97-14210. Filings Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (``Act'')  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 29755-29756]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-14210]
    
    
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    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
    
    [Release No. 35-26720]
    
    
    Filings Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as 
    amended (``Act'')
    
    May 23, 1997.
        Notice is hereby given that the following filing(s) has/have been 
    made with the Commission pursuant to provisions of the Act and rules 
    promulgated thereunder. All interested persons are referred to the 
    application(s) and/or declaration(s) for complete statements of the 
    proposed transaction(s) summarized below. The application(s) and/or 
    declaration(s) and any amendments thereto is/are available for public 
    inspection through the Commission's Office of Public Reference.
        Interested persons wishing to comment or request a hearing on the 
    application(s) and/or declaration(s) should submit their views in 
    writing by June 16, 1997, to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange 
    Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, and serve a copy on the relevant 
    applicant(s) and/or declarant(s) at the address(ea) specified below. 
    Proof of service (by affidavit or, in case of an attorney at law, by 
    certificate) should be filed with the
    
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    request. Any request for hearing shall identify specifically the issues 
    of fact or law that are disputed. A person who so requests will be 
    notified of any hearing, if ordered, and will receive a copy of any 
    notice or order issued in the matter. After said date, the 
    application(s) and/or declaration(s), as filed or as amended, may be 
    granted and/or permitted to become effective.
    
    The Southern Company (70-8961)
    
        The Southern Company (``Southern''), 270 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, 
    Georgia 30303, a registered holding company, has filed a declaration 
    pursuant to sections 12(b) of the Act and rule 45 and 54 thereunder.
        Southern proposes that, from time-to-time on or before December 31, 
    2003, it may guarantee indebtedness incurred by Southern Company 
    Services, Inc. (``Services''), its subsidiary service company, in an 
    aggregate outstanding amount of up to $200 million under one or more of 
    the following borrowing methods.
        Services may issue and sell new notes (``Proposed Notes'') to a 
    lender or lenders other than Southern. The Proposed Notes would be 
    issued under an agreement(s) with the lender(s) and may be guaranteed 
    by Southern as to principal, premium, if any, and interest. The 
    proposed notes may have terms of up to 30 years, contain sinking funds 
    and bear interest at a rate or rates not to exceed 3\1/2\ percentage 
    points per annum over the rate for United States Treasury securities of 
    corresponding maturity at the time the lender(s) commit to purchase the 
    particular issue. Services may engage an agent to place the proposed 
    notes for a commission not in excess of \1/2\ of 1% of the principal 
    amount borrowed.
        Services also may effect short-term or term-loan borrowings under 
    one of more revolving credit commitment agreements. Short-term 
    borrowings under such agreement(s) would have a maximum maturity of one 
    year and term loans would have maturities up to 10 years. It is 
    expected that the borrowings would be evidenced by a ``grid'' 
    promissory note to be dated the date of the initial borrowing and the 
    date of each borrowing thereafter when a ``grid'' short-term or term-
    loan note, as they case may be, is not outstanding (``Grid Notes'').
        The Grid Notes would bear interest at rates to be negotiated with 
    the lending bank or banks. Borrowings under the proposed revolving 
    credit commitment agreements would be at rates per annum not in excess 
    of: (1) The lender's prime or base (``Prime'') rate plus 1%; (2) the 
    lender's certificate of deposit (``CD'') rate plus 1\3/4\%; and (3) the 
    lender's LIBOR plus 2%. Services also may negotiate separate rates for 
    particular borrowings, an option Services would pursue only if the 
    resulting rates are considered more favorable than those otherwise 
    available under the commitments. In addition, it is expected that 
    Services will be obligated to pay a commitment fee not in excess of \1/
    2\ of 1% per annum of the unused portion of each lending bank's 
    commitment.
        Services also may effect short-term borrowings from certain banks 
    and other institutions. These borrowings will be evidenced by notes to 
    be dated as of the date of such borrowings and to mature in not more 
    than 10 years after the date of issue, or by ``grid'' notes evidencing 
    all outstanding borrowings from each lender to be dated as of the date 
    of the initial borrowing and to mature in not more than 10 years after 
    the date of issue. Generally, borrowings will be prepayable in whole, 
    or in part, without penalty or premium, and will be at rates per annum 
    not in excess of: (1) The Prime rate; (2) the CD rate plus 1%, and 
    LIBOR plus 1%. Services also may negotiate separate rates for, and/or 
    agree not to prepay, particular borrowings if it is considered more 
    favorable to Services. Compensation for the credit facilities, not to 
    exceed \1/2\ of 1% per annum of the amount of the facilities, is 
    expected to be provided by balances or comparable fees in lieu of 
    balances.
    
    Unitil Corporation (70-9047)
    
        Unitil Corporation (``Unitil''), 6 Liberty Lane West, Hampton, New 
    Hampshire 03842-1270, a registered holding company, has filed a 
    declaration under section 12(b) of the Act and rule 45 thereunder.
        Unitil proposes to guarantee the lease payment obligations of its 
    service company subsidiary, Unitil Service Corporation (``Unitil 
    Service''), to Unitil Realty Corp. (``Unitil Realty''), its real estate 
    subsidiary company, under a lease agreement (``Lease''), in an amount 
    not to exceed $12 million.
        In August 1996, Unitil Realty completed construction of a new 
    corporate office facility for Unitil Service in Hampton, New Hampshire 
    (``Facility'') at a cost of approximately $9 million. Unitil Service is 
    the only tenant of the Facility.
        Unitil Realty has received a commitment for permanent debt 
    financing for the Facility. In order for Unitil Realty to obtain the 
    most favorable financing rate, Unitil proposes to guarantee Unitil 
    Service's obligations under the Lease. Under the Lease, Unitil Service 
    is obligated to pay rent payments covering the cost of principal and 
    interest to Unitil Realty, return on equity for Unitil Realty and 
    certain other expenses such as property taxes, insurance, utilities, 
    repairs, maintenance, leasehold improvements and alterations.
    
        For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, 
    pursuant to delegated authority.
    Margaret H. McFarland,
    Deputy Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 97-14210 Filed 5-30-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/02/1997
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
97-14210
Pages:
29755-29756 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 35-26720
PDF File:
97-14210.pdf