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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 2016.

Registration No. 333- 202565-01

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

TECO Energy, Inc.

Tampa Electric Company

TECO Finance, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Florida   59-2052286
Florida   59-0475140
Florida   59-2802335

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

TECO Plaza

702 North Franklin Street

Tampa, Florida 33602

(813) 228-1111

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

David E. Schwartz, Esq.

Secretary

TECO Energy, Inc.

TECO Plaza

702 North Franklin Street

Tampa, Florida 33602

(813) 228-1111

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

with copies to:

Aileen C. Meehan, Esq.

Locke Lord LLP

750 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

(212) 308-4411

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.   ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.   x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) 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.   ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the TECO Energy, Inc. is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   (do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Tampa Electric Company is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the TECO Finance, Inc. is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

 


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EXPLANATORY NOTE

On March 6, 2015, TECO Energy, Inc. (TECO Energy), Tampa Electric Company and TECO Finance, Inc. (“TECO Finance”) filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-202565) (the “Registration Statement”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission using a shelf registration process. The Registration Statement contained two forms of prospectuses to be used in connection with offerings of the following securities:

 

    Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants of TECO Energy

 

    Debt Securities of TECO Finance (with payments Due from TECO Finance, Inc. Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by TECO Energy) and

 

    Debt Securities, first mortgage bonds and preferred stock of Tampa Electric Company

On July 1, 2016, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of September 4, 2015, among TECO Energy, Emera Inc., a Nova Scotia corporation (“Emera”), and Emera US Inc., a Florida corporation (“Merger Sub”), Merger Sub merged with and into TECO Energy with TECO Energy continuing as the surviving corporation and becoming an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Emera (the “Merger”).

As a result of the Merger, each outstanding share of Common Stock was cancelled and converted into the right to receive $27.55 in cash, without interest, and TECO Energy has terminated all offerings of its Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units and Common and Preferred Stock Warrants under existing registration statements, including the Registration Statement. Accordingly, pursuant to the undertaking contained in the Registration Statement to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered that remain unsold at the termination of the offering, TECO Energy is filing this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to (i) deregister and remove all the shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units and Common Stock and Preferred Stock Warrants registered under the Registration Statement which remain unissued and unsold as of the date hereof, (ii) remove from the Registration Statement the base prospectus that applies to the Common Stock of TECO Energy, (iii) set forth a revised prospectus that removes and deregisters the Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units, Preferred Stock, and Common and Preferred Stock Warrants as registered securities under the Registration Statement, removes the descriptions of such securities and makes certain changes related to the passage of time, which revised base prospectus will be used by TECO Energy in connection with offerings of the securities covered by the Registration Statement and (iv) updates the information in Part II of the Registration Statement.


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TECO ENERGY, INC.

Debt Securities

Warrants

TECO FINANCE, INC.

Debt Securities

Payments Due From TECO Finance, Inc.

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by

TECO Energy, Inc.

 

 

TECO Energy, Inc. may offer from time to time to sell debt securities consisting of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, and warrants or other rights to purchase debt securities. The debt securities may be senior, pari passu or subordinated to other indebtedness of ours. The debt securities, warrants and purchase contracts may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for other securities of ours or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities.

TECO Finance, Inc. may offer from time to time to sell debt securities consisting of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, which securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by TECO Energy, Inc.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. We may offer the securities as separate series, in amounts, prices and on terms determined at the time of the sale. When we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement or a term sheet describing the terms of the specific issue, including the offering price of the securities. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or term sheet, together with the additional information described under the heading “WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION” on page 1 of this prospectus, before you make your investment decision.

See risk factors on page 2 for information on where to find a discussion of certain factors that should be considered by prospective investors in these securities.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to investors, on a continuous or delayed basis.

 

 

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.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is July 1, 2016

TECO Energy, Inc. and TECO Finance, Inc.

TECO Plaza • 702 North Franklin Street • Tampa, Florida 33602 • (813) 228-1111


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1   

Where You Can Find More Information

     1   

Incorporation By Reference

     2   

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     2   

TECO Energy

     3   

TECO Finance

     3   

Risk Factors

     3   

Use Of Proceeds

     3   

Description Of Debt Securities Of TECO Energy

     3   

Anti-Takeover Effects Of Florida Law

     8   

Description Of Warrants And Other Purchase Rights Of TECO Energy

     8   

Description Of Debt Securities Of TECO Finance

     9   

Plan Of Distribution

     15   

Legal Matters

     16   

Experts

     16   


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC,” using a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf process, we may, from time to time, issue and sell to the public any combination of the securities described in the registration statement in one or more offerings. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Each time we offer to sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to one of our contracts or other documents, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s website as indicated below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

In this prospectus, “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to TECO Energy, Inc. and TECO Finance, Inc. unless otherwise specified or the context requires otherwise.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

TECO Energy is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and files reports and other information with the SEC. TECO Finance is not subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, does not and will not file reports with the SEC. TECO Finance’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows are consolidated into TECO Energy’s financial statements. You may read and copy any of the documents TECO Energy files with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. TECO Energy’s SEC filings are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by TECO Energy with the SEC are also available on TECO Energy’s website at www.tecoenergy.com. TECO Energy’s website is not part of this prospectus. You may request a copy of the registration statement, including the exhibits to the registration statement, at no cost by writing or calling us at the address provided below under “Incorporation by Reference.”

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus certain information we file with the SEC, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to another document. Any information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below, which we have filed with the SEC, and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, on or after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of this offering; except that, unless we indicate otherwise, we do not incorporate any information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K:

 

    TECO Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015;

 

    TECO Energy’s QuarterlyReport on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2016;

 

    TECO Energy’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2016, March 14, 2016, April 8, 2016, April 12, 2016, April 21, 2016, May 5, 2016, June 23, 2016, June 24, 2016 and July 1, 2016.

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Director of Investor Relations

TECO Energy, Inc.

TECO Plaza

702 North Franklin Street

Tampa, Florida 33602

(813) 228-1111

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any supplement or term sheet. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any supplement or term sheet is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of these documents.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, any prospectus supplement or term sheet, and the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus may contain statements about future events, expectations or future financial performance. These forward-looking statements are identifiable by our use of such words as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “project,” “will” or other similar words or expressions.

Without limiting the foregoing, any statements relating to our:

 

    earnings estimates and outlooks;

 

    anticipated capital expenditures;

 

    future cash flows and borrowings;

 

    potential future merger opportunities and/or asset sales or monetizations; and

 

    sources of funding

are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions that we believe are reasonable, but they are open to a wide range of uncertainties and business risks. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and we are not able to predict these events or how they may affect us. In any event, these and other important factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by our forward-looking statements. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements describing these uncertainties and business risks in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or term sheet and the documents incorporated by reference, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” in our filings with the SEC.

 

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You should also keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by us in this prospectus or elsewhere speaks only as of the date on which we make it. We do not intend to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this prospectus after the date of this prospectus, except as may be required by law.

TECO ENERGY

TECO Energy is an energy-related holding company. TECO Energy was incorporated in Florida in 1981 as part of a restructuring in which we became the parent of Tampa Electric Company. Tampa Electric Company, our largest subsidiary, has regulated electric and gas utility operations in separate divisions, Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System. In September 2014, we acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of New Mexico Gas Intermediate, Inc. (“NMGI”). NMGI is the parent company of New Mexico Gas Company, Inc., a regulated gas utility operating in the State of New Mexico.

A more complete description of the business of TECO Energy and its recent activities can be found in documents listed under “Incorporation by Reference.”

TECO Energy’s principal executive offices are located at TECO Plaza, 702 North Franklin Street, Tampa, Florida 33602. TECO Energy’s telephone number is (813) 228-1111.

TECO FINANCE

TECO Finance is a wholly owned subsidiary of TECO Energy whose business activities consist solely of providing funds to TECO Energy for its diversified activities. TECO Finance does not, and will not, file separate reports with the SEC.

TECO Finance’s principal executive offices are located at TECO Plaza, 702 North Franklin Street, Tampa, Florida 33602. TECO Finance’s telephone number is (813)  228-1111.

RISK FACTORS

Our business is subject to uncertainties and risks. You should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings filed after such annual report. The risks described in this prospectus and in our SEC filings which are incorporated by reference herein, as well as additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and/or future operating results.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement how we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES OF TECO ENERGY

For the purposes of this section, “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to TECO Energy, Inc.

 

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The debt securities will be unsecured and, unless indicated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, will rank on parity with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. If we issue debt securities, we will issue them in one or more series under an indenture dated as of August 17, 1998 between TECO Energy and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as trustee. We filed the indenture as an exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to TECO Energy’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated August 24, 1998 (Registration No. 333-60819). The following description of the terms of the debt securities summarizes the material terms of the debt securities. The description is not complete, and we refer you to the indenture, which we incorporate by reference.

General

The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities or of any particular series of debt securities that we may issue under it. We are not required to issue debt securities of any series at the same time nor must the debt securities within any series bear interest at the same rate or mature on the same date.

Each time that we issue a new series of debt securities, the prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to that new series will describe the particular amount, price and other terms of those debt securities. These terms may include:

 

    the title of the debt securities;

 

    any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

    the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable or the method by which such date or dates will be determined;

 

    the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates will be determined, and the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue;

 

    the date or dates on which any such interest will be payable and the record dates, if any, for any such interest payments;

 

    if applicable, whether we may extend the interest payment periods and, if so, the permitted duration of any such extensions;

 

    the place or places where the principal of and interest on the debt securities will be payable;

 

    any obligation we may have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund, purchase fund or similar provision or at the option of the holder, and the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be redeemed or purchased pursuant to such an obligation;

 

    the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000;

 

    the terms and conditions, if any, on which we may redeem the debt securities;

 

    the currency, currencies or currency units in which we will pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities, if other than U.S. dollars, and the manner of determining the equivalent in U.S. dollars;

 

    whether we will issue any debt securities in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global security and any provisions regarding the transfer, exchange or legending of any such global security if different from those described below under the caption “Global Securities;”

 

    any addition to, change in or deletion from the events of default or covenants described in this prospectus with respect to the debt securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal amount of the debt securities due and payable;

 

    any index or formula used to determine the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities and the manner of determining any such amounts;

 

    any terms relating to the conversion of the debt security into another security issuable by us;

 

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    any subordination of the debt securities to any of our other indebtedness; and

 

    other material terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the terms of the indenture.

