-----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, URjitrDhVCIb9JfVKIDCSFtk32+GheulbYkfkAZPlNLFWVyIcp/rdJV6EaLwJTfk OWvY/YDQ4bY7J6vg2zhhow== 0000950129-96-001563.txt : 19960725 0000950129-96-001563.hdr.sgml : 19960725 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950129-96-001563 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 424B2 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19960724 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: 424B2 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-51115 FILM NUMBER: 96598140 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 424B2 1 KN ENERGY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED 7/23/96 1 Filed pursuant to rule 424(b)(2) Registration No. 33-51115 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT (To Prospectus dated November 30, 1993) $125,000,000 K N ENERGY, INC. 7.35% DEBENTURES DUE AUGUST 1, 2026 --------------------- Interest on the 7.35% Debentures due August 1, 2026 (the "Debentures") is payable semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing February 1, 1997. The Debentures will not be subject to any sinking fund. The Debentures will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at the option of K N Energy, Inc. (the "Company" or "K N") at any time after August 1, 2006, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of their principal amount or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Yield (as defined herein) plus 12.5 basis points, plus in each case accrued interest to the date of redemption. See "Description of Debentures -- Redemption by the Company." The Debentures will be redeemable at the option of the registered holders thereof in integral multiples of $1,000 on August 1, 2006, at a redemption price of 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest thereon to the redemption date. Notice of such election must be made no earlier than July 1, 2006 and no later than July 31, 2006, and, once given, such notice will be irrevocable. See "Description of Debentures -- Redemption by the Holders." The Debentures will be represented by one global certificate registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and such nominee will be the sole holder of the Debentures. The Debentures will not be issued in definitive registered form except in limited circumstances. Settlement for the Debentures will be made in immediately available funds. The Debentures will trade in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity, and secondary market trading activity in the Debentures will therefore settle in immediately available funds. See "Description of Debentures -- Book-Entry Only System." The Debentures are an issue of the Company's Securities described in the accompanying Prospectus (the "Prospectus") to which this Prospectus Supplement relates. --------------------- 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 SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
================================================================================================= PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO PUBLIC(1) DISCOUNT(2) THE COMPANY(1)(3) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Per Debenture..................... 100% .65% 99.35% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total............................. $125,000,000 $812,500 $124,187,500 =================================================================================================
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from July 26, 1996. (2) The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. See "Underwriting." (3) Before deducting estimated expenses of $150,000 payable by the Company. --------------------- The Debentures are offered by the several Underwriters, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by the Underwriters, subject to approval of certain legal matters by counsel for the Underwriters and certain other conditions. The Underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify such offer and to reject orders in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the Debentures will be made through the book-entry facilities of DTC on or about July 26, 1996. --------------------- MERRILL LYNCH & CO. J. P. MORGAN & CO. SMITH BARNEY INC. --------------------- The date of this Prospectus Supplement is July 23, 1996. 2 IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE DEBENTURES OFFERED HEREBY AT LEVELS ABOVE THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED IN THE OPEN MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME. --------------------- INCORPORATION OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE In addition to the documents referred to in the Prospectus under "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference," the Company incorporates herein by reference the following documents filed by it with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 1-6446) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: (i) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 and (ii) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996. USE OF PROCEEDS The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Debentures offered hereby (after deducting the underwriting discount and expenses payable by the Company) are estimated at $124 million. The Company intends to apply the net proceeds to fund capital expenditures, including the costs of acquiring a crude oil pipeline (the "Pony Express Pipeline") running from Riverton, Wyoming to Freeman, Missouri, near Kansas City, and converting it to natural gas service. The Pony Express Pipeline will be subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the "FERC"); the pipeline is expected to be in service during the first quarter of 1997; and its initial design capacity is 255,000 million British Thermal Units ("MMBtu") per day. The costs of acquiring and converting the crude oil pipeline are anticipated to be less than $160 million and include capital expenditures of $14.9 million to increase capacity of the Company's interstate pipeline system in Wyoming to move gas from Wyoming to markets in the midwestern United States. Excluding expenditures associated with the Pony Express Pipeline, the Company's 1996 capital expenditures budget totals $81 million, of which approximately $11 million had been funded through March 31, 1996. Pending such use, the net proceeds of the offering will be used to reduce short-term indebtedness of the Company or to purchase short-term investments. As of July 23, 1996, the Company had $116 million of short-term indebtedness outstanding, with an approximate weighted average annual interest rate of 5.71%. The Company currently plans to offer to the public, later during its current fiscal quarter, 1,250,000 shares of its Common Stock (excluding the Underwriters' over-allotment option to purchase up to 465,000 additional shares of Common Stock). The Company anticipates applying approximately $8 million of the net proceeds from the offering of such shares of Common Stock to redeem and cancel outstanding warrants expiring September 30, 1999 to purchase a total of 545,200 shares of K N's Common Stock. The Company would use the balance of the net proceeds of such offering in the same manner as the net proceeds from the sale of the Debentures offered hereby. There can be no assurance that the Company will complete the proposed offering of its Common Stock. In the event it does not complete such offering, the Company would not redeem and cancel such warrants and anticipates it would seek additional debt or equity financing. S-2 3 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. The ratios for 1991 and 1992 shown in the Prospectus have been restated to reflect K N's acquisition of American Oil and Gas Corporation on July 13, 1994, which was accounted for as a pooling of interests, as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of each of those two years.
