424b2
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2). Registration No.:
333-136815.
A filing fee of $16,740 calculated in accordance with
Rule 457(r), has been transmitted to the SEC in connection
with the securities offered by means of this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus from the registration
statement filed August 22, 2006. This paragraph shall be
deemed to update the Calculation of Registration Fee
table in the registration statement referred to above.
(To Prospectus Dated August 22, 2006)
$300,000,000
DTE Energy Company
2009 Series A
7.625% Senior Notes due 2014
We will pay interest on the notes
on May 15 and November 15 of each year beginning
November 15, 2009 at the rate of 7.625% per year.
The notes will mature on
May 15, 2014. We may redeem the notes at our option,
in whole or in part, at any time at the redemption price set
forth in this prospectus supplement. There is no sinking fund
for the notes. The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated
obligations and will rank equally with all of our other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time
outstanding.
Investment in the notes
involves risks. You should read carefully the entire prospectus
and this prospectus supplement, including the section entitled
Risk Factors that begins on
page S-6
of this prospectus supplement, which describes some of these
risks.
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Proceeds to
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Price to
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Underwriting
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Us Before
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Public
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Discount
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Expenses
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Per Note
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100%
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0.60%
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99.40%
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Total
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$300,000,000
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$1,800,000
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$298,200,000
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Interest on the notes will accrue from the date of original
issuance. Purchasers of the notes must pay the accrued interest
if settlement occurs after that date.
Delivery of the notes, in
book-entry form only, will be made on or about May 13,
2009.
Neither the Securities and
Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if the
prospectus supplement or the prospectus to which it relates is
truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
Joint Book-Running Managers
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Barclays
Capital |
BNP PARIBAS |
J.P. Morgan |
Co-Managers
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Comerica
Securities |
Deutsche Bank Securities |
Scotia
Capital |
UBS
Investment Bank |
The date of this prospectus supplement is May 6, 2009.
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have
not, authorized any person to provide you with different
information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not,
and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these
notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not
permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any
document incorporated by reference is accurate only as of its
date. DTE Energys business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects may have changed since such date. To
the extent that the information in the prospectus supplement
differs from the information in the prospectus, you should rely
on the information in the prospectus supplement.
References in this prospectus supplement to DTE
Energy, we, us, or our
refer to DTE Energy Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Prospectus
Supplement
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Page
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Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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S-2
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Prospectus Supplement Summary
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S-3
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Risk Factors
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S-6
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Use of Proceeds
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S-10
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Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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S-10
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Capitalization
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S-11
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Description of Notes
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S-12
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Underwriting
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S-15
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Experts
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S-16
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Legal Matters
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S-16
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Prospectus
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Page
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Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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3
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DTE Energy Company
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4
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DTE Energy Trusts
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4
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Use of Proceeds
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5
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Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratios of Earnings to
Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
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6
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The Securities that We May Offer
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6
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Description of Capital Stock
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6
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Description of Debt Securities
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11
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Description of Trust Preferred Securities
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27
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Description of Trust Preferred Securities Guarantees
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33
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Book-Entry Securities
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35
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Plan of Distribution
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37
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Legal Matters
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37
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Experts
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38
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Where You Can Find More Information
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38
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S-1
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the
documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement or the accompanying prospectus contain
forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the
Securities Act) and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act),
with respect to the financial condition, results of operations
and business of DTE Energy. You can find many of these
statements by looking for words such as believes,
expects, anticipates,
estimates or similar expressions in this prospectus
supplement, the accompanying prospectus or in documents
incorporated herein or therein. You are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the
date of this prospectus supplement or the date of any document
incorporated by reference.
These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous
assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may
differ from those expected due to a number of variables as
described in our public filings with the SEC, including our
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008 and our Quarterly
Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, which are
incorporated by reference herein.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements
attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary
statements contained or referred to in this section. We
undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to the
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
S-2
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
This summary highlights important information about DTE
Energy Company and this offering. It does not contain all the
information that is important to you in connection with your
decision to invest in the notes. We encourage you to read this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in their
entirety as well as the information we incorporate by reference
before making an investment decision.
DTE
Energy Company
DTE Energy Company (DTE Energy) is a Michigan
corporation engaged in utility operations through its wholly
owned subsidiaries, The Detroit Edison Company (Detroit
Edison) and Michigan Consolidated Gas Company
(MichCon). We also have non-utility operations that
are engaged in a variety of energy related businesses.
Detroit Edison is a Michigan public utility engaged in the
generation, purchase, distribution and sale of electricity to
approximately 2.2 million customers in southeastern
Michigan.
MichCon is a Michigan public utility engaged in the purchase,
storage, transmission, distribution and sale of natural gas to
approximately 1.2 million customers throughout Michigan.
Our non-utility operations consist primarily of Gas Midstream,
Unconventional Gas Production, Power and Industrial Projects and
Energy Trading. Gas Midstream primarily consists of natural gas
pipelines and storage. Unconventional Gas Production primarily
consists of unconventional gas exploration, development and
production. Power and Industrial Projects primarily consists of
on-site
energy services, steel-related projects, power generation and
coal transportation and marketing. Energy Trading primarily
consists of energy marketing and trading operations.
The mailing address of DTE Energys principal executive
offices is One Energy Plaza, Detroit, Michigan,
48226-1279,
and its telephone number is
(313) 235-4000.
The
Offering
For a more complete description of the terms of the notes,
see Description of Notes.
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The Issuer |
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DTE Energy Company. |
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Offered Securities |
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$300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2009
Series A 7.625% Senior Notes due 2014. |
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Maturity |
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The notes will mature on May 15, 2014. |
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Interest Payment Dates |
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We will pay interest on the notes in arrears on May 15 and
November 15 of each year, beginning November 15, 2009. |
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Redemption |
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The notes may be redeemed at our option, in whole or in part, at
any time at the redemption price set forth in this prospectus
supplement. The notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any
sinking fund. See Description of Notes
Redemption. |
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Ranking |
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The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations
and will rank on a parity in right of payment with all of our
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to
time outstanding. The notes are our obligations exclusively, and
are not the obligations of any of our subsidiaries. Because we
are a holding company, our obligations on the notes will be
effectively subordinated to existing and future liabilities of
our subsidiaries. See Risk Factors We rely on
cash flows from subsidiaries and Description of
Notes Ranking |
S-3
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herein, and Description of Debt Securities
Ranking in the accompanying prospectus. |
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Further Issues of the Notes |
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Initially, the notes will be issued in one series limited to
$300 million in aggregate principal amount, except as
provided in the indenture. We may, subject to the provisions of
the indenture, reopen the series of notes and issue
additional notes without the consent of the holders of the
notes. See Description of Notes General
herein. |
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Use of Proceeds |
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Net proceeds from the sale of the notes, after expenses and
underwriting discount, are expected to be approximately
$298 million. We expect to use the proceeds to repay
short-term borrowings, which have an average interest rate
of approximately 1.0% and maturities under 30 days. |
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Ratings |
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Our senior unsecured debt is rated Baa2 by Moodys
Investors Service, Inc., BBB− by Standard &
Poors Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc., and BBB by Fitch Ratings. For a description of
factors affecting our credit ratings, see Risk
Factors. Ratings reflect only the rating agencies
views and are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold the
notes. Any rating agency may revise or withdraw its rating on
the notes, and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that the
ratings assigned to the notes upon initial issuance or at any
other time will not be lowered or withdrawn by a rating agency
at any time thereafter. |
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Risk Factors |
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Your investment in the notes will involve risks. You should
carefully consider the discussion of risks in Risk
Factors in this prospectus supplement and the other
information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus, including Cautionary Statements Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements on
page S-2
of this prospectus supplement, before deciding whether an
investment in the notes is suitable for you. |
S-4
Summary
Consolidated Financial Data
The following table sets forth our summary consolidated
financial data on a historical basis for the three months
ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008 and each of
the three years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006. The year-end financial data have been derived from our
audited financial statements which have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm. See Experts in the
Prospectus Supplement. As previously disclosed on our
Form 8-K
filed October 24, 2008, we have engaged
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public
accounting firm beginning with the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2009. The financial data for the interim
periods have been derived from our unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements and include, in the opinion of
our management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring
adjustments, except as otherwise disclosed in the notes to the
interim financial statements, necessary for a fair presentation
of the financial data. Financial results for the interim periods
are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected
for any other interim period or for the fiscal year. The
information below should be read in conjunction with
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report
on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008, our Quarterly Report
on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 and our financial
statements and the related notes and the other financial or
statistical information that we include or incorporate by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus. See Information Incorporated by
Reference and Where You Can Find More
Information in the accompanying prospectus.
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Three Months Ended
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Year Ended(1)
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March 31,
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December 31,
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2009
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2008
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2008
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2007
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2006
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(Unaudited)
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(In millions,
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except per share amounts)
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Income Statement Data
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Operating Revenues
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$
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2,255
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$
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2,570
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$
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9,329
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$
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8,475
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$
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8,157
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Net Income(3)
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$
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179
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$
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213
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$
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546
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$
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971
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$
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433
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Earnings Per Common Share
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Basic
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$
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1.09
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$
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1.30
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$
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3.37
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$
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5.73
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$
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2.44
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Diluted
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$
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1.09
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$
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1.29
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$
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3.36
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$
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5.70
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$
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2.43
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Dividends Declared Per Share of Common Stock
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$
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0.53
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$
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0.53
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$
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2.12
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$
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2.12
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$
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2.075
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Balance Sheet Data
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Total Assets
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$
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24,188
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$
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23,148
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$
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24,590
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$
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23,742
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$
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23,679
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Long-Term Debt, net of current portion(2)
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$
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7,495
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$
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6,645
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$
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7,741
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$
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6,971
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$
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7,474
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(1)
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The year-end financial data do not reflect the effects of our
adoption, as of January 1, 2009, of SFAS 160,
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements an Amendment of ARB No. 51 and
FSP EITF 03-6-1,
Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Shared-Based
Payment Transactions are Participating Securities. The
Company has determined that adoption of SFAS 160 will not
have a material effect on the Companys consolidated
financial statements. The Company expects that adoption of
FSP EITF 03-6-1
will result in a reduction of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per
Share of $0.02 and $0.01 or less, respectively.
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(2)
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Includes securitization bonds issued in March 2001 by The
Detroit Edison Securitization Funding LLC, which were
outstanding in the amounts of $861 million at
March 31, 2009, $932 million at December 31,
2008, $996 million at March 31, 2008,
$1.065 billion at December 31, 2007, and
$1.185 billion at December 31, 2006.
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(3)
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Net income attributable to DTE Energy (which excludes net
income attributable to the noncontrolling interests) for the
three months ended March 31, 2009 was
$178 million, and for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 was $212 million.
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S-5
RISK
FACTORS
An investment in the notes involves risks. You should carefully
consider the following information, together with the other
information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying
prospectus and the documents that are incorporated by reference
in this prospectus supplement and the prospectus (including the
Risk Factors set forth in the Companys Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008), about risks
concerning the notes, before buying any notes. See also
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements in this prospectus supplement.
There are various risks associated with the operations of DTE
Energys utility and non-utility businesses. To provide a
framework to understand the operating environment of DTE Energy,
we are providing a brief explanation of the more significant
risks associated with our businesses. Although we have tried to
identify and discuss key risk factors, others could emerge in
the future. Each of the following risks could affect our
performance.
Regional
and national economic conditions can have an unfavorable impact
on us.
Our utility and non-utility businesses follow the economic
cycles of the customers we serve. Our utilities and certain
non-utility businesses provide services to the domestic
automotive industry which are under considerable financial
distress, exacerbating the decline in regional economic
conditions. Should national or regional economic conditions
further decline, reduced volumes of electricity and gas, and
demand for energy services we supply, collections of accounts
receivable and potentially higher levels of lost or stolen gas
will result in decreased earnings and cash flow.
Adverse
changes in our credit ratings may negatively affect
us.
Regional and national economic conditions, increased
scrutiny of the energy industry and regulatory changes, as well
as changes in our economic performance, could result in credit
agencies reexamining our credit rating. While credit ratings
reflect the opinions of the credit agencies issuing such ratings
and may not necessarily reflect actual performance, a downgrade
in our credit rating could restrict or discontinue our ability
to access capital markets and could result in an increase our
borrowing costs, a reduced level of capital expenditures and
could impact future earnings and cash flows. In addition, a
reduction in credit rating may require us to post collateral
related to various physical or financially settled contracts for
the purchase of energy-related commodities, products and
services, which would impact our liquidity.
Our
ability to access capital markets at attractive interest rates
is important.
Our ability to access capital markets is important to operate
our businesses. In recent months, the global financial markets
have experienced unprecedented instability. This systemic
marketplace distress is impacting our access to capital and the
cost of capital. This recent turmoil in credit markets has
constrained, and may again in the future constrain, our ability
as well as the ability of our subsidiaries to issue new debt,
including commercial paper, and refinance existing debt. We
cannot predict the length of time the current worldwide credit
situation will continue or the impact on our future operations
and our ability to issue debt at reasonable interest rates. In
addition, the level of borrowing by other energy companies and
the market as a whole could limit our access to capital markets.
We have substantial amounts of short-term credit facilities that
expire in 2009. We intend to seek to renew the facilities on or
before the expiration dates. However, we cannot predict the
outcome of these efforts, which could result in a decrease in
amounts available
and/or an
increase in our borrowing costs and negatively impact our
financial performance.
Poor
investment performance of pension and other postretirement
benefit plan holdings and other factors impacting benefit plan
costs could unfavorably impact our liquidity and results of
operations.
Our costs of providing non-contributory defined benefit pension
plans and other postretirement benefit plans are dependent upon
a number of factors, such as the rates of return on plan assets,
the level of interest rates used to measure the required minimum
funding levels of the plans, future government regulation, and
our required or voluntary contributions made to the plans. The
performance of the capital markets affects the value of assets
that are
S-6
held in trust to satisfy future obligations under our plans. We
have significant benefit obligations and hold significant assets
in trust to satisfy these obligations. These assets are subject
to market fluctuations and will yield uncertain returns, which
may fall below our projected return rates. A decline in the
market value of the pension and postretirement benefit plan
assets, as was experienced in 2008, will increase the funding
requirements under our pension and postretirement benefit plans
if the actual asset returns do not recover these declines in the
foreseeable future. Additionally, our pension and postretirement
benefit plan liabilities are sensitive to changes in interest
rates. As interest rates decrease, the liabilities increase,
potentially increasing benefit expense and funding requirements.
Also, if future increases in pension and postretirement benefit
costs as a result of reduced plan assets are not recoverable
from Detroit Edison or MichCon customers, the results of
operations and financial position of our company could be
negatively affected. Without sustained growth in the plan
investments over time to increase the value of our plan assets,
we could be required to fund our plans with significant amounts
of cash. Such cash funding obligations could have a material
impact on our cash flows, financial position, or results of
operations.
If our
goodwill becomes impaired, we may be required to record a charge
to earnings.
We annually review the carrying value of goodwill associated
with acquisitions made by the Company for impairment. Factors
that may be considered for purposes of this analysis include any
change in circumstances indicating that the carrying value of
our goodwill may not be recoverable such as a decline in stock
price and market capitalization, future cash flows, and slower
growth rates in our industry. We cannot predict the timing,
strength or duration of any economic slowdown or subsequent
recovery, worldwide or in the economy or markets in which we
operate, however, when events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be
recoverable, the Company may take a non-cash impairment charge,
which could potentially materially impact our results of
operations and financial position.
Our
participation in energy trading markets subjects us to
risk.
Events in the energy trading industry have increased the level
of scrutiny on the energy trading business and the energy
industry as a whole. In certain situations we may be required to
post collateral to support trading operations, which could be
substantial. If access to liquidity to support trading
activities is curtailed, we could experience decreased earnings
potential and cash flows.
We are
exposed to credit risk of counterparties with whom we do
business.
Adverse economic conditions affecting, or financial difficulties
of, counterparties with whom we do business could impair the
ability of these counterparties to pay for our services or
fulfill their contractual obligations, or cause them to delay
such payments or obligations. We depend on these counterparties
to remit payments on a timely basis. Any delay or default in
payment could adversely affect our cash flows, financial
position, or results of operations.
We may
not be fully covered by insurance.
We have a comprehensive insurance program in place to provide
coverage for various types of risks, catastrophic damage as a
result of acts of God, terrorism, war or a combination of other
significant unforeseen events that could impact our operations.
Economic losses might not be covered in full by insurance or our
insurers may be unable to meet contractual obligations.
We are
subject to rate regulation.
Electric and gas rates for our utilities are set by the MPSC and
the FERC and cannot be increased without regulatory
authorization. We may be negatively impacted by new regulations
or interpretations by the MPSC, the FERC or other regulatory
bodies. Our ability to recover costs may be impacted by the time
lag between the incurrence of costs and the recovery of the
costs in customers rates. New legislation, regulations or
interpretations could change how our business operates, impact
our ability to recover costs through rate increases or require
us to incur additional expenses.
S-7
Michigans
electric Customer Choice program could negatively impact our
financial performance.
