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Financing Activities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Financing Activities [Abstract]  
Financing Activities

7. Financing Activities

 

Credit Arrangements and Short-term Debt

 

(PPL, PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU)

 

The Registrants maintain credit facilities to enhance liquidity, provide credit support, and provide a backstop to commercial paper programs. For reporting purposes, on a consolidated basis, the credit facilities of PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU also apply to PPL and the credit facilities of LG&E and KU also apply to LKE. The following credit facilities were in place at:

       December 31, 2012 December 31, 2011
                Letters of      Letters of
                Credit Issued       Credit Issued
                and       and
                Commercial       Commercial
       Expiration    Borrowed Paper Unused Borrowed Paper
        Date Capacity (a) Backup Capacity (a) Backup
PPL                    
 WPD Credit Facilities                    
  PPL WW Syndicated                    
   Credit Facility (b) (c) (f) Jan. 2013 £ 150 £ 106  n/a £ 44 £ 111  n/a
  WPD (South West)                     
   Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (f) Jan. 2017   245     n/a   245     n/a
  WPD (East Midlands)                     
   Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) (f) Apr. 2016   300         300    £ 70
  WPD (West Midlands)                    
   Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) (f) Apr. 2016   300         300      71
  Uncommitted Credit Facilities     84    £ 4   80      3
   Total WPD Credit Facilities (e)   £ 1,079 £ 106 £ 4 £ 969 £ 111 £ 144
                           
PPL Energy Supply                     
 Syndicated Credit Facility (f) (g) (h)  Nov. 2017 $ 3,000    $ 499 $ 2,501    $ 541
 Letter of Credit Facility (k) Mar. 2013   200  n/a   132   68  n/a   89
 Uncommitted Credit Facilities (h)      200  n/a   40   160  n/a  n/a
   Total PPL Energy Supply                    
    Credit Facilities    $ 3,400    $ 671 $ 2,729    $ 630
                           
PPL Electric                    
 Syndicated Credit Facility (f) (h) Oct. 2017 $ 300    $ 1 $ 299    $ 1
 Asset-backed Credit Facility (i) Sept 2013   100     n/a   100     n/a
   Total PPL Electric Credit Facilities    $ 400    $ 1 $ 399    $ 1
                           
LG&E                     
 Syndicated Credit Facility (f) (h)  Nov. 2017 $ 500      55 $ 445      
                           
KU                     
 Syndicated Credit Facility (f) (h)  Nov. 2017 $ 400    $ 70 $ 330      
 Letter of Credit Facility (f) (h) (j) Apr. 2014   198      198     n/a $ 198
   Total KU Credit Facilities    $ 598    $ 268 $ 330    $ 198

(a)       Amounts borrowed are recorded as "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheets.

(b)       In December 2012, the PPL WW credit facility was subsequently replaced with a credit facility expiring in December 2016 and the capacity was increased to £210 million.

(c)       The facilities contain financial covenants that require the company to maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 3.0 times consolidated earnings before income taxes, depreciation and amortization and total net debt not in excess of 85% of its RAV, calculated in accordance with the credit facility.

(d)       Under these facilities, WPD (East Midlands) and WPD (West Midlands) each have the ability to request the lenders to issue up to £80 million of letters of credit in lieu of borrowing.

(e)       The total amounts borrowed at December 31, 2012 and 2011 were USD-denominated borrowings of $171 million and $178 million, which equated to £106 million and £111 million at the time of the borrowings. The interest rates at December 31, 2012 and 2011 were 0.8452% and 1.05%. At December 31, 2012, the unused capacity of WPD's credit facilities was approximately $1.6 billion.

(f)       Each company pays customary fees under its respective facility and borrowings generally bear interest at LIBOR-based rates plus an applicable margin.

(g)       In October 2010, PPL Energy Supply borrowed $3.2 billion under this facility in order to enable a subsidiary to make loans to certain affiliates to provide interim financing of amounts required by PPL to partially fund PPL's acquisition of LKE. Such borrowing bore interest at 2.26% and was refinanced primarily through the issuance of long-term debt by LKE, LG&E and KU and the use of internal funds. This borrowing and related payments were included in "Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt" on the Statement of Cash Flows.

 

PPL Energy Supply incurred an aggregate of $41 million of fees in 2010 in connection with establishing this facility. Such fees were initially deferred and amortized through December 2014. In connection with the reduction in the capacity from $4 billion to $3 billion in December 2010, PPL Energy Supply wrote off $10 million, $6 million after tax, of deferred fees, which was reflected in "Interest Expense" in the Statement of Income.

(h)       The facilities contain a financial covenant requiring debt to total capitalization not to exceed 65% for PPL Energy Supply and 70% for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU, as calculated in accordance with the facilities and other customary covenants. Additionally, as it relates to the syndicated credit facilities and subject to certain conditions, PPL Energy Supply may request that its facility's capacity be increased by up to $500 million and PPL Electric and KU each may request up to a $100 million increase in its facility's' capacity.

(i)       PPL Electric participates in an asset-backed commercial paper program through which PPL Electric obtains financing by selling and contributing its eligible accounts receivable and unbilled revenue to a special purpose, wholly owned subsidiary on an ongoing basis. The subsidiary has pledged these assets to secure loans from a commercial paper conduit sponsored by a financial institution.