THREE MONTHS ENDED YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 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 (a) the sum of net income (from continuing operations), taxes and fixed charges by (b) the sum of 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. S-3 4 THE COMPANY BACKGROUND AND STRATEGIES FOR GROWTH The Company is a natural gas and energy products and services provider, doing business primarily in the Rocky Mountain, Mid-Continent and Texas areas. In response to regulatory requirements, the Company no longer operates as a single business unit that purchases, gathers, processes, stores, transports and sells natural gas at retail and wholesale. Instead, in recent years the Company has reorganized its operations and now operates its interstate transmission pipeline and local distribution operations as separate business units. Substantially all of the gathering and processing facilities and three of the four storage facilities that were previously part of the Company's FERC-regulated transmission operation are now operated by wholly-owned subsidiaries that are not subject to FERC regulation. In addition, the Company has significantly increased its presence as a gatherer, processor and marketer through acquisitions. The Company's objective is to be a world-class provider of integrated energy services and solutions. The Company seeks to achieve that objective by: - providing customers with superior service in a market place where they have a choice of service providers in order to capture value for K N's shareholders; - improving facilities utilization and optimizing assets; - growing the Company through internally generated opportunities and prudent acquisitions; - creating profitable alliances with partners that provide new opportunities for growth and enhance the Company's existing operations; and - focusing on opportunities that strengthen the Company's competitive position within its traditional Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent regions and position the Company as a national provider of integrated energy services and solutions. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS On January 30, 1996, the Company entered into a binding letter of intent with Amoco Pipeline Company to acquire the Pony Express Pipeline, a crude oil pipeline running from Riverton, Wyoming to Freeman, Missouri, near Kansas City. The Company plans to convert the pipeline for the purpose of transporting natural gas from producing regions in Wyoming and Colorado to midwestern and national consumer markets. Costs to acquire and convert the Pony Express Pipeline, including the cost of expanding certain segments in Wyoming and a lateral interconnecting with other interstate pipelines in Colorado (the so-called "Rockport Lateral"), are anticipated to be less than $160 million. The Pony Express Pipeline will be subject to FERC regulation and is expected to be in service during the first quarter of 1997. The initial design capacity of the Pony Express Pipeline is 255,000 MMBtu per day, and its capacity may be expanded to over 300,000 MMBtu per day with additional compression. When operational, the Pony Express Pipeline will improve the Company's access to downstream markets and create gathering, processing and marketing opportunities. This project also reflects the Company's ongoing strategy to balance regulated pipeline projects with the corresponding potential for greater returns from other nonregulated business segments. In January 1996, the FERC granted the Company the authority to expand its pipeline system in Wyoming. This $14.9 million project is designed to increase the capacity of the system to move gas from Wyoming to markets in the midwestern United States. The facilities are expected to be in service by November 1996. This expansion project, along with the Pony Express Pipeline project, will enable Wyoming natural gas producers to transport their product more efficiently and to market their natural gas to a broader base of customers. S-4 5 GATHERING, PROCESSING AND MARKETING SERVICES The Company provides natural gas gathering, processing, marketing and supply services, including transportation and storage, to a variety of customers. Within this business segment, the Company owns and operates approximately 9,400 miles of pipeline in seven states and operates 16 gas processing plants and natural gas storage facilities in West Texas and on the Texas Gulf Coast. This segment's total processing capacity is approximately 760 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. Further, the Company is one of the 20 largest processors of natural gas liquids ("NGLs") in the nation in terms of NGLs produced. Revenues from this business segment's gathering, processing, storage, transporting and marketing activities are generated in four different ways. First, the Company performs a merchant function whereby the Company purchases gas at the wellhead, aggregates such gas with other supplies of gas, and markets the aggregated gas to consumers. Second, the Company, for a fee, gathers, transports and may process gas for producers or other third parties who retain title to the gas. Third, the Company processes gas and markets NGLs. Fourth, the Company provides gas marketing and supply services including certain storage services, to various natural gas resellers and end-users either on or connected to the Company's pipeline systems or on other pipeline facilities. The Company works with producers and end-users on the pipeline systems to provide a wide range of services. It arranges the purchase and transportation of producers' excess or uncommitted gas to end-users, acts as shipper or agent for the end-users, administers nominations and provides balancing assistance when needed. Services provided by the Company within the traditional gathering, processing, transporting and marketing activities have expanded due to increased demand for gas and the result of FERC Order 636. Some of these services include variable pricing and variable or firm receipt/delivery of gas. Additionally, the Company provides storage services and transportation balancing arrangements to assist customers in meeting peak demand needs and maximizing their use of capacity on interstate pipelines. This business segment also engages in price risk management activities using energy financial instruments. The Company