UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 31, 2007
DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
North Carolina |
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001-04928 |
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56-0205520 |
(State or Other
Jurisdiction
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(Commission
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(IRS Employer
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526 South Church Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-1904
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip code)
(704) 594-6200
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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))
Item 8.01. Other Events
On May 31, 2007, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (the Company) entered into an underwriting agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the Underwriters), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Underwriters $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.10% Senior Notes due 2037 (the Notes). The Notes were sold to the Underwriters at a discounted price to their principal amount. The Notes were issued under an indenture, dated as of September 1, 1998, as amended by the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 5, 2007, relating to the Notes, between the Company and The Bank of New York (as successor to J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.). The disclosure in this Item 8.01 is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Supplemental Indenture, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and the Underwriting Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
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(d) |
Exhibits. |
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4.1 |
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 5, 2007, between Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and The Bank of New York (successor trustee to J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as Trustee. |
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99.1 |
Underwriting Agreement in connection with Duke Energy Carolinas, LLCs issuance and sale of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.10% Senior Notes due 2037. |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC |
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Date: June 6, 2007 |
By: |
/s/ David S. Maltz |
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Name: |
David S. Maltz |
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Title: |
Assistant Corporate Secretary |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit |
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Description |
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4.1 |
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Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 5, 2007, between Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC and The Bank of New York (successor trustee to J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as Trustee. |
99.1 |
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Underwriting Agreement in connection with Duke Energy Carolinas, LLCs issuance and sale of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.10% Senior Notes due 2037. |
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Exhibit 4.1
Execution Copy
DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC
TO
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
Trustee
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture
Dated as of June 5, 2007
$500,000,000 6.10% Senior Notes Due 2037
TABLE OF CONTENTS (1)
ARTICLE 1
6.10% Senior Notes Due 2037
(1) This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture or have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms and provisions.
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THIS SIXTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE is made as of the 5th day of June 2007, by and between DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company, having its principal office at 526 South Church Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 (the Company), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (herein called the Trustee).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Duke Energy Corporation, a North Carolina corporation (Old Duke Energy), has heretofore entered into a Senior Indenture, dated as of September 1, 1998 (the Original Indenture), with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee;
WHEREAS, the Company is the successor to Old Duke Energy;
WHEREAS, the Original Indenture is incorporated herein by this reference and the Original Indenture, as may be amended and supplemented to the date hereof, including by this Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, is herein called the Indenture;
WHEREAS, under the Indenture, a new series of Securities may at any time be established in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and the terms of such series may be described by a supplemental indenture executed by the Company and the Trustee;
WHEREAS, the Company hereby proposes to create under the Indenture an additional series of Securities;
WHEREAS, additional Securities of other series hereafter established, except as may be limited in the Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified, may be issued from time to time pursuant to the Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified; and
WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture and to make it a valid and binding obligation of the Company have been done or performed.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
There are to be authenticated and delivered $500,000,000 principal amount of the Senior Notes and no further Senior Notes shall be authenticated and delivered except as provided by
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Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1106 of the Original Indenture and the last paragraph of Section 301 thereof. The Senior Notes shall be issued in fully registered form without coupons.
The Senior Notes shall be in substantially the form set out in Exhibit A hereto, and the form of the Trustees Certificate of Authentication for the Senior Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.
Each Senior Note shall be dated the date of authentication thereof and shall bear interest from the date of original issuance thereof or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.
Business Day means a day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office is closed for business.
Interest Payment Date means each June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2007.
Original Issue Date means June 5, 2007.
Regular Record Date means, with respect to each Interest Payment Date, the close of business on the 15th calendar day prior to such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day).
Stated Maturity means June 1, 2037.
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Payments of interest on the Senior Notes shall include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest payments for the Senior Notes shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Senior Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable.
Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Senior Notes shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Senior Notes represented by a Global Security shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Holder of such Global Security, provided that, in the case of payments of principal and premium, if any, such Global Security is first surrendered to the Paying Agent. If any of the Senior Notes are no longer represented by a Global Security, (i) payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of such Senior Notes shall be made at the office of the Paying Agent upon surrender of such Senior Notes to the Paying Agent and (ii) payments of interest shall be made, at the option of the Company, subject to such surrender where applicable, (A) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (B) by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least sixteen (16) days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.
A Global Security shall be exchangeable for Senior Notes registered in the names of persons other than the Depositary or its nominee only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for such Global Security and no successor Depositary shall have been appointed by the Company within 90 days of receipt by the Company of such notification, or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as such Depositary and no successor Depositary shall have been appointed by the Company within 90 days after it becomes aware of such cessation, (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Senior Notes, or (iii) the Company in its sole discretion, and subject to the procedures of the Depositary, determines that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding
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sentence shall be exchangeable for Senior Notes registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct.
