ATLANTA GAS LIGHT CO
S-8, 1995-08-28
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION
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<PAGE>
 
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 28, 1995
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 33-      

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549


                                _______________

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                _______________



                           ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        GEORGIA                                               58-0145925
------------------------                                  -------------------
(State of incorporation)                                   (I.R.S. Employer
                                                          Identification No.)


                  303 PEACHTREE STREET, ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)



              ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY NONQUALIFIED SAVINGS PLAN
              ---------------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)
                                        

                                _______________


                               ROBERT L. GOOCHER
                            EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
                           ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY
                              303 PEACHTREE STREET
                             ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308
                                 (404) 584-4000

           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                  including area code, of agent for service)

                               _________________

<PAGE>
 
                                 _______________

                                    COPY TO:

                                WILLIAM L. FLOYD
                            LONG, ALDRIDGE & NORMAN
                              303 PEACHTREE STREET
                            ATLANTA, GEORGIA  30308
                                 (404) 527-4010

                                 ______________

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

=========================================================================
                   |              |  Proposed |  Proposed  |               
     Title of      |              |  Maximum  |   Maximum  |               
    Securities     |    Amount    |  Offering |  Aggregate |   Amount of   
      to be        |    to be     | Price Per |  Offering  | Registration 
  Registered (1)   |Registered (1)| Share (2) |  Price (2) |    Fee (2)    
=========================================================================
<S>                |<C>           | <C>       | <C>        | <C>
                   |              |           |            | 
Common Stock,      |              |           |            |
 par value $5.00   |              |           |            |
 per share         |    50,000    |  $35.625  | $1,781,250 |   $614.22
                   |              |           |            |
                   |              |           |            |
=========================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
     Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or
     sold pursuant to the Atlanta Gas Light Company Nonqualified Savings Plan
     (the "Plan").

(2)  The offering prices of such shares which may be acquired in the future
     under the Plan are not presently determinable.  The offering price for such
     shares is estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) solely for the purpose
     of calculating the registration fee and is based upon the average of the
     high and low prices of the Company's Common Stock as reported in the
     consolidated reporting system on August 21, 1995.

                                      ii
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
         ----------------------------------------

     The following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") by Atlanta Gas Light Company (the "Company" or the
"Registrant") are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof:

     1.   The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1994;

     2.   The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
December 31, 1994, March 31, 1995 and June 30, 1995; and

     3.   The description of the Company's Stock as contained in Item 1 of the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (Registration No. 1-9905) as filed
with the Commission on March 28, 1988.

     All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company or the
Atlanta Gas Light Company Nonqualified Savings Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-
effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of
the filing of such documents.


ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
         ----------------------------------------- 
 
     Section 14-2-202(b)(4) of the Georgia Business Corporation Code (the
"Georgia Code") provides that a corporation's articles of incorporation may
include a provision that eliminates or limits the personal liability of
directors for monetary damages to the corporation or its shareholders for breach
of their duty of care and other duties as directors; provided, however, that the
Section does not permit a corporation to eliminate or limit the liability of a
director for appropriating, in violation of his duties, any business opportunity
of the corporation, engaging in intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, obtaining an improper personal benefit, or voting for or assenting to an
unlawful distribution (whether as a dividend, stock repurchase or redemption or
otherwise) as provided in Section 14-2-832 of the Georgia Code.  Section 14-2-
202(b)(4) also does not eliminate or limit the rights of a corporation or any
shareholder to seek an injunction or other non-monetary relief in the event of a
breach of a director's fiduciary duty.  In addition, Section 14-2-202(b)(4)
applies only to claims against a director arising out of his role as a director
and does not relieve a director from liability arising from his role as an
officer or in any other capacity.  The provisions of Section 6.01B of the
Company's Charter are similar in all substantive respects to those contained in
Section 14-2-202(b)(4) of the Georgia Code outlined above, and Section 6.01B
provides that the liability of directors of the Company shall be limited to the
fullest extent permitted by amendments to Georgia law.

     Sections 14-2-850 to 14-2-859, inclusive, of the Georgia Code govern the
indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents.  Section 14-2-851
of the Georgia Code provides for indemnification of a director of the Company
for liability incurred by him in connection with any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (including civil actions brought as derivative actions by or in
the right of the Company) in which he may become involved by reason of being a
director of the Company.  Section 14-2-851 also provides such indemnity for
directors who, at the request of the Company, act as directors, officers,
partners, trustees, employees or agents of another foreign or domestic
corporation,

                                     II-1
<PAGE>
 
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or another enterprise.
The Section permits indemnification if the director acted in a manner he
believed in good faith to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
Company and, in addition, in criminal proceedings, if he had no reasonable cause
to believe his conduct was unlawful.  If the required standard of conduct is
met, indemnification may include judgments, settlements, penalties, fines or
reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred with respect to a
proceeding.  However, if the director is adjudged liable to the Company in a
derivative action or on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received
by him, the director will only be entitled to such indemnification for
reasonable expenses as a court finds to be proper in accordance with the
provisions of Section 14-2-854.

     Section 14-2-852 of the Georgia Code provides that directors who are
successful with respect to any claim brought against them, which claim is
brought because they are or were directors of the Company, are entitled to
indemnification against reasonable expenses as of right.  Conversely, if the
charges made in any action are sustained, the determination of whether the
required standard of conduct has been met will be made, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 14-2-855 of the Georgia Code, as follows:  (i) by the
majority vote of a quorum of the disinterested members of the board of
directors, (ii) if a quorum cannot be obtained, by a committee thereof duly
designated by the board of directors, consisting of two or more disinterested
directors, (iii) by special legal counsel, or (iv) by the shareholders, but, in
such event, the shares owned by or voted under the control of directors seeking
indemnification may not be voted.

     Section 14-2-857 of the Georgia Code provides that an officer of the
Company (but not an employee or agent generally) who is not a director has the
mandatory right of indemnification granted to directors under Section 14-2-852,
as described above.  In addition, the Company may, as provided by its Charter,
By-Laws, general or specific actions by its Board of Directors, or by contract,
indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee or agent who is not a
director to the extent that such indemnification is consistent with public
policy.

     The provisions of Article II, Section 7 of the Company's By-Laws are
similar in all substantive respects to the foregoing provisions of the Georgia
Code outlined above.  In addition, as authorized by Section 14-2-857 of the
Georgia Code, the Board of Directors has authorized the Company to enter into
indemnification agreements with each of its officers who is not a director to
provide each such officer indemnification rights equal to those permitted for
directors of the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Georgia Code outlined
above.

     Officers and directors of the Company are presently covered by insurance
which (with certain exceptions and within certain limitations) indemnifies them
against any losses or liabilities arising from any alleged "wrongful act"
including any alleged breach of duty, neglect, error, misstatement, misleading
statement, omissions or other act done or wrongfully attempted.  The cost of
such insurance is borne by the Company as permitted by the By-Laws of the
Company and the laws of the State of Georgia.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS
         --------

EXHIBIT NUMBER           DESCRIPTION

5              Opinion of Melanie M. Platt, Esq.

23.1           Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2           Consent of Melanie M. Platt, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5).

24             Powers of Attorney.

                                     II-2
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS
         ------------

     A.   RULE 415 OFFERING.

          The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration Statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
---- ----

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

     B.   SUBSEQUENT DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE.

          The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and each filing of the Plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
---- ----

     C.   INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND CONTROLLING PERSONS.

          Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 6
above, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In
the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.

                                     II-3
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
THE REGISTRANT.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on August 25, 1995.


                              ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY



                              By: /s/ David R. Jones           
                                  ---------------------------  
                                  DAVID R. JONES
                                  PRESIDENT AND
                                  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER



     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on August 25, 1995.

     Signatures                            Title
     ----------                            -----


/s/ David R. Jones                        President and Chief Executive
------------------------------------                                   
David R. Jones                            Officer (Principal Executive
                                          Officer) and Director



/s/ Robert L. Goocher                     Executive Vice President
------------------------------------                          
Robert L. Goocher                         (Principal Financial Officer)
 

 

/s/ J. Michael Riley                      Vice President
------------------------------------                
J. Michael Riley                          (Principal Accounting Officer)



Frank Barron, Jr.*                        Director
------------------------------------          
Frank Barron, Jr.
 

 
W. Waldo Bradley*                         Director
------------------------------------              
W. Waldo Bradley
 
                                     II-4
<PAGE>
 
Otis A. Brumby, Jr.*                      Director
------------------------------------              
Otis A. Brumby, Jr.



                                          Director
------------------------------------
L. L. Gellerstedt, Jr.

 
 
Kenneth D. Lewis*                         Director
------------------------------------              
Kenneth D. Lewis



Albert G. Norman, Jr.*                    Director
------------------------------------              
Albert G. Norman, Jr.



D. Raymond Riddle*                        Director
------------------------------------            
D. Raymond Riddle



Betty L. Siegel*                          Director
------------------------------------              
Betty L. Siegel



Ben J. Tarbutton, Jr.*                    Director
------------------------------------              
Ben J. Tarbutton, Jr.



Charles McKenzie Taylor*                  Director
------------------------------------          
Charles McKenzie Taylor



Felker W. Ward, Jr.*                      Director
------------------------------------              
Felker W. Ward, Jr.



*By /s/ Robert L. Goocher
    --------------------------------
    Robert L. Goocher,
    as Attorney-in-Fact

                                     II-5
<PAGE>
 
THE PLAN.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the trustees
(or other persons who administer the Plan) have duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on August 25, 1995.



                                    ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY
                                    NONQUALIFIED SAVINGS PLAN



                                    By: /s/ Robert L. Goocher
                                        --------------------------------
                                            Robert L. Goocher
                                            Member
                                            Administrative Committee
 



                                     II-6
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

                                        
Exhibit No.           Exhibit
-----------           -------

5             Opinion of Melanie M. Platt, Esq.                          
                                                                         
23.1          Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.                          
                                                                         
23.2          Consent of Melanie M. Platt, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5). 
                                                                         
24            Powers of Attorney.                                         
 

<PAGE>
 
                                August 25, 1995


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 5th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

     Re:  Atlanta Gas Light Company (File No. 1-9905)
          Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I serve as Corporate Secretary for, and as an in house attorney with,
Atlanta Gas Light Company, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and have acted
as counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation of a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") and the filing thereof with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Pursuant to the
Registration Statement, the Company intends to register under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, 50,000 shares (the "Shares") of common stock, par value $5
per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company which are issuable in connection
with the Atlanta Gas Light Company Nonqualified Savings Plan (the "NSP").  The
opinion hereinafter set forth is given to the Commission pursuant to Item 8 of
Form S-8 and Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K.

     As Corporate Secretary and counsel for the Company, I am generally familiar
with the corporate affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries and the terms of
the NSP.  In rendering the opinion set forth below, I have examined such
agreements, documents, instruments and records as I deemed necessary or
appropriate under the circumstances to provide a basis for the opinion,
including without limitation the NSP.

     This opinion is furnished for the benefit of the Commission solely with
regard to the Registration Statement, may be relied upon by the Commission only
in connection with the Registration Statement and may not otherwise be relied
upon, used, quoted or referred to by, or filed with, any other person or entity
without the Company's prior written permission.

     I am admitted to the Bar of the State of Georgia and am duly qualified to
practice law in that state.  No opinion is expressed herein concerning any
matter respecting or affected by any laws other than the laws of the State of
Georgia that are now in effect and that, in the exercise of reasonable
professional judgment, are normally considered in transactions such as those
contemplated by the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the NSP.
<PAGE>
 
The opinion hereinafter set forth is based upon pertinent laws and facts in
existence as of the date hereof, and any obligation to advise you of changes to
such pertinent laws or facts after the date hereof is expressly disclaimed.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

     (1) the Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the NSP against
         payment in full of the purchase price therefor, will be validly issued,
         fully paid and nonassessable.

     I hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.


                                    Very truly yours,

                                    ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY
                                    
                                    /s/ Melanie M. Platt, Esq.
                                    --------------------------------------
                                    Melanie M. Platt, Esq.
                                    Corporate Secretary

<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement
of Atlanta Gas Light Company (the "Company") on Form S-8 of our reports dated
November 4, 1994 (which reports include an explanatory paragraph as to the
change in methods of accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions
and for income taxes), appearing in and incorporated by reference in the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended September 30, 1994.


DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
August 25, 1995

<PAGE>
 
                               POWERS OF ATTORNEY
                               ------------------


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints David R. Jones, Robert L. Goocher and
Albert G. Norman, Jr., and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-
in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his
or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Atlanta Gas Light Company relating to the
Atlanta Gas Light Company Nonqualified Savings Plan to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any and all amendments (including post-
effective amendments) thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or
she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        This 4th day of August 1995.



/s/ Frank Barron, Jr.                     /s/ Albert G. Norman, Jr.       
-----------------------------             ------------------------------  
Frank Barron, Jr.                         Albert G. Norman, Jr.           
                                                                          
                                                                          
/s/ W. Waldo Bradley                      /s/ D. Raymond Riddle           
-----------------------------             -------------------------------- 
W. Waldo Bradley                          D. Raymond Riddle                
                                                                          
                                                                          
/s/ Otis A. Brumby, Jr.                   /s/ Dr. Betty L. Siegel         
-----------------------------             -----------------------------   
Otis A. Brumby, Jr.                       Dr. Betty L. Siegel             
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                          /s/ Ben J. Tarbutton, Jr.       
------------------------------            ----------------------------    
L. L. Gellerstedt, Jr.                    Ben J. Tarbutton, Jr.           
                                                                          
                                                                          
/s/ David R. Jones                        /s/ Charles McKenzie Taylor     
-----------------------------             -----------------------------   
David R. Jones                            Charles McKenzie Taylor         
                                                                          
                                                                          
/s/ Kenneth D. Lewis                      /s/ Felker W. Ward, Jr.         
-----------------------------             -----------------------------   
Kenneth D. Lewis                          Felker W. Ward, Jr.              


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