Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-120306
333-68290-99
PROSPECTUS
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
INVESTOR'S CHOICE PLAN
3,163,619 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
We are offering our shareholders and other interested investors an
opportunity to purchase shares of our common stock directly from us through
participation in our Investor's Choice Plan, which we refer to in this
prospectus as the "plan." The plan offers a number of convenient options for
investing in shares of our common stock. Once enrolled in the plan, participants
may:
- purchase their first shares of our common stock by making an initial cash
investment of at least $250 for first-time investors in CenterPoint
Energy or $50 for current holders of our eligible securities,
- purchase additional shares of our common stock by making optional cash
payments at any time of at least $50 each and up to a maximum of $120,000
per calendar year,
- elect to reinvest any cash dividend and interest payments that we may pay
in the future on eligible securities in additional shares of our common
stock, and
- sell shares of common stock that they hold in the plan directly through
the plan.
Shares of common stock will be purchased under the plan, at our option,
from newly issued shares, shares held in our treasury or shares purchased on the
open market. Any open market purchases will be made through an independent agent
that we will select. In some jurisdictions, we are offering shares of common
stock under the plan only through a registered broker/dealer to persons who are
not presently record holders of our common stock.
Our common stock is listed on the New York and the Chicago Stock Exchanges
under the symbol "CNP." Our principal executive offices are located at 1111
Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002, and our telephone number at that address
is (713) 207-1111.
This prospectus contains a summary of the material provisions of the plan.
You should retain this prospectus for future reference.
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NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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This prospectus is dated December 16, 2004.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we have filed with the
SEC using a "shelf" registration process. Using this process, we may offer up to
3,163,619 shares of our common stock under our Investor's Choice Plan. This
prospectus provides you with a description of the material provisions of the
plan. You should carefully read this prospectus and the information contained in
the documents we refer to under the heading "Where You Can Find More
Information."
References in this prospectus to the terms "we," "us," "CenterPoint Energy"
or other similar terms mean CenterPoint Energy, Inc., unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the
SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain further information regarding the
operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330. Our filings are also available to the public on the SEC's
website located at http://www.sec.gov. You can obtain information about us at
the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York
10005.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we have filed with the
SEC relating to our common stock. As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus
does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement
and the accompanying exhibits and schedules we file with the SEC. You may refer
to the registration statement, the exhibits and the schedules for more
information about us and our common stock. The registration statement, exhibits
and schedules are also available at the SEC's Public Reference Room or through
its website.
We are "incorporating by reference" into this prospectus information we
file with the SEC. This means we are disclosing important information to you by
referring you to the documents containing the information. The information we
incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus.
Information that we file later with the SEC that is deemed incorporated by
reference into this prospectus (but not information deemed to be furnished to
and not filed with the SEC) will automatically update and supersede information
previously included.
We are incorporating by reference into this prospectus the documents listed
below and any subsequent filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (excluding
information deemed to be furnished and not filed with the SEC) until all the
common stock is sold:
- our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (our
"2003 Form 10-K"),
- our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2004,
- our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004,
- our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30,
2004,
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 29, 2004,
- Item 5 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 12, 2004,
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 10, 2004,
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 1, 2004 which reports that our
subsidiary, CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., entered into a new credit
agreement,
- Item 5 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 1, 2004 which
reports the filing of our final true-up application,
- Item 5 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 22, 2004,
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- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 2, 2004,
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 22, 2004,
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 21, 2004,
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 3, 2004,
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2004,
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 19, 2004,
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 7, 2004 (the "December 7,
2004 Form 8-K"),
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 13, 2004,
- our Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 16, 2004, and
- the description of our common stock (including the related preferred
share purchase rights) contained in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed
September 6, 2002, as we may update that description from time to time.
Our December 7, 2004 Form 8-K contains the Selected Financial Data,
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, and Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of CenterPoint
Energy, Inc. from our 2003 Form 10-K with revisions to give effect to certain
reclassifications necessary to present our electric generation operations as
discontinued operations (as a result of the pending sale of these operations
announced on July 21, 2004) in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets."
You may also obtain a copy of our filings with the SEC at no cost, by
writing to or telephoning us at the following address:
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Attn: Investor Relations
P.O. Box 4567
Houston, Texas 77210-4567
(713) 207-6500
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
In this prospectus, including the information we incorporate by reference,
we make statements concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives,
goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and
other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are "forward-
looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or
implied by these statements. You can generally identify our forward-looking
statements by the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could,"
"estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan,"
"potential," "predict," "projection," "should," "will" or other similar words.
We have based our forward-looking statements on our management's beliefs
and assumptions based on information available to our management at the time the
statements are made. We caution you that assumptions, beliefs, expectations,
intentions and projections about future events may and often do vary materially
from actual results. Therefore, we cannot assure you that actual results will
not differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking
statements.
