SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a party other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
240.14a-12
BOSTON EDISON COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/ / No fee required
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1)
and 0-11
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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/X/ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(4) Date Filed:
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[BOSTON EDISON COMPANY LETTERHEAD]
April 2, 1997
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Boston Edison Company on Thursday, May 15, 1997 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bank of
Boston Auditorium, Lobby Level, 100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts. A map
is provided on the back page for your convenience.
At the Meeting you will be asked to consider and vote on a proposal to form
a holding company for Boston Edison, to be called BEC Energy. The management and
Board of Directors of Boston Edison consider this change to be in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders. The new structure will help the
Company respond more effectively and efficiently to competitive changes
occurring in the electric utility industry and to new business opportunities
that may arise from these changes. It will clearly separate the Company's
regulated and unregulated lines of business in a manner consistent with the
electric industry restructuring principles outlined by the Massachusetts
Department of Public Utilities. All other Massachusetts investor-owned electric
utilities are already organized in this manner.
The attached series of questions and answers provides information on the
proposed holding company, what it is and how it would affect the individual
stockholder. The enclosed Proxy Statement/Prospectus contains a more extensive
discussion of the proposal.
The Board of Directors and management of Boston Edison unanimously recommend
approval of the holding company structure and urge you to vote for the proposed
restructuring. A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL, AND
YOUR VOTE IS CRITICAL TO ACHIEVING A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.
At the Meeting, you will also be asked to vote on the election of four
directors and the adoption of the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan. Your vote on the
business at the Annual Meeting is important, regardless of the number of shares
that you own. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, please sign, date
and return your proxy as soon as possible in the envelope provided. During the
Annual Meeting, management will report on operations and other matters affecting
Boston Edison, and will respond to stockholders' questions.
Sincerely,
/s/ Thomas J. May
Thomas J. May
Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive
Officer
THE HOLDING COMPANY AND HOW IT WOULD AFFECT YOU
You may notice that this year's proxy statement looks different from those
of prior years. This is because it contains an extensive discussion of a
proposal to form a holding company structure for Boston Edison Company ("Boston
Edison"). This proposal is briefly summarized below. Each answer is cross-
referenced to the page or pages of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in which the
topic is discussed in more detail.
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED?
The Board of Directors proposes to form a holding company, a structure which
is commonly used throughout the utility industry, including in Massachusetts,
where every investor-owned electric utility other than Boston Edison already
utilizes such a structure. Boston Edison and its principal subsidiary, Boston
Energy Technology Group ("BETG"), would become subsidiaries of the new holding
company, BEC Energy. Boston Edison's other subsidiary, Harbor Electric Energy
Company ("HEEC"), a Massachusetts electric company, would remain a subsidiary of
Boston Edison. Current holders of Boston Edison's common stock would own common
shares of BEC Energy instead of stock in Boston Edison itself. (Please see pages
11 to 13 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
The charts below depict Boston Edison's current structure and the proposed
holding company structure:
CURRENT STRUCTURE
-----------------
COMMON AND CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED SHAREHOLDERS
:
:
Boston Edison
:
:
........................................................
: :
: :
HEEC BETG and
Subsidiaries
PROPOSED STRUCTURE
------------------
COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
:
:
CUMULATIVE PREFERRED BEC Energy
SHAREHOLDERS (Holding Company)
: :
: :
: .................................................
: : :
: : :
Boston Edison BETG and
: Subsidiaries
:
HEEC
WHY IS A HOLDING COMPANY BEING FORMED?
In recent years, many state utility commissions, including the Massachusetts
Department of Utilities, have initiated inquiries into restructuring the
electric utility industry with a goal of promoting competition and extending to
all customers the option of choosing their own electricity suppliers. In
particular, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities has identified the
legal or functional separation of the electricity generation and distribution
businesses as an essential element of creating a competitive market for
electricity.
In December 1996, Boston Edison, the Massachusetts Attorney General and the
Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources announced that they had reached an
agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") that, if approved by the Massachusetts
Department of Public Utilities, would allow all retail customers in Boston
Edison's service area to choose their electricity suppliers beginning as early
as January 1, 1998. As part of the proposed settlement, Boston Edison would
agree to sell all of its fossil electric generating plants. Accordingly, other
than its Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, Boston Edison would no longer own any
electricity generating facilities.
Assuming that the Settlement Agreement is approved by the Massachusetts
Department of Public Utilities, Boston Edison's electric business would be
thereafter limited primarily to distribution of electricity, and to a much
lesser extent, transmission of electricity. Accordingly, Boston Edison has
identified the need to increase its long-term growth potential through
investment in related non-utility new businesses. At the same time, the move to
a competitive electricity industry, together with a revolution in energy-related
technology, has created significant new opportunities for energy service
providers like Boston Edison in non-utility business ventures. Pursuit of these
new opportunities is a key element of Boston Edison's strategy for long-term
growth to benefit its stockholders and customers.
The holding company structure is a well established form of organization for
companies conducting multiple lines of business, particularly entities engaging
in both regulated and unregulated activities. The holding company structure
would provide increased financial, managerial and organizational flexibility in
order to better position Boston Edison to operate in this changing electric
utility industry. Moreover, the new structure would clearly separate the new
holding company's regulated and unregulated lines of business in a manner
consistent with the principles outlined by the Massachusetts Department of
Public Utilities. (Please see pages 11 to 15 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
IN WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES WOULD BEC ENERGY INVEST?
The primary focus of BEC Energy would be maintaining the strength of Boston
Edison's core business of serving the electric utility needs of its customers.
In addition, BEC Energy would work to develop new business opportunities in the
telecommunications and energy marketing areas. Through BETG and its
subsidiaries, Boston Edison recently signed agreements to enter into two joint
ventures in such new, non-utility businesses. One is a joint venture with RCN
Telecom Services, Inc., a subsidiary of C-TEC Corporation, to provide local and
long-distance telephone service, video and high-speed Internet access and
eventually property monitoring services. The other is a joint venture with
Williams Energy Services Company, a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc.,
to market electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to customers in
the six New England states. BEC Energy would endeavor to develop these
businesses, as well as identify other non-utility businesses which are related
to and compatible with Boston Edison's core business. (Please see pages 13 to 14
of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
HOW WOULD MY OWNERSHIP OF BOSTON EDISON STOCK BE AFFECTED BY THE NEW STRUCTURE?
Owners of Boston Edison's common stock automatically would become owners of
BEC Energy's common shares on a share-for-share basis. It is expected that BEC
Energy's common shares would be traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the
Boston Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BSE". (Please see page 19 of the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
HOW WOULD THE HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE AFFECT COMMON AND CUMULATIVE PREFERRED
STOCK DIVIDENDS?
While future dividends on BEC Energy's common shares would depend primarily
upon the earnings, financial condition and capital requirements of its
subsidiaries, the trustees of the proposed holding company have no current
intention to change the current Boston Edison dividend policy. It is expected
that such dividends of BEC Energy would be declared and paid on approximately
the same schedule of dates as that now followed by Boston Edison with respect to
its common stock dividends. The cumulative preferred stock would continue to be
a security of Boston Edison, not the holding company, and holders of the
cumulative preferred stock would continue to have priority as to Boston Edison
dividends. (Please see pages 19 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO BOSTON EDISON'S DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND COMMON STOCK
PURCHASE PLAN?
Boston Edison's Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan would
be assumed by BEC Energy. Participants in the Plan automatically would become
participants in the corresponding holding company plan. (Please see page 25 of
the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
WOULD STOCKHOLDERS NEED TO TURN IN THEIR CURRENT STOCK CERTIFICATES?
It would not be necessary for holders of Boston Edison's common stock to
exchange their stock certificates. Certificates for Boston Edison's common stock
automatically would represent the same number of common shares of BEC Energy.
New certificates bearing the name BEC Energy would be issued in the future as
outstanding certificates are presented for transfer. (Please see page 16 of the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
HOW WOULD FORMATION OF A HOLDING COMPANY AFFECT PERSONAL FEDERAL INCOME TAXES?
It would not. There would be no gain or loss to you for federal income tax
purposes on the conversion of your shares of Boston Edison common stock into BEC
Energy shares pursuant to the restructuring. For capital gain purposes, the tax
basis of the BEC Energy shares received in exchange for your shares of Boston
Edison's common stock would be the same as the tax basis of your shares in
Boston Edison, and the holding period of the BEC Energy shares would include the
holding period of your shares of Boston Edison's common stock, provided such
stock is held as a capital asset at the time of the exchange. (Please see pages
17 to 18 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
WHAT EFFECT WOULD THERE BE ON HOLDERS OF BOSTON EDISON'S CUMULATIVE PREFERRED
STOCK AND DEBT SECURITIES?
Boston Edison's cumulative preferred stock and debt securities, consisting
primarily of debentures, commercial paper and bank credit lines, would not be
changed in the reorganization and would remain as preferred stock and debt
securities of Boston Edison. Boston Edison's depositary preferred shares,
representing ownership of 1/4 of one share of Boston Edison's 8.25% and 7.75%
Series of cumulative preferred stock, would continue to be traded on the New
York Stock Exchange. (Please see pages 18 to 19 of the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus.)
WHO WOULD MANAGE BEC ENERGY AFTER THE HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE IS APPROVED BY
THE STOCKHOLDERS?
The Board of Directors and certain of the principal executive officers of
Boston Edison would also serve as the trustees and executive officers of BEC
Energy upon completion of the reorganization. (Please see pages 24 to 25 of the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
WHY WOULD THE NEW HOLDING COMPANY BE ORGANIZED AS A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST
INSTEAD OF A CORPORATION?
BEC Energy would be formed as a Massachusetts business trust rather than a
corporation due to the potential Massachusetts income tax savings to the trust
and the lower filing fees payable by it in connection with its authorized
capital stock. The parent holding companies of most other investor-owned
Massachusetts utility holding systems are also organized as business trusts.
(Please see pages 21 to 23 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
HOW SOON WOULD THE HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE BE FORMED IF IT IS APPROVED BY THE
STOCKHOLDERS?
Management intends to form the holding company structure by the end of 1997.
However, any delays in obtaining the required approvals from regulatory agencies
(the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission) could impact that schedule. (Please see pages 20 to 21 of the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus.)
WHAT VOTE IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE HOLDING COMPANY PROPOSAL?
In order for the holding company proposal to be approved under Massachusetts
law, it must receive the favorable vote, in person or by proxy, of the holders
of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Boston Edison's common stock. (Please
see page 16 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
CAN THE BROKER WHO HOLDS MY SHARES OF BOSTON EDISON COMMON STOCK VOTE THEM ON MY
BEHALF?
Your broker may not vote your shares because the New York Stock Exchange has
declared a vote to form a holding company as "non-discretionary." Only you can
vote your shares. Your vote on the business at the Annual Meeting is important
regardless of the number of shares that you own. Whether or not you plan to
attend, please sign, date and return your proxy card as soon as possible in the
envelope provided so that your shares can be voted in accordance with your
instructions. (Please see pages 38 to 39 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.)
THE ENCLOSED PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
CONTAINS A THOROUGH AND DETAILED DISCUSSION OF
BOSTON EDISON'S PROPOSAL TO FORM A HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE.
(BOSTON EDISON LOGO)
BOSTON EDISON COMPANY
BOSTON EDISON COMPANY
800 BOYLSTON STREET
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02199
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 15, 1997
TO THE HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Boston Edison Company ("Boston
Edison") will be held at the Bank of Boston Auditorium, Lobby Level, 100 Federal
Street, Boston, Massachusetts, on Thursday, May 15, 1997 at 11:00 a.m., for the
following purposes:
1. To elect four Class III directors to serve until the Annual Meeting
to be held in the year 2000.
2. To approve a proposal to adopt a holding company structure for Boston
Edison, all as more fully described in the accompanying Proxy
Statement/Prospectus.
3. To approve Boston Edison's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan and to authorize
the issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the
Plan.
4. To transact any other business which may properly come before the
Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Further information as to the matters to be considered and acted on at the
Annual Meeting can be found in the accompanying Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
Only the holders of common stock of Boston Edison as of the close of
business on March 17, 1997, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Please sign, date and return the accompanying proxy in the enclosed
addressed envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States.
Your proxy may be revoked at any time before the vote is taken by delivering to
the Clerk a written revocation or a proxy bearing a later date or by oral
revocation in person to the Clerk at the Annual Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Theodora S. Convisser
Clerk
Boston, Massachusetts
March 26, 1997
BOSTON EDISON COMPANY
800 BOYLSTON STREET
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02199
(617) 424-2000
PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
This Proxy Statement/Prospectus, together with the accompanying proxy and
1996 Annual Report, is being furnished to stockholders of Boston Edison Company,
a Massachusetts corporation ("Boston Edison"), in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Boston Edison to be voted
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Thursday, May 15, 1997 for
the purposes set forth in the foregoing Notice (the "Annual Meeting").
At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders will be asked to approve, among
other things, the formation of a holding company structure for Boston Edison.
The holding company structure will be created through an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Merger Agreement") among Boston Edison, BEC Energy, a Massachusetts
business trust formed by Boston Edison, and Boston Edison Mergeco Electric
Company, Inc., a Massachusetts utility corporation formed by BEC Energy
("Mergeco"). At the time of the Merger (as defined below), Mergeco will be a
wholly-owned subsidiary of BEC Energy. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Mergeco
will merge with and into Boston Edison (the "Merger") and each outstanding share
of the common stock of Boston Edison, $1.00 par value per share ("Boston Edison
Common Stock"), will automatically be converted into one common share of BEC
Energy, $1.00 par value per share ("BEC Energy Common Shares"). As a result of
the Merger, Boston Edison will become a subsidiary of BEC Energy and the holders
of Boston Edison Common Stock will become holders of BEC Energy Common Shares.
The outstanding shares of Boston Edison Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value
$100 per share ("Boston Edison Cumulative Preferred Stock"), will be unchanged
and will continue to be outstanding securities of Boston Edison. In connection
with the implementation of the holding company structure, Boston Edison intends
to transfer to BEC Energy its ownership interest in its principal subsidiary,
Boston Energy Technology Group, a Massachusetts corporation ("BETG"). See
"Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--General."
If the restructuring is implemented, it will not be necessary for holders of
Boston Edison Common Stock to surrender their existing stock certificates for
BEC Energy share certificates. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of
Restructuring--Exchange of Certificates Not Required."
This Proxy Statement/Prospectus also serves as the prospectus for BEC Energy
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with
respect to the issuance of up to 48,514,973 common shares of BEC Energy in
connection with the restructuring. Further information concerning the shares
offered hereby is contained in "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--BEC
Energy's Declaration of Trust and Comparative Stockholders' Rights" and
"Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--BEC Energy Common Shares."
------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
------------------------
The principal executive offices of Boston Edison and BEC Energy are located
at 800 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199, telephone number (617)
424-2000. This Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the accompanying proxy, solicited
on behalf of the Board of Directors of Boston Edison, were first mailed to
stockholders on or about April 2, 1997.
The accompanying proxy, if properly executed and delivered by a stockholder
entitled to vote, will be voted at the Annual Meeting as specified in the proxy,
but may be revoked at any time before the vote is
taken by the signer delivering to the Clerk of Boston Edison a written
revocation or a proxy bearing a later date or by oral revocation in person to
the Clerk at the Annual Meeting. If choices are not specified on the
accompanying proxy, the shares will be voted FOR the election of all of the
nominees for director specified in Proposal No. 1 below and FOR Proposals No. 2
and No. 3.
All the costs of preparing, assembling and mailing the enclosed material and
any additional material which may be sent in connection with the solicitation of
the enclosed proxies will be paid by Boston Edison, and no part thereof will be
paid directly or indirectly by any other person. Boston Edison has retained D.F.
King & Co., Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies at a fee of $10,000,
plus usual and customary expenses. Some employees may devote a part of their
time to the solicitation of proxies or for attendance at the Annual Meeting but
no additional compensation will be paid to them for the time so employed and the
cost of such additional solicitation will be nominal. Boston Edison will
reimburse brokerage firms, banks, trustees and others for their actual
out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding proxy material to the beneficial owners of
Boston Edison Common Stock.
On March 17, 1997, there were issued and outstanding 48,514,973 shares of
Boston Edison Common Stock. Only holders of record of Boston Edison Common Stock
at the close of business on that date shall be entitled to notice of and to vote
at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof, and those entitled to vote
will have one vote for each share held. To the knowledge of management, no
person owns beneficially more than 5 percent of the outstanding voting
securities of Boston Edison.
The date of this Proxy Statement/Prospectus is March 26, 1997.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
-----
AVAILABLE INFORMATION...................................................................................... 1
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE............................................................ 2
SUMMARY OF PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS...................................................................... 3
Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors.................................................................... 3
Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring.................................................................... 3
Proposed Restructuring................................................................................. 3
Special Considerations Applicable to the Restructuring................................................. 3
Reasons for the Restructuring.......................................................................... 4
Certain Effects on Stockholders........................................................................ 4
Vote Required.......................................................................................... 5
Exchange of Certificates............................................................................... 5
Stock Exchange Listing................................................................................. 5
Conditions to the Restructuring........................................................................ 5
Dividend Policy........................................................................................ 6
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences................................................................ 6
No Appraisal Rights.................................................................................... 6
Proposal No. 3: Adoption of the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan................................................ 6
PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS...................................................................... 7
Information about Nominees and Incumbent Directors....................................................... 7
Stock Ownership by Directors and Executive Officers...................................................... 9
Director Compensation.................................................................................... 10
PROPOSAL NO. 2: PLAN OF RESTRUCTURING...................................................................... 11
General.................................................................................................. 11
Business of Boston Edison................................................................................ 11
The Restructuring........................................................................................ 12
Reasons for the Restructuring............................................................................ 13
Benefits of Holding Company Structure.................................................................... 14
Special Considerations Applicable to the Restructuring................................................... 15
Recommendations of the Board............................................................................. 15
Vote Required............................................................................................ 16
Exchange of Certificates Not Required.................................................................... 16
Merger Agreement......................................................................................... 16
Amendment or Termination of Plan of Merger............................................................... 17
Effectiveness of the Restructuring....................................................................... 17
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences.................................................................. 17
Treatment of Preferred Stock............................................................................. 18
Treatment of Indebtedness................................................................................ 19
Dividend Policy.......................................................................................... 19
Stock Exchange Listing................................................................................... 19
Regulatory Approval of the Restructuring................................................................. 20
Regulatory Matters....................................................................................... 20
BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust and Comparative Stockholders' Rights................................... 21
BEC Energy Common Shares................................................................................. 23
Trustees and Management of BEC Energy.................................................................... 24
No Appraisal Rights...................................................................................... 25
i
PAGE
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Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan..................................................... 25
Common Stock Plans....................................................................................... 25
Price Range of Boston Edison Common Stock................................................................ 26
Transfer Agent and Registrar............................................................................. 26
Financial Statements..................................................................................... 26
Legal Opinion............................................................................................ 26
Experts.................................................................................................. 26
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION..................................................................................... 27
Report of the Executive Personnel Committee.............................................................. 27
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation.............................................. 29
Executive Compensation Tables............................................................................ 29
Summary Compensation Table............................................................................... 30
Long-Term Incentive Plans--Awards in Last Fiscal Year.................................................... 30
Pension Plan Table....................................................................................... 31
Change of Control Agreements............................................................................. 31
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH.................................................................................... 33
PROPOSAL NO. 3: ADOPTION OF 1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN...................................................... 34
General.................................................................................................. 34
Federal Income Tax Consequences.......................................................................... 37
Vote Required............................................................................................ 38
Recommendation of the Board of Directors................................................................. 38
OTHER MATTERS.............................................................................................. 38
Voting Procedures........................................................................................ 38
Adjournment of Meeting................................................................................... 39
Independent Accountants.................................................................................. 39
Other Business........................................................................................... 39
Stockholder Proposals.................................................................................... 39
Stockholder Nominations of Directors..................................................................... 39
APPENDIX A: AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER................................................................... A-1
APPENDIX B: DECLARATION OF TRUST OF BEC ENERGY............................................................. B-1
APPENDIX C: 1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN...................................................................... C-1
ii
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION
MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED. THIS PROXY STATEMENT/
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER
TO PURCHASE, ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED BY THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS,
OR THE SOLICITATION OF A PROXY IN ANY JURISDICTION TO OR FROM ANY PERSON TO OR
FROM WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER OR PROXY
SOLICITATION IN SUCH JURISDICTION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS NOR THE ISSUANCE OR SALE OF ANY SECURITIES HEREUNDER SHALL
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN
THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN OR INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE SINCE THE
DATE HEREOF.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Boston Edison is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Such reports, proxy statements
and other information may be inspected and copied at the Public Reference
Facilities maintained by the SEC at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the SEC's regional offices at 7 World
Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and at Northwestern Atrium
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511.
Copies of such material may be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public
Reference Facilities maintained by the SEC at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549. In addition, material that Boston
Edison files electronically with the SEC is available at the SEC's Web site
(http://www.sec.gov), which contains reports, proxy and information statements
and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
Certain securities of Boston Edison are listed on the New York Stock Exchange
("NYSE") and the Boston Stock Exchange ("BoSE"), where reports, proxy statements
and other information concerning Boston Edison may also be inspected. Following
completion of the Merger, both Boston Edison and BEC Energy will file such
reports and other information as required under the Exchange Act and the rules
of the NYSE and BoSE.
BEC Energy has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4
(together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
registering the BEC Energy Common Shares that will be issued in lieu of shares
of Boston Edison Common Stock pursuant to the Merger described herein. See
"Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring." This Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which
constitutes a part of the Registration Statement, does not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain items of which are
contained in schedules and exhibits to the Registration Statement as permitted
by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Statements made in this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other
document referred to are not necessarily complete. With respect to each such
contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, reference is made to the exhibit for a more complete description of
the matter involved, and each such statement shall be deemed qualified in its
entirety by such reference. Items and information omitted from this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus but contained in the Registration Statement may be
inspected and copied at the Public Reference Facilities maintained by the SEC at
Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549.
Upon completion of the Merger, the BEC Energy Common Shares will be listed
on the NYSE and BoSE. At the time of such listing, Boston Edison Common Stock
will be withdrawn from listing and registration under Section 12 of the Exchange
Act.
1
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE CERTAIN DOCUMENTS
WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH. COPIES OF ANY SUCH
DOCUMENTS, OTHER THAN EXHIBITS TO SUCH DOCUMENTS UNLESS THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY PERSON, INCLUDING
ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, TO WHOM THIS PROXY STATEMENT/ PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED UPON
WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST TO: THEODORA S. CONVISSER, CLERK, BOSTON EDISON COMPANY,
800 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02199, TELEPHONE: (617) 424-2000. IN
ORDER TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY OF THE DOCUMENTS, ANY REQUEST SHOULD BE MADE BY
MAY 1, 1997.
The following documents filed with the SEC (File No. 1-2301) pursuant to the
Exchange Act are incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement/Prospectus:
1. Boston Edison's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1995, as amended by Form 10-K/A-1 which was filed with the SEC on June 28,
1996;
2. Boston Edison's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, 1996, June 30, 1996, and September 30, 1996; and
3. Boston Edison's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated September 30 and
December 20, 1996.
Boston Edison expects to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1996, with the SEC on or about March 27, 1997. That
document and all other documents filed by Boston Edison pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
Proxy Statement/Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering made
hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing such documents. Any statement contained herein or
in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
2
SUMMARY OF PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
REFERENCE IS MADE TO, AND THIS SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY, THE
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CONTAINED IN, ATTACHED TO OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND THE APPENDICES HERETO. STOCKHOLDERS ARE
URGED TO READ THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND THE APPENDICES IN THEIR
ENTIRETY.
PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT
STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.
Four persons have been nominated for election as Class III directors of
Boston Edison for a term expiring at the Annual Meeting to be held in the year
2000 and until their successors are duly chosen and qualified. Only holders of
record of Boston Edison Common Stock as of the close of business on March 17,
1997 (the "Record Date") are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any
adjournments thereof. Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes
properly cast at the meeting. If the proposed restructuring is approved and
consummated, the persons elected as directors of Boston Edison also will become
trustees of BEC Energy. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Trustees and
Management of BEC Energy."
PROPOSAL NO. 2: PLAN OF RESTRUCTURING
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED
RESTRUCTURING TO FORM A HOLDING COMPANY.
PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING
The Boston Edison Board of Directors has authorized, subject to stockholder
and regulatory approval, a plan to restructure the corporate organization of
Boston Edison and its subsidiaries to form a holding company structure. The
result of the restructuring will be to have Boston Edison become a separate
subsidiary of a parent holding company, BEC Energy. The present holders of
Boston Edison Common Stock will become holders of BEC Energy Common Shares. The
formation of a holding company structure will be achieved by way of the merger
with and into Boston Edison of Boston Edison Mergeco Electric Company, Inc.
("Mergeco"), a newly formed utility subsidiary of BEC Energy, with holders of
Boston Edison Common Stock exchanging their shares for BEC Energy Common Shares
on a share-for-share basis and BEC Energy becoming the sole holder of Boston
Edison Common Stock. Each series of Boston Edison Cumulative Preferred Stock and
all indebtedness of Boston Edison will remain as securities and obligations of
Boston Edison and will not be affected by the Merger.
As part of the restructuring, it is contemplated that Boston Edison will
transfer its ownership interest in its principal subsidiary, Boston Energy
Technology Group ("BETG"), to BEC Energy such that BETG will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of BEC Energy and a sister corporation to Boston Edison.
(These proposed changes to the corporate structure of Boston Edison and its
subsidiaries are generally referred to in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus as the
"restructuring.")
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THE RESTRUCTURING
The restructuring proposal involves certain special factors that should be
considered by stockholders. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Special
Considerations Applicable to the Restructuring."
3
REASONS FOR THE RESTRUCTURING
In recent years, many state utility commissions, including the Massachusetts
Department of Utilities (the "Massachusetts DPU"), have initiated inquiries into
restructuring the electric utility industry with a goal of promoting competition
and extending to all customers the option of choosing their own electricity
suppliers. In particular, the Massachusetts DPU has identified the legal or
functional separation of the electricity generation and distribution businesses
as an essential element of creating a competitive market for electricity.
In December 1996, Boston Edison, the Massachusetts Attorney General and the
Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources announced that they had reached an
agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") that, if approved by the Massachusetts
DPU, would allow all retail customers in Boston Edison's service area to choose
their electricity suppliers beginning as early as January 1, 1998. As part of
the proposed settlement, Boston Edison would agree to sell all of its fossil
electric generating plants. Accordingly, other than its Pilgrim Nuclear Power
Station, Boston Edison would no longer own any electricity generating
facilities.
Assuming that the Settlement Agreement is approved by the Massachusetts DPU,
Boston Edison's electric business would be thereafter limited primarily to
distribution of electricity, and to a much lesser extent, transmission of
electricity. Accordingly, Boston Edison has identified the need to increase its
long-term growth potential through investment in related non-utility new
businesses. At the same time, the move to a competitive electricity industry,
together with a revolution in energy-related technology, has created significant
new opportunities for energy service providers like Boston Edison in non-utility
business ventures. Pursuit of these new opportunities is a key element of Boston
Edison's strategy for long-term growth to benefit its stockholders and
customers.
The holding company structure is a well established form of organization for
companies conducting multiple lines of business, particularly entities engaging
in both regulated and unregulated activities. The holding company structure
would provide increased financial, managerial and organizational flexibility in
order to better position Boston Edison to operate in this changing electric
utility industry. Moreover, the new structure would clearly separate the new
holding company's regulated and unregulated lines of business in a manner
consistent with the principles outlined by the Massachusetts DPU. Although
Boston Edison could continue to pursue non-utility business opportunities
through BETG and other non-utility subsidiaries, management and the Board of
Directors believe it is in the best interests of Boston Edison and its
stockholders to conduct such non-utility activities through a holding company
structure. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Reasons for the
Restructuring" and "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Benefits of Holding
Company Structure."
CERTAIN EFFECTS ON STOCKHOLDERS
BEC Energy has been formed as a Massachusetts business trust due to the
potential Massachusetts income tax savings to the trust and the lower filing
fees payable by it in connection with its authorized capital stock. BEC Energy's
shareholders will have rights and liabilities generally comparable to those of
stockholders of a corporation. Pursuant to certain decisions of the
Massachusetts courts, shareholders who exercise too much control over the
affairs of a Massachusetts business trust may be held personally liable as
partners for the obligations of a trust to the extent not satisfied by the
trust. Even if, however, BEC Energy were held to be a partnership, the
possibility of its shareholders incurring financial loss is remote because (a)
BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust (as defined below) contains an express
disclaimer of shareholder liability for the obligations of BEC Energy, requires
that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or
instrument entered into or executed by BEC Energy and provides that no person
has authority to enter into an agreement, obligation or instrument except in
accordance with those requirements, (b) BEC Energy will seek adequate insurance
against tort liability, (c) most of BEC Energy's operations will be conducted by
incorporated subsidiaries such that the activities of BEC Energy will be
4
limited to the ownership of securities rather than the operation of physical
assets and (d) BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification
out of the trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the
obligations of BEC Energy. Use of a Massachusetts business trust as the parent
holding company of a Massachusetts electric utility is a common practice. The
parent holding companies of most other investor-owned Massachusetts utility
holding systems are also organized as business trusts. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan
of Restructuring--BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust and Comparative
Stockholders' Rights."
VOTE REQUIRED
Only holders of record of Boston Edison Common Stock as of the Record Date
will be entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Annual Meeting and any
adjournments thereof with respect to approval of the Merger Agreement and the
restructuring. Holders of Boston Edison Common Stock entitled to vote will have
one vote for each share held. In order for the holding company proposal to be
approved under Massachusetts law, it must receive the favorable vote, in person
or by proxy, of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Boston
Edison Common Stock. As of the Record Date, 48,514,973 shares of Boston Edison
Common Stock were issued and outstanding. To the knowledge of management, no
person owns beneficially more than 5 percent of the outstanding voting
securities of Boston Edison. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Vote
Required."
EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
If the new holding company structure is implemented, it will not be
necessary for holders of Boston Edison Common Stock to surrender their existing
stock certificates for BEC Energy share certificates. Certificates representing
Boston Edison Common Stock will automatically represent the corresponding number
of BEC Energy Common Shares upon consummation of the Merger. See "Proposal No.
2: Plan of Restructuring--Exchange of Certificates Not Required."
STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING
Shares of Boston Edison Common Stock are currently traded on the New York
Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and the Boston Stock Exchange ("BoSE") under the stock
symbol "BSE." Application will be made to list BEC Energy Common Shares on the
NYSE and the BoSE. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Stock Exchange
Listing."
