Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

File No. 333-158140

 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED MARCH 23, 2009

 

Prospectus Supplement

March   , 2009

(To Prospectus dated March 23, 2009)

 

$          

 

 

Atmos Energy Corporation

 

     % Senior Notes due 2019

 

 

 

 

The notes will bear interest at the rate of     % per year and will mature on          , 2019. We will pay interest on the notes on           and           of each year they are outstanding, beginning          , 2009. We may redeem the notes prior to maturity at our option, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at a redemption price described in this prospectus supplement. See “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption.”

 

All of the notes are unsecured and rank equally with all of our other existing and future unsubordinated debt. The notes will be issued only in registered form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Investing in the notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to investors in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg and/or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., on or about            , 2009.

 

 

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

This document consists of two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering of the notes and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, dated March 23, 2009, which gives more general information, some of which does not apply to this offering. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or the information contained in any document incorporated by reference herein or therein, the information contained in the most recent document shall control. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission using the SEC’s shelf registration rules.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with information that is different. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus supplement and “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Neither Atmos Energy Corporation nor the underwriters are making an offer of these notes in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.

 

The information contained in or incorporated by reference in this document is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the date of such incorporated documents, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or of any sale of notes.

 

The terms “we,” “our,” “us” and “Atmos Energy” refer to Atmos Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise. The term “you” refers to a prospective investor. The abbreviations “Mcf” and “MMBtu” mean thousand cubic feet and million British thermal units, respectively.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus that we have filed with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, prior to the termination of this offering. These additional documents include periodic reports, such as annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01, which is deemed not to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus), as well as proxy statements (other than information identified in them as not incorporated by reference). You should review these filings as they may disclose a change in our business, prospects, financial condition or other affairs after the date of this prospectus supplement. The information that we file later with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and before the termination of this offering will automatically update and supersede previous information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC but have not been included or delivered with this document:

 

 

These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition.

 

You may obtain a copy of any of these filings, or any of our future filings, from us without charge by requesting it in writing or by telephone at the following address or telephone number:

 

Atmos Energy Corporation
1800 Three Lincoln Centre
5430 LBJ Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75240
Attention: Susan Giles
(972) 934-9227

 

Statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus that are not statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those stated. Important factors that could cause future results to differ include, but are not limited to:

 

 

All of these factors are difficult to predict and many are beyond our control. Accordingly, while we believe these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. When used in our documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “objective,” “plan,” “projection,” “seek,” “strategy” or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any of our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

For additional factors you should consider, please see “Risk Factors” on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement and Sections “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 and “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

	•	the natural gas distribution segment, which includes our regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations;
	•	the regulated transmission and storage segment, which includes the regulated pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division;
	•	the natural gas marketing segment, which includes a variety of nonregulated natural gas management services; and
	•	the pipeline, storage and other segment, which is comprised of our nonregulated natural gas gathering, transmission and storage services.

		Three Months Ended
		December 31,								Year Ended September 30,
		2008				2007				2008				2007(1)				2006(1)				2005(2)				2004(3)
		(in thousands, except per share data)
Consolidated Financial Data
Operating revenues		$	1,716,332			$	1,657,510			$	7,221,305			$	5,898,431			$	6,152,363			$	4,961,873			$	2,920,037
Gross profit			395,212				369,638				1,321,326				1,250,082				1,216,570				1,117,637				562,191
Operating expenses			232,018				211,129				893,431				851,446				833,954				768,982				368,496
Operating income			163,194				158,509				427,895				398,636				382,616				348,655				193,695
Net income			75,963				73,803				180,331				168,492				147,737				135,785				86,227
Diluted net income per share		$	0.83			$	0.82			$	2.00			$	1.92			$	1.82			$	1.72			$	1.58
Cash dividends paid per share		$	0.330			$	0.325			$	1.30			$	1.28			$	1.26			$	1.24			$	1.22
Cash flows from operating activities		$	150,715			$	61,437			$	370,933			$	547,095			$	311,449			$	386,944			$	270,734
Capital expenditures		$	107,367			$	94,155			$	472,273			$	392,435			$	425,324			$	333,183			$	190,285

		As of December 31,								As of September 30,
		2008				2007				2008				2007				2006				2005(2)				2004
		(in thousands)
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
Total assets(4)		$	6,818,899			$	6,369,574			$	6,386,699			$	5,895,197			$	5,719,547			$	5,610,547			$	2,902,658
Debt
Long-term debt(5)		$	1,719,920			$	2,124,915			$	2,119,792			$	2,126,315			$	2,180,362			$	2,183,104			$	861,311
Short-term debt(5)			761,340				205,862				351,327				154,430				385,602				148,073				5,908
Total debt		$	2,481,260			$	2,330,777			$	2,471,119			$	2,280,745			$	2,565,964			$	2,331,177			$	867,219
Shareholders’ equity		$	2,078,076			$	2,032,483			$	2,052,492			$	1,965,754			$	1,648,098			$	1,602,422			$	1,133,459

		Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended September 30,
		2008				2007				2008				2007(1)				2006(1)				2005(2)				2004(6)
		(in thousands, except ratios)
Segment Operating Income
Natural gas distribution		$	112,505			$	97,503			$	261,165			$	221,187			$	201,894			$	236,365			$	159,890
Regulated transmission and storage			19,370				22,254				89,745				79,830				63,326				65,840				—
Natural gas marketing			20,513				34,699				56,392				75,040				102,235				40,985				27,726
Pipeline, storage and other			10,720				3,967				20,249				22,235				14,924				5,264				6,045
Eliminations			86				86				344				344				237				201				34
Consolidated		$	163,194			$	158,509			$	427,895			$	398,636			$	382,616			$	348,655			$	193,695
Other Financial Data
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(7)			3.97				4.09				2.96				2.69				2.50				2.54				2.95
Pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges(8)							—								—				—				—				—

(1)		Financial results for fiscal 2007 and 2006 include a $6.3 million and a $22.9 million pre-tax loss for the impairment of certain assets.
(2)		Financial results for fiscal 2005 include the operations of our Mid-Tex and Atmos Pipeline — Texas divisions, from October 1, 2004, the date of acquisition.
(3)		Financial results for fiscal 2004 include a $5.9 million pre-tax gain on the sale of our interest in U.S. Propane, L.P. and Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.
(4)		Effective September 30, 2008, we classified our cash collateral or the obligation to return cash into risk management assets and/or liabilities, as appropriate, in accordance with FSP FIN 39-1. Total assets as of December 31, 2007 and September 30, 2007, 2005 and 2004 also reflect this new classification. This reclassification had no impact on total assets as of September 30, 2006 and it did not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows for any of the periods presented above.
(5)		Long-term debt excludes current maturities. Short-term debt is comprised of current maturities of long-term debt and short-term debt.
(6)		Restated to conform to current segment reporting.
(7)		For purposes of computing ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of the sum of our pretax income from continuing operations and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of debt discount, premium and expense, capitalized interest and a portion of lease payments considered to represent an interest factor.
(8)		The pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges gives effect to the issuance of the notes, the redemption of our $400 million 4.00% Senior Notes due 2009 (assuming a redemption date of May 1, 2009) and the settlement of the Treasury lock agreement described in “Use of Proceeds” as of the beginning of the periods indicated.

Issuer		Atmos Energy Corporation
Notes Offered		$      aggregate principal amount of     % senior notes due 2019.
Maturity		The notes will mature on          , 2019.
Interest		The notes will bear interest at the rate of     % per year. Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on           and           of each year they are outstanding, beginning on          , 2009.
Ranking		The notes will be our unsecured senior obligations. The notes will rank equally in right of payment with all our existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness and will rank senior in right of payment to any future indebtedness that is subordinated to the notes. The notes will be effectively subordinated to all our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the assets securing such indebtedness and to the indebtedness and liabilities of our subsidiaries.
Optional Redemption		We may redeem the notes prior to maturity at our option, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and the “make-whole” redemption price, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, as described in “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption” on page S-14.
Covenants of the Indenture		We will issue the notes under an indenture which will, among other things, restrict our ability to create liens and to enter into sale and leaseback transactions. See “Description of Debt Securities — Covenants” beginning on page 8 of the accompanying prospectus.
Expected Ratings		We expect that the notes will be rated “Baa3” by Moody’s Investors Services, “BBB+” by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Company, Inc., and “BBB+” by Fitch IBCA, Inc. None of these ratings is a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the notes. Each rating is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time and should be evaluated independently of any other rating.
Use of Proceeds		We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us, will be approximately $      million. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering, together with available cash if needed, to redeem our $400 million 4.00% Senior Notes due 2009. See “Use of Proceeds” on page S-6.

 

Investing in the notes involves risks. Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict and beyond our control and that involve uncertainties that may materially affect our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, or the value of the notes. These risks and uncertainties include those described in the risk factor and other sections of the documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. The risks and uncertainties incorporated by reference are not the only risks and uncertainties we may confront. Moreover, risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or currently deemed immaterial by us may also adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, or the value of the notes. You should carefully consider these risks and uncertainties and all of the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before you invest in the notes.

 

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $      million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with available cash if needed, to redeem our $400 million 4.00% Senior Notes due 2009, which we refer to as the 2009 notes.

 

The 2009 notes mature on October 15, 2009 and the interest rate on the 2009 notes is 4% per year.

