at our election or at the holders election, in a currency other than that in which the Debt Securities are stated to be payable, then the currency in which those payments may be made, the terms and conditions of the election and the manner of determining those amounts; |
| any index or formula used for determining principal, interest or premium, if any; |
| the percentage of the principal amount at which the Debt Securities will be issued, if other than 100% of the principal amount; |
| whether the Debt Securities will be issued in fully registered certificated form or book-entry form, represented by certificates deposited with the applicable trustee and registered in the name of a securities depositary or its nominee (Book-Entry Debt Securities); |
| denominations, if other than $1,000 each or multiples of $1,000; |
| any rights that would allow us to defer or extend an interest payment date in connection with any series of Debt Securities; |
| any provisions requiring payment of principal or interest in our capital stock or with proceeds from the sale of our capital stock or from any other specific source of funds in connection with any series of Debt Securities; |
| the identity of the series trustee, if other than the trustee; |
| any changes to events of defaults or covenants; |
| if any series of Debt Securities will not be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance; and |
| any other terms of the Debt Securities. (Sections 201 & 301 of the Senior Indenture; Sections 2.1 & 2.3 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.) |
The prospectus supplement will also indicate any special tax implications of the Debt Securities and any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs.
Conversion or Redemption
No Debt Security will be subject to conversion, amortization or redemption, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. Any provisions relating to the conversion, amortization or redemption of Debt Securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, including whether conversion, amortization or redemption is mandatory or at our option. If no redemption date or redemption price is indicated with respect to a Debt Security, we may not redeem the Debt Security prior to its stated maturity. Debt Securities subject to redemption by us will be subject to the following terms:
| redeemable on and after the applicable redemption dates; |
| redemption dates and redemption prices fixed at the time of sale and set forth on the Debt Security; and |
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| redeemable in whole or in part (provided that any remaining principal amount of the Debt Security will be equal to an authorized denomination) at our option at the applicable redemption price, together with interest, payable to the date of redemption, on notice given not more than 60 nor less than 20 days prior to the date of redemption. (Section 1104 of the Senior Indenture; Section 3.2 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.) |
We will not be required to:
| issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Debt Securities of a series during the period beginning 15 days before the date the Debt Securities of that series are selected for redemption; or |
| register the transfer of, or exchange any Debt Security of that series selected for redemption except the unredeemed portion of a Debt Security being partially redeemed. (Section 305 of the Senior Indenture; Section 2.5 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.) |
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period
If elected in the applicable supplemental indenture, we may defer interest payments by extending the interest payment period for the number of consecutive extension periods specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials (each, an Extension Period). Other details regarding the Extension Period, including any limit on our ability to pay dividends during the Extension Period, will also be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. No Extension Period may extend beyond the maturity of the applicable series of Debt Securities. At the end of the Extension Period(s), we will pay all interest then accrued and unpaid, together with interest compounded quarterly at the interest rate for the applicable series of Debt Securities, to the extent permitted by applicable law. (Section 301(26) of the Senior Indenture; Section 2.10 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
Payment and Transfer; Paying Agent
The paying agent will pay the principal of any Debt Securities only if those Debt Securities are surrendered to it. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, the paying agent will pay principal, interest and premium, if any, on Debt Securities, subject to such surrender, where applicable, at its office or, at our option:
| by wire transfer to an account at a banking institution in the United States that is designated in writing to the applicable trustee prior to the deadline set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials by the person entitled to that payment (which in the case of Book-Entry Debt Securities is the securities depositary or its nominee); or |
| by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to that interest as that address appears in the security register for those Debt Securities. (Sections 307 & 1001 of the Senior Indenture; Section 4.1 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.) |
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Neither we nor the applicable trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Book-Entry Debt Security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests. We expect that the securities depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, in a Book-Entry Debt Security, will credit immediately the accounts of the related participants with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interest in the Book-Entry Debt Security as shown on the records of the securities depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Book-Entry Debt Security will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in street name, and will be the responsibility of the participants.