CONDITIONS TO THE RESTRUCTURING
The Merger Agreement provides that the consummation of the Merger and the
restructuring into a holding company is subject to approval of the Merger
Agreement by the stockholders of Boston Edison, BEC Energy and Mergeco, as is
set forth more fully below under "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring-- Vote
Required," and to the approval by the NYSE and the BoSE of BEC Energy Common
Shares for listing upon official notice of issuance. If the stockholders of
Boston Edison approve the Merger, Boston Edison will then cause the shares of
BEC Energy and Mergeco to be voted in favor of the restructuring into a holding
company.
In addition, the decision to proceed with the Merger and restructuring is
subject to, among other things, the receipt, on terms satisfactory to the Board
of Directors of Boston Edison, of (i) authorization from the Massachusetts DPU
to form a holding company structure for Boston Edison, (ii) other required
regulatory authorizations, including without limitation the approval of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
("NRC") and the SEC and (iii) such other consents and approvals as the Board may
deem necessary or appropriate. Following the restructuring, BEC Energy is
expected to qualify for an exemption under the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935 (the
5
"Holding Company Act"). See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Regulatory
Approval of the Restructuring" and "Proposal No. 2: Plan of
Restructuring--Regulatory Matters."
DIVIDEND POLICY
While future dividends on BEC Energy Common Shares will depend primarily
upon the earnings, financial condition and capital requirements of its
subsidiaries, it is contemplated that BEC Energy initially will make dividend
payments on BEC Energy Common Shares at the rate currently applicable to Boston
Edison Common Stock. In addition, it is expected that such dividends of BEC
Energy will be declared and paid on approximately the same schedule of dates as
that now followed by Boston Edison with respect to Boston Edison Common Stock
dividends. The most recent dividend declared by the Board of Directors of Boston
Edison was $0.47 per share of Boston Edison Common Stock and was paid on
February 3, 1997. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Dividend Policy."
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
For Federal income tax purposes, no gain or loss will be recognized by
Boston Edison, BEC Energy, the holders of shares of Boston Edison Common Stock
whose shares are exchanged for BEC Energy Common Shares or the holders of
Cumulative Preferred Stock as a result of the Merger. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan
of Restructuring--Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences."
NO APPRAISAL RIGHTS
Under Massachusetts law governing the proposed Merger, neither a dissenting
holder of Boston Edison Common Stock nor a holder of Boston Edison Cumulative
Preferred Stock has a right to demand payment of the fair value of his or her
shares if the Merger is consummated.
PROPOSAL NO. 3: ADOPTION OF THE 1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR ADOPTION
OF THE 1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
The Board of Directors has adopted the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, subject to
approval of the stockholders, in order to attract and retain employees in a
position to make contributions to the success of Boston Edison, to reward
employees for such contributions, and to encourage employees to take into
account the long-term interests of Boston Edison through stock-based awards. See
"Proposal No. 3: Adoption of the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan."
Proposal No. 3 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
present and entitled to vote on the matter. See "Proposal No. 3: Adoption of the
1997 Stock Incentive Plan--Vote Required."
6
PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
INFORMATION ABOUT NOMINEES AND INCUMBENT DIRECTORS
Pursuant to Boston Edison's Bylaws, the Board of Directors has fixed the
number of directors at ten. Boston Edison's Restated Articles of Organization
provide for the classification of the Board of Directors into three classes
serving staggered three-year terms. The four persons named below have been
nominated by the Board of Directors for election as Class III directors for a
term expiring at the Annual Meeting to be held in the year 2000 and until their
successors are duly chosen and qualified. The remaining directors will continue
to serve as set forth below, with the Class I directors having terms expiring in
1998 and the Class II directors having terms expiring in 1999. If any of the
nominees shall by reason of death, disability or resignation be unavailable as a
candidate at the Annual Meeting, votes pursuant to the proxy will be cast for a
substitute candidate as may be designated by the Board of Directors, or in the
absence of such designation, in such other manner as the directors may in their
discretion determine. Alternatively, in such a situation, the Board of Directors
may take action to fix the number of directors for the ensuing year at the
number of nominees named herein who are then able to serve.
Senator Paul E. Tsongas, a Class I director who served as a member of the
Board of Directors since 1985, passed away on January 18, 1997. William F.
Connell, a Class II director who has served on the Board of Directors since
1987, has announced his intention to retire from the Board at the upcoming
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Boston Edison is searching for a replacement to
fill the current Class I vacancy.
The Board of Directors has adopted the following director retirement policy.
Directors who are employees of Boston Edison, with the exception of the Chief
Executive Officer, retire from the Board when they retire from employment with
Boston Edison. Directors who are not employees of Boston Edison or who have
served as Chief Executive Officer retire from the Board at the annual meeting of
stockholders following their seventieth birthday.
The Board of Directors, which held eight regular meetings during 1996, has
an Executive Committee, an Audit, Finance and Risk Management Committee, an
Executive Personnel Committee, a Nuclear Oversight Committee, a Capital
Investment Committee and a Pricing Committee. During 1996, the Executive
Committee, which is authorized to exercise in the intervals between Board
meetings those powers of the Board which can be delegated and to act as a
nominating committee, met four times. The Audit, Finance and Risk Management
Committee, the responsibilities of which include recommendations as to the
selection of independent auditors, review of the scope of the independent audit,
annual financial statements, internal audit reports, and financial and
accounting controls and procedures, and review of Boston Edison's financial
requirements, insurance coverages, and legal compliance programs, met three
times. The Executive Personnel Committee, which is responsible for reviewing
officer and director compensation arrangements, executive officer personnel
planning and performance, certain benefit programs, and Boston Edison's human
resources policies, met four times. The Nuclear Oversight Committee, which
oversees Boston Edison's nuclear operations, met four times. The Capital
Investment Committee, which provides external oversight of Boston Edison's plans
for capital improvements and reviews investments in related businesses, met
three times. The Pricing Committee, which is authorized to approve the terms of
Boston Edison's debt and equity offerings, did not meet in 1996. All directors
attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the
Board and the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on
which he or she served.
7
The names of the nominees as Class III directors and the incumbent Class I
and Class II directors and certain information concerning them are shown in the
following table:
NOMINEES AS CLASS III DIRECTORS--TERMS EXPIRING IN 2000
NOMINEES PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION (1) AND DIRECTORSHIPS
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary L. Countryman Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Mutual Insurance
Age: 57 Company, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Life Assurance
Director since: 1986 Company of Boston
Member: Executive, Executive Directorships: Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance
Personnel and Capital Company, Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, Bank of Boston Corporation,
Investment Committees The First National Bank of Boston, The Neiman-Marcus Group, Inc.
Thomas G. Dignan, Jr. (2) Partner, Ropes & Gray (Law Firm)
Age: 56 Directorships: Various educational, cultural and civic organizations
Director since: 1983
Member: Executive, Nuclear
Oversight and Capital
Investment Committees
Herbert Roth, Jr. Former Chairman of the Board (1978-1985) and Chief Executive Officer (1968-1985),
Age: 68 LFE Corporation (Traffic and Industrial Process Control Systems)
Director since: 1978 Directorships/Trusteeships: Landauer, Inc., Tech/Ops Sevcon, Inc., Phoenix Home
Member: Nuclear Oversight Life Mutual Insurance Company, Phoenix Series Fund, Phoenix Total Return Fund,
and Capital Investment Inc., Phoenix Multi-Portfolio Fund, The Big Edge Series Fund, Mark IV
Committees Industries
Stephen J. Sweeney Former Chairman of the Board (1986-1992) and Chief Executive Officer (1984-1990),
Age: 68 Boston Edison Company
Director since: 1983 Directorships: Selecterm, Inc., Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual
Member: Nuclear Oversight Fire Insurance Company, Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, Uno
and Capital Investment Restaurant Corporation
Committees
INCUMBENT CLASS I DIRECTORS--TERMS EXPIRING IN 1998
DIRECTOR PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION (1) AND DIRECTORSHIPS
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nelson S. Gifford Principal, Fleetwing Capital (Venture Investments) (1992 to present); formerly
Age: 66 Chairman (1986-1990) and Chief Executive Officer (1975-1990), Dennison
Director since: 1981 Manufacturing Company (Stationery Products, Systems and Packaging)
Member: Audit, Finance and Directorships: John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, Reed and Barton, J.M.
Risk Management and Capital Huber Corp., Nypro Inc., Partners Fund
Investment Committees
Matina S. Horner Executive Vice President, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association/ College
Age: 57 Retirement Equities Fund; formerly President (1972-1989), Radcliffe College
Director since: 1988 Directorships: The Neiman-Marcus Group, Inc.
Member: Executive, Audit,
Finance and Risk Management
and Pricing Committees
FOOTNOTES ON PAGE 9
8
INCUMBENT CLASS II DIRECTORS--TERMS EXPIRING IN 1999
DIRECTOR PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION (1) AND DIRECTORSHIPS
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles K. Gifford Chief Executive Officer (since 1995), formerly Chairman (1995-1996) and President
Age: 54 (1989-1995), Bank of Boston Corporation (Bank Holding Company), and Chairman
Director since: 1990 and Chief Executive Officer (since 1995), formerly President (1989-1996), The
Member: Audit, Finance and First National Bank of Boston
Risk Management, Executive Directorships: Bank of Boston Corporation, The First National Bank of Boston,
Personnel and Pricing Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
Committees
Thomas J. May Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (since 1995), formerly Chairman
Age: 49 and Chief Executive Officer (1994-1995), President and Chief Operating Officer
Director since: 1991 (1993-1994), and Executive Vice President (1990-1993), Boston Edison Company
Member: Executive and Directorships: Bank of Boston Corporation, The First National Bank of Boston, New
Pricing Committees England Mutual Life Insurance Company
Sherry H. Penney Chancellor (1988-1995 and 1996 to present), University of Massachusetts at
Age: 59 Boston, formerly President (1995) (interim), University of Massachusetts
Director since: 1990 Directorships: Various educational, civic and cultural organizations
Member: Audit, Finance and
Risk Management and
Executive Personnel
Committees
- ------------------------
(1) Except as otherwise noted, each nominee and incumbent director has held the
position indicated for the last five years.
(2) During 1996, Boston Edison paid legal fees to the firm of Ropes & Gray.
STOCK OWNERSHIP BY DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth the number of shares of Boston Edison Common
Stock beneficially owned as of January 31, 1997 by each director and nominee,
each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, and the
directors and executive officers of Boston Edison as a group. None of the
individual or collective holdings listed below exceeds 1% of the outstanding
Boston Edison Common Stock. Except as indicated below, all of the shares listed
are held by the persons named with both sole voting power and sole investment
power. No member of the group is the beneficial owner of Boston Edison's
Cumulative Preferred Stock.
9
NUMBER OF SHARES OF
BOSTON EDISON COMMON
STOCK BENEFICIALLY
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
E. Thomas Boulette................................................... 2,443(1)(2)
William F. Connell................................................... 1,886
Gary L. Countryman................................................... 1,686
Thomas G. Dignan, Jr................................................. 2,115
Charles K. Gifford................................................... 1,452
Nelson S. Gifford.................................................... 3,545
L. Carl Gustin....................................................... 4,598(2)
Douglas S. Horan..................................................... 2,514(1)(2)
Matina S. Horner..................................................... 1,686
Ronald A. Ledgett.................................................... 4,332(1)(2)
Thomas J. May........................................................ 14,437(1)(2)
Sherry H. Penney..................................................... 1,736
Herbert Roth, Jr..................................................... 6,000
Stephen J. Sweeney................................................... 5,131(3)
All directors and executive officers as a group, including those
named above (19 persons)........................................... 44,143(1)(2)
- ------------------------
(1) The following shares are held in Boston Edison's Deferred Compensation Trust
due to deferrals by the following participants under Boston Edison's
Deferred Compensation Plan: Dr. Boulette, 887 shares; Mr. Horan, 127 shares;
Mr. Ledgett, 2,157 shares; Mr. May, 7,125 shares; all executive officers as
a group, 15,512 shares. Participants in the Plan may instruct the trustee to
vote shares of Boston Edison Common Stock held in the trust in accordance
with their allocable share of such deferrals, but have no dispositive power
with respect to shares held in the trust.
(2) These totals include the following number of shares held in Boston Edison's
401(k) Plan: Dr. Boulette, 1,556 shares; Mr. Gustin, 3,336 shares; Mr.
Horan, 1,922 shares; Mr. Ledgett, 2,175 shares; Mr. May, 6,140 shares; all
executive officers as a group, 24,572 shares.
(3) 3,629 of Mr. Sweeney's 5,131 shares are held in a charitable annuity
remainder trust, of which he, as a co-trustee of the trust, shares
dispositive and voting power with respect to the shares.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Each director who is not an employee of Boston Edison receives an annual
Board retainer of $10,000 and 200 shares of Boston Edison Common Stock pursuant
to Boston Edison's 1991 Director Stock Plan. Each such director who is a member
of the Executive Committee receives an additional annual Committee retainer of
$4,000. With the exception of the Pricing Committee, the members of which
receive no retainer, each of the chairmen of the other Board committees who is
not an employee of Boston Edison receives an annual Committee retainer of $4,000
and the other non-employee members of those committees receive an annual
Committee retainer of $2,750. Each director who is not an employee of Boston
Edison receives $1,000 for attendance in person at each meeting of the Board or
a committee and $500 for participating in such a meeting by telephone. Directors
may elect to defer part or all of their directors' fees pursuant to Boston
Edison's Deferred Fee Plan. Each director who is not otherwise eligible for any
Boston Edison pension or retirement benefit is entitled to an annual amount,
equal to the cash component of the annual Board retainer plus twice the retainer
received by a member of a committee other than the Executive Committee, for a
period of years equal to his or her service on the Board of Directors, such
payments to commence upon the director's date of death in office, resignation or
retirement. Should a director die prior to full receipt of the benefit, his or
her survivors continue to receive the payments to which the director would have
been entitled up to a maximum of ten years from the commencement of the benefit.
10
PROPOSAL NO. 2: PLAN OF RESTRUCTURING
GENERAL
The management and Board of Directors of Boston Edison consider it to be in
the best interests of Boston Edison and its stockholders to change into a
holding company structure whereby Boston Edison will become a separate,
wholly-owned subsidiary of a new parent company. The present holders of Boston
Edison Common Stock will become shareholders of the new parent, and Boston
Edison's principal subsidiary, BETG (and its subsidiaries), will become a
subsidiary of BEC Energy. Boston Edison's other subsidiary, HEEC, a
Massachusetts utility corporation, will remain a subsidiary of Boston Edison.
The holding company structure is a well established form of organization for
companies conducting multiple lines of businesses, particularly entities
engaging in both regulated and unregulated activities. All investor-owned
Massachusetts electric utilities, other than Boston Edison, are currently
organized in a holding company structure. The holding company structure is
intended to provide increased financial, managerial and organizational
flexibility in order to better position Boston Edison to operate in the changing
electric utility industry. Specifically, the new structure would clearly
separate BEC Energy's regulated and unregulated lines of business, enabling it
to pursue non-utility business ventures in a manner consistent with the electric
industry restructuring principles outlined by the Massachusetts Department of
Public Utilities (the "Massachusetts DPU"). Although Boston Edison could
continue to pursue non-utility business opportunities through BETG and other
non-utility subsidiaries, management and the Board of Directors believe it is in
the best interests of Boston Edison and its stockholders to conduct such
non-utility activities through a holding company structure.
BUSINESS OF BOSTON EDISON
Boston Edison was incorporated in 1886 under Massachusetts law as an
investor-owned public utility. Boston Edison, with its wholly-owned utility
subsidiary Harbor Electric Energy Company, is currently engaged principally in
the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electric
energy. Boston Edison provides electricity at retail to an area of 590 square
miles, including the City of Boston and 39 surrounding cities and towns. In
1996, Boston Edison served an average of 657,487 customers. Boston Edison also
supplies electricity at wholesale for resale to other electric utilities and
municipal electric departments.
Through BETG and its subsidiaries, Boston Edison is also engaged in certain
non-utility businesses, including energy utilization and conservation,
construction management and district energy. Recently, Boston Edison announced
that BETG (through its subsidiaries) has entered into two joint ventures in new
non-utility businesses. The first is a joint venture with RCN Telecom Services,
Inc., a subsidiary of C-TEC Corporation, to provide local and long-distance
telephone service, video and high-speed Internet access and eventually property
monitoring services (the "Telecommunications Venture"). The second is a joint
venture with Williams Energy Services Company, a subsidiary of The Williams
Companies, Inc., to market electricity, natural gas and energy-related services
to customers in the six New England states (the "Energy Marketing Venture"). To
date, Boston Edison's investment in, and the results of operations of BETG and
its subsidiaries, have not been material to the financial condition and results
of operations of Boston Edison as a whole.
As a regulated electric utility, Boston Edison operates under the
jurisdiction of the Massachusetts DPU, which jurisdiction includes supervision
over retail rates for electricity, issuance of bonds, capital stock and certain
other securities and investment by Boston Edison in other entities, including
subsidiaries. The FERC has jurisdiction over various phases of Boston Edison's
business, including, among other things, regulation of the system of accounts,
rates for power sold at wholesale for resale and facilities used for the
transmission or sale of such power. Boston Edison is currently an "exempt
holding company" under the Holding Company Act, and is therefore subject to
limited regulation of its utility business by the SEC.
11
The current corporate structure of Boston Edison is as follows:
CURRENT STRUCTURE
COMMON AND CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED SHAREHOLDERS
:
:
Boston Edison
:
:
........................................................
: :
: :
HEEC BETG and
Subsidiaries
THE RESTRUCTURING
To carry out the restructuring, Boston Edison has formed BEC Energy, a
Massachusetts business trust, and BEC Energy's wholly-owned subsidiary, Mergeco,
a Massachusetts utility corporation, neither of which entities has any present
business or properties of its own. The outstanding BEC Energy Common Shares are
presently owned by Boston Edison, while the authorized stock of Mergeco is
presently subscribed for by BEC Energy and will be issued to BEC Energy upon
approval of the Massachusetts DPU. Boston Edison, Mergeco and BEC Energy have
entered into a Merger Agreement under which, subject to stockholder approval as
required by Massachusetts law, Boston Edison will become a subsidiary of BEC
Energy through the merger of Mergeco with and into Boston Edison. In the Merger,
the Boston Edison Common Stock will be exchanged share-for-share for BEC Energy
Common Shares. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached to this Proxy
Statement as Appendix A.
Immediately following the Merger, Boston Edison will transfer the stock of
BETG to BEC Energy. After the restructuring, BEC Energy will engage in
non-utility business activities through BETG and its subsidiaries. In the
future, BEC Energy may establish additional subsidiaries to engage in new
non-utility businesses. If the proposed restructuring is consummated, it is
intended that advances to and other investments in non-utility businesses will
be made primarily by BEC Energy rather than by Boston Edison and that the
proceeds of financings by Boston Edison will be used entirely in the conduct of
its electric utility business. HEEC will remain a subsidiary of Boston Edison.
None of the other securities of Boston Edison, including its six outstanding
series of Cumulative Preferred Stock (two of which are represented by Depositary
Preferred Shares) and debt securities, consisting primarily of debentures,
commercial paper and bank lines of credit, will be altered by the Merger. These
securities will continue to be outstanding securities and obligations of Boston
Edison. Boston Edison's management and the Board of Directors believe that the
restructuring will have no adverse affect on the holders of its Cumulative
Preferred Stock and debt securities. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of
Restructuring--Treatment of Preferred Stock" and "Proposal No. 2: Plan of
Restructuring-- Treatment of Indebtedness."
12
The reorganized corporate structure of BEC Energy immediately after the
Merger and restructuring is expected to be as follows:
PROPOSED STRUCTURE
COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
:
:
CUMULATIVE PREFERRED BEC Energy
SHAREHOLDERS (Holding Company)
: :
: :
: .................................................
: : :
: : :
Boston Edison BETG and
: Subsidiaries
:
HEEC
REASONS FOR THE RESTRUCTURING
GENERAL. The holding company structure is intended to provide increased
financial, managerial and organizational flexibility in order to better position
Boston Edison to operate in the changing electric utility industry. The holding
company structure will permit BEC Energy to take advantage of non-utility
business opportunities in a more timely manner. In addition, the holding company
structure will clearly separate BEC Energy's regulated and non-utility lines of
business. The holding company structure is a well established form of
organization for companies conducting multiple lines of businesses, particularly
entities engaging in both regulated and unregulated activities.
INDUSTRY RESTRUCTURING. Traditionally, electric utilities have operated
under a monopoly regulatory framework, under which consumers have been
restricted to a single electricity provider, typically a vertically integrated
electric utility engaged, like Boston Edison, in the generation, transmission,
and distribution of electricity. However, since the 1970's, the electric energy
business has become increasingly competitive. With the enactment of the Public
Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, a new independent power producer
industry commenced, competing with traditional electric utilities for
opportunities to generate new electric power. In recent years many state utility
commissions, including the Massachusetts DPU, initiated inquiries into
restructuring the electric utility industry with a goal of promoting competition
and extending to all customers the option of choosing their own electricity
suppliers. In March 1996, the Massachusetts DPU opened a rule-making proceeding
with a goal of establishing rules that would apply to all electric companies'
restructuring plans and encouraged electric companies to enter into negotiated
settlements consistent with the principles established in that proceeding. One
of the principles established by the Massachusetts DPU was the legal or
functional separation of the generation and distribution businesses. In December
1996, Boston Edison, the Massachusetts Attorney General and the Massachusetts
Division of Energy Resources announced that they had reached an agreement (the
"Settlement Agreement") that, if approved by the Massachusetts DPU, would allow
all retail customers in Boston Edison's service area to choose their electricity
suppliers beginning as early as January 1, 1998. As part of the proposed
settlement, Boston Edison would agree to sell all of its fossil electric
generating plants. Accordingly, other than its Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station,
Boston Edison would no longer own any electricity generating facilities. Boston
Edison's retained electricity distribution business would continue to be
regulated by the Massachusetts DPU.
13
Assuming that the Settlement Agreement is approved by the Massachusetts DPU,
Boston Edison's electric business will be thereafter limited primarily to
distribution of electricity, and to a much lesser extent, transmission of
electricity. Accordingly, Boston Edison has identified the need to increase its
long-term growth potential through investment in related non-utility new
businesses. The move to a competitive electricity industry, together with a
revolution in energy-related technology, has created significant new
opportunities for energy service providers like Boston Edison to take advantage
of non-utility business ventures which are related to, but separate from,
traditional regulated businesses. Pursuit of these new opportunities will play
an important role in maintaining the long-term financial viability necessary for
Boston Edison to continue to provide reliable service to its customers, as well
as enhance stockholder value. Boston Edison has already begun to take advantage
of such opportunities as reflected by the proposed Telecommunications Venture
and the Energy Marketing Venture.
Initially, Boston Edison's electric utility business is expected to
constitute the predominant part of BEC Energy's earnings power for the
foreseeable future. Boston Edison's operations will be conducted with the same
assets (subject to the planned divestiture of fossil generation assets) and same
management, and will continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of the
Massachusetts DPU, the FERC, and the NRC. The primary focus of BEC Energy will
be on the development of BETG's existing non-utility business activities,
including the Telecommunications Venture and the Energy Marketing Venture.
Although Boston Edison has not yet identified other significant investment
opportunities for BEC Energy, it is expected that BEC Energy will develop or
acquire other businesses which are related to energy and telecommunications-
related services. These new investments will offer the opportunity for greater
earnings growth and mitigate the limitations of Boston Edison being
predominantly a regulated distribution/transmission utility.
BENEFITS OF HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE
The holding company structure is a well established form of organization for
companies conducting multiple lines of businesses, particularly entities
engaging in both regulated and unregulated activities. Many electric and gas
utilities have been organized as holding companies for many years, and many
other utilities have recently changed their organization to a holding company
structure. While Boston Edison could continue to pursue non-utility business
opportunities through BETG and other non-utility subsidiaries of Boston Edison,
management and the Board believe it is more desirable in the long-term to
conduct such non-utility activities through a holding company structure. The
benefits of a holding company structure may be summarized as follows:
TIMELY RESPONSE TO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. The holding company structure,
by separating BETG and any other new non-utility businesses into corporations
that will not be subsidiaries of Boston Edison, will enable BEC Energy to pursue
non-utility business opportunities without the delays inherent in the regulatory
process. For example, the holding company structure will enable BEC Energy to
make investments in non-utility businesses, and to issue securities for the
purpose of financing such investments, without obtaining the approval of the
Massachusetts DPU. This will allow BEC Energy to respond to competitive forces
and pursue non-utility businesses in a timely fashion. The ability of BEC Energy
to engage in these activities in a timely manner without regulatory approval
will make BEC Energy a more attractive joint venture partner.
FLEXIBLE FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES. The holding company corporate structure
also will permit the use of financing techniques that are more directly suited
to the particular requirements, characteristics and risks of non-utility
operations without effecting the capital structure or creditworthiness of Boston
Edison. The holding company structure will allow the design and implementation
of capitalization ratios appropriate for the capital and business requirements
of each industry in which BEC Energy is engaged. This is particularly important
in view of the potentially large capital requirements of businesses such as the
proposed Telecommunications Venture.
14
SEPARATION. The holding company structure will clearly separate Boston
Edison's electric utility business from the non-utility businesses of other BEC
Energy subsidiaries. As a result, it will provide a better structure for
regulators to assure that there is no cross-subsidization of cost or transfer of
business risk from unregulated to regulated lines of business. In addition, the
holding company structure will facilitate the analysis and valuation of the
holding company's individual lines of business by the investment community. The
holding company structure also will mitigate the potential impact on Boston
Edison, its preferred stock and debt security holders and its customers of the
risks of non-utility businesses, and will permit the capital structure of Boston
Edison to be managed efficiently.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THE RESTRUCTURING
NON-UTILITY BUSINESS ACTIVITIES MAY INVOLVE MORE RISK. The future
performance of BEC Energy Common Shares cannot be predicted. Following
consummation of the restructuring, BEC Energy will be able to make investments
in non-utility businesses and issue securities for the purpose of financing such
investments without obtaining the prior approval of the Massachusetts DPU. The
restructuring, therefore, will provide BEC Energy with more flexibility to
pursue business opportunities that might involve a higher degree of risk than
would be permitted for a regulated utility, but with the possibility of higher
potential returns commensurate with such risk. Pursuit of business opportunities
with greater risk could, in turn, have either a positive or an adverse effect on
the value of a shareholder's investment, depending upon the return actually
realized from such opportunities. Such business opportunities may encounter
competitive and other business factors not previously experienced by Boston
Edison to the same degree and may have different, and perhaps greater,
investment risk than those involved in Boston Edison's regulated electric energy
generation, distribution and transmission business. There can be no assurance
that such businesses will be successful or, if unsuccessful, that they will not
have a direct or indirect adverse effect on BEC Energy. Any losses incurred by
such businesses will not be recoverable in Boston Edison's regulated rates. As
BEC Energy becomes increasingly engaged in non-utility business activities, such
activities will have an increasing impact on the market price of BEC Energy
Common Shares.
DIVIDENDS ON BEC ENERGY COMMON SHARES WILL BE DEPENDENT UPON COMMON STOCK
DIVIDENDS PAID BY BOSTON EDISON. For a period of time following the
restructuring, the funds required by BEC Energy to enable it to pay dividends on
BEC Energy Common Shares are expected to be derived primarily from the dividends
paid by Boston Edison. Accordingly, the ability of BEC Energy to pay such
dividends, as a practical matter, will be governed by the ability of Boston
Edison to pay dividends on its common stock. The ability of Boston Edison to pay
dividends on its common stock will continue to be subject to the preferential
dividend rights of the holders of the outstanding Boston Edison Cumulative
Preferred Stock. In addition, although it has no present intention to do so, it
is expected that Boston Edison may need to issue additional preferred stock in
the future to meet its capital needs. Such additional preferred stock will also
have preferential dividend rights. The trustees of BEC Energy have no current
intention to change the present Boston Edison dividend policy.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD
The management and Board of Directors of Boston Edison recommend the
approval of the restructuring as proposed in the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting. The Board of Directors and management believe that the restructuring is
in the best interest of Boston Edison and its stockholders. In making its
decision to recommend the restructuring to the stockholders, the Board of
Directors considered many factors, including the factors set forth above under
"Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Reasons for the Restructuring" and
"Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Benefits of Holding Company Structure."
15
VOTE REQUIRED
In order for the restructuring into a holding company to be approved under
Massachusetts law, it must receive favorable votes, in person or by proxy, of
the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Boston Edison Common
Stock. See "Other Matters--Voting Procedures."
The persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote such proxy in
favor of the restructuring unless a contrary choice is indicated thereon.
EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES NOT REQUIRED
If the proposed restructuring is consummated, it will not be necessary for
holders of Boston Edison Common Stock to exchange their existing stock
certificates for BEC Energy share certificates. Holders of Boston Edison Common
Stock will automatically become holders of BEC Energy Common Shares, and their
stock certificates will automatically represent BEC Energy Common Shares. After
the restructuring, whenever presently outstanding certificates are presented for
transfer, new certificates bearing the name BEC Energy will be issued.
Certificates also presented for transfer to a name other than that in which the
surrendered certificate is registered must be properly endorsed, with the
signature guaranteed, and accompanied by evidence of payment of any applicable
stock transfer taxes.
MERGER AGREEMENT
The Merger Agreement has been unanimously approved by the Boards of
Directors of Boston Edison, BEC Energy and Mergeco, and these companies have
executed the Merger Agreement, subject to the approval and adoption thereof by
vote of Boston Edison's stockholders as required by Massachusetts law and
described herein. The Merger Agreement provides that:
(1) each outstanding share of Boston Edison Common Stock, $1.00 par
value per share, will be converted into one BEC Energy Common Share, $1.00
par value;
(2) each outstanding share of Boston Edison Cumulative Preferred Stock,
$100.00 par value per share, will continue as one issued and outstanding
share of Boston Edison Cumulative Preferred Stock, $100.00 par value per
share, with the same preferences, designations, relative rights, privileges
and powers, and subject to the same restrictions, limitations and
qualifications as were applicable to such stock prior to the Merger;
(3) each outstanding share of Mergeco Common Stock, $1.00 par value per
share, will be converted into one new share of Boston Edison Common Stock,
$1.00 par value per share, all of which will then be owned by BEC Energy;
and
(4) the BEC Energy Common Shares presently held by Boston Edison will be
canceled.
As a result of the Merger, Boston Edison, which will be the surviving
corporation, will become a subsidiary of BEC Energy, and all of the BEC Energy
Common Shares outstanding immediately after the Merger will be owned by the
holders of Boston Edison Common Stock outstanding at the effective time of the
Merger.