buys and sells natural gas and crude oil futures positions on the New York Mercantile Exchange and Kansas City Board of Trade and uses over-the-counter energy swaps and options for the purpose of reducing adverse price exposure for gas supply costs or specific market margins. Pursuant to its Board of Directors' approved guidelines, the Company engages in these activities only as a hedging mechanism against pre-existing or anticipated physical gas and condensate sales, gas purchases, system use, and storage in order to protect profit margins, and is prohibited from engaging in speculative trading. Facilities used for and operations involving the production and gathering of natural gas are exempt from FERC jurisdiction pursuant to the Natural Gas Act. In 1994, as part of its corporate reorganization, K N transferred substantially all of its gathering facilities to a wholly-owned subsidiary. The FERC determined that the gathering facilities would be nonjurisdictional after the transfer, but it reserved the right to reassert jurisdiction if the Company were found to be operating the facilities in an anti-competitive manner or contrary to the FERC's open access principles. State regulatory commissions in several states where the Company provides gathering and processing services have expressed interest in asserting jurisdiction over gathering activities, and the Company is closely monitoring developments in this area. The interstate gas marketing activities of the Company's various marketing and pipeline subsidiaries are conducted either as unregulated first sales or pursuant to blanket certificate authority granted by the FERC under the Natural Gas Act. State regulatory commissions in the states where the Company operates have authority to regulate the intrastate transportation, sale, delivery and pricing of natural gas by intrastate pipeline and distribution systems. One of the Company's business strategies is to become a "Total Energy Manager" for its customers. In furtherance of this strategy, the Company has filed for and received from the FERC certification as a Power Marketer. This is a first step in the process of marketing electricity to wholesale electric customers as well as developing opportunities for providing power to current wholesale and local distribution company customers. To gain competitive advantage in an increasingly competitive gas and NGLs market, the Company is developing and marketing specific products and services that include electricity. The Company has initially targeted utilities and municipalities for these power opportunities as part of a comprehensive energy package, primarily in areas the Company currently serves. S-5 6 RETAIL NATURAL GAS SERVICES The Company provides retail natural gas services to residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial customers for space heating, crop irrigation and drying, and processing of agricultural products. Revenues from this business segment are derived primarily from regulated natural gas sales and transportation services. The Company's retail natural gas business serves over 230,000 retail customers and 300 communities in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming through distribution pipelines totaling approximately 8,400 miles at December 31, 1995. In addition, within this business segment the Company operates intrastate natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipelines totaling approximately 1,500 miles at December 31, 1995. These intrastate pipeline systems serve industrial customers and much of the Company's retail natural gas business in Colorado and Wyoming. The Company's retail operations in Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and northeastern Colorado serve areas that are primarily rural and agriculturally based. In much of Kansas and Nebraska, the winter heating load is balanced by irrigation in summer months and grain drying in the fall. The economy in the western Colorado service territory continues to grow as a result of growth in mountain resort communities and development of retirement communities. As a result of a more competitive environment for gas services in the United States, the Company is looking to be a leader in providing customers a choice in services. In that regard, the Company filed an application with the Wyoming Public Service Commission in September 1995 to allow approximately 10,000 residential and commercial customers to choose their energy provider from a qualified list of suppliers. The Company will continue to provide all other utility services and will manage the gas supplies for customers in the program. On February 16, 1996 the Wyoming Public Service Commission issued an order allowing the Company to bring competition to these approximately 10,000 residential and commercial customers beginning June 1, 1996. This innovative program is one of the first in the nation that allows essentially all customers the opportunity to exercise energy choice for natural gas. The Company's intrastate pipelines, distribution facilities and retail sales in Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming are under the regulatory authority of each state's utility commission. In Nebraska, retail gas sales rates for residential and small commercial customers are regulated by each municipality served. INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE SERVICES The Company's interstate pipeline system provides transportation and storage services to affiliates, third-party natural gas distribution utilities and shippers. As of December 31, 1995, the Company's interstate pipeline system provided transportation and storage services directly to utilities serving 293 communities, as follows:
SERVED BY COLORADO KANSAS NEBRASKA WYOMING --------- -------- ------ -------- ------- Affiliated Entities.............................. 12 52 177 10 Other Utilities.................................. 5 10 27 --
