-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Dj4osKHOmD73qLpJVp5uzt3DSv3kcAMBJ2x45wD+JCRLxPRnp/Pfdp8C7miXT1+t ghTfZoNcjvT4msy+ELjtBA== 0000950129-96-001230.txt : 19960617 0000950129-96-001230.hdr.sgml : 19960617 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950129-96-001230 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 19960614 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: K N ENERGY INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000054502 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION [4923] IRS NUMBER: 480290000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: KS FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-04385 FILM NUMBER: 96581662 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 370 VAN GORDON ST STREET 2: PO BOX 281304 CITY: LAKEWOOD STATE: CO ZIP: 80228-8304 BUSINESS PHONE: 3039891740 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: KN ENERGY INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920430 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: KANSAS NEBRASKA NATURAL GAS CO INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19830403 S-3/A 1 K N ENERGY INC. - FORM S-3 - AMEND. #1 1 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 14, 1996 REGISTRATION NUMBER 333-04385 ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ------------------------ AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ------------------------ K N ENERGY, INC. (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) KANSAS 48-0290000 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.) 370 VAN GORDON STREET MARTHA B. WYRSCH P.O. BOX 281304 VICE PRESIDENT, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL & SECRETARY LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80228-8304 370 VAN GORDON STREET, P.O. BOX 281304 (303) 989-1740 LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80228-8304 (303) 989-1740 (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
------------------------ Copy to: C. MICHAEL HARRINGTON VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P. 3600 FIRST CITY TOWER HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-6760 (713) 758-2148 ------------------------ Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective. 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 being 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, please 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, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of 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 delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. / / ------------------------ CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=================================================================================================================== PROPOSED PROPOSED MAXIMUM MAXIMUM AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES TO BE AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE OFFERING REGISTRATION REGISTERED REGISTERED PER UNIT PRICE FEE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Primary Offering: Debt Securities............................... (1) (1) $300,000,000(2) $103,450(4) Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share....... - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Secondary Offering: Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share....... 500,000 shares $32.6875(3) $16,343,750 $5,636(4) ====================================================================================================================
(1) Omitted pursuant to Rule 457(o). (2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o). (3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on May 21, 1996. (4) Previously paid. 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 the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine. ================================================================================ 2 PROSPECTUS K N ENERGY, INC. DEBT SECURITIES COMMON STOCK ------------------------------ K N Energy, Inc. ("K N" or the "Company") may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more series, its unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness (the "Debt Securities"). Both the Company and its largest stockholder, Cabot Corporation (the "Selling Stockholder"), may also offer and sell from time to time shares of its common stock, par value $5.00 per share (the "Common Stock"). The aggregate initial offering prices of the Debt Securities and the Common Stock offered by the Company hereby (the "Securities") will not exceed $300,000,000 or, if applicable, the equivalent thereof in any other currency or currency unit, and the number of shares of Common Stock offered by the Selling Stockholder hereby will not exceed 500,000. The Securities will be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of market conditions at the time of sale and set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus (a "Prospectus Supplement"). If the offering and sale of Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered includes a series of Debt Securities, then the terms of such series of Debt Securities, including, where applicable, the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, authorized denominations, ranking as senior or subordinated Debt Securities, maturity, interest rate or rates (or method of determining the same) and time or times of payment of any interest, any terms for optional or mandatory redemption, which may include redemption at the option of holders upon the occurrence of certain events, conversion into Common Stock, or payment of additional amounts or any sinking fund provisions, any initial public offering price, the proceeds to the Company and any other specific terms in connection with the offering and sale of such series of Debt Securities will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. As used herein, Debt Securities shall include securities denominated in United States dollars or, at the option of the Company if so specified in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, in any other currency or currency unit, or in amounts determined by reference to an index. The Securities may be sold directly by the Company or the Selling Stockholder to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. See "Plan of Distribution". If any agents of the Company or the Selling Stockholder or any underwriters are involved in the sale of any Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The net proceeds to the Company from such sale also will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of any Common Stock by the Selling Stockholder. See "Use of Proceeds." Debt Securities may be issued in registered form or bearer form with or without interest coupons attached, or both. In addition, all or a portion of the Debt Securities of a series may be issuable in temporary or permanent global form. Debt Securities in bearer form are offered only to non-United States persons and to offices located outside the United States of certain United States financial institutions. ------------------------------ The Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KNE." Any Common Stock sold pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement will be listed on such exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. ------------------------------ THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. ------------------------------ This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of the Securities unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement. THE DATE OF THE PROSPECTUS IS JUNE 18, 1996. 3 AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements, and other information filed by the Company with the Commission can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the following Regional Offices of the Commission: Chicago Regional Office, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661; and New York Regional Office, Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. In addition, reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company can be inspected at the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which exchange the Common Stock is listed. This Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration Statement") filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statements for further information with respect to the Company and the securities offered hereby. Any statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statements or otherwise filed with the Commission are not necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such document so filed. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission (File No. 1-6446) pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated by reference and made a part hereof: (a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995; and (b) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996. All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities pursuant hereto shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such document. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such 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 any person, including any beneficial owner of Securities, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any and all of the documents referred to above which have been incorporated by reference in this Prospectus (other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Such requests should be directed to the office of the Treasurer, K N Energy, Inc., P.O. Box 281304, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-8304, telephone number (303) 989-1740. 2 4 THE COMPANY The Company and its subsidiaries constitute principally an integrated natural gas enterprise with operations in the states of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. As an integrated organization, the Company and its subsidiaries participate in all phases of the natural gas business from reserve development and gas gathering to the gathering of field supplies, transmission to markets and distribution to both industrial and retail customers. In addition, certain of the Company's subsidiaries engage in energy marketing. K N was incorporated under the laws of the State of Kansas in 1927. The address of its principal executive offices is 370 Van Gordon Street, P. O. Box 281304, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-8304 and its telephone number is (303) 989-1740. USE OF PROCEEDS Except as may otherwise be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of Securities, the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities offered by the Company pursuant to this Prospectus and such Prospectus Supplement (the "Offered Securities") will be used for general corporate purposes. Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of Securities by the Company to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of such offering and will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any Common Stock by the Selling Stockholder. RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES The following table sets forth the Company's consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods shown.
THREE MONTHS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ENDED MARCH 31, ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 - ------------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 3.73 3.07 1.69 2.41 2.61 2.70
The ratios of earnings to fixed charges were computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For this purpose, earnings are the sum of net income (from continuing operations), taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges are interest, amortization of debt discount, premium and expense, preferred stock dividends of a subsidiary, and the estimated interest portion of rental charges. The allowance for borrowed funds used during construction recognized for gas utility operations has been added to fixed charges and is included in earnings. A statement setting forth the computation of the ratios of earnings to fixed charges is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. 3 5 DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES The Debt Securities will constitute either senior or subordinated debt of the Company and will be issued, in the case of Debt Securities that will be senior debt ("Senior Debt Securities"), under an Indenture dated as of November 20, 1993 (the "Senior Debt Indenture"), between the Company and First Trust of Illinois, National Association, as successor trustee, and, in the case of Debt Securities that will be subordinated debt ("Subordinated Debt Securities"), under a Subordinated Indenture dated as of May 15, 1996 (the "Subordinated Debt Indenture"), between the Company and First Trust of Illinois, National Association, as trustee. The Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture are sometimes hereinafter referred to individually as an "Indenture" and collectively as the "Indentures." First Trust of Illinois, National Association (and any successor thereto as trustee under the Indentures) is hereinafter referred to as the "Trustee." The Indentures are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. The following summaries of certain provisions of the Indentures and the Debt Securities do not purport to be complete and summaries of certain provisions of the Indentures and the Debt Securities do not purport to be complete and such summaries are subject to the detailed provisions of the applicable Indenture to which reference is hereby made for a full description of such provisions, including the definition of certain terms used herein. Section references in parentheses below are to sections in both Indentures unless otherwise indicated. Wherever particular sections or defined terms of the applicable Indenture are referred to, such sections or defined terms are incorporated herein by reference as part of the statement made, and the statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. The Indentures are substantially identical, except for certain covenants of the Company and provisions relating to subordination and conversion. The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The following description of the Debt Securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities of all series. The particular terms of each series of Debt Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement (the "Offered Debt Securities") will be described therein. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOTH SENIOR AND SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES General. The Debt Securities will be unsecured senior or subordinated obligations of the Company and may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Indentures do not limit the amount of Debt Securities, debentures, notes or other types of indebtedness that may be issued by the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor do they restrict transactions between the Company and its affiliates or the payment of dividends or other distributions by the Company to its stockholders. The rights of the Company's creditors, including holders of Debt Securities, will be limited to the assets of the Company and will not be an obligation of any of its Subsidiaries. In addition, other than as may be set forth in any Prospectus Supplement, the Indentures do not and the Debt Securities will not contain any covenants or other provisions that are intended to afford holders of the Debt Securities special protection in the event of either a change of control of the Company or a highly leveraged transaction by the Company. Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement for the following terms of and information relating to the Offered Debt Securities (to the extent such terms are applicable to such Offered Debt Securities): (i) the title of the Offered Debt Securities; (ii) classification as either Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities; (iii) whether the Offered Debt Securities that constitute Subordinated Debt Securities are convertible into Common Stock and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such conversion will be effected including the initial conversion price or conversion rate and any adjustments thereto in addition to or different from those described herein, the conversion period and other conversion provisions in addition to or in lieu of those described herein; (iv) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Debt Securities; (v) whether the Offered Debt Securities are to be issuable as Registered Securities or Bearer Securities or both, whether any of the Offered Debt Securities are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any of the Offered Debt Securities are to be in permanent global form; (vi) the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the Offered Debt Securities will be issued; (vii) the date or dates on which the Offered Debt Securities will mature; (viii) the rate or rates per annum (or the method by which such will be determined) at which the Offered Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, and the date from which any such interest will accrue; (ix) the Interest Payment Dates on 4 6 which any such interest on the Offered Debt Securities will be payable, the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Offered Debt Securities which are Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Offered Debt Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid; (x) any mandatory or optional sinking fund or analogous provisions; (xi) each office or agency where, subject to the terms of the Indentures as described below under "Payment and Paying Agents", the principal of and any premium and interest on the Offered Debt Securities will be payable and each office or agency where, subject to the terms of the Indentures as described below under "Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer", the Offered Debt Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange; (xii) the right of the Company to redeem the Offered Debt Securities at its option and the period or periods, if any, within which and the price or prices at which the Offered Debt Securities may, pursuant to any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed, in whole or in part, and the other detailed terms and provisions of any such optional or mandatory redemption; (xiii) the denominations in which any Offered Debt Securities which are Registered Securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the denomination or denominations in which any Offered Debt Securities which are Bearer Securities will be issuable, if other than the denomination of $5,000; (xiv) the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the Offered Debt Securities is payable; (xv) any index used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and any premium and interest on the Offered Debt Securities; (xvi) information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and (xvii) any other terms of the Offered Debt Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indentures. (Section 301) Any such Prospectus Supplement will also describe any special provisions for the payment of additional amounts with respect to the Offered Debt Securities. Debt Securities may be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities. An Original Issue Discount Security is a Debt Security, including any Zero-Coupon Security, which is issued at a price lower than the amount payable upon the Stated Maturity thereof and which provides that upon redemption or acceleration of the maturity thereof an amount less than the amount payable upon the Stated Maturity thereof and determined in accordance with the terms of such Debt Security shall become due and payable. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to Debt Securities issued at an original issue discount, including Original Issue Discount Securities, and special United States tax considerations and other terms and restrictions applicable to any Debt Securities which are issued in bearer form, offered exclusively to United States Aliens or denominated in other than United States dollars, will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer. Debt Securities of a series may be issuable in definitive form solely as Registered Securities, solely as Bearer Securities or as both Registered Securities and Bearer Securities. Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, Bearer Securities will have interest coupons attached. (Section 201) The Indentures also provide that Debt Securities of a series may be issuable in temporary or permanent global form. (Section 201) Registered Securities of any series will be exchangeable for other Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. In addition, if Debt Securities of any series are issuable as both Registered Securities and Bearer Securities, at the option of the Holder, and subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture, Bearer Securities (with all unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and all matured coupons in default) of such series will be exchangeable for Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. Bearer Securities surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities between a Regular Record Date or a Special Record Date and the relevant date for payment of interest shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such date for payment of interest, and interest accrued as of such date will not be payable in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture. Bearer Securities will not be issued in exchange for Registered Securities. (Section 305) Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above, and Registered Securities may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed), at the office 5 7 of the Security Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by the Company for such purpose with respect to any series of Debt Securities and referred to in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the Indentures. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Security Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. The Company will serve initially as Security Registrar. (Section 305) If a Prospectus Supplement refers to any transfer agents (in addition to the Security Registrar) initially designated by the Company with respect to any series of Debt Securities, the Company may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts, except that, if Debt Securities of a series are issuable solely as Registered Securities, the Company will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for such series and, if Debt Securities of a series are also issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will be required to maintain (in addition to the Security Registrar) a transfer agent in a Place of Payment for such series located outside the United States. The Company may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities. (Section 1002) In the event of any redemption in part, the Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Debt Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days prior to the selection of Debt Securities of that series for redemption and ending on the close of business on (A) if Debt Securities of the series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and (B) if Debt Securities of the series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the date of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, if Securities of the series are also issuable as Registered Securities and there is no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security, or portion thereof, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any Registered Security being redeemed in part; or (iii) exchange any Bearer Security called for redemption, except to exchange such Bearer Security for a Registered Security of that series and like tenor which is immediately surrendered for redemption. (Section 305) Payment and Paying Agents. Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of principal of and any premium and interest on Bearer Securities will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the offices of such Paying Agents outside the United States as the Company may designate from time to time, in the manner indicated in such Prospectus Supplement. (Section 1002) Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of interest on Bearer Securities on any Interest Payment Date will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date. (Section 1001) No payment with respect to any Bearer Security will be made at any office or agency of the Company in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to any account maintained with a bank located in the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments of principal of and any premium and interest on Bearer Securities denominated and payable in U.S. dollars will be made at the office of the Company's Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan. The City of New York, if (but only if) payment of the full amount thereof in U.S. dollars at all offices or agencies outside the United States is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions. (Section 1002) Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of principal of and any premium and interest on Registered Securities will be made 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 check mailed on or before the due date to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. (Sections 307, 1002) Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of any installment of interest on Registered Securities will be made to the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. (Section 307) Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company, at its principal executive offices in Lakewood, Colorado will act as its own Paying Agent for payments with respect to Debt Securities which are issuable solely as Registered Securities and the Company will maintain a Paying Agent outside the United States for payments with respect to Debt Securities (subject to limitations described above 6 8 in the case of Bearer Securities) which are issuable solely as Bearer Securities or as both Registered Securities and Bearer Securities. Any Paying Agents outside the United States and any other Paying Agents in the United States initially designated by Company for the Debt Securities will be named in an applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that, if Debt Securities of a series are issuable solely as Registered Securities, the Company will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for such series and, if Debt Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will be required to maintain (i) a Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for principal payments with respect to any Registered Securities of the series (and for payments with respect to Bearer Securities of the series in the circumstances described above, but not otherwise), and (ii) a Paying Agent in a Place of Payment located outside the United States where Debt Securities of such series and any coupons appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment. (Section 1002) All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and any premium or interest on any Debt Security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest shall have become due and payable will (subject to applicable escheat laws) be repaid to the Company, and the Holder of such Debt Security or any coupon will thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof. (Section 1003) Global Debt Securities. Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global Debt Securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Global Debt Securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. (Section 203) Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby, a global Debt Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository for such global Debt Security to a nominee of such depository or by a nominee of such depository to such depository or another nominee of such depository or by the depository or any nominee to a successor depository or any nominee of such successor. The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series of Debt Securities and certain limitations and restrictions relating to a series of Bearer Securities in the form of one or more global Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Events of Default. Any one of the following events constitutes an Event of Default under each Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of any series: (a) failure to pay any interest on any Debt Security of that series when due, continued for 30 days; (b) failure to pay principal of or any premium on any Debt Security of that series when due; (c) failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any Debt Security of that series; (d) failure to perform any other covenant of the Company in such Indenture (other than a covenant included in such Indenture solely for the benefit of series of any Debt Securities other than that series), continued for 90 days after written notice as provided in such Indenture; (e) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving the Company; and (f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series (Section 501) If an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series by notice as provided in the applicable Indenture may declare the principal amount (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to Debt Securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of money has been obtained by the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration. (Section 502) Each Indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the Trustee during default to act with the required standard of care, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee 7 9 reasonable indemnity. (Sections 601, 603) Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of that series; provided, however, that the Trustee is not obligated to take any action unduly prejudicial to Holders not joining in such direction or involving the Trustee in personal liability. (Section 512) The Company is required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement as to the performance by the Company of its obligations under each Indenture and as to any default in such performance. (Section 1007) Defeasance. If so specified with respect to any particular series of Debt Securities issued under an Indenture, the Company may discharge its indebtedness and its obligations or certain of its obligations under such Indenture with respect to such series by depositing funds or obligations issued or guaranteed by the United State of America with the Trustee. (Sections 1301-1303) Defeasance and Discharge. Each Indenture provides that, if so specified with respect to the Debt Securities of any series issued under such Indenture (other than convertible Subordinated Debt Securities), the Company will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Debt Securities of such series (except for certain obligations relating to temporary Debt Securities and exchange of Debt Securities, registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities of such series, replacement of stolen, lost or mutilated Debt Securities of such series, maintenance of paying agencies to hold moneys for payment in trust and payment of additional amounts, if any, required in consequence of United States withholding taxes imposed on payments to non-United States persons) upon the deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any), and each installment of interest on, the Debt Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of such Indenture and the Debt Securities of such series. (Sections 1302, 1304) Such a trust may only be established if, among other things, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of such Indenture