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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
July 21, 2006
Registration
No. 333-134099
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 2 to
Form S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
EL PASO CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware |
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4922 |
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76-0568816 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
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(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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El Paso Building |
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Robert W. Baker, Esq. |
1001 Louisiana Street
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El Paso Building |
Houston, Texas 77002
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1001 Louisiana Street |
(713) 420-2600
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Houston, Texas 77002 |
(Address, including zip code, and
telephone number, including
area code, of registrants
principal executive offices) |
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(713) 420-2600
(Name, address, including zip code,
and telephone number, including
area code, of agent for service) |
Copies to:
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Andrews Kurth LLP |
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Kelly J. Jameson, Esq. |
600 Travis, Suite 4200
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El Paso Building |
Houston, Texas 77002
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1001 Louisiana Street |
Attention: G. Michael OLeary, Esq.
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Houston, Texas 77002 |
(713) 220-4200
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(713) 420-2600 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the
securities to the public: As soon as practicable following
the effectiveness of this registration statement.
If the securities being registered on this Form are being
offered in connection with the formation of a holding company
and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the
following
box. o
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
check the following box and list the Securities Act registration
statement number of the earlier registration statement for the
same
offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum |
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Proposed Maximum |
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Title of Each Class of |
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Amount to |
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Offering Price |
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Aggregate |
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Amount of |
Securities to be Registered |
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be Registered |
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per Unit(1) |
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Offering Price(1) |
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Registration Fee(1) |
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6.50% Senior Notes due 2008
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$200,000,000 |
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100% |
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$200,000,000 |
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$21,400.00 |
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7.625% Senior Notes due 2008
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$215,000,000 |
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100% |
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$215,000,000 |
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$23,005.00 |
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6.375% Senior Notes due 2009
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$200,000,000 |
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100% |
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$200,000,000 |
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$21,400.00 |
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7.75% Senior Notes due 2010
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$400,000,000 |
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100% |
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$400,000,000 |
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$42,800.00 |
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103/4
% Senior Notes due 2010
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$56,573,000 |
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100% |
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$56,573,000 |
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$6,053.31 |
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95/8
% Senior Notes due 2012
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$150,000,000 |
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100% |
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$150,000,000 |
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$16,050.00 |
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6.70% Senior Notes due 2027
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$200,000,000 |
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100% |
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$200,000,000 |
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$21,400.00 |
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6.95% Senior Notes due 2028
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$200,000,000 |
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100% |
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$200,000,000 |
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$21,400.00 |
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7.750% Medium Term Notes
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$150,000,000 |
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100% |
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$150,000,000 |
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$16,050.00 |
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7.42% Senior Notes due 2037
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$200,000,000 |
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100% |
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$200,000,000 |
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$21,400.00 |
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Totals
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$1,971,573,000 |
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100% |
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$1,971,573,000 |
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$210,958.31(2) |
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(1) |
The registration fee was calculated pursuant to Rule 457(f)
under the Securities Act of 1933. For purposes of this
calculation, the offering price per note was assumed to be the
stated principal amount of each original note that may be
received by the registrant in the exchange transactions in which
the notes will be offered. |
(2) |
The registrant previously paid fees of $147,712.20 in connection
with the initial filing of this registration statement, of
which: (i) $125,786.83 related to the securities described
in the table above and (ii) $21,925.37 related to
securities that are no longer included in (and will not be
offered or sold pursuant to) this registration statement. An
additional $85,171.48 was previously paid in connection with
$925,776,992 in aggregate offering price of unsold securities
registered under Registration
No. 333-82412
initially filed on February 8, 2002 by the registrant
hereunder (which such amount is being offset against the total
filing fee due for this registration statement pursuant to
Rule 457(p) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended). |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on
such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective
date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which
specifically states that this registration statement shall
thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a)
of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration
statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities
and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said
Section 8(a), may determine.
The
information in this prospectus is not complete and may be
changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is
effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these
securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these
securities in any state where the offer or sale is not
permitted.
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SUBJECT TO
COMPLETION, DATED JULY 21, 2006
PROSPECTUS
El Paso
Corporation
$1,971,573,000
Offers to Exchange
All Outstanding Notes of the
Series Specified Below
THE EXCHANGE OFFERS WILL EXPIRE
AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME,
ON ,
2006, UNLESS EXTENDED
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Outstanding |
Old Notes to be Exchanged |
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CUSIP Nos. |
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Principal Amount |
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Category A
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6.50% Senior Notes due 2008
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28336L AN 9 |
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U53248 AE 7 |
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191,206,000 |
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7.625% Senior Notes due 2008
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28336L AQ 2 |
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U53248 AF 4 |
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$ |
206,911,000 |
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6.375% Senior Notes due 2009
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28336L AS 8 |
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U53248 AG 2 |
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$ |
192,777,000 |
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7.75% Senior Notes due 2010
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28336L AU 3 |
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U53248 AH 0 |
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$ |
378,728,000 |
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103/4% Senior
Notes due 2010
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28336L AW 9 |
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U53248 AJ 6 |
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$ |
41,685,000 |
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95/8% Senior
Notes due 2012
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28336L AY 5 |
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U53248 AK 3 |
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$ |
137,923,000 |
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6.70% Senior Notes due 2027
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28336L BA 6 |
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U53248 AL 1 |
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$ |
182,763,000 |
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6.95% Senior Notes due 2028
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28336L BC 2 |
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U53248 AM 9 |
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$ |
197,100,000 |
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7.75% Senior Notes due 2032
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28336L BJ 7 |
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U53248 AQ 0 |
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$ |
149,125,000 |
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7.42% Senior Notes due 2037
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28336L BG 3 |
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U53248 AP 2 |
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198,907,000 |
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Category B
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6.50% Senior Debentures due
June 1, 2008
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190441 AV 7
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8,794,000 |
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7.625% Notes due 2008
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190441 BF 1
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$ |
8,089,000 |
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6.375% Senior Debentures due
February 1, 2009
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190441 AX 3
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$ |
7,223,000 |
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7.75% Notes due 2010
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190441 BC 8
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$ |
21,272,000 |
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103/4% Senior
Debentures due October 1, 2010
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190441 AK 1
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$ |
14,888,000 |
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95/8% Senior
Debentures due May 15, 2012
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190441 AP 0
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$ |
12,077,000 |
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6.70% Senior Debentures due
February 15, 2027
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190441 AS 4
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$ |
17,237,000 |
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6.95% Senior Debentures due
June 1, 2028
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190441 AW 5
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$ |
2,900,000 |
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7.75% Senior Debentures due
October 15, 2035
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190441 AR 6
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$ |
875,000 |
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7.42% Senior Debentures due
February 15, 2037
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190441 AT 2
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$ |
1,093,000 |
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The Notes
We are offering, in 20 separate exchange offers, to exchange all
of our outstanding notes of the series listed above, which we
refer to as the old notes, for our new notes of the series
described in this prospectus, which we refer to as the new
notes. We refer to the old notes and new notes collectively as
the notes.
Terms of The Exchange Offers
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The terms of the new notes will be substantially identical to
the Category A old notes, except that the new notes will not be
subject to transfer restrictions or registration rights relating
to the Category A old notes. The new notes will represent the
same debt as the old notes, and will be issued under the same
indenture as the Category A old notes. |
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Except as otherwise described below, each new note issued in
exchange for an old note will have the same principal amount,
interest rate, redemption terms, interest payment dates and
maturity as the old note, and will accrue interest from the most
recent interest payment date of the old note. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, each new note issued in exchange for a Category B
old 7.75% senior debenture due October 15, 2035 will
have the same interest rate, redemption terms, interest payment
dates and maturity as, and will accrue interest from the most
recent interest payment date of, the Category A old
7.75% senior notes due 2032. |
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You may withdraw tenders of the old notes at any time prior to
the expiration of the applicable exchange offer. |
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An exchange of old notes for new notes will not be a taxable
transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. |
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We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offers. |
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There is no existing market for the new notes to be issued, and
we do not intend to apply for their listing on any securities
exchange or arrange for them to be quoted on any quotation
system. |
See the section entitled Description of the New
Notes that begins on page 50 for more information
about the new notes issued in the exchange offers and the old
notes.
This investment involves risks. See the section entitled
Risk Factors that begins on page 11 for a
discussion of the risks that you should consider in connection
with your investment in the notes.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account
pursuant to the exchange offers must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new
notes. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging
and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be
deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a
broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received
in exchange for old notes where such old notes were acquired by
such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities. See Plan of Distribution.
The date of this prospectus
is ,
2006.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and
may be changed. You should rely only on the information provided
in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any
prospectus supplement, or documents to which we otherwise refer
you. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with
different information. We are not making an offer of any
securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.
You should not assume that the information in this prospectus,
any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by
reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the
document in which such information is contained or such other
date referred to in such document, regardless of the time of any
sale or issuance of a security.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. You
should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement
together with the registration statement, the exhibits thereto
and the additional information described under the heading
Where You Can Find More Information.
INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA
We have obtained some industry and market share data from third
party sources that we believe to be reliable. In many cases,
however, we have made statements in this prospectus or in the
documents incorporated by reference regarding our industry and
our position in the industry based on our experience in the
industry and our own investigation of market conditions. We
cannot assure you that any of these assumptions are accurate or
that our assumptions correctly reflect our position in the
industry.
i
Below is a list of terms that are common to our industry and
used throughout this document and the documents incorporated by
reference:
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/d
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= per day |
Bbl
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= barrels |
BBtu
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= billion British thermal units |
Bcf
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= billion cubic feet |
Bcfe
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= billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents |
LNG
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= liquefied natural gas |
MBbls
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= thousand barrels |
Mcf
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= thousand cubic feet |
Mcfe
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= thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalents |
MDth
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= thousand dekatherms |
Mgal
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= thousand gallons |
MMBtu
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= million British thermal units |
MMcf
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= million cubic feet |
MMcfe
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= million cubic feet of natural gas equivalents |
MMWh
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= thousand megawatt hours |
MW
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= megawatt |
NGL
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= natural gas liquids |
TBtu
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= trillion British thermal units |
Tcfe
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= trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents |
When we refer to natural gas and oil in equivalents,
we are doing so to compare quantities of oil with quantities of
natural gas or to express these different commodities in a
common unit. In calculating equivalents, we use a generally
recognized standard in which one Bbl of oil is equal to six Mcf
of natural gas. Also, when we refer to cubic feet measurements,
all measurements are at a pressure of 14.73 pounds per square
inch.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Our management uses EBIT to assess the operating results and
effectiveness of our business segments. EBIT and the related
ratios presented or incorporated by reference in this prospectus
are supplemental measures of our performance that are not
required by, or recognized as being in accordance with, United
States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. EBIT
should not be considered as an alternative to net income,
operating income or any other performance measures derived in
accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from
operating activities as a measure of our operating liquidity.
For a reconciliation of our EBIT (by segment) to our
consolidated net loss for each of the three years ended
December 31, 2005 and net income for each of the three
months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, see
(1) Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Results of Operations in our Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed
with the SEC on May 12, 2006, which we refer to as our
May 12, 2006
Form 8-K, and
(2) Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Segment Results in our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on
May 5, 2006, which we refer to as our 2006 First Quarter
Form 10-Q, each of
which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We define EBIT as net income (loss) adjusted for (1) items
that do not impact our income (loss) from continuing operations,
such as extraordinary items, discontinued operations and the
cumulative effect of accounting changes, (2) income taxes,
(3) interest and debt expense and (4) distributions on
preferred interests of consolidated subsidiaries. Our businesses
consist of consolidated operations as well as investments in
unconsolidated affiliates. We exclude interest and debt expense
and distributions on preferred interests of consolidated
subsidiaries from this measure so that investors may evaluate
our operating results independently from our financing methods
or capital structure. We believe that EBIT is helpful to our
investors because it allows them to more effectively evaluate
the operating performance of our consolidated businesses and our
unconsolidated investments using the same performance measure
analyzed internally by our management. EBIT may not be
comparable to measurements used by other companies.
Additionally, EBIT should be considered in conjunction with net
income and other performance measures such as operating income
or operating cash flow.
ii
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
We have made statements in this document and in documents that
we have incorporated by reference into this document that
constitute forward-looking statements, as that term is defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements include information concerning
possible or assumed future results of operations of
El Paso. The words believe, expect,
estimate, anticipate and similar
expressions will generally identify forward-looking statements.
These statements may relate to information or assumptions about:
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earnings per share; |
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capital and other expenditures; |
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dividends; |
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financing plans; |
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capital structure; |
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liquidity and cash flow; |
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pending legal proceedings, claims and governmental proceedings,
including environmental matters; |
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future economic and financial performance; |
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managements plans; and |
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goals and objectives for future operations. |
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties. While we believe the assumptions or bases
underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable and are
made in good faith, we caution that assumed facts or bases
almost always vary from actual results, and these variances can
be material, depending upon the circumstances. We cannot assure
you that the statements of expectation or belief contained in
the forward-looking statements will result or be achieved or
accomplished. Important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in
forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:
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the risk that earnings may be adversely affected by fluctuating
energy commodity prices; |
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the risk that rates charged to customers may be reduced by
governmental authorities; |
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the risks associated with the construction of new facilities,
including cost overruns, the realization of anticipated future
growth in natural gas supplies and our ability to obtain the
necessary consents and approvals; |
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the highly competitive nature of the natural gas transportation,
gathering, processing and storage businesses and the oil and gas
exploration and production business; |
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the risk of favorable customer contracts expiring or being
renewed on less attractive terms; |
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the timing, success, and capital allocated to our exploration
and development drilling programs, which would affect production
levels and reserves; |
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changes to our estimates of oil and gas reserves; |
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the risk of financial losses arising out of derivative
transactions; |
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risks incident to the drilling and operation of oil and gas
wells; |
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future drilling, production and development costs, including
drilling rig rates and oil field service costs; |
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the risks associated with our foreign operations and investments; |
iii
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risks associated with retained liabilities and indemnification
obligations in connection with the sale of certain of our
businesses and assets; |
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the costs of environmental liabilities, regulations and
litigation; |
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the impact of operational hazards; |
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the risks associated with future weather conditions; |
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the outcome of pending governmental investigations; |
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the risk that other firms will further expand into markets in
which we operate; and |
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risks associated with our significant debt, interest rates and
below investment grade credit ratings. |
These factors are more fully described in our 2005
Form 10-K (as
defined below), under the heading Risk Factors
Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the Safe Harbor
Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 and are incorporated herein by reference. Other
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from estimates and projections contained in forward-looking
statements are described in this prospectus under the heading
Risk Factors, beginning on page 11, and in the
other documents that we incorporated by reference into this
document.
Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of
this prospectus, or, in the case of documents incorporated by
reference, the date of those documents.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements
attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary
statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not
undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to
these forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect
the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless the securities
laws require us to do so.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, that
registers the issuance and sale of the securities offered by
this prospectus. The registration statement, including the
attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information
about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit
some information included in the registration statement from
this prospectus.
We file annual, quarterly, and other reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. You may read and
copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SECs public
reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the public reference room. Our SEC
filings are also available to the public through the SECs
website at http://www.sec.gov. General information about
us, including our annual reports on
Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q and
current reports on
Form 8-K, as well
as any amendments and exhibits to those reports, are available
free of charge through our website at www.elpaso.com as
soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with, or
furnish them to, the SEC. Information on our website is not
incorporated into this prospectus or our other securities
filings and is not a part of this prospectus. You can also
inspect reports, proxy statements and other information about us
at the offices of The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., located at
20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
iv
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference
information into this document. This means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to another
document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this
prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will
automatically update and supersede the previously filed
information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed
below and any future filings made with the SEC under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act, other than any portions of the respective filings that were
furnished, pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of
Current Reports on
Form 8-K or other
applicable SEC rules, rather than filed, until the expiration of
the exchange offers:
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Report on
Form 10-K, for the
year ended December 31, 2005 (including the portions of our
definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A incorporated
therein by reference), which we refer to as our 2005
Form 10-K, as
supplemented by our Current Report on Form 8-K filed
May 12, 2006; |
|
|
|
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q, for the
quarter ended March 31, 2006; and |
|
|
|
|
Current Reports on
Form 8-K and
Form 8-K/A filed
January 4, 2006, January 11, 2006, January 18,
2006, January 31, 2006, February 7, 2006,
February 16, 2006, March 14, 2006, April 18,
2006, May 3, 2006, May 9, 2006, May 12, 2006,
May 16, 2006, May 19, 2006, May 25, 2006,
July 14, 2006 and July 20, 2006. |
|
Documents incorporated by reference are available from us
without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless
the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference as an
exhibit in this document. You can obtain documents incorporated
by reference in this document by requesting them in writing or
by telephone from us at the following address:
El Paso Corporation
Office of Investor Relations
El Paso Building
1001 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Telephone No.: (713) 420-2600
To obtain timely delivery of documents incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, you must request such documents no
later than five business days prior to the expiration date of
the exchange offers.
v
SUMMARY
This summary highlights some basic information contained, or
incorporated by reference, in this prospectus to help you
understand our business and the exchange offers. This summary
does not contain all of the information that is important to
you. You should carefully read this prospectus to understand
fully the terms of the exchange offers, as well as the tax and
other considerations that are important to you in making your
investment decision. You should pay special attention to the
Risk Factors beginning on page 11 and the
section entitled Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements on page iii. For purposes
of this prospectus, except where we are describing the terms of
the exchange offers, the new notes or the old notes, and unless
the context otherwise indicates, when we refer to
El Paso, us, we,
our, ours, or issuer, we are
describing El Paso Corporation, together with its
subsidiaries. With respect to any description of the terms of
the exchange offers, the new notes or the old notes, such
references refer only to El Paso Corporation, and not to
its subsidiaries.
Our Business
Overview
We are an energy company, originally founded in 1928 in
El Paso, Texas, with a stated purpose to provide natural
gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient and
dependable manner. Our long-term business strategy is focused on
participating in the energy industry through a rate regulated
natural gas transmission business in North America and a large,
independent exploration and production business operating both
domestically and internationally.
Natural Gas Transmission. We own North Americas
largest interstate pipeline system, which has approximately
55,500 miles of pipe that connect North Americas
major producing basins to its major consuming markets. We also
own approximately 420 Bcf of storage capacity and an LNG
import facility with 806 MMcf of daily base load sendout
capacity.
Exploration and Production. Our exploration and
production business is focused on the exploration for and the
acquisition, development and production of natural gas, oil and
NGL in the United States, Brazil and Egypt and related marketing
activities. As of December 31, 2005, we held an estimated
2.4 Tcfe of proved natural gas and oil reserves in the
United States and Brazil, exclusive of our equity share in the
proved reserves of an unconsolidated affiliate of 253 Bcfe.
Other. We currently own or have owned other non-core
assets acquired as part of a number of mergers and acquisitions
and growth initiatives when we expanded from a regional gas
pipeline company in the mid-1990s to an international
energy company by early 2001. Since 2003, a substantial portion
of these assets have been sold, have pending sales contracts or
are in the process of being sold. The divestiture of these
assets was targeted at improving our operating results,
financial condition and liquidity, which were negatively
impacted by the decline of the energy trading industry,
bankruptcy of several energy industry participants and our
credit downgrades.
Business Objective and Strategy
We conduct our core natural gas transmission and exploration and
production operations through our Pipelines, Exploration and
Production and Marketing and Trading segments. We also have a
Power segment and, prior to January 1, 2006, had a Field
Services segment. Our business segments provide a variety of
energy products and services and are managed separately as each
segment requires different technology and marketing strategies.
For further discussion of our business segments, including their
operating results and assets, see the information set forth
under the headings Business, Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, and Financial Statements and
1
Supplementary Data, Note 20 of our May 12, 2006
Form 8-K. Our
business strategy in each of our operating segments can be
summarized as follows:
|
|
|
Pipelines
|
|
Enhancing the value of our transmission business through
successful recontracting, continuous efficiency improvements
through cost management and prudent capital spending in the
United States and Mexico, while providing outstanding customer
service through safe operations. |
|
Exploration and Production
|
|
Growing our reserve base in a manner that creates shareholder
value through disciplined capital allocation, cost control and
portfolio management. |
|
Marketing and Trading
|
|
Marketing our natural gas and oil production at optimal prices
and managing associated price risks and legacy contracts. |
The assets remaining in our Power segment are used to serve
customers under long-term power sales contracts or sell power to
the open market in spot market transactions. Prior to
January 1, 2006, our Field Services segment provided
processing and gathering services. As of January 1, 2006,
our Field Services segment ceased to be a business segment as we
had divested of substantially all of its operations.
We are a Delaware corporation with principal executive offices
in the El Paso Building, located at 1001 Louisiana
Street, Houston, Texas 77002, and our telephone number at that
address is
(713) 420-2600.
