<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2000
REGISTRATION NO. 33-19990
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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 (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Identification No.)
Organization)
9 RIVERSIDE ROAD
WESTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02493
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
1972 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1982 STOCK OPTION PLAN
----------------------------------------
(full title of plans)
L. WILLIAM LAW, JR.
Eastern Enterprises
9 Riverside Road
Weston, Massachusetts 02493
(781) 647-2300
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(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
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<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
1972 Stock Option Plan and the 1982 Stock Option Plan pursuant to which the
shares would have been issued, have either expired by their terms or been
terminated and no additional shares may be issued or sold under such plans.
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
J. Mark Cook Enterprises
/s/ L. William Law, Jr. Senior Vice President, November 13, 2000
-------------------------- General Counsel and
L. Willliam Law, Jr. Secretary
* Senior Vice President, November 13, 2000
-------------------------- President of Boston Gas,
Chester R. Messer Colonial 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 his 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
