File No. 33-
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25,
1998
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FirstEnergy Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
OHIO 34-1843785
State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. employer
of incorporation or organization) identification number)
76 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44308
(330) 384-5100
(Address, including, zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
Nancy C. Ashcom
Corporate Secretary
FirstEnergy Corp.
76 South Main Street,
Akron, Ohio 44308
Tel. No. (330) 384-5504
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
John H. Byington, Esq.
Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, New York 10004
Tel. No. (212) 858-1102
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the
public: From time to time after the effective date of this
Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are
being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment
plans, please check the following box. ?
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are
to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule
415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities
offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment
plans, check the following box. (x)
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for
an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
please check the following box, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ?
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If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant
to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ?
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made
pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. ?
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Securities Amount to be Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum Amount of
to be Registered Registered Aggregate Price Per Aggregate Offering Price Registration Fee
Unit
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock* 7,000,000 shares** $30.40625*** $212,843,750*** $62,789
<FN>
* Includes rights to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Company's
Rights Agreement.
** This Registration Statement shall be deemed to cover additional
securities to be issued in connection with or as a result of stock
splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
*** Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457. Based on the average of the reported high and
low sales prices of shares of Common Stock reported on the New York
Stock Exchange on March 18, 1998.
</TABLE>
The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such
date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date
until the registrant shall file a further amendment which
specifically states that this Registration Statement shall
thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement
shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting
pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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PROSPECTUS
7,000,000 Shares
FirstEnergy Corp.
COMMON STOCK
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This Prospectus, with the prior consent of the Company, may
be used by persons ("Selling Shareholders") who will have
received the Common Stock (par value $.10 per share) (the "Common
Stock") covered by this Prospectus in connection with certain
acquisitions by FirstEnergy Corp. (the "Company") and who may
wish to sell such stock in circumstances requiring or making
desirable its use. The Company will have issued its Common Stock
to the Selling Shareholders in connection with acquisitions by
the Company of various businesses, properties or interests
therein and in exchange for shares of capital stock, other
securities, partnership interests or other assets representing an
interest, direct or indirect, in other companies, or in exchange
for assets used in or related to the business of such entities.
Each such issuance of Common Stock by the Company to Selling
Shareholders will be made pursuant to an appropriate exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933
(the "1933 Act").
Selling Shareholders may sell the shares of Common Stock
covered by this Prospectus privately in negotiated transactions
or publicly in one or more transactions, as described more fully
herein. See "Plan of Distribution". Selling Shareholders and
broker-dealers that participate with Selling Shareholders in such
sales of Common Stock, and any brokers or finders who receive
Common Stock as fees, may be deemed to be "underwriters" within
the meaning of Section 2(11) of the 1933 Act, and any commissions
or fees received by them and any profit on the resale of shares
of Common Stock may be deemed to be underwriting compensation.
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds of the sale of
shares of Common Stock by any such person.
The Company may agree to indemnify the Selling Shareholders
and/or broker-dealers against certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the 1933 Act, and to reimburse them
for certain expenses in connection with the sale of Common Stock.
The Common Stock is, and the shares of Common Stock to be
offered pursuant to this Prospectus will upon notice of issuance
be, listed under the symbol "FE" on the New York Stock Exchange
("NYSE"). The last reported sale price on the NYSE on March 23,
1998 was $30.75 per share.
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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The date of this Prospectus is ____________ 1998
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") and in
accordance therewith files reports, proxy and information
statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"). Such reports, proxy and information
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at
the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at its regional
offices at Citicorp Center, Suite 1400, 500 West Madison Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60661 and Suite 1300, 7 World Trade Center, New
York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can also be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D. C. 20549, at prescribed
rates. The SEC also maintains a web site (http://www.sec.gov.)
that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding the Company. Certain securities of the
Company are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005, and reports, proxy material and
other information concerning the Company may be inspected at the
office of that Exchange.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by Ohio Edison Company,
Centerior Energy Corporation and the Company with the SEC
pursuant to the 1934 Act are incorporated into this Prospectus by
reference:
1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1996 of:
(a) Ohio Edison Company and
(b) Centerior Energy Corporation
2. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March
31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997 of:
(a) Ohio Edison Company and
(b) Centerior Energy Corporation
3. Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated November 10,
1997, amendment to such Form 8-K on Form 8-K/A dated January
22, 1998, and Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company
dated December 1, 1997.
4. Current Reports on Form 8-K of Ohio Edison Company dated
January 28, 1997, April 1, 1997, November 12, 1997 and March
23, 1998.
5. Current Reports on Form 8-K of Centerior Energy Corporation
dated January 28, 1997, February 6, 1997, June 18, 1997, July
30, 1997, and September 19, 1997.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act prior to the
termination of the offering of the Common Stock shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a
part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Such
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documents and the documents enumerated above are hereinafter
referred to as "Incorporated Documents"; provided, however, that
the documents enumerated above or subsequently filed by the
Company pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15 of the 1934 Act in each
year during which this offering is in effect prior to the filing
with the SEC of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K covering
such year shall not be Incorporated Documents or be incorporated
by reference in this Prospectus or be a part hereof from and
after such filing of such Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any
statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
subsequently filed Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes
such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded
shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.
The Company hereby undertakes to provide, without charge, to
each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of
this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of
such person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to
above which have been or may be incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents not
specifically incorporated by reference herein. Requests for such
copies should be directed to Investor Services, FirstEnergy
Corp., 76 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44308 (telephone 800-
736-3402).
FirstEnergy Corp.
FirstEnergy Corp. was formed in September 1996. As a result
of the 1997 merger of Ohio Edison Company and Centerior Energy
Corporation, the Company became the parent of four utility
operating companies - Ohio Edison Company, its subsidiary,
Pennsylvania Power Company, The Cleveland Electric Illuminating
Company and The Toledo Edison Company. Combining the resources
of these subsidiaries, the Company is the nation's twelfth
largest investor-owned electric system. The system serves 2.2
million customers within 13,200 square miles of northern and
central Ohio and western Pennsylvania, generates approximately $5
billion in annual revenues and owns more than $18 billion in
assets, including ownership in 18 power plants.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 76
South Main Street, Akron Ohio 44308.
DESCRIPTION OF FIRSTENERGY CAPITAL STOCK
The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
300,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $100 per share.
Certain provisions of the Company's Amended Articles of
Incorporation (the "Articles") and Amended Code of Regulations
(the "Regulations") are summarized or referred to below. The
following description of the Company's capital stock does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Articles and Regulations, as well as applicable
statutory or other law.
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FirstEnergy Common Stock
Voting Rights. The holders of Common Stock will be entitled
to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of
shareholders for each share of Common Stock held of record by
such holder as of the record date for such meeting. Under the
Articles, the voting rights, if any, of the Company's preferred
stock may differ form the voting rights of the Company's Common
Stock. The holders of Common Stock are not entitled to cumulate
their votes for the election of directors. The Company's
Articles provide that the Board of Directors be divided into
three classes with the term of office of the respective classes
to expire in successive years.
In order to amend or repeal, or adopt any provision
inconsistent with, the provisions of the Articles dealing with
(a) the right of the Board of Directors to establish the terms of
unissued shares or to authorize the acquisition by the Company of
its outstanding shares; (b) the absence of cumulative voting and
preemptive rights; or (c) the requirement that 80% of the voting
power of the Company's outstanding shares must approve the
foregoing, 80% of the voting power of the Company's outstanding
shares must approve. In addition, the approval of 80% of the
voting power of the Company's outstanding shares must be obtained
to amend or repeal the provisions of the Regulations dealing with
(a) the time and place of shareholders' meetings, the manner in
which special meetings of shareholders are called or the way
business is conducted at such meetings; (b) the number, election
and terms of directors, the manner of filling vacancies on the
Board of Directors, the removal of directors or manner in which
directors are nominated; or (c) the indemnification of officers
or directors. Amendment of the provision of the Regulations that
requires the approval of 80% of the voting power of the Company's
outstanding shares in the instances enumerated above requires the
same level of approval.
