Where is AEP
stock traded?
American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), founded in 1906, celebrated its 50th year
on the NYSE in September 1999.
The AEP Company Dividend Reinvestment
and Direct Stock Purchase Plan
is available to the public
for the purchase of AEP common
stocks directly without paying
brokerage commissions.
Non-employee investors must
make an initial investment
of $250 (or authorize 10 monthly
withdrawals of at least $25)
and pay a one time $10 fee.
For a Prospectus and Enrollment
Form, you can call 1-800-523-0314
or visit the Computershare website.
How do I get started with
direct purchase of AEP stock?
Non-shareholders can purchase the initial shares of AEP common stock through
the plan with a minimum investment of $250.00 as a cash investment or as ten
automatic monthly withdrawals from a bank account of at least $25.00 each.
The maximum investment is $150,000 in a calendar year. A $10.00 initial investment
fee is charged to establish the account. An initial enrollment packet can be
obtained by calling the agent, Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955.
The Plan account can be in
an individual name, more than
one name, a custodial for a
minor child, or a trust; however,
only one social security number
or tax identification number
is necessary. If any other
account name is desired, the
new investor should call Computershare (formerly EquiServe)
at 1-800-328-6955 for guidance
in the wording and legality
of the registration.
Full shares and fractional
shares (rounded to three decimals)
are purchased, and Computershare (formerly EquiServe)
holds the shares in book entry
form. A certificate can be
requested for any full shares,
after the Transaction Advice
Form is received by contacting
Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955.
No certificate is issued for
the fractional share.
Additional voluntary cash
payments can be made to purchase
additional shares, but there
is no obligation to purchase
additional shares.
Plan shares held by Computershare (formerly EquiServe)
can be transferred by using
the form provided on the Transaction
Advice Form or Reinvestment
Statement. If no form is available,
contact Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955
to receive another form or
a stock power to use for the
transfer.
Plan shares can be sold by
contacting Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955.
A fee of $5.00 is charged for
the sale transaction and a
12¢ per share brokerage
commission. The fees and commission
will be deducted from the sale
price and a check sent approximately
72 hours after the sale.
Current registered shareholders
can contact Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955
to request a Plan enrollment
packet for their established
account. No fee is charged
for enrolling in DRP on an
established account.
How can
I make a voluntary cash purchase
of additional shares?
Current dividend reinvestment plan participants may purchase additional shares
by sending a check payable to "Computershare (formerly EquiServe)-AEP"--for as little as $25
up to maximum of $150,000 per calendar year--with the tear-off coupon from
the Plan Statement (or Transaction Advice Form), either in the yellow pre-addressed
envelope that they receive with the statement or form; or if the envelope is
not available, to: Investment Plan Services, PO Box 13517, Newark, NJ 07188-0001.
The shareholder's account number and the AEP Company Code (0116) should be
on the check or money order. Also, automatic deductions from a bank account
can be made. If you need a form, contact Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955.
Voluntary cash investments
are made weekly. In order to
be entitled to the next dividend,
voluntary cash purchases must
be received by the Voluntary
Cash Investment Date that is
prior to the ex-dividend date.
If you need to verify the next
investment date, contact Computershare (formerly EquiServe)
at 1-800-328-6955.
If a shareholder wants to
cancel a cash payment not already
invested, a written or telephone
request must be received by
Computershare (formerly EquiServe) no later than two
business days prior to the
Voluntary Cash Investment Date.
No refund of a check or money
order will be made until the
funds have been actually received
and collected by Computershare (formerly EquiServe).
For the non-shareholder, contact
Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955
for information on making your
initial investment through
the AEP Dividend Reinvestment
and Direct Stock Purchase Plan.
How can
I automate my investment
in AEP stock?
Automatic voluntary payments (up to $150,000 per calendar year) can be deducted
from a checking, savings or money market account to purchase additional shares,
and the designated amount will be electronically sent to our agent, Computershare (formerly EquiServe),
that administers the plan. An 'Authorization Form For Automatic Deductions'
is included with both the Initial Investment Enrollment and the DRP Enrollment
packets. Contact Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955 to receive a form.
You will need to provide the
bank routing number, your bank
account number and the type
of account (checking, savings,
money market); as well as,
the amount of the withdrawal
(in whole U.S. dollars only)
and the frequency of the automatic
deductions--either the 1st
or 15th day of each month,
or both. (If the 1st or 15th
is not a business day, the
deduction will be the next
business day.)
Investments are made weekly,
and participants should allow
four to six weeks for their
first investment to be initiated.
To change or terminate automatic
deductions, participants need
to complete and submit to Computershare (formerly EquiServe)
a new Authorization Form For
Automatic Deductions. A new
Form must be completed if a
participant has a change to
the bank account number or
wants to change banks or bank
accounts.
Non-shareholders may purchase
initial shares by automated
investment also. Contact Computershare (formerly EquiServe)
at 1-800-328-6955 for an Initial
Investment Enrollment packet.
How can
I safeguard my stock certificates?
Physical certificates can be deposited into your account and held in book entry
(safekeeping). When you deposit the shares you no longer have to worry about
safeguarding the physical certificates. The shares can be withdrawn or sold
at any time. The dividends can be paid in cash or reinvested, so all shareholders
can use the custodial service, regardless of whether or not they use any of
the other services offered through the Plan (sales, purchases, etc).
If you are in the Plan, please send your certificates unendorsed with a tear-off form from your statement or send a brief letter of instruction to:
Computershare - AEP
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
The stock certificates you wish to deposit with the Program Administrator should be sent (unendorsed) to the address above via registered mail, return receipt requested and insured for possible mail loss of 3% of the market value. This represents the cost to you to have the certificates replaced if Computershare does not receive them.
If you are not in the AEP
reinvestment plan and want
to deposit certificate shares
into the Plan, contact Computershare (formerly EquiServe)
at 1-800-328-6955 to request
an enrollment package.
You will promptly receive
a statement from Computershare (formerly EquiServe)
confirming each deposit of
your shares for safekeeping.
There is no cost for having
Computershare hold shares in safekeeping.
Can certificates
be withdrawn from my plan
account?
A certificate can be issued for any whole shares held by Computershare (formerly EquiServe) in your
plan account. Certificates cannot be issued for fractional shares.
To request a certificate withdrawal,
simply contact Computershare at
1-800-328-6955.
How do
I reinvest my dividends in
AEP stock?
If you are a registered shareholder of AEP common stock and want to reinvest
all of the dividend on your shares--or want to receive a cash dividend on some
of your shares and reinvest the dividend on the remaining shares--you can receive
an enrollment packet by contacting Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955. With either
option, you can also make voluntary cash payments. (If you do not want to reinvest
but want to buy additional shares, see "Voluntary Cash Purchases of Shares".)
"Full" Reinvestment
is just that, the reinvestment
of the full dividend to purchase
additional shares.
"Partial" Reinvestment
is where the shareholder indicates
the number of whole shares
to receive the cash dividend.
The dividends on all remaining
shares are reinvested. The
shareholder will receive a
check for the dividend on the
indicated number of shares
and a statement of the reinvested
dividend.
The Reinvestment Statement
is sent as soon as possible
after the reinvestment is completed.
Changes to the Plan can be
made by contacting Computershare (formerly EquiServe)
at 1-800-328-6955 to request
an "option change" form.
A packet will be sent which
contains an Enrollment Authorization
Form on which they can indicate
the new investment intent.
The words "Option Change" should
be written on the form.
Stock held in "street" or "nominee" name
with a broker, bank or other
financial entity, is not eligible
to participate in the Plan;
however, you can contact the
broker, bank, etc., and ask
that a certificate be issued.
When Computershare (formerly EquiServe) registers the
shares in certificate form,
a Plan enrollment packet will
automatically be sent.
Can dividends
be directly deposited to
my bank account?
AEP offers shareholders the opportunity to deposit dividends directly to their
account at a financial institution. Through the Direct Deposit service, your
dividend will be sent by Electric Funds Transfer (EFT) directly to your designated
bank account on the payable date. Contact Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955 for information
on Direct Deposit or to request an enrollment form.
When are
dividends paid?
AEP's dividends are customarily paid on or about the 10th of March, June, September
and December. The dividend record date normally precedes the dividend payment
date by approximately one month.
As a registered shareholder,
you are entitled to receive
any cash dividends paid by
AEP on the shares you hold
on a record date. Current dividends,
as well as future payments,
are typically determined by
the Board of Directors. When
the Board declares a dividend,
they also establish a dividend
record date. The record date
is the designated date on which
shares must be held to receive
a dividend payment. If you
have the dividend check mailed
to you and it does not arrive
within 5 days of the payable
date, please contact Computershare (formerly EquiServe) at 1-800-328-6955
for a replacement.
What
should I do about the loss
or theft of a dividend check?
If you believe your dividend check has been lost or stolen, or if you have
not received it within 5 days of the payable date, contact us immediately.
Upon authorization from you, a stop payment order will be placed against the
original check and a replacement check will be issued to you. Once a dividend
check is replaced, the original check is no longer valid and should not be
cashed if received.
You may replace a dividend
check by contacting Computershare (formerly EquiServe)
at 1-800-328-6955.
What
are the US Federal Income
Tax consequences of the AEP/CSW
Merger?
In Accordance with the merger agreement , the following are the tax consequences
of the merger to CSW shareholders:
(a) the aggregate basis
of the AEP Shares received
by a CSW stockholder in the
Merger (including any fractional
share deemed received) will
be the same as the aggregate
basis of the CSW Shares surrendered
in exchange therefore;
(b) the holding period of
the AEP Shares received by
a CSW stockholder in the
Merger (including any fractional
share deemed received) will
include the holding period
of the CSW Shares surrendered
in exchange therefore,
(c) a stockholder of CSW
who receives cash in lieu
of a fractional share will
recognize gain or loss equal
to the difference, if any,
between such stockholder's
basis in the fractional share
(as described in paragraph
(c) above) and the amount
of cash received. Such gain
or loss will be eligible
for long-term capital gain
or loss treatment if the
CSW shares would have been
eligible for the capital
gain or loss treatment under
current IRS regulations.
Tax matters can be complicated
and the tax consequences of
the merger to you will depend
on the facts of your own situation.
You should consult your own
tax advisors to fully understand
the tax consequences of the
merger to you.