If and when the Merger becomes effective, holders of Boston Edison Common
Stock will automatically become holders of BEC Energy Common Shares. Like the
Cumulative Preferred Stock, the outstanding debt securities of Boston Edison and
the terms thereof will not be altered in the Merger. Such debt securities will
remain outstanding and will continue to be obligations of Boston Edison as the
survivor of the Merger.
16
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN OF MERGER
By mutual consent of their respective Boards of Directors or trustees,
Boston Edison, BEC Energy and Mergeco may amend, modify or supplement the Merger
Agreement in such manner as may be agreed upon by them in writing at any time
before or after approval of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of Boston
Edison; provided, however, that no such amendment, modification or supplement
shall, in the sole judgment of the Board of Directors of Boston Edison,
materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of Boston Edison
Common Stock.
The Merger Agreement provides that it may be terminated, and the Merger and
other transactions incident to the restructuring plan abandoned, at any time,
whether before or after approval of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of
Boston Edison, by action of the Board of Directors of Boston Edison if the Board
determines for any reason that the consummation of the restructuring would for
any reason be inadvisable or not in the best interests of Boston Edison or its
stockholders. The Board of Directors of Boston Edison expects to terminate and
abandon the restructuring if Boston Edison has not received, within a reasonable
period after stockholder approval, approval of the Merger by the Massachusetts
DPU as required by Massachusetts law or other regulatory agencies with
jurisdiction over the transaction (see "Proposal No. 2: Plan of
Restructuring--Regulatory Approval of the Restructuring") or approval for
listing of BEC Energy Common Shares on the NYSE and BoSE (see "Proposal No. 2:
Plan of Restructuring--Stock Exchange Listing"). Boston Edison is unable to
predict under what other circumstances the restructuring would be terminated and
abandoned.
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RESTRUCTURING
The Merger Agreement contemplates that the Merger will become effective, and
all other steps in the restructuring plan will be completed, as soon as
practical after the required stockholder and regulatory approvals and listing
authorization for BEC Energy Common Shares have been received, unless the Board
of Directors of Boston Edison theretofore has elected to abandon such plan.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
GENERAL. The following general discussion summarizes certain federal income
tax considerations relating to the Merger. This summary is provided for general
information only, and does not discuss all aspects of income taxation that may
be relevant to a particular holder of Boston Edison Common Stock in light of the
holder's personal tax circumstances or to certain types of holders of Boston
Edison Common Stock subject to special treatment under the income tax laws of
any jurisdiction including persons who are not United States persons, dealers in
securities, tax-exempt entities, and stockholders who do not hold Boston Edison
Common Stock as "capital assets" within the meaning of Section 1221 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Internal Revenue Code").
The legal conclusions set forth in this summary reflect the opinion of Ropes
& Gray. No ruling has been requested from the Internal Revenue Service. Each
holder of Boston Edison Common Stock should consult such holder's own tax
advisor as to the specific tax consequences of the Merger to such holder,
including the application and effect of foreign, state or local income and other
tax laws.
The following discussion is based on existing statutes, existing and
proposed regulations and existing administrative interpretations and court
decisions. Future legislation, regulations, administration interpretations, or
court decisions could significantly change such authorities either prospectively
or retroactively, and could affect the legal conclusions set forth in the
following discussions.
For federal income tax purposes, the Merger is intended to qualify as a
tax-free exchange pursuant to Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code.
17
TAX IMPLICATIONS TO THE HOLDERS. For federal income tax purposes, no gain
or loss will be recognized by the holders of Boston Edison Common Stock on their
exchange of Boston Edison Common Stock for BEC Energy Common Shares pursuant to
the Merger. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of the BEC Energy
Common Shares received by each such holder pursuant to the Merger will be the
same as the holder's basis in the Boston Edison Common Stock surrendered in the
Merger, and the holding period of such BEC Energy Common Shares will include the
period during which such holder held the Boston Edison Common Stock surrendered
in the Merger, provided that such Boston Edison Common Stock was held as a
capital asset on the date of the exchange. In addition, for federal or
Massachusetts income tax purposes, the Merger will not give rise to the
recognition of gain or loss on shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock to any
holder of such stock, nor will the Merger affect such holder's holding period in
such stock.
TAX IMPLICATIONS TO BEC ENERGY. For federal income tax purposes, no gain or
loss will be recognized by BEC Energy.
OTHER TAX ASPECTS. Apart from the federal income tax consequences of the
Merger discussed herein, no attempt has been made to determine the tax
consequences to a holder of Boston Edison Common Stock or Boston Edison
Cumulative Preferred Stock under the laws of any country, state or jurisdiction.
Holders of Boston Edison Common Stock may be subject to special federal income
tax treatment or to other taxes, such as state or local income taxes that may be
imposed by various jurisdictions, and also may be subject to intangible
property, estate and inheritance taxes in their state of domicile. Each holder
of Boston Edison Common Stock should consult the holder's own tax advisors to
determine the particular tax consequences of the Merger to the holder.
THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE
ONLY A GENERAL SUMMARY AND DOES NOT ADDRESS TAX CONSEQUENCES WHICH MAY VARY
WITH, OR ARE CONTINGENT UPON, INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. MOREOVER, THIS
DISCUSSION DOES NOT ADDRESS ANY FOREIGN, FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISPOSITION OF STOCK IN BOSTON EDISON BEFORE OR IN BEC
ENERGY AFTER THE MERGER. ACCORDINGLY, EACH HOLDER OF SUCH STOCK IS STRONGLY
URGED TO CONSULT WITH SUCH HOLDER'S TAX ADVISORS TO DETERMINE THE PARTICULAR TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER OR SUCH DISPOSITION TO SUCH HOLDER.
TREATMENT OF PREFERRED STOCK
The proposed restructuring will not result in any change in Boston Edison's
outstanding series of Cumulative Preferred Stock, consisting of the 4.25%
Series, the 4.78% Series, the 7.27% Series, the 8.00% Series, the 8.25% Series
and the 7.75% Series. Each of the 8.25% Series and 7.75% Series of Cumulative
Preferred Stock are represented by Depositary Preferred Shares, each
representing a 1/4 interest in a share of Cumulative Preferred Stock of such
series. The decision by management and the Board of Directors to have the
Cumulative Preferred Stock continue as securities of Boston Edison is based
upon, among other factors, a desire not to alter or potentially alter the nature
of the investment represented by such series of stock, namely investment in a
regulated utility, as well as the need of Boston Edison not to foreclose future
issuances of preferred or preference stock to help meet its capital
requirements. There will be no change in the preferences, designations, relative
rights, privileges and powers of the Cumulative Preferred Stock, and the shares
will be subject to the same restrictions, limitations and qualifications as were
applicable thereto prior to the restructuring.
Since Boston Edison's electric utility operations will continue to
constitute the principal part of the consolidated assets and earnings power of
BEC Energy, it is believed that the Cumulative Preferred Stock will retain its
current investment ratings as well as its qualification for legal investment for
certain investors. It is anticipated that the current listing of the Depositary
Preferred Shares representing the 8.25% Series and 7.75% Series of Cumulative
Preferred Stock on the New York Stock Exchange will
18
continue after the Merger. After the restructuring is consummated, Boston Edison
will continue to be a reporting company under the Exchange Act.
Due to the comparatively small assets of BETG (i.e., the capital stock of
its unregulated subsidiaries), the consolidated assets and liabilities of Boston
Edison immediately before the Merger and restructuring (subject to the proposed
divestiture of its fossil generation assets) will be substantially the same as
the consolidated assets and liabilities of Boston Edison immediately after the
Merger and restructuring.
TREATMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS
All of Boston Edison's indebtedness outstanding immediately prior to the
Merger, which is expected to consist of multiple series of debentures, as well
as commercial paper and bank credit facilities, will continue to be outstanding
indebtedness of Boston Edison after the Merger. Such indebtedness will neither
be assumed nor guaranteed by BEC Energy in connection with the restructuring.
The decision to have the indebtedness of Boston Edison continue as obligations
of Boston Edison is based upon a desire not to alter, or potentially alter, the
nature of the investment represented by such obligations, namely a direct
investment in a regulated utility.
DIVIDEND POLICY
While future dividends on BEC Energy Common Shares will depend primarily
upon the earnings, financial condition and capital requirements of its
subsidiaries, it is contemplated that BEC Energy initially will make dividend
payments on BEC Energy Common Shares at the rate currently applicable to Boston
Edison Common Stock. In addition, it is expected that such dividends of BEC
Energy will be declared and paid on approximately the same schedule of dates as
that now followed by Boston Edison with respect to Boston Edison Common Stock
dividends. The most recent dividend declared by the Board of Directors of Boston
Edison was $0.47 per share of Boston Edison Common Stock and was paid on
February 3, 1997.
Subject to the availability of earnings and the needs of its electric
utility business, Boston Edison intends to make regular cash payments to BEC
Energy in the form of dividends on Boston Edison Common Stock in amounts which,
to the extent not otherwise provided by BEC Energy's other subsidiaries, if any,
would be sufficient for BEC Energy to pay cash dividends on BEC Energy Common
Shares as referred to above, for operating expenses of BEC Energy and for such
other purposes as the Board of Directors of BEC Energy may determine. Boston
Edison does not contemplate any material loans or advances to BEC Energy in the
near future and would not be free to make such loans or advances without prior
approval of the Massachusetts DPU. Boston Edison is not party to any agreement
or subject to any laws or regulations which materially restrict the payment of
dividends by it to BEC Energy. However, under Boston Edison's principal bank
credit agreement, common equity cannot be less than 30% of total capitalization.
Dividends on the Boston Edison Cumulative Preferred Stock will continue to
be paid at the times and at the rates provided for in the various series of such
stock, depending upon the earnings, financial condition and other factors
affecting Boston Edison.
STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING
BEC Energy will apply to list BEC Energy Common Shares on the NYSE and the
BoSE. It is expected that such listings will become effective on the effective
date of the Merger, subject to the rules of such exchanges. At the time of the
listing of BEC Energy Common Shares, Boston Edison Common Stock will be delisted
from trading on these stock exchanges (all outstanding shares will be held by
BEC Energy). The Boston Edison Depositary Preferred Shares representing 1/4 of
one share of Boston Edison's Cumulative Preferred Stock, 8.25% Series and 7.75
Series, are currently listed on the NYSE, and it is contemplated that they will
continue to be so listed after the restructuring.
19
REGULATORY APPROVAL OF THE RESTRUCTURING
The proposed Merger of Boston Edison and Mergeco must be approved by the
Massachusetts DPU before the restructuring can become effective. Under
applicable state law, the application for approval by the Massachusetts DPU
cannot be filed until after the holders of Boston Edison Common Stock have
approved the Merger. Upon filing of the application, the Massachusetts DPU,
after notice and a public hearing, must determine that the Merger and the terms
thereof are consistent with the public interest. BEC Energy also intends to
apply to the SEC under the Holding Company Act for approval of the
restructuring. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Regulatory Matters."
The proposed restructuring also must be approved by the FERC and the NRC before
the Merger can be consummated. BEC Energy and Boston Edison intend to file
applications for approval with those agencies in the near future.
REGULATORY MATTERS
After the restructuring, Boston Edison and HEEC will continue to operate
electric utility businesses and will remain subject to regulation by the
Massachusetts DPU and, with respect to certain transactions, the FERC and, with
respect to Boston Edison's ownership and license of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power
Station, the NRC. BEC Energy, however, will not be subject to regulation by
these regulatory agencies, except that BEC Energy will be required to file an
annual statement of ownership of Boston Edison with the Massachusetts DPU, which
may examine the books, accounts, contracts, records and memoranda of BEC Energy
and may require it to furnish reports and information with respect to its
relations and dealings with Boston Edison and HEEC. In addition, the
reasonableness of any payment, charge, contract, purchase, sale, obligation or
other arrangement between Boston Edison or HEEC and BEC Energy or any subsidiary
of BEC Energy may come into question in retail ratemaking and finance
proceedings before the Massachusetts DPU. In that event, Boston Edison and HEEC
will have the burden of establishing and proving such reasonableness. The
Massachusetts DPU also has the power to terminate any such contract relating to
services rendered to Boston Edison or HEEC if it appears that the amount of
compensation called for in the contract is excessive, even if no bad faith is
found.
Boston Edison is currently an exempt public utility holding company under
the Holding Company Act. After the restructuring is completed, BEC Energy and
Boston Edison each will be public utility holding companies under the Holding
Company Act. Nevertheless, upon the filing of an appropriate exemption statement
pursuant to Rule U-2 under Section 3(a)(1) of the Holding Company Act (and
subject to the filing of annual exemption statements thereafter), BEC Energy,
Boston Edison and each of their subsidiary companies as such will be entitled to
an exemption from regulation as a "registered holding company" under the Holding
Company Act. The basis of the exemption is that Boston Edison and HEEC, BEC
Energy's only public utility subsidiaries, are organized in the same state as
BEC Energy (i.e. Massachusetts), and are predominantly intrastate in character
and carry on their business substantially in their state of incorporation. The
exemption will be available as long as the utility business of Boston Edison and
HEEC, and of any other public utility subsidiary from which BEC Energy derives a
material portion of its income, are organized in Massachusetts and remain
predominantly intrastate in character. BETG and its subsidiaries and affiliates
in which it holds an interest are not public utilities, as defined by the
Holding Company Act, and therefore do not affect the availability of the
exemption.
The exemption from the provisions of the Holding Company Act may be revoked
on a finding by the SEC that such exemption may be detrimental to the public
interests or the interest of investors or consumers. The prior approval of the
SEC under the Holding Company Act would be required if BEC energy or Boston
Edison proposed the acquisition or creation, directly or indirectly, of
additional utility subsidiaries. Moreover, there also may be limits on the
extent to which BEC Energy and any non-utility subsidiaries can diversify
without raising questions about BEC Energy's exempt status. Current SEC policies
regarding the scope of permissible non-utility activities are subject to change.
Neither BEC Energy nor Boston Edison has any present intention of becoming a
registered holding company subject to regulation by the SEC under the Holding
Company Act.
20
In June 1995, the SEC Division of Investment Management issued a report
recommending significant revisions to, or limited repeal of, the Holding Company
Act. BEC Energy and Boston Edison, however, cannot predict whether Congress will
take any such action. Pending such action, the SEC indicated that it would
revise its rules and interpretations to modernize and simplify holding company
regulation. At this time, however, BEC Energy and Boston Edison cannot predict
the likelihood, timing or impact of such actions.
Following the restructuring, both BEC Energy and Boston Edison will be
subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act by virtue of having
classes of securities registered thereunder.
BEC ENERGY'S DECLARATION OF TRUST AND COMPARATIVE STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS
BEC Energy has been organized under Chapter 182 of the Massachusetts General
Laws as an unincorporated voluntary association with transferable shares of
beneficial interest, commonly referred to as a "Massachusetts business trust."
BEC Energy was organized as a Massachusetts business trust, rather than a
corporation, because of the potential Massachusetts income tax savings to the
trust and the lower filing fees payable by it in connection with its authorized
capital stock. While a publicly traded parent holding company formed as a
Massachusetts business trust would be taxed as a corporation for federal tax
purposes, it would not be treated as a corporation for Massachusetts tax
purposes and therefore would not be subject to tax with respect to its income or
net worth under the Massachusetts corporate excise, or subject to the utility
franchise tax on income. Although Massachusetts business trusts are generally
subject to the Massachusetts personal income tax, the personal income tax does
not apply at the entity level to a Massachusetts business trust that qualifies
as a "holding company" under Massachusetts law (the Board of Directors currently
intends to operate BEC Energy so that it will so qualify). Instead, dividends
paid by such a trust would generally be subject to tax. This entity-level tax
treatment contrasts with the Massachusetts tax treatment of a parent corporate
holding company, which would be subject to a tax on 5% of dividends received
from subsidiaries and on 100% of any other income (in each case after
apportionment, which in the case of a holding company for Boston Edison, would
likely be, at least initially, at or near 100% in Massachusetts). The rate of
tax on income applicable to corporations is 9.5%. Corporate holding companies
are also subject to a "net worth" tax at the rate of $2.60 per $1,000, but net
worth is computed, in general, after deducting investment in 80% or more owned
subsidiary corporations. Management believes that the extent of potential
savings associated with organizing BEC Energy as a Massachusetts business trust
could be significant since they depend, in large part, upon the amount and
nature of any dividends received by BEC Energy from Boston Edison. As previously
described, at least initially, dividends from Boston Edison will be BEC Energy's
primary source of income for the payment of dividends to its shareholders. The
lower filing fees arise from the fact that under Massachusetts law, the fee for
filing articles of organization of a corporation is one tenth of one percent of
the total amount of its authorized capital stock with par value, and such fee is
subject to change by the Massachusetts Secretary of State. There are no fees
payable by a business trust based upon its authorized capital stock.
The following summary should be read in the context of, and is qualified by
reference to, BEC Energy's full Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration of Trust"), a copy of which substantially in the form it will be in
as of the effective date of the Merger is attached as Appendix B to this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and incorporated herein by reference.
The rights of holders of Boston Edison Common Stock are governed by Chapter
164 of the Massachusetts General Laws governing electric and gas utilities, and
by Boston Edison's Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. If the Merger
is consummated, the rights of the present holders of Boston Edison Common Stock
thereafter will be determined by BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust and Bylaws.
Except as noted below, the rights of holders of BEC Energy Common Shares will be
virtually the same as the present rights of the holders of Boston Edison Common
Stock.
21
Pursuant to certain decisions of the Massachusetts courts, shareholders who
exercise too much control over the affairs of a Massachusetts business trust may
be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of a trust to the
extent not satisfied by the trust, with respect to tort claims, contract claims
(where shareholder liability is not negated as described below), claims for
taxes and certain statutory liabilities. Even if, however, BEC Energy were held
to be a partnership, the possibility of its shareholders incurring financial
loss is remote because (a) BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust contains an express
disclaimer of shareholder liability for the obligations of BEC Energy, requires
that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or
instrument entered into or executed by BEC Energy and provides that no person
has authority to enter into an agreement, obligation or instrument except in
accordance with those requirements, (b) BEC Energy will seek adequate insurance
against tort liability, (c) most of BEC Energy's operations will be conducted by
incorporated subsidiaries such that the activities of BEC Energy will be limited
to the ownership of securities rather than the operation of physical assets and
(d) BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the
trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of
BEC Energy.
BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust provides that the property and affairs of
BEC Energy will be held and managed by its trustees who will have all of the
powers and authority necessary and convenient to carry out BEC Energy's
business. The trustees may appoint officers and agents to carry out BEC Energy's
business. See "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Trustees and Management of
BEC Energy." The powers and responsibilities of the trustees and officers of BEC
Energy will be comparable to those of directors and officers of a corporation
with no material differences. The trustees will be selected by a plurality of
the vote of the holders of BEC Energy Common Shares properly cast at an annual
meeting.
BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust will contain the same "fair price" and
"classified board" provisions that were adopted by Boston Edison's stockholders
(see "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--BEC Energy Common Shares" below)
and the same indemnification and limitations on directors' liability provisions
(applicable to the trustees) that were adopted by Boston Edison's stockholders
to enhance Boston Edison's ability to attract and retain qualified directors and
officers.
Under Chapter 164, Boston Edison may be merged with another utility subject
to Chapter 164 upon a two-thirds vote of each class of stock outstanding and
entitled to vote on the matter, and the approval of the Massachusetts DPU.
Subject to the "fair price" provisions in the Declaration of Trust, BEC Energy,
like a Massachusetts business corporation, may be merged with another trust or
corporation, or terminated and liquidated, upon a two-thirds vote of the shares
outstanding and entitled to vote thereon (except that a change of form into
another trust or into a corporation may be done on approval of a majority of the
common shareholders).
Under Chapter 164, stockholders of an electric utility company have no
appraisal rights. BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust provides that shareholders
of BEC Energy who dissent from a merger or similar transaction (other than a
transaction to change form into another trust or a corporation) will have
substantially the same rights of appraisal, subject to the same procedures, as
would a stockholder of a Massachusetts business corporation.
Under Chapter 164, the Restated Articles of Organization of Boston Edison
may be amended upon a majority vote of the common stockholders, except with
respect to certain provisions requiring a two-thirds vote of Boston Edison's
common stockholders. The BEC Energy Declaration of Trust may be amended by a
written instrument signed by a majority of the trustees then in office if such
amendment has been authorized by a majority vote of BEC Energy's common
shareholders, provided that amendments which, in the judgment of the trustees,
are of a fundamental character must be approved by a vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding BEC Energy Common Shares. In addition, the
"classified board" and "fair price" provisions can only be amended upon a vote
of 80% of the outstanding BEC Energy Common Shares unless such amendment is
authorized or recommended by 80% or more of the trustees. Certain other
provisions cannot be changed without a two-thirds vote as provided in the
Declaration of Trust.
22
Amendments for the purpose of changing the name of BEC Energy or of supplying
any ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or
inconsistent provision contained in the Declaration of Trust shall not require
authorization by vote of the shareholders.
Under Massachusetts law, the authority to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws
of a Massachusetts corporation is in the stockholders; provided that if
authorized by the Articles of Organization, the bylaws may provide that the
directors may also make, amend or repeal the bylaws. Boston Edison's Bylaws
provide such authority to the Board of Directors. BEC Energy's Declaration of
Trust authorizes the trustees to adopt Bylaws in order to fix the fiscal year;
regulate the affairs of the trustees, including provisions for the nomination
thereof; provide for such committees as the trustees shall deem appropriate,
including an executive committee which shall be vested with all of the powers
and authorities of the trustees when the trustees are not in session; provide
for the appointment of a chairman of the trustees, a president, one or more vice
presidents, a treasurer, a clerk and such other officers as the trustees may
deem appropriate, and the manner of their appointment and removal, and their
respective powers and duties; provide for the manner in which documents shall be
executed, including share certificates; provide for the appointment of transfer
agents or officers and registrars, and contain such further provisions relating
to the above matters or otherwise, incidental or in addition to but not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, as the trustees
shall deem appropriate. The Bylaws may only be amended by the trustees.
Under Massachusetts law and Boston Edison's Bylaws, the Board of Directors
can act without a meeting only by unanimous written consent. Under BEC Energy's
Declaration of Trust, the trustees may act without a meeting by a consent signed
by a majority of the trustees.
As with a Massachusetts business corporation, BEC Energy's Declaration of
Trust provides that no action may be brought by a shareholder on behalf of BEC
Energy unless a prior demand regarding such matter has been made on the trustees
and the shareholders.
BEC Energy's Declaration of Trust, like the Restated Articles of
Incorporation of Boston Edison, contains certain provisions that may be viewed
as having an anti-takeover effect, including provisions establishing classes of
trustees and requiring a super-majority vote of the disinterested shareholders
to approve certain business transactions with a shareholder owning more than 5%
of the outstanding BEC Energy Common Shares. BEC Energy is also subject to
Chapter 110F of the Massachusetts General Laws, which, in general, provides that
for three years after an acquiror has purchased 5% or more of the stock of a
company, the acquiror may not complete the acquisition through merger, sell or
pledge the assets of the company, or engage in other self-dealing transactions.
The BEC Energy Declaration of Trust will also contain a provision (substantially
the same as provisions of Massachusetts law currently applicable to Boston
Edison) allowing the trustees to consider various constituencies and community
and societal considerations, as well as the long-term and short-term interests
of the company, in determining what he or she reasonably believes to be in the
best interests of the company.
BEC ENERGY COMMON SHARES
BEC Energy will issue shares of beneficial interest, referred to in this
Proxy Statement as "BEC Energy Common Shares," and may in the future issue other
equity and debt securities. The initial authorized capital stock of BEC Energy
will be 100,000,000 common shares, par value $1.00 per share, and 10,000,000
preferred shares, par value $1.00 per share. The authorized capital shares may
be issued from time to time by the trustees without the necessity of obtaining
further consent of the shareholders or any approvals from the Massachusetts DPU.
BEC Energy capital shares may be issued for money, services or property, or as a
distribution to shareholders, and upon such terms as the trustees may in their
absolute discretion determine. Upon consummation of the Merger, the outstanding
BEC Energy Common Shares will be the same as the number of outstanding shares of
Boston Edison Common Stock immediately prior to the Merger and no BEC Energy
preferred shares will be outstanding.
23
BEC Energy preferred shares may be issued by the trustees in one or more
classes or series within a class and shall have such designations, preferences,
voting rights, voting powers, full or limited, or no voting rights,
participating, optional or other special rights, and such preferences, relative
rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions, all as may be determined by
the trustees. Authorization of preferred shares in addition to the 10,000,000
shares initially authorized in the Declaration of Trust requires the vote of the
holders of two-thirds of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.
Under current provisions of the Holding Company Act, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, issuance of BEC Energy preferred shares may be
restricted.
The holders of the BEC Energy Common Shares, subject to any prior rights or
preferences of BEC Energy preferred shares outstanding at the time, will be
entitled to such dividends thereon as the trustees in their discretion lawfully
declare (see "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Dividend Policy" above) and
will be vested with all voting rights. Each BEC Energy Common Share will be
entitled to one vote. The BEC Energy Common Shares will not have cumulative
voting rights in the election of trustees. In the event of voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or dissolution, the holders of the BEC Energy Common
Shares, subject to any prior rights or preferences of BEC Energy preferred
shares outstanding at the time, will share ratably in the assets of BEC Energy.
BEC Energy will have no right to call the BEC Energy Common Shares for
redemption. The holders of the BEC Energy Common Shares will have no preemptive
rights to subscribe to additional shares issued by BEC Energy.
BEC Energy has no agreement, understanding or plan for the issuance of any
BEC Energy Common Shares, except in connection with the proposed Merger and
except in connection with BEC Energy's Dividend Reinvestment and Common Shares
Purchase Plan (and, if approved by the stockholders and when assumed by BEC
Energy, the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan), or any BEC Energy preferred shares. BEC
Energy may issue and sell BEC Energy Common Shares in connection with the
acquisition of stock or assets of other companies, to finance expenditures,
additions and improvements to the property of Boston Edison, BETG or any of its
subsidiaries, which have not been financed with other permanent securities and
for other corporate purposes, or to repay or refinance outstanding indebtedness.
Dividend requirements and any redemption, sinking fund or conversion provisions
pertaining to BEC Energy preferred shares, if authorized and issued, may have an
adverse effect on the availability of earnings for distribution to holders of
the BEC Energy Common Shares and for use with respect to other corporate
purposes. See also "Proposal No. 2: Plan of Restructuring--Dividend Reinvestment
and Common Stock Purchase Plan" below for information concerning BEC Energy's
intention to issue additional BEC Energy Common Shares pursuant to such plan.
TRUSTEES AND MANAGEMENT OF BEC ENERGY
The Class III directors of Boston Edison elected at its 1997 Annual Meetings
of Stockholders, together with the continuing Class I and Class II directors
elected at the 1995 and 1996 Annual Meetings of Stockholders, respectively, will
be the trustees of BEC Energy upon the completion of the restructuring plan. In
approving the restructuring, stockholders will be considered to have ratified
the election of such persons as trustees of BEC Energy. Subject to their
continuing qualification for office, such persons will continue as both trustees
of BEC Energy and directors of Boston Edison.
24
The officers of BEC Energy, each of whom presently holds a comparable office
in Boston Edison, are as follows:
NAME OFFICE
- -------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
Thomas J. May........................................... Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer
Douglas S. Horan........................................ Senior Vice President and General Counsel
James J. Judge.......................................... Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Theodora S. Convisser................................... Clerk
Following the restructuring, the present members of Boston Edison's Board of
Directors will continue to serve as directors of Boston Edison, and the present
officers of Boston Edison will, at least initially, continue to hold their
present offices and enjoy substantially the same remuneration and employee
benefits now afforded. In the future, BEC Energy may have trustees and officers
who are not directors or officers of Boston Edison.
Initially, BEC Energy does not expect to have any employees of its own and
does not expect to render services to Boston Edison or any other subsidiary,
although it may do so in the future. For the immediate future, Boston Edison
will be reimbursed by BEC Energy for the time expended by Boston Edison's
officers and employees on the affairs of BEC Energy and its other subsidiaries
and for the use of Boston Edison's facilities by BEC Energy, and the offices of
BEC Energy will be located at the principal office of Boston Edison.
NO APPRAISAL RIGHTS
Under Massachusetts law governing the proposed Merger, neither a dissenting
holder of Boston Edison Common Stock nor the holders of Boston Edison Cumulative
Preferred Stock has a right to demand payment of the fair value of his or her
shares if the Merger is consummated.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND COMMON STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
Following the effectiveness of the restructuring, BEC Energy will assume
Boston Edison's existing Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan.
Participants in such plan will continue to be able to make initial purchases of
BEC Energy Common Shares, reinvest their dividends on BEC Energy Common Shares
and Boston Edison Preferred Stock to purchase additional BEC Energy Common
Shares and to make optional payments to acquire additional BEC Energy Common
Shares.
COMMON STOCK PLANS
Boston Edison currently maintains two stock-related director/employee
benefit plans, namely the 1991 Director's Stock Plan and the Performance Share
Plan. If approved by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting, the 1997 Stock
Incentive Plan will replace the Performance Share Plan. See "Proposal No. 3:
Adoption of the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan." In addition, Boston Edison also
maintains three qualified retirement plans, the Negotiated Savings Plan for
Production and Maintenance Employees, the Negotiated Savings Plan for Office,
Technical & Professional Employees and the Boston Edison Savings Plan, each of
which contains a company match and a company stock fund investment option.
Currently, an independent plan agent or trustee (with respect to the qualified
plans) purchases any necessary shares in connection with the existing plans in
the open market. Upon consummation of the restructuring, BEC Energy will adopt
or assume the plans and thereafter BEC Energy Common Shares (in lieu of Boston
Edison Common Stock) will be issued or purchased by the respective independent
plan agents, or trustees, whenever stock is required to be issued or purchased
in the open market in connection with these plans.
Stockholder approval of the restructuring also will constitute stockholder
approval or ratification of the adoption or assumption of these plans providing
for the future use of BEC Energy Common Shares in lieu of Boston Edison Common
Stock thereunder.
25
PRICE RANGE OF BOSTON EDISON COMMON STOCK
The reported range of the high and low sale prices of the Boston Edison
Common Stock, as reported in the consolidated reporting system for issues listed
on the New York Stock Exchange, was as follows:
HIGH LOW
--------- ---------
1995: First Quarter................................................................................. 25 1/2 23 1/8
Second Quarter................................................................................. 27 23 3/8
Third Quarter.................................................................................. 27 1/2 24 1/2
Fourth Quarter................................................................................. 29 1/2 26 3/4
1996: First Quarter................................................................................. 30 1/8 26 1/4
Second Quarter................................................................................. 27 1/8 23 5/8
Third Quarter.................................................................................. 25 3/8 21 3/4
Fourth Quarter................................................................................. 27 21 3/8
1997: First Quarter through March 17th.............................................................. 27 3/8 26 1/8
The reported last sale price of Boston Edison Common Stock on the New York
Stock Exchange on March 17, 1997 was $26.50.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The First National Bank of Boston, the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the
Boston Edison Common Stock, will serve in the same capacities for the BEC Energy
Common Shares.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
No consolidated financial statements of BEC Energy and its subsidiary are
presented herein since BEC Energy presently has no assets or liabilities other
than the stock of Mergeco, and any pro forma consolidated financial statements
of BEC Energy would reflect no change from the financial statements of Boston
Edison prior to implementation of the restructuring plan.
LEGAL OPINION
The validity of the BEC Energy Common Shares to be issued upon consummation
of the Merger is being passed upon by Ropes & Gray, One International Place,
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2624. Thomas G. Dignan, Jr., a partner of Ropes &
Gray, is a director of Boston Edison.
EXPERTS
The consolidated balance sheets of Boston Edison as of December 31, 1995 and
December 31, 1994, and the consolidated statements of income, retained earnings
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
1995, incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement/ Prospectus, have been
incorporated herein in reliance on the report of Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P.,
independent accountants, given on the authority of that firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
26
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Under the rules established by the SEC, Boston Edison is required to provide
certain data and information in regard to the compensation and benefits provided
to its executive officers, including Boston Edison's Chief Executive Officer and
the four other most highly compensated executive officers (the "Named Executive
Officers"). The disclosure requirements for the Named Executive Officers include
the use of tables summarizing total compensation and a report explaining the
rationale and considerations that led to fundamental executive compensation
decisions affecting those individuals for the prior year. In fulfillment of this
requirement, the Executive Personnel Committee, at the direction of the Board of
Directors, has prepared the following report for inclusion in this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus.
THE EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Boston Edison's executive compensation program is administered by the
Executive Personnel Committee, a committee of the Board of Directors composed of
the four non-employee directors listed as signatories to this report. Except as
discussed below, none of these non-employee directors has any interlocking or
other relationship with Boston Edison that would require disclosure by the SEC.
All decisions of the Executive Personnel Committee regarding the compensation of
the Named Executive Officers are subject to the approval of the non-employee
directors of Boston Edison, none of whom are eligible to participate in the
incentive plans described below.
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
The executive compensation philosophy of Boston Edison is to provide
competitive levels of compensation that advance Boston Edison's annual and
long-term performance objectives, reward corporate performance, and assist
Boston Edison in attracting, retaining and motivating highly qualified
executives. The framework for the Committee's executive compensation program is
to establish base salaries which are competitive with all electric utilities,
and to incentivize excellent performance by providing executives with the
opportunity to earn additional remuneration under the annual and long-term
incentive plans. The incentive plan goals are designed to improve the
effectiveness and enhance the efficiency of Boston Edison's operations and to
create value for stockholders.
COMPONENTS OF COMPENSATION
Compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers, as reflected in the
following tables, consists of three primary elements: base salary, amounts paid
under Boston Edison's Executive Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, and shares
of Boston Edison's Common Stock awarded under Boston Edison's Performance Share
Plan. Boston Edison compares its compensation levels against all other
investor-owned electric utility companies. Boston Edison's strategy is to
establish base salaries and potential total compensation (base salary, annual
and long-term incentives) at the 60th percentile when compared to all electric
utilities.
During 1996, the Committee thoroughly reviewed data collected by nationally
recognized compensation experts as well as by Boston Edison's Human Resources
Group to determine whether Boston Edison was meeting its compensation strategy.
The review evaluated base salary and annual and long-term incentives for nearly
all electric utility companies. The data demonstrated that Boston Edison was in
conformance with its compensation strategy, except as it relates to the
long-term plan, to the satisfaction of the Committee. Recommendations to modify
the long-term plan were reviewed and approved by the Committee, and are
discussed below in the section describing long-term compensation.
Executive officer compensation in 1996 was not impacted by Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code because compensation levels were below the $1 million
threshold established by the statute. The
27
Committee intends to consider the impact of Section 162(m) when establishing
compensation levels in the future to the extent it may become applicable. Boston
Edison does not expect Section 162(m) to result in the loss of any deductions in
1997.
ANNUAL INCENTIVE
Boston Edison's annual incentive payments, reported in the fourth column of
the Summary Compensation Table below, are based on both corporate and business
unit performance objectives which are derived from the corporate operating plan
and which are approved by the Committee. Corporate performance objectives
include a comparison of target to actual earnings per share from operations.
Business unit performance objectives include predetermined levels for operating
and capital budgets, as well as key operating goals. The annual incentive plan
award for Mr. May is based solely on Boston Edison's achieving the earnings per
share objective. In 1996, earnings per share were $2.61, and Boston Edison was
able to significantly reduce its stranded asset exposure by over $20 million,
which exceeded the plan targets. The annual incentive plan awards for Messrs.
Ledgett, Boulette, Gustin and Horan were based 50% on earnings per share and 50%
on business unit performance objectives to achieve certain business unit budget
and operating plan targets. All four officers exceeded the specified business
unit performance levels.
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
The purpose of the Performance Share Plan is to enhance corporate focus on
Boston Edison's business direction beyond the annual operating plan and to
promote achievement of long-term objectives which create value for the
stockholder. Performance is measured by the relative total return to the
stockholder, which is defined as total dividends paid plus stock appreciation
throughout the three-year performance period based on a comparison of Boston
Edison's Common Stock performance to that of the Goldman Sachs Electric Utility
Database, a group of approximately 80 companies. To reach target award, Boston
Edison must be within the top 40% of the industry as measured by the Goldman
Sachs Electric Utility Database; for the threshold award, Boston Edison must be
in the top 50%; and for the maximum award, Boston Edison must be in the top 10%.
Boston Edison achieved the 36th percentile of this group. Threshold was not
attained, and no share awards were made for 1996.
The Committee has determined that the Performance Share Plan as presently
constituted does not accomplish the goals that were set for it. The Committee
worked with its external compensation consultant Towers Perrin to devise a more
effective vehicle which will take into account the long-term interests of Boston
Edison by giving participants a strong incentive to maximize stockholder value
through the use of equity-related compensation. This effort resulted in the 1997
Stock Incentive Plan which is presented to the stockholders for approval in this
Proxy Statement. The Committee is continuing to consider with its consultant the
most appropriate form of awards under the stock incentive plan, and has
therefore not made any awards applicable to the current period at this time.
If the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan is approved by the stockholders at the
Annual Meeting, all new long-term incentive awards will be made under that plan.
At the time that the Committee grants awards under the 1997 Stock Incentive
Plan, it will determine whether existing awards under the Performance Share Plan
will terminate or continue.
OTHER PLANS
At various times in the past, Boston Edison has adopted certain broad-based
employee benefit plans in which officers are permitted to participate on the
same terms as non-executive employees who meet applicable eligibility criteria.
Such plans include retirement, life, and health insurance plans, as well as a
401 (k) savings plan which includes a company matching contribution equal to the
first six percent of pay contributed by the employee up to a maximum deductible
401(k) contribution allowed by the Internal
28
Revenue Code. In addition, Boston Edison has a deferred compensation plan in
which officers and senior managers may elect to participate. In 1996, the
Committee reviewed and accepted a recommendation from management and Towers
Perrin to replace the Key Executive Benefit Plan with a new Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan. The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan is better
integrated with the pension plan. The Supplemental Executive Retirement plan
pays eligible participants supplementary retirement income up to 60% of final
average cash compensation depending upon each participant's years of service,
reduced by 50% of the participant's social security benefit and further reduced
by benefits the participant receives under Boston Edison's pension plan.
MR. MAY'S 1996 COMPENSATION
The Executive Personnel Committee makes decisions regarding the compensation
of the Chief Executive Officer using the same philosophy and criteria as set
forth above. As with other officers, Boston Edison compares compensation levels
for the Chief Executive Officer to all other investor-owned electric utility
companies.
Each year Boston Edison approves the adjustment of salary ranges for the
Chief Executive Officer and other corporate officers based on studies conducted
by external executive compensation consultants and Boston Edison's Human
Resources Group. The 1996 studies found Boston Edison's executive compensation
levels to be less than the approved 60th percentile position to market. Mr. May
received a 12% increase to his base salary in 1996. His salary will next be
reviewed by the Committee in April 1997.
Mr. May's annual incentive award, shown in the fourth column of the Summary
Compensation Table below, was in conformance with the provisions of the Annual
Incentive Plan as described above, and was based on Boston Edison's surpassing
its operating plan targets. As discussed above, the threshold performance
measures of the Performance Share Plan were not achieved.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Charles K. Gifford, who is a member of Boston Edison's Executive Personnel
Committee, is Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Boston Corporation and Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of The First National Bank of Boston. Thomas J. May,
Boston Edison's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, serves on the
boards of directors of Bank of Boston Corporation and The First National Bank of
Boston.
By the Executive Personnel Committee,
William F. Connell (Chairman)
Gary L. Countryman
Charles K. Gifford
Sherry H. Penney
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES
The following information is given regarding annual and long-term
compensation earned by the Chief Executive Officer and the four other most
highly compensated executive officers of Boston Edison with respect to the years
1994, 1995 and 1996.
29
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
------------------------------
AWARDS
OTHER ---------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION ANNUAL RESTRICTED
--------------------------------- COMPEN- STOCK
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS SATION(1) AWARD(S) OPTIONS/ SARS
- ---------------------------------------- --------- ---------- ---------- ------------- --------------- -------------
Thomas J. May........................... 1996 $ 463,625 $ 324,750 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Chairman, President and Chief 1995 415,083 292,500 --
Executive Officer 1994 362,500 214,500 --
Ronald A. Ledgett....................... 1996 193,667 119,300 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Senior Vice President 1995 181,133 75,000 --
1994 172,667 43,050 --
E. Thomas Boulette...................... 1996 189,250 100,000 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Senior Vice President 1995 1994 178,375 63,938 --
166,073 40,968 --
L. Carl Gustin.......................... 1996 182,507 67,262 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Senior Vice President 1995 176,839 64,988 --
1994 170,675 42,794 --
Douglas S. Horan........................ 1996 175,833 83,750 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Senior Vice President 1995 155,250 43,500 --
1994 137,150 31,290 --
PAYOUTS
---------
ALL
OTHER
LTIP COMPEN-
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION PAYOUTS SATION(2)
- ---------------------------------------- --------- ---------
Thomas J. May........................... -- $ 9,000
Chairman, President and Chief 27,084 9,000
Executive Officer 59,950 24,421
Ronald A. Ledgett....................... -- 9,000
Senior Vice President 11,210 9,000
24,750 15,248
E. Thomas Boulette...................... -- 9,000
Senior Vice President 10,899 9,000
10,959 9,542
L. Carl Gustin.......................... -- 9,000
Senior Vice President 11,353 9,000
25,075 9,559
Douglas S. Horan........................ -- 9,000
Senior Vice President 4,400 9,000
6,300 8,229
- ------------------------
(1) None of the named executive officers received amounts of other annual
compensation in 1994, 1995, or 1996, which would require disclosure pursuant
to SEC rules.
(2) Amounts in this column for 1996 represent Boston Edison's matching
contribution under its 401(k) plan.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS--AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table sets forth Performance Share awards potentially payable
in 1999 based on performance during the three-year period from January 1, 1996
through December 31, 1998.
NUMBER OF PERFORMANCE OR ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS
SHARES, UNITS OTHER PERIOD
OR OTHER UNTIL MATURATION --------------------------
NAME RIGHTS OR PAYOUT THRESHOLD(1) TARGET(1) MAXIMUM(1)
- ------------------------------------------ --------------- ---------------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Thomas J. May............................. 7,339 1996-1998 3,669 7,339 11,008
Ronald A. Ledgett......................... 1,879 1996-1998 940 1,879 2,819
E. Thomas Boulette........................ 1,871 1996-1998 936 1,871 2,807
L. Carl Gustin............................ 1,824 1996-1998 912 1,824 2,736
Douglas S. Horan.......................... 1,729 1996-1998 864 1,729 2,593
- ------------------------
(1) The first of these columns shows the number of shares to be awarded if
target performance is achieved, and the last three columns if threshold,
target and maximum performance are achieved. In addition, to these amounts,
dividends attributable to each share are credited throughout the performance
period and deemed reinvested quarterly. The Performance Share Plan has a
stockholder performance measure with the target performance level set at the
60th percentile of the Goldman Sachs Database at the end of the performance
period. At the end of the period, the achievement percentage is applied to
the total number of shares--the amount as shown above plus shares added
through dividend reinvestment--to determine the number of shares actually
earned and distributed.
30
See "Executive Compensation--Report of the Executive Personnel
Committee--Long Term Compensation."
During 1997, Boston Edison entered into retention agreements with each of
Mr. Ledgett and Mr. Horan that provide for the payment to such executives of
$75,000 and $50,000, respectively, if such executive remains in the employ of
Boston Edison on December 31, 1998.
PENSION PLAN TABLE
The following table shows the estimated annual retirement benefits payable
to executive officers under the qualified pension plan and the Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan, assuming retirement at age 65. The Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan is a non-qualified pension plan providing a maximum
benefit of 60% of compensation after attainment of 20 years of credited service
and age 60. The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan provides the incremental
benefits in excess of the benefits paid under the qualified plan necessary to
reach the benefit shown in the table. Each of the officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table participates in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.
The benefits presented are based on a straight life annuity and do not take into
account a reduction in benefits of up to 50% of the participant's primary Social
Security benefit.
PENSION PLAN TABLE
YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE
----------------------------------
AVERAGE ANNUAL
COMPENSATION 10 15 20
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------
$200,000................................................. $ 60,000 $ 90,000 $ 120,000
$300,000................................................. 90,000 135,000 180,000
$400,000................................................. 120,000 180,000 240,000
$500,000................................................. 150,000 225,000 300,000
$600,000................................................. 180,000 270,000 360,000
$700,000................................................. 210,000 315,000 420,000
$800,000................................................. 240,000 360,000 480,000
For purposes of the retirement plans, Messrs. May, Ledgett, Boulette, Gustin
and Horan currently have 21, 15, 5, 16 and 19 years of credited service,
respectively.
Final average compensation for purposes of calculating the benefits under
the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan is the highest average annual
compensation of the participant during any consecutive 36 month period.
Compensation taken into account in calculating the benefits described above
includes salary and annual bonus, including any amounts deferred under the terms
of the Deferred Compensation Plan.
Mr. May can elect, and Mr. Ledgett receives, an alternative supplemental
retirement benefit equal to 33% of final base salary annually for 15 years,
which at the current level would provide income in excess of the amounts shown
in the table above of approximately $9,000 and $31,000, respectively.
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS
Boston Edison has Change in Control Agreements (the "COC Agreements") with
certain key employees, including those named in the summary compensation table,
which provide severance benefits in the event of certain terminations of
employment following a "Change in Control" (as defined below). If, following a
Change in Control, the employee's employment were to be terminated other than
for cause (as defined) or the employee were to terminate his or her employment
for reasons specified in the COC Agreements, the employee would receive
severance pay in an amount equal to two times (three times in the case of Mr.
May) the sum of his or her annual base salary (at the rate in effect immediately
prior to the
31
date of termination or immediately before the Change of Control whichever is
higher) plus his or her actual bonus paid in respect of the most recently
completed fiscal year or his or her target bonus for the fiscal year in which
the termination occurs (whichever is higher). In addition, the COC Agreements
provide for a pro rated bonus payment for the year in which the termination
occurs, the immediate vesting of bonus awards, immediate payment of deferred
compensation amounts upon such termination and payments equal to the benefit the
employee would have received under Boston Edison's retirement plan assuming the
executive was vested and remained employed for an additional two (three) years.
For two years (three years in the case of Mr. May) following any such
termination of employment, the employee would be entitled to continue to
participate in all welfare plans provided by Boston Edison. The COC Agreements
further provide for a "gross-up" payment under which, if amounts paid under such
agreements would be subject to a federal excise tax on "excess parachute
payments," Boston Edison will pay the employee an additional amount of cash, so
that, after payment of all such taxes by the employee, the employee will have
received the amount he would have received in the absence of any such tax. A
change of control under the agreement generally includes the following events:
(i) a person or group becomes the beneficial owner of more than 30% of the
voting power of Boston Edison's securities; (ii) continuing directors cease to
be a majority of the board; (iii) a consolidation, merger or other
reorganization or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of Boston Edison (other than certain defined transactions); or (iv)
approval by the stockholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Boston
Edison. The Merger establishing BEC Energy as the parent entity for Boston
Edison will not constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the COC
Agreements.
32
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The SEC requires that Boston Edison include in this Proxy Statement a
line-graph presentation comparing cumulative five-year stockholder returns with
the S&P 500 Stock index and either a nationally recognized industry standard or
an index of peer companies selected by Boston Edison. The Board of Directors has
approved the use of the Edison Electric Industry 100 Index (EEI 100 Index), a
recognized industry index of approximately 100 electric utility companies.
Pursuant to the SEC's regulations, the graph below depicts the investment of
$100 at the commencement of the measurement period, with dividends reinvested.
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
INDEX: BOSTON EDISON EEI 100 INDEX S&P 500
1991 $100 $100 $100
1992 $119 $108 $108
1993 $136 $120 $118
1994 $117 $106 $120
1995 $155 $138 $165
1996 $152 $140 $203
Annual Total Return: Boston Edison EEI 100 Index S&P 500
1992 18.8% 7.6% 7.6%
1993 14.5% 11.1% 10.0%
1994 -13.8% -11.6% 1.3%
1995 32.2% 31.0% 37.6%
1996 -2.1% 1.2% 23.0%
33
PROPOSAL NO. 3: ADOPTION OF 1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
On January 23, 1997, the Board of Directors approved, and is submitting for
stockholder approval, the Boston Edison Company 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Stock Incentive Plan" or the "Plan"). The Board of Directors adopted the Plan,
subject to stockholder approval, in order to attract and retain key employees in
a position to make contributions to the success of Boston Edison, to reward
employees for such contributions, and to encourage employees to take into
account the long-term interests of Boston Edison through stock-based awards. If
approved, the Stock Incentive Plan will replace the Performance Share Plan. A
copy of the Plan appears as Appendix C to this Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
GENERAL
The Plan permits a variety of stock and stock-based awards, including: the
granting of stock options and stock appreciation rights; the award of restricted
shares; the award of dividend equivalents; the granting of rights to receive
cash or shares on a deferred basis or based on performance; the awarding of cash
payments sufficient to offset the ordinary income taxes of participants
resulting from transactions under the Plan; the making of loans to participants
in connection with awards; and the granting of other stock-based awards, all as
more fully described below. By providing equity-related compensation, the Board
believes that the participants will have a strong incentive to emphasize
stockholder value.
The Plan is administered by the Executive Personnel Committee (excluding any
member who would not be considered (1) an "outside director" for purposes of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder or
(ii) a non-employee director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the
Exchange Act) (the "Committee"). The Committee has full authority, consistent
with the Plan, to select who will receive awards, to determine the types of
awards to be granted and the times of grant, to determine the number of shares
to be covered by any award, to determine the terms and conditions of any award,
to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations for the administration of the
Plan, to interpret the Plan and to decide any questions and settle all
controversies and disputes which may arise in connection with the Plan.
Persons eligible to participate in the Plan are those key employees of
Boston Edison and its subsidiaries who, in the opinion of the Committee, are in
a position to make a contribution to the success of Boston Edison or its
subsidiaries and whose number and identities will be determined in the future by
the Committee.
The Plan limits the terms of awards to ten years and prohibits the granting
of awards more than ten years after the effective date of the Plan. As of March
26, 1997, no awards had been made under the Plan. Subject to adjustment for
stock-splits and similar events, there are 2,000,000 shares available for future
grant under the Plan. Awards and shares which are forfeited, reacquired by
Boston Edison, satisfied by a cash payment by Boston Edison or otherwise
satisfied or terminated without the issuance of Boston Edison Common Stock are
not counted. The Plan authorizes the Committee to issue awards in substitution
for awards held by employees of companies and businesses acquired by Boston
Edison on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate.
The number of shares for which stock options and stock appreciation rights
may be granted to any one participant in any calendar year is limited to 100,000
shares; and in no event may the total compensation awarded to any one
participant in any one calendar year under all restricted stock awards and all
awards intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code exceed the equivalent of 25,000 shares.
STOCK OPTIONS. The Plan permits the granting of both non-transferable
(unless otherwise determined by the Committee) incentive stock options under
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code ("ISOs") and stock options that do not
so qualify ("NSOs"). The option exercise price of each option shall be
determined by the Committee but, in the case of ISOs, shall not be less than
100% (110% in the case of an
34
ISO granted to a 10% stockholder) of the fair market value of the shares on the
date of grant. At March 17, 1997, the closing price of Boston Edison Common
Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape was $26.50.
The term of each option may not exceed ten years (five years in the case of
an ISO granted to a 10% stockholder) from the date the option was granted or
such earlier date as may be specified by the Committee at the time the option is
granted. Options may be made exercisable in installments, and the exercisability
of options may be accelerated by the Committee. In the event of termination of
employment by reason of death or total and permanent disability, each option
held by an employee will become fully exercisable and will remain exercisable
for two years in the case of death and one year in the case of disability
(subject to the limitation relating to maximum exercise period), all except as
otherwise determined by the Committee.
Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of termination
of employment other than by reason of death or total and permanent disability,
all options held by an employee that are not then exercisable shall terminate.
Options that are exercisable on the date of termination shall continue to be
exercisable for a period of three months, subject to the stated term of the
option, unless the employee has admitted to, or been convicted of, any act of
fraud, theft or dishonesty arising in the course of, or in connection with, his
employment with Boston Edison and its subsidiaries, in which case the entire
option shall terminate immediately, all except as otherwise determined by the
Committee.
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee may also grant non-transferable
(unless otherwise determined by the Committee) stock appreciation rights
("SARs"), alone or in conjunction with options, entitling the holder upon
exercise to receive an amount in any combination of cash or shares of Boston
Edison Common Stock, not greater in value than the increase since the date of
grant in the value of the shares covered by such right. SARs are subject to such
terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee. SARs may be granted
separately from or in tandem with the grant of options. In addition, the
Committee may determine, if so requested by an option holder, that Boston Edison
will pay the optionee, in cancellation of an option not accompanied by a related
SAR, any combination of cash, or shares of Boston Edison Common Stock, equal to
the difference between the fair market value of the Boston Edison Common Stock
to have been purchased upon exercise and the aggregate consideration to have
been paid upon exercise. The provisions described above relating to the
exercisability of NSOs upon termination of employment as a result of death,
disability or otherwise also apply to SARs.
RESTRICTED STOCK. The Committee may also grant restricted stock awards
subject to such conditions and restrictions, including vesting, as the Committee
may determine at the time of grant. The Committee may at any time waive such
restrictions, including through accelerated vesting. Unless otherwise determined
by the Committee, shares of restricted stock are non-transferable, and if the
employment of a participant who holds shares of restricted stock terminates for
any reason (other than death or total and permanent disability) prior to the
lapse or waiver of the restrictions, Boston Edison may require the forfeiture or
repurchase of the shares in exchange for the amount, if any, which the
participant paid for them. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, if
an employee's employment terminates because of death or total and permanent
disability, all restrictions on restricted stock held by him or her shall lapse.
Prior to the lapse of restrictions on shares of restricted stock the participant
will have all rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares, including
voting and dividend rights, subject only to the conditions and restrictions
generally applicable to restricted stock under the Plan or specifically set
forth in the award agreement.
In determining the vesting schedule for each award of restricted stock, the
Committee may impose whatever conditions to vesting as it determines to be
appropriate. In order for an award of restricted stock to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code, the Committee must provide that vesting of the restricted stock awards is
subject to one or more of the following performance goals: (1) earnings per
share, (2) individual performance objectives, (3) net income,
35
(4) pro forma net income, (5) return on designated assets, (6) return on
revenues or (7) satisfaction of company-wide or department based objectives. The
Committee will pre-establish in writing one or more of the performance goals no
later than ninety (90) days after the commencement of the period to which the
performance relates (or any such other time as is required to satisfy the
conditions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations
thereunder).
DEFERRED STOCK. The Committee may make deferred stock awards under the
Plan. These are non-transferable (unless otherwise determined by the Committee)
awards entitling the recipient to receive shares of Boston Edison Common Stock
without any payment in one or more installments at a future date or dates, as
determined by the Committee. Receipt of deferred stock may be conditioned on
such matters as the Committee shall determine including continued employment or
attainment of performance goals. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, all such rights terminate upon the termination of the participant's
employment for any reason (including death). In order to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code, the same procedures for establishing and measuring performance goals
described for restricted stock above must be used.
PERFORMANCE UNITS. The Committee may award non-transferable (unless
otherwise determined by the Committee) performance units entitling the recipient
to receive shares of Boston Edison Common Stock or cash in such combinations as
the Committee may determine upon the achievement of specified performance goals
over a fixed or determinable period and such other conditions as the Committee
may determine. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, rights under a
performance unit award shall terminate upon a participant's termination of
employment for any reason (including death).
Performance units may be awarded independently or in connection with stock
options or other awards under the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee, exercise of performance unit awards issued in tandem with another
award reduces the number of shares subject to the other award on such basis as
is specified in the award agreement. In order to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the same
procedures for establishing and measuring performance goals described for
restricted stock above must be used.
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT AWARDS. The Committee may award dividend equivalent
awards entitling the participant to receive cash, shares of Boston Edison Common
Stock, or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a
specified number of shares of Boston Edison Common Stock. Dividend equivalents
may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another award, and
may be paid currently or on a deferred basis. The Committee may provide at the
date of grant or thereafter that the dividend equivalent award shall be paid or
distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in
additional shares of Boston Edison Common Stock, or other investment vehicles as
the Committee may specify, provided that dividend equivalent awards (other than
free-standing dividend equivalent awards) shall be subject to all conditions and
restrictions of the underlying awards to which they relate. Except as otherwise
determined by the Committee, all such rights terminate upon the termination of
the participant's employment for any reason (including death). In order to
qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code, the same procedures for establishing and measuring performance
goals described for restricted stock above must be used.
OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS. The Committee may grant other types of awards of,
or based on, Boston Edison Common Stock. Such awards may include debt securities
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Boston Edison Common Stock upon
such conditions, including attainment of performance goals, as the Committee may
determine. In order to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the same procedures for establishing and
measuring performance goals described for restricted stock above must be used.
SUPPLEMENTAL LOANS AND GRANTS. The Committee may authorize loans in
connection with awards granted or exercised under the Plan. Each loan shall be
subject to such terms and conditions and shall bear
36
such rates of interest, if any, as the Committee shall determine. However, the
amount of any loan may not exceed the total exercise or purchase price plus an
amount equal to the cash payment which could have been paid to the borrower in
respect to taxes as described in the next paragraph.
The Committee may at any time grant to a participant the right to receive a
cash payment in connection with taxable events (including the lapse of
restrictions) under grants or awards. The amount of such payment may not exceed
the amount which would be required in order to pay in full the federal, state
and local income tax due as a result of income recognized by the recipient in
respect of such grant or award plus such cash payments based on the maximum
marginal federal, state and local tax rates (or such lower rate as the Committee
may determine) in effect at the times such taxable income is recognized.
CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS. The Plan provides that in the event of a
"Change of Control", all awards outstanding but not then exercisable will become
immediately exercisable, and restrictions and conditions on all awards
outstanding will automatically lapse or be deemed waived. A "Change of Control"
under the Plan generally includes the following events: (i) a person or group
becomes the beneficial owner of more than 30% of the voting power of Boston
Edison's securities; (ii) a change of control required to be reported under
certain provisions of the Exchange Act; (iii) a consolidation, merger or other
reorganization (other than such a consolidation, merger or other reorganization
that (a) would result in the voting power immediately before to continue to
represent more than 50% of the voting power thereafter, or (b) in which no
person or group would acquire more than 20% of the voting power), or a sale of
all or substantially all assets or a plan of liquidation; and (iv) continuing
directors cease to be a majority of the board.
ADJUSTMENTS FOR STOCK DIVIDENDS, MERGERS, ETC. The Committee is required to
make appropriate adjustments in connection with awards to reflect stock
dividends, stock splits and similar events. In the event of a merger,
liquidation or similar event, in which Boston Edison is not the surviving
corporation, all awards will terminate, but prior to such event, all awards
outstanding but not then exercisable will become immediately exercisable and all
restrictions and conditions on all awards outstanding will lapse; provided that
so long as no Change in Control is involved, the Committee may arrange for
substitute awards from the successor corporation.
EFFECT, DISCONTINUANCE, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Committee may at any
time discontinue granting awards under the Plan. The Committee may at any time
or times amend the Plan or any outstanding award for the purpose of satisfying
the requirements of any changes in applicable laws or regulations or for any
other purpose which may at any time be permitted by law, or may at any time
terminate the Plan as to any further grants of awards, provided that no such
amendment shall, without the approval of the stockholders, increase the maximum
number of shares available under the Plan, change the group of employees
eligible to receive awards, reduce the price at which ISOs may be granted,
extend the time in which awards may be granted or change the amendment
provisions of the Plan. However, no such action shall adversely affect any
rights under outstanding awards without the holder's consent.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following discussion summarizes certain federal income tax consequences
associated with stock option awards under the Plan. The summary does not purport
to cover federal employment tax or other federal tax consequences that may be
associated with the Plan, nor does it cover state, local or non-U.S. taxes.
INCENTIVE OPTIONS. In general, no taxable income is realized by the
optionee upon the grant or exercise of an ISO. However, the exercise of an ISO
may result in alternative minimum tax liability for the optionee. With certain
exceptions, a disposition of shares purchased under an ISO within two years from
the date of grant or within one year after the date of exercise produces
ordinary income to the optionee (and a deduction to Boston Edison) equal to the
excess of the value of the shares at the time of exercise over the option price.
Any additional gain recognized in the disposition is treated as capital gain and
any
37
loss sustained will be capital loss (and no additional deduction will be allowed
to Boston Edison for Federal income tax purposes).
NON-STATUTORY OPTIONS. No income is realized by an optionee at the time a
NSO is granted. Generally, (a) at exercise, ordinary income is realized by the
optionee in an amount equal to the difference between the option price and the
fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise, and Boston Edison
receives a tax deduction for the same amount (subject to satisfaction of
applicable withholding requirements), and (b) upon a later sale or exchange,
appreciation or depreciation after the date of exercise is treated as either
short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on how long the shares
have been held.