 

At December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $238 million and $251 million of accounts receivable and $106 million and $98 million of unbilled revenue were pledged by the subsidiary under the credit agreement related to PPL Electric's and the subsidiary's participation in the asset-backed commercial paper program. Based on the accounts receivable and unbilled revenue pledged at December 31, 2012, the amount available for borrowing under the facility was $100 million. PPL Electric's sale to its subsidiary of the accounts receivable and unbilled revenue is an absolute sale of assets, and PPL Electric does not retain an interest in these assets. However, for financial reporting purposes, the subsidiary's financial results are consolidated in PPL Electric's financial statements. PPL Electric performs certain record-keeping and cash collection functions with respect to the assets in return for a servicing fee from the subsidiary.

(j)       KU's letter of credit facility agreement allows for certain payments under the letter of credit facility to be converted to loans rather than requiring immediate payment.

(k)       In February 2013, PPL Energy Supply extended the expiration date of the agreement to March 2014 and, effective April 2013, the capacity will be reduced to $150 million.

 

(PPL and PPL Energy Supply)

 

PPL Energy Supply maintains a $500 million Facility Agreement expiring June 2017, whereby PPL Energy Supply has the ability to request up to $500 million of committed letter of credit capacity at fees to be agreed upon at the time of each request, based on certain market conditions. At December 31, 2012, PPL Energy Supply has not requested any capacity for the issuance of letters of credit under this arrangement.

 

PPL Energy Supply, PPL EnergyPlus, PPL Montour and PPL Brunner Island maintain an $800 million secured energy marketing and trading facility, whereby PPL EnergyPlus will receive credit to be applied to satisfy collateral posting obligations related to its energy marketing and trading activities with counterparties participating in the facility. The credit amount is guaranteed by PPL Energy Supply, PPL Montour and PPL Brunner Island. PPL Montour and PPL Brunner Island have granted liens on their respective generating facilities to secure any amount they may owe under their guarantees, which had an aggregate carrying value of $2.7 billion at December 31, 2012. The facility expires in November 2017, but is subject to automatic one-year renewals under certain conditions. There were no secured obligations outstanding under this facility at December 31, 2012.

 

In April 2012, PPL Energy Supply increased the capacity of its commercial paper program from $500 million to $750 million to provide an additional financing source to fund its short-term liquidity needs, if and when necessary. Commercial paper issuances are supported by PPL Energy Supply's Syndicated Credit Facility. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, PPL Energy Supply had $356 million and $400 million of commercial paper outstanding, included in "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheet, at weighted-average interest rates of 0.50% and 0.53%.

 

(PPL and PPL Electric)

 

In May 2012, PPL Electric increased the capacity of its commercial paper program from $200 million to $300 million to provide an additional financing source to fund its short-term liquidity needs, if and when necessary. Commercial paper issuances are supported by PPL Electric's Syndicated Credit Facility. PPL Electric had no commercial paper outstanding at December 31, 2012.

 

(PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU)

 

In February 2012, LG&E and KU each established a commercial paper program for up to $250 million to provide an additional financing source to fund their short-term liquidity needs. Commercial paper issuances are supported by LG&E's and KU's Syndicated Credit Facilities. At December 31, 2012, LG&E had $55 million of commercial paper outstanding at a weighted-average interest rate of 0.42% and KU had $70 million of commercial paper outstanding at a weighted-average interest rate of 0.42%, included in "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheet.

 

(PPL Energy Supply, LKE, LG&E and KU)

 

See Note 16 for discussion of intercompany borrowings.

 

2011 Bridge Facility (PPL)

 

In March 2011, concurrently and in connection with entering into the agreement to acquire WPD Midlands, PPL Capital Funding and PPL WEM, as borrowers, and PPL, as guarantor, entered into a 364-day unsecured £3.6 billion bridge facility to (i) fund the acquisition and (ii) pay certain fees and expenses in connection with the acquisition. During 2011, PPL incurred $44 million of fees in connection with establishing the 2011 Bridge Facility, which is reflected in "Interest Expense" on the Statement of Income. On April 1, 2011, concurrent with the closing of the WPD Midlands acquisition, PPL Capital Funding borrowed an aggregate of £1.75 billion and PPL WEM borrowed £1.85 billion under the 2011 Bridge Facility. Borrowings bore interest at approximately 2.62%, determined by one-month LIBOR rates plus a spread, based on PPL Capital Funding's senior unsecured debt rating and the length of time from the date of the acquisition closing that borrowings were outstanding. See Note 10 for additional information on the acquisition.

 

In accordance with the terms of the 2011 Bridge Facility, PPL Capital Funding's borrowings of £1.75 billion were repaid with approximately $2.8 billion of proceeds received from PPL's issuance of common stock and 2011 Equity Units in April 2011. In April 2011, PPL WEM repaid £650 million of its 2011 Bridge Facility borrowing. Such repayment was funded primarily with proceeds received from PPL WEM's issuance of senior notes. In May 2011, PPL WEM repaid the remaining £1.2 billion of borrowings then-outstanding under the 2011 Bridge Facility, primarily with the proceeds from senior notes issued by WPD (East Midlands) and WPD (West Midlands).