The following are some of the factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements:
- the outcome of the regulatory process related to the 1999 Texas Electric
Choice Law leading to the determination and recovery of the true-up
components and the securitization of these amounts, and any legal
proceedings related thereto,
- the successful consummation and the timing of the sale of Texas Genco
Holdings, Inc.,
- state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments,
including deregulation, re-regulation and restructuring of the electric
utility industry, constraints placed on our activities or business by the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended ("1935 Act"),
changes in or application of laws or regulations applicable to other
aspects of our business and actions with respect to:
- allowed rates of return,
- rate structures,
- recovery of investments, and
- operation and construction of facilities,
- industrial, commercial and residential growth in our service territory
and changes in market demand and demographic patterns,
- the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices, particularly
natural gas,
- changes in interest rates or rates of inflation,
- weather variations and other natural phenomena,
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- the timing and extent of changes in the supply of natural gas,
- commercial bank and financial market conditions, our access to capital,
the cost of such capital, receipt of certain approvals under the 1935
Act, and the results of our financing and refinancing efforts, including
availability of funds in the debt capital markets,
- actions by rating agencies,
- inability of various counterparties to meet their obligations to us,
- non-payment for our services due to financial distress of our customers,
including Reliant Energy, Inc. (formerly named Reliant Resources, Inc.)
("RRI"),
- the outcome of the pending lawsuits against us, Reliant Energy,
Incorporated and RRI,
- the ability of RRI to satisfy its obligations to us, including indemnity
obligations, and
- other factors we discuss in "Risk Factors" beginning on page 26 of our
2003 Form 10-K.
Additional risk factors are described in other documents we file with the
SEC and incorporate by reference in this prospectus.
You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each
forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular
statement.
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ABOUT CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
We are a public utility holding company. Our indirect wholly owned
subsidiaries include (i) CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC ("CenterPoint
Houston"), which provides electric transmission and distribution services in a
5,000-square-mile area of the Texas Gulf Coast that includes Houston, and (ii)
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. ("CERC"), which owns gas distribution systems
serving approximately three million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Through wholly owned subsidiaries, CERC also
owns two interstate natural gas pipelines and gas gathering systems and provides
various ancillary services. We also currently own Texas Genco Holdings, Inc.
("Texas Genco Holdings"), a power generation company that, prior to December 15,
2004, owned a portfolio of assets with over 14,000 megawatts of generating
capacity. On December 15, 2004, Texas Genco Holdings sold its fossil generation
assets, consisting of coal, lignite and gas-fired plants, to Texas Genco LLC
(formerly known as GC Power Acquisition LLC). Texas Genco Holdings' principal
remaining asset is its interest in the South Texas Project Electric Generating
Station, a nuclear power plant. The sale completed the first step of the
transaction announced in July 2004 in which Texas Genco LLC agreed to acquire
Texas Genco Holdings. The second step in the transaction, the merger of Texas
Genco Holdings with a subsidiary of Texas Genco LLC, is expected to close during
the first half of 2005 following receipt of approval from the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
We are a registered public utility holding company under the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended ("1935 Act"). The 1935 Act and related
rules and regulations impose a number of restrictions on our activities and
those of our subsidiaries. The 1935 Act, among other things, limits our ability
and the ability of our regulated subsidiaries to issue debt and equity
securities without prior authorization, restricts the source of dividend
payments to current and retained earnings without prior authorization, regulates
sales and acquisitions of certain assets and businesses, and governs affiliate
transactions.
Our executive offices are located at 1111 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002,
and our main telephone number at that address is 713-207-1111.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We may satisfy purchases of common stock under the plan by:
- issuing authorized but unissued shares of our common stock,
- issuing shares of common stock held in our treasury, or
- purchasing shares of common stock in the open market.
Accordingly, the number of newly issued or treasury shares, if any, that we
will ultimately sell under the plan is not currently known. We anticipate using
any net proceeds from newly issued or treasury shares purchased by participants
under the plan for general corporate purposes. These purposes may include, but
are not limited to:
- working capital,
- capital expenditures,
- acquisitions,
- the repayment or refinancing of debt or trust preferred securities, and
- loans or advances to subsidiaries.
We will not receive any proceeds when shares of common stock are purchased
under the plan in the open market.
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OUR INVESTOR'S CHOICE PLAN
PURPOSE
The purpose of the plan is to provide our existing and potential investors
a convenient way to purchase shares of our common stock and to reinvest all or a
portion of cash dividends and interest payments on our eligible securities into
additional shares of our common stock.
KEY FEATURES
- Participation by First-Time Investors in CenterPoint Energy: First-time
investors in CenterPoint Energy (i.e., investors who do not currently
hold any of our eligible securities) may become participants by making a
minimum initial cash investment of $250 to purchase common stock through
the plan.
- Participation by Holders of Eligible Securities: Current holders of our
eligible securities may become participants by:
- electing to have all or a portion of the cash dividend and interest
payments on their eligible securities reinvested in common stock,
- depositing certificates representing common stock into the plan for
safekeeping, or
- making a minimum cash investment of $50 to purchase common stock through
the plan.
- Additional Cash Investments: Participants may purchase common stock at
any time, occasionally or at regular intervals, through the plan by
making cash investments of at least $50 for any single investment up to
an aggregate of cash investments of $120,000 per calendar year.
- Investment Through Automatic Deductions: Participants may make cash
investments through automatic deductions from predesignated bank or
savings accounts on a regular monthly or quarterly basis.
- Reinvestment: Participants may reinvest all or a portion of the cash
dividend and interest payments on their eligible securities.
- Purchases in Whole Dollar Amounts: Participants can buy shares in whole
dollar amounts, and their accounts are credited with appropriate whole
and fractional shares.
- Sales: Participants may sell shares of common stock held in the plan
directly through the plan.
- Frequent Purchases and Sales: Purchase and sale orders will be processed
at least once every five business days, and as often as every business
day, when practicable.
