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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-161489
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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| Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be |
Proposed maximum offering price per unit (1) |
Proposed maximum aggregate |
Amount of registration fee (1) | ||||
| Common Stock |
1,334,668 | $59.665 | $79,632,966.22 | $9,125.94 | ||||
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NOTES:
| (1) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June 18, 2010. |
Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus Dated August 21, 2009)
DTE Energy Company
Common Stock
1,334,668 shares
DTE Energy Company Affiliates Employee Benefit Plan Master Trust (the “Selling Shareholder”) is offering 1,334,668 shares of common stock, without par value, of DTE Energy Company (the “Company”) contributed by The Detroit Edison Company in a private transaction. The shares of common stock are held in a segregated account by The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., the trustee of the Selling Shareholder (the “Trustee”), and may be offered for sale, from time to time, upon the instructions of Evercore Trust Company, N.A. or its successor (the “Investment Manager”) in its capacity as duly appointed fiduciary for the segregated account.
The shares of common stock to which this prospectus supplement relates may be sold from time to time through public or private transactions on or off the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), and at prevailing market prices or negotiated prices, all as more fully described under “Plan of Distribution.” The proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock to which this prospectus supplement relates are solely for the account of the Selling Shareholder. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales. See “Use of Proceeds” in the accompanying prospectus.
The Company’s common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “DTE.” On June 18, 2012, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE was $59.94.
Investment in our common stock involves risks. You should read carefully the entire prospectus and this prospectus supplement, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” that begins on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement, which describes some of these risks.
This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with, and may not be delivered or utilized without, the prospectus dated August 21, 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.
The date of this prospectus supplement is June 19, 2012.
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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 Selling Shareholder has 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 Selling Shareholder is not, making an offer to sell these securities 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 Energy’s 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.
Prospectus Supplement
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| Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements | S-3 | |||
| Risk Factors | S-4 | |||
| Use of Proceeds | S-8 | |||
| Selling Shareholder | S-8 | |||
| Plan of Distribution | S-9 | |||
Prospectus
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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, 2011 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, 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.
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An investment in our common stock 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 accompanying prospectus (including the “Risk Factors” set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011), about risks concerning our common stock, before buying our common stock. See also “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus supplement.
There are various risks associated with the operations of DTE Energy’s 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.
We are subject to rate regulation. Electric and gas rates for our utilities are set by the MPSC and the FERC and cannot be changed 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. Our regulators also may decide to disallow recovery of certain costs in customers’ rates if they determine that those costs do not meet the standards for recovery under our governing laws and regulations. Our utilities typically self-implement base rate changes six months after rate case filings in accordance with Michigan law. However, if the final rates authorized by our regulators in the final rate order are lower than the amounts we collected during the self-implementation period, we must refund the difference with interest. Our regulators may also disagree with our rate calculations under the various tracking and decoupling mechanisms that are intended to mitigate the risk to our utilities of certain aspects of our business. If we cannot agree with our regulators on an appropriate reconciliation of those mechanisms, it may impact our ability to recover certain costs through our customer rates. Our regulators may also decide to eliminate more of these mechanisms in future rate cases, which may make it more difficult for us to recover our costs in the rates we charge customers. We cannot predict what rates an MPSC order will adopt in future rate cases. New legislation, regulations or interpretations could change how our business operates, impact our ability to recover costs through rates or require us to incur additional expenses.
Changes to Michigan’s 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 2008 energy legislation enacted by the State of Michigan are phasing out the pricing disparity over five years and have placed a 10 percent cap on the total potential Customer Choice related migration. 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 legislative and financial risk associated with the electric Customer Choice program. Electric Customer Choice migration is sensitive to market price and full service electric price changes.
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 and credit risk of counterparties we do business with. Our utilities and certain non-utility businesses provide services to the domestic automotive and steel industries which have undergone considerable financial distress, exacerbating the decline in regional economic conditions. Should national or regional economic conditions deteriorate, reduced volumes of electricity and gas, and demand for energy services we supply, collections of accounts receivable, reductions in federal and state energy assistance funding, and potentially higher levels of lost or stolen gas could result in decreased earnings and cash flow.
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Environmental laws and liability may be costly. We are subject to and affected by 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 and can negatively affect the affordability of the rates we charge to our customers.