 

In anticipation of the repayment of a portion of the borrowings under the 2011 Bridge Facility with U.S. dollar proceeds received from PPL's issuance of common stock and 2011 Equity Units and PPL WEM's issuance of U.S. dollar-denominated senior notes, PPL entered into forward contracts to purchase GBP in order to economically hedge the foreign currency exchange rate risk related to the repayment. See Note 19 for additional information.

 

Long-term Debt (PPL, PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU)

    Weighted-Average   December 31,
    Rate Maturities 2012 2011
PPL         
U.S.         
 Senior Unsecured Notes (a)4.66% 2013 - 2038 $ 4,506 $ 3,805
 Senior Secured Notes/First Mortgage Bonds (b) (c) (d) (e)4.19% 2013 - 2041   5,587   5,111
 Junior Subordinated Notes4.89% 2018 - 2067   2,608   2,608
 Other6.95% 2014 - 2020   15   15
   Total U.S. Long-term Debt      12,716   11,539
             
U.K.         
 Senior Unsecured Notes (f)5.71% 2016 - 2040   6,111   5,862
 Index-linked Senior Unsecured Notes (g)1.85% 2043 - 2056   608   581
   Total U.K. Long-term Debt (h)      6,719   6,443
   Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments      19,435   17,982
             
 Fair market value adjustments      78   65
 Unamortized premium and (discount), net      (37)   (54)
   Total Long-term Debt      19,476   17,993
 Less current portion of Long-term Debt      751   
   Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent    $ 18,725 $ 17,993
             
PPL Energy Supply         
 Senior Unsecured Notes (a)5.50% 2013 - 2038 $ 2,581 $ 2,581
 Senior Secured Notes (b)8.31% 2013 - 2025   663   437
 Other6.00% 2020   5   5
   Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments      3,249   3,023
             
 Fair market value adjustments      22   
 Unamortized premium and (discount), net      1   1
   Total Long-term Debt      3,272   3,024
 Less current portion of Long-term Debt      751   
   Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent    $ 2,521 $ 3,024
             
PPL Electric         
 Senior Secured Notes/First Mortgage Bonds (c) (d)4.60% 2015 - 2041 $ 1,964 $ 1,714
 Other7.38% 2014   10   10
   Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments      1,974   1,724
             
 Unamortized discount       (7)   (6)
   Total Long-term Debt    $ 1,967 $ 1,718
             
LKE         
 Senior Unsecured Notes3.31% 2015 - 2021 $ 1,125 $ 1,125
 Senior Secured Notes/First Mortgage Bonds (c) (e)3.00% 2015 - 2040   2,960   2,960
   Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments      4,085   4,085
             
 Fair market value adjustments       7   7
 Unamortized discount       (17)   (19)
   Total Long-term Debt    $ 4,075 $ 4,073
             
LG&E         
 Senior Secured Notes/First Mortgage Bonds (c) (e)2.49% 2015 - 2040 $ 1,109 $ 1,109
   Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments      1,109   1,109
             
 Fair market value adjustments      6  6
 Unamortized discount       (3)   (3)
   Total Long-term Debt    $ 1,112 $ 1,112
             
KU         
 Senior Secured Notes/First Mortgage Bonds (c) (e)3.30% 2015 - 2040 $ 1,851 $ 1,851
   Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments      1,851   1,851
             
 Fair market value adjustments      1  1
 Unamortized discount       (10)   (10)
   Total Long-term Debt    $ 1,842 $ 1,842

(a)       Includes $300 million of 5.70% REset Put Securities due 2035 (REPS). The REPS bear interest at a rate of 5.70% per annum to, but excluding, October 15, 2015 (Remarketing Date). The REPS are required to be put by existing holders on the Remarketing Date either for (a) purchase and remarketing by a designated remarketing dealer or (b) repurchase by PPL Energy Supply. If the remarketing dealer elects to purchase the REPS for remarketing, it will purchase the REPS at 100% of the principal amount, and the REPS will bear interest on and after the Remarketing Date at a new fixed rate per annum determined in the remarketing. PPL Energy Supply has the right to terminate the remarketing process. If the remarketing is terminated at the option of PPL Energy Supply or under certain other circumstances, including the occurrence of an event of default by PPL Energy Supply under the related indenture or a failed remarketing for certain specified reasons, PPL Energy Supply will be required to pay the remarketing dealer a settlement amount as calculated in accordance with the related remarketing agreement.

(b)       Includes lease financing consolidated through a VIE. See Note 22 for additional information.