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, the applicable trustee will act as paying agent for the Debt Securities, and the principal corporate trust office of the applicable trustee will be the office through which the paying agent acts. We may, however, change or add paying agents or approve a change in the office through which a paying agent acts. (Section 1002 of the Senior Indenture; Section 4.4 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
Any money that we have paid to a paying agent for principal or interest on any Debt Securities which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after that principal or interest has become due will be repaid to us at our request. After repayment to the Company, holders should look only to us for those payments. (Section 1003 of the Senior Indenture; Section 12.4 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
Fully registered securities may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee or at any other office or agency we maintain for those purposes, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or governmental charge and related expenses. (Section 1002 of the Senior Indenture; Section 2.5 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
Global Securities
We may issue some or all of the Debt Securities as Book-Entry Debt Securities. Book-Entry Debt Securities will be represented by one or more fully registered global certificates. Book-Entry Debt Securities of like tenor and terms up to $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount may be represented by a single global certificate. Each global certificate will be registered in the name of the securities depositary or its nominee and deposited with the applicable trustee, as agent for the securities depositary. Unless otherwise stated in any prospectus supplement or other offering materials, The Depository Trust Company will act as the securities depositary. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in definitive form, a global certificate may generally be transferred only as a whole unless it is being transferred to certain nominees of the securities depositary. (Section 305 of the Senior Indenture; Section 2.5 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
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Beneficial interests in global certificates will be shown on, and transfers of global certificates will be effected only through, records maintained by the securities depositary and its participants. If there are any additional or differing terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to the Book-Entry Debt Securities, we will describe them in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.
Holders of beneficial interests in Book-Entry Debt Securities represented by a global certificate are referred to as beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will be limited to institutions having accounts with the securities depositary or its nominee, which are called participants in this discussion, and to persons that hold beneficial interests through participants. When a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities is issued, the securities depositary will credit on its book-entry, registration and transfer system the principal amounts of Book- Entry Debt Securities the global certificate represents to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global certificate will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by:
| the securities depositary, with respect to participants interests; and |
| any participant, with respect to interests the participant holds on behalf of other persons. |
As long as the securities depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities, that person will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global certificate and the Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents for all purposes. Except in limited circumstances, beneficial owners:
| may not have the global certificate or any Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents registered in their names; |
| may not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Book-Entry Debt Securities in exchange for the global certificate; and |
| will not be considered the owners or holders of the global certificate or any Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents for any purposes under the Debt Securities or the Indentures. (Section 308 of the Senior Indenture; Section 2.2 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.) |
We will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, on a Book-Entry Debt Security to the securities depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global certificate. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global certificate.
Payments participants make to beneficial owners holding interests through those participants will be the responsibility of those participants. The securities depositary may from time to time adopt various policies and procedures governing payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global certificate. None of the following will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the securities depositarys or any
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participants records relating to beneficial interests in a global certificate representing Book-Entry Debt Securities, for payments made on account of those beneficial interests or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests:
| Dominion; |
| the applicable trustee; or |
| any agent of any of the above. |
Covenants
Under the Indentures we will:
| pay the principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities when due; |
| maintain a place of payment; |
| deliver an officers certificate to the applicable trustee at the end of each fiscal year confirming our compliance with our obligations under each of the Indentures; |
| in the case of the Senior Indenture, preserve and keep in full force and effect our corporate existence except as otherwise provided in the Senior Indenture; and |
| deposit sufficient funds with any paying agent on or before the due date for any principal, interest or premium, if any. (Sections 1001, 1002, 1003, 1005 & 1006 of the Senior Indenture; Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.4 & 4.6 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.) |
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The Indentures provide that we may not merge or consolidate with any other corporation or sell or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any person or acquire all or substantially all of the assets of another person unless (i) either we are the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation (if other than us) is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or a State thereof or the District of Columbia and such corporation expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest and other amounts due on the Debt Securities, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indentures to be performed by us by supplemental indenture in form satisfactory to the applicable trustee, executed and delivered to the applicable trustee by such corporation, and (ii) we or such successor corporation, as the case may be, will not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition.
In case of any such consolidation, merger or conveyance, such successor corporation will succeed to and be substituted for us, with the same effect as if it had been named as us in the applicable Indenture, and in the event of such conveyance, we will be discharged of all of our obligations and covenants under the applicable Indenture and the Debt Securities. (Sections 801 & 802 of the Senior Indenture; Sections 11.1, 11.2 & 11.3 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
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Events of Default
Event of Default when used in each of the Indentures, will mean any of the following with respect to Debt Securities of any series:
| failure to pay the principal or any premium on any Debt Security when due; |
| with respect to the Senior Debt Securities, failure to deposit any sinking fund payment for that series when due that continues for 60 days; |
| failure to pay any interest on any Debt Securities of that series, when due, that continues for 60 days (or for 30 days in the case of any Junior Subordinated Debentures or Junior Subordinated Notes, as applicable); provided that, if applicable, for this purpose, the date on which interest is due is the date on which we are required to make payment following any deferral of interest payments by us under the terms of the applicable series of Debt Securities that permit such deferrals; |
| failure to perform any other covenant in the Indentures (other than a covenant expressly included solely for the benefit of other series) that continues for 90 days after the applicable trustee or the holders of at least 33% of the outstanding Debt Securities (25% in the case of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Junior Subordinated Notes, as applicable) of that series give written notice of the default; |
| certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Dominion; or |
| any other Event of Default included in the Indentures or any supplemental indenture. (Section 501 of the Senior Indenture; Section 6.1 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.) |
In the case of a general covenant default described above, the applicable trustee may extend the grace period. In addition, if holders of a particular series have given a notice of default, then holders of at least the same percentage of Debt Securities of that series, together with the applicable trustee, may also extend the grace period. The grace period will be automatically extended if we have initiated and are diligently pursuing corrective action.
