FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
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.
Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our ability to control. We have identified a
number of these factors in our annual and quarterly 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:
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Unusual weather conditions and their effect on energy sales to customers and energy commodity prices;
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Extreme weather events and other natural disasters, including, but not limited to, hurricanes, high winds, severe storms, earthquakes, flooding and
changes in water temperatures and availability that can cause outages and property damage to facilities;
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Federal, state and local legislative and regulatory developments, including changes in federal and state tax laws and regulations;
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S-4
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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 substances, more extensive permitting requirements and the regulation of additional substances;
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Cost of environmental compliance, including those costs related to climate change;
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Changes in implementation and enforcement practices of regulators relating to environmental standards and litigation exposure for remedial activities;
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Difficulty in anticipating mitigation requirements associated with environmental and other regulatory approvals or related appeals;
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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;
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Unplanned outages at facilities in which we have an ownership interest;
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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;
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Counterparty credit and performance risk;
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Global capital market conditions, including the availability of credit and the ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms;
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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;
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Fluctuations in the value of investments held in nuclear decommissioning trusts and in benefit plan trusts by us;
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Fluctuations in interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates;
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Changes in rating agency requirements or credit ratings and their effect on availability and cost of capital;
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Changes in financial or regulatory accounting principles or policies imposed by governing bodies;
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Employee workforce factors including collective bargaining agreements and labor negotiations with union employees;
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Risks of operating businesses in regulated industries that are subject to changing regulatory structures;
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Impacts of acquisitions, including our merger with Dominion Energy Questar Corporation (Dominion Energy Questar), divestitures, transfers of assets to
joint ventures or Dominion Energy Midstream Partners, LP (Dominion Energy Midstream), including the contribution of Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline, LLC (Questar Pipeline) to Dominion Energy Midstream, and retirements of assets based on asset
portfolio reviews;
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Receipt of approvals for, and timing of, closing dates for acquisitions and divestitures;
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The timing and execution of Dominion Energy Midstreams growth strategy;
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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;
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Political and economic conditions, including inflation and deflation;
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Domestic terrorism and other threats to our physical and intangible assets, as well as threats to cybersecurity;
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S-5
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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;
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Additional competition in industries in which we operate, including in electric markets in which our merchant generation facilities operate and
potential competition from the development and deployment of alternative energy sources, such as self-generation and distributed generation technologies, and availability of market alternatives to large commercial and industrial customers;
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Competition in the development, construction and ownership of certain electric transmission facilities in Virginia Powers service territory in
connection with FERC Order 1000;
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Changes in technology, particularly with respect to new, developing or alternative sources of generation and smart grid technologies;
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Changes to regulated electric rates and regulated gas distribution, transportation and storage rates, including liquefied natural gas storage,
collected by us;
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Changes in operating, maintenance and construction costs;
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Timing and receipt of regulatory approvals necessary for planned construction or expansion projects and compliance with conditions associated with such
regulatory approvals;
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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;
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Adverse outcomes in litigation matters or regulatory proceedings; and
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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.
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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.
S-6
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
In this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the words Dominion Energy,
Company, we, our and us refer to Dominion Energy, Inc. (formerly 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 THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES section of this prospectus supplement and the DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES section of the accompanying base prospectus contain more detailed information regarding the terms and conditions of the
Junior Subordinated Notes. 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 ENERGY
Dominion Energy, 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 and Rocky Mountain regions of the U.S. Our portfolio of assets includes approximately 26,200 megawatts of generating capacity, 6,600 miles of electric
transmission lines, 57,600 miles of electric distribution lines, 15,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and 51,300 miles of gas distribution pipeline, exclusive of service lines. We operate one of the nations
largest natural gas storage systems with 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and serve more than six million utility and retail energy customers.
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.
Our nonregulated operations include merchant generation, energy marketing and price risk management activities and natural gas retail energy marketing operations. Our operations are conducted through various subsidiaries, including (i) Virginia
Power, a regulated public utility that generates, transmits and distributes electricity for sale in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, (ii) Dominion Energy Gas, a holding company for the majority of our regulated natural gas businesses,
which conducts business activities through a regulated interstate natural gas transmission pipeline and underground storage system, a local, regulated natural gas transportation and distribution network and natural gas gathering and processing
facilities, and (iii) Dominion Energy Questar, a holding company for our recently acquired and primarily regulated natural gas businesses, including retail natural gas distribution in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho and related natural gas development
and production. We also own the general partner, 50.9% of the common and subordinated units and 37.5% of the convertible preferred interests in Dominion Energy Midstream, which was formed by us to own and grow a portfolio of natural gas terminaling,
processing, storage, transportation and related assets.
Our address and telephone number are: 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond,
Virginia 23219, Telephone
(804) 819-2000.
Recent Developments
On May 10, 2017, our shareholders voted to approve an amendment to our articles of incorporation changing our name from
Dominion Resources, Inc. to Dominion Energy, Inc. The amendment was effective as of May 10, 2017. The new name is intended to better reflect our expanded footprint and changing role in the energy landscape and to unify
our brand across all of our businesses.
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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3 Months
Ended
March 31, 2017
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12 Months
Ended
March 31, 2017
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Years Ended
December 31,
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2016
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2015
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2014
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2013
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2012
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3.55
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3.28
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3.27
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3.68
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2.33
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3.42
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3.10
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S-7
THE OFFERING
The Junior Subordinated Notes
We are offering on behalf of holders of the
Corporate Units $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Junior Subordinated Notes will mature on July 1, 2020.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be sold with accrued interest at an annual rate of 1.50% from, and including, April 1, 2017 to, but excluding, the date of delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be represented by one or more global certificates that will be deposited with or held on
behalf of and registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (DTC) or its nominee. This means that you will not receive a certificate for your Junior Subordinated Notes but, instead, will hold your interest through
DTCs system. See BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT beginning on page S-19.
Interest
Interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on January 1 and July 1. The first interest
payment following this remarketing will be made on July 3, 2017 (the first business day following Saturday, July 1, 2017) and will include interest accrued (i) at an annual rate of 1.50% from, and including, April 1, 2017 to, but
excluding, the date of delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes and (ii) at an annual rate of 2.579% from, and including, the date of delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes to, but excluding, July 1, 2017. On and after the date of
delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Junior Subordinated Notes will bear interest at 2.579% per year.
Record Dates
So long as the Junior Subordinated Notes remain in book-entry only form, the record date for each Interest Payment Date
will be the close of business on the business day before the applicable Interest Payment Date.
If the Junior Subordinated
Notes are not in book-entry only form, the record date for each Interest Payment Date will be the fifteenth day of the calendar month immediately preceding the calendar month in which the applicable Interest Payment Date falls (or, if such day is
not a business day, the next preceding business day).