(c)       Includes PPL Electric's senior secured and first mortgage bonds that are secured by the lien of PPL Electric's 2001 Mortgage Indenture, which covers substantially all electric distribution plant and certain transmission plant owned by PPL Electric. The carrying value of PPL Electric's property, plant and equipment was approximately $4.3 billion and $3.9 billion at December 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

LG&E's first mortgage bonds are secured by the lien of the LG&E 2010 Mortgage Indenture, which creates a lien, subject to certain exceptions and exclusions, on substantially all of LG&E's real and tangible personal property located in Kentucky and used or to be used in connection with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and the storage and distribution of natural gas. The aggregate carrying value of the property subject to the lien was $2.7 billion and $2.6 billion at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

 

KU's first mortgage bonds are secured by the lien of the KU 2010 Mortgage Indenture, which creates a lien, subject to certain exceptions and exclusions, on substantially all of KU's real and tangible personal property located in Kentucky and used or to be used in connection with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. The aggregate carrying value of the property subject to the lien was $4.4 billion and $4.1 billion at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

(d)       Includes PPL Electric's series of senior secured bonds that secure its obligations to make payments with respect to each series of Pollution Control Bonds that were issued by the LCIDA and the PEDFA on behalf of PPL Electric. These senior secured bonds were issued in the same principal amount, contain payment and redemption provisions that correspond to and bear the same interest rate as such Pollution Control Bonds. These senior secured bonds were issued under PPL Electric's 2001 Mortgage Indenture and are secured as noted in (c) above. This amount includes $224 million that may be redeemed at par beginning in 2015 and $90 million that may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at par beginning in October 2020 and are subject to mandatory redemption upon determination that the interest rate on the bonds would be included in the holders' gross income for federal tax purposes.

(e)       Includes LG&E's and KU's series of first mortgage bonds that were issued to the respective trustees of tax-exempt revenue bonds to secure its respective obligations to make payments with respect to each series of bonds. The first mortgage bonds were issued in the same principal amount, contain payment and redemption provisions that correspond to and bear the same interest rate as such tax-exempt revenue bonds. These first mortgage bonds were issued under the LG&E 2010 Mortgage Indenture and the KU 2010 Mortgage Indenture and are secured as noted in (c) above. The related tax-exempt revenue bonds were issued by various governmental entities, principally counties in Kentucky, on behalf of LG&E and KU. The related revenue bond documents allow LG&E and KU to convert the interest rate mode on the bonds from time to time to a commercial paper rate, daily rate, weekly rate, term rate of at least one year or, in some cases, an auction rate or a LIBOR index rate.

 

At December 31, 2012, the aggregate tax-exempt revenue bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU that were in a term rate mode totaled $321 million for LKE, comprised of $294 million and $27 million for LG&E and KU. At December 31, 2012, the aggregate tax-exempt revenue bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU that were in a variable rate mode totaled $604 million for LKE, comprised of $280 million and $324 million for LG&E and KU.

Several series of the tax-exempt revenue bonds are insured by monoline bond insurers whose ratings were reduced due to exposures relating to insurance of sub-prime mortgages. Of the bonds outstanding, $231 million are in the form of insured auction rate securities, wherein interest rates are reset either weekly or every 35 days via an auction process. Beginning in late 2007, the interest rates on these insured bonds began to increase due to investor concerns about the creditworthiness of the bond insurers. During 2008, interest rates increased, and LG&E and KU experienced failed auctions when there were insufficient bids for the bonds. When a failed auction occurs, the interest rate is set pursuant to a formula stipulated in the indenture. As noted above, the instruments governing these auction rate bonds permit LG&E and KU to convert the bonds to other interest rate modes.

 

Certain variable rate tax-exempt revenue bonds totaling $348 million at December 31, 2012, are subject to tender for purchase by LG&E and KU at the option of the holder and to mandatory tender for purchase by LG&E and KU upon the occurrence of certain events.

(f)       Includes £225 million ($361 million at December 31, 2012) of notes that may be redeemed, in total but not in part, on December 21, 2026, at the greater of the principal value or a value determined by reference to the gross redemption yield on a nominated U.K. Government bond.

(g)       The principal amount of the notes issued by WPD (South West) and WPD (East Midlands) are adjusted based on changes in a specified index, as detailed in the terms of the related indentures. The adjustment to the principal amounts from 2011 to 2012 was an increase of approximately £9 million ($14 million) resulting from inflation. In addition, this amount includes £225 million ($361 million at December 31, 2012) of notes issued by WPD (South West) that may be redeemed, in total by series, on December 1, 2026, at the greater of the adjusted principal value and a make-whole value determined by reference to the gross real yield on a nominated U.K. government bond.

(h)       Includes £3.3 billion ($5.3 billion at December 31, 2012) of notes that may be put by the holders back to the issuer for redemption if the long-term credit ratings assigned to the notes are withdrawn by any of the rating agencies (Moody's, S&P or Fitch) or reduced to a non-investment grade rating of Ba1 or BB+ in connection with a restructuring event which includes the loss of, or a material adverse change to, the distribution licenses under which the issuer operates.

None of the outstanding debt securities noted above have sinking fund requirements. The aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the periods 2013 through 2017 and thereafter are as follows.

     PPL            
     Energy  PPL         
  PPL Supply Electric LKE LG&E KU
                   
2013 $ 751 $ 751            
2014   328   318 $ 10         
2015   1,317   317   100 $ 900 $ 250 $ 250
2016   828   368            
2017   118   18            
Thereafter   16,093   1,477   1,864   3,185   859   1,601
Total $ 19,435 $ 3,249 $ 1,974 $ 4,085 $ 1,109 $ 1,851

Long-term Debt and Equity Securities Activities

 

(PPL)

 

In April 2012, PPL made a registered underwritten public offering of 9.9 million shares of its common stock. In conjunction with that offering, the underwriters exercised an option to purchase 591 thousand additional shares of PPL common stock solely to cover over-allotments.