Generally, an ISO that is exercised more than three months following
termination of employment (other than termination by reason of death) is treated
as a non-statutory option. ISOs are also treated as non-statutory options to the
extent they first become exercisable in any one calendar year as to shares of
Boston Edison Common Stock having a value (determined at the time the options
were granted) in excess of $100,000.
PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF A CHANGE OF CONTROL. Under the so-called "golden
parachute" provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the vesting or accelerated
exercisability of awards in connection with a change in control of Boston Edison
may be required to be valued and taken into account in determining whether
participants have received compensatory payments, contingent on the change in
control, in excess of certain limits. If these limits are exceeded, a
substantial portion of amounts payable to the participant, including income
recognized by reason of the grant, vesting or exercise of awards under the Plan,
may be subject to an additional 20% federal tax and may be non-deductible to
Boston Edison.
SECTION 162(M). Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits to $1
million the deduction a public corporation may claim in any year for
compensation to any of certain key officers. There are a number of exceptions to
this deduction limitation, including an exception for qualifying "performance-
based compensation." It is intended that stock options granted under the Plan
will be eligible for this performance-based exception.
VOTE REQUIRED
Only holders of record of Boston Edison Common Stock as of the Record Date
will be entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Annual Meeting and any
adjournments thereof with respect to approval of the Plan. Approval of the Plan
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled
to vote on the matter. See "Other Matters--Voting Procedures."
The persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote such proxy in
favor of the Plan unless a contrary choice is indicated thereon.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has approved the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan and
recommends that the stockholders vote FOR Proposal 3. Proxies solicited by the
Board of Directors will be so voted unless stockholders specify otherwise.
OTHER MATTERS
VOTING PROCEDURES
Consistent with state law and under Boston Edison's Bylaws, a majority of
the shares entitled to be cast on a particular matter, present in person or
represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum as to such matter. Votes cast by
proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting will be counted by persons appointed by
Boston Edison to act as election inspectors for the meeting.
38
Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes properly cast at the
meeting. Proposal No. 2 requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
outstanding Boston Edison Common Stock. Proposal No. 3 requires the affirmative
vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote on the matter. The
election inspectors will count the total number of votes cast "for" approval of
Proposals No. 2 and No. 3 for purposes of determining whether sufficient
affirmative votes have been cast. The election inspectors will count shares
represented by proxies that withhold authority to vote for a nominee for
election as a director or that reflect abstentions and "broker non-votes" (i.e.,
shares represented at the meeting held by brokers or nominees as to which (i)
instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons
entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have the discretionary
voting power on a particular matter) only as shares that are present and
entitled to vote on the matter for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum. Neither abstentions nor broker non-votes have any effect on the outcome
of voting on the election of directors. For purposes of Proposal No. 2,
abstentions and broker non-votes have the effect of votes cast against the
proposal. For purposes of Proposal No. 3, abstentions are considered in
determining the number of votes required to obtain a majority of the shares
present and entitled to vote and will have the same effect as votes cast against
the proposal.
ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING
If sufficient votes in favor of any of the proposals set forth in the Notice
of Annual Meeting are not received by the time scheduled for the meeting, the
persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the meeting to
permit further solicitation of proxies with respect to any such proposals. Any
adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on
the question in person or by proxy at the session of the meeting to be
adjourned. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such adjournment
those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of such proposals. They
will vote against any such adjournment those proxies required to be voted
against any of such proposals. Boston Edison will pay the costs of any
additional solicitation and of any adjourned session.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Representatives of Coopers & Lybrand, L.L.P., Boston Edison's independent
accountants, will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity
to make a statement if they desire to do so. The representatives will be
available to respond to appropriate questions by Boston Edison's stockholders.
OTHER BUSINESS
The management has no reason to believe that any other business will be
presented at the Annual Meeting, but if any other business shall be presented,
votes pursuant to the proxy will be cast thereon in accordance with the
discretion of the persons named in the accompanying proxy.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any proposal to be presented at the annual meeting of stockholders to be
held in May 1998 must be received at Boston Edison's principal executive offices
no later than December 3, 1997.
STOCKHOLDER NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors will consider nominations of candidates for election
as directors from stockholders which are submitted in accordance with the
procedures set forth in Section 3.1 of Boston Edison's Bylaws. In general, these
procedures require that stockholder nominations must be submitted to the Clerk
of Boston Edison in writing not less than 45 days prior to the anniversary of
the date of the immediately preceding annual meeting and must contain certain
specified information concerning the person to be nominated and the stockholder
submitting the nomination and the consent of the nominee to serve as director if
so elected.
39
The greater part of the stock of Boston Edison is widely distributed in
small lots. It is important, therefore, in order to secure representation at the
Annual Meeting of the number of shares necessary to take action, that all
stockholders who cannot be present in person, however small their holdings, fill
in, sign and return the enclosed proxy without delay to The First National Bank
of Boston, P.O. Box 9381, Boston, Massachusetts 02105. A stamped envelope is
enclosed for this purpose.
STOCKHOLDERS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF YOU PLAN
TO ATTEND, PLEASE SO INDICATE ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD.
40
APPENDIX A
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
A-1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER ("Agreement") dated as of March 25, 1997, by
and among Boston Edison Company, a Massachusetts electric utility corporation
("Boston Edison"), Boston Edison Mergeco Electric Company, Inc., a Massachusetts
utility corporation ("Mergeco"), and BEC Energy, a Massachusetts business trust
("Holdco").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Boston Edison has an authorized capitalization consisting of (i)
100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Boston Edison
Common Stock"), of which 48,514,973 shares are issued and outstanding and
1,429,424 shares have been reserved for issuance pursuant to Boston Edison's
Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan; (ii) 2,890,000 shares of
cumulative preferred stock, par value $100.00 per share ("Boston Edison
Preferred Stock"), 2,130,000 shares of which (consisting of shares of six
separate series) are issued and outstanding; and (iii) 8,000,000 shares of
preference stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Boston Edison Preference Stock"),
of which no shares are issued and outstanding; the number of shares of issued
and outstanding Boston Edison Common Stock being subject to increase to the
extent that shares reserved for issuance are issued prior to the Effective Time
(as defined below) of the Merger;
WHEREAS, Mergeco has an authorized capitalization consisting of 200,000
shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Mergeco Common Stock"), of
which 100 shares have been subscribed for by Holdco and, once the issuance
thereof has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities as
required by law, will be issued to and owned beneficially and of record by
Holdco;
WHEREAS, Holdco has an authorized capitalization consisting of (i)
100,000,000 shares of beneficial interest, par value $1.00 per share ("Holdco
Common Shares", each a "Holdco Common Share"), of which 100 shares are issued
and outstanding and owned beneficially and of record by Boston Edison; and (ii)
10,000,000 preferred shares, par value $1.00 per share, of which no shares are
issued and outstanding; and
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of the respective parties hereto deem it
advisable and in the best interests of Boston Edison and its stockholders to
merge Mergeco with and into Boston Edison (the "Merger") in accordance with
Section 96 of Chapter 164 of the Massachusetts General Laws and pursuant to this
Agreement and the Articles of Merger attached hereto as ANNEX I and incorporated
herein (the "Articles"), whereby the holders of shares of Boston Edison Common
Stock will exchange their shares for Holdco Common Shares;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree that
Mergeco shall be merged with into Boston Edison, which shall be the corporation
surviving the Merger, and that the terms and conditions of the Merger, the mode
of carrying it into effect, and the manner of converting and exchanging shares
shall be as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
(a) Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the
Articles shall be executed and acknowledged by each of Boston Edison and Mergeco
and thereafter delivered to the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts for filing, as provided in Section 102A of Chapter 164 of the
Massachusetts General Laws. The Merger shall become effective at such time as
the Articles are filed as required by law with the Secretary of State of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts or such date, not more than thirty days after such
filing, as may be specified in the Articles (the "Effective Time"). At the
Effective Time, the separate existence of Mergeco shall cease and Mergeco shall
be merged with and into Boston Edison (Mergeco and Boston Edison being sometimes
referred to collectively herein as the
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"Constituent Corporations" and Boston Edison, the corporation designated in the
Articles as the surviving corporation being sometimes referred to herein as the
"Surviving Corporation");
(b) Prior to and after the Effective Time, Holdco, Boston Edison and
Mergeco, respectively, shall take all such actions as may be necessary or
appropriate in order to effectuate the Merger. In this connection, Holdco shall
issue the Holdco Common Shares which the holders of Boston Edison Common Stock
are entitled to receive as provided in Article II hereof. In the event that at
any time after the Effective Time any further action is necessary or desirable
to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving
Corporation with full title to all properties, assets, rights, approvals,
immunities and franchises of either of the Constituent Corporations, the
officers and directors of each of the Constituent Corporations as of the
Effective Time shall take all such further action.
ARTICLE II
TERMS OF CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE OF SHARES
At the Effective Time:
(a) Each share of Boston Edison Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Merger thereupon shall be changed and converted into
one Holdco Common Share, which thereupon shall be issued, fully paid and
nonassessable;
(b) The shares of Boston Edison Preferred Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Merger shall not be converted or otherwise affected by
the Merger, and each such share shall continue to be issued and outstanding and
to be one fully paid and nonassessable share of the particular series of
preferred stock of the Surviving Corporation;
(c) The shares of Boston Edison Preference Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Merger, if any, shall not be converted or otherwise
affected by the Merger, and each such share shall continue to be issued and
outstanding and to be one fully paid and nonassessable share of the particular
series of preference stock of the Surviving Corporation;
(d) Each share of Mergeco Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Merger shall be converted into one share of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation, which thereupon shall be issued, fully paid and
nonassessable; and
(e) Each Holdco Common Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Merger shall be canceled.
ARTICLE III
ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION AND BYLAWS
From and after the Effective Time, and until thereafter amended as provided
by law, the Restated Articles of Organization of Boston Edison as in effect
immediately prior to the Merger shall be and continue to be the Restated
Articles of Organization of the Surviving Corporation. The purposes of the
Surviving Corporation, the total number of shares and par value of each class of
stock which the Surviving Corporation is authorized to issue and a description
of each class of stock authorized at the Effective Time, with the preferences,
voting powers, qualifications, special or relative rights or privileges as to
each class and any series thereof then established, are as stated in such
Restated Articles of Organization, which are attached hereto as Annex II and
incorporated herein. From and after the Effective Time, the Bylaws of Boston
Edison shall be and continue to be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until
amended in accordance with law.
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ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The persons who are directors and officers of Boston Edison immediately
prior to the Merger shall continue as directors and officers, respectively, of
the Surviving Corporation and shall continue to hold office as provided in the
Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation. If, at or following the Effective Time, a
vacancy shall exist in the Board of Directors or in the position of any officer
of the Surviving Corporation, such vacancy may be filled in the manner provided
in the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE V
STOCK CERTIFICATES
Following the Effective Time, each holder of an outstanding certificate or
certificates theretofore representing shares of Boston Edison Common Stock may,
but shall not be required to, surrender the same to Holdco for cancellation or
transfer, and each such holder or transferee will be entitled to receive
certificates representing the same number of Holdco Common Shares as shares of
Boston Edison Common Stock previously represented by the surrendered stock
certificates. Until so surrendered or presented for transfer, each outstanding
certificate which, prior to the Effective Time, represented Boston Edison Common
Stock shall be deemed and treated for all corporate purposes to represent the
ownership of the same number of Holdco Common Shares as though such surrender or
transfer and exchange had taken place. The stock transfer books for the Boston
Edison Common Stock shall be deemed to be closed at the Effective Time and no
transfer of outstanding shares of Boston Edison Common Stock outstanding prior
to the Effective Time shall be made thereafter on such books.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS OF THE MERGER
Consummation of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of the following
conditions:
(a) The Merger shall have received the approval of the holders of each class
of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereupon of each of the
Constituent Corporations as required by Section 96 of Chapter 164 of the
Massachusetts General Laws.
(b) The issuance of Mergeco Common Stock and the Merger shall have been
approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities as required by
Chapter 164 of the Massachusetts General Laws and all other governmental
agencies whose approval is necessary, appropriate or desirable.
(c) The Holdco Common Shares to be issued and to be reserved for issuance
pursuant to the Merger shall have been approved for listing, upon official
notice of issuance, by the New York Stock Exchange and the Boston Stock
Exchange.
(d) Ropes & Gray shall have delivered an opinion, satisfactory to the Board
of Directors of Boston Edison, with respect to the tax consequences of the
Merger.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
The parties hereto by mutual consent of their respective Boards of Directors
may amend, modify or supplement this Agreement in such manner as may be agreed
upon by them in writing, at any time before or after approval of this Agreement
by the stockholders of Boston Edison; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such amendment,
modification or supplement shall, in the sole judgment of the Board of Directors
of Boston Edison, materially and adversely affect the rights of the stockholders
of Boston Edison.
This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger and other transactions
herein provided for abandoned at any time, whether before or after approval of
this Agreement by the stockholders of Boston
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Edison, by action of the Board of Directors of Boston Edison if said Board of
Directors determines for any reason that the consummation of the transactions
provided for herein would for any reason be inadvisable or not in the best
interests of Boston Edison or its stockholders.
ARTICLE VIII
EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER
Subject to the prior satisfaction of the conditions of the Merger set forth
in Article VI hereof and the authority to terminate this Agreement as set forth
in Article VII hereof, the Constituent Corporations and Holdco shall do all such
acts and things as shall be necessary or desirable in order to make the
Effective Time occur as soon thereafter as practicable.
ARTICLE IX
ASSUMPTION OF BOSTON EDISON'S STOCK PLANS
Holdco shall take all required action to assume Boston Edison's obligations
under the following plans: (i) the Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock
Purchase Plan, (ii) the Director Stock Plan, (iii) the Performance Share Plan,
(iv) the Negotiated Savings Plan for Production and Maintenance Employees, (v)
the Negotiated Savings Plan for Office, Technical & Professional Employees and
(vi) the Boston Edison Savings Plan.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so
executed shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Boston Edison, Mergeco and Holdco, pursuant to approval
and authorization duly given by resolutions adopted by their respective Boards
of Directors, have each caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be executed
as of the date first written above by its President or one of its Vice
Presidents and Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer and its corporate or common seal
to be affixed hereto and attested by its Clerk.
ATTEST: BOSTON EDISON COMPANY
/s/ THEODORA S. CONVISSER By: /s/ THOMAS J. MAY
- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Theodora S. Convisser Name: Thomas J. May
Clerk Title: Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
[BOSTON EDISON COMPANY SEAL] By: /s/ JAMES J. JUDGE
------------------------------------------
Name: James J. Judge
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
ATTEST: BOSTON EDISON MERGECO ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.
/s/ THEODORA S. CONVISSER By: /s/ THOMAS J. MAY
- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Theodora S. Convisser Name: Thomas J. May
Clerk Title: Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
[BOSTON EDISON MERGECO ELECTRIC By: /s/ JAMES J. JUDGE
COMPANY, INC. SEAL] ------------------------------------------
Name: James J. Judge
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
ATTEST: BEC ENERGY
/s/ THEODORA S. CONVISSER By: /s/ THOMAS J. MAY
- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Theodora S. Convisser Name: Thomas J. May
Clerk Title: Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
[BEC ENERGY SEAL] By: /s/ JAMES J. JUDGE
------------------------------------------
Name: James J. Judge
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
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ANNEX I
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
ARTICLES OF MERGER
OF
BOSTON EDISON COMPANY
(A MASSACHUSETTS UTILITY CORPORATION)
AND
BOSTON EDISON MERGECO ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.
(A MASSACHUSETTS UTILITY CORPORATION)
AND
BEC ENERGY
(A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 102A of Chapter 164 of the
Massachusetts General Laws, the undersigned corporations adopt the following
Articles of Merger for the purpose of merging Boston Edison Mergeco Electric
Company, Inc. with and into Boston Edison Company, which shall be the Surviving
Corporation:
1. Attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference is the Agreement and
Plan of Merger dated as of March 25, 1997, of the undersigned corporations. The
Surviving Corporation will furnish a copy of said agreement to any of its
stockholders, or to any person who was a stockholder of a Constituent
Corporation, upon written request and without charge. The Effective Time as
defined therein is 5:00 P.M., Boston time on , 1997.
2. The undersigned president or vice president and clerk or assistant clerk
of each undersigned corporation hereby state under the penalties of perjury that
the attached Agreement and Plan of Merger has been duly executed on behalf of
such corporation and has been approved by the stockholders of such corporation
and by the Department of Public Utilities of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
in the manner required by Section 96 of Chapter 164 of the Massachusetts General
Laws.
3. The post office address of the initial principal office of the Surviving
Corporation is 800 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199.
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4. The name, residence and post office address of each of the initial
directors and the chairman, president, treasurer and clerk of the Surviving
Corporation are as follows:
NAME TITLE RESIDENCE POST OFFICE ADDRESS
- --------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- ---------------------------
Thomas J. May Chairman of the Board Chief c/o 800 Boylston Street
Executive Officer and Boston, MA 02199
President
William F. Connell Director c/o 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
Gary L. Countryman Director c/o 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
Thomas G. Dignan, Jr. Director c/o 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
Charles K. Gifford Director c/o 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
Nelson S. Gifford Director c/o 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
Matina S. Horner Director c/o 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
Sherry H. Penney Director c/o 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
Herbert Roth, Jr. Director c/o 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
Stephen J. Sweeney Director c/o 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
James J. Judge Senior Vice President and c/o 800 Boylston Street
Treasurer Boston, MA 02199
Theodora S. Convisser Clerk c/o 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
5. The fiscal year of the Surviving Corporation initially adopted shall end
on the last day of the month of December in each year.
6. The date and time initially fixed in the Bylaws for the annual meeting of
the stockholders of the Surviving Corporation is 11:00 a.m. on the last Tuesday
in April of each year.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Boston Edison Company, Boston Edison Mergeco Electric
Company, Inc. and BEC Energy, pursuant to approval and authorization duly given
by resolutions adopted by their respective Boards of Directors, have each caused
these Articles of Merger to be executed by its president or one of its vice
presidents and its clerk or one of its assistant clerks.
Dated:
BOSTON EDISON COMPANY
By:
------------------------------------------
Name: Thomas J. May
Title: Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
By:
------------------------------------------
Name: Theodora S. Convisser
Title: Clerk
BOSTON EDISON MERGECO ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.
By:
------------------------------------------
Name: Thomas J. May
Title: Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
By:
------------------------------------------
Name: Theodora S. Convisser
Title: Clerk
BEC ENERGY
By:
------------------------------------------
Name: Thomas J. May
Title: Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
By:
------------------------------------------
Name: Theodora S. Convisser
Title: Clerk
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APPENDIX B
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
BEC ENERGY
DATED MARCH 25, 1997
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
BEC ENERGY
This AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST made at Boston in the County
of Suffolk, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this 25th day of March, 1997 by
Thomas J. May of [Address Omitted], James J. Judge of [Address Omitted] and
Theodora S. Convisser of [Address Omitted], hereby amends and restates in its
entirety the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated the 14th day of
March, 1997, as heretofore amended.
WHEREAS it is desired to create under and in accordance with the provisions
of this instrument a voluntary business association with transferable shares for
the acquisition of property and the conduct of business as hereinafter set
forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, this DECLARATION OF TRUST WITNESSETH that said Thomas J.
May, James J. Judge and Theodora S. Convisser, for themselves, their heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns, do hereby declare that they
and their successors from time to time, as Trustees hereunder, will hold, manage
and dispose of the trust estate, as hereinafter defined in trust in the manner
and with and subject to the powers and provisions hereinafter contained
concerning the same, for the benefit of the Shareholders (as hereinafter
defined) according to the number and kind of shares held by them respectively.
NAME; PURPOSE
1. NAME; PURPOSE. The Trustees as trustees hereunder, though not in their
individual capacities, shall be designated BEC Energy and are hereinafter
referred to as the "Company." So far as may be practicable, all things relating
to the trust hereby created shall be done under such name. The purpose of the
Company shall be to engage, either directly or through direct or indirect
subsidiaries, joint ventures, partnerships, limited liability companies or other
combinations or associations, in any manufacturing, mercantile, selling,
management, service or other business, operation or activity related to energy
generation, transmission or distribution, utilization, conservation or
transportation, construction, telecommunications, or any other manufacturing,
mercantile, selling, management, service or other business, operation or
activity, whether or not related to the foregoing enumerated areas, that a
corporation organized under the Business Corporation Law of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts could carry on.
DEFINITIONS
2. DEFINITIONS. Except where the context otherwise requires, the following
terms when used herein shall mean the following:
(a) "Trustee" or "Trustees" means the person which is the trustee
hereunder for the time being, if there is only one, or if more than one, the
persons who are the trustees hereunder for the time being, whether, in each
case, original, additional or successor;
(b) "Trust estate" means the property at any time received by the
Trustees or otherwise acquired and held on behalf of the Company as
hereinafter provided;
(c) "Shareholder" or "Shareholders" means the person or persons, natural
or corporate, at the time registered as the holder or holders of the shares
of the Company and, except to the extent limited
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by any subscription or by any subscription certificate or part-paid shares
accepted or issued, include the person or persons, natural or corporate, at
the time registered as the holder or holders of such subscription
certificates and part-paid shares; and
(d) 'Share" or "shares" means the transferable share or shares of
beneficial interest provided for in Article 29 and includes any subscription
certificate or part-paid share issued except to the extent limited in such
subscription certificate or part-paid share.
RIGHTS OF THIRD PERSONS
3. LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY. The Trust estate shall be directly liable for
the payment and satisfaction of all obligations and liabilities incurred in the
carrying on of the business of the Company. No Trustee shall be held to any
liability whatever for the payment of any sum of money, or for damages or
otherwise under any contract, obligation or undertaking made, entered into or
issued by the Company or by any Trustee, officer, agent or representative
thereof, or in tort or otherwise, and no such contract, obligation or
undertaking shall be enforceable against the Trustees, the Shareholders, or the
officers, agents or other representatives of the Company or any of them in
their, his or her individual capacities or capacity and all such contracts,
obligations and undertakings shall be enforceable only against the Company; and
every person, firm, association, trust and corporation shall look only to the
Trust estate for the payment or satisfaction of any liability, damages, claim or
demand. In every agreement and obligation entered into and in every writing by
or on behalf of the Company, reference shall be made to this declaration of
trust, and the substance of such parts of the preceding sentence of this Article
3 as are applicable shall be set forth; and neither the Trustees nor any
officer, agent or representative of the Company shall have any power or
authority to enter into any agreement or obligation on behalf of the Company
except in accordance with the provisions of this Article 3. Failure to comply
with the provisions of this Article shall, however, in no event render any
Trustee, Shareholder, officer, or agent personally liable to the Company or its
Shareholders.
4. NONASSESSABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS. No Trustee, officer, agent or
representative of the Company shall be entitled to look to the Shareholders
personally for indemnity against any liability incurred by them in the execution
of this trust or to call upon the Shareholders for the payment of any sum of
money or any assessment whatever, except when and to the extent that shares in
the Company are by their express terms issued part-paid and assessable.
5. RELIANCE OF THIRD PERSONS. The receipts of the Company for moneys or
things paid or delivered to it shall be effective discharges to the person,
firm, association, trust or corporation paying or delivering the same and from
all liability to see to the application thereof. No purchaser or person, firm,
association, trust or corporation dealing with the Company or with the Trustees,
officers, agents or representatives of the Company shall be bound to ascertain
or inquire whether any consent, resolution or other authorization of the
Trustees or Shareholders, as is herein required or provided for, has been
obtained or passed or as to the existence or occurrence of any event or purpose
in or for which a sale, lease, mortgage, pledge or charge is herein authorized
or directed, or otherwise as to the purpose or regularity of any of the acts of
the Trustees or the officers, agents or representatives of the Company
purporting to be done in pursuance of the trust or powers herein contained, or
as to the regularity of the removal, resignation or appointment of any Trustee
or any officer, agent or representative; and a transfer of the Trust estate, or
any part thereof, executed by the Trustees in whom the same shall be vested at
the time of any such removal, resignation or appointment (including any retiring
Trustee who shall be willing to act and shall act in executing such transfer but
not otherwise including any such retiring Trustee) for the purpose of vesting
the same in a successor Trustee or providing evidence of such vesting
independently of such removal, resignation or appointment, shall, as to the
property comprised in such transfer, be conclusive evidence in favor of any such
purchaser or other person, firm, association, trust or corporation dealing with
the Company of the
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validity of such transfer and of the matters therein recited relating to such
removal, resignation or appointment or the occasion thereof or the occasion of
such transfer.
PLACE OF BUSINESS; TRUST ESTATE
6. PLACE OF BUSINESS. The principal place of business of the Company shall
be 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199, or at such other place in
Massachusetts as the Trustees shall from time to time determine.
7. TRUST ESTATE; CONVERSION INTO PERSONAL ESTATE. All property at any time
and from time to time subject to this trust shall, subject to the provisions of
Articles 8(c) and 8(g), be transferred to and vested in such of the Trustees as
are residents of Massachusetts. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, all
real estate at any time forming part of the Trust estate shall be held upon
trust for sale and conversion into personal estate at such time or times and in
such manner and upon such terms as the Trustee shall approve, but the Trustees
shall have power, until the termination of this trust, to postpone such
conversion so long as they in their uncontrolled discretion shall think fit, and
for the purpose of determining the nature of the interest of the Shareholders
therein, all such real estate shall at all times be considered as personal
estate; and the real estate and personal property comprised in the Trust estate
shall constitute a single fund. For the purpose of such sale and conversion of
real estate the Trustees shall have full power to sell or exchange the same and
to execute and deliver proper deeds and instruments of conveyance thereof.
THE TRUSTEES
8. POWERS OF TRUSTEES. Subject to the provisions and conditions contained
herein, the Trustees shall have power from time to time, in addition to the
specific powers and authorities herein expressly granted, to take any action
which they deem to be necessary or convenient to carry out the business of the
Company, including without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the
powers hereinafter specified:
(a) HOLD INVESTMENTS. To purchase, subscribe for or otherwise
acquire stocks, shares, bonds or other securities, property or
obligations of any corporation, wherever incorporated, or of any trust,
association or other entity, or of any nation, state, municipality or
other governmental or public agency, division or body or certificates or
other evidences of interest in any real or personal property, and to be a
member of any company, syndicate or joint undertaking, or the beneficiary
of any trust, and all whether or not any such company be domestic or
foreign, and whether or not the purposes of or character of business
carried on or assets held by any such company, syndicate or joint
undertaking, or comprised of any such real or personal property, be
similar to the purposes of or business carried on or assets held by the
Company, and whether or not any such securities, membership or beneficial
interest might be considered speculative, hazardous, nonproductive or
wasting or would ordinarily be considered a proper or prudent investment
or activity for a trustee and, whether or not any contingent or other
liability may arise or exist in respect thereof and irrespective of the
proportion of the Trust estate invested in one or more of said
securities, properties or companies, and to exercise all the rights and
privileges of an owner thereof and, without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, to acquire, by exchange, purchase or otherwise, the shares
and dividend and profit rights in, and the bonds and other securities and
obligations of, the Company;
(b) ASSUME OBLIGATIONS. To assume any obligations or liabilities of
any corporation, wherever incorporated, or of any trust, association or
other entity, and to discharge or liquidate such obligations or
liabilities;
(c) BORROW. To borrow money for the purposes of the Company, and to
issue, whether for borrowed money or for other consideration, bonds or
other securities or obligations therefor if desired, which may mature at
any time or times, and may be convertible or after the issuance
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thereof may be made convertible, with or without additional consideration
for such conversion right, into other securities of the Company or into
other securities, all for such periods and upon such terms as the
Trustees may determine, and to secure the payment thereof if desired by
mortgage, pledge, assignment, transfer or conveyance of or charge on the
whole or any part of the Trust estate then owned or thereafter acquired,
which bonds or other securities or obligations may be signed on behalf of
the Company by the chairman, the president or a vice president and by the
treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or by facsimiles of such signatures
if the bonds or other securities or obligations are authenticated or
certified by a trustee or by a registrar other than a trustee, officer or
employee of the Company, and may have affixed thereto the common seal of
the Company or a facsimile thereof and may carry interest coupons
authenticated by the facsimile signature of the treasurer; provided that
no mortgage, pledge, assignment, transfer or conveyance of or charge on
the Trust estate as a whole or substantially as a whole shall be made
without authorization or approval by vote, at a meeting duly called and
held, of the holders of a majority of the shares outstanding and entitled
to vote thereon; and provided further that even though any officer who
has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on any bond or
other security or obligation shall have ceased to be such officer before
such bond, security or obligation is issued, such bond, security or
obligation may nonetheless be issued by the Company;
(d) LEND AND AID. To advance or lend money to, and otherwise aid by
endorsement, guarantee or otherwise, and with or without security, and to
make capital contributions to, any corporation, trust, association or
other entity, any of the stocks, shares, bonds or other securities or
obligations of which shall have been acquired or subscribed for by or on
behalf of the Company or in which the Company has any business interest
(including, without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the
power to guarantee the performance of any undertaking or obligation or
the payment of dividends on stock), and to discharge and cancel without
payment any indebtedness thus arising or to convert the same into stocks,
shares, bonds, or other obligations of such corporation, trust
association or other entity, or any other with or into which it may be
consolidated or merged, or to which its property may be transferred or
leased, and in like manner to advance or lend money to and otherwise aid
any person or company (whether or not a Shareholder), whenever the
Trustees shall deem such action to be necessary or convenient in the
business or conducive to the advantage of the Company;
(e) EXERCISE POWERS OF HOLDER OF INVESTMENTS. To exercise any and
all powers and rights belonging to the holder of any stocks, shares,
bonds, securities, property or obligations forming part of the Trust
estate, whether by voting or by giving any consent, request or notice, or
otherwise, either in person or by proxy or attorney, and to give proxies
or powers of attorney therefor, with or without power of substitution,
which proxies and powers of attorney may be for meetings or action
generally or for any particular meeting, meetings or action, and may
include the exercise of any discretionary powers; and, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, to vote in favor of or to consent to the
creation of any mortgage, lien or other encumbrance upon all or part of
the franchises and property, real and personal, then owned or thereafter
acquired, of any or all of the corporations, trusts, associations and
other entities, any of the stocks, shares, bonds, securities or
obligations of which may at the time be subject to this trust, or to vote
in favor of or to consent to the merger or consolidation of any such
corporation, trust association or other entity with any other
corporation, trust association or other entity, or the sale, lease,
surrender or abandonment of all or part of the franchises and property,
real and personal, of any such corporation, trust association or other
entity;
(f) SELL. To sell at public auction or by private contract or
otherwise use and deal in and with the whole or any part of the Trust
estate, free and discharged of this trust, and to convert, exchange or
refund the whole or any part of the Trust estate for or into any shares,
bonds or other securities or obligations, property or effects in which
the Company might, under the provisions
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hereof, invest any moneys; provided, however, that except as provided in
Article 8(o), Article 57 or Article 60, no sale or other disposition of
the Trust estate as a whole or substantially as a whole shall be made
without authorization or approval by vote, at a meeting duly called and
held, of the holders of two-thirds of the shares outstanding and entitled
to vote thereon, but this proviso shall not apply to any disposition
pursuant to any mortgage, pledge, or charge;
(g) TRANSFER SECURITIES INTO NAMES OF OTHERS. To cause any real or
personal property, including without limitation of the generality of the
foregoing, securities forming all or part of the Trust estate, to be
transferred into the name of the Company or transferred into the name of
or vested in the Trustees, or to cause or allow any real or personal
property to remain in the name of, or to be transferred into the name of,
any other person, firm, association, or other entity, trust, corporation
or other entity and in any such case in such manner as not to give notice
that the same are affected by any trust;
(h) DELEGATE POWERS. To employ and act through and to delegate any
or all of the powers and discretions of the Company to, and to permit any
or all of such powers and discretions to be exercised by, any of the
officers, agents or representatives of the Company or of the Trustees,
including without limitation the officers, employees, agents and
representatives referred to in the last paragraph of this Article 8;
(i) COLLECT FUNDS. To collect, sue for, receive and receipt for all
sums of money coming due to the Company, to consent to the extension of
the time for payment, or to the renewal, of any bonds or other
securities, property or obligations subject to this trust, and to
prosecute, defend, compound, compromise, abandon or adjust, by
arbitration or otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes,
claims, demands and things relating to the Trust estate, and to extend
time, with or without security, for the payment or delivery of any debts
or property and to execute and enter into releases, agreements and other
instruments and to pay or satisfy any debts or claims upon any evidence
that the Trustees shall think sufficient;
(j) DEPOSIT FUNDS. To deposit any moneys included in the Trust
estate in any bank or trust company including any bank or trust company
that may at the time be the Trustee, and to entrust to any such bank or
trust company for safekeeping any of the stock or share certificates,
bonds or other securities, property or obligations and any documents and
papers comprised in or relating to the Trust estate;
(k) PAY TAXES. To pay any and all taxes or liens of whatever nature
or kind imposed upon or against the Company or the Trustee in connection
with the Trust estate, or upon or against the Trust estate or any part
thereof;
(l) ESTABLISH SURPLUS FUNDS. To set apart, from time to time, as
surplus funds, such sums as the Trustees may deem proper out of any
sources which according to generally accepted accounting principles may
be considered surplus, which surplus funds shall be applicable to any
purposes to which money forming part of the capital or income of the
Trust estate may be applied, including the payment of dividends;
(m) ADOPT SEAL. To adopt and use a common seal;
(n) PURCHASE INSURANCE. To take out and maintain insurance or
establish self-insurance programs in such amounts and of such kinds and
in such companies and through such brokers and agents as may be
necessary, convenient or desirable, including insurance policies insuring
the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Company against
claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding,
being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any
action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person as a
Trustee, officer, employee or agent, including any action taken or
omitted that may be determined to constitute
B-6
negligence, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify
such person against such liability;
(o) TRANSFER TO NEW TRUST OR CORPORATION. When authorized by a
majority vote of Shareholders at a meeting, to sell and convey as an
entirety and going concern all the property and assets of the Company to
a corporation or a new association or trust organized for the purpose of
acquiring the same and organized with the same authorized classes of
shares as the Company shall then have with the same or substantially the
same preferences, voting powers, restrictions and qualifications thereof
as attach to the shares of the Company, the consideration for such sale
and conveyance to be the assumption by such new corporation, association
or trust of all liabilities and obligations of the Company then
outstanding and the issuance and delivery by such new corporation or
association or trust to the Company, or upon its order, for distribution
as hereinafter provided for, of such shares as will enable the Company to
exchange its shares, share for share and class for class, for the shares
of such new corporation or association or trust and thereupon such
exchange shall be made, and this trust shall be terminated, and each
Shareholder of the Company by becoming a Shareholder shall agree to
receive and accept in such case the shares of such new corporation or
association or trust in exchange on the basis aforesaid as a full and
final distributive share of the proceeds in liquidation of such sale and
conveyance, and further agrees that in such case his or her shares in the
Company shall thereafter have no rights and privileges whatsoever except
the right and privilege of being exchanged for shares of such new
corporation or association or trust on the basis aforesaid;
(p) INVEST CAPITAL. To invest and re-invest the capital or other
funds of this trust in real or personal property of any kind, or in any
interest therein;
(q) ESTABLISH PENSION AND OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS. To establish
and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, share
option, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive, health, welfare
and benefit plans, trusts and provisions for any or all of the Trustees,
officers, employees, agents and consultants of the Company or of any of
its subsidiaries;
(r) To enter into or become partners or members in joint ventures,
general or limited partnerships, limited liability companies and any
other combinations or associations;
(s) To purchase, acquire, hold, utilize, lease, carry on, sell,
exchange and dispose of any other business or property, rights, or
privileges which may be deemed to be suitable, convenient or profitable
for or in connection with any of the purposes of the Company;
(t) To grant rights or options good for any period of time,
including an unlimited period of time (but not exceeding the duration of
the Company) to purchase from the Company any securities of the Company
which have been authorized but remain unissued or are held in the
treasury, at such prices and on such terms and conditions as may be fixed
from time to time by the Trustees; and to create and issue warrants or
other instruments representing such rights or options in such form as the
trustees may determine;
(u) PERFORM OTHER NECESSARY THINGS. To do each and every thing
necessary, suitable, desirable, convenient or proper for the
accomplishment of any of the purposes or the attainment of any one or
more of the objects hereinbefore enumerated or incidental to the powers
herein named and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to
deal with the Trust estate and manage and conduct the business of the
trust hereunder as fully as if the Company were the absolute owner of the
Trust estate and in so doing to execute all contracts, agreements, deeds,
covenants and instruments, and do all such things as the Trustees may
deem proper for the purposes of the Company, whether or not involving
action of a kind or extent legal or customary for a trustee or for the
management of trust funds.
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The powers and authority, whether discretionary or otherwise, conferred upon
the Trustees by this Article 8 and elsewhere in this declaration of trust may be
delegated to committees, officers, employees, agents and representatives of the
Company, and shall not be deemed to be mandatory but shall, together with any
and all implied powers and discretions, be exercised by the Trustees from time
to time to the extent deemed to be advantageous to the Company, and may be
exercised either alone or in association with others and to the same extent and
as fully as individuals might or could do as principals, agents, contractors or
otherwise and either alone or in conjunction with or in partnership with others,
and both within and without The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The acts of any
committee, officers and agents, within the scope of their respective
authorities, shall be as agents and delegates of the Trustees, and shall be
deemed to be the acts of the Trustees and not of the Shareholders. When
authorized by the Trustees, mortgages, conveyances and other instruments of
transfer of real or other property may be executed by any officer of the Company
on behalf of the Trustees or such of them as are residents of Massachusetts.
THE TRUSTEES
9. NUMBER AND ELECTION. The persons signing this Declaration of Trust
shall be the original Trustees. At such time as the outstanding shares of the
Company are not wholly owned by Boston Edison Company (the "Transition Date"),
the following provisions shall apply. The number of Trustees shall be determined
from time to time by the Trustees, but shall not be less than three nor more
than sixteen, divided into classes and elected for terms as set forth below,
shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Shareholders by such Shareholders
as have the right to vote at such election. The number of Trustees may be
increased at any time or from time to time to any number not more than sixteen
either by the Shareholders or by the Trustees by vote of a majority of the
Trustees then in office. The number of Trustees may be decreased to any number
not less than three at any time or from time to time either by the Shareholders
or by the Trustees by a vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office, but
only to eliminate vacancies existing by reason of the death, resignation or
removal of one or more Trustees.
The Trustees shall be elected as follows. The Trustees shall be divided as
nearly equally as possible into three classes, with each class to consist of
approximately one-third of the number of Trustees. The first Trustees of the
Company shall consist of the directors of Boston Edison Company divided into the
same three classes. The term of office of the Trustees of the first class shall
continue until the first annual meeting of the Shareholders following the
Transition Date, the term of office of the Trustees of the second class shall
continue until the second annual meeting of the Shareholders following the
Transition Date, and the term of office of the Trustees of the third class shall
continue until the third annual meeting of the Shareholders following the
Transition Date, and, in each case, until their respective successors are chosen
and qualified (unless otherwise required by law) or until the Trustee sooner
dies, resigns or is removed.
At each annual meeting beginning with the first annual meeting of the
Shareholders following the Transition Date, the Trustees elected to succeed
those whose terms expire shall be of one class and shall be elected for a term
which shall continue until the third succeeding annual meeting, and until a
successor shall be elected (unless otherwise required by law) or until the
Trustee sooner dies, resigns or is removed. Any Trustee elected to fill a
vacancy caused by death, resignation or removal shall be elected for a term
which shall coincide with the term of the class of the vacant trusteeship. Any
Trustee elected to fill an additional trusteeship resulting from an increase in
the number of Trustees shall be of the class whose term continues and shall be
elected to serve until the annual meeting of the Shareholders closest to three
years from the date of the increase, and until a successor shall be elected and
qualified (unless otherwise required by law) or until the Trustee sooner dies,
resigns or is removed. The number of Trustees shall not be increased or
decreased at a time when, or to the extent that, it would result in the Trustees
not being divided as nearly equally as possible into three classes each
consisting of approximately one-third of the number of Trustees. The total
number of Trustees need not be an exact multiple of three. A Trustee may succeed
himself or herself. Whenever the holders of any one or more classes or series of
shares of the Company other than common shares shall have the right, voting
separately by class or series, to elect
B-8
Trustees at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of
office, filling of vacancies and other features of such trusteeship shall be
governed by the terms of such class or series of shares, and such Trustees shall
not be divided into classes pursuant to this Article 9 unless expressly provided
by such terms. References in this Article 9 to an annual meeting of Shareholders
shall be deemed to include a special meeting held in place of an annual meeting.
This Article 9 may be amended only by vote of the holders of 80% of the shares
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of
Trustees; provided, however, that such 80% vote shall not be required for any
alteration, amendment or repeal that has been recommended by 80% of the Trustees
then in office.
10. RESIGNATION; VACANCIES; REMOVALS. A Trustee may resign by presenting
his or her resignation in writing at a meeting of the Trustees or delivering the
same at the principal office of the Company, addressed to the chairman,
president or clerk of the Company, and its acceptance by the Trustees shall not
be required unless so stated in the resignation. Any vacancy in the number of
Trustees not required to be filled by the Shareholders may be filled by the
Trustees by vote of a majority of the remaining Trustees although less than a
quorum. Any Trustees so chosen shall continue in office for the remainder of the
full term of the class of Trustees in which the new trusteeship was created or
the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor, if there be one, is chosen
and qualified. The remaining Trustees may act notwithstanding any vacancy in
their numbers. Except as otherwise provided in this declaration of trust, a
Trustee (including persons elected by the Trustees to fill any vacancies) may be
removed from office: (i) for cause by the vote of the holders of a majority of
the shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election
of Trustees; (ii) without cause by the vote of 80% of the shares issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of Trustees; or (iii)
for cause by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office. A Trustee may be
removed for cause only after reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard
before the body proposing to remove him or her. Except where a right to receive
compensation shall be expressly provided in a duly authorized written agreement
with the Company, no Trustee resigning or removed shall have any right to any
compensation as such Trustee for any period following his or her resignation or
removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal, whether his or her
compensation be by the month or by the year or otherwise, unless the body acting
on the removal, shall in their or its discretion provide for compensation.
11. VESTING IN NEW TRUSTEES. Upon the resignation or removal of a Trustee
hereunder and upon the election or appointment of a new Trustee hereunder, such
instruments shall be executed, acknowledged and delivered as the remaining
Trustees or the new Trustees shall deem necessary or convenient for confirming
or providing evidence of the vesting of the Trust estate in the Trustees for the
time being who are residents of Massachusetts. Notwithstanding the failure to
execute any conveyance, the Trust estate shall always (not restricting the same
to the above enumerated cases) vest in the Trustees for the time being hereunder
and the Trust estate shall always vest in such Trustees as are residents of
Massachusetts.
12. COMPENSATION. Each Trustee shall receive such reasonable compensation
as the Trustees may determine, and shall not be limited by any provision of law
with regard to the compensation of trustees of an express trust.
13. UNISSUED SHARES. In particular, and without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Trustees may, subject to any requirement of law, at any time
issue all or from time to time any part of the unissued shares of the Company
from time to time authorized and may determine, subject to any requirements of
law, the consideration for which such shares is to be issued and the manner of
allocating such consideration between capital and surplus. Unless the Trustees
otherwise specify, the excess of the consideration for any share with par value
issued by it over such par value shall be paid-in surplus. The Trustees may
allocate to capital stock less than all of the consideration for any share
without par value issued by it, in which case the balance of such consideration
shall be paid-in surplus. All surplus shall be available for any corporate
purpose, including the payment of dividends.
B-9
14. DETERMINATION OF CAPITAL AND INCOME. The Trustees shall have power to
determine what constitutes capital or income, what constitutes the income of the
Trust estate for any year or other period, in what manner any expenses or
disbursements are to be allocated between capital and income, and the amount of
the net earnings and of the earned surplus; and every such determination,
whether express or implied in the acts or proceedings of the Trustees, shall be
conclusive and binding upon all persons interested.
15. DIVIDENDS. The Trustees may from time to time in their discretion
declare dividends out of the net earnings of the Trust estate or out of the
earned surplus or capital surplus, payable out of the Trust estate, at any date
fixed by the Trustees, in cash or property, including without limitation bonds
or other obligations of and the shares in the Company, and for that purpose may
capitalize all or any part of the earned surplus; but no Shareholder shall have
any right to any dividends except when and as the same are declared by the
Trustees, and no Trustee or Shareholder, officer, agent or representative of the
Company shall be liable therefor, and any Shareholder entitled thereto shall
look only to the Trust estate for the payment of any such dividends. The Company
shall pay and distribute the said dividends so declared to the Shareholders
according to the number of shares held by them respectively.
16. FISCAL YEAR; ACCOUNTS. The Trustees may determine the fiscal year for
the Company, and the form in which the accounts of the Company shall be kept,
and may from time to time change the fiscal year or form of accounts.
17. ACTION BY BOARD; QUORUM. The action of the Trustees in respect of any
matter shall be by vote passed by the Trustees at a meeting or by a written vote
without a meeting (with or without notice to the other Trustees) signed by at
least a majority of the Trustees. At any meeting of the Trustees, six trustees
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except when the
number of Trustees then in office shall be less than twelve, in which case a
majority of the Trustees then in office shall constitute a quorum. Any meeting
may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes cast on the
question, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
Except as herein otherwise provided, when a quorum is present at any meeting a
majority of the Trustees in attendance thereat shall decide any questions before
such meeting. Nothing in this Article 17 shall be construed as limiting the
delegation of any power to a committee of the Trustees.
18. BY-LAWS. The Trustees may by vote of a majority of the Trustees then
in office, make and from time to time amend, add to or rescind by-laws for the
Company (the "By-laws"). The By-laws may, subject to the provisions of this
declaration of trust: (a) fix the fiscal year; (b) regulate the affairs of the
Trustees, including provisions for the nomination thereof; (c) provide for such
committees as the Trustees shall deem appropriate, including an executive
committee which shall be vested with all of the powers and authorities of the
Trustees in the intervals between meetings of the Trustees; (d) provide for the
appointment of a chairman of the Trustees, a president, one or more vice
presidents, a treasurer, a clerk and such other officers as the Trustees may
deem appropriate, and the manner of their appointment and removal, and their
respective powers and duties; (e) provide for the manner in which documents
shall be executed, including share certificates; (f) provide for the appointment
of transfer agents or officers and registrars, and (g) contain such further
provisions relating to the above matters or otherwise, incidental or in addition
to but not inconsistent with the provisions of this declaration of trust, as the
Trustees shall deem appropriate.
19. CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING VOTES. A certificate signed by the chairman,
the president, the treasurer, the clerk or any assistant or temporary clerk, or
one or more of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence, in favor of every
person, firm, association, trust and corporation acting in good faith in
reliance thereon, as to the contents of any vote of the Trustees, or any
committee thereof, or of the Shareholders, and as to all matters in such
certificate contained relating to the meeting, if any, at which any vote is
therein certified to have been passed, including the regularity of the said
meeting and the passage of any vote thereat, and as to all other matters and
things stated in such certificate, and no person, firm, association, trust or
B-10
corporation shall be obligated to make any inquiry as to any of the said
matters, or as to the election or appointment of any person acting as a Trustee
at such meeting, or as to the holding of any shares by any person, firm,
association, trust or corporation acting as a Shareholder at such meeting, or be
affected by actual or implied notice of any irregularity whatsoever therein.
INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
20. TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. To the extent legally permissible, each of the
Company's Trustees and officers, as defined in Article 24, shall be indemnified
by the Trust estate against any loss, liability or expense, including amounts
paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and
counsel fees, imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection
with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether
civil or criminal, in which such person may be involved or with which such
person may be threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of such
person's being or having been such a Trustee or officer, except with respect to
any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudicated in such action,
suit or proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that
his or her action was in the best interests of the Company; provided, however,
that as to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by such Trustee or
officer, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either
for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless such
compromise shall be approved as in the best interests of the Company, after
notice that it involves such indemnification, (i) by a disinterested majority of
the Trustees then in office, or (ii) by a majority of the Disinterested Trustees
then in office, provided that there has been obtained an opinion in writing of
independent legal counsel to the effect that such Trustee or officer appears to
have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in
the best interests of the Company, or (iii) by the vote, at a meeting duly
called and held, of the holders of a majority of the shares outstanding and
entitled to vote thereon, exclusive of any shares owned by any interested
Trustee or officer.
21. LIABILITY. No Trustee, officer or agent of the Company shall be liable
except for acts or failures to act which at the time would impose liability on
him or her if this trust were a Massachusetts business corporation and he or she
were a director, officer or agent thereof respectively. In determining what he
or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Company, a Trustee
may consider the interests of the Company s employees, suppliers, creditors and
customers, the economy of the state, region and nation, community and societal
considerations, and the long-term and short-term interests of the Company, its
subsidiaries and its Shareholders, including the possibility that these
interests may best be served by the continued independence of the Company.
Notwithstanding any provision of law or this Article 21 or any other provision
in this declaration of trust contained, a Trustee shall not be liable to the
Company or any Shareholder for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as
a Trustee except with respect to any matter as to which such liability is
imposed by applicable law and he or she shall have been adjudicated (i) to have
breached his or her duty of loyalty to the Company or its Shareholders, (ii) to
have acted not in good faith, or omitted to act in good faith, (iii) to have
knowingly violated the law or intentionally engaged in misconduct, or (iv) to
have derived any improper personal benefit from a transaction. No amendment to
or repeal of this Article shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or
alleged liability of any Trustee for or with respect to any acts or omissions of
such Trustee occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
22. BOOKS AND REPORTS. In discharging his or her duties a Trustee or
officer of the Company, when acting in good faith, shall be fully protected in
relying upon the books of account of the Company or of another organization in
which he or she serves as contemplated by Article 24, reports made to the
Company or to such other organization by any of its officers or employees or by
counsel, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected with
reasonable care by the Trustees or similar governing body of such other
organization, or upon other records of the Company or of such other
organization.
23. ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. Expenses, including counsel fees, reasonably
incurred by any Trustee or officer with respect to the defense or disposition of
any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Article 20
B-11
may be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such action,
suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the
recipient to repay such amount unless it is ultimately determined that he or she
is entitled to indemnification.
24. RIGHTS NOT EXCLUSIVE; DEFINITIONS. The rights of indemnification
provided in Article 20 shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to
which any Trustee or officer may be entitled and such rights shall inure to the
benefit of his or her successors, heirs, executors, administrators and other
legal representatives. Such other rights shall include all powers, immunities
and rights of reimbursement which would be allowed under the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts were the Company a business corporation organized
under such laws. As used in Articles 20, 21, 22 and 23 and this Article 24, the
terms "Trustee" and "officer" include persons who serve at the request of the
Company as directors, officers, or trustees of another organization in which the
Company has any direct or indirect interest as a shareholder, creditor or
otherwise. An "interested" Trustee or officer is one against whom in such
capacity the proceeding in question or another proceeding on the same or similar
grounds is then pending. Nothing contained in Articles 20, 21, 22 and 23 and
this Article 24 shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Company
personnel other than Trustees and officers may be entitled by contract or
otherwise under law. No Trustee shall be obligated to give any bond or other
security for the performance of any of his or her duties.
25. SHAREHOLDERS. In case any Shareholder shall at any time for any reason
be held to or be under any personal liability solely by reason of his or her
being or having been a Shareholder and not by reason of his or her acts or
omissions as a Shareholder, then such Shareholder (or his or her heirs,
executors, administrators, or other legal representatives) shall be entitled out
of the Trust estate to be held harmless from, and indemnified against, all loss,
liability or expense by reason of such liability.
INTERESTED TRUSTEES, SHAREHOLDERS, AND OFFICERS;
RATIFICATION BY SHAREHOLDERS
26. SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES, OFFICERS AND AGENTS. No agreement, dealing,
relationship or arrangement of any kind with the Company, or with any company
which may be controlled by the Company or in which the Company may have any
interest, in which any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or other
representative of the Company shall have a personal interest shall be void or
voidable or otherwise affected by such interest nor shall such Shareholder,
Trustee, officer, agent or other representative so interested be liable to
account in respect thereof, except such effect or liability, if any, as would
have resulted under the same circumstances had the Company been a business
corporation organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. No
Trustee, officer, agent or other representative of the Company shall be
precluded, by his or her office, from acquiring shares or stock in or bonds or
other obligations of or from holding any office or place of profit in the
Company or any company in which the Company shall be interested as stockholder
or otherwise. No Shareholder, by reason of his or her holding such shares,
however great in amount, shall be precluded from holding any office or place of
profit hereunder or under any company in which the Company or the Trustees shall
be interested as stockholder or otherwise.
27. AUTHORIZATION OR RATIFICATION BY SHAREHOLDERS. Regardless of whether
the foregoing provisions have or have not been complied with, any agreement,
dealing, relationship or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company
or by the Trustees, officers, agents or other representatives of the Company, or
by or on behalf of any company in which the Company or the Trustees shall be
interested as stockholder, or otherwise, shall not be voided by reason of the
interest therein of any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or other
representative nor shall any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or other
representative being so interested be liable to account to the Company or to the
Trustees, officers or Shareholders, or otherwise, for any profit or benefit
realized through any such agreement, dealing, relationship or arrangement by
reason of such Shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or other representative
holding that position or of the fiduciary relation thereby established, if such
agreement, dealing, relationship or arrangement shall
B-12
have been authorized or ratified by the Shareholders or by the stockholders of
any such company, as the case may be, after notice of the fact of the interest
therein (including a general statement of the nature and extent of such
interest) of such Shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or other representative,
except that if such agreement, dealing, relationship or arrangement was with a
Shareholder or Shareholders the authorization or ratification shall be by a
majority vote of disinterested Shareholders at a meeting.
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
28. NUMBER; NONASSESSABLE. The entire beneficial interest in the Trust
estate and in all business conducted by the Company and all profits earned by it
shall be, and during the continuance of this trust shall remain, in the owners
from time to time of transferable shares of beneficial interest. The shares of
beneficial interest shall consist of (i) 100,000,000 common shares all of the
same class and each with a par value of one dollar ($1.00), and (ii) 10,000,000
preferred shares, each with a par value of one dollar ($1.00) and may be issued
from time to time by the Trustees without the necessity of obtaining the consent
of the Shareholders. Subject to the limitations prescribed by law and the
provisions of this declaration of trust, the Trustees are authorized to issue
the preferred shares from time to time in one or more series, each of such
series to have such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers,
participating, optional or other special rights, and such qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be determined by the Trustees in a
resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such preferred shares.
Subject to the powers, preferences and rights of any preferred shares, including
any series thereof, having any preference or priority over, or rights superior
to, the common shares and except as otherwise provided by law, the holders of
the common shares shall have and possess all powers and voting and other rights
pertaining to the shares of this Company and each common share shall be entitled
to one vote. All shares issued and to be issued shall be fully paid and
nonassessable except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the
certificates representing such shares. In any issue of common shares, fractional
shares may be issued if authorized by the Trustees; and in lieu thereof the
Trustees may issue transferable or nontransferable instruments representing or
relating to fractional interests (on such terms and in such form as the Trustees
shall determine) and may appoint an exchange agent or exchange agents to assist
Shareholders in buying or selling such fractional interests.
29. SHARES PERSONAL PROPERTY; TRUST ONLY. Shares shall be personal
property entitling the holders only to the rights and interest in the Trust
estate set forth in these presents, and it is expressly declared and agreed by
and between the Shareholders, Trustees and officers of the Company that a trust
and not a partnership is deemed to be created by this instrument and that
irrespective of whether any different status may be held to exist as far as
others are concerned, nevertheless as between the said Shareholders, Trustees
and officers the Shareholders shall be deemed to hold only the relationship of
CESTUIS QUE TRUSTENT to the Trustees, with only such rights as are conferred
upon them as such CESTUIS QUE TRUSTENT hereunder.
30. RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS; LIMITATION ON RIGHTS OF ACTION. No Shareholder
shall have or acquire at any time any interest in any specific property, real or
personal, at any time forming part of the Trust estate, or any right to any
division or partition thereof or any other rights with reference thereto, except
to have said property dealt with as herein provided, to receive dividends
therefrom, as herein provided, and to share in the distribution of the cash
proceeds thereof, or distributions in kind, or both, upon the termination of the
trust, as herein provided. No action may be brought by a Shareholder on behalf
of the Company unless a prior demand regarding such matter has been made on the
Trustees and the Shareholders of the Company.
31. ADDITIONAL SHARES. Additional common shares may be authorized from
time to time by a majority vote of the Shareholders at a meeting. Such
additional common shares shall rank equally and be in all respects identical
with the common shares originally authorized and may be issued from time to time
by the Trustees without the necessity of obtaining the consent of the
Shareholders.
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32. PREFERRED SHARES. Additional preferred shares may be authorized from
time to time by vote, at a meeting duly called and held, of the holders of
two-thirds of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, and such
additional shares may be issued in one or more classes and in one or more series
within a class and shall have such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting
powers, participating, optional or other special rights, and such
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be determined in
the vote authorizing them or by the Trustees pursuant to authority granted to it
by such vote or as provided in Article 29.
33. ALL OTHER CHANGES IN SHARES. Any authorized shares, whether issued or
unissued, may, by vote, at a meeting duly called and held, of the holders of a
majority of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, be changed by
increasing or decreasing their par value, be reduced in number, be changed into
the same or a different number of shares of any class or classes with or without
par value, or be classified or reclassified. In connection with any of the
foregoing, the Trustees may increase, decrease or adjust the capital accounts of
the Company.
34. CONSIDERATION FOR ISSUE. Unless otherwise prescribed by vote of the
Shareholders, all shares may be issued for money, services or property
(including other shares of the Company at the time outstanding), or as a
distribution to Shareholders, and upon such terms as to valuation of shares,
services or property and otherwise, as the Trustees may in its absolute
discretion determine.
35. NO PREEMPTIVE OR PREFERENTIAL RIGHTS OF SUBSCRIPTION. No holder of
shares of any class and no holder of other securities of the Company,
convertible or otherwise, shall have any preemptive or preferential right of
subscription to, or purchase of, any securities of the Company.
36. TREASURY SHARES. Shares in the Company acquired by the Company may be
canceled and the number of shares issued may thereby be reduced, or such shares
may be held in the treasury and be disposed of by the Company, when authorized
by the Trustees, as the trustees may from time to time determine; but such
shares while so held in the treasury shall not be entitled to any voting rights
or to any dividends and shall not be deemed outstanding in computing proportions
or percentages of shares hereunder or for any other purpose hereof. Shares
canceled pursuant to this Article 36 shall have the status of authorized but
unissued shares.
37. TRANSFER BOOKS. A register or registers shall be kept under the
direction of the Trustees, which shall contain the names and addresses of the
Shareholders and the number and kind of shares held by them respectively and a
record of all transfers thereof. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive
payment of any dividend declared, nor to have any notice given to him or her as
herein provided, until he or she has given his or her address to the transfer
agent, or such other officer or agent of the Company as shall keep the said
register, for entry thereon.
38. TRANSFER AGENT. The Company, when authorized by the Trustees, may
employ in the City of Boston or in any other cities the Trustees may designate a
transfer agent or transfer agents and a registrar or registrars. The transfer
agent or transfer agents shall keep the said registers and record therein the
transfers of any of the said shares and countersign certificates of shares
issued to the persons entitled to the same. The transfer agents and registrars
shall perform the duties usually performed by transfer agents and registrars of
certificates of stock in a corporation, except as modified by the Trustees.
39. SHARE CERTIFICATES. No certificates certifying the ownership of shares
need be issued unless the Trustees otherwise determine from time to time. The
Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of
share certificates, the form thereof, and similar matters.
40. LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED SHARE CERTIFICATES. In the event the
Trustees authorize the issuance of share certificates, a new certificate may be
issued to replace any certificate previously issued, on satisfactory evidence
that the said certificate previously issued has been worn out, mutilated, lost
or destroyed and on such terms, if any, as to indemnity and otherwise, as the
Trustees shall deem proper.
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41. TRANSFER OF SHARES. Every transfer of any certificated shares
(otherwise than by operation of law) shall be signed by the transferor or by his
or her agent thereunto duly authorized in writing, and upon delivery thereof to
the Company or a transfer agent of the Company, accompanied by the existing
certificate for such shares and such evidence of the genuineness of such
transfer, authorization and other matters as may reasonably be required, shall
be recorded in the register, and a new certificate therefor shall be issued to
the transferee, and in case of a transfer of only a part of the shares
represented by any certificate a new certificate for the residue thereof shall
be issued to the transferor. A Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the
holder of the share or shares represented thereby for all purposes hereof, and
neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer or
agent of the Company shall be affected by any notice of a transfer until due
presentment of the certificate for such share or shares for registration of
transfer. The Trustees may determine from time to time procedures for the
transfer of uncertificated shares.
42. TRANSFERS BY OPERATION OF LAW. Any person becoming entitled to any
shares in consequence of the death, bankruptcy or insolvency of any Shareholder,
or otherwise by operation of law, shall be recorded in the register as the
holder of the said shares, and receive a new certificate for the same, upon
production of the proper evidence thereof and delivery of the existing
certificate to the Company or a transfer agent of the Company. Until such
production of evidence and delivery of the existing certificate, the Shareholder
of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such shares for all purposes
hereof, and neither the Trustees nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any
officer or agent of the Company shall be affected by any notice of such death,
bankruptcy, insolvency or other event. The Trustees may determine from time to
time procedures for the transfer by operation of law of uncertificated shares.
43. JOINT OWNERS. Any two or more persons in whose names any share is
registered shall be treated as joint owners of the entire interest therein, and
no entry shall be made in the register or in any certificate that any person is
entitled to any future, limited or contingent interest in any share. However,
any person registered as a holder of any share may, subject to the provisions
hereinafter contained, be described in the register or in any certificate as a
trustee or fiduciary of any kind, and appropriate words may be added to the
description to identify such trust.
44. NO DUTY TO EXAMINE INTO TRUSTS, PLEDGES, ETC., TO WHICH SHARES ARE
SUBJECT. The Company shall not, nor shall the Trustees or the Shareholders or
any officer of the Company or any transfer agent or other agents of the Company,
or the Trustees, be bound to take notice or be affected by notice of any trust,
whether express, implied or constructive, or of any charge, pledge or equity to
which any of the said shares or the interest of any of the Shareholders in this
trust may be subject, or to ascertain or inquire whether any sale or transfer of
any such shares or interest by any such Shareholder or his or her personal
representatives is authorized by such trust, charge, pledge or equity, or to
recognize any person as having any interest therein, except the persons
registered as such Shareholders. The receipt of the person in whose name any
share is registered, or, if such share is registered in the names of more than
one person, the receipt of any one of such persons, or the receipt of the duly
authorized agent of any such person, shall be a sufficient discharge for all
dividends and other money and for all shares, bonds, obligations and other
property payable, issuable or deliverable in respect of such share and from all
liability to see to the application thereof.
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
45. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the Shareholders shall be held on
the last Tuesday of April in every year, or on such other date as the Trustees
or the chairman or the president may from time to time fix, at the principal
office of the Company or at such other place in Massachusetts as may be
designated by the Trustees, the chairman or the president, for the purpose of
electing Trustees and for such other purposes as may be prescribed by law and
hereby or as may be specified in the notice by the Trustees or by the chairman
or by the president of the Company. If such annual meeting is omitted on the day
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herein provided for, a special meeting may be held in lieu thereof, and any
business transacted or election held at such special meeting shall have the same
effect as if transacted or held at such annual meeting.
46. SPECIAL MEETINGS. The Trustees, chairman or president of the Company
may, whenever any of them think fit, call or direct any officer of the Company
to call a special meeting of the Shareholders to be held at the principal office
of the Company or, in their discretion, at any other place in Massachusetts, and
such special meeting shall be so called by the clerk, or in the case of the
death, incapacity or refusal of the clerk, by another officer, upon written
application of one or more Shareholders who hold at least forty percent in
interest of the shares entitled to vote at such special meeting.
47. PRESIDING OFFICER. The chairman or, if there is no chairman or the
chairman is absent, the president shall preside at every meeting of the
Shareholders, but if neither the chairman nor the president is present at the
commencement of the meeting or, being present, shall not be willing to preside,
the Shareholders present in person or by proxy shall choose the chairman of such
meeting.
48. BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED. At any annual or special meeting of
Shareholders, no business shall be transacted other than such as is referred to
in the notice of the meeting.
49. NOTICES. A written or printed notice of each meeting of the
Shareholders, whether annual or special, specifying the time, place and purposes
thereof, shall be given as hereinafter provided by the clerk or any assistant
clerk or by an officer designated by the Trustees to each of the Shareholders
entitled to vote thereat at least seven (7) days (including Sundays and
holidays) before such meeting. Every notice to any Shareholder required or
provided for herein may be given to him or her personally or by mailing it to
him or her, postage prepaid, at his or her address specified in the records of
the Company. Notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when it is so
mailed. In respect of any share held jointly by several persons, notice so given
to any one of them shall be sufficient notice to all of them. Any notice so sent
to the address of any Shareholder shall be deemed to have been duly sent in
respect of any such share whether held by him or her solely or jointly with
others, notwithstanding he or she be then deceased or be bankrupt or insolvent
or legally incompetent, and whether the Trustees or any person sending such
notice have knowledge or not of his or her death, bankruptcy or insolvency or
legal incompetence, until some other person or persons shall be registered as
holders. The certificate of the person or persons giving such notice shall be
sufficient evidence thereof, and shall protect all persons acting in good faith
in reliance on such certificate. Whenever notice of meeting is required to be
given to a Shareholder under any provision of Massachusetts law applicable to
the Company or of this declaration of trust, a written waiver thereof, executed
before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or Shareholder's attorney
thereunto authorized and filed with the records of the meeting, shall be deemed
equivalent to such notice.
50. VOTING; QUORUM. At all meetings every Shareholder shall, subject to
the provisions of Article 53, have one vote for each share held by him or her
and may vote at any meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof in person
or by proxy in writing dated not more than six months before the meeting named
therein, which proxies shall be filed with the clerk or other person responsible
to record the proceedings of the meeting before being voted; and, except as
otherwise provided herein, the holders of a majority of all the shares issued
and outstanding and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. The placing of a shareholder's name on a proxy pursuant
to telephonic or electronically transmitted instructions obtained pursuant to
procedures reasonably designed to verify that such instructions have been
authorized by such shareholders shall constitute execution of such proxy by or
on behalf of such shareholder. Shares owned directly or indirectly by the
Company, if any, shall not be deemed outstanding for this purpose, and the
Company shall not, directly or indirectly, vote any share of its own shares.
When any share is held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at
any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such share, but if more than one
of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint
owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote
shall not be received in respect of such share. If the holder of any share is a
minor or a person of unsound mind, or subject to guardianship or to the legal
control of any other person as regards
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the charge or management of such share, he or she may vote by his or her
guardian or such other person appointed or having such control, and such vote
may be given in person or by proxy. No ballot shall be required for any election
unless requested by a Shareholder present or represented at the meeting and
entitled to vote in the election.
51. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING. Any meeting (or portion thereof) may be
adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the
question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting (or portion
thereof) may be held as adjourned without further notice.
52. REQUISITE VOTE TO ACT. Except as otherwise herein provided, when a
quorum is present at any meeting, a plurality of votes properly cast for
election to any office shall elect to such office, and a majority of the shares
represented at the meeting and entitled to vote upon any question properly
brought before the meeting shall decide such question. Provisions hereunder for
a majority vote of Shareholders at a meeting mean a vote of the holders of a
majority of those shares entitled to vote thereon which are represented in
person or by proxy at such meeting.
53. RECORD DATE FOR VOTING, DIVIDENDS AND OFFERINGS. For the purpose of
determining the Shareholders who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or
any adjournment thereof, or who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend
or of any other distribution or offering, the trustees may from time to time fix
in advance a time, which shall be not more than sixty (60) days before the date
of any meeting of Shareholders or the date for the payment of any dividend or of
any other distribution or the date of the offering, as the record date for
determining the Shareholders having the right to notice of and to vote at such
meeting and any adjournment thereof or the right to receive such dividend or
distribution or such offering, and in such case only Shareholders of record on
such record date shall have such right, notwithstanding any transfer of shares
on the books of the Company after the record date; or without fixing such record
date the Trustees may for any of such purposes close the register or transfer
books for all or any part of such period. If no record date is fixed and the
transfer books are not closed, (i) the record date for determining Shareholders
having the right to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall be
at the close of business on the date next preceding the day on which notice is
given, and (ii) the record date for determining Shareholders for any other
purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Trustees acts
with respect thereto.
DURATION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST; COMBINATION; AMENDMENTS
54. DURATION OF TRUST. Unless terminated as provided in Article 8(o) or
Article 56, this trust shall continue without limitation of time.
55. DEATH OF SHAREHOLDER OR TRUSTEE NOT TO TERMINATE TRUST. The death of a
Trustee hereunder or of a Shareholder or the dissolution of a Shareholder
hereunder during the continuance of this trust shall not operate to terminate
this trust, nor shall it entitle the legal representatives of any such Trustee
or Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in the courts or
otherwise.
56. TERMINATION; COMBINATION; AFFILIATION. Except as provided in Article
57 below, the Trustees may terminate this trust at any time, or may cause the
Company to be merged, combined, consolidated or otherwise affiliated with
another trust, association, company, corporation or other entity, if such
termination, merger, combination, consolidation, or affiliation has been
authorized by vote, at a meeting duly called and held, of the holders of
two-thirds of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon or has been
authorized pursuant to Article 8(o). Such termination, merger, combination,
consolidation or affiliation shall become effective only upon presentation to
the Trustees, as required by Article 59, of the counterpart of the certificate
referred to in said Article 59, or at such later time as may be specified in the
vote effecting such action. In respect of any such merger, combination,
consolidation or affiliation (other than as provided in Article 8(o)), the
agreement in respect thereof shall confer on the holders of all shares of the
Company who dissent from such transaction within the time and in the manner
provided in the Massachusetts statute applicable to business corporations,
substantially those rights they would have if the
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Company were at the time a Massachusetts business corporation. Such rights shall
be the Shareholders' exclusive remedy in respect of such holders' dissent from
any such actions.
57. CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.
A. HIGHER VOTE FOR CERTAIN BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS. In addition to
any affirmative vote required by law or otherwise in this declaration of
trust, and except as otherwise expressly provided in Section C of this
Article 57:
(1) any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Subsidiary (as
hereinafter defined) with (a) any Interested Shareholder (as hereinafter
defined) or (b) any other company (whether or not itself an Interested
Shareholder) which is or after such merger or consolidation would be an
Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) or Associate (as hereinafter defined) of
an Interested Shareholder; or
(2) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any
Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested
Shareholder involving any assets or securities of the Company, any
Subsidiary or any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of
any Interested Shareholder having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as
hereinafter defined) in excess of 5% of the total consolidated book value of
the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the
Company's most recent fiscal year prior to the time the determination is
made; or
(3) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the termination,
liquidation or dissolution of the Company proposed by or on behalf of an
Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested
Shareholder; or
(4) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
split) or recapitalization of the Company or any merger or consolidation of
the Company with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether
or not with or otherwise involving an Interested Shareholder) that has the
effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of any
class or series of Capital Stock (as hereinafter defined), or any securities
convertible into Capital Stock or into equity securities of any Subsidiary,
that is beneficially owned by any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate or
Associate of any Interested Shareholder; or
(5) any tender offer or exchange offer made by the Company for shares of
Capital Stock which may have the effect of increasing an Interested
Shareholder's percentage beneficial ownership (as hereinafter defined) so
that following the completion of the tender offer or exchange offer the
Interested Shareholder's percentage beneficial ownership of the outstanding
Capital Stock may exceed 110% of the Interested Shareholder's percentage
beneficial ownership immediately prior to the commencement of such tender
offer or exchange offer; or
(6) any agreement, contract or other arrangement providing for any one
or more of the actions specified in the foregoing clauses (1) to (5);
shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of Voting Shares
(as hereinafter defined) representing shares equal to the sum of (i) a
majority of the then outstanding Voting Shares, excluding Voting Shares
of which such Interested Shareholder is the beneficial owner, plus (ii)
the number of Voting Shares of which such Interested Shareholder is the
beneficial owner, voting together as a single class. Such affirmative
vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be
required, or that a lesser percentage may be specified, by law or any
agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise.
B. DEFINITION OF "BUSINESS TRANSACTION". For the purposes of this
Article 57 the term "Business Transaction" shall mean any transaction
that is referred to in any one or more of clauses (1) through (6) of
Section A of this Article 57.
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C. WHEN HIGHER VOTE IS NOT REQUIRED. The provisions of Section A of
this Article 57 shall not be applicable to any direct or indirect
purchase or other acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of any
shares of Capital Stock from an Interested Shareholder. The provisions of
Section A of this Article 57 shall also not be applicable to any
particular Business Transaction involving an Interested Shareholder, and
such Business Transaction shall require only such affirmative vote, if
any, as is required by law or by any other provision of this declaration
of trust if the Business Transaction shall have been approved by a
majority of the Disinterested Trustees (whether such approval is made
prior to or subsequent to the acquisition of beneficial ownership of the
Voting Shares that caused the Interested Shareholder to become an
Interested Shareholder).
D. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Article 57:
(1) The term "Capital Stock" shall mean all the shares of beneficial
interest of the Company authorized to be issued from time to time under
Article 28 of this declaration of trust.
(2) The term "person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or
other entity and shall include any group comprised of any person and any
other person with whom such person or any Affiliate or Associate of such
person has any agreement, arrangement or understanding, directly or
indirectly, for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of
Capital Stock.
(3) The term "Interested Shareholder" shall mean any person (other than
the Company or any Subsidiary and other than any profit-sharing, employee
stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Company or any
Subsidiary or any trustee of or fiduciary with respect to any such plan when
acting in such capacity) who or which (a) is the beneficial owner of Voting
Shares representing 5% or more of the votes entitled to be cast by the
holders of all then outstanding Voting Shares; or (b) is an Affiliate of the
Company and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the
date in question was the beneficial owner of Voting Shares representing 5%
or more of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all the
outstanding Voting Shares.
(4) A person shall be a "beneficial owner" of any Capital Stock (a)
which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly; (b) which such person or any of its Affiliates or
Associates has, directly or indirectly, (i) the right to acquire (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or subject only to the passage of
time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise, (ii) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, or (iii) which is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
by any other person with which such person or any of its Affiliates or
Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose
of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of Capital Stock.
For the purposes of determining whether a person is an Interested
Shareholder pursuant to paragraph 3 above, the number of shares of Capital
Stock deemed to be outstanding shall include shares deemed beneficially
owned by such person through application of this paragraph 4, but shall not
include any other shares of Capital Stock that may be issuable pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion
rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
(5) An "Affiliate" of a specified person is a person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled
by, or is under common control with, the person specified.
(6) The term "Associate" used to indicate a relationship with any person
means (a) any company (other than the Company or any Subsidiary) of which
such person is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the
beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of equity securities, (b) any
trust or other estate in which such person has a substantial beneficial
interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar
fiduciary capacity, and (c) any relative or spouse of such person, or any
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relative of such spouse, who has the same home as such person or who is a
Trustee or officer of the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries.
(7) The term "Subsidiary" means any company of which a majority of any
class of equity security is beneficially owned by the Company, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that for the purposes of the definition of Interested Shareholder
set forth in paragraph 3 above and the definition of Associate set forth in
paragraph 6 above, the term "Subsidiary" shall mean only a company of which
a majority of each class of equity security is beneficially owned by the
Company.
(8) The term "Disinterested Trustee" means any Trustee who is not an
Affiliate or Associate or representative of the Interested Shareholder and
was a Trustee prior to the time that the Interested Shareholder became an
Interested Shareholder, and any Trustee who is a successor of a
Disinterested Trustee, is not an Affiliate or Associate or representative of
the Interested Shareholder and is recommended or elected to succeed the
Disinterested Trustee by a majority of the Disinterested Trustees.
(9) The term "Fair Market Value" means (a) in the case of cash, the
amount of such cash, (b) in the case of stock, the highest closing sale
price during the 30-day period immediately preceding the date in question of
a share of such stock on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange
Listed Stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite Tape, on the
New York Stock Exchange, or, if such stock is not listed on such Exchange,
on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on which such stock is listed, or, if such
stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest closing bid quotation
with respect to a share of such stock during the 30-day period immediately
preceding the date in question on the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any similar system then in use,
or if no such quotation is available, the fair market value on the date in
question of a share of such stock as determined by a majority of the
Disinterested Trustees in good faith; and (c) in the case of property other
than cash or stock, the fair market value of such property on the date in
question as determined in good faith by a majority of the Disinterested
Trustees.
(10) The term "Voting Shares" means all Capital Stock which by its terms
may be voted generally in the election of Trustees of the Company.
E. POWERS OF THE DISINTERESTED TRUSTEES. A majority of the
Disinterested Trustees shall have the power and duty to determine for
purposes of this Article 57, on the basis of information known to them
after reasonable inquiry, (1) whether a person is an Interested
Shareholder, (2) the number of shares of Capital Stock or other
securities beneficially owned by any person, (3) whether a person is an
Affiliate or Associate of another, and (4) whether the assets that are
the subject of any Business Transaction have, or the consideration to be
received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the Company or any
Subsidiary in any Business Transaction has, an aggregate Fair Market
Value in excess of the amount set forth in clause (2) of Section A of
this Article 57. Any such determination made in good faith shall be
binding and conclusive for all the purposes of this Article 57.
F. NO EFFECT ON FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS OF INTERESTED
SHAREHOLDERS. Nothing contained in this Article 57 shall be construed to
relieve any Interested Shareholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed
by law.
G. ALTERATION, AMENDMENT, REPEAL. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this declaration of trust (and notwithstanding the fact
that a lesser percentage or separate class vote may be specified by law
or this declaration of trust), the affirmative vote of the holders of 80%
of the then outstanding Voting Shares shall be required to alter, amend
or repeal this Article 57; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this Section G shall
not apply to, and such 80% vote shall not be
B-20
required for, any alteration, amendment or repeal recommended by a
majority of the Disinterested Trustees.
58. AMENDMENTS. The declaration of trust may be altered, amended, added to
or rescinded by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the Trustees,
if the same has been authorized by majority vote of the Shareholders at a
meeting, and such other vote, if any, as may be required by the rights or
preferences relating to any class or series of shares; provided that if such
alteration, amendment, addition or rescission shall in the judgment of the
Trustees be of a fundamental character it shall require authorization by vote,
at such a meeting, of the holders of a majority of the shares outstanding and
entitled to vote thereon; and provided further that any alteration, amendment,
addition or rescission of any provision requiring a vote of the holders of a
specified percentage of the shares shall be only by vote of the holders of such
percentage; and provided further that the provisions of Articles 3 and 4
exempting from personal liability the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, agents
and other representatives of the Company may be amended only by unanimous vote
of the holders of all shares entitled to vote at the time such vote is taken and
such amendment shall take effect only prospectively. Such alteration, amendment,
addition or rescission shall become effective at such time as may be specified
in the vote effecting such action. Notwithstanding anything preceding in this
Article to the contrary but subject to the provisions of Article 57, the vote of
the holders of 80% of the shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote
generally in the election of Trustees shall be required for any alteration,
amendment or repeal of Articles 9 and 10; provided, however, that such 80% vote
shall not be required for any alteration, amendment or repeal adopted or
recommended by 80% of the Trustees then in office. Amendments for the purpose of
changing the name of the Company or of supplying any omission, curing any
ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent
provision contained in this declaration of trust shall not require authorization
by vote of the Shareholders.
59. CERTIFICATE OF TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT. In case this trust shall be
terminated or any merger, combination, consolidation or affiliation shall be
effected, or any of the terms, powers and provisions herein contained shall be
altered, amended, added to or rescinded, pursuant to the provisions of Article
8(o), Article 56 or Article 58 or other authority, a certificate in any number
of counterparts deemed desirable, setting forth such termination, alteration,
amendment, addition or rescission or the terms of such merger, combination,
consolidation or affiliation and either that the Shareholders have authorized
the same in accordance with the provisions of said Article 8(o), Article 56 or
Article 58, or the other authority pursuant to which the same has been made,
shall be signed by the chairman or president and by the clerk or any assistant
clerk and shall be acknowledged by either the chairman or president signing the
same and shall be recorded or filed in the various public offices, if any, in
which this declaration of trust is then recorded or filed and at the principal
office of the Company and in such places as may be required by law, but failure
to record or file any such vote or resolution shall not affect the validity
thereof.
60. DISPOSITION OF TRUST ESTATE ON TERMINATION. Upon the termination of
this trust the Trustees shall, upon such terms as shall be determined by the
Trustees, sell and convert into money or into shares, bonds or other securities
or obligations, whether of the purchaser or otherwise, the whole or any part of
the Trust estate and shall apportion the proceeds thereof and any property
forming part of the Trust estate excepted from such sale among all the
Shareholders in accordance with their respective rights ratably according to the
number and kind of shares held by them respectively. In making any sale under
this provision the Trustees shall have power to sell by public auction or
private contract and to buy in or rescind or vary any contract of sale and to
resell, without being answerable for loss, and for the said purposes to execute
or cause to be executed all proper deeds and instruments and to do all proper
things. The Trustees may, after the distribution of the full amounts of money,
if any, due upon liquidation or termination on any preferred shares of any class
or series which may be outstanding, divide the whole or any part of the
remaining Trust estate in its actual state of investment among the Shareholders
in accordance with their respective rights ratably according to the number and
kind of shares held by them respectively, and for such purposes the Trustees
shall have power to determine the values of the property comprising said
remaining Trust estate.
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MISCELLANEOUS
61. FILING. This instrument and any amendment hereto shall be filed with
the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in such other places as
may be required under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and may also
be filed or recorded in such other places as the Trustees deem appropriate.
Unless any such amendment sets forth some later time for the effectiveness of
such amendment, such amendment shall be effective upon its filing with the
Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A restated declaration of trust,
integrating into a single instrument all of the provisions of this instrument
which are then in effect and operative, may be executed from time to time by the
Trustees and shall, upon filing with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein and
may hereafter be referred to in lieu of this instrument and the various
amendments thereto.
62. PROTECTION OF COMPANY, STOCK OF WHICH HELD BY TRUST. No corporation,
trust, association or body politic shall be affected by notice that any of its
shares or bonds or other securities or obligations are subject to this trust or
be bound to see to the execution of this trust or to ascertain or inquire
whether any transfer of any such shares, bonds or securities or obligations by
the Company is authorized, notwithstanding such authority may be disputed by
some other person, firm, association, trust or corporation.
63. AUTHORITY OF THE TRUSTEES TO CONSTRUE TERMS HEREOF. The Trustees shall
have the authority to construe any of the terms, powers and provisions herein
contained and to act on any such construction, and its construction of the same
and any action taken pursuant thereto by the Trustees, or any committee, officer
or agent in good faith shall be final and conclusive.
64. EFFECT OF CAPTIONS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. The captions and Table of
Contents are inserted for convenience of reference, and are not to be taken as
any part of this instrument or to control or affect the meaning, construction or
effect of the same.
65. COUNTERPARTS. This instrument may be simultaneously executed in
several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such
counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which
shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart.
66. GOVERNING LAW. This instrument is executed by the original Trustees
and delivered in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and with reference to the
statutes and law thereof, and the rights of all parties and the construction and
effect of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to
the statutes and law of said Commonwealth.
67. PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT WITH LAW OR REGULATIONS. The provisions of this
instrument are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice
of counsel, that any of such provisions would be inconsistent with any of the
conditions necessary for qualification of the Company as an exempted holding
company within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder or is inconsistent with other
applicable laws and regulations, such provision shall be deemed never to have
constituted a part of this instrument, provided that such determination shall
not affect any of the remaining provisions of this instrument or render invalid
or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. If any
provision of this instrument shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such
provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision
in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this instrument in any
jurisdiction.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF we have hereunto set our hands and seals at Boston in The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the date first above mentioned.
[SEAL] /s/ THOMAS J. MAY
--------------------------------------------
THOMAS J. MAY
[SEAL] /s/ JAMES J. JUDGE
--------------------------------------------
JAMES J. JUDGE
[SEAL] /s/ THEODORA S. CONVISSER
--------------------------------------------
THEODORA S. CONVISSER
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, SS.
March 25, 1997
Then personally appeared before me the above-named Thomas J. May, James J.
Judge and Theodora S. Convisser, and severally acknowledged the foregoing
instrument to be their free act and deed.
WITNESS MY HAND and official seal at Boston, Massachusetts.
[NOTARIAL SEAL] /s/ WAYNE R. FRIGARD
My commission expires 7/24/98
Notary Public in and for The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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APPENDIX C
1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
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BOSTON EDISON COMPANY
1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is to advance the
interests of Boston Edison Company (the "Company") and its subsidiaries by
enhancing their ability (a) to attract and retain employees who are in a
position to make contributions to the success of the Company and its
subsidiaries; (b) to reward employees for such contributions; and (c) to
encourage employees to take into account the long-term interests of the Company
and its subsidiaries through ownership of shares of, and other interests in, the
Company's common stock ("Common Stock").
The Plan is intended to accomplish these goals by enabling the Company to
grant awards ("Awards") to eligible employees. Awards may be in the form of
Stock Options (as described in Section 6), Stock Appreciation Rights (as
described in Section 7), Restricted Stock Awards (as described in Section 8),
Deferred Stock Awards (as described in Section 9), Performance Unit Awards (as
described in Section 10), Dividend Equivalent Awards (as described in Section
11), and Other Stock-Based Awards (as described in Section 12).
2. ADMINISTRATION
The Plan will be administered by the Executive Personnel Committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company, excluding any member who would not be (i) an
"outside director" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the regulations thereunder, or (ii) a
non-employee director as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (the "Committee"). The
Committee will have full discretionary authority, not inconsistent with the
express provisions of the Plan, to administer the Plan in all respects,
including without limitation, authority (a) to grant Awards to such eligible
employees as the Committee may select ("Participants"); (b) to determine the
type of Awards to be granted and the times of grants; (c) to determine the
number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by any Award; (d) to determine
the terms and conditions of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ
among individual Awards and Participants; (e) to prescribe the form or forms of
instruments evidencing Awards and any other instruments required under the Plan
and to change such forms from time to time; (f) to adopt, amend and rescind
rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan; (g) to interpret the
Plan and to decide any questions and settle all controversies and disputes that
may arise in connection with the Plan; and (h) to waive compliance by a
Participant with any obligation to be performed by him under an Award, except
that the Committee may not, (i) in the case of an incentive stock option (as
described in Section 6), take any action without consent of the Participant
which would cause such option to lose its status as an "incentive stock option"
("ISO") within the meaning of section 422 of the Code, or (ii) in the case of an
Award intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" within the meaning
of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, increase the amount of compensation payable
under the Award to the extent that such increase would cause the Award to lose
its qualification as such performance-based compensation. Such determinations
and actions of the Committee shall be conclusive and shall bind all parties.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
The Plan will become effective on the date on which it is approved by the
stockholders of the Company. Grants of Awards under the Plan may be made prior
to that date (but after adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors), subject
to approval of the Plan by the stockholders.
No Award may be granted under the Plan after the completion of ten years
from the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors, but
Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.
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4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
(a) NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15, the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered under the Plan
is 2,000,000, including shares issued in lieu of or upon reinvestment of
dividends arising from awards. Shares of Common Stock may be issued up to this
maximum pursuant to any type or types of Awards, including ISOs. For purposes of
this limitation, Awards and shares of Common Stock which are forfeited or
reacquired by the Company, and Awards which are satisfied or otherwise
terminated without the issuance of shares of Common Stock, will not be counted.
(b) SPECIAL LIMITATIONS APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN AWARDS. Subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 15 to the extent such adjustment is consistent
with the continued satisfaction by Awards of the requirements of Section
162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, (i) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for
which Options and SARs may be awarded under the Plan to any Participant in any
calendar year is in each case 100,000 shares, and (ii) the maximum number of
shares of Common Stock with respect to which Restricted Stock Awards and Awards
intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section
162(m)(4)(C) of the Code may be granted to any Participant in any calendar year
is in each case the equivalent of 25,000 shares. For purposes of the preceding
sentence, the regrant of a canceled Option or SAR, or the repricing of an Option
or SAR, shall be treated as a separate Award to the extent required under
Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code. The per-individual Award limitations described
in this paragraph are intended to enable certain Awards under the Plan to
qualify for the performance-based compensation exemption rules set forth under
Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code and shall be subject to amendment or revision
to the extent (but only to the extent) consistent with such rules.
(c) SHARES TO BE DELIVERED. Shares delivered under the Plan will be
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or, if the Committee so decides
in its sole discretion, previously issued Common Stock acquired by the Company
in the open market or in private transactions, or shares of Common Stock held in
treasury. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be delivered under the Plan.
5. ELIGIBILITY
Employees eligible to become Participants shall be those key employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries who, in the opinion of the Committee, are in a
position to make a contribution to the success of the Company or its
subsidiaries. A subsidiary for purposes of the Plan is a corporation or other
entity in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, stock or other
equity-like interests possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power
of all classes of stock or other equity interests. Members of the Committee will
not be eligible to become Participants.
6. STOCK OPTIONS
Stock Options granted under the Plan ("Options") may be either ISOs or
non-qualified stock options ("NSOs"). Except to the extent expressly designated
as an ISO (or to the extent it does not qualify as an ISO even if so
designated), each Option will be an NSO.
No term of this Plan relating to ISOs will be interpreted, amended or
altered, nor will any discretion or authority granted to the Committee under the
Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan or, without the consent of the
optionee, any ISO, under Section 422 of the Code. The documents evidencing ISOs
will contain such provisions as are required of ISOs under the applicable
provisions of the Code.
Options granted under the Plan will be subject to the following terms and
conditions and will contain such additional terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee deems desirable:
(a) EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price of each Option will be determined
by the Committee, but may not be, in the case of an ISO, less than 100% (110%,
in the case of an ISO granted to a ten-percent
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stockholder) of the fair market value per share of Common Stock at the time the
Option is granted. For this purpose, "ten-percent stockholder" means any
employee who at the time of grant owns directly, or is deemed to own by reason
of the attribution rules in section 424(d) of the Code, Common Stock possessing
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or of any of its parent or subsidiary corporations.
(b) DURATION OF OPTIONS. An Option will be exercisable during such period
or periods as the Committee may specify. The latest date on which an Option may
be exercised will be the date which is ten years (five years, in the case of an
ISO granted to a ten-percent stockholder) from the date the Option was granted
or such earlier date as may be specified by the Committee at the time the Option
is granted.
(c) EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.
(1) Options will be exercisable at such future time or times, whether or
not in installments, as determined by the Committee at or after the grant
date. The Committee may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or
any portion of any Option.
(2) Any exercise of an Option must be by written notice to the Company,
accompanied by (i) the document evidencing the Option (the "Option
Certificate") and any other documents required by the Committee and (ii)
payment in accordance with Section 6(d) below for the number of shares of
Common Stock for which the Option is exercised.