 

The terms of the 2009 notes permit us to redeem the 2009 notes in full, at a price equal to the greater of (i) the aggregate principal amount of the 2009 notes and (ii) the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the 2009 notes discounted to the redemption date at an adjusted treasury rate plus 15 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, upon 30 days notice. If we deliver a notice of redemption to the holders of our 2009 notes with a redemption date of May 1, 2009, the aggregate amount required to redeem the 2009 notes, including accrued and unpaid interest, will be approximately $407 million.

 

If the aggregate principal amount of notes issued in this offering is less than the amount necessary to redeem the 2009 notes, we will use available cash to fund the redemption of the 2009 notes. If the aggregate principal amount of notes issued in this offering is more than the amount necessary to redeem the 2009 notes, we will use the excess cash for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of short-term debt outstanding under our revolving credit facilities. We have been using the proceeds of borrowings under our revolving credit facilities for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

In March 2009, we entered into an agreement to fix the Treasury yield component of a notional principal amount of $450 million in notes that could be issued in this offering, which we refer to as the Treasury lock agreement. We intend to terminate and settle the Treasury lock agreement on the closing of this offering. We do not expect to receive any significant amounts in connection with the settlement of the Treasury lock agreement. If the settlement of the Treasury lock agreement results in an obligation, we will use available cash to pay the obligation.

 

The following table presents our cash and cash equivalents, short-term debt and capitalization as of December 31, 2008, on an actual basis and as adjusted to reflect the issuance of notes in this offering, the redemption of our 2009 notes (assuming a redemption date of May 1, 2009) and the settlement of the Treasury lock agreement. The estimated amount included in the as adjusted column to reflect the settlement of the Treasury lock agreement is not significant. Any increase in the actual value of the Treasury lock agreement from the estimated value will increase the amount of proceeds received from the settlement of the Treasury lock agreement by a corresponding amount. Any decrease in that value will decrease the amount of proceeds received and could result in a decrease in cash and cash equivalents. You should read this table in conjunction with the section entitled “Use of Proceeds” and our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

 

 

Overview

 

Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is engaged primarily in the regulated natural gas distribution and transmission and storage businesses, as well as other nonregulated natural gas businesses. We are one of the country’s largest natural gas-only distributors based on number of customers and one of the largest intrastate pipeline operators in Texas based upon miles of pipe.

 

We distribute natural gas through regulated sales and transportation arrangements to approximately 3.2 million residential, commercial, public authority and industrial customers through our six regulated natural gas distribution divisions, which cover service areas in 12 states. Our primary service areas are located in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. We have more limited service areas in Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Virginia. In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution system.

 

Through our regulated transmission and storage business, we provide natural gas transportation and storage services to our Mid-Tex Division, our largest natural gas distribution division located in Texas, and for third parties. Additionally, we provide ancillary services customary to the pipeline industry, including parking arrangements, lending and sales of inventory on hand.

 

Through our nonregulated businesses, we primarily provide natural gas management and marketing services to municipalities, other local gas distribution companies and industrial customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. We also provide storage services to some of our natural gas distribution divisions and to third parties.

 

Operating Segments

 

We operate Atmos Energy through the following four segments:

 

 

Natural Gas Distribution Segment

 

We operate our natural gas distribution segment through the following six regulated divisions, which are presented below in order of total customers served:

 

 

The following is a brief description of our natural gas distribution divisions. We operate in our service areas under terms of non-exclusive franchise agreements granted by the various cities and towns that we serve.

At September 30, 2008, we held 1,107 franchises having terms generally ranging from five to 35 years. A significant number of our franchises expire each year, which require renewal prior to the end of their terms. We believe that we will be able to renew our franchises as they expire. For more information, see “Item 1. Business” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008.

 

Atmos Energy Mid-Tex Division.  Our Mid-Tex Division serves approximately 550 incorporated and unincorporated communities in the north-central, eastern and western parts of Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The governing body of each municipality we serve has original jurisdiction over all gas distribution rates, operations and services within its city limits, except with respect to sales of natural gas for vehicle fuel and agricultural use. The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all rate and regulatory orders and ordinances of the municipalities and exclusive original jurisdiction over rates and services to customers not located within the limits of a municipality.

 

Prior to fiscal 2008, this division operated under one system-wide rate structure. However, in the second quarter of 2008, we reached a settlement with cities representing approximately 80 percent of this division’s customers that will allow us to update rates for customers in these cities through an annual rate review mechanism. Rates for the remaining 20 percent of this division’s customers, including the City of Dallas, continue to be updated through periodic formal rate proceedings and filings made under Texas’ Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP). GRIP allows us to include in our rate base annually approved capital costs incurred in the prior calendar year provided that we file a complete rate case at least once every five years.

 

Atmos Energy Kentucky/Mid-States Division.  Our Kentucky/Mid-States Division operates in more than 420 communities across Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia. The service areas in these states are primarily rural; however, this division serves Franklin, Tennessee and other suburban areas of Nashville. We update our rates in this division through periodic formal rate filings made with each state’s public service commission.

 

Atmos Energy Louisiana Division.  In Louisiana, we serve nearly 300 communities, including the suburban areas of New Orleans, the metropolitan area of Monroe and western Louisiana. Direct sales of natural gas to industrial customers in Louisiana who use gas for fuel or in manufacturing processes and sales of natural gas for vehicle fuel are exempt from regulation and are recognized in our natural gas marketing segment. Our rates in this division are updated annually through a stable rate filing without filing a formal rate case.

 

Atmos Energy West Texas Division.  Our West Texas Division serves approximately 80 communities in West Texas, including the Amarillo, Lubbock and Midland areas. Like our Mid-Tex Division, each municipality we serve has original jurisdiction over all gas distribution rates, operations and services within its city limits, with the RRC having exclusive appellate jurisdiction over the municipalities and exclusive original jurisdiction over rates and services to customers not located within the limits of a municipality. Prior to fiscal 2008, rates were updated in this division through formal rate proceedings. However, during 2008, the West Texas Division entered into agreements with its Lubbock and West Texas service areas to update rates for customers in these service areas through an annual rate review mechanism. Rates for the division’s Amarillo service area continue to be updated through periodic formal rate proceedings and filings made under GRIP.

 

Atmos Energy Mississippi Division.  In Mississippi, we serve about 110 communities throughout the northern half of the state, including the Jackson metropolitan area. Our rates in the Mississippi Division are updated annually through a stable rate filing without filing a formal rate case.

 

Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division.  Our Colorado-Kansas Division serves approximately 170 communities throughout Colorado and Kansas and portions of Missouri, including the cities of Olathe, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City and Greeley, Colorado, located near Denver. We update our rates in this division through periodic formal rate filings made with each state’s public service commission.

 

Regulated Transmission and Storage Segment Overview

 

Our regulated transmission and storage segment consists of the regulated pipeline and storage operations of our Atmos Pipeline — Texas Division. This division transports natural gas to our Mid-Tex Division,

transports natural gas for third parties and manages five underground storage reservoirs in Texas. We also provide ancillary services customary in the pipeline industry including parking arrangements, lending and sales of inventory on hand. Parking arrangements provide short-term interruptible storage of gas on our pipeline. Lending services provide short-term interruptible loans of natural gas from our pipeline to meet market demands. These operations represent one of the largest intrastate pipeline operations in Texas with a heavy concentration in the established natural gas-producing areas of central, northern and eastern Texas, extending into or near the major producing areas of the Texas Gulf Coast and the Delaware and Val Verde Basins of West Texas. Nine basins located in Texas are believed to contain a substantial portion of the nation’s remaining onshore natural gas reserves. This pipeline system provides access to all of these basins. Gross profit earned from our Mid-Tex Division and through certain other transportation and storage services is subject to traditional ratemaking governed by the RRC. However, Atmos Pipeline — Texas’ existing regulatory mechanisms allow certain transportation and storage services to be provided under market-based rates with minimal regulation.

 

Natural Gas Marketing Segment Overview

 

Our natural gas marketing activities are conducted through Atmos Energy Marketing (AEM), which is wholly-owned by Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. (AEH). AEH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atmos Energy and operates primarily in the Midwest and Southeast areas of the United States. AEM aggregates and purchases gas supply, arranges transportation and storage logistics and ultimately delivers gas to customers at competitive prices. To facilitate this process, we utilize proprietary and customer-owned transportation and storage assets to provide various services our customers request, including furnishing natural gas supplies at fixed and market-based prices, contract negotiation and administration, load forecasting, gas storage acquisition and management services, transportation services, peaking sales and balancing services, capacity utilization strategies and gas price hedging through the use of financial instruments. As a result, our revenues arise from the types of commercial transactions we have structured with our customers and include the value we extract by optimizing the storage and transportation capacity we own or control as well as revenues for services we deliver.

 

Our asset optimization activities seek to maximize the economic value associated with the storage and transportation capacity we own or control. We attempt to meet this objective by engaging in natural gas storage transactions in which we seek to find and profit from the pricing differences that occur over time. We purchase physical natural gas and then sell financial instruments at advantageous prices to lock in a gross profit margin. We also seek to participate in transactions in which we combine the natural gas commodity and transportation costs to minimize our costs incurred to serve our customers by identifying the lowest cost alternative within the natural gas supplies, transportation and markets to which we have access. Through the use of transportation and storage services and financial instruments, we are able to capture gross profit margin through the arbitrage of pricing differences in various locations and by recognizing pricing differences that occur over time.