When the Pony Express Pipeline commences operation, its results will be included in this business segment. Effective January 1, 1994, 1,691 miles of gathering lines and the products extraction plant at Scott City, Kansas, were transferred to a gas gathering subsidiary of K N as part of the corporate reorganization referred to above. As of December 31, 1995, the interstate pipeline properties included transmission and storage lines totaling over 6,000 miles, a storage field and one products extraction plant. The change from providing a merchant function to a FERC-regulated transportation and storage service at cost of service-based rates has substantially reduced this business segment's operating revenues and gas purchase expenses. This has not, however, negatively impacted this business segment's operating income since gas purchases were previously recoverable dollar-for-dollar from customers as a result of purchased gas adjustment clauses in the Company's tariffs. However, the transfer of gathering and products extraction facilities described above has reduced this segment's operating income. The use of straight fixed-variable rate S-6 7 design for FERC-regulated services results in this business segment collecting a significant portion of its revenues from customers through demand charges collected evenly throughout the year. Accordingly, fluctuations in operating revenues resulting from seasonal variations in weather conditions are reduced. Facilities for the transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce and for gas storage services in interstate commerce are subject to regulation by the FERC under the Natural Gas Act and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978. Through agreements with its former wholesale customers, the Company was able to formulate and implement a plan that resulted in its transition to FERC Order 636 services and avoided the need for any gas supply transition cost recovery filings with the FERC. TOM BROWN, INC. INVESTMENT In 1995 and prior years, K N participated in the development and production of gas and oil reserves through a wholly-owned subsidiary, K N Production Company ("KNPC"). Effective December 31, 1995, K N merged the subsidiary into Tom Brown, Inc., a publicly held independent oil and gas producer ("Tom Brown"), in return for 1,000,000 shares of $25 stated value 7% convertible preferred stock and 918,367 shares of common stock of Tom Brown, representing, on a fully diluted basis, approximately 11.3% of that corporation's outstanding common stock. As part of the transaction, K N and Tom Brown formed Wildhorse Energy Partners, L.L.C. ("Wildhorse"), a joint venture limited liability company 55%-owned by K N and 45%-owned by Tom Brown, to provide gathering, processing, storage, field and marketing services to Rocky Mountain gas and oil producers and others. Pursuant to this joint venture, Tom Brown has dedicated all of its uncommitted Rocky Mountain gas production to Wildhorse, and the Company has contributed gas marketing contracts tied to the KNPC reserve base and storage contracts associated with a western Colorado storage field. This joint venture gives the Company access to opportunities relating to Tom Brown's approximately 180 billion cubic feet of natural gas reserves and one million undeveloped acres. S-7 8 DESCRIPTION OF DEBENTURES The following description of the particular terms of the Debentures (referred to in the Prospectus as the "Offered Securities") supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces, the description of the general terms and provisions of the Securities set forth in the Prospectus, to which description reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms defined in the Prospectus have the same meanings when used here. GENERAL The maximum aggregate principal amount of Debentures which may be issued is limited to $125,000,000. The Debentures will mature August 1, 2026. Interest at the annual rate set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement is to accrue from July 26, 1996, and is to be payable semiannually on February 1 and August 1, commencing February 1, 1997, to the Persons in whose names the Debentures are registered at the close of business on the preceding January 15 or July 15, respectively. All payments on the Debentures will be made in U.S. dollars. Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Debentures will be payable, and the Debentures will be transferable, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purposes, which initially will be the corporate trust office of the Trustee in Chicago, Illinois. BOOK-ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM The Debentures will be issuable only as Registered Securities and will be represented by one certificate (the "Global Security") to be registered in the name of the nominee of DTC or any successor depository (the "Depository"). The Depository will maintain the Debentures in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof through its book-entry facilities. See "Description of Securities -- Global Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus for additional information concerning the Global Security. In accordance with its normal procedures, the Depository will record the interests of each Depository participating firm ("Participant") in the Debentures, whether held for its own account or as a nominee for another Person. So long as the nominee of the Depository is the registered owner of the Debentures, such nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debentures for all purposes under the Indenture and any applicable laws. Except as otherwise provided below, a Beneficial Owner, as hereinafter defined, of interests in the Debentures will not be entitled to receive a physical certificate representing such ownership interest and will not be considered an owner or holder of the Debentures under the Indenture. A Beneficial Owner is the Person who has the right to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of an interest in the Debentures and the right to receive the proceeds therefrom, as well as interest, principal and premium (if any) payable in respect thereof. A Beneficial Owner's interest in the Debentures will be recorded, in integral multiples of $1,000, on the records of the Participant that maintains such Beneficial Owner's account for such purpose. In turn, the Participant's interest in such Debentures will be recorded, in integral multiples of $1,000, on the records of the Depository. Therefore, the Beneficial Owner must rely on the foregoing arrangements to evidence its interest in the Debentures. Beneficial ownership of the Debentures may be transferred only by compliance with the procedures of a Beneficial Owner's Participant (e.g., brokerage firm) and the Depository. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the foregoing ability to transfer beneficial interests in the Global Security. All rights of ownership must be exercised through the Depository (including the exercise of a right of redemption at the holder's option) and the book-entry system and notices that are to be given to registered owners by the Company or the Trustee will be given only to the Depository. It is expected that the Depository will forward the notices to the Participants by its usual procedures, so that Participants may forward such notices to the Beneficial Owners. Neither the Company nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or obligation to assure that any notices are forwarded by the Depository to any Participant or by any Participant to the Beneficial Owners. DTC has advised the Company and the Underwriters as follows: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of S-8 9 Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC was created to hold securities of Participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the Underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. Access to DTC's book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by DTC only through Participants. Settlement for the Debentures will be made in immediately available funds. So long as the Debentures are subject to DTC's book-entry system, the Debentures will trade in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement system until maturity, and therefore DTC will require that secondary trading activity in the Debentures be settled in immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the Debentures. REDEMPTION BY THE COMPANY The Debentures will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time after August 1, 2006, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of their principal amount or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (disregarding the holders' optional redemption right) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Yield plus 12.5 basis points, plus in each case accrued interest to the date of redemption. "Treasury Yield" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Debentures to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Debentures. "Independent Investment Banker" means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or, if such firm is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Trustee. "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third business day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such business day, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations. "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date. "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Smith Barney Inc. and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer. S-9 10 Holders of Debentures to be redeemed at the option of the Company will receive notice thereof by first-class mail at least 30 and not more than 45 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Debentures or portions thereof called for redemption. The Debentures will not be subject to any sinking fund. REDEMPTION BY THE HOLDERS Any registered holder of the Debentures will have the right to require the Company to redeem all or any portion (in integral multiples of $1,000) of such registered holder's Debentures on August 1, 2006 (the "Put Redemption Date"), at a redemption price of 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest thereon to the Put Redemption Date. In order to exercise such an election, a holder must deliver to the Trustee, at its corporate trust office in Chicago, the Debenture as to which an election is being made, together with a duly signed and completed notice of election to have such Debenture, or a portion thereof, redeemed by the Company. Such Debenture and such notice of exercise of a redemption option must be delivered to the Trustee no earlier than July 1, 2006 and no later than July 31, 2006. Once made, the exercise of a redemption option by a holder of a Debenture will be irrevocable. Such option may be exercised with respect to less than the entire principal amount of a Debenture, but any such redemption in part must be in integral multiples of $1,000. So long as the Debentures are represented by the Global Security, the Depository (or its nominee) will be the holder thereof entitled to exercise a right to redemption. In order to ensure that the Depository (or its nominee) will exercise in a timely manner a right to redemption with respect to a particular Debenture, the Beneficial Owner of an interest in such Debenture must instruct the broker or other direct or indirect Participant through which it holds an interest in such Debenture to notify the Depository of its desire to exercise a right to redemption. Different firms have different cut-off times for accepting instructions from their customers and, accordingly, each such Beneficial Owner should consult the broker or other direct or indirect Participant through which it holds an interest in the Global Security in order to ascertain the cut-off time by which such an instruction must be given in order for timely notice to be delivered to the Depository. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of any Debenture for redemption will be determined by the Company, whose determination will be final and binding. DEFEASANCE The Debentures will be subject to defeasance and discharge and to covenant defeasance as provided under "Description of Securities -- Defeasance" in the Prospectus. TRUSTEE First Trust of Illinois, National Association has succeeded to the corporate trust business of Bank of America Illinois, formerly known as Continental Bank, National Association, the original Trustee. First Trust of Illinois, National Association is, therefore, the successor Trustee under the Indenture. The corporate trust office of the Trustee is currently located at 400 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 2S, Chicago, Illinois 60611. S-10 11 UNDERWRITING Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in a purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") among the Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Smith Barney Inc. (the "Underwriters"), the Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters have severally agreed to purchase, the respective principal amounts of the Debentures set forth after their names below.
