UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 31, 2011
CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Texas | 1-31447 | 74-0694415 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
| 1111 Louisiana Houston, Texas |
77002 | |||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 207-1111
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| ITEM 3.03. | MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS. |
On December 31, 2011, the Rights Agreement between CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Rights Agent, dated as of January 1, 2002 (the “Rights Agreement”), and the rights issued thereunder, expired by their terms. As a result, the shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, are no longer accompanied by a right to purchase, under certain circumstances, Series A Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company. No shares of Series A Preferred Stock were outstanding or had been issued.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. | ||||||
| Date: January 4, 2012 | By: | /s/ Christopher J. Arntzen | ||||
| Christopher J. Arntzen Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary | ||||||