The electric Customer Choice program, as originally contemplated
in Michigan, anticipated an eventual transition to a totally
deregulated and competitive environment where customers would be
charged market-based rates for their electricity. The State of
Michigan currently experiences a hybrid market, where the MPSC
continues to regulate electric rates for our customers, while
alternative electric suppliers charge market-based rates. In
addition, such regulated electric rates for certain groups of
our customers exceed the cost of service to those customers. Due
to distorted pricing mechanisms during the initial
implementation period of electric Customer Choice, many
commercial customers chose alternative electric suppliers. MPSC
rate orders and recent energy legislation enacted by the State
of Michigan are phasing out the pricing disparity over five
years and have placed a cap on the total potential Customer
Choice related migration. Recent higher wholesale electric
prices have also resulted in some former electric Customer
Choice customers migrating back to Detroit Edison for electric
generation service. However, even with the electric Customer
Choice-related relief received in recent Detroit Edison rate
orders and the legislated 10 percent cap on participation
in the electric Customer Choice program, there continues to be
financial risk associated with the electric Customer Choice
program. Electric Customer Choice migration is sensitive to
market price and bundled electric service price increases.
Weather
significantly affects operations.
Deviations from normal hot and cold weather conditions affect
our earnings and cash flow. Mild temperatures can result in
decreased utilization of our assets, lowering income and cash
flow. Ice storms, tornadoes, or high winds can damage the
electric distribution system infrastructure and require us to
perform emergency repairs and incur material unplanned expenses.
The expenses of storm restoration efforts may not be fully
recoverable through the regulatory process.
Operation
of a nuclear facility subjects us to risk.
Ownership of an operating nuclear generating plant subjects us
to significant additional risks. These risks include, among
others, plant security, environmental regulation and
remediation, and operational factors that can significantly
impact the performance and cost of operating a nuclear facility.
While we maintain insurance for various nuclear-related risks,
there can be no assurances that such insurance will be
sufficient to cover our costs in the event of an accident or
business interruption at our nuclear generating plant, which may
affect our financial performance.
The
supply and price of fuel and other commodities and related
transportation costs may impact our financial
results.
We are dependent on coal for much of our electrical generating
capacity. Price fluctuations, fuel supply disruptions and
increases in transportation costs could have a negative impact
on our ability to profitably generate electricity. Our access to
natural gas supplies is critical to ensure reliability of
service for our utility gas customers. We have hedging
strategies and regulatory recovery mechanisms in place to
mitigate negative fluctuations in commodity supply prices, but
there can be no assurances that our financial performance will
not be negatively impacted by price fluctuations. The price of
natural gas also impacts the market for our non-utility
businesses that compete with utilities and alternative electric
suppliers. Increased transportation costs could also impact our
non-utility businesses.
Unplanned
power plant outages may be costly.
Unforeseen maintenance may be required to safely produce
electricity or comply with environmental regulations. As a
result of unforeseen maintenance, we may be required to make
spot market purchases of electricity that exceed our costs of
generation. Our financial performance may be negatively affected
if we are unable to recover such increased costs.
S-8
Our
estimates of gas reserves are subject to change.
While we cannot provide absolute assurance that our estimates of
our Barnett gas reserves are accurate, great care is exercised
in utilizing historical information and assumptions to develop
reasonable estimates of future production and cash flow. We
estimate proved gas reserves and the future net cash flows
attributable to those reserves. There are numerous uncertainties
inherent in estimating quantities of proved gas reserves and
cash flows attributable to such reserves, including factors
beyond our control. Reserve engineering is a subjective process
of estimating underground accumulations of gas that cannot be
measured in an exact manner. The accuracy of an estimate of
quantities of reserves, or of cash flows attributable to such
reserves, is a function of the available data, assumptions
regarding expenditures for future development and exploration
activities, and of engineering and geological interpretation and
judgment. Additionally, reserves and future cash flows may be
subject to material downward or upward revisions, based upon
production history, development and exploration activities and
prices of gas. Actual future production, revenue, taxes,
development expenditures, operating expenses, quantities of
recoverable reserves and the value of cash flows from such
reserves may vary significantly from the assumptions and
underlying information we used.
Our
ability to utilize production tax credits may be
limited.
To reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil, the Internal
Revenue Code provides production tax credits as an incentive for
taxpayers to produce fuels and electricity from alternative
sources. We have generated production tax credits from the
synfuel, coke production, landfill gas recovery, biomass fired
electric generation and gas production operations. We have
received favorable private letter rulings on all of the synfuel
facilities. All production tax credits taken after 2003 are
subject to audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If our
production tax credits were disallowed in whole or in part as a
result of an IRS audit, there could be additional tax
liabilities owed for previously recognized tax credits that
could significantly impact our earnings and cash flows. We have
also provided certain guarantees and indemnities in conjunction
with the sales of interests in the synfuel facilities.
We
rely on cash flows from subsidiaries.
DTE Energy is a holding company. Cash flows from our utility
and non-utility subsidiaries are required to pay interest
expenses and dividends on DTE Energy debt and securities. Should
a major subsidiary not be able to pay dividends or transfer cash
flows to DTE Energy, our ability to pay interest and dividends
would be restricted.
Environmental
laws and liability may be costly.
We are subject to numerous environmental regulations. These
regulations govern air emissions, water quality, wastewater
discharge, and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Compliance
with these regulations can significantly increase capital
spending, operating expenses and plant down times. These laws
and regulations require us to seek a variety of environmental
licenses, permits, inspections and other regulatory approvals.
Additionally, we may become a responsible party for
environmental clean up at sites identified by a regulatory body.
We cannot predict with certainty the amount and timing of future
expenditures related to environmental matters because of the
difficulty of estimating clean up costs. There is also
uncertainty in quantifying liabilities under environmental laws
that impose joint and several liability on potentially
responsible parties.
We may also incur liabilities as a result of potential future
requirements to address climate change issues. Proposals for
voluntary initiatives and mandatory controls are being discussed
both in the United States and worldwide to reduce greenhouse
gases such as carbon dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil
fuels. If increased regulation of greenhouse gas emissions are
implemented, the operations of our fossil-fuel generation assets
may be significantly impacted.
Since there can be no assurances that environmental costs may be
recovered through the regulatory process, our financial
performance may be negatively impacted as a result of
environmental matters.
S-9
Terrorism
could affect our business.
Damage to downstream infrastructure or our own assets by
terrorism would impact our operations. We have increased
security as a result of past events and further security
increases are possible.
Benefits
of continuous improvement initiatives could be less than we
expect.
We have a continuous improvement program that is expected to
result in significant cost savings. Actual results achieved
through this program could be less than our expectations.
A work
interruption may adversely affect us.
Unions represent approximately 5,000 of our employees. A union
choosing to strike would have an impact on our business. We are
unable to predict the effect a work stoppage would have on our
costs of operation and financial performance.
Failure
to retain and attract key executive officers and other skilled
professional and technical employees could have an adverse
effect on our operations.
Our business is dependent on our ability to recruit, retain, and
motivate employees. Competition for skilled employees in some
areas is high and the inability to retain and attract these
employees could adversely affect our business and future
operating results.
There
is no existing market for the notes and we cannot assure that
such a market will develop.
There is no existing market for the notes, and we do not intend
to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange. We
cannot assure that an active trading market for the notes will
develop. There can be no assurances as to the liquidity of any
market that may develop for the notes, the ability of
noteholders to sell their notes or the price at which the
noteholders may be able to sell their notes. Future trading
prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including,
among other things, prevailing interest rates, our operating
results and the market for similar securities. Generally, the
liquidity of, and trading market for, the notes may also be
materially and adversely affected by declines in the market for
similar debt securities. Such a decline may materially and
adversely affect such liquidity and trading independent of our
financial performance and prospects.
USE OF
PROCEEDS
Net proceeds from the sale of the notes, after expenses and
underwriting discount, are expected to be approximately
$298 million. We expect to use the proceeds to repay
short-term borrowings, which have an average interest rate
of approximately 1.0% and maturities under 30 days.
RATIOS OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Our ratios of earnings to fixed charges were as follows for the
periods indicated in the table below:
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Three Months Ended
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Year Ended December 31,
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March 31, 2009
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
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2004
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Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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3.02
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2.51
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3.05
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1.95
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1.77
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1.72
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Our ratios of earnings to fixed charges were computed based on:
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earnings, which consist of consolidated income plus
income taxes and fixed charges, except capitalized
interest; and
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fixed charges, which consist of consolidated
interest on indebtedness, including capitalized interest,
amortization of debt discount and expense and the estimated
portion of rental expense attributable to interest.
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S-10
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash, short-term debt, current portion of long-term
debt and capital lease obligations, total long-term debt,
preferred securities of subsidiaries, common shareholders
equity and total capitalization at March 31, 2009 and as
adjusted to give effect to the offering and application of the
net proceeds of this offering and the April 15, 2009
maturity of the DTE Energy $200 million 2002 Series A 6.65%
Senior Notes due 2009, which was funded with short-term
borrowings incurred after March 31, 2009. The information
set forth below is only a summary and should be read in
conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the
related notes in each case incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
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As of March 31,
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2009
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Historical
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As Adjusted
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(Unaudited)
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(In millions)
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Cash and cash equivalents
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$
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88
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$
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88
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Restricted cash
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$
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22
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$
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22
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Short-term borrowings
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$
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330
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$
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232
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Current portion of long-term debt, including capital leases
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$
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518
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$
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318
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Long-term debt (net of current portion):
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Mortgage bonds, notes and other
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$
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6,288
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$
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6,588
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Securitization bonds
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861
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861
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Trust preferred-linked securities
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289
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289
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Capital lease obligations
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57
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57
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Total long-term debt
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$
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7,495
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$
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7,795
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Common shareholders equity
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$
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6,111
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$
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6,111
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Total capitalization
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$
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13,606
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$
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13,906
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S-11
DESCRIPTION
OF NOTES
The following summary sets forth the specific terms and
provisions of the notes. The following description of the
specific terms of the notes supplements, and, to the extent
inconsistent, replaces, the description of the general terms and
provisions of the debt securities and the indenture governing
the notes set forth in the accompanying prospectus under
Description of Debt Securities. The following
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms
and provisions of the notes and the indenture, which are
incorporated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus by reference. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
in this section, or in the accompanying prospectus, have the
meanings given to them in the notes and in the indenture.
General
We will issue the notes as a series of our senior unsecured debt
securities under the indenture described in the accompanying
prospectus.
The indenture does not limit the amount of senior notes or other
debt securities we may issue under it. As of March 31,
2009, approximately $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount
of Senior debt securities and $289 million of subordinated
securities related to the companys Trust preferred-linked
securities were issued and outstanding under the indenture.
We may also reopen the series of notes to issue
additional notes having the same ranking, interest rate,
maturity, and other terms (other than the date of issuance and,
in some circumstances, interest accrual dates) as the notes,
without the consent of the holders. Any such additional notes
will, together with the existing notes of that series,
constitute a single series of debt securities under the
indenture.
The notes will trade through The Depository Trust Company
(DTC). The notes will be represented by one or more
global certificates and will be registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as DTCs nominee. DTC may discontinue
providing its services as securities depositary with respect to
the notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under
those circumstances, in the event that a successor securities
depositary is not obtained, securities certificates will be
printed and delivered to the holders of record. Additionally, we
may decide to discontinue use of the system of book entry
transfers through DTC (or a successor depositary) with respect
to the notes. Upon receipt of a withdrawal request from us, DTC
will notify its participants of the receipt of a withdrawal
request from us reminding participants that they may utilize
DTCs withdrawal procedures if they wish to withdraw their
securities from DTC, and DTC will process withdrawal requests
submitted by participants in the ordinary course of business. To
the extent that the book-entry system is discontinued,
certificates for the notes will be printed and delivered to the
holders of record. We have no responsibility for the performance
by DTC or its direct and indirect participants of their
respective obligations as described in this prospectus
supplement or under the rules and procedures governing their
respective operations. See Book-Entry Securities in
the accompanying prospectus.
The authorized denominations for the notes will be $1,000 and
integral multiples thereof.
Ranking
The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations
and will rank on a parity in right of payment with all of our
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to
time outstanding, including amounts, if any, outstanding under
our $1.2 billion in aggregate revolving credit agreements
as well as our guarantees of non-regulated affiliate
obligations. The notes are our obligations exclusively, and are
not the obligations of any of our subsidiaries. Because we are a
holding company that conducts substantially all of our
operations through our subsidiaries, the notes will be
effectively subordinated to claims of creditors and preferred
stockholders of those subsidiaries, including their trade
creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities
and guarantee holders, if any.
At March 31, 2009, the total amount of DTE Energys
outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness (excluding
guarantees, short-term borrowings and current maturities), on an
unconsolidated basis, was approximately $1.6 billion. At
March 31, 2009, our principal subsidiaries, Detroit Edison
and MichCon, had approximately $4.8 billion of outstanding
indebtedness (excluding guarantees, short-term borrowings and
current maturities), consisting primarily of secured
indebtedness, which would rank effectively senior to the notes.
In
S-12
addition, at such date, Detroit Edison had approximately
$861 million of securitization bonds (excluding current
maturities) of The Detroit Edison Securitization Funding LLC
appearing on our balance sheet. We and our subsidiaries may
incur additional indebtedness and other liabilities in the
future.
Maturity
and Payment
The notes will mature on May 15, 2014 and will bear
interest from the date of issuance at the rate of 7.625% per
year. Interest will be payable in U.S. dollars
semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15
commencing November 15, 2009. Interest punctually paid will
be paid to the persons in whose names the notes are registered
at the close of business on the 15th calendar day (whether
or not a business day) before each interest payment date.
Business day means any day other than a Saturday or
Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in the State of New
York are required or authorized by law or executive order to be
closed. Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months.
If any interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date
of a note falls on a day that is not a business day, the
required payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest
will be made on the next succeeding business day as if made on
the date that the payment was due and no interest will accrue on
that payment for the period from and after that interest payment
date, redemption date or maturity date, as the case may be, to
the date of payment on the next succeeding business day.
Redemption
The notes may be redeemed at our option, in whole or in part, at
any time at the redemption price set forth herein. The
redemption price will be equal to the greater of the following
amounts:
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100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed on the
redemption date; or
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the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled
payments of principal and interest on the notes being redeemed
on that redemption date (not including any portion of any
payments of interest accrued to the redemption date) until
stated maturity, discounted to the redemption date on a
semiannual basis at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined
below) plus 50 basis points as determined by the Reference
Treasury Dealer (as defined below);
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plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the
redemption date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of
interest on notes that are due and payable on interest payment
dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable
on the interest payment date to the registered holders as of the
close of business on the relevant record date according to the
notes and the indenture. The redemption price will be calculated
on the basis of a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months.
If notice has been given as provided in the indenture and funds
for the redemption of any notes called for redemption have been
made available on the redemption date, such notes will cease to
bear interest on the date fixed for redemption. Thereafter, the
only right of the holders of such notes will be to receive
payment of the redemption price.
Notice of any redemption will be given to holders at their
addresses, as shown in the security register for such notes, not
more than 60 nor less than 30 days prior to the date fixed
for redemption. The notice of redemption will specify, among
other items, the redemption price and the principal amount of
the notes held by such holder to be redeemed.
We will notify the trustee at least 60 days prior to giving
notice of redemption (or such shorter period as is satisfactory
to the trustee) of the aggregate principal amount of notes to be
redeemed and their redemption date. If less than all of the
notes of a series are to be redeemed, the trustee shall select
which notes are to be redeemed in a manner it deems to be fair
and appropriate.
Adjusted Treasury Rate means, with respect to any
redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual
equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue,
calculated on the third business day preceding the redemption
date, 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.
S-13
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States
Treasury security selected by the Reference Treasury Dealer as
having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes
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 notes.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any
redemption date, (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 three such Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations,
or (C) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is
received, such quotation.
Reference Treasury Dealer means (i) Barclays
Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and J.P. Morgan
Securities Inc. (or their respective affiliates which are
Primary Treasury Dealers (as defined below)), and their
respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the
foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. government
securities dealer in the United States (a Primary Treasury
Dealer), we will substitute therefor another Primary
Treasury Dealer, and (ii) any other Primary Treasury
Dealer(s) selected by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation means, with
respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption
date, the average, as determined by us, 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 us
by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. (New York
City time) on the third business day preceding such redemption
date.
The notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking
fund.
Limitation
on Secured Debt
The limitation on secured debt set forth in the indenture (see
Section 1009) and described in the accompanying
prospectus will be applicable to the notes. See
Description of Debt Securities
Covenants Limitation on Secured Debt in the
accompanying prospectus.
Defeasance
We may defease a series of the notes or certain covenants
relating to a series of the notes as described under
Description of Debt Securities Discharge,
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance in the accompanying
prospectus.
Concerning
the Trustee
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is the
successor trustee under the indenture. In addition to acting as
trustee under the indenture and in certain other capacities as
described in the accompanying prospectus, affiliates of The Bank
of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. also act as a lender
and provide other banking services in the ordinary course of
business to DTE Energy and its affiliates.
S-14
UNDERWRITING
Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an
underwriting agreement dated May 6, 2009, each of the
underwriters named below has agreed to purchase, severally and
not jointly, and we have agreed to sell to such underwriters,
for whom Barclays Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are acting as representatives,
the following respective principal amounts of notes:
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Principal Amount
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Underwriter
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of Notes
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Barclays Capital Inc.
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$
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74,000,000
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BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
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74,000,000
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J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
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74,000,000
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Comerica Securities, Inc.
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19,500,000
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Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
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19,500,000
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Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
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19,500,000
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UBS Securities LLC
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19,500,000
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Total
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$
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300,000,000
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The underwriting agreement provides that the obligation of the
underwriters to purchase the notes included in this offering is
subject to approval of certain legal matters by counsel and to
certain other conditions. The underwriting agreement provides
that the underwriters are obligated to purchase all of the notes
if any are purchased. The underwriting agreement also provides
that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of
non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering of
notes may be terminated.
The underwriters propose to offer the notes initially at the
public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus
supplement and may offer the notes to dealers at that price less
a selling concession of 0.35% of the principal amount per note.
The underwriters and such dealers may allow a discount of 0.25%
of the principal amount per note on sales to other
broker/dealers. After the initial public offering, the
representatives may change the public offering price and
concession and discount to broker/dealers.
We estimate that our out of pocket expenses for this offering
will be approximately $200,000.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established
trading market. The notes will not be listed on any securities
exchange or any automated dealer quotation system. One or more
of the underwriters intends to make a secondary market for the
notes. However, they are not obligated to do so and may
discontinue making a secondary market for the notes at any time
without notice. No assurance can be given as to how liquid the
trading market for the notes will be.
In connection with the offering the underwriters, may engage in
stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate
covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with
Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
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Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying
security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a
specified maximum.
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Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of notes in
excess of the principal amount of the notes the underwriters are
obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position.
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Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes
in the open market after the distribution has been completed in
order to cover syndicate short positions. A short position is
more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that
there may be downward pressure on the price of the notes in the
open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors
who purchase in the offering.
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Penalty bids permit the representatives to reclaim a selling
concession from a syndicate member when the notes originally
sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing
transaction or a syndicate covering transaction to cover
syndicate short positions.
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S-15
These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions
and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining
the market price of the notes or preventing or retarding a
decline in the market price of the notes. As a result the price
of the notes may be higher than the price that might otherwise
exist in the open market. These transactions, if commenced, may
be discontinued at any time.
It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made on or
about the date specified on the cover page of this prospectus
supplement, which will be the fifth business day (T+5) following
the date of this prospectus supplement. Under Rule 15c6-1
under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally
are required to settle in three business days (T+3), unless the
parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise.
Accordingly, the purchasers who wish to trade the notes on the
date of this prospectus supplement or the next succeeding
business day will be required to specify an alternate settlement
cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed
settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes
on the date of this prospectus supplement or the next succeeding
business day should consult their own advisors.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against liabilities
under the Securities Act or to contribute to payments which the
underwriters may be required to make in that respect.
The underwriters and their affiliates have acted as lenders, and
performed certain investment banking and advisory and general
financing, trustee and banking services for DTE Energy and its
affiliates from time to time for which they have received
customary fees and expenses. The underwriters and their
affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with
or perform services for DTE Energy and its affiliates in the
ordinary course of their business.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the related financial
statement schedules of DTE Energy Company (the
Company) incorporated in this prospectus supplement
by reference from the Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the effectiveness
of the Companys internal control over financial reporting,
have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in
their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference (which
reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the
consolidated financial statements and related financial
statement schedules and include an explanatory paragraph
relating to the adoption of new accounting standards, and
(2) express an unqualified opinion on internal control over
financial reporting), and have been so incorporated in reliance
upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as
experts in accounting and auditing.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the notes and certain other legal matters
relating to this offering will be passed upon for DTE Energy by
Patrick B. Carey, Associate General Counsel. Mr. Carey
beneficially owns shares of DTE Energy common stock and holds
options to purchase additional shares. Certain legal matters
relating to this offering will be passed upon for the
underwriters by Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, New York, New
York. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP will rely on the opinion of
Mr. Carey with respect to Michigan law.
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP has represented, and may in the
future continue to represent, us and certain of our affiliates
as to certain energy regulatory, commercial and other matters
unrelated to this offering.
S-16
Prospectus
DTE Energy Company
Common Stock
Debt Securities
DTE Energy
Trust III
Trust Preferred
Securities
Guaranteed to the extent set
forth in this prospectus by
DTE Energy Company
By this prospectus, DTE Energy Company may offer from time to
time:
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common stock and related rights; and/or
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senior debt securities
and/or
subordinated debt securities, including debt securities
convertible into common stock of DTE Energy or exchangeable for
other securities.
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DTE Energy Trust III, which is a Delaware statutory trust,
may offer from time to time trust preferred securities
guaranteed to the extent set forth in this prospectus by DTE
Energy Company.
DTE Energy Company and DTE Energy Trust III will provide
specific terms of the securities, including the offering prices,
in supplements to this prospectus. The supplements may also add,
update or change information contained in this prospectus. You
should read this prospectus and any supplements carefully before
you invest. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales
of any of these securities unless it is accompanied by a
prospectus supplement that describes those securities.
We may offer these securities directly or through underwriters,
agents or dealers. The supplements to this prospectus will
describe the terms of any particular plan of distribution,
including any underwriting arrangements. See the Plan of
Distribution section beginning on page 37 of this
prospectus for more information.
See Risk Factors beginning on page 3
regarding risks associated with an investment in these
securities.
The mailing address of DTE Energys and DTE Energy
Trust IIIs principal executive offices is 2000
2nd Avenue,
Detroit, Michigan
48226-1279,
and their telephone number is
(313) 235-4000.
DTE Energys common stock is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol DTE.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
This prospectus is dated August 22, 2006
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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2
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3
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3
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4
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4
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5
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6
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6
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6
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11
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27
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33
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35
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37
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37
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38
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38
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You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable
prospectus supplement or supplements. We have not authorized any
person to provide you with different information. If anyone
provides you with different or inconsistent information, you
should not rely on it. You should not assume that the
information contained or incorporated in this prospectus is
accurate as of any time after the date of this prospectus, or,
if later, the date of an incorporated document, because our
business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects may have changed since such dates.
We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any
jurisdiction that prohibits the offer or sale of these
securities.
In this prospectus references to DTE Energy, the
Company, we, us and
our refer to DTE Energy Company, unless the context
indicates that the references are to DTE Energy Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries, and references to the DTE
Energy Trust and the Trust are to DTE Energy
Trust III.
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that DTE
Energy and the DTE Energy Trust filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) utilizing a
shelf registration process. Under this shelf
registration process, DTE Energy
and/or the
DTE Energy Trust may sell any combination of the securities
described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the
securities DTE Energy
and/or the
DTE Energy Trust may offer. Each time DTE Energy
and/or the
DTE Energy Trust sell securities, DTE Energy
and/or the
DTE Energy Trust will provide a prospectus supplement that will
contain specific information about the terms of that offering.
The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change
information contained in this prospectus. You should read this
prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the
additional information described below under the heading
Where You Can Find More Information.
For more detailed information about the securities, you can read
the exhibits to the registration statement. Those exhibits have
been either filed with the registration statement or
incorporated by reference to earlier SEC filings listed in the
registration statement.
2
RISK
FACTORS
An investment in the securities involves risks. You should
carefully consider the Risk Factors set forth in our
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and our Quarterly
Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, together with the
other information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus
supplement, and the documents that are incorporated by reference
in this prospectus, about risks concerning the securities,
before buying any securities. See also Cautionary
Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in this
prospectus.
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in
this prospectus contain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933 (the Securities Act) and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange
Act), with respect to the financial condition, results of
operations and business of DTE Energy. You can find many of
these statements by looking for words such as
believes, expects,
anticipates, estimates or similar
expressions in this prospectus or in documents incorporated
herein. All forward-looking statements we make are expressly
qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements
contained or referred to in this section.
Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions,
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future results to
differ materially from those contemplated, projected, estimated
or budgeted in such forward-looking statements. There are many
factors that may impact forward-looking statements including,
but not limited to, the following:
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the higher price of oil and its impact on the value of
production tax credits, and the ability to utilize
and/or sell
interests in facilities producing such credits, or the potential
requirement to refund proceeds received from synfuel partners;
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the uncertainties of successful exploration of gas shale
resources and inability to estimate gas reserves with certainty;
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the effects of weather and other natural phenomena on operations
and sales to customers, and purchases from suppliers;
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economic climate and population growth or decline in the
geographic areas where we do business;
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environmental issues, laws, regulations, and the cost of
remediation and compliance;
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nuclear regulations and operations associated with nuclear
facilities;
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implementation of electric and gas Customer Choice programs;
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impact of electric and gas utility restructuring in Michigan,
including legislative amendments;
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employee relations and the impact of collective bargaining
agreements;
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unplanned outages;
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access to capital markets and capital market conditions and the
results of other financing efforts which can be affected by
credit agency ratings;
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the timing and extent of changes in interest rates;
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the level of borrowings;
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changes in the cost and availability of coal and other raw
materials, purchased power and natural gas;
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effects of competition;
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impact of regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Michigan Public Service Commission, Nuclear
Regulatory Commission and other applicable governmental
proceedings and regulations;
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contributions to earnings by non-utility subsidiaries;
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changes in and application of federal, state and local tax laws
and their interpretations, including the Internal Revenue Code,
regulations, rulings, court proceedings and audits;
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the ability to recover costs through rate increases;
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the availability, cost, coverage and terms of insurance;
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the cost of protecting assets against, or damage due to,
terrorism;
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changes in and application of accounting standards and financial
reporting regulations;
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changes in federal or state laws and their interpretation with
respect to regulation, energy policy and other business issues;
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uncollectible accounts receivable;
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litigation and related appeals; and
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changes in the economic and financial viability of our
suppliers, customers and trading counterparties, and the
continued ability of such parties to perform their obligations
to the Company.
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You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus
or the date of any document incorporated by reference. We
undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to
such forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
The factors discussed above and other factors are discussed more
completely in our public filings with the SEC, including our
annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and our quarterly
reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and June 30,
2006.
DTE
ENERGY COMPANY
DTE Energy Company is a Michigan corporation engaged in utility
operations through its wholly owned subsidiaries The Detroit
Edison Company (Detroit Edison) and Michigan
Consolidated Gas Company (MichCon). We also have
non-utility operations that are engaged in a variety of energy
related businesses.
Detroit Edison is a Michigan public utility engaged in the
generation, purchase, distribution and sale of electricity to
approximately 2.2 million customers in southeastern
Michigan.
MichCon is a Michigan public utility engaged in the purchase,
storage, transmission, distribution and sale of natural gas to
approximately 1.3 million customers throughout Michigan.
Our non-utility operations consist primarily of Power and
Industrial Projects, Unconventional Gas Production, and Fuel
Transportation and Marketing. Power and Industrial Projects
primarily consists of synfuel projects,
on-site
energy services, steel-related energy projects, power generation
with services, and waste coal recovery operations.
Unconventional Gas Production primarily consists of natural gas
exploration, development and production. Fuel Transportation and
Marketing primarily consists of energy marketing and trading
operations, coal transportation and marketing, and gas
pipelines, processing and storage.
DTE
ENERGY TRUST
DTE Energy Trust III is a Delaware statutory trust, created
by way of a trust agreement and the filing of a certificate of
trust with the Delaware Secretary of State. We will execute an
amended and restated trust agreement for the DTE Energy Trust,
referred to in this prospectus as the trust agreement, in
connection with any issuance of trust securities. This trust
agreement will state the terms and conditions for the DTE Energy
Trust to issue and sell its trust preferred securities and trust
common securities. We filed a form of amended and restated trust
agreement as an exhibit to the registration statement of which
this prospectus forms a part.
4
The DTE Energy Trust will exist solely to:
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issue and sell its trust preferred securities and trust common
securities;
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use the proceeds from the sale of its trust preferred securities
and trust common securities to purchase and hold DTE
Energys debt securities as trust assets; and
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engage in other activities that are necessary or incidental to
the above purposes.
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DTE Energy will hold directly or indirectly all of the trust
common securities of the DTE Energy Trust. The trust common
securities will represent an aggregate liquidation amount equal
to at least 3% of the DTE Energy Trusts total
capitalization. The trust preferred securities will represent
the remaining percentage of the DTE Energy Trusts total
capitalization. The trust preferred securities will be
guaranteed by us as described in this prospectus and the
applicable prospectus supplement.
The DTE Energy Trust may not borrow money, issue debt, execute
mortgages or pledge any of its assets.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the following trustees will conduct the DTE Energy
Trusts business and affairs:
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The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as property trustee;
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The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware trustee; and
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one or more of our officers, as administrative trustees.
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Only we, as direct or indirect owner of the trust common
securities, can remove or replace the administrative trustees.
In addition, we can increase or decrease the number of
administrative trustees. Also, we, as direct or indirect holder
of the trust common securities, will generally have the sole
right to remove or replace the property and Delaware trustees.
However, if DTE Energy defaults on the debt securities owned by
the DTE Energy Trust or another event of default under the trust
agreement occurs, then, so long as that default is continuing,
the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the
outstanding trust preferred securities of the Trust may remove
and replace the property and Delaware trustees.
We will pay all fees and expenses related to the DTE Energy
Trust and the offering of the trust preferred securities. We
will also pay all ongoing costs and expenses of the DTE Energy
Trust except the Trusts obligations under the trust
preferred securities and trust common securities.
USE OF
PROCEEDS
Except as we may otherwise state in an accompanying prospectus
supplement, DTE Energy expects to use the net proceeds from the
sale of its securities for general corporate purposes, which may
include, among other things:
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financing, development and construction of new facilities;
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additions to working capital; and
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repurchase or refinancing of securities.
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The precise amount and timing of the application of such
proceeds will depend upon our funding requirements, market
conditions and the availability and cost of other funds. Pending
the application of proceeds, we may also invest the funds
temporarily in short-term investment grade securities.
The DTE Energy Trust will use all proceeds from the sale of the
trust preferred securities to purchase debt securities of DTE
Energy.
5
RATIOS OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
DTE Energys ratios of earnings to fixed charges and ratios
of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends were as follows for the periods indicated in the table
below:
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Six Months Ended
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Year Ended December 31,
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June 30, 2006
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2005
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2004
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2003
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2002
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2001
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to
combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends(a)
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0.90(b)
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1.92
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1.78
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1.55
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1.91
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1.49
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Our ratios of earnings to fixed charges were computed based on:
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earnings, which consist of consolidated income plus
income taxes and fixed charges, except capitalized
interest; and
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fixed charges, which consist of consolidated
interest on indebtedness, including capitalized interest,
amortization of debt discount and expense, and the estimated
portion of rental expense attributable to interest.
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(a) |
DTE Energy had no preferred stock outstanding during the periods
indicated; therefore, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends is the same as the ratio
of earnings to fixed charges for each period.
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The earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were
not adequate to cover fixed charges. The amount of the
deficiency was approximately $29 million.
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THE
SECURITIES THAT WE MAY OFFER
The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus,
together with the applicable prospectus supplements, summarize
certain terms and provisions of the various types of securities
that DTE Energy and the DTE Energy Trust may offer. The
particular terms of the securities offered by any prospectus
supplement will be described in that prospectus supplement. If
indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of
the securities may differ from the terms summarized below. The
prospectus supplement will also contain information, where
applicable, about material U.S. federal income tax
considerations relating to the securities, and any securities
exchange on which the securities may be listed.
We may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings:
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common stock and related preferred stock purchase rights; and/or
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senior or subordinated debt securities, including debt
securities convertible into common stock of DTE Energy or
exchangeable for other securities.
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The DTE Energy Trust may offer and sell from time to time its
trust preferred securities guaranteed by us.
In this prospectus, DTE Energy and the DTE Energy Trust refer to
the common stock and related preferred stock purchase rights,
senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, trust
preferred securities and our guarantees of the trust preferred
securities collectively as securities. We refer to
the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities
collectively as the debt securities.
DESCRIPTION
OF CAPITAL STOCK
Authorized
Capital Stock
The authorized capital stock of DTE Energy currently consists of
400,000,000 shares of DTE Energy common stock, without par
value, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par
value. As of June 30, 2006 there were
6
177,761,367 shares of DTE Energy common stock issued and
outstanding. All outstanding shares of common stock are, and the
common stock offered hereby when issued and paid for will be,
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
As of June 30, 2006, there were no shares of preferred
stock issued and outstanding and five million shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were reserved
for issuance pursuant to the rights agreement, dated
September 23, 1997, between DTE Energy and The Detroit
Edison Company. Each outstanding share of DTE Energy common
stock currently has attached to it one preferred stock purchase
right, issued under the rights agreement.
Under the DTE Energy amended and restated articles of
incorporation, which we refer to as the articles of
incorporation, our board of directors may cause the issuance of
one or more new series of the authorized shares of preferred
stock, determine the number of shares constituting any such new
series and fix the voting, distribution, dividend, liquidation
and all other rights and limitations of the preferred stock.
These rights may be superior to those of the DTE Energy common
stock. To the extent any shares of DTE Energys preferred
stock have voting rights, no share of preferred stock may be
entitled to more than one vote per share, except that with
respect to election of directors, cumulative voting may be
available.
Common
Stock
The following description of our common stock, together with the
additional information included in any applicable prospectus
supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of this
type of security. We will describe the specific terms of any
common stock we may offer in a prospectus supplement. If
indicated in a prospectus supplement, the terms of any common
stock offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from
the terms described below. For the complete terms of our common
stock, please refer to our articles of incorporation, bylaws and
rights agreement that are incorporated by reference into the
registration statement that includes this prospectus or may be
incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The terms of our
common stock may also be affected by the laws of the State of
Michigan.
Dividends
Holders of common stock are entitled to participate equally in
respect to dividends as, when and if dividends are declared by
our board of directors out of funds legally available for their
payment. However, this dividend right is subject to any
preferential dividend rights we may grant to future holders of
preferred stock and to the prior rights of DTE Energys
debt holders and other creditors. As a Michigan corporation, we
are subject to statutory limitations on the declaration and
payment of dividends. Dividends on DTE Energy common stock will
depend primarily on the earnings and financial condition of DTE
Energy. DTE Energy is a holding company and its assets consist
primarily of its investment in its operating subsidiaries. Thus,
as a practical matter, dividends on common stock of DTE Energy
will depend in the foreseeable future primarily upon the
earnings, financial condition and capital requirements of
Detroit Edison, MichCon and our other subsidiaries, and the
distribution of such earnings to DTE Energy in the form of
dividends. The subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal
entities and have no obligation to make payments with respect to
any of DTE Energys securities, or to pay dividends to or
make funds available to DTE Energy so that DTE Energy can make
payments on its securities, including its common stock. In
addition, existing or future covenants limiting the right of
Detroit Edison, MichCon or our other subsidiaries to pay
dividends on or make other distributions with respect to their
common stock may affect DTE Energys ability to pay
dividends on our common stock. See Description of Debt
Securities Ranking.
Voting
Subject to any special voting rights that may vest in the
holders of preferred stock, the holders of DTE Energy common
stock are entitled to vote as a class and are entitled to one
vote per share for each share held of record on all matters
voted on by shareholders, except that with respect to the
election of directors, cumulative voting is available. All
questions other than election of directors are decided by a
majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to
vote on that question, unless a greater vote is required by the
articles of incorporation or Michigan law. Directors are elected
by a plurality of the votes cast.
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We are subject to Chapter 7A of the Michigan Business
Corporation Act, which we refer to as the Corporation Act, which
provides that business combinations subject to Chapter 7A
between a Michigan corporation and a beneficial owner of shares
entitled to 10% or more of the voting power of such corporation
generally require the affirmative vote of 90% of the votes of
each class of stock entitled to vote, and not less than 2/3 of
each class of stock entitled to vote (excluding voting shares
owned by such 10% owner), voting as a separate class. These
requirements do not apply if (1) the corporations
board of directors approves the transaction prior to the time
the 10% owner becomes such or (2) the transaction satisfies
certain fairness standards, certain other conditions are met and
the 10% owner has been such for at least five years.
In addition, our bylaws provide that Chapter 7B of the
Corporation Act does not apply to DTE Energy. Chapter 7B of
the Corporation Act regulates shareholder rights when an
individuals stock ownership reaches at least 20% of a
Michigan corporations outstanding shares. Accordingly,
pursuant to DTE Energys bylaws, a shareholder seeking
control of DTE Energy cannot require the DTE Energys board
of directors to call a meeting to vote on issues related to
corporate control within 10 days of such request, as
stipulated by Chapter 7B of the Corporation Act.
Board
of Directors
Our bylaws provide for a board of directors that is divided into
three classes. Each class is to serve a three-year term and the
classes are to be as nearly equal in size as possible. The
number of directors is fixed by the board of directors from time
to time. DTE Energy currently has 13 directors. Under our
bylaws, the provision providing for the classification of the
board of directors may not be amended or repealed without the
vote of a majority of the shares of DTE Energys common
stock.
Amendments
to DTE Energys Articles of Incorporation
Under Michigan law, our articles of incorporation may be amended
by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote on the proposed amendment
(which would include the common stock and any series of
preferred stock which, by its terms or applicable law, was so
entitled to vote), and, if any class or series of shares is
entitled to vote as a class, then the proposed amendment must be
approved by the required vote of each class or series of shares
entitled to vote as a class.
Liquidation
Rights
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up
of DTE Energy, holders of our common stock have the right to
share in DTE Energys assets remaining after satisfaction
in full of the prior rights of creditors, and all liabilities
and the aggregate liquidation preferences of any outstanding
shares of DTE Energy preferred stock.
Preemptive
Rights
The holders of DTE Energy common stock have no conversion or
redemption rights, or any rights to subscribe for or purchase
other stock of DTE Energy.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol DTE.
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is The
Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, 8W, New York, New York
10286.
8
Rights
Agreement
General
The following is a description of the preferred stock purchase
rights issued or to be issued under the DTE Energy rights
agreement. This description does not purport to be complete and
is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to,
the text of the DTE Energy rights agreement, which is
incorporated herein by reference and filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Our rights agreement provides for the issuance to holders of DTE
Energy common stock of one preferred stock purchase right for
each share of DTE Energy common stock. Subject to the conditions
contained in DTE Energys rights agreement, each right
entitles the holder to purchase from DTE Energy one
one-hundredth of a share of DTE Energy Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, without par value, at a purchase
price of $90.00, subject to adjustment as described below. The
rights, which are attached to and trade with the shares of DTE
Energy common stock until they are exercisable, may not be
exercised until the close of business on the earlier of:
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the 10th calendar day after the first date of public
announcement by DTE Energy that a person, together with its
affiliates and associates, has acquired beneficial ownership of
10% or more of the outstanding shares of DTE Energy common
stock, which we refer to as an acquiring
person; or
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the 10th business day (or, unless the date specified in the
bullet point above has previously occurred, such later date as
may be specified by our board of directors) after the date that
any person commences a tender offer or exchange offer, the
consummation of which would result in beneficial ownership by
such person of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of DTE
Energy common stock.
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We refer to the earlier of these two dates as the
distribution date.
DTE Energy, its subsidiaries, employee benefit or stock
ownership plans, and affiliates or associates of DTE Energy are
not acquiring persons. Rights beneficially owned by acquiring
persons, or certain transferees of acquiring persons, are void.
Flip-in
In the event that:
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any person becomes an acquiring person;
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any acquiring person merges into or combines with DTE Energy,
and DTE Energy is the surviving corporation;
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any acquiring person effects certain other transactions with DTE
Energy; or
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during such time as there is an acquiring person, DTE Energy
effects certain transactions
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then each unexercised right (other than those held by the
acquiring person) will entitle its holder to purchase that
number of shares of DTE Energy common stock or, under certain
circumstances, an economically equivalent security of DTE
Energy, which has a market value at that time of twice the
purchase price.
Flip-over
In the event that, at any time after a person has become an
acquiring person:
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DTE Energy merges with or into any person and DTE Energy is not
the surviving corporation;
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any person merges with or into DTE Energy and DTE Energy is the
surviving corporation, but all or part of the DTE Energy common
stock is exchanged for securities of any other person, cash or
any other property; or
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50% or more of DTE Energys assets or earning power are sold
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then each unexercised right would instead entitle its holder to
purchase the acquiring companys common shares having a
market value of twice the purchase price.
9
Exchange
If a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of more than
10% but less than 50% of the outstanding shares of DTE Energy
common stock, DTE Energy may exchange each outstanding right for
one share of DTE Energy common stock.
Redemption
DTE Energy may redeem the rights, at a redemption price of
$0.01 per right, subject to adjustment, at any time prior
to the later of the first occurrence of any Flip-in event or
Flip-over event and the distribution date.
Certain
Adjustments
The purchase price, and the number of shares of preferred stock
or other securities issuable upon exercise of the right, will be
adjusted to prevent dilution:
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in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision,
combination or reclassification of, the preferred stock;
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upon the grant to holders of the preferred stock of certain
rights or warrants to subscribe for preferred stock at a price,
or securities convertible into preferred stock with a conversion
price, less than the then-current market price of the preferred
stock; or
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upon the distribution to holders of the preferred stock of
evidence of indebtedness, cash (excluding regular periodic cash
dividends), assets, stock (excluding dividends payable in
preferred stock) or subscription rights or warrants (other than
those referred to above).
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With certain exceptions, no adjustments in the purchase price
will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least
1% of the purchase price. DTE Energy will not be required to
issue fractional shares of preferred stock other than in
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share. Instead, DTE
Energy will make a cash payment, as provided in the rights
agreement.
Amounts
Outstanding
DTE Energy distributed one right to shareholders of the company
for each share of common stock owned of record by them at the
close of business on October 6, 1997. Until the earliest of:
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the distribution date;
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October 6, 2007; or
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such time as all rights are redeemed or exchanged,
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DTE Energy will issue one right with each share of DTE Energy
common stock that is issued after October 6, 1997, so that
each outstanding share of common stock will have a related
right. DTE Energy has authorized and reserved
1,500,000 shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock for issuance upon exercise of the rights.
DTE Energy may amend the rights agreement without the approval
of any holders of rights certificates, except that no amendment
may be made that decreases the stated redemption price to an
amount less than $.01 per right.
Possible
Anti-Takeover Effects
Certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws
may have the effect of discouraging unilateral tender offers or
other attempts to take over and acquire the business of DTE
Energy. As permitted by the Corporation Act, our bylaws restrict
shareholders from bringing any business before a special meeting
of shareowners, require prior written notice of any business to
be brought by a shareowner before the annual meeting and require
advance notice for shareowner nominations for directors. In
addition, the articles of incorporation or bylaws authorize our
board of directors to issue one or more series of preferred
stock, provide for a staggered board of directors, and provide
that Chapter 7B of the Corporation Act does not apply to
DTE Energy, as discussed above. These provisions in our articles
of incorporation or bylaws may limit the ability of individuals
to bring matters before shareowner meetings, change the
composition of the board of directors and pursue a merger,
takeover,
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business combination or tender offer involving DTE Energy,
which, under certain circumstances, could encourage a
potentially interested purchaser to negotiate with the board of
directors rather than pursue a non-negotiated takeover attempt,
including one that shareowners might favor, and could reduce the
market value of our common stock.
In addition, the provisions of the DTE Energy rights agreement
have certain anti-takeover effects. The preferred stock purchase
rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that
attempts to acquire DTE Energy on terms not approved by our
board of directors, except pursuant to an offer conditional on a
substantial number of preferred stock purchase rights being
acquired or redeemed.
DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with any applicable
prospectus supplement, summarizes certain material terms and
provisions of the debt securities we may offer under this
prospectus and the related trust indenture. We will issue the
debt securities under an amended and restated indenture, dated
as of April 9, 2001, as supplemented or amended from time
to time, which we refer to as the indenture, between
DTE Energy and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as successor trustee.
We refer to BNY Midwest Trust Company, or any successor or
additional trustee, in its capacity as trustee under the
indenture, as the trustee for purposes of this
section. The indenture may, but need not, have separate trustees
for senior and subordinated debt securities.
This summary of the indenture and the debt securities relates to
terms and conditions applicable to the debt securities
generally. The particular terms of any series of debt securities
will be summarized in the applicable prospectus supplement. If
indicated in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any series
may differ from the terms summarized below.
Because the descriptions of provisions of the indenture below
are summaries, they do not describe every aspect of the
indenture. The summaries below are subject to, and are qualified
in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the
indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms.
We have filed a copy of the indenture as an exhibit to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We
encourage you to read the indenture for provisions that may be
important to you. Wherever we refer to particular articles,
sections or defined terms of the indenture, those articles,
sections or defined terms are incorporated herein by reference,
and the statement in connection with which such reference is
made is qualified in its entirety by such reference. The
indenture contains, and the debt securities, when issued, will
contain, additional important terms and provisions. We will
describe the particular terms of the debt securities offered by
any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such
general provisions may apply to the debt securities so offered
in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities.
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities we
may issue under it, and it provides that additional debt
securities of any series may be issued up to the aggregate
principal amount that we may authorize from time to time. As of
June 30, 2006, approximately $2.0 billion aggregate
principal amount of debt securities were issued and outstanding
under the indenture.
Principal and any premium and interest in respect to the debt
securities will be payable, and the debt securities will be
transferable, at the corporate trust office of the trustee,
unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus
supplement. At our option, however, payment of interest may be
made by check mailed to the registered holders of the debt
securities at their registered addresses.
We will describe special U.S. federal income tax and other
considerations relating to debt securities denominated in
foreign currencies or units of two or more foreign currencies in
the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless we otherwise specify in this prospectus or in the
applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue debt securities
in the form of global securities, deposited with and registered
in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as depositary,
which we refer to as DTC, or its nominee. Interests
in the debt securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof
will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its
participants. See Book-Entry Securities.
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General
The prospectus supplement that accompanies this prospectus
relating to the debt securities being offered will include
specific terms relating to the offered debt securities. These
terms may include some or all of the following:
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the title or designation of the debt securities;
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the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
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whether the debt securities are to represent senior or
subordinated indebtedness and, if subordinated debt securities,
the specific subordination provisions applicable thereto;
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in the case of subordinated debt securities, the relative
degree, if any, to which such subordinated debt securities of
the series will be senior to or be subordinated to other series
of subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness of DTE
Energy in right of payment, whether such other series of
subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness is
outstanding or not;
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whether the debt securities will be issued as registered
securities, bearer securities or a combination of the two;
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the person to whom any interest on any registered security shall
be payable, if other than the person in whose name that security
is registered at the close of business on the record date, the
manner in which, or the person to whom, any interest on any
bearer security shall be payable, if other than upon
presentation and surrender of coupons, and the extent to which,
or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary
global security will be paid if other than in the manner
provided in the indenture;
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whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of one or
more global securities;
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the date or dates on which the principal of (and premium, if
any, on) the debt securities will be payable or the method or
methods, if any, by which such date or dates will be determined;
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the rate or rates, at which the debt securities will bear any
interest or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or
rates will be determined;
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the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the
method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates will be
determined and the date or dates on which such interest will be
payable;
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whether and under what circumstances we will pay
additional amounts, as defined in the indenture, on
the debt securities to any holder who is a United States
alien, as defined in the indenture, in respect of certain
taxes, assessments or governmental charges, and, if so, whether
we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather
than pay the additional amounts; the term interest,
as used in this prospectus, includes any additional amounts;
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the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest on the debt securities will be payable, and where
any registered securities may be surrendered for registration of
transfer or exchange;
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a description of any provisions providing for redemption or
repurchase of the debt securities, in whole or in part, at our
option, a holders option or otherwise, and the terms and
provisions of such a redemption or repurchase;
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any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption or similar terms;
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whether the debt securities will be convertible into shares of
common stock of DTE Energy
and/or
exchangeable for other securities, whether or not issued by DTE
Energy, property or cash, or a combination of any of the
foregoing, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such
conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the
holder, or at the option of DTE Energy, and any deletions from
or modifications or additions to the indenture to allow the
issuance of such convertible or exchangeable debt securities;
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the authorized denominations of the debt securities, if other
than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof
(in the case of registered securities) or $5,000 (in the case of
bearer securities);
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if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the
principal amount of the debt securities or any of them that
shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity in accordance with the indenture upon an event of
default or the method by which such portion is to be determined;
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if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies or
currency unit or units of two or more currencies in which debt
securities are denominated, for which they may be purchased, and
in which principal and any premium and interest is payable;
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if the currency or currencies or currency unit or units for
which debt securities may be purchased or in which principal and
any premium and interest may be paid is at our election or at
the election of a purchaser, the manner in which an election may
be made and its terms;
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any index or other method used to determine the amount of
payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, the
debt securities;
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if either or both of the sections of the indenture relating to
defeasance and covenant defeasance are applicable to the debt
securities, or if any covenants in addition to or other than
those specified in the indenture shall be subject to covenant
defeasance;
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any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the
provisions of the indenture relating to satisfaction and
discharge in respect of the debt securities;
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if there is more than one trustee, the identity of the trustee
and, if not the trustee, the identity of each security
registrar, paying agent
and/or
authenticating agent with respect to the debt securities;
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whether the debt securities shall be issued as original issue
discount securities;
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whether a credit facility or other form of credit support will
apply to the debt securities;
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any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events
of default or covenants with respect to the debt securities
whether or not such events of default or covenants are
consistent with the events of default or covenants in the
indenture, and whether the limitations on secured debt under the
indenture will be applicable; and
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any other specific terms of the debt securities.
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We are not obligated to issue all debt securities of any one
series at the same time and all the debt securities of any one
series need not bear interest at the same rate or mature on the
same date.
Under the indenture, the terms of the debt securities of any
series may differ and we, without the consent of the holders of
the debt securities of any series, may reopen a previous series
of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of such
series or establish additional terms of such series.
Other than as described below under
Covenants with respect to any applicable
series of debt securities and as may be described in the
applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture does not limit
our ability to incur indebtedness or afford holders of debt
securities protection in the event of a decline in our credit
quality or if we are involved in a takeover, recapitalization or
highly leveraged or similar transaction. Accordingly, we could
in the future enter into transactions that could increase the
amount of indebtedness outstanding at that time or otherwise
affect our capital structure or credit rating. You should refer
to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of
debt securities for information regarding the applicability of
the covenant described below under
Covenants Limitation on Secured
Debt or any deletions from, modifications of or additions
to the events of default described below or covenants contained
in the indenture, including any addition of a covenant or other
provisions providing event risk or similar protection.
Ranking
Because DTE Energy is a holding company that conducts
substantially all of its operations through subsidiaries,
holders of debt securities and guarantees of DTE Energy will
generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of those
subsidiaries, including trade creditors, debtholders, secured
creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and preferred
stockholders, if any. Our subsidiaries, principally Detroit
Edison and MichCon, from
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time to time incur debt to finance their business activities.
Substantially all of the physical properties of Detroit Edison
and MichCon are subject to the liens of their respective
mortgage indentures as security for the payment of outstanding
mortgage bonds.
Our assets consist primarily of investment in subsidiaries. Our
ability to service indebtedness, including any debt securities
and guarantees, depends on the earnings of our subsidiaries and
the distribution or other payment from subsidiaries of earnings
to us in the form of dividends, loans or advances, and repayment
of loans and advances from us. The subsidiaries are separate and
distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or
otherwise, to pay any amounts due under the debt securities or
to make payments to us in order for us to pay our obligations
under the debt securities.
Senior
Debt Securities
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, DTE Energys obligation to pay the principal
of, and any premium and interest on, the senior debt securities
will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other
unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness.
Subordinated
Debt Securities
DTE Energys obligation to pay the principal of, and any
premium and interest on, any series of subordinated debt
securities will be unsecured and will rank subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as
defined below) to the extent provided in the supplemental
indenture relating to the series and the terms of those
subordinated debt securities, as described below and in any
applicable prospectus supplement, which may make deletions from,
or modifications or additions to, the subordination terms
described below.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of DTE
Energy to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution,
winding-up, reorganization, or any bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or similar proceedings in connection with any
insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding of DTE Energy, the holders
of Senior Indebtedness will first be entitled to receive payment
in full of the Senior Indebtedness before the holders of
subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any
payment or distribution in respect of the subordinated debt
securities, and to that end the holders of Senior Indebtedness
will be entitled to receive, for application to the payment
thereof, any payment or distribution of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, including any such
payment or distribution that may be payable or deliverable by
reason of the payment of any other Indebtedness of DTE Energy
being subordinated to the payment of subordinated debt
securities of such series, which may be payable or deliverable
in respect of the subordinated debt securities of such series
upon any such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or
reorganization or in any such bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or other proceeding.
By reason of such subordination, in the event of liquidation or
insolvency of DTE Energy, holders of Senior Indebtedness with
respect to the subordinated debt securities of any series and
holders of other obligations of DTE Energy that are not
subordinated to such Senior Indebtedness may recover more,
ratably, than the holders of the subordinated debt securities of
such series.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness with
respect to the subordinated debt securities of any series, the
rights of the holders of the subordinated debt securities of
such series will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of
Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of
cash, property or securities of DTE Energy applicable to such
Senior Indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and
interest on, and any additional amounts with respect to, the
subordinated debt securities of such series have been paid in
full.
No payments on account of principal or any premium or interest
in respect of the subordinated debt securities may be made if
there has occurred and is continuing a default in any payment
with respect to Senior Indebtedness or an event of default with
respect to any Senior Indebtedness resulting in the acceleration
of its maturity, or if any judicial proceeding is pending with
respect to any default.
Indebtedness means:
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indebtedness for borrowed money;
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obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or
services (other than trade payables not overdue by more than
60 days incurred in the ordinary course of business);
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obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other
similar instruments;
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obligations created or arising under any conditional sale or
other title retention agreement with respect to acquired
property;
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obligations as lessee under leases that have been or should be,
in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States, recorded as capital leases;
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obligations, contingent or otherwise, in respect of acceptances,
letters of credit or similar extensions of credit;
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obligations in respect of interest rate swap, cap or collar
agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency
swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other
similar agreements;
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guarantees of Indebtedness of others, directly or indirectly, or
Indebtedness in effect guaranteed directly or indirectly through
an agreement (1) to pay or purchase such Indebtedness or to
advance or supply funds for the payment or purchase of such
Indebtedness, (2) to purchase, sell or lease property, or
to purchase or sell services, primarily for the purpose of
enabling the debtor to make payment of such Indebtedness or to
assure the holder of such Indebtedness against loss, (3) to
supply funds to or in any other manner invest in the debtor or
(4) otherwise to assure a creditor against loss; and
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Indebtedness described above secured by any Lien (as defined
below) on property.
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Senior Indebtedness, for purposes of subordinated
debt securities of each series, means all Indebtedness, whether
outstanding on the date of issuance of subordinated debt
securities of the applicable series or thereafter created,
assumed or incurred, except Indebtedness ranking equally with
the subordinated debt securities or Indebtedness ranking junior
to the subordinated debt securities. Senior Indebtedness does
not include obligations to trade creditors or indebtedness of
DTE Energy to its subsidiaries. Senior Indebtedness with respect
to the subordinated debt securities of any particular series
will continue to be Senior Indebtedness with respect to the
subordinated debt securities of such series and be entitled to
the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any
amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior
Indebtedness.
Indebtedness ranking equally with the subordinated debt
securities, for purposes of subordinated debt securities
of the applicable series, means Indebtedness, whether
outstanding on the date of issuance of the subordinated debt
securities or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, to the
extent the Indebtedness specifically by its terms ranks equally
with and not prior to the subordinated debt securities in the
right of payment upon the happening of the dissolution,
winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of DTE Energy. The
securing of any Indebtedness otherwise constituting Indebtedness
ranking equally with the subordinated debt securities will not
prevent the Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness ranking
equally with the subordinated debt securities.
Indebtedness ranking junior to the subordinated debt
securities, for purposes of subordinated debt securities
of the applicable series, means any Indebtedness, whether
outstanding on the date of issuance of the subordinated debt
securities of the applicable series or thereafter created,
assumed or incurred, to the extent the Indebtedness by its terms
ranks junior to and not equally with or prior to:
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the subordinated debt securities, and
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any other Indebtedness ranking equally with the subordinated
debt securities,
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in right of payment upon the happening of the dissolution,
winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of DTE Energy. The
securing of any Indebtedness otherwise constituting Indebtedness
ranking junior to the subordinated debt securities will not
prevent the Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness ranking
junior to the subordinated debt securities.
15
Covenants
The indenture contains covenants for the benefit of holders of
debt securities of each series. The following covenant will
apply to a series of debt securities only to the extent
specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Limitation
on Secured Debt
If this covenant is made applicable to the debt securities of
any particular series, we have agreed that we will not create,
issue, incur or assume any Secured Debt (as defined below)
without the consent of the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series with
respect to which this covenant is made, considered as one class;
provided, however, that the foregoing covenant will not prohibit
the creation, issuance, incurrence or assumption of any Secured
Debt if we either:
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secure all debt securities then outstanding with respect to
which this covenant is made equally and ratably with the Secured
Debt; or
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deliver to the trustee bonds, notes or other evidences of
indebtedness secured by the Lien (as defined below) which
secures the Secured Debt in an aggregate principal amount equal
to the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities then
outstanding with respect to which this covenant is made and
meeting certain other requirements in the indenture.
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Debt means:
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indebtedness for borrowed money evidenced by a bond, debenture,
note or other written instrument or agreement by which we are
obligated to repay such borrowed money; and
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any guaranty by DTE Energy of any such indebtedness of another
person.
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Lien means any mortgage, pledge, security interest,
encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including, without
limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement or lease in the nature thereof or any agreement to
give any security interest).
Secured Debt means Debt created, issued, incurred or
assumed by DTE Energy that is secured by a Lien upon any shares
of stock of any Significant Subsidiary, as defined in
Regulation S-X
of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act, whether
owned at the date of the initial authentication and delivery of
the debt securities of any series or thereafter acquired.
Consolidation,
Merger and Sale of Assets
DTE Energy may, without the consent of the holders of the debt
securities, consolidate or merge with or into, or convey,
transfer or lease our properties and assets as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety to, any person or permit any person
to consolidate with or merge into us or convey, transfer or
lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to
us, as long as:
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if DTE Energy merges into or consolidates with, or transfers its
properties and assets as an entirety (or substantially as an
entirety) to any person, such person is a corporation,
partnership or trust, organized and validly existing under the
laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia;
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any successor person (if not DTE Energy) assumes by supplemental
indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any
premium and interest on and any additional amounts with respect
to all the debt securities issued thereunder, and the
performance of our obligations under the indenture and the debt
securities issued thereunder, and provides for conversion or
exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the debt
securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable
into common stock or other securities;
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no event of default under the indenture has occurred and is
continuing after giving effect to the transaction;
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no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would
become an event of default under the indenture has occurred and
is continuing after giving effect to the transaction; and
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certain other conditions are met.
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Upon any merger or consolidation described above or conveyance
or transfer of the properties and assets of DTE Energy as or
substantially as an entirety as described above, the successor
person will succeed to DTE Energys obligations under the
indenture and, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor
person will be relieved of such obligations.
The indenture does not prevent or restrict any conveyance or
other transfer, or lease, of any part of the properties of DTE
Energy which does not constitute the entirety, or substantially
the entirety, thereof.
Events of
Default
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, an event of default with respect to any series of
debt securities will be any of the following events:
(1) failure to pay interest on the debt securities of that
series, or any additional amounts payable with respect thereto,
for 30 days after payment is due;
(2) failure to pay principal or any premium on the debt
securities of that series, or any additional amounts payable
with respect thereto, when due;
(3) failure to pay any sinking fund installment or
analogous payment when due;
(4) failure to perform, or breach, of any other covenant or
warranty or obligation of DTE Energy in the indenture for
60 days after we are given written notice by the trustee or
we and the trustee are given written notice by the registered
owners of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt
securities of that series;
(5) default occurs under any bond, note, debenture or other
instrument evidencing any indebtedness for money borrowed by DTE
Energy (including a default with respect to any other series of
debt securities issued under the indenture), or under any
mortgage, indenture or other instrument under which there may be
issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
indebtedness for money borrowed by DTE Energy (or the payment of
which is guaranteed by DTE Energy), whether such indebtedness or
guarantee exists on the date of the indenture or is issued or
entered into following the date of the indenture, if:
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such default results from failure to pay any such indebtedness
when due and such defaulted payment has not been made, waived or
extended within 30 days of such payment default; or
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as a result of such default the maturity of such indebtedness
has been accelerated prior to its expressed maturity and such
indebtedness shall not have been discharged in full or such
acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled within
30 days of such acceleration; and
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the principal amount of such indebtedness, together with the
principal amount of any other such indebtedness in default for
failure to pay any such indebtedness when due or the maturity of
which has been so accelerated, aggregates to at least
$40 million;
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(6) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, receivership or liquidation relating to DTE
Energy; or
(7) any other event of default provided with respect to
debt securities of that series.
If an event of default with respect to the debt securities of
any series occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the
principal amount of the debt securities of that series to be due
and payable immediately. At any time after a declaration of
acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for
payment of money has been obtained by the trustee, and subject
to applicable law and certain other provisions of the indenture,
the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances,
rescind
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and annul the acceleration. If an event of default occurs
pertaining to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization specified in the indenture as described in
paragraph (6) above, the principal amount and accrued
and unpaid interest and any additional amounts payable in
respect of the debt securities of that series, or a lesser
amount as provided for in the debt securities of that series,
will be immediately due and payable without any declaration or
other act by the trustee or any holder.
The indenture provides that within 90 days after the
occurrence of any default under the indenture with respect to
the debt securities of any series, the trustee must transmit to
the holders of the debt securities of such series, in the manner
set forth in the indenture, notice of the default known to the
trustee, unless the default has been cured or waived. However,
except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal
of (or premium, if any) or interest or any additional amounts or
in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to,
any debt security of such series, the trustee may withhold such
notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive
committee or a trust committee of directors or responsible
officers of the trustee has in good faith determined that the
withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of
debt securities of such series. In addition, in the case of any
event of default described in paragraph (4) above, no
such notice to holders will be given until at least 30 days
after the occurrence of the event of default.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to
the debt securities of any series, the trustee may in its
discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the
rights of the holders of debt securities of such series by all
appropriate judicial proceedings.
The indenture further provides that, subject to the duty of the
trustee during any 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 of debt securities, unless that
requesting holder has offered to the trustee reasonable
indemnity. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of
the trustee, and subject to applicable law and certain other
provisions of the indenture, the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of
a 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 debt securities of such series.
The indenture provides that no holder of any debt security of a
series will have any right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the indenture for the appointment of a receiver or
for any other remedy thereunder unless:
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that holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a
continuing event of default;
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the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of that series have made written
request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of
that event of default and have offered the trustee reasonable
indemnity against costs and liabilities incurred in complying
with such request; and
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for 60 days after receipt of such notice, the trustee has
failed to institute any such proceeding and no direction
inconsistent with such request has been given to the trustee
during such
60-day
period by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of outstanding debt securities of that series.
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Furthermore, no holder will be entitled to institute any such
action if and to the extent that such action would disturb or
prejudice the rights of other holders.
However, each holder has an absolute and unconditional right to
receive payment when due and to bring a suit to enforce that
right.
Under the indenture, we are required to furnish to the trustee
annually a statement as to our performance of certain of our
obligations under the indenture and as to any default in such
performance. We are also required to deliver to the trustee,
within five days after occurrence thereof, written notice of any
event that after notice or lapse of time or both would
constitute an event of default.
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Interest
Rates and Discounts
The debt securities will earn interest at a fixed or floating
rate or rates for the period or periods of time specified in the
applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise specified in
the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will
bear interest on the basis of a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months.
We may sell debt securities at a substantial discount below
their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest
at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates.
Material U.S. Federal income tax consequences and special
considerations that apply to any series will be described in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
Exchange,
Registration and Transfer
Registered securities of any series that are not global
securities will be exchangeable for other registered securities
of the same series and of like aggregate principal amount and
tenor in different authorized denominations. In addition, if
debt securities of any series are issuable as both registered
securities and bearer securities, the holder may choose, upon
written request, and subject to the terms of the indenture, to
exchange bearer securities and the appropriate related coupons
of that series into registered securities of the same series of
any authorized denominations and of like aggregate principal
amount and tenor. Bearer securities with attached coupons
surrendered in exchange for registered securities between a
regular record date or a special record date and the relevant
date for interest payment shall be surrendered without the
coupon relating to the interest payment date. Interest will not
be payable with respect to the registered security issued in
exchange for that bearer security. That interest will be payable
only to the holder of the coupon when due in accordance with the
terms of the indenture. Bearer securities will not be issued in
exchange for registered securities.
Holders may present registered securities for registration of
transfer, together with a duly executed form of transfer, at the
office of the security registrar or at the office of any
transfer agent designated by us for that purpose with respect to
any series of debt securities and referred to in the applicable
prospectus supplement. This may be done without service charge
but upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as
described in the indenture. The security registrar or the
transfer agent will effect the transfer or exchange upon being
satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person
making the request. We have appointed the trustee as security
registrar for the indenture. If a prospectus supplement refers
to any transfer agents initially designated by us with respect
to any series of debt securities in addition to the security
registrar, we may at any time rescind the designation of any of
those transfer agents or approve a change in the location
through which any of those transfer agents acts. However, if
debt securities of a series are issuable solely as registered
securities, we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in
each place of payment for that series, and if debt securities of
a series are issuable as bearer securities, we will be required
to maintain a transfer agent in a place of payment for that
series located outside the United States in addition to the
security registrar. We may at any time designate additional
transfer agents with respect to any series of debt securities.
In the event of any redemption, we will not be required to:
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issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of
any series during a period beginning at the opening of business
15 days before any selection of debt securities of that
series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on:
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the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption if
the debt securities are issuable only as registered
securities; or
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the day of the first publication of the notice of redemption if
the debt securities are issuable as bearer securities, or, if
the debt securities are also issuable as registered securities
and there is no publication, the mailing of the notice of
redemption;
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register the transfer of or exchange any registered security, or
portion thereof, selected for redemption, except the unredeemed
portion of any registered security being redeemed in part;
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exchange any bearer security so selected for redemption, except
to exchange such bearer security for a registered security of
that series and like tenor that is simultaneously surrendered
for redemption; or
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issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security
that has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the
holder, except the portion, if any, of such debt security not to
be so repaid.
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Payment
and Paying Agents
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus
supplement, payment of principal of, and any premium and
interest on, bearer securities will be payable in accordance
with any applicable laws and regulations, at the offices of
those paying agents outside the United States that we may
designate at various times. We will make interest payments on
bearer securities and the attached coupons on any interest
payment date only against surrender of the coupon relating to
that interest payment date. No payment with respect to any
bearer security will be made at any of our offices or agencies
in the United States by check mailed to any U.S. address or
by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the
United States. If, however, but only if, payment in
U.S. dollars of the full amount of principal of, and any
premium and interest on, bearer securities denominated and
payable 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, then those
payments will be made at the office of our paying agent in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus
supplement, payment of principal of, and any premium and
interest on, registered securities will be made at the office of
the paying agent or paying agents that we designate at various
times. However, at our option, we may make interest payments by
check mailed to the address, as it appears in the security
register, of the person entitled to the payments. Unless we
specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we
will make payment of any installment of interest on registered
securities to the person in whose name that registered security
is registered at the close of business on the regular record
date for such interest.
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the corporate trust office of the trustee in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, will be designated:
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as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt
securities that are issuable solely as registered
securities; and
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as our paying agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York, for payments with respect to debt securities, subject to
the limitation described above in the case of bearer securities,
that are issuable solely as bearer securities or as both
registered securities and bearer securities.
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We will name any paying agents outside the United States and any
other paying agents in the United States initially designated by
us for the debt securities in the applicable prospectus
supplement. We 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.
However, if debt securities of a series are issuable solely as
registered securities, we will be required to maintain a paying
agent in each place of payment for that series. If debt
securities of a series are issuable as bearer securities, we
will be required to maintain:
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a paying agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York, for payments with respect to any registered securities of
the series and for payments with respect to bearer securities of
the series in the circumstance described above, but not
otherwise; and
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a paying agent in a place of payment located outside the United
States where debt securities of that series and any attached
coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment.
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However, if the debt securities of that series are listed on The
Stock Exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of
Ireland, the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock
exchange located outside the United States, and if the
stock exchange requires it, we will maintain a paying agent in
London or Luxembourg or any other required city located outside
the United States for those debt securities.
All monies we pay to a paying agent for the payment of principal
of, and any premium or interest on, any debt security or coupon
that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after becoming
due and payable will be repaid to us. After that time, the
holder of the debt security or coupon may look only to us for
payments out of those repaid amounts.
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Global
Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more global certificates that we will
deposit with a depository identified in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Global securities may be issued in either
registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent
form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for
the individual debt securities it represents, a global security
may not be transferred except as a whole:
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by the applicable depository to a nominee of the depository;
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by any nominee to the depository itself or another
nominee; or
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by the depository or any nominee to a successor depository or
any nominee of the successor.
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To the extent not described below and under the heading
Book-Entry Securities, we will describe the terms of
the depository arrangement with respect to a series of debt
securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We
anticipate that the following provisions will generally apply to
depository arrangements.
As long as the depository for a global security, or its nominee,
is the registered owner of that global security, the depository
or nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the
debt securities represented by the global security for all
purposes under the indenture. Except as provided under
Book-Entry Securities or in any applicable
prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in a
global security:
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will not be entitled to have any of the underlying debt
securities registered in their names;
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will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
any of the underlying debt securities in definitive form;
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will not be considered the owners or holders under the indenture
relating to those debt securities; and
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will not be able to transfer or exchange the global debt
securities, except in the limited circumstances as described in
this prospectus or any supplement.
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The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of
securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive
form. These laws may impair the owners ability to transfer
beneficial interests in a global security.
Payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on,
individual debt securities represented by a global security
registered in the name of a depository or its nominee will be
made to the depository or its nominee as the registered owner of
the global security representing such debt securities. Neither
we, the trustee, any paying agent nor the registrar for the debt
securities will be responsible for any aspect of the records
relating to or payments made by the depository or any
participants on account of beneficial interests of the global
security.
For a description of the depository arrangements for global
securities held by The Depository Trust Company, see
Book-Entry Securities.
Discharge,
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of
debt securities that have not already been delivered to the
trustee for cancellation and that:
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have become due and payable;
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will become due and payable within one year; or
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are scheduled for redemption within one year.
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To discharge the obligations with respect to a series of debt
securities, we must deposit with the trustee, in trust, an
amount of funds in U.S. dollars or in the foreign currency
in which those debt securities are payable. The deposited amount
must be sufficient to pay the entire amount of principal of, and
any premium, interest and additional amounts on, those debt
securities to the date of the deposit if those debt securities
have become due and payable or to the maturity or redemption
date of the debt securities, as the case may be; provided,
however, we have
21
paid all other sums payable under the indenture with respect to
the debt securities, and certain other conditions are met.
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus
supplement, we may elect:
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to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with
respect to those debt securities, which we refer to as
defeasance; or
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with respect to any debt securities, to be released from certain
covenant obligations as described in the related prospectus
supplement, as may be provided for under Section 301 of the
indenture, which we refer to as covenant defeasance.
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In the case of defeasance we will still retain some obligations
in respect of the debt securities, including our obligations:
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to pay additional amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of
certain events of taxation, assessment or governmental charge
with respect to payments on the debt securities;
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to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities;
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to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
debt securities; and
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to maintain an office or agency with respect to the debt
securities and to hold monies for payment in trust.
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After a covenant defeasance, any omission to comply with the
obligations or covenants that have been defeased shall not
constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the
debt securities.
To elect either defeasance or covenant defeasance we must
deposit with the trustee, in trust, an amount, in
U.S. dollars or in the foreign currency in which the
relevant debt securities are payable at stated maturity, or in
government obligations, as defined below, or both, applicable to
such debt securities. The deposit will provide through the
scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with
their terms, money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal
of and any premium and interest on (and, to the extent that
(1) the debt securities of such series provide for the
payment of additional amounts and (2) we may reasonably
determine the amount of any such additional amounts at the time
of deposit (in the exercise of our sole discretion), any such
additional amounts with respect to) such debt securities, and
any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon, on
their scheduled due dates.
In addition, we can only elect defeasance or covenant defeasance
if, among other things:
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the defeasance or covenant defeasance does not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the
indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which
we are a party or by which we are bound;
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no event of default or event that with notice or lapse of time
or both would become an event of default with respect to the
debt securities to be defeased will have occurred and be
continuing on the date of the deposit of funds with the trustee
and, with respect to defeasance only, at any time during the
period ending on the 123rd day after the date of the
deposit of funds with the trustee; and
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we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the
effect that the holders of the debt securities will not
recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax
purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance
and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have
been the case if the defeasance had not occurred, and the
opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, must refer to and
be based upon a letter ruling of the Internal Revenue Service
received by us, a Revenue Ruling published by the Internal
Revenue Service or a change in applicable U.S. federal
income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture.
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The indenture deems a foreign currency to be any currency,
currency unit or composite currency including, without
limitation, the euro, issued by the government of one or more
countries other than the United States or by any recognized
confederation or association of governments.
22
The indenture defines government obligations as securities that
are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or
issuers and are:
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direct obligations of the United States or the government or
governments in the confederation that issued the foreign
currency in which the debt securities of a particular series are
payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is
pledged; or
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obligations of a person or entity controlled or supervised by
and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States
or the government or governments that issued the foreign
currency in which the debt securities of a particular series are
payable, the timely payment of which is unconditionally
guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United
States or that other government or governments.
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Government obligations also include a depositary receipt issued
by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any
government obligation described above or a specific payment of
interest on or principal of or any other amount with respect to
any government obligation held by that custodian for the account
of the holder of such depositary receipt, as long as, except as
required by law, that custodian is not authorized to make any
deduction from the amount payable to the holder of the
depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian
with respect to the government obligation or the specific
payment of interest on or principal of or any other amount with
respect to the government obligation evidenced by the depositary
receipt.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, if, after we have deposited funds
and/or
government obligations to effect defeasance or covenant
defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series, either:
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the holder of a debt security of that series is entitled to, and
does, elect to receive payment in a currency other than that in
which such deposit has been made in respect of that debt
security; or
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a conversion event, as defined below, occurs in respect of the
foreign currency in which the deposit has been made,
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the indebtedness represented by that debt security shall be
deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied
through the payment of the principal of, and any premium and
interest on, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to,
that debt security as that debt security becomes due out of the
proceeds yielded by converting the amount or other properties so
deposited in respect of that debt security into the currency in
which that debt security becomes payable as a result of the
election or conversion event based on:
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in the case of payments made pursuant to the first of the two
items in the list above, the applicable market exchange rate for
the currency in effect on the second business day prior to the
date of the payment; or
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with respect to a conversion event, the applicable market
exchange rate for such foreign currency in effect, as nearly as
feasible, at the time of the conversion event.
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The indenture defines a conversion event as the
cessation of use of:
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a foreign currency both by the government of the country or the
confederation that issued such foreign currency and for the
settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public
institutions of or within the international banking
community; or
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any currency unit or composite currency for the purposes for
which it was established.
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Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus
supplement, all payments of principal of, and any premium and
interest on, any debt security that are payable in a foreign
currency that ceases to be used by the government or
confederation of issuance shall be made in U.S. dollars.
If we effect a covenant defeasance with respect to any debt
securities and the debt securities are declared due and payable
because of the occurrence of any event of default other than an
event of default with respect to which there has been covenant
defeasance, the amount in the foreign currency in which the debt
securities are payable, and government obligations on deposit
with the trustee, will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the
debt securities at the time of the stated maturity but may not
be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the
time of the
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acceleration resulting from the event of default. However, we
would remain liable for payment of the amounts due at the time
of acceleration.
The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the
provisions, if any, permitting defeasance or covenant
defeasance, including any modifications to the provisions
described above, with respect to the debt securities of or
within a particular series.
Modification
and Waiver
DTE Energy and the trustee may generally modify certain
provisions of the indenture with the consent of the holders of
not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
debt securities of each series affected by the modification,
except that no such modification or amendment may, without the
consent of the holder of each debt security affected thereby:
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change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or
any additional amounts with respect to, any debt security issued
under the indenture;
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reduce the principal amount of, or premium or interest on, or
any additional amounts with respect to, any debt security issued
under the indenture;
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change the place of payment, coin or currency in which any debt
security issued under that indenture or any premium or any
interest on that debt security or any additional amounts with
respect to that debt security is payable;
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reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities, the consent of whose holders is required under
the indenture in order to take certain actions;
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change any of our obligations to maintain an office or agency in
the places and for the purposes required by the indenture;
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if the debt securities are convertible or exchangeable, modify
the conversion or exchange provision in a manner adverse to
holders of that debt security;
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in the case of a subordinated debt security, modify any of the
subordination provisions in a manner adverse to holders of that
debt security;
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impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on or after the stated maturity of any debt securities
issued under that indenture or, in the case of redemption,
exchange or conversion, if applicable, on or after the
redemption, exchange or conversion date or, in the case of
repayment at the option of any holder, if applicable, on or
after the date for repayment; or
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modify any of the above provisions or certain provisions
regarding the waiver of past defaults or the waiver of certain
covenants, with limited exceptions.
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In addition, we and the trustee may, without the consent of any
holders, modify provisions of the indenture for certain
purposes, including, among other things:
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evidencing the succession of another person to DTE Energy and
the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of DTE
Energy in the indenture and in the debt securities;
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adding to the covenants of DTE Energy for the benefit of the
holders of debt securities (and if such covenants are to be for
the benefit of less than all series of debt securities, stating
that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the
benefit of such series) or surrendering any right or power
herein conferred upon DTE Energy with respect to the debt
securities;
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adding any additional events of default with respect to the debt
securities (and, if such event of default is applicable to less
than all series of debt securities, specifying the series to
which such event of default is applicable);
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adding to or changing any provisions of the indenture to provide
that bearer debt securities may be registrable, changing or
eliminating any restrictions on the payment of principal of (or
premium, if any) or
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interest on or any additional amounts with respect to bearer
debt securities, permitting bearer debt securities to be issued
in exchange for registered debt securities, permitting bearer
debt securities to be issued in exchange for bearer debt
securities of other authorized denominations or facilitating the
issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form provided that
any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the debt securities in any material respect;
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establishing the form or terms of debt securities of any series;
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evidencing and providing for the acceptance of appointment of a
successor trustee and adding to or changing any of the
provisions of the indenture to facilitate the administration of
the trusts;
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curing any ambiguity, correcting or supplementing any provision
in the indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any
other provision therein, or making or amending any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under
the indenture which shall not adversely affect the interests of
the holders of debt securities of any series in any material
respect;
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modifying, eliminating or adding to the provisions of the
indenture to maintain the qualification of the indenture under
the Trust Indenture Act as the same may be amended from time to
time;
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adding to, deleting from or revising the conditions, limitations
and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of
issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as
therein set forth;
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modifying, eliminating or adding to the provisions of any
security to allow for such security to be held in certificated
form;
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securing the debt securities;
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making provisions with respect to conversion or exchange rights
of holders of securities of any series;
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amending or supplementing any provision contained therein or in
any supplemental indenture, provided that no such amendment or
supplement will adversely affect the interests of the holders of
any debt securities then outstanding in any material
respect; or
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modifying, deleting or adding to any of the provisions of the
indenture other than as contemplated above.
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The holders of at least
662/3%
in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of any series
issued under the indenture may, on behalf of the holders of all
debt securities of that series, waive our compliance with
certain restrictive provisions of the indenture. The holders of
not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt
securities of any series issued under the indenture may, on
behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive
any past default and its consequences under the indenture with
respect to the debt securities of that series, except:
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payment default with respect to debt securities of that
series; or
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a default of a covenant or provision of the indenture that
cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder
of each debt security of that series.
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Enforcement
of Certain Rights by Holders of Trust Preferred
Securities
The following applies only in the event that debt securities are
held by the DTE Energy Trust.
To the extent that any action under any debt securities held by
the DTE Energy Trust is entitled to be taken by the holders of
at least a specified percentage of those debt securities, and
unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, holders of the trust preferred securities issued by
the DTE Energy Trust may take action if the action is not taken
by the property trustee of the DTE Energy Trust. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if an event of default under those debt
securities has occurred and is continuing and is attributable
either to:
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the failure of DTE Energy to pay the principal of, or any
premium or interest on, those debt securities on the due
date; or
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the failure by DTE Energy to deliver the required securities or
other property upon an appropriate conversion or exchange
election, if any,
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and an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the
applicable trust agreement, a holder of the related trust
preferred securities may institute a direct action.
A direct action is a legal proceeding directly
against DTE Energy for enforcement of payment to the holder of
trust preferred securities issued by the DTE Energy Trust of the
principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities
held by that trust having a principal amount equal to the
liquidation amount of those trust preferred securities held by
that holder or for enforcement of any conversion or exchange
rights, as the case may be. DTE Energy may not amend an
indenture to remove this right to bring a direct action without
the prior written consent of the holders of all of the trust
preferred securities outstanding that have an interest in the
related debt securities. If the right to bring a direct action
is removed, the DTE Energy Trust may become subject to the
reporting obligations under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding
any payments made to a holder of trust preferred securities by
DTE Energy in connection with a direct action, DTE Energy will
remain obligated to pay the principal of, and any premium and
interest on, the related debt securities, and DTE Energy will be
subrogated to the rights of the holders of those trust preferred
securities with respect to payments on the trust preferred
securities to the extent of any payments made by DTE Energy to
the holder in any direct action.
The holders of the trust preferred securities will not be able
to exercise directly any remedies, other than those set forth in
the preceding paragraph, available to the holders of the related
debt securities unless an event of default has occurred and is
continuing under the applicable trust agreement. See
Description of Trust Preferred Securities
Events of Default; Notice below.
Resignation
and Removal of the Trustee; Deemed Resignation
The trustee may resign at any time with respect to the debt
securities of one or more series by giving written notice
thereof to us.
The trustee may also be removed with respect to the debt
securities of any series by act of the holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such
series.
No resignation or removal of such trustee and no appointment of
a successor trustee will become effective until the acceptance
of appointment by a successor trustee in accordance with the
requirements of the indenture.
Under certain circumstances, we may appoint a successor trustee
and if the successor accepts, the retiring trustee will be
deemed to have resigned.
Governing
Law
The indenture is governed by, and will be construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Concerning
the Trustees
BNY Midwest Trust Company is the successor trustee under the
indenture. The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., an
affiliate of BNY Midwest Trust Company, acts as the property
trustee under the trust agreement and the guarantee trustee
under the guarantee as described in this prospectus. The Bank of
New York (Delaware), an affiliate of BNY Midwest Trust Company,
acts as the Delaware trustee under the trust agreement as
described in this prospectus. The Bank of New York, an affiliate
of BNY Midwest Trust Company, acts as trustee with respect to
the securitization bonds issued by The Detroit Edison
Securitization Funding LLC. In addition to acting as trustees
under the indenture and in certain other capacities as described
in this prospectus, the trustees and their affiliates may act as
trustee under various other indentures, trusts and guarantees of
DTE Energy and its affiliates and may act as a lender and
provide other banking, trust and investment services for DTE
Energy and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
The Trust Indenture Act contains limitations on the rights of
the trustee, should it become a creditor of DTE Energy, to
obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on
certain property received by it in respect of any such claims,
as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in
other transactions with DTE Energy and its subsidiaries from
time to time, provided that if the trustee acquires any
conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict upon the
occurrence of an event of default under the indenture, or else
resign.
26
DESCRIPTION
OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
The DTE Energy Trust will issue under its trust agreement only
one series of trust preferred securities, which will represent
beneficial interests in the DTE Energy Trust. The DTE Energy
Trust will qualify its trust agreement under the Trust Indenture
Act. The trust agreement is subject to, and governed by, the
Trust Indenture Act. This summary of certain terms and
provisions of the trust preferred securities and the trust
agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the
provisions of the trust preferred securities and the trust
agreement, including the definitions of certain terms, and those
made a part of the trust agreement by the Trust Indenture Act. A
form of trust agreement, including a form of trust securities,
is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that
includes this prospectus. If indicated in the applicable
prospectus supplement, the terms of the DTE Energy Trust may
differ from the terms summarized below.
General
The trust preferred securities of the DTE Energy Trust will rank
equally, and payments will be made on the trust preferred
securities proportionately, with the trust common securities of
the DTE Energy Trust except as described under
Subordination of Trust Common
Securities. The DTE Energy Trust will use the proceeds
from the sale of trust preferred securities and trust common
securities to purchase an aggregate principal amount of debt
securities of DTE Energy equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the trust preferred securities and trust common
securities. The property trustee of the DTE Energy Trust will
hold legal title to the debt securities for the benefit of the
holders of the related trust securities. In addition, DTE Energy
will execute a guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the
related trust preferred securities. The guarantee will not
guarantee payment of distributions or amounts payable or
securities or other property deliverable, if any, on redemption,
repayment, conversion or exchange of the trust preferred
securities or liquidation of the DTE Energy Trust when the trust
does not have funds or other property legally available for
payment or delivery. See Description of
Trust Preferred Securities Guarantees.
The revenue of the DTE Energy Trust available for distribution
to holders of its trust preferred securities will be limited to
payments under the related debt securities and any other assets
held by the DTE Energy Trust. If DTE Energy fails to make a
required payment in respect of those debt securities or any
other assets, the DTE Energy Trust will not have sufficient
funds to make the related payments, including distributions, in
respect of its trust preferred securities.
The DTE Energy Trust will describe the specific terms of the
trust preferred securities it is offering in the applicable
prospectus supplement, including:
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the designation, number, purchase price and liquidation amount,
if any, of the trust preferred securities;
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the distribution rate, or method of calculation of the
distribution rate, for the trust preferred securities and, if
applicable, any deferral provisions;
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whether the distributions on the trust preferred securities will
be cumulative and, if so, the dates from which and upon which
distributions will accumulate and be payable and the record
dates;
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if other than U.S. dollars, the currency in which cash
payments are payable;
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the liquidation amount per trust preferred security that will be
paid out of the assets of the DTE Energy Trust to the holders
upon voluntary or involuntary dissolution and liquidation of the
trust;
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the obligation or right, if any, of the DTE Energy Trust to
purchase or redeem its trust preferred securities, whether
pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise, and the price or prices
at which, the date or dates on which or period or periods within
which and the terms and conditions upon which, it will or may
purchase or redeem, in whole or in part, the trust preferred
securities pursuant to its obligation or right to purchase or
redeem;
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the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the trust preferred
securities may be converted or exchanged, in addition to the
circumstances described herein, into other securities or
property, or a combination of the foregoing;
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the obligation or right, if any, of DTE Energy, the DTE Energy
Trust or any other party to liquidate the DTE Energy Trust and
any terms and conditions of such liquidation;
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the voting rights, if any, of the holders;
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if applicable, any securities exchange upon which the trust
preferred securities will be listed;
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if applicable, a description of any remarketing, auction or
other similar arrangements;
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whether the trust preferred securities are issuable in
book-entry only form and, if so, the identity of the depositary
and disclosure relating to the depositary arrangements; and
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any other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations or
restrictions of the trust preferred securities consistent with
the trust agreement or with applicable law, which may differ
from those described herein.
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The DTE Energy Trust will also describe certain material United
States federal income tax considerations applicable to any
offering of trust preferred securities in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
Subordination
of Trust Common Securities
The DTE Energy Trust will pay distributions on, and the
applicable redemption price of, and any other amounts payable or
property deliverable under, the trust securities it issues
equally among its trust preferred securities and its trust
common securities based on its liquidation amounts. However, if
on any distribution date, redemption date, repayment date or
conversion or exchange date, or upon liquidation or if an event
of default under the debt securities held by the DTE Energy
Trust or any other event of default under the trust agreement
has occurred and is continuing, the DTE Energy Trust will not
pay any distribution on, or applicable redemption or repayment
price of, or convert or exchange any of, its trust common
securities. Further, it will not make any other payment on
account of the redemption, repayment, conversion, exchange,
liquidation or other acquisition of the trust common securities,
unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated distributions
on all of the outstanding trust preferred securities of the DTE
Energy Trust for all distribution periods terminating on or
before the redemption, repayment, conversion, exchange,
liquidation or other acquisition, and, in the case of payment of
the applicable redemption or repayment price, the full amount of
the redemption or repayment price, will have been made or
provided for. Also, in the case of conversion or exchange, no
such payments will be made unless the trust preferred securities
have been converted or exchanged in full and other amounts
payable have been paid. The property trustee will apply all
available funds first to the payment in full in cash of all
distributions on, or the applicable redemption price of, the
trust preferred securities issued by the DTE Energy Trust then
due and payable.
Until any event of default under the trust agreement for the DTE
Energy Trust has been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the
property trustee will act solely on behalf of the holders of the
trust preferred securities of the DTE Energy Trust and not on
behalf of DTE Energy as the direct or indirect trust common
securities owner, and only the holders of the trust preferred
securities issued by the DTE Energy Trust will have the right to
direct the property trustee to act on their behalf.
Events of
Default; Notice
The occurrence of an event of default under the debt securities
held by the DTE Energy Trust will constitute an event of default
under the trust agreement for the DTE Energy Trust. Within
90 days after the occurrence of an event of default
actually known to the property trustee, the property trustee
will transmit notice of that event of default to the holders of
the trust preferred securities of the DTE Energy Trust, unless
the event of default shall have been cured or waived. However,
except with respect to a default in the payment of principal of
(or premium, if any) or interest on, or in the delivery of any
cash, securities or other property in exchange for or upon
conversion or redemption of or otherwise in accordance with the
terms of, any debt securities held by the DTE Energy Trust or
the trust preferred securities or trust common securities issued
by the DTE Energy Trust, the property trustee may withhold such
notice if and so long as the property trustee in good faith
determines that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the holders of the trust preferred securities.
For a discussion of the limited circumstances in which holders
of trust preferred securities may bring a direct action against
DTE Energy under the debt securities, see Description of
Debt Securities Enforcement of Certain
28
Rights by Holders of Trust Preferred Securities. The
applicable prospectus supplement may describe additional events
of default under the trust agreement.
Removal
of Trustees
Unless an event of default under the debt securities held by the
DTE Energy Trust has occurred and is continuing, DTE Energy, as
the direct or indirect owner of trust common securities of the
DTE Energy Trust, may remove the property trustee, the Delaware
trustee and the administrative trustees at any time. If an event
of default under the debt securities held by the DTE Energy
Trust has occurred and is continuing, only the holders of a
majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding trust
preferred securities of the DTE Energy Trust may remove and
replace the property trustee and the Delaware trustee for the
DTE Energy Trust. In no event will the holders of the trust
preferred securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove
or replace the administrative trustees, which voting rights are
vested exclusively in DTE Energy as the direct or indirect trust
common securities owner. No resignation or removal of a property
or Delaware trustee, and no appointment of a successor to that
trustee, will be effective until the acceptance of appointment
by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of
the applicable trust agreement.
Merger or
Consolidation of Property or Delaware Trustees
Any person into which the property trustee or the Delaware
trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be
consolidated, or any person resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the property trustee or the
Delaware trustee will be a party, or any person succeeding to
all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the
property trustee or the Delaware trustee, will be the successor
of the property trustee or the Delaware trustee under the trust
agreement, provided that the person will be otherwise qualified
and eligible.
Mergers,
Conversions, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of
the DTE Energy Trust
The DTE Energy Trust may not merge with or into, convert into,
consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer
or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety, to any other person, except as
described below or as otherwise described in the applicable
prospectus supplement. The DTE Energy Trust may, at the request
of DTE Energy, as sponsor, with the consent of the
administrative trustees but without the consent of the holders
of its trust preferred securities, the Delaware trustee or the
property trustee, merge with or into, convert into, consolidate,
amalgamate, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under
the laws of any state of the United States, provided that:
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the successor entity expressly assumes all of the obligations of
the DTE Energy Trust under any agreement to which the trust is a
party and either:
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expressly assumes all of the obligations of the DTE Energy Trust
with respect to the trust securities of the DTE Energy
Trust, or
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substitutes for the trust securities of the DTE Energy Trust
other securities having substantially the same terms as those
trust securities, so long as the successor trust securities rank
the same as the trust securities rank with respect to
distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and
otherwise;
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DTE Energy expressly appoints a trustee of the successor entity
possessing substantially the same powers and duties as the
property trustee with respect to the debt securities held by the
DTE Energy Trust;
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the successor securities are listed, or any successor securities
will be listed upon notification of issuance, if applicable, on
each national securities exchange or other organization on which
the trust securities of the DTE Energy Trust are then listed, if
any;
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the merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement does not cause the trust securities, including any
successor securities, of the DTE Energy Trust to be downgraded
or placed under surveillance or review by any nationally
recognized statistical rating organization;
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the merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences
and privileges of the holders of the trust securities, including
any successor securities, of the DTE Energy Trust in any
material respect;
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the successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to
that of the DTE Energy Trust;
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prior to the merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement, DTE Energy has received an opinion from a
nationally recognized independent counsel experienced in these
matters and representing the DTE Energy Trust, to the effect
that:
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the merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences
and privileges of the holders of the trust securities, including
any successor securities, of the DTE Energy Trust in any
material respect,
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following the merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement, neither the DTE Energy Trust nor the successor
entity, if any, will be required to register as an investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and
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following the merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement, the DTE Energy Trust or the successor entity, as
the case may be, will continue to be classified as a grantor
trust for United States federal income tax purposes;
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DTE Energy or any permitted successor or assignee directly or
indirectly owns all of the common securities of the successor
entity and guarantees the obligations of the successor entity
under the successor securities at least to the extent provided
by the applicable guarantee; and
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the property trustee has received an officers certificate
of DTE Energy and an opinion of counsel, each to the effect that
all conditions precedent to the transaction as set forth in the
trust agreement have been satisfied.
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Despite the foregoing, the DTE Energy Trust may not, without the
consent of holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the trust
securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity to
consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it, if
the consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would
cause the DTE Energy Trust or the successor entity to be
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes.
Voting
Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement
Except as provided under Mergers, Conversions,
Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the DTE Energy
Trust and Description of Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantees Amendments and
Assignment and as otherwise required by law and the trust
agreement or specified in the applicable prospectus supplement,
the holders of trust preferred securities will have no voting
rights.
DTE Energy, the property trustee, the Delaware trustee and the
administrative trustees may amend from time to time the trust
agreement for the DTE Energy Trust, without the consent of the
holders of the trust securities of the DTE Energy Trust, to:
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cure any ambiguity, or correct or supplement any provisions in
the trust agreement that may be defective or inconsistent with
any other provision;
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add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the sponsor;
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conform to any change in the Investment Company Act or Trust
Indenture Act or the rules promulgated thereunder, or any
written change in interpretation of such acts or rules by any
governmental authority; or
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cause the DTE Energy Trust to continue to be classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust;
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provided, however, that any such modification that will
adversely affect the rights of the holders of the trust
securities issued by the DTE Energy Trust requires the consent
of the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of each class
of trust securities affected.
30
Without the consent of each holder of trust securities issued by
the DTE Energy Trust, the trust agreement for the DTE Energy
Trust may not be amended to:
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change the distribution rate, or manner of calculation of the
distribution rate, amount, timing or currency or otherwise
adversely affect the method of any required payment;
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change its purpose;
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authorize the issuance of any additional beneficial interests;
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change the conversion, exchange or redemption provisions, if any;
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change the conditions precedent for DTE Energy to elect to
dissolve the DTE Energy Trust and distribute the debt securities
held by the DTE Energy Trust to the holders of the trust
securities, if applicable;
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change the liquidation, distribution or other provisions
relating to the distribution of amounts payable upon the
dissolution and liquidation of the DTE Energy Trust;
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affect the limited liability of any holder of its trust
securities; or
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restrict the right of a holder of its trust securities to
institute suit for the enforcement of any required distribution
on or, if applicable, after the due date therefor or for the
conversion or exchange of the trust securities in accordance
with their terms.
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So long as the property trustee holds any debt securities for
the DTE Energy Trust, the property trustee, the Delaware trustee
and the administrative trustees for the DTE Energy Trust will
not:
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direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the debt securities trustee, or
execute any trust or power conferred on the property trustee,
with respect to those debt securities;
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waive certain past defaults under the indenture;
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exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration of
acceleration of the maturity of the principal of those debt
securities; or
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consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the
indenture or those debt securities, where consent is required;
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without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the
holders of a majority in liquidation amount of all outstanding
trust preferred securities of the DTE Energy Trust. However,
where a consent under the indenture would require the consent of
each holder of those debt securities affected thereby, the
property trustee will not consent without the prior approval of
each holder of the trust preferred securities issued by the DTE
Energy Trust. The property trustee, the Delaware trustee and the
administrative trustees may not revoke any action previously
authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of trust
preferred securities except by subsequent vote of the holders.
The property trustee will notify each holder of trust preferred
securities of any notice of default with respect to the
applicable debt securities. In addition to obtaining approvals
of holders of trust preferred securities referred to above,
prior to taking any of the foregoing actions (other than
directing the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the debt securities
trustee), the property trustee will obtain an opinion of counsel
experienced in these matters to the effect that the DTE Energy
Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes on account of such
action.
Any required approval of holders of trust preferred securities
may be given at a meeting of the holders convened for this
purpose or by written consent without prior notice. The
administrative trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at
which holders of trust preferred securities are entitled to vote
to be given to each holder of record of trust preferred
securities in the manner set forth in the trust agreement.
Notwithstanding that holders of trust preferred securities are
entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances
referred to above, any trust preferred securities that are owned
by DTE Energy or any affiliate of DTE Energy will, for purposes
of this vote or consent, be treated as if they were not
outstanding.
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Global
Trust Preferred Securities
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, trust preferred securities will be represented by
one or more global certificates deposited with, or on behalf of,
DTC, or such other depository identified in the prospectus
supplement, or a nominee of DTC or other depository, in each
case for credit to an account of a participant in DTC or other
depository. See Book-Entry Securities.
Payment
and Paying Agent
Payments in respect of any global certificate representing trust
preferred securities will be made to Cede & Co. as
nominee of DTC or other applicable depository or its nominee,
which will credit the relevant accounts at DTC or other
depository on the applicable payment dates, while payments in
respect of trust preferred securities in certificated form will
be made by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled
thereto as the address will appear on the register. The paying
agent will initially be the property trustee and any co-paying
agent chosen by the property trustee and acceptable to the
administrative trustees and DTE Energy. In the event that the
property trustee will no longer be the paying agent, the
administrative trustees will appoint a successor, which will be
a bank or trust company acceptable to the administrative
trustees and DTE Energy, to act as paying agent.
Registrar
and Transfer Agent
The property trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent
for the trust preferred securities.
Registration of transfers of trust preferred securities will be
effected without charge by or on behalf of the DTE Energy Trust,
upon payment of any tax or other governmental charges that may
be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange. The DTE
Energy Trust will not be required to register or cause to be
registered the transfer of its trust preferred securities after
they have been converted, exchanged, redeemed, repaid or called
for redemption or repayment.
Information
Concerning the Property Trustee
The property trustee, other than during the occurrence and
continuance of an event of default under the trust agreement,
will undertake to perform only the duties that are specifically
set forth in the trust agreement and, during the continuance of
that event of default, must exercise the same degree of care and
skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct
of his or her own affairs. Subject to the foregoing, the
property trustee will not be under any obligation to exercise
any of the powers vested in it by the trust agreement at the
request of any holder of the related trust securities unless the
holder offers the property trustee reasonable indemnity
satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities
that it might incur thereby.
Miscellaneous
The administrative trustees are authorized and directed to
conduct the affairs of and to operate the DTE Energy Trust in
such a way that:
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the DTE Energy Trust will not be deemed to be an investment
company required to be registered under the Investment Company
Act;
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the DTE Energy Trust will be classified as a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes; and
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the debt securities held by the DTE Energy Trust will be treated
as indebtedness of DTE Energy for United States federal income
tax purposes.
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DTE Energy and the administrative trustees are authorized to
take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the
certificate of trust of the DTE Energy Trust or each trust
agreement, that the administrative trustees determine in their
discretion to be necessary or desirable for those purposes, as
long as that action does not materially adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the related trust securities.
Holders of trust preferred securities will not have any
preemptive or similar rights.
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Accounting
Treatment
For financial reporting purposes, the accounts of the DTE Energy
Trust will not be consolidated in our financial statements, but
our common equity investment in the DTE Energy Trust as well as
our obligation related to the debt securities will be reflected
in our consolidated balance sheet. See FASB Interpretation
No. 46-R,
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an
Interpretation of ARB No. 51
(FIN 46-R).
Any required disclosures about the debt securities and the trust
preferred securities will be included in the notes to our
consolidated financial statements, and we will record payments
that we make to the DTE Energy Trust for the debt securities as
an expense in determining net income available to common
stockholders in our consolidated statement of income. We do not
expect that the DTE Energy Trust will be filing annual,
quarterly or current reports with the SEC.
DESCRIPTION
OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE
DTE Energy will execute and deliver a guarantee concurrently
with the issuance by the DTE Energy Trust of its trust preferred
securities for the benefit of the holders from time to time of
those trust preferred securities. The guarantee will be held for
those holders by a guarantee trustee. DTE Energy will qualify
the guarantee as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The
guarantee will be subject to, and governed by, the Trust
Indenture Act. This summary of certain terms and provisions of
the guarantee does not purport to be complete and is subject to,
and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the
provisions of the guarantee, including the definitions of terms,
and those made a part of the guarantee by the Trust Indenture
Act. A form of guarantee is filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement that includes this prospectus. If
indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of
a particular guarantee may differ from the terms discussed below.
General
Pursuant to and to the extent set forth in the guarantee, DTE
Energy will irrevocably and unconditionally agree to pay in full
the guarantee payments to the holders of the related trust
preferred securities, as and when due, regardless of any
defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the DTE Energy
Trust may have or assert. The following payments constitute
guarantee payments with respect to trust preferred securities
and, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the DTE Energy
Trust, will be subject to the guarantee:
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any accumulated and unpaid distributions that are required to be
paid on the applicable trust preferred securities, to the extent
that the DTE Energy Trust has funds legally available therefor
at such time;
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the applicable redemption or repayment price and all accumulated
and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption or repayment
with respect to the trust preferred securities called for
redemption or repayment, to the extent that the DTE Energy Trust
has funds legally available therefor at such time; or
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upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution and liquidation of
the DTE Energy Trust, other than in connection with the
distribution of the debt securities to holders of its trust
preferred securities or the redemption, repayment, conversion or
exchange of its trust preferred securities, if applicable, the
lesser of:
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the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accumulated and
unpaid distributions on the trust preferred securities to the
date of payment, to the extent the DTE Energy Trust has funds
available therefor, and
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the amount of assets of the DTE Energy Trust remaining available
for distribution to holders of its trust preferred securities in
liquidation of the DTE Energy Trust.
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DTE Energys obligation to make a guarantee payment may be
satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by DTE
Energy to the holders of the applicable trust preferred
securities entitled to those payments or by causing the DTE
Energy Trust to pay those amounts to the holders.
If the trust preferred securities are exchangeable or
convertible into other securities, DTE Energy will also
irrevocably agree to cause the DTE Energy Trust to deliver to
holders of those trust preferred securities those other
securities in accordance with the applicable exchange or
conversion provisions.
DTE Energy will, through the guarantee, the applicable trust
agreement, the related debt securities and the applicable
indenture, taken together, fully, irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantee all of the DTE Energy Trusts
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obligations under its trust preferred securities. No single
document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer
than all of the other documents constitutes a guarantee. It is
only the combined operation of these documents that has the
effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional
guarantee of the DTE Energy Trusts obligations under its
trust preferred securities.
Ranking
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of DTE Energy and will rank equal to the debt
securities held by the DTE Energy Trust that issued the trust
preferred securities covered by the guarantee and senior to DTE
Energy common stock. The trust agreement provides that each
holder of trust preferred securities, by acceptance of the trust
preferred securities, agrees to the terms of the related
guarantee, including any subordination provisions.
The guarantee will not limit the amount of secured or unsecured
debt, including indebtedness under the indenture, that may be
incurred by DTE Energy or any of its subsidiaries.
Guarantee
of Payment
The guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This means that the guaranteed party may institute a
legal proceeding directly against DTE Energy to enforce its
rights under the guarantee without first instituting a legal
proceeding against any other person or entity. The guarantee
will not be discharged except by payment of the related
guarantee payments in full to the extent not paid by the DTE
Energy Trust or upon distribution of the debt securities or
other assets held by the DTE Energy Trust to the holders of the
its trust preferred securities.
Amendments
and Assignment
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially
adversely affect the rights of holders of the related trust
preferred securities, in which case no approval will be
required, the guarantee may not be amended without the prior
approval of the holders of a majority of the liquidation amount
of the outstanding trust preferred securities covered by that
guarantee. The manner of obtaining any approval will be as set
forth under Description of Trust Preferred
Securities Voting Rights; Amendment of a
Trust Agreement. The guarantee and all agreements
contained in the guarantee will bind the successors, assigns,
receivers, trustees and representatives of DTE Energy and will
inure to the benefit of the holders of the related trust
preferred securities then outstanding.
Events of
Default
An event of default under the guarantee will occur upon the
failure of DTE Energy to perform any of its payment or other
obligations under that guarantee. Within 90 days after the
occurrence of an event of default actually known to the
guarantee trustee, the guarantee trustee will transmit notice of
that event of default to the holders of the trust preferred
securities of the DTE Energy Trust, unless the event of default
shall have been cured or waived. However, except with respect to
a default in respect of any guarantee payment or delivery of any
securities upon conversion or exchange, the guarantee trustee
may withhold such notice if and so long as the guarantee trustee
in good faith determines the withholding of such notice is in
the interests of the holders of the related trust preferred
securities. The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of
the trust preferred securities covered by the guarantee will
have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
guarantee trustee in respect of that guarantee or to direct the
exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the guarantee
trustee under that guarantee.
If the guarantee trustee fails to enforce the guarantee, any
holder of the related trust preferred securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against DTE Energy to enforce its
rights under the guarantee without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the DTE Energy Trust, the guarantee trustee
or any other person or entity.
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Termination
The guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and
effect upon full payment of the applicable redemption or
repayment price of the related trust preferred securities, upon
full payment of all amounts or delivery of all securities or
other property due upon the dissolution and liquidation of the
DTE Energy Trust or upon the conversion or exchange of all of
the related trust preferred securities. The guarantee will
continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any holder of the related trust preferred
securities must restore payment of any sums paid or other
property distributed under those trust preferred securities or
the related guarantee.
Information
Concerning the Guarantee Trustee
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. will be the guarantee
trustee under the guarantee.
The guarantee trustee, other than during the occurrence and
continuance of a default by DTE Energy in performance of the
guarantee, will undertake to perform only the duties that are
specifically set forth in the guarantee and, during the
continuance of that default, must exercise the same degree of
care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the
conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to the foregoing, the
guarantee trustee will not be under any obligation to exercise
any of the powers vested in it by the guarantee at the request
of any holder of the related trust preferred securities unless
it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses
and liabilities that it might incur.
Rights
Upon Dissolution
Unless the debt securities held by the DTE Energy Trust are
distributed to holders of the related trust preferred
securities, upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution and
liquidation of the DTE Energy Trust, after satisfaction of the
liabilities of its creditors as required by applicable law, the
holders of those trust preferred securities will be entitled to
receive, out of assets held by the DTE Energy Trust, the
liquidation distribution in cash. Upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of DTE Energy, the
property trustee, as holder of the debt securities, would be a
creditor of DTE Energy.
BOOK-ENTRY
SECURITIES
Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the securities, other than our common stock, will be
represented by one or more global securities. Each global
security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository
Trust Company (DTC) and registered in the name of a
nominee of DTC.
Portions of the following information concerning DTC and
DTCs book-entry only system have been obtained from
sources that we believe to be reliable. We make no
representation as to the accuracy of such information.
DTC, the worlds largest depository, 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 Section 17A of the
Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over
2.2 million issues of U.S. and
non-U.S. equity,
corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market
instruments from over 100 countries that DTCs participants
(Direct Participants) deposit with DTC. DTC also
facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants
of sales and other securities transactions in deposited
securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers
and pledges between Direct Participants accounts. This
eliminates the need for physical movement of securities
certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and
non-U.S. securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust &
Clearing Corporation (DTCC). DTCC, in turn, is owned
by a number of Direct Participants of DTC and Members of the
National Securities Clearing Corporation, Fixed Income Clearing
Corporation, and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation (NSCC,
FICC, and EMCC, also subsidiaries of DTCC), as well as by the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC,
and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access
to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S.
and
non-U.S. securities
brokers and dealers, banks,
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trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or
maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant,
either directly or indirectly (Indirect
Participants). DTC has Standard & Poors
highest rating: AAA. The DTC Rules applicable to its
Participants are on file with the SEC. More information about
DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com and www.dtc.org.
Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or
through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the
securities on DTCs records. The ownership interest of each
actual purchaser of each security (Beneficial Owner)
is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect
Participants records. Beneficial Owners will not receive
written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial
Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations
providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic
statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect
Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the
transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the securities
are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct
and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners.
Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing
their ownership interests in securities, except in the event
that use of the book-entry system for the securities is
discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all securities deposited by
Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of
DTCs partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such
other name as may be requested by an authorized representative
of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their
registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other
nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC
has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the
securities; DTCs records reflect only the identity of the
Direct Participants to whose accounts such securities are
credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The
Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for
keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants,
and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to
Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time.
Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the
securities within an issue are being redeemed, DTCs
practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of
each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor such other DTC
nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities
unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with
DTCs Procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an
Omnibus Proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date.
The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.s consenting
or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts
the Securities are credited on the record date (identified in a
listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
Redemption proceeds, distributions, and dividend payments on the
securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other
nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of
DTC. DTCs practice is to credit Direct Participants
accounts, upon DTCs receipt of funds and corresponding
detail information from us on payable date in accordance with
their respective holdings shown on DTCs records. Payments
by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by
standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case
with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer
form or registered in street name, and will be the
responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC nor its
nominee, DTE Energy, the DTE Energy Trust, or the trustees,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds,
distributions, and dividend payments to Cede & Co. (or
such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized
representative of DTC) is the responsibility of DTE Energy, the
DTE Energy Trust, or the relevant trustee, disbursement of such
payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of
DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners
will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities
depository with respect to the securities at any time by giving
reasonable notice to us or the trustee. Under such
circumstances, in the event that a successor securities
depository is not obtained, certificates representing the
securities are required to be printed and delivered.
We may decide to discontinue use of the system of
book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities
depository). In that event, certificates representing the
securities will be printed and delivered to DTC.
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PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
DTE Energy and the DTE Energy Trust may sell the securities
through agents, underwriters or dealers, or directly to one or
more purchasers without using underwriters or agents.
DTE Energy
and/or the
DTE Energy Trust may designate one or more agents to sell the
securities. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement,
the agents will agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit
purchases for the period of their appointment or to sell
securities on a continuing basis.
If DTE Energy
and/or the
DTE Energy Trust uses underwriters for a sale of securities, the
underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account.
The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more
transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed
public offering price or at varying prices determined at the
time of sale. The underwriters may sell the securities directly
or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing
underwriters. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus
supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the
securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the
applicable underwriting agreement. The underwriters will be
obligated to purchase all the securities offered if any of those
securities are purchased. If DTE Energy or the DTE Energy Trust
uses a dealer in the sale, it will sell the securities to the
dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell those securities
at varying prices determined at the time of resale. Any initial
public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed
or re-allowed or paid to dealers will be described in the
applicable prospectus supplement and may be changed from time to
time.
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the
distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in
the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions they receive
from DTE Energy
and/or the
DTE Energy Trust and any profit on their resale of the
securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act. The applicable prospectus
supplement will identify any underwriters, dealers or agents and
will describe their compensation. DTE Energy and the DTE Energy
Trust may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and
agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters,
dealers and agents may engage in transactions with or perform
services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
their businesses.
Trading
Markets and Listing of Securities
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new
issue with no established trading market, other than the common
stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. DTE
Energy and the DTE Energy Trust may elect to list any other
class or series of securities on any exchange but is not
obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters
may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the
underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue
any market making at any time without notice. Neither DTE Energy
nor the DTE Energy Trust can give any assurance as to the
liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.
Stabilization
Activities
Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing
transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in
accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size,
which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit
bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the
stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.
Syndicate-covering transactions involve purchases of the
securities in the open market after the distribution is
completed to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids
permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a
dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are
purchased in a covering transaction to cover syndicate short
positions. These stabilizing activities may cause the price of
the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If
commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the
activities at any time.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the DTE Energy securities and certain other
legal matters will be passed upon for DTE Energy by Thomas A.
Hughes, Associate General Counsel. Mr. Hughes beneficially
owns shares of DTE Energy common
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stock and holds options to purchase additional shares. The
validity of the securities issued by the DTE Energy Trust and
certain matters of Delaware law will be passed upon for the DTE
Energy Trust by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.,
special Delaware counsel to the DTE Energy Trust. Except as
otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, certain legal
matters relating to the securities will be passed upon for any
underwriters, dealers or agents by Dewey Ballantine LLP, New
York, New York. Dewey Ballantine LLP will rely on the opinion of
Mr. Hughes with respect to Michigan law and the opinion of
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. with respect to
Delaware law.
Dewey Ballantine LLP has represented, and may in the future
continue to represent, us
and/or
certain of our affiliates as to certain energy regulatory,
commercial and other matters unrelated to the offering of
securities described in this prospectus.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements, the related financial
statement schedule, and managements report on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of
DTE Energy Company (the Company) incorporated in
this prospectus by reference from the Companys Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are
incorporated herein by reference (which reports (1) express
an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements
and related financial statement schedule and include an
explanatory paragraph related to the change in method of
accounting for asset retirement obligations in 2005 and change
in method of accounting for asset retirement obligations, energy
trading contracts, and gas inventories in 2003, (2) express
an unqualified opinion on managements assessment regarding
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting,
and (3) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting), and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given
upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Available
Information
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC
filings are available to the public over the Internet at the
SECs web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and
copy any document we file at the SECs public reference
room located at 100 F. Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the public reference room and copy
charges.
You can also inspect reports and other information about DTE
Energy at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange,
20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
We maintain a web site at http://www.dteenergy.com (which is not
intended to be an active hyperlink), that contains information
about us. The information on our web site is not incorporated by
reference into this prospectus and you should not consider it
part of this prospectus.
Incorporation
by Reference
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with them, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to those
documents. The information incorporated by reference is an
important part of this prospectus, and information that we file
later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this
information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed
below and any future filings we make with the SEC under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
(other than information in such documents that is deemed not to
be filed):
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 (including information
specifically incorporated by reference into DTE Energys
Form 10-K
from DTE Energys definitive Proxy Statement for its 2006
annual meeting of shareholders filed on March 24, 2006);
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Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2006;
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Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 2006;
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
dated January 5, 2006, March 1, 2006, April 27,
2006 (filed May 3, 2006), May 15, 2006 (with respect
to Item 8.01 only), May 17, 2006, May 23, 2006
and June 29, 2006;
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Description of DTE Energy common stock on
Form 8-B,
filed on January 2, 1996; and
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Description of the Rights Agreement on
Form 8-A,
filed on September 23, 1997.
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Each of these documents is available from the SECs web
site and public reference rooms described above. We will provide
without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner,
to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, on the written
or oral request of that person, a copy of any or all of the
documents incorporated in this prospectus or in any related
prospectus supplement by reference, excluding the exhibits to
those documents unless the exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference therein. You may make such a request
by writing or telephoning DTE Energy Investor Relations at:
DTE Energy Company
Attention: Investor Relations, 819 WCB
2000
2nd Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
48226-1279
(313) 235-8030
There are no separate financial statements of the DTE Energy
Trust in this prospectus. We do not believe these financial
statements would be material to investors because:
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the DTE Energy Trust is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DTE Energy,
which files consolidated financial information under the
Exchange Act;
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the DTE Energy Trust will not have any independent operations
other than issuing trust preferred securities and trust common
securities, purchasing debt securities of DTE Energy and other
necessary or incidental activities as described in this
prospectus;
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DTE Energy guarantees the trust preferred securities of the DTE
Energy Trust;
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no other subsidiary of DTE Energy guarantees the trust preferred
securities of the DTE Energy Trust; and
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the guarantee of the DTE Energy Trust by DTE Energy is full and
unconditional.
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