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT UNDERWRITERS OF ----------- DEBENTURES ------------ Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated............................................... 41,700,000 J.P. Morgan Securities Inc............................................. 41,650,000 Smith Barney Inc....................................................... 41,650,000 ------------ Total...................................................... $125,000,000 ============
In the Purchase Agreement, the Underwriters have severally agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase all the Debentures offered hereby if any Debentures are purchased. The Underwriters have advised the Company that they propose initially to offer the Debentures to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement, and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of .4% of the principal amount. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of .25% of the principal amount to certain other dealers. After the initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may be changed. The Debentures will not be listed on any securities exchange, and there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the Debentures. From time to time the Underwriters may make a market in the Debentures. However, at this time no determination has been made as to whether or not the Underwriters will make a market in the Debentures. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is also acting as underwriter in the Concurrent Offering for which it will receive customary underwriting discounts. J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. is an affiliate of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York ("Morgan Guaranty"), which is a lender and agent bank under the Company's primary revolving credit agreement, and in such capacities Morgan Guaranty receives customary fees and other compensation. In addition, the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may provide or have provided banking, advisory and other financial services for the Company in the ordinary course of business. VALIDITY OF SECURITIES The validity of the Debentures will be passed upon for the Company by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas, and for the Underwriters by Shearman & Sterling, New York, New York. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. and Shearman & Sterling will rely as to matters of Kansas law on Polsinelli, White, Vardeman & Shalton, Kansas City, Missouri. S-11 12 PROSPECTUS K N ENERGY, INC. $200,000,000 DEBT SECURITIES --------------------- K N Energy, Inc. ("K N" or the "Company") may offer from time to time its unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness (the "Securities") at an aggregate initial offering price of not more than $200,000,000 or, if applicable, the equivalent thereof in any other currency or currency unit. The Securities may be offered as separate series 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 Prospectus Supplement. The terms of each series of Securities, including, where applicable, the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, authorized denominations, 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, 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 (the "Offered Securities") will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. As used herein, 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 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 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 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 Securities of a series may be issuable in temporary or permanent global form. 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. --------------------- 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 THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOVEMBER 30, 1993. 13 AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and, in accordance therewith, files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"). Such reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549; and at the following Regional Offices of the Commission: Chicago Regional Office, Suite 1400, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60621; and New York Regional Office, 13th Floor, Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material may be obtained by mail from the Public Reference Branch of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Certain securities of the Company are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Reports and other information concerning the Company can be inspected and copied at the office of such exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") with respect to the Securities offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in such Registration Statement. Reference is made to such Registration Statement and to the exhibits thereto for further information with respect to the Company and the Securities offered hereby. Statements contained herein concerning the provisions of documents are necessarily summaries of such documents, and each statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the applicable document filed with the Commission. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The Company incorporates herein by reference the following documents filed by it with the Commission (File No. 1-6446) pursuant to the Exchange Act: Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992; Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 1993; and Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 5, April 5 and September 8, 1993. Each document filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such document. Any statement contained herein or in a document all or a portion of which is 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 or in the Prospectus Supplement 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 hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this Prospectus has been delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any and all of the documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated in this Prospectus by reference, other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Requests for such copies 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. 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 gas marketing and in the development and production of oil and gas for their own account. 2 14 K N was incorporated under the laws of the State of Kansas in 1927. The address of the Company's 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 will be used for general corporate purposes. Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of Securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of such offering and will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement. 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.
