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8-K - FORM 8-K - SOUTHERN Co GASform_8-k.htm
Third Quarter 2011 Earnings Presentation
November 2, 2011
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Forward-Looking Statements &
Supplemental Information
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain expectations and projections regarding our future performance referenced in this presentation, in other reports or statements we file with the SEC or otherwise release to the public, and
on our website, are forward-looking statements. Senior officers and other employees may also make verbal statements to analysts, investors, regulators, the media and others that are forward-
looking. Forward-looking statements involve matters that are not historical facts, such as statements regarding our future operations, prospects, strategies, financial condition, economic
performance (including growth and earnings), industry conditions and demand for our products and services. Because these statements involve anticipated events or conditions, forward-looking
statements often include words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "can," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "future," "goal," "indicate," "intend," "may," "outlook," "plan," "potential,"
"predict," "project," "seek," "should," "target," "would," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this presentation include, without limitation, statements regarding future
earnings per share, dividend growth and EBIT contribution, our priorities for 2011 and the proposed merger with Nicor Inc. Our expectations are not guarantees and are based on currently
available competitive, financial and economic data along with our operating plans. While we believe our expectations are reasonable in view of the currently available information, our
expectations are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties, and there are several factors - many beyond our control - that could cause results to differ significantly from our expectations.
Such events, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, changes in price, supply and demand for natural gas and related products; the impact of changes in state and federal
legislation and regulation including changes related to climate change; actions taken by government agencies on rates and other matters; concentration of credit risk; utility and energy industry
consolidation; the impact on cost and timeliness of construction projects by government and other approvals, development project delays, adequacy of supply of diversified vendors, unexpected
change in project costs, including the cost of funds to finance these projects; the impact of acquisitions and divestitures including the proposed Nicor merger; limits on natural gas pipeline
capacity; direct or indirect effects on our business, financial condition or liquidity resulting from a change in our credit ratings or the credit ratings of our counterparties or competitors; interest
rate fluctuations; financial market conditions, including recent disruptions in the capital markets and lending environment and the current economic downturn; general economic conditions;
uncertainties about environmental issues and the related impact of such issues; the impact of changes in weather, including climate change, on the temperature-sensitive portions of our
business; the impact of natural disasters such as hurricanes on the supply and price of natural gas; acts of war or terrorism; and other factors which are provided in detail in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements to reflect subsequent changes.
Supplemental Information
Company management evaluates segment financial performance based on earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), which includes the effects of corporate expense allocations and on
operating margin. EBIT is a non-GAAP (accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America) financial measure that includes operating income, other income and
expenses. Items that are not included in EBIT are financing costs, including debt and interest expense and income taxes. The company evaluates each of these items on a consolidated level
and believes EBIT is a useful measurement of our performance because it provides information that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of our businesses from an operational
perspective, exclusive of the costs to finance those activities and exclusive of income taxes, neither of which is directly relevant to the efficiency of those operations. Operating margin is a non-
GAAP measure calculated as operating revenues minus cost of gas, excluding operation and maintenance expense, depreciation and amortization, and taxes other than income taxes. These