 

AEM’s management of natural gas requirements involves the sale of natural gas and the management of storage and transportation supplies under contracts with customers generally having one- to two-year terms. AEM also sells natural gas to some of its industrial customers on a delivered burner tip basis under contract terms ranging from 30 days to two years.

 

Pipeline, Storage and Other Segment Overview

 

Our pipeline, storage and other segment primarily consists of the operations of Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC (APS) and Atmos Power Systems, Inc., which are each wholly-owned by AEH.

 

APS owns and operates a 21-mile pipeline located in New Orleans, Louisiana. This pipeline is primarily used to aggregate gas supply for our regulated natural gas distribution division in Louisiana and for AEM. However, it also provides limited third party transportation services. APS also owns or has an interest in underground storage fields in Kentucky and Louisiana. We use these storage facilities to reduce the need to contract for additional pipeline capacity to meet customer demand during peak periods. Finally, beginning in

fiscal 2006, APS initiated activities in the natural gas gathering business. As of September 30, 2008, these activities were limited in nature.

 

APS also engages in limited asset optimization activities whereby it seeks to maximize the economic value associated with the storage and transportation capacity it owns or controls. Most of these arrangements are with our regulated affiliates and have been approved by applicable state regulatory commissions. Generally, these arrangements require APS to share with our regulated customers a portion of the profits earned from these arrangements.

 

Through Atmos Power Systems, Inc., we have constructed electric peaking power-generating plants and associated facilities and lease these plants through lease agreements that are accounted for as sales under generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Other Regulation

 

Each of our natural gas distribution divisions is regulated by various state or local public utility authorities. We are also subject to regulation by the United States Department of Transportation with respect to safety requirements in the operation and maintenance of our gas distribution facilities. In addition, our distribution operations are also subject to various state and federal laws regulating environmental matters. From time to time we receive inquiries regarding various environmental matters. We believe that our properties and operations substantially comply with and are operated in substantial conformity with applicable safety and environmental statutes and regulations. There are no administrative or judicial proceedings arising under environmental quality statutes pending or known to be contemplated by governmental agencies which would have a material adverse effect on us or our operations. Our environmental claims have arisen primarily from former manufactured gas plant sites in Tennessee, Iowa and Missouri.

 

FERC allows, pursuant to Section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act, gas transportation services through our Atmos Pipeline — Texas assets “on behalf of” interstate pipelines or local distribution companies served by interstate pipelines, without subjecting these assets to the jurisdiction of FERC. FERC also has jurisdiction over some of the types of transactions engaged in by our two nonregulated operations segments, including sales of natural gas in the wholesale gas market and the use and release of interstate pipeline and storage capacity. FERC has adopted rules designed to prevent market power abuse, fraud and market manipulation by companies engaged in the sale, purchase, transportation or storage of natural gas in interstate commerce. We are currently under investigation by FERC for possible violations of its posting and competitive bidding regulations for pre-arranged released firm capacity on interstate natural gas pipelines. We are cooperating with the investigation, are conducting our own investigation of this matter and are taking action to structure current and future transactions to comply with applicable FERC regulations. Although we believe that our reserves are appropriate for the potential penalties, we are currently unable to provide assurance as to the ultimate outcome of this matter.

 

The RRC has issued a final rule requiring the replacement of known compression couplings at pre-bent gas meter risers by November 2009. This rule affects the operations of the Mid-Tex Division but is presently not anticipated to have a significant impact on our West Texas Division. This rule requires us to expend significant amounts of capital in the Mid-Tex Division, but these prudent and mandatory expenditures should be recoverable through our rates.

 

Competition

 

Although our natural gas distribution operations are not currently in significant direct competition with any other distributors of natural gas to residential and commercial customers within our service areas, we do compete with other natural gas suppliers and suppliers of alternative fuels for sales to industrial customers. We compete in all aspects of our business with alternative energy sources, including, in particular, electricity. Electric utilities offer electricity as a rival energy source and compete for the space heating, water heating and cooking markets. Promotional incentives, improved equipment efficiencies and promotional rates all contribute to the acceptability of electrical equipment. The principal means to compete against alternative fuels is lower prices, and natural gas historically has maintained its price advantage in the residential, commercial and

industrial markets. However, higher gas prices, coupled with the electric utilities’ marketing efforts, have increased competition for residential and commercial customers. In addition, AEM competes with other natural gas marketers to provide natural gas management and other related services to customers.

 

Our regulated transmission and storage operations currently face limited competition from other existing intrastate pipelines and gas marketers seeking to provide or arrange transportation, storage and other services for customers.

 

Distribution, Transmission and Related Assets

 

At September 30, 2008, our natural gas distribution segment owned an aggregate of 77,462 miles of underground distribution and transmission mains throughout our gas distribution systems. These mains are located on easements or rights-of-way which generally provide for perpetual use. We maintain our mains through a program of continuous inspection and repair and believe that our system of mains is in good condition. Our regulated transmission and storage segment owned 6,069 miles of gas transmission and gathering lines and our pipeline, storage and other segment owned 114 miles of gas transmission and gathering lines.

 

Storage Assets

 

As of September 30, 2008, we owned underground gas storage facilities in several states to supplement the supply of natural gas in periods of peak demand. The underground gas storage facilities of our natural gas distribution segment had a total usable capacity of 10,343,590 Mcf, with a maximum daily delivery capacity of 232,100 Mcf. The underground gas storage facilities of our regulated transmission and storage segment had a total usable capacity of 39,243,226 Mcf, with a maximum daily delivery capacity of 1,235,000 Mcf. The underground gas storage facilities of our pipeline, storage and other segment had a total usable capacity of 3,931,483 Mcf, with a maximum daily delivery capacity of 127,000 Mcf.

 

Additionally, we contract for storage service in underground storage facilities on many of the interstate pipelines serving us to supplement our proprietary storage capacity. The amount of our contracted storage capacity can vary from time to time. At September 30, 2008, our contracted storage provided us with a maximum storage quantity of 27,371,388 MMBtu, with a maximum daily withdrawal quantity of 778,800 MMBtu, for our natural gas distribution segment, a maximum storage quantity of 7,879,724 MMBtu, with a maximum daily withdrawal quantity of 202,586 MMBtu, for our natural gas marketing segment, and a maximum storage quantity of 1,200,000 MMBtu, with a maximum daily withdrawal quantity of 55,720 MMBtu, for our pipeline, storage and other segment.

 

For more information on our storage assets see “Item 2. Properties” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008.

 

We have summarized certain provisions of the notes below. The notes constitute a series of the debt securities described in the accompanying prospectus. The notes will be issued under an indenture to be entered into with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “indenture”).

 

The following description of certain terms of the notes and certain provisions of the indenture in this prospectus supplement supplements the description under “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus and, to the extent it is inconsistent with that description, replaces the description in the accompanying prospectus. This description is only a summary of the material terms and does not purport to be complete. We urge you to read the indenture, a form of which we have filed with the SEC, because it, and not the description below and in the accompanying prospectus, will define your rights as a holder of the notes. We will file the indenture as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K at the completion of this offering. You may obtain a copy of the indenture from us without charge. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

General

 

The notes will be initially limited to $      aggregate principal amount. We may, at any time, without the consent of the holders of these notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking, interest rate, maturity and other terms as the notes. Any such additional notes, together with the notes being offered by this prospectus supplement, will constitute the same series of notes under the indenture.

 

The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Atmos Energy Corporation. Any secured debt that we may have from time to time will have a prior claim with respect to the assets securing that debt. As of December 31, 2008, we had no secured debt outstanding. The notes will rank equally with all of our other existing and future unsubordinated debt. As of December 31, 2008, after giving effect to the redemption of our 4.00% Senior Notes due 2009 on such date with the net proceeds of this offering, we had approximately $   billion of unsecured and unsubordinated debt. Of such $   billion, $1 million represented debt of our subsidiaries. The notes are not guaranteed by, and are not the obligation of, any of our subsidiaries. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or included in any automated quotation system.

 

The notes will be issued in book-entry form as one or more global notes registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, which will act as a depository, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Beneficial interests in book-entry notes will be shown on, and transfers of the notes will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.

 

Payment of Principal and Interest

 

The notes will mature on          , 2019 and bear interest at the rate of     % per year.

 

We will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on          and           of each year they are outstanding, beginning          , 2009. Interest will accrue from          , 2009 or from the most recent interest payment date to which we have paid or provided for the payment of interest to the next interest payment date or the scheduled maturity date, as the case may be. We will pay interest computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

We will pay interest on the notes in immediately available funds to the persons in whose names such notes are registered at the close of business on          or           preceding the respective interest payment date. At maturity, we will pay the principal of the notes in immediately available funds upon delivery of such notes to the trustee.

Optional Redemption

 

Each of the notes offered hereby will be redeemable prior to maturity at our option, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

 

 

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to the redemption date.

 

Definitions.  Following are definitions of the terms used in the optional redemption provisions discussed above.

 

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, for any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price of the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for that redemption date.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be used, at the time of a selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, for any redemption date, the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation for that redemption date.

 

“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by us.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means Banc of America Securities LLC and its successors; provided, however, if Banc of America Securities LLC ceases to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City, we will replace Banc of America Securities LLC as Reference Treasury Dealer with an entity that is a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to any redemption date, the average, as determined by the trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed, in each case, as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the trustee by the Reference Treasury Dealer by 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding the redemption date.

