-----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, AtAbimliTetTShedJSdf8IH2OqypzoBLjekETqjsoqwG70nI1uTUXPjBoRxd4caI GwnQZvTCrQU9AQS+prsptw== 0000950162-98-000689.txt : 19980611 0000950162-98-000689.hdr.sgml : 19980611 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950162-98-000689 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 35-CERT PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 19980610 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WISCONSIN ENERGY CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000783325 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931] IRS NUMBER: 391391525 STATE OF INCORPORATION: WI FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 35-CERT SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 070-09161 FILM NUMBER: 98645307 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 231 W MICHIGAN ST STREET 2: P O BOX 2949 CITY: MILWAUKEE STATE: WI ZIP: 53201 BUSINESS PHONE: 4142212345 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 231 WEST MICHIGAN STREET STREET 2: P O BOX 2949 CITY: MILWAUKEE STATE: WI ZIP: 53201 35-CERT 1 CERTIFICATE OF NOTIFICATION UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 Application/Declaration ) CERTIFICATE Wisconsin Energy Corporation ) OF File No. 70-9161 ) NOTIFICATION Wisconsin Energy Corporation ("WEC") submits this Certificate pursuant to Rule 24 under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 to notify the Securities and Exchange Commission of the completion of the transactions contemplated and authorized in the Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission in this file on May 21, 1998, Release Number 35-26877. WEC specifically notifies the Securities and Exchange Commission that: 1. ESEG, Inc. was merged into Edison Sault Electric Company on May 31, 1998. 2. Acquisition Sub was merged into ESELCO on May 31, 1998, with ESELCO surviving, and at such time each share of ESELCO common stock outstanding was converted into 1.5114 shares of WEC stock (except for fractional share interests which will be paid in cash). 3. ESELCO was merged into WEC on June 1, 1998, with WEC surviving. 4. That all such transactions were accomplished as authorized in said Order. Exhibits F-2. "Past Tense" Opinion of Counsel of Quarles & Brady. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, the undersigned company has caused this Certificate to be signed on its behalf by its undersigned duly authorized officer. WISCONSIN ENERGY CORPORATION By: Calvin H. Baker -------------------------- Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Dated: June 9, 1998 EX-1 2 PAST TENSE OPINION OF COUNSEL QUARLES & BRADY 411 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE MILWAUKEE, WI 53202-4497 EXHIBIT F-2 June 9, 1998 Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel for Wisconsin Energy Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation ("WEC"), in connection with: (i) the merger on May 31, 1998 of ESL Acquisition, Inc., a Michigan corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of WEC ("Acquisition Sub"), with and into ESELCO, Inc. ("ESELCO"), a Michigan corporation (the "Merger"), pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of May 13, 1997, as amended and restated as of July 11, 1997 (the "Reorganization Agreement"), by and among ESELCO, Acquisition Sub and WEC, with ESELCO as the surviving corporation; (ii) the contemporaneous merger on May 31, 1998 of ESEG, Inc., a Michigan corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of ESELCO ("ESEG"), with and into Edison Sault Electric Company, a Michigan corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of ESELCO ("Edison Sault"), with Edison Sault as the surviving corporation; and (iii) the subsequent merger of ESELCO with and into WEC on June 1, 1998, with WEC as the surviving corporation (such three mergers, collectively, being referred to herein as the "Transaction"). We are furnishing this opinion to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") at the request of WEC in connection with WEC's application on Form U-1, as amended (File No. 70-9161) (the "Application"), under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the "Act"), filed in connection with the Transaction. In the Application, WEC requested the Commission to issue an order: (i) authorizing WEC to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of ESELCO ("ESELCO Common Stock") in exchange for shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of WEC ("WEC Common Stock") by means of the Merger and, through the Merger, indirectly acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Edison Sault, ESELCO's public utility subsidiary; and (ii) continuing WEC's exemption from all provisions of the Act, except Section 9(a)(2) thereof, following consummation of the Transaction. The Commission issued the requested order on May 21, 1998 (Release No. 35-26877). In connection with this opinion, we have examined such corporate records of WEC, Acquisition Sub, ESELCO, Edison Sault and ESEG, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers and representatives of said corporations, instruments and other documents, and such questions of fact and matters of law, as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to the original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to -2- any facts material to our opinion, we have, when relevant facts were not independently established, relied upon the aforesaid certificates, instruments and other documents. Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions and qualifications set forth herein, it is our opinion that: 1. All State laws applicable to the consummation of the Transaction have been complied with, and the consummation of the Transaction has been carried out in accordance with the Application. 2. WEC is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the State of Wisconsin. 3. The shares of WEC Common Stock issued pursuant to and as contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as otherwise provided in Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, as judicially interpreted), and the holders thereof are entitled to the rights and privileges appertaining thereto as set forth in the Restated Articles of Incorporation of WEC. 4. WEC legally acquired all of the outstanding shares of ESELCO Common Stock as a result of the Merger, prior to the merger of ESELCO into WEC. 5. The consummation of the Transaction did not violate the legal rights of the holders of any securities issued by WEC or any company associated with WEC. We have been advised by WEC that Madison Gas and Electric Company and two other entities have filed a petition with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (the "PSCW") requesting that the PSCW, which has previously disclaimed jurisdiction over an identical transaction, take jurisdiction over the Merger under Wisconsin utility law, and that WEC is contesting the petition on the basis that the petition is without merit and is contrary to law. While we have not been engaged to represent WEC with respect to this matter, we continue to believe that the PSCW did not have jurisdiction over the Merger under Wisconsin utility law. We are attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Wisconsin. In rendering this opinion, we have relied as to matters of Michigan law on the opinion of Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting, P.C. The opinions expressed herein are specifically limited to the present internal law of the States of Michigan and Wisconsin and federal law of the United States of America. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Application. Larry J. Martin, a partner in our firm, is General Counsel of WEC. Very truly yours, /s/ Quarles & Brady QUARLES & BRADY -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----