An Event of Default for a particular series of Debt Securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of Debt Securities issued under the Indentures. Additional events of default may be established for a particular series and, if established, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.
If an Event of Default for any series of Debt Securities occurs and continues, the applicable trustee or the holders of at least 33% (25%, in the case of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Junior Subordinated Notes, as applicable) in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series can void the declaration. (Section 502 of the Senior Indenture; Section 6.1 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
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The applicable trustee may withhold notice to the holders of Debt Securities of any default (except in the payment of principal or interest) if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders. Other than its duties in case of a default, a Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indentures at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the applicable trustee reasonable indemnity. If they provide this reasonable indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of Debt Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the applicable trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the applicable trustee, for any series of Debt Securities. However, the applicable trustee must give the holders of Debt Securities notice of any default to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act. (Sections 512, 601, 602 & 603 of the Senior Indenture; Sections 6.6, 6.7, 7.1 & 7.2 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
The holder of any Debt Security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, any premium and, within certain limitations, any interest on that Debt Security on its maturity date or redemption date and to enforce those payments. (Section 508 of the Senior Indenture; Section 14.2 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
Satisfaction; Discharge
We may discharge all our obligations (except those described below) to holders of the Debt Securities issued under the Indentures, which Debt Securities have not already been delivered to the applicable trustee for cancellation and which either have become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year, by depositing with the applicable trustee an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due the principal, interest and premium, if any, on all outstanding Debt Securities. However, certain of our obligations under the Indentures will survive, including with respect to the following:
| remaining rights to register the transfer, conversion, substitution or exchange of Debt Securities of the applicable series; |
| rights of holders to receive payments of principal of, and any interest on, the Debt Securities of the applicable series, and other rights, duties and obligations of the holders of Debt Securities with respect to any amounts deposited with the applicable trustee; and |
| the rights, obligations and immunities of the applicable trustee under the Indentures. (Section 401 of the Senior Indenture; Section 12.1 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.) |
Under federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, a discharge under these circumstances may be treated as an exchange of the related Debt Securities. Each holder might be required to recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holders cost or other tax basis for the Debt Securities and the value of the holders interest in the amounts deposited with the applicable trustee. Holders might be required to include as income a different amount
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than would be includable without the discharge. We urge prospective investors to consult their own tax advisors as to the consequences of a discharge, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than federal income tax law.
Defeasance
Unless we elect differently in the applicable supplemental indenture, we will be discharged from our obligations on the Senior Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, as applicable, at any time if we deposit with the applicable trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums due to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the Senior Debt Securities and Junior Subordinated Notes of the series. If this happens, the holders of the Senior Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated Notes of the series, as applicable, will not be entitled to the benefits of either the Senior Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture II, as applicable, except for registration of transfer and exchange of Senior Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated Notes, as applicable, and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated Senior Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated Notes, as applicable. (Section 402 of the Senior Indenture; Section 12.5 of the Subordinated Indenture II.)
Under federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, a discharge under these circumstances may be treated as an exchange of the related Senior Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated Notes, as applicable. Each holder might be required to recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holders cost or other tax basis for the Senior Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated Notes, as applicable, and the value of the holders interest in the defeasance trust. Holders might be required to include as income a different amount than would be includable without the discharge. We urge prospective investors to consult their own tax advisors as to the consequences of such a discharge, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than federal income tax law.