Unless the prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to the issuance of a series of debt securities indicates otherwise, the debt securities will have the following characteristics:

We will issue debt securities only in fully registered form, without coupons and, generally, in denominations of $1,000 or multiples of $1,000. We will not charge a service fee for the registration, transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require a payment sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with registration, transfer or exchange.

The principal of, and any premium and interest on, any series of debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon specified for such series of securities and otherwise in New York, New York. Debt securities will be exchangeable and transfers thereof will be registrable at this corporate trust office. Payment of any interest due on any debt security will be made to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for interest.

We will have the right to redeem the debt securities only upon written notice mailed to the holders between 30 and 60 days prior to the redemption date.

If we plan to redeem the debt securities, before the redemption occurs, we are not required to:

 

    issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt security of that series during the period beginning 15 days before we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day we mail the notice; or

 

    after we mail the notice of redemption, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security selected for redemption, except that, if we are only redeeming a part of a debt security, we are required to register the transfer of or exchange the unredeemed portion of the debt security if the holder so requests.

We may offer and sell debt securities at a substantial discount below their principal amount. We will describe any applicable special federal income tax and other considerations, if any, in the relevant prospectus supplement or term sheet. We may also describe in the relevant prospectus supplement or term sheet certain special federal income tax or other considerations, if any, applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars.

The indenture does not provide special protection for the debt securities in the event we are involved in a highly leveraged transaction.

The debt securities are obligations exclusively of TECO Energy, Inc., which, as a holding company, has no material assets other than its ownership of the common stock of its subsidiaries, including Tampa Electric Company and NMGI. We will rely entirely upon distributions from our subsidiaries to meet the payment obligations under the debt securities. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay amounts due under the debt securities or otherwise to make any funds available to us including the payment of dividends or other distributions or the extension of loans or advances. Furthermore, the ability of our subsidiaries to make any payments to us would be dependent upon the terms of any credit facilities or other agreements of the subsidiaries and upon the subsidiaries’ earnings, which are subject to various business risks. In a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, claims of holders of the debt securities would be satisfied solely from our equity interests in our subsidiaries remaining after the satisfaction of claims of creditors of the subsidiaries. Accordingly, the debt securities are effectively subordinated to existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries to their respective creditors. The debt securities also are effectively subordinated to any secured debt that we incur to the extent of the value of the assets securing that indebtedness.

 

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Global Securities

If we decide to issue debt securities in the form of one or more global securities, then we will register the global securities in the name of the depositary for the global securities or the nominee of the depositary and the global securities will be delivered by the trustee to the depositary for credit to the accounts of the holders of beneficial interests in the debt securities.

The prospectus supplement or term sheet will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement for debt securities of a series that are issued in global form. None of TECO Energy, the trustee, any payment agent or the security registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

Consolidation, Merger, Etc.

We will not consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation or other organization, or sell, convey or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to any individual or organization, unless:

 

    the successor is an individual or organization organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction and such successor consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States or any state thereof;

 

    the successor or transferee expressly assumes our obligations under the indenture; and

 

    the consolidation, merger, sale or transfer does not cause the occurrence of a default under the indenture.

Upon the assumption by the successor of our obligations under the indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder, and the satisfaction of any other conditions required by the indenture, the successor will succeed to and be substituted for us under the indenture.

Modification of the Indenture

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may modify or amend its terms with the consent of (i) the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series and (ii) 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all affected series. However, without the consent of each holder of all of the outstanding debt securities affected by that modification, we may not:

 

    change the date stated on the debt security on which any payment of principal or interest is stated to be due;

 

    reduce the principal amount of, or the amount of any premium or interest on, any debt security, including in the case of a discounted debt security, the amount payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

    change the place of payment or currency of payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any debt security;

 

    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any debt security after the stated maturity (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date) thereof; or

 

    reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for modification or amendment of the indenture, for waiver of compliance with some provisions of the indenture or for waiver of some defaults under the indenture.

Under limited circumstances and only upon the fulfillment of conditions, we and the trustee may enter into modifications and amendments of the indenture without the consent of any holders of the debt securities.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series except:

 

    a default in the payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt security of that series;

 

    a default under a covenant or provision set forth in the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the affected series.

 

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Events of Default

An event of default with respect to debt securities of any series issued under the indenture is any one of the following events (unless inapplicable to the particular series, specifically modified or deleted as a term of such series or otherwise modified or deleted in an indenture supplemental to the indenture):

 

    we fail to pay any interest on any debt security of that series when due, and such failure has continued for 30 days;

 

    we fail to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due;

 

    we fail to deposit any sinking fund payment in respect of any debt security of that series when due, and such failure has continued for 30 days;

 

    we fail to perform any other covenant in the indenture (other than a covenant included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), and such failure has continued for 90 days after we and the trustee receive written notice as provided in the indenture;

 

    events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

 

    any other event defined as an event of default with respect to debt securities of a particular series.

If an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any debt securities of that series are discounted debt securities, a portion of the principal amount that the terms of the series may specify) of all debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable. Under some circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul that declaration and its consequences. The prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to any series of debt securities that are discounted debt securities will specify the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of the discounted debt securities upon the occurrence of an event of default and the continuation of the event of default.

Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to such provisions for security and indemnification of the trustee and other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

The holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and, subject to limitations specified in the indenture, interest on such debt security on its stated maturity date (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any of these payments.

We must furnish to the trustee an annual statement that to the best of our knowledge we are not in default in the performance and observance of any terms, provisions or conditions of the indenture or, if there has been such a default, specifying each default and its status.

Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture

We will have satisfied and discharged the indenture and it will cease to be in effect (except as to our obligations to compensate, reimburse and indemnify the trustee pursuant to the indenture and some other obligations) when we deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee, in trust, an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the debt securities not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of the deposit (or to the stated maturity date or earlier redemption date for debt securities that have been called for redemption).

 

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Defeasance of Debt Securities

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or term sheet for a series of debt securities, and subject to the terms of the indenture, we may request to be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to any debt securities or series of debt securities (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities, to replace such debt securities if stolen, lost or mutilated, to maintain paying agencies and to hold money for payment in trust) on and after the date the conditions set forth in the indenture are satisfied. Such conditions include the deposit with the trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or U.S. government obligations, which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt securities on the stated maturity date of such payments or upon redemption, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the indenture and such debt securities.

Under current federal income tax law, the defeasance of the debt securities would be treated as a taxable exchange of the relevant debt securities in which holders of debt securities would recognize gain or loss. In addition, thereafter, the amount, timing and character of amounts that holders would be required to include in income might be different from that which would be includable in the absence of such defeasance. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the specific consequences of a defeasance, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than the federal income tax laws.

The Trustee

The trustee is The Bank of New York Mellon, which maintains banking relationships with us in the ordinary course of business and serves as trustee under other indentures with us and some of our affiliates.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF FLORIDA LAW

For the purposes of this section, “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to TECO Energy, Inc.

Florida has enacted legislation that may deter or frustrate takeovers of Florida corporations. The “Control Share Acquisitions” section of the Florida Business Corporation Act, or FBCA, generally provides that shares acquired in excess of certain specified thresholds, beginning at 20% of a corporation’s outstanding voting shares, will not possess any voting rights unless such voting rights are approved by a majority vote of the corporation’s disinterested shareholders.

The “Affiliated Transactions” section of the FBCA generally requires majority approval by disinterested directors or supermajority approval of disinterested shareholders of certain specified transactions (such as a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, issuance or transfer of shares or reclassifications of securities) between a corporation and a holder of more than 10% of the outstanding shares of the corporation, or any affiliate of such shareholder.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS AND OTHER PURCHASE RIGHTS OF TECO ENERGY

For the purposes of this section, “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to TECO Energy, Inc.

General

We may issue warrants and/or other rights to purchase debt securities (which we refer to as debt warrants). We may issue any of these warrants or purchase rights (which we refer to generally as warrants) independently or together with other securities offered by this prospectus and attached to or separate from the other securities. If we issue warrants, we will issue them under warrant agreements between us and a bank or trust company, as agent, all of which will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants we are offering.

 

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Debt Warrants

We will describe the terms of debt warrants offered in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing the debt warrants, including the following:

 

    the title;

 

    the aggregate number offered;

 

    their issue price or prices;

 

    the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise, and the procedures and conditions relating to exercise;

 

    the designation and terms of any related debt securities and the number of debt warrants issued with each security;

 

    if applicable, the date, if any, on and after which the debt warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable;

 

    the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise, and the price at which that principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise;

 

    the commencement and expiration dates of the right to exercise;

 

    the maximum or minimum number which may be exercised at any time;

 

    if applicable, a discussion of the material United States income tax considerations applicable to exercise; and

 

    any other terms, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to exercise.

Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations, and debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Before exercising their debt warrants, holders will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the securities purchasable upon exercise.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash the principal amount of debt securities at the applicable exercise price set forth in, or determined as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Warrants may be exercised by delivering to the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other officer indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement (a) the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed and (b) payment of the amount due upon exercise. As soon as practicable following exercise, we will forward the debt securities purchasable upon exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by a warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES OF TECO FINANCE

For the purposes of this section, “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to TECO Finance, Inc.

 

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The debt securities will be unsecured and, unless indicated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, will rank on parity with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The debt securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by our parent company TECO Energy, Inc., which we refer to in this section as the guarantor. If we issue debt securities, we will issue them in one or more series under an indenture dated as of December 21, 2007 by and among TECO Finance, as issuer, TECO Energy, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee. We filed the indenture as an exhibit to TECO Energy’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 21, 2007. The following description of the terms of the debt securities summarizes the material terms of the debt securities. The description is not complete and we refer you to the indenture, which we incorporate by reference.

General

The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities or of any particular series of debt securities that we may issue under it. We are not required to issue debt securities of any series at the same time nor must the debt securities within any series bear interest at the same rate or mature on the same date.

Each time that we issue a new series of debt securities, the prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to that new series will describe the particular amount, price and other terms of those debt securities. These terms may include:

 

    the title of the debt securities;

 

    any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

    the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable or the method by which such date or dates will be determined;

 

    the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates will be determined, and the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue;

 

    the date or dates on which any such interest will be payable and the record dates, if any, for any such interest payments;

 

    if applicable, whether we may extend the interest payment periods and, if so, the permitted duration of any such extensions;

 

    the place or places where the principal of and interest on the debt securities will be payable;

 

    any obligation we may have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund, purchase fund or similar provision or at the option of the holder, and the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be redeemed or purchased pursuant to such an obligation;

 

    the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000;

 

    the terms and conditions, if any, on which we may redeem the debt securities;

 

    the currency, currencies or currency units in which we will pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities, if other than U.S. dollars, and the manner of determining the equivalent in U.S. dollars;

 

    whether we will issue any debt securities in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global security and any provisions regarding the transfer, exchange or legending of any such global security if different from those described below under the caption “Global Securities;”

 

    any addition to, change in or deletion from the events of default or covenants described in this prospectus with respect to the debt securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal amount of the debt securities due and payable;

 

    any index or formula used to determine the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities and the manner of determining any such amounts;

 

    any subordination of the debt securities to any of our other indebtedness; and

 

    other material terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the terms of the indenture.

 

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Unless the prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to the issuance of a series of debt securities indicates otherwise, the debt securities will have the following characteristics:

We will issue debt securities only in fully registered form, without coupons and, generally, in denominations of $1,000 or multiples of $1,000. We will not charge a service fee for the registration, transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require a payment sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with registration, transfer or exchange.

The principal of, and any premium and interest on, any series of debt securities will be payable at a corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., specified for such series of securities and otherwise in New York, New York. Debt securities will be exchangeable and transfers thereof will be registrable at this corporate trust office. Payment of any interest due on any debt security will be made to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for interest, except that the payment of interest due at the stated maturity is payable to the holder to whom the principal is paid.

We will have the right to redeem the debt securities only upon written notice mailed to the holders between 30 and 60 days prior to the redemption date.

If we plan to redeem the debt securities, before the redemption occurs we are not required to:

 

    issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt security of that series during the period beginning 15 days before we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day we mail the notice; or

 

    after we mail the notice of redemption, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security selected for redemption, except that if we are only redeeming a part of a debt security, we are required to register the transfer of or exchange the unredeemed portion of the debt security if the holder so requests.

We may offer and sell debt securities at a substantial discount below their principal amount. We will describe any applicable special federal income tax and other considerations, if any, in the relevant prospectus supplement or term sheet. We may also describe in the relevant prospectus supplement or term sheet certain special federal income tax or other considerations, if any, applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars.

The indenture does not provide special protection for the debt securities in the event we are involved in a highly leveraged transaction.

The debt securities are obligations of TECO Finance, Inc., which, as a finance subsidiary, has no material assets or independent operations other than its financing activities. The guarantees are obligations of TECO Energy, Inc., which, as a holding company, has no material assets other than its ownership of the common stock of its subsidiaries, including Tampa Electric Company and NMGI. TECO Finance will rely entirely upon distributions from TECO Energy, which in turn will rely entirely on distributions from its operating subsidiaries to meet the payment obligations under the debt securities and the guarantees, respectively. TECO Energy’s operating subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay amounts due under the debt securities or otherwise to make any funds available to TECO Energy or TECO Finance, including the payment of dividends or other distributions or the extension of loans or advances. Furthermore, the ability of those operating subsidiaries to make any payments to TECO Energy or TECO Finance would be dependent upon the terms of any credit facilities or other agreements of the subsidiaries and upon the subsidiaries’ earnings, which are subject to various business risks. In a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding of TECO Finance, claims of holders of the debt securities and guarantees would be satisfied by TECO Energy. In a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding of TECO Energy, claims of holders of the guarantees would be satisfied solely from TECO Energy’s equity interests in its subsidiaries remaining after the satisfaction of the claims of creditors of those subsidiaries. Accordingly, the debt securities and the guarantees are effectively subordinated to existing and future liabilities of TECO Energy’s subsidiaries other than TECO Finance to their respective creditors. The debt securities and the guarantees also are effectively subordinated to any secured debt that TECO Finance and TECO Energy incur to the extent of the value of the assets securing that indebtedness.

 

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Global Securities

If we decide to issue debt securities in the form of one or more global securities, then we will register the global securities in the name of the depositary for the global securities or the nominee of the depositary and the global securities will be delivered by the trustee to the depositary for credit to the accounts of the holders of beneficial interests in the debt securities.

The prospectus supplement or term sheet will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement for debt securities of a series that are issued in global form. None of TECO Finance, TECO Energy, the trustee, any payment agent or the security registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

Consolidation, Merger, Etc.

We will not consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation or other organization, or sell, convey or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to any individual or organization, unless:

 

    the successor is an individual or organization organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction and such successor consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States or any state thereof;

 

    the successor or transferee expressly assumes our obligations under the indenture;

 

    the guarantee remains in full force and effect; and

 

    the consolidation, merger, sale or transfer does not cause the occurrence of a default under the indenture.

In addition, the guarantor will not consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation or other organization, or sell, convey or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any individual or organization, unless:

 

    the successor is an individual or organization organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction and such successor consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States or any state thereof;

 

    the successor or transferee expressly assumes the guarantor’s obligations under the indenture; and

 

    the consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of the guarantor does not cause the occurrence of a default under the indenture.

Upon the assumption by the successor of our obligations under the indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder, or the obligations of the guarantor under the indenture, and the satisfaction of any other conditions required by the indenture, the successor will succeed to and be substituted for us or the guarantor, as applicable, under the indenture.

Modification of the Indenture

The indenture provides that we, the guarantor and the trustee may modify or amend its terms with the consent of (i) the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series and (ii) 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all affected series. However, without the consent of each holder of all of the outstanding debt securities affected by that modification, we may not:

 

    change the date stated on the debt security on which any payment of principal or interest is stated to be due;

 

    reduce the principal amount of, or the amount of any premium or interest on, any debt security, including in the case of a discounted debt security, the amount payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

    change the place of payment or currency of payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any debt security;

 

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    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any debt security after the stated maturity (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date) thereof; or

 

    reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for modification or amendment of the indenture, for waiver of compliance with some provisions of the indenture or for waiver of some defaults under the indenture.

Under limited circumstances and only upon the fulfillment of conditions, we, the guarantor and the trustee may enter into modifications and amendments of the indenture without the consent of any holders of the debt securities.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series except:

 

    a default in the payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt security of that series;

 

    a default under a covenant or provision set forth in the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the affected series.

Events of Default

An event of default with respect to debt securities of any series issued under the indenture is any one of the following events (unless inapplicable to the particular series, specifically modified or deleted as a term of such series or otherwise modified or deleted in an indenture supplemental to the indenture):

 

    we fail to pay any interest on any debt security of that series when due, and such failure has continued for 30 days;

 

    we fail to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due;

 

    we fail to deposit any sinking fund payment in respect of any debt security of that series when due, and such failure has continued for 30 days;

 

    we fail to perform any other covenant in the indenture (other than a covenant included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), and such failure has continued for 90 days after we, the guarantor and the trustee receive written notice as provided in the indenture;

 

    the guarantee of the guarantor ceases to be in effect or the guarantor denies its obligations under the guarantee;

 

    events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

 

    any other event defined as an event of default with respect to debt securities of a particular series.

If an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any debt securities of that series are discounted debt securities, a portion of the principal amount that the terms of the series may specify) of all debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable. Under some circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul that declaration and its consequences. The prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to any series of debt securities that are discounted debt securities will specify the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of the discounted debt securities upon the occurrence of an event of default and the continuation of the event of default.

Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity, or if the trustee determines in good faith that such action will be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not joining in such direction or would involve the trustee in personal liability. Subject to such provisions for security and indemnification of the trustee and other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

 

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The holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and, subject to limitations specified in the indenture, interest on such debt security on its stated maturity date (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any of these payments.

We must furnish to the trustee an annual statement that to the best of our knowledge we are not in default in the performance and observance of any terms, provisions or conditions of the indenture or, if there has been such a default, specifying each default and its status.

Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture

We will have satisfied and discharged the indenture and it will cease to be in effect (except as to our obligations to compensate, reimburse and indemnify the trustee pursuant to the indenture and some other obligations) when we deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee, in trust, an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the debt securities not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of the deposit (or to the stated maturity date or earlier redemption date for debt securities that have been called for redemption).

Defeasance of Debt Securities

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or term sheet for a series of debt securities, and subject to the terms of the indenture, we may request to be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to any debt securities or series of debt securities (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities, to replace such debt securities if stolen, lost or mutilated, to maintain paying agencies and to hold money for payment in trust) on and after the date the conditions set forth in the indenture are satisfied. Such conditions include the deposit with the trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or U.S. government obligations, which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt securities on the stated maturity date of such payments or upon redemption, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the indenture and such debt securities.

Under current federal income tax law, the defeasance of the debt securities would be treated as a taxable exchange of the relevant debt securities in which holders of debt securities would recognize gain or loss. In addition, thereafter, the amount, timing and character of amounts that holders would be required to include in income might be different from that which would be includable in the absence of such defeasance. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the specific consequences of a defeasance, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than the federal income tax laws.

TECO Energy Guarantee

The payments due on debt securities issued by TECO Finance will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by TECO Energy. TECO Energy’s guarantee will be unsecured and, unless indicated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet, will rank on parity with all of TECO Energy’s other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. If for any reason TECO Finance does not make any required payment in respect of its debt securities when due, TECO Energy will cause the payment to be made at the same address at which TECO Finance is obligated to make such payment. The holder of a guaranteed debt security will be entitled to payment under the relevant guarantee of TECO Energy without taking any action whatsoever against TECO Finance. TECO Energy’s obligations under its guarantee contained in each indenture are unconditional, irrespective of (i) any extension, amendment, modification or renewal of any required payment; (ii) any waiver of any event of default, extension of time or failure to enforce any required payment; or (iii) any extension, moratorium or other relief granted to TECO Finance pursuant to any applicable law or statute.

 

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The Trustee

The trustee is The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., which maintains banking relationships with us in the ordinary course of business and serves as trustee under other indentures of some of our affiliates.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell any of the securities:

 

  (1) directly to purchasers;

 

  (2) through agents;

 

  (3) through dealers;

 

  (4) through underwriters; or

 

  (5) through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

We and our agents and underwriters may sell any of the securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

  (1) at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

  (2) at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

  (3) at prices related to the prevailing market prices; or

 

  (4) at negotiated prices.

We may directly solicit offers to purchase securities. We may also designate agents from time to time to solicit offers to purchase securities. Any agent, who may be deemed to be an “underwriter” as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by that agent at the time of resale.

If we use underwriters to sell securities, we will enter into an underwriting agreement with them at the time of the sale to them. The names of the underwriters will be set forth in the prospectus supplement that will be used by them together with this prospectus to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities offered, these underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. Underwriters may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities.

Underwriters may also use dealers to sell securities. If this happens, these dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.

Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters in connection with the offering of any of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled, under agreements that may be entered into with us, to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribution with respect to payments that they may be required to make in respect of these liabilities. Underwriters and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

 

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If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers, or other persons to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the securities offered by us under the prospectus pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date or dates. The obligations of any purchaser under any these contracts will be subject only to those conditions described in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the price to be paid for securities pursuant to these contracts and the commissions payable for solicitation of these contracts.

Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing and syndicate short covering transactions and penalty bids only in compliance with Regulation M of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If we offer securities in an “at the market” offering, stabilizing transactions will not be permitted. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate short covering transactions involve purchases of securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim selling concessions from dealers when the securities originally sold by the dealers are purchased in covering transactions to cover syndicate short positions. These transactions may cause the price of the securities sold in an offering to be higher than it would otherwise be. These transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time.

Each series of securities offered under this prospectus will be a new issue with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell securities for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but these underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We may elect to list any of the securities we may offer from time to time for trading on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so.

The anticipated date of delivery of the securities offered hereby will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each offering.

LEGAL MATTERS

In connection with particular offerings of securities hereby in the future, and if stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of those securities may be passed upon for us by Locke Lord LLP, Boston, Massachusetts, or counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of TECO Energy, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2015 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered certified public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Tampa Electric Company for the year ended December 31, 2015 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered certified public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The following is an estimate of the fees and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable or reimbursable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the offered securities offered by this prospectus.

 

SEC registration fee

   $ (1 )

Printing and engraving expenses

     (2 )

Legal fees and expenses

     (2 )

Accounting fees and expenses

     (2 )

Rating agency fees

     (2 )

Transfer agent fees and expenses

     (2 )

Fees and expenses of the Trustee

     (2 )

Miscellaneous

     (2 )

Total

   $ (2 )

 

(1) In accordance with rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, we are deferring payment of all of the Registration fee.
(2) An estimate of the aggregate amount of any of these expenses that may be applicable will be reflected in the relevant prospectus supplement.

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The amended and restated articles of incorporation of TECO Energy, Inc. and the bylaws of Tampa Electric Company and TECO Finance, Inc. provide that we will indemnify to the full extent permitted by law any person who is or was a party to any threatened, pending or completed proceeding because such person is or was a director or officer for us or, in the case of Tampa Electric Company and TECO Finance, Inc., is or was serving at our request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The TECO Energy, Inc. amended and restated articles of incorporation and the Tampa Electric Company bylaws provide that directors, officers and employees are not entitled to indemnification in proceedings initiated by such person as a plaintiff, unless the proceeding was authorized the Board of Directors. The indemnification provided for in our bylaws is expressly not exclusive of all other rights to which the person may be entitled as a matter of law.

Section 607.0850 of the Florida Business Corporation Act provides that a corporation may indemnify each person who was or is a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving, at the request of the corporation, as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against liability, expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the registrant, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided, however , no indemnification shall be made in connection with any proceeding brought by or in the right of the registrant where the person involved is adjudged to be liable to the corporation, except to the extent approved by a court.

TECO Energy, Inc. maintains an insurance policy on behalf of the directors and officers of TECO Energy, Inc., Tampa Electric Company and TECO Finance, Inc., covering certain liabilities that may be incurred by the directors and officers when acting in their capacities as such.


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If the securities are sold to or through underwriters or agents, we expect that the agreement with such underwriters or agents will provide that such underwriters or agents will indemnify our directors and officers against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS

See Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page hereof, which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

 

  (a) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

 

  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by us pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment 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.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) Each prospectus filed by a registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration


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statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, each undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, an undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;

 

  (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about an undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant; and

 

  (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by an undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 15 hereof, or otherwise, the registrants have 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 a registrant of expenses incurred or paid by directors, officers or controlling persons of a 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 the registrant is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tampa, State of Florida, on July 1, 2016.

 

TECO ENERGY, INC.
By:   /s/ John B. Ramil
 

 

  John B. Ramil
  President and Chief Executive Officer

 


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tampa, State of Florida, on July 1, 2016.

 

TAMPA ELECTRIC COMPANY
By:   /s/ John B. Ramil
 

 

  John B. Ramil
  Chief Executive Officer


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tampa, State of Florida, on July 1, 2016.

 

TECO FINANCE, INC.
By:   /s/ John B. Ramil
 

 

  John B. Ramil
  Director


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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement for debt securities and/or warrants to purchase debt securities.*
1.2    Form of Underwriting Agreement for equity securities and/or warrants to purchase equity securities.*
1.3    Form of Distribution Agreement.*
2.1    Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2013, by and among TECO Energy, Inc., New Mexico Gas Intermediate, Inc. and Continental Energy Systems LLC. Filed as Exhibit 2.1, Form 8-K dated May 28, 2013 of TECO Energy, Inc. and incorporated herein by reference.
2.2    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of Sept. 4, 2015, by and among TECO Energy, Emera and Merger Sub. Filed as Exhibit 2.1, Form 8-K dated Sept. 8, 2015 of TECO Energy, Inc. and incorporated herein by reference.
2.3    Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of Sept. 21, 2015, by and between TECO Diversified, Inc., as Seller, and Cambrian Coal Corporation, as Purchaser. Filed as Exhibit 2.1, Form 8-K dated Sept. 21, 2015 of TECO Energy, Inc. and incorporated herein by reference.
4.1    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of TECO Energy, Inc., effective July 1, 2016. Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 8-K dated July 1, 2016 of TECO Energy, Inc. and incorporated herein by reference.
4.2    Bylaws of TECO Energy, Inc., as amended effective July 1, 2016. Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Form 8-K dated July 1, 2016 of TECO Energy, Inc. and incorporated herein by reference.
4.3    Restated Articles of Incorporation of Tampa Electric Company, as amended on December 6, 1982. Filed as Exhibit 3 to Tampa Electric Company’s Registration Statement No. 2-70653 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.4    Bylaws of Tampa Electric Company, as amended effective February 2, 2011. Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to Tampa Electric Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.5    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of TECO Finance, Inc., as amended on August 15, 1996. Filed as Exhibit 4.5 to TECO Energy, Inc.’s and TECO Finance, Inc.’s Post-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-123343 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.6    Bylaws of TECO Finance, Inc., as amended effective August 7, 2007. Filed as Exhibit 4.6 to TECO Energy, Inc.’s and TECO Finance, Inc.’s Post-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-123343 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.7    Indenture dated as of August 17, 1998 between TECO Energy, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to TECO Energy, Inc.’s Form 8-K dated September 20, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.


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4.8    Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2000 between TECO Energy, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Filed as Exhibit 4.21 to TECO Energy, Inc.’s Form 8-K dated December 20, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.9    Indenture dated as of July 1, 1998 between Tampa Electric Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Tampa Electric Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-55873 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.10    Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 15, 2001 between Tampa Electric Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Tampa Electric Company’s Form 8-K dated June 25, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.11    Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 19, 2012 between Tampa Electric Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. Filed as Exhibit 4.25 to Tampa Electric Company’s Form 8-K dated September 28, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.12    Twentieth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2013 between Tampa Electric Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee, amending and restating the Indenture of Mortgage among Tampa Electric Company, State Street Trust Company and First Savings & Trust Company of Tampa dated as of August 1, 1946. Filed as Exhibit 4.30 to Tampa Electric Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.13    Indenture dated as of December 21, 2007 by and among TECO Finance, Inc., as issuer, TECO Energy, Inc., as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to TECO Energy Inc.’s Form 8-K dated December 21, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.14    Form of Supplemental Indenture of TECO Energy, Inc. (including the form of Note).
4.15    Form of Warrant Agreement.*
4.16    Form of Purchase Contract Agreement.*
4.17    Form of Unit Agreement.*
4.18    Form of Unit Certificate.*
4.19    Form of Supplemental Indenture of TECO Finance, Inc. (including the form of Note).*
4.20    Form of Supplemental Indenture of Tampa Electric Company (including form of Note).*
4.21    Form of Supplemental Indenture of Mortgage of Tampa Electric Company (including the form of First Mortgage Bond).*
5.1    Opinion of Locke Lord LLP.**
12.1    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges of TECO Energy, Inc. Filed as Exhibit 12.1 to TECO Energy, Inc.’s Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference.
12.2    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges of Tampa Electric Company. Filed as Exhibit 12.2 to Tampa Electric Company’s Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference.


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23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP – TECO Energy, Inc. Filed herewith.
23.2    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP – Tampa Electric Company. Filed herewith.
23.3    Consent of Locke Lord LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).**
24.1    Power of Attorney – TECO Energy, Inc.**
24.2    Power of Attorney – Tampa Electric Company **
24.3    Power of Attorney – TECO Finance, Inc.**
25.1    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 in respect of the Indenture of TECO Energy, Inc. listed above as Exhibit 4.7.**
25.2    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 in respect of the Indenture of Tampa Electric Company listed above as Exhibit 4.9.**
25.3    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 in respect of the Indenture of Mortgage of Tampa Electric Company listed above as Exhibit 4.11.**
25.4    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 in respect of the Indenture of TECO Finance, Inc. listed above as Exhibit 4.13.**

 

 

* To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference. Previously filed
** Previously filed with this Registration Statement.
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