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Xcel Energy Inc. – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/20 – ‘EX-101.DEF’

On:  Wednesday, 2/17/21, at 3:16pm ET   ·   For:  12/31/20   ·   Accession #:  72903-21-12   ·   File #:  1-03034

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  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size

 2/17/21  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-K       12/31/20  138:32M

Annual Report   —   Form 10-K
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-K        Annual Report                                       HTML   2.97M 
 2: EX-10.22    Material Contract                                   HTML     37K 
 3: EX-21.01    Subsidiaries List                                   HTML     42K 
 4: EX-23.01    Consent of Expert or Counsel                        HTML     37K 
 5: EX-24.01    Power of Attorney                                   HTML     83K 
 6: EX-31.01    Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     39K 
 7: EX-31.02    Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     39K 
 8: EX-32.01    Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     37K 
15: R1          Cover Page                                          HTML     97K 
16: R2          Accounting Pronouncements                           HTML     45K 
17: R3          Consolidated Statements of Income                   HTML    119K 
18: R4          Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical)   HTML     37K 
19: R5          Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income     HTML     66K 
20: R6          Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income     HTML     45K 
                (Parenthetical)                                                  
21: R7          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows               HTML    152K 
22: R8          Consolidated Balance Sheets                         HTML    175K 
23: R9          Consolidated Statements of Common Stockholders'     HTML     92K 
                Equity                                                           
24: R10         Summary of Significant Accounting Policies          HTML     81K 
25: R11         Property Plant and Equipment Property Plant and     HTML    105K 
                Equipment                                                        
26: R12         Regulatory Assets and Liabilities                   HTML    143K 
27: R13         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments          HTML    310K 
                Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments                       
28: R14         Revenues                                            HTML     87K 
29: R15         Income Taxes                                        HTML    155K 
30: R16         Share-Based Compensation                            HTML    104K 
31: R17         Earnings Per Share                                  HTML     40K 
32: R18         Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities      HTML    383K 
33: R19         Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits     HTML    297K 
34: R20         Commitments and Contingencies                       HTML    290K 
35: R21         Other Comprehensive Income                          HTML     67K 
36: R22         Segments and Related Information                    HTML     91K 
37: R23         Summarized Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)     HTML     63K 
38: R24         Schedule I, Condensed Financial Statements of Xcel  HTML    165K 
                Energy Inc                                                       
39: R25         Schedule II, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts      HTML     61K 
40: R26         Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary  HTML    144K 
                of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)                    
41: R27         Summary of Significant Accounting Policies          HTML     44K 
                Inventory (Tables)                                               
42: R28         Property Plant and Equipment Property Plant and     HTML    112K 
                Equipment (Tables)                                               
43: R29         Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Tables)          HTML    145K 
44: R30         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments          HTML    310K 
                Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments                       
                (Tables)                                                         
45: R31         Revenues (Tables)                                   HTML    108K 
46: R32         Income Taxes (Tables)                               HTML    162K 
47: R33         Share-Based Compensation (Tables)                   HTML    106K 
48: R34         Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities      HTML    376K 
                (Tables)                                                         
49: R35         Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits     HTML    281K 
                (Tables)                                                         
50: R36         Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)              HTML    272K 
51: R37         Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)                 HTML     67K 
52: R38         Segments and Related Information (Tables)           HTML     83K 
53: R39         Summarized Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)     HTML     64K 
                (Tables)                                                         
54: R40         Schedule II, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts SEC  HTML     62K 