NINE MONTHS ENDED YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30, ----------------------------------------- 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 - ------------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 2.16 2.52 2.97 2.70 2.49 2.32
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 and expense, 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. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES The Securities will be issued under an indenture to be dated as of November 20, 1993 (the "Indenture") between the Company and Continental Bank, National Association, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), a form of which Indenture is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The statements under this caption are brief summaries of certain provisions of the Indenture, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms. Wherever particular Sections of the Indenture or terms not defined herein that are defined in the Indenture are referred to herein or in a Prospectus Supplement, it is intended that such Sections or defined terms shall be incorporated by reference herein or therein, as the case may be. The Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The particular terms of each series of Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements will be described in such Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements relating to such series. GENERAL The Indenture does not limit the amount of Securities, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that may be issued by the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor does it restrict transactions between the Company and its affiliates or dividends and other distributions by the Company to its stockholders. The rights of the Company's creditors, including holders of the 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 set forth under "Limitation on Liens," there are no provisions of the Indenture which afford holders of the 3 15 Securities protection in the event of either a change in control of the Company or a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company. Securities may be issued under the Indenture from time to time in separate series up to the aggregate amount from time to time authorized by the Company for such series. The Securities will be unsecured obligations of the Company and will rank on a parity with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company, unless the Company is required to secure the Securities pursuant to the Indenture provisions described below under "Limitations on Liens." The applicable Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements will describe the following terms of the Offered Securities: (1) the title of the Offered Securities; (2) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Securities; (3) whether the Offered Securities are to be issuable as Registered Securities or Bearer Securities or both, whether any of the Offered Securities are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any of the Offered Securities are to be in permanent global form; (4) the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the Offered Securities will be issued; (5) the date or dates on which the Offered Securities will mature; (6) the rate or rates per annum (or the method by which such will be determined) at which the Offered Securities will bear interest, if any, and the date from which any such interest will accrue; (7) the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest on the Offered Securities will be payable, the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Offered 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 Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid; (8) any mandatory or optional sinking fund or analogous provisions; (9) each office or agency where, subject to the terms of the Indenture as described below under "Payment and Paying Agents," the principal of and any premium and interest on the Offered Securities will be payable and each office or agency where, subject to the terms of the Indenture as described below under "Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer," the Offered Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange; (10) the right of the Company to redeem the Offered Securities at its option and the period or periods, if any, within which and the price or prices at which the Offered 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; (11) the denominations in which any Offered 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 Securities which are Bearer Securities will be issuable, if other than the denomination of $5,000; (12) the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the Offered Securities is payable; (13) any index used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and any premium and interest on the Offered Securities; (14) information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and (15) any other terms of the Offered Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture. (Section 301) Any such Prospectus Supplement will also describe any special provisions for the payment of additional amounts with respect to the Offered Securities. Securities may be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities. An Original Issue Discount Security is a 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 Security shall become due and payable. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to 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 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 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 Indenture 4 16 also will provide that 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 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 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 Indenture. Bearer Securities will not be issued in exchange for Registered Securities. (Section 305) 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 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 Securities and referred to in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any taxes and other government charges as described in the Indenture. 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 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 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 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 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 Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days prior to the selection of Securities of that series for redemption and ending on the close of business on (A) if Securities of the series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and (B) if Securities of the series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the day 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 5 17 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 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 Securities (subject to limitations described above 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 the Company for the 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 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 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 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 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 Security or any coupon will thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof. (Section 1003) GLOBAL SECURITIES Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global Securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Global 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 Securities represented thereby, a global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository for such global 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 Securities and certain limitations and restrictions relating to a series of Bearer Securities in the form of one or more global Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. 6 18 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS "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 assets 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. (Section 101) "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. (Section 101) "Principal Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary which owns a Principal Property. (Section 101) "Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other 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. (Section 101) LIMITATION ON LIENS The Company will covenant 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 is now owned or hereafter acquired) without in any such case effectively providing that the Securities shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Debt, except that the foregoing 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 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) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and any Subsidiary may, without securing the 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) 7 19 EVENTS OF DEFAULT Any one of the following events will constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture with respect to Securities of any series: (a) failure to pay any interest on any Security of that series when due, continued for 30 days; (b) failure to pay principal of or any premium on any Security of that series when due; (c) failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any Security of that series; (d) failure to perform any other covenant of the Company in the Indenture (other than a covenant included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), continued for 90 days after written notice as provided in the Indenture; (e) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving the Company; and (f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series. (Section 501) If an Event of Default with respect to 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 Indenture may declare the principal amount (or, if the 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 Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to 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) The Indenture will provide that, subject to the duty of the Trustee during default to act with the required standard of care, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee 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 will 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 Securities of that series; provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be 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 will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement as to the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Indenture and as to any default in such performance. (Section 1007) DEFEASANCE If so specified with respect to any particular series of Securities, the Company may discharge its indebtedness and its obligations or certain of its obligations under the Indenture with respect to such series by depositing funds or obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States of America with the Trustee. Defeasance and Discharge The Indenture will provide that, if so specified with respect to the Securities of any series, the Company will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Securities of such series (except for certain obligations relating to temporary Securities and exchange of Securities, registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series, replacement of stolen, lost or mutilated 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 Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the 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 the Indenture there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, 8 20 and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Securities 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 Securities of such series, Holders of Securities 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 Securities until Maturity. Defeasance of Certain Obligations The Indenture will provide that, if so specified with respect to the Securities of any series, the Company may omit to comply with certain restrictive covenants, including the covenant described under "Limitation on Liens" above, and any such omission shall not be an Event of Default with respect to the 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 Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series. The obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the 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 the Securities 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) 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 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 Securities of any series as described above and the 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 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 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 Securities to be defeased for an interest in the defeasance trust. As a consequence, a holder would recognize gain or less equal to the difference between the holder's cost or other tax basis for such Securities and the value of the holder's interest in the defeasance trust, and thereafter would be required to include in income a 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 Securities. MEETINGS, MODIFICATION AND WAIVER Modifications and amendments of the 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 Security, (b) change the Redemption Date with respect to any Security, (c) reduce the principal amount of, or premium or interest on, any 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 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 9 21 with respect to any Security, (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 the Indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults, (j) reduce the requirements contained in the 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 the Indenture, or (l) modify any of the above provisions. (Section 902) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series may, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of that series, waive, insofar as that series is concerned, compliance by the Company with certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture. (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 Securities of that series, waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to any Securities of that series, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or any interest on any Security of such series or (b) in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected. (Section 513) The Indenture will provide 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 of Securities for quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal that 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 Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency units shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount of such 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) The Indenture will contain provisions for convening meetings of the Holders of Securities of a series if 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 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 Securities of any series duly held in accordance with the Indenture will be binding on all Holders of Securities 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 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 the 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 the 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) 10 22 NOTICES Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, 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 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 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 Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining thereto will be replaced by the Company at the expense of the Holder upon surrender of such Security to the Trustee. 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 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 Security in exchange for the Security to which such coupon appertains. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen Security or coupon, an indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company may be required at the expense of the Holder of such Security or coupon before a replacement Security will be issued. (Section 306) GOVERNING LAW The Indenture, the 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 Continental Bank, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, is also trustee under another indenture under which several issues of the Company's debt securities are outstanding, and transacts other banking business with the Company in the normal course of business. The Indenture will contain 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 will be permitted to engage in certain other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest (as described in the Indenture), it must eliminate such conflict or resign. (Section 608) PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION GENERAL The Company 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, with 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. 11 23 In connection with the sale of Securities, underwriters may receive compensation from the Company or from 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 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 will be described, in the Prospectus Supplement. The Securities, when first issued, will have no established trading market. Any underwriters or agents to or through whom Securities are sold by the Company for public offering and sale may make a market in such 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 Securities. Under agreements which may be entered into by the Company, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of Securities may be entitled to indemnification by the Company against or contribution toward certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. DELAYED DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS 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 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 Securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the 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 will be passed upon for the Company by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas, who may rely on the opinion of the law offices of Glaves, Irby and Rhoads, Wichita, Kansas, 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. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements and schedules, included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992, which is incorporated by reference herein, have been audited by Arthur Andersen & Co., independent public accountants, as indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports. Reference is made to such reports, which call attention to certain changes in accounting principles during the periods reported thereon. 12 24 =============================================================================== NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUSES NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. ------------------------ TABLE OF CONTENTS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
PAGE ---- Incorporation of Additional Documents by Reference........................ S-2 Use of Proceeds....................... S-2 Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges... S-3 The Company........................... S-4 Description of Debentures............. S-8 Underwriting.......................... S-11 Validity of Securities................ S-11 PROSPECTUS Available Information................. 2 Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference........................... 2 The Company........................... 2 Use of Proceeds....................... 3 Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges... 3 Description of Securities............. 3 Plan of Distribution.................. 11 Validity of Securities................ 12 Experts............................... 12
=============================================================================== =============================================================================== $125,000,000 K N ENERGY, INC. 7.35% DEBENTURES DUE AUGUST 1, 2026 ------------------------ PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT ------------------------ MERRILL LYNCH & CO. J.P. MORGAN & CO. SMITH BARNEY INC. JULY 23, 1996 =============================================================================== -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----