Ranking
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be subordinated to all of our existing and future Priority Indebtedness. In addition, the Junior Subordinated Notes will be effectively subordinated to all liabilities
of our subsidiaries. See DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTESSubordination on page S-16 and DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTESRanking on page S-14.
Redemption
The Junior Subordinated Notes may not be redeemed by us or at
the option of the holder prior to maturity.
No Listing of the Junior Subordinated Notes
The Junior Subordinated Notes are not listed and we do not plan to apply to list the Junior Subordinated Notes on any securities exchange
or to include them in any automated quotation system.
Use of Proceeds
We are conducting the remarketing on behalf of holders of the Corporate Units and will not directly receive any proceeds therefrom. The
proceeds will be used to purchase a portfolio of treasury securities maturing on or about July 3, 2017. We expect that a portion of the funds generated upon maturity of the portfolio will be used to settle with us the purchase contracts entered
into as a part of the Equity Units (the Purchase Contracts) on July 3, 2017. See USE OF PROCEEDS on
page S-10.
S-8
RISK FACTORS
Your investment in the Junior Subordinated Notes involves certain risks. 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, 2016, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. In consultation with your own financial and legal advisers, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the discussions of risks that we have
incorporated by reference before deciding whether an investment in the Junior Subordinated Notes is suitable for you.
See
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION on page S-4.
Risks Relating to the Junior Subordinated Notes
The indenture under which the Junior Subordinated Notes were issued does not limit our indebtedness, prevent dividends or generally prevent highly
leveraged transactions; there are no financial covenants in the indenture.
Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries are
restricted from incurring additional debt or other liabilities, including additional Priority Indebtedness (as defined under DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTESSubordination), under the indenture pursuant to which the Junior
Subordinated Notes were issued. As of March 31, 2017, we, and our subsidiaries, had total indebtedness of $36.1 billion. If we incur additional debt or liabilities, our ability to pay our obligations on the Junior Subordinated Notes could
be adversely affected. We expect that we will from time to time incur additional debt and other liabilities. In addition, we are not restricted under the indenture from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our securities.
There are no financial covenants in the indenture. Except for the covenants described in the accompanying base prospectus under
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIESConsolidation, Merger or Sale, there are no covenants or any other provisions in the indenture which may afford you protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction including one that may or may not
result in a change of control of the Company.
The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated to our existing and future Priority
Indebtedness and are structurally subordinated to any existing or future preferred stock, indebtedness, guarantees and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.
The Junior Subordinated Notes are obligations exclusively of Dominion Energy and will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated to our existing and
future Priority Indebtedness (as defined under DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTESSubordination) and will be structurally subordinated to existing or future preferred stock, indebtedness, guarantees and other liabilities, including
trade payables, of our subsidiaries. The indenture under which the Junior Subordinated Notes were issued will not restrict us or our subsidiaries from incurring substantial additional indebtedness in the future.
As of March 31, 2017, we had approximately $11.3 billion principal amount of outstanding long-term debt on an unconsolidated basis
(including securities due within one year and junior subordinated debentures issued under our Subordinated Indenture dated as of December 1, 1997) that will be senior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Additionally, as of March 31, 2017, our
subsidiaries had approximately $16.8 billion principal amount of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year).
Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities from us. Our subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the Junior Subordinated Notes or to provide us with funds to meet our
respective payment obligations on the Junior Subordinated Notes. Any payment of dividends, loans or advances by our subsidiaries to us could be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions and will be contingent upon the subsidiaries
S-9
earnings and business considerations. Our right to receive any assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their bankruptcy, liquidation or similar reorganization, and therefore the right of the
holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes to participate in those assets, will be structurally subordinated to the claims of that subsidiarys creditors, including trade creditors. Even if we are a creditor of any of our subsidiaries, our rights
as a creditor would be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of our subsidiaries and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries senior to that held by us.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The remarketing agents are
remarketing $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Series A RSNs on behalf of holders of the Corporate Units.
We
will not directly receive any proceeds from the remarketing. The proceeds will be used to purchase a portfolio of treasury securities maturing on or about July 3, 2017. We expect that a portion of the funds generated upon maturity of the
portfolio will be used to settle with us the Purchase Contracts on July 3, 2017.
We currently intend to use the proceeds
from the settlement of the Purchase Contracts to repay debt issued in part to fund capital expenditures or for other corporate purposes. We do not intend to use such proceeds to repurchase shares of our common stock.
S-10
CAPITALIZATION
The table below shows our unaudited capitalization on a consolidated basis as of March 31, 2017. The As Adjusted column
reflects our capitalization after giving effect to this remarketing of the Series A RSNs. We will not directly receive any cash proceeds from this remarketing, and the table does not reflect the settlement of the Purchase Contracts, which is
expected to take place on July 3, 2017. You should read this table along with our audited financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as well as the unaudited information
presented in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. See WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION on page S-4 and USE OF PROCEEDS on page S-10.
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(unaudited)
March 31,
2017
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(in millions)
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Actual
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As Adjusted
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Short-term debt
(1)
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$
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5,018
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$
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5,018
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Long-term debt:
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Senior Notes and other long-term debt
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25,742
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25,742
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Junior Subordinated Notes
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2,980
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3,980
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Remarketable Subordinated Notes
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2,374
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1,374
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Total long-term debt
(2)(3)
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31,096
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31,096
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Total equity
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17,181
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17,181
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Total capitalization
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$
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53,295
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$
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53,295
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(1)
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Includes securities due within one year, which includes the effect of unamortized debt issuance costs ($(2.0) million) and unamortized discount
($(0.35) million) net of unamortized premium ($0.02 million) and loss on fair value hedges ($(0.03) million).
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(2)
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Includes a $(4.3) million loss on fair value hedges.
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(3)
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Includes the effect of unamortized debt issuance costs ($(210.2) million), unamortized discount ($(59.9) million) net of unamortized premium ($18.8
million) and foreign currency remeasurement adjustments of $(13.7) million.
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S-11
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
For purposes of this ratio, earnings are determined by adding distributed income of equity investees and fixed charges (excluding
interest capitalized) to income from continuing operations before income taxes and adjustments for noncontrolling interest after eliminating the equity in earnings or losses of equity investees. These earnings are then divided by total fixed
charges. Fixed charges consist of interest charges (without reduction for Allowance for Funds Used During Construction) on long-term and short-term debt, interest capitalized, the portion of rental expense that is representative of the interest
factor and preferred stock dividends of consolidated subsidiaries (grossed-up by a factor of pre-tax net income divided by net income).