 

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to each note to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal and interest on such note that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption; provided, however, that if such redemption date is not an interest payment date, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment on such note will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued on such note to such redemption date.

 

In the case of a partial redemption of the notes, the notes to be redeemed shall be selected by DTC. Notice of any redemption will be mailed by first class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed at its registered address. If any notes are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption will state the portion of the principal amount of notes to be redeemed. A partial redemption will not reduce the portion of any note not being redeemed to a principal amount of less than $2,000. A new note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the note will be issued in the name of the holder of the note upon surrender for cancellation of the original note. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or the portions of the notes called for redemption.

No Mandatory Redemption

 

We will not be required to redeem the notes before maturity.

 

No Sinking Fund

 

We will not be required to make any sinking fund payments with regard to the notes.

 

Restricted Subsidiaries

 

As of the date of this prospectus supplement, none of our subsidiaries would be considered a Restricted Subsidiary under the terms of the indenture.

 

Governing Law

 

The notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Book-Entry Delivery and Settlement

 

We will issue the notes in the form of one or more permanent global securities in definitive, fully registered, book-entry form. The global securities will be deposited with or on behalf of DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, or will remain in the custody of the trustee in accordance with arrangements between DTC and the trustee.

 

If you wish to hold securities through the DTC system, you must either be a direct participant in DTC or hold through a direct participant in DTC. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations that have accounts with DTC. For those holders of notes outside the United States, Euroclear and Clearstream (both described below) participate in DTC through their New York depositaries. Indirect participants are securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that do not have an account with DTC, but that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant. Thus, indirect participants have access to the DTC system through direct participants or through other indirect participants that have access through a direct participant.

 

If you so choose, you may hold your beneficial interests in the global security through Euroclear or Clearstream, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems. Euroclear and Clearstream will hold their participants’ beneficial interests in the global security in their customers’ securities accounts with their depositaries. These depositaries of Euroclear and Clearstream in turn will hold such interests in their customers’ securities accounts with DTC.

 

In sum, you may elect to hold your beneficial interests in the notes:

 

 

DTC may grant proxies or authorize its participants (or persons holding beneficial interests in the global securities through these participants) to exercise any rights of a holder or take any other actions that a holder is entitled to take under the indenture or the notes. The ability of Euroclear or Clearstream to take actions as a holder of the notes under the indenture will be limited by the ability of their respective depositaries to carry out such actions for them through DTC. Euroclear and Clearstream will take such actions only in accordance with their respective rules and procedures.

 

The information in this section concerning DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream and their book-entry systems has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, but we make no representation or warranty with respect to this information. DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform the procedures described below, and they may modify or discontinue them at any time. We and the trustee will not be responsible for DTC’s, Euroclear’s or Clearstream’s performance of their obligations under their rules and procedures, or for the performance by direct or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures of the clearance systems.

Transfers within DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream will be in accordance with the usual rules and operating procedures of the relevant system. Cross-market transfers between investors who hold or who will hold any notes through DTC and investors who hold or will hold any notes through Euroclear or Clearstream will be effected in DTC through the respective depositaries of Euroclear and Clearstream.

 

The Clearing Systems

 

The Depository Trust Company.  DTC has advised us as follows:

 

 

Euroclear.  Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for its participants and to clear and settle transactions between its participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Transactions may now be settled in many currencies, including U.S. dollars and euros. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing, and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries.

 

Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., which we refer to as the Euroclear Operator, under contract with Euroclear Clearance System, S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation, or the Cooperative. The Euroclear Operator conducts all operations, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), the dealer manager, other securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries.

 

Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly. Euroclear is an indirect participant in DTC. As the Euroclear Operator is a Belgian banking corporation, Euroclear is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission and the National Bank of Belgium.

 

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law, collectively referred to as the Euroclear Terms and Conditions. The Euroclear Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the terms and conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding securities through Euroclear participants.

Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with the Euroclear Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the depositary for Euroclear.

 

Clearstream.  Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to its participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing.

 

Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., the operator of the Euroclear system, to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector. Clearstream participants are financial institutions around the world, other securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and certain other organizations. In the United States, Clearstream participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream participant, either directly or indirectly.

 

Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the depositary for Clearstream.

 

Initial Settlement

 

We expect that under procedures established by DTC:

 

 

Euroclear and Clearstream will hold omnibus positions on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts for Euroclear and Clearstream on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold positions in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

 

The notes that we issue in this offering will be credited to the securities custody accounts of persons who hold those global securities through DTC (other than through accounts at Euroclear and Clearstream) on the closing date and to persons who hold those global securities through Euroclear or Clearstream on the business day following the closing date.

 

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or that nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes represented by that global security for all purposes under the indenture and under the notes. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have notes represented by that global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated notes and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture or under the notes for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the trustee. Accordingly, each holder owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that holder is not a direct or indirect participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that holder owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of notes under the indenture or the global security.

Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of the notes by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to the notes.

 

Payments on the notes represented by the global securities will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner thereof. We expect that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment on the notes represented by a global security, will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the global security as shown in the records of DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. The participants will be responsible for those payments.

 

Payments on the notes represented by the global securities will be made in immediately available funds. Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds.

 

Transfers Within and Between DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream

 

Trading Between DTC Purchasers and Sellers.  DTC participants will transfer interests in the securities among themselves in the ordinary way according to DTC rules governing global security issues. The laws of some states require certain purchasers of securities to take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to transfer beneficial interests in the global security or securities to such purchasers. DTC can act only on behalf of its direct participants, who in turn act on behalf of indirect participants and certain banks. Thus, your ability to pledge a beneficial interest in the global security or securities to persons that do not participate in the DTC system, and to take other actions, may be limited because you will not possess a physical certificate that represents your interest.

 

Trading Between Euroclear and Clearstream Participants.  Participants in Euroclear and Clearstream will transfer interests in the securities among themselves in the ordinary way according to the rules and operating procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream governing conventional eurobonds.

 

Trading Between a DTC Seller and a Euroclear or Clearstream Purchaser.  When the securities are to be transferred from the account of a DTC participant to the account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant, the purchaser must first send instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream through a participant at least one business day prior to the closing date. Euroclear or Clearstream will then instruct its depositary to receive the securities and make payment for them. On the closing date, the depositary will make payment to the DTC participant’s account and the securities will be credited to the depositary’s account. After settlement has been completed, DTC will credit the securities to Euroclear or Clearstream. Euroclear or Clearstream will credit the securities, in accordance with its usual procedures, to the participant’s account, and the participant will then credit the purchaser’s account. These securities credits will appear the next day (European time) after the closing date. The cash debit from the account of Euroclear or Clearstream will be back-valued to the value date (which will be the preceding day if settlement occurs in New York). If settlement is not completed on the intended value date (i.e., the trade fails), the cash debit will instead be valued at the actual closing date.

 

Participants in Euroclear and Clearstream will need to make funds available to Euroclear or Clearstream to pay for the securities by wire transfer on the value date. The most direct way of doing this is to preposition funds (i.e., have funds in place at Euroclear or Clearstream before the value date), either from cash on hand or existing lines of credit. Under this approach, however, participants may take on credit exposure to Euroclear and Clearstream until the securities are credited to their accounts one day later.

 

As an alternative, if Euroclear or Clearstream has extended a line of credit to a participant, the participant may decide not to preposition funds, but to allow Euroclear or Clearstream to draw on the line of credit to finance settlement for the securities. Under this procedure, Euroclear or Clearstream would charge the participant overdraft charges for one day, assuming that the overdraft would be cleared when the securities were credited to the participant’s account. However, interest on the securities would accrue from the value

date. Therefore, in these cases the interest income on securities that the participant earns during that one-day period will substantially reduce or offset the amount of the participant’s overdraft charges. Of course, this result will depend on the cost of funds to (i.e., the interest rate that Euroclear or Clearstream charges) each participant.

 

Since the settlement will occur during New York business hours, a DTC participant selling an interest in the security can use its usual procedures for transferring global securities to the depositaries of Euroclear or Clearstream for the benefit of Euroclear or Clearstream participants. The DTC seller will receive the sale proceeds on the closing date. Thus, to the DTC seller, a cross-market sale will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.

 

Finally, day traders that use Euroclear or Clearstream to purchase interests in the notes from DTC accountholders for delivery to Euroclear or Clearstream participants should note that these trades will automatically fail on the sale side unless affirmative action is taken. At least three techniques should be readily available to eliminate this potential problem:

 

 

Trading Between a Euroclear or Clearstream Seller and DTC Purchaser.  Due to time zone differences in their favor, Euroclear and Clearstream participants can use their usual procedures to transfer securities through their depositaries to a DTC participant. The seller must first send instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream through a participant at least one business day prior to the closing date. Euroclear or Clearstream will then instruct its depositary to credit the securities to the DTC participant’s account and receive payment. The payment will be credited in the account of the Euroclear or Clearstream participant on the following day, but the receipt of the cash proceeds will be back-valued to the value date (which will be the preceding day if settlement occurs in New York). If settlement is not completed on the intended value date (i.e., the trade fails), the receipt of the cash proceeds will instead be valued at the actual closing date.

 

If the Euroclear or Clearstream participant selling the securities has a line of credit with Euroclear or Clearstream and elects to be in debit for the securities until it receives the sale proceeds in its account, then the back-valuation may substantially reduce or offset any overdraft charges that the participant incurs over that one-day period.