2
Summary of the Terms of the Exchange Offers
|
|
|
Old Notes |
|
On December 28, 2005 and January 9, 2006, we issued in
a private placement the old notes of the series listed under
Category A in the table appearing on the front cover
of this prospectus, which we refer to as the Category A old
notes. The old notes of the series listed under Category
B in the table appearing on the front cover of this
prospectus, which we refer to as the Category B old notes, were
originally issued by our subsidiary, El Paso CGP Company,
L.L.C., which we refer to as CGP. Effective as of
December 31, 2005, we assumed all of CGPs obligations
under the Category B old notes and the indentures under which
such notes were issued, such that we are now the sole obligor in
respect of the Category B old notes. In this prospectus, we
refer to the Category A old notes and the Category B old notes
collectively as the old notes. |
|
Registration Rights Agreement |
|
Pursuant to the registration rights agreement between us and the
initial purchasers of the Category A old notes entered into in
connection with the private placement of the Category A old
notes, we have agreed to offer, in 20 separate exchange offers,
to exchange the old notes for up to $1,971,573,000 aggregate
principal amount of notes that are being offered hereby. We
refer to the notes issued for the old notes in the exchange
offers as the new notes. We have filed the registration
statement of which this prospectus forms a part to meet our
obligations under the registration rights agreement. If we fail
to satisfy these obligations, we will be required to pay
liquidated damages to holders of the Category A old notes under
specified circumstances. |
|
The Exchange Offers |
|
We are offering to exchange the old notes of each series listed
on the front cover of this prospectus for the same aggregate
principal amount of new notes of the corresponding series
indicated in this prospectus under the heading The
Exchange Offers Terms of the Exchange Offers,
the offers and sales of which have been registered under the
Securities Act. The old notes may be tendered only in $1,000
increments. We will exchange for new notes all old notes that
are validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration
of the applicable exchange offer. We will cause each exchange to
be effected promptly after the expiration date of the applicable
exchange offer. |
|
|
|
The new notes will evidence the same debt as the old notes and
will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the same
indenture that governs the Category A old notes. Because we have
registered the offers and sales of the new notes, the new notes
will not be subject to transfer restrictions, and holders of old
notes that have tendered and had their outstanding notes
accepted in the exchange offers will have no registration rights. |
|
If You Fail to Exchange Your Old Notes |
|
If you do not exchange your Category A old notes for new notes
in the exchange offers, your Category A old notes will continue |
3
|
|
|
|
|
to be subject to the restrictions on transfer provided in the
Category A old notes and the indenture governing those notes. In
general, you may not offer or sell your Category A old notes
unless they are registered under the federal securities laws or
are sold in a transaction exempt from or not subject to the
registration requirements of the federal securities laws and
applicable state securities laws. |
|
|
|
The current trading market for the Category B old notes is
limited. If you do not exchange your Category B old notes for
new notes in the exchange offers, the trading market for your
Category B old notes will become more limited and could cease to
exist due to the reduction in the amount of the Category B old
notes outstanding upon consummation of the exchange offers. |
|
Procedures for Tendering Your Old Notes |
|
If you wish to tender your old notes for new notes, you must: |
|
|
|
complete and sign the enclosed letter of transmittal
by following the related instructions, and |
|
|
|
send the letter of transmittal, as directed in the
instructions, together with any other required documents, to the
exchange agent either (1) with the old notes to be
tendered, or (2) in compliance with the specified
procedures for guaranteed delivery of the old notes. |
|
|
|
Brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other
nominees may also effect tenders by book-entry transfer. |
|
|
|
By executing the letter of transmittal or by transmitting an
agents message in lieu thereof, you will represent to us
that, among other things: |
|
|
|
the new notes you receive will be acquired in the
ordinary course of your business; |
|
|
|
you are not participating, and you have no
arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to
participate, in the distribution of the new notes; |
|
|
|
you are not our affiliate, as defined in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act, or a broker-dealer
tendering old notes acquired directly from us for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption
under the Securities Act; and |
|
|
|
if you are not a broker-dealer, that you are not
engaged in and do not intend to engage in the distribution of
the new notes. |
|
|
|
If your old notes are registered in the name of a broker,
dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, we urge
you to contact that person promptly if you wish to tender your
old notes pursuant to the exchange offers. See The
Exchange Offers Procedures for Tendering Old
Notes. Please do not send your letter of transmittal or
certificates representing your old notes to us. Those documents
should be sent only to the exchange agent. Questions regarding
how to tender and requests |
4
|
|
|
|
|
for information should be directed to the exchange agent. See
The Exchange Offers Exchange Agent. |
|
Resale of the New Notes |
|
Except as provided below, we believe that the new notes may be
offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by you
without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
provisions of the Securities Act, if: |
|
|
|
you are acquiring new notes in the ordinary course
of your business, |
|
|
|
you are not participating, and have no arrangement
or understanding with any person to participate, in the
distribution of the new notes, |
|
|
|
you are not our affiliate, and |
|
|
|
you are not a broker-dealer tendering old notes
acquired directly from us for your account. |
|
|
|
Our belief is based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC,
as set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties that
are not related to us. The SEC has not considered the exchange
offers in the context of a no-action letter, and we cannot
assure you that the SEC would make similar determinations with
respect to the exchange offers. If any of these conditions are
not satisfied, or if our belief is not accurate, and you
transfer any new notes issued to you in the exchange offers
without delivering a resale prospectus meeting the requirements
of the Securities Act or without an exemption from registration
of your new notes from those requirements, you may incur
liability under the Securities Act. We will not assume, nor will
we indemnify you against, any such liability. Each broker-dealer
that receives new notes for its own account in exchange for old
notes, where the old notes were acquired by such broker-dealer
as a result of market-making or other trading activities, must
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with
any resale of such new notes. See Plan of
Distribution. |
|
Expiration Date |
|
Each exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time,
on ,
2006, unless we decide to extend such expiration date. We do not
currently intend to extend any of the exchange offers. |
|
Conditions to the Exchange Offers |
|
Each of the exchange offers is not subject to any conditions
other than that it does not violate applicable law or any
applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC. |
|
Exchange Agent |
|
We have appointed HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as
exchange agent for the exchange offers. You can reach the
exchange agent at the address set forth on the back cover of
this prospectus. For more information with respect to the
exchange offers, you may call the exchange agent at
(718) 488-4475; the fax number for the exchange agent is
(718) 488-4488. |
|
Withdrawal Rights |
|
You may withdraw the tender of your old notes at any time before
the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer. You |
5
|
|
|
|
|
must follow the withdrawal procedures as described under the
heading The Exchange Offers Withdrawal of
Tenders. |
|
Federal Income Tax Consequences |
|
An exchange of old notes for the new notes in the exchange
offers will not be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. See United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences. |
|
Acceptance of Old Notes and Delivery of New Notes |
|
We will accept for exchange any and all old notes that are
validly tendered in the exchange offers prior to the applicable
expiration date. See The Exchange Offers
Procedures for Tendering Old Notes. The new notes issued
pursuant to an exchange offer will be delivered promptly
following the expiration date of such exchange offer. |
6
Summary of the Terms of the New Notes
|
|
|
Issuer |
|
El Paso Corporation |
|
New Notes |
|
$200,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
6.50% Senior Notes due 2008; |
|
|
|
$215,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
7.625% Senior Notes due 2008; |
|
|
|
$200,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
6.375% Senior Notes due 2009; |
|
|
|
$400,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
7.75% Senior Notes due 2010; |
|
|
|
$56,573,000 in aggregate principal amount of
103/4
% Senior Notes due 2010; |
|
|
|
$150,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
95/8
% Senior Notes due 2012; |
|
|
|
$200,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
6.70% Senior Notes due 2027; |
|
|
|
$200,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
6.95% Senior Notes due 2028; |
|
|
|
$150,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.750%
Medium Term Notes; and |
|
|
|
$200,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
7.42% Senior Notes due 2037. |
|
Principal Amount, Interest, Redemption and Maturity |
|
Except as otherwise described below, each new note issued in
exchange for an old note will have the same principal amount,
interest rate, redemption terms, interest payment dates and
maturity as the old note, and will accrue interest from the most
recent interest payment date of the old note. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, each new note issued in exchange for a Category B
old 7.75% senior debenture due October 15, 2035 will
have the same interest rate, redemption terms, interest payment
dates and maturity as, and will accrue interest from the most
recent interest payment date of, the Category A old
7.75% senior notes due 2032. |
|
Ranking |
|
The new notes rank equally with all of our existing and future
senior unsecured debt. Because we are a holding company and
conduct substantially all of our operations exclusively through
our subsidiaries, the new notes effectively have a position
junior to the claims of creditors, including trade creditors, of
our subsidiaries and holders of the unsecured and secured debt
of our subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2006, we had
approximately $8.5 billion of senior unsecured debt, and
our subsidiaries had approximately $7.4 billion of secured
and unsecured debt. These amounts exclude El Pasos
$3 billion secured credit agreement, under which a
$1.2 billion term loan and $1.6 billion of letters of
credit were outstanding as of March 31, 2006. |
7
|
|
|
Use of Proceeds |
|
We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange of the
outstanding old notes for the new notes. See Use of
Proceeds. |
|
Denomination |
|
The new notes will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and
whole multiples of $1,000. |
|
Differences Between Old Notes and New Notes |
|
The Category A old notes were issued under the 1999 indenture
described below under The Exchange Offers
Definitions. The 1999 indenture will also govern the new
notes, and the terms of each series of new notes are
substantially the same in all material respects as the terms of
the corresponding series of Category A old notes, except that
the new notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer
restrictions, registration rights and payments of liquidated
damages. |
|
|
|
Each series of Category B old notes was issued under one of the
Category B indentures described below under The Exchange
Offers Definitions. The Category B indentures
and the 1999 indenture differ in certain respects, including as
follows: |
|
|
|
the 1999 indenture restricts our ability to create,
assume, incur or suffer to exist any lien on our and our
subsidiaries principal property; and |
|
|
|
the 1999 indenture restricts our ability to engage
in sale-leaseback transactions. |
|
|
|
See The Exchange Offers, Description of the
Differences Between Old Notes and New Notes and
Description of the New Notes. |
|
Risk Factors |
|
You should read the Risk Factors section beginning
on page 11, as well as the other cautionary statements
throughout this prospectus, to ensure you understand the risks
associated with the exchange of the outstanding old notes for
the new notes. |
8
Selected Financial Data
The following historical selected financial data excludes our
south Louisiana gathering and processing operations, certain
international power operations, certain of our international
natural gas and oil production operations and our petroleum
markets and coal mining businesses, all of which are presented
as discontinued operations in our financial statements for all
periods. The selected financial data below should be read
together with (1) Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
and Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
included in our May 12, 2006
Form 8-K and
(2) Part I, Item 1, Financial
Statements and Part I, Item 2,
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations included in our 2006 First
Quarter Form 10-Q.
These selected historical results are not necessarily indicative
of results to be expected in the future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of or for the | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended | |
|
|
|
|
March 31, | |
|
As of or for the Year Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2001 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Unaudited) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In millions, except per common share amounts) | |
Operating Results Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
revenues(1)
|
|
$ |
1,531 |
|
|
$ |
1,088 |
|
|
$ |
3,970 |
|
|
$ |
5,288 |
|
|
$ |
6,158 |
|
|
$ |
6,455 |
|
|
$ |
9,871 |
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing
operations(2)
|
|
$ |
375 |
|
|
$ |
113 |
|
|
$ |
(352 |
) |
|
$ |
(904 |
) |
|
$ |
(662 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,336 |
) |
|
$ |
(267 |
) |
|
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
|
|
$ |
346 |
|
|
$ |
106 |
|
|
$ |
(633 |
) |
|
$ |
(947 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,883 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,875 |
) |
|
$ |
(447 |
) |
|
Income (loss) per common share from continuing operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$ |
0.56 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
|
$ |
(0.59 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.41 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.11 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.39 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.53 |
) |
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$ |
0.52 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
|
$ |
(0.59 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.41 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.11 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.39 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.53 |
) |
|
Cash dividends declared per common share
|
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
|
$ |
0.87 |
|
|
$ |
0.85 |
|
|
Average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
656 |
|
|
|
640 |
|
|
|
646 |
|
|
|
639 |
|
|
|
597 |
|
|
|
560 |
|
|
|
505 |
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
724 |
|
|
|
642 |
|
|
|
646 |
|
|
|
639 |
|
|
|
597 |
|
|
|
560 |
|
|
|
505 |
|
Financial Position Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets(1)
|
|
$ |
30,601 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
31,838 |
|
|
$ |
31,383 |
|
|
$ |
36,968 |
|
|
$ |
41,947 |
|
|
$ |
44,273 |
|
|
Long-term financing
obligations(3)
|
|
|
16,232 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,023 |
|
|
|
18,241 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
16,105 |
|
|
|
12,690 |
|
|
Securities of
subsidiaries(3)
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
367 |
|
|
|
447 |
|
|
|
3,421 |
|
|
|
4,013 |
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
3,882 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,389 |
|
|
|
3,438 |
|
|
|
4,346 |
|
|
|
5,749 |
|
|
|
6,666 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Decreases were a result of asset sales activities during these
periods. See Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,
Note 3, of our May 12, 2006
Form 8-K and our
2006 First Quarter
Form 10-Q. |
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(2) |
We incurred net losses of $42 million in 2005,
$1.1 billion in 2004, $1.2 billion in 2003 and
$0.9 billion in 2002 related to gains, losses and
impairments of assets and equity investments as well as
restructuring charges related to industry changes and the
realignment of our businesses under our strategic plan. In 2003,
we also entered into an agreement in principle to settle claims
associated with the western energy crisis of 2000 and 2001. This
settlement resulted in charges of $59 million in 2005,
$104 million in 2003 and $899 million in 2002, before
income taxes. In addition, we incurred ceiling test charges of
$5 million, $5 million and $1.9 billion in 2003,
2002 and 2001 on our full cost natural gas and oil properties.
During 2001, we merged with The Coastal Corporation and incurred
costs and asset impairments related to this merger that totaled
approximately $1.5 billion. For further discussions of
events affecting comparability of our results in 2006, 2005,
2004 and 2003, see (i) Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data, Notes 2 through 5, of our
May 12, 2006
Form 8-K and
(ii) Financial Statements, Notes 2 through
4, of our 2006 First Quarter
Form 10-Q. |
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(3) |
The increases in total long-term financing obligations in 2002
and 2003 was a result of the consolidations of our Chaparral and
Gemstone power investments, the restructuring of other financing
transactions, and in 2003, the reclassification of securities of
subsidiaries as a result of our adoption of
SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial
Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity. |
9
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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For the | |
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Three | |
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Months | |
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Ended | |
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For the Year Ended December 31, | |
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March 31, | |
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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2005 | |
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Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges(1)
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2.38 |
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(1) |
Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by
$711 million, $1,211 million, $1,241 million,
$1,544 million and $449 million for the years ended
December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively,
and $2 million for the three months ended March 31,
2005. |
For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings means pre-tax
income (loss) from continuing operations before:
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minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries; |
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income or loss from equity investees, adjusted to reflect actual
distributions from equity investments; and |
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fixed charges; |
less:
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capitalized interest; and |
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preferred returns on consolidated subsidiaries. |
Fixed charges means the sum of the following:
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interest costs, not including interest on rate refunds; |
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amortization of debt costs; |
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that portion of rental expense which we believe represents an
interest factor; and |
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preferred stock dividends and preferred returns on consolidated
subsidiaries. |
10
RISK FACTORS
Before you decide to participate in the exchange offers, you
should consider the risks, uncertainties and factors that may
adversely affect us that are discussed below.
Risks Related to Our Business
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Our operations are subject to operational hazards and
uninsured risks. |
Our operations are subject to the inherent risks normally
associated with those operations, including pipeline ruptures,
explosions, pollution, release of toxic substances, fires,
adverse weather conditions (such as hurricanes and flooding) and
other hazards, each of which could result in damage to or
destruction of our facilities or damages to persons and
property. In addition, our operations and assets face possible
risks associated with acts of aggression. If any of these events
were to occur, we could suffer substantial losses.
While we maintain insurance against many of these risks to the
extent and in amounts that we believe are reasonable, this
insurance does not cover all risks. Many of our insurance
coverages have material deductibles and self-insurance levels,
as well as limits on our maximum recovery. As a result, our
financial condition and operations could be adversely affected
if a significant event occurs that is not fully covered by
insurance.
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The success of our pipeline business depends, in part, on
factors beyond our control. |
Most of the natural gas and NGL we transport and store are owned
by third parties. As a result, the volume of natural gas and NGL
involved in these activities depends on the actions of those
third parties and is beyond our control. Further, the following
factors, most of which are beyond our control, may unfavorably
impact our ability to maintain or increase current throughput,
to renegotiate existing contracts as they expire or to remarket
unsubscribed capacity on our pipeline systems:
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service area competition; |
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expiration and/or turn back of significant contracts; |
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changes in regulation and action of regulatory bodies; |
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future weather conditions; |
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price competition; |
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drilling activity and availability of natural gas supplies; |
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decreased availability of conventional gas supply sources and
the availability and timing of other gas supply sources, such as
LNG; |
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decreased natural gas demand due to various factors, including
increases in prices and the increased availability or popularity
of alternative energy sources such as hydroelectric power; |
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increased costs of capital; |
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opposition to energy infrastructure development, especially in
environmentally sensitive areas; |
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adverse general economic conditions; |
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expiration and/or renewal of existing interests in real
property, including real property on Native American
lands; and |
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unfavorable movements in natural gas and NGL prices in certain
supply and demand areas. |
11
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The revenues of our pipeline businesses are generated
under contracts that must be renegotiated periodically. |
Substantially all of our pipeline subsidiaries revenues
are generated under contracts which expire periodically and must
be renegotiated and extended or replaced. We cannot assure you
that we will be able to extend or replace these contracts when
they expire or that the terms of any renegotiated contracts will
be as favorable as the existing contracts.
In particular, our ability to extend and replace contracts could
be adversely affected by factors we cannot control, including:
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competition by other pipelines, including the change in rates or
upstream supply of existing pipeline competitors, as well as the
proposed construction by other companies of additional pipeline
capacity or LNG terminals in markets served by our interstate
pipelines; |
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changes in state regulation of local distribution companies,
which may cause them to negotiate short-term contracts or turn
back their capacity when their contracts expire; |
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reduced demand and market conditions in the areas we serve; |
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the availability of alternative energy sources or gas supply
points; and |
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regulatory actions. |
If we are unable to renew, extend or replace these contracts or
if we renew them on less favorable terms, we may suffer a
material reduction in our revenues, earnings and cash flows.
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Fluctuations in energy commodity prices could adversely
affect our pipeline businesses. |
Revenues generated by our transmission, storage and LNG
contracts depend on volumes and rates, both of which can be
affected by the prices of natural gas, LNG and NGL. Increased
prices could result in a reduction of the volumes transported by
our customers, such as power companies who, depending on the
price of fuel, may not dispatch gas-fired power plants.
Increased prices could also result in industrial plant shutdowns
or load losses to competitive fuels as well as local
distribution companies loss of customer base. The success
of our transmission, storage and LNG operations is subject to
continued development of additional oil and natural gas reserves
and our ability to access additional supplies from
interconnecting pipelines or LNG facilities to offset the
natural decline from existing wells connected to our systems. A
decline in energy prices could cause a decrease in these
development activities and could cause a decrease in the volume
of reserves available for transmission, storage and processing
through our systems. Pricing volatility may, in some cases,
impact the value of under or over recoveries of retained gas,
imbalances and system encroachments. If natural gas prices in
the supply basins connected to our pipeline systems are higher
than prices in other natural gas producing regions, our ability
to compete with other transporters may be negatively impacted.
Furthermore, fluctuations in pricing between supply sources and
market areas could negatively impact our transportation
revenues. Fluctuations in energy prices are caused by a number
of factors, including:
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regional, domestic and international supply and demand; |
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availability and adequacy of transportation facilities; |
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energy legislation; |
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federal and state taxes, if any, on the sale or transportation
of natural gas and NGL; |
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abundance of supplies of alternative energy sources; and |
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political unrest among oil producing countries. |
12
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The expansion of our pipeline systems by constructing new
facilities subjects us to construction and other risks that may
adversely affect the financial results of our pipeline
businesses. |
We may expand the capacity of our existing pipeline, storage or
LNG facilities by constructing additional facilities.
Construction of these facilities is subject to various
regulatory, development and operational risks, including:
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the ability to obtain all necessary approvals and permits by
regulatory agencies on a timely basis on terms that are
acceptable to us; |
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potential changes of federal, state and local statutes and
regulations, including environmental requirements that prevent a
project from proceeding or increase the anticipated cost of the
expansion project; |
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impediments on our ability to acquire
rights-of-ways or land
rights on a timely basis or within our anticipated costs; |
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the ability to construct projects within anticipated costs,
including the risk that we may incur cost overruns resulting
from inflation or increased costs of equipment, materials,
labor, or other factors beyond our control, that may be material; |
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anticipated future growth in natural gas supply does not
materialize; and |
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the lack of transportation, storage or throughput commitments
that result in write-offs of development costs. |
Any of these risks could prevent a project from proceeding,
delay its completion or increase its anticipated costs. As a
result, new facilities may not achieve our expected investment
return, which could adversely affect our financial position or
results of operations.
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Natural gas and oil prices are volatile. A substantial
decrease in natural gas and oil prices could adversely affect
the financial results of our exploration and production
business. |
Our future financial condition, revenues, results of operations,
cash flows and future rate of growth depend primarily upon the
prices we receive for our natural gas and oil production.
Natural gas and oil prices historically have been volatile and
are likely to continue to be volatile in the future, especially
given current world geopolitical conditions. The prices for
natural gas and oil are subject to a variety of additional
factors that are beyond our control. These factors include:
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the level of consumer demand for, and the supply of, natural gas
and oil; |
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commodity processing, gathering and transportation availability; |
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the level of imports of, and the price of, foreign natural gas
and oil; |
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the ability of the members of the Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries to agree to and maintain oil price and
production controls; |
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domestic governmental regulations and taxes; |
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the price and availability of alternative fuel sources; |
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the availability of pipeline capacity; |
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weather conditions; |
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market uncertainty; |
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political conditions or hostilities in natural gas and oil
producing regions; |
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worldwide economic conditions; and |
13
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decreased demand for the use of natural gas and oil because of
market concerns about global warming or changes in governmental
policies and regulations due to climate change initiatives. |
Further, because the majority of our proved reserves at
December 31, 2005 were natural gas reserves, we are
substantially more sensitive to changes in natural gas prices
than we are to changes in oil prices. Declines in natural gas
and oil prices would not only reduce revenue, but could reduce
the amount of natural gas and oil that we can produce
economically and, as a result, could adversely affect the
financial results of our exploration and production business.
Changes in natural gas and oil prices can have a significant
impact on the calculation of our full cost ceiling test. A
significant decline in natural gas and oil prices could result
in a downward revision of our reserves and a write-down of the
carrying value of our natural gas and oil properties, which
could be substantial, and would negatively impact our net
income, stockholders equity and the value of the notes.
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The success of our exploration and production business is
dependent, in part, on factors that are beyond our
control. |
The performance of our exploration and production business is
dependent upon a number of factors that we cannot control,
including:
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the results of future drilling activity; |
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the availability of rigs, equipment and labor to support
drilling activity and production operations; |
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our ability to identify and precisely locate prospective
geologic structures and to drill and successfully complete wells
in those structures in a timely manner; |
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our ability to expand our leased land positions in desirable
areas, which often are subject to intensely competitive
conditions; |
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increased competition in the search for and acquisition of
reserves; |
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significant increases in future drilling, production and
development costs, including drilling rig rates and oil field
services costs; |
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adverse changes in future tax policies, rates, and drilling or
production incentives by state, federal, or foreign governments; |
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increased federal or state regulations, including environmental
regulations, that limit or restrict the ability to drill natural
gas or oil wells, reduce operational flexibility, or increase
capital and operating costs; |
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our lack of control over jointly owned properties and properties
operated by others; |
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the availability of alternative sources of energy; |
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declines in production volumes, including those from the Gulf of
Mexico; and |
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continued access to sufficient capital to fund drilling programs
to develop and replace a reserve base with rapid depletion
characteristics. |
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Our natural gas and oil drilling and producing operations
involve many risks and may not be profitable. |
Our operations are subject to all the risks normally incident to
the operation and development of natural gas and oil properties
and the drilling of natural gas and oil wells, including well
blowouts, cratering and explosions, pipe failure, fires,
formations with abnormal pressures, uncontrollable flows of
natural gas, oil, brine or well fluids, release of contaminants
into the environment and other environmental hazards and risks.
Additionally, our offshore operations may encounter usual marine
perils, including hurricanes and other adverse weather
conditions, damage from collisions with vessels, governmental
regulations and interruption or termination by governmental
authorities based on environmental and other
14
considerations. Each of these risks could result in damage to
property, injuries to people or the shut in of existing
production as damaged energy infrastructure is repaired or
replaced.
We maintain insurance coverage to reduce exposure to potential
losses resulting from these operating hazards. The nature of the
risks is such that some liabilities could exceed our insurance
policy limits, or, as in the case of environmental fines and
penalties, cannot be insured. As a result, we could incur
substantial costs that could adversely affect our future results
of operations, cash flows or financial condition.
Our drilling operations are also subject to the risk that we
will not encounter commercially productive reservoirs. New wells
drilled by us may not be productive, or we may not recover all
or any portion of our investment in those wells. Drilling for
natural gas and oil can be unprofitable, not only because of dry
holes but wells that are productive may not produce sufficient
net reserves to return a profit at then realized prices after
deducting drilling, operating and other costs.
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Estimating our reserves, production and future net cash
flow is difficult. |
Estimating quantities of proved natural gas and oil reserves is
a complex process that involves significant interpretations and
assumptions. It requires interpretations and judgment of
available technical data, including the evaluation of available
geological, geophysical, and engineering data. It also requires
making estimates based upon economic factors, such as natural
gas and oil prices, production costs, severance and excise
taxes, capital expenditures and workover and remedial costs, and
the assumed effect of governmental regulation. Due to a lack of
substantial, if any, production data, there are greater
uncertainties in estimating proved undeveloped reserves, proved
non-producing reserves and proved developed reserves that are
early in their production life. As a result, our reserve
estimates are inherently imprecise. Also, we use a
10 percent discount factor for estimating the value of our
reserves, as prescribed by the SEC, which may not necessarily
represent the most appropriate discount factor, given actual
interest rates and risks to which our exploration and production
business or the natural gas and oil industry, in general, are
subject. Any significant variations from the interpretations or
assumptions used in our estimates or changes of conditions could
cause the estimated quantities and net present value of our
reserves to differ materially.
