As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2009

Registration No. 333-     

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form S-3

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

AVISTA CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

1411 East Mission Avenue
Spokane, Washington 99202
(509) 489-0500
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

 

 

(Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agents for service)

 

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time after the registration statement becomes effective, as determined by market and other conditions.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  o

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  þ

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, please check the following box.  þ

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  o

 

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

AVISTA CORPORATION

 

Debt Securities

 

Preferred Stock
(no par value)

 

Common Stock
(no par value)

 

Avista Corporation may offer these securities from time to time on terms and at prices to be determined at the time of sale. The supplement to this prospectus relating to each offering will describe the specific terms of the securities being offered, as well as the terms of the offering and sale including the offering price.

 

Avista Corporation may sell these securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to one or more purchasers.

 

Outstanding shares of Avista Corporation’s common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AVA”. New shares of common stock will also be listed on the NYSE.

 

 

See “Risk Factors” on page 2 for reference to certain factors you should consider before investing in the securities.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this Prospectus is December 9, 2009.

This prospectus incorporates by reference important business and financial information about Avista Corporation that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information”. You may obtain copies of documents containing such information from us, without charge, by either calling or writing to us at:

 

Avista Corporation
Post Office Box 3727
Spokane, Washington 99220
Attention: Treasurer
Telephone: (509) 489-0500

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

We have not authorized anyone to give you any information other than this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to an offering of specific securities and any written communication from us or any underwriters or agents specifying the final terms of such securities. You should assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and any such written communication is accurate only as of the respective dates of these documents. We are not offering to sell any securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy any securities in any jurisdiction in which offers are not permitted.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that Avista Corporation filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using the “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. That prospectus supplement may include or incorporate by reference a detailed and current discussion of any risk factors and will discuss any special considerations applicable to those securities, including the plan of distribution. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information”. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information contained in that prospectus supplement.

 

References in the prospectus to the terms “we”, “us” or “Avista” or other similar terms mean Avista Corporation, unless we state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise.

 

We may use this prospectus to offer from time to time:

 

 

The shares of Common Stock offered by this prospectus, together with the Debt Securities and the New Preferred Stock, are hereafter called “Securities”.

 

For more detailed information about the Securities, you can read the exhibits to the registration statement. Those exhibits have been either filed with the registration statement or incorporated by reference to earlier SEC filings listed in the registration statement. See “Where You Can Find More Information”.

 

Investing in the Securities involves risk. You should review all the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus before deciding to invest. See “Where You Can Find More Information” herein. In particular, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties discussed in “Risk Factors”, “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our annual and quarterly reports incorporated herein by reference.

 

In addition, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement which relate to the specific Securities offered thereby.

 

Avista Corporation, which was incorporated in the Territory of Washington in 1889 (sometimes called “Avista”), is an energy company engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of energy and, through its subsidiaries, in other energy-related businesses. Our corporate headquarters are in Spokane, Washington, center of the Inland Northwest geographic region. Agriculture, mining and lumber were the primary industries in the Inland Northwest for many years; today health care, education, finance, electronic and other manufacturing, tourism and service sectors are growing in importance.

 

Avista has two reportable business segments, as follows:

 

 

Avista Corporation has other businesses, including sheet metal fabrication, venture fund investments and real estate investments. These activities do not represent a reportable business segment.

 

Advantage IQ and all the other companies in non-utility businesses are subsidiaries of Avista Capital, Inc., which is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Avista Corporation.

 

Unless we indicate differently in a supplement to this prospectus, Avista intends to use the net proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Securities offered by this prospectus for any or all of the following purposes: (a) to fund Avista Utilities’ construction, facility improvement and maintenance programs, (b) to refinance maturing long-term debt, (c) to continue to fund retirements (through redemption, purchase or acquisition) of longer-term debt, (d) to repay short-term debt, (e) to accomplish other general corporate purposes permitted by law and (f) to reimburse Avista’s treasury for funds previously expended for any of these purposes.

 

Avista may issue the Bonds in one or more series, or in one or more tranches within a series. The terms of the Bonds will include those stated in the Mortgage and those made part of the Mortgage by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). The following summary is not complete and is subject in all respects to the provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Mortgage and the Trust Indenture Act. The Bonds, together with all other debt securities outstanding under the Mortgage, are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Mortgage Securities”. Avista has filed the Mortgage, as well as a form of supplemental indenture to the Mortgage to establish a series of Bonds, as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Capitalized terms used under this heading which are not otherwise defined in this prospectus have the meanings set

forth in the Mortgage. Wherever particular provisions of the Mortgage or terms defined in the Mortgage are referred to, those provisions or definitions are incorporated by reference as part of the statements made in this prospectus and those statements are qualified in their entirety by that reference. Sections 125 through 150 of the Mortgage appear in the first supplemental indenture to the Original Mortgage. References to article and section numbers, unless otherwise indicated, are references to article and section numbers of the Mortgage.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of the Bonds of each series:

 

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Except as may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, Avista will pay interest, if any, on each Bond on each interest payment date to the person in whose name such Bond is registered (for purposes of this section of the prospectus, the registered holder of any Mortgage Security is herein referred to as a “Holder”) as of the close of business on the regular record date relating to such interest payment date; provided, however, that Avista will pay interest at maturity (whether at stated maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, “Maturity”) to the person to whom principal is paid.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Avista will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Bonds at Maturity upon presentation of the Bonds at the corporate trust office of Citibank, N.A. in New York, New York, as paying agent for Avista. Avista may change the place of payment of the Bonds, may appoint one or more additional paying agents (including Avista) and may remove any paying agent, all at its discretion.

Registration; Registration of Transfer

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Bonds will be issued only in fully registered form. The registered holder of a Bond will be treated as the owner of the Bond for all purposes under the Mortgage. Only registered holders will have rights under the Mortgage. (Mortgage, Sec. 83)

 

The transfer of Bonds may be registered, and Bonds may be exchanged for other Bonds, upon surrender thereof at the principal office of Citibank, N.A., as Avista’s office or agency for such purposes. Avista may change such office or agency, and may designate an additional office or agency, in its discretion.

 

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, no service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Bonds, but Avista may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge incident thereto. Avista will not be required to make any transfer or exchange of any Bonds for a period of 10 days next preceding any selection of Bonds for redemption, nor will it be required to make transfers or exchanges of any Bonds which have been selected for redemption in whole or in part or as to which Avista shall have received a notice for the redemption thereof in whole or in part at the option of the Holder.

 

Redemption

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate the extent, if any, to which the Bonds will be subject to (a) general redemption at the option of Avista or (b) special redemption by the application (either at the option of Avista or pursuant to the requirements of the Mortgage) of (x) cash deposited with the Mortgage Trustee as described under “Special Provisions for Retirement of Bonds” below or (y) cash deposited with the Mortgage Trustee in connection with the release of property from the lien of the Mortgage.

 

Notice of redemption will be given by mail not less than 30 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. (Mortgage, Sec. 52)

 

If less than all the Bonds of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Bonds to be redeemed will be selected by the Mortgage Trustee by lot, according to such method as it shall deem proper in its discretion. (Mortgage, Sec. 52)

 

Any notice of redemption at the option of Avista may state that such redemption will be conditional upon receipt by the Mortgage Trustee, on or before the date fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Bonds and that if such money has not been so received, such notice will be of no force or effect and Avista will not be required to redeem such Bonds. (Mortgage, Sec. 52)

 

Issuance of Additional Mortgage Securities

 

In addition to the Bonds, other debt securities may be issued under the Mortgage. The present principal amount of debt securities which may be outstanding under the Mortgage is $10,000,000,000. However, Avista has reserved the right to amend the Mortgage (without any consent of or other action of Holders of any Mortgage Securities now or hereafter outstanding) to remove this limitation.

 

Mortgage Securities of any series may be issued from time to time on the basis of:

 

 

Property additions generally include electric, natural gas, steam or water property acquired after May 31, 1939, but may not include property used principally for the production or gathering of natural gas. Any such property additions may be used if their ownership and operation is within the corporate purposes of Avista regardless of whether or not Avista has all the necessary permission it may need at any time from governmental authorities to operate such property additions.

The Mortgage provides that no reduction in the book value of the property recorded in the plant account of Avista shall constitute a property retirement, otherwise than in connection with physical retirements of property abandoned, destroyed or disposed of, and otherwise than in connection with the removal of such property in its entirety from the plant account.

 

No Mortgage Securities may be issued on the basis of property additions subject to prior liens, unless the prior lien bonds secured thereby have been qualified by being deducted from the Mortgage Securities otherwise issuable and do not exceed 70% of such property additions, and unless the Mortgage Securities then to be outstanding which have been issued against property subject to continuing prior liens and certain other items would not exceed 15% of the Mortgage Securities outstanding.

 

The amount of prior liens on mortgaged property acquired after the date of delivery of the Mortgage may be increased subsequent to the acquisition of such property provided that, if any property subject to such prior lien shall have been made the basis of any application under the Mortgage, all the additional obligations are deposited with the Mortgage Trustee or other holder of a prior lien.

 

(Mortgage, Secs. 4 through 8, 20 through 30 and 46; First Supplemental, Sec. 2; Eleventh Supplemental, Sec. 5; Twelfth Supplemental, Sec. 1; Fourteenth Supplemental, Sec. 4; Seventeenth Supplemental, Sec. 3; Eighteenth Supplemental, Secs. 1, 2 and 6; Twenty-sixth Supplemental, Sec. 2; Twenty-ninth Supplemental, Art. II)

 

Net Earnings Test

 

In general, Avista may not issue Mortgage Securities on the basis of property additions or cash unless net earnings for 12 consecutive months out of the preceding 18 calendar months (before income taxes, depreciation and amortization of property, property losses and interest on any indebtedness and amortization of debt discount and expense) are at least twice the annual interest requirements on all Mortgage Securities at the time outstanding, including the additional issue, and on all indebtedness of prior rank.

 

Avista is not required to satisfy the net earnings requirement prior to the issuance of Mortgage Securities on the basis of retired Mortgage Securities unless:

 

 

In general, the Mortgage permits the inclusion of the following items in net earnings:

 

 

The Mortgage also provides that, in calculating net earnings, no deduction from revenues or other income shall be made for:

 

 

In general, the interest requirement on a new series of Mortgage Securities bearing interest at a variable interest rate or rates is determined by reference to the rate or rates to be in effect at the time of the initial issuance. However, if any outstanding Mortgage Securities or prior ranking indebtedness bears interest at a variable rate or rates, the

annual interest requirements thereon are determined by reference to the rate or rates in effect on the date next preceding the date of issue of the new series of Mortgage Securities.

 

Security; Structural Subordination

 

The Bonds, together with all other Mortgage Securities now or hereafter issued under the Mortgage, will be secured by the Mortgage, which constitutes a first mortgage lien on Avista’s facilities for the generation, transmission and distribution of electric energy and the storage and distribution of natural gas and substantially all of Avista’s assets (except as stated below), subject to:

 

 

There are excepted from the lien all cash and securities (including, without limitation, securities issued by Avista’s subsidiaries); merchandise, equipment, materials or supplies held for sale or consumption in Avista’s operations; receivables, contracts, leases and operating agreements; electric energy, and other material or products (including gas) generated, manufactured, produced or purchased by Avista, for sale, distribution or use in the ordinary course of its business. (Mortgage, Granting Clauses)

 

The Mortgage contains provisions for subjecting to the lien thereof all property (other than property of the kinds excepted from such lien) acquired by Avista after the execution and delivery thereof, subject to purchase money liens and liens existing thereon at the time of acquisition and, subject to limitations in the case of consolidation, merger or sale of substantially all of Avista’s assets. (Mortgage, Granting Clauses and Art. XV)

 

The Mortgage provides that the lien of the Mortgage shall not automatically attach to the properties of another corporation which shall have consolidated or merged with Avista in a transaction in which Avista shall be the surviving or resulting corporation. (Mortgage, Sec. 87)

 

The Mortgage provides that the Mortgage Trustee shall have a lien upon the mortgaged property, prior to the Mortgage Securities, for the payment of its reasonable compensation and expenses and for indemnity. (Mortgage, Secs. 92 and 97; First Supplemental, Art. XXV)

 

Although its utility operations are conducted directly by Avista, all of the other operations of Avista are conducted through its subsidiaries. The lien of the Mortgage does not cover the assets of the subsidiaries or the securities of the subsidiaries held by Avista. Any right of Avista, as a shareholder, to receive assets of any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries upon such subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization (and the right of the Holders of the Bonds and other creditors of Avista to participate in those assets) is junior to the claims against such assets of that subsidiary’s creditors. As a result, the obligations of Avista to the holders of the Bonds and other creditors are effectively subordinated in right of payment to all indebtedness and other liabilities and commitments (including trade payables and lease obligations) of Avista’s direct and indirect subsidiaries.

 

Maintenance

 

The Mortgage provides that Avista will cause (or, with respect to property owned in common with others, make reasonable effort to cause) the mortgaged property to be maintained and kept in good repair, working order and condition, and will cause (or, with respect to property owned in common with others, make reasonable effort to cause) to be made such repairs, renewals and replacements of the mortgaged property as, in Avista’s sole judgment, may be necessary to operate the mortgaged property in accordance with common industry practice. Avista may discontinue, or cause or consent to the discontinuance of, the operation and maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is, in the sole judgment of Avista, desirable in the conduct of its business. (Mortgage, Sec. 38)

Special Provisions for Retirement of Bonds

 

If, during any 12-month period, any of the mortgaged property is taken by eminent domain and/or sold to any governmental authority and/or sold pursuant to an order of a governmental authority, with the result that Avista receives $15,000,000 or more in cash or in principal amount of purchase money obligations, Avista is required to apply such cash and the proceeds of such obligations (subject to certain conditions and deductions, and to the extent not otherwise applied) to the redemption of Mortgage Securities which are, by their, terms, redeemable before maturity by the application of such cash and proceeds. (Mortgage, Sec. 64; Tenth Supplemental, Sec. 4)

 

Release and Substitution of Property

 

Unless Avista is in default in the payment of the interest on any Mortgage Securities then outstanding under the Mortgage, or a Completed Default shall have occurred and is continuing, Avista may obtain the release from the lien of the Mortgage of any mortgaged property upon the deposit of cash equal to the amount, if any, that the fair value of the property to be released exceeds the aggregate of:

 

(1) the principal amount of any obligations secured by purchase money mortgage upon the property released and delivered to the Mortgage Trustee;

 

(2) the cost or fair value (whichever is less) of property additions which do not constitute funded property, after certain deductions and additions;

 

(3) an amount equal to 10/7ths of the principal amount of Mortgage Securities that Avista would be entitled to issue on the basis of retired securities (with such entitlement being waived by operation of such release); and

 

(4) the principal amount of obligations secured by purchase money mortgage upon the property released, and/or an amount in cash delivered to the trustee or other holder of a lien prior to the lien of the Mortgage.

 

The use of obligations secured by purchase money mortgage as a credit in connection with the release of property, as described in clauses (1) and (4) above, is subject to the following limitations:

 

(1) the aggregate credit which may be used as described in clauses (1) and (4) above in respect of any property being released may not exceed 70% of the fair value of such property; and

 

(2) the aggregate principal amount of such obligations described in (1) and (4) above and all other obligations secured by purchase money mortgage delivered to the Mortgage Trustee pursuant to said clauses (1) and (4) and then held as part of the mortgaged property by the Mortgage Trustee or the trustee or other holder of a prior lien shall not exceed 40% of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Mortgage Securities.

 

To the extent that property so released does not constitute funded property, the property additions used to effect the release will not, in certain cases, be deemed to constitute funded property, and the waiver of the right to issue Mortgage Securities to effect the release will, in certain cases, cease to be effective as such a waiver, all upon the satisfaction of certain conditions specified in the Mortgage. The Mortgage contains similar provisions as to cash proceeds of such property. The Mortgage also contains special provisions with respect to prior lien bonds pledged and disposition of moneys received on pledged bonds secured by a prior lien. (Mortgage, Secs. 5; 31, 32, 46 through 50, 59, 60, 61, 118 and 134)

 

Modification

 

Modifications Without Consent

 

Avista and the Mortgage Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures without the consent of any Holders for any of the following purposes:

 

 

 

(Mortgage, Sec. 120; Twenty-sixth Supplemental Indenture, Sec. 2; Twenty-ninth Supplemental Indenture, Article II)

 

Modification With Consent

 

In general, the Mortgage, the rights and obligations of Avista and the rights of the Holders may be modified with the consent of 60% in principal amount of the Mortgage Securities outstanding, and, if less than all series of Mortgage Securities are affected, the consent also of 60% in principal amount of the Mortgage Securities of each series affected. However, no modification of the terms of payment of principal or interest, and no modification affecting the lien or reducing the percentage required for modification, is effective against any Holder without its consent. (Mortgage, Art. XVIII, Sec. 149; First Supplemental, Sec. 10)

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Mortgage Securities will be deemed to have been paid for purposes of satisfaction of the lien of the Mortgage if there shall have been irrevocably deposited with the Mortgage Trustee for the payment or redemption of such Mortgage Securities:

 

 

to pay when due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due and to become due on all outstanding Mortgage Securities on the maturity date or redemption date of such Mortgage Securities. For this purpose, “Government Obligations” include direct obligations of the government of the United States or obligations guaranteed by the government of the United States. (Mortgage, Sec. 106)

 

The Mortgage Trustee may, and upon request of Avista shall, cancel and discharge the lien of the Mortgage and reconvey the Mortgaged Property to Avista whenever all indebtedness secured thereby has been paid.

 

The right of Avista to cause its entire indebtedness in respect of the Mortgage Securities of any series to be deemed to be satisfied and discharged as described above will be subject to the satisfaction of conditions specified in the instrument creating such series.

Completed Defaults

 

Any of the following events will constitute a “Completed Default” under the Mortgage:

 

 

The Mortgage Trustee may withhold notice of default (except in payment of principal, interest or funds for retirement of Mortgage Securities) if it determines that it is in the interest of the Holders. (Mortgage, Sec. 135)

 

Remedies

 

Acceleration of Maturity

 

If a Completed Default occurs and is continuing, the Mortgage Trustee may, and upon written request of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Mortgage Securities then outstanding shall, declare the principal of, and accrued interest on, all outstanding Mortgage Securities immediately due and payable; provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Mortgage Securities may annul such declaration if before any sale of the mortgaged property:

 

 

Possession of Mortgaged Property

 

Under certain circumstances and to the extent permitted by law, if a Completed Default occurs and is continuing, the Mortgage Trustee has the power to take possession of, and to hold, operate and manage, the mortgaged property, or with or without entry, sell the mortgaged property. If the mortgaged property is sold, whether by the Mortgage Trustee or pursuant to judicial proceedings, the principal of the outstanding Mortgage Securities, if not previously due, will become immediately due. (Mortgage, Secs. 66, 67 and 71)

 

Right to Direct Proceedings

 

If a Completed Default occurs and is continuing, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Mortgage Securities then outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings to be taken for any sale of the mortgaged property, the foreclosure of the Mortgage, or for the appointment of a receiver or any other proceeding under the Mortgage, provided that such direction does not conflict with any rule of law or with the Mortgage. (Mortgage, Sec. 69)

 

No Impairment of Right to Receive Payment

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Mortgage, the right of any Holder to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Mortgage Security, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. (Mortgage, Sec. 148)

Notice of Default

 

No Holder may enforce the lien of the Mortgage unless such Holder shall have given the Mortgage Trustee written notice of a Completed Default and unless the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Mortgage Securities have requested the Mortgage Trustee in writing to act and have offered the Mortgage Trustee adequate security and indemnity and a reasonable opportunity to act. (Mortgage, Sec. 79)

 

Remedies Limited by State Law

 

The laws of the various states in which the property subject to the lien of the Mortgage is located may limit or deny the ability of the Mortgage Trustee and/or the Holders to enforce certain rights and remedies provided in the Mortgage in accordance with their terms.

 

Concerning the Mortgage Trustee

 

The Mortgage Trustee has, and is subject to, all the duties and responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Mortgage Trustee is not under any obligation to take any action in respect of any default or otherwise, or toward the execution or enforcement of any of the trusts created by the Mortgage, or to institute, appear in or defend any suit or other proceeding in connection therewith, unless requested in writing so to do by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Mortgage Securities then outstanding. Anything in the Mortgage to the contrary notwithstanding, the Mortgage Trustee is under no obligation or duty to perform any act thereunder (other than the delivery of notices) or to institute or defend any suit in respect hereof, unless properly indemnified to its satisfaction. (Mortgage, Sec. 92)

 

The Mortgage Trustee may at any time resign and be discharged of the trusts created by the Mortgage by giving written notice to Avista and thereafter publishing notice thereof, specifying a date when such resignation shall take effect, as provided in the Mortgage, and such resignation shall take effect upon the day specified in such notice unless a successor trustee shall have previously been appointed by the Holders or Avista and in such event such resignation shall take effect immediately upon the appointment of such successor trustee. The Mortgage Trustee may be removed at any time by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Mortgage Securities then outstanding. (Mortgage, Secs. 100 and 101)

 

If Avista appoints a successor trustee and such successor trustee has accepted the appointment, the Mortgage Trustee will be deemed to have resigned as of the date of such successor trustee’s acceptance. (Mortgage, Sec. 102)

 

Evidence of Compliance with Mortgage Provisions

 

Compliance with provisions of the Mortgage is evidenced by written statements of Avista’s officers or persons selected or paid by Avista. In certain matters, statements must be made by an independent accountant or engineer. Various certificates and other papers are required to be filed annually and upon the happening of certain events, including an annual certificate with reference to compliance with the terms of the Mortgage and absence of Completed Defaults.

 

Avista may issue the Notes in one or more series, or in one or more tranches within a series. The terms of the Notes will include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act. The following summary is not complete and is subject in all respects to the provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes, together with all other debt securities outstanding under the Indenture, are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Indenture Securities”. Avista has filed the Indenture, as well as a form of officer’s certificate to establish a series of Notes, as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Capitalized terms used under this heading which are not otherwise defined in this prospectus have the meanings set forth in the Indenture. Wherever particular provisions of the Indenture or terms defined in the Indenture are referred to, those provisions or definitions are incorporated by reference as part of the statements made in this prospectus and those statements are qualified in their entirety by that

reference. References to article and section numbers, unless otherwise indicated, are references to article and section numbers of the Indenture.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement or prospectus supplements will describe the following terms of the Notes of each series or tranche:

 

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Except as may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, Avista will pay interest, if any, on each Note on each interest payment date to the person in whose name such Note is registered (for the purposes of this section of the prospectus, the registered holder of any Indenture Security is herein referred to as a “Holder”) as of the close of business on the regular record date relating to such interest payment date; provided, however, that Avista will pay interest at maturity (whether at stated maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, “Maturity”) to the person to whom principal is paid. However, if there has been a default in the payment of interest on any Note, such defaulted interest may be payable to the Holder of such Note as of the close of business on a date selected by the Indenture Trustee which is not more than 30 days and not less than 10 days before the date proposed by Avista for payment of such defaulted interest or in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Note may be listed, if the Indenture Trustee deems such manner of payment practicable. (Indenture, Sec. 307)

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Avista will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes at Maturity upon presentation of the Notes at the corporate trust office of The Bank of New York in New York, New York, as paying agent for Avista. Avista may change the place of payment of the Notes, may appoint one or more additional paying agents (including Avista) and may remove any paying agent, all at its discretion. (Indenture, Sec. 502)

Registration; Registration of Transfer

 

The Notes will be issued only in fully registered form. The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of the Note for all purposes under the Indenture. Only registered Holders will have rights under the Indenture. (Indenture, Sec. 308)

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Holders may register the transfer of Notes, and may exchange Notes for other Notes of the same series and tranche, of authorized denominations and having the same terms and aggregate principal amount, at the corporate trust office of The Bank of New York in New York, New York, as security registrar for the Notes. Avista may change the place for registration of transfer and exchange of the Notes, may appoint one or more additional security registrars (including Avista) and may remove any security registrar, all at its discretion. (Indenture, Sec. 502)

 

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, no service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the Notes, but Avista may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes. Avista will not be required to execute or to provide for the registration of transfer or the exchange of (a) any Note during a period of 15 days before giving any notice of redemption or (b) any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. (Indenture, Sec. 305)

 

Redemption

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any terms for the optional or mandatory redemption of Notes. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to Notes redeemable at the option of the Holder, Notes will be redeemable by Avista only upon notice by mail not less than 30 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. If less than all the Notes of a series, or any tranche thereof, are to be redeemed by Avista, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected by such method as shall be provided for such series or tranche, or in the absence of any such provision, by such method of random selection as the Security Registrar deems fair and appropriate. (Indenture, Secs. 403 and 404)

 

Any notice of redemption at the option of Avista may state that such redemption will be conditional upon receipt by the paying agent or agents, on or before the date fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Notes and that if such money has not been so received, such notice will be of no force or effect and Avista will not be required to redeem such Notes. (Indenture, Sec. 404)

 

Unsecured Obligations; Structural Subordination

 

The Indenture is not a mortgage or other lien on assets of Avista or its subsidiaries. In addition to the Notes, other debt securities may be issued under the Indenture, without any limit on the aggregate principal amount. Each series of Indenture Securities will be unsecured and will rank pari passu with all other series of Indenture Securities, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, and with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Avista. Except as otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance by Avista of other secured or unsecured debt, whether under the Indenture, under any other indenture that Avista may enter into in the future or otherwise.

 

Although its utility operations are conducted directly by Avista, all of the other operations of Avista are conducted through its subsidiaries. Any right of Avista, as a shareholder, to receive assets of any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization (and the right of the Holders and other creditors of Avista to participate in those assets) is junior to the claims against such assets of that subsidiary’s creditors. As a result, the obligations of Avista to the Holders and other creditors are effectively subordinated in right of payment to all indebtedness and other liabilities and commitments (including trade payables and lease obligations) of Avista’s direct and indirect subsidiaries.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Any Indenture Securities, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, will be deemed to have been paid for purposes of the Indenture and, at Avista’s election, the entire indebtedness of Avista in respect thereof will be

deemed to have been satisfied and discharged, if there shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust with the Indenture Trustee or any paying agent (other than Avista):

 

 

to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to become due on such Indenture Securities. For this purpose, “Eligible Obligations” include direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States, entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit thereof and certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in such obligations or in any specific interest or principal payments due in respect thereof and such other obligations or instruments as shall be specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. (Indenture, Sec. 601)

 

The right of Avista to cause its entire indebtedness in respect of the Indenture Securities of any series to be deemed to be satisfied and discharged as described above will be subject to the satisfaction of conditions specified in the instrument creating such series.

 

The Indenture will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged when no Indenture Securities remain outstanding thereunder and Avista has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by Avista under the Indenture. (Indenture, Sec. 602)

 

Events of Default

 

Any one or more of the following events with respect to a series of Indenture Securities that has occurred and is continuing will constitute an “Event of Default” with respect to such series of Indenture Securities:

 

 

 

Remedies

 

Acceleration of Maturity

 

If an Event of Default applicable to the Indenture Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, then either the Indenture Trustee or the Holders of not less than 33% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Indenture Securities of such series may declare the principal amount (or, if any of the outstanding Indenture Securities of such series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount thereof as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all of the outstanding Indenture Securities of such series to be due and payable immediately by written notice to Avista (and to the Indenture Trustee if given by the Holders); provided, however, that if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series of Indenture Securities, the Indenture Trustee or the Holders of not less than 33% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Indenture Securities of all such series, considered as one class, may make such declaration of acceleration and not the Holders of any one such series.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Indenture Securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, such declaration and its consequences will, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if:

 

 

Right to Direct Proceedings

 

If an Event of Default with respect to the Indenture Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Indenture Securities of such series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee in exercising any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee; provided, however, that if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series of Indenture Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Indenture Securities of all such series, considered as one class, will have the right to make such direction, and not the Holders of any one of such series; and provided, further, that (a) such direction does not conflict with any rule of law or with the Indenture, and could not involve the Indenture Trustee in personal liability in circumstances where indemnity would not, in the Indenture Trustee’s sole discretion, be adequate and (b) the Indenture Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Indenture Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. (Indenture, Sec. 712)

Limitation on Right to Institute Proceedings

 

No Holder will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy thereunder unless:

 

 

Furthermore, no Holder of any series of Indenture Securities will be entitled to institute any such action if and to the extent that such action would disturb or prejudice the rights of other Holders of such series. (Indenture, Sec. 707)

 

No Impairment of Right to Receive Payment

 

Notwithstanding that the right of a Holder to institute a proceeding with respect to the Indenture is subject to certain conditions precedent, each Holder will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Indenture Security when due and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment. Such rights may not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. (Indenture, Sec. 708)

 

Notice of Default

 

The Indenture Trustee is required to give the Holders notice of any default under the Indenture to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act, unless such default shall have been cured or waived, except that no such notice to Holders of a default of the character described in the third bulleted paragraph under “— Events of Default” may be given until at least 75 days after the occurrence thereof. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default. The Trust Indenture Act currently permits the Indenture Trustee to withhold notices of default (except for certain payment defaults) if the Indenture Trustee in good faith determines the withholding of such notice to be in the interests of the Holders. (Indenture, Sec. 802)

 

Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions

 

Avista may not consolidate with or merge into any other Person, or convey or otherwise transfer, or lease, all of its properties, as or substantially as an entirety, to any Person, unless:

 

 

In the case of the conveyance or other transfer of all of the properties of Avista, as or substantially as an entirety, to any person as contemplated above, Avista would be released and discharged from all obligations under

the Indenture and on all Indenture Securities then outstanding unless Avista elects to waive such release and discharge. Upon any such consolidation or merger or any such conveyance or other transfer of properties of Avista, the successor, transferee or lessee would succeed to, and be substituted for, and would be entitled to exercise every power and right of, Avista under the Indenture. (Indenture, Secs. 1001, 1002 and 1003)

 

For purposes of the Indenture, the conveyance, transfer or lease by Avista of all of its facilities (a) for the generation of electric energy, (b) for the transmission of electric energy, (c) for the distribution of electric energy and/or natural gas, in each case considered alone, (d) all of its facilities described in clauses (a) and (b), considered together, or (e) all of its facilities described in clauses (b) and (c), considered together, will in no event be deemed to constitute a conveyance or other transfer of all the properties of Avista, as or substantially as an entirety, unless, immediately following such conveyance, transfer or lease, Avista owns no unleased properties in the other such categories of property not so conveyed or otherwise transferred or leased.

 

The Indenture will not prevent or restrict:

 

 

If Avista conveys or otherwise transfers any part of its properties which does not constitute the entirety, or substantially the entirety, thereof to another Person meeting the requirements set forth in the first paragraph under this heading, and if:

 

 

then Avista would be released and discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and on all Indenture Securities then outstanding unless Avista elects to waive such release and discharge. In such event, the transferee would succeed to, and be substituted for, and would be entitled to exercise every right and power of, Avista under the Indenture. (Indenture, Sec. 1005)

 

Modification of Indenture

 

Modifications Without Consent

 

Avista and the Indenture Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures, without the consent of any Holders, for any of the following purposes:

 

 

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Trust Indenture Act is amended after the date of the Original Indenture in such a way as to require changes to the Indenture or the incorporation therein of additional provisions or so as to permit changes to, or the elimination of, provisions which, at the date of the Original Indenture or at any time thereafter, were required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained in the Indenture, the Indenture will be deemed to have been amended so as to conform to such amendment or to effect such changes or elimination, and Avista and the Indenture Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into one or more supplemental indentures to evidence or effect such amendment. (Indenture, Sec. 1101)

 

Modifications Requiring Consent

 

Except as provided above, the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Indenture Securities of all series then outstanding, considered as one class is required for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner, or eliminating any of the provisions of, the Indenture pursuant to one or more supplemental indentures; provided, however, that if less than all of the series of Indenture Securities outstanding are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Indenture Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, will be required; and provided, further, that if the Indenture Securities of any series have been issued in more than one tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture directly affects the rights of the Holders of one or more, but less than all, of such tranches, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Indenture Securities of all tranches so directly affected, considered as one class, will be required; and provided, further, that no such amendment or modification may:

 

 

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of the Holders of, or which is to remain in effect only so long as there shall be outstanding, Indenture Securities of one or more specified series, or one or more tranches thereof, or modifies the rights of the Holders of such series or tranche with respect to such covenant or other provision, will be deemed not to affect the rights under the Indenture of the Holders of any other series or tranche.

 

If the supplemental indenture or other document establishing any series or tranche of Indenture Securities so provides, and as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or pricing supplement, the Holders of such Indenture Securities will be deemed to have consented, by virtue of their purchase of such Indenture Securities, to a supplemental indenture containing the additions, changes or eliminations to or from the Indenture which are specified in such supplemental indenture or other document. No Act of such Holders will be required to evidence such consent and such consent may be counted in the determination of whether the Holders of the requested principal amount of Indenture Securities have consented to such supplemental indenture. (Indenture, Sec. 1102)

 

Duties of the Indenture Trustee; Resignation; Removal

 

The Indenture Trustee has, and is subject to, all the duties and responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Indenture Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at the request of any Holder, unless such Holder offers it reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby. The Indenture Trustee will not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of its duties if the Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it. (Indenture, Secs. 801 and 803)

 

The Indenture Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Indenture Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to Avista or may be removed at any time with respect to the Indenture Securities of one or more series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Indenture Securities of such series delivered to the Indenture Trustee and Avista. No resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee will become effective until the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee in accordance with the requirements of the Indenture. So long as no Event of Default or event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, if Avista has delivered to the Indenture Trustee with respect to one or more series a resolution of its Board of Directors appointing a successor trustee with respect to that or those series and such successor has accepted such appointment in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Indenture Trustee with respect to that or those series will be deemed to have resigned and the successor will be deemed to have been appointed as trustee in accordance with the Indenture. (Indenture, Sec. 810)

Evidence of Compliance

 

Compliance with the Indenture provisions is evidenced by written statements of Avista officers or persons selected or paid by Avista. In certain cases, Avista must furnish opinions of counsel and certifications of an engineer, appraiser or other expert (who in some cases must be independent). In addition, the Indenture requires that Avista give the Indenture Trustee, not less than annually, a brief statement as to Avista’s compliance with the conditions and covenants under the Indenture.

 

Governing Law

 

The Indenture and the Indenture Securities are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

 

General

 

The authorized capital stock of Avista Corporation, as set forth in the Articles, consists of 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, cumulative, without nominal or par value, which is issuable in series, and 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock, without nominal or par value. Following is a brief description of certain of the rights and privileges of the Preferred Stock.

 

Avista may issue shares of New Preferred Stock in one or more additional series. The terms of the New Preferred Stock will include those stated in the Articles and the Bylaws and those made applicable thereto by the Washington BCA. The following summary is not complete and is subject in all respects to the provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Articles, the Bylaws and the Washington BCA. Avista has filed the Articles, as well as a form of amendment thereto to establish a series of New Preferred Stock, and the Bylaws as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Whenever particular provisions of the Articles or the Bylaws are referred to, those provisions are incorporated by reference as part of the statements made in this prospectus and those statements are qualified in their entirety by that reference.

 

The Articles provide that the Preferred Stock may be divided into and issued from time to time in one or more series. All shares of Preferred Stock constitute one and the same class of stock, are of equal rank and will otherwise be identical except as to the designation thereof, the date or dates from which dividends on shares thereof will be cumulative, and except that each series may vary as to, and the applicable prospectus supplement will describe:

 

 

When Preferred Stock is initially issued, the number of shares constituting such series, its distinguishing serial designation and its particular characteristics (insofar as there may be variations between series) may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Dividend Rights

 

The New Preferred Stock of each series will be entitled, on a parity with each other series of Preferred Stock and in preference to the Common Stock, to receive, but only when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends at the rate determined for such series and set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such dividends will be cumulative from the date of issuance of the New Preferred Stock and will be payable on the

fifteenth day of March, June, September and December in each year, except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

The New Preferred Stock of each series will be entitled, upon dissolution or liquidation, on a parity with each other series of Preferred Stock and in preference to the Common Stock, to a liquidation preference per share determined for such series plus an amount equivalent to accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, if any, to the date of such event. The liquidation preference of each series of New Preferred Stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Voting Rights

 

Except for those purposes for which the right to vote is expressly conferred by the Articles or the Washington BCA, the holders of Preferred Stock have no power to vote.

 

Under the Articles, whenever and as often as, at any date, dividends payable on any shares of Preferred Stock (including any New Preferred Stock) shall be in arrears in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of dividends accumulated on such shares over the eighteen (18) month period ended on such date, the holders of the Preferred Stock, voting separately and as a single class, are entitled to elect a majority of the Board of Directors, and the holders of the Common Stock, voting separately and as a single class, shall be entitled to elect the remaining directors. Such voting rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock cease when all defaults in the payment of dividends on the Preferred Stock of any and all series have been cured. See “Description of Common Stock — Voting Rights” for additional information with respect to the election of directors.

 

In addition, under the Articles the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of the Preferred Stock is required:

 

(a) for the adoption of any amendment of the Articles which would: (i) create or authorize any new class of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up; (ii) increase the authorized number of shares of the Preferred Stock; or (iii) change any of the rights or preferences of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, provided that if any such change would affect the holders of less than the Preferred Stock of all series then outstanding, only the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of all series so affected is required; and

 

(b) for the issuance of Preferred Stock, or of any other class of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with such Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, unless the net income of Avista available for the payment of dividends for a period of 12 consecutive calendar months within the 15 calendar months immediately preceding the issuance of such shares is at least equal to one and one-half times the annual dividend requirements on shares of Preferred Stock and on all shares of all other classes of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, which will be outstanding immediately after the issuance of such shares, including the shares proposed to be issued; provided, however, that if the shares of Preferred Stock or any such prior or parity stock shall have a variable dividend rate, the annual dividend requirement of such shares shall be determined by reference to the weighted average dividend rate on such shares during the 12-month period for which the net income of Avista available for the payment of dividends shall have been determined; and provided, further, that if the shares of the series to be issued are to have a variable dividend rate, the annual dividend requirement on such shares shall be determined by reference to the initial dividend rate upon the issuance of such shares.

 

Under the Washington BCA, the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock is required in connection with certain changes in the capital structure of Avista or in certain rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock, including certain of the changes described in (a) above. In addition, the Washington BCA requires the approval of certain mergers, share exchanges and other major corporate transactions by the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding Preferred Stock.

Pre-emptive Rights

 

No holder of Preferred Stock has any pre-emptive rights.

 

Miscellaneous

 

The Articles contain no restriction on the redemption or repurchase by Avista of shares of Preferred Stock while there is any arrearage in the payment of dividends on, or sinking fund payments in respect of, the Preferred Stock.

 

Upon issuance as contemplated by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, the New Preferred Stock will be fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of the New Preferred Stock will not be subject to liability for further calls or assessment by, or for liabilities of, Avista.

 

General

 

The authorized capital stock of Avista, as set forth in the Articles, consists of 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, cumulative, without nominal or par value, which is issuable in series, and 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock without nominal or par value. Following is a brief description of certain of the rights and privileges of the Common Stock.

 

Avista may issue additional shares of its Common Stock from time to time. The terms of the Common Stock include those stated in the Articles and the Bylaws and those made applicable thereto by the Washington BCA. The following summary is not complete and is subject in all respects to the provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Articles, the Bylaws and the Washington BCA. Avista has filed the Articles and the Bylaws as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Whenever particular provisions of the Articles or the Bylaws are referred to, those provisions are incorporated as part of the statements made in this prospectus and those statements are qualified in their entirety by that reference.

 

Dividend Rights

 

After full provision for all Preferred Stock dividends declared or in arrears, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be lawfully declared from time to time by Avista’s Board of Directors.

 

Voting Rights

 

The holders of the Common Stock have sole voting power, except as indicated below or as otherwise provided by law. Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share.

 

In an uncontested election of directors, each vote may be cast “for” or “against” one or more candidates, or a shareholder may “abstain” with respect to one or more candidates. A candidate is elected to the Board of Directors only if the number of votes “for” such candidate exceeds the number of votes “against” such candidate; and “abstentions” are not counted as votes “for” or “against”. If an incumbent director does not receive a majority of votes cast, he or she would continue to serve a term that would terminate on the date that is the earliest of (a) the date of the commencement of the term of a new director selected by the Board to fill the office held by such director, (b) the effective date of the resignation of such director and (c) the date of the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In a contested election — that is, an election in which the number of candidates exceeds the total number of directors to be elected — shareholders would be allowed to vote “for” one or more candidates (not to exceed the number of directors to be elected) or “withhold” votes with respect to one or more candidates. The candidates elected would be those receiving the largest number of votes (up to the number of directors to be elected). Shareholders are not allowed to cumulate their votes in any election of directors (whether or not contested).

 

Under the Articles, whenever and as often as, at any date, dividends payable on any shares of Preferred Stock (including any New Preferred Stock) shall be in arrears in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of dividends accumulated on such shares of Preferred Stock over the eighteen (18) month period ended on such date, the holders of the Preferred Stock, voting separately and as a single class, are entitled to elect a majority of the Board of

Directors, and the holders of the Common Stock, voting separately and as a single class, will be entitled to elect the remaining directors. Such voting rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock cease when all defaults in the payment of dividends on the Preferred Stock have been cured.

 

In addition, the consent of various proportions of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding is required to adopt any amendment to the Articles which would authorize any new class of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to certain matters, to increase the authorized number of shares of the Preferred Stock, to change any of the rights or preferences of outstanding Preferred Stock or to issue additional shares of Preferred Stock unless an earnings test is satisfied.

 

Under the Washington BCA, the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock is required in connection with certain changes in the capital structure of Avista or in certain rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock, including certain of the changes referred to in the preceding paragraph. In addition, the Washington BCA requires approval of certain mergers, share exchanges and other major corporate transactions by the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding Preferred Stock.

 

Classified Board of Directors

 

Both the Articles and the Bylaws provide for a Board of Directors divided into three classes. Each director of a class will generally serve for a term of three years, with only one class of directors being elected in each year. The classification of the Board of Directors reduces the impact of cumulative voting rights.

 

The Articles and Bylaws also generally provide that directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. The Articles and Bylaws further require an affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock to alter, amend or repeal the provisions relating to the classification of the Board of Directors and the removal of members from, and the filling of vacancies on, the Board of Directors.

 

“Fair Price” Provision

 

The Articles contain a “fair price” provision which requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock for the consummation of certain business combinations, including mergers, consolidations, recapitalizations, certain dispositions of assets, certain issuances of securities, liquidations and dissolutions involving Avista and a person or entity who is or, under certain circumstances, was, a beneficial owner of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (an “Interested Shareholder”) unless

 

 

Statutory Limitation on “Significant Business Transactions”

 

General

 

The Washington BCA contains provisions that limit our ability to engage in “significant business transactions” with an “acquiring person”, each as defined below. We have no right to waive the applicability of these provisions.

 

Significant Business Transactions Within Five Years of Share Acquisition Time

 

Subject to certain exceptions, for five years after an “acquiring person’s” “share acquisition time”, Avista may not engage in any “significant business transaction” with such “acquiring person” unless

 

 

 

 

 

Significant Business Transactions More Than Five Years After Share Acquisition Time

 

Avista may not engage in certain “significant business transactions” (including mergers, share exchanges and consolidations) with any “acquiring person” unless:

 

 

Definitions

 

As used in this section:

 

“Significant business transaction” means any of various specified transactions involving an “acquiring person”, including:

 

 

“Acquiring person” means, with certain exceptions, a person (or group of persons) other than Avista or its subsidiaries who beneficially owns 10% or more of the outstanding Common Stock of Avista.

 

“Share acquisition time” means the time at which a person first becomes an “acquiring person” of Avista.

 

Anti-Takeover Effect

 

The provisions of the Articles and the Bylaws described above under “Classified Board of Directors” and “Fair Price Provision”, together with the provisions of the Washington BCA described above under “Statutory Limitations on ‘Significant Business Transactions”’, considered either individually or in the aggregate, may have an “anti-takeover” effect. These provisions could discourage a future takeover attempt which is not approved by Avista’s Board of Directors but which individual shareholders might deem to be in their best interests or in which shareholders would receive a premium for their shares over current market prices. As a result, shareholders who might desire to participate in such a transaction might not have an opportunity to do so.

The provisions described above under “Classified Board of Directors” could also cause the removal of the incumbent Board of Directors or management to require more time or render such removal more difficult, procedurally or otherwise.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

In the event of any liquidation or dissolution of Avista, after satisfaction of the preferential liquidation rights of the Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock would be entitled to share ratably in all assets of Avista available for distribution to shareholders.

 

Pre-Emptive Rights

 

No holder of Common Stock has any pre-emptive rights.

 

Miscellaneous

 

The presently outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Upon issuance as contemplated by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, additional shares of Common Stock will be fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of shares of Common Stock are not and will not be subject to liability for further calls or assessment by, or for liabilities of, Avista.

 

The outstanding shares of Common Stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Any new shares of Common Stock will also be listed on that Exchange subject to official notice of issuance.

 

The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common Stock is The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10286.

 

General

 

Avista is subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Avista files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other documents with the SEC (File No. 1-3701). These documents contain important business and financial information. You may read and copy any materials Avista files with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Avista’s SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Other than those documents or portions of documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, information on this website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

Incorporation of Documents by Reference

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information that we file with the SEC. This allows us to disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents rather than repeating them in full in this prospectus. We are incorporating into this prospectus by reference:

 

 

and all of those documents are deemed to be a part of this prospectus from the date of filing such documents; it being understood that documents which are “furnished” but not “filed”, in accordance with SEC rules, will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference. We refer to the documents incorporated into this prospectus by reference as the “Incorporated Documents”. Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document may be modified or superseded by a statement in this prospectus (if such Incorporated Document was filed prior to the date of this prospectus) in

any prospectus supplement or in any subsequently filed Incorporated Document. The Incorporated Documents as of the date of this prospectus are:

 

 

You may request any of these filings, at no cost, by contacting us at the address or telephone number provided on page 2 of this prospectus. Avista maintains an Internet site at http://www.avistacorp.com which contains information concerning Avista and its affiliates. The information contained at Avista’s Internet site is not incorporated in this prospectus by references and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus.

 

The validity of the Securities and certain other matters will be passed upon for Avista by Marian M. Durkin, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Avista, and Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, counsel to Avista. The validity of the Securities and certain other matters will be passed upon for any underwriters or agents by counsel to the extent identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. In giving their opinions, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP and counsel for any underwriters or agents may rely as to matters of Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon law upon the opinion of Marian M. Durkin, Esq.

 

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the effectiveness of Avista Corporation and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports (which reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and include an explanatory paragraph referring to changes in accounting and presentation resulting from the impacts of recently adopted accounting standards and (2) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting), which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

With respect to the unaudited interim financial information which is incorporated herein by reference, Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, have applied limited procedures in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) for a review of such information. However, as stated in their reports included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein, they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. Deloitte & Touche LLP are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their reports on the unaudited interim financial information because those reports are not “reports” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

 

The expenses that will be incurred and paid by the Registrant in connection with offerings of securities being registered include the following:

 

 

It is not possible to estimate the amount of these expenses since the Registrant cannot predict the maximum offering price of the securities being registered, considered either in the aggregate or with respect to any individual transaction, the class of securities to be offered in any individual transaction or the number of transactions.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee is being deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) and will be calculated in connection with each offering of the securities being registered in accordance with Rule 457(r).

 

 

Article Seventh of Avista’s Restated Articles of Incorporation (“Articles”) provides, in part, as follows:

 

“The Corporation shall, to the full extent permitted by applicable law, as from time to time in effect, indemnify any person made a party to, or otherwise involved in, any proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director of the Corporation against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by him or her in connection with any such proceeding. The Corporation shall pay any reasonable expenses incurred by a director in connection with any such proceeding in advance of the final determination thereof upon receipt from such director of such undertakings for repayment as may be required by applicable law and a written affirmation by such director that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification, but without any prior determination, which would otherwise be required by Washington law, that such standard of conduct has been met. The Corporation may enter into agreements with each director obligating the Corporation to make such indemnification and advances of expenses as are contemplated herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not make any indemnification or advance which is prohibited by applicable law. The rights to indemnity and advancement of expenses granted herein shall continue as to any person who has ceased to be a director and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person”.

 

Avista has entered into indemnification agreements with each director as contemplated in Article Seventh of the Articles.

 

Reference is made to Revised Code of Washington 23B.08.510, which sets forth the extent to which indemnification is permitted under the laws of the State of Washington.

 

Article IX of Avista’s Bylaws contains an indemnification provision similar to that contained in the Articles and, in addition, provides in part as follows:

 

“Section 2. Liability Insurance. The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or is or was

serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the laws of the State of Washington”.

 

Insurance is maintained on a regular basis (and not specifically in connection with this offering) against liabilities arising on the part of directors and officers out of their performance in such capacities or arising on the part of the Registrant out of its foregoing indemnification provisions, subject to certain exclusions and to the policy limits.

 

 

Reference is made to the Exhibit Index filed herewith at page II-6, such Exhibit Index being incorporated in this Item 16 by reference.

 

 

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be sellers to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

 

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or their securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

 

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

 

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the Registrant by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each director and/or officer of the Registrant whose signature appears below hereby appoints each of Scott L. Morris, Mark T. Thies and each Agent for Service named in this registration statement, severally, as his or her attorney-in-fact to sign in his or her name and behalf, in any and all capacities indicated below, and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Spokane and State of Washington on the 9^th day of December, 2009.

 

AVISTA CORPORATION

 

Mark T. Thies

Senior Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

EXHIBIT INDEX