File No. 33-
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5,
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 and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. ? ___________
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. ?
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<TABLE>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------------------
<CAPTION>
Title of Securities to Amount to be Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum Amount of
be Registered Registered Aggregate Price Per Aggregate Offering Price Registration Fee
Unit
- ---------------------- ---------------- ------------------- ------------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock* 3,905,589 shares** $30.40625*** $118,754,315.50*** $35,033
<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 June 2, 1998.
</TABLE>
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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.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 5, 1998
PROSPECTUS
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3,905,589 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 have received
3,905,589 shares of Common Stock (par value $.10 per share) (the
"Common Stock") of FirstEnergy Corp. (the "Company") covered by
this Prospectus in connection with the acquisition (the
"Acquisition") by the Company of all of the outstanding shares of
each of MARBEL Energy Corporation and JR Operating Co., Inc., as
more fully described herein, and who may wish to sell such stock
in circumstances requiring or making desirable its use. See "Plan
of Distribution".
The Selling Shareholders may sell the shares of Common Stock
covered by this Prospectus privately in negotiated transactions
or publicly in one or more transactions, or may enter into option
or other 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 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 June 2,
1998 was $30 1/2 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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Information contained herein is subject to completion or
amendment. A registration statement relating to these securities
has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be
accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell
or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any
sale of these securities in any state in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such state.
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 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, 1997.
2. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1998.
3. Amendment to Current Report on Form 8-K of the
Company dated November 10, 1997 on Form 8-K/A dated
January 22, 1998.
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
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.
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 from 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, or adopt a provision inconsistent with, 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, or the adoption of a provision
inconsistent therewith, 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
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.
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.
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.
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 which is in the best interests of the Company 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 have
been issued to the Selling Shareholders in connection with the
Acquisition, and which may be sold by the Selling Shareholders
from time to time. There will be no proceeds to the Company from
any sales of shares by Selling Shareholders.
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth the number of shares of
Common Stock which have been acquired by each Selling Shareholder
as a result of the Acquisition. All of such shares are being
registered for offer and sale. No shares of Common Stock of the
Company were owned by any Selling Shareholder prior to the
Acquisition. Thus, if all of the registered shares are sold, the
Selling Shareholders would own no shares of Common Stock of the
Company.
Name Number of Shares Offered
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Marshall B. Belden, Jr. 351,312
Timothy S. Belden 141,752
Susan A. Belden 141,752
Katherine H. Belden 141,752
Michael A. Ogline, as trustee of The 389,056
Marshall B. Belden, Jr. Charitable Remainder
Trust No. 1, dated January 15, 1998
Michael A. Ogline, as trustee of The 49,274
Timothy S. Belden Charitable Remainder
Trust No. 1, dated January 15, 1998
Michael A. Ogline, as trustee of The 49,274
Katherine H. Belden Charitable Remainder
Trust No. 1, dated January 15, 1998
Michael A. Ogline, as trustee of The Susan A. 49,274
Belden Charitable Remainder Trust No. 1,
dated January 15, 1998
Marshall B. Belden, Jr. and Timothy S. 2,097,417
Belden, as Successor Co-Trustees of the
Marshall B. Belden Irrevocable Trust dated
September 27, 1977
Marshall B. Belden, Jr. and Timothy S. 494,726
Belden, as Successor Co-Trustees of the
MARBEL Trust dated January 6, 1986
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The shares of Common Stock covered by this Prospectus may be
sold from time to time by the Selling Shareholders who have
received from the Company such shares of Common Stock in
connection with the acquisition (the "Acquisition") by the
Company of all of the outstanding shares of common stock of each
of MARBEL Energy Corporation ("Marbel") and JR Operating Co.,
Inc. ("JR"). Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Stock Purchase
Agreement dated as of March 19, 1998 among FE Holdings L.L.C., an
Ohio limited liability company, Belden & Blake Corporation, an
Ohio corporation, the Company and each of the shareholders of
Marbel and JR, on June 4, 1998, the shareholders of each of
Marbel and JR received an aggregate of 3,905,589 shares of Common
Stock of the Company in exchange for all of the outstanding
shares of common stock of Marbel and JR owned by such
shareholders on such date. All of such shares of Common Stock
are covered by 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). The Selling Shareholders may also enter into
option or other transactions involving Common Stock with broken-
dealers or other financial institutions. Such transactions may
be entered into for hedging or other purposes. The
counterparties to such transactions may engage in short sales of
Common Stock pursuant to this Prospectus for the purpose of
hedging their own positions, and may settle such short sales with
shares borrowed from the Selling Shareholders. Selling
shareholders may themselves sell shares of Common Stock short
pursuant to this Prospectus and may deliver shares of Common
Stock to close out the short positions. Option or other
transactions involving Common Stock entered into by the Selling
Shareholders may be cash settled. Alternatively, they may result
in the delivery to the counterparties of shares registered
hereunder, which shares the counterparties may resell or
otherwise transfer pursuant to this Prospectus. Selling
Shareholders may also lend or pledge shares registered hereunder
to a broker-dealer or other financial institution and such
institution may relend or repledge such shares or deliver such
shares against short sales of Common Stock. Upon default by a
Selling Shareholder, the broker-dealer or other financial
institution may sell pursuant to this Prospectus shares of Common
Stock borrowed from or pledged by such Selling Shareholder.
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 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.
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 June 1, 1998, Mr. Feltner owned 2,966 shares of the Common
Stock of the Company.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and related financial
statement schedule incorporated by reference in this Prospectus
from the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1997 of the Company have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants, as indicated in their reports
with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference herein
in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing in giving said reports.
===============================================================
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
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE. . . . 2
FIRSTENERGY CORP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
DESCRIPTION OF FIRSTENERGY CAPITAL STOCK . . . . . . . 3
RIGHTS PLAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
USE OF PROCEEDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
LEGAL OPINIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
EXPERTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
===========================================================
3,905,589 Shares
FirstEnergy Corp.
Common Stock
-------------------------
PROSPECTUS
-------------------------
, 1998
=================================================================
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
-------------------------------------------
Description Amount(1)
----------- ---------
Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee $ 35,033
Printing and engraving 1,000
Legal services 5,000
Accounting services 1,000
Transfer Agent and Registrar fees 1,000
New York Stock Exchange listing fee 5,000
Miscellaneous 2,967
---------
Total(1) $ 50,000
- ---------------
(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:
"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 Corporation 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 Corporation
would have the power to indemnify such person against such
liability. Insurance may be purchased from or maintained
with a person in which the Corporation has a financial
interest."
Item 16. Exhibits.
--------
An Exhibit Index, containing a list of all exhibits to this
registration statement, commences on page II-8.
Item 17. Undertakings.
------------
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(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, repre-
sent 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.
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.
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 Akron and State of Ohio on the 5th day of June, 1998.
FirstEnergy Corp.
By /s/ Willard R. Holland
---------------------------
Willard R. Holland
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of the
Registrant, individually as such director and/or officer, hereby
makes, constitutes and appoints H. Peter Burg and Nancy C.
Ashcom, and each of them, singly or jointly, with full power of
substitution, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent
to execute in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, and to file with the Commission, this registration
statement and any and all amendments, including post-effective
amendments, to this registration statement, which amendment may
make such changes in the registration statement as the registrant
deems appropriate hereby ratifying and confirming all that each
of said attorneys-in-fact, or his, her or their substitute or
substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
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 June 5,1998
- --------------------- and Chief Executive
(Willard R. Holland) Officer
/s/H. Peter Burg President, Chief June 5, 1998
- --------------------- Operating Officer
(H. Peter Burg) and Director
/s/Richard H. Marsh Vice President and June 5, 1998
- ------------------- Chief Financial
(Richard H. Marsh) Officer
/s/Harvey L. Wagner Controller and June 5, 1998
- --------------------- Chief Accounting
(Harvey L. Wagner) Officer
/s/Robert M. Carter Director June 5, 1998
- ---------------------
(Robert M. Carter)
/s/Dr. Carol A. Cartwright Director June 5, 1998
- --------------------------
(Dr. Carol A. Cartwright)
/s/William F. Conway Director June 5, 1998
- --------------------
(William F. Conway)
/s/Robert L. Loughhead Director June 5, 1998
- ----------------------
(Robert L. Loughhead
- ---------------------- Director
(Richard B. Heisler)
/s/Russell W. Maier Director June 5, 1998
- -------------------
(Russell W. Maier)
/s/Glenn H. Meadows Director June 5, 1998
- -------------------
(Glenn H. Meadows)
Director
- ------------------
(Paul J. Powers)
/s/Robert C. Savage Director June 5, 1998
- -------------------
(Robert C. Savage)
Director
- ------------------
(George M. Smart)
/s/Jesse T. Williams, Sr. Director June 5, 1998
- --------------------------
(Jesse T. Williams, Sr.)
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)* 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.
23(a) Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
23(b) Consent of David L. Feltner, Esq. (contained in Exhibit
No. 5).
- -------------------
* Incorporated by reference as noted therein.
Exhibit 5
June 5, 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 3,905,589 shares of its Common Stock, $.10 par
value (the "Shares") to be sold by certain selling shareholders
("Selling Shareholders") from time to time, who have received
such Shares pursuant to the Amended and Restated Stock Purchase
Agreement dated as of March 19, 1998 among FE Holdings L.L.C., an
Ohio limited liability company, Belden & Blake Corporation, an
Ohio corporation, the Company, and the Selling Shareholders, I
wish to advise you as follows:
I am of the opinion that the Shares heretofore issued to the
Selling Shareholders and to be hereafter sold by the Selling
Shareholders in accordance with the Registration Statement, as
amended and supplemented from time to time, are legally issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.
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 such consent, I do not hereby 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
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 13, 1998 included or incorporated by
reference in FirstEnergy Corp.'s Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997 and to all references to our Firm included in
this registration statement.
Arthur Andersen LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
June 5, 1998
6
63058805.03