 

In connection with the registered public offering, PPL entered into forward sale agreements with two counterparties covering the 9.9 million shares of PPL common stock. Settlement of these initial forward sale agreements will occur no later than April 2013. As a result of the underwriters' exercise of the overallotment option, PPL entered into additional forward sale agreements covering the 591 thousand additional shares of PPL common stock. Settlement of the subsequent forward sale agreements will occur no later than July 2013. Upon any physical settlement of any forward sale agreement, PPL will issue and deliver to the forward counterparties shares of its common stock in exchange for cash proceeds per share equal to the forward sale price. The forward sale price will be calculated based on an initial forward price of $27.02 per share reduced during the period the contracts are outstanding as specified in the forward sale agreements. PPL may, in certain circumstances, elect cash settlement or net share settlement for all or a portion of its rights or obligations under the forward sale agreements.

 

PPL will not receive any proceeds or issue any shares of common stock until settlement of the forward sale agreements. PPL intends to use any net proceeds that it receives upon settlement to repay short-term debt obligations and for other general corporate purposes.

 

The forward sale agreements are classified as equity transactions. As a result, no amounts will be recorded in the consolidated financial statements until the settlement of the forward sale agreements. Prior to those settlements, the only impact to the financial statements will be the inclusion of incremental shares within the calculation of diluted EPS using the treasury stock method. See Note 4 for information on the forward sale agreements impact on the calculation of diluted EPS.

 

In April 2012, WPD (East Midlands) issued £100 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% Senior Notes due 2023. WPD (East Midlands) received proceeds of £111 million, which equated to $178 million at the time of issuance, net of underwriting fees. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes.

 

In June 2012, PPL Capital Funding issued $400 million of 4.20% Senior Notes due 2022. The notes may be redeemed at PPL Capital Funding's option any time prior to maturity at make-whole redemption prices. PPL Capital Funding received proceeds of $396 million, net of a discount and underwriting fees, which were used for general corporate purposes.

 

In August 2012, PPL Capital Funding redeemed at par, plus accrued interest, the $99 million outstanding principal amount of its 6.85% Senior Notes due 2047.

 

In October 2012, PPL Capital Funding issued $400 million of 3.50% Senior Notes due 2022. The notes may be redeemed at PPL Capital Funding's option any time prior to maturity at make-whole redemption prices. PPL Capital Funding received proceeds of $397 million, net of a discount and underwriting fees, which were used to repay short-term debt obligations, including commercial paper borrowings and for general corporate purposes.

 

(PPL and PPL Energy Supply)

 

In April 2012, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of PPL Energy Supply completed the Ironwood Acquisition. See Note 10 for information on the transaction and the long-term debt of PPL Ironwood, LLC assumed through consolidation as part of the acquisition.

 

In February 2013, PPL Energy Supply completed an exchange offer to exchange up to all, but not less than a majority, of 8.857% Senior Secured Bonds due 2025 of its wholly owned subsidiary, PPL Ironwood (the "Ironwood Bonds") for newly issued PPL Energy Supply Senior Notes, Series 4.60% due 2021. A total of $167 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding Ironwood Bonds was exchanged for $212 million aggregate principal amount of PPL Energy Supply Senior Notes, Series 4.60% due 2021.

 

(PPL and PPL Electric)

 

See Note 3 for information regarding PPL Electric's June 2012 redemption of all 2.5 million shares of its 6.25% Series Preference Stock, par value $100 per share.

 

In August 2012, PPL Electric issued $250 million of 2.50% First Mortgage Bonds due 2022. The notes may be redeemed at PPL Electric's option any time prior to maturity at make-whole redemption prices. PPL Electric received proceeds of $247 million, net of a discount and underwriting fees. The net proceeds were used to repay short-term debt incurred to fund PPL Electric's redemption of its 6.25% Series Preference Stock in June 2012 and for other general corporate purposes.

 

(PPL and LKE)

 

In June 2012, LKE completed an exchange of $250 million of 4.375% Senior Notes due 2021 issued in September 2011 in a transaction not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, for similar securities that were issued in a transaction registered with the SEC.

 

(PPL)

 

2011 Equity Units

 

In April 2011, in connection with the acquisition of WPD Midlands, PPL issued 92 million shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $25.30 per share, for a total of $2.328 billion. Proceeds from the issuance were $2.258 billion, net of the $70 million underwriting discount. PPL also issued 19.55 million 2011 Equity Units at a stated amount per unit of $50.00 for a total of $978 million. Proceeds from the issuance were $948 million, net of the $30 million underwriting discount. PPL used the net proceeds to repay PPL Capital Funding's borrowings under the 2011 Bridge Facility, as discussed above, to pay certain acquisition-related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.

 

Each 2011 Equity Unit consists of a 2011 Purchase Contract and, initially, a 5.0% undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount of PPL Capital Funding 4.32% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2019 (2019 Notes).