- Automatic Deposit of Dividends: Participants may receive common stock
cash dividends not reinvested through the plan either by check or through
automatic deposit to their bank account.
- Safekeeping Service: Participants may deposit their common stock
certificates into their plan accounts and receive regular statements
showing cumulative account activity.
- Transfers of Common Stock: Participants may transfer shares of common
stock credited to their plan accounts to the account of another
participant or transfer shares to any designated person or
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entity, without charge. We will provide holiday and other occasion gift
cards without charge to accompany gifts.
- Account Statements: We will mail quarterly statements to each
participant showing all transactions completed during the year to date,
the total number of shares of common stock credited to the participant's
account and other relevant account information.
- Stock Certificates: A participant may receive a stock certificate
representing all or a portion of the shares of common stock in the
participant's account at any time upon request.
PLAN SUMMARY
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the plan. This
summary is not a complete description of all terms of the plan and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the plan. You should carefully review the
summary below and the provisions of the plan that may be important to you before
participating in the plan.
ADMINISTRATION
The plan is administered by the individual (who may be an employee of
ours), bank, trust company or other entity, including us, whom we appoint from
time to time to act as the administrator of the plan. As of the date of this
prospectus, we are the administrator. The administrator administers the plan,
receives cash from participants, holds participants' shares of common stock
acquired under the plan, keeps records, sends statements of account activity to
participants and performs other duties related to the plan. The administrator
will forward funds that are to be used to purchase shares, and orders to sell
shares, in the open market to an independent agent that we select and which is
an "agent independent of the issuer," as that term is defined under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We reserve the right to continue serving as the
administrator or to appoint another qualified person or entity to serve in that
capacity.
Participants may contact the administrator by writing, telephoning, or
sending facsimiles to:
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Investor Services Department
P. O. Box 4505
Houston, TX 77210
Telephone toll-free (business days from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Central
Time):
(800) 231-6406 nationally
(713) 207-3060 in Houston
Facsimile: (713) 207-3169
ELIGIBILITY
Any person or entity, whether or not a record holder of common stock, is
eligible to participate in the plan, provided that:
- the person or entity fulfills the requirements of participation described
below under "Enrollment Procedures," and
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- in the case of citizens or residents of a country other than the United
States, its territories and possessions, participation would not violate
local laws applicable to us, the plan and the participant.
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES
After being furnished with a copy of this prospectus, eligible applicants
may join the plan by returning a completed and signed enrollment form to the
administrator and choosing one of the following options:
- making an initial cash investment in the plan to purchase common stock of
at least $250 for applicants who are not registered holders of eligible
securities or $50 for applicants who are registered holders of eligible
securities,
- electing to have all or a part of cash dividends or interest payments on
eligible securities reinvested into common stock, or
- depositing certificates representing shares of common stock into the plan
for safekeeping.
Applicants may obtain enrollment forms from the administrator upon written,
facsimile or telephone request. Current registered holders of eligible
securities should sign their name(s) on the enrollment form exactly as they
appear on the certificates or instruments representing their eligible
securities.
A beneficial owner of eligible securities registered in street name (i.e.,
the name of a bank, broker or trustee) may participate in the plan by:
- directing the financial intermediary to transfer eligible securities into
the participant's name, and
- depositing transferred shares of common stock into the plan for
safekeeping and/or electing to reinvest cash dividends or interest
payments on transferred eligible securities in common stock through the
plan.
Alternatively, the beneficial owner may make arrangements with the financial
intermediary who is the registered holder to participate in the plan on behalf
of the beneficial owner.
To the extent required by applicable law in specified jurisdictions,
including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming, we are offering shares of
common stock under the plan to persons who are not presently record holders of
our common stock only through a registered broker/dealer in those jurisdictions.
An eligible applicant will become a participant as soon as practicable
after the administrator has received and accepted a properly completed
enrollment form.
ELIGIBLE SECURITIES
The equity and debt securities of CenterPoint Energy and our subsidiaries
listed below are "eligible securities" for participation in the plan:
- our common stock, and
- CenterPoint Houston's First Mortgage Bonds, 9.15% Series due 2021.
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In addition, from time to time we may designate other equity or debt
securities issued by us or our subsidiaries as eligible securities.
INITIAL CASH INVESTMENTS AND ADDITIONAL CASH INVESTMENTS
Interested investors, whether or not registered holders of eligible
securities, may become participants by making an investment through the plan as
described in this prospectus. To become a participant through a cash investment,
an applicant who is not a registered holder of eligible securities must include
a minimum initial cash investment of $250 with a completed enrollment form,
while an applicant who is a registered holder of eligible securities must
include a minimum initial cash investment of $50 with a completed enrollment
form. Additional cash investments, which participants may make at their
discretion, must be at least $50 for any single investment. However, cash
investments in the aggregate, including both initial and additional cash
investments, may not exceed $120,000 per account per calendar year. Participants
may make cash investments by check or through automatic investing as described
below under "Cash Investment Procedures."
The administrator will make cash investments in our common stock beginning
on the next investment date that is at least one business day after the
administrator receives the funds and instructions. Cash investment funds,
pending investment, will be credited to a participant's account and held in a
trust account that is separated from our other funds. Cash investments not
invested for a participant within 30 days of receipt will be promptly returned
to the participant. NO INTEREST WILL BE PAID ON AMOUNTS HELD BY THE
ADMINISTRATOR PENDING INVESTMENT.
