def14a
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant
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Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
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PPL CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if
other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11
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Title of each class of securities to which
transaction applies:
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Aggregate number of securities to which
transaction applies:
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Per unit price or other underlying value of
transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth
the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of
transaction:
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Total fee paid:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary
materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for
which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing
by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of
its filing.
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Amount Previously
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Form, Schedule or
Registration Statement No.: |
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Filing Party: |
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PPL Corporation
Notice of Annual Meeting
April 28, 2006
and
Proxy Statement
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareowners
The Annual Meeting of Shareowners of PPL Corporation
(PPL or the Company) will be held at the
Holiday Inn, located in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, on Friday,
April 28, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. The Annual Meeting will
be held for the purposes stated below and more fully described
in the accompanying Proxy Statement, and to transact such other
business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournments thereof:
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1. |
Election of four directors for a term of three years. |
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The re-approval of the Short-Term Incentive Plan. |
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Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as
independent registered public accounting firm for the year
ending December 31, 2006. |
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Consideration of one shareowner proposal, if properly presented,
as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement. |
The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters to be
presented for action at the Annual Meeting. If any other
business should properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is
the intention of the Board of Directors that the persons named
as proxies will vote in accordance with their best judgment.
After reading the Proxy Statement, please follow the
instructions on the enclosed Proxy for voting over the Internet,
by telephone or by returning your Proxy marked, signed and dated
as soon as possible to assure your representation at the Annual
Meeting. Only shareowners of record at the close of business on
Tuesday, February 28, 2006, will be entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof. If the Annual
Meeting is interrupted or delayed for any reason, the
shareowners attending the adjourned Annual Meeting shall
constitute a quorum and may act upon such business as may
properly come before the Annual Meeting.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Robert J. Grey |
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Secretary |
March 20, 2006
Proxy Statement
The Companys principal executive offices are located at
Two North Ninth Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101, telephone
number 610-774-5151. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying
Proxy, solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors, were first
released to shareowners on or about March 20, 2006.
OUTSTANDING STOCK AND VOTING RIGHTS
The Board of Directors has established Tuesday,
February 28, 2006, as the record date for shareowners
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting (the Record
Date). The transfer books of the Company will not be
closed. The articles of incorporation of PPL divide its voting
stock into two classes: Common and Preferred. There were no
shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on the Record Date. A
total of 380,231,276 shares of common stock was outstanding
on the Record Date. All common stock and stock option amounts
and exercise prices of stock options included in this Proxy
Statement reflect the
2-for-1 common stock
split that was completed in August 2005. Each outstanding share
of common stock entitles the holder to one vote upon any
business properly presented to the Annual Meeting.
The following table sets forth the stock ownership of each
person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of five
percent (5%) or more of the Companys common stock as of
February 15, 2006:
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Amount and Nature |
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Common Stock |
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Capital Research Management Company 333 South Hope Street Los Angeles, CA 90071 (1) |
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24,274,000 shares
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6.4% |
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The source of this information is a Schedule 13G filed on
February 10, 2006 by Capital Research and Management
Company. In the 13G, Capital Research and Management Company has
disclaimed beneficial ownership pursuant to
Rule 13d-4.
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22,274,000 of the shares that are beneficially owned are held by
unaffiliated third-party client accounts managed by Capital
Research and Management Company, as investment adviser. Of these
shares, Capital Research has sole voting power of
10,374,000 shares. |
Execution of the Proxy will not affect a shareowners right
to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. Any shareowner
giving a Proxy has the right to revoke it at any time before it
is voted by giving notice in writing to the Secretary. Shares
represented by Proxy will be voted in accordance with the
instructions given. In the absence of instructions to the
contrary on an executed Proxy, the Proxy solicited hereby will
be voted FOR the election of directors, FOR the
re-approval of the
Short-Term Incentive Plan, FOR the ratification of the
appointment of independent registered public accounting firm
(independent auditor) and AGAINST the shareowner
proposal. Brokerage firms generally have the authority to vote
customers unvoted shares on certain routine
matters. If your shares are held in the name of a brokerage
firm, the brokerage firm can vote your shares for the election
of directors and for Proposals 2 and 3 if you do not timely
provide your Proxy because these matters are considered
routine under the applicable rules. Abstentions and
broker non-votes are not counted as either yes or
no votes.
Full and fractional shares held by the Company for each
participant in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan will be voted by
PPL Services Corporation, as the registered owner of such
shares, in the same manner as shares held of record by that
participant are voted. If a participant owns no shares of
record, full and fractional shares credited to that
participants account will be voted in accordance with the
participants instructions on the Proxy. Shares held in the
Dividend Reinvestment Plan will not be voted if Proxies are not
returned.
To preserve voter confidentiality, the Company voluntarily
limits access to shareowner voting records to certain designated
employees of PPL Services Corporation. These employees sign a
confidentiality agreement which prohibits them from disclosing
the manner in which a shareowner has voted to any employee of
PPL affiliates or to any other person (except to the Judges of
Election or the person in whose name the shares are registered),
unless otherwise required by law.
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Regarding Proposal 1 (Election of Directors), the nominees
receiving the highest number of votes, up to the number of
directors to be elected, will be elected. Authority to vote for
any individual nominee can be withheld by writing the number,
which is beside that persons name in the list of nominees,
in the box provided to the right of such list on the
accompanying Proxy or by following the instructions if voting
over the Internet or by telephone. In order to be approved, each
of Proposal 2 (Re-approval of Short-Term Incentive Plan)
and Proposal 3 (Ratification of the Appointment of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm) must receive a
majority of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, by the
shareowners voting as a single class. In order for the
shareowner proposal (Proposal 4) to be approved, it must be
properly presented at the Annual Meeting and it must receive a
majority of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, by the
shareowners voting as a single class. A meeting of shareowners
of the Company duly called shall not be organized for the
transaction of business unless a quorum is present. The presence
of shareowners entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes
that all shareowners are entitled to cast on a particular matter
to be acted upon at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for
the purposes of consideration and action on the matter.
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
PPL has a classified Board of Directors, currently consisting of
12 directors divided into three classes. These classes
consist of four directors whose terms will expire at the 2006
Annual Meeting, four directors whose terms will expire at the
2007 Annual Meeting, and four directors whose terms will expire
at the 2008 Annual Meeting.
The nominees this year are John W. Conway, E. Allen Deaver,
James H. Miller and Susan M. Stalnecker. The nominees are
currently serving as directors. Messrs. Conway and Deaver
and Ms. Stalnecker were elected by the shareowners at the
2003 Annual Meeting, and Mr. Miller was elected by the
Board of Directors effective August 1, 2005. If elected by
the shareowners, Messrs. Conway, Deaver, Miller and
Ms. Stalnecker would serve until the 2009 Annual Meeting
and until their successors are elected and qualified. Following
the election of these four nominees, there will be 12 members of
the Board of Directors, consisting of three classes: four
directors whose terms would expire at the 2007 Annual Meeting,
four directors whose terms would expire at the 2008 Annual
Meeting, and four directors whose terms would expire at the 2009
Annual Meeting.
The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the
nominees will become unavailable for election, but, if any
nominee should become unavailable prior to the Annual Meeting,
the accompanying Proxy will be voted for the election of such
other person as the Board of Directors may recommend in place of
that nominee.
The Board of Directors
recommends that shareowners vote FOR Proposal 1
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS:
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JOHN W. CONWAY, 60, is Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Holdings, Inc. of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a position he has held since
February 2001. Prior to that time, he served as President and
Chief Operating Officer. Crown is a leading international
manufacturer of packaging products for consumer goods.
Mr. Conway joined Crown in 1991 as a result of its
acquisition of Continental Can International Corporation. Prior
to 1991, he served as President of Continental Can and in
various other management positions. Mr. Conway is the
past-Chairman of the Can Manufacturers Institute. He received
his B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and his
law degree from Columbia Law School. He is a member of the
Compensation and Corporate Governance and Finance Committees. He
has been a director since 2000. |
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E. ALLEN DEAVER, 70, retired in 1998 as Executive Vice
President and a director of Armstrong World Industries, Inc., of
Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is a director of the Geisinger
Health System. He graduated from the University of Tennessee
with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Deaver is chair
of the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee and a
member of the Executive, Finance and Nuclear Oversight
Committees. He also serves as the presiding director who chairs
executive sessions of the independent directors. He has been a
director since 1991. |
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JAMES H. MILLER, 57, is President and Chief Operating
Officer of PPL Corporation. Prior to his current appointment in
August 2005, Mr. Miller was named Executive Vice President
in January 2004, and Chief Operating Officer in September 2004,
and also served as President of PPL Generation, LLC, a PPL
Corporation subsidiary that operates power plants in the United
States. He also serves as a director of PPL Electric Utilities
Corporation and a manager of PPL Energy Supply, LLC.
Mr. Miller earned a bachelors degree in electrical
engineering from the University of Delaware and served in the
U.S. Navy nuclear program. Before joining PPL Generation in
February 2001, Mr. Miller served as Executive Vice
President and Vice President, Production of USEC, Inc. from
1995, and prior to that time as President of ABB Environmental
Systems, President of UC Operating Services, President of ABB
Resource Recovery Systems and in various engineering and
management positions at the former Delmarva Power and Light Co.
Mr. Miller has been a Director since August 2005. |
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SUSAN M. STALNECKER, 53, is Vice President, Risk
Management, of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, of
Wilmington, Delaware. Before being named to her current position
in June 2005, she served as Vice PresidentGovernment and
Consumer Markets, DuPont Safety & Protection since
January 2003, and as Vice PresidentFinance and Treasurer
since 1998. DuPont delivers science-based solutions for markets
that make a difference in peoples lives in food and
nutrition; healthcare; apparel; home and construction;
electronics; and transportation. Ms. Stalnecker serves on
the board of Duke University and is President of the Board of
Trustees of the Delaware Art Museum. Ms. Stalnecker
received a bachelors degree from Duke University and her
M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Graduate Business at the
University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Audit and
Finance Committees. She has been a director since December 2001. |
DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE:
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FREDERICK M. BERNTHAL, 63, is President of Universities
Research Association (URA), a position he has held
since 1994. Located in Washington, D.C., URA is a
consortium of 90 leading research universities engaged in the
construction and operation of major research facilities. URA is
management and operations contractor on behalf of the
U.S. Department of Energy for the Fermi National
Accelerator Laboratory. Dr. Bernthal served from 1990 to
1994 as Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation, from
1988 to 1990 as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans,
Environment and Science, and from 1983 to 1988 as a member of
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He received a
Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Valparaiso
University, and a Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from the University
of California at Berkeley. Dr. Bernthal is chair of the
Nuclear Oversight Committee and a member of the Audit and
Executive Committees. He has been a director since 1997; his
term expires in 2008. |
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JOHN R. BIGGAR, 61, is Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of PPL Corporation. He also serves as a
director of PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, and as a manager
of PPL Energy Supply, LLC and PPL Transition Bond Company, LLC,
subsidiaries of PPL Corporation. He is a member of the Corporate
Leadership Council, an internal committee comprised of the
senior officers of PPL Corporation. Mr. Biggar joined the
Company in 1969. Before being named to his current position in
2001, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer as well as Vice PresidentFinance. Mr. Biggar
serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Lycoming College.
He earned a bachelors degree in political science from
Lycoming College and a Juris Doctor degree from the College of
Law at Syracuse University. Mr. Biggar has been a director
since 2001; his term expires in 2008. |
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LOUISE K. GOESER, 52, is President and Chief Executive
Officer of Ford of Mexico, a position she has held since January
2005. Ford of Mexico manufactures cars, trucks and related parts
and accessories. Prior to this position, she served as Vice
President, Global Quality for Ford Motor Company, a position she
had held since 1999. In that position, she was responsible for
ensuring superior quality in the design, manufacture, sale and
service of all Ford cars, trucks and components worldwide. Prior
to 1999, she served as Vice President for Quality at Whirlpool
Corporation, and served in various leadership positions with
Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Ms. Goeser received a
bachelors degree in mathematics from Pennsylvania State
University and a masters degree in business administration
from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a member of the
Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee and has been a
director since 2003; her term expires in 2008. |
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WILLIAM F. HECHT, 63, is Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of PPL Corporation. He also serves as a director of PPL
Electric Utilities Corporation and as a manager of PPL Energy
Supply, LLC, subsidiaries of PPL Corporation. Mr. Hecht
received a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh
University, and joined PPL in 1964. He was elected President and
Chief Operating Officer in 1991 and has served in his present
position since 1993. Mr. Hecht is a director of DENTSPLY
International Inc., the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., and serves on the board of a number
of civic and charitable organizations. He is chair of the
Executive Committee and chair of the Corporate Leadership
Council, an internal committee comprised of the senior officers
of PPL Corporation. Mr. Hecht has been a director since
1990. While his term ends in 2007, the Company announced in
February 2006 that Mr. Hecht will retire from the Company,
including the Board, before the end of 2006. |
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STUART HEYDT, 66, retired in 2000 as Chief Executive
Officer of the Geisinger Health System, a position he held since
1991. He is past president and a Distinguished Fellow of the
American College of Physician Executives. Dr. Heydt
attended Dartmouth College and received an M.D. from the
University of Nebraska. He is chair of the Audit Committee and a
member of the Compensation and Corporate Governance, Executive
and Nuclear Oversight Committees. Dr. Heydt has been a
director since 1991; his term ends in 2007. |
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CRAIG A. ROGERSON, 49, is President and Chief Executive
Officer of Hercules Incorporated, a position he has held since
December 2003. He also serves as a director of Hercules.
