-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: keymaster@town.hall.org Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFkwCgYEVQgBAQICAgADSwAwSAJBALeWW4xDV4i7+b6+UyPn5RtObb1cJ7VkACDq pKb9/DClgTKIm08lCfoilvi9Wl4SODbR1+1waHhiGmeZO8OdgLUCAwEAAQ== MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Qn938XUWXw7ER32CYLtXH/gVkz3ModfhYv1GlS0XN5qNJPHmUcHtltF4Uc9wSYnk EkKyIETESPxX51BTEYUGUQ== 0000031224-94-000086.txt : 19941214 0000031224-94-000086.hdr.sgml : 19941214 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000031224-94-000086 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: POS AMC PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 19941213 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: EASTERN UTILITIES ASSOCIATES CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000031224 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 041271872 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: POS AMC SEC ACT: 1935 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 070-06583 FILM NUMBER: 94564579 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE LIBERTY SQ STREET 2: P O BOX 2333 CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 BUSINESS PHONE: 6173579590 POS AMC 1 DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN File No. 70-6583 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (COMMISSION) Washington, D.C. 20549 POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 14 TO FORM U-1 APPLICATION-DECLARATION WITH RESPECT TO ISSUE AND SALE OF ADDITIONAL COMMON SHARES UNDER DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND COMMON SHARE PURCHASE PLAN UNDER THE PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 1935 (the "Act") EASTERN UTILITIES ASSOCIATES P.O. BOX 2333, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02107 (Name of company filing this statement and address of principal executive office) EASTERN UTILITIES ASSOCIATES (Name of top registered holding company parent) CLIFFORD J. HEBERT, JR. TREASURER EASTERN UTILITIES ASSOCIATES P.O. BOX 2333, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02107 (Name and address of agent for service) The Commission is requested to mail signed copies of all orders, notices and communications to: ARTHUR I. ANDERSON, ESQ. McDermott, Will & Emery 75 State Street 16th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02107 Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 is hereby amended to read as follows: ITEM 2. FEES, COMMISSIONS, AND EXPENSES The estimated fees, commissions and expenses to be paid or incurred directly or indirectly in connection with the additional shares which are the subject of this post-effective amendment are as follows: Fees and expenses of counsel $ 12,500 Services and expenses of EUA Service $ 1,000 Company (at cost) Total $ 13,500 ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (* filed herewith) (a) Exhibits. *Exhibit C-6 Draft of amended Prospectus for the Plan *Exhibit F-7 Opinion of McDermott, Will & Emery Exhibit H-6 Proposed Form of Notice (b) Financial Statements. Financial Statements are not included in this Post-Effective Amendment because they are not necessary for a proper disposition by the Commission of the proposed transactions. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, EUA has duly caused this amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. EASTERN UTILITIES ASSOCIATES By: /s/ Clifford J. Hebert, Jr. Clifford J. Hebert, Jr. Treasurer Dated: December 13, 1994 EX-5 2 LEGAL OPINION December 13, 1994 Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 Re:File No. 70-6583: Eastern Utilities Associates--Issue and Sale of Additional Common Shares pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment and Common Share Purchase Plan Ladies and Gentlemen: As counsel for Eastern Utilities Associates ("EUA"), we are furnishing this supplemental opinion to be used in connection with Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 (the "current amendment") to the application-declaration on Form U-1 under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 filed on behalf of EUA with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") dated March 26, 1981, File No. 70-6583, as amended, concerning (i) the issue and sale or the purchase on the open market by EUA of not in excess of 1,000,000 additional Common Shares ($5 par value) (the "Additional Plan Shares") pursuant to the terms of its Dividend Reinvestment and Common Share Purchase Plan (the "Plan") and (ii) extension to December 31, 1997 of the issue and sale or the purchase on the open market of the remaining authorized Common Shares pursuant to the Plan, all as more fully described in the application-declaration, as amended. The Additional Plan Shares will be in addition to 5,800,000 Common Shares which EUA has heretofore been authorized, by orders of the Commission dated December 6, 1979, May 5, 1981, November 1, 1982, September 14, 1984, May 6, 1986, November 17, 1988, October 12, 1990 and July 1, 1992 (Holding Company Act Releases Nos. 21329, 22039, 22685, 23421, 24087, 24747, 25166 and 25568), to issue and sell pursuant to the Plan. It is our opinion, subject to the additional assumptions, exceptions and qualifications hereinafter stated, that in the event that the proposed transactions are consummated in accordance with the current amendment to the application- declaration: All State laws applicable to the proposed transactions will have been complied with. EUA, the issuer of the Additional Plan Shares, is a validly organized and duly existing voluntary association under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and any Additional Plan Shares to be issued in accordance with the Plan will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof will be entitled to the rights and privileges appertaining thereto set forth in the Declaration of Trust of EUA, as amended, which is the document defining such rights and privileges. The consummation of the proposed transactions will not violate the legal rights of the holders of any of the securities issued by EUA or by Eastern Edison Company ("Eastern Edison"), Blackstone Valley Electric Company ("Blackstone"), Newport Electric Corporation ("Newport"), Montaup Electric Company ("Montaup"), EUA Service Corporation ("EUA Service"), EUA Cogenex Corporation ("EUA Cogenex"), EUA Energy Investment Corporation ("EUA Energy"), EUA Ocean State Corporation ("EUA Ocean State"), Ocean State Power ("OSP I"), Ocean State Power II ("OSP II"), OSP Finance Company ("OSP Finance"), Northeast Energy Management, Inc. ("NEM"), EUA TransCapacity, Inc. ("EUA TransCapacity") and EUA Cogenex-Canada Corporation ("Cogenex-Canada"), all associate companies