items are included in the company's calculation of operating income. The company believes operating margin is a better indicator than operating revenues of the contribution resulting from
customer growth, since cost of gas is generally passed directly through to customers. In addition, in this presentation, the company has presented its earnings per share excluding expenses
incurred with respect to the proposed Nicor merger. As the company does not routinely engage in transactions of the magnitude of the proposed Nicor merger, and consequently does not
regularly incur transaction related expenses with correlative size, the company believes presenting EPS excluding Nicor merger expenses provides investors with an additional measure of the
company’s core operating performance. EBIT, operating margin and EPS excluding merger expenses should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful indicators of, the
company's operating performance than operating income, net income attributable to AGL Resources Inc. or EPS as determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the company's EBIT,
operating margin and non-GAAP EPS may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of another company. We also present certain non-GAAP financial measures excluding the effects of
our proposed merger with Nicor. Because we complete material mergers and acquisitions only occasionally, we believe excluding these effects from certain measures is useful because they
allow investors to more easily evaluate and compare the performance of the Company's core businesses from period to period. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures referenced in
this presentation are available on the company’s Web site at www.aglresources.com
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3Q11 Highlights
 3Q11 GAAP EPS of $(0.04) per diluted
 share
  Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.02, excluding
 approximately $5 million in after-tax costs related to
 the Nicor merger
  Distribution segment EBIT up 27% in 3Q11 vs. 3Q10
  Solid performance at SouthStar
  Wholesale and storage markets remain challenged
 9-mos 2011 GAAP EPS of $1.78 per diluted
 share
  Adjusted diluted EPS of $1.98, excluding
 approximately $16 million in after-tax costs related to
 Nicor merger
 2011 EPS estimate reduced to $2.90-$3.00
 per diluted share, excluding all effects from
 the proposed merger with Nicor
 Nicor merger process on track
  Positive proposed order from ALJ received in
 September
  Expect ICC consideration in November
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Note: Please review the AGL Resources 10-Q as filed with the SEC on 11/2/11 for detailed information. EBIT, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are non-
GAAP measures. Please see the appendix to this presentation or visit the investor relations section of www.aglresources.com for a reconciliation to GAAP.
(1) Adjusted net income and adjusted EPS exclude Nicor-related merger costs of approximately $5 million, net of tax.
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Consistent EPS and Dividend Growth
Diluted EPS Growth
Dividend Growth
2011 EPS Guidance:
$2.90-$3.00 per diluted share
Dividend increase of $0.04 approved by
Board of Directors for 2011
(1)$3.00 diluted GAAP EPS; $3.05 adjusted, excluding Nicor merger costs. Please see the appendix to this presentation or visit the investor relations section of
 www.aglresources.com for a reconciliation to GAAP.
(2) Estimate excludes all effects from the proposed merger with Nicor.
$2.90-
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EBIT by Operating Segment
1%
81%
18%
Annual EBIT by Operating Segment
9-mos 2011 EBIT Contribution
NOTE: EBIT is a non-GAAP measure. Please see the appendix to this presentation or the investor relations section of www.aglresources.com for a reconciliation to GAAP.
Quarterly EBIT by Operating Segment
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 3Q11 EBIT increased 27% vs. 3Q10
 Key drivers
  New rates and regulatory infrastructure
 programs at Atlanta Gas Light and
 Elizabethtown Gas added $9 million of
 operating margin
  Effective O&M expense management; costs
 down 2%, due primarily to lower annual
 incentive payout accrual
 Customer count stable
  2.238 million customers in 3Q11 (avg.) vs.
 2.235 million in 3Q10 (avg.)
 Virginia Natural Gas rate case update
  Preliminary rates effective 10/1/11, subject to
 refund
  Public hearing currently scheduled for
 November 4
  Final rates expected to be determined in 1H12
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6
Distribution
NOTE: COG = Cost of Gas
3Q11 Financial Performance Summary
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9-mos 2011 Financial Performance Summary
 