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:
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3 Months
Ended
March 31,
2017
(a)
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12 Months
Ended
March 31,
2017
(b)
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Years Ended
December 31,
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2016
(c)
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2015
(d)
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2014
(e)
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2013
(f)
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2012
(g)
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3.55
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3.28
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3.27
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3.68
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2.33
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3.42
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3.10
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(a)
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Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2017 include $34 million of net gains related to our investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds; partially offset
by a $3 million charge related to other items. Excluding the net effect of these items from the calculation would result in a lower ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
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(b)
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Earnings for the twelve months ended March 31, 2017 include a $197 million charge associated with ash pond and landfill closure costs; $74 million in transaction and
transition costs associated with the Dominion Energy Questar combination; a $23 million charge related to storm and restoration costs; and a $34 million charge related to other items; partially offset by $67 million of net gains related to our
investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds. Excluding the net effect of these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended March 31, 2017.
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(c)
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Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 include a $197 million charge associated with future ash pond and landfill closure costs; a $65 million
charge associated with an organizational design initiative; $74 million in transaction and transition costs associated with the Dominion Energy Questar combination; a $23 million charge related to storm and restoration costs; and a $45 million
charge related to other items; partially offset by $34 million of net gain related to our investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds. Excluding the effect of these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to
fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.
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(d)
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Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 include an $85 million write-off of prior-period deferred fuel costs associated with Virginia legislation; a
$99 million charge associated with ash pond and landfill closure costs; and a $78 million charge related to other items; partially offset by $60 million of net gain related to our investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds. Excluding the
effect of these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015.
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(e)
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Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 include a $374 million charge related to our North Anna nuclear power station and offshore wind facilities;
a $284 million charge associated with our liability management effort, which is included in fixed charges; a $121 million accrued charge associated with ash pond and landfill closure costs; and a $93 million charge related to other items; partially
offset by a $100 million net gain on the sale of our electric retail energy marketing business and $72 million of net gain related to our investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds. Excluding the effect of these items from the calculation
would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014.
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(f)
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Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 include a $55 million impairment charge related to certain natural gas infrastructure assets; a $40 million
charge in connection with the Virginia State Corporation Commissions final ruling associated with its biennial review of Virginia Powers base rates for 2011-2012 test years; a $28 million charge associated with our operating expense
reduction initiative, primarily reflecting severance pay and other employee related costs; a $26 million charge related to the expected early shutdown of certain coal-fired generating units; and a $29 million charge related to other items, partially
offset by $81 million of net gain related to our investments in nuclear decommissioning trust funds; a $47 million benefit due to a downward revision in the nuclear decommissioning asset retirement obligations for certain merchant nuclear units that
are no longer in service; and a $29 million net benefit primarily resulting from the sale of Elwood power station. Excluding the net effect of these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2013.
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(g)
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Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 include $438 million of impairment and other charges related to the planned shut-down of Kewaunee nuclear
power station; and $87 million of restoration costs associated with severe storms affecting our Dominion Energy Virginia and Dominion Energy North Carolina service territories; partially offset by a $36 million net gain related to our investments in
nuclear decommissioning trust funds and a $4 million net benefit related to other items. Excluding the net effect of these items from the calculation would result in a higher ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended
December 31, 2012.
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S-12
DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
In this Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes, Dominion Energy, we, us, our and
the Company refer only to Dominion Energy, Inc. (formerly Dominion Resources, Inc.), and not to any of its subsidiaries.
The following summary description sets forth certain terms and provisions of the Junior Subordinated Notes and, to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces the descriptions set forth in the
accompanying base prospectus under the captions DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES and ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES, to which we refer you. Because this description is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the Junior
Subordinated Notes and should be read together with the forms of the Series A RSNs, the subordinated indenture II (defined below under Ranking) under which the Series A RSNs were issued, the sixth supplemental indenture (defined below under
Ranking) establishing the terms of the Series A RSNs, and the thirteenth supplemental indenture (defined below under Ranking) which redesignates the Series A RSNs as the 2.579% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2020 and amends certain
terms applicable to the Junior Subordinated Notes. The subordinated indenture II is filed as an exhibit to, and incorporated by reference in, the registration statement of which the accompanying base prospectus is a part. The sixth supplemental
indenture is, and the thirteenth supplemental indenture will be, incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which the accompanying base prospectus is a part. In this summary, we refer to the subordinated indenture II, as previously
supplemented and amended, including by the sixth supplemental indenture, and as supplemented and amended by the thirteenth supplemental indenture, together, as the indenture.
The indenture and its associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The indenture has
been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the Trust Indenture Act), and you should refer to the Trust Indenture Act for provisions that apply to the Junior Subordinated Notes.
General
The Junior
Subordinated Notes are our unsecured and subordinated obligations and are subordinated to all of our Priority Indebtedness (as defined under Subordination). Additional information about our current outstanding indebtedness and the relative
priorities of our indebtedness is described below under Ranking.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be initially
represented by one or more fully registered global securities (the global securities) deposited with the series trustee, as custodian for DTC, as depository, and registered in the name of DTC or DTCs nominee. A beneficial interest in a global
security will be shown on, and transfers or exchanges thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants, as described below under BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT. The authorized denominations of the Junior
Subordinated Notes will be $1,000 and any larger amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000. Except in certain circumstances described below, the Junior Subordinated Notes that are issued as global securities will not be exchangeable for Junior
Subordinated Notes in definitive certificated form.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be limited in aggregate principal
amount to $1,000,000,000. The Junior Subordinated Notes are not subject to a sinking fund provision or repayable at the option of the holders and will not be subject to defeasance. The entire principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes will
mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon on July 1, 2020. The indenture does not contain any financial covenants or restrict us from paying dividends, making investments, incurring indebtedness or
repurchasing our securities. Except for the covenants described in the accompanying base prospectus under DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIESConsolidation, Merger or Sale, the indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes protection in the event we are involved in a highly leveraged transaction or other similar transaction that may adversely affect such holders. The indenture does not limit our ability to issue or incur other debt or issue
preferred stock.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be sold with accrued interest at an annual rate of 1.50% from, and
including, April 1, 2017 to, but excluding, the date of delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
S-13
We will not pay any additional amounts to holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes that are
not U.S. persons in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge.
Ranking
The Series A RSNs were issued by us under our Junior Subordinated Indenture II, dated as of June 1, 2006, between us and The Bank of
New York Mellon (as successor trustee to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.) (referred to herein as the Indenture Trustee), as supplemented and amended by the Third Supplemental and Amending Indenture thereto, dated as of June 1, 2009, among us, the
Indenture Trustee and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Series Trustee, for the series of which the Series A RSNs are a part (the Junior Subordinated Indenture II, as supplemented by the Third Supplemental and Amending Indenture, is referred
to herein as the subordinated indenture II) and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 1, 2014 (the sixth supplemental indenture). As provided for in the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture to be dated as of May 18, 2017 (the
thirteenth supplemental indenture), the Series A RSNs will be redesignated as the 2.579% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2020 following this remarketing. We have issued, and in the future may issue, under the subordinated indenture II additional
debt securities that rank on parity with the Junior Subordinated Notes. See Subordination.
