SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
April 13, 2000
ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
TEXAS AND VIRGINIA 1-10042 75-1743247
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(State or Other Jurisdiction Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Number Identification No.)
Organization)
1800 THREE LINCOLN CENTRE,
5430 LBJ FREEWAY, DALLAS, TEXAS 75240
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(Address of Principal (Zip Code)
Executive Offices)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code
(972) 934-9227
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On April 13, 2000, Atmos Energy Corporation announced in a
press release that it had entered into a definitive agreement to
acquire the Louisiana gas operations of Louisiana Gas Service
Company, a division of Citizens Utilities Company (NYSE: CZN), and
LGS Natural Gas Company, a subsidiary of Citizens Utilities Company.
The purchase price for the transaction is $375,000,000, which is
being initially financed through a fully underwritten committed bank
facility. The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory
approval. Such press release is filed herein as Exhibit 99.1, which
is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits
99.1 Press Release of Atmos Energy Corporation dated
April 13, 2000.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
(Registrant)
DATE: April 18, 2000 By: /s/ ROBERT W. BEST
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Robert W. Best
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Item Number Description Page
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99.1 Press Release of Atmos Energy Corporation
dated April 13, 2000
EXHIBIT 99.1
[ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION LETTERHEAD AND LOGO APPEAR HERE]
Date: April 13, 2000 Investor Contacts:
Lynn Hord (972) 855-3729
Carol Knies (972) 855-3116
FOR RELEASE: Immediately Media Contact:
Randy Hicks (972) 855-3720
ATMOS ENERGY REACHES DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT
TO ACQUIRE LOUISIANA ASSETS OF CITIZENS UTILITIES COMPANY
Dallas, Texas -- Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) today
announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the
Louisiana gas operations of Louisiana Gas Service Company, a
division of Citizens Utilities Company (NYSE: CZN), and LGS
Natural Gas Company, a subsidiary of Citizens Utilities Company.
Louisiana Gas Service Company serves approximately 279,000 customers
and is headquartered in Harvey, Louisiana. LGS Natural Gas Company
is an intrastate pipeline company that provides gas transportation
service to industrial customers. This acquisition will make Atmos
the largest natural gas distributor in the State of Louisiana with
approximately 359,000 customers.
Under the terms of the agreement, Atmos will purchase the assets of
Louisiana Gas Service Company and LGS Natural Gas Company for $375
million. This acquisition of assets will be accounted for as a
purchase and is anticipated to be accretive to earnings in the first
full year of operations after closing, excluding one-time charges
related to the transaction. The transaction is expected to be
completed within 12 months and is subject to approval by the
Louisiana Public Service Commission.
"This transaction is consistent with Atmos' long-term corporate
strategy of increasing the value of the Company through strategic
acquisitions," said Robert W. Best, chairman, president and chief
executive officer of Atmos Energy Corporation. "With the pending
acquisition of Associated Natural Gas and the addition of Louisiana
Gas Service Company, Atmos' customer base will increase to
approximately 1.4 million customers, making Atmos the 5th largest
pure gas utility in the United States."
Louisiana Gas Service Company provides natural gas distribution
service to residential and commercial customers in approximately 190
communities in southeastern and northern Louisiana, an area with a
combined population of more than 600,000. Its service territory
includes the suburban areas of metropolitan New Orleans (excluding
Orleans Parish), the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain and the
Monroe/West Monroe metropolitan area.
SG Barr Devlin acted as financial advisor to Atmos Energy
Corporation on the transaction.
All statements, other than historical financial information and
statements of historical facts included in this press release may be
deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements reflect the
Company's current views made in good faith with respect to future
events and performance. Actual results may differ materially from
those suggested in any such forward-looking statements as a result
of certain risks and uncertainties. A discussion of these risks and
uncertainties is included in the Company's periodic reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1999.
Atmos Energy Corporation of Dallas, Texas, distributes natural gas
and propane to more than one million customers in 13 states through
its operating divisions -- Energas Company, Greeley Gas Company,
Trans Louisiana Gas Company, United Cities Gas Company, Western
Kentucky Gas Company and United Cities Propane Gas, Inc.
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