Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
333-121505 (Commission File Number) |
59-3790472 (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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1111 Louisiana, Suite 4655B Houston, Texas (Address of principal executive offices) |
77002 (Zip Code) |
o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | ||
o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | ||
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | ||
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
CENTERPOINT ENERGY TRANSITION BOND COMPANY II, LLC |
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/s/ Marc Kilbride | |||||
Marc Kilbride | |||||
Sole Manager |
Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | |
99.1
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Preliminary Term Sheet relating to the transition bonds dated December 5, 2005. |
Lehman Brothers | Credit Suisse First Boston | RBS Greenwich Capital | ||
Barclays Capital | Deutsche Bank Securities | Goldman, Sachs & Co. | ||
First Albany Capital | Loop Capital Markets, LLC | M.R. Beal & Company | ||
Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., L.L.C. | Ramirez & Co., Inc. | Suntrust Robinson Humphrey |
* | Preliminary; subject to change |
No. of Scheduled | ||||||||||||
Expected | Scheduled | Semi-annual | ||||||||||
Average | Size | Interest Rate | Scheduled | Sinking | Sinking Fund | |||||||
Tranche1 | Life (Years) | ($MM) | (or Index)2 | Maturity3 | Fund Payments Begin | Payments | ||||||
A-1 | 2.00 | 166.3 | | Feb 09 | Aug 06 | 6 | ||||||
A-2 | 5.00 | 253.8 | | Aug 12 | Feb 09 | 8 | ||||||
A-3 | 7.48 | 166.3 | | Feb 14 | Aug 12 | 4 | ||||||
A-4 | 10.00 | 351.3 | | Aug 17 | Feb 14 | 8 | ||||||
A-5 | 12.71 | 312.5 | | Aug 19 | Aug 17 | 5 |
Issuer and Capital Structure
|
CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company II, LLC, a special purpose bankruptcy-remote limited liability company wholly-owned by CenterPoint Houston. It has no commercial operations. The Issuer was formed solely to purchase and own the Transition Property (defined in Credit/Security), to issue the Bonds and to perform activities incidental thereto. The Issuer is responsible to the PUCT as described in the Glossary. | |
In addition to the Transition Property, the Issuer is capitalized with an upfront deposit of 0.5% of the Bonds initial principal amount (held in the capital subaccount) and has created an excess funds subaccount to retain, until the next payment date, any amounts collected and remaining after all payments on the Bonds have been timely made. | ||
Securities Offered
|
Senior secured sinking fund bonds, as listed above, scheduled to pay principal semi-annually and sequentially in accordance with the expected sinking fund schedule. See Sinking Fund Schedule. Subject to market conditions, the Issuer may issue both fixed and floating rate bonds, but is not required to issue both. | |
Expected Ratings
|
Aaa/AAA/AAA by Moodys, S&P and Fitch, respectively. | |
Payment Dates and Interest
Accrual
|
Fixed Rate: Semi-annually, February 1 and August 1. Interest will be calculated on a 30/360 basis. The first scheduled payment date is August 1, 2006. | |
Floating Rate: Quarterly, February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1. Interest will be calculated on an actual/360 basis. The first scheduled payment date is May 1, 2006. | ||
Interest is due on each payment date and principal is due upon the final maturity date for each tranche. |
1 Each tranche pays sequentially. | ||
2 Fixed or floating. | ||
3 The final maturity (i.e., the date by which the principal must be repaid to prevent a default) of each tranche of the Bonds is two years after the scheduled maturity date for such tranche (other than the third tranche, for which the final maturity is 18 months after the scheduled maturity date and the last tranche, for which the final maturity is one year after the scheduled maturity date). | ||
* | Preliminary; subject to change. |
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Optional Redemption
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None. Non-call life. | |
Average Life
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Stable. There is no prepayment risk. Extension is possible but the risk is statistically insignificant. | |
Credit/Security
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Pursuant to the PUCT Financing Order, the irrevocable right to impose, collect and receive a non-bypassable electricity consumption-based Transition Charge (the Transition Property) from all retail electric customers (approximately 1.9 million customers), including the State of Texas and other governmental entities, in CenterPoint Houstons service territory. Transition Charges are set and adjusted to collect amounts equal to payments of principal, interest and other required amounts and charges on a timely basis. See also Issuer and Capital Structure and Statutorily Guaranteed True-up Mechanism for Payment of Scheduled Principal and Interest. | |