The Junior Subordinated
Notes are unsecured and rank junior in payment to all of our existing and future Priority Indebtedness, as described under Subordination. The Junior Subordinated Notes are also effectively subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries. A
significant portion of our existing indebtedness is Priority Indebtedness. See Subordination.
Because we are a holding
company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries, which include Virginia Power, Dominion Energy Gas, Questar Gas Company, Dominion Energy Midstream and other subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the Junior
Subordinated Notes is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. Holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes will generally have a
junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred stockholders. As of March 31, 2017, we had approximately
$11.3 billion principal amount of outstanding long-term debt on an unconsolidated basis (including securities due within one year and junior subordinated debentures issued under our Subordinated Indenture dated as of December 1, 1997) that will
be senior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Additionally, as of March 31, 2017, our subsidiaries had approximately $16.8 billion principal amount of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year). The provisions of
the indenture do not limit the amount of indebtedness or preferred stock issuable by our subsidiaries. We and our subsidiaries expect to incur additional indebtedness from time to time.
Interest
Interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable
semi-annually in arrears on January 1 and July 1. The first interest payment following this remarketing will be made on July 3, 2017 (the first business day following Saturday, July 1, 2017) and will include interest accrued
(i) at an annual rate of 1.50% from, and including, April 1, 2017 to, but excluding, the date of delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes and (ii) at an annual rate of 2.579% from, and including, the date of delivery of the Junior
Subordinated Notes to, but excluding, July 1, 2017. On and after the date of delivery of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Junior Subordinated Notes will bear interest at 2.579% per year. Subject to certain exceptions, the indenture provides
for the payment of interest on an interest payment date only to persons in whose names the Junior Subordinated Notes are registered at the close of business on the record date; if the Junior Subordinated Notes are held by a securities depository in
book-entry form, the record date will be the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date; if the Junior Subordinated Notes are not held by a securities depository in book-entry form, then the
record date will be the 15th day of the calendar month immediately preceding the calendar month in which the applicable interest payment date falls (or, if such day is not a business day, the business day next preceding such day). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any interest payable at maturity will be paid to the person to whom principal is payable. Interest will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and with respect to any period less than a full calendar
month, on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed during the period.
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If any interest payment date or the maturity date is not a business day, then the applicable
payment will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day, and no interest will accrue or be paid in respect of such delay. Business day, for purposes of the indenture, means any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday or a day
on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to close or a day on which the principal corporate trust office of the series trustee is closed for business.
Redemption
The Junior
Subordinated Notes may not be redeemed by us or at the option of the holder prior to maturity.
Modification of Indenture
Without Holder Consent
Without the consent of any holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, we and the series trustee may from time to time amend and/or supplement the indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes for the following
purposes:
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to evidence the succession of another corporation to us, or successive successions, and the assumption by such successor corporation of our covenants,
agreements and obligations pursuant to the provisions described in the accompanying base prospectus under DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIESConsolidation, Merger or Sale;
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to add to our covenants such further covenants, restrictions or conditions as we and the series trustee consider to be for the protection of the
holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a default or an Event of Default;
provided
that such
supplemental indenture may provide for a particular grace period or an immediate enforcement upon such default or limit the remedies available to the series trustee upon such default;
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to change or eliminate any provision of the indenture;
provided
,
however
, that any such change or elimination becomes effective only when
there are no Junior Subordinated Notes outstanding, or the Junior Subordinated Notes are not entitled to the benefit of such provision;
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to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions contained therein, or to make such other provision in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture;
provided
that such action will not adversely affect the interest of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes in
any material respect;
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to mortgage or pledge to the series trustee as security for the Junior Subordinated Notes any property or assets that we may desire to mortgage or
pledge as security for the Junior Subordinated Notes;
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to qualify, or maintain the qualification of, the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
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set forth the terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes following a successful remarketing to incorporate the reset interest rate and semi-annual interest
payment dates and to eliminate the Junior Subordinated Notes optional redemption and interest deferral provisions; and
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to conform the terms of the indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes to the descriptions thereof and of the Series A RSNs contained in the
DESCRIPTION OF THE REMARKETABLE SUBORDINATED NOTES, DESCRIPTION OF THE EQUITY UNITS, DESCRIPTION OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS and CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT sections in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the
Equity Units, dated June 24, 2014, as supplemented and/or amended by the related pricing term sheet.
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With Holder Consent
Under the indenture, supplemental indentures for the purposes of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of
the provisions of the indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes under the indenture may be entered into by us, when authorized by board resolution, and the series trustee, with the consent of
the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes. However, no such supplemental indenture shall:
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change the maturity of the Junior Subordinated Notes, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of any interest thereon or on any overdue
principal amount or reduce the principal amount thereof, or change the provisions pursuant to which the rate of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes is determined if such change could reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce the minimum
rate of interest thereon (if any), or reduce any amount payable upon any redemption thereof, or reduce the amount to be paid at maturity or make the principal thereof or any interest thereon or on any overdue principal amount payable in any coin or
currency other than U.S. dollars without the consent of the holder of each Junior Subordinated Note so affected;
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reduce the percentage of Junior Subordinated Notes, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, without the
consent of the holders of all Junior Subordinated Notes then outstanding;
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modify any of the provisions of the indenture relating to modifications, waivers of our compliance with covenants thereunder or direction of the series
trustee by holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, except to increase the percentage of holders who must consent thereto or to provide that certain other provisions cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holders of all Junior
Subordinated Notes then outstanding; and
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modify the provisions relating to the subordination of the Junior Subordinated Notes in a manner adverse to the holders thereof without the consent of
the holder of each Junior Subordinated Note so affected.
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A supplemental indenture that changes or
eliminates any covenant or other provision of the indenture expressly included solely for the benefit of holders of securities other than the Junior Subordinated Notes, or which modifies the rights of the holders of securities other than the Junior
Subordinated Notes with respect to such covenant or other provision, will be deemed not to affect the rights under the indenture of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
We may omit to comply with any covenant or condition contained in the indenture if holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Notes waive such compliance.
The DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIESModification of Indentures; Waiver
section of the accompanying base prospectus does not apply to the Junior Subordinated Notes.
Subordination
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Priority Indebtedness as defined below.
If:
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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;
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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
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the maturity of any Priority Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default on that Priority Indebtedness,
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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.
