-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, I2OJywJZk4jkQVPP0G1mzp1/qJjrLE89OZM9eQSRbZGqka0SLvPCFtpMAHfOI8SA C/5TVfIujjqvMh+zDYlgBQ== 0001004440-02-000021.txt : 20020414 0001004440-02-000021.hdr.sgml : 20020414 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001004440-02-000021 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 FILED AS OF DATE: 20020124 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20020124 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001004440 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 521964611 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-8 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-81292 FILM NUMBER: 02515916 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 250 W PRATT STREET CITY: BALTIMORE STATE: MD ZIP: 21201 BUSINESS PHONE: 4102345685 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 250 W PRATT STREET CITY: BALTIMORE STATE: MD ZIP: 21201 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: CONSTELLATION ENERGY CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19951220 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: RH ACQUISITION CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19951205 S-8 1 s8body.txt As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 2002 =============================================================================== Registration No. 333-____ =============================================================================== SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ----------------------------- Form S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT Under THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ----------------------------- Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Maryland 52-1964611 (State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 250 W. Pratt Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) ----------------------------- Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Employee Savings Plan, Represented Employee Savings Plan for Nine Mile Point and Non-Represented Employee Savings Plan for Nine Mile Point (Full Title of the Plans) ----------------------------- E. Follin Smith Sr. Vice President 250 W. Pratt Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 (Name and Address of Agent for Service) ----------------------------- 410-783-3013 (Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service) ----------------------------- CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE =============================================================================== Title of Proposed Proposed securities Amount to maximum maximum Amount to be be registered offering aggregate of registered price offering registration per share (1) price (1) fee (3) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Stock 2,000,000 $27.44 $54,880,000 $2,019.58 (without shares par value) (2) =============================================================================== (1) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) solely for purposes of calculating the amount of the registration fee, based on average of the high and low price per share Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Common Stock without par value on January 18, 2002, as reported on New York Stock Exchange. (2) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein. No registration fee is payable with respect to such interests in accordance with Rule 457(h)(2) (3) Calculated based on 800,000 shares attributable to employee contributions to employee benefit plans described herein in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h). ---------------------------------------- Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement also serves as a post-effective amendment of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 33-56084). =============================================================================== PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given to each person eligible to participate in the Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Employee Savings Plan, ("CEG Plan"), and the Represented Employee Savings Plan for Nine Mile Point and the Non-Represented Employee Savings Plan for Nine Mile Point, (collectively "Nine Mile Plans") as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"). In accordance with the instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such documents will not be filed with the Commission under Part I of this Registration Statement or any Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities remaining unsold. o CEG Plan's Annual Report on Form 11-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2000; o Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000; o Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2001, June 30, 2001, and September 30, 2001; o Current Reports on Form 8-K dated August 27, 2001 and October 30, 2001; o The description of the Common Stock, contained under the caption "Proposal No. 1, Approval of the Share Exchange and Formation of the Holding Company -- Capital Stock" in the Proxy Statement and Prospectus contained in Constellation Energy's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 33-64799). Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such prior statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Registration Statement, except as so modified or superseded. To the extent that any proxy statement is incorporated by reference herein, such incorporation shall not include any information contained in such proxy statement which is not, pursuant to the Commission's rules, deemed to be "filed" with the Commission or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. Item 4. Description of Securities Not applicable. Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel Not applicable. Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. The following description of indemnification allowed under Maryland statutory law is a summary rather than a complete description. Reference is made to Section 2-418 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Maryland Annotated Code, which is incorporated herein by reference, and the following summary is qualified in its entirety by such reference. By a Maryland statute, a Maryland corporation may indemnify any director who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative ("Proceeding") by reason of the fact that he is a present or former director of the corporation and any person who, while a director of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan ("Director"). Such indemnification may be against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by him in connection with the Proceeding unless it is proven that (a) the act or omission of the Director was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the Proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith, or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; or (b) the Director actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property, or services; or (c) in the case of any criminal action or proceeding, the Director had reasonable cause to believe his act or omission was unlawful. However, the corporation may not indemnify any Director in connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation if the Director has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation. A Director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any Proceeding described above shall be indemnified against reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the Proceeding. The corporation may not indemnify a Director in respect of any Proceeding charging improper personal benefits to the Director in which the Director was adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. Notwithstanding the above provisions, a court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of the Director may order indemnification if it determines that in view of all the relevant circumstances, the Director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; however, indemnification with respect to any Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation or in which liability was adjudged on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received shall be limited to expenses. A corporation may advance reasonable expenses to a Director under certain circumstances, including a written undertaking by or on behalf of such Director to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation has not been met. A corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer of the corporation to the same extent that it may indemnify Directors under the statute. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided or authorized by this statute may not be deemed exclusive of any other rights, by indemnification or otherwise, to which a Director or officer may be entitled under the charter, by-laws, a resolution of shareholders or directors, an agreement or otherwise. A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Director or officer, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify a Director or officer against liability under the provision of this section of Maryland law. Further, a corporation may provide similar protection, including a trust fund, letter of credit or surety bond, not inconsistent with the statute. Article Eight from the Company's Charter reads follows: "(a) (i) The Corporation shall indemnify (A) its Directors and Officers, whether serving the Corporation or at its request any other entity, to the full extent required or permitted by the general laws of the State of Maryland, now or hereafter in force, including the advance of expenses, under the procedures and to the full extent permitted by law, and (B) other employees and agents, to such extent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors or the Corporation's by-laws and be permitted by law. (ii) The foregoing rights of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled. (iii) The Board of Directors may take such action as is necessary to carry out these indemnification provisions and is expressly empowered to adopt, approve and amend from time to time such by-laws, resolutions or contracts implementing such provisions or such further indemnification arrangements as may be permitted by law. No amendment of the Charter of the Corporation or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the right to indemnification provided hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment or repeal. (b) To the fullest extent permitted by Maryland statutory or decisional law, as amended or interpreted, no Director or Officer of this Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages. No amendment of the Charter of the Corporation or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the limitation on liability provided to Directors and Officers hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment or repeal." Article V of the Company's By-Laws reads as follows: "The Corporation shall indemnify all Directors, Officers and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the general laws of the State of Maryland and shall provide indemnification expenses in advance to the extent permitted thereby. The Corporation will follow the procedures required by applicable law in determining persons eligible for indemnification and in making indemnification payments and advances. The indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the Charter and these by-laws shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advance of expenses may be entitled under any law (common or statutory), or any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or other provision that is consistent with law, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office or while employed or acting as agent for the corporation, shall continue in respect of all events occurring while a person was a Director or Officer after such person has ceased to be a Director or Officer, and shall inure to the benefits of the estate, heirs, executors and administrators of such person. All rights to indemnification and advance of expenses under the Charter of the Corporation and hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each Director or Officer of the Corporation who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this by-law is in effect. Nothing herein shall prevent the amendment of this by-law, provided that no such amendment shall diminish the rights of any person hereunder with respect to events occurring or claims made before its adoption or as to claims made after its adoption in respect of events occurring before its adoption. Any repeal or modification of this by-law shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification or advance of expenses of such Director or Officer or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to events occurring, or claims made, while this by-law or any provision hereof is in force." The Directors and officers of the Registrant are covered by insurance indemnifying them against certain liabilities which might be incurred by them in their capacities as such, including certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933. The premium for this insurance is paid by the Registrant. Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed Not applicable. Item 8. Exhibits. Exhibit Number Description - --------- --------------------------------------------------------- *5.1 - Opinion of Registrant's Counsel as to legality of the shares of Common Stock being registered. *5.2 - Internal Revenue Service Determination Letter as to CEG Plan *23.1 - Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants. *23.2 - Consent of Registrant's Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1). *24.1 - Power of Attorney. Registrant hereby undertakes that Registrant will submit the Nine Mile Plans, and any amendments thereto, to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") in a timely manner and will make all changes required by the IRS to qualify the Nine Mile Plans under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. * Filed herewith Item 9. Undertakings. (a) 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: (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; (iii) 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; Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8, or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference 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) 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, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit 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) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, 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 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 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Constellation Energy Group, Inc., 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 Baltimore, State of Maryland on the 23rd day of January, 2002. CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC. (Registrant) By: /s/ E. Follin Smith ----------------------------------- E. Follin Smith, Sr. Vice President Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Signature Title Date - ------------------------- ------------------- ---------------- Principal executive officer and director: * Mayo A. Shattuck, III Chief Executive Officer, January 23, 2002 President and Director Principal financial and accounting officer: /s/ E. Follin Smith Sr. Vice President January 23, 2002 - ------------------------- E. Follin Smith Directors: * Douglas L. Becker * James T. Brady * Beverly B. Byron * Edward A. Crooke * James R. Curtiss * Roger W. Gale * Freeman A. Hrabowski, III * Edward J. Kelly, III * Nancy Lampton * Charles R. Larson * Christian H. Poindexter * Michael D. Sullivan * By: /s/ E. Follin Smith January 23, 2002 - --------------------------------------- E. Follin Smith, Attorney-in-Fact Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the trustees (or other persons who administer each of the undersigned Employee Savings Plans) have duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Baltimore, State of Maryland on January 23, 2002. CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC. EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN REPRESENTED EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN FOR NINE MILE POINT NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN FOR NINE MILE POINT By: /s/ Richard D. Honaker -------------------------------------------------- Richard D. Honaker, Plan Administrator Exhibit Index Exhibit Number Description - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1 - Opinion of Registrant's Counsel as to legality of the shares of Common Stock being registered. 5.2 - Internal Revenue Service Determination Letter as to CEG Plan 23.1 - Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants. 23.2 - Consent of Registrant's Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1). 24.1 - Power of Attorney. ============================================================================ EX-24 2 power.txt Exhibit 24.1 Page 1 of 2 CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC. POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned directors and officers of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. hereby constitute and appoint Mayo A. Shattuck, III, and E. Follin Smith, and each of them their true and lawful attorneys and agents to do any and all acts and things and to execute, in their names any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof in connection with the registration under said Act of 2 million shares of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Common Stock (without par value) to be offered pursuant to the Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Employee Savings Plan, the Represented Employee Savings Plan for Nine Mile Point and the Non-Represented Employee Savings Plan for Nine Mile Point, all as authorized by Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. at a meeting held on January 18, 2002, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, power and authority to sign the names of the undersigned directors and officers in the capacities indicated below, to any registration statements to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of said Common Stock, to any and all amendments to any registration statement in respect to said Common Stock and to any instruments or documents filed as part of or in connection with said registration statements or amendments to such documents; and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has subscribed, or caused to be subscribed, these presents this 18th day of January, 2002. Signature Principal Executive Officer /s/ Mayo A. Shattuck, III ------------------------- Mayo A. Shattuck, III President and Chief Executive Officer Principal Financial and Accounting /s/ E. Follin Smith ----------------------------- E. Follin Smith Sr. Vice President Exhibit 24.1 Page 2 of 2 Power of Attorney in connection with the registration of 2,000,000 shares of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Common Stock (without) par value) to be offered pursuant to the Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Inc. Employee Savings Plan, the Represented Employee Savings Plan for Nine Mile Point and the Non-Represented Employee Savings Plan for Nine Mile Point. Directors /s/ Douglas L. Becker /s/ Edward A. Crooke - ------------------------------- ----------------------------- /s/ Charles R. Larson /s/ Nancy Lampton - ------------------------------- ---------------------------- /s/ Freeman A. Hrabowski, III /s/ James R. Curtiss - ------------------------------ ---------------------------- /s/ James T. Brady /s/ Michael D. Sullivan - -------------------------- ----------------------- /s/ Edward J. Kelly, III /s/ Roger W. Gale - --------------------------- ----------------------- s/ Beverly B. Byron - -------------------------- /s/ Christian H. Poindexter - --------------------------- Dated: January 18, 2002 EX-23 3 consent.txt CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 17, 2001 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule of Constellation Energy Group, which appears in Constellation Energy Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Baltimore, Maryland January 23, 2002 EX-99.77Q1 4 irsdet.txt IRS DETERMINATION LETTER AS TO CEG PLAN 2 Exhibit 5.2 Letter 835 (DO/CG) Exhibit 5.2 INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY DISTRICT DIRECTOR P.O. BOX 2508 CINCINNATI, OH 45201 MAY 02 1997 Employer Identification Number: 52-0280210 DLN: 17007269042006 BALTIMORE GAS & ELECTRIC CO Person to Contact: PO BOX 1475 GAS & ELECTRIC BLDG Cindy Perry BALTLIMORE, MD 21203 Contact Telephone Number: (513) 684-3957 Plan Name: SAV PL Plan Number: 003 Dear Applicant: _ _ We have made a favorable determination on your plan, identified above, based on the information supplied. Please keep this letter in your permanent records. Continued qualification of the plan under its present form will depend on its effect in operation. (See section 1.401-1(b)(3) of the Income Tax Regulations.) We will review the status of the plan in operation periodically. The enclosed document explains the significance of this favorable determination letter, points out some events that may affect the qualified status of your employee retirement plan, and provides information on the reporting requirements for your plan. It also describes some events that automatically nullify it. It is very important that you read the publication. This letter relates only to the status of your plan under the Internal Revenue Code. It is not a determination regarding the effect of other federal or local statutes. This determination letter is applicable for the amendment(s) adopted on 6/30/95. This plan is an employee stock ownership plan with a cash or deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k). This plan satisfies the requirements of Code section 4975(e)(7). This plan has been mandatorily disaggregated, permissively aggregated, or restructured to satisfy the nondiscrimination requirements. This letter is issued under Rev. Proc. 93-39 and considers the amendments required by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 except as otherwise specified in this letter. This plan satisfies the nondiscriminatory current availability requirements of section 1.401(a)(4)-4(b) of the regulations with respect to those benefits, rights and features that are currently available to all employees in the plan's coverage group. For this purpose, the plan's coverage group consists of those BALTIMORE GAS & ELECTRIC CO employees treated as currently benefitting for purposes of demonstrating that the plan satisfies the minimum coverage requirements of section 410(b) of the Code. Except as otherwise specified this letter may not be relied upon with respect to whether the plan satisfies the qualification requirements as amended by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, Pub. L. 103-465 and by the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 (SBJPA), Pub. L. 104-108, other than the requirements of Code section 401(a)(26). We have sent a copy of this letter to your representative as indicated in the power of attorney. If you have questions concerning this matter, please contact the person whose name and telephone number are shown above. Sincerely yours, /s/ Paul M. Harrington District Director Enclosures: Publication 794 Reporting & Disclosure Guide For Employee Benefit Plans EX-5 5 opinion.txt {CEG LOGO] Exhibit 5.1 Legal Department 250 West Pratt Street 23rd Floor Baltimore, MD 21201 410-783-3082 410-783-3079 Fax January 23, 2002 Constellation Energy Group, Inc. 250 West Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Ladies and Gentlemen: I am a Counsel for Constellation Energy Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and am furnishing this opinion in connection with the Company's registration statement on Form S-8 filed on the date hereof (the "Registration Statement") to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 2 million shares (the "Shares") of common stock (no par value) of the Company (the "Common Stock") and plan interest, to be issued pursuant to the Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Employee Savings Plan, the Represented Employee Savings Plan for Nine Mile Point and the Non-Represented Employee Savings Plan for Nine Mile Point (the "Plans"). In connection with this opinion, I have considered such records and documents, and made such examinations of law as I have deemed relevant. I am of the opinion that any original issued Shares, when issued and delivered in the manner and on the terms contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Plans, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. I express no opinion as to the law of any jurisdiction other than the law of the State of Maryland and the law of the United States of America. The opinion expressed herein concerns only the effect of the law (excluding the principles of conflicts of law) of the State of Maryland and the United States of America as currently in effect. This opinion is provided solely for your benefit and may not be relied upon by, or quoted to, any other person or entity, in whole or in part, without my prior written consent. I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I am an "expert" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Sincerely yours, /s/ Sally Samuel Sally Samuel -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----