Adoption of a plan of merger, consolidation or
reorganization, as well as adoption of certain amendments to the
Articles (other than those requiring 80% approval as specified
above), authorization of a sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company not made in the
usual and regular course of its business or adoption of a
resolution of dissolution of the Company, and any other matter
which would otherwise require a two-thirds approving vote,
require authorization by the holders of two-thirds of the voting
power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, unless the Board
of Directors provides otherwise by resolution, in which case such
authorization shall be by a majority of the voting power of the
Company and the approval of a majority of the voting power of any
shares entitled to vote as a class, to the extent not
inconsistent with the Articles or the Regulations.
Dividends. Subject to prior rights and preferences of any
issued and outstanding shares of the Company's preferred stock,
the holders of Common Stock will be entitled to receive dividends
when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds
of the Company legally available therefor. The Company's ability
to pay dividends depends primarily upon the ability of its
subsidiaries to pay dividends or otherwise transfer funds to it.
The articles of incorporation, certain mortgages and other
agreements, as supplemented, of Ohio Edison Company, Pennsylvania
Power Company, The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company and
The Toledo Edison Company, the Company's direct and indirect
electric utility subsidiaries, contain provisions which, under
certain conditions, restrict the ability of these subsidiaries to
transfer funds to the Company in the form of cash dividends.
There can be no assurance that funds will be legally available to
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pay dividends at any given time or that, if funds are available,
the Board of Directors will declare a dividend.
Liquidation Rights. In the event of a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, the
holders of Common Stock will be entitled to share ratably, after
the prior rights of the holders of any issued and outstanding
shares of the Company's preferred stock have been satisfied, in
any assets remaining after payment in full of all liabilities of
the Company.
No Preemptive, Redemption or Conversion Rights. The holders
of Common Stock will have no preemptive rights to acquire or
subscribe to any shares, or securities convertible into shares,
of Common Stock. The holders of Common Stock will have no
redemption or conversion rights.
Listing. The outstanding Common Stock of the Company is
traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Transfer Agent and
Registrar for the Common Stock is FirstEnergy Securities Transfer
Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
FirstEnergy Preferred Stock
Pursuant to Article IV of the Articles, the Board of
Directors has the authority to issue preferred stock from time to
time in one or more classes or series. Pursuant to Article V of
the Articles, the Board of Directors is authorized to adopt
amendments to the Articles to fix or change the express terms of
any unissued or treasury shares of any class, including preferred
stock.
STOCK INVESTMENT PLAN
The Company has adopted a Stock Investment Plan (the "Plan")
which provides a way for shareholders and employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries, as well as others, to purchase
shares of the Company's Common Stock. The following summary of
the Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Plan. Participants in the Plan may:
(a) Reinvest all or a portion of cash dividends paid
on shares of the Company or its subsidiaries
registered in their names, as well as any Common
Stock credited to their Plan accounts, to
purchase shares of Common Stock.
(b) Make an initial investment in Common Stock with a
cash payment of at least $250 or, if already a
shareholder or employee of the Company or its
subsidiaries, make an investment in Common Stock
with optional cash investments at any time of at
least $25 per payment. Cash investments are
limited to a maximum of $100,000 per calendar
year.
(c) Receive certificates for whole shares of Common
Stock credited to their Plan accounts upon
request.
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(d) Deposit certificates representing Common Stock
into the Plan for safekeeping.
(e) Sell shares of Common Stock credited to their Plan
accounts through the Plan.
Cash dividends and cash investments under the Plan will be
used to purchase shares of Common Stock which, at the option of
the Company, will be either newly issued shares or will be
purchased on behalf of Plan participants in the open market by an
Independent Agent appointed by the Company. The price of shares
purchased in the open market under the Plan will be the weighted
average price paid by the Independent Agent for the shares over
the purchase period. The price of newly issued shares acquired
under the Plan will be the average of the high and low prices of
the Common Stock as reported in The Wall Street Journal's report
of New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions for the
investment date. In both cases, the purchase price will include
a transaction fee which is not expected to exceed $.09 per share.