Priority
Indebtedness means the principal, premium, interest and any other payment in respect of any of the following:
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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;
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our obligations under synthetic leases, finance leases and capitalized leases;
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our obligations for reimbursement under letters of credit, bankers acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for our
account;
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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
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all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding categories which we have assumed, endorsed or guaranteed or with respect to which we
have a similar contingent obligation.
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However, Priority Indebtedness will not include trade
accounts payable, accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, indebtedness to our subsidiaries, the junior subordinated notes (as defined in the accompanying base prospectus) and any other indebtedness that
effectively by its terms, or expressly provides that it, ranks on parity with, or junior to, the junior subordinated notes (as defined in the accompanying base prospectus) or the Junior Subordinated Notes. Priority
Indebtedness will include the junior subordinated debentures (as defined in the accompanying base prospectus).
Priority Indebtedness will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions in the indenture irrespective of the amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Priority Indebtedness. We
may not amend the indenture to change the subordination provisions without the consent of each holder of Priority Indebtedness that the amendment would adversely affect.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be unsecured and will be subordinated to all of our existing and future senior and subordinated debt except for our (i) $700 million aggregate principal amount of
2016 Series A-1 2.0% Remarketable Subordinated Notes due 2021, (ii) $700 million aggregate principal amount of 2016 Series A-2 2.0% Remarketable Subordinated Notes due 2024, (iii) $800 million aggregate principal amount of 2016
Series A 5.25% Enhanced Junior Subordinated Notes due 2076, (iv) $685 million aggregate principal amount of 2014 Series A 5.75% Enhanced Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054, (v) $550 million aggregate principal amount of 2.962% Junior
Subordinated Notes due 2019, (vi) $550 million aggregate principal amount of 4.104% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2021, (vii) $299 million aggregate principal amount of 2006 Series B variable rate Enhanced Junior Subordinated Notes due
2066 and (viii) $123 million aggregate principal amount of 2006 Series A variable rate Enhanced Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066, and any other debt that is expressly excluded from the definition of Priority Indebtedness, as
described above. The Junior Subordinated Notes will rank equally with the securities described above. The Junior Subordinated Notes will be effectively subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries.
Holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes should recognize that contractual provisions in the indenture may prohibit us from making
payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Junior Subordinated Notes are
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subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner stated in the indenture, to all of our Priority Indebtedness, as defined above.
The indenture does not restrict or limit in any way our ability to incur Priority Indebtedness. As of March 31, 2017, we had
approximately $11.3 billion principal amount of outstanding long-term debt on an unconsolidated basis (including securities due within one year and junior subordinated debentures issued under our Subordinated Indenture dated as of December 1, 1997)
that will be senior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Additionally, as of March 31, 2017, our subsidiaries had approximately $16.8 billion principal amount of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year).
The ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES section of the accompanying base prospectus does not apply to the Junior
Subordinated Notes.
Title
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Junior Subordinated Note, we, the series trustee and any agent of ours or the series trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name such
Junior Subordinated Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Junior Subordinated Note (whether or not payments in respect of such Junior Subordinated Note are overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon)
for the purpose of receiving payment of or an account of the principal of and interest on such Junior Subordinated Note and for all other purposes; and neither we nor the series trustee nor any agent of ours or the series trustee will be affected by
any notice to the contrary.
Governing Law
The indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes provide that they will be governed by and for all purposes construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (without regard to conflicts of
laws principles thereof).
The Series Trustee and Indenture Trustee
The series trustee is Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. The series trustee will administer its corporate trust business at 60 Wall
Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10005. We and certain of our affiliates maintain banking relationships with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas also serves as trustee under other indentures under which we and
certain of our affiliates have issued securities. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and its affiliates have purchased, and are likely to purchase in the future, our securities and securities of our affiliates.
The trustee under the subordinated indenture II is The Bank of New York Mellon (successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.). 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 under which securities of certain of our affiliates are outstanding.
The Bank of New York Mellon and its affiliates have purchased, and are likely to purchase in the future, our securities and securities of our affiliates.
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BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT
The Junior Subordinated Notes that are evidenced by one or more global notes will be registered in the name of DTCs nominee,
Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. Such global notes will be deposited with the series trustee as custodian for DTC.
The following is based on information made available by DTC:
DTC, the worlds largest securities depository, is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking organization within the meaning of the New York
Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and
non-U.S.
equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments
(from over 100 countries) that DTCs participants (Direct Participants) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through
electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and
non-U.S.
securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation
(DTCC). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC
system is also available to others such as both U.S. and
non-U.S.
securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with
a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (Indirect Participants). DTC has a Standard & Poors rating of AA+. The DTC Rules applicable to its Participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. More
information about DTC can be found at http://www.dtcc.com.
Payments of principal and interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes will be made to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee of DTC). DTCs practice is to credit direct participants accounts upon DTCs receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the series trustee, on the
payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTCs records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of each participant
and not of DTC, the series trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal and interest to Cede & Co. (or other such nominee of DTC) is our responsibility.
Disbursement of such payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
In a few special situations described below, a book-entry security representing Dominion Energy securities will terminate and interests
in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing the securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to you. You must consult your bank, broker or other financial
institution to find out how to have your interests in the securities transferred to your name, so that you will be a direct holder.
The special situations for termination of a global security representing the Junior Subordinated Notes are:
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DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for that global security or DTC ceases to be a clearing agency
registered under the Exchange Act and we are unable to find a qualified replacement for DTC within 90 days; or
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any Event of Default with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes has occurred and is continuing, or any other event has occurred and is continuing,
which after notice or lapse of time, would become an Event of Default with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes, and any beneficial owner requests that its beneficial interest be exchanged for a physical certificate.
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DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Notes at any time by giving us or the series trustee reasonable notice. In the event no successor securities depository is obtained, certificates for the Junior Subordinated Notes will be printed and delivered.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTCs book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be
reliable, but neither we nor the remarketing agents take any responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
The series
trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under the indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Junior Subordinated
Note (including any transfers between or among direct participant of DTC or beneficial owners of interests in any Junior Subordinated Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly
required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, the indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Neither the series trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by DTC.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to U.S. holders and non-U.S.
holders (each as defined below) with respect to the ownership and disposition of Junior Subordinated Notes acquired in this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all the potential tax considerations. This discussion is limited
to the U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to holders who acquire Junior Subordinated Notes in the remarketing for cash at the offering price and that are held as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the
U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address tax consequences relevant to subsequent purchasers of the Junior Subordinated Notes. This discussion is based on
current provisions of the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial interpretations thereof and administrative rulings and published positions of the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS), each as in effect as of the date hereof
and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect, and any such change could affect the accuracy of the statements and conclusions set forth herein.