A registered holder of eligible securities may invest cash payable to the
registered holder as a result of the redemption, tender or maturity, including
accrued interest and premium, if any, of eligible securities in common stock by
delivering to the administrator an executed enrollment form designating such
funds for investment. These funds will be treated as additional cash investments
for purposes of determining whether the maximum annual limit of $120,000 per
year has been reached.
The administrator will return to a participant any cash investment that has
not already been invested if it receives the participant's request to stop
investment at least two business days prior to the applicable investment date.
However, no refund of a check or money order will be made until the
administrator has collected funds. Accordingly, refunds may take three weeks or
more to be remitted.
CASH INVESTMENT PROCEDURES
Cash investments may be made by check or automatic deduction from
predesignated bank accounts, as described below. Participants should NEVER SEND
CASH for an investment.
Investment by Check. Cash investments may be made by personal check or
money order payable in U.S. dollars to CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Investor's
Choice Plan and mailed to the administrator. Initial cash investments should be
accompanied by enrollment forms while additional cash investments should be
accompanied by the stub attached to each statement of account or transaction
advice sent to participants.
Automatic Investing. Participants may make automatic monthly or quarterly
investments of a specified amount, not less than $50 per purchase nor more than
$120,000 per calendar year, by electronic automatic transfer of funds from a
predesignated bank account.
To initiate automatic deductions, a participant must execute an automatic
investing form that is available from the administrator and return it to the
administrator, along with a voided check or deposit
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slip on the bank account from which funds are to be drawn. If the monthly
investment option is chosen, automatic investing will begin on or about the 10th
day of each month approximately 30 days after receipt of the authorization form.
If the quarterly investment option is chosen, investments will begin on or about
the 10th day of each March, June, September and December. In either case,
automatic investing deductions will be made two business days before the
investment date. A PARTICIPANT'S BANK MAY CHARGE THE PARTICIPANT A RETURNED
CHECK FEE IF THE DESIGNATED BANK OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT
FUNDS TO COVER THE AUTHORIZED DEDUCTION.
Participants may change the amount of their automatic investment by
notifying the administrator in writing or by facsimile of the new amount, and
the change will take place approximately two weeks after the notice is received.
Similarly, a participant may cancel automatic investing by instructing the
administrator in writing or by facsimile. Cancellation will be effective
approximately two weeks after the notice is received. To change a designated
bank account, a participant must notify the administrator in writing at least 30
days before the change is to take effect and supply a voided check or deposit
slip for the new account.
All cash investments are subject to collection by the administrator for
full face value in U.S. funds. The method of delivery of any cash investment is
at the election and risk of the investor and will be deemed received when
actually received by the administrator. If the delivery is by mail, we recommend
that the participant use properly insured, registered mail with return receipt
requested, and that the mailing be made sufficiently in advance of the
appropriate investment date.
INVESTMENT DATES
The plan's "investment dates" occur at least once every five business days.
However, purchases will be made every business day when deemed practicable by
the administrator. A participant's cash investment will generally be invested
within five business days of receipt. For exceptions under specified
circumstances involving open market purchases, see "Source and Price of Shares"
below.
DIVIDEND AND INTEREST PAYMENT OPTIONS
The plan offers participants the option of reinvesting cash dividends and
interest payments paid on their eligible securities in common stock. With
respect to cash dividends on common stock for which reinvestment is not elected,
the plan offers the option of direct deposit or check payment, as described
below.
Reinvestment of Cash Dividends and Interest Payments. Participants may
elect to reinvest all or part of the cash dividends and interest payments on
eligible securities registered in their names by making the election on their
initial enrollment forms or by delivering written or facsimile instructions to
the administrator. Participants electing partial reinvestment of cash dividends
and interest payments must designate the specific security or securities for
which partial reinvestment is desired and the number of whole shares or the
whole dollar amount they want to be reinvested. The amount reinvested will be
reduced by any amount required to be withheld under any applicable tax or other
statutes. Cash dividends and interest payments not being reinvested will be sent
to the participant by direct deposit or check, as appropriate.
A participant may change reinvestment amounts and the eligible securities
on which cash dividend or interest payments are reinvested from time to time by
delivering a new enrollment form or written or facsimile instructions to the
administrator. To be effective for a particular payment, the administrator must
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receive instructions of such change on or before the record date of the dividend
or interest payment. Record dates are usually the 16th day of the month
preceding a payment date. The record date for common stock dividends is usually
the 16th day of each February, May, August and November.
Dividends and interest payments will be invested beginning either on the
date of payment, if the payment date is an investment date, or on the first
investment date following payment. Dividend and interest payments not invested
within 30 days of receipt will be returned promptly to the participant. Funds
pending investment will be credited to a participant's account and held in a
trust account that will be separated from any of our other funds or monies. NO
INTEREST WILL BE PAID ON FUNDS HELD BY THE ADMINISTRATOR PENDING INVESTMENT.
Direct Deposit of Dividends on Common Stock. Through the plan's direct
deposit feature, a participant may elect to have any cash dividends on common
stock automatically deposited into a designated bank or savings account. The
cash dividends will be deposited on the dividend payment date. Participants who
wish to have dividends automatically deposited must execute a direct deposit
authorization form that is available from the administrator and send it to the
administrator, along with a voided check or deposit slip for the designated bank
account.
