<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(1)
REGISTRATION NO. 33-59533
1,300,000 SHARES
ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY
[LOGO OF COMMON STOCK
ATLANTA GAS LIGHT
APPEARS HERE] ----------------
Atlanta Gas Light Company (the "Company") is offering hereby 1,300,000 shares
(the "Shares") of its common stock, par value $5 per share (the "Common
Stock"). The Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "ATG." On June 12, 1995, the last reported sale price of the Common
Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $33 5/8 per share.
----------------
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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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO
PUBLIC DISCOUNT (1) COMPANY(2)
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<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Share................................. $33.625 $1.03 $32.595
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Total(3).................................. $43,712,500 $1,339,000 $42,373,500
</TABLE>
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(1) The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against
certain civil liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See
"Underwriting."
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $114,142.
(3) The Company has granted the several Underwriters an option to purchase up
to an additional 195,000 Shares (the "Option Shares") to cover over-
allotments. If all such Option Shares are purchased, the total Price to
Public, Underwriting Discount and Proceeds to Company will be $50,269,375,
$1,539,850 and $48,729,525, respectively. See "Underwriting."
----------------
The Shares are offered by the several Underwriters, subject to prior sale,
when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of certain
legal matters by counsel for the Underwriters and certain other conditions. The
Underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify such offer and to
reject orders in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the Shares
will be made in New York, New York on or about June 16, 1995.
----------------
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
THE ROBINSON-HUMPHREY COMPANY, INC.
----------------
The date of this Prospectus is June 12, 1995.
<PAGE>
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK
AT A LEVEL ABOVE THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH
TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF
COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Additional information regarding the Company and the shares of Common Stock
to be offered by the Company is contained in the Registration Statement on Form
S-3 and the exhibits thereto (of which this Prospectus forms a part) which the
Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act").
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and in accordance therewith
files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Such
reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at
the public reference facilities of the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's regional offices
at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511 and 7
World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such
material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. Such
reports, proxy statements and other information also may be inspected at the
offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York
10005.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission under the
1934 Act (File No. 1-9905) are incorporated in this Prospectus by reference as
of their respective dates of filing and shall be deemed to be a part hereof:
(1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1994; and
(2) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters
ended December 31, 1994 and March 31, 1995.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the 1934 Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering of the securities offered hereby 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; provided, however, that all documents so
filed in each year during which the offering made by this Prospectus is in
effect shall not be incorporated herein by reference or be a part hereof from
and after the date of filing of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
such year. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be modified or superseded, for purposes
of this Prospectus, to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any
subsequently filed document which is deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.
THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM A COPY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN DELIVERED, UPON THE WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF ANY SUCH
PERSON, A COPY OF ANY OR ALL OF THE INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN
THIS PROSPECTUS, OTHER THAN EXHIBITS TO SUCH INFORMATION UNLESS THEY ARE
SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO SUCH INFORMATION. REQUESTS FOR SUCH
COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE OFFICE OF THE CORPORATE SECRETARY, ATLANTA GAS
LIGHT COMPANY, P.O. BOX 4569, ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30302; (404) 584-3794. THE
INFORMATION RELATING TO THE COMPANY CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
PURPORT TO BE COMPREHENSIVE AND SHOULD BE READ TOGETHER WITH THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THE INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS.
2
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following material is qualified in its entirety by the information
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appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus or in documents incorporated by
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reference in this Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, the information in
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this Prospectus assumes that the Underwriters' over-allotment option will not
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be exercised. See "Underwriting."
- ---------------------------------
THE OFFERING
Company............................. Atlanta Gas Light Company ("AGL")
Common Shares Offered............... 1,300,000 shares of Common Stock (par
value $5 per share)
Common Shares to be Outstanding
After Offering.....................
27,074,865
Use of Proceeds..................... To finance the Company's capital
expenditure program and for other
corporate purposes
New York Stock Exchange Listing..... Symbol: ATG
Fiscal Year 1995 Price Range
(through June 12, 1995)............
$29 1/8 to $36 5/8
Indicated Current Annual Dividend... $2.08
THE COMPANY
The Company is a gas distribution utility company which for the twelve months
ended March 31, 1995 served an average of approximately 1,334,000 customers in
Georgia and Tennessee. The principal service areas include the metropolitan
Atlanta and the Athens, Augusta, Brunswick, Macon, Rome, Savannah and Valdosta,
Georgia areas and the Chattanooga and Cleveland, Tennessee areas. The
composition of operating margin for the twelve months ended March 31, 1995 was
84% firm service customers, 12% interruptible customers and 4% other. The
Company, the principal office of which is located at 303 Peachtree Street,
N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (telephone number 404/584-4000), was incorporated
on February 16, 1856 by a Special Act of the Georgia General Assembly to engage
in the gas utility business. Unless noted specifically or otherwise required by
the context, reference to the "Company" includes AGL, its wholly-owned
subsidiary Chattanooga Gas Company ("Chattanooga"), and other wholly-owned
subsidiaries.
3
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT FOR PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TWELVE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
MONTHS ENDED ---------------------------
MARCH 31, 1995 1994 1993 1992
-------------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
Operating Revenue.................. $1,114.8 $1,199.9 $1,130.3 $ 994.6
Operating Margin(1)................ 478.2 463.1 429.3 404.1
Net Income......................... 25.6(2) 63.2 57.5 55.4
Earnings Applicable to Common
Stock............................. 21.1(2) 58.7 53.2 54.4
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock. .83(2) 2.34 2.16 2.26
Cash Dividends Paid Per Share of
Common Stock...................... 2.08 2.08 2.08 2.06
Average Number of Common Shares
Outstanding (Millions)............ 25.4 25.1 24.6 24.1
OPERATING DATA:
Gas Sold and Transported (Therms in
Millions)
Sold............................... 1,837.0 1,906.8 1,868.6 1,794.3
Transported........................ 673.2 697.4 795.6 901.8
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total............................ 2,510.2 2,604.2 2,664.2 2,696.1
======== ======== ======== ========
Total Customers (Average in Thou-
sands)............................ 1,334.4 1,315.7 1,280.9 1,248.4
<CAPTION>
AT MARCH 31, 1995
------------------------------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED(3)
----------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CAPITAL STRUCTURE:
Common Stock Equity................ $ 539.0 46.8% $581.4 48.7%
Cumulative Preferred Stock--
Redeemable....................... 55.5 4.8 55.5 4.6
Non-redeemable................... 3.0 .3 3.0 .3
Long-Term Debt..................... 554.5 48.1 554.5 46.4
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total............................ $1,152.0 100.0% $1,194.4 100.0%
======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Operating revenues less cost of gas.
(2) Net income, earnings applicable to Common Stock and earnings per share of
Common Stock for the twelve months ended March 31, 1995 were reduced by
restructuring costs recorded by the Company in the quarters ended December
31, 1994 and March 31, 1995 of $67.5 million or $41.4 million after income
taxes ($1.63 per share). See "Business of the Company--Corporate
Restructuring."
(3) Adjusted to reflect the issuance and sale of 1,300,000 shares of Common
Stock for offering proceeds of $42,373,500.
4
<PAGE>
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDENDS
The Company's Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "ATG." The following table sets forth information on the price range of
the Common Stock and dividends paid per share on the Common Stock for the
periods indicated. Price information indicates the high and low sale prices of
the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DIVIDENDS
FISCAL PERIOD HIGH LOW PAID PER SHARE
- ------------- ------ ------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1993
First Quarter.................................. 37 7/8 34 1/8 .52
Second Quarter................................. 42 3/8 36 5/8 .52
Third Quarter.................................. 41 7/8 38 .52
Fourth Quarter................................. 41 3/8 37 5/8 .52
1994
First Quarter.................................. 38 7/8 34 5/8 .52
Second Quarter................................. 38 5/8 34 1/8 .52
Third Quarter.................................. 36 1/2 33 5/8 .52
Fourth Quarter................................. 35 1/4 30 3/8 .52
1995
First Quarter.................................. 32 3/4 29 1/8 .52
Second Quarter................................. 34 3/4 29 3/4 .52
Third Quarter (through June 12, 1995).......... 36 5/8 33 1/4 .52
</TABLE>
On June 12, 1995, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock was
$33 5/8 per share. At May 19, 1995, there were approximately 17,400 holders of
record of the Company's Common Stock.
The Board of Directors of the Company has declared and paid consecutive
quarterly cash dividends on the Company's Common Stock since March 1, 1948. The
payment of future dividends will be dependent upon earnings, the financial
condition of the Company and other factors.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds to be received by the Company from the sale of the shares of
Common Stock will be used to finance the Company's capital expenditure program
and for other corporate purposes. Any proceeds not immediately so applied will
be invested temporarily, pending such application, in United States government
or agency obligations, commercial paper, bank certificates of deposit or
repurchase agreements.
Capital expenditures for the 1994 fiscal year totaled $122.5 million. The
Company's capital expenditures for the three fiscal years ending September 30,
1997 are estimated to aggregate approximately $340 million. It is anticipated
that expenditures during this three-year period will be financed by funds
generated from operations and additional financings. The type, amount and
timing of any such additional future financings will be determined by
conditions then existing.
5
<PAGE>
BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
GENERAL
Atlanta Gas Light Company (including its wholly-owned subsidiary,
Chattanooga) is a gas distribution utility company which for the twelve months
ended March 31, 1995 served an average of approximately 1,334,000 customers in
Georgia and Tennessee. The Company provides natural gas service in 229 cities
and surrounding areas in Georgia and in the Chattanooga and Cleveland,
Tennessee areas. The Company's service area covers approximately 26,528 square
miles and has 25,744 miles of gas mains. The Company is the largest gas
distribution company in the Southeast. Its principal service areas in Georgia
include the metropolitan Atlanta and the Athens, Augusta, Brunswick, Macon,
Rome, Savannah and Valdosta areas. The Company also serves more than 15,000
customers in Georgia and Alabama with liquefied petroleum gas. All of the
Company's natural gas service area is certificated by and subject to regulation
of the Georgia Public Service Commission (the "Georgia Commission") and the
Tennessee Public Service Commission (the "Tennessee Commission").
Based on twelve month average calculations, during fiscal 1992, 1993 and 1994
the Company added an average of 29,000, 32,500 and 34,800 customers,
respectively, representing an average annual increase of 2.5%. Most of the new
customers were in the residential and small commercial service categories. The
composition of operating margin for the twelve months ended March 31, 1995 was
84% firm service customers, 12% interruptible customers and 4% other.
The Company's historic maximum daily send out is 1.943 billion cubic feet
(Bcf), which occurred on January 18, 1994. The mean temperature in the
metropolitan Atlanta area that day was 23(degrees) F. The Company's business is
highly seasonal and heavily dependent on weather, resulting from the
substantial use of gas for heating purposes. The Company has implemented
weather normalization adjustment riders, which were approved by the Georgia and
Tennessee commissions, and which offset the impact that either unusually cold
or unusually warm weather has upon the Company's operating margin, earnings and
cash flow. The riders are designed to stabilize the Company's operating margin
and earnings at the levels which would occur with normal weather.
The Company, the principal office of which is located at 303 Peachtree
Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (telephone number 404/584-4000), was
incorporated on February 16, 1856 by a Special Act of the Georgia General
Assembly to engage in the gas utility business. Since its incorporation, the
Company has been continuously so engaged except for a period (1864-1866) during
and after The War Between the States when the Company's plant was destroyed.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On April 28, 1995, the Company executed a letter of intent with Sonat, Inc.
("Sonat") regarding the purchase of an interest in Sonat Marketing Company,
which letter evidenced the mutual intentions of the Company and Sonat to
jointly own an entity that will acquire the business of Sonat Marketing
Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sonat. The jointly owned entity, in
succeeding to the business of Sonat Marketing Company, will continue to engage
in the business of offering natural gas sales, transportation, risk management
and storage services to natural gas users in key natural gas producing and
consuming areas of the United States.
The agreement contemplates that the Company will contribute $32 million in
cash for a 35% ownership interest in the marketing entity. The Company has
certain rights for a period of five years to sell its interest to Sonat under a
formula price and has certain rights to sell its interest to Sonat for Fair
Market Value, as defined, at any time. The letter of intent is subject to a
number of conditions, including the negotiation and execution of a mutually
acceptable definitive agreement regarding the transaction and obtaining all
required consents and approvals, including governmental approvals, and the
expiration of applicable waiting periods.
6
<PAGE>
CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING
In November 1994, the Company announced a corporate restructuring plan in
response to increased competition and the federal and state regulatory
environments in which the Company operates. (See "Federal Regulatory Matters--
FERC Order 636" and "State Regulatory Matters--Bypass, Competition and Rate
Filings" below.) The restructuring plan provides for a consolidation of the
Company's field organization and improvement in efficiency of its business
processes. Restructuring will include combining offices and creating
centralized call centers and a network of locations where customers can pay
their bills throughout the Company's service area. In accordance with the
plan's initial objective, the number of employees of the Company has been
reduced by more than 600 through attrition and voluntary retirement and
severance programs. The Company will implement remaining portions of the plan
during the remainder of fiscal 1995. As of March 31, 1995, approximately $67.5
million, or $41.4 million after income taxes, has been recorded in connection
with the Company's corporate restructuring plan.
As a result of the restructuring, the Company expects considerable reductions
in future annual operating expenses. Those reductions should enable the Company
to be more competitive in its markets in the future. The Company estimates
total costs of the restructuring plan will be in a range of $67.5 million to
$70 million or $41.4 million to $43 million after income taxes. Those costs
will be offset within three years with lower operating costs.
GAS SUPPLY
The Company is served directly by four interstate pipelines: Southern Natural
Gas Company ("Southern"), South Georgia Natural Gas Company ("South Georgia"),
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation ("Transco") and East Tennessee
Natural Gas Company ("East Tennessee") in combination with Tennessee Gas
Pipeline Company ("Tennessee"), the parent company and primary source of gas
for East Tennessee.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") Order 636, which mandated the
unbundling of interstate pipeline gas sales, transportation and storage
services and established certain open access transportation regulations, was
implemented on the pipelines that serve the Company in the fall of 1993. (For a
discussion of transition costs to the Company associated with the
implementation of Order 636, see "Federal Regulatory Matters--FERC Order 636"
below.) The unbundling of pipeline sales service requires local distribution
companies ("LDCs") such as the Company to contract directly and separately for
wellhead gas supply, underground storage and firm transportation services.
Unbundling shifts the responsibility and risk of securing a reliable and cost-
effective gas services portfolio from the pipelines to LDCs such as the
Company. Unbundling also provides LDCs flexibility in selecting and managing
the types of services required to provide customers with cost efficiencies.
The Company has implemented its gas supply portfolio strategy in response to
the FERC's restructuring associated with Order 636. The portfolio includes a
combination of wellhead gas supply, firm pipeline transportation, underground
storage, and liquefied natural gas ("LNG"). AGL and Chattanooga have firm
transportation service and/or underground storage service with Southern,
Transco, South Georgia, East Tennessee, Tennessee, ANR Storage Company and CNG
Transmission Corporation. To supply their firm transportation and underground
storage requirements, AGL and Chattanooga have entered into firm wellhead
supply contracts with original terms of from one to ten years. The Company also
purchases spot market gas as needed during the year. In addition, four Company-
owned LNG facilities are maintained to meet demand for natural gas on the
coldest days of the winter months.
Implementation of the Company's purchasing strategy has proceeded with no
major operational difficulties. The purchasing practices of AGL are subject to
review under legislation enacted in Georgia in 1994 which provides for annual
review and approval by the Georgia Commission of AGL's gas services portfolio
("Gas Supply Plan") on a prospective basis. On September 15, 1994, the Georgia
Commission
7
<PAGE>
approved AGL's Gas Supply Plan for fiscal year 1995, which includes recovery of
Order 636 transition costs discussed below that are currently being collected
by the pipelines.
FEDERAL REGULATORY MATTERS--FERC ORDER 636
In Order 636, FERC acknowledged that, absent creation of certain recovery
mechanisms, certain costs that were previously recovered in the pipelines'
bundled sales services no longer could be recovered by the pipelines in a
restructured environment. Those costs, referred to as transition costs, include
such things as unrecovered gas costs, gas supply realignment costs and various
stranded costs resulting from unbundling. Order 636 therefore includes a
recovery mechanism that allows the pipeline companies to pass through to their
customers any prudently incurred transition costs attributable to compliance
with Order 636.
The Company currently estimates that its portion of transition costs from all
of its pipeline suppliers that have been filed with the FERC to date to be
recovered could be as high as approximately $79.6 million. The Company's
estimate is based on the most recent estimates of transition costs filed by its
pipeline suppliers with the FERC and assumes that a restructuring settlement
agreement with Southern, as described below, is approved. Such filings by the
Company's pipeline suppliers currently are pending approval by FERC, and the
transition costs are being collected subject to refund. Transition costs billed
to the Company are being recovered currently from customers under the purchased
gas provisions of the Company's rate schedules and thus have no impact on
results of operations. The Company is actively participating in the proceedings
to determine the prudence and eligibility of transition costs for its pipeline
suppliers. The Company does not expect transition costs to significantly affect
the total cost of gas to its customers because (1) the Company will purchase
its wellhead gas supplies based upon market prices that should be below the
cost of gas previously embedded in the bundled pipeline sales service and (2)
many elements of transition costs previously were embedded in the rates for the
pipelines' bundled sales service.
The Company has entered into a settlement with Southern and other customers
to resolve all pending Southern proceedings before the FERC. The settlement
would, if approved by the FERC, resolve Southern's pending general rate
proceedings, which involve rates charged by Southern from January 1, 1991
through the present and also would resolve Southern's Order 636 transition cost
proceedings. The FERC has not yet acted on the proposed settlement agreement,
but has allowed Southern to implement the reduced settlement rates on an
interim basis. Assuming the settlement agreement is approved, the Company's
portion of transition costs from Southern will be approximately $68 million.
STATE REGULATORY MATTERS--BYPASS, COMPETITION AND RATE FILINGS
On October 19, 1994, the Georgia Commission issued a scheduling order
designating a docket for an investigation of AGL bypass issues. The proceeding
was designed to provide information to the Georgia Commission regarding
alternatives to respond to bypass and to assess the economics of bypass.
Hearings in this docket were conducted in November and December 1994.
On February 17, 1995, the Georgia Commission approved a settlement that
addresses all issues which were pending in the bypass proceeding. The
settlement authorizes AGL to negotiate optional, five-year renewable contracts
("Negotiated Contracts") with customers which have the choice of bypassing the
Company's facilities and receiving natural gas from competitors through
alternate suppliers. The negotiated rate may be lower than that which otherwise
would be applicable to the potential bypass customer, but not less than the
marginal cost of service to that customer. The Georgia Commission further
authorized a bypass loss recovery mechanism pursuant to which AGL expects to
recover most, if not all, revenues lost through Negotiated Contracts. The
bypass loss recovery mechanism will expire upon the earlier to occur of
September 30, 1998 or the effective date of new rates resulting from a general
rate case.
The Georgia Commission may reject a Negotiated Contract within 60 days of the
filing thereof with the Georgia Commission, but absent such action a Negotiated
Contract becomes fully effective. The Company currently is providing service
pursuant to five fully effective Negotiated Contracts.
8
<PAGE>
In addition to Negotiated Contracts, the Georgia Commission will continue to
allow AGL, through long-term special contracts ("Special Contracts"), or
existing rate provisions involving short-term discounts, to compete with
suppliers of alternate fuel to provide service to interruptible customers. On
March 2, 1995, the Georgia Commission approved a Special Contract between AGL
and Georgia-Pacific Corporation which is designed to provide long-term service
in competition with fuel oil. On April 18, 1995, the Georgia Commission
authorized AGL to provide compressed natural gas as fuel to the Metropolitan
Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority at prices comparable to diesel fuel.
On May 1, 1995, Chattanooga made a rate filing with the Tennessee Commission
seeking an increase in revenues of $5.2 million annually. Among other things,
the filing seeks to implement a new financing and marketing program for natural
gas heating and cooling systems and natural gas water heaters. Any revenues
which ultimately may be received from the pending rate increase proceeding will
be used by Chattanooga to improve and expand its distribution system and to
recover increased operation, maintenance and tax expenses.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
The Company operated manufactured gas plants ("MGPs") as a source of fuel for
lighting and heating until the early 1950's. The process for manufacturing gas
involved heating certain combustibles such as coal, oil and pine knots in a
low-oxygen atmosphere which produced residuals including lamp black and coal
tar. Such residue typically was stored on-site or sold for commercial use.
In June 1990, the Company was contacted by attorneys for Florida Public
Utilities Company ("FPUC") in connection with a former MGP site in Sanford,
Florida. Thereafter, FPUC received a "Warning Notice" from the Florida
Department of Environmental Regulation ("FDER") demanding that FPUC enter into
a consent order to investigate the Sanford site. Preliminary investigation
results indicate some environmental impacts at this site. In addition, limited
investigations of the surrounding area indicate potential environmental impacts
off-site. On January 31, 1992, FPUC filed suit against the Company, two other
corporations, and the City of Sanford, under the federal Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, and an equivalent
state statute, alleging the Company is a former "owner," to obtain contribution
from the Company and others for all costs incurred and for a declaratory
judgment that all defendants are jointly and severally liable for future
response costs. On February 3, 1994, the parties submitted a Contamination
Assessment Report ("CAR") to Florida Department of Environmental Protection
("FDEP"), previously known as FDER. The CAR confirmed the existence of
environmental impacts at the site and off-site. On April 10, 1994, FDEP
completed its review of the CAR and submitted a preliminary scoring of the site
to Region IV of the U. S. Environmental Protection agency. FDEP concluded that
further study is necessary in some areas because the site did not exceed the
listing threshold under one set of assumptions but did exceed that threshold
under difference assumptions. On February 17, 1995, FPUC dismissed its lawsuit
without prejudice.
In addition to the Sanford site noted above, there are two other sites in
Florida presently being investigated by environmental authorities in connection
with which the Company may be contacted as a potentially responsible party. No
claim has been made by any party regarding these sites.
AGL has identified nine sites in Georgia where it currently owns all or part
of a former MGP. In addition, AGL has identified four other sites in Georgia
which AGL does not now own, but which may have been associated with the
operation of MGPs by AGL or its predecessors. Results of environmental response
activities with respect to these MGP sites reveal environmental impacts at and
near nine sites. AGL has entered into consent orders with the Georgia
Environmental Protection Division ("EPD") with respect to four sites pursuant
to which AGL is obligated to investigate and clean up, if necessary, these
sites.
Under regulations issued by EPD under the Georgia Hazardous Site Response Act
("HSRA"), eight of the MGP sites have been listed on Georgia's "Hazardous Site
Inventory." The issuance of regulations under HSRA and the listing of MGP sites
on the Hazardous Site Inventory has altered the basis upon which the
9
<PAGE>
Company has projected future investigation and remediation costs associated
with the former MGP sites in Georgia. Under a thorough analysis of these and
other potentially applicable requirements, the Company has estimated that,
under the most favorable possible circumstances, the future cost of
investigating and remediating the former MGP sites could be as low as $28.6
million. Alternatively, the Company has estimated that, under the least
favorable possible circumstances, the future cost of investigating and
remediating the former MGP sites could be as high as $109.0 million. The
Company cannot estimate at this time the amount of any other future expenses or
liabilities that may be associated with or related to the MGP sites, including
expenses or liabilities relating to any litigation. At the present time, no
amount within the range can be identified as a better estimate than any other
estimate. Therefore, the low end of this range and a corresponding regulatory
asset have been recorded in the financial statements of the Company.
With regard to other legal proceedings related to the former MGP sites, the
Company is or expects to be a party to claims or counterclaims on an ongoing
basis. Among such matters, the Company intends to continue to pursue
aggressively insurance coverage and contribution from potentially responsible
parties.
The Georgia Commission has approved the recovery by AGL of Environmental
Response Costs, as defined below, pursuant to an Environmental Response Cost
Recovery Rider ("ERCRR") effective October 1, 1992. For purposes of the ERCRR,
Environmental Response Costs include investigation, testing, remediation and
litigation costs and expenses or other liabilities relating to or arising from
MGP sites.
The ERCRR authorized AGL to recover from its ratepayers Environmental
Response Costs that it may incur in succeeding twelve-month periods ending June
30th, net of working capital benefits resulting from deferred income taxes,
amortized over a 60-month period beginning each October 1. The carrying costs
to AGL of such Environmental Response Costs during the period of amortization
are subject to recovery from any amounts that may be received from insurance
carriers and from former owners and operators of MGP sites. Any amounts
received from such sources are shared equally by AGL and its ratepayers. AGL
records its portion as income to offset unrecovered carrying costs.
As a result of the ERCRR, AGL expects that it will be able to recover all of
its Environmental Response Costs. However, the staff of the Georgia Commission
has indicated that it will recommend for consideration by the Georgia
Commission a full financial and management audit of all expenses associated
with Environmental Response Costs for purposes of the ERCRR. At the present
time, the Georgia Commission has not considered any proposed action, and thus
the scope of any study or audit undertaken or the potential impact or result of
such study or audit cannot be determined.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following is a brief description of certain provisions relating to the
Common Stock, as contained in the Charter of the Company, as amended (the
"Charter") and the By-Laws of the Company, as amended (the "By-Laws") and does
not purport to be complete. Reference is made to such documents which are on
file with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus is a part or to previous filings by the Company for a complete
statement of such provisions.
The Company is authorized to issue 100 million shares of Common Stock, $5 par
value per share. At May 19, 1995, the Company had 25,774,865 shares of Common
Stock outstanding, which does not reflect the issuance of the shares offered
hereby. The presently outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
DIVIDEND RIGHTS
Subject to the preferential rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock (and
Junior Stock as defined below (if any) ranking as to dividends ahead of the
Common Stock) to receive full cumulative dividends, both past
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and current, and the restrictions set forth below, the holders of the Common
Stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by the Board of
Directors out of funds legally available therefor.
RESTRICTIONS ON PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS
The Charter imposes restrictions on the payment of dividends (except a
dividend in Common Stock or in any class of stock ranking junior to the
Preferred Stock as to dividends or assets (the "Junior Stock")) and other
distributions on the Common Stock and such other Junior Stock and upon
expenditures for the purchase, redemption or retirement of any shares thereof
(other than by exchanges or with the proceeds of the sale of Common Stock or
such other Junior Stock or to satisfy such other Junior Stock sinking or
purchase fund requirements) unless the Company attains certain earnings levels
or maintains certain capitalization ratios. Under the most restrictive of these
provisions, all of the Company's retained earnings were free of such
restrictions and available for the payment of dividends at March 31, 1995.
Retained earnings at March 31, 1995 were $160.4 million.
VOTING RIGHTS; REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
Subject to the limited voting rights of the Preferred Stock indicated below,
the holders of the Common Stock have full voting rights for the election of
directors and for all other purposes, on the basis of one vote per share.
Cumulative voting by the holders of Common Stock is not permitted in electing
directors.
The Company's Charter requires the affirmative vote of the holders of not
less than 75% of the outstanding shares of voting stock to approve certain
business combinations with a "related person," including mergers, share
exchanges, sales or pledges of more than 10% of the Company's assets or share
reclassifications. A "related person" is defined as a holder of 20% or more of
the voting stock of the Company. A 75% vote is not required if the terms of any
such transaction are either (i) approved by two-thirds of the "continuing
directors" who at that time must comprise at least a majority of the Board of
Directors ("continuing directors" are those in office before the related person
proposed the transaction, or their successors who are approved by the other
continuing directors) or (ii) meet the terms of a "fair price" provision. This
provision also provides that it can only be amended by the affirmative vote of
the holders of not less than 75% of the outstanding voting stock, unless two-
thirds of the "continuing directors" (at a time when "continuing directors"
comprise a majority of the Board of Directors) approve any such amendment.
The Company's By-Laws provide that the Company may not engage in certain
business combinations with an "interested shareholder" (defined as the
beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting stock of the Company) for five
years after the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder unless
(i) prior thereto the Board of Directors approved the proposed business
combination, (ii) the interested shareholder acquired 90% of all outstanding
voting stock, excluding certain management shares, in the transaction in which
it became an interested shareholder or (iii) after becoming an interested
shareholder, the interested shareholder acquired 90% of all shares, excluding
certain management shares, and obtained the approval of the holders of a
majority of the remaining outstanding voting stock, excluding certain
management shares. The types of business combinations covered by the Company's
By-Laws include substantially the same types of transactions covered by the
Charter provisions described in the preceding paragraph.
Whenever dividends payable on any Preferred Stock are in arrears in an amount
equal to at least four quarterly dividends and until all arrears and the
current dividends are paid or declared and set apart for payment, holders of
the Preferred Stock will be entitled to elect the smallest number of directors
necessary to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors. In addition, the
vote or consent of the holders of specified percentages of the Preferred Stock
is required as a condition to effect various changes in the capital structure
of the Company and certain other transactions which might affect the rights of
the holders of Preferred Stock, including a merger or sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company.
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LIQUIDATION RIGHTS
In any liquidation, the holders of Common Stock would be entitled to receive,
pro rata, all of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its
shareholders remaining after there has been paid to or set aside for the
holders of all series of Preferred Stock and any Junior Stock outstanding
(other than Common Stock) the amounts described below. The holders of each
class of Preferred Stock will be entitled upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the Company, or reduction or decrease of its capital (resulting
in a distribution of assets of the Company to the holders of any class of
Junior Stock), before any distribution of assets is made to the holders of any
Junior Stock, to the aggregate par value (or stated capital allocated to shares
of no par value) of Preferred Stock of such class, plus, in case any such
action is voluntary, an amount per share equal to the redemption premium that
would then be payable to the holders thereof if such Preferred Stock were to be
redeemed at the option of the Company, together in each case with accrued
dividends; but the holders of Preferred Stock are not entitled to further
participation in such distribution.
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
No holder of any class of securities has any preemptive rights, other than
such as the Board of Directors in its discretion from time to time may fix,
except that the holders of Common Stock have preemptive rights in respect of
offerings for cash of Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock
(exclusive of any shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the
Company's Leveraged Employees' Stock Ownership Plan, Retirement Savings Plus
Plan, Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan of 1990, Nonqualified Savings Plan, any
dividend reinvestment plan and any successor plan thereto or any other similar
plan which may be established for the general benefit of the Company's
shareholders and/or employees) other than public offerings of such stock or
securities to or through underwriters or investment bankers who agree to make a
public offering of such stock or securities. Thus, the shares being offered in
this offering will not give rise to any preemptive rights with respect to
outstanding shares.
TRANSFER AGENT
The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common Stock is Wachovia Bank of
North Carolina, N.A., 301 North Church Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
27101.
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UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), the Company has agreed to sell to each of the
Underwriters named below, and each of the Underwriters, for whom Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. and The
Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. are acting as representatives (the
"Representatives"), has severally agreed to purchase the number of Shares set
forth opposite its name below. In the Underwriting Agreement, the several
Underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth
therein, to purchase all the Shares offered hereby if any of the Shares are
purchased. In the event of default by an Underwriter, the Underwriting
Agreement provides that, in certain circumstances, purchase commitments of the
nondefaulting Underwriters may be increased or the Underwriting Agreement may
be terminated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITER SHARES
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<S> <C>
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated................................................ 253,334
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc............................................. 253,333
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. ................................. 253,333
CS First Boston Corporation.......................................... 40,000
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.................. 40,000
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc............................................. 40,000
Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation.................................. 40,000
Edward D. Jones & Co................................................. 40,000
Lehman Brothers Inc.................................................. 40,000
NatWest Securities Limited........................................... 40,000
Prudential Securities Incorporated................................... 40,000
Salomon Brothers Inc................................................. 40,000
Smith Barney Inc..................................................... 40,000
J.C. Bradford & Co................................................... 20,000
Cowen & Company...................................................... 20,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated................................. 20,000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc...................................... 20,000
Rothchild Global Investments, Inc.................................... 20,000
Scott & Stringfellow, Inc............................................ 20,000
Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc............................................ 20,000
---------
Total........................................................... 1,300,000
=========
</TABLE>
The Representatives of the Underwriters have advised the Company that they
propose initially to offer the Shares to the public at the public offering
price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus, and to certain dealers at
such price less a concession not in excess of $.60 per share. The Underwriters
may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of $.10 per
share on sales to certain other dealers. After the initial public offering, the
public offering price, concession and discount may be changed.
The Company has granted the Underwriters an option exercisable for 30 days
after the date hereof to purchase up to 195,000 Option Shares to cover over-
allotments, if any, at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting
discount. If the Underwriters exercise this option, each of the Underwriters
will have a firm commitment, subject to certain conditions, to purchase
approximately the same percentage of the Option Shares as the percentage of the
Shares which it has agreed to purchase.
In the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the
1933 Act.
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<PAGE>
LEGAL MATTERS
The legality of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon
for the Company by Long, Aldridge & Norman, Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal
matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam &
Roberts, New York, New York.
Mr. Albert G. Norman, Jr., a Director of the Company and a member of the
Executive Committee and the Nominating and Compensation Committee of the
Company, is a partner in the firm of Long, Aldridge & Norman and owns
beneficially an aggregate of 5,963 shares of Common Stock of the Company.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement
schedules incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994 have been
audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their
reports appearing in or incorporated by reference in such Form 10-K (which
reports express an unqualified opinion and include an explanatory paragraph as
to the change in methods of accounting for postretirement benefits other than
pensions and for income taxes), and have been so incorporated in reliance upon
the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting
and auditing.
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NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING COVERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS. IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHO-
RIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE
AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, THE COMMON STOCK IN ANY
JURISDICTION WHERE, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER
OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS
NOT BEEN ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE AFFAIRS
OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
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<S> <C>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION...................................................... 2
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE.......................... 2
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY......................................................... 3
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDENDS.................................. 5
USE OF PROCEEDS............................................................ 5
BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY.................................................... 6
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK............................................... 10
UNDERWRITING............................................................... 13
LEGAL MATTERS.............................................................. 14
EXPERTS.................................................................... 14
</TABLE>
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1,300,000 SHARES
[LOGO OF ATLANTA GAS LIGHT APPEARS HERE]
ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY
COMMON STOCK
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PROSPECTUS
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MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
THE ROBINSON-HUMPHREY COMPANY, INC.
JUNE 12, 1995
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