AMENDMENT
TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
The Board of Directors has adopted and is submitting for shareholder approval an amendment to
Pacific Enterprises' Articles of Incorporation. If approved by shareholders, the amendment would
provide Pacific Enterprises with substantially the maximum authority permissible under applicable law
to pay dividends on its Preferred Stock and to pay dividends and make other distributions on its
Common Stock. It would do so by eliminating retained earnings restrictions on share distributions.
The Board of Directors
Recommends Approval of the Proposed Amendment
Approval of the proposed amendment requires the favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the
75,187,496 outstanding shares of Pacific Enterprises Common Stock and Preferred Stock (exclusive of the
1,500 shares of Remarketed Preferred Stock, Series A), voting together as if a single class. Approval also
requires the favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the 1,101,903 outstanding shares of Preferred Stock
(including the 1,500 shares of Remarketed Preferred Stock, Series A) voting together as a single class.
The text of the proposed amendment is reprinted as the Appendix to this Proxy Statement.
Retained Earnings Restrictions Currently, provisions of Pacific Enterprises' Articles of Incorporation and an optional provision of the
California General Corporation Law (the "CGCL"), to which Pacific Enterprises is subject, have the effect of
limiting dividends on Preferred Stock and dividends and other distributions on Common Stock to the amount
of Pacific Enterprises' retained earnings. Retained earnings represent Pacific Enterprises accumulate d profits
(as reduced by accumulated losses and dividends to shareholders) and do not include the proceeds from the
sale of shares.
Pacific Enterprises' retained earnings have declined annually from approximately $770 million ($12 per
common share) at December 31, 1988 to approximately $146 million ($2 per common share) at December 31,
1991, primarily as a result of losses incurred in non-utility operations. A long-term strategic plan to dispose of
oil and gas and retailing operations (other than Thrifty Drug Stores) has been adopted and dividends on
Common Stock have been suspended. It is impossible to accurately estimate when this disposition program
will be completed or the amount of funds that it ultimately will produce. Consequently, no assurance can be
given that additional losses will not be incurred or that retained earnings will be adequate in the future to
permit the continued payment of dividends on Preferred Stock or the resumption of dividends on Common
Stock.
Preferred Stock Restrictions
Pacific Enterprises' Articles of Incorporation provide for the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock out of
"surplus profits", a term that is not defined by the articles but which Pacific Enterprises believes to be the
equivalent of retained earnings. Consequently, in the absence of retained earnings Pacific Enterprises would
be prohibited from paying dividends on its Preferred Stock. The proposed amendment would eliminate this
retained earnings restriction on preferred dividends by providing that dividends on Preferred Stock may be
paid out of any funds legally available therefor.
Common Stock Restrictions
An optional provision of the CGCL also currently has the effect of restricting dividends and other
distributions on Common Stock to the amount of retained earnings as long as any Preferred Stock is
outstanding. Unless otherwise provided in the articles, CGCL Section 503 prohibits distributions on shares
which are junior to other shares as to dividends unless retained earnings exceed the amount of the distribution
plus the amount of cumulative dividends in arrears on shares senior as to dividends. The proposed
amendment would eliminate this retained earnings restriction on common dividends and distributions by
providing that CGCL Section 503 is not applicable to Pacific Enterprises.
Effect of the Amendment
If approved by shareholders, the proposed amendment would permit dividends on Preferred Stock and
dividends and other distributions on Common Stock subject only to the general limitations of the CGCL and
limitations to protect the dividend and liquidation preferences of Preferred Stock.
Under Section 500 of the CGCL, Pacific Enterprises generally would be permitted to pay dividends and make
other distributions to its shareholders if (i) its retained earnings exceed the amount of the distribution or (ii) it
satisfies certain financial tests. The financial tests require that, upon giving effect to the proposed distribut ion,
both (i) assets (excluding certain non-tangible assets) would be at least 1-1 /4 times liabilities (not includi ng
certain deferred items) and (ii) current assets would be at least equal to current liabilities or, if avera ge
earnings before taxes on income and before interest expense for the two preceding fiscal years has been less
than average interest expense for such fiscal years (as is currently the case for Pacific Enterprises), at least
equal to 1-1 /4 times current liabilities. For purposes of the current assets calculation, Pacific Enterprises may
include, among others, certain amounts (net of related costs) reasonably expected to be received in its public
utility operations over the twelvemonth period included in calculating current liabilities.
Accordingly, approval of the proposed amendment would provide Pacific Enterprises with an alternative to
retained earnings as a basis for share distributions. However, Pacific Enterprises' ability to satisfy these tests
and thus to make such distributions in the event retained earnings were to be exhausted will depend upon its
financial position at the time of each proposed distribution.
Under the current retained earnings restrictions, Pacific Enterprises authority at December 31, 1991 to pay
dividends on Preferred Stock and to pay dividends and make other distributions on Common Stock was
limited to the $146 million amount of its retained earnings. If the proposed amendment had been in effect at
that time, the amount that Pacific Enterprises could have distributed for these purposes would have been
approximately $250 million.