This discussion is for general information only and does not purport to address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be
relevant to particular holders in light of their particular circumstances and does not apply to holders subject to special rules under the U.S. federal income tax laws (including, for example, banks or other financial institutions, dealers in
securities or currencies, traders in securities that elect to apply a mark-to-market method of accounting, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or other
flow-through entities (and investors therein), subchapter S corporations, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts or other tax-deferred accounts, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, holders liable for the
alternative minimum tax, certain former citizens or former long-term residents of the United States, U.S. holders having a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, holders who hold the Junior Subordinated Notes as part of a hedge,
straddle, constructive sale, conversion transaction or other integrated transaction, controlled foreign corporations, and passive foreign investment companies). This discussion also does not address any considerations under
U.S. federal tax laws other than those pertaining to the income tax, nor does it address any considerations under any state, local or non-U.S. tax laws. Prospective investors should consult with their own tax advisors as to the particular tax
consequences to them of the ownership and disposition of the Junior Subordinated Notes, including with respect to the applicability and effect of any U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. income or other tax laws or any tax treaty.
If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds Junior Subordinated Notes, the tax
treatment of a person treated as a partner in such partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Persons that for U.S. federal income tax purposes are treated as a partner in a partnership
holding Junior Subordinated Notes should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of the ownership and disposition of Junior Subordinated Notes.
THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PUPORSES ONLY, AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF ALL TAX CONSEQUENCES RELATING TO THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT
OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. INCOME OR OTHER TAX LAWS OR ANY TAX TREATY.
For purposes of this
discussion, the term U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of a Junior Subordinated Note that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United
States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;
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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
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a trust (a) if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the trusts administration and one or more U.S.
persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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For purposes of this discussion, the term non-U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of a Junior
Subordinated Note that is neither a U.S. holder nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We have treated and
will continue to treat, and, by purchasing the Junior Subordinated Notes, each holder agrees to treat, the Junior Subordinated Notes as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the Junior
Subordinated Notes will be so treated.
U.S. Holders
Treatment of the Junior Subordinated Notes
We have treated the Junior
Subordinated Notes as variable rate debt instruments, and stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes as taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary interest income at the time such interest is received or accrued, in accordance with such
U.S. holders regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We intend to continue treating the Junior Subordinated Notes and payments of stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes in this manner, and the remainder of
this discussion assumes that this treatment will be respected. However, there are no legal authorities that address the U.S. federal income tax treatment of debt instruments that are substantially similar to the Junior Subordinated Notes, and
therefore the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Junior Subordinated Notes is unclear and alternative characterizations are possible. For example, it is possible that the Junior Subordinated Notes could be treated as contingent payment
debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If such treatment were to apply to the Junior Subordinated Notes, it could affect the amount, timing and character of income, gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Notes. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
Pre-Acquisition Accrued Interest
The purchase price of the Junior
Subordinated Notes sold in this remarketing will include an amount of interest attributable to interest accrued for the period prior to this remarketing. We believe that the portion of the first interest payment on the Junior Subordinated Notes
equal to the amount of such pre-acquisition accrued interest should be treated as a return of such pre-acquisition accrued interest, rather than as an amount payable on the Junior Subordinated Notes. Assuming this treatment is respected, the portion
of the first interest payment on the Junior Subordinated Notes equal to the pre-acquisition accrued interest will not be treated as taxable interest income and a holders adjusted tax basis in the Junior Subordinated Notes will be reduced by a
corresponding amount. This discussion assumes that this treatment will be respected, and references in this discussion to stated interest do not include such portion of the first interest payment equal to the pre-acquisition accrued interest. U.S.
holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the tax treatment of any pre-acquisition accrued interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes.
Payments of Interest
The stated interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes generally will be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary income at the time received or accrued, in accordance with the U.S. holders regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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Bond Premium
If the amount paid by a U.S. holder for a Junior Subordinated Note pursuant to this offering (excluding any amount attributable to pre-acquisition accrued interest) is greater than its principal amount,
such U.S. holder will generally be considered to have purchased the Junior Subordinated Note with bond premium in the amount equal to such excess. A U.S. holder generally may be able to elect to amortize this bond premium, using a
constant-yield method, over the remaining term of the Junior Subordinated Note by offsetting the interest income on such Junior Subordinated Note allocable to an accrual period with the premium allocable to such accrual period. If a U.S. holder
makes such an election, such U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in the note will be reduced by the amount of premium amortized. If a U.S. holder does not elect to amortize the premium, the premium will decrease the gain or increase the loss such
U.S. holder would otherwise recognize on a disposition of such Junior Subordinated Note. An election to amortize bond premium applies to all taxable debt obligations owned or acquired by the U.S holder on or after the first day of the first taxable
year for which the election is made and may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. U.S. holders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the election to amortize bond premium.
Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of the Junior Subordinated Notes
A U.S. holder generally will recognize gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note equal to
the difference, if any, between (a) the sum of the cash and the fair market value of any property received on such disposition (other than amounts properly attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which amounts will be treated as interest
income as described above under Payments of Interest) and (b) such U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in the note. A U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in a Junior Subordinated Note generally will be equal to the amount
that such U.S. holder paid for the note, reduced by the amount of any bond premium previously amortized by such U.S. holder with respect to the Junior Subordinated Note and any payments on the Junior Subordinated Note other than payments of
qualified stated interest. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a Junior Subordinated Note generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss, if, at the time of
such disposition, the U.S. holder will have held the Junior Subordinated Note for a period of more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information reporting generally will apply to payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes and to the proceeds of a sale or other taxable disposition of a Junior Subordinated Note paid to a U.S.
holder unless the U.S. holder is an exempt recipient. U.S. federal backup withholding (currently, at a rate of 28%) will apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly completed and
executed IRS Form W-9 providing such U.S. holders correct taxpayer identification number and certifying that such U.S. holder is not subject to backup withholding, or to otherwise establish an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a
credit against a U.S. holders U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished timely to the IRS.
Additional Tax on Net Investment Income
Certain U.S. holders who are
individuals, estates and trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% tax on the lesser of: (1) the U.S. holders net investment income for the relevant taxable year and (2) the excess of the U.S. holders modified adjusted gross
income for the relevant taxable year over a certain threshold (over $250,000 in the case of a married individual filing a joint return or a surviving spouse, $125,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return, or $200,000 in the
case of a single individual). A U.S. holders net investment income generally will include payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes and net gains from the disposition of the Junior Subordinated Notes. U.S. holders that are
individuals, estates or trusts should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this tax.
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Non-U.S. Holders
Payments of Interest
Subject to the discussion below under
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding and Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes to a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income
or withholding tax under the portfolio interest exemption, provided that:
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such interest is not effectively connected with the non-U.S. holders conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or, in the case of
an income tax treaty resident, is not attributable to a permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder in the United States);
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the non-U.S. holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to
vote;
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the non-U.S. holder is not a controlled foreign corporation with respect to which we are a related person within the meaning of
the Code;
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such non-U.S. holder is not a bank receiving interest described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; and
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either (a) the beneficial owner of the Junior Subordinated Notes provides the applicable withholding agent with a properly completed and executed
IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-BEN-E, as applicable, certifying, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a U.S. person (as defined in the Code) and providing its name and address or (b) a financial institution that holds the
Junior Subordinated Notes on behalf of the beneficial owner certifies to the applicable withholding agent, under penalties of perjury, that it has received such properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable,
from the beneficial owner and provides the applicable withholding agent with a copy thereof.
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If a non-U.S.
holder cannot satisfy the requirements of the portfolio interest exemption described above, payments of interest made to the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30%, or such lower rate
as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, unless such interest is effectively connected with such non-U.S. holders conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is
attributable to a permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder in the United States) and such non-U.S. holder provides the applicable withholding agent with a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI. In order to claim an exemption from or
reduction of withholding under an applicable income tax treaty, a non-U.S. holder generally must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable. Non-U.S. holders eligible for an
exemption from or reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim with the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax
advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under an applicable income tax treaty and the requirements for claiming any such benefits.
Interest paid to a non-U.S. holder that is effectively connected with such non-U.S. holders conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax
treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder in the United States) generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, provided that the non-U.S. holder complies with applicable certification and other
requirements. Instead, such interest generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis and at the regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if such non-U.S. holder were a U.S. person. A non-U.S.
holder that is a 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) of its effectively connected earnings and profits
for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.
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Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes
Subject to the discussion below under Information Reporting and Backup Withholding and Foreign Account Tax
Compliance Act, except with respect to accrued and unpaid interest (which will be treated as described above under Non-U.S. HoldersPayments of Interest), a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal
income tax or withholding tax on any gain realized upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a Junior Subordinated Note unless:
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such gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holders conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an
applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder in the United States); or
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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 the disposition and certain other
conditions are met.
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Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if such non-U.S. holder were a U.S. person. A non-U.S. holder that is a corporation also 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) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.
Gain described in the second bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate (or such
lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty), but may be offset by U.S. source capital losses, if any, of the non-U.S. holder.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Generally, we must report
annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the amount of interest paid to such non-U.S. holder and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to such payments. These reporting requirements apply regardless of whether withholding was
reduced or eliminated by an applicable income tax treaty. This information may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which a non-U.S. holder resides or is established pursuant to the provisions of a specific treaty or
agreement with those tax authorities.
U.S. backup withholding tax (currently, at a rate of 28%) is imposed on certain
payments to persons that fail to furnish the information required under the U.S. information reporting rules. Interest paid to a non-U.S. holder generally will be exempt from backup withholding if the non-U.S. holder provides the applicable
withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or otherwise establishes an exemption, and we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the holder is a U.S. person.
Under Treasury regulations, the payment of proceeds from the disposition of a Junior Subordinated Note by a non-U.S. holder effected at a
U.S. office of a broker generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding, unless the non-U.S. holder provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or other applicable IRS Form W-8),
certifying such non-U.S. holders non-U.S. status or by otherwise establishing an exemption. The payment of proceeds from the disposition of Junior Subordinated Notes by a non-U.S. holder effected at a non-U.S. office of a U.S. broker or a
non-U.S. broker with certain specified U.S. connections generally will be subject to information reporting (but not backup withholding) unless such non-U.S. holder provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or
other applicable IRS Form W-8), certifying such non-U.S. holders non-U.S. status or by otherwise establishing an exemption. Backup withholding will apply if the disposition is subject to information reporting and the broker has actual
knowledge that the non-U.S. holder is a U.S. person.
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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup
withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a non-U.S. holders U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished timely to the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own
tax advisors regarding the application of these rules to their particular circumstances.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance
Act
Under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively,
FATCA), U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% generally applies to payments of interest on, and beginning after December 31, 2018, to gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, debt instruments and other
obligations paid to certain non-U.S. entities (including, in some circumstances, where such an entity is acting as an intermediary) that fail to comply with certain certification and information reporting requirements.
Because the Junior Subordinated Notes were originally issued on July 1, 2014, FATCA withholding should not apply to payments of
interest on, or gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, the Junior Subordinated Notes, unless there is a significant modification (within the meaning of the applicable Treasury regulations) to the terms of the Junior
Subordinated Notes after July 1, 2014. We believe that this remarketing will not be a significant modification for this purpose. Prospective investors should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their
investment in the Junior Subordinated Notes.
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REMARKETING
Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the remarketing agreement, among us and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC,
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as the remarketing agents, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, solely in its capacity as purchase contract agent and as attorney-in-fact of the
holders of purchase contracts, the remarketing agents have agreed to use their commercially reasonable efforts to remarket the Series A RSNs at a public offering price that will result in proceeds sufficient to purchase the treasury portfolio
at the treasury portfolio purchase price, as required by the terms of the Corporate Units.
The remarketing agents have no
obligation to purchase any of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The remarketing agreement provides that the remarketing is subject to customary conditions precedent, including the delivery of legal opinions.
We will pay a remarketing fee equal to 0.35% of the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes. We will also pay all expenses of
the remarketing agents. We estimate that our total expenses for this offering, excluding remarketing fees, will be $1.0 million.
The offering of the Junior Subordinated Notes by the remarketing agents is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the remarketing agents right to reject any order in whole or in part.
We have agreed to indemnify each of the remarketing agents and their controlling persons against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
We do not intend to apply for listing of the Junior
Subordinated Notes on a national securities exchange or for quotation on any automated quotation system, but have been advised by the remarketing agents that they intend to make a market in the Junior Subordinated Notes. The remarketing agents are
not obligated, however, to do so and may discontinue their market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the development, maintenance or liquidity of the trading market for the Junior Subordinated Notes.
In order to facilitate the offering of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the remarketing agents may engage in transactions that stabilize,
maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Junior Subordinated Notes. Specifically, the remarketing agents may overallot in connection with the remarketing, creating a short position in the Junior Subordinated Notes for the remarketing agents. In
addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the remarketing agents may bid for, and purchase, the Junior Subordinated Notes in the open market. Finally, the remarketing agents may reclaim selling
concessions allowed to a dealer for distributing the Junior Subordinated Notes in the remarketing, if they repurchase previously distributed Junior Subordinated Notes in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or
otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price for the Junior Subordinated Notes above independent market levels. The remarketing agents are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these
activities at any time.