Located in Wilmington, Delaware, Hercules is a leading
manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals and related
services for a broad range of business, consumer and industrial
applications. Mr. Rogerson joined Hercules in 1979 and
served in a number of management positions before leaving the
company to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Wacker Silicones Corporation in 1997. He returned to Hercules in
2000 as President of the BetzDearborn Division. Following the
sale of that business to General Electric in 2002, he remained
with Hercules as President of the FiberVisions and Pinova
divisions until he was named President and Chief Executive
Officer of Hercules in December 2003. Mr. Rogerson also
serves on the board of the American Chemistry Council. He holds
a chemical engineering degree from Michigan State University. He
is a member of the Nuclear Oversight Committee and has been a
director since September 2005; his term ends in 2007. |
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W. KEITH SMITH, 71, served as Vice Chairman of Mellon
Financial Corporation and Senior Vice Chairman of Mellon Bank,
N.A., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as well as a director of both
organizations, until his retirement in December 1998.
Mr. Smith also is a director of DENTSPLY International Inc.
He currently serves as the chairman of Allegheny General
Hospital and is on the boards of West Penn Allegheny Health
System, Invesmart, Inc., Baytree Bancorp., Inc., Baytree
National Bank and Trust Co., and Robert Morris University.
Mr. Smith received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the
University of Saskatchewan, his M.B.A. from the University of
Western Ontario, and is a Chartered Accountant. He is chair of
the Finance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.
Mr. Smith has been a director since 2000; his term ends in
2007. |
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KEITH H. WILLIAMSON, 53, is President of the Capital
Services Division of Pitney Bowes Inc., a position he has held
since 1999. Pitney Bowes is a global provider of integrated
mail, messaging and document management solutions headquartered
in Stamford, Connecticut. He joined Pitney Bowes in 1988 and
held a series of positions in the companys tax, finance
and legal operations, including oversight of the treasury
function and rating agency activity. Mr. Williamson earned
a B.A. from Brown University, a J.D. and M.B.A. from Harvard
University and an LL.M. in taxation from New York University Law
School. He is a member of the Finance Committee and has been a
director since September 2005; his term ends in 2008. |
GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY
Board of Directors
Attendance. The Board of Directors met six times
during 2005. Each director attended at least 75% of the meetings
held by the Board and the Committees on which they served during
the year. The average attendance of directors at Board and
Committee meetings held during 2005 was 98%. Directors are
expected to attend all meetings of the Board, the Committees on
which they serve and shareowners. All directors attended the
2005 Annual Meeting of Shareowners.
Independence of Directors. At its January 2006
meeting, the Board determined that the following directors
(constituting all of PPLs non-employee directors) are
independent from the Company and management under the
categorical standard of independence of the Company and under
applicable New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listing
standards: Drs. Bernthal and Heydt, Messrs. Conway,
Deaver, Rogerson, Smith and Williamson, and Mss. Goeser and
Stalnecker. In reaching this conclusion, the Board considered
all transactions and relationships between each director or any
member of his or her immediate family and the Company and its
subsidiaries. From time to time, subsidiaries of the Company
have transacted business in the ordinary course with companies
with which several of our directors are affiliated, including an
affiliate of Crown Holdings, Inc. (Mr. Conway), E. I. du
Pont de Nemours and Company and its affiliates
(Ms. Stalnecker), Ford Motor Company and its affiliates
(Ms. Goeser) and Pitney Bowes Inc. and its affiliates
(Mr. Williamson). The
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Board determined that all of these relationships were
immaterial. Under the categorical standard of independence that
the Board adopted for the Company:
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Business transactions between the Company (and its subsidiaries)
and a directors employer or the employer of the
directors immediate family member, as defined
by the rules of the NYSE, not involving more than 2% of the
employers consolidated gross revenues in any fiscal year,
will not impair the directors independence. |
Also, pursuant to NYSE standards, a director is not independent
from the Company and management if, within the last three years,
the director or an immediate family member of the director:
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Is or has been an employee of the Company (and its
subsidiaries), in the case of the director, or is or has been an
executive officer of the Company (and its subsidiaries), in the
case of an immediate family member of the director; |
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Has received more than $100,000 in direct compensation from the
Company (and its subsidiaries) during any
12-month period
(excluding director or committee fees); |
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Is or was a partner or employee of any of the auditors of the
Company, subject to certain exceptions; |
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Is or was employed as an executive officer of another company
where any of the Companys present executive officers at
the same time serves or served on the other companys
compensation committee; or |
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Is a current employee, in the case of the director, or is a
current executive officer, in the case of an immediate family
member, of a company that has made payments to, or received
payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount
which exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such
other companys consolidated gross revenues. |
In addition to the independence requirements set forth above,
the Board evaluates additional independence requirements under
applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
rules for directors who are members of the audit committee. If
determined to be independent pursuant to the standards set forth
above, a director also will be deemed to be independent for
purposes of being a member of the audit committee if:
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The director does not directly or indirectly, including through
certain family members, receive any consulting, advisory or
other compensatory fee from the Company (and its subsidiaries)
except in such persons capacity as a director or committee
member; and |
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The director is not an affiliated person of the
Company (or any of its subsidiaries), meaning that the director
does not directly or indirectly (through one or more
intermediaries) control, is not controlled by or is not under
common control with the Company (and its subsidiaries), all
within the meaning of applicable securities laws. |
Executive Sessions; Presiding and Lead Director. The
independent directors meet in regular executive sessions during
each Board meeting without management present. The Board has
designated Mr. Deaver as the presiding director to chair
these executive sessions. Mr. Deaver also serves as the
lead director of the Board.
Guidelines for Corporate Governance. In January
2006, the Company enhanced its Guidelines for Corporate
Governance. The full text of the Guidelines can
be found in the Corporate Governance section of the
Companys Web site
(www.pplweb.com/about/corporate+governance.htm), and is
available in print, without charge, to any shareowner who
requests a copy.
Communications with the Board. Shareowners or other
parties interested in communicating with the presiding director,
with the Board or with the independent directors as a group may
write to the Presiding Director or the Board of Directors
c/o Corporate Secretarys Office, PPL Corporation, Two
North Ninth Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101. The Secretary
of the Company forwards all correspondence to the respective
Board members, with the exception of commercial solicitations,
advertisements or obvious junk mail. Concerns
relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters
are to be immediately brought to the attention of the
Companys Office of Business Ethics and Compliance and are
handled in accordance with procedures established by the Audit
Committee with respect to such matters.
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Code of Ethics. The Company maintains its
Standards of Conduct and Integrity, which are applicable
to all Board members and employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries, including the principal executive officer, the
principal financial officer and the principal accounting officer
of the Company. The full text of the Standards can be
found in the Corporate Governance section of the Companys
Web site (www.pplweb.com/about/corporate+governance.htm),
and is available in print, without charge, to any shareowner who
requests a copy.
Board Committees
The Board of Directors has five standing committeesthe
Executive, Compensation and Corporate Governance, Finance,
Nuclear Oversight and Audit Committees. Each non-employee
director usually serves on one or more of these committees. The
Compensation and Corporate Governance, Finance, Nuclear
Oversight and Audit Committees are composed entirely of
independent directors. The charters of all of the committees are
available in the Corporate Governance section of the
Companys Web site
(www.pplweb.com/about/corporate+governance.htm), and are
available in print, without charge, to any shareowner who
requests a copy.
Executive Committee. During the periods
between Board meetings, the Executive Committee may exercise all
of the powers of the Board of Directors, except that the
Executive Committee may not elect directors, change the
membership of or fill vacancies in the Executive Committee, fix
the compensation of the directors, change the Bylaws, or take
any action restricted by the Pennsylvania Business Corporation
Law or the Bylaws (including actions committed to another Board
committee). The Executive Committee met six times in 2005. The
members of the Executive Committee are Mr. Hecht (chair),
Drs. Bernthal and Heydt and Mr. Deaver.
Compensation and Corporate Governance
Committee. The principal functions of the
Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee
(C&CGC) are: (i) to review and evaluate at
least annually the performance of the chief executive officer
and other senior officers of the Company and its subsidiaries,
and to set their remuneration, including incentive awards;
(ii) to identify and recommend to the Board of Directors
candidates for election to the Board; (iii) to review the
fees paid to outside directors for their services on the Board
of Directors and its Committees; (iv) to establish and
administer programs for evaluating the performance of Board
members; and (v) to review managements succession
planning. Another principal committee function is to develop and
recommend to the Board corporate governance guidelines for the
Company. All of the members of the C&CGC are independent
within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE, the
rules of the SEC and the Internal Revenue Service, and the
Companys standards of independence described above under
the heading of Independence of Directors. This
committee met four times in 2005. The members of the C&CGC
are Mr. Deaver (chair), Mr. Conway, Ms. Goeser
and Dr. Heydt.
The C&CGC establishes guidelines for new directors and
evaluates director candidates. In considering candidates, the
C&CGC seeks individuals who possess strong personal and
professional ethics, high standards of integrity and values,
independence of thought and judgment and who have senior
corporate leadership experience. The Company believes that prior
business experience is valuable, and it seeks to have certain
prior experience on the Board, such as financial, operating and
nuclear.
In addition, the C&CGC seeks individuals who have a broad
range of demonstrated abilities and accomplishments beyond
corporate leadership. These abilities include the skill and
expertise sufficient to provide sound and prudent guidance with
respect to all of the Companys operations and interests.
Finally, the C&CGC seeks individuals who are capable of
devoting the required amount of time to serve effectively,
including preparation time and attendance at Board, Committee
and shareowner meetings.
Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the
Board of Directors or the C&CGC or by any shareowner
entitled to vote in the election of directors generally. If the
C&CGC or management identifies a need to add a new Board
member to fulfill a special need or to fill a vacancy, the
C&CGC usually retains a third-party search firm to identify
a candidate or candidates. The C&CGC seeks prospective
nominees through personal referrals, independent inquiries by
directors and search firms.
Once the C&CGC has identified a prospective nominee, it
generally requests the third-party search firm to gather
additional information about the prospective nominees
background and experience. The Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer and at least one member of the C&CGC then interview
the prospective candidates in person. After completing the
interview and evaluation process, which includes evaluating the
prospective nominee against the standards and qualifications set
out in the Companys Guidelines for Corporate
7
Governance, the C&CGC makes a recommendation to the
full Board as to the persons who should be nominated by the
Board. The Board then votes on whether to approve the nominees
after considering the recommendation and report of the C&CGC.
Shareowners interested in recommending nominees for directors
should submit their recommendations in writing to: Secretary,
PPL Corporation, Two North Ninth Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania
18101. In order to be considered, nominations by shareowners
must be received by the Company 75 days prior to the 2007
Annual Meeting and must contain the information required by the
Bylaws, such as the name and address of the shareowner making
the nomination and of the proposed nominees and certain other
information concerning the shareowner and the nominee. The exact
procedures are included in the Companys Bylaws, which can
be found at the Corporate Governance section of the
Companys Web site
(www.pplweb.com/about/corporate+governance.htm).
Finance Committee. The principal functions of
the Finance Committee are: (i) to review and approve
annually the business plan for the Company; (ii) to approve
specific Company financings and corporate financial policies;
(iii) to authorize certain capital expenditures;
(iv) to authorize acquisitions and dispositions in excess
of $25 million; and (v) to review, approve and monitor
the policies and practices of the Company and its subsidiaries
in managing financial risk. All of the members of this Committee
are independent within the meaning of the listing standards of
the NYSE and the Companys standards of independence
described above under the heading Independence of
Directors. The Finance Committee met five times in 2005.
The members of the Finance Committee are Mr. Smith (chair),
Messrs. Conway, Deaver, Williamson and Ms. Stalnecker.
Nuclear Oversight Committee. The principal
functions of the Nuclear Oversight Committee are: (i) to
assist the Board of Directors in the fulfillment of its
responsibilities for oversight of the Companys nuclear
function; (ii) to advise Company management on nuclear
matters; and (iii) to provide advice and recommendations to
the Board of Directors concerning the future direction of the
Company and management performance related to the nuclear
function. All of the members of this Committee are independent
within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE and the
Companys standards of independence described above under
the heading Independence of Directors. The Nuclear
Oversight Committee met three times in 2005. The members of the
Nuclear Oversight Committee are Dr. Bernthal (chair),
Messrs. Deaver, Rogerson and Dr. Heydt.