 

Certificated Notes

 

We will issue certificated notes to each person that DTC identifies as the beneficial owner of the notes represented by the global securities upon surrender by DTC of the global securities only if:

 

 

Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC, its nominee or any direct or indirect participant in identifying the beneficial owners of the related notes. We and the trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes, including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the notes to be issued.

 

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

 

The following summary discusses certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes. This discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the applicable proposed or promulgated Treasury regulations, and the applicable judicial and administrative interpretations, all as in effect as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, and to differing interpretations. This discussion is applicable only to holders of notes who purchase the notes in the initial offering at their original issue price and deals only with the notes held as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment) and not held as part of a straddle, a hedge, a conversion transaction or other integrated investment. This discussion is a summary intended for general information only, and does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to holders of notes in light of their particular circumstances, or to certain types of holders (such as financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, partnerships and other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes or investors who hold the notes through such pass-through entities, certain former citizens or residents of the United States, “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” “foreign personal holding companies,” traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings, dealers in securities or currencies, or U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar). Moreover, this discussion does not describe any state, local or non-U.S. tax implications, or any aspect of U.S. federal tax law other than income taxation. We have not and will not seek any rulings or opinions from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or counsel regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurances that the IRS will not take positions concerning the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the notes that are different from those discussed below.

 

As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of notes that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (a) a citizen or individual resident of the United States, (b) a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, (c) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (d) a trust, if (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or (2) a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person is in effect under the relevant Treasury regulations with respect to such trust. A “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of any notes that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A Non-U.S. Holder who is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition of a note and who is not otherwise a resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be subject to special tax provisions and is urged to consult his or her own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of a note. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of partners in partnerships holding notes generally will depend on the activities of the partnership and the status of the partner. Prospective investors that are partnerships (or entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them and their partners of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes.

 

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders

 

Payments of Interest.  A U.S. Holder must include in gross income, as ordinary interest income, the stated interest on the notes at the time such interest accrues or is received in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Sale, Retirement or Other Taxable Disposition.  Upon the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or tax loss equal to the difference between (a) the sum of cash plus the fair market value of other property received on the sale, retirement or other taxable

disposition (except to the extent such cash or property is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be treated in the manner described above under “Payments of Interest”) and (b) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note generally will equal the amount paid for the note, reduced by any principal payments with respect to the note received by the U.S. Holder. Gain or loss recognized on the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of sale, retirement or other taxable disposition, the note has been held for more than one year. Certain U.S. Holders (including individuals) are currently eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax in respect of long-term capital gain (which preferential rates are currently scheduled to increase on January 1, 2011). The deductibility of capital losses by U.S. Holders is subject to substantial limitations under the Code.

 

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

 

Payments of Interest.  Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below and provided that a Non-U.S. Holder’s income and gains in respect of a note are not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a U.S. trade or business (or, in the case of an applicable tax treaty, attributable to the Non-U.S. Holder’s permanent establishment in the United States), payments of interest on a note to the Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax, provided that (a) the Non-U.S. Holder does not own, directly or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote within the meaning of section 871(h)(3) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder, (b) the Non-U.S. Holder is not, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a “controlled foreign corporation” related, directly or constructively, to us through stock ownership, (c) the Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank receiving interest described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code and (d) certain certification requirements (as described below) are met.

 

Under the Code and the applicable Treasury regulations, in order to obtain an exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax, either (a) a Non-U.S. Holder must provide its name and address and certify, under penalties of perjury, that such Non-U.S. Holder is not a U.S. person or (b) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a “Financial Institution”), and that holds the notes on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder, must certify, under penalties of perjury, that such certificate has been received from such Non-U.S. Holder by such Financial Institution or by another Financial Institution between such Financial Institution and such Non-U.S. Holder and, if required, must furnish the payor with a copy thereof. Generally, the foregoing certification requirement may be met if a Non-U.S. Holder delivers a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute Form W-8BEN or the appropriate successor form to the payor. Special rules apply to foreign partnerships, estates and trusts and other intermediaries, and in certain circumstances certifications as to foreign status of partners, trust owners or beneficiaries may have to be provided. In addition, special rules apply to qualified intermediaries that enter into withholding agreements with the IRS.

 

Payments of interest on a note that do not satisfy all of the foregoing requirements generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate, provided certain certification requirements are met). A Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same manner as a U.S. Holder with respect to interest on a note if such interest is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by the Non-U.S. Holder (or, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States). Under certain circumstances, effectively connected interest income received by a corporate Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or a lower applicable treaty rate, provided certain certification requirements are met). Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, such effectively connected interest income generally will be exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax if a Non-U.S. Holder delivers a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI to the payor. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors about any applicable income tax treaties, which may provide for an exemption from or a lower rate of withholding tax, exemption from or reduction of branch profits tax, or other rules different from those described above.

Sale, Retirement or Other Disposition.  Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain recognized on the sale, retirement or other disposition of the notes so long as the holder provides us or the paying agent with the appropriate certification, unless (a) the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are met or (b) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business by the Non-U.S. Holder (or, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States).

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

U.S. Holders.  Generally, information reporting will apply to payments of principal and interest on the notes to a U.S. Holder and to the proceeds of sale or other disposition of the notes, unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient (such as a corporation). Backup withholding generally will apply to such payments (currently at a rate of 28%), if a U.S. Holder fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number or a certification of exempt status or fails to report in full dividend and interest income. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be allowed as a refund or credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

Non-U.S. Holders.  Generally, payments of interest on the notes to a Non-U.S. Holder and the amount of any tax withheld from such payments must be reported annually to the IRS and to the Non-U.S. Holder. Copies of these information returns may be made available by the IRS to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder is a resident under the provisions of an applicable tax treaty. Under certain circumstances, information reporting also would apply to payments of principal on the notes, and backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax (currently at a rate of 28%) may apply to payments of principal and interest on the notes to a Non-U.S. Holder if the Non-U.S. Holder fails to certify under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person.

 

Payments of the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of the notes by or through a foreign office of a U.S. broker or of a foreign broker with certain specified U.S. connections will be subject to information reporting requirements, but generally not backup withholding, unless the broker has evidence in its records that the payee is not a U.S. person and the broker has no actual knowledge or reason to know to the contrary. Payments of the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of the notes by or through the U.S. office of a broker will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the payee certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person or otherwise establishes an exemption.

 

Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be allowed as a refund or credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

We are offering the notes described in this prospectus supplement through a number of underwriters. Banc of America Securities LLC, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. are the representatives of the underwriters. We have entered into a firm commitment underwriting agreement with the representatives. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, the aggregate principal amount of notes listed next to its name in the following table:

 

 

The underwriting agreement is subject to a number of terms and conditions and provides that the underwriters must buy all of the notes if they buy any of them. The underwriters will sell the notes to the public when and if the underwriters buy the notes from us.

 

The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

 

The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to offer the notes to the public at the public offering prices set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement, and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the notes to certain other dealers. After the public offering of the notes, the public offering price and other selling terms may be changed.

 

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $575,000.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against, or contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or on any automated dealer quotation system. The underwriters may make a market in the notes after completion of the offering, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes or that an active public market for the notes will develop. If an active public market for the notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected.

 

In connection with the offering of the notes, certain of the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the notes. Specifically, the underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position. In addition, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the notes in the open market to cover short positions or to stabilize the price of the notes. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the notes above independent market levels, but no representation is made hereby of the magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the market price of the notes. The underwriters will not be required to engage in these activities, and may engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities, at any time without notice.

 

In the ordinary course of business, certain of the underwriters or their affiliates have provided and may in the future provide commercial, financial advisory or investment banking services for us and our subsidiaries for which they have received or will receive customary compensation. Certain of the underwriters are lenders under our revolving credit facilities.

Selling Restrictions

 

European Economic Area

 

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the notes which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

 

(a)  to legal entities which are authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorised or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

 

(b)  to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43 million and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50 million, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;

 

(c)  to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

 

(d)  in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the Issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of notes to the public” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

 

United Kingdom

 

Each underwriter has also represented and agreed that:

 

(a)  it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA would not apply to the Issuer; and

 

(b)  it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

 

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Dallas, Texas, and Hunton & Williams LLP, Richmond, Virginia, will opine for us as to the validity of the offered notes. The Underwriters are represented by Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Atmos Energy appearing in Atmos Energy Corporation’s annual report (Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 (including the schedule appearing therein) and the effectiveness of Atmos Energy Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of

September 30, 2008 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

With respect to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial information of Atmos Energy for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, incorporated herein by reference, Ernst & Young LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report dated February 3, 2009, included in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. Ernst & Young LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for their report on the unaudited interim financial information because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by Ernst & Young LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Atmos Energy Corporation

 

By this prospectus, we offer up to

 

$900,000,000

 

of debt securities and common stock.

 

 

 

We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

 

Investing in these securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 1 of this prospectus, in the applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ATO.”

 

Our address is 1800 Three Lincoln Centre, 5430 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75240, and our telephone number is (972) 934-9227.

 

 

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators have not approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

This prospectus is dated March 23, 2009.

We have not authorized any other person to provide you with any information or to make any representation that is different from, or in addition to, the information and representations contained in this prospectus or in any of the documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, as well as the information contained in any document incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the date of each such document only, unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

The distribution of this prospectus may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. You should inform yourself about and observe any of these restrictions. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make the offer or solicitation.

 

 

 

The terms “we,” “our,” “us” and “Atmos Energy” refer to Atmos Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise. The term “you” refers to a prospective investor.

 

Statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus that are not statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those stated. Important factors that could cause future results to differ include, but are not limited to:

 

 

All of these factors are difficult to predict and many are beyond our control. Accordingly, while we believe these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. When used in our documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “objective,” “plan,” “projection,” “seek,” “strategy” or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

For additional factors you should consider, please see “Risk Factors” on page 1 of this prospectus and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 and “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference,” as well as the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Investing in our debt securities or our common stock involves risks. Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict and beyond our control and that involve uncertainties that may materially affect our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, or the value of these securities. These risks and uncertainties include those described in the risk factor and other sections of the documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Moreover, risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or currently deemed immaterial by us may also adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, or the value of the securities. Subsequent prospectus supplements may contain a discussion of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the particular type of securities we are offering under the prospectus supplements. You should carefully consider all of the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in our debt securities or common stock.

 

Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is engaged primarily in the regulated natural gas distribution and transmission and storage businesses, as well as other nonregulated natural gas businesses. We are one of the country’s largest natural gas-only distributors based on number of customers and one of the largest intrastate pipeline operators in Texas based upon miles of pipe.

 

We distribute natural gas through regulated sales and transportation arrangements to approximately 3.2 million residential, commercial, public authority and industrial customers through our six regulated natural gas distribution divisions, which cover service areas in 12 states. Our primary service areas are located in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. We have more limited service areas in Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Virginia. In addition, we transport natural gas for others through our distribution system.

 

Through our regulated transmission and storage business, we provide natural gas transportation and storage services to our Mid-Tex Division, our largest natural gas distribution division located in Texas, and for third parties. Additionally, we provide ancillary services customary to the pipeline industry, including parking arrangements, lending and sales of inventory on hand.

 

Through our nonregulated businesses, we primarily provide natural gas management and marketing services to municipalities, other local gas distribution companies and industrial customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. We also provide storage services to some of our natural gas distribution divisions and to third parties.

 

Types of Securities

 

The types of securities that we may offer and sell from time to time by this prospectus are:

 

 

The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold will not exceed $900,000,000. We will determine when we sell securities, the amounts of securities we will sell and the prices and other terms on which we will sell them. We may sell securities to or through underwriters, through agents or dealers or directly to purchasers. The offer and sale of securities by this prospectus is subject to receipt of satisfactory regulatory approvals in five states, all of which have been received and are currently in effect. Under the most restrictive of these approvals, we are limited to issuing no more than $450,000,000 of senior debt securities, $150,000,000 of subordinated debt securities and $300,000,000 of equity securities.

Prospectus Supplements

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the debt securities and common stock we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to or change information contained in this prospectus. In that case, the prospectus supplement should be read as superseding this prospectus.

 

In each prospectus supplement, which will be attached to the front of this prospectus, we will include, among other things, the following information:

 

 

For more details on the terms of the securities, you should read the exhibits filed with our registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part. You should also read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Except as may otherwise be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities that we may offer and sell from time to time by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, including for working capital, repaying indebtedness and funding capital projects, acquisitions and other growth.

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

 

 

For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consists of the sum of our pretax income from continuing operations and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of debt discount, premium and expense, capitalized interest and a portion of lease payments considered to represent an interest factor.

 

We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more distinct series. This section summarizes the material terms of any debt securities that we anticipate will be common to all series. Please note that the terms of any series of debt securities that we may offer may differ significantly from the common terms described in this prospectus. Many of the other terms of any series of debt securities that we offer, and any

differences from the common terms described in this prospectus, will be described in the prospectus supplement for such securities to be attached to the front of this prospectus.

 

As required by U.S. federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, a document called an “indenture” will govern any debt securities that we issue. An indenture is a contract between us and a financial institution acting as trustee on your behalf. We will enter into an indenture with an institution having corporate trust powers, which will act as trustee (the “indenture”). The indenture will be subject to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The trustee under an indenture has the following two main roles:

 

 

As this section is a summary of some of the terms of the debt securities we may offer under this prospectus, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. We urge you to read the indenture and the other documents we file with the SEC relating to the debt securities because the indenture for those securities and those other documents, and not this description, will define your rights as a holder of our debt securities. We have filed a form of indenture with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and we will file any such other documents as exhibits to an annual, quarterly or current report that we file with the SEC. The actual indenture we enter into in connection with an offering may differ from the form of indenture we have filed. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies of the indenture and any such other documents. References to the “indenture” mean the indenture that will define your rights as a holder of debt securities. Capitalized terms used in this section and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the form of indenture.

 

General

 

The debt securities will be our unsecured obligations. Senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Subordinated debt securities will rank junior to our senior indebtedness, including our credit facilities.

 

You should read the prospectus supplement for the following terms of the series of debt securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Our board of directors will establish the following terms before issuance of the series:

 

 

 

For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the payment of principal of, any premium on, or interest on the debt securities will include Additional Amounts if required by the terms of the debt securities.

 

The indenture will not limit the amount of debt securities that we are authorized to issue from time to time. The indenture will also provide that there may be multiple series of debt securities issued thereunder and more than one trustee thereunder, each for one or more series of debt securities. If a trustee is acting under the indenture with respect to more than one series of debt securities, the debt securities for which it is acting would be treated as if issued under separate indentures. If there is more than one trustee under the indenture,

the powers and trust obligations of each trustee will apply only to the debt securities of the separate series for which it is trustee.

 

We may issue debt securities with terms different from those of debt securities already issued. Without the consent of the holders of the outstanding debt securities, we may reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series unless the reopening was restricted when we created that series.

 

There is no requirement that we issue debt securities in the future under the indenture, and we may use other indentures or documentation, containing different provisions in connection with future issues of other debt securities.

 

We may issue the debt securities as “original issue discount securities,” which are debt securities, including any zero-coupon debt securities, that are issued and sold at a discount from their stated principal amount. Original issue discount securities provide that, upon acceleration of their maturity, an amount less than their principal amount will become due and payable. We will describe the U.S. federal income tax consequences and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities in any prospectus supplement relating to them.

 

Holders of Debt Securities

 

Book-Entry Holders.  We will issue debt securities in book-entry form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means the debt securities will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depository on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depository’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the debt securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

 

Under the indenture, we will recognize as a holder only the person in whose name a debt security is registered. Consequently, for debt securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depository as the holder of the debt securities and we will make all payments on the debt securities to the depository. The depository passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depository and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the debt securities. As a result, you will not own the debt securities directly. Instead, you will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depository’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the debt securities are issued in global form, you will be an indirect holder, and not a holder, of the debt securities.

 

Street Name Holders.  In the future we may terminate a global security or issue debt securities initially in non-global form. In these cases, you may choose to hold your debt securities in your own name or in “street name.” Debt securities held in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that you choose, and you would hold only a beneficial interest in those debt securities through an account you maintain at that institution.

 

For debt securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the debt securities are registered as the holders of those debt securities, and we will make all payments on those debt securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. If you hold debt securities in street name you will be an indirect holder, and not a holder, of those debt securities.

 

Legal Holders.  Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustee, run only to the legal holders of the debt securities. We do not have obligations to you if you hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether you choose to be an indirect holder of a debt security or have no choice because we are issuing the debt securities only in global form.

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice, even if that holder is required, under agreements with depository participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose (for example, to amend the indenture or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture) we would seek the approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the debt securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is up to the holders.

 

When we refer to you, we mean those who invest in the debt securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect holders of those debt securities. When we refer to your debt securities, we mean the debt securities in which you hold a direct or indirect interest.

 

Special Considerations for Indirect Holders.  If you hold debt securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

 

Global Securities

 

What is a Global Security?  We will issue each debt security under the indenture in book-entry form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. A global security represents one or any other number of individual debt securities. Generally, all debt securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms. We may, however, issue a global security that represents multiple debt securities that have different terms and are issued at different times. We call this kind of global security a master global security.

 

Each debt security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depository. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depository for all debt securities issued in book-entry form.

 

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depository or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depository, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all debt securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depository or with another institution that does. Thus, if your security is represented by a global security, you will not be a holder of the debt security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

 

Special Considerations for Global Securities.  We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of debt securities and instead deal only with the depository that holds the global security. The account rules of your

financial institution and of the depository, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers, will govern your rights relating to a global security.

 

If we issue debt securities only in the form of a global security, you should be aware of the following:

 

 

Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.  In a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-global form representing the debt securities it represented. After that exchange, you will be able to choose whether to hold the debt securities directly or in street name. You must consult your own bank or broker to find out how to have your interests in a global security transferred on termination to your own name, so that you will be a holder. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above under “Holders of Debt Securities.”

 

The special situations for termination of a global security are as follows:

 

 

If a global security is terminated, only the depository, and not we or the trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the debt securities represented by the global security are registered, and, therefore, who will be the holders of those debt securities.