The administrator must receive direct deposit authorization at least 30
days before an applicable common stock dividend payment date to be effective for
that payment date. Participants can cancel direct deposit of dividends by
notifying the administrator in writing or by facsimile. In order to be effective
for an applicable dividend payment date, the administrator must receive the
cancellation notice at least 30 days before that dividend payment date. To
change a designated bank account for direct deposit of dividends, the
administrator must receive written notice, accompanied by a voided check or
deposit slip for the new bank account, at least 30 days before an applicable
dividend payment date.
Check Payments of Dividends and Interest Payments. Cash dividends and
interest payments on eligible securities not designated for reinvestment or
direct deposit will be paid by check to the participant. A check for the amount
of funds payable will be sent through the mail so that it will reach the
participant as close as possible to the dividend or interest payment date.
SOURCE AND PRICE OF SHARES
To fulfill plan requirements, shares of common stock will be, at our
discretion, purchased either directly from us or on the open market by an
independent agent. Shares purchased from us will be either authorized but
unissued shares or shares held in our treasury. Purchases of common stock under
the plan are subject to such terms and conditions, including price and delivery,
as the administrator may accept.
Purchases from CenterPoint Energy. The price of common stock purchased
from us will be the average of the high and low sales price of the common stock
reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape as published in The Wall
Street Journal for the trading day immediately preceding the relevant investment
date, and the purchase will be made on the investment date. In the event no
trading is reported for the relevant trading day, we may determine the purchase
price on the basis of market quotations we deem appropriate. No brokerage fee
will be charged on shares acquired directly from us.
Open Market Purchases and Sales. The price of common stock purchased or
sold on the open market will be the weighted average price of all shares
purchased or sold, as the case may be, through the plan for the investment date.
The weighted average price will be increased for brokerage fees and
8
commissions, any related service charges and applicable taxes. As of the date of
this prospectus, we do not expect the brokerage fees and commissions and related
service charges to exceed $0.10 per share.
An independent agent will make purchases and sales of common stock on the
open market beginning on the relevant investment date. These purchases and sales
will be completed not later than five days from that date, except where
completion at a later date is necessary or advisable under any applicable laws
or regulations. Funds not invested within 30 days of receipt will be returned
promptly to participants. The independent agent will make purchases and sales on
any securities exchange where shares of common stock are traded, in the
over-the-counter market, or by negotiated transactions. These purchases and
sales may be subject to such terms and conditions regarding price, delivery and
other terms as agreed to by the administrator. The independent agent will have
sole authority to direct the time or price at which shares may be purchased or
sold, the markets on which the shares are to be purchased or sold, and the
selection of the broker or dealer, other than the independent agent, through or
from whom purchases or sales are to be made.
The independent agent may commingle each participant's funds with those of
other participants for the purchases and sales of common stock but will hold the
funds at all times in a separate trust account apart from our funds.
The number of shares, including any fraction of a share rounded to three
decimal places, of common stock credited to a participant's account for a
particular investment date will be determined by dividing the total amount of
cash dividends, interest payments and/or cash investments to be invested for the
participant on the investment date by the relevant purchase price per share.
Dividend and voting rights will commence upon settlement, whether shares are
purchased from us or on the open market.
SAFEKEEPING SERVICE
Participants may use the plan's free safekeeping service at any time.
Participants may deposit common stock into the plan by delivering the stock
certificates without endorsement to the administrator. Shares deposited in the
plan for safekeeping will be transferred into the name of the administrator or
its nominee and credited to the participant's account under the plan.
Thereafter, the shares will be treated in the same manner as shares purchased
through the plan. Because shares deposited for safekeeping are treated in the
same manner as shares purchased through the plan, they may be efficiently and
economically transferred or sold if the participant desires.
SALE OF COMMON STOCK
Participants may request the administrator to sell any number of whole
shares held in their accounts at any time by written, telephone or facsimile
instructions. As soon as practicable after receipt of the request, but within
five business days, the administrator will instruct the independent agent to
sell the shares. The independent agent will sell the shares as soon as
practicable thereafter. Proceeds of the sale, less applicable brokerage fees and
commissions and service charges and any applicable taxes, will be sent to the
participant within five business days after the independent agent has completed
the sale. The sales price will be determined in the same way as the price for
shares of common stock purchased for participants on the open market. See
"Source and Price of Shares" above. If the administrator receives a request
between the record date and the dividend payment date to sell shares on which
dividends are not being reinvested, the sale will be made within five days after
receipt of the request and the proceeds from
9
the sale will be sent to the participant. Cash dividends will be paid in the
usual manner on the dividend payment date.
If the administrator receives a request between the record date and the
dividend payment date to sell shares on which all or a portion of the dividends
are being reinvested, the dividends on those shares will be reinvested on the
investment date and newly purchased shares will be credited to the participant's
account. If the request for sale does not include all shares in the
participant's account, the number of shares requested will be sold within five
days after receipt of the request and the proceeds from the sale will be sent to
the participant. Newly purchased shares will be retained in the participant's
account after the investment date. If the request for sale covers all shares in
the participant's account, the sale will be delayed until after the dividend
payment date and all shares, including newly purchased shares, will be sold
within five days after the investment date and the proceeds from the sale will
be sent to the participant.
If a participant wishes to sell shares held in the participant's account
through a broker, the participant may request the administrator to issue a
certificate for a specific number of whole shares by written, telephone or
facsimile instruction. A certificate will be sent to the participant within two
business days after receipt of the request.
WITHDRAWAL, TRANSFERS, AND GIFTS OF COMMON STOCK
Withdrawals and Transfers Outside the Plan. A participant may withdraw
shares of common stock credited to the participant's plan account if the
participant will continue to be the record holder after withdrawal. A
participant may do so by instructing the administrator in writing, by telephone
or by facsimile or, if the participant will not be the record holder after
withdrawal, by delivering written instructions, specifying the recipient's name,
address, Social Security number and telephone number and a stock assignment or
stock power, with the participant's signature guaranteed by a member of the
Medallion Signature Guarantee program (a participating broker, bank, savings and
loan association, etc.). If shares are to be sent to a broker, the participant
must provide in writing the number of whole shares to be withdrawn, the broker's
name, business name, address, telephone number, and the brokerage account
number, if applicable. Certificates representing whole shares withdrawn from the
plan will be mailed to the participant or designated recipient within two
business days of receipt of a properly documented request. Withdrawal of shares
of common stock does not affect reinvestment of cash dividends on the shares
withdrawn unless:
- the participant is no longer the record holder of the shares,
- the participant specifically discontinues the reinvestment, or
- the participant terminates participation in the plan.
If the administrator receives a request between the record date and the
dividend payment date to withdraw shares on which dividends are not reinvested,
the withdrawal will be made within five days after receipt of the request and
dividends will be deposited in the account of the participant holding the shares
prior to the withdrawal, in the usual manner, on the dividend payment date.
If the administrator receives a request between the record date and the
dividend payment date to withdraw shares on which all or a portion of the
dividends are reinvested, the dividends on those shares will be reinvested on
the investment date and newly purchased shares will be credited to the
participant's account. If the request for withdrawal does not include all shares
in the participant's account, the number of shares requested will be withdrawn
within two business days after receipt of the request and sent to the
10
designated recipient. Newly purchased shares will be retained in the account of
the participant making the request. If the request for withdrawal covers all
shares in the participant's account, the withdrawal will be delayed until after
the dividend payment date and all shares, including newly purchased shares, will
be withdrawn within two business days after the investment date. All shares in
the participant's account will be sent to the designated recipient.
Gifts and Transfers of Common Stock Within the Plan. If a participant
wishes to transfer all or a part of the participant's shares to a plan account
for another person, whether by gift, private sale or otherwise, the participant
may effect the transfer by giving transfer instructions, in writing, to the
administrator. Transfers of less than all of the shares in the participant's
account must be made in whole share amounts. Requests for such transfers are
subject to the same requirements applicable to transfers of common stock
generally, including the requirement of a stock power with a Medallion Signature
Guarantee. The transfer will be effected as soon as practicable following the
administrator's receipt of the required documentation. Gifts and transfers
within the plan are subject to the same provisions as described above under
"Withdrawals and Transfers Outside the Plan."
The administrator will continue to hold under the plan shares that are
transferred within the plan. If the transferee is not already a participant, a
plan account will be opened in the name of the transferee, and the transferee
will automatically receive an enrollment form to elect any applicable services
offered through the plan. Until the transferee elects otherwise or the
transferor specifically requests that the new account be enrolled in one or more
of the plan's options, such as dividend reinvestment, the transferee account
will be treated as having elected only to have shares held in safekeeping under
the plan. If the transferee is already a participant, the shares transferred
will be treated as other shares already in the account of the transferee with
respect to plan options.
As a result of the transfer, the transferor and the transferee will receive
a statement confirming the transaction. The transferor may request that a
holiday or all occasion gift certificate be provided, either to the transferor
for personal delivery to the transferee or directly to the transferee, in
connection with a transfer.
REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS ON REMAINING SHARES
When a participant sells, withdraws or transfers a portion of the shares
credited to the participant's account, the number of shares credited to the
account is reduced. For a participant who is reinvesting cash dividends paid on
only a portion of the shares credited to the participant's account, unless the
participant gives specific instructions to the contrary, the reduction will
first be made to the number of shares for which reinvestment has not been
elected before it is made to the number of shares for which reinvestment has
been elected. Accordingly, after the sale, withdrawal or transfer, reinvestment
of cash dividends will continue on the remaining shares credited to the
participant's account up to the number of shares designated for reinvestment
prior to the sale, withdrawal or transfer. For example, if a participant who had
elected to have cash dividends reinvested on 50 shares of a total of 100 shares
credited to the participant's account elected to sell, withdraw or transfer 25
shares, cash dividends on 50 shares of the remaining 75 shares credited to the
account would be reinvested through the plan. If instead the participant elected
to sell, withdraw or transfer 75 shares, cash dividends on the remaining 25
shares credited to the participant's account would be reinvested through the
plan.
11
REPORTS TO PARTICIPANTS
The administrator will send each participant a quarterly statement of
year-to-date activity showing the amount invested, purchase price, the number of
shares purchased, deposited, sold, transferred and withdrawn, total shares
accumulated and other information. The administrator will also send each
participant a confirmation promptly after each cash investment, deposit, sale,
withdrawal or transfer. Dividend and interest reinvestments will not be
individually confirmed, but rather will appear on the quarterly statement.
Participants should retain statements and confirmations in their permanent
records to establish the cost basis of shares purchased under the plan for
income tax and other purposes.
The administrator will send each participant copies of all communications
sent to holders of common stock, including our annual report to shareholders,
notice of our annual meeting, proxy statement and form of proxy, as well as
federal tax reporting statements, if applicable, for reporting taxable income
received from us.
