<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2000
REGISTRATION NO. 333-88967
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
----------------------
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
EASTERN ENTERPRISES
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
MASSACHUSETTS 04-1270730
(State or other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)
9 RIVERSIDE ROAD
WESTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02493
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
EASTERN ENTERPRISES 1996 NON-EMPLOYEE TRUSTEES
STOCK OPTION PLAN
(full title of plan)
----------------------------------------------
L. WILLIAM LAW, JR.
Eastern Enterprises
9 Riverside Road
Weston, Massachusetts 02493
(781) 647-2300
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
---------------------------------------------------------
Please send copies of all communications to:
DAVID B. WALEK, ESQ.
Ropes & Gray
One International Place
Boston, MA 02110
617-951-7000
================================================================================
<PAGE>
Pursuant to Rule 478(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant hereby de-registers any and all shares of Eastern Enterprises
Common Stock originally registered hereunder which have not been issued. The
Eastern Enterprises 1996 Non-Employee Trustees Stock Option Plan, pursuant to
which the shares would have been issued, has either expired by its terms or been
terminated and no additional shares may be issued or sold under such plan.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it has duly
caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form
S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in
the Town of Weston, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on this 13th day of
November, 2000
EASTERN ENTERPRISES
/s/ L. William Law, Jr.
--------------------------
By: L. William Law, Jr.
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-
Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
-------------------------- --------------------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
* Chairman of the Board, November 13, 2000
-------------------------- Chief Executive Officer
J. Atwood Ives and Trustee
* President and Chief November 13, 2000
-------------------------- Operating Officer
Fred C. Raskin
* Executive Vice President November 13, 2000
-------------------------- and Chief Financial Officer
Walter J. Flaherty
* Senior Vice President and November 13, 2000
-------------------------- President of Midland Enterprises
J. Mark Cook
/s/ L. William Law, Jr. Senior Vice President, General November 13, 2000
-------------------------- Counsel and Secretary
L. Willliam Law, Jr.
* Senior Vice President, November 13, 2000
-------------------------- President of Boston Gas, Colonial
Chester R. Messer Gas and Essex Gas
* Trustee November 13, 2000
--------------------------
James R. Barker
* Trustee November 13, 2000
--------------------------
Richard S. Clayton
* Trustee November 13, 2000
--------------------------
John D. Curtin, Jr.
* Trustee November 13, 2000
--------------------------
Samuel Frankenheim
* Trustee November 13, 2000
--------------------------
Leonard R. Jaskol
* Trustee November 13, 2000
--------------------------
Wendell J. Knox
* Trustee November 13, 2000
--------------------------
F.L. Putnam, Jr.
* Trustee November 13, 2000
--------------------------
Rina K. Spence
* Trustee November 13, 2000
--------------------------
David B. Stone
</TABLE>
*The undersigned, by signing their name hereto, does hereby sign and execute
this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-8 on
behalf of the above named officers and Trustees of Eastern Enterprises pursuant
to the Power of Attorney executed by each such officer and/or Trustee and
previously filed with the SEC.
By: /s/ L. William Law, Jr. November 13, 2000
---------------------------
L. William Law, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
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