Audit Committee. The primary function of the
Audit Committee is to assist the Companys Board of
Directors in the oversight of: (i) the integrity of the
financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries;
(ii) the Companys compliance with legal and
regulatory requirements; (iii) the independent
auditors qualifications and independence; and
(iv) the performance of the Companys independent
auditor and internal audit function. The Charter of the Audit
Committee, which specifies the Audit Committees
responsibilities, is available on the Companys Web site
(www.pplweb.com/about/corporate+governance.htm). The
Audit Committee met nine times during 2005. The members of the
Audit Committee are non-employees of the Company, and the Board
of Directors has determined that each of its Audit Committee
members has met the independence and expertise requirements of
the NYSE, the SEC and the Companys independence standards
described above under the heading Independence of
Directors. The members of the Audit Committee are
Dr. Heydt (chair), Dr. Bernthal, Mr. Smith and
Ms. Stalnecker. The Companys Board of Directors has
determined that Mr. Smith is an audit committee financial
expert for purposes of the rules and regulations of the SEC.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling
its oversight responsibilities with respect to the integrity of
the Companys financial statements. Company management is
responsible for the preparation and integrity of the
Companys financial statements, the financial reporting
process and the associated system of internal controls. The
Companys independent auditor is responsible for auditing
the Companys annual financial statements, expressing an
opinion as to whether the financial statements present fairly,
in all material respects, the Companys financial position
and results of operations in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles, and expressing opinions as to
managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the
Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The
Audit Committees responsibility is to monitor and review
these processes. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed
the audited financial statements with management and the
independent auditor.
8
The independent auditor is ultimately accountable to the Audit
Committee, which has the sole authority to select, evaluate and
replace the independent auditor and to approve all audit
engagement fees and terms. In 2005, the Audit Committee adopted
a policy to solicit competitive proposals for audit services
from independent accounting firms at least once every seven
years. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent
auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit
Committees, as amended, including the appropriateness and
application of accounting principles.
The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the
letter from its independent auditor pursuant to Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence
Discussions with Audit Committees, and has had discussions
with its independent auditor about its independence. The Audit
Committee also considered whether the provision of non-audit
services by its independent auditor is compatible with
maintaining the independence of such independent auditor.
In the performance of its responsibilities, the Audit Committee
met periodically with the internal auditor and the independent
auditor, with and without management present, to discuss the
results of their examinations, their evaluations of the
Companys internal controls, and the overall quality of the
Companys financial reporting.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed managements
assessment of internal controls relating to the adequacy and
effectiveness of financial reporting. The Audit Committee has
also discussed with Company management, the internal auditor and
the independent auditor the process utilized in connection with
the certifications of the Companys principal executive
officer and principal financial officer under the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 and related SEC rules for the Companys annual
and quarterly filings with the SEC.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the
Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the
Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be
included in the Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005.
The Audit Committee has a Committee Charter that specifies its
responsibilities. The Committee Charter, which has been approved
by the Board of Directors, is available on the Companys
Web site
(www.pplweb.com/about/corporate+governance.htm). The
Audit Committees procedures and practices comply with the
requirements of the SEC and the NYSE applicable to corporate
audit committees.
|
|
|
|
|
Stuart Heydt, Chair
Frederick M. Bernthal
W. Keith Smith
Susan M. Stalnecker |
Compensation of Directors
Directors who are Company employees receive no separate
compensation for service on the Board of Directors or Committees
of the Board of Directors. Non-employee directors receive a
retainer of $95,000 per year, of which a minimum of $60,000
(Mandatory Deferral) is allocated to a deferred
stock account under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan
(DDCP). Effective January 1, 2004, each
non-employee director received a one-time additional retainer
fee, equal to 7,000 deferred stock units (which reflects the
2-for-1 common stock
split completed in August 2005), as a Mandatory Deferral. Any
new director joining the Board of Directors in the future also
would receive these same deferred stock units. Such deferred
stock units have a
5-year restriction
period and are subject to forfeiture if the director leaves the
Board of Directors before the end of this restriction period.
Each non-employee director also receives a fee of $1,500 for
attending Board of Directors meetings, Committee meetings and
other meetings at the Companys request, and a fee of $200
for participating in meetings held by telephone conference call.
Committee Chairs receive an annual cash retainer of $6,000 for
the Committees that they chair, and the Presiding Director
receives an annual cash retainer of $30,000.
Pursuant to the DDCP, non-employee directors may elect to defer
all or any part of the fees and any retainer that is not part of
the Mandatory Deferral. Under this plan, these directors can
defer compensation
9
other than the Mandatory Deferral into a deferred cash account
or stock account. Payment of these amounts and accrued interest,
together with deferred stock and accrued dividends, is deferred
until after the directors retirement from the Board of
Directors, at which time they can receive these funds and stock
in one or more annual installments for a period of up to ten
years.
Stock Ownership
The following table sets forth certain ownership of the
Companys stock as of January 6, 2006, unless
otherwise noted:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of | |
|
Percent | |
|
|
Common Stock | |
|
of | |
Name |
|
Owned(1) | |
|
Class(2) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
F. M. Bernthal
|
|
|
51,443 |
(3) |
|
|
* |
|
J. R. Biggar
|
|
|
309,833 |
(4) |
|
|
* |
|
P. T. Champagne
|
|
|
210,585 |
(5) |
|
|
* |
|
J. W. Conway
|
|
|
34,801 |
(6) |
|
|
* |
|
E. A. Deaver
|
|
|
56,979 |
(7)(8) |
|
|
* |
|
L. K. Goeser
|
|
|
13,589 |
(9) |
|
|
* |
|
W. F. Hecht
|
|
|
2,014,320 |
(10) |
|
|
* |
|
S. Heydt
|
|
|
52,824 |
(8)(11) |
|
|
* |
|
J. H. Miller
|
|
|
360,862 |
(12) |
|
|
* |
|
R. L. Petersen
|
|
|
172,808 |
(13) |
|
|
* |
|
C. A. Rogerson
|
|
|
7,718 |
(14) |
|
|
* |
|
W. K. Smith
|
|
|
38,826 |
(15) |
|
|
* |
|
S. M. Stalnecker
|
|
|
17,548 |
(16) |
|
|
* |
|
K. H. Williamson
|
|
|
7,718 |
(17) |
|
|
* |
|
All 21 executive officers and directors as a group
|
|
|
4,200,679 |
(18) |
|
|
1.1 |
% |
|
|
|
|
1 |
The number of shares owned includes: (i) shares directly
owned by certain relatives with whom directors or officers share
voting or investment power; (ii) shares held of record
individually by a director or officer or jointly with others or
held in the name of a bank, broker or nominee for such
individuals account; (iii) shares in which certain
directors or officers maintain exclusive or shared investment or
voting power, whether or not the securities are held for their
benefit; and (iv) with respect to executive officers,
shares held for their benefit by the Trustee under the Employee
Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). |
|
|
2 |
A * denotes less than 1.0%. |
|
|
3 |
Consists of 51,443 shares credited to his deferred stock
account under the DDCP. |
|
|
4 |
Includes 135,486 shares which may be acquired within
60 days upon the exercise of stock options granted under
the Companys Incentive Compensation Plan
(ICP), and 48,500 restricted stock units. |
|
|
5 |
Includes 75,559 shares which may be acquired within
60 days upon the exercise of stock options granted under
the ICP, and 30,040 restricted stock units. |
|
|
6 |
Includes 32,362 shares credited to his deferred stock
account under the DDCP. |
|
|
7 |
Includes 49,089 shares credited to his deferred stock
account under the DDCP. |
|
|
8 |
Includes additional deferred stock credited to their accounts in
connection with the termination of the Directors Retirement Plan
in 1996, as follows: Mr. Deaver4,362 shares and
Dr. Heydt3,252 shares. |
|
|
9 |
Includes 13,589 shares credited to her deferred stock
account under the DDCP. |
|
|
10 |
Includes 1,588,567 shares which may be acquired within
60 days upon the exercise of stock options granted under
the ICP, and 128,860 restricted stock units. |
|
11 |
Includes 49,572 shares credited to his deferred stock
account under the DDCP. |
|
12 |
Includes 243,947 shares which may be acquired within
60 days upon the exercise of stock options granted under
the ICP, and 44,140 restricted stock units. |
10
|
|
13 |
Includes 65,740 shares which may be acquired within
60 days upon the exercise of stock options granted under
the ICP, and 27,360 restricted stock units. |
|
14 |
Includes 7,718 shares credited to his deferred stock
account under the DDCP. |
|
15 |
Includes 34,826 shares credited to his deferred stock
account under the DDCP. |
|
16 |
Includes 17,287 shares credited to her deferred stock
account under the DDCP. |
|
17 |
Includes 7,718 shares credited to his deferred stock
account under the DDCP. |
|
18 |
Includes 2,625,914 shares which may be acquired within
60 days upon the exercise of stock options granted under
the ICP, 419,965 restricted stock units and 263,604 shares
credited to the directors deferred stock accounts under
the DDCP. |
During 2004, the Company implemented the Executive Equity
Ownership Program (Equity Guidelines). The Equity
Guidelines provide that executive officers should maintain
levels of ownership of Company common stock ranging in value
from two times to five times base salary, as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple of | |
|
|
Base | |
Executive Officer |
|
Salary | |
|
|
| |
Chairman & CEO
|
|
|
5x |
|
President and Executive Vice Presidents
|
|
|
3x |
|
Senior Vice Presidents
|
|
|
2x |
|
Presidents of certain operating subsidiaries
|
|
|
2x |
|
Executive officers with more than five years of service in their
executive or non-executive officer position with the Company
were expected to achieve their minimum Equity Guidelines level
by December 31, 2005. Executive officers with less than
five years of service at a guideline level must attain their
minimum Equity Guidelines level by the end of their five-year
anniversary at that level. As of December 31, 2005, all
Named Executive Officers listed on page 13 were in
compliance with the Equity Guidelines. Until the minimum Equity
Guidelines level is achieved, executive officers are expected to
retain in Common Stock (or Common Stock units) 100% of the
profit realized from the expiration of the restrictions on the
restricted stock and stock units and the exercise of options
(net of taxes and, in the case of options, the exercise price).
To assist the executive officers in achieving or surpassing
their minimum Equity Guidelines level, the Company implemented
the Cash Incentive Premium Exchange Program (Premium
Exchange Program). Under this program, executives may
elect to defer all or a portion of their annual cash incentive
award in exchange for restricted stock units equal in value at
the time of the grant to 140% of the cash amount so deferred (an
Exchange). See REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION AND
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE REGARDING EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION below for more details on this program.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
To the Companys knowledge, the Companys directors
and executives met all filing requirements under
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
Exchange Act) during 2005.
Retirement Plans for Executive Officers
PPL officers are eligible for benefits under the PPL Retirement
Plan, a defined benefit plan, and the PPL Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan (SERP) upon retirement from a PPL
affiliated company. Certain PPL officers are not eligible for
PPL Retirement Plan benefits but are eligible for a defined
benefit pension from a subsidiary company. For purposes of
calculating benefits under the PPL Retirement Plan, the
compensation used is base salary, plus certain cash incentive
awards, less amounts deferred under the PPL Officers Deferred
Compensation Plan. Base salary, including any amounts deferred,
is listed in the Summary Compensation Table on page 13. For
purposes of calculating benefits under the SERP, the
compensation used is base salary, cash bonus, and, in some
cases, the value of any restricted stock grant for the year in
which earned (as described below), as well as dividends paid on
restricted stock. To measure compensation for the last year of
employment prior to retirement, the PPL Retirement Plan and the
SERP use a pro-rated amount of an assumed cash incentive award.
11
Benefits payable under the PPL Retirement Plan are subject to
limits set forth in the Internal Revenue Code (the
Code) and are not subject to any deduction for
Social Security benefits or any other offset. Benefits are
computed on the basis of the life annuity form of pension at
normal retirement age of 65. The SERP is an unfunded,
non-contributory plan. Unlike the PPL Retirement Plan, the SERP
provides for the inclusion of earnings in excess of the limits
contained in the Code, including deferred incentive
compensation, in the calculation of final average earnings, and
for benefits in excess of the limits provided under the Code.
Except as described above, benefits payable under the SERP are
computed on the same basis as the PPL Retirement Plan and are
offset by PPL Retirement Plan benefits and, for those officers
eligible for benefits under the old formula described below, the
maximum Social Security benefit payable at age 65. Benefits
under both plans are reduced for retirement prior to
age 60. Generally, absent a specifically authorized
exception, no benefit is payable under the SERP if years of
credited service are less than 10 years.
The following table shows the estimated gross annual retirement
benefits for executive officers payable under the PPL SERP
formula.