Covenants

 

This section summarizes the material covenants in the indenture. Please refer to the applicable prospectus supplement for information about any changes to our covenants, including any addition or deletion of a covenant, and to the indenture for information on other covenants not described in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Limitations on Liens.  We will covenant in the indenture that we will not, and will not permit any of our Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, issue or assume any Indebtedness secured by any Lien on any Principal Property, or on shares of stock or Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, known as Restricted Securities, without making effective provision for the Outstanding Securities, other than debt securities of any series not entitled to the benefit of this covenant, to be secured by a Lien equally and ratably with, or prior to (or in the case of debt securities of any series that are subordinated in right of payment to the Indebtedness secured by such Lien, by a Lien subordinated to), the Lien securing such Indebtedness for so long as the Indebtedness is so secured, except that the foregoing restriction does not apply to:

 

 

 

Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.  We will covenant in the indenture that we will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction unless:

 

 

Definitions.  Following are definitions of some of the terms used in the covenants described above.

 

“Attributable Debt” means, as to any lease under which a person is at the time liable for rent, at a date that liability is to be determined, the total net amount of rent required to be paid by that person under the lease during the remaining term, excluding amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs, services, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges and contingent rents, discounted from the respective due dates thereof at the rate of interest (or Yield to Maturity, in the case of original issue discount securities) borne by the then Outstanding Securities, compounded monthly.

 

“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests, however designated, in stock issued by a corporation.

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the aggregate amount of assets, less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items, after deducting:

 

 

all as set forth on our most recent consolidated balance sheet contained in our latest quarterly or annual report filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

“Funded Indebtedness” means, as applied to any person, all Indebtedness of the person maturing after, or renewable or extendible at the option of the person beyond, 12 months from the date of determination.

 

“Indebtedness” means obligations for money borrowed, evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar evidences of indebtedness.

“Lien” means any lien, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, charge or security interest securing Indebtedness; provided, however, that the following types of transactions will not be considered, for purposes of this definition, to result in a Lien:

 

 

“Non-Recourse Indebtedness” means, at any time, Indebtedness incurred after the date of the indenture by us or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the acquisition of property or assets by us or a Restricted Subsidiary or the financing of the construction of or improvements on property, whenever acquired, provided that, under the terms of this Indebtedness and under applicable law, the recourse at the time and thereafter of the lenders with respect to this Indebtedness is limited to the property or assets so acquired, or the construction or improvements, including Indebtedness as to which a performance or completion guarantee or similar undertaking was initially applicable to the Indebtedness or the related property or assets if the guarantee or similar undertaking has been satisfied and is no longer in effect. Indebtedness which is otherwise Non-Recourse Indebtedness will not lose its character as Non-Recourse Indebtedness because there is recourse to us, any subsidiary of ours or any other person for (a) environmental or tax warranties and indemnities and such other representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities as are customarily required in such transactions or (b) indemnities for and liabilities arising from fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication or non-payment of rents, profits, insurance and condemnation proceeds and other sums actually received from secured assets to be paid to the lender, waste and mechanics’ liens or similar matters.

 

“Principal Property” means any natural gas distribution property located in the United States, except any property that in the opinion of our board of directors is not of material importance to the total business conducted by us and of our consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary the amount of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of which constitutes more than 10% of the aggregate amount of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of us and our Subsidiaries.

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement with any person in which we or any Restricted Subsidiary leases any Principal Property that has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or the Restricted Subsidiary to that person, other than any such arrangement involving:

 

 

 

“Subsidiary” of ours means:

 

 

Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets.  Under the terms of the indenture, we will be generally permitted to consolidate with or merge into another entity. We will also be permitted to sell or transfer our assets substantially as an entirety to another entity. However, we may not take any of these actions unless all of the following conditions are met:

 

 

In the event that we engage in one of these transactions and comply with the conditions listed above, we would be discharged from all our obligations and covenants under the indenture and all obligations under the Outstanding Securities, with the successor corporation or person succeeding to our obligations and covenants.

 

In the event that we engage in one of these transactions, the indenture provides that, if any Principal Property or Restricted Securities would thereupon become subject to any Lien securing the Indebtedness, the debt securities, other than debt securities not entitled to the benefits of specified covenants, must be secured, as to such Principal Property or Restricted Securities, equally and ratably with (or prior to or, in the case of debt securities that are subordinated in right of payment to the Indebtedness secured by such Lien or in the case of other Indebtedness of ours that is subordinated to the debt securities, on a subordinated basis to such Lien securing) the Indebtedness or obligations that upon the occurrence of such transaction would become secured by the Lien, unless the Lien could be created under the indenture without equally and ratably securing the debt securities (or, in the case of debt securities that are subordinated in right of payment to the Indebtedness secured by such Lien, on a subordinated basis to such Lien).

 

Modification or Waiver

 

There are two types of changes that we can make to the indenture and the debt securities.

 

Changes Requiring Approval.  With the approval of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of each series affected (including any such approvals obtained in connection with a tender or exchange offer for outstanding debt securities), we may make any changes, additions or deletions to any provisions of the indenture applicable to the affected series, or modify the rights of the holders of the debt securities of the affected series. However, without the consent of each holder affected, we cannot:

 

 

 

Changes Not Requiring Approval.  The second type of change does not require any vote by the holders of the debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the outstanding debt securities in any material respect. Additionally, we do not need any approval to make any change that affects only debt securities to be issued under the indenture after the changes take effect.

 

Further Details Concerning Voting.  When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal amount to attribute to a debt security:

 

 

Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust money for their payment or redemption. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described later under “Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.”

 

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.

 

Events of Default

 

Holders of debt securities will have special rights if an Event of Default occurs as to the debt securities of their series that is not cured, as described later in this subsection. Please refer to the applicable prospectus supplement for information about any changes to the Events of Default, including any addition of a provision providing event risk or similar protection.

 

What is an Event of Default?  The term “Event of Default” as to the debt securities of a series means any of the following:

 

 

 

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture.

 

The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of a particular series of any default if it considers its withholding of notice to be in the interest of the holders of that series, except that the trustee may not withhold notice of a default in the payment of the principal of, any premium on, or the interest on the debt securities or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to the debt securities.

 

Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs.  If an event of default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount and all accrued interest of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable by notifying us, and the trustee, if the holders give notice, in writing. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity.

 

If the maturity of any series of debt securities is accelerated and a judgment for payment has not yet been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series may cancel the acceleration if all events of default other than the non-payment of principal or interest on the debt securities of that series that have become due solely by a declaration of acceleration are cured or waived, and we deposit with the trustee a sufficient sum of money to pay:

 

 

Except in cases of default, where the trustee has some special duties, the trustee is not required to take any action under the indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability. This is called an indemnity. If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. The trustee may refuse to follow those directions if the directions conflict with any law or the indenture or expose the trustee to personal liability. No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of that right, remedy or Event of Default.

Before a holder is allowed to bypass the trustee and bring his or her own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce his or her rights or protect his or her interest relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

 

 

However, a holder is entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on his or her debt securities on or after the due date without complying with the foregoing.

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may waive any past defaults other than the following:

 

 

Each year, we will furnish the trustee with a written statement of two of our officers certifying that, to their knowledge, we are in compliance with the indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default.

 

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration.

 

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the provisions for full defeasance and covenant defeasance described below apply to each series of debt securities. In general, we expect these provisions to apply to each debt security that is not a floating rate or indexed debt security.

 

Full Defeasance.  If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law, as described below, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the debt securities, called “full defeasance,” if we put in place the following arrangements for you to be repaid:

 

 

If we ever did accomplish defeasance, as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment of the debt securities. You could not look to us for repayment in the event of any shortfall. Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever become bankrupt or insolvent. If we accomplish a defeasance, we would retain only the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust.

Covenant Defeasance.  Under current federal tax law, we can make the same type of deposit described above and be released from any restrictive covenants in the indenture. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that event, you would lose the protection of any such covenants but would gain the protection of having money and obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government set aside in trust to repay the debt securities. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the following:

 

 

If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit or the trustee is prevented from making payment. In fact, if one of the remaining Events of Default occurred, such as our bankruptcy, and the debt securities became immediately due and payable, there may be a shortfall. Depending on the event causing the default, you may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.

 

Debt Securities Issued in Non-Global Form

 

If any debt securities cease to be issued in global form, they will be issued:

 

 

Holders may exchange their debt securities that are not in global form for debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed.

 

Holders may exchange or transfer their debt securities at the office of the trustee. We may appoint the trustee to act as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders transferring debt securities, or we may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.

 

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their debt securities, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership.

 

If we have designated additional transfer agents for a holder’s debt security, they will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

 

If any debt securities are redeemable and we redeem less than all those debt securities, we may stop the transfer or exchange of those debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of any debt securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security that will be partially redeemed.

 

If a debt security is issued as a global security, only the depository will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt security as described in this section, since it will be the sole holder of the debt security.

Payment Mechanics

 

Who Receives Payment?  If interest is due on a debt security on an interest payment date, we will pay the interest to the person or entity in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date, discussed below, relating to the interest payment date. If interest is due at maturity but on a day that is not an interest payment date, we will pay the interest to the person or entity entitled to receive the principal of the debt security. If principal or another amount besides interest is due on a debt security at maturity, we will pay the amount to the holder of the debt security against surrender of the debt security at a proper place of payment, or, in the case of a global security, in accordance with the applicable policies of the depository.

 

Payments on Global Securities.  We will make payments on a global security in accordance with the applicable policies of the depository as in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will pay directly to the depository, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in the global security. An indirect holder’s right to those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depository and its participants, as described above under “What is a Global Security?”.

 

Payments on Non-Global Securities.  For a debt security in non-global form, we will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on the interest payment date to the holder at his or her address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date. We will make all other payments by check, at the paying agent described below, against surrender of the debt security. We will make all payments by check in next-day funds; for example, funds that become available on the day after the check is cashed.

 

Alternatively, if a non-global security has a face amount of at least $1,000,000 and the holder asks us to do so, we will pay any amount that becomes due on the debt security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in New York City on the due date. To request wire payment, the holder must give the paying agent appropriate transfer instructions at least five business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given by the person who is the holder on the relevant regular record date. In the case of any other payment, we will make payment only after the debt security is surrendered to the paying agent. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.

 

Regular Record Dates.  We will pay interest to the holders listed in the trustee’s records as the owners of the debt securities at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each interest payment date. We will pay interest to these holders if they are listed as the owner even if they no longer own the debt security on the interest payment date. That particular day, usually about two weeks in advance of the interest payment date, is called the “regular record date” and will be identified in the prospectus supplement.

 

Payment When Offices Are Closed.  If any payment is due on a debt security on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the next business day. Payments postponed to the next business day in this situation will be treated under the indenture as if they were made on the original due date. A postponement of this kind will not result in a default under any debt security or the indenture, and no interest will accrue on the postponed amount from the original due date to the next business day.

 

Paying Agents.  We may appoint one or more financial institutions to act as our paying agents, at whose designated offices debt securities in non-global form may be surrendered for payment at their maturity. We call each of those offices a paying agent. We may add, replace or terminate paying agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. Initially, we have appointed the trustee, at its corporate trust office in New York City, as the paying agent. We must notify you of changes in the paying agents.

 

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on their debt securities.

The Trustee Under the Indenture

 

U.S. Bank National Association is the trustee under the indenture for our debt securities. We will identify any other entity acting as the trustee for a series of debt securities that we may offer in the prospectus supplement for the offering of such debt securities.

 

The trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to these series.

 

General

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 91,914,143 shares were outstanding on March 17, 2009. Each of our shares of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters voted upon by shareholders. Our shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights. Our issued and outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the shares of our common stock, and such shares are not entitled to any preemptive rights. Since we are incorporated in both Texas and Virginia, we must comply with the laws of both states when issuing shares of our common stock.

 

Holders of our shares of common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors from our assets legally available for the payment of dividends and, upon our liquidation, a pro rata share of all of our assets available for distribution to our shareholders.

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company is the registrar and transfer agent for our common stock.

 

Charter and Bylaws Provisions

 

Some provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws may be deemed to have an “anti-takeover” effect. The following description of these provisions is only a summary, and we refer you to our articles of incorporation and bylaws for more information. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws are included as exhibits to our annual reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Classification of the Board.  Our board of directors is divided into three classes, each of which consists, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire board. There are currently 13 directors serving on the board. Each class of directors serves a three-year term. At each annual meeting of our shareholders, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at the annual meeting are elected for three-year terms. Our articles of incorporation prohibit cumulative voting. In general, in the absence of cumulative voting, one or more persons who hold a majority of our outstanding shares can elect all of the directors who are subject to election at any meeting of shareholders.

 

The classification of directors could have the effect of making it more difficult for shareholders, including those holding a majority of the outstanding shares, to force an immediate change in the composition of the board. Two shareholder meetings, instead of one, generally will be required to effect a change in the control of our board.

 

Removal of Directors.  Our articles of incorporation and bylaws also provide that our directors may be removed only for cause and upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75 percent of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

Fair Price Provisions.  Article VII of our articles of incorporation provides certain “Fair Price Provisions” for our shareholders. Under Article VII, a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, share exchange, recapitalization or other similar transaction, between us or a company controlled by or under common control with us and any individual, corporation or other entity which owns or controls 10 percent or more of our voting capital stock, would be required to satisfy the condition that the aggregate consideration per share to be

received in the transaction for each class of our voting capital stock be at least equal to the highest per share price, or equivalent price for any different classes or series of stock, paid by the 10 percent shareholder in acquiring any of its holdings of our stock. If a proposed transaction with a 10 percent shareholder does not meet this condition, then the transaction must be approved by the holders of at least 75 percent of the outstanding shares of voting capital stock held by our shareholders other than the 10 percent shareholder, unless a majority of the directors who were members of our board immediately prior to the time the 10 percent shareholder involved in the proposed transaction became a 10 percent shareholder have either:

 

 

The provisions of Article VII may not be amended, altered, changed, or repealed except by the affirmative vote of at least 75 percent of the votes entitled to be cast thereon at a meeting of our shareholders duly called for consideration of such amendment, alteration, change, or repeal. In addition, if there is a 10 percent shareholder, such action must also be approved by the affirmative vote of at least 75 percent of the outstanding shares of our voting capital stock held by the shareholders other than the 10 percent shareholder.

 

Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations.  Our shareholders can submit shareholder proposals and nominate candidates for the board of directors if the shareholders follow the advance notice procedures described in our bylaws.

 

Shareholder proposals (other than those sought to be included in our proxy statement) must be submitted to our corporate secretary at least 60 days, but not more than 85 days, before the annual meeting; provided, however, that if less than 75 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting is given or made to shareholders, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be received by our corporate secretary no later than the close of business on the 25th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was provided or such public disclosure was made. The notice must include a description of the proposal, the shareholder’s name and address and the number of shares held, and all other information which would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed with the SEC if the shareholder were a participant in a solicitation subject to the SEC’s proxy rules. To be included in our proxy statement for an annual meeting, our corporate secretary must receive the proposal at least 120 days prior to the anniversary of the date we mailed the proxy statement for the prior year’s annual meeting.

 

To nominate directors, shareholders must submit a written notice to our corporate secretary at least 60 days, but not more than 85 days, before a scheduled meeting; provided, however, that if less than 75 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting is given or made to shareholders, such nomination shall have been received by our corporate secretary no later than the close of business on the 25th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. The notice must include the name and address of the shareholder and of the shareholder’s nominee, the number of shares held by the shareholder, a representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of common stock entitled to vote at the meeting, and that the shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy to nominate the persons specified in the notice, a description of any arrangements between the shareholder and the shareholder’s nominee, information about the shareholder’s nominee required by the SEC and the written consent of the shareholder’s nominee to serve as a director.

 

Shareholder proposals and director nominations that are late or that do not include all required information may be rejected. This could prevent shareholders from bringing certain matters before an annual or special meeting or making nominations for directors.

 

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus and a prospectus supplement as follows:

 

 

We, directly or through agents or dealers, may sell, and the underwriters may resell, the securities in one or more transactions, including:

 

 

The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

 

Agents designated by us from time to time may solicit offers to purchase the securities. We will name any such agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and set forth any commissions payable by us to such agent in a prospectus supplement relating to any such offer and sale of securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter of the securities, as that term is defined in the Securities Act.

 

If underwriters are used in the sale of securities, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for such sale is reached. We will set forth in the prospectus supplement the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, and the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers. Such compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters and others participating in any offering of securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of such securities. We will describe any such activities in the prospectus supplement.

 

We may elect to list any class or series of securities on any exchange, but we are not currently obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters, if any, 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. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities we may offer.

 

If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we or an underwriter will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. The prospectus supplement will set forth the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions.

 

We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities, and we may sell directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding, auction or other process, if used.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates, may engage in transactions with or perform services for us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their business.

 

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Dallas, Texas, and Hunton & Williams LLP, Richmond, Virginia, have each rendered an opinion with respect to the validity of the securities that may be offered under this prospectus. We filed these opinions as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. If counsel for any underwriters passes on legal matters in connection with an offering made under this prospectus, we will name that counsel in the prospectus supplement relating to that offering.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Atmos Energy appearing in Atmos Energy Corporation’s annual report (Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 (including the schedule appearing therein) and the effectiveness of Atmos Energy Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2008 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

With respect to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial information of Atmos Energy for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, incorporated herein by reference, Ernst & Young LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report dated February 3, 2009, included in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. Ernst & Young LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for their report on the unaudited interim financial information because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by Ernst & Young LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You may read and copy this information at the Public Reference Room of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330.

 

The SEC also maintains an internet Web site that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov.

 

You can also inspect reports, proxy statements and other information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 that registers the securities we are offering. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities offered. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit certain information included in the registration statement from this prospectus.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information in this prospectus that we have filed with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of our securities.

 

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the termination of our offering of securities. These additional documents include periodic reports, such as annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01, which is deemed not to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus), as well as proxy statements (other than information identified in them as not incorporated by reference). You should review these filings as they may disclose a change in our business, prospects, financial condition or other affairs after the date of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC but have not been included or delivered with this document:

 

 

These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition.

 

You may obtain a copy of any of these filings, or any of our future filings, from us without charge by requesting it in writing or by telephone at the following address or telephone number:

 

Atmos Energy Corporation

1800 Three Lincoln Centre

5430 LBJ Freeway

Dallas, Texas 75240

Attention: Susan Giles

(972) 934-9227

 

Our internet Web site address is www.atmosenergy.com. Information on or connected to our internet Web site is not part of this prospectus.

 

$          

 

 

Atmos Energy Corporation

 

% Senior Notes due 2019

 

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

March   , 2009

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Banc of America Securities LLC

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

RBS Greenwich Capital

 

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey