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FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(2)
REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO: 333-80613
PROSPECTUS
100,000 Shares
SEMCO ENERGY LOGO
Common Stock
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This Prospectus relates to 100,000 shares of common stock (the "Common
Stock") of SEMCO Energy, Inc., ("SEMCO" or the "Company"), which may be offered
from time to time by the selling shareholder named herein. SEMCO will not
receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock. SEMCO will bear
the costs relating to the registration of the Common Stock.
The Common Stock may be sold from time-to-time at the complete discretion
of the selling shareholder. See "Plan of Distribution" herein, for information
on pricing.
The Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System under the
symbol SMGS. On July 19, 1999 the closing price of the Common Stock on NASDAQ
was $15 1/4.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR BY 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.
The date of this Prospectus is July 19, 1999.
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
This Prospectus is part of a Registration Statement filed by SEMCO with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act
of 1933. The Registration Statement and its exhibits contain more information
about the Company and the Common Stock. Statements in this Prospectus about
documents filed with the Commission are not necessarily complete; the actual
documents filed with the Commission may contain a more complete description of
the matter involved.
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and therefore files reports and other
information with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements, and other
information can be inspected and copied at prescribed rates at the Commission's
Public Reference Room at its principal office: Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, NW, Room 1024, Washington, DC 20549 or at the Commission's regional
office in New York at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048
and in Chicago at the Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400,
Chicago, Illinois 60661. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of such
material can also be obtained by mail at prescribed rates from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at its principal office. The Commission
maintains a Web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and
other information regarding the Company.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The following documents, which have been or will be filed with the
Commission, are incorporated into this Prospectus: (a) the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998; (b) the
Company's Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1999; (c) the Company's
Form 8-K dated March 23, 1999, April 22, 1999 and July 16, 1999 and (d) all
documents later filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of
this offering.
The information in this Prospectus and in documents incorporated into this
Prospectus may be changed by information given at a later date. Any statement
contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein 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 document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein 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.
SEMCO will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial
owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of
such person, a copy of any and all documents incorporated herein by reference
(not including exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into such documents). Requests should be directed to
Edric R. Mason, Jr., Director of Investor Relations, SEMCO Energy, Inc., 405
Water Street, Port Huron, Michigan 48060, telephone number (810) 989-4104.
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THE COMPANY
The Company is a diversified energy services and infrastructure holding
company incorporated in Michigan in 1977. The Company's principal offices are
located at 405 Water Street, Port Huron, Michigan 48060 and its telephone number
is (810) 987-2200. Prior to April 24, 1997, the Company's name was Southeastern
Michigan Gas Enterprises, Inc.
SEMCO and its subsidiaries operate four energy-related business segments
set forth below. A substantial portion of the Company's direct subsidiaries
assets are invested in natural gas operations regulated by various regulatory
bodies including the Michigan Public Service Commission. Weather has a
significant impact on the Company's revenues.
GAS DISTRIBUTION
The Company's gas distribution business segment serves nearly 250,000
customers in twenty-four counties in the State of Michigan. It distributes and
transports natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers. The
Company's gas distribution business is operated through its SEMCO Energy Gas
Company subsidiary and is its largest business segment.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
The Company's engineering services business segment is comprised of two
companies and has offices in New Jersey, Michigan, Louisiana and Texas.
This segment serves the natural gas distribution and transmission, oil
products, exploration/production and telecommunication industries. The primary
services provided include engineering design, project management, field
surveying, inspecting, testing, pipeline-mill quality assurance and full turnkey
service.
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
The Company's construction services business segment has offices in
Michigan, Kansas, Iowa and Tennessee. Its primary service is underground
pipeline installation and replacement for the natural gas distribution industry.
The construction services segment is comprised of four companies.
PROPANE, PIPELINES AND STORAGE
The Company's propane, pipelines and storage business segment consist of
several pipelines and a gas storage facility. The Company has partial ownership
interests or equity interests in these operations which are all located in
Michigan. This segment includes Hotflame Gas, Inc. which supplies propane to
over 7,500 retail customers in Michigan's upper peninsula and northeast
Wisconsin.
The business of the Company and its subsidiaries, is described in the
documents incorporated into this Prospectus to which documents reference is
hereby made. See "Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference."
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USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock
offered hereby.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The Company's authorized capital stock consists of 40,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, 500,000 shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $1.00
("Preferred Stock"), and 3,000,000 shares of Preference Stock, par value $1.00
("Preference Stock"). At May 27, 1999, there were outstanding 17,745,697 shares
of Common Stock and 6,218 shares of Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred
Stock, a series of the Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock"). Each
share of the Series A Preferred Stock outstanding is currently convertible into
4.11 shares of Common Stock or an aggregate of approximately 25,555 shares of
Common Stock. 2,000,000 shares of the Preference Stock are reserved for issuance
pursuant to a Shareholder Rights Plan described below; no Preference Stock is
outstanding.
COMMON STOCK
Dividend Rights. The holders of Common Stock are entitled to dividends
when, as and if, declared by the Company's Board of Directors out of the surplus
of the Company after full cumulative dividends on the Preferred Stock and
Preference Stock shall have been paid or set apart for payment and any sinking
fund obligations with respect to the Preferred Stock and Preference Stock have
been satisfied.
The Company has long-term debt agreements which contain restrictive
financial covenants including, among others, limits on the payment of dividends.
Such agreements provide that the Company may not declare and pay any dividends
(except dividends or other distributions payable in shares of its capital
stock), redeem or retire its capital stock (or any warrants, rights, or options
to purchase or acquire its capital stock), or make other distributions with
respect to its capital stock (such declarations or payments of dividends,
purchases, redemptions or retirements of capital stock and warrants, rights or
options and all such other payments or distributions being collectively referred
to as "Restricted Payments") if, after giving effect thereto, (i) any event of
default under such agreements exist; (ii) the aggregate amount of Restrictive
Payments since January 1, 1994 would exceed the Company's consolidated net
income for the same period plus an adjustment factor of $14,171,000; or (iii)
would cause the consolidated net worth of the Company to be less than
$80,000,000. After December 31, 1999, the adjustment factor of $14,171,000 is
reduced each quarter by $625,000 until the adjustment factor equals $11,000,000.
Under the most restrictive terms, as of March 31, 1999, $15,570,000 is available
for dividends.
Voting Rights. The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for
each share on all matters voted upon by the Company's shareholders and, subject
to any voting rights of the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock and
Preference Stock described below, the holders of such shares currently possess
all voting power. The Company's Articles of Incorporation provide for cumulative
voting for the election of directors of the Company.
Preemptive Rights. No holder of Common Stock has any preemptive right to
subscribe to any additional securities which may be issued by the Company.
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Liquidation Rights. Subject to the preferential rights of holders of the
Preferred Stock and Preference Stock, the holders of the Common Stock are
entitled to share on a pro rata basis in the net assets of the Company which
remain after satisfaction of all liabilities.
PREFERRED STOCK
The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized, without further action
by shareholders, to issue Preferred Stock, in one or more series, from time to
time, with such rights and preferences as may be provided in a resolution
adopted by the Board of Directors. The authority of the Board includes, but is
not limited to, the determination or fixing of the following with respect to
shares of such class or any series thereof: (i) the rate of dividends and the
extent of further participation in dividend distribution, if any; (ii) the price
at and the terms and conditions on which the shares are redeemable; (iii) the
amount payable upon shares in event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation;
(iv) sinking fund provisions for the redemption or purchase of shares; and (v)
the terms and conditions on which shares are convertible.
In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the holders
of Preferred Stock are entitled to receive a fixed amount for each series before
any distribution is made to the holders of Common Stock. As long as any
Preferred Stock remains outstanding, the Company may not purchase any shares of
its Common Stock or redeem any Preference Stock.
As long as any Preferred Stock remains outstanding, the Company may not
without the consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding
Preferred Stock authorize any class of stock having a priority or preference
over or ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or
distribution of assets.
If at any time the Company shall fail to declare and pay or set apart for
payment in full eight quarterly dividends (whether or not consecutive) on all of
the outstanding Preferred Stock, then the holders of the outstanding Preferred
Stock shall, thereupon, have the right, voting as a single class irrespective of
series, to elect such number of directors of the Company as shall constitute one
less than the smallest number of directors necessary to constitute a majority of
the full Board of Directors, and such right shall continue (and may be exercised
at any annual or other meeting of shareholders for the election of directors)
until the Company shall have paid or declared and set apart for payment all
accrued dividends on the Preferred Stock for all past quarterly dividend
periods.
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
The Series A Preferred Stock carries a dividend of $2.3125 per share per
annum which accrued from the date of original issue. Upon redemption, the
holders of such shares are entitled to receive $25 per share plus all dividends
accrued or in arrears thereon. The preferential amount payable upon the shares
of this series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company or reduction of capital resulting in
the distribution of assets to the shareholders, is $25 per share together with
an amount equal to dividends accrued or in arrears thereon. The holders of
shares of this series have the right, at their option, to convert such shares
into shares of Common Stock of the Company at any time at a current conversion
price of 4.11 shares of Common Stock for each share of Series A Preferred Stock.
The conversion price is subject to adjustment as a result of certain events. The
holders of Series A Preferred Stock have the voting rights described above under
Preferred Stock.
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PREFERENCE STOCK
The Board of Directors has the authority to divide the shares of Preference
Stock into series and, within the limitations set forth in the laws of the State
of Michigan and in the Articles of Incorporation, to fix and determine the
relative rights and preferences of the shares of any series so established. The
Preference Stock ranks junior to all series of Preferred Stock as to the payment
of dividends and the distribution of assets, except to the extent that a
specific series of Preferred Stock provides otherwise.
SERIES A PREFERENCE STOCK
In January, 1997, the Board of Directors created a series of Preference
Stock designated as Series A Preference Stock with the number of shares
constituting such series set at 2,000,000. No shares of Preference Stock are
outstanding.
If Series A Preference Stock was outstanding, dividends would accrue and be
cumulative in an amount per share per quarter equal to the greater of (i) $10.00
or (ii) the Adjustment Number (as defined below) times the per share amount of
all cash dividends, and the Adjustment Number times the per share amount
(payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions (other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the shares of
Common Stock), declared on the Common Stock since the preceding quarterly
dividend payment date, or, if later, since the issuance or such Series A
Preference Stock. Upon any liquidation or dissolution of the Company the holders
of Series A Preference Stock are entitled to receive $100 per share plus all
accrued and unpaid dividends. The Series A Preference Stock is not redeemable
and ranks junior to all series of Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends
and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any series provides
otherwise. If Series A Preference Stock was outstanding, a holder of Series A
Preference Stock would be entitled to the number of votes equal to the
Adjustment Number times the number of votes to which a holder of Common Stock is
entitled. Except as otherwise provided below or by law, Series A Preference
Stock and Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote of the holders of Common Stock. If any dividends on Series A
Preference Stock shall be in arrears for six or more quarterly dividends, a
"default period" shall begin. The default period shall end when all accrued
dividends shall have been paid or set apart for payment. During a default
period, Series A Preference Stock shall have the right to elect two directors.
This vote shall be as a class for all series of Preference Stock entitled to
vote.
The Articles of Incorporation initially set the Adjustment Number at 100.
If the Company shall (i) pay any dividend on Common Stock in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the Common Stock, or (iii) combine the Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, the Adjustment Number shall be modified by multiplying
it by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event.
DIRECT STOCK PURCHASE AND DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
The Company sponsors a direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan
(the "Reinvestment Plan") under which investors may purchase shares of Common
Stock without paying brokerage fees and other expenses. Under the Reinvestment
Plan, Common Stock may be purchased at the average of the over-the-counter
closing ask prices for the
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three trading days prior to the fifth day of each month as quoted in the NASDAQ
System. The Company initially reserved 2,000,000 shares of its Common Stock for
issuance under the Reinvestment Plan. As of May 15, 1999, 1,462,255 shares were
available for issuance under the Reinvestment Plan.
OTHER PROVISIONS
Articles of Incorporation. The following provisions of the Company's
Articles of Incorporation may delay, defer or prevent a person from acquiring
the Company or changing control of the Company's Board of Directors. The
Company's Articles of Incorporation divide the Board into three classes with
staggered terms; each director is elected for a three year term. Approximately
one-third of the Board positions are filled by a shareholder vote each year.
Directors may be removed but only for cause, at an annual meeting of
shareholders and by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares then
entitled to vote for the election of directors. In addition to requirements
imposed under Section 7A of the Michigan Business Corporation Act (the "MBCA"),
the Company's Articles of Incorporation provide that a business combination
cannot occur unless a written opinion is obtained from an independent investment
banker that the consideration to be paid to the shareholders of the Company is
fair and reasonable; provided, however, the directors may waive this
requirement. The Company's Articles of Incorporation also contain provisions
limiting the personal liability of directors.
Anti-Takeover Statutes. The Company is subject to Chapter 7A of the MBCA,
which provides that business combinations subject to Chapter 7A between a
Michigan corporation and a beneficial owner of shares entitled to 10% or more of
the voting power of such corporation generally require the affirmative vote of
90% of the votes of each class of stock entitled to vote, and not less than 2/3
of each class of stock entitled to vote (excluding voting shares owned by such
10% owner), voting as a separate class. Such requirements do not apply if (i)
the corporation's board of directors approves the transaction prior to the time
the 10% owner becomes such or (ii) the transaction satisfies certain fairness
standards, certain other conditions are met and the 10% owner has been such for
at least five years.
The Company is subject to Chapter 7B of the MBCA which provides that,
unless a corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws provide that Chapter
7B does not apply, "control shares" of a corporation acquired in a control share
acquisition have no voting rights except as granted by the stockholders of the
corporation. "Control shares" are shares which, when added to shares previously
owned by a stockholder, increase such stockholder's ownership of voting stock to
more than 20% but less than 33 1/3%, more than 33 1/3% but less than a majority,
or more than a majority, of the votes to which all of the capital stock of the
corporation is entitled. Voting rights of control shares must be approved by the
affirmative vote of a majority of all shares entitled to vote excluding voting
shares owned by the acquirer and certain officers and directors. However, no
such approval is required for gifts or other transactions not involving
consideration, for a merger to which the corporation is a party or certain other
transactions described in Chapter 7B.
Rights to Purchase Preference Stock. In January 1997, the Company adopted a
Shareholder's Rights Plan (the "Shareholders Rights Plan") pursuant to which
2,000,000 shares of Series A Preference Stock are reserved under the
Shareholders Rights Plan for sale to holders of Common Stock. The Common Stock
currently trades with a right (the "Right") to purchase such Series A Preference
Stock. The Right is intended to protect
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shareholders in the event of an unsolicited attempt to acquire the Company and
becomes exercisable upon the occurrence of certain triggering events. The Right
is transferred automatically with the transfer of the Common Stock until
separate rights certificates are distributed upon the occurrence of certain
events. The Right could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a
person from acquiring the Company or accomplishing a change in control of the
Company's Board of Directors.
Transfer Agent. The Company serves as its own transfer agent and registrar
for its Common Stock.
SELLING SHAREHOLDER
All of the shares of Common Stock offered by this Prospectus are owned by
Jimmy C. Foster (the "Selling Shareholder").
The Selling Shareholder received the Common Stock offered hereby as a
result of the merger (the "Merger") on November 3, 1998 of a wholly-owned
subsidiary of SEMCO with Oilfield Materials Consultants, Inc., a Texas
corporation ("OMC"). As a result of the Merger, OMC was merged into a
wholly-owned second tier subsidiary of the Company which changed its name to
OMC. Mr. Foster is the President and Chief Executive Officer of OMC and has an
employment agreement with OMC extending through November, 2003. The Selling
Shareholder owns 805,202 additional shares of Common Stock of the Company other
than those being offered hereby which he received in connection with the Merger.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The shares offered hereby may be sold from time to time by the Selling
Shareholder, or by pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest
of the Selling Shareholder. Such sales may be made through the NASDAQ, or
otherwise, at prices and on terms then prevailing or at prices related to the
then-current market prices, or in negotiated transactions at negotiated prices.
The shares may be sold by one or a combination of the following: (a) a block
trade in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares
as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and
resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus; and
(c) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker
solicits purchasers. In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the
Selling Shareholder may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate.
Brokers or dealers will receive commissions or discounts from the Selling
Shareholder in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale. The
Selling Shareholder and any broker-dealers that participate in the distribution
may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), and any commission
received by them and any profit on the resale of shares sold by them may be
deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the Common Stock offered herein and certain related matters
will be passed upon for the Company by Arnold R. Madigan, General Counsel to the
Company.
EXPERTS
The Financial Statements and schedule included in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, which are incorporated
by reference in this Prospectus, have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with respect
thereto, and are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon the authority
of said firm as experts in giving said report.
With respect to the unaudited interim consolidated financial information in
the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1999,
Arthur Andersen LLP has applied limited procedures in accordance with
professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate
report thereon states that they did not audit and they did not express an
opinion on that interim consolidated financial information. Accordingly, the
degree of reliance on their report 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
Securities Act, for their report 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 Securities Act.
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No dealer, salesperson or other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations not contained or incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus and, if given or made, such other information or
representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company,
the Selling Shareholder or any other person. Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus nor any sale made herein shall, under the circumstances, create any
implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since
the date hereof. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or
solicitation of an offer to buy the securities offered hereby to any person or
by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation may not
lawfully be made.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
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<S> <C>
Available Information............... 2
Incorporation of Certain Information
by Reference...................... 2
The Company......................... 3
Use of Proceeds..................... 4
Description of Capital Stock........ 4
Selling Shareholder................. 8
Plan of Distribution................ 8
Legal Matters....................... 9
Experts............................. 9
</TABLE>
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100,000 Shares
SEMCO ENERGY LOGO
Common Stock
Par Value, $1.00 Per Share
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PROSPECTUS
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July 19, 1999
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