of EUA. This opinion in addition to being subject to the consummation of the proposed transactions in accordance with the application-declaration is also subject to the following additional assumptions, exceptions and qualifications: issuance and sale or purchases on the open market of the Additional Plan Shares in accordance with the terms of the Plan; compliance with such order or orders as the Commission may issue from time to time upon the application-declaration; the accuracy of information furnished to us (a) as to the outstanding securities of EUA, Eastern Edison, Blackstone, Newport, Montaup, EUA Service, EUA Cogenex, EUA Energy, EUA Ocean State, OSP I, OSP II, OSP Finance, NEM, EUA TransCapacity and Cogenex-Canada and (b) that there is no provision or condition in any note or other document in connection with outstanding short- term borrowings of any of those companies limiting the transactions which are the subject of the application- declaration; that requirements of applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws will have been complied with; that the enforceability of the proposed transactions may be subject to and affected by applicable bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws affecting the enforcement of the rights and remedies of creditors generally (including, without limitation, such as may deny giving effect to waivers of rights to debtors or guarantors); and such duties and standards as are or may be imposed on creditors, including, without limitation, good faith, reasonableness and fair dealing under any applicable statute, rule, regulation or judicial decision; and that the enforceability of the proposed transactions may be subject to and affected by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and the exercise of equitable powers by a court of competent jurisdiction (and no opinion is given herein as to specific performance or as to the availability of other equitable remedies or equitable relief of any kind). This opinion relates only to the federal law of the United States and the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and we express no opinion with respect to any other jurisdiction. To the extent that certain matters addressed may involve the laws of other states, we have assumed that such laws are not materially different from the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We consent to the use of this opinion in connection with the application-declaration filed with the Commission. Very truly yours, McDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY EX-4 3 UPDATED PROSPECTUS P R O S P E C T U S Eastern Utilities Associates DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND COMMON SHARE PURCHASE PLAN The Dividend Reinvestment and Common Share Purchase Plan (the Plan) of Eastern Utilities Associates (EUA) provides shareholders and eligible EUA System employees with a simple and convenient method of purchasing additional common shares, monthly or quarterly, without payment of any brokerage commission or service charge. Any holder of record of common shares of EUA and any eligible employee may join the Plan. Participants in the Plan may choose one of the following options: o have cash dividends on all of their common shares automatically reinvested in additional common shares, or o have cash dividends on only a portion of their common shares automatically reinvested in additional common shares, or o continue to receive their cash dividends while investing with optional cash payments of up to $5,000 per calendar quarter, or o invest with both cash dividends on all or a portion of their common shares and optional cash payments. EUA System employees may arrange to make such optional cash payments through regular payroll deductions. Common shares purchased on behalf of participants will, at the option of EUA, be newly-issued shares or shares purchased on the open market. As discussed in Question 10, the price of common shares purchased on the open market will be the weighted average price of all shares purchased, the price of newly-issued shares will be the average of the closing sales prices for EUA's common shares as reported by The Wall Street Journal as Composite Transactions during the five trading days immediately preceding the Investment Date. On October 17, 1994, the EUA Board of Trustees authorized amending the Plan to provide for (i) the elimination of the 5% discount on common shares purchased with reinvested dividends and (ii) certain administrative changes. These changes are set forth in this Prospectus and are effective for dividends payable on or after February 15, 1995. See "Description of the Plan" for the procedure to be followed by existing Plan participants who wish to withdraw from the Plan. It is suggested that this Prospectus be retained for future reference. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The date of this Prospectus is December XX, 1994 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE There are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus the following documents filed by EUA with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act): 1. EUA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993. 2. EUA's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1994, June 30, 1994, and September 30, 1994. 3. EUA's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 25, 1994, February 25, 1994, March 22, 1994, and March 28, 1994. 4. All documents filed by EUA 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 this offering, which shall also be deemed to be incorporated in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. EUA will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner to whom this Prospectus has been delivered, upon request of such person, a copy of any and all information incorporated by reference in this Prospectus (not including exhibits to such incorporated information that are not specifically incorporated by reference into such information). Written or telephone requests for such copies should be directed to Clifford J. Hebert, Jr., Treasurer, Eastern Utilities Associates, P.O. Box 2333, Boston, Massachusetts 02107 617-357-9590. AVAILABLE INFORMATION EUA is subject to the informational requirements of the 1934 Act and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at its principal office at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's regional offices at Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, N.Y. 10048 and 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Ill. 60661-2511. Copies of such material can be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at its principal office. EUA's outstanding common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Pacific Stock Exchange. Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning EUA can be inspected at the offices of such Exchanges. EASTERN UTILITIES ASSOCIATES Eastern Utilities Associates is a Massachusetts voluntary association organized and existing under a Declaration of Trust dated April 2, 1928, as amended, and is a registered holding company under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. EUA owns directly all of the shares of common stock of three operating retail electric utility companies (the Retail Subsidiaries), namely Blackstone Valley Electric Company (Blackstone), Newport Electric Corporation (Newport) and Eastern Edison Company (Eastern Edison). Eastern Edison owns all of the permanent securities of Montaup Electric Company (Montaup), a generation and transmission company, which supplies electricity to it, to Blackstone, to Newport and to two unaffiliated utilities for resale. EUA also owns directly all of the shares of common stock of EUA Cogenex Corporation (EUA Cogenex), EUA Ocean State Corporation (EUA Ocean State), EUA Energy Investment Corporation (EUA Energy) and EUA Service Corporation (Service), which provides various accounting, financial, engineering, planning, data processing and other services to all EUA System companies including the Retail Subsidiaries, Montaup, EUA Cogenex, EUA Ocean State and EUA Energy Investment. EUA Cogenex provides energy management services to non-affiliated consumers of energy. EUA Ocean State owns a 29.9% interest in the Ocean State Power generating project. EUA Energy was organized to invest in energy-related projects. The holding company system of EUA, the Retail Subsidiaries, Montaup, Service, EUA Cogenex, EUA Ocean State and EUA Energy are referred to as the EUA System. The EUA System supplies retail electric service in 33 cities and towns in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The largest communities served are the cities of Brockton and Fall River, Massachusetts. The retail electric service territory covers approximately 595 square miles and has an estimated population of approximately 725,000. On December 31, 1993, EUA System companies served approximately 292,000 retail customers. The name Eastern Utilities Associates is the designation of the Trustees for the time being under a Declaration of Trust dated April 2, 1928, as amended. All persons dealing with EUA must look solely to the trust property for the enforcement of any claims against EUA as neither the Trustees, officers nor shareholders assume any personal liability for obligations entered into on behalf of EUA. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN Changes to the Plan have been made and will be effective as of February 15, 1995. If you currently participate in the Plan, you will remain a participant until you notify the Agent in writing that you wish to withdraw. You must notify the Agent on or before January 15, 1995, if you wish to withdraw from the Plan in time to receive in cash the dividend which would normally be paid on February 15, 1995. You may so notify the Agent at the address specified in Question 3. The following is a question and answer statement which constitutes the provisions of the Dividend Reinvestment and Common Share Purchase Plan (the Plan) of EUA. PURPOSE 1. What is the purpose of the Plan? The purpose of the Plan is to provide holders of record of EUA's common shares and eligible employees with a simple and convenient method of investing cash dividends or making optional cash payments, or both, to purchase additional common shares from EUA without payment of any brokerage commission or service charge. Also, to the extent common shares purchased under the Plan are acquired directly from EUA, EUA will receive additional equity funds which will be made available for investment in its subsidiaries, payment of any indebtedness of EUA, or toward other general corporate purposes. 2. What are the advantages of the Plan? Participants in the Plan may (a) have cash dividends on all of their common shares automatically reinvested, (b) have cash dividends on a portion of their common shares automatically reinvested, (c) continue to receive their cash dividends on shares registered in their names and invest monthly by making optional cash payments (including employee payroll deductions) up to a maximum of $5,000 per calendar quarter, or (d) reinvest all or a portion of their cash dividends and, in addition, make optional cash payments. No commission or service charge is paid by participants in connection with purchases under the Plan. Full investment of funds is possible under the Plan because the Plan permits fractions of shares, as well as full shares, to be credited to participants' accounts. In addition, dividends on fractions of shares, as well as full shares, will be credited to participants' accounts. EUA's agent for the Plan will provide simplified record keeping for shares credited to participants' accounts. The Plan also provides, at no cost to the participant, safekeeping of all his EUA share certificates if he so requests. ADMINISTRATION 3. Who administers the Plan for participants? The First National Bank of Boston (the Agent) has been designated by EUA as the agent to administer the Plan for participants, maintain records, send statements of account to participants and perform other duties relating to the Plan. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be addressed to the Agent: The First National Bank of Boston EUA Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan P.O. Box 1681 Boston, Massachusetts 02105 ELIGIBILITY 4. Who is eligible to participate? All holders of record of EUA common shares and eligible EUA System employees are entitled to participate in the Plan. Beneficial owners of common shares whose shares are registered in names other than their own (e.g., broker or bank nominee) may be required to become shareholders of record by having their shares transferred into their names if the broker, nominee or other holder of their shares does not have the capability for handling Plan transactions. Questions 22 through 27 discuss employee eligibility and participation. PARTICIPATION BY SHAREHOLDERS 5. How does an eligible shareholder participate? A holder of record of common shares may join the Plan by checking the appropriate box on the Authorization Form, signing it and returning it to the Agent. A postage paid envelope is provided for this purpose. Authorization Forms will be provided from time to time to all non-participating shareholders and may also be obtained at any time by written request to the Agent at the above address or by calling the Agent at (617) 575-3100 or EUA at (617) 