Our reserve data represents an estimate. You should not assume
that the present values referred to or incorporated by reference
in this prospectus represent the current market value of our
estimated natural gas and oil reserves. The timing of the
production and the expenses related to the development and
production of natural gas and oil properties will affect both
the timing of actual future net cash flows from our proved
reserves and their present value. Changes in the present value
of these reserves could cause a write-down in the carrying value
of our natural gas and oil properties, which could be
substantial, and would negatively affect our net income,
stockholders equity and the value of the notes.
A portion of our estimated proved reserves are undeveloped.
Recovery of undeveloped reserves requires significant capital
expenditures and successful drilling operations. The reserve
data assumes that we can and will make these expenditures and
conduct these operations successfully, but future events,
including commodity price changes, may cause these assumptions
to change.
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The success of our exploration and production business
depends upon our ability to replace reserves that we
produce. |
Unless we successfully replace the reserves that we produce, our
reserves will decline, eventually resulting in a decrease in
natural gas and oil production and lower revenues and cash flows
from operations. We historically have replaced reserves through
both drilling and acquisitions. The business of exploring for,
developing or acquiring reserves requires substantial capital
expenditures. Our operations require continued access to
sufficient capital to fund drilling programs to develop and
replace a reserve base with rapid depletion characteristics. If
we do not continue to make significant capital expenditures, or
if our capital resources become limited, we may not be able to
replace the reserves that we produce, which would negatively
affect our future revenues, cash flows and results of operations.
15
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We face competition from third parties to acquire and
develop natural gas and oil reserves. |
The natural gas and oil business is highly competitive in the
search for and acquisition of reserves. We must identify and
precisely locate prospective geologic structures, drill and
successfully complete wells in those structures in a timely
manner. Our ability to expand our leased land positions in
desirable areas is impacted by intensely competitive leasing
conditions. Competition for reserves and producing natural gas
and oil properties is intense and many of our competitors have
financial and other resources that are substantially greater
than those available to us. Our competitors include the major
and independent natural gas and oil companies, individual
producers, gas marketers and major pipeline companies, as well
as participants in other industries supplying energy and fuel to
industrial, commercial and individual consumers. If we are
unable to compete effectively in the acquisition and development
of reserves, our future profitability may be negatively
impacted. Ultimately, our future success in the production
business is dependent on our ability to find or acquire
additional reserves at costs that allow us to remain competitive.
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Our use of derivative financial instruments could result
in financial losses. |
Some of our subsidiaries use futures, swaps and option contracts
traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange,
over-the-counter
options and price and basis swaps with other natural gas
merchants and financial institutions. To the extent we have
positions that are not designated or qualify as hedges, changes
in commodity prices, interest rates, volatility, correlation
factors and the liquidity of the market could cause our
revenues, net income and cash requirements to be volatile.
We could incur financial losses in the future as a result of
volatility in the market values of the energy commodities we
trade, or if one of our counterparties fails to perform under a
contract. The valuation of these financial instruments involves
estimates. Changes in the assumptions underlying these estimates
can occur, changing our valuation of these instruments and
potentially resulting in financial losses. To the extent we
hedge our commodity price exposure and interest rate exposure,
we forego the benefits we would otherwise experience if
commodity prices or interest rates were to change favorably. The
use of derivatives could require the posting of collateral with
our counterparties which can impact our working capital (current
assets and liabilities) and liquidity when commodity prices or
interest rates change. For additional information concerning our
derivative financial instruments, see
(i) Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
Market Risk and Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data, Note 10 of our May 12, 2006
Form 8-K and
(ii) Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements,
Note 7 and Part I, Item 3,
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
of our 2006 First Quarter
Form 10-Q.
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Our businesses are subject to the risk of payment defaults
by our counterparties. |
We frequently extend credit to our counterparties following the
performance of credit analysis. Despite performing this
analysis, we are exposed to the risk that we may not be able to
collect amounts owed to us. Although in many cases we have
collateral to secure the counterpartys performance, it
could be inadequate and we could suffer losses.
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Our foreign operations and investments involve special
risks. |
Our activities in areas outside the United States, including
material investment exposure in our power, pipeline and
exploration and production projects in Brazil (see
(i) Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,
Note 16 of our May 12, 2006
Form 8-K and
(ii) Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements,
Note 9 of our 2006 First Quarter
Form 10-Q), are
subject to the risks inherent in foreign operations, including:
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loss of revenue, property and equipment as a result of hazards
such as expropriation, nationalization, wars, insurrection and
other political risks; |
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the effects of currency fluctuations and exchange controls, such
as devaluation of foreign currencies and other economic
problems; and |
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changes in laws, regulations and policies of foreign
governments, including those associated with changes in the
governing parties. |
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Retained liabilities associated with businesses that we
have sold could exceed our estimates, and we could experience
difficulties in managing these liabilities. |
We have sold a significant number of assets over the years,
including the sale of many assets since 2001. Pursuant to
various purchase and sale agreements relating to businesses and
assets sold, we have either retained certain liabilities or
indemnified certain purchasers against liabilities that they
might incur in the future. These liabilities in many cases
relate to breaches of warranties, environmental, asset
maintenance, tax, litigation, personal injury and other
representations that we have provided. Although we believe that
we have established appropriate reserves for these liabilities,
we could be required to accrue additional reserves in the future
and these amounts could be material. In addition, as we exit
businesses, we have experienced substantial reductions and
turnover in our workforce that previously supported the
ownership and operation of such assets. There is the risk that
such reductions and turnover in our workforce prior to closing
could result in difficulties in managing the businesses that we
are exiting or managing the liabilities retained after closing,
including a reduction in historical knowledge of the assets and
businesses in managing the liabilities or defending any
associated litigation.
Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Matters
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The outcome of pending governmental investigations could
be materially adverse to us. |
We are subject to numerous governmental investigations including
those involving allegations of round trip trades, price
reporting of transactional data to the energy trade press,
natural gas and oil reserve revisions, accounting treatment of
certain hedges of our anticipated natural gas production, sales
of crude oil of Iraqi origin under the United Nations Oil
for Food Program and the rupture of one of our pipelines near
Carlsbad, New Mexico. These investigations involve, among
others, one or more of the following governmental agencies: the
SEC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, a grand
jury of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District
of New York, the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee of
Investigations, the House of Representatives International
Relations Subcommittee, the U.S. Department of
Transportation Office of Pipeline Safety and the Department of
Justice. We are cooperating with the governmental agency or
agencies in each of these investigations. The outcome of each of
these investigations is uncertain. Because of the uncertainties
associated with the ultimate outcome of each of these
investigations and the costs to El Paso of responding and
participating in these
on-going
investigations, no assurance can be given that the ultimate
costs and sanctions, if any, that may be imposed upon us will
not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition or results of operation.
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The agencies that regulate our pipeline businesses and
their customers affect our profitability. |
Our pipeline businesses are regulated by the FERC, the
U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department
of Interior, and various state, local and tribal regulatory
agencies. Regulatory actions taken by those agencies have the
potential to adversely affect our profitability. In particular,
the FERC regulates the rates our pipelines are permitted to
charge their customers for their services. In setting authorized
rates of return in recent FERC decisions, the FERC has utilized
a proxy group of companies that includes local distribution
companies that are not faced with as much competition or risks
as interstate pipelines. The inclusion of these lower risk
companies may create downward pressure on tariff rates when
subjected to review by the FERC in future rate proceedings. If
our pipelines tariff rates were reduced or re-designed in
a future proceeding, if our pipelines volume of business
under their currently permitted rates was decreased
significantly, or if our pipelines were required to
substantially discount the rates for their services because of
competition or because of regulatory pressure, the profitability
of our pipeline businesses could be reduced.
17
In addition, increased regulatory requirements relating to the
integrity of our pipelines requires additional spending in order
to maintain compliance with these requirements. Any additional
requirements that are enacted could significantly increase the
amount of these expenditures.
Further, state agencies that regulate our pipelines local
distribution company customers could impose requirements that
could impact demand for our pipelines services.
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Environmental compliance and remediation costs and the
costs of environmental liabilities could exceed our
estimates. |
Our operations are subject to various environmental laws and
regulations regarding compliance and remediation obligations.
Compliance obligations can result in significant costs to
install and maintain pollution controls, fines and penalties
resulting from any failure to comply, and potential limitations
on our operations. Remediation obligations can result in
significant costs associated with the investigation and
remediation or clean-up
of contaminated properties (some of which have been designated
as Superfund sites by the Environmental Protection Agency, or
EPA, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA), as well as damage
claims arising out of the contamination of properties or impact
on natural resources. It is not possible for us to estimate
exactly the amount and timing of all future expenditures related
to environmental matters because of:
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the uncertainties in estimating pollution control and clean up
costs, including for sites for which only preliminary site
investigation or assessments have been completed; |
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the discovery of new sites or additional information at existing
sites; |
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the uncertainty in quantifying liability under environmental
laws that impose joint and several liability on all potentially
responsible parties; and |
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the nature of environmental laws and regulations, including the
interpretation and enforcement thereof. |
Currently, various legislative and regulatory measures to
address greenhouse gas, or GHG, emissions (including carbon
dioxide and methane) are in various phases of discussion or
implementation. These include the Kyoto Protocol, proposed
federal legislation and state actions to develop statewide or
regional programs, each of which have imposed or would impose
reductions in GHG emissions. These actions could result in
increased costs to (i) operate and maintain our facilities,
(ii) install new emission controls on our facilities and
(iii) administer and manage any GHG emissions program.
These actions could also impact the consumption of natural gas
and oil, thereby affecting our pipeline and exploration and
production operations.
Although we believe we have established appropriate reserves for
our environmental liabilities, we could be required to set aside
additional amounts due to these uncertainties which could
significantly impact our future consolidated results of
operations, cash flows or financial position. For additional
information concerning our environmental matters, see
(i) Part I, Item 3, Legal Proceedings
of our 2005 Form 10-K, (ii) Financial Statements
and Supplementary Data, Note 16 of our May 12,
2006 Form 8-K and
(iii) Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements,
Note 9 and Part II, Item 1, Legal
Proceedings of our 2006 First Quarter
Form 10-Q.
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Costs of litigation matters and other contingencies could
exceed our estimates. |
We are involved in various lawsuits in which we or our
subsidiaries have been sued. We also have other contingent
liabilities and exposures. Although we believe we have
established appropriate reserves for these liabilities, we could
be required to set aside additional reserves in the future and
these amounts could be material. For additional information
concerning our litigation matters and other contingent
liabilities, see (i) Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data, Note 16 of our May 12, 2006
Form 8-K and
(ii) Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements,
Note 9 of our 2006 First Quarter
Form 10-Q.
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Our system of internal controls is designed to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial
reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for
external purposes. A loss of public confidence in the quality of
our internal controls or disclosures could have a negative
impact on us. |
Our system of internal controls is designed to provide
reasonable assurance that the objectives of the control system
are met. However, any system of internal controls is subject to
inherent limitations and the design of our controls may not
provide absolute assurances that all of our objectives will be
entirely met. This includes the possibility that controls may be
inappropriately circumvented or overridden, that judgments in
decision-making can be faulty and that misstatements due to
errors or fraud may not be prevented or detected.
Risks Related to Our Liquidity
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We have significant debt and below investment grade credit
ratings, which have impacted and will continue to impact our
financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. |
We have significant debt, debt service and debt maturity
obligations. The ratings assigned to our senior unsecured
indebtedness are below investment grade, currently rated B2 by
Moodys Investor Service (Moodys) and B by
Standard & Poors. These ratings have increased
our cost of capital and our operating costs, particularly in our
trading operations, and could impede our access to capital
markets. Moreover, we must retain greater liquidity levels to
operate our business than if we had investment grade credit
ratings. If our ability to generate or access capital becomes
significantly restrained, our financial condition and future
results of operations could be significantly adversely affected.
See (i) Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,
Note 14 of our May 12, 2006
Form 8-K and
(ii) Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements,
Note 8 of our 2006 First Quarter
Form 10-Q for a
further discussion of our debt.
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We may not achieve our targeted level of debt reduction or
complete our asset sales in a timely manner or at all. |
Our ability to achieve our announced targets to reduce our debt
obligations and complete asset sales, as well as the timing of
their achievement, is subject, in part, to factors beyond our
control. These factors include our ability to locate potential
buyers in a timely fashion and obtain a reasonable price, and
our ability to preserve sufficient cash flow to service our debt
and other obligations. If we fail to achieve these targets in a
timely manner, our liquidity or financial position could be
materially adversely affected. In addition, it is possible that
our asset sales could be at prices that are below the current
book value for the assets, which could result in losses that
could be substantial.
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A breach of the covenants applicable to our debt and other
financing obligations could affect our ability to borrow funds
and could accelerate our debt and other financing obligations
and those of our subsidiaries. |
Our debt and other financing obligations contain restrictive
covenants, which become more restrictive over time, and
cross-acceleration provisions. A breach of any of these
covenants could preclude us or our subsidiaries from issuing
letters of credit and from borrowing under our credit
agreements, and could accelerate our debt and other financing
obligations and those of our subsidiaries. If this were to
occur, we might not be able to repay such debt and other
financing obligations.
Some of our credit agreements are collateralized by our equity
interests in ANR Pipeline Company, Colorado Interstate Gas
Company, El Paso Natural Gas Company, Southern Gas Storage
Company (which owns an interest in Bear Creek Storage Company),
ANR Storage Company, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company and certain
natural gas and oil reserves. A breach of the covenants under
these agreements could permit the lenders to exercise their
rights to the collateral, and we could be required to sell these
collateral interests.
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We are subject to financing and interest rate exposure
risks. |
Our future success depends on our ability to access capital
markets and obtain financing at cost effective rates. This is
dependent on a number of factors, many of which we cannot
control, including changes in:
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our credit ratings; |
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interest rates; |
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the structured and commercial financial markets; |
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market perceptions of us or the natural gas and energy industry; |
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tax rates due to new tax laws; |
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our stock price; and |
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market prices for energy. |
In addition, although we hedge a portion of our exposure to
interest rate movements, our financial condition and liquidity
could be adversely affected if there is a negative movement in
interest rates.
Risks Related to the Notes and the Exchange Offers
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You will have little protection under the terms of the
notes in the event of a highly leveraged transaction or change
of control. |
The notes do not contain provisions that will afford you
protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction or
change in control, including a takeover, other mergers,
recapitalization or similar restructuring, a sale of
substantially all of our assets or similar transactions. These
types of transactions may adversely affect our financial and
operating condition, our creditworthiness and the investment
quality of our securities. Consequently, your investment in the
notes may be materially adversely affected.
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There is no public market for the new notes, and if an
active trading market does not develop for the new notes, you
may not be able to resell them. |
Although the issuance of the new notes will be registered under
the Securities Act, they will constitute a new issue of
securities with no established trading market. We cannot assure
you that an active trading market will develop. If no active
trading market develops, you may not be able to resell your new
notes at their fair market value or at all. Future trading
prices of the new notes will depend on many factors, including,
among other things, prevailing interest rates, our operating
results and the market for similar securities. We do not intend
to apply for listing of the new notes on any securities exchange
or to arrange for quotation on any automated dealer quotation
system.
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As a holding company, we will depend on our subsidiaries
for funds to meet our payment obligations under the
notes. |
The notes are exclusively our obligations and not obligations of
our subsidiaries. As a holding company, we conduct substantially
all of our operations exclusively through our subsidiaries and
our only significant assets are our investments in these
subsidiaries. This means that we are dependent on dividends,
other distributions, loans or other payments of funds from our
subsidiaries to meet our debt service and other obligations,
including our obligations relating to the notes.
Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and
have no obligation to pay any amounts due under the notes or to
provide us with funds for our payment obligations, whether by
dividends, distributions, loans or other payments. In addition,
any payment of dividends, distributions, loans or advances by
our subsidiaries to us could be subject to statutory or
contractual restrictions. Payments to us by our subsidiaries
will also be contingent upon our subsidiaries earnings and
business considerations.
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The indentures governing the notes, subject to certain
restrictions, permit us to incur additional secured indebtedness
and permit our subsidiaries to incur additional secured and
unsecured indebtedness, all of which would in effect be senior
to the notes. The indentures also permit certain of our
subsidiaries to pledge assets in order to secure our
indebtedness and to agree with lenders under any secured
indebtedness to restrictions or repurchase of the notes and on
the ability of those subsidiaries to make distributions, loans,
other payments or asset transfers to us. As of March 31,
2006, after giving effect to our assumption of the Category B
old notes, our subsidiaries had approximately $7.4 billion
of secured and unsecured debt. The indentures and other credit
facilities of certain of our subsidiaries include limitations on
the ability of such subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other
distributions to us. For references to restrictive covenants to
which we and our subsidiaries are subject, see
(i) Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements
included in our May 12, 2006
Form 8-K and
(ii) Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial
statements included in our 2006 First Quarter
Form 10-Q, each of
which is incorporated herein by reference. If such indentures or
other financing agreements of our subsidiaries limit the ability
of such subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to
us, our ability to pay interest or principal on the notes could
be adversely affected.
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If a liquidation or reorganization of our subsidiaries
occurs, payments under the notes will be effectively
subordinated in right of payment to certain obligations of our
subsidiaries. |
Because our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal
entities, our right to receive any assets of any of our
subsidiaries upon their liquidation or reorganization, and
therefore the right of the holders of the notes to participate
in those assets, will be effectively subordinated to the claims
of that subsidiarys creditors, including trade creditors.
In addition, even if we were 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.
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If you fail to follow the exchange offer procedures, your
old notes will not be accepted for exchange. |
We will not accept your old notes for exchange if you do not
follow the exchange offer procedures. We will issue new notes as
part of the exchange offers only after timely receipt of your
old notes, a properly completed and duly executed letter of
transmittal and all other required documents or if you comply
with the guaranteed delivery procedures for tendering your old
notes. Therefore, if you want to tender your old notes, please
allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery. If we do not
receive your old notes, letter of transmittal, and all other
required documents by the expiration date of the applicable
exchange offer, or you do not otherwise comply with the
guaranteed delivery procedures for tendering your old notes, we
will not accept your old notes for exchange. We are under no
duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with
respect to the tenders of old notes for exchange. If there are
defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of old
notes, we will not accept your old notes for exchange unless we
decide in our sole discretion to waive such defects or
irregularities.
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If you fail to exchange your Category A old notes for new
notes, your Category A old notes will continue to be subject to
the existing transfer restrictions and you may not be able to
sell them. |
We did not register offers and sales of the Category A old
notes, nor do we intend to do so following the exchange offers.
Category A old notes that are not tendered will therefore
continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions and
may be transferred only in limited circumstances under the
securities laws. As a result, if you hold Category A old notes
after the exchange offers, you may not be able to sell them. To
the extent any Category A old notes are tendered and accepted in
the exchange offers, the trading market, if any, for the
Category A old notes that remain outstanding after the exchange
offers may be adversely affected due to a reduction in market
liquidity.
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The liquidity of the Category B old notes that are not
exchanged will be reduced. |
The current trading market for the Category B old notes is
limited. The trading market for unexchanged Category B old notes
will become more limited and could cease to exist due to the
reduction
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in the amount of the Category B old notes outstanding upon
consummation of the exchange offers. A more limited trading
market might adversely affect the liquidity, market price and
price volatility of these securities. If a market for
unexchanged Category B old notes exists or develops, these
securities may trade at a discount to the price at which the
securities would trade if the amount outstanding were not
reduced, depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for
similar securities and other factors. However, there can be no
assurance that an active market in the unexchanged Category B
old notes will exist, develop or be maintained or as to the
prices at which the unexchanged Category B old notes may be
traded.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The exchange offers are intended to satisfy our obligations
under the registration rights agreement relating to the old
notes. We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the
new notes and have agreed to pay all expenses of the exchange
offers. In exchange for issuing the new notes, we will receive a
like principal amount of old notes. The old notes surrendered in
exchange for the new notes will be retired and cancelled and
will not be reissued. Accordingly, issuing the new notes will
not result in any increase in our outstanding debt.
THE EXCHANGE OFFERS
Terms of the Exchange Offers
In 20 separate exchange offers, we are offering:
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category A old 6.50% senior notes due 2008, $1,000 in
principal amount of our new 6.50% senior notes due 2008; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category A old 7.625% senior notes due 2008, $1,000 in
principal amount of our new 7.625% senior notes due 2008; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category A old 6.375% senior notes due 2009, $1,000 in
principal amount of our new 6.375% senior notes due 2009; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category A old 7.75% senior notes due 2010, $1,000 in
principal amount of our new 7.75% senior notes due 2010; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category A old
103/4% senior
notes due 2010, $1,000 in principal amount of our new
103/4
% senior notes due 2010; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category A old
95/8% senior
notes due 2012, $1,000 in principal amount of our new
95/8
% senior notes due 2012; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category A old 6.70% senior notes due 2027, $1,000 in
principal amount of our new 6.70% senior notes due 2027; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category A old 6.95% senior notes due 2028, $1,000 in
principal amount of our new 6.95% senior notes due 2028; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category A old 7.75% senior notes due 2032, $1,000 in
principal amount of our new 7.750% medium term notes; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category A old 7.42% senior notes due 2037, $1,000 in
principal amount of our new 7.42% senior notes due 2037; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category B old 6.50% senior debentures due June 1,
2008, $1,000 in principal amount of our new 6.50% senior
notes due 2008; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category B old 7.625% notes due 2008, $1,000 in principal
amount of our new 7.625% senior notes due 2008; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category B old 6.375% senior debentures due
February 1, 2009, $1,000 in principal amount of our new
6.375% senior notes due 2009; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category B old 7.75% notes due 2010, $1,000 in principal
amount of our new 7.75% senior notes due 2010; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category B old
103/4% senior
debentures due October 1, 2010, $1,000 in principal amount
of our new
103/4
% senior notes due 2010; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category B old
95/8% senior
debentures due May 15, 2012, $1,000 in principal amount of
our new
95/8
% senior notes due 2012; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category B old 6.70% senior debentures due
February 15, 2027, $1,000 in principal amount of our new
6.70% senior notes due 2027; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category B old 6.95% senior debentures due June 1,
2028, $1,000 in principal amount of our new 6.95% senior
notes due 2028; |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category B old 7.75% senior debentures due October 15,
2035, $1,000 in principal amount of our new 7.750% medium term
notes; and |
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in exchange for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding
Category B old 7.42% senior debentures due
February 15, 2037, $1,000 in principal amount of our new
7.42% senior notes due 2037. |
Except as otherwise described in below, the principal amounts,
interest rates, redemption terms and payment and maturity dates
of a particular series of new notes offered in the exchange
offers are the same as those of the corresponding series of old
notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each new note issued in
exchange for a Category B old 7.75% senior debenture due
October 15, 2035 will have the same interest rate,
redemption terms and payment and maturity dates as the Category
A old 7.75% senior notes due 2032.
Except as otherwise described below, the new notes you receive
in exchange for old notes will accrue interest from the most
recent date to which interest will have been paid on those old
notes (as of the expiration date), and you will not receive a
payment for accrued interest on old notes you exchange at the
time of that exchange. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
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the new 7.750% medium term notes received in exchange for any
Category B old 7.75% senior debentures due October 15,
2035 will accrue interest from July 15, 2006, the most
recent date to which interest will have been paid on the
Category A old 7.75% senior notes due 2032 (as of the
expiration date); and |
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upon consummation of that exchange, the holder of a
Category B old 7.75% senior debenture due October 15,
2035 will receive a cash payment, which we refer to as cash
exchange consideration, in an amount equal to the unpaid
interest on such Category B old 7.75% senior debenture due
October 15, 2035 that has accrued from, and including,
April 15, 2006 (the most recent date to which interest has
been paid on the Category B old 7.75% senior debentures due
October 15, 2035) to, but excluding, July 15, 2006. |
The other terms of the new notes are substantially the same as
the Category A old notes in all material respects, except that
the new notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer
restrictions, registration rights and payments of liquidated
damages.
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In order to exchange your old notes for transferable new notes
in the exchange offers, you will be required to make the
following representations, which are included in the letter of
transmittal:
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any new notes that you receive will be acquired in the ordinary
course of your business; |
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you are not participating, and have no arrangement or
understanding with any person or entity to participate, in the
distribution of the new notes; |
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you are not our affiliate, as defined in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act, or a broker-dealer
tendering old notes acquired directly from us for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption
under the Securities Act; and |
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if you are not a broker-dealer, that you are not engaged in and
do not intend to engage in the distribution of the new notes. |
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
prospectus and in the letter of transmittal, we will accept for
exchange any old notes validly tendered in the applicable
exchange offer, and the exchange agent will deliver the new
notes promptly after the expiration date of the applicable
exchange offer.
If you tender your old notes, you will not be required to pay
brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in
the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the
exchange of the old notes in connection with the exchange
offers. We will pay all charges, expenses and transfer taxes in
connection with the exchange offers, other than the taxes
described below under Transfer Taxes.
We make no recommendation to you as to whether you should
tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of your
existing old notes into these exchange offers. In addition, no
one has been authorized to make this recommendation. You must
make your own decision whether to tender into any exchange offer
and, if so, the aggregate amount of old notes to tender after
reading this prospectus and the letter of transmittal and
consulting with your advisors, if any, based on your financial
position and requirements.
Expiration Date; Extensions; Termination; Amendments
Each exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time,
on ,
2006, unless we extend such exchange offer, in which case the
expiration date will be the latest date and time to which we
extend such exchange offer.
We expressly reserve the right, so long as applicable law allows:
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to delay our acceptance of old notes for exchange; |
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to terminate any exchange offer if any of the conditions set
forth under Conditions of the Exchange
Offers exist with respect to such exchange offer; |
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to waive any condition to any exchange offer; |
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to amend any of the terms of any exchange offer; and |
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to extend the expiration date and retain all old notes tendered
in any exchange offer, subject to your right to withdraw your
tendered old notes as described under
Withdrawal of Tenders. |
Any waiver or amendment to the exchange offer for a particular
series of old notes will apply to all old notes of such series
that have been tendered, regardless of when or in what order
such old notes were tendered. However, any such waiver or
amendment will not apply to the exchange offer for any other
series of old notes. If an exchange offer is amended in a manner
that we think constitutes a material change, or if we waive a
material condition of an exchange offer, we will promptly
disclose the amendment or waiver by means of a prospectus
supplement that will be distributed to the registered holders of
the old notes, and we will extend the applicable exchange offer
to the extent required by
Rule 14e-1 under
the Exchange Act.
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We will promptly follow any delay in acceptance, termination,
extension or amendment by oral or written notice of the event to
the exchange agent, followed promptly by oral or written notice
to the registered holders. Should we choose to delay, extend,
amend or terminate any exchange offer, we will have no
obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate this
announcement, other than by making a timely release to an
appropriate news agency.
In the event we terminate the exchange offer for a particular
series of old notes, all old notes of such series previously
tendered and not accepted for payment will be returned promptly
to the tendering holders.
In the event that the exchange offer for a particular series of
old notes is withdrawn or otherwise not completed, new notes
will not be given to holders of such old notes who have validly
tendered their old notes of such series.
Resale of New Notes
Based on interpretations of the SEC staff set forth in no action
letters issued to third parties, we believe that new notes
issued under the exchange offers in exchange for old notes may
be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by you
without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act, if:
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you are acquiring new notes in the ordinary course of your
business; |
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you are not participating, and have no arrangement or
understanding with any person to participate, in the
distribution of the new notes; |
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you are not our affiliate within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act; and |
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you are not a broker-dealer who purchased old notes directly
from us for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or any other
available exemption under the Securities Act. |
If you tender old notes in the exchange offers with the
intention of participating in any manner in a distribution of
the new notes:
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you cannot rely on those interpretations by the SEC
staff, and |
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you must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a
secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale
transaction must be covered by an effective registration
statement containing the selling security holder information
required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of
Regulation S-K. |
Only broker-dealers that acquired the old notes as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities may
participate in the exchange offers. Each broker-dealer that
receives new notes for its own account in exchange for old
notes, where such old notes were acquired by such broker-dealer
as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of the new notes. Please read the
section captioned Plan of Distribution for more
details regarding the transfer of new notes.
Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange
We will accept for exchange old notes validly tendered pursuant
to the applicable exchange offer, or defectively tendered, if
such defect has been waived by us. We will not accept old notes
tendered for exchange subsequent to the expiration date of the
applicable exchange offer. Tenders of old notes will be accepted
only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
We expressly reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to:
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delay acceptance for exchange of old notes tendered under any
exchange offer, subject to
Rule 14e-1 under
the Exchange Act, which requires that an offeror pay the
consideration offered or |
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return the securities deposited by or on behalf of the holders
promptly after the termination or withdrawal of a tender
offer, or |
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terminate the exchange offer for a particular series of old
notes and not accept for exchange any old notes of such series
not theretofore accepted for exchange, if any of the conditions
set forth below under Conditions of the
Exchange Offers have not been satisfied or waived by us
with respect to such exchange offer or in order to comply in
whole or in part with any applicable law. |
In all cases, new notes will be issued only after timely receipt
by the exchange agent of certificates representing old notes, or
confirmation of book-entry transfer, a properly completed and
duly executed letter of transmittal, or a manually signed
facsimile thereof, and any other required documents. For
purposes of the exchange offers, we will be deemed to have
accepted for exchange validly tendered old notes, or defectively
tendered old notes with respect to which we have waived such
defect, if, as and when we give oral, confirmed in writing, or
written notice to the exchange agent. Promptly after the
expiration date of a given exchange offer, we will deposit the
new notes issued in such exchange offer with the exchange agent,
who will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purpose
of receiving the new notes and transmitting them to the holders.
The exchange agent will deliver the new notes to holders of old
notes accepted for exchange after the exchange agent receives
the new notes.
If, for any reason, we delay acceptance for exchange of validly
tendered old notes or we are unable to accept for exchange
validly tendered old notes, then the exchange agent may,
nevertheless, on our behalf, retain tendered old notes, without
prejudice to our rights described under
Expiration Date; Extensions; Termination;
Amendments, Withdrawal of Tenders
and Conditions of the Exchange Offers,
subject to
Rule 14e-1 under
the Exchange Act, which requires that an offeror pay the
consideration offered or return the securities deposited by or
on behalf of the holders thereof promptly after the termination
or withdrawal of a tender offer.
If any tendered old notes are not accepted for exchange for any
reason, or if certificates are submitted evidencing more old
notes than those that are tendered, certificates evidencing old
notes that are not exchanged will be returned, without expense,
to the tendering holder, or, in the case of old notes tendered
by book-entry transfer into the exchange agents account at
a book-entry transfer facility under the procedure set forth
under Procedures for Tendering Old
Notes Book-Entry Transfer, such old notes will
be credited to the account maintained at such book-entry
transfer facility from which such old notes were delivered,
unless otherwise requested by such holder under Special
Delivery Instructions in the letter of transmittal,
promptly following the expiration date or the termination of the
applicable exchange offer.
Tendering holders of old notes exchanged in the exchange offers
will not be obligated to pay brokerage commissions or transfer
taxes with respect to the exchange of their old notes other than
as described in Transfer Taxes or in
Instruction 7 to the letter of transmittal. We will pay all
other charges and expenses in connection with the exchange
offers.
Procedures for Tendering Old Notes
Any beneficial owner whose old notes are registered in the name
of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
nominee or held through a book-entry transfer facility and who
wishes to tender old notes should contact such registered holder
promptly and instruct such registered holder to tender old notes
on such beneficial owners behalf.
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Tender of Old Notes Held Through Depository Trust
Company |
The exchange agent and The Depository Trust Company, or DTC,
have confirmed that the exchange offers are eligible for the
DTCs automated tender offer program. Accordingly, DTC
participants may electronically transmit their acceptance of the
exchange offers by causing DTC to transfer old notes to the
exchange agent in accordance with DTCs automated tender
offer program procedures for transfer. DTC will then send an
agents message to the exchange agent.
26
The term agents message means a message
transmitted by DTC, received by the exchange agent and forming
part of the book-entry confirmation, which states that DTC has
received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC
tendering old notes that are the subject of that book-entry
confirmation that the participant has received and agrees to be
bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal, and that we may
enforce such agreement against such participant. In the case of
an agents message relating to guaranteed delivery, the
term means a message transmitted by DTC and received by the
exchange agent which states that DTC has received an express
acknowledgment from the participant in DTC tendering old notes
that they have received and agree to be bound by the notice of
guaranteed delivery.
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Tender of Old Notes Held in Certificated Form |
For a holder to validly tender old notes held in certificated
form:
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the exchange agent must receive at its address set forth in this
prospectus a properly completed and validly executed letter of
transmittal, or a manually signed facsimile thereof, together
with any signature guarantees and any other documents required
by the instructions to the letter of transmittal, and |
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the exchange agent must receive certificates for tendered old
notes at such address, or such old notes must be transferred
pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer described
below. |
A confirmation of such book-entry transfer must be received by
the exchange agent prior to the expiration date of the
applicable exchange offer. A holder who desires to tender old
notes and who cannot comply with the procedures set forth herein
for tender on a timely basis or whose old notes are not
immediately available must comply with the procedures for
guaranteed delivery set forth below.
Letters of transmittal and old notes should be sent only to
the exchange agent, and not to us or to DTC.
The method of delivery of old notes, letters of transmittal
and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at the
election and risk of the holder tendering old notes. Delivery of
such documents will be deemed made only when actually received
by the exchange agent. If such delivery is by mail, we suggest
that the holder use properly insured, registered mail with
return receipt requested, and that the mailing be made
sufficiently in advance of the expiration date of the applicable
exchange offer to permit delivery to the exchange agent prior to
such date. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders of
old notes will be accepted.
Signatures on the letter of transmittal must be guaranteed by an
eligible institution unless:
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the letter of transmittal is signed by the registered holder of
the old notes tendered therewith, or by a participant in one of
the book-entry transfer facilities whose name appears on a
security position listing it as the owner of those old notes and
the new notes are to be issued directly to such registered
holder(s), or, if tendered by a participant in one of the
book-entry transfer facilities, any old notes for principal
amounts not tendered or not accepted for exchange are to be
credited to the participants account at the book-entry
transfer facility, and neither the Special Issuance
Instructions nor the Special Delivery
Instructions box on the letter of transmittal has been
completed, or |
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the old notes are tendered for the account of an eligible
institution. |
An eligible institution is a firm that is a member of a
registered national securities exchange or of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or a
trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States or an eligible guarantor institution within
the meaning of
Rule 17Ad-15 under
the Exchange Act.
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The exchange agent will seek to establish a new account or
utilize an existing account with respect to the old notes at DTC
promptly after the date of this prospectus. Any financial
institution that is a participant in the DTC system and whose
name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the
old notes may make book-entry delivery of old notes by causing
DTC to transfer such old notes into the exchange agents
account. However, although delivery of old notes may be
effected through book-entry transfer into the exchange
agents account at DTC, a properly completed and validly
executed letter of transmittal, or a manually signed facsimile
thereof, must be received by the exchange agent at one of its
addresses set forth in this prospectus on or prior to the
expiration date of the applicable exchange offer, or else the
guaranteed delivery procedures described below must be complied
with. The confirmation of a book-entry transfer of old notes
into the exchange agents account at DTC is referred to in
this prospectus as a book-entry confirmation.
Delivery of documents to DTC in accordance with DTCs
procedures does not constitute delivery to the exchange agent.
If you wish to tender your old notes and:
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certificates representing your old notes are not lost but are
not immediately available, |
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(2) |
time will not permit your letter of transmittal, certificates
representing your old notes and all other required documents to
reach the exchange agent on or prior to the expiration date of
the applicable exchange offer, or |
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(3) |
the procedures for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on or
prior to the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer, |
you may nevertheless tender if all of the following conditions
are complied with:
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your tender is made by or through an eligible
institution; and |
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on or prior to the expiration date of the applicable exchange
offer, the exchange agent has received from the eligible
institution a properly completed and validly executed notice of
guaranteed delivery, by manually signed facsimile transmission,
overnight courier, registered or certified mail or hand
delivery, in substantially the form provided with this
prospectus. The notice of guaranteed delivery must: |
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(a) |
set forth your name and address, the series name(s) and
registered number(s) of your old notes and the principal amount
of each series of old notes tendered; |
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(b) |
state that the tender is being made thereby; |
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(c) |
guarantee that, within three New York Stock Exchange trading
days after the applicable expiration date, the letter of
transmittal or facsimile thereof properly completed and validly
executed, together with certificates representing the old notes,
or a book-entry confirmation, and any other documents required
by the letter of transmittal and the instructions thereto, will
be deposited by the eligible institution with the exchange
agent; and |
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(d) |
the exchange agent receives the properly completed and validly
executed letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof with any
required signature guarantees, together with certificates for
all old notes in proper form for transfer, or a book-entry
confirmation, and any other required documents, within three New
York Stock Exchange trading days after the applicable expiration
date. |
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New notes will be issued in exchange for old notes accepted for
exchange only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of:
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certificates for (or a timely book-entry confirmation with
respect to) your old notes, |
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a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal or
facsimile thereof with any required signature guarantees, or, in
the case of a book-entry transfer, an agents
message, and |
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any other documents required by the letter of transmittal. |
We will determine, in our sole discretion, all questions as to
the form of all documents and the validity, eligibility,
including time of receipt, acceptance and withdrawal of all
tenders of old notes. Our determination will be final and
binding on all parties. Alternative, conditional or
contingent tenders of old notes will not be considered valid. We
reserve the absolute right to reject any or all tenders of old
notes not validly tendered or the acceptance of which, in our
opinion, would be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive
any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to
particular old notes.
Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange
offers, including the instructions in the letter of transmittal,
will be final and binding.
Any defect or irregularity in connection with tenders of old
notes must be cured within the time we determine, unless waived
by us. We will not consider the tender of old notes to have been
validly made until all defects and irregularities have been
waived by us or cured. Neither we, the exchange agent, or any
other person will be under any duty to give notice of any
defects or irregularities in tenders of old notes, or will incur
any liability to holders for failure to give any such notice.
Withdrawal of Tenders
Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, you may
withdraw your tender of old notes of a particular series at any
time prior to the expiration date of the exchange offer relating
to such series.
For a withdrawal to be effective:
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the exchange agent must receive a written notice of withdrawal
at one of the addresses set forth below under
Exchange Agent, or |
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you must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTCs
automated tender offer program system. |
Any notice of withdrawal must:
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specify the name of the person who tendered the old notes to be
withdrawn, and |
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identify the old notes to be withdrawn, including the series
name(s) and principal amounts of the old notes. |
If old notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for
book-entry transfer described above, any notice of withdrawal
must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be
credited with the withdrawn old notes and otherwise comply with
the procedures of DTC.
We will determine all questions as to validity, form,
eligibility and time of receipt of any withdrawal notices. Our
determination will be final and binding on all parties. We will
deem any old notes so withdrawn not to have been validly
tendered for exchange for purposes of the exchange offers.
Any old notes that have been tendered for exchange but that are
not exchanged for any reason will be returned to their holder
without cost to the holder or, in the case of old notes tendered
by book-entry transfer into the exchange agents account at
DTC according to the procedures described above, such old notes
will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for the old
notes. This return or crediting will take place as soon as
practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination
of an exchange offer.
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You may retender properly withdrawn old notes by following one
of the procedures described under Procedures
for Tendering Old Notes at any time on or prior to the
applicable expiration date.
Conditions of the Exchange Offers
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the exchange offer for a
particular series of old notes, if, on or prior to the
expiration date of such exchange offer, we determine, in our
reasonable judgment, that such exchange offer, or the making of
an exchange by a holder of such old notes, would violate
applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of
the SEC, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or to
exchange, any tendered old notes of such series. We may also
terminate, waive any conditions to or amend any such exchange
offer. In addition, we may postpone the acceptance for exchange
of tendered old notes of any series, subject to
Rule 14e-1 under
the Exchange Act, which requires that an offeror pay the
consideration offered or return the securities deposited by or
on behalf of the holders thereof promptly after the termination
or withdrawal of an exchange offer.
Transfer Taxes
We will pay all transfer taxes applicable to the transfer and
exchange of old notes pursuant to the exchange offers. If,
however:
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new notes or old notes for principal amounts not exchanged, are
to be delivered to or registered or issued in the name of, any
person other than the registered holder of the old notes
tendered; |
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tendered certificates for old notes are registered in the name
of any person other than the person signing any letter of
transmittal; or |
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a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the transfer
and exchange of old notes to us or our order pursuant to the
exchange offers, |
the amount of any such transfer taxes, whether imposed on the
registered holder or any other person, will be payable by the
tendering holder prior to the issuance of the new notes or
delivery or registering of the old notes.
Consequences of Failing to Exchange
If you do not exchange your Category A old notes for new notes
in the exchange offers, you will remain subject to the
restrictions on transfer of the Category A old notes:
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as set forth in the legend printed on the Category A old notes
as a consequence of the issuance of the Category A old notes
pursuant to the exemptions from, or in transactions not subject
to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws; and |
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otherwise set forth in the offering memorandum and consent
solicitation statement, as amended, distributed in connection
with the private offerings of the Category A old notes. |
In general, you may not offer or sell the Category A old notes
unless they are registered under the Securities Act, or if the
offer or sale is exempt from registration under the Securities
Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by
the registration rights agreement, we do not intend to register
resales of the Category A old notes under the Securities Act. As
a result, if you hold Category A old notes after the exchange
offers, you may not be able to sell them. To the extent any
Category A old notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange
offers, the trading market, if any, for the Category A old notes
that remain outstanding after the exchange offers may be
adversely affected due to a reduction in market liquidity.
The current trading market for the Category B old notes is
limited. The trading market for unexchanged Category B old notes
will become more limited and could cease to exist due to the
reduction
30
in the amount of the Category B old notes outstanding upon
consummation of the exchange offers. A more limited trading
market might adversely affect the liquidity, market price and
price volatility of these securities. If a market for
unexchanged Category B old notes exists or develops, these
securities may trade at a discount to the price at which the
securities would trade if the amount outstanding were not
reduced, depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for
similar securities and other factors. However, there can be no
assurance that an active market in the unexchanged Category B
old notes will exist, develop or be maintained or as to the
prices at which the unexchanged Category B old notes may be
traded.
Accounting Treatment
The new notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the
old notes, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of
each exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or
loss for accounting purposes upon the consummation of the
exchange offers.
Exchange Agent
HSBC Bank USA, National Association, has been appointed as the
exchange agent for the exchange offers. You should direct
questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional
copies of this prospectus, the letter of transmittal or any
other documents to the exchange agent. You should send
certificates for old notes, letters of transmittal and any other
required documents to the exchange agent addressed as follows:
HSBC Bank USA, National Association
By Mail/ Hand/ Overnight Delivery:
HSBC Bank USA, National Association
Corporate Trust & Loan Agency
2 Hanson Place, 14th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217-1409
Attn: Paulette Shaw
For Assistance Call:
(718) 488-4475
Fax Number:
(718) 488-4488
Definitions
The following are definitions of some terms used in this
prospectus to describe the exchange offers:
1990 indenture means the indenture dated as of
October 1, 1990, by and between El Paso
(as successor-in-interest
to CGP) and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as
successor-in-interest
to The Bank of New York), as trustee (governing the Category B
old
103/4
% senior debentures due October 1, 2010), as
amended and supplemented by (i) the first supplemental
indenture thereto dated as of December 27, 2005 and
(ii) the second supplemental indenture thereto dated as of
December 31, 2005.
May 1992 indenture means the indenture dated as of
May 15, 1992, by and between El Paso (as
successor-in-interest
to CGP) and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as
successor-in-interest
to The Bank of New York and Bank of Montreal Trust Company), as
trustee, as amended and supplemented by (i) the first
supplemental indenture thereto dated as of May 20, 1992
(governing the Category B old
95/8
% senior debentures due May 15, 2012),
(ii) the second supplemental indenture thereto dated as of
December 27, 2005 and (iii) the third supplemental
indenture thereto dated as of December 31, 2005.
September 1992 indenture means the indenture dated
as of September 15, 1992, by and between El Paso (as
successor-in-interest
to CGP) and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as
successor-in-interest
to The Bank of New York and NationsBank of Texas, National
Association), as trustee, as amended and supplemented by
(i) the second supplemental indenture thereto dated as of
October 19, 1995 (governing the Category B old
7.75% senior debentures due October 15, 2035),
(ii) the
31
third supplemental indenture thereto dated as of
December 27, 2005 and (iii) the fourth supplemental
indenture thereto dated as of December 31, 2005.
1997 indenture means the indenture dated as of
February 24, 1997, by and between El Paso (as
successor-in-interest
to CGP) and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as
successor-in-interest
to The Bank of New York and Harris Trust and Savings Bank), as
trustee, as amended and supplemented by (i) the first
supplemental indenture thereto dated as of February 24,
1997 (governing the Category B old 6.70% senior debentures
due February 15, 2027), (ii) the second supplemental
indenture thereto dated as of February 24, 1997 (governing
the Category B old 7.42% senior debentures due
February 15, 2037), (iii) the third supplemental
indenture thereto dated as of June 5, 1998 (governing the
Category B old 6.50% senior debentures due June 1,
2008), (iv) the fourth supplemental indenture thereto dated
as of June 5, 1998 (governing the Category B old
6.95% senior debentures due June 1, 2028),
(v) the fifth supplemental indenture thereto dated as of
February 10, 1999 (governing the Category B old
6.375% senior debentures due February 1, 2009),
(vi) the eighth supplemental indenture thereto dated as of
June 16, 2000 (governing the Category B old
7.75% notes due 2010), (vii) the eleventh supplemental
indenture thereto dated as of September 6, 2000 (governing
the Category B old 7.625% notes due 2008), (viii) the
twelfth supplemental indenture thereto dated as of
December 27, 2005 and (ix) the thirteenth supplemental
indenture thereto dated as of December 31, 2005.
1999 indenture means the indenture dated as of
May 10, 1999, by and between El Paso and HSBC Bank
USA, National Association (as
successor-in-interest
to JPMorgan Chase Bank (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as
trustee, as amended and supplemented by (i) the tenth
supplemental indenture thereto dated as of December 28,
2005 (governing (a) each series of the Category A old notes
and (b) each series of the new notes other than the new
7.750% medium term notes) and (ii) the eleventh
supplemental indenture thereto (governing the new 7.750% medium
term notes).
Category A old notes means, collectively, our
outstanding notes of the twelve series listed in the table
appearing on the front cover of this prospectus under the
subheading Category A, namely: the Category A old
6.50% senior notes due 2008, the Category A old
7.625% senior notes due 2008, the Category A old
6.375% senior notes due 2009, the Category A old
7.75% senior notes due 2010, the Category A old
103/4% senior
notes due 2010, the Category A old
95/8
% senior notes due 2012, the Category A old
6.70% senior notes due 2027, the Category A old
6.95% senior notes due 2028, the Category A old
7.75% senior notes due 2032 and the Category A old
7.42% senior notes due 2037.
Category B indentures means, collectively, the 1990
indenture, the May 1992 indenture, the September 1992 indenture
and the 1997 indenture.
Category B old notes means, collectively, our
outstanding notes of the twelve series listed in the table
appearing on the front cover of this prospectus under the
subheading Category B, namely: the Category B old
6.50% senior debentures due June 1, 2008, the Category
B old 7.625% notes due 2008, the Category B old
6.375% senior debentures due February 1, 2009, the
Category B old 7.75% notes due 2010, the Category B old
103/4% senior
debentures due October 1, 2010, the Category B old
95/8
% senior debentures due May 15, 2012, the
Category B old 6.70% senior debentures due
February 15, 2027, the Category B old 6.95% senior
debentures due June 1, 2028, the Category B old
7.75% senior debentures due October 15, 2035 and the
Category B old 7.42% senior debentures due
February 15, 2037.
CGP means El Paso CGP Company, L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company (formerly known as
El Paso CGP Company, a Delaware corporation formerly known
as The Coastal Corporation) and our wholly-owned subsidiary.
New notes means, collectively, our notes of the
twelve series to be issued in connection with the exchange
offers, namely: the new 6.50% senior notes due 2008, the
new 7.625% senior notes due 2008, the new
6.375% senior notes due 2009, the new 7.75% senior
notes due 2010, the new
103/4% senior
notes due 2010, the new
95/8
% senior notes due 2012, the new 6.70% senior
notes due 2027, the new 6.95% senior notes due 2028, the
new 7.750% medium term notes and the new 7.42% senior notes
due 2037.
Old notes means, collectively, the Category A old
notes and the Category B old notes.
Notes means, collectively, the old notes and the new
notes.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN OLD NOTES AND NEW NOTES
Differences Between Category A Old Notes and New Notes
The terms of each series of new notes are substantially the same
in all material respects as the terms of the corresponding
series of Category A old notes, except that the new notes will
not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions,
registration rights and payments of liquidated damages. Each
series of Category A old notes was issued under the 1999
indenture.
Differences Between Category B Old Notes and New Notes
The following is a summary comparison of the material terms of
the Category B old notes (one series of which was issued under
the 1990 indenture, one series of which was issued under the May
1992 indenture, one series of which was issued under the
September 1992 indenture and nine series of which were issued
under the 1997 indenture) and the new notes. Each series of the
new notes issued in the exchange offers will be governed by the
1999 indenture. The summary does not purport to be complete and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Category B
indentures and the 1999 indenture. Copies of the 1999 indenture
and the supplemental indentures thereto described in this
prospectus have been filed as exhibits to the registration
statement of which this prospectus forms a part and are
available from the exchange agent upon request. Copies of the
Category B indentures and the supplemental indentures thereto
described in this prospectus are available from the exchange
agent upon request.
The Category B old notes represent, as of the date of this
prospectus, the only debt securities issued and outstanding
under the Category B indentures.
Terms used in the descriptions of the Category B old notes and
the new notes below and not otherwise defined in this prospectus
have the meanings given to such terms in the 1990 indenture, the
May 1992 indenture, the September 1992 indenture, the 1997
indenture and the 1999 indenture, respectively. Article and
section references in the descriptions of the notes below are
references to the applicable indenture under which the notes
were or will be issued.
The descriptions of the Category B old notes and Category B
indentures set forth below reflect the terms of the Category B
old notes as currently constituted, after giving effect to
(i) the changes to the covenants and other terms of the
Category B old notes and the Category B indentures pursuant to
the supplemental indentures to the Category B indentures adopted
effective as of December 27, 2005 and (ii) the
assumption by El Paso of all of CGPs rights, powers
and obligations under the Category B old notes and the Category
B indentures pursuant to the supplemental indentures to the
Category B indentures adopted effective as of December 31,
2005.
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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Corporate Existence |
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There are no comparable provisions under the 1990 indenture, the
May 1992 indenture or the September 1992 indenture. |
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There is no comparable provision under the 1997 indenture. |
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Section 1005
Subject to specified exceptions, we will do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and
effect El Pasos existence, rights (charter and
statutory) and franchises. |
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Compliance Certificate |
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Section 4.08
We shall deliver to the trustee under the relevant indenture
within 150 days after the end of each fiscal year of
El Paso an officers certificate stating whether or
not the signers know of any default or event of default by
El Paso that occurred during such fiscal year and whether
all of the conditions and covenants of El Paso have been
complied with regardless of any period of grace or requirement
of notice provided under the relevant
indenture.1
If they do know of such a default or event of default, the
certificate shall describe the default or event of default, as
the case may be, and its status. |
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Section 4.05
We shall deliver to the trustee under the 1997 indenture within
150 days after the end of each fiscal year of El Paso
an officers certificate stating whether or not the signers
know of the existence of any default or event of default by
El Paso and whether all of the conditions and covenants of
El Paso are being complied with regardless of any period of
grace or requirement of notice provided under the 1997
indenture. If they do know of such a default or event of
default, the certificate shall describe the default or event of
default, as the case may be, and its status. |
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Section 1004
We will deliver to the trustee under the 1999 indenture, within
150 days after the end of each fiscal year of El Paso,
an officers certificate, stating whether or not to the
best knowledge of the signer thereof El Paso is in default
in the performance and observance of any of the terms,
provisions and conditions of the 1999 indenture (without regard
to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under
the 1999 indenture) and, if El Paso shall be in default,
specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof
of which the signer may have knowledge. |
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SEC Reports |
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There are no comparable provisions under the 1990 indenture, the
May 1992 indenture or the September 1992 indenture. |
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There is no comparable provision under the 1997 indenture. |
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Section 704
Under the 1999 indenture, we will:
(1) file with the trustee under the 1999 indenture, within
15 days after we are required to file the same with the
SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information,
documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any
of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and
regulations prescribe) which we may be required to file with the
SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 (d) of
the Exchange Act; or, if we are not required to file
information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such
sections, then we shall file with the trustee under the 1999
indenture and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations
prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such of the |
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1 The language appearing in brackets is set forth in each
of the May 1992 indenture and the September 1992 indenture. The
1990 indenture does not contain such language. |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports
which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the
Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a
national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to
time in such rules and regulations; |
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(2) file with the trustee under the 1999 indenture and the SEC,
in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to
time by the SEC, such additional information, documents and
reports with respect to our compliance with the conditions and
covenants of the 1999 indenture as may be required from time to
time by such rules and regulations; and
(3) transmit by mail to all holders of notes issued under the
1999 indenture, as their names and addresses appear in the
security register, within 30 days after the filing thereof
with the trustee under the 1999 indenture, such summaries of any
information, documents and reports required to be filed by us
pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) above as may be required
by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC. |
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Restrictions on Liens |
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There are no comparable provisions under the 1990 indenture, the
May 1992 indenture or the September 1992 indenture. |
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There is no comparable provision under the 1997 indenture. |
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Section 1006
The 1999 indenture provides that we will not, nor will we permit
any restricted subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or suffer to
exist any lien upon any principal property, whether owned or
leased on the date of the 1999 indenture or thereafter acquired,
to secure any of our debt or the debt of any other person (other
than the debt securities issued under the 1999 indenture),
without causing all of the debt securities outstanding under the
1999 indenture (including the new notes) to be secured equally
and ratably with, or prior to, the new debt so long as the new
debt is so |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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secured. This restriction does not prohibit us from creating the
following:
(i) any lien upon any of our property or assets or any
restricted subsidiary in existence on the date of the 1999
indenture or created pursuant to an after-acquired
property clause or similar term in existence on the date
of the 1999 indenture or any mortgage, pledge agreement,
security agreement or other similar instrument in existence on
the date of the 1999 indenture;
(ii) any lien upon any property or assets created at the time of
acquisition of such property or assets by us or any of our
restricted subsidiaries or within one year after such time to
secure all or a portion of the purchase price for such property
or assets or debt incurred to finance such purchase price,
whether such debt was incurred prior to, at the time of or
within one year of such acquisition;
(iii) any lien upon any property or assets existing on the
property at the time of the acquisition of the property by us or
any of our restricted subsidiaries (whether or not the
obligations secured are assumed by us or any of our restricted
subsidiaries);
(iv) any lien upon any property or assets of a person existing
on the property at the time that person becomes a restricted
subsidiary by acquisition, merger or otherwise;
(v) the assumption by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries
of obligations secured by any lien existing at the time of the
acquisition by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries of the
property or assets subject to such lien or at the time of the
acquisition of the person which owns that property or assets; |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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(vi) any lien on property to secure all or part of the cost of
construction or improvements on the property or to secure debt
incurred prior to, at the time of, or within one year after
completion of such construction or making of such improvements,
to provide funds for any such purpose;
(vii) any lien on any oil, gas, mineral and processing and other
plant properties to secure the payment of costs, expenses or
liabilities incurred under any lease or grant or operating or
other similar agreement in connection with or incident to the
exploration, development, maintenance or operation of such
properties;
(viii) any lien arising from or in connection with a conveyance
by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries of any production
payment with respect to oil, gas, natural gas, carbon dioxide,
sulphur, helium, coal, metals, minerals, steam, timber or other
natural resources;
(ix) any lien in favor of us or any of our restricted
subsidiaries;
(x) any lien created or assumed by us or any of our restricted
subsidiaries in connection with the issuance of debt the
interest on which is excludable from gross income of the holder
of such debt pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor statute, for the purpose of financing,
in whole or in part, the acquisition or construction of property
or assets to be used by us or any of our subsidiaries;
(xi) any lien upon property or assets of any foreign restricted
subsidiary to secure debt of that foreign restricted
subsidiary;
(xii) permitted liens (as defined |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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below under Description of the New Notes);
(xiii) any lien upon any additions, improvements, replacements,
repairs, fixtures, appurtenances or component parts thereof
attaching to or required to be attached to property or assets
pursuant to the terms of any mortgage, pledge agreement,
security agreement or other similar instrument, creating a lien
upon such property or assets permitted by clauses (i)
through (xii), inclusive, above; or
(xiv) any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or
replacement (or successive extensions, renewals, refinancing,
refundings or replacements) of any lien, in whole or in part,
that is referred to in clauses (i) through (xiii),
inclusive, above, or of any debt secured thereby; provided,
however, that the principal amount of debt secured shall not
exceed the greater of the principal amount of debt so secured at
the time of such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or
replacement and the original principal amount of debt so secured
(plus in each case the aggregate amount of premiums, other
payments, costs and expenses required to be paid or incurred in
connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding
or replacement); provided further, however, that such
extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement shall
be limited to all or a part of the property (including
improvements, alterations and repairs on such property) subject
to the encumbrance so extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or
replaced (plus improvements, alterations and repairs on such
property).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, under the 1999 indenture, we may,
and may permit any restricted subsidiary to, |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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create, assume, incur, or suffer to exist any lien upon any
principal property to secure our debt or the debt of any other
person (other than the new notes and any other debt securities
issued under the 1999 indenture) that is not excepted by
clauses (i) through (xiv) above without securing the new
notes or any other debt securities issued under the 1999
indenture, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all
debt then outstanding secured by such lien and all similar
liens, together with all net sale proceeds from sale-leaseback
transactions (excluding sale-leaseback transactions permitted by
clauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of the first paragraph
of the restrictions on sales and leasebacks covenant described
below) does not exceed 15% of consolidated net tangible assets
(as defined below under Description of the New
Notes). |
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Restrictions on Sales and Leasebacks |
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There are no comparable provisions under the 1990 indenture, the
May 1992 indenture or the September 1992 indenture. |
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There is no comparable provision under the 1997 indenture. |
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Section 1007
The 1999 indenture also provides that we will not, nor will we
permit any restricted subsidiary to, engage in a sale-leaseback
transaction, unless: (i) such sale-leaseback transaction
occurs within one year from the date of acquisition of the
principal property subject thereto or the date of the completion
of construction or commencement of full operations on such
principal property, whichever is later; (ii) the
sale-leaseback transaction involves a lease for a period,
including renewals, of not more than three years; (iii) we
or any of our restricted subsidiaries would be entitled to incur
debt secured by a lien on the principal property subject thereto
in a principal amount |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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equal to or exceeding the net sale proceeds from such
sale-leaseback transaction without securing the debt securities
issued under the 1999 indenture (including the new notes); or
(iv) we or any of our restricted subsidiaries, within a
one-year period after such sale-leaseback transaction, applies
or causes to be applied an amount not less than the net sale
proceeds from such sale-leaseback transaction to (A) the
repayment, redemption or retirement of funded debt of us or any
such restricted subsidiary, or (B) investment in another
principal property.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, under the 1999 indenture we may,
and may permit any restricted subsidiary to, effect any
sale-leaseback transaction that is not excepted by
clauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of the above
paragraph, provided that the net sale proceeds from such
sale-leaseback transaction, together with the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding debt (other than the debt
securities issued under the 1999 indenture) secured by liens
upon principal properties not excepted by clauses (i)
through (xiv), inclusive, of the first paragraph of the
restrictions on liens covenant described above, do not exceed
15% of consolidated net tangible assets (as defined below under
Description of the New Notes). |
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Restrictions on Consolidation, Merger or Sale |
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Sections 5.01 and 5.02
We shall not consolidate with |
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Sections 5.01 and 5.02
We shall not consolidate with |
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Sections 801 and 802
The 1999 indenture generally |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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or merge with or into any other person or transfer all or
substantially all of our properties and assets as an entirety to
any person, unless:
(1)(A) in the case of a merger, we are the surviving entity, or
(B) the person formed by such consolidation or into which we are
merged or the person which acquires by transfer all or
substantially all of our properties and assets as an entirety
shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed
and delivered to the trustee under the relevant indenture, in
form reasonably satisfactory to such trustee, all our
obligations under such indenture and the securities issued
thereunder;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
default or event of default exists; and
(3) we have delivered to the trustee under the relevant
indenture an officers certificate and an opinion of
counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or
transfer and the supplemental indenture required in connection
with such transaction comply with this covenant and that all
conditions precedent provided for in the relevant indenture
relating to such transaction have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any subsidiary may consolidate
with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and
assets to us or any other subsidiary or subsidiaries. |
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or merge with or into any other person or transfer all or
substantially all of our properties and assets as an entirety to
any person, unless:
(1)(A) in the case of a merger, we are the surviving entity, or
(B) the person formed by such consolidation or into which we are
merged or the person which acquires by transfer all or
substantially all of our properties and assets as an entirety
shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed
and delivered to the trustee under the 1997 indenture, in form
reasonably satisfactory to such trustee, all our obligations
under the 1997 indenture and the securities issued
thereunder;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
default or event of default exists; and
(3) we have delivered to the trustee under the 1997 indenture an
officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each
stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and the
supplemental indenture required in connection with such
transaction comply with this covenant and that all conditions
precedent provided for in the 1997 indenture relating to such
transaction have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any subsidiary may consolidate
with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and
assets to us or |
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permits a consolidation or merger between us and another person.
It also permits us to sell all or substantially all of our
property and assets. However, we may not consolidate with or
merge into any other person or sell, lease or transfer our
properties and assets as, or substantially as, an entirety to,
any person, unless:
(1)(A) in the case of a merger, we are the surviving entity, or
(B) the person formed by such consolidation or into which we are
merged or the person which acquires by sale or transfer, or
which leases, our properties and assets as, or substantially as,
an entirety shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture,
executed and delivered to the trustee under the 1999 indenture,
in form reasonably satisfactory to such trustee, the due and
punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and
interest on all the securities outstanding under the 1999
indenture (including the new notes) and the performance or
observance of every covenant and condition of the 1999 indenture
to be performed or observed by us;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
default or event of default exists; and
(3) we have delivered to the trustee under the 1999 indenture an
officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each
stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or lease
and the |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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Upon any consolidation of El Paso with, or merger of
El Paso into, any other person or any transfer of all or
substantially all of our properties and assets as an entirety in
accordance with the foregoing, the successor person formed by
such consolidation or into which we are merged or to which such
transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and
may exercise every right and power of, El Paso under the
relevant indenture with the same effect as if such successor
person had been named originally as the company party to such
indenture, and thereafter, the predecessor person shall be
relieved of all obligations and covenants under such indenture
and the securities outstanding thereunder. |
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any other subsidiary or subsidiaries.
Upon any consolidation of El Paso with, or merger of
El Paso into, any other person or any transfer of all or
substantially all of our properties and assets as an entirety in
accordance with the foregoing, the successor person formed by
such consolidation or into which we are merged or to which such
transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and
may exercise every right and power of, El Paso under the
1997 indenture with the same effect as if such successor person
had been named originally as the company party to such
indenture, and thereafter, the predecessor person shall be
relieved of all obligations and covenants under the 1997
indenture and the securities outstanding thereunder. |
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supplemental indenture required in connection with such
transaction comply with this covenant and that all conditions
precedent provided for in the 1999 indenture relating to such
transaction have been complied with.
Upon any consolidation of El Paso with, or merger of
El Paso into, any other person or any sale, transfer or
lease of our properties and assets as, or substantially as, an
entirety in accordance with the foregoing, the successor person
formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or to
which such sale, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and
be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of,
El Paso under the 1999 indenture with the same effect as if
such successor person had been named originally as a party to
the 1999 indenture, and thereafter, except in the case of a
lease, the predecessor person shall be relieved of all
obligations and covenants under the 1999 indenture and the
securities outstanding thereunder (including the new notes). |
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Events of Default |
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Article 6 |
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Article 6 |
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Article 5 |
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Event of default when used in each of the 1990
indenture, the May 1992 indenture and the September 1992
indenture with respect to the Category B old notes issued under
such indenture, means any of the following:
failure to pay interest on any Category B old note
issued |
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Event of default when used in the 1997 indenture
with respect to the Category B old notes issued under the 1997
indenture, means any of the following:
failure to pay interest on any Category B old note
issued thereunder for 30 days; |
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Event of default when used in the 1999 indenture
with respect to the new notes, means any of the following:
failure to pay interest on any new note for
30 days;
failure to pay the principal of or any premium on
any new note when due; |
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1 |
The language appearing in brackets is set forth in each of the
May 1992 indenture and the September 1992 indenture. The 1990
indenture does not contain such language. |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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thereunder for 30 days;
failure to pay the principal of gor any deposit on
any sinking fund installment onh
1
any Category B old note issued thereunder when due;
failure to perform any other covenant in such
indenture applicable to the Category B old notes issued
thereunder that continues for 60 days after receiving
written notice; and
certain events in our bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization.
An event of default for a particular series of Category B old
notes under any of the 1990 indenture, the May 1992 indenture or
the September 1992 indenture does not necessarily constitute an
event of default for any other series of Category B old notes.
The trustee under each such indenture may withhold notice to the
holders of Category B old notes under such indenture of any
default, except in the payment of principal or interest, if it
considers such withholding of notice to be in the best interests
of the holders.
If an event of default (other than an event of default resulting
from bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) with respect to
any Category B old notes of a particular series outstanding
under the 1990 indenture, the May 1992 indenture or the
September 1992 indenture shall occur and be continuing, the
trustee under such indenture or the |
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failure to pay the principal of or any deposit on
any sinking fund installment on any Category B old note issued
thereunder when due;
failure to perform any other covenant in such
indenture applicable to the Category B old notes issued
thereunder that continues for 60 days after receiving
written notice; and
certain events in our bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization.
An event of default for a particular series of Category B old
notes under the 1997 indenture does not necessarily constitute
an event of default for any other series of Category B old
notes. The trust ee under the 1997 indenture may withhold notice
to the holders of Category B old notes under the 1997 indenture
of any default, except in the payment of principal or interest,
if it considers such withholding of notice to be in the best
interests of the holders.
If an event of default (other than an event of default resulting
from bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) with respect to
any Category B old notes of a particular series outstanding
under the 1997 indenture shall occur and be continuing, the
trust ee under the 1997 indenture or the holders of at least 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Category B old notes of
such series may declare all unpaid principal of and accrued
interest on such |
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failure to perform any other covenant in the 1999
indenture applicable to the new notes that continues for
60 days after being given written notice; or
certain events in our bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization.
An event of default for a particular series of new notes does
not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other
series of new notes or any other series of debt securities
issued under the 1999 indenture. The trustee under the 1999
indenture may withhold notice to the holders of new notes of any
default, except in the payment of principal or interest, if it
considers such withholding of notice to be in the best interests
of the holders.
If an event of default for a particular series of new notes
occurs and continues, the trustee under the 1999 indenture or
the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
new notes of such series may declare the entire principal of all
the new notes of such 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 new notes of
the relevant series can void the declaration. |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Category B old notes of such series may declare all unpaid
principal of and accrued interest on such Category B old notes
then outstanding to be due and payable immediately. If an event
of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization shall occur, all unpaid principal
of and accrued interest on all Category B old notes then
outstanding under each such indenture shall be due and payable
immediately without any declaration or other act on the part of
the trustee thereunder or the holders of any Category B old
notes. Such acceleration may be annulled and past defaults
(except, unless theretofore cured, a default in payment of
principal of or interest on the Category B old notes of such
series) may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Category B old notes of such series then
outstanding upon the conditions provided in the relevant
indenture. |
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Category B old notes then outstanding to be due and payable
immediately. If an event of default resulting from certain
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization shall occur,
all unpaid principal of and accrued interest on all Category B
old notes then outstanding under the 1997 indenture shall be due
and payable immediately without any declaration or other act on
the part of the trustee thereunder or the holders of any
Category B old notes. Such acceleration may be annulled and past
defaults (except, unless theretofore cured, a default in payment
of principal of or interest on the Category B old notes of such
series) may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Category B old notes of such series then
outstanding upon the conditions provided in the 1997 indenture. |
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Modification of Indenture Supplemental
Indentures |
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Article 9 |
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Article 9 |
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Article 9 |
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With the written consent of the holders of at least a majority
in principal amount of the Category B old notes gof all series
affected thereby (voting as a single
class)h1,
El Paso, when authorized by a board resolution, and the
trustee under the relevant indenture may amend or supplement
such indenture or the Category B old notes |
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With the written consent of the holders of at least a majority
in principal amount of the Category B old notes of all series
affected thereby (voting as a single class), El Paso, when
authorized by a board resolution, and the trustee under the 1997
indenture may amend or supplement the 1997 indenture or the
Category B |
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With the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all
series affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one
class), by act of such holders delivered to us and the trustee
under the 1999 indenture, we and such trustee may enter into an
indenture or indentures |
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1 |
The language appearing in brackets is set forth in each of the
May 1992 indenture and the September 1992 indenture. The 1990
indenture does not contain such language. |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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governed thereby without notice to any holder. The holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Category B old
notes gof all series affected thereby (voting as a single
class)h may waive compliance by El Paso with any provision
of the relevant indenture or such Category B old notes without
notice to any holderg; provided, that, only the holders
of a majority in principal amount of Category B old notes of a
particular series may waive compliance with a provision of the
relevant indenture or the Category B old notes of such series
having applicability solely to such seriesh. However, without
the consent of each holder affected, an amendment, supplement or
waiver may not:
(1) reduce the amount of Category B old notes gof such series or
all series (voting as a single class), as the case may be,h
whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or
waiver;
(2) reduce the rate or change the stated maturity for payment of
interest on any Category B old note;
(3) reduce the principal gor any premium payable upon the
redemption ofh or change the stated maturity of any Category B
old note;
(4) waive a default in the payment of the principal of or
interest on any Category B old note;
(5) make any changes in any |
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old notes governed thereby without notice to any holder. The
holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
Category B old notes of all series affected thereby (voting as a
single class) may waive compliance by El Paso with any
provision of the 1997 indenture or such Category B old notes
without notice to any holder; provided, that, only the
holders of a majority in principal amount of Category B old
notes of a particular series may waive compliance with a
provision of the 1997 indenture or the Category B old notes of
such series having applicability solely to such series. However,
without the consent of each holder affected, an amendment,
supplement or waiver may not:
(1) reduce the amount of Category B old notes of such series or
all series (voting as a single class), as the case may be, whose
holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the rate or change the stated maturity for payment of
interest on any Category B old note;
(3) reduce the principal or any premium payable upon the
redemption of or change the stated maturity of any Category B
old note;
(4) waive a default in the payment of the principal of or
interest on any Category B old note;
(5) make any changes in any of the amendment and waiver |
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supplemental to the 1999 indenture for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of
the provisions of the 1999 indenture or of modifying in any
manner the rights of the holders of debt securities of such
series under the 1999 indenture (including any series of new
notes); provided, however, that no such supplemental
indenture shall, without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding debt security affected thereby:
(1) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or interest, if any, on, any such
debt security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or
premium, if any, or the rate of interest thereon; or
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is
required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of
whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with
certain provisions of the 1999 indenture or certain defaults
under the 1999 indenture and their consequences) provided for in
the 1999 indenture; or
(3) change any obligation of El Paso, with respect to
outstanding debt securities of a series, to maintain an office
or agency in the places and for the purposes specified for such
series in the 1999 indenture; or |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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of the amendment and waiver provisions of the relevant
indenture; or
(6) make any Category B old note payable in money other than
that stated in such Category B old note.
gA supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any
covenant or other provision of the May 1992 indenture or the
September 1992 indenture which has expressly been included
solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of
Category B old notes, or which modifies the rights of the
holders of Category B old notes of such series with respect to
such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect
the rights under such indenture of the holders of Category B old
notes of any other series. h
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the holders under
the gtwoh immediately preceding paragraphgsh to approve the
particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver,
but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the
substance thereof.
Notwithstanding the preceding, El Paso, when authorized by
a board resolution, and the trustee under the relevant indenture
may amend or supplement such indenture or the Category B old
notes of any series governed thereby without notice to or
consent of any holder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, |
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provisions of the 1997 indenture; or
(6) make any Category B old note payable in money other than
that stated in such Category B old note.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any
covenant or other provision of the 1997 indenture which has
expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more
particular series of Category B old notes, or which modifies the
rights of the holders of Category B old notes of such series
with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be
deemed not to affect the rights under the 1997 indenture of the
holders of Category B old notes of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the holders under
the two immediately preceding paragraphs to approve the
particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver,
but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the
substance thereof.
Notwithstanding the preceding, El Paso, when authorized by
a board resolution, and the trustee under the 1997 indenture may
amend or supplement the 1997 indenture or the Category B old
notes of any series governed thereby without notice to or
consent of any holder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
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(4) modify any of the amendment and waiver provisions of the
1999 indenture, except to increase any such percentage or to
provide that certain other provisions of the 1999 indenture
cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder
of each outstanding debt security affected thereby.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any
covenant or other provision of the 1999 indenture which has
expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more
particular series of debt securities, or which modifies the
rights of the holders of debt securities of such series with
respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not
to affect the rights under the 1999 indenture of the holders of
debt securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for any act of holders under the two
immediately preceding paragraphs to approve the particular form
of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be
sufficient if such act shall approve the substance of such
supplemental indenture.
Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any
holders, we and the trustee under the 1999 indenture, at any
time and from time to time, may enter into one or more
indentures supplemental to the 1999 indenture, in form
satisfactory |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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and |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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defect or inconsistency;
(2) to comply with the consolidation, merger and sale provisions
of such indenture;
(3) to provide for uncertificated Category B old notes in
addition to certificated Category B old notes;
(4) to secure the Category B old notes governed thereby in
connection with the restrictions on liens covenant of such
indenture;
(5) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights
of any holder of such series;
g(6) to provide for the issuance and the terms of any particular
series of Category B old notes, the rights and obligations of
El Paso and the holders of the Category B old notes of such
series, the form or forms of the Category B old notes of such
series and such other matters in connection therewith as our
board of directors shall authorize, including, without
limitation, provisions for (a) additional or different
covenants, restrictions or conditions applicable to such series,
(b) additional or different events of default in respect of
such series, (c) a longer or shorter period of grace and/or
notice in respect of any provision applicable to such series
than is otherwise provided in the May 1992 indenture or the
September 1992 indenture, (d) immediate enforcement of any
event of default in respect |
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(2) to comply with the consolidation, merger and sale provisions
of the 1997 indenture;
(3) to provide for uncertificated Category B old notes in
addition to certificated Category B old notes;
(4) to secure the Category B old notes governed thereby in
connection with the restrictions on liens covenant of the 1997
indenture;
(5) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights
of any holder of such series;
(6) to provide for the issuance and the terms of any particular
series of Category B old notes, the rights and obligations of
El Paso and the holders of the Category B old notes of such
series, the form or forms of the Category B old notes of such
series and such other matters in connection therewith as our
board of directors shall authorize, including, without
limitation, provisions for (a) additional or different
covenants, restrictions or conditions applicable to such series,
(b) additional or different events of default in respect of
such series, (c) a longer or shorter period of grace and/or
notice in respect of any provision applicable to such series
than is otherwise provided in the 1997 indenture,
(d) immediate enforcement of any event of default in
respect of such series or (e) limitations upon |
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to such trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to secure the debt securities pursuant to the requirements
of the 1999 indenture or otherwise; or
(2) to evidence the succession of another person to El Paso
and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of
El Paso in the 1999 indenture and in the debt securities;
or
(3) to add to the covenants of El Paso or the events of
default for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of
debt securities (and if such covenants or events of default are
to be for the benefit of less than all series of debt
securities, stating that such covenants or events of default, as
the case may be, are expressly being included solely for the
benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power
conferred upon us in the 1999 indenture; or
(4) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the
1999 indenture in respect of one or more series of debt
securities; provided, however, that any such addition,
change or elimination shall become effective only when there is
no debt security outstanding of any series created prior to the
execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to
the benefit of such provision; or
(5) to establish the form or terms of securities of any series
as permitted by the |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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1990 Indenture, |
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May 1992 Indenture, |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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of such series or (e) limitations upon the remedies
available in respect of any events of default in respect of such
series or upon the rights of the holders of Category B old notes
of such series to waive any such event of default;
provided, that this paragraph (6) shall not be
deemed to require the execution of a supplemental indenture to
provide for the issuance of any series of Category B old notes
unless the same shall be provided for in the authorizing
resolution relating thereto; orh
g(7) to provide for a separate trustee for one or more seriesh. |
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the remedies available in respect of any events of default in
respect of such series or upon the rights of the holders of
Category B old notes of such series to waive any such event of
default; provided, that this paragraph (6) shall not
be deemed to require the execution of a supplemental indenture
to provide for the issuance of any series of Category B old
notes unless the same shall be provided for in the authorizing
resolution relating thereto; or
(7) to provide for a separate trustee for one or more series. |
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1999 indenture; or
(6) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision in the 1999 indenture which may be inconsistent with
any other provision in the 1999 indenture, to comply with any
applicable mandatory provisions of law or to make any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under
the 1999 indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this
clause (6) shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of debt securities of any series in any material
respect; or
(7) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
under the 1999 indenture by a successor trustee with respect to
the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or
change any of the provisions of the 1999 indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the
trusts under the 1999 indenture by more than one trustee,
pursuant to the requirements of the 1999 indenture; or
(8) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the 1999
indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the
qualification of the 1999 indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended, or under any similar federal statute
subsequently enacted, and to add to the 1999 indenture such
other provisions as may be expressly |
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CATEGORY B OLD NOTES |
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NEW NOTES |
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September 1992 Indenture |
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1997 Indenture |
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1999 Indenture |
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required under the Trust Indenture Act. |
Governing Law |
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Section 10.08 |
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Section 10.08 |
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Section 112 |
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The 1990 indenture, the May 1992 indenture, the September 1992
indenture and the Category B old notes issued thereunder are
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of New York. |
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The 1997 indenture and the Category B old notes issued
thereunder are governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of New York. |
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The 1999 indenture is, and the new notes will be, governed by,
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New
York. |
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DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES
Each series of the new notes to be issued in exchange offers for
the old notes will be issued under the 1999 indenture, as more
fully described above under The Exchange Offers.
The following summary of certain provisions of the 1999
indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to, (i) the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and (ii) all of the
provisions of the 1999 indenture, including the definitions of
certain terms in the 1999 indenture and those terms made a part
of the 1999 indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act as
in effect on the date of the 1999 indenture. The 1999 indenture
is, by its terms, subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture
Act. We urge you to read the 1999 indenture because it, and not
this description, will define your rights as a holder of the new
notes.
General Terms
The new notes will:
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be our direct, unsecured general obligations; |
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be issued in denominations of $1,000 and whole multiples of
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not have the benefit of a sinking fund. |
Principal, Maturity and Interest
Our new 6.50% senior notes due 2008 will be limited in
total principal amount to $200,000,000 and will mature on
June 1, 2008. Interest on our new 6.50% senior notes
due 2008 will accrue at the rate of 6.50% per annum and
will be payable semi-annually on each June 1 and
December 1, commencing on December 1, 2006. Interest
on our new 6.50% senior notes due 2008 will accrue from
June 1, 2006, the most recent date to which interest will
have been paid on the Category A old 6.50% senior notes due
2008 and the Category B old 6.50% senior debentures due
June 1, 2008 (as of the anticipated expiration date).
Our new 7.625% senior notes due 2008 will be limited in
total principal amount to $215,000,000 and will mature on
September 1, 2008. Interest on our new 7.625% senior
notes due 2008 will accrue at the rate of 7.625% per annum
and will be payable semi-annually on each March 1 and
September 1, commencing on September 1, 2006. Interest
on our new 7.625% senior notes due 2008 will accrue from
March 1, 2006, the most recent date to which interest will
have been paid on the Category A old 7.625% senior notes
due 2008 and the Category B old 7.625% notes due 2008 (as
of the anticipated expiration date).
Our new 6.375% senior notes due 2009 will be limited in
total principal amount to $200,000,000 and will mature on
February 1, 2009. Interest on our new 6.375% senior
notes due 2009 will accrue at the rate of 6.375% per annum
and will be payable semi-annually on each February 1 and
August 1, commencing on August 1, 2006. Interest on
our new 6.375% senior notes due 2009 will accrue from
February 1, 2006, the most recent date to which interest
will have been paid on the Category A old 6.375% senior
notes due 2009 and the Category B old 6.375% senior
debentures due February 1, 2009 (as of the anticipated
expiration date).
Our new 7.75% senior notes due 2010 will be limited in
total principal amount to $400,000,000 and will mature on
June 15, 2010. Interest on our new 7.75% senior notes
due 2010 will accrue at the rate of 7.75% per annum and
will be payable semi-annually on each June 15 and
December 15, commencing on December 15, 2006. Interest
on our new 7.75% senior notes due 2010 will accrue from
June 15, 2006, the most recent date to which interest will
have been paid on the Category A old 7.75% senior notes due
2010 and the Category B old 7.75% notes due 2010 (as of the
anticipated expiration date).
Our new
103/4% senior
notes due 2010 will be limited in total principal amount to
$56,573,000 and will mature on October 1, 2010. Interest on
our new
103/4% senior
notes due 2010 will accrue at the rate of
103/4
% per annum and will be payable semi-annually on
each April 1 and October 1, commencing on
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October 1, 2006. Interest on our new
103/4% senior
notes due 2010 will accrue from April 1, 2006, the most
recent date to which interest will have been paid on the
Category A old
103/4% senior
notes due 2010 and the Category B old
103/4
% senior debentures due October 1, 2010 (as of
the anticipated expiration date).
Our new
95/8% senior
notes due 2012 will be limited in total principal amount to
$150,000,000 and will mature on May 15, 2012. Interest on
our new
95/8% senior
notes due 2012 will accrue at the rate of
95/8% per
annum and will be payable semi-annually on each May 15 and
November 15, commencing on November 15, 2006. Interest
on our new
95/8% senior
notes due 2012 will accrue from May 15, 2006, the most
recent date to which interest will have been paid on the
Category A old
95/8% senior
notes due 2012 and the Category B old
95/8
% senior debentures due May 15, 2012 (as of the
anticipated expiration date).
Our new 6.70% senior notes due 2027 will be limited in
total principal amount to $200,000,000 and will mature on
February 15, 2027. Interest on our new 6.70% senior
notes due 2027 will accrue at the rate of 6.70% per annum
and will be payable semi-annually on each February 15 and
August 15, commencing on August 15, 2006. Interest on
our new 6.70% senior notes due 2027 will accrue from
February 15, 2006, the most recent date to which interest
will have been paid on the Category A old 6.70% senior
notes due 2027 and the Category B old 6.70% senior
debentures due February 15, 2027 (as of the anticipated
expiration date).
Our new 6.95% senior notes due 2028 will be limited in
total principal amount to $200,000,000 and will mature on
June 1, 2028. Interest on our new 6.95% senior notes
due 2028 will accrue at the rate of 6.95% per annum and
will be payable semi-annually on each June 1 and
December 1, commencing on December 1, 2006. Interest
on our new 6.95% senior notes due 2028 will accrue from
June 1, 2006, the most recent date to which interest will
have been paid on the Category A old 6.95% senior notes due
2028 and the Category B old 6.95% senior debentures due
June 1, 2028 (as of the anticipated expiration date).
We will issue up to $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
our new 7.750% medium term notes in the exchange offers. Our new
7.750% medium term notes will have substantially the same terms
and the same Committee on Uniform Security Identification
Procedures, or CUSIP, number as (and will constitute a part of
the same series as) our existing 7.750% medium term notes (CUSIP
No. 28368E AE 6). Our new 7.750% medium term notes
will mature on January 15, 2032. Interest on our new 7.750%
medium term notes will accrue at the rate of 7.750% per
annum and will be payable semi-annually on each January 15 and
July 15, commencing on January 15, 2007. Interest on
our new 7.750% medium term notes will accrue from July 15,
2006, the most recent date to which interest will have been paid
on the Category A old 7.75% senior notes due 2032 (as of
the anticipated expiration date).
Our new 7.42% senior notes due 2037 will be limited in
total principal amount to $200,000,000 and will mature on
February 15, 2037. Interest on our new 7.42% senior
notes due 2037 will accrue at the rate of 7.42% per annum
and will be payable semi-annually on each February 15 and
August 15, commencing on August 15, 2006. Interest on
our new 7.42% senior notes due 2037 will accrue from
February 15, 2006, the most recent date to which interest
will have been paid on the Category A old 7.42% senior
notes due 2037 and the Category B old 7.42% senior
debentures due February 15, 2037 (as of the anticipated
expiration date).
For each series of new notes described above, interest will be
calculated on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve
30-day months. We may
issue the new notes in total principal amounts less than the
amounts described above if less than all outstanding old notes
are validly tendered in the exchange offers.
If any date on which interest or principal is payable on the new
notes is not a business day, the payment of the interest or
principal payable on that date will be made on the next day that
is a business day, without any interest or other payment in
respect of the delay, except that, if the business day is in the
next calendar year, payment will be made on the immediately
preceding business day, in each case with the same force and
effect as if made on the scheduled payment date. Unless we
default on a payment, no interest will accrue for the period
from and after the applicable maturity date or redemption date.
Interest
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on the new notes will be payable on overdue interest to the
extent permitted by law at the same rate as interest is payable
on principal.
Ranking
Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
the new notes will rank equally with all of our other existing
and future senior unsecured debt. As of March 31, 2006, we
had approximately $8.5 billion of senior unsecured debt.
This amount excludes El Pasos $3 billion secured
credit agreement, under which a $1.2 billion term loan and
$1.6 billion of letters of credit were outstanding as of
March 31, 2006. The 1999 indenture does not limit the
amount of additional indebtedness that we or any of our
subsidiaries may incur.
Because substantially all our operations are conducted
exclusively through our subsidiaries, our cash flow and our
consequent ability to service debt, including the new notes, are
dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the
distribution of those earnings to, or upon other payments of
funds by those subsidiaries to, us. The subsidiaries are
separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation,
contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due on the new notes
or to make funds available for such payments, whether by
dividends, other distributions, loans or other payments. In
addition, the payment of dividends or other distributions and
the making of loans and advances to us by our subsidiaries are
subject to statutory regulations or contractual restrictions,
are contingent upon the earnings of those subsidiaries and are
subject to various business considerations. Any right we have to
receive assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their liquidation
or reorganization, and the resulting right of the holders of the
new notes to participate in those assets, will be effectively
subordinated to the claims of that subsidiarys creditors,
including trade creditors, except to the extent that we are
recognized as a creditor of such subsidiary, in which case our
claims would be subordinated to any security interests in the
assets of such subsidiary and any indebtedness of such
subsidiary senior to that held by us. As of March 31, 2006,
our subsidiaries had approximately $7.4 billion of debt.
For a further description of the effects that this structural
subordination could have on our ability to make payments on the
new notes when due, see Risk Factors Risks
Related to the Notes and the Exchange Offers As a
holding company, we will depend on our subsidiaries for funds to
meet our payment obligations under the notes.
Redemption
The new notes of each series, other than our new
6.70% senior notes due 2027, will not be redeemable at the
option of the holders of such notes prior to their stated
maturity. The new notes of each series, other than our new
7.750% medium term notes, will not be redeemable at our option
prior to their stated maturity.
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Redemption at the Option of Holders of New
6.70% Senior Notes due 2027 |
On February 15, 2007, or if such date is not a business
day, then the next succeeding business day, which we refer to
(for the purposes of this subsection) as the redemption date,
each holder of our new 6.70% senior notes due 2027, which
we refer to as our 2027 notes, will have the right to require us
to redeem all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral
multiple thereof) of such holders 2027 notes for cash at a
purchase price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the
redemption date.
On or prior to November 30, 2006, we will mail a notice to
each holder of our 2027 notes stating that (a) in order for
such holder to exercise the redemption right, the holder must
surrender the notes in respect of which the redemption right is
being exercised, together with the form entitled Option of
Holder to Elect Redemption on February 15, 2007 on
the reverse of our 2027 notes, duly completed, or transfer such
notes by book-entry, to the trustee under the 1999 indenture
during the period from December 15, 2006 and prior to
5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on January 15, 2007 (or
if such date is not a business day, then the next succeeding
business day), (b) any election on the part of a holder to
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exercise the redemption right effected in accordance with the
foregoing shall be irrevocable on the part of the holder and may
not be withdrawn, (c) holders whose 2027 notes are being
redeemed only in part will be issued new notes of such series
equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the notes
surrendered, which unredeemed portion must be equal to $1,000 in
principal amount or an integral multiple thereof, and
(d) unless we default in the payment of principal and
accrued interest on the 2027 notes to be redeemed on the
redemption date, interest on such notes will cease to accrue on
the redemption date. We will comply with the requirements of
Rule 14e-1 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any other
securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such
laws and regulations are applicable to the redemption of the
2027 notes pursuant to the redemption right.
On the redemption date, we will, to the extent lawful, deposit
with the trustee under the 1999 indenture an amount sufficient
to redeem all of our 2027 notes or portions thereof being
redeemed (together with accrued interest).
Because our 2027 notes will be represented by global securities,
a holder must exercise the redemption right through the
depositarys nominee. In order to ensure that the
depositarys nominee will exercise in a timely manner the
redemption right with respect to a particular 2027 note, the
beneficial owner of an interest therein must instruct the broker
or other direct or indirect participant through which it holds
an interest in such note to notify the depositary of its desire
to exercise the redemption right. Different firms have different
cut-off times for accepting instructions from their customers
and, accordingly, each such beneficial owner should consult the
broker or other direct or indirect participant through which it
holds an interest in a global security in order to ascertain the
cut-off time by which such an instruction must be given in order
for timely notice to be delivered to the depositary.
All questions regarding the validity, form, eligibility
(including time of receipt) and acceptance of any 2027 notes for
redemption will be determined by us, and our determination will
be final and binding.
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Redemption at the Option of El Paso of New 7.750%
Medium Term Notes |
Each new 7.750% medium term note, which we refer to collectively
as our 2032 notes, will be subject to redemption at our option
on any date on and after the date such note is issued, in whole
or from time to time in part, at the make-whole price (as
defined below), on notice given no more than 60 nor less than 30
calendar days prior to the date of redemption, which we refer to
(for the purposes of this subsection) as the redemption date,
and in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 indenture.
Make-whole price means an amount equal to the
greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of a 2032 note
to be redeemed and (ii) as determined by an independent
investment banker (as defined below), the sum of the present
values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of
interest accrued as of the redemption date) discounted back to
the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a
360-day year consisting
of twelve 30-day
months) at the treasury rate (as defined below) plus
25 basis points, plus, in the case of both (i) and
(ii), accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. Unless
we default in payment of the make-whole price, on and after the
redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the principal
amount of a 2032 note to be redeemed. In the event of redemption
of the 2032 note in part only, a new 2032 note of like tenor for
the unredeemed portion thereof and otherwise having the same
terms as the 2032 note shall be issued in the name of the holder
thereof upon the presentation and surrender thereof.
Comparable treasury issue means the United States
Treasury security selected by an independent investment banker
as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of a 2032
note that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in
accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new
issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to
the remaining term of such 2032 note.
Comparable treasury price means, with respect to any
redemption date, (i) the average of five reference treasury
dealer quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the
highest and lowest of such reference treasury dealer quotations,
or (ii) if the trustee under the 1999 indenture obtains
fewer than five such reference treasury dealer quotations, the
average of all such reference treasury dealer quotations.
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Independent investment banker means one of the
reference treasury dealers appointed by the trustee under the
1999 indenture after consultation with us.
Reference treasury dealer means (i) Banc of
America Securities LLC; ABN AMRO Incorporated; BNP Paribas
Securities Corp.; Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc. and
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their respective
successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing
shall not be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in
New York City, which we refer to as a primary treasury dealer,
we shall substitute therefor another primary treasury dealer;
and (ii) any two other primary treasury dealers we select.
Reference treasury dealer quotations means, with
respect to each reference treasury dealer and any redemption
date, the average, as determined by the trustee under the 1999
indenture, of the bid and asked prices for the comparable
treasury issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its
principal amount) quoted in writing to such trustee by such
reference treasury dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third
business day preceding such redemption date.
Treasury rate means, with respect to any redemption
date, (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the
average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the
most recently published statistical release designated
H.15(519) or any successor publication that is
published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System and that establishes yields on actively traded
United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity
under the caption Treasury Constant Maturities, for
the maturity corresponding to the comparable treasury issue (if
no maturity is within three months before or after the stated
maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely
corresponding to the comparable treasury issue shall be
determined, and the treasury rate shall be interpolated or
extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding
to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any
successor release) is not published during the week preceding
the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate
per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity
of the comparable treasury issue, calculated using a price for
the comparable treasury issue (expressed as a percentage of its
principal amount) equal to the comparable treasury price for
such redemption date. The treasury rate shall be calculated on
the third business day preceding the redemption date.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the 1999
indenture, the notice of redemption with respect to the
foregoing redemption need not set forth the make-whole price but
only the manner of calculation thereof. We shall notify the
trustee under the 1999 indenture of the make-whole price with
respect to the foregoing redemption promptly after the
calculation thereof, and such trustee shall not be responsible
for such calculation.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The 1999 indenture generally permits a consolidation or merger
between us and another person. It also permits us to sell all or
substantially all of our property and assets. However, we may
not consolidate with or merge into any other person or sell,
lease or transfer our properties and assets as, or substantially
as, an entirety to, any person, unless:
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(1) (A) in the case of a merger, we are the surviving
entity, or (B) the person formed by such consolidation or
into which we are merged or the person which acquires by sale or
transfer, or which leases, our properties and assets as, or
substantially as, an entirety shall expressly assume, by a
supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the trustee
under the 1999 indenture, in form reasonably satisfactory to
such trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of
and any premium and interest on all the securities outstanding
under the 1999 indenture (including the new notes) and the
performance or observance of every covenant and condition of the
1999 indenture to be performed or observed by us; |
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(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
default or event of default exists; and |
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(3) we have delivered to the trustee under the 1999
indenture an officers certificate and an opinion of
counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale,
transfer or lease and the |
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supplemental indenture required in connection with such
transaction comply with this covenant and that all conditions
precedent provided for in the 1999 indenture relating to such
transaction have been complied with. |
Upon any consolidation of El Paso with, or merger of
El Paso into, any other person or any sale, transfer or
lease of our properties and assets as, or substantially as, an
entirety in accordance with the foregoing, the successor person
formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or to
which such sale, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and
be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of,
El Paso under the 1999 indenture with the same effect as if
such successor person had been named originally as a party to
the 1999 indenture, and thereafter, except in the case of a
lease, the predecessor person shall be relieved of all
obligations and covenants under the 1999 indenture and the
securities outstanding thereunder (including the new notes).
Events of Default
Event of default when used in the 1999 indenture
with respect to the new notes, means any of the following:
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failure to pay interest on any new note for 30 days; |
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failure to pay the principal of or any premium on any new note
when due; |
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failure to perform any other covenant in the 1999 indenture
applicable to the new notes that continues for 60 days
after being given written notice; or |
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certain events in our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. |
An event of default for a particular series of new notes does
not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other
series of new notes or any other series of debt securities
issued under the 1999 indenture. The trustee under the 1999
indenture may withhold notice to the holders of new notes of any
default, except in the payment of principal or interest, if it
considers such withholding of notice to be in the best interests
of the holders.
If an event of default for a particular series of new notes
occurs and continues, the trustee under the 1999 indenture or
the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
new notes of such series may declare the entire principal of all
the new notes of such 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 new notes of
the relevant series can void the declaration.
Other than its duties in case of a default, a trustee is not
obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the 1999
indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders,
unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable indemnity. If
they provide this reasonable indemnification, the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the new notes of a particular
series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding or any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising
any power conferred upon the trustee, for the new notes of such
series.
Covenants
Under the 1999 indenture, we will agree to:
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pay the principal of, and interest and any premium on, the new
notes when due; |
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maintain a place of payment; |
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deliver to the trustee under the 1999 indenture within
150 days after the end of each fiscal year of El Paso,
an officers certificate, stating whether or not to the
best knowledge of the signer thereof |
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El Paso is in default in the performance and observance of
any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the 1999
indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement
of notice provided under the 1999 indenture) and, if
El Paso shall be in default, specifying all such defaults
and the nature and status thereof of which the signer may have
knowledge; and |
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deposit sufficient funds with any paying agent on or before the
due date for any principal, interest or premium. |
The 1999 indenture provides that we will not, nor will we permit
any restricted subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or suffer to
exist any lien upon any principal property, whether owned or
leased on the date of the 1999 indenture or thereafter acquired,
to secure any of our debt or the debt of any other person (other
than the debt securities issued under the 1999 indenture),
without causing all of the debt securities outstanding under the
1999 indenture (including the new notes) to be secured equally
and ratably with, or prior to, the new debt so long as the new
debt is so secured. This restriction does not prohibit us from
creating the following:
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(i) any lien upon any of our property or assets or any
restricted subsidiary in existence on the date of the 1999
indenture or created pursuant to an after-acquired
property clause or similar term in existence on the date
of the 1999 indenture or any mortgage, pledge agreement,
security agreement or other similar instrument in existence on
the date of the 1999 indenture; |
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(ii) any lien upon any property or assets created at the
time of acquisition of such property or assets by us or any of
our restricted subsidiaries or within one year after such time
to secure all or a portion of the purchase price for such
property or assets or debt incurred to finance such purchase
price, whether such debt was incurred prior to, at the time of
or within one year of such acquisition; |
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(iii) any lien upon any property or assets existing on the
property at the time of the acquisition of the property by us or
any of our restricted subsidiaries (whether or not the
obligations secured are assumed by us or any of our restricted
subsidiaries); |
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(iv) any lien upon any property or assets of a person
existing on the property at the time that person becomes a
restricted subsidiary by acquisition, merger or otherwise; |
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(v) the assumption by us or any of our restricted
subsidiaries of obligations secured by any lien existing at the
time of the acquisition by us or any of our restricted
subsidiaries of the property or assets subject to such lien or
at the time of the acquisition of the person which owns that
property or assets; |
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(vi) any lien on property to secure all or part of the cost
of construction or improvements on the property or to secure
debt incurred prior to, at the time of, or within one year after
completion of such construction or making of such improvements,
to provide funds for any such purpose; |
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(vii) any lien on any oil, gas, mineral and processing and
other plant properties to secure the payment of costs, expenses
or liabilities incurred under any lease or grant or operating or
other similar agreement in connection with or incident to the
exploration, development, maintenance or operation of such
properties; |
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(viii) any lien arising from or in connection with a
conveyance by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries of any
production payment with respect to oil, gas, natural gas, carbon
dioxide, sulphur, helium, coal, metals, minerals, steam, timber
or other natural resources; |
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(ix) any lien in favor of us or any of our restricted
subsidiaries; |
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(x) any lien created or assumed by us or any of our
restricted subsidiaries in connection with the issuance of debt
the interest on which is excludable from gross income of the
holder of such debt pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, or any successor statute, for the purpose of
financing, in whole or in part, the acquisition or construction
of property or assets to be used by us or any of our
subsidiaries; |
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(xi) any lien upon property or assets of any foreign
restricted subsidiary to secure debt of that foreign restricted
subsidiary; |
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(xii) permitted liens (as defined below); |
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(xiii) any lien upon any additions, improvements,
replacements, repairs, fixtures, appurtenances or component
parts thereof attaching to or required to be attached to
property or assets pursuant to the terms of any mortgage, pledge
agreement, security agreement or other similar instrument,
creating a lien upon such property or assets permitted by
clauses (i) through (xii), inclusive, above; or |
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(xiv) any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or
replacement (or successive extensions, renewals, refinancing,
refundings or replacements) of any lien, in whole or in part,
that is referred to in clauses (i) through (xiii),
inclusive, above, or of any debt secured thereby; provided,
however, that the principal amount of debt secured shall not
exceed the greater of the principal amount of debt so secured at
the time of such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or
replacement and the original principal amount of debt so secured
(plus in each case the aggregate amount of premiums, other
payments, costs and expenses required to be paid or incurred in
connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding
or replacement); provided further, however, that such
extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement shall
be limited to all or a part of the property (including
improvements, alterations and repairs on such property) subject
to the encumbrance so extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or
replaced (plus improvements, alterations and repairs on such
property). |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, under the 1999 indenture, we may,
and may permit any restricted subsidiary to, create, assume,
incur, or suffer to exist any lien upon any principal property
to secure our debt or the debt of any other person (other than
the new notes and any other debt securities issued under the
1999 indenture) that is not excepted by clauses (i) through
(xiv) above without securing the new notes or any other
debt securities issued under the 1999 indenture, provided that
the aggregate principal amount of all debt then outstanding
secured by such lien and all similar liens, together with all
net sale proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions (excluding
sale-leaseback transactions permitted by clauses (i)
through (iv), inclusive, of the first paragraph of
Sale-Leaseback Transactions below) does
not exceed 15% of consolidated net tangible assets.
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Sale-Leaseback Transactions |
The 1999 indenture also provides that we will not, nor will we
permit any restricted subsidiary to, engage in a sale-leaseback
transaction, unless: (i) such sale-leaseback transaction
occurs within one year from the date of acquisition of the
principal property subject thereto or the date of the completion
of construction or commencement of full operations on such
principal property, whichever is later; (ii) the
sale-leaseback transaction involves a lease for a period,
including renewals, of not more than three years; (iii) we
or any of our restricted subsidiaries would be entitled to incur
debt secured by a lien on the principal property subject thereto
in a principal amount equal to or exceeding the net sale
proceeds from such sale-leaseback transaction without securing
the debt securities issued under the 1999 indenture (including
the new notes); or (iv) we or any of our restricted
subsidiaries, within a one-year period after such sale-leaseback
transaction, applies or causes to be applied an amount not less
than the net sale proceeds from such sale-leaseback transaction
to (A) the repayment, redemption or retirement of funded
debt of us or any such restricted subsidiary, or
(B) investment in another principal property.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, under the 1999 indenture we may,
and may permit any restricted subsidiary to, effect any
sale-leaseback transaction that is not excepted by
clauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of the above
paragraph, provided that the net sale proceeds from such
sale-leaseback transaction, together with the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding debt (other than the debt
securities issued under the 1999 indenture) secured by liens
upon principal properties not excepted by clauses (i)
through (xiv), inclusive, of the first paragraph of the
limitation on liens covenant described above, do not exceed 15%
of consolidated net tangible assets.
Under the 1999 indenture, we will:
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(1) file with the trustee under the 1999 indenture, within
15 days after we are required to file the same with the
SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information,
documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any
of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and
regulations prescribe) which we may be required to file with the
SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act; or, if we are not required to file information,
documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then
we shall file with the trustee under the 1999 indenture and the
SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from
time to time by the SEC, such of the supplementary and periodic
information, documents and reports which may be required
pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a
security listed and registered on a national securities exchange
as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and
regulations; |
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(2) file with the trustee under the 1999 indenture and the
SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from
time to time by the SEC, such additional information, documents
and reports with respect to our compliance with the conditions
and covenants of the 1999 indenture as may be required from time
to time by such rules and regulations; and |
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(3) transmit by mail to all holders of new notes, as their
names and addresses appear in the security register, within
30 days after the filing thereof with the trustee under the
1999 indenture, such summaries of any information, documents and
reports required to be filed by us pursuant to
paragraphs (1) and (2) above as may be required
by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC. |
The following are definitions of some terms used in the above
covenant descriptions:
Consolidated net tangible assets means, at any date
of determination, the total amount of assets after deducting
(i) all current liabilities (excluding (A) any current
liabilities that by their terms are extendable or renewable at
the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than
12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is
being computed, and (B) current maturities of long-term
debt), and (ii) the value (net of any applicable reserves)
of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like
intangible assets, all as set forth on the consolidated balance
sheet of us and our consolidated subsidiaries for our most
recently completed fiscal quarter, prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.
Debt means any obligation created or assumed by any
person to repay money borrowed and any purchase money obligation
created or assumed by such person.
Funded debt means all debt maturing one year or more
from the date of the creation thereof, all debt directly or
indirectly renewable or extendible, at the option of the debtor,
by its terms or by the terms of any instrument or agreement
relating thereto, to a date one year or more from the date of
the creation thereof, and all debt under a revolving credit or
similar agreement obligating the lender or lenders to extend
credit over a period of one year or more.
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Lien means any mortgage, pledge, security interest,
charge, lien or other encumbrance of any kind, whether or not
filed, recorded or perfected under applicable law.
Permitted liens means (i) liens upon
rights-of-way for
pipeline purposes; (ii) any governmental lien,
mechanics, materialmens, carriers or similar
lien incurred in the ordinary course of business which is not
yet due or which is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and any undetermined lien which is incidental to
construction; (iii) the right reserved to, or vested in,
any municipality or public authority by the terms of any right,
power, franchise, grant, license, permit or by any provision of
law, to purchase or recapture or to designate a purchaser of,
any property; (iv) liens of taxes and assessments which are
(a) for the then current year, (b) not at the time
delinquent, or (c) delinquent but the validity of which is
being contested at the time by us or any subsidiary in good
faith; (v) liens of, or to secure performance of, leases;
(vi) any lien upon, or deposits of, any assets in favor of
any surety company or clerk of court for the purpose of
obtaining indemnity or stay of judicial proceedings;
(vii) any lien upon property or assets acquired or sold by
us or any restricted subsidiary resulting from the exercise of
any rights arising out of defaults on receivables;
(viii) any lien incurred in the ordinary course of business
in connection with workmens compensation, unemployment
insurance, temporary disability, social security, retiree health
or similar laws or regulations or to secure obligations imposed
by statute or governmental regulations; (ix) any lien upon
any property or assets in accordance with customary banking
practice to secure any debt incurred by us or any restricted
subsidiary in connection with the exporting of goods to, or
between, or the marketing of goods in, or the importing of goods
from, foreign countries; or (x) any lien in favor of the
United States or any state thereof, or any other country, or any
political subdivision of any of the foregoing, to secure
partial, progress, advance, or other payments pursuant to any
contract or statute, or any lien securing industrial
development, pollution control, or similar revenue bonds.
Person means any individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company,
association, joint-stock company, trust, other entity,
unincorporated organization, or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.
Principal property means (a) any pipeline
assets owned by us or by any of our subsidiaries, including any
related facilities employed in the transportation, distribution
or marketing of natural gas, that are located in the United
States or Canada, and (b) any processing or manufacturing
plant owned or leased by us or any of our subsidiaries that is
located within the United States or Canada, except, in the case
of either clause (a) or (b), any such assets or plant
which, in the opinion our board of directors, is not material in
relation to our activities and our subsidiaries as a whole.
Restricted subsidiary means any of our subsidiaries
owning or leasing any principal property.
Sale-leaseback transaction means the sale or
transfer by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries of any
principal property to a person (other than us or a subsidiary)
and the taking back by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries,
as the case may be, of a lease of such principal property.
Payment and Transfer
We will pay principal, interest and any premium on the new
notes, and they may be surrendered for payment or transferred,
at the offices of the trustee under the 1999 indenture. We will
make payment on registered new notes by check mailed to the
persons in whose names the new notes are registered or by
transfer to an account maintained by the registered holder on
days specified in the 1999 indenture.
We will maintain a corporate trust office of the trustee under
the 1999 indenture or another office or agency for the purpose
of transferring or exchanging fully registered new notes,
without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or
governmental charge.
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Modification of 1999 Indenture Supplemental
Indentures
With the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all
series affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one
class), by act of such holders delivered to us and the trustee
under the 1999 indenture, we and such trustee may enter into an
indenture or indentures supplemental to the 1999 indenture for
the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any
manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the 1999
indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the
holders of debt securities of such series under the 1999
indenture (including any series of new notes); provided,
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without
the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security
affected thereby:
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(1) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or interest, if any, on, any such
debt security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or
premium, if any, or the rate of interest thereon; or |
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(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose
holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the
consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of
compliance with certain provisions of the 1999 indenture or
certain defaults under the 1999 indenture and their
consequences) provided for in the 1999 indenture; or |
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(3) change any obligation of El Paso, with respect to
outstanding debt securities of a series, to maintain an office
or agency in the places and for the purposes specified for such
series in the 1999 indenture; or |
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(4) modify any of the amendment and waiver provisions of
the 1999 indenture, except to increase any such percentage or to
provide that certain other provisions of the 1999 indenture
cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder
of each outstanding debt security affected thereby. |
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any
covenant or other provision of the 1999 indenture which has
expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more
particular series of debt securities, or which modifies the
rights of the holders of debt securities of such series with
respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not
to affect the rights under the 1999 indenture of the holders of
debt securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for any act of holders under the two
immediately preceding paragraphs to approve the particular form
of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be
sufficient if such act shall approve the substance of such
supplemental indenture.
Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any
holders, we and the trustee under the 1999 indenture, at any
time and from time to time, may enter into one or more
indentures supplemental to the 1999 indenture, in form
satisfactory to such trustee, for any of the following purposes:
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(1) to secure the debt securities pursuant to the
requirements of the 1999 indenture or otherwise; or |
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(2) to evidence the succession of another person to
El Paso and the assumption by any such successor of the
covenants of El Paso in the 1999 indenture and in the debt
securities; or |
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(3) to add to the covenants of El Paso or the events
of default for the benefit of the holders of all or any series
of debt securities (and if such covenants or events of default
are to be for the benefit of less than all series of debt
securities, stating that such covenants or events of default, as
the case may be, are expressly being included solely for the
benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power
conferred upon us in the 1999 indenture; or |
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(4) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of
the 1999 indenture in respect of one or more series of debt
securities; provided, however, that any such addition,
change or elimination shall become effective only when there is
no debt security outstanding of any series created prior to the
execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to
the benefit of such provision; or |
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(5) to establish the form or terms of securities of any
series as permitted by the 1999 indenture; or |
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(6) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision in the 1999 indenture which may be inconsistent with
any other provision in the 1999 indenture, to comply with any
applicable mandatory provisions of law or to make any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under
the 1999 indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this
clause (6) shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of debt securities of any series in any material
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(7) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of
appointment under the 1999 indenture by a successor trustee with
respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add
to or change any of the provisions of the 1999 indenture as
shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts under the 1999 indenture by more
than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of the 1999
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(8) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the
1999 indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect
the qualification of the 1999 indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or under any similar federal
statute subsequently enacted, and to add to the 1999 indenture
such other provisions as may be expressly required under the
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Satisfaction and Discharge
We will be discharged from our obligations on a particular
series of new notes at any time if we deposit with the trustee
under the 1999 indenture sufficient cash to pay the principal,
interest, any premium and any other sums due to the stated
maturity date (or, if applicable, a redemption date) of the new
notes of such series. If this happens, the holders of the new
notes of such series will not be entitled to the benefits of the
1999 indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange
of the new notes of such series and replacement of lost, stolen
or mutilated new notes of such series.
Under United States federal income tax laws as of the date of
this prospectus, a discharge will be treated as an exchange of
the related new notes. Each holder would be required to
recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the
holders cost or other tax basis for the new notes and the
value of the holders interest in the new notes.
Prospective investors should seek tax advice to determine their
particular consequences of a discharge, including the
applicability and effect of tax laws other than the United
States federal income tax laws.
Governing Law
The 1999 indenture is, and the new notes will be, governed by,
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New
York.
Concerning the Trustee
HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as successor trustee to
JPMorgan Chase Bank (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank), is the
trustee under the 1999 indenture. Such trustee will act as
authenticating agent, security registrar and paying agent with
respect to the new notes. The trustee under the 1999 indenture
makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to
the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in
this prospectus, except for such information that specifically
pertains to such trustee.
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BOOK-ENTRY AND SETTLEMENT; DEPOSITARY PROCEDURES
New notes will be issued in the form of one or more permanent
global certificates, which we refer to as global notes. The
following is a summary of the depository arrangements applicable
to new notes issued in permanent global form and for which The
Depository Trust Company, or DTC, acts as depositary.
Each global note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC,
as depositary, and registered in the name of Cede &
Co., as DTCs partnership nominee, or such other name as
may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. For
each series of new notes, one fully-registered global note will
be issued with respect to each $500 million of principal
amount, and an additional certificate will be issued with
respect to any remaining principal amount of such series. Except
under the limited circumstances described below, global notes
are not exchangeable for definitive certificated notes.
DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company
organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking
organization within the meaning of the New York Banking
Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing
corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform
Commercial Code, and a clearing agency registered
pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange
Act. DTC holds securities that its 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, thereby eliminating 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, or DTCC. DTCC, in turn, is owned by a number of DTC
participants and members of the National Securities Clearing
Corporation, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation and Emerging
Markets Clearing Corporation (NSCC, FICC, and EMCC, also
subsidiaries of DTCC), as well as by the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC and the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to DTCs
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. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are
on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at
www.dtcc.com and www.dtc.org.
Purchases of new notes under the DTC system must be made by or
through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the
new notes on DTCs records. The ownership interest of each
actual purchaser of each new note will be recorded on the direct
and indirect participants records. Beneficial owners will
not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but
beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations
providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic
statements of their holdings, from the participants through
which the beneficial owners entered the transaction. Transfers
of ownership interests in the new notes are to be accomplished
by entries made on the books of the participants acting on
behalf of the beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not
receive certificates representing their ownership interests in
new notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system
for the new notes is discontinued. The laws of some
jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take
physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such
laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in
a global note.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all new notes deposited by
direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of
DTCs partnership nominee, Cede & Co, or such
other name as may be requested by an authorized representative
of DTC. The deposit of new notes with DTC and their registration
in the name of Cede & Co., or such other DTC nominee,
will not change the beneficial ownership of the new notes. DTC
has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the new
notes; DTCs records reflect only the identity of the
direct participants to whose accounts the new notes are
credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The
direct and indirect participants will remain responsible for
keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
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Delivery of notices and other communications by DTC to direct
participants, by direct participants to indirect participants,
and by direct participants and indirect participants to
beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time.
Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the
new notes within a series are being redeemed, DTCs
practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of
each direct participant in such series to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co (nor any other DTC nominee)
will consent or vote with respect to new notes unless authorized
by a direct participant in accordance with DTCs
procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus
proxy to El Paso as soon as possible after the record date.
The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.s consenting
or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts
the new notes are credited on the record date (identified in a
listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Principal and interest payments, if any, on the new notes will
be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be
requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC has told
us that its practice is to credit direct participants
accounts upon DTCs receipt of funds and corresponding
detail information from El Paso or the trustee under the
1999 indenture, on the applicable 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, as is the case
with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer
form or registered in street name, and will be the
responsibility of that participant and not of DTC, the trustee
under the 1999 indenture or El Paso, 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 such other nominee as may be requested
by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of
El Paso or the trustee under the 1999 indenture.
Disbursement of payments from Cede & Co. to direct
participants is DTCs responsibility. Disbursement of
payments to beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct
and indirect participants.
A beneficial owner must give notice through a participant to a
tender agent to elect to have its new notes purchased or
tendered. The beneficial owner must deliver new notes by causing
the direct participants to transfer the participants
interest in the new notes, on DTCs records, to a tender
agent. The requirement for physical delivery of new notes in
connection with an optional tender or a mandatory purchase is
satisfied when the ownership rights in the new notes are
transferred by direct participants on DTCs records and
followed by a book-entry credit of tendered new notes to the
tender agents account.
Neither we, any trustee nor any of our respective agents, will
be responsible for any aspect of the records of DTC, any nominee
or any participant relating to, or payments made on account of,
beneficial interests in a permanent global note or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the records of DTC,
any nominee or any participant relating to such beneficial
interests.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities
depositary at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the
trustee under the 1999 indenture, as agent. Under such
circumstances, we would attempt to obtain a successor securities
depositary. If we were unable to obtain a successor depositary,
we would issue new notes in definitive form.
El Paso may decide to discontinue use of the system of
book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities
depository). In that event, we would issue new notes in
definitive form.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTCs
book entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe
to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy
of such information.
63
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC set forth in no
action letters issued to third parties, we believe that you may
transfer new notes issued under the exchange offers in exchange
for old notes unless you are:
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our affiliate within the meaning of Rule 405
under the Securities Act; |
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a broker-dealer that acquired old notes directly from us; or |
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a broker-dealer that acquired old notes as a result of
market-making or other trading activities without compliance
with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the
Securities Act; |
provided that you acquire the new notes in the ordinary course
of your business and you are not engaged in, and do not intend
to engage in, and have no arrangement or understanding with any
person to participate in, a distribution of the new notes.
Broker-dealers receiving new notes in the exchange offers will
be subject to a prospectus delivery requirement with respect to
resales of the new notes.
To date, the staff of the SEC has taken the position that
participating broker-dealers may fulfill their prospectus
delivery requirements with respect to transactions involving an
exchange of securities such as these exchange offers, other than
a resale of an unsold allotment from the original sale of the
old notes, with the prospectus contained in the exchange offer
registration statement.
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account
pursuant to the exchange offers must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new
notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes
where such old notes were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. In addition,
until ,
2006, all dealers effecting transactions in the new notes may be
required to deliver a prospectus.
We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new notes by
brokers-dealers or any other persons. New notes received by
broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the exchange
offers may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions
in the over-the-counter
market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of
options on the new notes or a combination of such methods of
resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at
prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to
or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in
the form of commissions or concessions from any such
broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such new notes. Any
broker-dealer that resells new notes that were received by it
for its own account pursuant to the exchange offers and any
broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such new
notes may be deemed to be an underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any such resale
of new notes and any commissions or concessions received by any
such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under
the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a
prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act.
We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to these exchange
offers other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or
dealers and will indemnify the holders of the old notes
(including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Each broker-dealer must acknowledge and agree that, upon receipt
of notice from us of the happening of any event which makes any
statement in the prospectus untrue in any material respect or
which requires the making of any changes in the prospectus to
make the statements in the prospectus not misleading, which
notice we agree to deliver promptly to the broker-dealer, the
broker-dealer will suspend use of the prospectus until we have
notified the broker-dealer that delivery of the prospectus may
resume and have furnished copies of any amendment or supplement
to the prospectus to the broker-dealer.
64
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a discussion of the material United States
federal income tax considerations applicable to the exchange of
old notes for new notes in the exchange offers and of owning and
disposing of the notes. This discussion applies only to holders
of the notes who hold the notes as capital assets within the
meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, which we refer to as the Code.
In this discussion, we do not purport to address all tax
considerations that may be important to a particular holder in
light of the holders circumstances, or to certain
categories of investors that may be subject to special rules,
such as:
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dealers in securities or currencies; |
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traders in securities; |
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U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the
U.S. dollar; |
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persons holding notes as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion
or other synthetic security or integrated
transaction; |
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certain U.S. expatriates; financial institutions; insurance
companies; |
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entities that are tax-exempt for U.S. federal income tax
purposes; and |
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partnerships and other pass-through entities. |
This discussion does not address all of the aspects of
U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to you in
light of your particular investment or other circumstances. If a
partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for
U.S. federal income tax purposes holds notes, the tax
treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of
the partner and on the activities of the partnership. We
encourage partners of partnerships holding notes to consult
their tax advisors. In addition, this discussion does not
address any state, local or foreign income or other tax
consequences.
This discussion is based on U.S. federal income tax law,
including the provisions of the Code, Treasury regulations,
administrative rulings and judicial authority, all as in effect
as of the date of this document. Subsequent developments in
U.S. federal income tax law, including changes in law or
differing interpretations, which may be applied retroactively,
could have a material effect on the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of owning and disposing of notes as described in
this discussion.
We encourage you to consult your own tax advisor regarding the
particular U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income
and other tax consequences of the exchange offers and of owning
and disposing of the notes that may be applicable to you.
The Exchange Offers
An exchange of old notes for new notes pursuant to the exchange
offers will not be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. Holders will not recognize any taxable gain
or loss as a result of the exchange offers and will have the
same tax basis and holding period in the new notes as they had
in the old notes immediately before the exchange. However, the
cash exchange consideration that represents interest on the old
notes accruing between interest payment dates will be taxable as
ordinary interest income to the extent not previously taken into
account.
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U.S. Holders
You are a U.S. holder for purposes of this
discussion if you are a beneficial owner of notes that is for
U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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a citizen or resident of the United States, |
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a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the
United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, |
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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal
income taxation regardless of the source of that income, or |
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a trust, if, in general, a U.S. court is able to exercise
primary supervision over the trusts administration and one
or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all
substantial decisions of the trust. |
Generally, interest on the notes will be taxable as ordinary
interest income at the time it is paid or accrues in accordance
with your method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. Special rules governing the treatment of discount and
premium are described below.
If you acquired a note at a discount, you may be subject to the
market discount rules of the Code. These rules
provide, in part, that gain on the sale or other disposition of
a note and partial principal payments on a note are treated as
ordinary income to the extent of accrued market discount. The
market discount rules also provide for deferral of interest
deductions with respect to debt incurred to purchase or carry a
note that has market discount.
If you acquired a note at a premium over the sum of all amounts
payable thereafter on the note that are treated as stated
redemption price at maturity, within the meaning of the
Code, you may elect to offset the premium against interest
income over the remaining term of the note in accordance with
the premium amortization provisions of the Code.
The rules concerning discounts and premiums are complex, and we
encourage you to consult your own tax advisor to determine how,
and to what extent, any discount or premium will be included in
your income or amortized, and as to the desirability, mechanics
and consequences of making any elections in connection therewith
in connection with your particular circumstances.
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Sale or Other Disposition of Notes |
When you sell or otherwise dispose of a note in a taxable
transaction, you generally will recognize taxable gain or loss
equal to the difference, if any, between your adjusted tax basis
in the note and the amount realized on the sale or other
disposition (which does not include for this purpose any amount
attributable to accrued interest, which will be taxable in the
manner described under
U.S. Holders Payments of
Interest).
Gain or loss realized on the sale or other disposition of a note
will generally be capital gain or loss and will be long-term
capital gain or loss if the note has been held for more than one
year. You are encouraged to consult your own tax advisors
regarding the treatment of capital gains, which may be taxed at
lower rates than ordinary income for taxpayers who are
individuals, and losses, the deductibility of which is subject
to limitations.
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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding |
Information reporting requirements apply to interest and
principal payments and to the proceeds of sales before maturity.
These amounts generally must be reported to the Internal Revenue
Service, or IRS.
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In general, backup withholding (currently at a rate
of 28%) may apply to any payments made to you of interest on
your notes, and to payment of the proceeds of a sale or other
disposition of your notes before maturity, if you are a
non-corporate U.S. holder and fail to provide a correct
taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of
perjury, or otherwise fail to comply with applicable
requirements of the backup withholding rules. The backup
withholding tax is not an additional tax and may be credited
against your U.S. federal income tax liability if the
required information is timely provided to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders
The following summary applies to you if you are a
non-U.S. holder.
You generally are a
non-U.S. holder
for purposes of this discussion if you are a beneficial owner
(other than a partnership) of notes that is not a
U.S. holder, as described above.
Under current U.S. federal income tax laws, and subject to
the discussion below, U.S. federal withholding tax will not
apply to payments of interest on the notes under the
portfolio interest exemption of the Code, provided
that:
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you do not, directly or indirectly, actually or constructively,
own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of our shares; |
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you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to
us within the meaning of the Code; and |
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the U.S. payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to
know that you are a U.S. person and either (1) you
certify to the applicable payor or its agent, under penalties of
perjury, that you are not a U.S. holder and provide your
name and address on IRS Form W-8BEN (or a suitable
substitute form) or (2) a securities clearing organization,
bank or other financial institution, that holds customers
securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a
financial institution) and holds the note, certifies
under penalties of perjury that a IRS Form W-8BEN (or a
suitable substitute form) has been received from you by it or by
a financial institution between it and you and furnishes the
payor with a copy of the form or the U.S. payor otherwise
possesses documentation upon which it may rely to treat the
payment as made to a non-U.S. person in accordance with
applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. |
If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments
of interest made to you will be subject to the 30%
U.S. federal withholding tax, unless you provide a properly
executed IRS
Form W-8BEN or
successor form claiming an exemption from or a reduction of
withholding under the benefit of a U.S. income tax treaty,
or you provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI claiming
that the payments of interest are effectively connected with
your conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
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Gain on Disposition of Notes |
You generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income
and withholding tax on gain realized on the sale, exchange,
redemption or other taxable disposition of a note unless:
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you are an individual present in the United States for
183 days or more in the year of such sale, exchange,
redemption or other taxable disposition and specific other
conditions are present, or |
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the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a
U.S. trade or business, or, if a U.S. income tax
treaty applies, is generally attributable to a
U.S. permanent establishment you maintain.
Please read Non-U.S. Holders Income
Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business. |
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Income Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or
Business |
If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States
and interest, gain or any other income in respect of your notes
is effectively connected with the conduct of your trade or
business, or, if a U.S. income tax treaty applies, you
maintain a U.S. permanent establishment to
which the interest, gain or other income is generally
attributable, you may be subject to U.S. income tax on a
net income basis on such interest, gain or income. In this
instance, however, the interest on your notes will be exempt
from the 30% U.S. withholding tax discussed under the
caption
Non-U.S. Holders
Taxation of Interest, if you provide a properly executed
IRS Form W-8ECI or appropriate substitute form to the payor
on or before any payment date to claim the exemption.
In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be
subject to a U.S. branch profits tax equal to 30% of your
effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year,
as adjusted for certain items, unless a lower rate applies to
you under a U.S. income tax treaty with your country of
residence. For this purpose, you must include interest, gain and
income on your notes in the earnings and profits subject to the
U.S. branch profits tax if these amounts are effectively
connected with the conduct of your U.S. trade or business.
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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding |
Payments made to you of interest on the notes and amounts, if
any, withheld from such payments will be reported to the IRS and
to you. U.S. backup withholding tax generally will not
apply to payments of interest and principal on the notes if you
have provided the required certification that you are a
non-U.S. holder as
described in
Non-U.S. Holders
Taxation of Interest above or otherwise established an
exemption, provided that the payor does not have actual
knowledge or reason to know that you are a U.S. holder or
that the conditions of any other exemptions are not in fact
satisfied.
The gross proceeds from the disposition of your notes may be
subject to information reporting and backup withholding tax.
Payments of the proceeds of a sale of your notes effected
through a U.S. office of a broker will be subject to both
U.S. backup withholding and information reporting unless
you provide an IRS Form W-8BEN certifying that you are a
non-U.S. person
and specific other conditions are met or you otherwise establish
an exemption. If you sell your notes outside the United States
through a
non-U.S. office of
a non-U.S. broker
and the sales proceeds are paid to you outside the United
States, then the U.S. backup withholding and information
reporting requirements generally will not apply to that payment.
However, U.S. information reporting, but not backup
withholding, will apply to a payment of sales proceeds, even if
that payment is made outside the United States, if you sell your
notes through a
non-U.S. office of
a broker that:
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is a United States person as defined in the Code; |
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derives 50% or more of its gross income in specific periods from
the conduct of a trade or business in the United States; |
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is a controlled foreign corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes; or |
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is a foreign partnership that, at any time during its taxable
year, has more than 50% of its income or capital interests owned
by U.S. persons or is engaged in the conduct of a
U.S. trade or business, unless the broker has documentary
evidence in its files that you are a
non-U.S. person
and specific other conditions are met or you otherwise establish
an exemption. |
We encourage you to consult your own tax advisor regarding
application of backup withholding in your particular
circumstances and the availability of and procedure for
obtaining an exemption from backup withholding under current
Treasury regulations. Any amounts withheld under the backup
withholding rules from a payment to you will be allowed as a
refund or credit against your U.S. federal income tax
liability, provided that the required information is furnished
to the IRS.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters with respect to the new notes offered in
the exchange offers will be passed upon for us by Andrews Kurth
LLP, Houston, Texas.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of El Paso and
managements assessment of the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting (which is
included in Managements Annual Report on
Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in
this prospectus by reference to the Current Report on
Form 8-K dated May 12, 2006 have been so incorporated
in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of Midland Cogeneration
Venture Limited Partnership incorporated in this prospectus by
reference to the Annual Report on
Form 10-K of
El Paso for the year ended December 31, 2005 have been
so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts
in auditing and accounting.
Information incorporated by reference in this prospectus
regarding the estimated reserves attributable to certain of our
natural gas and oil properties was prepared by Ryder Scott
Company, L.P., independent petroleum engineers, as stated in
their report with respect thereto and is incorporated herein
upon the authority of such firm as experts in petroleum
engineering.
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El Paso Corporation
$1,971,573,000
OFFERS TO EXCHANGE
ALL OUTSTANDING NOTES OF SPECIFIED SERIES
PROSPECTUS
HSBC Bank USA, National Association
By Mail/ Hand/ Overnight Delivery:
HSBC Bank USA, National Association
Corporate Trust & Loan Agency
2 Hanson Place, 14th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217-1409
Attn: Paulette Shaw
For Assistance Call:
(718) 488-4475
Fax Number:
(718) 488-4488
UNTIL ,
2006, ALL DEALERS THAT EFFECT TRANSACTIONS IN THESE SECURITIES,
WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING, MAY BE REQUIRED
TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE
DEALERS OBLIGATION TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS
UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNUSED ALLOTMENTS OR
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
,
2006
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
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ITEM 20. |
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the DGCL) permits a corporation to provide in its
certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation
shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty
as a director, except for liability for (i) any breach of
the directors duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
stockholders, (ii) acts of omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii) payment of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock
purchases or redemptions, or (iv) any transaction from
which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may
indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and
individuals against expenses (including attorneys fees),
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement in connection
with specified actions, suits, proceedings whether civil,
criminal, administrative, or investigative (other than action by
or in the right of the corporation a
derivative action), if they acted in good faith and
in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is
applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that
indemnification only extends to expenses (including
attorneys fees) incurred in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action, and the statute requires court
approval before there can be any indemnification where the
person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the
corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of
other indemnification that may be granted by a
corporations charter, by-laws, disinterested director
vote, stockholder vote, agreement, or otherwise.
Article 10 of El Pasos second amended and
restated certificate of incorporation provides that to the full
extent that the DGCL, as it now exists or may hereafter be
amended, permits the limitation or elimination of the liability
of directors, a director of El Paso shall not be liable to
El Paso or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach
of fiduciary duty as a director. Any amendment to or repeal of
such Article 10 shall not adversely affect any right or
protection of a director of El Paso for or with respect to
any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such
amendment or repeal.
Article X of the by-laws of El Paso requires
indemnification to the full extent permitted under Delaware law
as from time to time in effect. Subject to any restrictions
imposed by Delaware law, the
by-laws of El Paso
provide an unconditional right to indemnification for all
expense, liability, and loss (including attorneys fees,
judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes, or penalties and amounts
paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered
by any person in connection with any actual or threatened
proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was
serving as a director or officer of El Paso, such person is
or was serving at the request of El Paso as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a
partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise,
including service with respect to an employee benefit plan. The
by-laws of El Paso also provide that El Paso may, by
action of its board of directors, provide indemnification to its
employees and agents with the same scope and effect as the
foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.
El Paso maintains directors and officers
liability insurance which provides for payment, on behalf of the
directors and officers of El Paso and its subsidiaries, of
certain losses of such persons (other than matters uninsurable
under law) arising from claims, including claims arising under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for acts or omissions by
such persons while acting as directors or officers of
El Paso and/or its subsidiaries, as the case may be.
El Paso has entered into indemnification agreements with
each member of its Board of Directors and certain officers,
including each of the executives named in El Pasos
proxy statement. These agreements reiterate the rights to
indemnification that are provided to El Pasos
directors and certain officers under El Pasos
by-laws, clarify procedures related to those rights, and provide
that such rights are also available
II-1
to fiduciaries under certain of El Pasos employee
benefit plans. As is the case under the by-laws, the agreements
provide for indemnification to the full extent permitted by
Delaware law, including the right to be paid the reasonable
expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred in defending
a proceeding related to service as a director, officer or
fiduciary in advance of that proceedings final
disposition. El Paso may maintain insurance, enter into
contracts, create a trust fund or use other means available to
provide for indemnity payments and advances. In the event of a
change in control of El Paso (as defined in the
indemnification agreements), El Paso is obligated to pay
the costs of independent legal counsel who will provide advice
concerning the rights of each director and officer to indemnity
payments and advances.
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ITEM 21. |
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES |
(A) Exhibits
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Exhibit No. |
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Exhibit |
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3 |
.A |
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Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
El Paso (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.A to
our Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 1-14365,
filed May 31, 2005) |
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3 |
.B |
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By-laws of El Paso effective as of February 14, 2006
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.B to our Current
Report on Form 8-K, File No. 1-14365, filed
February 16, 2006) |
|
4 |
.A |
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Indenture dated as of May 10, 1999 (the 1999
indenture), by and between El Paso and HSBC Bank USA,
National Association (as successor-in-interest to JPMorgan Chase
Bank (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as trustee
(Exhibit 4.A to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, File
No. 1-14365, for the year ended December 31, 2004) |
|
4 |
.B |
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Tenth Supplemental Indenture to the 1999 indenture
(Exhibit 4.A to our Current Report on Form 8-K, File
No. 1-14365, filed January 4, 2006) |
|
**4 |
.C |
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Form of Eleventh Supplemental Indenture to the 1999 Indenture |
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4 |
.D |
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Form of 6.50% Senior Note due 2008 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
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4 |
.E |
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Form of 7.625% Senior Note due 2008 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
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4 |
.F |
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Form of 6.375% Senior Note due 2009 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
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4 |
.G |
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Form of 7.75% Senior Note due 2010 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
|
4 |
.H |
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Form of
103/4
% Senior Note due 2010 (included in Exhibit 4.B) |
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4 |
.I |
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Form of
95/8
% Senior Note due 2012 (included in Exhibit 4.B) |
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4 |
.J |
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Form of 6.70% Senior Note due 2027 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
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4 |
.K |
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Form of 6.95% Senior Note due 2028 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
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**4 |
.L |
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Form of 7.750% Medium Term Note |
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4 |
.M |
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Form of 7.42% Senior Note due 2037 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
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4 |
.N |
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Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 28,
2005, among El Paso, Goldman Sachs & Co. and
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (Exhibit 10.A to our Current
Report on Form 8-K, File No. 1-14365, filed
January 4, 2006) |
|
*5 |
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Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP as to the legality of the
securities offered hereby |
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*8 |
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Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP regarding material
U.S. federal income tax matters |
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12 |
.A |
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Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends for the years ended
December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 12 to our Current Report on
Form 8-K, File No. 1-14365, filed May 12, 2006) |
|
12 |
.B |
|
Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends for the three months ended
March 31, 2006 and 2005 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 12 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, File
No. 1-14365, for the quarter ended March 31, 2006) |
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*23 |
.A |
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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Houston) |
II-2
|
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Exhibit No. |
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Exhibit |
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*23 |
.B |
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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Detroit) |
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*23 |
.C |
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Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P. |
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*23 |
.D |
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Consent of Andrews Kurth LLP (included in Exhibits 5 and
8) |
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**24 |
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Powers of Attorney (included on signature page) |
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**25 |
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Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of HSBC Bank USA,
National Association |
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**99 |
.A |
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Form of Letter of Transmittal |
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**99 |
.B |
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Form of Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification
Number on Substitute Form W-9 |
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**99 |
.C |
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Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery |
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**99 |
.D |
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Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust
Companies and Other Nominees |
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**99 |
.E |
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Form of Letter to Clients |
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**99 |
.F |
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Form of Exchange Agent Agreement |
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to
section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
(and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plans annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers
and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless, in the
opinion of its counsel, the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond
to requests for information that is incorporated by reference
into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or
13 of Form S-4,
within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send
the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally
prompt means. This includes information contained in documents
filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration
statement through the date of responding to the request.
(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply
by means of a post-effective amendment all information
concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired
involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in
the registration statement when it became effective.
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment
No. 2 to registration statement to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Houston, State of Texas, on this
21st
day of July, 2006.
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Robert W. Baker |
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Executive Vice President and General Counsel |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities as
indicated as of July 21, 2006.
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Signature |
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Title |
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*
Douglas L. Foshee |
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President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
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/s/ D. Mark Leland
D. Mark Leland |
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Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer) |
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/s/ John R. Sult
John R. Sult |
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Senior Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer) |
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*
Ronald L. Kuehn, Jr. |
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Chairman of the Board |
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*
Juan Carlos Braniff |
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Director |
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*
James L. Dunlap |
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Director |
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*
Robert W. Goldman |
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Director |
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*
Anthony W. Hall, Jr. |
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Director |
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*
Thomas R. Hix |
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Director |
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*
William H. Joyce |
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Director |
II-4
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Signature |
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Title |
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*
Ferrell P. McClean |
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Director |
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*
J. Michael Talbert |
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Director |
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*
Robert F. Vagt |
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Director |
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*
John L. Whitmire |
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Director |
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*
Joe B. Wyatt |
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Director |
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*By: |
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/s/ Robert W. Baker
Robert
W. Baker
Attorney-in-Fact |
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II-5
EXHIBIT LIST
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Exhibit No. |
|
Exhibit |
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|
3 |
.A |
|
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
El Paso (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.A to
our Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 1-14365,
filed May 31, 2005) |
|
3 |
.B |
|
By-laws of El Paso effective as of February 14, 2006
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.B to our Current
Report on Form 8-K, File No. 1-14365, filed
February 16, 2006) |
|
4 |
.A |
|
Indenture dated as of May 10, 1999 (the 1999
indenture), by and between El Paso and HSBC Bank USA,
National Association (as successor-in-interest to JPMorgan Chase
Bank (formerly The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as trustee
(Exhibit 4.A to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, File
No. 1-14365, for the year ended December 31, 2004) |
|
4 |
.B |
|
Tenth Supplemental Indenture to the 1999 indenture
(Exhibit 4.A to our Current Report on Form 8-K, File
No. 1-14365, filed January 4, 2006) |
|
**4 |
.C |
|
Form of Eleventh Supplemental Indenture to the 1999 Indenture |
|
4 |
.D |
|
Form of 6.50% Senior Note due 2008 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
|
4 |
.E |
|
Form of 7.625% Senior Note due 2008 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
|
4 |
.F |
|
Form of 6.375% Senior Note due 2009 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
|
4 |
.G |
|
Form of 7.75% Senior Note due 2010 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
|
4 |
.H |
|
Form of
103/4
% Senior Note due 2010 (included in Exhibit 4.B) |
|
4 |
.I |
|
Form of
95/8
% Senior Note due 2012 (included in Exhibit 4.B) |
|
4 |
.J |
|
Form of 6.70% Senior Note due 2027 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
|
4 |
.K |
|
Form of 6.95% Senior Note due 2028 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
|
**4 |
.L |
|
Form of 7.750% Medium Term Note |
|
4 |
.M |
|
Form of 7.42% Senior Note due 2037 (included in
Exhibit 4.B) |
|
4 |
.N |
|
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 28,
2005, among El Paso, Goldman Sachs & Co. and
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (Exhibit 10.A to our Current
Report on Form 8-K, File No. 1-14365, filed
January 4, 2006) |
|
*5 |
|
|
Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP as to the legality of the
securities offered hereby |
|
*8 |
|
|
Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP regarding material
U.S. federal income tax matters |
|
12 |
.A |
|
Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends for the years ended
December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 12 to our Current Report on
Form 8-K, File No. 1-14365, filed May 12, 2006) |
|
12 |
.B |
|
Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends for the three months ended
March 31, 2006 and 2005 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 12 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, File
No. 1-14365, for the quarter ended March 31, 2006) |
|
*23 |
.A |
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Houston) |
|
*23 |
.B |
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Detroit) |
|
*23 |
.C |
|
Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P. |
|
*23 |
.D |
|
Consent of Andrews Kurth LLP (included in Exhibits 5 and
8) |
|
**24 |
|
|
Powers of Attorney (included on signature page) |
|
**25 |
|
|
Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of HSBC Bank USA,
National Association |
|
**99 |
.A |
|
Form of Letter of Transmittal |
|
**99 |
.B |
|
Form of Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification
Number on Substitute Form W-9 |
|
**99 |
.C |
|
Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery |
|
**99 |
.D |
|
Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust
Companies and Other Nominees |
|
**99 |
.E |
|
Form of Letter to Clients |
|
**99 |
.F |
|
Form of Exchange Agent Agreement |
II-6