 

Each 2011 Purchase Contract obligates the holder to purchase, and PPL to sell, for $50.00 a number of shares of PPL common stock to be determined by the average VWAP of PPL's common stock for the 20-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to May 1, 2014, subject to antidilution adjustments and an early settlement upon a Fundamental Change as follows:

 

·       if the average VWAP equals or exceeds approximately $30.99, then 1.6133 shares (a minimum of 31,540,015 shares);

·       if the average VWAP is less than approximately $30.99 but greater than $25.30, a number of shares of common stock having a value, based on the average VWAP, equal to $50.00; and

·       if the average VWAP is less than or equal to $25.30, then 1.9763 shares (a maximum of 38,636,665 shares).

 

If holders elect to settle the 2011 Purchase Contract prior to May 1, 2014, they will receive 1.6133 shares of PPL common stock, subject to antidilution adjustments and an early settlement upon a Fundamental Change.

 

A holder's ownership interest in the 2019 Notes is pledged to PPL to secure the holder's obligation under the related 2011 Purchase Contract. If a holder of a 2011 Purchase Contract chooses at any time no longer to be a holder of the 2019 Notes, such holder's obligation under the 2011 Purchase Contract must be secured by a U.S. Treasury security.

 

Each 2011 Purchase Contract also requires PPL to make quarterly contract adjustment payments at a rate of 4.43% per year on the $50.00 stated amount of the 2011 Equity Unit. PPL has the option to defer these contract adjustment payments until the 2011 Purchase Contract settlement date. Deferred contract adjustment payments will accrue additional contract adjustment payments at the rate of 8.75% per year until paid. Until any deferred contract adjustment payments have been paid, PPL may not declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase or acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, subject to certain exceptions.

 

The 2019 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by PPL as to payment of principal and interest. The 2019 Notes initially bear interest at 4.32% and are not subject to redemption prior to May 2016. Beginning May 2016, PPL Capital Funding may, at its option, redeem the 2019 Notes, in whole but not in part, at any time, at par plus accrued and unpaid interest. The 2019 Notes are expected to be remarketed in 2014 into two tranches, such that neither tranche will have an aggregate principal amount of less than the lesser of $250 million and 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2019 Notes to be remarketed. One tranche will mature on or about the third anniversary of the settlement of the remarketing, and the other tranche will mature on or about the fifth anniversary of such settlement. Upon a successful remarketing, the interest rate on the 2019 Notes may be reset and the maturity of the tranches may be modified as necessary. In connection with a remarketing, PPL Capital Funding may elect with respect to each tranche, to extend or eliminate the early redemption date and/or calculate interest on the notes of a tranche on a fixed or floating rate basis. If the remarketing fails, holders of the 2019 Notes will have the right to put their notes to PPL Capital Funding on May 1, 2014 for an amount equal to the principal amount plus accrued interest.

 

Prior to May 2016, PPL Capital Funding may elect at one or more times to defer interest payments on the 2019 Notes for one or more consecutive interest periods until the earlier of the third anniversary of the interest payment due date and May 2016. Deferred interest payments will accrue additional interest at a rate equal to the interest rate then applicable to the 2019 Notes. Until any deferred interest payments have been paid, PPL may not, subject to certain exceptions, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase or acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, (ii) make any payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, or repay, purchase or redeem any of its debt securities that upon its liquidation ranks equal with, or junior in interest to, the subordinated guarantee of the 2019 Notes by PPL as of the date of issuance and (iii) make any payments regarding any guarantee by PPL of securities of any of its subsidiaries (other than PPL Capital Funding) if the guarantee ranks equal with, or junior in interest to, the 2019 Notes as of the date of their issuance.

 

In the financial statements, the proceeds from the sale of the 2011 Equity Units were allocated to the 2019 Notes and the 2011 Purchase Contracts, including the obligation to make contract adjustment payments, based on the underlying fair value of each instrument at the time of issuance. As a result, the 2019 Notes were recorded at $978 million, which approximated fair value, as long-term debt. At the time of issuance, the present value of the contract adjustment payments of $123 million was recorded to other liabilities representing the obligation to make contract adjustment payments, with an offsetting reduction to additional paid-in capital for the issuance of the 2011 Purchase Contracts, which approximated the fair value of each. The liability is being accreted through interest expense over the three-year term of the 2011 Purchase Contracts. The initial valuation of the contract adjustment payments is considered a non-cash transaction that is excluded from the Statement of Cash Flows in 2011. Costs to issue the 2011 Equity Units were primarily allocated on a relative cost basis, resulting in $25 million being recorded to "Additional paid-in capital" and $6 million being recorded to "Other noncurrent assets" on the Balance Sheet. See Note 4 for EPS considerations related to the 2011 Purchase Contracts.

 

2010 Equity Units

 

In June 2010, in connection with the acquisition of LKE, PPL issued 103.5 million shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $24.00 per share, for a total of $2.484 billion. Proceeds from the issuance were $2.409 billion, net of the $75 million underwriting discount. PPL also issued 23 million 2010 Equity Units at a stated amount per unit of $50.00 for a total of $1.150 billion. Proceeds from the issuance were $1.116 billion, net of the $34 million underwriting discount.