Estimated Annual Retirement Benefits
at Normal Retirement Age of 65
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Five Year | |
|
Years of Service | |
Average | |
|
| |
Annual | |
|
15 | |
|
20 | |
|
25 | |
|
30 | |
Compensation | |
|
Years | |
|
Years | |
|
Years | |
|
Years | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
$ |
400,000 |
|
|
$ |
120,000 |
|
|
$ |
160,000 |
|
|
$ |
190,000 |
|
|
$ |
220,000 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
237,500 |
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
240,000 |
|
|
|
285,000 |
|
|
|
330,000 |
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
280,000 |
|
|
|
332,500 |
|
|
|
385,000 |
|
|
800,000 |
|
|
|
240,000 |
|
|
|
320,000 |
|
|
|
380,000 |
|
|
|
440,000 |
|
|
900,000 |
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
|
360,000 |
|
|
|
427,500 |
|
|
|
495,000 |
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
475,000 |
|
|
|
550,000 |
|
|
1,100,000 |
|
|
|
330,000 |
|
|
|
440,000 |
|
|
|
522,500 |
|
|
|
605,000 |
|
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
|
360,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
570,000 |
|
|
|
660,000 |
|
|
1,400,000 |
|
|
|
420,000 |
|
|
|
560,000 |
|
|
|
665,000 |
|
|
|
770,000 |
|
|
1,600,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
640,000 |
|
|
|
760,000 |
|
|
|
880,000 |
|
|
1,800,000 |
|
|
|
540,000 |
|
|
|
720,000 |
|
|
|
855,000 |
|
|
|
990,000 |
|
|
2,000,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
800,000 |
|
|
|
950,000 |
|
|
|
1,100,000 |
|
|
2,200,000 |
|
|
|
660,000 |
|
|
|
880,000 |
|
|
|
1,045,000 |
|
|
|
1,210,000 |
|
|
2,400,000 |
|
|
|
720,000 |
|
|
|
960,000 |
|
|
|
1,140,000 |
|
|
|
1,320,000 |
|
|
2,600,000 |
|
|
|
780,000 |
|
|
|
1,040,000 |
|
|
|
1,235,000 |
|
|
|
1,430,000 |
|
|
2,800,000 |
|
|
|
840,000 |
|
|
|
1,120,000 |
|
|
|
1,330,000 |
|
|
|
1,540,000 |
|
As of January 1, 2006, the years of service under the PPL
Retirement Plan for Messrs. Hecht, Miller, Biggar and
Champagne were 39, 4, 36 and 4, respectively.
Mr. Peterson has a defined benefit from a subsidiary
pension plan, which is estimated to pay him a fixed amount of
$7,320 annually beginning at age 65 and will be an offset
to his SERP benefit. The years of credited service under the
SERP for each of these officers are as follows:
Mr. Hecht30 years, Mr. Miller4,
Mr. Biggar30, Mr. Champagne17, and
Mr. Petersen24. Effective February 5, 2006, his
fifth anniversary of joining the Company, Mr. Miller
received five years additional service under the SERP. The
Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee granted
additional years of service to Mr. Miller as a retention
mechanism under the SERP. Mr. Miller will also be granted
additional service up to a maximum of 30 years upon
attainment of age 60. The total SERP benefit will not
increase beyond 30 years for any participant.
For officers hired on or after January 1, 1998, benefits
under the SERP formula were revised as follows:
(i) restricted stock grants are not included in
compensation for purposes of calculating benefits under the
SERP; (ii) the percentage of pay provided as a retirement
benefit was changed from 2.7% for the first 20 years of
service plus 1.0% for the next 10 years, to 2.0% for the
first 20 years and 1.5% for the next 10 years; and
(iii) credit for years of service will commence as of the
employees date of hire instead of age 30.
For officers hired prior to January 1, 1998, benefits under
the SERP are calculated under the greater of the old formula or
the new formula, except that compensation for purposes of the
old formula includes restricted
12
stock grants only to the extent earned through December 31,
2001, and will be frozen as of December 31, 2001, and
compensation for purposes of the new formula includes restricted
stock grants only to the extent earned through December 31,
1997.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table summarizes all compensation for the Chief
Executive Officer and the next four most highly compensated
executives (Named Executive Officers) for the last
three fiscal years, for service for PPL and its subsidiaries.
Messrs. Hecht, Miller and Biggar also served as directors
but received no separate remuneration in that capacity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Long-Term | |
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation | |
|
Compensation | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Annual | |
|
Stock | |
|
|
|
All Other | |
Name and Principal |
|
|
|
Salary(1) | |
|
Bonus(1)(2) | |
|
Compensation(3) | |
|
Award(4) | |
|
Options | |
|
Compensation(5) | |
Position |
|
Year | |
|
($) | |
|
($) | |
|
($) | |
|
($) | |
|
(#) | |
|
($) | |
| |
William F. Hecht
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
1,121,732 |
|
|
|
1,236,400 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,756,374 |
|
|
|
368,240 |
|
|
|
9,279 |
|
|
Chairman and
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
1,038,462 |
|
|
|
1,252,200 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,627,008 |
|
|
|
374,580 |
|
|
|
8,928 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
988,923 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,537,135 |
|
|
|
391,920 |
|
|
|
8,180 |
|
|
James H. Miller
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
673,072 |
|
|
|
463,650 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,151,016 |
|
|
|
155,800 |
|
|
|
6,575 |
|
|
President and |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
480,308 |
|
|
|
430,400 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
688,267 |
|
|
|
70,940 |
|
|
|
6,414 |
|
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
374,327 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
416,016 |
|
|
|
72,200 |
|
|
|
6,216 |
|
|
John R. Biggar
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
494,039 |
|
|
|
265,200 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
740,579 |
|
|
|
133,140 |
|
|
|
7,832 |
|
|
Executive Vice President |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
469,231 |
|
|
|
183,900 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
846,686 |
|
|
|
134,700 |
|
|
|
7,583 |
|
|
and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
444,327 |
|
|
|
145,059 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
380,783 |
|
|
|
138,620 |
|
|
|
7,129 |
|
|
Paul T. Champagne
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
400,001 |
|
|
|
216,600 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
333,126 |
|
|
|
75,540 |
|
|
|
6,004 |
|
|
President
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
399,692 |
|
|
|
238,800 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
333,430 |
|
|
|
73,780 |
|
|
|
6,420 |
|
|
PPL EnergyPlus, LLC |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
389,596 |
|
|
|
20,670 |
|
|
|
27,614 |
|
|
|
397,044 |
|
|
|
77,360 |
|
|
|
6,220 |
|
|
Roger L. Petersen
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
364,616 |
|
|
|
210,600 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
303,873 |
|
|
|
67,040 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
President-PPL Development
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
354,446 |
|
|
|
213,700 |
|
|
|
7,353 |
|
|
|
295,966 |
|
|
|
63,760 |
|
|
|
35,548 |
|
|
Company, LLC
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
314,821 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
11,526 |
|
|
|
368,136 |
|
|
|
66,420 |
|
|
|
1,200 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
Salary and bonus data include deferred cash compensation.
Mr. Hecht deferred $104,000 of salary in 2005 and 2004, and
$52,000 of salary in 2003; Mr. Champagne deferred $110,500
of salary and $181,440 of bonus in 2005, $91,000 of salary in
2004, and $84,500 of salary in 2003; and Mr. Petersen
deferred $200,600 of bonus in 2005 and $279,446 of salary in
2004. |
|
2 |
Messrs. Miller and Biggar elected to implement an Exchange
of $154,550 and $88,400, respectively, of their cash bonus for
2005 for restricted stock units under the Premium Exchange
Program. Mr. Biggar elected to implement an Exchange of
$183,900 of his cash bonus for 2004 for restricted stock units
under the Premium Exchange Program. Messrs. Hecht, Miller,
Biggar, Champagne and Petersen elected to implement an Exchange
of $744,728, $203,438, $145,059, $186,030 and $178,779,
respectively, of their cash bonus for 2003 for restricted stock
units under the Premium Exchange Program. See description of the
Premium Exchange Program under Stock Ownership
above. The value of these restricted stock units is reflected
under the Restricted Stock Award column of this
table. |
|
3 |
Includes taxable travel expense paid to Mr. Petersen of
$1,891 in 2004 and $11,526 in 2003. Also includes compensation
for vacation earned, but not taken, for Mr. Petersen of
$5,462 in 2004. |
|
4 |
The dollar value of restricted common stock awards was
calculated by multiplying the number of shares or units awarded
by the closing price per share or unit on the date of the grant.
As of December 31, 2005, the officers listed in this table
held the following number of shares of restricted common stock
and restricted stock units, with the following values:
Mr. Hecht155,080 ($4,559,352);
Mr. Miller110,900 |
13
|
|
|
($3,260,460); Mr. Biggar57,780 ($1,698,732);
Mr. Champagne97,280 ($2,860,032); and
Mr. Petersen73,580 ($2,163,252). These year-end data
do not include awards made in January 2006 for 2005 performance,
or awards which had originally been restricted and for which the
restriction periods have lapsed or been lifted. Dividends or
dividend equivalents are paid currently on restricted stock
awards. All outstanding restricted stock awards to these
individuals have a restriction period of three years, except for
60,000 shares held by each of Messrs. Miller and
Champagne that are restricted until October 1, 2008 for
Mr. Miller and May 23, 2018 for Mr. Champagne,
and 40,000 shares held by Mr. Petersen that are
restricted until March 13, 2011, under their respective
retention agreements discussed below. |
|
5 |
Includes Company contributions to the Officers Deferred
Savings Plan and the ESOP accounts. Also includes relocation
expenses of $34,048 paid to Mr. Petersen in 2004. |
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table provides information on stock options
granted to the Named Executive Officers during 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant Date | |
|
|
Individual Grants(1) | |
|
Value | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Number of | |
|
% of Total | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities | |
|
Options | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Granted to | |
|
|
|
Grant Date | |
|
|
Options | |
|
Employees | |
|
Exercise or | |
|
Expiration | |
|
Present | |
Name |
|
Granted | |
|
in 2005 | |
|
Base Price | |
|
Date | |
|
Value(2) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
W. F. Hecht
|
|
|
368,240 |
|
|
|
22.9 |
% |
|
|
$26.66 |
|
|
|
1/26/2015 |
|
|
|
$3,118.993 |
|
J. H. Miller
|
|
|
155,800 |
|
|
|
9.7 |
|
|
|
26.66 |
|
|
|
1/26/2015 |
|
|
|
1,319,626 |
|
J. R. Biggar
|
|
|
133,140 |
|
|
|
8.3 |
|
|
|
26.66 |
|
|
|
1/26/2015 |
|
|
|
1,127,696 |
|
P. T. Champagne
|
|
|
75,540 |
|
|
|
4.7 |
|
|
|
26.66 |
|
|
|
1/26/2015 |
|
|
|
639,824 |
|
R. L. Petersen
|
|
|
67,040 |
|
|
|
4.2 |
|
|
|
26.66 |
|
|
|
1/26/2015 |
|
|
|
567,829 |
|
|
|
1 |
Exercisable in three equal annual installments beginning
January 27, 2006. |
|
2 |
Values indicated are an estimate based on a discounted
Black-Scholes option pricing model. The actual value realized,
if any, will be determined by the excess of the stock price over
the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. There is
no certainty that the actual value realized will be at or near
the value estimated by the discounted Black-Scholes option
pricing model. |
Assumptions used for the discounted Black-Scholes option pricing
model are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
|
|
4.45% |
|
Volatility
|
|
|
18.09% |
|
Dividend yield
|
|
|
3.88% |
|
Time of exercise
|
|
|
10 years |
|
Risk of forfeiture
|
|
|
94.12% |
|
14
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL
YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The following table summarizes information for the Named
Executive Officers concerning exercises of stock options during
2005 and the number and value of all unexercised stock options
as of December 31, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised | |
|
Value of Unexercised | |
|
|
Shares | |
|
|
|
Options at | |
|
In-the-Money Options at | |
|
|
Acquired | |
|
|
|
December 31, 2005 | |
|
December 31, 2005 | |
|
|
on | |
|
Value | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Exercise | |
|
Realized | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
Name |
|
# | |
|
$ | |
|
# | |
|
# | |
|
$ | |
|
$ | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
W. F. Hecht
|
|
|
311,100 |
|
|
|
4,288,975 |
|
|
|
1,210,320 |
|
|
|
380,360 |
|
|
|
12,139,706 |
|
|
|
3,155,194 |
|
J. H. Miller
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
144,300 |
|
|
|
71,360 |
|
|
|
1,614,139 |
|
|
|
589,973 |
|
J. R. Biggar
|
|
|
323,766 |
|
|
|
2,650,699 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
136,006 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,125,941 |
|
P. T. Champagne
|
|
|
77,046 |
|
|
|
652,638 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
74,972 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
622,074 |
|
R. L. Petersen
|
|
|
65,794 |
|
|
|
592,366 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
64,646 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
535,973 |
|
Value of unexercised options at fiscal year-end represents the
difference between the exercise price of any outstanding
in-the-money option
grants and $29.35, the average of the high and low price of PPL
common stock on December 30, 2005, which was the last day
in 2005 on which the New York Stock Exchange was open for
business.
CHANGE-IN-CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has entered into agreements with each of the Named
Executive Officers, which provide benefits to the officers upon
certain terminations of employment following a change in control
of the Company (as such term is defined in the agreements). The
benefits provided under these agreements replace any other
severance benefits provided to these officers by the Company, or
any prior severance agreement.