Fees payable by a Plan participant will be added to the purchase
price for shares purchased, and deducted from the selling price
for shares sold, under the Plan.
RIGHTS PLAN
On November 18, 1997 the Company authorized assignment of
one share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share
of Common Stock (the "Shares") of the Company. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
Share at a price of $70 per Share (the "Purchase Price"), when
the Rights become exercisable. The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights
Agreement") between the Company and The Bank of New York, as
rights agent (the "Rights Agent"). This summary description of
the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement.
Rights Initially not Separable from Common Stock
The Rights will be evidenced by the Shares certificates
until the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to
acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding
Shares (the date of such public announcement being called the
"Share Acquisition Date") or (ii) 10 days following the
commencement or announcement of an intention to make a tender
offer or exchange offer by a person other than the Company if,
upon consummation of the offer, such person, together with
persons affiliated or associated with it, would be the beneficial
owner of 25% or more of the outstanding Shares (the earlier of
such days being called the "Distribution Date"). The Rights
Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be transferred with and only with the Shares. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, termination or
expiration of the Rights), new Share certificates issued upon
transfer or new issuance of Shares will contain a notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, termination or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any
certificates for Shares will also constitute the transfer of the
Rights associated with the Shares represented by such
certificate.
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Separation of Rights from Common Stock
As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date,
separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Shares
as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such
separate Right Certificates alone will thereafter evidence the
Rights.
Exercise of Rights
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire November 28, 2007 unless such date is
extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed by the Company
or exchanged for Shares, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Shares or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the
Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent
dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a
subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Shares, (ii)
upon the grant to holders of the Shares of certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for or purchase Shares at a price, or
securities convertible into Shares with a conversion price, less
than the then current market price of the Shares or (iii) upon
the distribution to holders of the Shares of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends
paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in
Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
In the event that (i) the Company merges with or is involved
in another business combination transaction with an Acquiring
Person, (ii) 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning
power are sold to an Acquiring Person, (iii) an Acquiring Person
acquires 25% or more of the Shares, or (iv) an Acquiring Person
engages in one or more self-dealing transactions with the
Company, then, proper provision will be made so that each holder
of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price of the Right,
that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company or of the
acquiring company, as the case may be, which at the time of such
transaction will have a value double the amount of the Purchase
Price.
Any Rights that are or were beneficially owned at any time
on or after the Distribution Date by an Acquiring Person shall
become null and void upon the occurrence of any event described
in the preceding paragraph and no holder of such Rights shall
have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the
occurrence of any such event.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
will be required until cumulative adjustments require an
adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional
Shares will be issued and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash
will be made based on the market price of the Shares on the last
trading day prior to the date of exercise.
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Redemption of Rights
At any time prior to the 10th day following the Share
Acquisition Date (unless extended by the Company), the Board of
Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not
in part, at a price of $.001 per Right (the "Redemption Price").
In that connection, the amount payable to any holder of the
Rights will be rounded up to the nearest $.01. Payments of less
than $1.00 will be sent to holders of the Rights only if the
particular holder entitled to the payment specifically requests
that the payment be sent. Immediately upon the action of the
Company ordering redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise
the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of
Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Exchange of Rights
After the Distribution Date and prior to the time an
Acquiring Person has acquired 50% or more of the then outstanding
Shares, the Company may require that some or all of the Rights be
exchanged on a one for one basis (subject to adjustment for stock
splits, stock dividends and other similar transactions) for
Shares. To the extent that Rights are required to be exchanged
for Shares, the right to exercise those Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holder thereof will be to exchange those
Rights for Shares.
Amendments
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Company
without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an
amendment to extend the period during which the rights may be
redeemed, except that after the Distribution Date no such
amendment may otherwise adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Rights. In the event an Acquiring Person, after
triggering the redemption option of the Company, reduces its
shareholdings to less than 15% then the redemption rights are
reinstated.
No Rights as a Shareholder
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such,
will have no rights as a shareholder of the Company, including,
without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
Effect of Rights
The Rights will not prevent a takeover of the Company. The
Rights, however, may cause substantial dilution to a person or
group that acquires 15% or more of the Common Stock unless the
Rights are first redeemed by the Board of Directors of the
Company. Nevertheless, the Rights should not interfere with a
transaction that is in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders because the Rights can be redeemed as herein
described before the consummation of such transaction.
USE OF PROCEEDS
This Prospectus relates to shares of Common Stock which may
be sold by Selling Shareholders from time to time, who will have
received such Common Stock from the Company in connection with
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the acquisitions of businesses, assets, properties or interests
therein. There will be no proceeds to the Company from any sales
of shares by Selling Shareholders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The shares of Common Stock covered by this Prospectus may be
sold from time to time, with the prior written consent of the
Company, by the Selling Shareholders who will have received from
the Company such shares of Common Stock in connection with
certain future acquisitions by the Company and who may wish to
sell such shares under circumstances requiring or making
desirable its use. The Company will have issued Common Stock to
the Selling Shareholders from whom it has acquired, directly or
indirectly, various businesses, properties or interests therein
and in exchange for shares of capital stock, other securities,
partnership interests or other assets representing an interest,
direct or indirect, in other companies, or in exchange for assets
used in or related to the business of such entities. In general,
the terms of such acquisitions will have been determined by
negotiations with the representatives of the businesses or
properties acquired. Any such shares of Common Stock issued by
the Company will have been issued either at or higher or lower
than prevailing market prices for the Common Stock (either at the
time of agreement of the terms of the acquisition or at or about
the time of the closing of the acquisition and the issuance of
the shares). Each such issuance of Common Stock by the Company
to Selling Shareholders will be made pursuant to an appropriate
exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act.
The Company's consent to use of this Prospectus may be
conditioned upon such terms and conditions as the Company, in its
sole discretion, may determine, including, without limitation,
such Selling Shareholder's agreeing not to offer more than a
specified number of shares during a particular period of time or
agreeing that any such offering be effected in an organized
manner through registered securities dealers. The names of the
Selling Shareholders, the nature of any relationship any
particular Selling Shareholder has with the Company and the
number of shares owned by and to be offered by a Selling
Shareholder pursuant to this Prospectus will be set forth in a
supplement to this Prospectus.
Such sales of shares of Common Stock by the Selling
Shareholders using this Prospectus may be made from time to time
privately at negotiated prices or publicly in one or more
transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) on
the NYSE or otherwise, in special offerings, sales pursuant to
Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, exchange distributions or secondary
distributions pursuant to and in accordance with the rules of the
NYSE, in the over-the-counter market, or a combination of such
methods of sale, at prices at or reasonably related to market
prices at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The Selling
Shareholders may effect such transactions by selling shares to or
through broker-dealers, which may act as agent or as principal
and, when acting as agent, may receive commissions from the
purchasers as well as from the sellers (if also acting as agent
for the purchasers). Selling Shareholders and brokers or dealers
selling shares of Common Stock for Selling Shareholders or
purchasing such shares for purposes of resale may be deemed to be
an underwriter under the 1933 Act, and any compensation received
by any such broker or dealer may be deemed underwriting
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compensation (which compensation may be in excess of customary
commissions). The Company will not receive any of the proceeds
of the sale of shares of Common Stock by any such person.
The Company may agree to indemnify the Selling Shareholders
and/or broker-dealers against certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the 1933 Act, and to reimburse them
for certain expenses in connection with the sale of Common Stock.
This Prospectus shall be deemed to cover additional
securities to be issued in connection with or as a result of
stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
LEGAL OPINIONS
The validity of the Common Stock will be passed upon by
David L. Feltner, Associate General Counsel for the Company. As
of March 23, 1998, Mr. Feltner owned 2,916 shares of the Common
Stock of the Company.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and related financial
statement schedules, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus
from the Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1996 of Ohio Edison Company and for the year ended December
31, 1996 of Centerior Energy Corporation have been audited by
Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated
in their reports with respect thereto. The consolidated
financial statements of Ohio Edison Company for the year ended
December 31, 1997, included in Ohio Edison Company's Form 8-K
dated March 23, 1998, and incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus, have also been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, as
indicated in their report dated February 13, 1998 with respect
thereto. The above mentioned reports are incorporated by
reference herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as
experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports.
With respect to the unaudited interim consolidated financial
information of Ohio Edison Company for the quarters ended March
31, 1997 and 1996, June 30, 1997 and 1996, and September 30, 1997
and 1996, incorporated by reference herein, Arthur Andersen LLP
has applied limited procedures in accordance with professional
standards for reviews of that information. However, their
separate reports thereon state that they did not audit and they
do not express an opinion on that interim consolidated financial
information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their
reports on that information should be restricted in light of the
limited nature of the review procedures applied. In addition,
the accountants are not subject to the liability provisions of
Section 11 of the 1933 Act for their reports on the unaudited
interim consolidated financial information because that report is
not a "report" or "part" of the registration statement prepared
or certified by the accountants within the meaning of Sections 7
and 11 of the 1933 Act.
No dealer, salesman or other person has been authorized to
give any information or to make any representation, other than
those contained in this Prospectus, in connection with the offer
made by this Prospectus, and, if given or made, such information
or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized by the Company. Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any
circumstances, create any implication that there has been no
change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof or
thereof. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer or
solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or
solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such
offer is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is
unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
AVAILABLE INFORMATION 9
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE 9
FIRSTENERGY CORP.. 3
DESCRIPTION OF FIRSTENERGY CAPITAL STOCK 3
STOCK INVESTMENT PLAN 5
RIGHTS PLAN 6
USE OF PROCEEDS 16
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 16
LEGAL OPINIONS 17
EXPERTS 17
-------------------------
7,000,000 Shares
FirstEnergy Corp.
Common Stock
----------------
PROSPECTUS
----------------
________________, 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------
- 11 -
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
-------------------------------------------
Description Amount(1)
----------- ---------
Securities and Exchange Commission
filing fee $62,789
Printing and engraving 5,000
Legal services 7,500
Accounting services 2,500
Transfer Agent and Registrar fees 1,000
New York Stock Exchange listing fee 26,000
Miscellaneous 5,211
---------
Total(1) $110,000
- ------------------
(1) All fees are estimated except for the Securities and
Exchange Commission filing fee. No portion of any of the
above fees will be borne by Selling Shareholders.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
-----------------------------------------
Section 1701.13(E) of Title 17 of Page's Ohio Revised Code
Annotated gives a corporation incorporated under the laws of Ohio
power to indemnify any person who is or has been a director,
officer or employee of that corporation, or of another
corporation at the request of that corporation, against expenses,
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, criminal or
civil, to which he is or may be made a party because of being or
having been such director, officer or employee, provided that in
connection therewith, such person is determined to have acted in
good faith in what he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interest of the corporation of which he is a
director, officer or employee, and without reasonable cause, in
the case of a criminal matter, to believe that his conduct was
unlawful. The determination as to the conditions precedent to
the permitted indemnification of such person is made by the
directors of the indemnifying corporation acting at a meeting at
which, for the purpose, any director who is a party to or
threatened with any such action, suit or proceeding may not be
counted in determining the existence of a quorum and may not
vote. If, because of the foregoing limitations, the directors
are unable to act in this regard, such determination may be made
by the majority vote of the corporation's voting shareholders (or
without a meeting upon two-thirds written consent of such
shareholders), by judicial proceeding or by written opinion of
legal counsel not retained by the corporation or any person to be
indemnified during the five years preceding the date of
determination.
Regulation 31 of the Company's Code of Regulations provides
as follows:
- 12 -
"The Company shall indemnify, to the full extent then
permitted by law, any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the
fact that he or she is or was a member of the Board of
Directors or an officer, employee or agent of the Company,
or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise. The Company shall pay, to the full extent then
required by law, expenses, including attorney's fees,
incurred by a member of the Board of Directors in defending
any such action, suit or proceeding as they are incurred, in
advance of the final disposition thereof, and may pay, in
the same manner and to the full extent then permitted by
law, such expenses incurred by any other person. The
indemnification and payment of expenses provided hereby
shall not be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any
other rights granted to those seeking indemnification under
any law, the Articles of Incorporation, any agreement, vote
of shareholders or disinterested members of the Board of
Directors, or otherwise, both as to action in official
capacities and as to action in another capacity while he or
she is a member of the Board of Directors, or an officer,
employee or agent of the Company, and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a member of the Board of
Directors, trustee, officer, employee or agent and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such a person."
Section 1701.13(E) of Title 17 of Page's Ohio Revised Code
Annotated provides that the indemnification thereby permitted
shall not be exclusive of any other rights that directors,
officers or employees may have, including rights under insurance
purchased by the corporation.
Regulation 32 of the Company's Code of Regulations provides
as follows:
"The Company may, to the full extent then permitted by
law and authorized by the Board of Directors, purchase and
maintain insurance or furnish similar protection, including
but not limited to trust funds, letters of credit or self-
insurance, on behalf of or for any persons described in
Regulation 31 against any liability asserted against and
incurred by any such person in any such capacity, or arising
out of his status as such, whether or not the Company would
have the power to indemnify such person against such
liability. Insurance may be purchased from or maintained
with a person in which the Company has a financial
interest."
Item 16. Exhibits.
--------
An Exhibit Index, containing a list of all exhibits to this
registration statement, commences on page II-7.
Item 17. Undertakings.
------------
The undersigned registrant hereby undertake:
- 13 -
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act");
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration
statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent
a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed
that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or
high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20%
change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in
the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
registration statement;
(iii) to include any material information with respect
to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that clauses (i) and (ii) above do not apply
if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed
with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by
the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the 1933 Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-
effective amendment any of the securities being registered which
remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under
the 1933 Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report
pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
- 14 -
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions,
or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion
of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
by such director, officer or controlling person in connection
with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
- 15 -
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3, and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Cleveland and State of Ohio on the 17th day of March, 1998.
FirstEnergy Corp.
By /s/ Willard R. Holland
-----------------------------------
Willard R. Holland
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
- 16 -
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
---------- ----- ----
/s/Willard R. Holland Chairman of the Board March 17,1998
- --------------------- and Chief Executive
(Willard R. Holland) Officer
/s/H. Peter Burg President, Chief March 17, 1998
- --------------------- Financial Officer and
(H. Peter Burg) Director
/s/Harvey L. Wagner Controller March 18, 1998
- ---------------------
Harvey L. Wagner
- --------------------- Director March 17, 1998
(Robert M. Carter)
/s/Dr. Carol A. Cartwright Director March 17, 1998
- --------------------------
(Dr. Carol A. Cartwright)
/s/William F. Conway Director March 17, 1998
- --------------------
(William F. Conway)
/s/Robert L. Loughhead Director March 17, 1998
- ----------------------
(Robert L. Loughhead
/s/Russell W. Maier Director March 17, 1998
- -------------------
(Russell W. Maier)
/s/Glenn H. Meadows Director March 17, 1998
- -------------------
(Glenn H. Meadows)
/s/Paul J. Powers Director March 17, 1998
- ------------------
(Paul J. Powers)
/s/Charles W. Rainger Director March 17, 1998
- ---------------------
(Charles W. Rainger)
/s/Robert C. Savage Director March 17, 1998
- -------------------
(Robert C. Savage)
/s/George M. Smart Director March 17, 1998
- ------------------
(George M. Smart)
/s/Jesse T. Williams, Sr. Director March 17, 1998
- ------------------------
(Jesse T. Williams, Sr.)
- 17 -
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
No. Description
- --------- -----------
4(a)* Amended Articles of Incorporation of FirstEnergy Corp.
(physically filed and designated in Registration
Statement No. 333-21011 as Exhibit (3)-1).
4(b)* Amended Code of Regulations of FirstEnergy Corp.
(physically filed and designated in Registration
Statement No. 333-21011 as Exhibit (3)-2).
4(c)* Form of Common Stock Certificate (physically filed and
designated in Registration Statement No. 333-40063 as
Exhibit 4(c).
4(d)* FirstEnergy Corp. Stock Investment Plan (physically
filed and set forth in full in the Prospectus contained
in Registration Statement No. 333-40063).
4(e)* Rights Agreement dated as of November 18, 1997, between
FirstEnergy Corp. and The Bank of New York and form of
Right Certificate (physically filed and designated in
Current Report of Form 8-K dated November 18, 1997 as
Exhibit 4.1).
5 Opinion of David L. Feltner, Esq., Associate General
Counsel for the Company, as to the securities being
registered.
15 Letter regarding unaudited interim financial
information.
23(a) Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP.
23(b) Consent of David L. Feltner, Esq. (contained in Exhibit
No. 5).
- -------------------
* Incorporated by reference as noted therein.
- 18 -
Exhibit 5
March 24, 1998
FirstEnergy Corp.
76 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
Dear Sirs:
With respect to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") of FirstEnergy Corp. (the "Company")
relating to up to 7,000,000 shares of its Common Stock, $.10 par
value (the "Shares") to be sold by certain selling shareholders
("Selling Shareholders") from time to time, who will have
received such Shares in connection with certain future
acquisitions by the Company, I wish to advise you as follows:
I am of the opinion that the Shares to be issued to the
Selling Shareholders in accordance with the Registration
Statement, as amended and supplemented from time to time, upon
the completion of the steps mentioned in the next paragraph, will
be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The steps to be taken which are referred to in the foregoing
opinion consist of the following:
(1) Appropriate action by the Board of Directors of the
Company or an authorized committee thereof with respect to the
issuance of the Shares.
(2) Issuance of the Shares in accordance with the aforesaid
corporate authorization.
(3) Sale of the Shares by the Selling Shareholders and
payment of the purchase price thereof in accordance with the
Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented from time to
time.
This opinion is rendered to you in connection with the
above-described transaction. This opinion may not be relied upon
by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by, or furnished to,
any other person, firm or corporation without my prior written
consent.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and to the reference to me
appearing in the Registration Statement under the caption "Legal
Matters." In giving my consent, I do not thereby admit that I am
within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Very truly yours,
David Feltner
- 19 -
Exhibit 15
March 23, 1998
FirstEnergy Corp.
76 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
Gentlemen:
We are aware that FirstEnergy Corp. has incorporated by reference
in its Registration Statement on Form S-3 relating to the
registration of 7,000,000 shares of Common Stock, Ohio Edison
Company's Form 10-Q's for the quarters ended March 31, 1997, June
30, 1997, and September 30, 1997, which include our reports dated
May 12, 1997, August 13, 1997, and November 12, 1997,
respectively, covering the unaudited interim financial
information contained therein. Pursuant to Regulation C of the
Securities Act of 1933, these reports are not considered a part
of the registration statement prepared or certified by our Firm
or a report prepared or certified by our Firm within the meaning
of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.
Very truly yours,
Arthur Andersen LLP
- 20 -
Exhibit 23(a)
Consent of Independent Public Accountants
-----------------------------------------
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference in this registration statement of our
reports dated February 7, 1997, included or incorporated by
reference in Ohio Edison Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996, and to the incorporation by reference in this
registration statement of our report dated February 14, 1997,
included in Centerior Energy Corporation's Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1996. We also consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement of our report on the
consolidated financial statements of Ohio Edison Company, dated
February 13, 1998, included in Ohio Edison Company's Form 8-K
dated March 23, 1998, and to all references to our Firm included
in this registration statement.
Arthur Andersen LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
March 23, 1998
- 21 -