The Transition Property securing the Bonds is not a pool of receivables. It is all the rights of CenterPoint Houston under the Financing Order transferred to the Issuer in connection with the offering of the Bonds including the irrevocable right to impose, collect and receive non-bypassable Transition Charges and the right to implement the True-up Mechanism. Transition Property is a present property right created by the Restructuring Act and the Financing Order and protected by the State Pledge. | ||
Non-bypassable Transition Charges |
The statutorily guaranteed right from the government of the State of Texas to collect Transition Charges from all existing and future retail electric customers located within CenterPoint Houstons service territory, subject to certain limitations specified in the Restructuring Act, even if those customers elect to purchase electricity from another supplier or choose to operate new on-site generation or if the utility goes out of business and its service area is acquired by another utility or is municipalized. The Transition Charges are applied to retail electric customers individually and are adjusted and reallocated among all customers as necessary under the statutorily guaranteed true-up mechanism. | |
Statutorily Guaranteed
True-up Mechanism for
Payment of Scheduled
Principal and
Interest
|
The Restructuring Act and the irrevocable Financing Order guarantee that Transition Charges on all retail electric customers will be reviewed and adjusted annually and semi-annually as necessary to ensure the expected recovery of amounts sufficient to timely provide payment of scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds. The PUCT guarantees that it will take specific actions pursuant to the irrevocable Financing Order as expressly authorized by the Restructuring Act to ensure that expected Transition Charge revenues are sufficient to timely pay scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds. | |
There is no cap on the level of Transition Charges that may be imposed on retail electric customers, including the State of Texas and other governmental entities, to timely pay scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds. | ||
The Financing Order provides that the True-up Mechanism and all other obligations of the State of Texas and the PUCT set forth in the Financing Order are direct, explicit, irrevocable and unconditional upon issuance of the Bonds, and are legally enforceable against the State of Texas and the PUCT. | ||
Initial Transition Charge as
a Percent of Customers
Total Electricity Bill
|
Would represent approximately 2% of the total bill received by a 1,000 kWh residential customer of the largest retail electric provider in CenterPoint Houstons service territory as of October 1, 2005. |
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State Pledge
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The State of Texas has made a direct pledge in the Restructuring Act for the benefit and protection of bondholders that it will not take or permit any action that would impair the value of the Transition Property or reduce, alter or impair the Transition Charges until the Bonds are fully repaid or discharged, other than specified true-up adjustments to correct any overcollections or undercollections. The State Pledge provides rights enforceable by bondholders. No voter initiative or referendum process exists in Texas. | |
Credit Risk
|
The broad-based nature of the True-up Mechanism and the State Pledge, along with other elements of the Bonds, will serve to effectively eliminate, for all practical purposes and circumstances, any credit risk associated with the Bonds (i.e., that sufficient funds will be available and paid to discharge all principal and interest obligations when due). (See the Financing Order, Finding of Fact 107.) | |
Tax Treatment
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Fully taxable; treated as debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes. | |
Type of Offering
|
SEC registered. | |
ERISA Eligible
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Yes, as described in the base prospectus. | |
20% Counterparty Risk Weighting |
If held by financial institutions subject to regulation in countries (other than the United States) that have adopted the 1988 International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (as amended, the Basel Accord), the Bonds may attract the same counterparty risk weighting as claims on or claims guaranteed by non-central government bodies within the United States, which are accorded a 20% risk weighting. | |
The United Kingdoms Financial Services Authority has issued individual guidance letters to one or more investors that an investment in Texas transition bonds issued under the Restructuring Act can be accorded a 20% counterparty risk weighting which is similar to the risk weighting assigned to U. S. Agency corporate securities (FNMA, FHLMC, etc.). | ||
There is no assurance that the Bonds will attract a 20% risk weighting treatment under any national law, regulation, multi-national directive or policy implementing the Basel Accord. Investors should consult their regulators before making any investment. | ||
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS |
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Enhanced Continuing
Disclosure and Dedicated Web
Site (Surveillance)
|
A dedicated web site will be established for the Bonds. In addition, the indenture under which the Bonds will be issued requires all of the periodic reports that the Issuer files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission), the principal transaction documents and other information concerning the Transition Charges and security relating to the Bonds to be posted on the website associated with the Issuers parent, located at www.centerpointenergy.com. | |
Furthermore, even if it would otherwise be permitted to suspend such filings, so long as any Bonds are outstanding, the Issuer also will continue filing periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules, regulations or orders of the Commission. Consequently, information will continue to be publicly available and accessible to bondholders through the SEC or through the dedicated web site. |
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Relationship to the
Series 2001-1 Bonds
|
In October 2001, CenterPoint Energy Transition Bond Company, LLC (Transition Bond Company I), a special purpose wholly owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Houston, issued and sold $749 million of Series 2001-1 Transition Bonds (the series 2001-1 bonds) in accordance with a financing order issued by the PUCT on May 31, 2000. Transition Bond Company I will have no obligations under the Bonds, and the Issuer has no obligations under the series 2001-1 bonds. | |
The security pledged to secure the Bonds will be separate from the security that is securing the series 2001-1 bonds or that would secure any other series of transition bonds. | ||
The outstanding series 2001-1 bonds are currently rated Aaa/AAA/AAA by Moodys, S&P and Fitch, respectively. | ||
Parent/Servicer
|
CenterPoint Houston is a State of Texas fully regulated electric transmission and distribution utility wholly-owned indirectly by CenterPoint Energy, Inc. | |
CenterPoint Houston is engaged in the transmission and distribution of electric energy in a 5,000 square-mile area located along the Texas Gulf Coast that has a population of approximately 5 million people. | ||
PUCT Financial Advisor |
Saber Partners, LLC (Saber) (co-equal decision maker with the Issuer). Certain financial advisory services, including any activities that may be considered activities of a broker dealer, will be assigned to Saber Capital Partners, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saber Partners, LLC. | |
Bookrunners (Listed Alphabetically) |
Credit Suisse First Boston, Lehman Brothers Inc., RBS Greenwich Capital | |
Underwriting Syndicate
|
Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., First Albany Capital Inc., Loop Capital Markets, LLC, M.R. Beal & Company, Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., L.L.C., Samuel A. Ramirez & Co., Inc., and SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. | |
SETTLEMENT |
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Indenture Trustee
|
Wilmington Trust Company | |
Expected Settlement
|
December , 2005, settling flat. DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear. | |
Use of Proceeds
|
Paid to CenterPoint Houston to retire debt or equity only. In accordance with the Financing Order, the Issuer may not use the net proceeds from the sale of the Bonds for general corporate or commercial purposes. | |
More Information
|
For a complete discussion of the proposed transaction, please read the definitive base prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement when available. |
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* | During the 12 months ended September 30, 2005, CenterPoint Houstons total deliveries were approximately 41% industrial, 26% commercial and 33% residential, with the State of Texas and other governmental entities included in all categories and comprising approximately 5% of CenterPoint Houstons total deliveries. |
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* | Preliminary; subject to change. |
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STEP 1:
|
Each year, CenterPoint Houston computes the total dollar requirement for the Bonds for the coming year, which includes scheduled principal and interest payments and all other permitted costs of the transaction, adjusted to correct any prior undercollection or overcollection. | |
STEP 2:
|
CenterPoint Houston allocates this total dollar requirement among specific customer classes. | |
STEP 3:
|
CenterPoint Houston forecasts consumption by each customer class. | |
STEP 4:
|
CenterPoint Houston divides the total dollar requirement for each customer class by the forecasted consumption to determine the Transition Charge for that customer class. | |
STEP 5:
|
CenterPoint Houston must make a true-up filing with the PUCT, specifying such adjustments to the Transition Charges as may be necessary, regardless of the reason for the difference between forecasted and required collections. The PUCT will approve the adjustment within 15 days and adjustments to the Transition Charges are immediately reflected in customer bills. |
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Transition Charges
|
Transition Charges are statutorily-created, non-bypassable, consumption-based per kilowatt hour, per kilowatt or per kilovolt-Amperes charges. Transition Charges are irrevocable and payable, through retail electric providers, by retail electric customers, including the State of Texas and other governmental entities, as long as they continue to use electricity at any facilities located within CenterPoint Houstons service territory even, with certain exceptions, if such electricity is self-generated using new on-site generation. There is no cap on the level of Transition Charges that may be imposed on future retail electric customers, including the State of Texas and other governmental entities, to timely pay scheduled principal and interest on the Bonds. | |
Security
|
All assets held by the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the holders of the Bonds. The Issuers principal asset securing the Bonds is the Transition Property. The Transition Property is not a receivable, and the principal credit supporting the Bonds is not a pool of receivables. It is the irrevocable right to impose, collect and receive non-bypassable Transition Charges and is a present property right created by the Restructuring Act and the Financing Order and expressly protected by the states pledge not to take or permit any action that would impair its value. | |
Principal Payments
|
Principal will be paid sequentially. No tranches will receive principal payments until all tranches of a higher numerical designation have been paid in full unless there is an acceleration of the Bonds following an event of default in which case principal will be paid to all tranches on a pro-rata basis. Please see Sinking Fund Schedule. | |
Sinking Fund
|
The amortization method providing for sequential payments of scheduled principal of each tranche. Please see Sinking Fund Schedule. | |
Issuer Responsible to the State and
PUCT
|
Issuer is responsible to the State and the PUCT. Specifically, (i) the Issuers organizational documents and transaction documents prohibit the Issuer from engaging in any activities other than acquiring transition property, issuing transition bonds, and performing other activities as specifically authorized by the Financing Order, (ii) the Issuer must respond to representatives of the PUCT throughout the process of offering transition bonds, with the Financing Order directing the PUCTs financial advisor to veto any proposal that does not comply with all criteria established in the Financing Order; and (iii) all required true-up adjustments must be filed by the Servicer on the Issuers behalf. In addition, the servicing agreement and indenture require certain reports to be submitted to the PUCT by or on behalf of the Issuer. | |
Legal Structure
|
The Restructuring Act provides, among other things, that the Transition Property is a present property right created pursuant to such Act and the Financing Order. The Financing Order includes affirmative findings to the effect that (i) the Financing Order is final and not subject to PUCT rehearing, (ii) the Issuers right to collect Transition Charges is a property right against which bondholders will have a perfected lien upon execution and delivery of a security agreement and filing of notice with the Secretary of State, and (iii) the State of Texas has pledged not to take or permit any action that would impair the value of the Transition Property, or, reduce, alter or impair the Transition Charges to be imposed, collected and remitted to bondholders, except for the periodic true-up, until the Bonds have been paid in full. The Financing Order has been upheld on appeal in a final judgment of a state district court and is no longer subject to further appeal or review by the PUCT or the courts. | |
Ratings
|
A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. No person is obligated to maintain the rating on any Bond, and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that the ratings assigned to any tranche of the Bonds upon initial issuance will not be revised or withdrawn by a rating agency at any time thereafter. |
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