The remarketing agents and their 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 remarketing agents and their 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. If any of the remarketing agents or their affiliates has a lending relationship with us, certain of those remarketing agents or their affiliates routinely hedge and
certain other of those remarketing agents or their affiliates may hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these remarketing agents and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by
entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the Junior Subordinated Notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short
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positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the Junior Subordinated Notes offered hereby. The remarketing agents and their 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.
Selling Restrictions
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a Member State), each remarketing agent has advised us that it has not made and will not make an offer of Junior Subordinated Notes
which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement to the public in that Member State except under the following exceptions from the Prospective Directive:
(a)
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at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
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at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent
of the relevant Dealer or Dealers nominated by the issuer for any such offer; or
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at any time in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,
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provided that no such offer of Junior Subordinated Notes shall require the issuer or any remarketing agent to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an offer of notes to the public in relation to any Junior Subordinated
Notes in a Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Junior Subordinated Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the
Junior Subordinated Notes, 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 (as amended, including by
Directive 2010/73/EU), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Member State.
United Kingdom
Each remarketing agent has advised us that:
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it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity
(within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Junior Subordinated Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the
Company; and
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it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Junior Subordinated Notes in, from or
otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
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Hong Kong
The Junior Subordinated Notes may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do
not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance) or which do
not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong)
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(Securities and Futures Ordinance), or (ii) to professional investors as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other
circumstances which do not result in the document being a prospectus as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Junior Subordinated Notes
may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except
if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to professional investors in Hong
Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.
Singapore
This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus
supplement and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Junior Subordinated Notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Junior Subordinated Notes be offered
or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter
289 of Singapore (the SFA)) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA ) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance
with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.
Where the Junior Subordinated Notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation
(which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the
securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation has acquired the Junior Subordinated Notes under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor
under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporations securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is
or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures)
Regulations 2005 of Singapore (Regulation 32).
Where the Junior Subordinated Notes are subscribed or purchased
under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited
investor, the beneficiaries rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that trust has acquired the Junior Subordinated Notes under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional
investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than
S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the
transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.
Japan
The Junior Subordinated Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No.
25 of 1948, as amended) (the FIEA). The Junior Subordinated Notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any
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person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of
any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.
Canada
The Junior Subordinated Notes may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are
accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106
Prospectus Exemptions
or subsection 73.3(1) of the
Securities Act
(Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103
Registration
Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations
. Any resale of the Junior Subordinated Notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities
laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for
rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the
securities legislation of the purchasers province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchasers province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult
with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105
Underwriting Conflicts
(NI 33-105), the
remarketing agents
are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding conflicts of interest in connection with this remarketing.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in
connection with the remarketing will be passed upon for us by McGuireWoods LLP, and for the remarketing agents by Troutman Sanders LLP, which also performs certain legal services for us and our other affiliates on other matters.
EXPERTS
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, 2016 and the effectiveness of the Companys 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 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.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
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:
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013;
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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
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the description of our common stock contained in Amendment No. 1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed June 25, 2013.
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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
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.
USE OF PROCEEDS
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
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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 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
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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:
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the title and type of the Debt Securities;
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the total principal amount of the Debt Securities;
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the portion of the principal payable upon acceleration of maturity, if other than the entire principal;
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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;
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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;
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any interest payment dates and the regular record date for the interest payable on each interest payment date, if any;
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any payments due if the maturity of the Debt Securities is accelerated;
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any optional redemption terms, or any repayment terms;
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any provisions that would obligate us to repurchase, repay or otherwise redeem the Debt Securities, or any sinking fund provisions;
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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;
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any index or formula used for determining principal, interest or premium, if any;
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the percentage of the principal amount at which the Debt Securities will be issued, if other than 100% of the principal amount;
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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);
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denominations, if other than $1,000 each or multiples of $1,000;
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any rights that would allow us to defer or extend an interest payment date in connection with any series of Debt Securities;
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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;
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the identity of the series trustee, if other than the trustee;
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any changes to events of defaults or covenants;
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if any series of Debt Securities will not be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance; and
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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.)
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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:
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redeemable on and after the applicable redemption dates;
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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.)
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We will not be required to:
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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
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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.)
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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
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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:
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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
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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
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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.)
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:
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the securities depositary, with respect to participants interests; and
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any participant, with respect to interests the participant holds on behalf of other persons.
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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:
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may not have the global certificate or any Book-Entry Debt Securities it represents registered in their names;
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may not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Book-Entry Debt Securities in exchange for the global certificate; and
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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.)
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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 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:
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the applicable trustee; or
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any agent of any of the above.
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Covenants
Under the Indentures we will:
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pay the principal, interest and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities when due;
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maintain a place of payment;
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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;
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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
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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.)
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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.)
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:
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failure to pay the principal or any premium on any Debt Security when due;
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with respect to the Senior Debt Securities, failure to deposit any sinking fund payment for that series when due that continues for 60 days;
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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;
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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
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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;
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certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Dominion; or
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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.)
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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.)
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
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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:
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remaining rights to register the transfer, conversion, substitution or exchange of Debt Securities of the applicable series;
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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
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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.)
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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 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.)
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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 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.
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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 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.
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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:
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on the specified Repayment Dates; and
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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.)
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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:
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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.)
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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
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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:
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(1)
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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);
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(2)
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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;
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(3)
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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;
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(4)
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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 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;
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(5)
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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;
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(6)
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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;
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(7)
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liens in favor of us, our Material Subsidiaries or our wholly-owned subsidiaries;
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(8)
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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
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(9)
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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
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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.
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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:
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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;
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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;
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then the holders of Senior Indebtedness generally will have the right to
receive payment, in the case of the first instance, 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:
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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;
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our obligations for reimbursement under letters of credit, bankers acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for our
account;
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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
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all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding categories which we have assumed or guaranteed.
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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.
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:
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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;
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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
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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;
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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:
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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;
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our obligations under synthetic leases, finance leases and capitalized leases;
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our obligations for reimbursement under letters of credit, bankers acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for our
account;
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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
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all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding categories which we have assumed or guaranteed.
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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 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.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
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.
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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.
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.
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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 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.
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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 percentages (20%,
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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.
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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.
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
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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 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
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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.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities being offered hereby in any one or more of the following ways:
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directly to purchasers;
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to or through underwriters; or
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We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:
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a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
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market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
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prices related to prevailing market prices; or
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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.
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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 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.
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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.
LEGAL MATTERS
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.
EXPERTS
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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Dominion Resources, Inc. (NYSE:DCUC)
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Dominion Resources, Inc. (NYSE:DCUC)
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From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024