there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge, and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred. (Section 1304) In the event of any such defeasance and discharge of Debt Securities of such series, Holders of such series would be entitled to look only to such trust fund for payment of principal of and any premium and any interest on their Debt Securities until Maturity. Covenant Defeasance. Each Indenture also provides that, if so specified with respect to the Debt Securities of any series issued thereunder, the Company may omit to comply with certain restrictive covenants, including (in the case of the Senior Debt Indenture) the covenant described under "Limitation on Liens" below, but excluding (in the case of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) any applicable obligation of the Company respecting the conversion of Debt Securities of such series into Common Stock, and any such omission shall not be an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, upon the deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any), and each installment of interest on, the Debt Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of such Indenture and the Debt Securities of such series. The obligations of the Company under such Indenture and the Debt Securities of such series other than with respect to such covenants shall remain in full force and effect. (Section 1303) Such a trust may be established only if, among other things, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance of certain obligations and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. (Section 1304) 8 10 Although the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations on deposit with the Trustee would be intended to be sufficient to pay amounts due on the Debt Securities of such series at the time of their Stated Maturity, in the event the Company exercises its option to omit compliance with the covenants defeased with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as described above, and the Debt Securities of such series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, such amount may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the Debt Securities of such series at the time of the acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. The Company shall in any event remain liable for such payments as provided in the applicable Indenture. Federal Income Tax Consequences. Under current United States federal income tax law, defeasance and discharge would likely be treated as a taxable exchange of Debt Securities to be defeased for an interest in the defeasance trust. As a consequence, a holder would recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holder's cost or other tax basis for such Debt Securities and the value of the holder's interest in the defeasance trust, and thereafter would be required to include in income the holder's share of the income, gain or loss of the defeasance trust. Under current United States federal income tax law, covenant defeasance would ordinarily not be treated as a taxable exchange of such Debt Securities. Meetings, Modification and Waiver. Modifications and amendments of either Indenture may be made by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such modification or amendment; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, (a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Debt Security, (b) change the Redemption Date with respect to any Debt Security, (c) reduce the principal amount of, or premium or interest on, any Debt Security, (d) change any obligation of the Company to pay additional amounts, (e) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, (f) change the coin or currency in which any Debt Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, (g) change the redemption right of any Holder, (h) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any Debt Security or any conversion right with respect thereto, (i) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for modification or amendment of such Indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of such Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults, (j) reduce the requirements contained in such Indenture for quorum or voting, (k) change any obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes required by such Indenture, (l) adversely affect the right to convert Subordinated Debt Securities, if applicable, or (l) modify any of the above provisions. (Section 902) The Subordinated Debt Indenture may not be amended to alter the subordination of any outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities without the consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness (as defined below under "-- Provisions Applicable Solely to Subordinated Debt Securities") then outstanding that would be adversely affected thereby. (Section 907 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series may, on behalf of all Holders of that series, waive, insofar as that series is concerned, compliance by the Company with certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture under which such series has been issued. (Section 1008) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series may, on behalf of all Holders of that series, waive any past default under the applicable Indenture with respect to any Debt Securities of that series, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or any interest on any Debt Security of such series or (b) in respect of a covenant or provision of such Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected. (Section 513) Each Indenture provides that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver thereunder or are present at a meeting of the Holders for quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that is deemed to be Outstanding will be the amount of the principal that 9 11 would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, and (ii) the principal amount of a Debt Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency units will be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Debt Security, of the principal amount of such Debt Security or, in the case of an Original issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the amount determined as provided in (i) above. (Section 101) Each Indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the Holders of a series if Debt Securities of that series are issuable as Bearer Securities. (Section 1401) A meeting may be called at any time by the Trustee, and also, upon request, by the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, in any such case upon notice given in accordance with "Notices" below. (Section 1402) Except for any consent which must be given by the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, as described above, any resolution presented at a meeting (or adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present) may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting (or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present) by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of any series duly held in accordance with the applicable Indenture will be binding on all Holders of that series and related coupons. The quorum at any meeting, and at any reconvened meeting, will be Persons holding or representing a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series. (Section 1404) Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets. The Company, without the consent of the Holders of any of the outstanding Securities under either Indenture, may consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease its assets substantially as an entirety to, any Person which is a corporation, partnership or trust organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction, provided that any successor Person assumes the Company's obligations on the Securities and under such Indenture, that after giving effect to the transaction no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, and that certain other conditions are met. (Section 801) Notices. Except as otherwise provided in the Indentures, notices to Holders of Bearer Securities will be given by publication at least twice in a daily newspaper in The City of New York and in such other city or cities as may be specified in such Bearer Securities. Notices to Holders of Registered Securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such Holders as they appear in the Security Register. (Section 106) Title. Title to any Bearer Securities (including Bearer Securities in permanent global form) and any coupons appertaining thereto will pass by delivery. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon and the registered owner of any Registered Security as the owner thereof (whether or not such Debt Security or coupon shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice to the contrary) for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes. (Section 308) Replacement of Securities and Coupons. Any mutilated Debt Security or a Debt Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining thereto will be replaced by the Company at the expense of the Holder upon surrender of such Debt Security to the Trustee. Debt Securities or coupons that became destroyed, stolen or lost will be replaced by the Company at the expense of the Holder upon delivery to the Trustee of the Debt Security and coupons or evidence of destruction, loss or theft thereof satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee; in the case of any coupon which becomes destroyed, stolen or lost, such coupon will be replaced by issuance of a new Debt Security in exchange for the Debt Security to which such coupon appertains. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security or coupon, an indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company may be required at the expense of the Holder of such Debt Security or coupon before a replacement Debt Security will be issued. (Section 306) 10 12 Governing Law. The Indentures, the Debt Securities and coupons will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. (Section 113) Regarding the Trustee. First Trust of Illinois, National Association, the Trustee under each Indenture, is also trustee under another indenture under which several issues of the Company's debt securities are outstanding. Each Indenture contains certain limitations on the right of the Trustee, should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize for its own account on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. (Section 613) The Trustee is permitted to engage in certain other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest (as described in the Indentures), it must eliminate such conflict or resign. (Section 608) Pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, should a default occur with respect to either the Senior Debt Securities or the Subordinated Debt Securities, First Trust of Illinois, National Association would be required to resign as Trustee under one of the Indentures within 90 days of such default unless such default were cured, duly waived or otherwise eliminated. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE SOLELY TO SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES General. Senior Debt Securities will be issued under the Senior Debt Indenture, and each series will rank pari passu as to the right of payment of principal and any premium and interest with each other series issued thereunder and will rank senior to all series of Subordinated Debt Securities that may be issued. Certain Definitions. For purposes of the following discussion, the following definitions are applicable (Section 101 of the Senior Debt Indenture). "Net Tangible Assets" means the total amount of assets appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries less, without duplication: (a) total current liabilities (excluding current maturities of long-term debt and preferred stock); (b) all reserves for depreciation and other asset valuation reserves but excluding reserves for deferred federal and state income taxes; (c) all intangible assets such as goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents and unamortized debt discount and expense carried as an asset and (d) all appropriate adjustments on account of minority interests of other Persons holding common stock in any Subsidiary. "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Principal Property" means any natural gas pipeline, natural gas distribution system, natural gas gathering system or natural gas storage facility located in the United States, except any such property that in the opinion of the Board of Directors is not of material importance to the business conducted by the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole. "Principal Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary which owns a Principal Property. "Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency. Limitation on Liens. The Company covenants in the Senior Debt Indenture that it will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee any debt for money borrowed ("Debt") if such Debt is secured by a mortgage, pledge, security interest or lien (a "mortgage" or "mortgages") upon any Principal Property of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary or upon any shares of stock or indebtedness of any Principal Subsidiary (whether such Principal Property, shares or indebtedness was owned on the date of the Senior Debt Indenture or thereafter acquired) without in any such case effectively providing that the Senior Debt Securities shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Debt, except that the foregoing 11 13 restrictions shall not apply to: (a) mortgages on any property acquired, constructed or improved by the Company or any Principal Subsidiary after the date of the Senior Debt Indenture which are created within 180 days after such acquisition (or in the case of property constructed or improved, after the completion and commencement of commercial operation of such property, whichever is later) to secure or provide for the payment of the purchase price or cost thereof, provided that in the case of such construction or improvement the mortgages shall not apply to any property theretofore owned by the Company or any Subsidiary other than theretofore unimproved real property; (b) existing mortgages on property acquired (including mortgages on any property acquired from a Person which is consolidated with or merged with or into the Company or a Subsidiary) or mortgages outstanding at the time any corporation becomes a Subsidiary; (c) mortgages in favor of domestic or foreign governmental bodies to secure advances or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure indebtedness incurred to finance the purchase price or cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such mortgages, including mortgages to secure Debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type; (d) mortgages in favor of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary; or (e) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), in whole or in part, of any mortgage referred to in any of the foregoing clauses (a)-(d). (Section 1006 of the Senior Debt Indenture) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and any Subsidiary may, without securing the Senior Debt Securities, issue, assume or guarantee secured Debt (which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions) in an aggregate amount which, together with all other such Debt, does not exceed 10% of the Net Tangible Assets, as shown on a consolidated balance sheet as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the proposed transaction prepared by the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. (Section 1006 of the Senior Debt Indenture) PROVISIONS APPLICABLE SOLELY TO SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES Subordination. The Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Debt Indenture, to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company. If the Company should default in the payment of any principal of or premium or interest on any Senior Indebtedness when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, then, upon written notice of such default to the Company by the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or any trustee therefor and subject to certain rights of the Company to dispute such default and subject to proper notification of the Trustee, unless and until such default has been cured or waived or ceases to exist, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) will be made or agreed to be made for principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt Securities, or in respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of the Subordinated Debt Securities other than those made in capital stock of the Company (or cash in lieu of fractional shares thereof) pursuant to any conversion right of the Subordinated Debt Securities or otherwise made in capital stock of the Company. (Sections 1601, 1604 and 1605 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) "Senior Indebtedness" is defined in Section 101 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture as Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company outstanding at any time except (a) any Indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing the same, it is provided that such Indebtedness is not senior in right of payment to the Subordinated Debt Securities, (b) the Subordinated Debt Securities, (c) any Indebtedness of the Company to a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, (d) interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating certain bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings unless such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the Company in a proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy laws and (e) trade accounts payable. "Indebtedness" is defined in Section 101 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture as, with respect to any Person, (a) (i) the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on indebtedness for money borrowed of such Person evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar obligations, including any guaranty by such Person of any indebtedness for money borrowed of any other Person, whether any such indebtedness or guaranty is outstanding on the date of the Subordinated Debt Indenture or is thereafter created, assumed or incurred, (ii) the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on indebtedness for money borrowed, incurred, 12 14 assumed or guaranteed by such Person in connection with the acquisition by it or any of its subsidiaries of any other business, properties or other assets and (iii) lease obligations which such Person capitalizes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13 promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other generally accepted accounting principles as may be from time to time in effect, (b) any other indebtedness of such Person, including any indebtedness representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or interest therein, including any such balance that constitutes a trade account payable, and any guaranty, endorsement or other contingent obligation of such Person in respect of any indebtedness of another, which is outstanding on the date of the Subordinated Debt Indenture or is thereafter created, assumed or incurred by such Person and (c) any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described as Indebtedness in clause (a) or (b) above. If (i) without the consent of the Company a court shall enter (A) an order for relief with respect to the Company under the United States federal bankruptcy laws, (B) a judgment, order or decree adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or (C) an order for relief for reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under the United States federal bankruptcy laws or state insolvency laws or (ii) the Company shall institute proceedings for the entry of an order for relief with respect to the Company under the United States federal bankruptcy laws or for an adjudication of insolvency, or shall consent to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or shall file a petition seeking, or seek or consent to reorganization, arrangement, composition or similar relief under any applicable law, or shall consent to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official in respect of the Company or of substantially all of its property, or the Company shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, then all Senior Indebtedness (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) will first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, is made on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt Securities. In such event, any payment or distribution on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt Securities, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in the subordination provisions with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness then outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities will be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Indebtedness (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) has been paid in full. If any payment or distribution on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt Securities of any character, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in the subordination provisions with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness then outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), shall be received by the Trustee or any holder of any Subordinated Debt Securities in contravention of any of the terms of the Subordinated Debt Indenture, such payment or distribution will be received in trust for the benefit of, and will be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full. In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing with respect to Senior Indebtedness, the holders of Subordinated Debt Securities, together with the holders of any obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the Subordinated Debt Securities, will be entitled to be repaid from the remaining assets of the Company the amounts at that time due and owing on account of unpaid principal of or any premium or interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities and such other obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property or otherwise, shall 13 15 be made on account of any capital stock or obligations of the Company ranking junior to the Subordinated Debt Securities and such other obligations. (Section 1601 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) The Prospectus Supplement respecting any series of Subordinated Debt Securities will set forth any subordination provisions applicable to such series in addition to or different from those described above. By reason of such subordination, in the event of the insolvency of the Company, holders of Senior Indebtedness and holders of other obligations of the Company that are not subordinated to Senior Indebtedness may receive more, ratably, than holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities. Such subordination will not prevent the occurrence of an Event of Default or limit the right of acceleration in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities. Conversion. The Subordinated Debt Indenture may provide for a right of conversion of Subordinated Debt Securities into Common Stock (or cash in lieu thereof). (Sections 301 and 1501 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) The following provisions will apply to Debt Securities that are convertible Subordinated Debt Securities unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement for such Debt Securities. The holder of any convertible Subordinated Debt Securities will have the right exercisable at any time prior to maturity, unless previously redeemed or otherwise purchased by the Company, to convert such Subordinated Debt Securities into shares of Common Stock at the conversion price or conversion rate set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, subject to adjustment. (Section 1502 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) The holder of convertible Subordinated Debt Securities may convert any portion thereof which is $1,000 in principal amount or any integral multiple thereof. (Section 1502 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) In certain events, the conversion price or conversion rate will be subject to adjustment as set forth in the Subordinated Debt Indenture. Such events include the issuance of shares of Common Stock of the Company as a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock; subdivisions, combinations and reclassifications of the Common Stock; the issuance to all holders of Common Stock of rights or warrants entitling the holders thereof (for a period not exceeding 45 days) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the then current market price per share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the Subordinated Debt Indenture); and the distribution to substantially all holders of Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness, equity securities (including equity interests in the Company's Subsidiaries) other than Common Stock, or other assets (excluding cash dividends paid from surplus) or subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). No adjustment of the conversion price or conversion rate will be required unless an adjustment would require a cumulative increase or decrease of at least 1% in such price or rate. (Section 1504 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) The Company has been advised by its counsel, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., that certain adjustments in the conversion price or conversion rate in accordance with the foregoing provisions may result in constructive distributions to either holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities or holders of Common Stock which would be taxable pursuant to Treasury Regulations issued under section 305 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The amount of any such taxable constructive distribution would be the fair market value of the Common Stock which is treated as having been constructively received, such value being determined as of the time the adjustment resulting in the constructive distribution is made. Fractional shares of Common Stock will not be issued upon conversion, but, in lieu thereof, the Company will pay a cash adjustment based on the then current market price for the Common Stock. (Section 1503 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) Upon conversion, no adjustments will be made for accrued interest or dividends, and therefore convertible Subordinated Debt Securities surrendered for conversion between the record date for an interest payment and the interest payment date (except convertible Subordinated Debt Securities called for redemption on a redemption date during such period) must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the interest thereon which the registered holder is to receive. (Sections 1504 and 1502 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) In the case of any consolidation or merger of the Company (with certain exceptions) or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety to any Person, each 14 16 holder of convertible Subordinated Debt Securities, after the consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease, will have the right to convert such convertible Subordinated Debt Securities only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property which the holder would have been entitled to receive upon or in connection with such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease, if the holder had held the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such convertible Subordinated Debt Securities immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease. (Section 1505 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture) DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK GENERAL K N is currently authorized by its Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the "K N Charter") to issue 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 28,398,165 were outstanding on April 30, 1996; 200,000 shares of Class A Preferred Stock, no par value ("Class A Preferred Stock"), of which 70,000 shares were outstanding as Class A $5.00 Cumulative Preferred Stock on such date; and 2,000,000 shares of Class B Preferred Stock, no par value ("Class B Preferred Stock"), of which 5,720 shares were outstanding as Class B $8.30 Series Cumulative Preferred Stock on such date. The Board of Directors of K N is authorized by the K N Charter to provide, without further stockholder action, for the issuance of one or more series of Class A Preferred Stock and Class B Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors has the power to fix various terms with respect to each such series, including voting power, designations, preferences, dividend rates, conversion and exchange provisions, redemption provisions and, in the case of the Class B Preferred Stock, the amounts which holders are entitled to receive upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of K N. Class A Preferred Stock and Class B Preferred Stock will rank prior to the Common Stock with respect to both dividends and distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of K N. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of K N, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of shares of Class A Preferred Stock of each series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of K N the sum of $100 per share of Class A Preferred Stock, plus any arrearages in dividends thereon to the date fixed for the payment in liquidation, before any distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of any stock junior to the Class A Preferred Stock. K N may, at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem the whole or any part of the Class A Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof at any time or from time to time within the period during which such stock is, according to the K N Charter, or the resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issue thereof, redeemable, by paying the redemption price thereof, including any arrearages in dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption. The Class A $5.00 Cumulative Preferred Stock is redeemable at the price of $105 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends. Holders of shares of Class A $5.00 Cumulative Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors of K N, cumulative preferential cash dividends at the annual rate of $5.00 per share prior to the payment of any dividends or other distributions on (or purchase or redemption of) the Class B Preferred Stock or the Common Stock. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of K N, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of shares of Class B Preferred Stock of each series shall be entitled to receive, subject to the prior rights of the holders of shares of Class A Preferred Stock, the full preferential amount fixed by the K N Charter, or the resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issue thereof, including any arrearages in dividends thereon to the date fixed for the payment in liquidation, before any distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of any stock junior to the Class B Preferred Stock. K N is required to redeem (at $100 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends) 5,714 shares of the Class B $8.30 Series Cumulative Preferred Stock on January 1, 1997 and the remaining 6 shares on January 1, 1998. At the option of K N, this series of Preferred Stock is redeemable, in whole or in part, at $100.87 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, prior to January 2, 1997 and 5,714 shares of the series may be redeemed on January 1, 1997 at $100 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of K N, the holders of such series are entitled to receive (subject to the prior rights 15 17 of the holders of shares of Class A Preferred Stock) $100 plus accrued and unpaid dividends for each such share then outstanding, before any distribution is made on the Common Stock. Holders of shares of Class B $8.30 Series Cumulative Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors of K N, cumulative preferential cash dividends at the annual rate of $8.30 per share prior to the payment of any dividends or other distributions on (or purchase or redemption of) the Common Stock. Dividends may not be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any series of Class B Preferred Stock, unless there shall be no arrearages in dividends on any series of Class A Preferred Stock entitled to cumulative dividends for any past dividend period and dividends in full for the current dividend period have been paid or declared or set aside for payment on all Class A Preferred Stock. In addition, the holders of the Class A Preferred Stock then outstanding have the right to vote separately as a class with respect to (i) certain amendments to the K N Charter or the By-laws of K N which adversely affect the voting powers, rights or preferences of the holders of shares of Class A Preferred Stock, (ii) the creation of any class of stock or any security convertible into or exchangeable for or evidencing the right to purchase any stock ranking prior to or on a parity with, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, the Class A Preferred Stock, or (iii) certain mergers or consolidations of K N with or into any other corporation. For such actions to be taken by K N, including increasing the authorized amount of any class of stock ranking prior to the Class A Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 50% of the shares of the Class A Preferred Stock then outstanding would be required. The affirmative vote of at least 50% of the shares of any series of Class A Preferred Stock then outstanding is required for K N to amend the K N Charter or resolutions of the Board of Directors of K N providing for the issue of such series of Class A Preferred Stock so as to affect adversely the powers, preferences or rights of holders of Class A Preferred Stock of such series. The holders of Class B Preferred Stock then outstanding also have the right to a separate vote regarding (a) the events described in the first sentence of this paragraph with regard to such Class B Preferred Stock, requiring the affirmative vote of at least 50% of the shares of Class B Preferred Stock then outstanding, and (b) amendments to the K N Charter, or to resolutions of K N's Board of Directors providing for the issue of any series of Class B Preferred Stock so as to affect adversely the powers, preferences or rights of the holders of such series, requiring the affirmative vote of at least 50% of the shares of such series then outstanding. Without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of all Class B $8.30 Series Cumulative Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting or consenting separately as a series, K N is not permitted to (i) issue or reissue any shares of Class A Preferred Stock (other than for purposes of exchanges or transfers) in excess of the first 195,000 shares of Class A Preferred Stock authorized and issued, or (ii) increase above 120,000 the aggregate number of shares constituting the Class B $8.30 Series Cumulative Preferred Stock authorized for issuance, or issue or reissue any shares of such series (other than for purposes of exchanges or transfers) in excess of the first 120,000 shares authorized and issued. If dividends are in arrears on the shares of any series of Class A Preferred Stock to which the following provisions are made applicable pursuant to the K N Charter or resolutions of K N's Board of Directors providing for the issue of any such series (i) in an aggregate amount equal to three but less than six full quarterly dividends, then the holders of the shares of all such series of Class A Preferred Stock have the exclusive right, voting separately as a class and without regard to series, to elect directors constituting one-third of K N's Board of Directors or (ii) in an aggregate amount equal to six full quarterly dividends, then such holders have the exclusive right, voting separately as a class and without regard to series, to elect directors constituting one-half of K N's Board of Directors plus one additional director, in each case until all arrearages in dividends and dividends in full for the current quarterly period have been paid on or declared and set aside for payment on the shares of such series. These provisions are applicable to the Class A $5.00 Cumulative Preferred Stock. The holders of the outstanding Class B $8.30 Series Cumulative Preferred Stock have the right to elect directors of K N similar to the Class A $5.00 Cumulative Preferred Stock in the event of non-declaration of dividends, for the periods described above, on the Class B $8.30 Series Cumulative Preferred Stock if the holders of the Class A $5.00 Cumulative Preferred Stock are not then entitled to elect directors as described above. All outstanding shares of Common Stock are, and any shares of Common Stock newly issued under any Prospectus Supplement will be, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of K N Common Stock, 16 18 Class A $5.00 Cumulative Preferred Stock and Class B $8.30 Series Cumulative Preferred Stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters voted on by stockholders. Holders of Common Stock, Class A Preferred Stock and Class B Preferred Stock have no preemptive rights to subscribe for or purchase any additional securities issued by K N. Subject to the preferential rights of the holders of the Class A Preferred Stock and Class B Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive any dividends which may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor and to share pro rata in the net assets of K N upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Shares of Common Stock have no cumulative voting rights or redemption, sinking fund or conversion privileges. ANTI-TAKEOVER MATTERS Charter and Bylaws Certain provisions of the K N Charter and the By-laws of K N could have the effect of preventing a change in control of K N in certain situations. These provisions generally provide for (a) the classification of the Board of Directors of K N into three classes of as nearly an equal number as possible, having staggered terms of three years each; (b) the removal of directors only for cause or by unanimous vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors; (c) the filling of any vacancy on the Board of Directors by the remaining directors then in office; (d) the limitation of the number of directors to a minimum of nine and a maximum of 15, with the exact number to be determined by the Board of Directors; (e) increasing the stockholder vote required to amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with the foregoing provisions under (a), (b) and (d) above to two-thirds of the outstanding voting securities of K N; (f) the requirement that certain business combinations or transactions involving K N and any beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding voting securities of K N be approved by holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting securities of K N, including those held by such beneficial owner, unless the business combination or transaction is (I) approved by the Board of Directors before such beneficial owner became a holder of more than 5% of K N's outstanding voting securities or (II) approved by sufficient members of the Board of Directors to constitute a majority of the members of the full Board of Directors in office prior to the time such beneficial owner became a holder of more than 5% of K N's voting securities, or (III) with an entity of which a majority of the outstanding shares of voting securities is owned by K N and its subsidiaries; (g) increasing the stockholder vote required to amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with the foregoing provision under (f) above to two-thirds or more of the then outstanding shares of voting securities of K N; (h) the requirement that certain business combinations or transactions involving K N and any beneficial owner of 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of K N be approved by holders of at least 80% of the outstanding voting securities of K N, including those held by such beneficial owner, unless (I) the business combination or transaction is approved by three-fourths of the Board of Directors then in office who are not associated with or related to anyone who beneficially owns, and do not themselves own, 10 percent or more of K N's voting securities or (II) certain conditions relating generally to the fairness of the price to be received by stockholders of K N in such business combination or transaction are satisfied; (i) increasing the stockholder vote required to amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with the foregoing provision under (h) above to 80% or more of the outstanding voting securities of K N unless approved by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the Board of Directors then in office who are not associated with or related to anyone who beneficially owns, and do not themselves own, 10% or more of K N's voting securities; (j) certain procedural requirements for stockholder nominations to the Board of Directors; and (k) the requirement that special meetings of stockholders may only be called by stockholders owning 51% or more of the outstanding voting securities of K N, by a majority of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President of K N. Shareholder Rights Plan. On August 17, 1995, the Board of Directors of K N declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") with respect to each outstanding share of Common Stock held of record on September 15, 1995 or issued thereafter and prior to the date the Rights become exercisable. Until the Rights become exercisable, they will be evidenced by certificates for shares of Common Stock and will automatically trade with the Common Stock. If and when the Rights become exercisable, Rights certificates will be distributed and the Rights will become separately tradable. The full terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement dated as of August 21, 1995, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. 17 19 Each Right entitles the holder thereof to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Class B Junior Participating Series Preferred Stock, without par value (the "Preferred Shares"), for a price of $80 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The Rights become exercisable upon the earlier of (i) ten business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company of (ii) ten business days following the commencement or announcement of an intention to commence a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company. The Rights will expire on the later of September 15, 2005 or the third anniversary of the date on which the Rights became exercisable (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below. If a person or group were to acquire 20% or more of the voting shares of the Company, each Right then outstanding (other than Rights beneficially owned by the acquiring person, which would become null and void) would become a right to buy that number of shares of Common Stock (or, under certain circumstances, the equivalent number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share) that at the time of such acquisition would have a market value of two times the Purchase Price of the Right. If the Company were acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or more than 50% of its consolidated assets or earning power were sold, proper provision will be made so that holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction would have a market value of two times the Purchase Price of the Right. At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company and before the acquisition by a person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company, the Board of Directors may, at its option, issue shares of Common Stock (or Preferred Shares) in mandatory redemption of, and in exchange for, all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group, which would become null and void) at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock (or one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) for each Right, subject to adjustment. In addition, the Company is entitled to redeem all of the outstanding Rights at a price of $0.01 per Right at any time prior to the first public announcement that a person or group has become the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company. Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, has no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. KANSAS BUSINESS COMBINATION ACT K N is subject to Sections 17-12,100 et seq. of the Kansas Statutes Annotated (the "K.S.A."), which imposes a three-year moratorium on business combinations between a Kansas corporation and an "interested stockholder" (in general, a stockholder owning 15% or more of a corporation's outstanding voting stock) or an affiliate or associate thereof unless (a) prior to an interested stockholder becoming such, the board of directors of the corporation has approved either the business combination or the transaction by which the interested stockholder became such; (b) upon consummation of the transaction resulting in an interested stockholder becoming such, the interested stockholder owns 85% of the voting stock that was outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding, from the calculation of outstanding shares, shares beneficially owned by management, directors and certain employees stock plans); or (c) on or after the date an interested stockholder becomes such, the business combination is approved by (i) the Board of Directors and (ii) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares (other than those shares beneficially owned by the interested stockholder) at a meeting of stockholders. 18 20 KANSAS CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITIONS ACT K N is also subject to Sections 17-1286 et seq. of the K.S.A. (the "Kansas Control Share Acquisitions Act"), which applies to public corporations incorporated in Kansas that have certain other connections with the state. The Kansas Control Share Acquisitions Act relates principally to the acquisition of "control shares" in such a corporation. Under the Kansas Control Share Acquisitions Act, a control share acquisition is one that, except for the operation of the Act, would raise the acquiring person's voting power in the election of directors of the subject corporation to or above any of three thresholds: one-fifth or more but less than one-third of all voting power; one-third or more but less than a majority of all voting power; and at least a majority of all voting power. Whenever a control share acquisition occurs, the acquiring person has no voting rights with respect to those shares unless both a majority of all outstanding shares and a majority of all such shares excluding all "interested shares" (in general, shares beneficially controlled by the acquiring person or any officer or inside director of the subject corporation) approve the acquisition. If the control shares are accorded voting rights, then dissenters' rights are available under the Kansas Control Share Acquisitions Act to stockholders who did not vote in favor of the control share acquisition and who comply with certain prescribed procedures. If the stockholders vote not to accord voting rights to the control shares, however, then the issuing corporation has a 60-day option to redeem all such shares at market value. OTHER MATTERS The Bank of New York serves as registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock and for the Class A $5.00 Cumulative Preferred Stock. K N serves as registrar and transfer agent for its Class B $8.30 Series Cumulative Preferred Stock. SELLING STOCKHOLDER The Selling Stockholder is a Delaware corporation having its principal office in Boston, Massachusetts. On July 13, 1994, K N acquired American Oil and Gas Corporation ("AOG") in a stock-for-stock merger (the "Merger") accounted for as a pooling of interests. The Selling Stockholder was the largest stockholder of AOG prior to the Merger, owning approximately 34.4% of the outstanding shares of common stock of AOG at the time of the Merger plus warrants to purchase approximately an additional 5.3% of such shares. Before its acquisition of AOG, K N had no material relationship with the Selling Stockholder. Pursuant to its merger agreement with AOG, at the time of the Merger K N elected a designee of the Selling Stockholder as a non-voting advisory director of K N, and for so long as the Selling Stockholder continues to own beneficially at least 10% of K N's voting securities, the Selling Stockholder will have the right to designate one such advisory director. Currently, such advisory director is R. Gordon Shearer, President of Cabot LNG Corporation. If the Selling Stockholder's beneficial ownership in K N is reduced below 10% but continues over 5%, then the Board of Directors of K N will appoint the Selling Stockholder's advisory director as a full director with voting rights, and the Selling Stockholder will be entitled to have one designee for election to the Board of Directors of K N. The following table sets forth the number of shares of Common Stock owned by the Selling Stockholder, the number of such shares being offered for sale by it, the number of such shares to be owned by the Selling Stockholder after such sale and the percentage of ownership of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of April 30, 1996 represented by the holdings of the Selling Stockholder after such sale:
SHARES TO PERCENT OF SHARES BE CLASS TO SHARES BEING OWNED AFTER BE OWNED OWNED* SOLD SALE* AFTER SALE* ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 4,840,186 500,000 4,340,186 14.9%
- --------------- * Includes 642,232 shares of Common Stock underlying currently exercisable warrants assumed by K N in the Merger. 19 21 The Prospectus Supplement relating to any Offered Securities being offered by the Selling Stockholder sets forth the number of shares of Common Stock being offered for its account as well as the number of such shares and the percentage of the outstanding Common Stock to be owned by the Selling Stockholder after completion of the offering. The Company will bear all of the expenses allocable to any Offered Securities sold for the Selling Stockholder's account, excluding underwriting discounts or commission allocable to such Offered Securities, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Selling Stockholder and any stock transfer taxes payable by reason of any such sale. This Prospectus is not the exclusive means for resale of any Common Stock of the Selling Stockholder registered hereunder. For example, the Selling Stockholder may also sell Common Stock owned by it pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. In addition, the Company has previously registered 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock of the Selling Stockholder for sale by the Selling Stockholder, all of which shares remained unsold as of the date of this Prospectus. Any sale of such 1,500,000 shares by the Selling Stockholder would be by means of a separate prospectus. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION GENERAL Both the Company and the Selling Stockholder may sell Securities to or through underwriters or dealers, and also may sell Securities directly to other purchasers or through agents. The distribution of the Securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. In connection with the sale of Securities, underwriters may receive compensation from the Company, the Selling Stockholder or purchasers of Securities for whom they may act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from the Company or the Selling Stockholder, as the case may be, and any profit on the resale of Securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any such person who may be deemed to be an underwriter will be identified, and any such compensation received from the Company or the Selling Stockholder, as the case may be, will be described, in the Prospectus Supplement. Debt Securities, when first issued, will have no established trading market. Any underwriters or agents to or through whom Debt Securities are sold by the Company for public offering and sale may make a market in such Debt Securities, but such underwriters or agents will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any Debt Securities. Under agreements which may be entered into by the Company or the Selling Stockholder, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of Securities may be entitled to indemnification by the Company or the Selling Stockholder, as the case may be, against or contribution toward certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. DELAYED DELIVERY ARRANGEMENT If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as the Company's agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase Debt Securities from the Company pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases will be subject to the approval of the Company. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the Debt Securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the 20 22 laws of any jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and such agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts. VALIDITY OF SECURITIES The validity of the Offered Securities, as well as certain tax matters in connection therewith, will be passed upon for the Company by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas, who may rely on the opinion of Polsinelli, White, Vardeman & Shalton, Kansas City, Missouri, as to matters of Kansas law, and will be passed upon for any agents, dealers or underwriters by counsel named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If the Offered Securities include any Common Stock of the Selling Stockholder, certain legal matters in connection therewith will be passed upon for the Selling Stockholder by counsel named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements of K N Energy, Inc. included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, which is incorporated by reference herein, have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said report. Reference is made to such report, which calls attention to a change in accounting principles for postemployment benefits effective January 1, 1994. 21 23 PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION. The following table sets forth all expenses payable by the Company or the Selling Stockholder in connection with the issuance and distribution of the Securities, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. The Company will bear all of such expenses, except for the Selling Stockholder's legal fees and expenses. All the amounts shown are estimates, except the registration fee. Registration Fee................................................ $ 120,067 Fees and expenses of accountants................................ 50,000 Fees and expenses of counsel to the Company..................... 75,000 Fees and expenses of the Selling Stockholder's counsel.......... 5,000 Fees and expenses of Trustee and counsel........................ 10,000 Printing and engraving.......................................... 100,000 Blue Sky fees and expenses (including counsel).................. 15,000 Rating agency fees.............................................. 150,000 Miscellaneous................................................... 49,933 ---------- Total................................................. $ 575,000 ==========
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Section 17-6305 of the Kansas General Corporation Law provides that a Kansas corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit (including an action by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor) or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person 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 expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit by or in the right of the corporation, including attorney fees, and against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including attorney fees, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was unlawful. Article Ninth of the articles of incorporation of the Company requires the Company to provide substantially the same indemnification of its directors and officers as that authorized by the Kansas General Corporation Law. The Company has insurance policies which, among other things, include liability insurance coverage for directors and officers, with a $200,000 corporate reimbursement deductible clause, under which directors and officers are covered against "loss" arising from any claim or claims which may be made against a director or officer by reason of any "wrongful act" in their respective capacities as directors and officers. "Loss" is defined so as to exclude, among other things, fines or penalties, as well as matters deemed uninsurable under the law pursuant to which the policy is to be construed. "Wrongful act" is defined to include any actual or alleged breach of duty, neglect, error, misstatement, misleading statement or omission done or wrongfully attempted. The policy also contains other specific definitions and exclusions and provides an aggregate of $20,000,000 of insurance coverage. II-1 24 ITEM 16. EXHIBITS. The following documents are filed as exhibits to this Registration Statement, including those exhibits incorporated herein by reference to a prior filing of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act as indicated in parentheses:
EXHIBIT NUMBER EXHIBITS ------- -------- (1.1) -- Form of Purchase Agreement (including form of Delayed Delivery Contract) relating to Debt Securities (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company's S-3 Registration Statement No. 33-45091 filed with the Commission on January 17, 1992). *(1.2) -- Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Common Stock (4.1) -- Form of Indenture, dated as of November 20, 1993, between K N Energy, Inc. and Continental Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-51115). (4.2) -- Form of Subordinated Indenture dated as of May 15, 1996 between the Company and First Trust of Illinois, National Association as Trustee. **(4.3) -- Forms of Debt Securities. (4.4) -- Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994). ***(4.5) -- Bylaws of the Company, as amended. (4.6) -- Rights Agreement dated as of August 21, 1995 between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company's Form 8-A Registration Statement dated August 21, 1995). (5) -- Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the Securities being registered. (12) -- Computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges. (23.1) -- Consent of Independent Public Accountants. (23.2) -- Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit (5)). (24) -- Powers of Attorney. (25) -- Statements of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 on Form T-1 of First Trust of Illinois, National Association.
- --------------- * The Company will file any underwriting agreement relating to Common Stock that it may enter into as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K which is incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. ** The Company will file any form of Debt Securities not previously so filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K which is incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. *** Filed herewith. ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS. (a) The Company 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; (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 II-2 25 in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; (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) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. (5) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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. (b) The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to any charter provision, by-law, contract, arrangement, statute, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the Company by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. II-3 26 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lakewood, State of Colorado on the 14th day of June, 1996. K N ENERGY, INC. BY: /s/ LARRY D. HALL ---------------------------------- Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on June 14, 1996.
SIGNATURE TITLE --------- ----- (i) Principal executive officer: /s/ Larry D. Hall Chairman of the Board, President and Chief - -------------------------------------------- Executive Officer (Larry D. Hall) (ii) Principal financial and accounting Officer: * Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - -------------------------------------------- (Clyde E. McKenzie) (iii) Directors: * - -------------------------------------------- (Edward H. Austin, Jr.) * - -------------------------------------------- (Charles W. Battey) * - -------------------------------------------- (Stewart A. Bliss) * - -------------------------------------------- (David W. Burkholder) * - -------------------------------------------- (David M. Carmichael) * - -------------------------------------------- (Robert H. Chitwood) * - -------------------------------------------- (Howard P. Coghlan)
II-4 27
SIGNATURE --------- * - -------------------------------------------- (Jordan L. Haines) /s/ LARRY D. HALL - -------------------------------------------- (Larry D. Hall) * - -------------------------------------------- (William J. Hybl) * - -------------------------------------------- (Edward Randall, III) * - -------------------------------------------- (James C. Taylor) * - -------------------------------------------- (H. A. True, III) *By: /s/ Larry D. Hall --------------------------------------- (Larry D. Hall, Attorney-in-Fact)
II-5 28 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NUMBER EXHIBITS - --------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- (1.1) -- Form of Purchase Agreement (including form of Delayed Delivery Contract) relating to Debt Securities (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company's S-3 Registration Statement No. 33-45091 filed with the Commission on January 17, 1992). *(1.2) -- Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Common Stock (4.1) -- Form of Indenture, dated as of November 20, 1993, between K N Energy, Inc. and Continental Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-51115). (4.2) -- Form of Subordinated Indenture dated as of May 15, 1996 between the Company and First Trust of Illinois, National Association as Trustee. **(4.3) -- Forms of Debt Securities. (4.4) -- Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994). (4.5) -- Bylaws of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994). (4.6) -- Rights Agreement dated as of August 21, 1995 between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company's Form 8-A Registration Statement dated August 21, 1995). (5) -- Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the Securities being registered. (12) -- Computation of ratios of earnings to fixed charges. (23.1) -- Consent of Independent Public Accountants. (23.2) -- Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit (5)). (24) -- Powers of Attorney. (25) -- Statements of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 on Form T-1 of First Trust of Illinois, National Association.
- --------------- * The Company will file any underwriting agreement relating to Common Stock that it may enter into as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K which is incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. ** The Company will file any form of Debt Securities not previously so filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K which is incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. EX-4.5 2 BYLAWS OF THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED 1 EXHIBIT 4.5 K N ENERGY, INC. (Formerly Kansas-Nebraska Natural Gas Company, Inc.) ---ooOoo--- B Y - L A W S As Amended to April 11, 1996 Effective April 11, 1996 ---ooOoo--- ARTICLE I OFFICES Section 1. Offices. The registered office shall be at 205 F Street in the City of Phillipsburg, County of Phillips, State of Kansas. The Company's principal executive office shall be at 370 Van Gordon Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-8304 (mailing address: Post Office Box 281304, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-8304). Section 2. Additional Offices. The corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Kansas as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require. 2 ARTICLE II MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS Section 1. Time and Place. The annual meeting of the shareholders for the election of directors and all special meetings of shareholders for that or for any other purpose may be held at such time and place within or without the State of Kansas as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting, or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders shall be held each year at a time to be determined by the Board of Directors, at which meeting the shareholders shall elect a Board of Directors, and transact such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting. Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, the President or the Board of Directors, and shall be called by the President or the Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the directors, or at the request in writing of shareholders owning at least fifty-one percent (51%) in amount of the shares of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Section 4. Notice. Written notice of the place, date and hour of any annual or special meeting of shareholders shall be 2 3 given personally or by mail to each shareholder entitled to vote thereat, not less than ten (10) nor more than fifty (50) days prior to the meeting. The notice shall state in addition, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, and by, or at whose direction it is being issued. Section 5. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the shares of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall be necessary to and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the shareholders. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the shareholders, the shareholders entitled to vote thereat present in person or represented by proxy shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, but not for more than thirty (30) days, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. Section 6. Voting. At any meeting of the shareholders every shareholder having the right to vote shall be entitled to vote in person, or by proxy. Except as otherwise provided by law 3 4 or the Articles of Incorporation, each shareholder of record shall be entitled, as to each proposal, to one vote for each share of stock standing in his name on the books of the Corporation on the date fixed as the record date for the determination of its shareholders entitled to vote. All elections of directors shall be by written ballot and shall be determined by a plurality vote, and, except as otherwise provided by law or the Articles of Incorporation, all other matters shall be determined by vote of a majority of the shares present or represented at such meeting and voting on such questions. Section 7. Proxies. Every proxy must be executed in writing by the shareholder or by his attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the shareholder executing it, except in those cases where an irrevocable proxy is permitted by law. Section 8. Consents. Whenever by any provision of law or of the Articles of Incorporation, the vote of shareholders at a meeting thereof is required or permitted to be taken in connection with any corporate action, the meeting and vote of shareholders may be dispensed with, if all the shareholders who 4 5 would have been entitled to vote upon the action if such meeting were held, shall consent in writing to such corporate action being taken. Section 9. Presiding Officer. Meetings of the shareholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or if he is not present, by the President, or, if he is not present, by a Vice President or, if neither the Chairman of the Board, the President nor a Vice President is present, by a chairman to be chosen at the meeting. The Secretary of the Company or, if he is not present, an Assistant Secretary of the Company or, if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, a secretary to be chosen at the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting. Section 10. Notice of Shareholder Business. At an annual meeting of shareholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (b) by a shareholder who is a shareholder of record at the time of giving such notice, who shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice 5 6 thereof in writing to the Secretary. To be timely, a shareholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not less than 40 days prior to the meeting. A shareholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (b) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of the shareholder proposing such business, (c) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the shareholder, and (d) any material interest of the shareholder in such business. Nothwithstanding anything in these By-Laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section. The Chairman of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of this Section, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. 6 7 Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section. ARTICLE III DIRECTORS Section 1. Number and Tenure. The whole Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of fourteen members. The directors shall be classified with respect to the time for which they shall severally hold office by dividing them into three classes, which were first approved at the annual meeting of shareholders in 1975; Class I shall consist of three directors whose initial term of office shall expire in 1994, Class II shall consist of four directors whose initial term of office shall expire in 1995, and Class III shall consist of three directors whose initial term of office shall expire in 1996. Each director shall hold office until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his resignation in writing has been filed with the corporation. At each annual election, the successors of the class of directors whose terms shall expire that year shall be 7 8 elected to hold office for a term of three years, so that the term of office of one class of directors shall expire in each year, except where the Board of Directors determines that a newly elected director shall be elected by the shareholders to fill a vacancy of a directorship created subsequent to the previous annual meeting, such director shall be elected to hold office for the balance of the term of the class of directors of which he is to be a member, as determined by the Board of Directors, and until his successor is elected and qualified. Section 2. Vacancies. A vacancy on the Board of Directors or a newly created directorship may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a quorum, or by the sole director, by election of a new director, who at the time of his election shall be designated as a member of one of the classes of directors and shall hold office until the next election of the class of which he has become a member, unless his term of office is terminated by death, resignation, or otherwise. Section 3. Resignation; Removal. Any director may resign at any time. The Board of Directors may by unanimous vote of other directors then in office, remove a director with or without cause. The shareholders entitled to vote for the election of 8 9 directors may remove a director, with cause as provided in the Articles of Incorporation. Section 4. Advisory Directors and Directors Emeritus. The Board of Directors by a vote of a majority of the directors present and entitled to vote, at any regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present, may designate such number of persons as it may from time to time determine, as an "Advisory Director" or may designate a former member of the Board as a "Director Emeritus," if such former member is willing to so serve. Each Advisory Director and each Director Emeritus shall serve, subject to the pleasure of the regular Board of Directors, until the next succeeding annual meeting of the regular Board of Directors, following the annual meeting of the stockholders, at which such regular directors are elected, unless he shall have resigned. Each Advisory Director and each Director Emeritus shall be notified of all regular or special meetings of the regular Board of Directors, shall be entitled to attend and participate therein, but shall not be entitled to vote. Each Advisory Director and each Director Emeritus shall be reimbursed for any necessary expenses of attending directors' meetings. Section 5. Nomination of Director Candidates. (a) Eligibility to Make Nominations. Nominations of 9 10 candidates for election as directors of the Corporation at any meeting of shareholders called for election of directors, in whole or in part (an "Election Meeting"), may be made by the Board of Directors or by any shareholder who is a shareholder of record at the time of giving notice, who shall be entitled to vote at such Election Meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section. (b) Procedure for Nominations by Shareholders. Nominations, other than those made by the Board of Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary. To be timely, shareholder's notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 40 days prior to the date of the Election Meeting. Such shareholder's notice shall set forth (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee, (iii) the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by each such nominee and (iv) such other information concerning each such nominee as would be required, under the rules of the SEC, in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominees. Such notice shall include a signed consent to serve as 10 11 a director of the Corporation, if elected, of each such nominee. Such notice shall also set forth as to the shareholder giving the notice (i) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of such shareholder and (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such shareholder. (c) Meeting Procedures. No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section. The Chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Section 5, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. (d) Substitution of Nominees. In the event that a person is validly designated as a nominee to the Board and shall thereafter become unable or unwilling to stand for election to the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors or the shareholder who proposed such nominee, as the case may be, may designate a substitute nominee. (e) Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a shareholder shall also 11 12 comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section. ARTICLE IV MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Section 1. Place. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Kansas. Section 2. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board. Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or by the President on two days' notice to each director, either personally or by mail or by telegram; special meetings shall be called by the Chairman, President or Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of two directors. Section 4. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the entire Board shall be necessary to and constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at 12 13 which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute or by the Articles of Incorporation. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present. Notice of such adjournment shall be given to any directors who were not present and, unless announced at the meeting, to the other directors. Section 5. Consents. Unless otherwise restricted by the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or of such committee as the case may be, consent thereto in writing and such written consent is filed with the minutes of the Board or committee. Such consents may be in counterpart so that each member will have signed a consent, but all members need not sign the same document. Section 6. Compensation. Directors, as such, shall not receive any stated salary for their services, but, by resolution of the Board of Directors an annual fee, plus a fee and expenses for attendance at meetings may be allowed, provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from 13 14 serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Section 7. Presiding Officer. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or, if he is not present, by the President or, if he is not present, by a chairman to be chosen at the meeting. The Secretary of the Company, or, if he is not present, an Assistant Secretary of the Company, or, if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, a secretary to be chosen at the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting. ARTICLE V COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS Section 1. Designation. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board, may designate from among its members one or more committees, each consisting of two or more directors, each of which, to the extent provided in such resolution, shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. 14 15 The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Section 2. Tenure; Reports. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. It shall keep minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board. ARTICLE VI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Section 1. Appointment and Authority. The Board of Directors may by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board create and designate an Executive Committee consisting of the officer who is designated as Chief Executive Officer and two or more other directors of the Company who shall hold office subject to the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and the Board shall have the power at any time to remove any of the members of the Executive Committee and to appoint to the Committee other directors in lieu of the directors so removed. The Chief Executive Officer shall serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee. During the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors the Executive Committee shall possess and may exercise the powers delegated by the Board of Directors, 15 16 including the power to authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it, to authorize the payment of dividends, to authorize the issuance of stock, to serve as a nominating committee for the Board of Directors and to approve resolutions necessary for the day-to-day operations of the Company; provided, however, that the Executive Committee shall not have power to amend these By-Laws or to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or to fill vacancies in, or to change the membership of, said Committee. The Executive Committee shall also have and may exercise all the powers of the Board of Directors except as aforesaid whenever a quorum of the Board shall fail to be present at any meeting of the Board. Section 2. Report of Action Taken. All action of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at its meeting next succeeding such action, and shall be subject to revision and alteration by the Board, provided that no rights of third parties shall be affected by any such revision or alteration. Regular minutes of the proceedings of the Executive Committee shall be kept in a book provided for that purpose. Section 3. Quorum and Procedure. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum, and, in every case, an affirmative vote of a majority of 16 17 the members shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution. It shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet as provided by such rules or by resolution of the Board, and it shall also meet at the call of the Chairman or of any two members of the Committee. Should the Executive Committee fail to fix its own rules therefor, the provisions of these By-Laws, pertaining to the calling of meetings and conduct of business by the Board of Directors, shall apply as nearly as may be. Section 4. Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Executive Committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if a written consent thereto is signed by each member of the Executive Committee, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Executive Committee. Such consents may be in counterpart so that each member will have signed a consent but all members need not sign the same document. ARTICLE VII NOTICES Section 1. Form; Delivery. Notices to directors and shareholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or 17 18 mailed to the directors or shareholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation. Notice by mail shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be mailed. Notice to directors may also be given by telegram. Section 2. Waiver. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the Articles of Incorporation or of these By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. In addition, any shareholder attending a meeting of shareholders in person or by proxy without protesting at the beginning of the meeting the lack of notice thereof to him, and any director attending a meeting of the Board of Directors without protesting prior to the meeting or at its commencement such lack of notice shall be conclusively deemed to have waived notice of such meeting. ARTICLE VIII OFFICERS Section 1. Executive Officers. The executive officers of the Corporation shall be a President and one or more Vice 18 19 Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and may include a Chairman of the Board. Section 2. Designation; Term of Office; Removal. All officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board or until their successors are chosen and qualified or until their resignation is filed in the office of the Secretary, whichever first occurs. Any officer elected by the Board may be removed with or without cause at any time by the Board. Section 3. Authority and Duties. All officers, as between themselves and the Corporation, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as may be provided in these By-Laws, or, to the extent not so provided, by the Board of Directors. Section 4. Compensation. The compensation of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors and the compensation of agents shall either be so fixed or shall be fixed by officers thereunto duly authorized. Section 5. Vacancies. If an office becomes vacant for any reason, the Board of Directors shall fill such vacancy. Any officer so elected by the Board shall serve only until such time 19 20 as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired unless re-elected or reappointed by the Board. Section 6. The Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be a Chairman, shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and directors and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board including designation as Chief Executive Officer if the President is not so designated. Section 7. The President. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation unless the Chairman of the Board is so designated, in which event the President shall be Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if there be no Chairman, he shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and directors. The Chief Executive Officer, whether the Chairman of the Board or the President, shall be ex officio a member of all standing committees, shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation subject to the control of the Board of Directors, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. Section 8. Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents in the order of their seniority or in any other order determined by the 20 21 Board, shall in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President, and shall generally assist the President and perform such other duties as the Board of Directors or the President shall prescribe. Section 9. The Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the shareholders and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the shareholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and, when authorized by the Board, affix the same to any instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and shareholder records and such other books and records as the Board may direct and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of the Secretary. 21 22 Section 10. Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretaries, if any, in order of their seniority or in any other order determined by the Board shall, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors or the Secretary shall prescribe. Section 11. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and the Board of Directors at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. He shall establish and execute programs for the provision of the capital required by the Company, including negotiating the procurement of capital and maintaining the required financial arrangements. He shall establish and maintain 22 23 an adequate market for the Company's securities and, in connection therewith, maintain adequate liaison with investment bankers, financial analysts and shareholders. He shall maintain adequate sources for the Company's current borrowings from commercial banks and other lending institutions. He shall maintain banking arrangements to receive, have custody of and disburse the Company's moneys and securities. He shall invest the Company's funds as required and establish and coordinate policies for investment in pension and other similar trusts. Section 12. Assistant Treasurers. The Assistant Treasurers, if any, in the order of their seniority or in any other order determined by the Board, shall in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the power of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors or the Treasurer shall prescribe. ARTICLE IX CERTIFICATE OF SHARES Section 1. Form; Signature. The certificates for shares of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and shall be numbered consecutively and 23 24 entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued. Each certificate shall exhibit the registered holder's name and the number and class of shares, and shall be signed by the President or a Vice President and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and shall bear the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof. Where any such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or by a registrar other than the Corporation, the signature of any such officer may be a facsimile signature. In case any officer who signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures were placed on any such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer at the date of issue. Section 2. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new share certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance 24 25 thereof, require the owner of such lost or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost or destroyed. Section 3. Registration of Transfer. Upon surrender to the Corporation or any transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation, or such transfer agent to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Section 4. Registered Shareholders. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends or other distributions, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or legal claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person. 25 26 Section 5. Record Date. For the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to or dissent from any proposal without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or for the purpose of any other action affecting the interests of shareholders, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date. Such date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. In each such case, except as otherwise provided by law, only such persons as shall be shareholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting and any adjournment thereof, or to express such consent or dissent, or to receive payment of such dividend, or such allotment of rights, or otherwise to be recognized as shareholders for the related purpose, notwithstanding any registration of transfer of shares on the books of the Corporation after any such record date so fixed. 26 27 ARTICLE X GENERAL PROVISIONS Section 1. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, if any, dividends upon the outstanding shares of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation. Section 2. Reserves. Before payment of any dividends, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created. Section 3. Annual Statement. The Board of Directors shall present at each annual meeting, and at any special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the stockholders, a full 27 28 and clear statement of the business and condition of the corporation. Section 4. Instruments Under Seal. All deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts, and other instruments requiring a seal may be signed in the name of the Corporation by the President or by any other officer authorized to sign such instrument by the President or the Board of Directors. Section 5. Checks. All checks or demands for money and notes or other instrument evidencing indebtedness or obligation of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate. Section 6. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January of each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following. Section 7. Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and the words "Corporate Seal, Kansas 1927." The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. 28 29 ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS Section 1. These By-Laws may be altered or repealed at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or at any special meeting of the Board of Directors if notice of such alteration or repeal be contained in the notice of such special meeting. ARTICLE XII SPECIAL MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS Section 1. General. The provisions of this Article XII of the By-Laws have been adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to that certain Agreement of Merger by and between the Corporation, KNE Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and American Oil and Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation dated March 24, 1994 (the "Merger Agreement"). Capitalized terms used in this Article XII not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement. The provisions of this Article XII shall be effective from and after the Effective Time notwithstanding any other provisions of these By-Laws to the contrary. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Article XII and other 29 30 provisions of the By-Laws, the provisions of this Article XII shall control. Section 2. Vice-Chairman. The office of Vice-Chairman of the Board shall be established by the Board of Directors. The Vice-Chairman shall perform the duties of the Chairman of the Board as provided in these By-Laws in the Chairman's absence and such additional duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe from time to time. Section 3. Cabot Director. For so long as Cabot Corporation shall continue to own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission) 10% or more of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, Cabot Corporation shall have the right to designate one person to serve as an advisory director of the Corporation. In the event beneficial ownership of Cabot Corporation of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the Corporation falls below 10% but constitutes more than 5%, the Board of Directors shall appoint the Cabot Corporation advisory director as a full director, to serve the then remaining term of a Class II director. For so long as Cabot Corporation continues to own beneficially less than 10% but more than 5% of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, the Board of 30 31 Directors shall nominate a Cabot Corporation designee (provided that such nominee is otherwise qualified as required by these By-Laws) for election by the Corporation's stockholders as a director. The Corporation shall at all times during which Cabot Corportion shall beneficially own in excess 10% of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, maintain a vacancy on its Board of Directors for such Cabot designee. Section 4. Terms of Office for Certain Officers. The persons designated as of the Effective Time to hold the offices of Chairman of the Board, Vice-Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Committee will be elected to terms commencing as of the Effective Time and terminating on the date of the Corporation's Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 1996. After such date, nothwithstanding any other provision of this Article XII to the contrary, such officers shall be elected by majority of the Board of Directors. Section 5. Vacancies in Certain Offices. Any vacancy arising following the Effective Time and prior to the Corporation's Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 1996, in the offices of the Chairman of the Board, Vice-Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operating Officer, or on the Management Committee or the Chairman of the Management 31 32 Committee, shall be filled by the Board of Directors upon recommendation by a Special Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall by majority vote establish a Special Nominating Committee in the event of a vacancy in any of the foregoing positions. The Special Nominating Committee shall consist of four directors, two of whom shall be designated by the Board of Directors from the directors of the Corporation who served as a director prior to the Effective Time, and two of whom shall be designated by the directors designated by American Oil and Gas Corporation in the Merger Agreement. Section 6. Continuation of Retirement Policy. The Corporation shall continue its present retirement policy that officers of the Corporation (including the Chairman of the Board, Vice-Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operating Officer) shall be ineligible and cease to serve as an officer of the Corporation as of the first of the month coincident with or next following his or her 65th birthday. Section 7. Super-Majority Vote. For purposes of this Article XII, the term "Super-Majority Vote" shall mean the affirmative vote of at least 12 of a 14-member Board of Directors; at least 11 of a 13-member Board of Directors; at 32 33 least 10 of a 12-member Board of Directors; at least 9 of an 11-member Board of Directors; or in all other cases, the affirmative vote of a number of directors equal to at least 85% of the total number of directors. A Super-Majority Vote shall be required for the following actions to be taken by the Board of Directors; (i) amendment, modification or revocation of any provision of this Article XII; (ii) amendment, modification or revocation of the current retirement policy of the Corporation; and (iii) any increase in the number of members to serve on the Board of Directors; provided that, no Super-Majority Vote shall be required for any such action taken by the Board of Directors from and after the date of the annual stockholders meeting for 1997. I hereby certify that the foregoing are the By-Laws of K N Energy, Inc. as the same were adopted at the meeting of the Board of Directors on May 20, 1975, and subsequently amended at meetings of the Board of Directors on November 20, 1975, November 8, 1978, August 5, 1983, November 11, 1983, November 16, 1984, January 9, 1988, March 24, 1989, August 10, 1989, January 20, 1991, November 10, 1993, June 24, 1994, July 13, 1994 and are still in force and effect on this 11th day of April, 1996. __________________________________ Martha B. Wyrsch Secretary 33 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----