 

 
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Retail
 3Q11 EBIT up $5 MM vs. 3Q10
  Reduced transportation and gas costs partially
 offset by lower retail price spreads
  Operating expenses lower by $2 million year-over-
 year due primarily to lower outside services
 expenses
 Market share and customer count
  Georgia market share is 32% at end of 3Q11
  Year-to-date market share is stable, and
 SouthStar has achieved modest market share
 growth in Georgia five out of the last six months
  Georgia customer count: 482K in 3Q11 vs. 487K
 in 3Q10
  Delta SkyMiles affinity program initiated in Georgia
 market beginning October 2011; formerly a
 SCANA program
 Continue to explore opportunities to
 expand service offerings and customer
 base across multiple states
3Q11 Financial Performance Summary
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9-mos 2011 Financial Performance Summary
 
 

 
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Wholesale
 3Q11 EBIT down $52 million vs. 3Q10 due to
 lower commercial activity and reduced
 transportation and storage mark-to-market
 (MTM) gains in 3Q11
  Commercial activity lower by $35 million y/y
  $15 million related to Marcellus take-away
 constraints
  $2 million related to customer bankruptcy
  Remainder due to ongoing low volatility and
 tight storage and transportation spreads
  $16 million lower MTM gains/losses on hedges y/y
  $4 million higher LOCOM y/y
 $6 million in economic value at 9/30/11 in
 storage rollout vs. $6 million at 9/30/10
 Wholesale Operating Margin Components
3Q11 Financial Performance Summary
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9-mos 2011 Financial Performance Summary
 
 

 
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Energy Investments
 3Q11 EBIT of $2 million
 Golden Triangle Storage
  Cavern 1 in service (6 Bcf)
 - As of 7/1/11, Cavern 1 is 100% contracted, inclusive
 of 2 Bcf Sequent contract
 - Overall average subscription rate of $0.14
  Cavern 2 under construction (7 Bcf)
 - Completion expected in 2012
  Storage values remain depressed due to high supply
 of natural gas and reduced demand
 Jefferson Island Storage and Hub
  As of 7/1/11 JISH is 93% contracted with an overall
 average subscription rate of $0.19, inclusive of 2 Bcf
 Sequent contract
  Expansion permit application remains under review
 by Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
  If approved, facility could expand from 7.5 Bcf to
 19.5 Bcf
3Q11 Financial Performance Summary
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9-mos 2011 Financial Performance Summary
 
 

 
Balance Sheet Highlights
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 Solid balance sheet with significant
 opportunity to fund growth capital
 requirements
  Good access to capital markets
  Company credit metrics support solid, investment-
 grade ratings
 Debt financing for Nicor transaction
 effectively complete
  $500 million of senior unsecured notes issued
 September 2011 ($300 million in 10-yr tranche, $200
 million in 30-yr tranche)
  $275 million private placement completed in August
 2011 ($120 million in 5-yr tranche, $155 million in 7-yr
 tranche)
  $500 million in senior unsecured notes issued March
 2011 (30-yr), of which $200 million related to Nicor
 transaction
 $2.7 billion debt outstanding
  Long-term debt $2.69 billion
  Short-term debt of $17 million
  Debt to Cap Ratio: 59%
 2011 cap ex estimated at $435 million
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Weather and Gas Fired Power Generation
Consumption estimates from Bentek Energy
 
 

 
Natural Gas Storage Spreads
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Max Spreads
2009
$1.385
2009
$1.402
2009
$1.035
2009
$0.770
Historical Intrinsic Value of Storage
Delivery Month
Continuous Storage Spreads (Oct/Jan)
 Significant increase in shale gas
 production is causing excess
 supply and compression of price
 spreads
  Production has increased by almost 5
 Bcf/day in past year
 Flattening of NYMEX curve has
 negative impact on storage
 optimization values
   Summer-to-winter spreads down by ~50%
 over past few years
 3Q11 impact of reduced storage
 spreads approximately $11 million
 year-over-year for Sequent
 9-mos 2011 impact of reduced
 storage spreads approximately $22
 million year-over-year for Sequent
Source for both charts: NYMEX
 
 

 
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Nicor Merger Update
 Regulatory approval process underway, continue to anticipate closing in before
 year end
  All major regulatory approvals received, with the exception of the Illinois Commerce
 Commission (ICC)
  Proposed order received from Administrative Law Judge in September
  Expect consideration before ICC in November
 Operations preparing for integration
Dec 2010
Q1 2011
Q2 2011
Q3 2011
Q4 2011
Transaction
Announced
Joint ICC Approval
Request Filed 1/18/11
Secure Regulatory Approvals
AGL Resources and
Nicor Shareholder
Approvals Received
Develop Transition Implementation Plans
Close Transaction
Long
-
Term Financing for Cash
Consideration Complete
Initial S-4 Registration
Statement Filed 2/4/11
Hart-Scott-Rodino
Approval Received
ICC Hearings held
July 19-20
SEC S-4 Registration
Declared Effective
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ALJ Proposed Order
Received Sept 29
Anticipate ICC
Consideration
Nov/Dec
 
 