The administrator will send all payments, notices, statements and reports
to the participant's address on the administrator's records. It is therefore
imperative that participants promptly notify the administrator of any change of
address.
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
The administrator will hold shares of common stock purchased under, or
deposited for safekeeping into, the plan and credited to participants' accounts
in an automated electronic record keeping system in the administrator's name or
the name of its nominee, as custodian. The number of shares, including
fractional shares, held for each participant will be shown on each statement of
account.
A participant may obtain a certificate for all or part of the whole shares
held in the participant's account at any time upon a written, telephone or
facsimile request to the administrator. Requested certificates will be mailed,
free of charge, to the participant within two business days after the
administrator receives the request. The administrator will continue to hold any
remaining whole or fractional shares in the participant's account.
Shares held in a participant's account cannot be pledged or assigned. A
participant who wishes to pledge or assign any shares must request that they be
withdrawn and issued to the participant in certificate form.
Certificates for fractional shares of common stock will not be issued under
any circumstances.
TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION
A participant may terminate participation in the plan at any time by
notifying the administrator in writing, by telephone or by facsimile. As soon as
practicable after receipt of notification, the administrator will mail the
participant:
- a certificate for all of the whole shares credited to the participant's
account,
- any dividends, interest payments and cash investments credited to the
participant's account, and
- a check for the cash value of any fraction of a share of common stock
credited to the participant's account.
12
A fraction of a share will be valued at the average of the high and low sales
prices of the common stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite
Tape as published in The Wall Street Journal for the trading day preceding the
date of termination.
COSTS
We will pay all administrative costs and expenses of the plan. PARTICIPANTS
WILL BEAR THE COST OF BROKERAGE FEES AND COMMISSIONS, RELATED SERVICE CHARGES
AND ANY APPLICABLE TAXES INCURRED ON ALL PURCHASES AND SALES OF COMMON STOCK ON
THE OPEN MARKET. These costs will be included as adjustments to the purchase and
sale prices. As of the date of this prospectus, shares of stock are being
purchased directly from us. There are no brokerage fees and commissions or
related service charges for shares of common stock purchased directly from us.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
PARTICIPATING IN THE PLAN. TAX CONSEQUENCES WILL VARY AMONG PARTICIPANTS
DEPENDING UPON INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN LAWS. EACH
PARTICIPANT SHOULD CONSULT THE PARTICIPANT'S OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PARTICIPANT AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPATING IN THE PLAN.
A participant will be required to include as income for federal income tax
purposes the gross amount of all dividends and interest payments, including any
original issue discount, on eligible securities reinvested in common stock as
though the participant received the dividends and interest payments in cash. In
addition, a participant will be taxed on any brokerage commissions, fees or
service charges that we pay for in connection with a purchase of our common
stock for the participant under the plan.
To the extent distributions by us to our participants are treated as made
from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, the distributions will be
dividends taxable as ordinary income. The amount of any dividends in excess of
earnings and profits will reduce a participant's tax basis in the common stock
with respect to which the dividend was received, and, to the extent in excess of
basis, result in capital gain.
As a general rule, a participant's tax basis for shares of common stock (or
any fraction of a share) acquired under the plan, will be equal to the cash
value of dividends and interest payments attributable to the purchase of the
shares on the applicable purchase date, as adjusted for brokerage commissions
and fees, services charges and applicable taxes, if any. A participant's tax
basis in shares purchased with cash investments will be the cost of the shares
plus any allocable brokerage commissions or fees, service charges and applicable
taxes on the applicable purchase date.
Shares of common stock purchased under the plan will have a holding period
beginning on the day after the applicable purchase date. A participant will not
realize any taxable income when the participant receives certificates for whole
shares credited to an account under the plan. The participant will recognize
gain or loss upon the sale of whole shares and upon the sale of any fractional
shares credited to the participant's account under the plan. The gain or loss
will be equal to the difference between the amount received for shares (or a
fractional share) and the participant's tax basis in such shares.
Under Internal Revenue Service backup withholding regulations, dividends
and interest payments reinvested under the plan may be subject to the
withholding tax generally applicable to dividends and interest payments unless
the participant provides the administrator with the participant's taxpayer
13
identification number (in the case of individual taxpayers the taxpayer
identification number is their Social Security number). Any amount so withheld
will be treated as taxable income received by the participant and will be
reflected on Forms 1099-DIV and 1099-INT mailed annually to all our investors,
including plan participants.
STOCK SPLITS, STOCK DIVIDENDS, AND RIGHTS OFFERINGS
Any shares or other noncash distributions, including stock splits, stock
dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events affecting our
common stock, will be credited to a participant's account on a pro-rata basis.
In the event of a rights offering, a participant will receive rights based upon
the total number of whole shares of common stock credited to the participant's
account.
VOTING OF PROXIES
Participants have the exclusive right to vote all whole shares credited to
their plan accounts, either in person or by proxy, at any annual or special
meeting of our shareholders. Fractions of shares cannot be voted. The
administrator will forward to each participant all shareholder materials
relating to shares credited to that participant's account.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Neither we nor the administrator nor any independent agent will be liable
for any act done in good faith or for any good faith omission to act, including,
without limitation, any claim of liability arising from failure to terminate a
participant's account upon the participant's death prior to receipt of notice in
writing of such death, or with respect to the prices or times at which shares of
common stock are purchased or sold for participants, or fluctuations in the
market value of common stock.