                Schedule, 12-09, Schedule of Valuation and                       
                Qualifying Accounts (Tables)                                     
55: R41         Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary  HTML     61K 
                of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)                     
56: R42         Accounting Pronouncements - Recently Adopted        HTML     39K 
                (Details)                                                        
57: R43         Property Plant and Equipment Major classes of       HTML     58K 
                property, plant and equipment (Details)                          
58: R44         Property Plant and Equipment Joint Ownership of     HTML    103K 
                Generation, Transmission and Gas Facilities                      
                (Details)                                                        
59: R45         Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Regulatory       HTML    127K 
                Assets (Details)                                                 
60: R46         Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Regulatory       HTML     84K 
                Liabilities (Details)                                            
61: R47         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments          HTML     51K 
                Short-Term Debt (Details)                                        
62: R48         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments Term     HTML     47K 
                Loan Agreement (Details)                                         
63: R49         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments          HTML     49K 
                Bilateral Credit Agreement (Details)                             
64: R50         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments Letters  HTML     55K 
                of Credit (Details)                                              
65: R51         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments Credit   HTML     92K 
                Facilities (Details)                                             
66: R52         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments Amended  HTML     45K 
                Credit Agreements (Details)                                      
67: R53         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments          HTML    268K 
                Long-Term Borrowings and Other Financing                         
                Instruments (Details)                                            
68: R54         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments          HTML     37K 
                Deferred Financing Costs (Details)                               
69: R55         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments Forward  HTML     47K 
                Equity Agreements (Details)                                      
70: R56         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments Other    HTML     39K 
                Equity (Details)                                                 
71: R57         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments Capital  HTML     55K 
                Stock (Details)                                                  
72: R58         Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments          HTML     72K 
                Dividend and Other Capital-Related Restrictions                  
                (Details)                                                        
73: R59         Revenues (Details)                                  HTML    107K 
74: R60         Income Taxes (Details)                              HTML    103K 
75: R61         Income Taxes Federal Audit (Details)                HTML     42K 
76: R62         Income Taxes Unrecognized Tax Benefit (Details)     HTML     73K 
77: R63         Income Taxes Other Income Tax Matters (Details)     HTML    123K 
78: R64         Incentive Plans Including Share-Based Compensation  HTML     82K 
                (Details)                                                        
79: R65         Share-Based Compensation Restricted Stock           HTML     40K 
                (Details)                                                        
80: R66         Other Equity Awards (Details)                       HTML     85K 
81: R67         Stock Equivalent Units (Details)                    HTML     68K 
82: R68         TSR Liability Awards (Details)                      HTML     57K 
83: R69         Share-Based Compensation Expense (Details)          HTML     53K 
84: R70         Share-Based Compensation Share-Based Compensation   HTML     43K 
                Phantom (Details)                                                
85: R71         Common Stock Equivalent (Details)                   HTML     39K 
86: R72         Nuclear Decommissioning Fund (Details)              HTML    122K 
87: R73         Rabbi Trusts (Details)                              HTML     68K 
88: R74         Interest Rate Derivatives (Details)                 HTML     40K 
89: R75         Commodity Derivatives (Details)                     HTML     45K 
90: R76         Consideration of Credit Risk and Concentrations     HTML     52K 
                (Details)                                                        
91: R77         Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges (Details)               HTML     91K 
92: R78         Credit Related Contingent Features (Details)        HTML     41K 
93: R79         Recurring Fair Value Measurements (Details)         HTML    185K 
94: R80         Fair Value of Long-Term Debt (Details)              HTML     40K 
95: R81         Pension and Postretirement Health Care Benefits     HTML     90K 
                (Details)                                                        
96: R82         Plan Assets (Details)                               HTML     93K 
97: R83         Funded Status (Details)                             HTML    204K 
98: R84         Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits     HTML     43K 
                Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit) (Details)                     
99: R85         Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits,    HTML     50K 
                Postretirement Health Care Benefits (Details)                    
100: R86         Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits,    HTML    146K  
                Fair Value of Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets                 
                (Details)                                                        
101: R87         Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits,    HTML    207K  
                Postretirement Benefit Plan Benefit Obligations,                 
                Cash Flows and Benefit Costs (Details)                           
102: R88         Projected Benefit Payments (Details)                HTML     95K  
103: R89         Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits     HTML     37K  
                Defined Contribution Plans (Details)                             
104: R90         Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits     HTML     36K  
                Plan Amendments (Details)                                        
105: R91         Commitments and Contingencies Gas Trading           HTML     43K  
                Litigation (Details)                                             
106: R92         Commitments and Contingencies MEC Acquisition       HTML     47K  
                (Details)                                                        
107: R93         Commitments and Contingencies Sherco (Details)      HTML     41K  
108: R94         Westmoreland Arbitration (Details)                  HTML     36K  
109: R95         Commitments and Contingencies MISO ROE Complaints   HTML     55K  
                (Details)                                                        
110: R96         Commitments and Contingencies SPP OATT Upgrade      HTML     40K  
                Costs (Details)                                                  
111: R97         Commitment and Contingencies Wind Operating         HTML     38K  
                Commitments (Details)                                            
112: R98         Commitment and Contingencies Contract Termination   HTML     39K  
                (Details)                                                        
113: R99         Commitments and Contingencies MGP Sites (Details)   HTML     47K  
114: R100        Environmental Requirements - Water and Waste        HTML     67K  
                (Details)                                                        
115: R101        Environmental Requirements - Air (Details)          HTML     46K  
116: R102        AROs (Details)                                      HTML    102K  
117: R103        Nuclear Insurance (Details)                         HTML     59K  
118: R104        Nuclear Fuel Disposal (Details)                     HTML     43K  
119: R105        Regulatory Plant Decommissioning Recovery           HTML    104K  
                (Details)                                                        
120: R106        Leases (Details)                                    HTML    159K  
121: R107        Non Lease PPAs (Details)                            HTML     64K  
122: R108        Fuel Contracts (Details)                            HTML     64K  
123: R109        VIEs - PPAs (Details)                               HTML     38K  
124: R110        Low-Income Housing Limited Partnerships (Details)   HTML     58K  
125: R111        Technology Agreements (Details)                     HTML     46K  
126: R112        Guarantees and Bond Indemnifications (Details)      HTML     39K  
127: R113        Other Comprehensive Income (Details)                HTML     86K  
128: R114        Segments and Related Information (Details)          HTML     99K  
129: R115        Summarized Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)     HTML     64K  
                (Details)                                                        
130: R116        Condensed Statements of Income and Comprehensive    HTML    127K  
                Income (Details)                                                 
131: R117        Condensed Statement of Cash Flows (Details)         HTML     81K  
132: R118        Condensed Balance Sheet (Details)                   HTML     98K  
133: R119        Condensed Notes to the Financial Statements         HTML    100K  
                (Details)                                                        
134: R120        Schedule II (Details)                               HTML     53K  
136: XML         IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary                      XML    262K  
14: XML         XBRL Instance -- xel-20201231_htm                    XML   9.50M 
135: EXCEL       IDEA Workbook of Financial Reports                  XLSX    231K  
10: EX-101.CAL  XBRL Calculations -- xel-20201231_cal                XML    326K 
11: EX-101.DEF  XBRL Definitions -- xel-20201231_def                 XML   2.16M 
12: EX-101.LAB  XBRL Labels -- xel-20201231_lab                      XML   4.07M 
13: EX-101.PRE  XBRL Presentations -- xel-20201231_pre               XML   2.74M 
 9: EX-101.SCH  XBRL Schema -- xel-20201231                          XSD    489K 
137: JSON        XBRL Instance as JSON Data -- MetaLinks              780±  1.20M  
138: ZIP         XBRL Zipped Folder -- 0000072903-21-000012-xbrl      Zip   2.27M  


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26 Subsequent Filings that Reference this Filing

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 2/27/24  Xcel Energy Inc.                  424B2                  2:549K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 2/26/24  Xcel Energy Inc.                  424B5                  1:521K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 8/01/23  Xcel Energy Inc.                  424B2                  2:554K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 7/31/23  Xcel Energy Inc.                  424B5                  1:535K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 2/23/23  Northern States Power Co.         10-K       12/31/22  101:20M
 2/23/23  Northern States Power Co./WI      10-K       12/31/22   90:13M
 2/23/23  Public Service Co. of Colorado    10-K       12/31/22   94:18M
 2/23/23  Southwestern Public Service Co.   10-K       12/31/22   86:14M
 5/04/22  Xcel Energy Inc.                  424B2                  2:553K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 5/03/22  Xcel Energy Inc.                  424B5                  1:530K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 2/23/22  Northern States Power Co.         10-K       12/31/21  106:21M
 2/23/22  Northern States Power Co./WI      10-K       12/31/21   94:13M
 2/23/22  Public Service Co. of Colorado    10-K       12/31/21   98:19M
 2/23/22  Southwestern Public Service Co.   10-K       12/31/21   89:14M
 2/23/22  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-K       12/31/21  137:32M
11/05/21  Xcel Energy Inc.                  424B5                  1:373K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
11/01/21  Xcel Energy Inc.                  424B2                  1:548K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
10/29/21  Xcel Energy Inc.                  424B5                  1:553K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
10/28/21  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        9/30/21   87:12M
 7/29/21  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        6/30/21   85:12M
 4/29/21  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        3/31/21   84:10M
 4/22/21  Xcel Energy Inc.                  S-3ASR      4/22/21   22:2.1M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 2/17/21  Northern States Power Co.         10-K       12/31/20  101:20M
 2/17/21  Northern States Power Co./WI      10-K       12/31/20   92:13M
 2/17/21  Public Service Co. of Colorado    10-K       12/31/20   95:18M
 2/17/21  Southwestern Public Service Co.   10-K       12/31/20   83:13M


79 Previous Filings that this Filing References

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 9/25/20  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:8,9     9/25/20   12:265K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 7/31/20  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        6/30/20   81:15M
 6/15/20  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:8,9     6/15/20   12:1.5M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 5/26/20  Northern States Power Co./WI      8-K:8,9     5/26/20   13:367K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 5/18/20  Southwestern Public Service Co.   8-K:8,9     5/18/20   14:2M                                     Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 5/15/20  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     5/15/20   12:482K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 5/07/20  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        3/31/20   85:11M
 4/09/20  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:5,9     4/03/20   13:396K
 4/01/20  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:8,9     4/01/20   12:260K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 2/21/20  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-K       12/31/19  149:36M
11/07/19  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:8,9    11/07/19   12:324K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 9/10/19  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:8,9     9/10/19   12:1.1M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 8/13/19  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     8/13/19   12:672K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 6/18/19  Southwestern Public Service Co.   8-K:8,9     6/18/19    5:345K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 6/10/19  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:1,2,9   6/07/19    6:2.9M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 3/13/19  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     3/13/19    3:366K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 2/22/19  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-K       12/31/18  121:30M
11/05/18  Southwestern Public Service Co.   8-K:8,9    11/05/18    6:658K
 9/12/18  Northern States Power Co./WI      8-K:8,9     9/12/18    5:551K
 7/27/18  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        6/30/18   86:16M
 6/25/18  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:8,9     6/25/18    4:356K
 6/21/18  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     6/21/18    4:507K
 4/18/18  Xcel Energy Inc.                  S-3ASR      4/18/18   27:5.5M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 2/23/18  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-K       12/31/17  146:39M
12/04/17  Northern States Power Co./WI      8-K:8,9    12/04/17    5:554K
10/27/17  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        9/30/17   82:15M
 9/13/17  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:8,9     9/13/17    4:988K
 8/09/17  Southwestern Public Service Co.   8-K:8,9     8/09/17    7:1M
 6/19/17  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     6/19/17    4:444K
12/01/16  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:8,9    12/01/16    4:425K
10/28/16  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        9/30/16   83:15M
 8/12/16  Southwestern Public Service Co.   8-K:8,9     8/12/16    7:1.3M
 8/04/16  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        6/30/16   84:15M
 6/13/16  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     6/13/16    4:378K
 5/31/16  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:8,9     5/31/16    4:2.6M
 3/08/16  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:8,9     3/08/16    4:354K
 8/11/15  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:8,9     8/11/15    4:1M
 6/01/15  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:8,9     6/01/15    4:420K
 5/26/15  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:5,9     5/20/15    3:181K
 5/12/15  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     5/11/15    4:367K
 6/23/14  Northern States Power Co./WI      8-K:8,9     6/23/14    5:471K
 6/09/14  Southwestern Public Service Co.   8-K:3,8,9   6/09/14    7:562K
 5/13/14  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:8,9     5/13/14    4:415K
 3/10/14  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     3/10/14    4:360K
 2/21/14  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-K       12/31/13  147:46M
 5/20/13  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:8,9     5/20/13    4:432K                                   Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 5/03/13  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        3/31/13   81:14M                                    Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 3/26/13  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     3/26/13    4:525K                                   Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
10/10/12  Northern States Power Co./WI      8-K:8,9    10/10/12    5:467K                                   Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 9/11/12  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     9/11/12    4:479K                                   Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 8/13/12  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:8,9     8/13/12    4:498K                                   Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 5/18/12  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:5,9     5/16/12    2:90K                                    Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 2/24/12  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-K       12/31/11   97:40M                                    Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 9/12/11  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:8,9     9/12/11    4:239K                                   Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 8/10/11  Southwestern Public Service Co.   8-K:8,9     8/10/11    8:4.1M                                   Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 8/09/11  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:8,9     8/09/11    4:440K                                   Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 4/05/11  Xcel Energy Inc.                  DEF 14A5/18/11    2:1.6M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 8/11/10  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:8,9     8/04/10    4:461K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 4/06/10  Xcel Energy Inc.                  DEF 14A     5/19/10    1:1.5M                                   Toppan Merrill-FA
11/16/09  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:8,9    11/09/09    4:670K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
10/30/09  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        9/30/09   46:8.5M                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 2/27/09  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-K       12/31/08   17:3.8M                                   Toppan Merrill-FA
 9/09/08  Northern States Power Co./WI      8-K:8,9     9/03/08    5:748K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 8/12/08  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:1,8,9   8/06/08    7:1.1M                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 1/16/08  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:8,9     1/16/08    6:1.1M                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 8/14/07  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:1,2,8,9 8/08/07    5:479K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 6/25/07  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:1,2,8,9 6/19/07    5:737K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
10/05/06  Southwestern Public Service Co.   8-K:1,2,8,910/03/06    5:404K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 6/08/06  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:1,2,8,9 6/06/06    4:393K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 5/22/06  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:1,2,8,9 5/18/06    5:686K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 7/18/05  Northern States Power Co.         8-K:1,2,8,9 7/14/05    5:697K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
12/08/04  Public Service Co. of Colorado    8-K:1,8,9  12/03/04    4:1.5M                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 1/21/04  Northern States Power Co./WI      S-4                   14:1.8M                                   RR Donnelley
11/13/03  Xcel Energy Inc.                  10-Q        9/30/03    7:1.1M                                   RR Donnelley
12/18/00  Xcel Energy Inc.                  8-K:5,7    12/14/00    5:471K                                   Toppan Merrill-FA2/FA
11/16/00  Xcel Energy Inc.                  U5B                    1:478K                                   Toppan Merrill-FA2/FA
10/05/00  Northern States Power Co.         10-12G                15:1.9M                                   Toppan Merrill-FA2/FA
 9/28/00  Northern States Power Co./WI      8-K:5,7     9/25/00    5:304K                                   Toppan Merrill-FA2/FA
 3/10/99  Southwestern Public Service Co.   8-K:5,7     2/25/99    4:246K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
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Filing Submission 0000072903-21-000012   –   Alternative Formats (Word / Rich Text, HTML, Plain Text, et al.)

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