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any Redemption Date for the Senior Notes, (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 which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which 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.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Senior Notes to be redeemed 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 Senior Notes.
Quotation Agent means a Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any Redemption Date for the Senior Notes, (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations are obtained, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.
Reference Treasury Dealer means each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, UBS Securities LLC, and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the
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United States (a Primary Treasury Dealer), the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, 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 the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
Notwithstanding Section 1104 of the Original Indenture, the notice of redemption with respect to the foregoing redemption need not set forth the Redemption Price but only the manner of ascertainment thereof.
The Company shall notify the Trustee of the Redemption Price with respect to the foregoing redemption promptly after the calculation thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for calculating said Redemption Price.
If less than all of the Senior Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Senior Notes or portions of Senior Notes to be redeemed by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate. The Trustee may select for redemption Senior Notes and portions of Senior Notes in amounts of whole multiples of $1,000.
The Senior Notes shall not have a sinking fund.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this instrument to be signed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
6.10% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2037
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CUSIP No. 26442C AA2 |
DUKE ENERGY
CAROLINAS, LLC
6.10% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2037
Principal Amount: $
Regular Record Date: Close of business on the 15th calendar day prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day)
Original Issue Date: June 5, 2007
Stated Maturity: June 1, 2037
Interest Payment Dates: Semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2007.
Interest Rate: 6.10% per annum
Authorized Denomination: $1,000 or any integral multiples thereof
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company (the Company, which includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to , or registered assigns, the principal sum of DOLLARS ($ ) on the Stated Maturity shown above and to pay interest thereon from the Original Issue Date shown above, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date as specified above, commencing on December 1, 2007 and on the Stated Maturity at the rate per annum shown above (the Interest Rate) until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment and on any overdue principal and on any overdue installment of interest. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date that is the Stated Maturity or a Redemption Date) will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this 6.10% Senior Note due 2037 (this Security) is registered on the Regular Record Date as specified above next preceding such Interest Payment Date; provided that any interest payable at Stated Maturity or on a Redemption Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities
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shall be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
Payments of interest on this Security will include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest payments for this Security shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and will accrue from June 5, 2007 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. Business Day means a day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office is closed for business.
Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series represented by a Global Security shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Holder of such Global Security, provided that, in the case of payments of principal and premium, if any, such Global Security is first surrendered to the Paying Agent. If any of the Securities of this series are no longer represented by a Global Security, (i) payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of such Securities shall be made at the office of the Paying Agent upon surrender of such Securities to the Paying Agent, and (ii) payments of interest shall be made, at option of the Company, subject to such surrender where applicable, (A) by check mailed to address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (B) by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least sixteen (16) days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.
The Securities of this series shall be redeemable, in whole or from time to time in part, at the option of the Company on any date (a Redemption Date), at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to such Redemption Date) discounted to such Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to such Redemption Date.
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any Redemption Date for the Securities of this series, (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 which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which 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
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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.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Senior Notes to be redeemed 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 Securities of this series.
Quotation Agent means a Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any Redemption Date for the Senior Notes, (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations are obtained, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.
Reference Treasury Dealer means each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, UBS Securities LLC, and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States (a Primary Treasury Dealer), the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, 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 the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
Notwithstanding Section 1104 of the Original Indenture, the notice of redemption with respect to the foregoing redemption need not set forth the Redemption Price but only the manner of ascertainment thereof.
The Company shall notify the Trustee of the Redemption Price with respect to the foregoing redemption promptly after the calculation thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for calculating said Redemption Price.
Notice of any redemption by the Company will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before any Redemption Date to each Holder of Securities of this series to be redeemed. If Notice of a redemption is provided and funds are deposited as required, interest
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will cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date on the Securities of this series or portions of Securities of this series called for redemption. In the event that any Redemption Date is not a Business Day, the Company will pay the Redemption Price on the next Business Day without any interest or other payment due. If less than all the Securities of this series are to be redeemed at the option of the Company, the Trustee shall select, in such manner as it shall deem fair and appropriate, the Securities of this series to be redeemed in whole or in part. The Trustee may select for redemption Securities of this series and portions of the Securities of this series in amounts of whole multiples of $1,000.
In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender hereof.
The Securities of this series shall not have a sinking fund.
The Securities of this series shall constitute the direct unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company and shall rank equally in priority with the Companys existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS SECURITY SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.
Dated:
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Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC |
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CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION |
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This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. |
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The Bank of New York, |
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as Trustee |
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Authorized Signatory |
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(Reverse Side of Security)
This 6.10% Senior Note due 2037 is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company (the Securities), issued and issuable in one or more series under a Senior Indenture, dated as of September 1, 1998, as supplemented (the Indenture), between the Company (successor to Duke Energy Corporation) and The Bank of New York (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as Trustee (the Trustee, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities issued thereunder and of the terms upon which said Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof as 6.10% Senior Notes due 2037 initially in the aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000. Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of all series affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected thereby (voting as one class). The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series with respect to which a default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing (voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of the Securities of all such series, to waive, with certain exceptions, such default under the Indenture and its consequences. The Indenture also permits the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture affecting such series. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is remittable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar and duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in
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writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued by the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness in the Securities of this series and for covenant defeasance at any time of certain covenants in the Indenture upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name the Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same upon surrender of the Security or Securities to be exchanged at the office or agency of the Company.
This Security shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
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ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COMas tenants in common |
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TEN ENTas tenants by the entireties |
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JT TENas joint tenants with rights of |
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Additional abbreviations may also be used though not on the above list.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s) and transfer(s) unto (please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing
agent to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
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NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever. |
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SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP) or such other signature guarantee program as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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EXHIBIT B
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
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as Trustee |
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Authorized Signatory |
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B- 1
Exhibit 99.1
Execution Copy
DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC
$500,000,000 6.10% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2037
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
May 31, 2007
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
4 World Financial Center
New York, NY 10080
and
MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
INCORPORATED
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory . DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company (the Company), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.10% Senior Notes due 2037 (the Notes) to be issued pursuant to the provisions of a Senior Indenture, dated as of September 1, 1998, as the same may be amended and supplemented by supplemental indentures, including the supplemental indenture to be dated as of June 5, 2007 relating to the Notes (the Indenture), between the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.) (the Trustee). Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (the Representatives) are acting as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (together with the Representatives, the Underwriters). The Company understands that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Notes for sale upon the terms and conditions contemplated by (i) this Agreement and (ii) the Base Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time (such documents referred to in this subclause (ii) herein called the Pricing Disclosure Package). The Company hereby agrees with the Underwriters as follows:
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Payment of the purchase price for the Notes to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be made at the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 1440 New York Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005, or at such other place as shall be mutually agreed upon by you and the Company, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on June 5, 2007 or such other time and date as shall be agreed upon in writing by the Company and the Underwriters (the Closing Date). All other documents referred to herein that are to be delivered at the Closing Date shall be delivered at that time at the office of Sidley Austin LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019. Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer in immediately available funds, payable to the order of the Company against delivery of the Notes, in fully registered form, to you or upon your order. The Notes shall be delivered in the form of one or more global certificates in aggregate denomination equal to the aggregate principal amount of Notes upon original issuance and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company (DTC).
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Such counsel may state that his opinions in paragraphs (viii) and (ix) are subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). Such counsel shall state that nothing has come to his attention that has caused him to believe that each document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, when filed, was not, on its face, appropriately responsive, in all material respects, to the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations. Such counsel shall also state that nothing has come to his attention that has caused him to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, including the Rule 430B Information, as of the filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 with the Commission, and at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Pricing Disclosure Package at the Applicable Time contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the date it was filed with, or transmitted for filing to, the Commission and at the Closing Date, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material
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fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Such counsel may also state that, except as otherwise expressly provided in such opinion, he does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and does not express any opinion or belief as to (i) the financial statements or other financial data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (ii) the statement of the eligibility and qualification of the Trustee included in the Registration Statement or (iii) the information in the Prospectus under the caption Book-Entry System.
In rendering the foregoing opinion, such counsel may state that he does not express any opinion concerning any law other than the law of the State of North Carolina and may rely as to all matters of the law of the State of South Carolina on the opinion of Austin, Lewis & Rogers, P.A. of Columbia, South Carolina. Such counsel may also state that he has relied as to certain factual matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by him to be responsible.
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You shall also have received a statement of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that nothing has come to such counsels attention that causes it to believe that:
Each filing made by the Company under the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations that is incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when filed, appeared on its face, appropriately responsive, in all material respects, to the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations and that each of the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, and the Prospectus, as of the date of the prospectus supplement, appeared on its face, appropriately responsive in all material respects, to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations (except that in each case such counsel need not express any view as to the financial statements, schedules and other financial information included or incorporated by reference therein or excluded therefrom or the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 (the Form T-1) and no facts have come to such counsels attention that have caused such counsel to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, at the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) the Prospectus, as of the date of the prospectus supplement and as of the Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except that in each case such counsel need not express any view as to the financial statements, schedules and other financial information included or incorporated by reference therein or excluded therefrom, or the statements contained in the exhibits to the Registration Statement, including the Form T-1) In addition, no facts have come to such counsels attention that have caused such counsel to believe that the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except that such counsel need not express any view as to the financial statements, schedules and other financial information included or incorporated by reference therein or excluded therefrom, or the statements contained in the exhibits to the Registration Statement, including the Form T-1).
In addition, such statement shall confirm that the Prospectus has been filed with the Commission within the time period required by Rule 424 of the 1933 Act Regulations and any required filing of a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations has been filed with the Commission within the time period required by Rule 433(d) of the 1933 Act Regulations. Such statement shall further state that the Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act and, pursuant to Section 309 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the 1939 Act), the Indenture has been qualified under the
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1939 Act, and that such counsel has been orally advised by the Commission that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and, to such counsels knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by the Commission.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP may state that its opinions in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) are subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). In rendering the foregoing opinion, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP may state that such opinion is limited to the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States. In addition, such counsel may state that they have relied as to certain factual matters on information obtained from public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and that the signatures on all documents examined by them are genuine, assumptions which such counsel have not independently verified.
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The Company will furnish you with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as you reasonably request.
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In no case shall the Company be liable under this indemnity agreement with respect to any claim made against any Underwriter or any such controlling person unless the Company shall be notified in writing of the nature of the claim within a reasonable time after the assertion thereof, but failure so to notify the Company shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than under subsections 7(a) and 7(b). The Company shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim, but if it so elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and approved by the Underwriter or Underwriters or controlling person or persons, or defendant or defendants in any suit so brought, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In any such suit, any Underwriter or any such controlling person shall have the right to employ its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such controlling person unless (i) the Company and such Underwriter shall have mutually agreed to the employment of such counsel, or (ii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both such Underwriter or such controlling person and the Company and such Underwriter or such controlling person shall have been advised by such counsel that a conflict of interest between the Company and such Underwriter or such controlling person may arise and for this reason it is not desirable for the same counsel to represent both the indemnifying party and also the indemnified party (it being understood, however, that the Company shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys for all such Underwriters and all such controlling persons, which firm shall be designated in writing by you). The Company agrees to notify you within a reasonable time of the
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assertion of any claim against it, any of its officers or directors or any person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, in connection with the sale of the Notes.
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Very truly yours, |
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DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS, LLC |
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The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH |
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MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED |
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On behalf of each of the Underwriters
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SCHEDULE A
Underwriter |
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Principal Amount
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated |
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$ |
175,000,000 |
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Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated |
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175,000,000 |
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BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
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37,500,000 |
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Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
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37,500,000 |
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Lazard Capital Markets LLC |
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37,500,000 |
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UBS Securities LLC |
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37,500,000 |
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Total |
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$ |
500,000,000 |
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A- 1
SCHEDULE B
PRICING DISCLOSURE PACKAGE
1) |
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated May 31, 2007 |
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2) |
Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses |
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a) |
Pricing Term Sheet attached as Schedule C hereto |
B- 1
SCHEDULE C
Filed pursuant to Rule 433 |
May 31, 2007 |
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Relating to |
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated May 31, 2007 to |
Prospectus dated May 31, 2007 |
Registration Statement No. 333-108416 |
Duke
Energy Carolinas, LLC
6.10% Notes due 2037
Pricing Term Sheet
Issuer: |
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Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC |
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Security Description: |
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Senior Unsecured Notes |
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Ratings (Moodys/ S&P): |
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A3 / A- |
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Principal Amount: |
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$500,000,000 |
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Maturity: |
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June 1, 2037 |
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Settlement: |
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June 5, 2007; T+3 |
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Coupon: |
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6.10% |
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Interest Payment Dates: |
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June 1 and December 1, commencing December 1, 2007 |
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Benchmark Treasury: |
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T 4.50% due 02/15/36 |
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Benchmark Treasury Yield: |
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5.031% |
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Spread to Benchmark Treasury: |
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1.07% |
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Yield to Maturity: |
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6.101% |
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Initial Price to Public: |
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99.987% per Note |
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Redemption Provisions: |
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Make-Whole Call: |
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Make whole call at T + 20 bps |
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CUSIP: |
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26442C AA2 |
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Minimum Denominations: |
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$1,000 |
C- 1
Joint Book-Running Managers: |
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated |
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Co-Managers: |
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BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Lazard Capital Markets LLC, UBS Securities LLC |
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at 1-866-500-5408 or Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated at 1-866-718-1649.
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Annex A
Material Agreements
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated June 29, 2006, among Duke Power Company LLC, The Banks Listed Herein, Citibank N.A., as Administrative Agent, and Banc of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent (filed with Form 10-Q of Duke Energy Corporation, File No. 1-32853, August 9, 2006, as exhibit 10.20).
$300,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated September 5, 2003, among Duke Energy Receivables Finance Company, LLC, as Borrower, CAFCO, LLC, as Initial Lender, the other Lenders listed therein and Citicorp North America, Inc., as Administrative Agent.
Servicing Agreement, dated September 5, 2003, among Duke Energy Receivables Finance Company, LLC, as Buyer, Duke Energy Corporation, as initial Servicer, and Citicorp North America, Inc., as Administrative Agent.
Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated September 5, 2003, between Duke Energy Corporation, as Seller, and Duke Energy Receivables Finance Company, LLC, as Buyer.
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