Uncertainty around future environmental regulations creates difficulty planning long-term capital projects in our generation fleet and gas distribution businesses. These laws and regulations require us to seek a variety of environmental licenses, permits, inspections and other regulatory approvals. We could be required to install expensive pollution control measures or limit or cease activities based on these regulations. Additionally, we may become a responsible party for environmental cleanup 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 and our unconventional gas production 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.
Future environmental regulation of natural gas extraction techniques including hydraulic fracturing being discussed both at the United States federal level and by some states may affect the profitability of natural gas extraction businesses which could affect demand for and profitability of our gas transportation businesses.
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, changes in federal nuclear regulation 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/or price of energy commodities and/or related services may impact our financial results. We are dependent on coal for much of our electrical generating capacity. Our access to natural gas supplies is critical to ensure reliability of service for our utility gas customers. Our non-utility businesses, including our energy transportation business, are also dependent upon supplies and prices of energy commodities and services. Price fluctuations, fuel supply disruptions and changes in transportation costs could have a negative impact on the amounts we charge our utility customers for electricity and gas and on the profitability of our non-utility businesses. We have hedging strategies and regulatory recovery mechanisms in place to mitigate some of the negative fluctuations in commodity supply prices in our utility and non-utility businesses, but there can be no assurances that our financial performance will not be negatively impacted by price fluctuations. The price of energy also impacts the market for our non-utility businesses that compete with utilities and alternative electric suppliers or provide energy transportation services.
The supply and/or price of other industrial raw and finished inputs and/or related services may impact our financial results. We are dependent on supplies of certain commodities, such as copper and limestone, among others, and industrial materials and services in order to maintain day-to-day operations and maintenance of our facilities. Price fluctuations or supply interruptions for these commodities and other items could have a negative impact on the amounts we charge our customers for our utility products and on the profitability of our non-utility businesses.
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
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opinions of the credit agencies issuing such ratings and may not necessarily reflect actual performance, a downgrade in our credit rating below investment grade could restrict or discontinue our ability to access capital markets and could result in an increase in our borrowing costs, a reduced level of capital expenditures and could impact future earnings and cash flows. In addition, a reduction in our 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 could impact our liquidity.
Our ability to access capital markets is important. Our ability to access capital markets is important to operate our businesses. In the past, 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 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. Our long term revolving credit facilities do not expire until 2015, but we regularly access capital markets to refinance existing debt or fund new projects at our utilities, and we cannot predict the pricing or demand for those future transactions.
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 debt and equity markets affects the value of assets that are 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 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, resulting in 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.
Construction and capital improvements to our power facilities and distribution systems subject us to risk. We are managing ongoing and planning future significant construction and capital improvement projects at multiple power generation and distribution facilities and our gas distribution system. Many factors that could cause delays or increased prices for these complex projects are beyond our control, including the cost of materials and labor, subcontractor performance, timing and issuance of necessary permits, construction disputes and weather conditions. Failure to complete these projects on schedule and on budget for any reason could adversely affect our financial performance and operations at the affected facilities and businesses.
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. Energy trading activities take place in volatile markets and expose us to risks related to commodity price movements. We routinely have speculative trading positions in the market, within strict policy guidelines we set, resulting from the management of our business portfolio. To the extent speculative trading positions exist, fluctuating commodity prices can improve or diminish our financial results and financial position. We manage our exposure by establishing and enforcing strict risk limits and risk management procedures. During periods of extreme volatility, these risk limits and risk management procedures may not work as planned and cannot eliminate all risks associated with these activities.
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Our non-utility businesses may not perform to our expectations. We rely on our non-utility operations for a portion of our earnings. If our current and contemplated non-utility investments do not perform at expected levels, we could experience diminished earnings and a corresponding decline in our shareholder value.
Our estimates of gas reserves are subject to change. While great care is exercised in utilizing historical information and assumptions to develop reasonable estimates of future production and cash flow, we cannot provide absolute assurance that our estimates of our Barnett gas reserves are accurate. 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 generated production tax credits from coke production, landfill gas recovery, biomass fired electric generation, reduced emission fuel, renewable energy credits, steel industry fuel and gas production operations. All production tax credits taken after 2008 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.
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.
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.
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.
Renewable portfolio standards and energy efficiency programs may affect our business. We are subject to existing Michigan and potential future federal legislation and regulation requiring us to secure sources of renewable energy. Under the current Michigan legislation we will be required in the future to provide a specified percentage of our power from Michigan renewable energy sources. We are developing a strategy for complying with the existing state legislation, but we do not know what requirements may be added by federal legislation. In addition, there could be additional state requirements increasing the percentage of power required to be provided by renewable energy sources. We are actively engaged in developing renewable energy projects and identifying third party projects in which we can invest. We cannot predict the financial impact or costs associated with these future projects.
We are also required by Michigan legislation to implement energy efficiency measures and provide energy efficiency customer awareness and education programs. These requirements necessitate expenditures and implementation of these programs creates the risk of reducing our revenues as customers decrease their energy usage. We do not know how these programs will impact our business and future operating results.
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Threats of terrorism or cyber attacks could affect our business. We may be threatened by problems such as computer viruses or terrorism that may disrupt our operations and could harm our operating results. Our industry requires the continued operation of sophisticated information technology systems and network infrastructure. Despite our implementation of security measures, all of our technology systems are vulnerable to disability or failures due to hacking, viruses, acts of war or terrorism and other causes. If our information technology systems were to fail and we were unable to recover in a timely way, we might be unable to fulfill critical business functions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
In addition, our generation plants, gas pipeline and storage facilities and electrical distribution facilities in particular may be targets of terrorist activities that could disrupt our ability to produce or distribute some portion of our energy products. We have increased security as a result of past events and we may be required by our regulators or by the future terrorist threat environment to make investments in security that we cannot currently predict.
Failure to maintain the security of personally identifiable information could adversely affect us. In connection with our business we collect and retain personally identifiable information of our customers, shareholders and employees. Our customers, shareholders and employees expect that we will adequately protect their personal information, and the United States regulatory environment surrounding information security and privacy is increasingly demanding. A significant theft, loss or fraudulent use of customer, shareholder, employee or DTE Energy data by cybercrime or otherwise could adversely impact our reputation and could result in significant costs, fines and litigation.
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.
A work interruption may adversely affect us. Unions represent approximately 5,000 of our employees. Our contract with one union representing about 500 of our electrical linemen is due to expire in August 2012. We cannot predict the outcome of those negotiations. 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.
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.
We may not be fully covered by insurance. We have a comprehensive insurance program in place to provide coverage for various types of risks, including catastrophic damage as a result of acts of God, terrorism 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 will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares by the Selling Shareholder.
On June 18, 2012, The Detroit Edison Company completed its contribution of an aggregate of 1,334,668 shares of DTE Energy common stock to the Selling Shareholder, a trust created under the DTE Energy Company Retirement Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
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amended, and provides retirement benefits to certain employees of the Company and its affiliates. This prospectus supplement covers the resale by the Selling Shareholder of up to the total number of shares so contributed in the manner contemplated under “Plan of Distribution.”
Pursuant to the registration rights agreement between us and the Investment Manager on behalf of the Selling Shareholder dated June 18, 2012, we agreed, among other things, to supplement our shelf registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus is a part with this prospectus supplement to register the disposition from time to time of the shares contributed to the Selling Shareholder.
At the date of this prospectus supplement, the Selling Shareholder beneficially owned 1,337,098 shares of our outstanding common stock, representing approximately 0.78% of our outstanding shares of common stock as of May 31, 2012. The Selling Shareholder may sell up to 1,334,668 shares of our common stock pursuant to this offering. We cannot estimate the number of shares of our common stock that the Selling Shareholder will hold in the future.
We currently have ongoing banking relationships with affiliates of the Trustee in the ordinary course of business and expect to continue to have similar relationships with the Trustee in the future. The shares of common stock are held in the custody of the Trustee in a separate investment account. The Investment Manager has been appointed to instruct the Trustee as to any disposition of shares of common stock held by the Selling Shareholder. The Investment Manager has sole authority to manage the shares of common stock contributed to the Selling Shareholder, subject to general investment criteria.
The Selling Shareholder may offer the shares from time to time, depending on market conditions and other factors, in one or more transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or any other national securities exchange or automated interdealer quotation system on which shares of our common stock are then listed, through negotiated transactions or otherwise. The shares may be sold at prices and on terms then prevailing, at prices related to the then-current market price or at negotiated prices. The shares may be offered in any manner permitted by law, including through brokers, dealers or agents, and directly to one or more purchasers. Sales of the shares may involve:
| • | block transactions in which the broker or dealer engaged will attempt to sell shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| • | purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by the broker or dealer for its account; or |
| • | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers. |
The Investment Manager and the Selling Shareholder will act independently of us with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale.
The Selling Shareholder may, upon instructions from the Investment Manager, effect such transactions by selling shares of common stock to or through broker-dealers. Such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts or commissions from the Selling Shareholder and may receive commissions from the purchasers of shares for whom they may act as agent in amounts to be negotiated. Such compensation may be received if the broker-dealer acts as either an agent or as a principal. The Selling Shareholder does not expect these discounts or commissions to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved. Any offering price, and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers, may be changed from time to time.
The aggregate proceeds to the Selling Shareholder will be the sales price of the shares of common stock, less discounts and commissions, if any.
In offering the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus supplement, the Selling Shareholder and any broker-dealers or agents who execute sales for the Selling Shareholder may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with such sales. Any profits realized by the Selling Shareholder and the compensation of any broker-dealer or agent may be deemed to be
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underwriting discounts and commissions. We know of no existing arrangements between the Selling Shareholder and any broker-dealer or other agent relating to the sale or distribution of the shares of common stock. We have not engaged any broker-dealer or agent in connection with the distribution of the shares of common stock.
Broker-dealers and agents, and their respective affiliates, may be engaged in transactions with, or perform commercial or investment banking or other services for, us or our subsidiaries or affiliates, in the ordinary course of business.
All of the shares of common stock to which this prospectus supplement relates will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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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:
| • | common stock; and/or |
| • | senior debt securities and/or subordinated debt securities, including debt securities convertible into common stock of DTE Energy or exchangeable for other securities. |
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. This prospectus may also be used by a selling security holder of the securities described herein. The supplements to this prospectus will describe the terms of any particular plan of distribution, including any underwriting arrangements, and will identify any selling security holders. See the “Plan of Distribution” section beginning on page 35 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 Energy Company’s and DTE Energy Trust III’s principal executive offices is One Energy Plaza, Detroit, Michigan 48226-1279, and their telephone number is (313) 235-4000.
DTE Energy Company’s 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 21, 2009
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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.
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.
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An investment in the securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the “Risk Factors” set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, 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” below.
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. Many factors may impact forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, the following:
| • | the length and severity of ongoing economic decline; |
| • | changes in the economic and financial viability of our customers, suppliers, and trading counterparties, and the continued ability of such parties to perform their obligations to the Company; |
| • | high levels of uncollectible accounts receivable; |
| • | access to capital markets and capital market conditions and the results of other financing efforts which can be affected by credit agency ratings; |
| • | instability in capital markets which could impact availability of short and long-term financing; |
| • | potential for continued loss on investments, including nuclear decommissioning and benefit plan assets; |
| • | the timing and extent of changes in interest rates; |
| • | the level of borrowings; |
| • | the availability, cost, coverage and terms of insurance and stability of insurance providers; |
| • | the effects of weather and other natural phenomena on operations and sales to customers, and purchases from suppliers; |
| • | economic climate and population growth or decline in the geographic areas where we do business; |
| • | environmental issues, laws, regulations, and the increasing costs of remediation and compliance, including actual and potential new federal and state requirements that include or could include carbon and more stringent mercury emission controls, a renewable portfolio standard, energy efficiency mandates, and a carbon tax or cap and trade structure; |
| • | nuclear regulations and operations associated with nuclear facilities; |
| • | impact of electric and gas utility restructuring in Michigan, including legislative amendments and Customer Choice programs; |
| • | employee relations and the impact of collective bargaining agreements; |
| • | unplanned outages; |
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| • | changes in the cost and availability of coal and other raw materials, purchased power and natural gas; |
| • | the effects of competition; |
| • | the uncertainties of successful exploration of gas shale resources and challenges in estimating gas reserves with certainty; |
| • | impact of regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Michigan Public Service Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other applicable governmental proceedings and regulations, including any associated impact on rate structures; |
| • | 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; |
| • | the ability to recover costs through rate increases; |
| • | the cost of protecting assets against, or damage due to, terrorism; |
| • | changes in and application of accounting standards and financial reporting regulations; |
| • | changes in federal or state laws and their interpretation with respect to regulation, energy policy and other business issues; and |
| • | binding arbitration, litigation and related appeals. |
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 most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
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 1.2 million customers throughout Michigan.
Our non-utility operations consist primarily of Gas Midstream, which is involved in the development and operation of natural gas pipelines and storage; Unconventional Gas Production, which is engaged in natural gas exploration, development and production; Power and Industrial Projects, which is comprised primarily of projects that deliver energy and utility-type services to industrial, commercial and institutional customers, provide coal transportation services and marketing and sell electricity from biomass-fired energy projects; and Energy Trading, which engages in energy marketing and trading operations.
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.
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The DTE Energy Trust exists solely to:
| • | issue and sell its trust preferred securities and trust common securities; |
| • | use the proceeds from the sale of its trust preferred securities and trust common securities to purchase and hold DTE Energy’s debt securities as trust assets; and |
| • | engage in other activities that are necessary or incidental to the above purposes. |
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 Trust’s total capitalization. The trust preferred securities will represent the remaining percentage of the DTE Energy Trust’s 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 Trust’s business and affairs:
| • | The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as property trustee; |
| • | BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, as Delaware trustee; and |
| • | one or more of our officers, as administrative trustees. |
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 Trust’s obligations under the trust preferred securities and trust common securities.
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:
| • | financing, development and construction of new facilities; |
| • | additions to working capital; and |
| • | repurchase or refinancing of securities. |
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.
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RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
DTE Energy’s 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:
| Six Months
Ended June 30, 2009 |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends(a) |
2.42 | 2.51 | 3.05 | 1.95 | 1.77 | 1.72 | ||||||||||||||||||
Our ratios of earnings to fixed charges were computed based on:
| • | “earnings,” which consist of consolidated income plus income taxes and fixed charges, except capitalized interest; and |
| • | “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. |
(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.
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:
| • | common stock; and/or |
| • | senior debt securities and/or subordinated debt securities, including debt securities convertible into common stock of DTE Energy or exchangeable for other securities. |
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, 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.”
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, 2009, there were 164,472,648 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, 2009, there were no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
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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 Energy’s 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 and bylaws 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 Energy’s 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 Energy’s 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 Energy’s 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 currently elected by a plurality of the votes cast. At the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders, a proposal was approved which requests that the board of directors initiate the appropriate process to amend the Company’s articles of incorporation to provide that director nominees shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast at an annual meeting of shareholders, with a plurality vote standard retained for contested director elections, that is, when the number of director nominees exceeds the number of board seats. The board is evaluating how to proceed with the implementation of this resolution.
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
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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 corporation’s 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 individual’s stock ownership reaches at least 20% of a Michigan corporation’s outstanding shares. Accordingly, pursuant to DTE Energy’s bylaws, a shareholder seeking control of DTE Energy cannot require the DTE Energy’s 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 14 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 Energy’s common stock.
Amendments to DTE Energy’s 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 Energy’s 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 Mellon, 101 Barclay Street, 8W, New York, New York 10286.
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 shareholders, require prior written notice of any business to be brought by a shareholder before the annual meeting and require advance notice for shareholder 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
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Energy, as discussed above. These provisions in our articles of incorporation or bylaws may limit the ability of individuals to bring matters before shareholder meetings, change the composition of the board of directors and pursue a merger, takeover, 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 shareholders might favor, and could reduce the market value of our common stock.
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 The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee. We refer to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 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, 2009, approximately $1.9 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 material 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:
| • | the title or designation of the debt securities; |
| • | the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| • | whether the debt securities are to represent senior or subordinated indebtedness and, if subordinated debt securities, the specific subordination provisions applicable thereto; |
| • | 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; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issued as registered securities, bearer securities or a combination of the two; |
| • | 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; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more global securities; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | a description of any provisions providing for redemption or repurchase of the debt securities, in whole or in part, at our option, a holder’s option or otherwise, and the terms and provisions of such a redemption or repurchase; |
| • | any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption or similar terms; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | any index or other method used to determine the amount of payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities; |
| • | 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; |
| • | any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of the indenture relating to satisfaction and discharge in respect of the debt securities; |
| • | 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; |
| • | whether the debt securities shall be issued as original issue discount securities; |
| • | whether a credit facility or other form of credit support will apply to the debt securities; |
| • | 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 |
| • | any other specific terms of the debt securities. |
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 shareholders, if any. Our subsidiaries, principally Detroit Edison and
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MichCon, from 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 Energy’s 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 Energy’s 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:
| • | 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); |
| • | obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments; |
| • | obligations created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to acquired property; |
| • | 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; |
| • | obligations, contingent or otherwise, in respect of acceptances, letters of credit or similar extensions of credit; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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 |
| • | Indebtedness described above secured by any Lien (as defined below) on property. |
“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:
| • | the subordinated debt securities, and |
| • | any other Indebtedness ranking equally with the subordinated debt securities, |
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.
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.
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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:
| • | secure all debt securities then outstanding with respect to which this covenant is made equally and ratably with the Secured Debt; or |
| • | 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. |
“Debt” means:
| • | 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 |
| • | any guaranty by DTE Energy of any such indebtedness of another person. |
“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:
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | no event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing after giving effect to the transaction; |
| • | 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 |
| • | certain other conditions are met. |
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 Energy’s obligations under the indenture and, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor person will be relieved of such obligations.
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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:
| • | either: |
| • | 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 |
| • | 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 |
| • | 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; |
(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 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.
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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:
| • | that holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default; |
| • | 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 |
| • | 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. |
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.
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.
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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:
| • | 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: |
| • | the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption if the debt securities are issuable only as registered securities; or |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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 |
| • | 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:
| • | as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities that are issuable solely as registered securities; and |
| • | 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. |
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:
| • | 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 |
| • | 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. |
However, if the debt securities of that series are listed on The International 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:
| • | by the applicable depository to a nominee of the depository; |
| • | by any nominee to the depository itself or another nominee; or |
| • | by the depository or any nominee to a successor depository or any nominee of the successor. |
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:
| • | will not be entitled to have any of the underlying debt securities registered in their names; |
| • | will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any of the underlying debt securities in definitive form; |
| • | will not be considered the owners or holders under the indenture relating to those debt securities; and |
| • | 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. |
The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the owner’s 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:
| • | have become due and payable; |
| • | will become due and payable within one year; or |
| • | are scheduled for redemption within one year. |
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 paid all other sums payable under the indenture with respect to the debt securities, and certain other conditions are met.
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Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect:
| • | to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to those debt securities, which we refer to as “defeasance”; or |
| • | 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.” |
In the case of defeasance we will still retain some obligations in respect of the debt securities, including our obligations:
| • | 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; |
| • | to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities; |
| • | to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities; and |
| • | to maintain an office or agency with respect to the debt securities and to hold monies for payment in trust. |
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:
| • | 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; |
| • | 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 |
| • | 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. |
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.
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The indenture defines government obligations as securities that are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers and are:
| • | 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 |
| • | 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. |
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:
| • | 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 |
| • | a conversion event, as defined below, occurs in respect of the foreign currency in which the deposit has been made, |
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:
| • | 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 |
| • | 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. |
The indenture defines a “conversion event” as the cessation of use of:
| • | 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 |
| • | any currency unit or composite currency for the purposes for which it was established. |
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
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securities at the time of the 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:
| • | 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; |
| • | reduce the principal amount of, or premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, any debt security issued under the indenture; |
| • | change the place of payment or the 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | change any of our obligations to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes required by the indenture; |
| • | if the debt securities are convertible or exchangeable, modify the conversion or exchange provision in a manner adverse to holders of that debt security; |
| • | in the case of a subordinated debt security, modify any of the subordination provisions in a manner adverse to holders of that debt security; |
| • | 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 |
| • | modify any of the above provisions or certain provisions regarding the waiver of past defaults or the waiver of certain covenants, with limited exceptions. |
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:
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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); |
| • | 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) |
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| or 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; |
| • | establishing the form or terms of debt securities of any series; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | modifying, eliminating or adding to the provisions of any security to allow for such security to be held in certificated form; |
| • | securing the debt securities; |
| • | making provisions with respect to conversion or exchange rights of holders of securities of any series; |
| • | 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 |
| • | modifying, deleting or adding to any of the provisions of the indenture other than as contemplated above. |
The holders of at least 66 2/3% 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:
| • | payment default with respect to debt securities of that series; or |
| • | 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. |
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:
| • | the failure of DTE Energy to pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, those debt securities on the due date; or |
| • | 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
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., is the successor trustee under the indenture, and acts as the property trustee under the trust agreement and the guarantee trustee under the guarantee as described in this prospectus. BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, an affiliate of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., acts as the Delaware trustee under the trust agreement as described in this prospectus. The Bank of New York Mellon, an affiliate of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 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.
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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 Guarantee.”
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:
| • | the designation, number, purchase price and liquidation amount, if any, of the trust preferred securities; |
| • | the distribution rate, or method of calculation of the distribution rate, for the trust preferred securities and, if applicable, any deferral provisions; |
| • | 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; |
| • | if other than U.S. dollars, the currency in which cash payments are payable; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | the voting rights, if any, of the holders; |
| • | if applicable, any securities exchange upon which the trust preferred securities will be listed; |
| • | if applicable, a description of any remarketing, auction or other similar arrangements; |
| • | 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 |
| • | 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. |
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
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of Certain 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:
| • | 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: |
| • | expressly assumes all of the obligations of the DTE Energy Trust with respect to the trust securities of the DTE Energy Trust, or |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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; |
| • | the successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the DTE Energy Trust; |
| • | 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: |
| • | 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, |
| • | 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 |
| • | 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; |
| • | 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 |
| • | the property trustee has received an officer’s 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. |
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 Guarantee — 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:
| • | cure any ambiguity, or correct or supplement any provisions in the trust agreement that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision; |
| • | add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the sponsor; |
| • | 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 |
| • | cause the DTE Energy Trust to continue to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust; |
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.
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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:
| • | 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; |
| • | change its purpose; |
| • | authorize the issuance of any additional beneficial interests; |
| • | change the conversion, exchange or redemption provisions, if any; |
| • | 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; |
| • | change the liquidation, distribution or other provisions relating to the distribution of amounts payable upon the dissolution and liquidation of the DTE Energy Trust; |
| • | affect the limited liability of any holder of its trust securities; or |
| • | 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. |
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:
| • | 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; |
| • | waive certain past defaults under the indenture; |
| • | exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the principal of those debt securities; or |
| • | consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the indenture or those debt securities, where consent is required; |
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:
| • | the DTE Energy Trust will not be deemed to be an investment company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act; |
| • | the DTE Energy Trust will be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes; and |
| • | the debt securities held by the DTE Energy Trust will be treated as indebtedness of DTE Energy for United States federal income tax purposes. |
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. 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:
| • | 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; |
| • | 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 |
| • | 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: |
| • | 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 |
| • | 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. |
DTE Energy’s 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 Trust’s obligations under its trust preferred securities. No single document standing alone or operating in
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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 Trust’s 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.
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
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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 Mellon 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.
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 DTC’s 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 world’s 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 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments from over 100 countries that DTC’s 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 is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, 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 & Poor’s 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.
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Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s 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 DTC’s 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; DTC’s 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, DTC’s 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 any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s 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. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us on payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s 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), subject to the procedures of DTC. In that event, certificates representing the securities will be printed and delivered to DTC.
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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 are 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.
The validity of the DTE Energy securities and certain other legal matters will be passed upon for DTE Energy by Patrick B. Carey, Associate General Counsel. Mr. Carey beneficially owns shares of DTE Energy
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common 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 & LeBoeuf LLP, New York, New York. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP will rely on the opinion of Mr. Carey with respect to Michigan law and the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. with respect to Delaware law.
Dewey & LeBoeuf 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.
The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedules of DTE Energy and subsidiaries incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 20, 2009 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes explanatory paragraphs relating to the adoption of new accounting standards). DTE Energy and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, as stated in their report in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements 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 SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s 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, 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):
| • | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (including information specifically incorporated by reference into DTE Energy’s Form 10-K from DTE Energy’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2009 annual meeting of shareholders filed on March 23, 2009) (with respect to Items 6, 7, and 8, please refer to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 20, 2009, which restates Items 6, 7, and 8 due to the retrospective application of SFAS No. 160 and FSP EITF 03-6-1); |
| • | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009; |
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| • | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009; |
| • | Current Reports on Form 8-K filed January 27, March 4, March 19, May 4 (dated April 29), May 18, June 10, and August 20, 2009, and on Form 8-K/A filed March 5, 2009; and |
| • | Description of DTE Energy common stock on Form 8-B, filed on January 2, 1996. |
Each of these documents is available from the SEC’s 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
One Energy Plaza
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:
| • | the DTE Energy Trust is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DTE Energy, which files consolidated financial information under the Exchange Act; |
| • | 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; |
| • | DTE Energy guarantees the trust preferred securities of the DTE Energy Trust; |
| • | no other subsidiary of DTE Energy guarantees the trust preferred securities of the DTE Energy Trust; and |
| • | the guarantee of the DTE Energy Trust by DTE Energy is full and unconditional. |
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