Each of the agreements continues in effect until
December 31, 2007, and the agreements generally are
automatically extended for additional one-year periods. Upon the
occurrence of a change in control, the agreements will expire no
earlier than 36 months after the month in which the change
in control occurs. Each agreement provides that the officer will
be entitled to the severance benefits described below if the
Company terminates the officers employment following a
change in control for any reason other than death, disability,
retirement or cause, or if the officer terminates
employment for good reason (as such terms are
defined in the agreements).
The benefits consist of a lump sum payment equal to three times
the sum of (a) the officers base salary in effect
immediately prior to date of termination, or if higher,
immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or
circumstance constituting good reason, and (b) the highest
annual bonus in respect of the last three fiscal years ending
immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the change in
control occurs, or if higher, the fiscal year immediately prior
to the fiscal year in which first occurs an event or
circumstance constituting good reason. In addition, under the
terms of each agreement, the Company would provide the officer
and dependents with continuation of welfare benefits for the
36-month period
following separation (reduced to the extent the officer receives
comparable benefits from another employer), and would pay the
officer unpaid incentive compensation that has been allocated or
awarded for a previous performance period, the maximum prorated
awards for the current performance period, a lump sum payment
having an actuarial present value equal to the additional
pension benefits the officer would have received had the officer
continued to be employed by the Company for an additional
36 months, outplacement services for up to three years and
a gross-up payment for
any excise tax imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. In
addition, under the agreements, the Company would provide
post-retirement health care and life insurance benefits to
officers who would have become eligible for such benefits within
the 36-month period
following the change in control.
In addition, in the event of a change in control, the
restriction period applicable to any outstanding restricted
stock or restricted stock unit awards lapses under the Incentive
Compensation Plan, and all restrictions on the exercise of any
outstanding stock options lapse under the Incentive Compensation
Plan. PPL has irrevocable trust agreements in place with respect
to the funding of benefits under the SERP, the Officers Deferred
Compensation Plan and the DDCP. Currently, the trusts are not
funded. The trusts provide that immediately prior to a
change in control (as defined in the trust
agreements), the Chief Executive Officer of PPL should authorize
an irrevocable cash contribution sufficient to pay all benefits
under these plans as of the date of the change in control.
Furthermore, within 60 days of the end of each plan year
after the
15
change in control occurs, PPL is required to irrevocably deposit
additional cash or property into the trusts in an amount
sufficient to pay participants or beneficiaries the benefits
that are payable under terms of the plan as of the close of each
plan year. If funded, the assets of the trusts would be owned by
PPL, any income on the trust assets would be taxed to PPL and
not to the beneficiaries of the trusts, and such assets would be
subject to the claims of general creditors in the event of
PPLs insolvency.
RETENTION AGREEMENTS
PPL has executed agreements with Messrs. Miller, Champagne
and Petersen granting Messrs. Miller and Champagne each
60,000 shares of restricted PPL common stock and
Mr. Petersen 40,000 shares of restricted stock. The
restriction period will lapse on October 1, 2008 for
Mr. Miller, May 23, 2018 for Mr. Champagne, and
March 13, 2011 for Mr. Petersen. In the event of death
or disability, the restriction period on a prorated portion of
these shares will lapse immediately. In the event of a
change in control of PPL, the restriction period on
all of these shares will lapse immediately if there is an
involuntary termination of employment that is not for
cause (as such terms are defined in the agreements). In
the event Mr. Miller is terminated for cause or
he terminates his employment with all PPL-affiliated companies
prior to October 1, 2008, all shares of this restricted
stock will be forfeited. In the event Mr. Champagne is
terminated for cause or he terminates his employment
with all PPL-affiliated companies prior to May 23, 2018,
all shares of this restricted stock will be forfeited. In the
event Mr. Petersen is terminated for cause or
he terminates his employment with all PPL-affiliated companies
prior to March 13, 2011, all shares of this restricted
stock will be forfeited. Mr. Miller has a provision in his
agreement with the Company that provides a benefit to supplement
the benefit payable to him under the SERP. This provision
utilizes a theoretical SERP benefit after 30 years of
service and subtracts the actual SERP benefit to yield a benefit
amount under the agreement, but this benefit is forfeited if he
fails to remain employed by the Company until age 60.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
REGARDING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
GENERALLY
The Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board
of Directors of PPL Corporation (PPL or the
Company) establishes compensation and benefit
practices for the executive officers of the Company. This
Committee is comprised entirely of independent outside
directors. For 2005, the Committee reviewed and evaluated the
performance and leadership of the Chief Executive Officer and
the other executive officers who are listed in the Summary
Compensation Table on page 13 (Named Executive
Officers).
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
The compensation practices for executive officers discussed
below are intended to provide a balance of base salary,
short-term incentive opportunities tied to achievement of
specific corporate performance goals, and long-term awards
intended to promote sustained performance over the medium and
longer-term. During 2005, the annual cash incentive program
continued to be based on objective, measurable goals. Effective
for 2005 performance, the long-term incentive program,
consisting of restricted stock units and stock options, was
designed to balance sustained medium-term (three-year)
performance goals, strategic objectives and longer-term growth
in shareowner value.
While a meaningful ownership of PPL common stock by executives
has always been an important part of the Companys
compensation philosophy, during 2003 the Committee adopted
specific ownership requirements under the Executive Equity
Ownership Program (Equity Guidelines). The Equity
Guidelines provide that executive officers should maintain
levels of ownership of Company Common Stock ranging in value
from two times to five times base salary. Executive officers are
generally expected to achieve their minimum Equity Guidelines
level by December 31, 2005. Executive officers with less
than five years of service at a particular guideline level must
attain their minimum Equity Guidelines level by the end of their
five-year anniversary at that level. Until the minimum ownership
amount is achieved, executive officers are expected to retain in
Common Stock (or Common Stock units) 100% of the gain realized
from the vesting of restricted stock and stock units and the
exercise of options (net of taxes and, in the case of options,
the exercise price). To assist executive officers in achieving
or surpassing their minimum ownership amount, in 2003 the
Committee adopted the Cash Incentive Premium Exchange Program
(Premium Exchange Program). Under this program,
executives may elect to defer all or a portion of the annual
cash incentive award for restricted
16
stock units equal to 140% of the amount so deferred (an
Exchange). The restricted stock units are subject to
a three-year vesting period, with only the 40% premium portion
subject to forfeiture during the restriction period. These two
programs encourage increased stock ownership on the part of the
executive officers, which further aligns the interests of
management and shareowners. As of December 31, 2005, all
Named Executive Officers were in compliance with the Equity
Guidelines.
Other compensation components, including retirement, retention,
when appropriate, and
change-in-control
benefits, are also maintained to enhance the Companys
ability to attract and retain highly qualified executive talent.
These compensation components are discussed under specific
headings elsewhere in the proxy statement.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Committee reviews the current levels of compensation,
appropriate market reference points and actual performance
against approved goals for the performance period over the
course of two Committee meetings. The Committees
independent, nationally recognized compensation consultant
provides assistance during this evaluation. Additionally, in
making individual pay decisions, the Committee uses the results
of individual evaluations of the Chief Executive Officer by each
independent Board member and evaluations of the other Named
Executive Officers, as well as other executive officers,
conducted by the Chief Executive Officer.
BASE SALARIES
In general, the Committees objective is to provide salary
levels that are sufficiently competitive with comparable
companies to enable the Company to attract and retain
high-quality executive talent. To meet this objective, the
Committee regularly reviews salary information for similar
companies provided by its independent compensation consultant.
In addition, the Committee annually reviews the performance of
each executive officer to determine the appropriate level of
base salary for that executive officer.
The Committee reviewed salary ranges for the Named Executive
Officers by comparing these salary levels with those at
companies of comparable size to the Company in the energy
industry and in general industry.
After reviewing salary data for executive positions at
comparable companies, the actual salaries and the performance of
each of the Named Executive Officers, the Committee made
appropriate salary adjustments for the Chief Executive Officer
and the other Named Executive Officers, effective as of
January 1, 2005.
INCENTIVE AWARDS
Short-term IncentiveAnnual Cash Awards
Cash incentive awards are made to executive officers for the
achievement of specific, independent goals established for each
calendar year. For 2005, the following award targets as a
percentage of base salary were established for each executive
officer, including the Named Executive Officers: Chief Executive
Officer100%; President and Chief Operating
Officer75%; Executive Vice President65%; and Senior
Vice President and Presidents of principal operating
subsidiaries50%.
Annual awards are determined by applying these target
percentages to the percentage of goal attainment. The
performance goals for the year are established by the Committee,
and the Committee reviews actual results at year-end to
determine the appropriate goal attainment percentage to apply to
the salary targets.
The goal categories for 2005 included specific financial and
operational measures for the Company and its subsidiaries
designed to enhance the Companys position for success in
the competitive market. The weightings for each of these
categories are generally allocated 60% to the Companys
earnings per share and enhanced shareowner value, and 40% to the
financial and operational performance of the Companys
principal operating subsidiaries. Included in the operating
goals were specific requirements tied to compliance with the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In the case of Mr. Champagne,
more weight was given to the performance of the particular
operating subsidiary for which he is President.
The level of goal attainment was measured at the end of the year
and the category weightings were multiplied by the annual award
target for each position to determine each executive
officers cash award for 2005 performance.
17
Long-term IncentiveRestricted Stock Unit and Stock
Option Awards
Effective for 2005 performance, the long-term incentive program
was restructured to reduce the weight of stock options and
increase the use of restricted stock, and to adjust the basis on
which restricted stock incentive awards are made.
Restricted Stock Awards
Restricted stock incentive awards are based on the achievement
of two components: (i) sustained financial and operational
results and (ii) specific strategic objectives designed to
enable the Company to continue to provide value to its
shareowners. Sustained financial and operational achievement was
determined by averaging the most recent three years of annual
performance measures used for the annual cash awards. Strategic
objectives were related to increasing shareowner value through
implementation of certain long-term corporate initiatives,
including actions to influence the evolution of government
policies toward more competitive markets, develop an internal
corporate structure to optimize PPLs wholesale hedging
strategy, develop and retain management skills, and establish
the financial profile necessary to optimize growth opportunities
as the wholesale electricity markets strengthen.
Awards are made in the form of restricted stock units equivalent
to the dollar value of the percentage applied to base pay in
effect at the end of the year. Because of the three-year
restriction period, this type of equity award encourages
executive officers to continue their service at the Company.
This program also encourages increased stock ownership on the
part of the executives and aligns the interests of management
and shareowners.
Stock Option Awards
The Committee may grant the executive officers options to
purchase shares of the Companys common stock in the
future. Because the exercise price for these options is based on
the market price of the stock at the time of the grant, the
ultimate value received by the option holders is directly tied
to increases in the stock price. Therefore, stock options serve
to closely link the interests of management and shareowners and
motivate executives to make decisions that will serve to
increase the long-term shareowner value. Additionally, the
option grants include vesting and termination provisions that
are designed to encourage the option holders to remain employees
of the Company.
The following long-term incentive award targets as a percentage
of base salary were established for each executive officer:
Long-term Incentive Program
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Restricted Stock Units | |
|
Stock Options | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Targets as % of Salary) | |
|
|
| |
|
|
Sustained | |
|
|
|
|
Financial and | |
|
|
|
|
Operational | |
|
Strategic | |
|
Stock Price | |
Name and Position |
|
Results | |
|
Objective Results | |
|
Performance | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
75 |
% |
|
|
75 |
% |
|
|
150 |
% |
|
President and Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
60 |
% |
|
|
60 |
% |
|
|
120 |
% |
|
Executive Vice President
|
|
|
60 |
% |
|
|
60 |
% |
|
|
120 |
% |
|
Senior Vice President and Presidents of principal operating
subsidiaries
|
|
|
40 |
% |
|
|
40 |
% |
|
|
80 |
% |
|
* * * * * *
18
Based on its review of the incentive goals achieved for 2005,
the Committee in January 2006 made the following incentive
awards for each Named Executive Officer:
2005 Short-term Incentive Cash Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Cash Incentive Awards | |
|
|
| |
|
|
Performance | |
|
|
Name and Position |
|
Attained | |
|
Cash Bonus | |
| |
William F. Hecht
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
109.9 |
% |
|
$ |
1,236,400 |
|
|
James H. Miller
President and Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
109.9 |
% |
|
|
618,200 |
|
|
John R. Biggar
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
109.9 |
% |
|
|
353,600 |
|
|
Paul T. Champagne
President-PPL EnergyPlus, LLC
|
|
|
100.8 |
% |
|
|
201,600 |
|
|
Roger L. Petersen
President-PPL Development Company, LLC
|
|
|
109.9 |
% |
|
|
200,600 |
|
|
|
|
* |
Messrs. Miller and Biggar elected to implement an Exchange
of $154,550 for 7,180 restricted stock units and $88,400 for
4,100 restricted stock units, respectively. |
2005 Long-term Incentive Restricted Stock Unit and Stock
Option Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Restricted Stock Unit | |
|
|
|
|
Incentive Awards | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Sustained Financial & | |
|
Strategic Objective | |
|
|
|
|
Operational Results | |
|
Results | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock | |
|
|
Performance |
|
Award | |
|
Performance |
|
Award | |
|
Option | |
Name and Position |
|
Attained |
|
Value | |
|
Attained |
|
Value | |
|
Awards | |
| |
William F. Hecht
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
110.2% |
|
$ |
929,813 |
|
|
100% |
|
$ |
843,750 |
|
|
|
368,240 |
|
|
James H. Miller
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
President and Chief Operating Officer |
|
110.2% |
|
$ |
495,900 |
|
|
100% |
|
$ |
450,000 |
|
|
|
155,800 |
|
|
John R. Biggar
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
110.2% |
|
$ |
327,294 |
|
|
100% |
|
$ |
297,000 |
|
|
|
133,140 |
|
|
Paul T. Champagne
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
President-PPL EnergyPlus, LLC
|
|
110.2% |
|
$ |
176,320 |
|
|
100% |
|
$ |
160,000 |
|
|
|
75,540 |
|
|
Roger L. Petersen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
President-PPL Development Company, LLC
|
|
110.2% |
|
$ |
160,892 |
|
|
100% |
|
$ |
146,000 |
|
|
|
67,040 |
|
|
COMPENSATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
In establishing Mr. Hechts 2005 salary, the Committee
reviewed the salaries of the chief executive officers of the
comparison companies referenced above. As a result of this
review and directors appraisals of Mr. Hechts
performance, the Committee set his salary at $1,125,000,
effective January 1, 2005.