(d) PAYMENT FOR AND DELIVERY OF COMMON STOCK. Common Stock purchased upon
exercise of an Option shall be paid for as follows: (1) in cash or by certified
check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company, or (2) if
so permitted by the Option Certificate or otherwise determined by the Committee,
(i) through the delivery of shares of Common Stock (held for at least six
months, or such other period as the Committee may specify) having a fair market
value on the last business day preceding the date of exercise equal to the
purchase price, or (ii) by a combination of cash and Common Stock as provided in
clauses (1) and (2)(i) above, or (iii) by delivery of a promissory note of the
Participant to the Company, in the case of an ISO, payable on such terms as are
specified in the Option Certificate, and in the case of an NSO, payable on such
terms as are specified in the Option Certificate or as are otherwise specified
by the Committee, or by a combination of cash (or cash and Common Stock) and the
Participant's promissory note; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Common Stock
delivered upon exercise of the Option is an original issue of authorized Common
Stock, at least so much of the exercise price as represents the par value of
such Common Stock must be paid in cash if the Committee determines that such
cash payment is required by law.
(e) NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee or specified in the Option Certificate, no Option may be transferred
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and during a
Participant's lifetime an Option may be exercised only by him or her.
(f) DEATH OR DISABILITY. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee,
if a Participant's employment with the Company and its subsidiaries terminates
by reason of death or total and permanent disability, each Option held by the
Participant will become fully exercisable and will remain exercisable after the
date of such termination for a period of two years in the case of death and one
year in the case of total and permanent disability (but in no event later than
the date the option would have expired in all events under Section 6(b)). In the
case of a deceased Participant, such Option may be exercised within such time
limits by his executor or administrator, or by the person or persons to whom the
Option is transferred by will or the applicable laws of descent and
distribution.
(g) OTHER TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, if a Participant's employment with the Company and its subsidiaries
terminates for any reason other than death or total and permanent disability,
all Options held by the Participant that are not then exercisable shall
terminate. Options that are exercisable on the date of termination will continue
to be exercisable for a period of three months (but in no event later than the
date the option would have expired in all events
C-4
under Section 6(b)) unless the employee has admitted to, or been convicted of,
any act of fraud, theft or dishonesty arising in the course of, or in connection
with, his employment with the Company and its subsidiaries, in which case the
Option will terminate immediately and in full, all except as otherwise
determined by the Committee. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee,
after completion of that three-month period, such Options shall terminate to the
extent not previously exercised, expired or terminated.
7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
(a) NATURE OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT. A Stock Appreciation Right ("SAR")
is an Award entitling the recipient to receive an amount in cash or shares of
Common Stock or a combination thereof having a value equal to the excess of the
fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise over the
fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant (or over the
Option exercise price, if the SAR was granted in tandem with an Option),
multiplied by the number of shares with respect to which the SAR has been
exercised, with the Committee having the right to determine the form of payment.
(b) GRANT OF SARS. SARs may be granted in tandem with, or independently
of, Options granted under the Plan. In the case of an SAR granted in tandem with
an NSO, such SAR may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such
Option. In the case of an SAR granted in tandem with an ISO, such SAR may be
granted only at the time of the grant of the Option. SARs will be evidenced by
such written agreement as is deemed appropriate by the Committee.
An SAR or applicable portion thereof granted in tandem with an Option will
terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of such
Option, except that an SAR granted with respect to less than the full number of
shares covered by an Option will not be reduced until the exercise or
termination of the related Option exceeds the number of shares not covered by
the SAR.
(c) TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SARS. SARs will be subject to such terms and
conditions as are determined from time to time by the Committee, subject, in the
case of SARs granted in tandem with Options, to the following:
(1) SARs will be exercisable only at such time or times and to the
extent that the related Option is exercisable.
(2) Upon the exercise of an SAR, the applicable portion of any related
Option must be surrendered.
(3) SARs will be transferable only with the related Option. Except as
otherwise determined by the Committee, all SARs will be exercisable during
the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or his legal
representative.
(4) An SAR granted in tandem with an Option may be exercised only when
the market price of the Common Stock subject to the Option exceeds the
exercise price of such Option.
The provisions of Sections 6(f) and 6(g) relating to the exercisability and
termination of Options shall also apply to SARs, whether or not granted in
tandem with Options.
Any exercise of an SAR must be by written notice to the Company, accompanied
by the document evidencing the SAR and any other documents required by the
Committee.
(d) DISCRETIONARY PAYMENTS. Notwithstanding that an Option at the time of
exercise shall not be accompanied by a related SAR, if the market price of the
shares subject to such Option exceeds the exercise price of such Option at the
time of its exercise, the Committee may, in its discretion, cancel such Option,
in which event the Company shall pay to the person exercising such Option an
amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the Common Stock
to have been purchased pursuant to such exercise of such Option (determined on
the date the Option is canceled) and the aggregate consideration
C-5
to have been paid by such person upon such exercise. Such payment shall be by
check or in shares of Common Stock having a fair market value (determined on the
date the payment is to be made) equal to the amount of such payments or any
combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may exercise
its discretion under the first sentence of this paragraph (d) only in the event
of a written request of the person exercising the option, which request shall
not be binding on the Committee.
8. RESTRICTED STOCK
(a) NATURE OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD. A Restricted Stock Award
("Restricted Stock Award") is an Award entitling the recipient to acquire shares
of Common Stock ("Restricted Stock") for a purchase price (which may be zero),
subject to such conditions, including the restrictions specified in Section 8(d)
below, as the Committee may impose at the time of grant. The Committee may also
condition such acquisition on the attainment of specified performance goals as
described in Section 16(f) below.
(b) RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT. A Participant who is granted a
Restricted Stock Award will have no rights with respect to such Award unless the
Participant accepts the Award within 60 days (or such shorter period as the
Committee may specify) following the Award date by making payment to the Company
by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Committee in an
amount equal to the specified purchase price, if any, of the shares covered by
the Award and by executing and delivering to the Company an agreement (a
"Restricted Stock Award Agreement") in such form as the Committee determines.
(c) RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. Upon complying with Section 8(b) above, a
Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to the
Restricted Stock awarded to him including voting and dividend rights, subject to
the restrictions described in this Section 8 and subject to any other conditions
contained in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement. Unless the Committee
otherwise determines, certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock will
remain in the possession of the Company until such shares are free of any
restrictions under the Plan.
(d) RESTRICTION. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, shares
of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise
encumbered or disposed of, except as specifically provided herein. If a
Participant ceases for any reason to be employed by the Company or its
subsidiaries other than due to death or total and permanent disability, shares
of Restricted Stock held by such Participant shall be resold to the Company at
their purchase price, or forfeited to the Company if the purchase price was
zero, except as specifically set forth herein or otherwise determined by the
Committee. Shares of Restricted Stock resold to the Company shall have the
status of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock.
(1) The Committee will specify in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement
the date or dates (which may depend upon or be related to the attainment of
performance goals and other conditions) on which the nontransferability of
the Restricted Stock and the obligation of the Participant to resell such
Stock to the Company will lapse. The Committee may at any time accelerate
such date or dates or waive such performance goals and other conditions.
(2) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or specified in the
Restricted Stock Award Agreement, if the Participant's employment terminates
because of death or total and permanent disability, all restrictions on
shares of Restricted Stock held by the Participant will lapse.
(e) NOTICE OF ELECTION. Any Participant making an election under Section
83(b) of the Code with respect to a Restricted Stock Award must provide a copy
thereof to the Company within 30 days of the filing of such election with the
Internal Revenue Service.
(f) DIVIDENDS. Dividends paid on shares of Restricted Stock shall be
either paid at the dividend payment date or deferred for payment to such date as
determined by the Committee, in cash or in unrestricted shares of Common Stock
having a fair market value equal to the amount of such dividends.
C-6
Shares distributed in connection with a stock split or dividend in shares of
stock, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to
restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock
with respect to which such shares of Restricted Stock or other property has been
distributed.
9. DEFERRED STOCK AWARDS.
(a) NATURE OF DEFERRED STOCK AWARD. A Deferred Stock Award ("Deferred
Stock Award") is an award entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Common
Stock ("Deferred Stock") without payment in one or more installments at a future
date or dates, all as determined by the Committee. The Committee may condition
such acquisition on the attainment of specified performance goals as described
in Section 16(f) below.
(b) DEFERRED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT. A Participant who is granted a
Deferred Stock Award shall have no rights with respect to such Award unless
within 60 days of the grant of such Award or such shorter period as the
Committee may specify, the Participant shall have accepted the Award by
executing and delivering to the Company an agreement (a "Deferred Stock Award
Agreement") in such form as the Committee determines.
(c) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, Deferred Stock Awards and all rights with respect to such Awards may
not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise encumbered, and shall
be exercisable during the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or the
Participant's legal representative.
(d) RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. A Participant receiving a Deferred Stock
Award will have rights of a stockholder only as to shares of Deferred Stock
actually received by the Participant under the Plan and not with respect to
shares subject to the Award but not actually received by the Participant. A
Participant shall be entitled to receive a stock certificate for shares of
Deferred Stock only upon satisfaction of all conditions therefor specified in
the Deferred Stock Award Agreement.
(e) TERMINATION. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, a
Participant's rights in all Deferred Stock Awards shall automatically terminate
upon the termination of such Participant's employment by the Company and its
subsidiaries for any reason (including death).
(f) ACCELERATION, WAIVER, ETC. At any time prior to the termination of a
Participant's employment, the Committee may in its discretion accelerate, waive,
or, subject to Section 16, amend any or all of the restrictions or conditions
imposed under any Deferred Stock Award.
(g) PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF DEFERRED STOCK. Without limiting the right of
the Committee to specify different terms, the Deferred Stock Award Agreement may
either make no provisions for, or may require or permit the immediate payment,
deferral, or investment of amounts equal to, or less than, any cash dividends
which would have been payable on the Deferred Stock had such stock been
outstanding, all as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
10. PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARDS.
(a) NATURE OF PERFORMANCE UNITS AWARDS. A Performance Unit Award
("Performance Unit Award") is an award entitling the recipient to acquire cash
or shares of Common Stock, or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock,
upon the attainment of specified performance goals as described in Section 16(f)
below. The Committee in its sole discretion shall determine whether and to whom
Performance Unit Awards shall be made, the performance goals applicable under
each such Award, the periods during which performance is to be measured and all
other limitations and conditions applicable to each such Award. Performance Unit
Awards may be awarded independent of or in connection with the granting of any
other Award under the Plan.
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(b) PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT. A Participant shall have no rights
with respect to a Performance Unit Award unless within 60 days of the grant of
such Award or such shorter period as the Committee may specify, the Participant
shall have accepted the Award by executing and delivering to the Company a
Performance Unit Award Agreement.
(c) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, Performance Unit Awards and all rights with respect to such Awards
may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise encumbered, and if
exercisable over a specified period, shall be exercisable during the
Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant's legal
representative.
(d) RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. A Participant receiving a Performance Unit
Award will have rights of a stockholder only as to shares of Common Stock
actually received by the Participant under the Plan and not with respect to
shares subject to the Award but not actually received by the Participant. A
Participant shall be entitled to receive a stock certificate evidencing the
acquisition of shares of Common Stock under a Performance Unit Award only upon
satisfaction of all conditions therefor specified in the Performance Unit Award
Agreement.
(e) TERMINATION. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, a
Participant's rights in all Performance Unit Awards shall automatically
terminate upon the termination of such Participant's employment by the Company
and its subsidiaries for any reason (including death).
(f) ACCELERATION, WAIVER, ETC. At any time prior to the termination of a
Participant's employment, the Committee may in its discretion accelerate, waive,
or, subject to Section 16, amend any or all of the restrictions or conditions
imposed under any Performance Unit Award.
(g) EXERCISE. The Committee in its sole discretion shall establish
procedures to be followed in exercising any Performance Unit Award, which
procedures shall be set forth in the Performance Unit Award Agreement. The
Committee may at any time provide that payment under a Performance Unit Award
shall be made, upon satisfaction of the applicable performance goals, without
exercise by the Participant. Except as otherwise specified by the Committee, a
Performance Unit granted in tandem with an Option may be exercised only while
the Option is exercisable, and the exercise of a Performance Unit granted in
tandem with any other Award shall reduce the number of shares subject to the
related award on such basis as is specified in the Performance Unit Award
Agreement.
11. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT AWARDS.
(a) NATURE OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT AWARDS. A Dividend Equivalent Award
("Dividend Equivalent Award") is an Award entitling the Participant to receive
cash, shares of Common Stock, or other property equal in value to dividends paid
with respect to a specified number of shares of Common Stock. Dividend
Equivalent Awards may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with
another Award, and may be paid currently or on a deferred basis. The Committee
may provide at the date of grant or thereafter that the Dividend Equivalent
Award shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been
reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock or such other investment
vehicles as the Committee may specify; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Dividend
Equivalent Awards (other than free-standing Dividend Equivalent Awards) shall be
subject to all conditions and restrictions of the underlying Awards to which
they relate. The Committee may also condition such Award on the attainment of
specified performance goals as described in Section 16(f) below.
(b) DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT AWARD AGREEMENT. A Participant who is granted a
Dividend Equivalent Award shall have no rights with respect to such Award unless
within 60 days of the grant of such Award or such shorter period as the
Committee may specify, the Participant shall have accepted the Award by
executing and delivering to the Company an agreement (a "Dividend Equivalent
Award Agreement") in such form as the Committee determines.
C-8
(c) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, Dividend Equivalent Awards and all rights with respect to such Awards
may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise encumbered.
(d) RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. A Participant receiving a Dividend Equivalent
Award will have rights of a stockholder only as to shares of Common Stock
actually received by the Participant under the Plan and not with respect to
shares subject to the Award but not actually received by the Participant.
(e) TERMINATION. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, a
Participant's rights in all Dividend Equivalent Awards shall automatically
terminate upon the termination of such Participant's employment by the Company
and its subsidiaries for any reason (including death).
(f) ACCELERATION, WAIVER, ETC. At any time prior to the Participant's
termination of employment, the Committee may in its discretion accelerate,
waive, or, subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, amend any or all of the
restrictions or conditions imposed under any Dividend Equivalent Award.
12. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.
(a) NATURE OF AWARDS. The Committee may grant other Awards under which
Common Stock is or may in the future be acquired ("Other Stock-Based Awards").
Such awards may include, without limitation, debt securities convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of Common Stock upon such conditions, including
attainment of performance goals, as the Committee shall determine. Subject to
the purchase price limitations in paragraph (b) below, such convertible or
exchangeable securities may have such terms and conditions as the Committee may
determine at the time of grant. However, no convertible or exchangeable debt
shall be issued unless the Committee shall have provided (by Company right of
repurchase, right to require conversion or exchange, or other means deemed
appropriate by the Committee) a means of avoiding any right of the holders of
such debt to prevent a Company transaction by reason of covenants in such debt.
The Committee may also condition such Awards on the attainment of specified
performance goals as described in Section 16(f) below.
(b) PURCHASE PRICE; FORM OF PAYMENT. The Committee may determine the
consideration, if any, payable upon the issuance or exercise of an Other
Stock-Based Award. The Committee may permit payment by certified check or bank
check or other instrument acceptable to the Committee or by surrender of other
shares of Common Stock (excluding shares then subject to restrictions under the
Plan).
(c) FORFEITURE OF AWARDS; REPURCHASE OF STOCK; ACCELERATION OR WAIVER OF
RESTRICTIONS. The Committee may determine the conditions under which an Other
Stock-Based Award shall be forfeited or, in the case of an Award involving a
payment by the recipient, the conditions under which the Company may or must
repurchase such Award or related Common Stock. At any time the Committee may in
its sole discretion accelerate, waive, or, subject to Section 16 of the Exchange
Act, amend any or all of the limitations or conditions imposed under any Other
Stock-Based Award.
(d) OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARD AGREEMENTS. A Participant shall have no rights
with respect to any Other Stock-Based Award unless within 60 days after the
grant of such Award (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify) the
Participant shall have accepted the Award by executing and delivering to the
Company an agreement (an "Other Stock-Based Award Agreement") in such form as
the Committee determines.
(e) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, Other Stock-Based Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred,
pledged, or encumbered nor shall any Other Stock-Based Award be transferred
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or be exercisable
during the Participant's lifetime by other than the Participant or the
Participant's legal representative.
C-9
(f) RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. A recipient of any Other Stock-Based Award
will have rights of a stockholder only at the time and to the extent, if any,
specified in the Other Stock-Based Award Agreement or otherwise determined by
the Committee.
(g) DEEMED DIVIDEND PAYMENTS; DEFERRALS. Without limiting the right of the
Committee to specify different terms, an Other Stock-Based Award Agreement may
require or permit the immediate payment, waiver, deferral, or investment of
dividends or deemed dividends payable or deemed payable on Common Stock subject
to the Award.
13. SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS.
(a) LOANS. The Company may in its sole discretion make a loan to the
recipient of an Award hereunder, either on or after the date of grant of such
Award. Such loans may be made either in connection with the exercise of a Stock
Option, an SAR or an Other Stock-Based Award, in connection with the purchase of
shares under any Award, or in connection with the payment of any federal, state
and local income tax in respect of income recognized under any Award. The
Committee shall have full authority to decide whether to make a loan hereunder
if it determines that the making of such loan is in the best interest of the
Company, and to determine the amount, term, and provisions of any such loan,
including the interest rate (which may be zero) charged in respect of any such
loan, whether the loan is to be secured or unsecured, the terms on which the
loan is to be repaid and the conditions, if any, under which it may be forgiven.
However, no loan hereunder shall provide or reimburse to the borrower the amount
used by him for the payment of the par value of any shares of Common Stock
issued, have a term (including extensions) exceeding ten years in duration, or
be in an amount exceeding the total exercise or purchase price paid by the
borrower under an Award or for related Common Stock under the Plan plus an
amount equal to the cash payment permitted in the following paragraph.
(b) CASH GRANTS. The Committee may at any time authorize a cash payment,
in respect of the grant or exercise of an Award under the Plan (or the lapse or
waiver of restrictions under an Award) which shall not exceed the amount which
would be required in order to pay in full any federal, state and local income
tax due as a result of income recognized by the recipient under both the Award
and such cash payment, in each case assuming that such income is taxed at the
regular maximum marginal rate applicable to individuals under the Code as in
effect at the time such income is includable in the recipient's income. Subject
to the foregoing, the Committee shall have complete authority to decide whether
to make such cash payments in any case, to make provision for such payments
either simultaneously with or after the grant of the associated Award and to
determine the amount of each such payment.
14. CHANGE OF CONTROL
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, in the event of a Change
of Control of the Company as defined in EXHIBIT A hereto (a) each outstanding
Award held by each Participant the exercisability of which is restricted or
limited will immediately become fully exercisable; and (b) restrictions and
conditions on each outstanding Award subject to such restrictions and conditions
held by each Participant will immediately lapse or be deemed waived.
15. CHANGES IN COMPANY; SUBSTITUTE AWARDS
(a) CHANGES IN CAPITAL STOCK. In the event of a stock dividend, stock
split or combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the
Company's capital stock, the number and kind of shares of stock, securities of
the Company or other consideration issued or issuable in respect of Awards then
outstanding or subsequently granted under the Plan, the maximum number of shares
of stock or securities that may be delivered under the Plan, the purchase price
and other relevant provisions will be appropriately adjusted by the Committee,
whose determination shall be binding on all persons.
C-10
The Committee may also adjust the number of shares, securities or other
consideration issued or issuable in respect of outstanding Awards, the exercise
price of outstanding Awards and the other terms of outstanding Awards, and may
make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria and
performance objectives included in, Awards, to take into consideration material
changes in accounting practices or principles, consolidations or mergers (except
those described in Section 15(b) below), acquisitions or dispositions of stock
or property or any other event if it is determined by the Committee that such
adjustment is appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan.
Adjustments under this paragraph will be made only to the extent they are
consistent with the requirements for ISOs or under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the
Code.
(b) MERGER, ETC. Subject to Section 14, in the event of a dissolution or
liquidation of the Company or a merger or consolidation in which the Company is
not the surviving corporation or its outstanding shares are converted into
securities of another corporation or exchanged for other consideration, all
Awards granted hereunder will terminate, but during a period commencing 20 days
prior to the effective date of any such dissolution or liquidation (or 20 days
prior to any earlier related sale of substantially all the assets of the
Company) or of any such merger or consolidation, subject to the effectiveness of
such dissolution, liquidation, sale, merger or consolidation (1) all Awards
outstanding hereunder the exercisability of which is restricted or limited will
become immediately exercisable, and (2) all restrictions and conditions on all
Awards subject to such restrictions and conditions will immediately lapse or be
deemed waived; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, unless the event will give rise to a
Change of Control or it is anticipated that a Change of Control will coincide
with or follow the event, the Committee may instead arrange that the successor
or surviving corporation, if any, grant replacement or substitute Awards on
terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the
circumstances.
(c) SUBSTITUTE AWARDS. The Company may grant Awards under the Plan in
substitution for stock and stock based awards held by employees of another
corporation who concurrently become employees of the Company or its subsidiary
as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the
Company or its subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a subsidiary of
property or stock of the employing corporation. The Committee may direct that
the substitute Awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee
considers appropriate. The shares which may be delivered under such substitute
Awards will be in addition to the maximum number of shares provided for in
Section 4(a) only to the extent that the substitute Awards are both (1) granted
to persons whose relationship to the Company does not make (and is not expected
to make) them subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and (2) are granted
in substitution for awards issued under a plan approved, to the extent then
required under Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule under the Exchange Act), by the
stockholders of the entity which issued such predecessor awards.
16. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) NO DISTRIBUTION; COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, ETC. The
Committee may require each person acquiring Common Stock pursuant to an Award to
represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring
the Common Stock without a view to distribution thereof.
The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock
pursuant to an Award (1) until, in the opinion of the Company's counsel, all
applicable federal and state laws and regulations have been complied with,
including, if required, the receipt of all necessary approvals from the
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, and (2) if the outstanding Common
Stock is at the time listed on any stock exchange, until the shares to be
delivered have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange upon
official notice of issuance, and (3) until all other legal matters in connection
with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been approved by the
Company's counsel. If the sale of Common Stock has not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company may require such representations
or agreements as counsel for the Company may consider appropriate to avoid
C-11
violation of such Act and may require that the certificates evidencing such
Common Stock bear an appropriate legend restricting transfer.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan, the Company will be under no
obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock to an estate of a deceased
Participant, or to the person or persons to whom the Award has been transferred
by the Participant's will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution,
until the Company is satisfied as to the authority of such person or persons.
(b) TAX WITHHOLDING, ETC. Each Participant will, no later than the date as
of which the value of an Award or of any Common Stock or other amounts received
hereunder first becomes includable in gross income for federal income tax
purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee
regarding payment of, all federal, state and local taxes required by law to be
withheld with respect to such income. The Company and its subsidiaries will, to
the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any
payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant.
The Committee may provide, in respect of any transfer of Common Stock under
an Award, that if and to the extent withholding of any federal, state or local
tax is required, the Participant may elect in such manner as the Committee
prescribes, to have the Company hold back from the transfer Common Stock having
a value calculated to satisfy such withholding obligation, or to deliver to the
Company previously owned shares of equal value. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the case of a Participant subject to the restrictions of Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act no such election shall be effective unless made in compliance with
any applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3(e) or any successor rule under such
Act.
(c) CONTINUANCE OF EMPLOYMENT. For purposes of the Plan, employment of a
Participant will not be considered terminated (1) in the case of sick leave or
other bona fide leave of absence approved for purposes of the Plan by the
Committee, so long as the Participant's right to re-employment is guaranteed
either by statute or by contract, or (2) in the case of a transfer to the
employment of a corporation (or a parent or subsidiary corporation of such
corporation) issuing or assuming an option in a transaction to which section
424(a) of the Code would apply.
(d) FAIR MARKET VALUE. For purposes of the Plan, in general, "fair market
value" of a share of Common Stock on any date means the closing price on such
date as reflected in the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index. If, however,
the Committee determines that a different meaning is in any circumstance
necessary in order to comply with applicable law, such different meaning will
apply in that circumstance.
(e) EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS. Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the grant of
Awards will confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the
Company or any subsidiary or affect in any way the right of the Company or any
subsidiary to terminate the employment of an employee at any time. Except as
specifically provided by the Committee in any particular case, the loss of
existing or potential profit in Awards granted under this Plan shall not
constitute an element of damages in the event of termination of the employment
of an employee even if the termination is in violation of an obligation of the
Company to the employee by contract or otherwise.
(f) AWARDS SUBJECT TO PERFORMANCE CONDITIONS. The Committee may, at the
time any Award described in the Plan is granted, impose the condition (in
addition to any conditions specified or authorized in any other provisions of
the Plan), that performance goals must be met prior to the Participant's
realization of any vesting, payment or benefit under the Award. Performance
goals may be related to personal performance, corporate performance,
departmental performance, or any other category of performance established by
the Committee. The Committee will determine the performance goals, the period or
periods during which performance is to be measured, and all other terms and
conditions applicable to the Award. If necessary in order to qualify an Award
for the performance based remuneration exception described in Section
162(m)(4)(C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, the Committee shall in
writing preestablish one or more specific, objectively determinable performance
goal or
C-12
goals (based solely on one or more qualified performance criteria) no later than
ninety (90) days after the commencement of the period to which the performance
relates (or in any such other time as is required to satisfy the conditions of
Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder). For purposes
of the preceding sentence, a qualified performance criterion is any of the
following: (i) earnings per share, (ii) individual performance objectives, (iii)
net income, (iv) proforma net income, (v) return on designated assets, (vi)
return on revenues, or (vii) satisfaction of Company-wide or departmental based
objectives.
17. EFFECT, DISCONTINUANCE, CANCELLATION, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.
Neither adoption of the Plan nor the grant of Awards to a Participant shall
affect the Company's right to grant to such Participant awards that are not
subject to the Plan, to issue Common Stock to such Participant as a bonus or
otherwise, or to adopt other plans or arrangements under which Common Stock may
be issued to employees.
The Committee may at any time discontinue granting Awards under the Plan.
With the consent of the Participant, the Committee may at any time cancel an
existing Award in whole or in part and grant the Participant another Award for
such number of shares of Common Stock as the Committee specifies, subject to
Section 4(b). The Committee may at any time or times amend the Plan or any
outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of any changes
in applicable laws or regulations or for any other purpose which may at the time
be permitted by law; and may at any time terminate the Plan as to any further
grants of Awards; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (except to the extent expressly
required or permitted herein) no such amendment shall, without the approval of
the stockholders of the Company, (a) increase the maximum number of shares
available for delivery under the Plan, (b) change the group of employees
eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, (c) reduce the price at which ISOs
may be granted, (d) extend the time within which Awards may be granted, or (e)
amend the provisions of this Section 17, and no such amendment shall adversely
affect the rights of any Participant (without his consent) under any Award
previously granted.
AS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: JANUARY 23, 1997
AS APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS:
C-13
EXHIBIT A
A "Change of Control" will occur for purposes of this Plan if (i) any
individual, corporation, partnership, company or other entity (a "Person"),
which term shall include a group, becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act")) of securities of the Company representing more than 30% of the combined
voting power of the Company's then-outstanding securities (other than as a
result of acquisitions of such securities from the Company), (ii) there is a
change of control of the Company of a kind which would be required to be
reported under Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Exchange Act) (or a similar item in a similar schedule or form), whether or not
the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement, (iii) the Company is
a party to, or the stockholders approve, a merger, consolidation, or other
reorganization (other than (a) a merger, consolidation or other reorganization
which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent, either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into vested securities of the surviving
entity, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of
the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger,
consolidation, or other reorganization, or (b) a merger, consolidation, or other
reorganization effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company or
establish a holding company structure, or similar transaction in which no Person
acquires more than 20% of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities, a sale of all or substantially all assets, or a plan of
liquidation or (iv) individuals who, at the date hereof, constitute the Board
cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
any director who is not in office at the date hereof but whose election by the
Board or whose nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office
who either were directors at the date hereof or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved (other than an election or nomination of an
individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or
threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the
Company, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated
under the Exchange Act) shall be deemed to have been in office at the date
hereof for purpose of this definition.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this EXHIBIT A, a "Change of
Control" will not be deemed to have occurred solely because of the acquisition
of securities of the Company (or any reporting requirement under the Exchange
Act relating thereto) by an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company for
its employees.
C-14
THIS IS YOUR PROXY.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
This year's Annual Stockholders' Meeting will be held:
DATE: THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1997
LOCATION: THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON
AUDITORIUM, LOBBY LEVEL
100 FEDERAL STREET
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
TIME: 11:00 A.M.
To ensure that your shares are voted on your behalf, please return your proxy
promptly in the enclosed envelope.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/X/ Please mark
votes as in
this example
PLEASE DO NOT MARK ANY BOXES IF VOTING WITH MANAGEMENT.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 1, FOR Proposal 2 and
FOR Proposal 3.
1. Election of Directors
NOMINEES: Gary L. Countryman,
Thomas G. Dignan, Jr., Herbert
Roth, Jr., Steven J. Sweeney.
FOR WITHHELD
/ / / /
/ / ___________________________
For all nominees except as
noted above
Signature _______________ Date________
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Proposal to Approve Plan of / / / / / /
Restructuring to adopt a Holding
Company structure.
3. Proposal to Approve the 1997 / / / / / /
Stock Incentive Plan.
MARK HERE / /
TO DISCONTINUE
MULTIPLE
MAILINGS
MARK HERE / /
IF YOU PLAN
TO ATTEND
THE MEETINGS
MARK HERE / /
FOR ADDRESS
CHANGE AND
NOTE AT LEFT
Please sign name exactly as it appears hereon.
When signing as attorney, agent, guardian, executor, administrator, trustee
or the like, please give your full title as such.
Signature _______________ Date________
BOSTON EDISON COMPANY
Proxy for Annual Meeting on May 15, 1997
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby appoints Thomas G. Dignan, Jr., Charles K. Gifford
and Thomas J. May and each of them proxies, with power of substitution, to act
and vote in the name of the undersigned, with all the powers that the
undersigned would possess if personally present, on all matters which may come
before the Annual Meeting of Stockholder of Boston Edison Company to be held on
May 15, 1997 and any adjournment thereof.
The proxies are hereby authorized and instructed upon the matters specified
in the Notice of Annual Meeting as set forth on the reverse side hereof. IF NO
CHOICE IS INDICATED AS TO A PROPOSAL, THE PROXIES SHALL VOTE FOR SUCH PROPOSAL.
THE PROXIES MAY VOTE IN THEIR DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER MATTER WHICH MAY PROPERLY
COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting
dated March 26, 1997 and the related Proxy Statement
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE