XML 78 R12.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Long-Term Debt And Equity Financings
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Long-Term Debt And Equity Financings [Abstract]  
LONG-TERM DEBT AND EQUITY FINANCINGS
LONG-TERM DEBT
Ameren (parent)
In May 2014, Ameren (parent) repaid at maturity $425 million of its 8.875% senior unsecured notes due May 15, 2014, plus accrued interest. The notes were repaid with proceeds from commercial paper issuances.
Ameren Missouri
In April 2014, Ameren Missouri issued $350 million of 3.50% senior secured notes due April 15, 2024, with interest payable semiannually on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning October 15, 2014. Ameren Missouri received proceeds of $348 million, which were used to repay at maturity $104 million of its 5.50% senior secured notes due May 15, 2014 and to repay a portion of its short-term debt.
Ameren Illinois
In January 2014, Ameren Illinois redeemed the following environmental improvement and pollution control revenue bonds at par value plus accrued interest:
Environmental improvement and pollution control revenue bonds
Principal Amount
5.90% Series 1993 due 2023(a)
$
32

5.70% 1994A Series due 2024(a)
36

5.95% 1993 Series C-1 due 2026
35

5.70% 1993 Series C-2 due 2026
8

5.40% 1998A Series due 2028
19

5.40% 1998B Series due 2028
33

Total amount redeemed
$
163

(a)
Less than $1 million principal amount of the bonds remain outstanding after redemption.
In June 2014, Ameren Illinois issued $250 million of 4.30% senior secured notes due July 1, 2044, with interest payable semiannually on January 1 and July 1 of each year, beginning January 1, 2015. Ameren Illinois received proceeds of $246 million, which were used to repay a portion of its short-term debt.
Indenture Provisions and Other Covenants
Ameren Missouri’s and Ameren Illinois’ indentures and articles of incorporation include covenants and provisions related to issuances of first mortgage bonds and preferred stock. Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois are required to meet certain ratios to issue additional first mortgage bonds and preferred stock. A failure to achieve these ratios would not result in a default under these covenants and provisions, but would restrict the companies’ ability to issue bonds or preferred stock. The following table summarizes the required and actual interest coverage ratios for interest charges and dividend coverage ratios and bonds and preferred stock issuable as of June 30, 2014, at an assumed annual interest rate of 6% and dividend rate of 7%.
 
 
Required Interest
Coverage Ratio(a)
 
Actual Interest
Coverage Ratio
 
Bonds Issuable(b)
 
Required Dividend
Coverage Ratio(c)
 
Actual Dividend
Coverage Ratio
 
Preferred Stock
Issuable
 
Ameren Missouri
 
≥2.0
 
4.7
$
3,168

 
≥2.5
 
130.8
$
2,508

 
Ameren Illinois
 
≥2.0
 
6.7
 
3,780

(d) 
≥1.5
 
2.4
 
203

(e) 
(a)
Coverage required on the annual interest charges on first mortgage bonds outstanding and to be issued. Coverage is not required in certain cases when additional first mortgage bonds are issued on the basis of retired bonds.
(b)
Amount of bonds issuable based either on required coverage ratios or unfunded property additions, whichever is more restrictive. The amounts shown also include bonds issuable based on retired bond capacity of $833 million and $204 million at Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, respectively.
(c)
Coverage required on the annual dividend on preferred stock outstanding and to be issued, as required in the respective company’s articles of incorporation.
(d)
Amount of bonds issuable by Ameren Illinois based on unfunded property additions and retired bonds solely under the former IP mortgage indenture.
(e)
Preferred stock issuable is restricted by the amount of preferred stock that is currently authorized by Ameren Illinois’ articles of incorporation.
Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois and certain other Ameren subsidiaries are subject to Section 305(a) of the Federal Power Act, which makes it unlawful for any officer or director of a public utility, as defined in the Federal Power Act, to participate in the making or paying of any dividend from any funds “properly included in capital account.” FERC has consistently interpreted the provision to allow dividends to be paid as long as (1) the source of the dividends is clearly disclosed, (2) the dividends are not excessive, and (3) there is no self-dealing on the part of corporate officials. At a minimum, Ameren believes that dividends can be paid by its subsidiaries that are public utilities from net income and retained earnings. In addition, under Illinois law, Ameren Illinois may not pay any dividend on its stock, unless, among other things, its earnings and earned surplus are sufficient to declare and pay a dividend after provision is made for reasonable and proper reserves, or unless Ameren Illinois has specific authorization from the ICC.
Ameren Illinois’ articles of incorporation require dividend payments on its common stock to be based on ratios of common stock to total capitalization and other provisions related to certain operating expenses and accumulations of earned surplus. Ameren Illinois committed to FERC to maintain a minimum 30% equity capital structure. As of June 30, 2014, Ameren Illinois had a 54% equity capital structure.
In order for the Ameren Companies to issue securities in the future, they will have to comply with all applicable requirements in effect at the time of any such issuances.
Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements
At June 30, 2014, none of the Ameren Companies had any off-balance-sheet financing arrangements, other than operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business. None of the Ameren Companies expect to engage in any significant off-balance-sheet financing arrangements in the near future. See Note 12 - Divestiture Transactions and Discontinued Operations for Ameren (parent) guarantees and letters of credit issued to support New AER based on the transaction agreement with IPH.