357-9590. If a signed Authorization Form is returned to the Agent without one of the boxes checked, the shareholder will be enrolled in the Plan for the purpose of reinvesting all dividends. An existing participant continues automatically in the Plan unless he notifies the Agent in writing that he wishes to withdraw, which he may do at any time. 6. When may a shareholder join the Plan? A holder of record of common shares may join the Plan at any time. With respect to reinvested dividends, if the Authorization Form is received by the Agent prior to the first day of the dividend payment month (dividends are normally paid on the 15th day of February, May, August and November), then the dividend, will be reinvested. Optional cash payments must be received not later than the 5th day preceding the Investment Date in order to be used to purchase additional common shares for the shareholder. Optional cash received after that date will be used to purchase additional common shares as of the next Investment Date. The "Investment Date" is the dividend payment date for the months in which dividends are payable. For each month in which a dividend is not payable, the Investment Date is the 15th day of such month. If an Investment Date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in Boston are authorized or required to close, the Investment Date is the next succeeding business day. If the Authorization Form is received by the Agent on or after the first day of the dividend payment month, the reinvestment of dividends will be delayed until the dividend for the next quarter. For example, in order to invest the quarterly dividend expected to be payable on February 15, 1995, a shareholder's Authorization Form must be received by the Agent prior to February 1. If the Authorization Form is received on or after February 1, the dividend payable on February 15 will be paid in cash and the shareholder's participation in the dividend reinvestment aspect of the Plan will commence with the next dividend payment date. 7. What does the Authorization Form provide? By means of the Authorization Form, a shareholder may invest in additional common shares through the following investment options: A shareholder checking the "Full Dividend Reinvestment" box directs the Agent to invest in additional common shares (i) all cash dividends on common shares registered in his own name as well as on all of the shares credited to his account under the Plan, and (ii) any optional cash payments made by him within the limit described in Question 14 below. A shareholder checking the "Partial Dividend Reinvestment" box and designating in the appropriate space the number of shares registered in his name on which cash dividends are to continue to be received, directs the Agent to invest in additional common shares (i) all cash dividends on the remaining number of common shares registered in his name, as well as on all of the shares credited to his account under the Plan, and (ii) any optional cash payments made by him within the limit described in Question 14 below. A shareholder checking the "Optional Cash Payments Only" box directs the Agent to (i) continue to pay cash dividends to him on all shares registered in his name, as well as on shares credited to his Plan account, in the usual manner and (ii) invest in additional common shares any optional cash payments made by him within the limit described in Question 14 below. If a signed Authorization Form is returned to the Agent without one of the boxes checked, the shareholder will be enrolled under the "Full Dividend Reinvestment" option. If a signed Authorization Form is returned to the Agent with the "Partial Dividend Reinvestment" box checked but without the number of shares designated, the form will be returned to the shareholder for completion. 8. How may a participant change options under the Plan? A participant may change his investment option at any time by signing a new Authorization Form and returning it to The First National Bank of Boston, EUA Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Post Office Box 1681, Boston, Massachusetts 02105. An Authorization Form and postage-paid envelope may be obtained as stated in Question 5. Any Authorization Form directing the Agent to change an option must be received by the Agent by the first day of the month in which the change is to take place. COSTS 9. Are there any expenses to participants in connection with purchases under the Plan? No. All costs of administration of the Plan are to be paid by EUA. There will be no brokerage commissions or service charges to participants for purchases, whether shares are purchased from EUA or on the open market. In the event a participant requests the Agent to sell his shares, the participant will be charged a brokerage commission on the sale and any transfer or withholding tax (see Question 20). PURCHASES 10. How many common shares will be purchased for a participant? The number of shares to be purchased depends on the amount of the participant's dividends and cash payments and on the price of the common shares. The participant's account will be credited with a number of shares, including fractions computed to three decimal places, equal to the amount of cash payments or dividends invested divided by the purchase price for the shares, determined as described in Question 12. 11. How will the shares be purchased? Common shares purchased for participants will, at the option of EUA, be purchased on the open market or come from authorized but unissued common shares purchased from EUA. If shares are purchased from EUA, such purchases shall be made as of the Investment Dates as described in Question 6. If shares are to be purchased on the open market, purchases will be made in accordance with the following procedures. The Agent will select an independent agent (the Purchasing Agent) to purchase the shares. The Agent will provide the Purchasing Agent, as soon as practicable following the 10th day of each month, with all optional cash funds held for investment. The Purchasing Agent will purchase common shares with the funds provided as soon as practicable following receipt. Shares will be allocated to the participants' accounts as soon as practicable thereafter. With regard to shares to be purchased with reinvested dividends in the open market, the Purchasing Agent will commence purchasing common shares based upon an estimate of reinvested dividends as soon as practicable after the record date. EUA will make non-interest bearing open account advances to the Purchasing Agent on or prior to the settlement date for all purchases made prior to the dividend payment date. On the dividend payment date EUA will receive credit for all such open account advances. Any remaining dividend proceeds will be invested by the Purchasing Agent in common shares. Shares will be allocated to the participants' accounts as soon as practicable thereafter. The Purchasing Agent will have full discretion as to all matters relating to such purchases. The Purchasing Agent will use its best judgment in connection with all purchases made on behalf of the Plan, with the objectives of realizing the lowest purchase prices obtainable for the common shares and maximizing the number of shares that can be purchased with Plan funds. The Agent reserves the right to replace the Purchasing Agent at any time. 12. What will be the price of the Common Shares purchased under the Plan? The price of the common shares purchased from EUA will be the average of the closing sales prices of EUA's common shares as reported by The Wall Street Journal as Composite Transactions during the last five trading days immediately preceding the Investment Date. If there is no trading in EUA's common shares for any day in the five-day period, or if publication by The Wall Street Journal of reports of EUA's common share transactions for any day in the five- day period does not take place or is subject to reporting error, the purchase price will be determined by EUA on the basis of such market quotations or other method as EUA and the Agent deem appropriate. The price of shares purchased on the open market will be the weighted average price paid by the Purchasing Agent for all shares purchased with reinvested dividends or optional cash payments, as applicable, during the period in which such common shares were purchased. OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS 13. How do optional cash payments work? Optional cash payments received from a participant on or prior to the fifth day preceding an Investment Date will be applied by the Agent to the purchase of additional common shares as of that Investment Date. Optional cash payments received after the fifth day preceding the Investment Date will be held by the Agent until the Investment Date a month later. No interest will be paid by EUA or the Agent on optional cash payments. 14. How may optional cash payments be made? An optional cash payment may be made by a participant when enrolling in the Plan by enclosing with the Authorization Form a check made payable to The First National Bank of Boston. Thereafter, optional cash payments may be made monthly through the use of cash payment forms, attached to statements of account, sent by the Agent to participants. The same amount of money need not be sent each month, and there is no obligation to make an optional cash payment in each or any month. Optional cash payments may not exceed $5,000 in any calendar quarter. REPORTS TO PARTICIPANTS 15. What kind of reports will be sent to participants in the Plan? Each participant will receive a statement of his account for each month in which a transaction takes place. Each participant will also receive a statement before January 31 of each year showing the number of shares purchased for his account during the previous calendar year, the date of each such purchase and the fair market value on the date of purchase of the shares so purchased. These statements are a participant's continuing record of the cost of his purchases and should be retained for income tax purposes. In addition, each participant will receive the most recent prospectus relating to the Plan and copies of all communications sent to all holders of EUA's common shares, including interim reports to shareholders, the Annual Report to Shareholders, the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, and any reports of taxable income required by the Internal Revenue Service. DIVIDENDS 16. Will a participant be credited with or paid dividends on fractions of shares? Yes, dividends will be paid on full shares and any fraction of a share credited to a participant's account. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES 17. Will certificates be issued for common shares purchased by participants? Normally, certificates for common shares purchased under the Plan will not be issued to participants. Common shares purchased for participants in the Plan will be registered in the nominee name of the Agent, and credit for shares purchased will be shown on each participant's statement of account. Participants are therefore assured of safekeeping of shares credited to their account under the Plan. Certificates for any number of whole shares credited to an account under the Plan will be issued upon written request to the Agent from a participant. This request should be mailed to The First National Bank of Boston, EUA Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Post Office Box 1681, Boston, Massachusetts 02105. Any remaining full shares and fractions of shares will continue to be credited to the participant's account. Certificates for fractions of shares will not be issued under any circumstances. 18. May participants send share certificates of EUA held in their possession to the Agent for safekeeping? Yes. Participants in the Plan may send the share certificates of EUA held in their possession to the Agent for safekeeping at no cost. These shares will be combined with those other shares acquired under the Plan and held by the Agent. Shortly thereafter, the participant will receive a statement showing his combined holdings. The Agent will treat these shares in the same manner as shares purchased for the participant's account. 19. In whose name will certificates be registered when issued? Accounts under the Plan are maintained in the names of the participants in which their certificates were registered at the time the participants entered the Plan and certificates for whole shares will be so registered when issued, except in instances such as death. WITHDRAWAL 20. How does a participant withdraw from the Plan? To withdraw from the Plan, a participant must notify the Agent in writing. When a participant withdraws from the Plan or upon termination of the Plan by EUA, certificates for whole shares credited to the participant's account under the Plan will be mailed to the participant and a cash payment will be made for any fractional share. The cash payment will be based on the closing price of EUA's common shares as published in The Wall Street Journal as Composite Transactions on the next business day following the day the withdrawal request is received by the Agent. Upon withdrawal from the Plan, the participant may request that all of the participant's shares in the Plan, both whole and fractional, be sold. This sale will be made as promptly as possible, but always within two trading days after receipt by the Agent of the request. The participant will receive the proceeds of the sale, less any brokerage commission and any transfer or withholding tax. 21. When may a participant withdraw from the Plan? A participant may withdraw from the Plan at any time. A participant may cancel and shall be deemed to have cancelled his reinvestment of dividends as of an Investment Date if his written notice of withdrawal from the Plan is received by the Agent prior to the Investment Date. All subsequent dividends will be paid in cash to him unless he re-enrolls in the Plan, which he may do at any time. Optional cash payments will be refunded if a written request for refund or withdrawal from the Plan is received by the Agent prior to the Investment Date. If the request to withdraw is received by the Agent on or after the Investment Date, any dividends and/or any optional cash payments received will be invested for the participant's account. The next dividend and all subsequent dividends will be paid to the participant unless the participant re-enrolls in the Plan, which the participant may do at any time. EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION 22. Which EUA System employees are eligible to join the Plan? Any regular full-time employee of the EUA System who is of legal age is eligible to join the Plan. 23. What are the rights of employees participating under the Plan? Employees have the same rights, and are governed by the same terms and limitations, under the Plan as other EUA shareholders, except that eligible employees may arrange to make optional cash payments through regular payroll deductions within the limits stated under Question 25. 24. How does an employee authorize payroll deductions under the Plan? An eligible employee may authorize payroll deductions under the Plan at any time by completing an Employee Authorization Form and returning it to the EUA System payroll department. Employee Authorization Forms can be obtained from the personnel department. 25. What is the limit on payroll deductions? An eligible employee may authorize his employer to deduct a specified whole dollar amount from each regular pay check. The minimum weekly deduction is $2.00; the maximum deduction in any week is $100.00; the minimum monthly deduction is $10.00; the maximum deduction in any month is $400.00. Once authorized, payroll deductions will continue until changed or terminated by the employee. No more than four weekly deductions will be made in a month. 26. May employees change or terminate payroll deductions? An employee may change the amount of, or terminate, payroll deductions at any time by giving written notice to the payroll department. Employees should allow at least 15 days processing time prior to the end of the pay period in which the deduction is made for any change or termination to become effective. Employees may terminate payroll deductions without withdrawing from the dividend reinvestment aspect of the Plan and continue to invest by making optional cash payments to the Agent. In order to withdraw from the dividend reinvestment aspect of the Plan, an employee-participant must notify the Agent in writing that he wishes to withdraw (see Question 20). 27. What happens when an employee-participant leaves the EUA System? If an employee who is a dividend reinvestment participant ceases to be employed by an EUA System company, the Agent will continue to reinvest cash dividends on the shares credited to the participant's Plan account and (to the extent which the participant has requested in an Authorization Form) on shares registered in the participant's name until the participant withdraws from the Plan. If the employee is an "Optional Cash Payments Only" participant, all accumulated shares will be retained by the Agent until the Agent is notified in writing to issue a certificate, and dividends will continue to be sent as previously requested. Participation in the Plan may continue as long as there are shares credited to the participant's Plan account. OTHER INFORMATION 28. What happens when a participant sells or transfers all of the shares registered in his name? If a Plan participant disposes of all common shares registered in his name, the Agent will continue to reinvest the dividends on the shares credited to his account under the Plan until notified by the participant that he wishes to withdraw from the Plan. If an "Optional Cash Payments Only" participant disposes of all common shares registered in his name, the Agent will continue to pay cash dividends to the participant on shares credited to his account under the Plan until notified by the participant that he wishes to withdraw from the Plan. 29. If EUA has a rights offering, how will a participant's entitlement be computed? A participant's entitlement in a rights offering will be based upon historical holdings. Rights will be issued for the number of whole shares only. Any rights based on a fraction of a share will be sold for his account and the net proceeds will be invested as an optional cash payment as of the next Investment Date. 30. What happens if EUA issues a share dividend or declares a share split? Any common shares distributed as a result of a share dividend or a share split on shares credited to the account of a participant will be added to the participant's account. Such distributions on shares registered in the name of the participant will be mailed directly to the participant in the same manner as to shareholders who are not participating in the Plan. 31. How will a participant's shares be voted at meetings of shareholders? Each participant will receive a single proxy card covering the total number of shares held--both the shares registered in the participant's name and those credited to his account under the Plan. If the proxy card is returned properly signed and marked for voting, all of the shares will be voted as marked. The total number of shares held may be voted in person at shareholders' meetings. If a proxy card is returned properly signed but without indicating instructions as to the manner in which shares are to be voted with respect to any item, all of the participant's shares--those registered in his name and those credited to his account--will be voted (to the extent legally permissible) in accordance with the recommendations of EUA's management, just as for non-participating shareholders who return properly signed proxy cards and do not provide voting instructions. If the proxy card is not returned, or if it is returned unsigned or improperly signed, none of the participant's shares covered by such proxy card will be voted unless the participant votes in person at the meeting. 32. What are the Federal income tax consequences of participation in the Plan? The following discussion of federal income tax consequences of participation in the Plan is provided for purposes of general information only. For further information concerning the tax consequences of participation in the Plan, including consequences under state and local law, participants should consult their own tax advisors. When EUA declares a distribution out of current or accumulated earnings or profits, a participant who reinvests a distribution under the Plan will be treated as having received a dividend for Federal income tax purposes, and will have a tax basis in the shares purchased with the reinvested dividend, equal to the fair market value of such shares on the dividend payment date. A participant who makes an optional cash payment under the Plan will be treated as having received a dividend to the extent that the fair market value of the shares purchased with the optional cash payment exceeds the amount of the payment, and the participant's tax basis in the shares purchased will be equal to the fair market value of such shares on the date of the purchase. For the purpose of determining the amount of the dividend and the tax basis in shares purchased (whether by dividend reinvestment or by cash payment), the fair market value is the average between the high and low sales prices as published in The Wall Street Journal as Composite Transactions on the relevant date, not the Price (see Question 12) at which such shares were Purchased under the Plan. If EUA common shares are purchased under the Plan on the open market, each participant's proportionate share of brokerage commissions paid by EUA in connection with such purchases will be treated as additional dividend income to the participant and included in the participant's tax basis in the shares purchased. With respect to dividends paid by EUA from 1982 through 1985, the Plan was intended to satisfy the requirements of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 under which qualified individual participants were permitted to elect to exclude from gross income up to $750 per year ($1,500 on a joint return) of dividends reinvested under the Plan and under comparable plans of other qualified public utilities. (These tax benefits expired for dividends paid after December 31, 1985.) Under these requirements, shares purchased with reinvested dividends under the Plan prior to January 1, 1986 have a zero basis and, if such shares are held for one year or more after the dividend payment date, the entire amount of proceeds received from the sale of such shares will be eligible for long-term capital gain treatment. Upon withdrawal from or termination of the Plan, a participant may realize gain or loss on receipt of a cash payment in redemption of a fractional share held in the participant's account or upon a sale of shares by the Agent under the Plan (see Question 20) or by the participant. The amount of such gain or loss will be the difference between the amount realized on the redemption or sale and the participant's tax basis in the shares redeemed or sold. The Federal income tax law requires payors of reportable dividends and reportable proceeds from the redemption or sale of shares to withhold 20% from amounts paid or credited to the accounts of nonexempt payees who have failed to furnish the payor under penalties of perjury with information relating to their Federal income tax status, including their correct taxpayer identification numbers, or who are otherwise subject to such withholding. If a participant is subject to the 20% withholding, the Agent will deduct the amount required to be withheld from such dividends or proceeds before applying such dividends to the purchase of shares under the Plan or releasing such proceeds to the participant. Payments of dividends and proceeds to nonexempt persons and amounts, if any, of tax withheld will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service by EUA as required by law. 33. What provision is made for foreign shareholders whose dividends are subject to income tax withholding? In the case of those foreign holders of common shares whose dividends are subject to United States income tax withholding, the Agent will invest in common shares an amount equal to the dividends less the amount of tax required to be withheld. The statements confirming purchases made for foreign participants will indicate the amount of tax withheld. Foreign shareholders who check the "Optional Cash Payments Only" box on the Authorization Form will continue to receive cash dividends on shares registered in their names as well as on shares credited to their Plan account in the same manner as if they were not participating in the Plan. Optional cash payments received from them must be in United States dollars and will be invested in the same manner as payments from other participants. 34. May the Plan be changed or discontinued? EUA reserves the right to suspend or terminate the Plan, or to change the Agent administering the Plan, at any time and, subject to the approval, if required, of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, reserves the right to modify or amend the Plan at any time. Notice of any such modification, amendment, suspension, termination, or change of Agent will be sent to all participants. 35. What is the responsibility of EUA and the Agent under the Plan? Neither EUA nor the Agent in administering the Plan will be liable for any act done in good faith or for any good faith omission to act, including, without limitation, any claim of liability arising out of failure to terminate a participant's account upon an occurrence such as the participant's death prior to receipt of written notice thereof, or with respect to the prices at which shares are purchased for the participant's account and the times when the purchases are made, or with respect to any fluctuation in the market value after purchase or sale of shares. The participant should recognize that EUA cannot assure him of a profit or protect him against a loss on the shares purchased by him under the Plan. The terms and conditions of the Plan and its operation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES The Declaration of Trust, as amended, of EUA provides for the issuance of transferable certificates of beneficial interest known as common shares of $5 par value. The common shares are the only outstanding shares of any class of EUA. Those common shares, when duly issued, will be, fully paid and nonassessable. See "General" below. The outstanding common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Pacific Stock Exchange. The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the common shares is The First National Bank of Boston. Voting and Dividend Rights The holders of the common shares are entitled to one vote for each share held. A majority vote of the common shares represented in person or by proxy at a meeting (or, as to certain matters, a majority vote of the total number of votes to which shareholders are entitled) is required for action by the shareholders except that (i) election of Trustees is by cumulative voting, (ii) a vote of two- thirds of the total number of votes to which shareholders are entitled is required as to certain matters including liquidation, merger, issuance of preferred shares and most amendments of the Declaration of Trust, and (iii) a unanimous vote of all the votes to which shareholders are entitled is required for amendment of the provisions exempting the shareholders, Trustees, officers and agents of EUA from liability. The holders of the common shares are entitled to dividends out of the net earnings or surplus of EUA when declared by the Trustees. Pre-emptive Rights Unless the Trustees otherwise prescribe, any common shares and other securities convertible into common shares to be sold for cash need not first be offered pro rata to holders of outstanding common shares, provided that such issue (a) is publicly offered by competitive bidding or to or through underwriters or investment bankers for public sale or (b) is pursuant to a plan whereby shareholders may purchase common shares by directing the reinvestment of dividends or by making limited optional cash payments or (c) is pursuant to a plan for share ownership by employees of EUA or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof. Rights Upon Liquidation After satisfaction of prior claims, holders of common shares are entitled to receive pro rata the remaining assets of EUA, in cash or in kind. General EUA is an unincorporated voluntary association under the laws of Massachusetts. Its Declaration of Trust provides for immunity of its shareholders and of its Trustees (who act as a board of directors) as individuals from liability under any contract, obligation or undertaking made by or for the Trustees. It also provides that all such contracts, obligations and undertakings shall be enforceable only against the trust estate and that no person has authority to enter into any agreement or incur any obligation except in accordance with that provision. The Declaration of Trust also provides that if a shareholder of EUA shall be held to or be under any personal liability solely by reason of his being or having been a shareholder and not by reason of his acts or omissions as a shareholder, he shall be held harmless and indemnified out of the trust estate. Although shareholders of certain voluntary associations have been held, under Massachusetts law, to be partners and as such liable for certain obligations of such associations, it is the opinion of counsel for EUA that the courts of Massachusetts would hold that EUA is a trust and not a partnership and that the shareholders of EUA have no personal liability for the acts or omissions of EUA or its Trustees, officers or agents; that in any event the shareholders are protected by reason of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust described above from personal liability on contract obligations containing the so-called limited liability clause which EUA customarily inserts in all contract obligations including debt securities; that there are no presently outstanding material contracts or obligations known to such counsel upon which personal liability may be imposed on the shareholders under the laws of states other than Massachusetts; and that so long as EUA continues, as it has since its organization in 1928, to confine its activities to Massachusetts and to the ownership of the securities of, or advances to, companies such as its subsidiaries and does not operate physical properties, the possibility of substantial liabilities against EUA arising from torts or statutory liability or penalties, other than tax liabilities, is very remote. It has been the experience of EUA over the years since its organization that its liability for taxes of all classes has been adequately covered by its income. USE OF PROCEEDS EUA does not know either the number of shares that will be purchased under the Plan or the prices at which such shares will be sold. The proceeds from the issuance of the additional common shares will be added to EUA's general funds and will be used for any or all of the following purchases: (i) investment in EUA's subsidiaries, through purchases of additional shares of their capital stocks, capital contributions, open account advances, or loans, (ii) payment of any indebtedness of EUA, or (iii) general corporate purposes. LEGAL OPINIONS AND EXPERTS The legality of the additional common shares offered hereby has been or will be passed upon for EUA by McDermott, Will & Emery, 75 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of capitalization as of December 31, 1993 and 1992, and the related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1993 and the related financial statement schedules, all incorporated by reference or included in EUA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, have been so incorporated herein in reliance on the reports of Coopers & Lybrand, independent certified public accountants, given on the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing. No dealer, salesman or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in this Prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by EUA. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any of these securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. The delivery of the Prospectus does not imply that the information herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference................................ Available Information .................... Eastern Utilities Associates.............. Description of the Plan: Purpose ............................. Administration....................... Eligibility............................ Participation by Shareholders ......... Costs ................................. Purchases.............................. Optional Cash Payments ................ Reports to Participants ............... Dividends.............................. Certificates for Shares ............... Withdrawal ............................ Employee Participation ................ Other Information ..................... Description of Common Shares .......... Use of Proceeds........................ Legal Opinions and Experts ............ Eastern Utilities Eastern Utilities Associates Dividend Reinvestment and Common Share Purchase Plan PROSPECTUS -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----