 

Each 2010 Equity Unit consists of a Purchase Contract and, initially, a 5.0% undivided beneficial ownership interest in

$1,000 principal amount of PPL Capital Funding 4.625% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2018 (2018 Notes).

 

Each 2010 Purchase Contract obligates the holder to purchase, and PPL to sell, for $50.00 a variable number of shares of PPL common stock determined by the average VWAP of PPL's common stock for the 20-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to July 1, 2013, subject to antidilution adjustments and an early settlement upon a Fundamental Change as follows:

 

       if the average VWAP equals or exceeds $28.80, then 1.7361 shares (a minimum of 39,930,300 shares);

       if the average VWAP is less than $28.80 but greater than $24.00, a number of shares of common stock having a value, based on the average VWAP, equal to $50.00; and

       if the average VWAP is less than or equal to $24.00, then 2.0833 shares (a maximum of 47,915,900 shares).

 

If holders elect to settle the 2010 Purchase Contract prior to July 1, 2013, they will receive 1.7361 shares of PPL common stock, subject to antidilution adjustments and an early settlement upon a Fundamental Change.

 

A holder's ownership interest in the 2018 Notes is pledged to PPL to secure the holder's obligation under the related 2010 Purchase Contract. If a holder of a 2010 Purchase Contract chooses at any time to no longer be a holder of the 2018 Notes, such holder's obligation under the 2010 Purchase Contract must be secured by a U.S. Treasury security.

 

Each 2010 Purchase Contract also requires PPL to make quarterly contract adjustment payments at a rate of 4.875% per year on the $50.00 stated amount of the 2010 Equity Unit. PPL has the option to defer these contract adjustment payments until the 2010 Purchase Contract settlement date. Deferred contract adjustment payments will accrue additional contract adjustment payments at the rate of 9.5% per year until paid. Until any deferred contract adjustment payments have been paid, PPL may not declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase or acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, subject to certain exceptions.

 

The 2018 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by PPL as to payment of principal and interest. The 2018 Notes initially bear interest at 4.625% and are not subject to redemption prior to July 2015. Beginning July 2015, PPL Capital Funding may, at its option, redeem the 2018 Notes, in whole but not in part, at any time, at par plus accrued and unpaid interest. The 2018 Notes are expected to be remarketed in 2013 in two tranches, such that neither tranche will have an aggregate principal amount of less than the lesser of $300 million and 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2018 Notes to be remarketed. One tranche will mature on or about the third anniversary of the settlement of the remarketing, and the other tranche will mature on or about the fifth anniversary of such settlement. The 2018 Notes will be remarketed as subordinated, unsecured obligations of PPL Capital Funding, as PPL Capital Funding notified the trustee in September 2010 of its irrevocable election to maintain the subordination provisions of the notes and related guarantees in a remarketing. Upon a successful remarketing, the interest rate on the 2018 Notes may be reset and the maturity of the tranches may be modified as necessary. In connection with a remarketing, PPL Capital Funding may elect, with respect to each tranche, to extend or eliminate the early redemption date and/or calculate interest on the notes of a tranche on a fixed or floating rate basis. If the remarketing fails, holders of the 2018 Notes will have the right to put their notes to PPL Capital Funding on July 1, 2013 for an amount equal to the principal amount plus accrued interest.

 

Prior to July 2013, PPL Capital Funding may elect at one or more times to defer interest payments on the 2018 Notes for one or more consecutive interest periods until the earlier of the third anniversary of the interest payment due date and July 2015. Deferred interest payments will accrue additional interest at a rate equal to the interest rate then applicable to the 2018 Notes. Until any deferred interest payments have been paid, PPL may not, subject to certain exceptions, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase or acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, (ii) make any payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, or repay, purchase or redeem any of its debt securities that upon its liquidation ranks equal with, or junior in interest to, the subordinated guarantee of the 2018 Notes by PPL as of the date of issuance and (iii) make any payments regarding any guarantee by PPL of securities of any of its subsidiaries (other than PPL Capital Funding) if the guarantee ranks equal with, or junior in interest to, the 2018 Notes as of the date of their issuance.

 

In the financial statements, the proceeds from the sale of the 2010 Equity Units were allocated to the 2018 Notes and the 2010 Purchase Contracts, including the obligation to make contract adjustment payments, based on the underlying fair value of each instrument at the time of issuance. As a result, the 2018 Notes were recorded at $1.150 billion, which approximated fair value, as long-term debt. At the time of issuance, the present value of the contract adjustment payments of $157 million was recorded to other liabilities, representing the obligation to make contract adjustment payments, with an offsetting reduction to additional paid-in capital for the issuance of the 2010 Purchase Contracts, which approximated the fair value of each. The liability is being accreted through interest expense over the three-year term of the 2010 Purchase Contracts. The initial valuation of the contract adjustment payments is considered a non-cash transaction that was excluded from the Statement of Cash Flows in 2010. Costs to issue the 2010 Equity Units were primarily allocated on a relative cost basis, resulting in $29 million being recorded to "Additional paid-in capital" and $7 million being recorded to "Other noncurrent assets" on the Balance Sheet. See Note 4 for EPS considerations related to the 2010 Purchase Contracts.

 

Legal Separateness (PPL, PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE)

 

The subsidiaries of PPL are separate legal entities. PPL's subsidiaries are not liable for the debts of PPL. Accordingly, creditors of PPL may not satisfy their debts from the assets of PPL's subsidiaries absent a specific contractual undertaking by a subsidiary to pay PPL's creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation. Similarly, absent a specific contractual undertaking or as required by applicable law or regulation, PPL is not liable for the debts of its subsidiaries, nor are its subsidiaries liable for the debts of one another. Accordingly, creditors of PPL's subsidiaries may not satisfy their debts from the assets of PPL or its other subsidiaries absent a specific contractual undertaking by PPL or its other subsidiaries to pay the creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation.

 

Similarly, the subsidiaries of PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE are each separate legal entities. These subsidiaries are not liable for the debts of PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE. Accordingly, creditors of PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE may not satisfy their debts from the assets of their subsidiaries absent a specific contractual undertaking by a subsidiary to pay the creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation. Similarly, absent a specific contractual undertaking or as required by applicable law or regulation, PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE are not liable for the debts of their subsidiaries, nor are their subsidiaries liable for the debts of one another. Accordingly, creditors of these subsidiaries may not satisfy their debts from the assets of PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE (or their other subsidiaries) absent a specific contractual undertaking by that parent or other subsidiary to pay such creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation.

 

Distributions, Capital Contributions and Related Restrictions

 

(PPL)

 

In November 2012, PPL declared its quarterly common stock dividend, payable January 2, 2013, at 36.0 cents per share (equivalent to $1.44 per annum). In February 2013, PPL declared its quarterly common stock dividend, payable April 1, 2013, at 36.75 cents per share (equivalent to $1.47 per annum). Future dividends, declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors, will depend upon future earnings, cash flows, financial and legal requirements and other factors.

 

Neither PPL Capital Funding nor PPL may declare or pay any cash dividend or distribution on its capital stock during any period in which PPL Capital Funding defers interest payments on its 2007 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes due 2067. Subject to certain exceptions, PPL may not declare or pay any dividend or distribution on its capital stock until any deferred interest payments on its 4.625% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2018 and its 4.32% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2019 have been paid and deferred contract adjustment payments on PPL's Purchase Contracts have been paid. At December 31, 2012, no payments were deferred on any series of junior subordinated notes or the Purchase Contracts.

 

(PPL, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU)

 

PPL relies on dividends or loans from its subsidiaries to fund PPL's dividends to its common shareholders. The net assets of certain PPL subsidiaries are subject to legal restrictions. LKE primarily relies on dividends from its subsidiaries to fund its dividends to PPL. LG&E, KU and PPL Electric are subject to Section 305(a) of the Federal Power Act, which makes it unlawful for a public utility to make or pay a dividend from any funds "properly included in capital account." The meaning of this limitation has never been clarified under the Federal Power Act. LG&E, KU and PPL Electric believe, however, that this statutory restriction, as applied to their circumstances, would not be construed or applied by the FERC to prohibit the payment from retained earnings of dividends that are not excessive and are for lawful and legitimate business purposes. In February 2012, LG&E and KU petitioned the FERC requesting authorization to pay dividends in the future based on retained earnings balances calculated without giving effect to the impact of purchase accounting adjustments for the acquisition of LKE by PPL. In May 2012, FERC approved the petitions with the further condition that each utility may not pay dividends if such payment would cause its adjusted equity ratio to fall below 30% of total capitalization. Accordingly, at December 31, 2012, net assets of $2.3 billion ($893 million for LG&E and $1.4 billion for KU) were restricted for purposes of paying dividends to LKE, and net assets of $2.3 billion ($917 million for LG&E and $1.4 billion for KU) were available for payment of dividends to LKE. LG&E and KU believe they will not be required to change their current dividend practices as a result of the foregoing requirement. In addition, under Virginia law, KU is prohibited from making loans to affiliates without the prior approval of the VSCC. There are no comparable statutes under Kentucky law applicable to LG&E and KU, or under Pennsylvania law applicable to PPL Electric. However, orders from the KPSC require LG&E and KU to obtain prior consent or approval before lending amounts to PPL.

 

(PPL and PPL Energy Supply)

 

The PPL Montana Colstrip lease places certain restrictions on PPL Montana's ability to declare dividends. At this time, PPL believes that these covenants will not limit PPL's or PPL Energy Supply's ability to operate as desired and will not affect their ability to meet any of their cash obligations.

 

(PPL)

 

WPD subsidiaries have financing arrangements that limit their ability to pay dividends. However, PPL does not, at this time, expect that any of such limitations would significantly impact PPL's ability to meet its cash obligations.

(PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU)
                    
The following distributions and capital contributions occurred in 2012:
                  
    PPL Energy PPL          
    Supply Electric  LKE LG&E KU
                    
Dividends/distributions paid to parent/member $ 787  $ 95 $ 155  $ 75 $ 100
Capital contributions received from parent/member   563    150