 
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2011 Priorities
 Close Nicor transaction by year-end 2011
 Develop and implement integration plan
 Continue safe and efficient operations at our distribution businesses
 Complete rate case at Virginia Natural Gas
  Seeking $25 million increase
  VNG customers have not seen an increase in their approved base rates since 1996
 Continue to pursue responsible growth opportunities in retail and wholesale businesses
 Reposition wholesale services to be successful in a potentially prolonged period of
 reduced volatility
M&A
Distribution
Retail &
Wholesale
Energy
Investments
Policy
Expense &
Balance Sheet
Discipline
 Increase contracted capacity at Golden Triangle Storage
 Work toward completion of Cavern 2 in early 2012
 Effectively control expenses and focus on capital discipline in each of our
 business segments
 Maintain strong balance sheet and liquidity profile
 Continue to actively manage issues related to energy and environmental
 policy and regulation
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Additional Resources
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Company resources
 www.aglresources.com
 Sarah Stashak
 Director, Investor Relations
 404-584-4577
 sstashak@aglresources.com
Industry resources
 www.aga.org
 www.eia.doe.gov
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Appendix & GAAP Reconciliations
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9-months 2011 Highlights
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Note: Please review the AGL Resources 10-Q as filed with the SEC on 11/2/11 for detailed information. EBIT, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are non-
GAAP measures. Please see the appendix to this presentation or visit the investor relations section of www.aglresources.com for a reconciliation to GAAP.
(1) Adjusted net income and adjusted EPS exclude Nicor-related merger costs of approximately $16 million, net of tax.
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VNG Rate Case Update
 Virginia Natural Gas filed a rate case with the Virginia State Corporation
 Commission (VSCC) on February 8, 2011
  Seeking $25 million increase
  Mitigation plan proposes rates to be phased in over three years
  ~$15 million related to Hampton Roads Crossing pipeline construction (completed in 2010),
 which has been recovered via AFUDC to date
  ~$10 million related to base operating expenses
  Rates effective October 1, 2011, subject to refund
  Hearing scheduled for November 4, 2011
  Final Commission order expected May 2012
Rate Case Filed
2/8/11
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Hearings
11/04/11
Rates
Effective
Subject to
Refund
10/1/11
Hearing
Examiner’s
Report
March 2012
Final
Commission
Order
May 2012
 
 

 
Detailed Utility Profile as of 12/31/10
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State
Rate
Base
(mm)
% of
Total
Authorized
Return on
Rate Base
Est. 2010
Return on
Rate Base
Authorized
Return on
Equity
Est. 2010
Return on
Equity
Customers
(mm)
% of
Total
Regulatory Attributes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Georgia
$1,312
52%
8.10%
7.26%
10.75%
9.10%
1.5
68%
Decoupling, Regulatory
Infrastructure Program Rates,
M&A Synergy Sharing
New Jersey
435
17%
7.64%
7.87%
10.30%
10.76%
0.3
12%
Weather Normalization,
Regulatory Infrastructure
Program Rates
Virginia
502
20%
9.24%
8.24%
10.90%
9.62%
0.3
12%
Decoupling, Weather
Normalization
Florida
164
7%
7.36%
5.04%
11.25%
6.22%
0.1
5%
Negotiated Rates Over
5-yr Period
Tennessee
91
4%
7.41%
8.98%
10.05%
13.45%
0.1
3%
Revenue Normalization
Total
$ 2,504
100%
NA
 NA
 NA
 NA
2.3
100%
 
Note: Please review the AGL Resources 10-K as filed with the SEC on 2/9/11 for detailed information.
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The following table sets forth a reconciliation of AGL Resources’ operating margin to operating income and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to
earnings before income taxes and net income to net income attributable to AGL - as reported and net income attributable to AGL - as adjusted, for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
GAAP Reconciliation
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GAAP Reconciliation
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GAAP Reconciliation
The following tables set forth a reconciliation of AGL Resources’ Statement of Income to earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) by segment for the nine
months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
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GAAP Reconciliation
The following tables set forth a reconciliation of AGL Resources’ Basic and Diluted earnings per share - as reported (GAAP) to Basic and Diluted earnings
per share - as adjusted (Non-GAAP; excluding Nicor merger costs), for the indicated periods.
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GAAP Reconciliation
Reconciliations of operating margin, EBIT by segment and EPS excluding merger expenses are available in our quarterly reports (Form 10-Q) and
annual reports (Form 10-K) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Our management evaluates segment financial performance based on EBIT, which includes the effects of corporate expense allocations. EBIT is a non-
GAAP (accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America) financial measure. Items that are not included in EBIT are financing
costs, including debt and interest expense and income taxes. We evaluate each of these items on a consolidated level and believe EBIT is a useful
measurement of our performance because it provides information that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of our businesses from an operational
perspective, exclusive of the costs to finance those activities and exclusive of income taxes, neither of which is directly relevant to the efficiency of those
operations.
We also use EBIT internally to measure performance against budget and in reports for management and the Board of Directors. Projections of forward-
looking EBIT are used in our internal budgeting process, and those projections are used in providing forward-looking business segment EBIT projections
to investors. We are unable to reconcile our forward-looking EBIT business segment guidance to GAAP net income, because we do not predict the
future impact of unusual items and mark-to-market gains or losses on energy contracts. The impact of these items could be material to our operating
results reported in accordance with GAAP.
Operating margin is a non-GAAP measure calculated as revenues minus cost of gas, excluding operation and maintenance expense, depreciation and
amortization, taxes other than income taxes, and the gain or loss on the sale of our assets. These items are included in our calculation of operating
income. We believe operating margin is a better indicator than operating revenues of the contribution resulting from customer growth, since cost of gas is
generally passed directly through to customers.
We present our EPS excluding expenses incurred with respect to the proposed merger with Nicor. As we do not routinely engage in transactions of the
magnitude of the proposed Nicor merger, and consequently do not regularly incur transaction related expenses of correlative size, we believe presenting
EPS excluding Nicor merger expenses provides investors with an additional measure of our core operating performance.
EBIT, operating margin and EPS excluding merger expenses should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful indicators of, our
operating performance than operating income or net income, as determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our EBIT, operating margin and non-
GAAP EPS may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of another company.
Net income attributable to AGL Resources, as adjusted and Basic and Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted are non-GAAP measures and exclude
transaction costs related to the proposed merger with Nicor. We believe these financial measures are useful to investors because they provide an
alternative method for assessing the Company’s operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of the Company’s ongoing operations.
The presentation of these financial measures is not meant to be a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
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Additional Information
Additional Information
In connection with the proposed merger, AGL Resources has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-
172084), as amended, which is publicly available, that includes a definitive joint proxy statement of AGL Resources and Nicor that also constitutes a
prospectus of AGL Resources. AGL Resources and Nicor mailed the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus on or about May 10, 2011 to their
respective stockholders of record as of April 18, 2011. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY, AS WELL AS OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AGL RESOURCES, NICOR AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The joint proxy statement/prospectus,
as well as other filings containing information about AGL Resources and Nicor, can be obtained free of charge at the website maintained by the SEC
at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from AGL Resources’ website (www.aglresources.com) under the tab
Investor Relations/SEC Filings or by directing a request to AGL Resources Inc., P.O. Box 4569, Atlanta, GA, 30302-4569. You may also obtain
these documents, free of charge, from Nicor’s website (www.nicor.com) under the tab Investor Information/SEC Filings or by directing a request to
Nicor Inc., P.O. Box 3014, Naperville, IL 60566-7014.
The respective directors and executive officers of AGL Resources and Nicor, and other persons, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation
of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding AGL Resources’ directors and executive officers is available in the definitive
joint proxy statement/prospectus contained in the above referenced Registration Statement and its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC by
AGL Resources on March 14, 2011, and information regarding Nicor directors and executive officers is available in the definitive joint proxy
statement/prospectus contained in the above referenced Registration Statement and its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC by Nicor on
April 19, 2011. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the interests of the
participants in the proxy solicitation are included in the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a
solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means
of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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