Modification of Indentures; Waiver
Under the Indentures our rights and obligations and the rights of the holders may be modified with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by the modification. No modification of the principal or interest payment terms, and no modification reducing the percentage required for modifications, is effective against any holder without its consent. (Section 902 of the Senior Indenture; Section 10.2 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.) In addition, we may supplement the Indentures to create new series of Debt Securities and for certain other purposes, without the consent of any holders of Debt Securities. (Section 901 of the Senior Indenture; Section 10.1 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
The holders of a majority of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series under the applicable Indenture with respect to which a default has occurred and is continuing may waive a default for all those series, except a default in the payment of principal or interest, or any
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premium, on any Debt Securities or a default with respect to a covenant or provision which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Security of the series affected. (Section 513 of the Senior Indenture; Section 6.6 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
In addition, under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures or Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, as applicable, may waive in advance, for that series, our compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the Subordinated Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture II under which those Junior Subordinated Debentures or Junior Subordinated Notes, as applicable, were issued. (Section 4.7 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
Concerning the Trustees
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas is expected to be the Trustee under the Senior Indenture if we enter into the Senior Indenture. We and certain of our affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas also serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of certain of our affiliates are outstanding. Affiliates of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas have purchased, and are likely to purchase in the future, our securities and securities of our affiliates.
As Trustee under the Senior Indenture, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas will perform only those duties that are specifically described in the Senior Indenture unless an event of default under the Senior Indenture occurs and is continuing. It is under no obligation to exercise any of its powers under the Senior Indenture at the request of any holder of Senior Debt Securities unless that holder offers reasonable indemnity to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which it might incur as a result. (Section 601 of the Senior Indenture.)
The Senior Indenture permits us to name a different trustee for individual series of Senior Debt Securities. If named, a series trustee performs the duties that would otherwise be performed by the Trustee under the Senior Indenture with respect to that series; the series trustee will have no greater liabilities or obligations and will be entitled to all the rights and exculpations with respect to such series that would otherwise be available to the Trustee under the Senior Indenture. If a series trustee is named, information about any series trustee will be disclosed in the prospectus supplement and the Trustee under the Senior Indenture will have no responsibility with respect to that series.
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas administers its corporate trust business at 60 Wall Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10005 or such other address as it may notify to the Company from time to time.
The Bank of New York Mellon, successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., is the Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture II. We and certain of our affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon. The Bank of New York Mellon also serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant
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to which securities of ours and of certain of our affiliates are outstanding. Affiliates of The Bank of New York Mellon have purchased, and are likely to purchase in the future, our securities and securities of our affiliates.
As Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture II, The Bank of New York Mellon will perform only those duties that are specifically described in the Subordinated Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture II unless an event of default under either indenture occurs and is continuing. It is under no obligation to exercise any of its powers under the Indentures at the request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debenture or Junior Subordinated Notes unless that holder offers reasonable indemnity to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which it might incur as a result. (Section 7.1 of the Subordinated Indenture & the Subordinated Indenture II.)
The Subordinated Indenture II permits us to name a different trustee for individual series of Junior Subordinated Notes. If named, a series trustee performs the duties that would otherwise be performed by the Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture II with respect to that series; the series trustee will have no greater liabilities or obligations and will be entitled to all the rights and exculpations with respect to such series that would otherwise be available to the Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture II. If a series trustee is named, information about any series trustee will be disclosed in the prospectus supplement and the Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture II will have no responsibility with respect to that series.
The Bank of New York Mellon administers its corporate trust business at 101 Barclay Street, 7W ATTN: Corporate Trust Administration, New York, New York 10286 or such other address as it may notify to the Company from time to time.
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
Repayment at the Option of the Holder
We must repay the Senior Debt Securities at the option of the holders prior to the Stated Maturity Date only if specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials, the Senior Debt Securities subject to repayment at the option of the holder will be subject to repayment:
| on the specified Repayment Dates; and |
| at a repayment price equal to 100% of the unpaid principal amount to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued to the Repayment Date. (Section 1302 of the Senior Indenture.) |
For any Senior Debt Security to be repaid, the Trustee must receive, at its office maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City not more than 180 nor less than 60 calendar days prior to the date of repayment:
| in the case of a certificated Senior Debt Security, the certificated Senior Debt Security and the form in the Senior Debt Security entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase duly completed; or |
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| in the case of a book-entry Senior Debt Security, instructions to that effect from the beneficial owner to the securities depositary and forwarded by the securities depositary. Exercise of the repayment option by the holder will be irrevocable. (Section 1303 of the Senior Indenture.) |
Only the securities depositary may exercise the repayment option in respect of beneficial interests in the book-entry Senior Debt Securities. Accordingly, beneficial owners that desire repayment in respect of all or any portion of their beneficial interests must instruct the participants through which they own their interests to direct the securities depositary to exercise the repayment option on their behalf. All instructions given to participants from beneficial owners relating to the option to elect repayment will be irrevocable. In addition, at the time the instructions are given, each beneficial owner will cause the participant through which it owns its interest to transfer its interest in the book-entry Senior Debt Securities or the global certificate representing the related book-entry Senior Debt Securities, on the securities depositarys records, to the Trustee. See DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIESGlobal Securities.
Limitation on Liens
While any of the Senior Debt Securities are outstanding (other than those to which the limitation on liens covenant is expressly inapplicable), we are not permitted to create liens upon any Principal Property (as defined below) or upon any shares of stock of any Material Subsidiary (as defined below), which we now own or will own in the future, to secure any of our debt, unless at the same time we provide that the Senior Debt Securities will also be secured by that lien on an equal and ratable basis. However, we are generally permitted to create the following types of liens:
(1) | purchase money liens on future property acquired by us; liens of any kind existing on property or shares of stock or other securities at the time they are acquired by us; conditional sales agreements and other title retention agreements on future property acquired by us (as long as none of those liens cover any of our other properties); |
(2) | liens on our property or any shares of stock or other securities of any Material Subsidiary that existed as of the date the Notes were first issued; liens on the shares of stock or other securities of any legal entity, which liens existed at the time that entity became a Material Subsidiary; certain liens typically incurred in the ordinary course of business; |
(3) | liens in favor of the United States (or any State), any foreign country or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of those jurisdictions, to secure payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any debt incurred for the purpose of financing the purchase price or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to those liens, including, for example liens to secure debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type; |
(4) | debt that we may issue in connection with a consolidation or merger of Dominion or any Material Subsidiary with or into any other company (including any of our affiliates or Material Subsidiaries) in exchange for secured debt of that company (Third Party |
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Debt) as long as that debt (i) is secured by a mortgage on all or a portion of the property of that company, (ii) prohibits secured debt from being incurred by that company, unless the Third Party Debt is secured on an equal and ratable basis, or (iii) prohibits secured debt from being incurred by that company; |
(5) | debt of another company that we must assume in connection with a consolidation or merger of that company, with respect to which any of our property is subjected to a lien; |
(6) | liens on any property that we acquire, construct, develop or improve after the date the Senior Debt Securities are first issued that are created before or within 18 months after the acquisition, construction, development or improvement of the property and secure the payment of the purchase price or related costs; |
(7) | liens in favor of us, our Material Subsidiaries or our wholly-owned subsidiaries; |
(8) | the replacement, extension or renewal of any lien referred to above in clauses (1) through (7) as long as the amount secured by the liens or the property subject to the liens is not increased; and |
(9) | any other lien not covered by clauses (1) through (8) above as long as immediately after the creation of the lien the aggregate principal amount of debt secured by all liens created or assumed under this clause (9) does not exceed 10% of the common shareholders equity, as shown on the companys consolidated balance sheet for the accounting period occurring immediately prior to the creation or assumption of such lien. |
When we use the term lien in this section, we mean any mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind; Material Subsidiary means each of our subsidiaries whose total assets (as determined in accordance with GAAP in the United States) represent at least 20% of our total assets on a consolidated basis; and Principal Property means any of our plants or facilities located in the United States that in the opinion of our Board or management is of material importance to the business conducted by us and our consolidated subsidiaries taken as whole. (Section 1008 of the Senior Indenture.)
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
Subordination
Each series of Junior Subordinated Debentures will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, to all Senior Indebtedness as defined below. If:
| we make a payment or distribution of any of our assets to creditors upon our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise; |
| a default beyond any grace period has occurred and is continuing with respect to the payment of principal, interest or any other monetary amounts due and payable on any Senior Indebtedness; or |
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| the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default on that Senior Indebtedness; |
then the holders of Senior Indebtedness generally will have the right to receive payment, in the case of the first instance, of all amounts due or to become due upon that Senior Indebtedness, and, in the case of the second and third instances, of all amounts due on that Senior Indebtedness, or we will make provision for those payments, before the holders of any Junior Subordinated Debentures have the right to receive any payments of principal or interest on their Junior Subordinated Debentures. (Sections 14.1 & 14.9 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Senior Indebtedness means, with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures, the principal, premium, interest and any other payment in respect of any of the following, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement or offering materials:
| all of our current and future indebtedness for borrowed or purchase money or other similar instruments whether or not evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other written instruments; |
| our obligations for reimbursement under letters of credit, bankers acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for our account; |
| any of our other indebtedness or obligations with respect to derivative contracts, including commodity contracts, interest rate, commodity and currency swap agreements, forward contracts and other similar agreements or arrangements; and |
| all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding categories which we have assumed or guaranteed. |
Senior Indebtedness will not include our obligations to trade creditors or indebtedness to our subsidiaries. (Section 1.1 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions in the Subordinated Indenture irrespective of the amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Senior Indebtedness. We may not amend the Subordinated Indenture to change the subordination of any outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures without the consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness that the amendment would adversely affect. (Sections 10.2 & 14.7 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Indebtedness that we may issue.
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ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
Subordination
Each series of Junior Subordinated Notes will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture II, to all Priority Indebtedness as defined below. If:
| we make a payment or distribution of any of our assets to creditors upon our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise; |
| a default beyond any grace period has occurred and is continuing with respect to the payment of principal, interest or any other monetary amounts due and payable on any Priority Indebtedness; or |
| the maturity of any Priority Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default on that Priority Indebtedness unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement and offering materials; |
then the holders of Priority Indebtedness generally will have the right to receive payment, in the case of the first instance, of all amounts due or to become due upon that Priority Indebtedness, and, in the case of the second and third instances, of all amounts due on that Priority Indebtedness, or we will make provision for those payments, before the holders of any Junior Subordinated Notes have the right to receive any payments of principal or interest on their Junior Subordinated Notes. (Sections 14.1 & 14.9 of the Subordinated Indenture II.)
Priority Indebtedness means, with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Notes, the principal, premium, interest and any other payment in respect of any of the following:
| all of our current and future indebtedness for borrowed or purchase money whether or not evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar written instruments; |
| our obligations under synthetic leases, finance leases and capitalized leases; |
| our obligations for reimbursement under letters of credit, bankers acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for our account; |
| any of our other indebtedness or obligations with respect to derivative contracts, including commodity contracts, interest rate, commodity and currency swap agreements, forward contracts and other similar agreements or arrangements; and |
| all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding categories which we have assumed or guaranteed. |
Priority Indebtedness will not include trade accounts payable, accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business or indebtedness to our subsidiaries. (Section 1.1 of the Subordinated Indenture II.)
Priority Indebtedness will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions in the Subordinated Indenture II irrespective of the amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Priority Indebtedness. We may not amend the Subordinated Indenture II to change the
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subordination of any outstanding Priority Indebtedness without the consent of each holder of Priority Indebtedness that the amendment would adversely affect. (Sections 10.2 & 14.7 of the Subordinated Indenture II.)
The Subordinated Indenture II does not limit the amount of Priority Indebtedness that we may issue.
As of September 30, 2014, our authorized capital stock was 1.02 billion shares. Those shares consisted of 20 million shares of preferred stock and one billion shares of common stock. As of September 30, 2014, approximately 584 million shares of common stock were issued and outstanding. No holder of shares of common stock or preferred stock has any preemptive rights.
Common Stock
Listing
Our outstanding shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol D. Any additional common stock we issue will also be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Dividends
Common shareholders may receive dividends when declared by the Board of Directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, stock or other form. In certain cases, common shareholders may not receive dividends until we have satisfied our obligations to any preferred shareholders. Under certain circumstances, if specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, the Indentures may restrict our ability to pay cash dividends.
Authorized But Unissued Shares
Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock will be available for future issuance without shareholder approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Fully Paid
All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Any additional common stock we issue will also be fully paid and non-assessable.
Voting Rights
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of directors and other matters. Common shareholders are not entitled to cumulative voting rights.
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Other Rights
We will notify common shareholders of any shareholders meetings according to applicable law. If we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, either voluntarily or not, common shareholders will share equally in the assets remaining after we pay our creditors and preferred shareholders.
Transfer Agents and Registrars
We, along with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, are transfer agent and registrar for our common stock. You may contact us at the address listed on page 2 or at Continental located at 17 Battery Place, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10004.
Preferred Stock
The following description of the terms of the preferred stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of our authorized preferred stock. If we issue preferred stock, the specific designations and rights will be described in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials and a description will be filed with the SEC.
Our Board of Directors can, without approval of shareholders, issue one or more series of preferred stock. The Board of Directors can also determine the number of shares of each series and the rights, preferences and limitations of each series including the dividend rights, voting rights, conversion rights, redemption rights and any liquidation preferences, the number of shares constituting each series and the terms and conditions of issue. In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock could delay a change in control of the Company and make it harder to remove present management. Under certain circumstances, preferred stock could also restrict dividend payments to holders of our common stock.
The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, the preferred stock will rank on a parity in all respects with any outstanding preferred stock we may have and will have priority over our common stock as to dividends and distributions of assets. Therefore, the rights of any preferred stock that may subsequently be issued may limit the rights of the holders of our common stock and preferred stock.
The transfer agent, registrar, and dividend disbursement agent for a series of preferred stock will be named in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials. The registrar for shares of preferred stock will send notices to shareholders of any meetings at which holders of the preferred stock have the right to elect directors or to vote on any other matter.
VIRGINIA STOCK CORPORATION ACT AND THE ARTICLES AND THE BYLAWS
General
We are a Virginia corporation subject to the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (the Virginia Act). Provisions of the Virginia Act, in addition to provisions of our Articles of Incorporation (Articles) and Bylaws, address corporate governance issues, including the rights of
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shareholders. Some of these provisions could hinder management changes while others could have an anti- takeover effect. This anti-takeover effect may, in some circumstances, reduce the control premium that might otherwise be reflected in the value of our common stock. If you are buying this stock as part of a short-term investment strategy, this might be especially important to you.
We have summarized the key provisions below. You should read the actual provisions of our Articles and Bylaws and the Virginia Act that relate to your individual investment strategy.
Business Combinations
Our Articles require that any merger, share exchange or sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by each voting group entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome.
Article 14 of the Virginia Act contains several provisions relating to transactions with interested shareholders. Interested shareholders are holders of more than 10% of any class of a corporations outstanding voting shares. Transactions between a corporation and an interested shareholder are referred to as affiliated transactions. The Virginia Act requires that material affiliated transactions must be approved by at least two-thirds of the shareholders not including the interested shareholder. Affiliated transactions requiring this two-thirds approval include mergers, share exchanges, material dispositions of corporate assets, dissolution or any reclassification of securities or merger of the corporation with any of its subsidiaries which increases the percentage of voting shares owned by an interested shareholder by more than five percent.
For three years following the time that a shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, a Virginia corporation cannot engage in an affiliated transaction with the interested shareholder without approval of two-thirds of the disinterested voting shares, and majority approval of disinterested directors. A disinterested director is a director who was a director on the date on which an interested shareholder became an interested shareholder or was recommended for election or elected by a majority of the disinterested directors then on the board. After three years, an affiliated transaction must be approved by either two-thirds of disinterested voting shares or a majority of disinterested directors.
The provisions of the Virginia Act relating to affiliated transactions do not apply if a majority of disinterested directors approve the acquisition of shares making a person an interested shareholder.
The Virginia Act permits corporations to opt out of the affiliated transactions provisions. We have not opted out.
The Virginia Act also contains provisions regulating certain control share acquisitions, which are transactions causing the voting strength of any person acquiring beneficial ownership of shares of a public corporation in Virginia to meet or exceed certain threshold voting
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percentages (20%, 33 1/3%, or 50%). Shares acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights unless the voting rights are granted by a majority vote of all outstanding shares other than those held by the acquiring person or any officer or employee-director of the corporation. The acquiring person may require that a special meeting of the shareholders be held to consider the grant of voting rights to the shares acquired in the control share acquisition.
Our Bylaws give us the right to redeem the shares purchased by an acquiring person in a control share acquisition. We can do this if the acquiring person fails to deliver a statement to us listing information required by the Virginia Act or if our shareholders vote not to grant voting rights to the acquiring person.
The Virginia Act permits corporations to opt out of the control share acquisition provisions. We have not opted out.
Directors Duties
The standards of conduct for directors of Virginia corporations are listed in Section 13.1-690 of the Virginia Act. Directors must discharge their duties in accordance with their good faith business judgment of the best interests of the corporation. Directors may rely on the advice or acts of others, including officers, employees, attorneys, accountants and board committees if they have a good faith belief in their competence. Directors actions are not subject to a reasonableness or prudent person standard. Virginias federal and state courts have focused on the process involved with directors decision-making and are generally supportive of directors if they have based their decision on an informed process. These elements of Virginia law could make it more difficult to take over a Virginia corporation than corporations in other states.
Board of Directors
Members of our Board of Directors serve one-year terms and are elected annually. Except when the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected (a contested election), directors are elected by majority vote. In the case of a contested election, directors are elected by a plurality vote. Directors may be removed from office for cause if the number of votes cast to remove the director constitutes a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at an election of directors of the voting group by which the director was elected.
Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our shareholders can submit shareholder proposals and nominate candidates for the Board of Directors if the shareholders follow advance notice procedures described in our Bylaws.
To nominate directors, shareholders must submit a written notice to our corporate secretary at least 60 days before a scheduled meeting. The notice must include the name and address of the shareholder and of the nominee, a description of any arrangements between the shareholder and the nominee, information about the nominee required by the SEC, the written consent of the nominee to serve as a director and other information.
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Shareholder proposals must be submitted to our corporate secretary at least 90 days before the first anniversary of the date of our last annual meeting. The notice must include a description of the proposal, the reasons for presenting the proposal at the annual meeting, the text of any resolutions to be presented, the shareholders name and address and number of shares held and any material interest of the shareholder in the proposal.
Director nominations and shareholder proposals that are late or that do not include all required information may be rejected. This could prevent shareholders from bringing certain matters before an annual or special meeting, including making nominations for directors.
Meetings of Shareholders
Under our Bylaws, meetings of the shareholders may be called by the chairman of the board, the vice chairman, the president or a majority of the Board of Directors. Special meetings of shareholders will also be held whenever called by the Corporate Secretary, upon the written request of shareholders owning continuously for a period of at least one year prior to the date of such request more than one-third of all of our outstanding shares of common stock. These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next annual shareholders meeting shareholder actions which are favored by the holders of less than one-third of our outstanding shares of common stock, because such holders would be able to take action as shareholders, such as electing new directors or approving a merger, only at a duly called shareholders meeting.
Amendment of Articles
Generally, our Articles may be amended if the votes cast favoring the amendment exceed the votes cast opposing the amendment at a meeting where a quorum is present. Some provisions of the Articles, however, may only be amended or repealed by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by each voting group entitled to vote on the matter.
Indemnification
Under our Articles, we indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted under Virginia law against all liabilities incurred in connection with their service to us. We have also entered into agreements relating to the advancement of expenses for certain of our directors and officers in advance of a final disposition of proceedings or the making of any determination of eligibility for indemnification pursuant to our Articles.
Limitation of Liability
Our Articles provide that our directors and officers will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors or officers, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our shareholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper personal benefit from their action as directors or officers. This provision applies only to claims against directors or officers arising out of their role as directors or officers and not in any other capacity. Directors and officers remain liable for violations of the federal securities
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laws and we retain the right to pursue legal remedies other than monetary damages, such as an injunction or rescission for breach of the officers or directors duty of care.
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified or varying number of shares of common stock or preferred stock at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as stock purchase contracts. Alternatively, the stock purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specified or varying number of shares of common stock or preferred stock. The price per share of common stock or preferred stock and the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula or method set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a stock purchase contract and beneficial interests in debt securities, preferred stock or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities or obligations of our subsidiaries, securing the holders obligations to purchase the common stock or preferred stock under the stock purchase contracts, which we refer to in this prospectus as stock purchase units. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or refunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under those contracts in a specified manner.
The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials will describe the terms of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and will contain a discussion of the material federal income tax considerations applicable to the stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units. The description in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials will not necessarily be complete, and reference will be made for additional information to the purchase contract agreement or unit purchase agreement, as applicable, that we will enter into at the time of issue, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units.
We may sell the securities being offered hereby in any one or more of the following ways:
| directly to purchasers; |
| through agents; |
| to or through underwriters; or |
| through dealers. |
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We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:
| a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
| negotiated prices. |
We may directly solicit offers to purchase securities, or we may designate agents to solicit such offers. We will, in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials relating to such offering, name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and describe any commissions we must pay. Any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, on a firm commitment basis. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
If any underwriters or agents are utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will enter into an underwriting agreement or other agreement with them at the time of sale to them, and we will set forth in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials relating to such offering their names and the terms of our agreement with them.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale.
We may engage in at-the-market offerings to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4). An at-the-market offering may be through an underwriter or underwriters acting as principal or agent for us.
The securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.
Remarketing firms, agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which they may enter into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other
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securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. Specifically, any underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position for their own accounts. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of any such other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the securities or any such other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. Any such underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of securities, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third parties in such sale transactions will be underwriters and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials (or a post-effective amendment).
We or one of our affiliates may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a simultaneous offering of other securities offered by this prospectus or otherwise.
Any underwriter, agent or dealer utilized in the initial offering of securities will not confirm sales to accounts over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of its customer.
McGuireWoods LLP, counsel to the Company, will issue an opinion about the legality of the offered securities for us. As of September 30, 2014, partners of McGuireWoods LLP owned less than one-half of one percent of our common stock. Underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, who we will identify in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, may have their counsel pass upon certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered by this prospectus.
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The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from Dominion Resources, Inc.s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the effectiveness of the Dominion Resources, Inc. and subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements 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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