Pacific Enterprises' ability to pay dividends and make other distributions on both its Preferred Stock and
Common Stock will also continue to be subject to the satisfaction of the requirement of CGCL Section 501
which prohibits distributions by a corporation that is, or as a result of a distribution would be, likely to be
unable to meet its liabilities (except those whose payment is otherwise adequately provided for) as they
mature. In addition, distributions on Common Stock would continue to be subject to the requirement of the
Articles of Incorporation for the prior payment of all accumulated dividends on Preferred Stock and to the
requirement of CGCL Section 502 that, upon giving effect to the distribution, net worth would equal or
exceed the liquidation preferences of Preferred Stock.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors believes that it is prudent and in the best interests of shareholders for Pacific
Enterprises to have the additional authority for share distributions that would be provided by the proposed
amendment. The future payment of dividends and making of other share distributions nonetheless will
continue to be subject to Pacific Enterprises' ability to satisfy continuing statutory and articles requirem ents
and the declaration or authorization thereof by the Board of Directors and will depend on the earnings,
financial condition and capital requirements of Pacific Enterprises and on business conditions and other
factors.
In recommending shareholder approval of the proposed amendment, the Board of Directors recognizes that
the payment by Pacific Enterprises of any dividend or other distribution on Common Stock necessarily
reduces the corporate resources available for distributions on Preferred Stock. Consequently, the Board also
recognizes that the proposed amendment, insofar as it increases Pacific Enterprises' authority for dividends
and other distributions on Common Stock, may be viewed by Preferred Shareholders as more beneficial to
Common Shareholders than to Preferred Shareholders. However, the proposed amendment would similarly
increase Pacific Enterprises' authority for dividends on Preferred Stock and the Board is unwilling to provide
increased authority for dividends on Preferred Stock without providing similar increased authority for
dividends and 'Other distributions on Common Stock. Moreover, the Board believes the proposed amendment
would continue to provide Preferred Shareholders with restrictions on distributions on Common Stock that
are customary and appropriate for Preferred Shareholders of a large publicly-held corporation.
Accordingly, the Board of Directors believes that the proposed amendment is in the best interests of both
Preferred and Common Shareholders and recommends a vote in favor of approval of the amendment.
Appendix to Proxy Statement
Text of Proposed Amendment
to
Articles of Incorporation
Section 2 of Article Fourth of the Articles of Incorporation would be amended to read in full as set forth
below. Additions are indicated by underscoring and deletions are indicated by interlineation.
“2. Dividend Rights . The holders of the shares of the $4.50 Dividend Preferred Stock, the $4.40 Dividend
Preferred Stock, the $4.75 Dividend Preferred Stock, the $4.36 Dividend Preferred Stock, the $4.75 Dividend
Preferred Stock (convertible on or before October 31, 1966), and the $7.64 Dividend Preferred Stock are
entitled to receive, when and as declared by said Board of Directors out of the surplus profits arising from the
business of this corporation, any funds legally available therefor, dividends payable quarterly in each year
after the issuance thereof on such dates as may be fixed by said Board of Directors at the following rates, and
no more: "$4.50 Dividend Preferred Stock-$4.50 per share per annum; “$4.40 Preferred Stock-$4.40 per share per
"$4.75 Dividend Preferred Stock-$4.75 per share per annum;
"$4.36 Dividend Preferred Stock-$4.36 per share per annum;
"$4.75 Dividend Preferred Stock (convertible on or before October 31, 1966)-$4.75 per share per
annum;
"$7.64 Dividend Preferred Stock-$7.64 per share per annum.
"The holders of the shares of each additional series of Preferred Stock and each series of Class A
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by said Board of Directors out of the
surplus profits arising from the business of this corporation, any funds legally available therefor, dividends at
the respective rate fixed for such series by the Board of Directors in the resolution providing for the issuance
of such series, and no more, payable on such dates as may be fixed by said Board of Directors. There shall be
no priority of any series of Preferred Stock over any other series of Preferred Stock in the payment of
dividends and there shall be no priority of any series of Class A Preferred Stock over any other series of Class
A Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends. The dividends on every series of shares of Preferred Stock
and of Class A Preferred Stock shall be cumulative from the date of issuance thereof, or from and after the
first day of the dividend period in which the shares of the respective series shall be issued, or from such other
date, as may be fixed by said Board of Directors prior to the issuance thereof, and all accrued and current
dividends on the Preferred Stock of all series shall be paid or declared and set apart before any dividends are
paid or set apart on the Class A Preferred Stock or the Common Stock, and before any assets shall be paid or
set apart for the purchase of or for distribution with respect to the Class A Preferred Stock or the Common
Stock or any other stock of this corporation not ranking prior to the Preferred Stock.
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