WRITTEN PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN CONTROLLING
With respect to any matter relating to the plan, including, without
limitation, the timing and pricing of purchases and sales of common stock for
participants, the written provisions of the plan are controlling. Participants
should not rely on any oral representations inconsistent with the written
provisions of the plan. Neither we nor the administrator nor any independent
agent will be liable for a participant's reliance on oral statements
inconsistent with the written provisions of the plan.
INTERPRETATION AND REGULATION OF THE PLAN
Our officers are authorized to take actions to carry out the plan
consistent with the plan's terms and conditions. We reserve the right to
interpret and regulate the plan as we deem desirable or necessary in connection
with the plan's operations.
CHANGE OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
We may suspend, modify or terminate the plan at any time, in whole, in part
or in respect of participants in one or more jurisdictions, without the approval
of participants. Notice of suspension, modification or termination will be sent
to all affected participants. Upon any whole or partial termination of the plan
by us, each affected participant will receive:
- a certificate for all of the whole shares credited to the participant's
account,
14
- any dividends, interest payments and cash investments credited to the
participant's account, and
- a check for the cash value of any fraction of a share of common stock
credited to the participant's account.
A fraction of a share will be valued at the average of the high and low sales
prices of the common stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite
Tape as published in The Wall Street Journal for the trading day preceding the
date of termination.
TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION BY CENTERPOINT ENERGY
If a participant does not have at least one whole share of common stock
registered in the participant's name or credited to the participant's account,
or does not own any eligible securities for which cash dividends or interest
payments are designated for reinvestment under the plan, we may terminate the
participant's participation in the plan upon written notice. Additionally, we
may terminate any participant's participation in the plan after written notice
mailed in advance to the participant's address appearing on the records of the
administrator. A participant whose participation has been terminated will
receive:
- a certificate for all of the whole shares credited to the participant's
account,
- any dividends, interest payments and cash investments credited to the
participant's account, and
- a check for the cash value of any fraction of a share of common stock
credited to the participant's account.
A fraction of a share will be valued at the average of the high and low sales
prices of the common stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite
Tape as published in The Wall Street Journal for the trading day preceding the
date of termination.
15
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are offering common stock by this prospectus pursuant to the plan. The
terms of the plan provide for the purchase of shares of our common stock
directly from us or, at our option, by an independent agent on the open market.
As of the date of this prospectus, shares of common stock purchased for
participants under the plan are being purchased directly from us. The plan
provides that we may not change our determination regarding the source of
purchases of shares more than once in any three-month period. We expect our
primary consideration in determining the source of shares to be used for
purchases under the plan will be our need to increase equity capital. If we do
not need to raise funds externally or if financing needs are satisfied using
non-equity sources of funds to maintain our targeted capital structure, shares
of common stock purchased for participants will be purchased in the open market,
subject to the limitation on changing the source of shares of common stock.
We will pay all administrative costs and expenses associated with the plan.
Participants will bear the cost of brokerage commissions and fees, related
service charges and any applicable taxes incurred on all purchases and sales
made in the open market. These costs will be included as adjustments to purchase
and sales prices. There are no brokerage fees and commissions or related service
charges for shares of common stock purchased directly from us.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK
As of December 1, 2004, our authorized capital stock consisted of:
- 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which
approximately 307,860,111 shares were outstanding, excluding 166 shares
held as treasury stock, and
- 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which
1,000,000 shares are classified as Series A preferred stock, none of
which was outstanding.
Each share of our common stock offered by means of this prospectus includes
an associated preferred stock purchase right. The shares of Series A preferred
stock have been initially reserved for issuance upon exercise of the rights.
We have incorporated by reference the descriptions of our common stock and
associated rights into this prospectus. Please read "Where You Can Find More
Information."
16
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of CenterPoint Energy and its
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2003, and for each of the three years
in the period ended December 31, 2003, incorporated by reference in this
prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, as stated in their reports (which reports express an
unqualified opinion and include explanatory paragraphs relating to the
distribution of Reliant Energy, Inc. (formerly named Reliant Resources, Inc.),
the definitive agreement to sell Texas Genco Holdings, the change in method of
accounting for goodwill and certain intangible assets and the recording of asset
retirement obligations), and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the
reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and
auditing.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the common stock offered hereby
have been passed upon for us by Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Scott E.
Rozzell, Esq., our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary, or Rufus S. Scott, our Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and
Assistant Corporate Secretary, may pass upon other legal matters for us.
17
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE ELSE TO PROVIDE YOU
WITH ANY DIFFERENT INFORMATION. IF ANYONE PROVIDES YOU WITH DIFFERENT OR
INCONSISTENT INFORMATION, YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON IT. WE ARE NOT MAKING AN OFFER
TO SELL SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE
IS NOT PERMITTED. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS CURRENT ONLY
AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
About This Prospectus................. i
Where You Can Find More Information... ii
Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Information......... iv
About CenterPoint Energy, Inc. ....... 1
Use of Proceeds....................... 2
Our Investor's Choice Plan............ 3
Plan of Distribution.................. 16
Description of Our Capital Stock...... 16
Experts............................... 17
Legal Matters......................... 17
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
3,163,619 SHARES
COMMON STOCK
-------------------------
PROSPECTUS
-------------------------
INVESTOR'S CHOICE PLAN
December 16, 2004