8-KSecurities & Listing

CMS ENERGY CORP 8-K Report, Unregistered Securities Sale (Oct 22, 2010)

Filed October 22, 2010For Securities:CMSCMS-PCCMSACMSCCMSD

Summary

This 8-K filing by CMS Energy Corporation, dated October 22, 2010, primarily reports on the unregistered sales of equity securities. The company details several instances where it issued shares of its common stock and paid cash in exchange for the conversion of its 4.50 percent Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, and its 3.375 percent Convertible Senior Notes Due 2023, Series B. These transactions, occurring between July 2010 and October 2010, involved the conversion of both voluntarily tendered preferred stock and notes, as well as a mandatory conversion of all outstanding preferred stock on September 30, 2010. These exchanges are deemed exempt from registration under Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as they involved exchanges with existing shareholders. Investors should note the specific dates and volumes of common stock issued, the cash paid, and the corresponding preferred stock or notes converted, as these details reflect a significant change in the company's capital structure, specifically the reduction of preferred stock and convertible debt in favor of common equity.

Key Highlights

  • 1CMS Energy Corporation reported several unregistered sales of equity securities through the conversion of preferred stock and convertible notes.
  • 2The company issued common stock and paid cash in exchange for 4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, tendered for conversion on multiple dates.
  • 3CMS Energy also issued common stock and paid cash to settle conversions of its 3.375% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2023, Series B.
  • 4A significant event was the mandatory conversion of all outstanding Preferred Stock on September 30, 2010.
  • 5These transactions involved the exchange of securities with existing shareholders and were conducted under the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933.
  • 6Specific dates of conversion, shares of common stock issued, cash paid, and the related preferred stock/notes converted are detailed for each transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to report on the unregistered sales of equity securities by CMS Energy Corporation. This involves detailing the issuance of common stock and cash in exchange for the conversion of its preferred stock and convertible senior notes.

No, these stock issuances were not registered. The filing specifies that these transactions were exchanges of securities with existing shareholders and are exempt from registration under Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

CMS Energy's 4.50 percent Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, and its 3.375 percent Convertible Senior Notes Due 2023, Series B, were converted into shares of common stock.

Yes, CMS Energy elected to mandatorily convert all of its outstanding Preferred Stock on September 30, 2010, in accordance with the terms of its Certificate of Designation.