19
Based on the Companys performance on the specific
corporate financial and operational goals and strategic
objectives discussed above, Mr. Hecht received the cash and
restricted stock unit awards outlined in the tables above. His
cash award was equal to approximately 109.9% of his salary, and
his restricted stock unit awards were equal to approximately
157.7% of his salary and were comprised of 82.7% for sustained
financial and operational results and 75% for strategic
objective results. In addition, Mr. Hecht was granted stock
options in 2005, as described above.
TAX DEDUCTIBILITY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, generally provides that publicly held corporations may
not deduct in any taxable year certain compensation in excess of
$1,000,000 paid to the chief executive officer and the next four
most highly compensated executive officers. Performance-based
compensation in excess of $1,000,000 is deductible if certain
criteria are met, including shareowner approval of applicable
plans. In this regard, the Companys Short-term Incentive
Plan is designed to enable the Company to make cash awards to
officers that are deductible under Section 162(m);
similarly, the Companys Incentive Compensation Plan
enables the Company to make stock option awards under that Plan
that are deductible under Section 162(m). Restricted stock
awards granted based on sustained financial and operational
results may qualify as performance-based compensation under the
terms of Section 162(m). The Committee generally seeks ways
to limit the impact of Section 162(m). However, the
Committee believes that the tax deduction limitation should not
compromise the Companys ability to establish and implement
incentive programs that support the compensation objectives
discussed above. Accordingly, achieving these objectives and
maintaining required flexibility in this regard may result in
compensation that is not deductible for federal income tax
purposes.
|
|
|
The Compensation and Corporate |
|
Governance Committee |
|
|
|
John
W. Conway |
|
Louise
K. Goeser |
|
Stuart
Heydt |
20
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph depicts the performance of the
Companys common stock over the past five years. For
comparison purposes, two other indices are also shown. The
Standard & Poors
500®
Index provides some indication of the performance of the overall
stock market, and the EEI Index of Investor-owned Electric
Utilities reflects the performance of electric utility stocks
generally. The EEI Index is a comprehensive, widely recognized
industry index that includes approximately 64 investor-owned
domestic electric utility companies.
COMPARISON OF 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
For PPL Corporation, S&P
500®
Index, and
EEI Index of Investor-owned Electric Utilities*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/31/00 | |
|
12/31/01 | |
|
12/31/02 | |
|
12/31/03 | |
|
12/31/04 | |
|
12/31/05 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
PPL Corporation
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
79.19 |
|
|
|
82.12 |
|
|
|
107.59 |
|
|
|
135.58 |
|
|
|
154.55 |
|
S&P
500®
Index
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
88.11 |
|
|
|
68.64 |
|
|
|
88.33 |
|
|
|
97.94 |
|
|
|
102.75 |
|
EEI Index of Investor-owned Electric Utilities
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
91.21 |
|
|
|
77.77 |
|
|
|
96.04 |
|
|
|
117.97 |
|
|
|
136.91 |
|
|
|
* |
Assumes investing $100 on December 31, 2000, and
reinvesting dividends in PPL common stock, S&P
500®
Index and EEI Index of Investor-owned Electric Utilities. |
PROPOSAL 2: RE-APPROVAL OF SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Shareowners will be asked to re-approve PPLs Short-Term
Incentive Plan for executive officers of PPL and its affiliates.
The purpose of the Plan has been and continues to be to advance
the interests of PPL and its shareowners by providing incentives
in the form of periodic cash bonus awards (Awards)
to certain senior executives of PPL and its affiliates, thereby
motivating such executives to attain corporate performance goals
under the Plan and described below while preserving for the
benefit of PPL and its affiliates the associated
U.S. federal income tax deduction. Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code), imposes limitations on the amount of
compensation expense that a publicly held corporation may deduct
for income tax purposes. Shareowner approval of the Plan is
required so that these cash awards to any covered
employees can continue to be excluded from the
$1 million limit on deductible compensation under
Section 162(m) of the Code. Therefore, the Company is
seeking shareowner re-approval of the Plan at the Annual Meeting.
21
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN
The following is a brief summary of the terms of the Plan.
The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by the full text of the Plan set forth in
Schedule A to this Proxy Statement.
Administration
The Plan shall be administered by two or more outside
directors as defined under Section 162(m) of the
Code. This function currently is performed by PPLs
Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee (the
Committee). The Committee shall have the exclusive
authority to select the senior executives to be granted Awards
under the Plan, to determine the size and terms of the Award, to
modify the terms of any Award that has been granted (except for
any modification that would increase the amount of the Award
payable to an executive), to determine the time when Awards will
be made and the performance period to which they relate, to
establish performance objectives in respect of such performance
periods, and to certify that such performance objectives were
attained; provided, however, that any such action shall be
consistent with the applicable provisions of Section 162(m)
of the Code.
Participation
Awards may be granted to senior executives of PPL and its
affiliates who are covered employees, as defined in
Section 162(m) of the Code, or who the Committee
anticipates may become covered employees. An executive to whom
an Award is granted shall be a Participant.
Awards under the Plan
A Participants Award shall be determined based on the
attainment of written performance goals approved by the
Committee for a performance period which is established by the
Committee (i) while the outcome for that performance period
is substantially uncertain and (ii) no more than
90 days after the commencement of that performance period
or, if less, the number of days which is equal to
25 percent of that performance period. The performance
goals, which must be objective, shall be based upon one or more
of the following criteria: (i) earnings before or after
taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization); (ii) net income; (iii) operating
income; (iv) earnings per share; (v) book value per
share; (vi) return on stockholders equity;
(vii) expense management; (viii) return on investment
before or after the cost of capital; (ix) improvements in
capital structure; (x) profitability of an identifiable
business unit or product; (xi) maintenance or improvement
of profit margins; (xii) stock price; (xiii) market
share; (xiv) revenues or sales; (xv) costs;
(xvi) cash flow; (xvii) working capital;
(xviii) changes in net assets (whether or not multiplied by
a constant percentage intended to represent the cost of
capital); (xix) return on assets; and (xx) independent
industry ratings or assessments. The maximum amount of an Award
to any Participant with respect to a fiscal year of PPL shall be
$2.0 million.
The Committee shall determine whether the performance goals have
been met with respect to any affected Participant and, if they
have, so certify and ascertain the amount of the applicable
Award. No Awards will be paid for that performance period until
such certification is made by the Committee. The amount of the
Award actually paid to any affected Participant may be less than
the amount determined by the applicable performance goal
formula, at the discretion of the Committee.
Amendment and Termination of the Plan
The Committee may at any time, or from time to time, suspend or
terminate the Plan in whole or in part or amend it in such
respects as the Committee may deem appropriate; but in any event
the Plan will terminate automatically on December 31, 2011,
except that Awards for any performance period ending on or
before such date shall continue to be payable hereunder. No
amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without
the Participants consent, impair any of the rights or
obligations under any Award theretofore granted to a Participant
under the Plan.
22
Miscellaneous
The Plan shall be effective as of January 1, 2006. However,
if the Plan is not approved, prior to the payment of any Awards,
by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares
of PPL present, or represented by Proxy, and entitled to vote,
the Plan and all Awards thereunder shall terminate.
The Board of Directors
recommends that shareowners vote FOR Proposal 2
|
|
|
PROPOSAL 3: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM |
|
|
|
CHANGE IN CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT |
Effective March 3, 2006, following the solicitation process
described below, PPL dismissed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
(PwC) as its independent registered public
accounting firm (independent auditor). PPL had
previously announced that the Audit Committee had determined on
November 10, 2005 that PwC would be dismissed as PPLs
independent auditor effective upon the completion of its
procedures regarding PPLs financial statements as of and
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the 2005 Annual
Report on
Form 10-K (in
which such financial statements are included). PwC completed its
procedures on March 3, 2006, coincident with the filing of
PPLs 2005 Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
PwCs reports on PPLs financial statements for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005 did not
contain any adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were
such reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit
scope or accounting principle. During the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2004 and 2005, and through March 3, 2006,
(i) there were no disagreements with PwC on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not
resolved to the satisfaction of PwC, would have caused PwC to
make reference thereto in its reports on PPLs financial
statements for such years, and (ii) there have been no
reportable events as defined in
Item 304(a)(1)(v) of
Regulation S-K.
Also as previously announced, on November 10, 2005, the
Audit Committee appointed Ernst & Young LLP
(E&Y) to serve as PPLs independent
registered public accounting firm (independent
auditor) as of and for the year ending December 31,
2006, for PPL and its subsidiaries. This appointment followed a
solicitation and review process conducted by PPL pursuant to the
Audit Committees previously announced policy to solicit
competitive proposals for audit services from independent
accounting firms at least once every seven years. During the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, and prior to
its engagement, (i) E&Y had not been engaged as
PPLs principal accountant to audit its financial
statements or as an independent accountant to audit a
significant subsidiary of PPL, and (ii) PPL had not
consulted with E&Y regarding (a) the application of
accounting principles to any completed or proposed transaction,
(b) the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on
PPLs financial statements for such periods, or
(c) any other accounting, auditing or financial reporting
matter described in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of
Regulation S-K.
Services provided to PPL and its subsidiaries by PwC in 2005 are
described under FEES TO INDEPENDENT AUDITOR FOR 2005 AND
2004 below.
23
FEES TO INDEPENDENT AUDITOR FOR 2005 AND 2004
The following table presents fees billed by PwC for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
for professional services rendered for the audit of the
Companys annual financial statements and for fees billed
for other services rendered by PwC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(In thousands) | |
Audit
fees(a)
|
|
$ |
5,613 |
|
|
$ |
5,840 |
|
Audit-related
fees(b)
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
162 |
|
Tax
fees(c)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All other
fees(d)
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
Includes audit of annual financial statements and review of
financial statements included in the Companys Quarterly
Reports on
Form 10-Q and for
services in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements, including comfort letters and consents for
financings and filings made with the SEC. Also includes
approximately $2.8 million for 2005 and $3.7 million
for 2004 of fees for audits relating to internal control over
financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX 404 Fees). Because
the SOX 404 Fees for 2005 are estimated, this amount may change
once final billing is completed by PwC. |
|
(b) |
|
Fees for audits of employee benefit plans and consultation to
ensure appropriate accounting and reporting in connection with
various business and financing transactions. |
|
(c) |
|
The independent auditor does not provide tax consulting and
advisory services to the Company or any of its affiliates. |
|
(d) |
|
Fees for access to a research database licensed by PwC that
provides authoritative accounting and reporting guidance. |
Approval of Fees. The Audit Committee has procedures
for pre-approving audit and non-audit services to be provided by
the independent auditor. The procedures are designed to ensure
the continued independence of the independent auditor. More
specifically, the use of the Companys independent auditor
to perform either audit or non-audit services is prohibited
unless specifically approved in advance by the Audit Committee.
As a result of this approval process, the Audit Committee has
established specific categories of services and authorization
levels. All services outside of the specified categories and all
amounts exceeding the authorization levels are reviewed by the
Chair of the Audit Committee, who serves as the Committee
designee to review and approve audit and non-audit related
services during the year. A listing of the approved audit and
non-audit services is reviewed with the full Audit Committee no
later than its next meeting.
The Audit Committee approved 100% of the 2005 and 2004 audit and
non-audit related fees.
* * * * * *
Representatives of PwC and E&Y are expected to be present at
the Annual Meeting. Each will have the opportunity to make a
statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
The Board of Directors has determined that it would be desirable
to request an expression of opinion from the shareowners on the
appointment of E&Y. If the shareowners do not ratify the
selection of E&Y, the selection of independent auditor will
be reconsidered by the Audit Committee.
