S-3

S-3 1 ds3.htm S-3

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2011.

Subject to Amendment.

Registration No. 333-

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Gulf Power Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)

Florida

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

59-0276810

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

500 Bayfront Parkway

Pensacola, Florida 32520

(850) 444-6111

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

SUSAN D. RITENOUR

Secretary and Treasurer

Gulf Power Company

One Energy Place

Pensacola, Florida 32520

(850) 444-6111

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

The Commission is requested to mail signed copies of all orders, notices and communications to:

ART P. BEATTIE

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY

30 Ivan Allen, Jr. Blvd., N.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

MELISSA K. CAEN

Vice President, Associate
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

SOUTHERN COMPANY SERVICES, INC.

30 Ivan Allen, Jr. Blvd., N.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

ERIC A. KOONTZ

TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP

600 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Suite 5200

Atlanta, Georgia 30308-2216

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. ¨

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 registrant 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.


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

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered(1)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(1)(2)(3)	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2)(3)	Amount of Registration Fee(1)

Gulf Power Company Class A Preferred Stock

Gulf Power Company Preference Stock

Gulf Power Company Senior Notes

Gulf Power Company Junior Subordinated Notes

Total	$390,000,000	100%	$390,000,000	$45,279(4)

(1)

There are being registered hereunder such presently indeterminate number of shares of Preference Stock and Class A Preferred Stock and such presently indeterminate principal amount of Senior Notes and Junior Subordinated Notes of Gulf Power Company with an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $390,000,000. Pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, which permits the registration fee to be calculated on the basis of the maximum offering price of all the securities listed, the table does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered, proposed maximum offering price per unit or proposed maximum aggregate offering price.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee.

(3)

Exclusive of accrued interest and dividends, if any.

(4)

Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, $3,340 of previously paid filing fees have not been used with respect to $60,000,000 of the $500,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of securities that were previously registered by Gulf Power Company pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-149664, declared effective on March 27, 2008, and were not sold thereunder. Such fees are being used to offset a portion of the registration fee.

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

Information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 9, 2011

PROSPECTUS

$390,000,000

Gulf Power Company

Class A Preferred Stock

Preference Stock

Senior Notes

Junior Subordinated Notes

We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you invest.

See “Risk Factors” on page 2 for information on certain risks related to the purchase of securities offered by this Prospectus.

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.

, 2011

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This Prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) using a “shelf” registration process under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Under the shelf process, Gulf Power Company (the “Company”) may sell, in one or more transactions,

shares of Class A preferred stock (the “Class A Preferred Stock”),

shares of preference stock (the “Preference Stock”),

senior notes (the “Senior Notes”), or

junior subordinated notes (the “Junior Subordinated Notes”)

up to a total dollar amount of $390,000,000. This Prospectus provides a general description of those securities. Each time the Company sells securities, the Company will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering (“Prospectus Supplement”). The Prospectus Supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement together with additional information under the heading “Available Information.”

RISK FACTORS

Investing in the Company’s securities involves risk. Please see the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. The risks and uncertainties described are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently deems immaterial may also impair its business operations, its financial results and the value of its securities.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company has filed with the Commission a combined registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement,” which term encompasses any amendments to the Registration Statement and exhibits to the Registration Statement) under the 1933 Act. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules to the Registration Statement, to which reference is made.

The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and in accordance with the 1934 Act files reports and other information with the Commission. Such reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room of the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Commission maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants including the Company that file electronically at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, reports and other material concerning the Company can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 on which exchange certain of the Company’s outstanding securities are listed.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents have been filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act and are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a part of this Prospectus:

(a)

the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010; and

(b)

the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 20, 2011.

All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act subsequent to the date of the initial filing of the Registration Statement and prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a part of this Prospectus from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, the Company is not incorporating any information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K unless specifically stated otherwise. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus (other than the exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in this Prospectus). Such requests should be directed to Susan D. Ritenour, Secretary and Treasurer, Gulf Power Company, One Energy Place, Pensacola, Florida 32520, telephone: (850) 444-6111.

GULF POWER COMPANY

The Company was organized under the laws of the State of Maine on November 2, 1925, and was admitted to do business in Florida on January 15, 1926, in Mississippi on October 25, 1976 and in Georgia on November 20, 1984. Effective as of November 2, 2005, the Company was domesticated as a Florida corporation. Under applicable laws of the State of Florida and the State of Maine, the Company’s legal existence was uninterrupted, with only its state of incorporation changed. The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 500 Bayfront Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32520, and the telephone number is (850) 444-6111.

The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Southern Company. The Company is engaged, within the northwestern portion of the State of Florida, in the generation and purchase of electricity and the transmission, distribution and sale of such electricity at retail in 71 communities (including Pensacola, Panama City and Fort Walton Beach), as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale to a non-affiliated utility and a municipality.

SELECTED INFORMATION

The following material, which is presented in this Prospectus solely to furnish limited introductory information regarding the Company, has been selected from, or is based upon, the detailed information and financial statements appearing in the documents incorporated in this Prospectus by reference or elsewhere in this Prospectus, is qualified in its entirety by reference to those documents and, therefore, should be read together with those documents.

Gulf Power Company

Business

Generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy

Service Area

Approximately 7,400 square miles within the northwestern portion of the State of Florida

Customers at December 31, 2010

430,658

Generating Capacity at December 31, 2010 (kilowatts)

2,662,600

Sources of Generation during 2010 (kilowatt-hours)

Coal (78%), Gas (22%)

Certain Ratios

The following table sets forth the Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred and Preference Dividend Requirements (Pre-Income Tax Basis) for the periods indicated.


	Year Ended December 31,
	2006		2007		2008		2009		2010
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)		3.81		3.95		4.37		4.56		4.64
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Plus Preferred and Preference Dividend Requirements (Pre-Income Tax Basis)(2)		3.41		3.50		3.64		3.84		3.94

(1)

This ratio is computed as follows: (i) “Earnings” have been calculated by adding to “Earnings Before Income Taxes” “Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized” and the debt portion of allowance for funds used during construction and (ii) “Fixed Charges” consist of “Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized” and the debt portion of allowance for funds used during construction.

(2)

In computing this ratio, “Preferred and Preference Dividend Requirements” represent the before tax earnings necessary to pay such dividends, computed at the effective tax rates for the applicable periods.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as may be otherwise described in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Class A Preferred Stock, the Preference Stock, the Senior Notes or the Junior Subordinated Notes will be used in connection with its ongoing construction program, to pay scheduled maturities and/or refundings of its securities, to repay short-term indebtedness to the extent outstanding and for other general corporate purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK

Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Class A Preferred Stock. The statements in this Prospectus concerning the Class A Preferred Stock are an outline and do not purport to be complete. Such statements make use of defined terms and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (the “Charter”) and the amendments thereto, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The general provisions which apply to the preferred stock of the Company of all classes, which are now or may at a later time be authorized or created, are set forth in the Charter.

General

Each series of the Class A Preferred Stock, par value $25 per share, is to be created by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) through an amendment to the Charter, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.

As of December 31, 2010, the Company had 10,000,000 authorized shares of Class A Preferred Stock. In addition to the Class A Preferred Stock, the Company has authorized 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value of $100 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). As of December 31, 2010, there were no outstanding shares of the Class A Preferred Stock or the Preferred Stock. The Class A Preferred Stock ranks equally with the Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. The Class A Preferred Stock and the Preferred Stock rank senior to the Preference Stock, the Company’s common stock and any other securities the Company may issue in the future that by their terms rank junior to the Class A Preferred Stock and the Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. All shares of the Class A Preferred Stock will rank on a parity with respect to dividends and amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

The Class A Preferred Stock will not be subject to further calls or assessment by the Company.

Any proposed listing of the Class A Preferred Stock on a securities exchange will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the transfer agent for the Class A Preferred Stock will be Mellon Investor Services LLC, P.O. Box 358035, Pittsburgh, PA 15252-8035, which will also serve as the registrar.

Dividend Rights and Provisions

Dividends on the Class A Preferred Stock are payable, when and if declared by the Board of Directors, at the rate per annum determined for each respective series. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, dividends will be payable to holders of record of the Class A Preferred Stock as they appear on the books of the Company on the record dates fixed by the Board of Directors.

So long as any shares of the Preferred Stock or the Class A Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividends may be declared or paid upon or set apart for the Preference Stock, the Company’s common stock or any other class of stock of the Company over which the Preferred Stock and the Class A Preferred Stock have a preference as to the payment of dividends, unless: (1) full dividends on all shares of cumulative Preferred Stock and cumulative Class A Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart and full dividends on such Preferred Stock and Class A Preferred Stock for the then current dividend period have been or concurrently are declared; and (2) full dividends for the then current dividend period on all shares of non-cumulative Preferred Stock and non-cumulative Class A Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set aside.

The applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the dividend rate provisions of the Class A Preferred Stock, including the payment dates and the rate or rates, or the method of determining the rate or rates (which may involve periodic dividend rate settings through remarketing or auction procedures or pursuant to one or more formulae, as described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement), and whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates.

Redemption Provisions

The redemption provisions applicable to the Class A Preferred Stock will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

Voting Rights

The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the voting rights for each series of the Class A Preferred Stock.

Liquidation Rights

Upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Stock and the Class A Preferred Stock of each series, without preference among series, are entitled to receive the amount specified to be payable on the shares of such series before any distribution of assets may be made to the holders of the Preference Stock and the Company’s common stock. Available assets, if insufficient to pay such amounts to the holders of the Preferred Stock and the Class A Preferred Stock, are to be distributed pro rata to the payment, first of the amount per share payable in the event of involuntary liquidation, second of accrued dividends, if any, and third of any premium.

Sinking Fund

The terms and conditions of a sinking or purchase fund, if any, for the benefit of the holders of the Class A Preferred Stock will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

Other Rights

The holders of the Class A Preferred Stock do not have any pre-emptive or conversion rights, except as otherwise described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERENCE STOCK

Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Preference Stock. The statements in this Prospectus concerning the Preference Stock are an outline and do not purport to be complete. Such statements make use of defined terms and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Charter and the amendments thereto, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The general provisions which apply to the Preference Stock of the Company of all classes, which are now or may later be authorized or created, are set forth in the Charter.

General

Each series of the Preference Stock, par value $100 per share, is to be created by the Board of Directors through an amendment to the Charter, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.

As of December 31, 2010, the Company had 10,000,000 authorized shares of Preference Stock, of which 1,000,000 shares ($100,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount) of non-cumulative Preference Stock were outstanding. In addition, as of December 31, 2010, there were no outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock or the Class A Preferred Stock. The Preference Stock ranks junior to the Preferred Stock and the Class A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. The Preference Stock ranks senior to the Company’s common stock and to any other securities the Company may issue in the future that by their terms rank junior to the Preference Stock with respect to dividends and amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. All shares of the Preference Stock will rank on a parity with respect to dividends and amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

The Preference Stock will not be subject to further calls or to assessment by the Company.

Any proposed listing of the Preference Stock on a securities exchange will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the transfer agent for the Preference Stock will be Mellon Investor Services LLC, P.O. Box 358035, Pittsburgh, PA 15252-8035, which will also serve as the registrar.

Dividend Rights and Provisions

Dividends on the Preference Stock are payable, when and if declared by the Board of Directors, at the rate per annum determined for each respective series. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, dividends will be payable to holders of record of the Preference Stock as they appear on the books of the Company on the record date fixed by the Board of Directors.

The applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the dividend rate provisions of the Preference Stock, including the payment dates and the rate or rates, or the method of determining the rate or rates (which may involve periodic dividend rate settings through remarketing or auction procedures or pursuant to one or more formulae, as described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement), and whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates.

Redemption Provisions

The redemption provisions applicable to the Preference Stock will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

Voting Rights

The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the voting rights for each series of the Preference Stock.

Liquidation Rights

Upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, the holders of the Preference Stock of each series, without preference among series, are entitled to receive, out of the Company’s assets available for distribution to the holders of the Preference Stock following the satisfaction of all claims ranking senior to the Preference Stock, including the claims of the holders of any outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock or the Class A Preferred Stock, the amount specified as payable on the shares of such series before any distribution of assets may be made to the holders of the Company’s common stock. Available assets, if insufficient to pay such amounts to the holders of the Preference Stock, are to be distributed pro rata to the payment, first of the amount per share payable in the event of involuntary liquidation, second of accrued dividends, if any, and third of any premium.

Sinking Fund

The terms and conditions of a sinking or purchase fund, if any, for the benefit of the holders of the Preference Stock will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

Other Rights

The holders of the Preference Stock do not have any pre-emptive or conversion rights, except as otherwise described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Senior Notes. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Senior Note Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1998, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as trustee (the “Senior Note Indenture Trustee”), as to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture to the Senior Note Indenture establishing the Senior Notes of each series (the Senior Note Indenture, as so supplemented, is referred to as the “Senior Note Indenture”), the forms of which are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The terms of the Senior Notes will include those stated in the Senior Note Indenture and those made a part of the Senior Note Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “1939 Act”). Certain capitalized terms used in this Prospectus and not defined in this Prospectus are defined in the Senior Note Indenture.

General

The Senior Notes will be issued as unsecured senior debt securities under the Senior Note Indenture and will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Company. The Senior Notes will be

effectively subordinated to all existing and future secured debt of the Company, aggregating approximately $41,000,000 outstanding at December 31, 2010. The Senior Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes that may be issued under the Senior Note Indenture and provides that Senior Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Senior Note Indenture. The Senior Note Indenture gives the Company the ability to reopen a previous issue of Senior Notes and issue additional Senior Notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.

Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will accompany this Prospectus for the following terms of the series of Senior Notes being offered by such Prospectus Supplement: (i) the title of such Senior Notes; (ii) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such Senior Notes; (iii) the date or dates on which the principal of such Senior Notes is payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which such Senior Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, and the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; (v) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Senior Notes shall be payable; (vi) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which such Senior Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or at the option of the holder prior to their maturity; (vii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase such Senior Notes; (viii) the denominations in which such Senior Notes shall be issuable; (ix) if other than the principal amount of the Senior Notes, the portion of the principal amount of such Senior Notes which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of such Senior Notes; (x) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided in the Senior Note Indenture pertaining to such Senior Notes; (xi) whether such Senior Notes shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security; and (xii) any other terms of such Senior Notes.

The Senior Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of Senior Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company.

Events of Default

The Senior Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described events with respect to the Senior Notes of any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an “Event of Default” with respect to the Senior Notes of such series:

(a) failure for 10 days to pay interest on the Senior Notes of such series, when due on an interest payment date other than at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

(b) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest on the Senior Notes of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

(c) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment when due by the terms of a Senior Note of such series; or

(d) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the Company in the Senior Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in the Senior Note Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Senior Notes other than such series) for 90 days after written notice to the Company from the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of such series; or

(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee with respect to the Senior Notes of such series. If a Senior Note Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Senior Notes of any series, then the Senior Note

Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of such series may declare the principal amount of the Senior Notes due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Senior Notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in Article Five of the Senior Note Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of such series may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with the Senior Note Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid or advanced by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, including reasonable compensation and expenses of the Senior Note Indenture Trustee.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the Senior Notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under Article Nine of the Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note of such series affected.

Registration and Transfer

The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Senior Notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the Senior Notes of such series called for redemption, or (ii) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Senior Notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Senior Note being redeemed in part.

Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of principal of any Senior Notes will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of such Senior Notes. Principal of and interest on Senior Notes will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may designate from time to time, except that, at the option of the Company, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to an interest payment as such address shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the Senior Notes. Payment of interest on Senior Notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the Senior Notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the Senior Notes. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.

All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Senior Notes of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the holder of such Senior Notes will from that time forward look only to the Company for payment of such principal and interest.

Modification

The Senior Note Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of each series that is affected, to modify the Senior Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the Senior Notes of such series; provided that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each

outstanding Senior Note that is affected, (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Senior Note, or reduce the principal amount of any Senior Note or the rate of interest on any Senior Note or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest on any Senior Note, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of any Senior Note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date), or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Senior Note Indenture or certain defaults under the Senior Note Indenture and their consequences) provided for in the Senior Note Indenture, or (iii) modify any of the provisions of the Senior Note Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults, or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note that is affected.

In addition, the Company and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee may execute, without the consent of any holders of Senior Notes, any supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new series of Senior Notes.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless (1) such other corporation or person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state in the United States or the District of Columbia and such other corporation or person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Senior Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Senior Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the provisions of the Senior Note Indenture governing consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent to the transaction have been complied with.

Information Concerning the Senior Note Indenture Trustee

The Senior Note Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default with respect to Senior Notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to Senior Notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Senior Note Indenture and, in case an Event of Default with respect to Senior Notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to Senior Notes of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Senior Note Indenture at the request of any holder of Senior Notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee. The Senior Note Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if the Senior Note Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.

The Bank of New York Mellon, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, also serves as Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee. The Company and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon. The Bank of New York Mellon and certain of its affiliates also serve as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of the Company and certain of its affiliates are outstanding.

Governing Law

The Senior Note Indenture and the Senior Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

Miscellaneous

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under the Senior Note Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Senior Note Indenture will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties of the Senior Note Indenture and their respective successors and assigns.

DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1997, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as trustee (the “Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee”), as to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture to the Subordinated Note Indenture establishing the Junior Subordinated Notes of each series (the Subordinated Note Indenture, as so supplemented, is referred to as the “Subordinated Note Indenture”), the forms of which are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes will include those stated in the Subordinated Note Indenture and those made a part of the Subordinated Note Indenture by reference to the 1939 Act. Certain capitalized terms used in this Prospectus and not defined in this Prospectus are defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture.

General

The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as unsecured junior subordinated debt securities under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes that may be issued under the Subordinated Note Indenture and provides that Junior Subordinated Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture gives the Company the ability to reopen a previous issue of Junior Subordinated Notes and issue additional Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.

Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will accompany this Prospectus for the following terms of the series of Junior Subordinated Notes being offered by such Prospectus Supplement: (i) the title of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (ii) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (iii) the date or dates on which the principal of such Junior Subordinated Notes is payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which such Junior Subordinated Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, and the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; (v) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be payable; (vi) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which such Junior Subordinated Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or at the option of the holder prior to their maturity; (vii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase such Junior Subordinated Notes; (viii) the denominations in which such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be issuable; (ix) if other than the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the portion of the principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (x) any deletions from, modifications of or

additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided in the Subordinated Note Indenture pertaining to such Junior Subordinated Notes; (xi) whether such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security; (xii) the right, if any, of the Company to extend the interest payment periods of such Junior Subordinated Notes; and (xiii) any other terms of such Junior Subordinated Notes.

The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of Junior Subordinated Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company.

Subordination

The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company. No payment of principal of (including redemption payments, if any), or premium, if any, or interest on (including Additional Interest (as defined below)) the Junior Subordinated Notes may be made if (a) any Senior Indebtedness is not paid when due and any applicable grace period with respect to such default has ended with such default not being cured or waived or otherwise ceasing to exist, or (b) the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default, or (c) notice has been given of the exercise of an option to require repayment, mandatory payment or prepayment or otherwise of the Senior Indebtedness. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, marshalling of assets or liabilities, or any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of the Company, the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness before the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes are entitled to receive or retain any payment or distribution. Subject to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Junior Subordinated Notes are paid in full.

The term “Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any payment due in respect of indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the Subordinated Note Indenture or incurred, created or assumed after the execution of the Subordinated Note Indenture, (a) in respect of money borrowed (including any financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument) and (b) evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds, notes or other similar instruments issued by the Company that, by their terms, are senior or senior subordinated debt securities including, without limitation, all such obligations under its indentures with various trustees; (ii) all capital lease obligations; (iii) all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business and long-term purchase obligations); (iv) all obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or that ranks equally with the Junior Subordinated Notes and (2) any unsecured indebtedness between or among the Company or its affiliates. Such Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions contained in the Subordinated Note Indenture irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness that may be issued by the Company. As of December 31, 2010, Senior Indebtedness of the Company aggregated approximately $1,324,000,000.

Additional Interest

“Additional Interest” is defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture as any interest due and not paid on an interest payment date, together with interest on such interest due from such interest payment date to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, on each interest payment date.

Certain Covenants

The Company covenants in the Subordinated Note Indenture, for the benefit of the holders of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes, that, if at such time the Company shall have given notice of its election to extend an interest payment period for such series of Junior Subordinated Notes and such extension shall be continuing, or if at such time an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to such series of Junior Subordinated Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, and (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company which rank equally with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. None of the foregoing, however, shall restrict (i) any of the actions described in the preceding sentence resulting from any reclassifications of the Company’s capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company’s capital stock for another class or series of the Company’s capital stock, or (ii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged.

Events of Default

The Subordinated Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described events with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an “Event of Default” with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series:

(a) failure for 10 days to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, including any Additional Interest in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, when due on an interest payment date other than at maturity or upon earlier redemption; provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or

(b) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest, including Additional Interest, on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

(c) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment when due by the terms of a Junior Subordinated Note of such series; or

(d) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the Company in the Subordinated Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in the Subordinated Note Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Junior Subordinated Notes other than such series) for 90 days after written notice to the Company from the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of such series; or

(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series. If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, then the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may declare the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the

Company (and to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series had been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in Article Five of the Subordinated Note Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid or advanced by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, including reasonable compensation and expenses of the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under Article Nine of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note of such series affected.

Registration and Transfer

The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Junior Subordinated Notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series called for redemption, or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Junior Subordinated Notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Junior Subordinated Note being redeemed in part.

Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of principal of any Junior Subordinated Notes will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of such Junior Subordinated Notes. Principal of and interest on Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may designate from time to time, except that, at the option of the Company, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or other electronic transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to an interest payment as such address shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Payment of interest on Junior Subordinated Notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the Junior Subordinated Notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.

All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the holder of such Junior Subordinated Notes will from that time forward look only to the Company for payment of such principal and interest.

Modification

The Subordinated Note Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the

outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of each series that is affected, to modify the Subordinated Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note that is affected, (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Junior Subordinated Note, or reduce the principal amount of any Junior Subordinated Note or the rate of interest (including Additional Interest) on any Junior Subordinated Note or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest on any Junior Subordinated Note, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of any Junior Subordinated Note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date), or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture or certain defaults under the Subordinated Note Indenture and their consequences) provided for in the Subordinated Note Indenture, or (iii) modify any of the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults, or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note that is affected, or (iv) modify the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Junior Subordinated Notes in a manner adverse to such holder.

In addition, the Company and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee may execute, without the consent of any holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, any supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new series of Junior Subordinated Notes.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless (1) such other corporation or person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and such other corporation or person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Interest) on all the Junior Subordinated Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Subordinated Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture governing consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent to the transaction have been complied with.

Information Concerning the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee

The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Subordinated Note Indenture and, in case an Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Subordinated Note Indenture at the request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee. The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.

The Bank of New York Mellon, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, also serves as Senior Note Indenture Trustee. The Company and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon. The Bank of New York Mellon and certain of its affiliates also serve as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of the Company and certain of its affiliates are outstanding.

Governing Law

The Subordinated Note Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

Miscellaneous

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Subordinated Note Indenture will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to the Subordinated Note Indenture and their respective successors and assigns.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Company may sell the Class A Preferred Stock, the Preference Stock, the Senior Notes and the Junior Subordinated Notes in one or more of the following ways from time to time: (i) to underwriters for resale to the public or to institutional investors; (ii) directly to institutional investors; or (iii) through agents to the public or to institutional investors. The Prospectus Supplement with respect to each series of Class A Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes will set forth the terms of the offering of such Class A Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes, including the name or names of any underwriters or agents, the purchase price of such Class A Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes and the proceeds to the Company from such sale, any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchange on which such Class A Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes may be listed.

If underwriters participate in the sale, such Class A Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes will be acquired by the underwriters for their own accounts and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.

Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of Class A Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of Class A Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes, if any are purchased.

Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with the Company to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act. Underwriters and agents and their affiliates may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, the Company in the ordinary course of business.

Each series of Class A Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom Class A Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such Class A Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The Class A Preferred Stock, the Preference Stock, the Senior Notes or the Junior Subordinated Notes may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the Class A Preferred Stock, the Preference Stock, the Senior Notes, the Junior Subordinated Notes and certain matters relating to such securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Company by Beggs & Lane, a Registered Limited Liability Partnership, Pensacola, Florida, and by Troutman Sanders LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, New York, New York. From time to time, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP acts as counsel to affiliates of the Company for some matters.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and the related financial statement schedule incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The estimated expenses of issuance and distribution, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be borne by the Company are as follows:


Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee	$	45,279
Fees and expenses of trustees and/or Transfer Agent and Registrar		20,000
Listing fees of New York Stock Exchange		44,200
Printing expenses		80,000
Rating Agency fees		358,000
Services of Southern Company Services, Inc.		80,010
Fees and expenses of counsel		280,000
Blue sky fees and expenses		20,000
Fees of accountants		250,000
Miscellaneous expenses		47,521

Total	$	1,225,000

Each Prospectus Supplement will reflect estimated expenses of the Company based upon the amount of the related offering.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Florida Business Corporation Act, as amended (the “FBCA”), provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party to any proceeding (other than an action by, or in the right of, the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she 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 incurred in connection with such proceeding, including any appeal thereof, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In the case of proceedings by or in the right of the corporation, the FBCA provides that, in general, a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party to such proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against expenses and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such proceeding, including the appeal thereof, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the corporation, and provided further that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim as to which such person is adjudged liable unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity. To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any of the proceedings described above, the FBCA provides that the corporation is required to indemnify such director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. The FBCA provides that expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending a civil or criminal proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by such officer or director to repay such amounts if he or she is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification. The FBCA provides that a corporation may make any other or further indemnification or advancement of expenses of any of its officers, directors, agents or employees under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, provided that indemnification or advancement of expenses is not permitted if a judgment or final adjudication establishes that his or her actions, or omissions to act, were material to the cause of action and constitute: (i) a violation of criminal law, unless the director, officer, employee or agent had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; (ii) a transaction from which the director, officer, employee or agent

II-1

derived an improper personal benefit; (iii) in the case of a director, a circumstance under which the director is liable for an unlawful distribution under the FBCA; or (iv) willful misconduct or conscious disregard for the best interests of the corporation in a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation.

Section 20 of the Bylaws of the Company provides in pertinent part as follows:

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending, or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer or was an employee of the Company holding one or more management positions through and inclusive of managers (but not positions below the level of manager) or any such person is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with such claim, action, suit or proceeding, including any appeal thereof, 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 Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Such person shall also be entitled to advancement of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the full extent permitted by law, subject to the conditions imposed by law and subject to providing the Company a written undertaking by or on behalf of such person to pay amounts advanced if it shall be ultimately determined that such person was not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under this Section or otherwise. Nothing herein shall restrict the power of the Company to provide indemnification or advancement of expenses to other employees or agents of the Company as otherwise permitted by law.

The right of indemnification under this Section shall be a contract right inuring to the benefit of the person entitled to be indemnified hereunder and no amendment or repeal of this Section shall adversely affect any right of such person existing at the time of such amendment or repeal. The indemnification provided hereunder shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, personal and legal representatives, and administrators or a person entitled to indemnification hereunder.

The right of indemnification under this Section shall be in addition to and not exclusive of all other rights to which persons entitled to indemnification hereunder may be entitled. Nothing contained in this Section shall affect any rights to indemnification to which persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

The Company has an insurance policy covering its liabilities and expenses which might arise in connection with its lawful indemnification of its directors and officers for certain of their liabilities and expenses and also covering its officers and directors against certain other liabilities and expenses.

Item 16. Exhibits.


Exhibit Number
1.1		—Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to the Class A Preferred Stock.*
1.2		—Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to the Preference Stock.*
1.3		—Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to the Senior Notes.*
1.4		—Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to the Junior Subordinated Notes.*
4.1		—Senior Note Indenture dated as of January 1, 1998, between Gulf Power Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as Trustee, and indentures supplemented thereto through September 17, 2010 (Designated in Form 8-K dated June 17, 1998, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, in Form 8-K dated August 17, 1999, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated July 31, 2001, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated October 5, 2001, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibit 4.2, in

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Exhibit Number
		Form 8-K dated January 18, 2002, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated March 21, 2003, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated July 10, 2003, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, in Form 8-K dated September 5, 2003, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 4.1, in Form 8-K, dated April 6, 2004, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 4.1, in Form 8-K, dated August 11, 2005, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 4.1, in Form 8-K dated October 27, 2005, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 4.1, in Form 8-K dated November 28, 2006, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated June 5, 2007, File No. 000-31737, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated June 22, 2009, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated April 6, 2010, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 4.2 and in Form 8-K dated September 9, 2010, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 4.2).
4.2		—Form of Supplemental Indenture to Senior Note Indenture to be used in connection with the issuance of Senior Notes.*
4.3		—Subordinated Note Indenture between Gulf Power Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank)), as Trustee and indentures supplemental thereto through December 13, 2002 (Designated in Form 8-K dated January 27, 1997, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, in Form 8-K dated July 28, 1997, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated January 13, 1998, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated November 8, 2001, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibit 4.2 and in Form 8-K dated December 5, 2002, File No. 0-2429, as Exhibit 4.2).
4.4		—Form of Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Note Indenture to be used in connection with the issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes.*
4.5		—Amended and restated Articles of Incorporation of Gulf Power Company and amendments thereto through October 17, 2007. (Designated in Form 8-K dated October 27, 2005, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 3.1, in Form 8-K dated November 9, 2005, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 4.7 and in Form 8-K dated October 16, 2007, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 4.5).
4.6		—Form of Articles of Amendment to Charter establishing a series of the Class A Preferred Stock.*
4.7		—Form of Articles of Amendment to Charter establishing a series of the Preference Stock.*
4.8		—By-laws of Gulf Power Company as amended effective November 2, 2005, and as presently in effect. (Designated in Form 8-K dated October 27, 2005, File No. 001-31737, as Exhibit 3.2).
4.9		—Form of Senior Note (included in Exhibit 4.2 above).
4.10		—Form of Junior Subordinated Note (included in Exhibit 4.4 above).
5.1		—Opinion of Beggs & Lane, a Registered Limited Liability Partnership.
5.2		—Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP.
12.1		—Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
12.2		—Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus preferred and preference dividend requirements (pre-income tax basis).
23.1		—Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2		—Consent of Beggs & Lane, a Registered Limited Partnership (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).
23.3		—Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2 above).
24.1		—Powers of Attorney and Resolution.
24.2		—Power of Attorney for Mark A. Crosswhite.
24.3		—Power of Attorney for Richard S. Teel.
25.1		—Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New York Mellon, as Senior Note Indenture Trustee.
25.2		—Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New York Mellon, as Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee.

Exhibits listed above which have heretofore been filed with the Commission and which were designated as noted above are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof with the same effect as if filed herewith.

To be subsequently filed or incorporated by reference.

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Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) Undertaking related to Rule 415 offering:

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(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 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(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 registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and 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 the registrants pursuant to section 13 or section 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 the 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,

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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 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 the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the 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, the 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 the 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 the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

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

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

(b) Undertaking related to filings incorporating subsequent Securities Exchange Act of 1934 documents by reference:

The 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 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.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Gulf Power Company 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 registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on the 9^th day of March, 2011.

GULF POWER COMPANY

MARK A. CROSSWHITE,

By:

President and Chief Executive Officer

/S/ MELISSA K. CAEN,

By:

Attorney-in-fact

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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following directors and officers of Gulf Power Company in the capacities and on the date indicated.


Signature	Title	Date

MARK A. CROSSWHITE	President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)


RICHARD S. TEEL		Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)


CONSTANCE J. ERICKSON		Comptroller (Principal Accounting Officer)

ALLAN G. BENSE

DEBORAH H. CALDER
WILLIAM C. CRAMER, JR.

J. MORT O’SULLIVAN, III

WILLIAM A. PULLUM

WINSTON E. SCOTT

}

^Directors

/s/ MELISSA K. CAEN

(Melissa K. Caen, Attorney-in-fact)

March 9, 2011

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