The Board of Directors
recommends that shareowners vote FOR Proposal 3
24
SHAREOWNER PROPOSAL
The Company has been notified that a shareowner, who holds
2,000 shares of the Companys common stock, intends to
present the following proposal for consideration at the Annual
Meeting.
PROPOSAL 4: ADOPT SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE
RESOLVED: Shareholders recommend that our Board of
Directors take each step necessary for a simple majority vote to
apply on each issue that can be subject to shareholder vote to
the greatest extent possible. This proposal is focused on
precluding voting requirements higher than approximately 51%.
Emil Rossi, P.O. Box 249, Boonville, Calif. 95415
submitted this proposal.
75% yes-vote
This topic won a 75% yes-vote average at 7 major companies
in 2004. The Council of Institutional Investors
www.cii.org formally recommends adoption of this proposal
topic.
End Potential Frustration of
the Shareholder Majority
Our current rule allows a small minority to frustrate the
will of our shareholder majority. For example, in requiring a
67% vote to make key governance changes at our company, if 66%
vote yes and only 1% vote no only 1% could force
their will on the overwhelming 66% majority.
Progress Begins with One
Step
It is important to take one step forward in our corporate
governance and adopt the above RESOLVED statement since our 2005
governance standards were not impeccable. For instance in 2005
it was reported (and certain concerns are noted):
|
|
|
|
|
A 67% shareholder vote was required to make certain key
changes Entrenchment concern. |
|
|
|
Poison pill: Apparently in response to a 2003 shareholder
proposal, our board adopted a policy requiring poison pill
shareholder approval, but allowing our board to override the
policy and adopt a pill anyway without shareholder approval.
According to The Corporate Library, an independent investment
research firm in Portland, Maine, this override
provision undermines the shareholder approval requirement. |
Additionally:
|
|
|
|
|
We had no Independent ChairmanIndependent oversight
concern. |
|
|
|
Our lead director had
14-years director
tenureIndependence concern. |
|
|
|
Cumulative voting was not allowed. |
|
|
|
Our full board met only 6-times in a year. |
|
|
|
Our key Audit Committee met only 6-times in a full year. |
|
|
|
The chair of our Audit Committee had 14 years
tenureIndependence concern. |
The above practices show there is room for improvement and
reinforce the reason to take one step forward and adopt simple
majority vote.
Adopt Simple Majority Vote
Yes on 4
PPLS STATEMENT IN RESPONSE
Your Board of Directors does not support this proposal for the
following reasons:
The shareowner proposal requests that the Board of Directors
take each step necessary to amend the Companys Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws to provide for a majority vote
requirement in matters subject to shareowner approval. We
believe that the simple majority requested by the
proposal means a majority of
25
the votes actually cast by shareowners entitled to vote, rather
than a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. This
is already the standard used for most matters voted on by our
shareowners, with the exception of the way your directors are
elected and the vote required for certain fundamental corporate
matters essential to PPL.
Our current voting method for directors provides that the
nominees who receive the most affirmative votes are elected. It
is the standard under Pennsylvania law and is the predominant
method employed by public companies in the United States.
Adoption of a simple majority voting standard would eliminate
this plurality voting standard. At this time, there
is significant disagreement and debate nationwide as to the
potential impact of requiring majority voting for directors and
what happens if one or more directors fail to receive majority
approval. For example, it is possible that the failure of one or
more directors to be elected could incapacitate the Board,
render the Company unable to meet certain New York Stock
Exchange listing standards (such as the independence
requirements), trigger
change-of-control
provisions under key agreements, increase the costs of
soliciting shareowner votes, and discourage qualified candidates
from serving as directors. There may also be unforeseen,
potentially adverse consequences that could result from a simple
majority voting standard. Accordingly, the Company believes it
is premature for shareowners to be asked to approve simple
majority voting for the election of directors.
The current voting method for the election of our directors has
served the Company and its shareowners well. Shareowners have
consistently elected qualified and independent directors by
significant affirmative votes. In fact, over the past
10 years, withhold votes for the election of directors have
averaged only 2.7%. We believe that the resulting quality of our
Board is reflected in the financial performance of our Company.
Over the last five years, PPL has significantly outperformed the
S&P
500®
Index and an index of investor-owned utilities (see
page 21).
In addition to the impact on the election of directors, this
proposal would require substantial revisions to our Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws. The Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws of the Company contain a higher, two-thirds voting
threshold for certain fundamental corporate matters, including
amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Company related to provisions critical to the continued good
governance of the Company. If a simple majority is adopted, as
little as 25.1% of the outstanding voting power of the Company
could approve fundamental corporate changes that now require an
appropriately higher vote. This could occur if only 50.1% of the
shares are present at a shareowners meeting and a proposal
receives a majority of the votes cast. Your Board of Directors
believes that more meaningful voting requirements are
appropriate for issues that could have a long-lasting effect on
the Company.
PPL has a longstanding and well-documented commitment to sound
corporate governance policies and practices, which ensure that
the Company is governed in accordance with high standards of
ethics, integrity and accountability and in the best interests
of our shareowners. As part of our commitment to consider ways
in which we can better serve our corporate governance ideals and
the interests of the shareowners, the Board is monitoring and
will continue to monitor ongoing discussions relating to
majority voting standards. At such time as we have all the
relevant information before us, we will take appropriate actions
consistent with our commitment to the highest standards of
corporate governance.
For the reasons set forth above, the Board of Directors requests
the support of shareowners in voting AGAINST this proposal.
The Board of Directors
recommends that shareowners vote AGAINST
Proposal 4
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters to be
presented for action at the Annual Meeting. If any other matter
is properly brought before the meeting that requires a vote of
the shareowners, it is intended that the persons named as
proxies will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the
Board or, in the absence of such a recommendation, in accordance
with their best judgment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Method and Expense of Solicitation of Proxies. The
cost of soliciting Proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors
will be paid by the Company. In addition to the solicitation by
mail, a number of regular employees
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may solicit Proxies in person, over the Internet, by telephone,
or facsimile. The Company has retained Innisfree M&A
Incorporated to assist in the solicitation of Proxies for the
Annual Meeting. It is expected that the remuneration to
Innisfree for its services will not exceed $12,500. Brokers,
dealers, banks and their nominees who hold shares for the
benefit of others will be asked to send Proxy material to the
beneficial owners of the shares, and the Company will reimburse
them for their expenses.
Householding. Beneficial owners of common stock in
street name may receive a notice from their broker, bank or
other intermediary stating that only one proxy statement and/or
other shareholder communications and notices will be delivered
to multiple security holders sharing an address. This practice,
known as householding, will reduce PPLs
printing, shipping, and postage costs. Beneficial owners who
participate in householding will continue to receive separate
proxy forms. However, if any beneficial owner wants to revoke
consent to this practice and wishes to receive his or her own
documents and other communications, then he or she must contact
the broker, bank or other intermediary with a notice of
revocation. Any shareowner may obtain a copy of such documents
from PPL at the address and phone number listed on the back
cover page of this Proxy Statement.
Shareowner Proposals for the 2007 Annual Meeting. To
be included in the proxy material for the 2007 Annual Meeting,
any proposal intended to be presented at that Annual Meeting by
a shareowner must be received by the Secretary of the Company no
later than November 20, 2006. To be properly brought before
the Annual Meeting, any proposal must be received not later than
75 days in advance of the date of the 2007 Annual Meeting.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Robert J. Grey |
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Secretary |
March 20, 2006
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SCHEDULE A
PPL CORPORATION SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Section 1. Purpose.
The purpose of the Short-Term Incentive Plan (the
Plan) is to advance the interests of PPL Corporation
(PPL), and its shareholders by providing incentives
in the form of periodic bonus awards (Awards) to
certain senior executive employees of PPL and its affiliates,
thereby motivating such executives to attain corporate
performance goals articulated under the Plan.
Section 2. Administration.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by two or more
outside directors as defined under
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code), unless otherwise determined by
PPLs Board of Directors, who have been designated by
PPLs Board of Directors to act as the committee (the
Committee).
(b) The Committee shall have the exclusive authority to
select the senior executives to be granted Awards under the
Plan, to determine the size and terms of the Award (subject to
the limitations imposed on Awards in Section 4 below), to
modify the terms of any Award that has been granted (except for
any modification that would increase the amount of the Award
payable to an executive), to determine the time when Awards will
be made and the performance period to which they relate, to
establish performance objectives in respect of such performance
periods, and to certify that such performance objectives were
attained; provided, however, that any such action shall be
consistent with the applicable provisions of Section 162(m)
of the Code. The Committee is authorized to interpret that Plan,
to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations
relating to the Plan, and to make any other determinations that
it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the
Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any
omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan in the
manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or
desirable. Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation
and administration of the Plan, as described herein, shall be
final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.
Section 3. Participation.
Awards may be granted to senior executives of PPL and its
affiliates who are covered employees, as defined in
Section 162(m) of the Code, or who the Committee
anticipates may become covered employees. An Executive to whom
an Award is granted shall be a Participant.
Section 4. Awards under the
Plan.
(a) A Participants Award shall be determined based on
the attainment of written performance goals approved by the
Committee for a performance period which is established by the
Committee (i) while the outcome for that performance period
is substantially uncertain and (ii) no more than
90 days after the commencement of that performance period
or, if less, the number of days which is equal to
25 percent of that performance period. The performance
goals, which must be objective, shall be based upon one or more
of the following criteria: (i) earnings before or after
taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization); (ii) net income; (iii) operating
income; (iv) earnings per share; (v) book value per
share; (vi) return on stockholders equity;
(vii) expense management; (viii) return on investment
before or after the cost of capital; (ix) improvements in
capital structure; (x) profitability of an identifiable
business unit or product; (xi) maintenance or improvement
of profit margins; (xii) stock price; (xiii) market
share; (xiv) revenues or sales; (xv) costs;
(xvi) cash flow; (xvii) working capital;
(xviii) changes in net assets (whether or not multiplied by
a constant percentage intended to represent the cost of
capital); (xix) return on assets; and (xx) independent
industry ratings or assessments. The foregoing criteria may
relate to PPL, one or more of its affiliates or one or more of
its divisions or units, or any combination of the foregoing, and
may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or
more peer group companies or other indices, or any combination
thereof, all as the Committee shall determine. In addition, to
the degree consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, the
performance goals may be calculated without regard to
extraordinary items or accounting changes. The maximum amount of
an Award to any Participant with respect to a fiscal year of PPL
shall be $2.0 million.
A-1
(b) The Committee shall determine whether the performance
goals have been met with respect to any affected Participant
and, if they have, so certify and ascertain the amount of the
applicable Award. No Awards will be paid for that performance
period until such certification is made by the Committee. The
amount of the Award actually paid to any affected Participant
may be less than the amount determined by the applicable
performance goal formula, at the discretion of the Committee.
The amount of the Award determined by the Committee for a
performance period shall be paid to the Participant at such time
as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion during the
calendar year that follows the end of the applicable performance
period; provided however, that a Participant may, if and to the
extent permitted by the Committee and consistent with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code, elect to defer
payment of an Award.
(c) The provisions of this Section 4 shall be
administered and interpreted in accordance with
Section 162(m) of the Code to ensure the deductibility by
PPL or its affiliates of the payment of Awards.
Section 5. Amendment and
Termination of the Plan.
(a) The Committee may at any time, or from time to time,
suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part or amend it in
such respects as the Committee may deem appropriate; but in any
event the Plan will terminate automatically on December 31,
2011, except that Awards for any performance period ending on or
before such date shall continue to be payable hereunder.
(b) No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan
shall, without the Participants consent, impair any of the
rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted to a
Participant under the Plan.
Section 6. Miscellaneous
Provisions.
(a) Determinations made by the Committee under the Plan
need not be uniform and may be made selectively among eligible
individuals under the Plan, whether or not such eligible
individuals are similarly situated. Neither the Plan nor any
action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any right to
be retained as an employee of PPL or an affiliate.
(b) A Participants rights and interest under the Plan
may not be assigned or transferred, hypothecated or encumbered
in whole or in part either directly or by operation of law or
otherwise (except in the event of a Participants death or
disability) including, but not by way of limitation, execution,
levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge, bankruptcy or in any
other manner; provided, however, that, subject to applicable
law, any amounts payable to any Participant hereunder are
subject to reduction to satisfy any liabilities owed to PPL or
any of its affiliates by the Participant. Any attempted
assignment or transfer, hypothecation or encumbrance shall be
void and of no effect.
(c) PPL and its affiliates shall have the right to deduct
from any payment made under the Plan any federal, state, local
or foreign income or other taxes required by law to be withheld
with respect to such payment.
(d) Each person who is or at any time serves as a member of
the Committee or PPLs Board of Directors shall be
indemnified and held harmless by PPL against and from:
(i) any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be
imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection
with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to
which such person may be a party or in which such person may be
involved by reason of any action or failure to act under the
Plan; and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such person in
satisfaction of judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding
relating to the Plan. Each person covered by this
indemnification shall give PPL an opportunity, at its own
expense, to handle and defend the same before such person
undertakes to handle and defend it on such persons own
behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be
exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such
persons may be entitled under the bylaws of PPL, as a matter of
law, or otherwise, or any power that PPL may have to indemnify
such person or hold such person harmless.
A-2
(e) Each member of the Committee and PPLs Board of
Directors shall be fully justified in relying or acting in good
faith upon any report made by the independent public accountants
of, or counsel for, PPL and upon any other information furnished
in connection with the Plan. In no event shall any person who is
or shall have been a member of the Committee or PPLs Board
of Directors be liable for any determination made or other
action taken or any failure to act in reliance upon any such
report or information or for any action taken, including without
limitation the furnishing of information, or failure to act, if
in good faith.
(f) All matters relating to the Plan or to Awards granted
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
(g) The Plan shall be effective as of January 1, 2006.
However, if the Plan is not approved, prior to the payment of
any Awards, by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of
the shares of PPL present, or represented by Proxy, and entitled
to vote, the Plan and all Awards thereunder shall terminate.
A-3
PPL Investor Services: For questions about PPL
Corporation or its subsidiaries, or information concerning:
Lost Dividend Checks
Bond Interest Checks
Direct Deposit of Dividends
Bondholder Information
Please contact:
ManagerPPL Investor Services
Two North Ninth Street (GENTW8)
Allentown, PA 18101
Toll Free:
1-800-345-3085
FAX: 610-774-5106
Via e-mail:
invserv@pplweb.com
Wells Fargo Shareowner Services: For information
concerning:
PPLs Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Stock Transfers
Lost Stock Certificates
Certificate Safekeeping
Please contact:
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Shareowner Services
161 North Concord Exchange
South St. Paul, MN 55075-1139
Toll Free: 1-866-280-0245
Outside U.S.: 651-453-2129
PPL, PPL Energy Supply, LLC and PPL Electric Utilities
Corporation file a joint
Form 10-K Report
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Form 10-K Report
for 2005 is available without charge by writing to the Investor
Services Department at the address printed above, by calling
1-800-345-3085, or by
accessing it through the Investor Center page of PPLs
Internet Web site identified below.
Whether you plan to attend the
Annual Meeting or not, you may vote over the Internet, by
telephone or by returning your Proxy. To ensure proper
representation of your shares at the Annual Meeting, please
follow the instructions at the Web site address on your Proxy or
follow the instructions that you will be given after dialing the
toll-free number on your Proxy. You may also mark, date, sign
and mail the accompanying Proxy as soon as possible. An
envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United
States, is included for your
convenience.
For the latest information on PPL Corporation,
visit our location on the Internet at
http://www.pplweb.com
PPL CORPORATION
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREOWNERS
FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2006
10 A.M.
HOLIDAY INN CONFERENCE CENTER
FOGELSVILLE, PA
If you have consented to access the annual report and proxy information electronically, you may
view it by going to PPL Corporations Web site. You can get there by typing in the following
address: http://www.pplweb.com
If you have not previously consented, but would like to access the annual report and proxy
materials electronically next year, please give your consent by going to the following site
address: http://www.econsent.com/ppl/
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PPL Corporation
Two North Ninth Street
Allentown, PA 18101
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proxy |
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This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting on April 28, 2006.
William F. Hecht, John R. Biggar and E. Allen Deaver, and each of them, are hereby appointed
proxies, with the power of substitution, to vote the shares of the undersigned, as directed on the
reverse side of this proxy, at the Annual Meeting of Shareowners of PPL Corporation to be held on
April 28, 2006, and any adjournments thereof, and in their discretion to vote and act upon any
other matters as may properly come before said meeting and any adjournments thereof.
The shares of stock you hold in your account or in a dividend reinvestment account will be voted as
you specify on the reverse side.
If no choice is specified, the proxy will be voted FOR Items 1, 2 and 3, and AGAINST Item 4.
By signing the proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint William F. Hecht, John R. Biggar and
E. Allen Deaver, and each of them, with full power of substitution, to vote your shares on the
matters shown on the reverse side and any other matters which may come before the Annual Meeting
and all adjournments.
See reverse for voting instructions
There are three ways to vote your Proxy
Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the Named Proxies to vote your shares in the same manner
as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
VOTE BY PHONE TOLL FREE 1-800-560-1965 QUICK ««« EASY ««« IMMEDIATE
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Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until
12:00 noon (CT) on April 27, 2006. |
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Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number
or Tax Identification Number available. Follow the simple instructions the voice provides you. |
VOTE BY INTERNET http://www.eproxy.com/ppl/ QUICK ««« EASY ««« IMMEDIATE
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Use the Internet to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 12:00 noon
(CT) on April 27, 2006. |
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Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number
or Tax Identification Number available. Follow the simple instructions to obtain your records
and create an electronic ballot. |
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope weve provided or
return it to PPL Corporation, c/o Shareowner ServicesSM, P.O. Box 64873, St. Paul, MN
55164-0873.
If you vote by Phone or Internet, please do NOT mail your Proxy Card
ò Please detach here ò
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The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Items 1, 2 and 3.
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1.
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Election of directors:
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01 John W. Conway
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03 James H. Miller
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02 E. Allen Deaver
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04 Susan M. Stalnecker
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all nominees
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from all nominees |
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(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee,
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Re-approval of Short-Term Incentive Plan
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Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote AGAINST Item 4.
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4.
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Shareowner Proposal
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Address Change? Mark Box o Indicate changes below:
Signature(s) in Box
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears
on Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all
persons must sign. Trustees,
administrators, etc., should include title
and authority. Corporations should provide
full name of corporation and title of
authorized officer signing the proxy.
Admission Ticket
PPL Corporation Annual Meeting of Shareowners
10 a.m., April 28, 2006
Holiday Inn Conference Center
Fogelsville, Pennsylvania
March 20, 2006
Dear Shareowner,
It is a pleasure to invite you to attend the 2006 Annual Meeting
of Shareowners, which will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday,
April 28, 2006. Please note that the location of the
Annual Meeting has changed this year. The Annual Meeting will be
held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, in Fogelsville, near
the intersection of I-78 and Route 100, west of Allentown.
For your convenience, a map showing our new meeting
location, along with written directions, is enclosed.
Detailed information as to the business to be transacted at the
meeting is contained in the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting and Proxy Statement. We will conclude the formal portion
of the meeting with a discussion of the companys
operations, and a question-and-answer period will follow.
We hope you will be able to attend in person. If you plan to
attend the meeting, please bring this admission ticket with you
to the meeting. Please follow the instructions on the enclosed
proxy card for voting over the Internet, by telephone or by
returning your proxy. If you are unable to attend the meeting
but have any questions or comments on the companys
operations, we would like to hear from you.
Your vote is important. Whether you own one share or many,
please vote as soon as possible so that you will be represented
at the meeting in accordance with your wishes.
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Sincerely, |
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William F. Hecht |
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
DIRECTIONS
TO
PPL CORPORATION
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREOWNERS
Friday, April 28, 2006
10 a.m.
HOLIDAY INN CONFERENCE CENTER
FOGELSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
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FROM I-78, EXIT AT ROUTE 100 SOUTH |
(EXIT #49A - TREXLERTOWN)
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PROCEED ABOUT .7 MILE SOUTH ON ROUTE 100 |
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TURN RIGHT AT THE FIRST LIGHT (PENN DRIVE) AND STAY IN THE RIGHT
LANE |
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TAKE THE NEXT RIGHT (SYCAMORE ROAD) |
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AT THE STOP SIGN (ADRIENNE DRIVE), STAY STRAIGHT ALL THE WAY TO
THE HOLIDAY INN |
RE: ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREOWNERS
April 28,
2006
PPL CORPORATION
To: Participants in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan:
Mellon Bank, N.A., as Trustee, is forwarding to you the enclosed materials which relate to
shares of PPL Corporation Common Stock credited to your account under the Plan. As a participant in
the Plan, you are entitled to instruct the Trustee, as record owner of your Plan shares as to how
to vote your shares. Full and fractional shares credited to your account under the Plan as of
February 28, 2006 will be voted by the Trustee, in accordance with your instructions. Shares that
are voted will be held in confidence by the Trustee.
Please review the information carefully and indicate how you wish your shares to be voted at
the Annual Meeting. Mark, sign, date and use the return envelope for mailing your ballot to Mellon
Banks agent for tabulation. Please return your signed ballot by April 25, 2006. If you wish to
vote by phone or Internet, please follow the enclosed instructions.
If you do not return your ballot, or return it unsigned, or do not vote by phone or Internet,
the Plan provides that the Trustee will vote your shares in the same percentage as shares held by
participants for which the Trustee has received timely voting instructions.
The enclosed ballot reflects the recent allocation of Common Stock to your account for Plan
year 2005. For each $10,000 in compensation (up to $80,000) you received in 2005, 1.211 shares were
allocated to your account. For each $100 of dividends you received on Plan shares in 2005, 2.479
shares were allocated to your account. Details of this allocation will be shown on your statement
of account for April. Note that if you were not an active employee during 2005 and had no PPL W-2
earnings, this paragraph does not apply.
THIS BALLOT WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL
BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3, AND AGAINST PROPOSAL 4.
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Please
Mark Here
for Address
Change or
Comments
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SEE REVERSE SIDE |
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Items 1, 2 and 3.
1. Election of Directors:
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01
03
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John W. Conway
James H. Miller
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02
04
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E. Allen Deaver
Susan M. Stalnecker
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FOR all nominees
listed (except as
indicated)
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WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
to vote for all
nominees listed
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(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any
indicated nominee, write that nominees name on the line
below.)
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
2.
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Re-approval of Short-Term Incentive Plan.
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
3.
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Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
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The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote AGAINST Item 4.
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
4.
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Shareowner Proposal
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Signature if held jointly |
Please sign exactly as your name(s)
appear on the ballot. If held in joint
tenancy, all persons must sign. Trustees,
administrators, etc., should include title
and authority. Corporations should provide
full name of corporation and title of
authorized officer signing the ballot.
5 FOLD AND DETACH HERE 5
Vote by Internet or Telephone or Mail
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Internet and telephone voting is available through 11:59 PM Eastern Time
on April 25, 2006.
Your Internet or telephone vote authorizes the Trustee of the ESOP to vote your shares in the
same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your ballot.
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Internet
http://www.proxyvoting.com/ppl
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Telephone
1-866-540-5760
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Mail |
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Use the Internet to vote your ballot.
Have your ballot card in hand when
you access the web site.
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OR
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Use any touch-tone telephone to vote
your ballot. Have your ballot card in
hand when you call. Follow the
instructions the voice provides you.
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OR
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Mark, sign and date
your ballot and
return it in the
enclosed postage-paid
envelope. |
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If you vote your ballot by Internet or by telephone,
you do NOT need to mail back your ballot.
You can view the Annual Report and Proxy Statement
on the Internet at www.pplweb.com
PPL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN (ESOP)
CONFIDENTIAL BALLOT
This is a ballot for voting your shares of PPL Corporation Common Stock held in the ESOP Plan.
Please complete the ballot and return in the envelope provided or vote by phone or the Internet.
Mellon Bank, N.A., as Trustee of the Plan, will vote shares held in your ESOP Account as directed
on the ballot at the Annual Meeting of Shareowners of PPL Corporation to be held on April 28, 2006.
If you do not return your ballot, or return it unsigned, or do not vote by phone or Internet,
the Plan provides that the Trustee will vote your shares in the same percentage as shares held by
participants for which the Trustee has received timely voting instructions.
Please review the information carefully and indicate how you wish your shares to be voted at
the Annual Meeting. Mark, sign, date and use the return envelope for mailing your ballot (if you do
not vote by phone or Internet) to Mellon Banks agent for tabulation. Timely receipt of your
instructions on a signed ballot form or by phone or Internet is extremely important.
This ballot must be received by the close of business on April 25, 2006 in order for your vote
to be counted.
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Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side) |
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5 FOLD AND DETACH HERE 5
Admission Ticket
PPL Corporation Annual Meeting of Shareowners
10 a.m., April 28, 2006
Holiday Inn Conference Center
Fogelsville, Pennsylvania
March 20, 2006
Dear ESOP Participant,
It is a pleasure to invite you to attend the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareowners, which will be
held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 28, 2006. Please note that the location of the Annual Meeting has
changed this year. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, in
Fogelsville, near the intersection of I-78 and Route 100, west of Allentown. For your convenience,
a map showing our new meeting location, along with written directions, is enclosed.
Detailed information as to the business to be transacted at the meeting is contained in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement. We will conclude the formal portion of
the meeting with a discussion of the companys operations and a question-and-answer period will
follow.
We hope you will be able to attend in person. If you plan to attend the meeting, please detach
and bring this admission ticket with you to the meeting. Please follow the instructions on the
ballot card for voting over the Internet, by telephone or by detaching and returning your ballot.
If you are unable to attend the meeting but have any questions or comments on the companys
operations, we would like to hear from you.
Your vote is important. Whether you hold one share or many, please vote as soon as possible so
that you will be represented at the meeting in accordance with your wishes.
Sincerely,
William F. Hecht
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer