e424b5
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-103659
Prospectus Supplement
(To prospectus dated August 18, 2003)
MGE ENERGY, INC.
Common Stock $1 Par Value
We have entered into an equity distribution agreement with
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (JPMS) relating to
shares of our common stock offered hereby. In accordance with
the terms of the equity distribution agreement, we may offer and
sell up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock from time
to time through JPMS as our sales agent or to JPMS as principal.
Sales of the shares of common stock, if any, may be made by
means of ordinary brokers transactions on the Nasdaq
Global Select Market (Nasdaq) at market prices and
in such other manner as agreed upon by us and JPMS. JPMS will
receive from us a commission of 2.0% based on the gross sales
price per share for any shares sold to or through it as
principal or agent under the equity distribution agreement.
Our common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol
MGEE. On November 8, 2006, the last reported
sales price of our common stock on Nasdaq was $33.74 per
share.
Investing in our common stock involves risks. See the
Risk Factors section of our current Annual Report on
Form 10-K. We
update these risks from time to time in our Securities and
Exchange Commission filings.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of the
securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus supplement is November 9, 2006.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
|
|
|
|
|
S-3 |
|
|
S-3 |
|
|
S-4 |
|
|
S-4 |
|
|
S-5 |
|
|
S-5 |
|
|
S-5 |
|
|
S-6 |
Prospectus
S-2
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
You should rely on the information contained in or incorporated
by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying
prospectus and any free writing prospectus we may
authorize to be delivered to you. We have not, and JPMS has not,
authorized any other person to provide you with different or
inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with different
or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are
not, and JPMS is not, making an offer to sell these securities
in any jurisdiction where such offer or sale is not permitted.
The information contained in this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus, and the
documents incorporated by reference herein and therein is
accurate only as of the dates such information is or was
presented, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus
supplement or of any sale of our common stock. Our business,
financial condition, results of operations and prospects may
have changed since those dates.
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus
supplement, which adds to and updates information contained in
the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by
reference into the accompanying prospectus. The second part is
the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general
information, some of which may not apply to this offering. If
the information in this prospectus supplement (or any free
writing prospectus) is inconsistent with the accompanying
prospectus, the information in this prospectus supplement (or
any free writing prospectus) will apply and supersede the
information in the accompanying prospectus. You should read this
entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and
any free writing prospectuses carefully, including the
consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference
herein and therein, before making an investment decision.
Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise
requires, all references in this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus to
MGE Energy, we, our and
us refer to MGE Energy, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and
other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) from time to time, contain forward-looking
statements that reflect our current assumptions and estimates
regarding future performance and economic conditions
especially as they relate to future load growth, revenues,
expenses, capital expenditures, financial resources, regulatory
matters, and the scope and expense associated with current and
future environmental regulation. These forward-looking
statements are made pursuant to the provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
believe, expect, anticipate,
estimate, could, should,
intend, and other similar words generally identify
forward-looking statements. We caution investors that these
forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected, expressed, or implied.
The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from the forward-looking statements made by a registrant include
(a) those factors discussed in the following sections of
our most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K:
Risk Factors, and Managements Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations; and (b) other factors discussed herein
and in our other current and future filings with the SEC.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of
this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no
obligation to publicly release any revision to these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date of this report.
S-3
MGE ENERGY, INC.
We are a Wisconsin corporation incorporated in 2001. We are the
parent holding company of Madison Gas and Electric Company
(MGE), a regulated public utility, as well as of nonregulated
subsidiaries.
Regulated Electric Utility and Gas Utility Operations.
MGEs operations represent a substantial portion of the
assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and operations of MGE
Energy. MGE is a Wisconsin public utility that generates and
distributes electricity to nearly 136,000 customers throughout
250 square miles of Dane County, Wisconsin. MGE also
purchases, transports and distributes natural gas to more than
137,000 customers in 1,350 square miles of service
territory in seven counties: Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Iowa,
Juneau, Monroe and Vernon. MGE has served the Madison area since
1896.
MGE has a net generating capability of approximately 780
megawatts. MGE owns a 22% co-ownership interest in the Columbia
plant, located in Portage, Wisconsin, which consists of two 512
megawatt coal-fired units operated by Alliant Energy
Corporation. MGE also owns 186 megawatts of coal, gas- and
oil-fired generating capacity at its Blount plant in Madison,
Wisconsin; 174 megawatts of gas- and oil-fired combustion
turbines; 44 megawatts of diesel-fueled portable generators
in Madison, Wisconsin; and two megawatts of wind turbines in
Lincoln and Red River, Wisconsin. MGE has 149 megawatts of
capacity of natural gas-fired cogeneration, through a lease
agreement with MGE Power West Campus, LLC, for the West Campus
Cogeneration Facility (WCCF), located in Madison, Wisconsin.
Nonregulated energy operations. Our nonregulated energy
subsidiaries include subsidiaries formed to develop, acquire and
own electric generating facilities. Together with the University
of Wisconsin-Madison, MGE Power West Campus, LLC, a subsidiary
of MGE Power LLC, developed and built a natural gas-fired
cogeneration plant (WCCF) to help meet the future needs of
the University and MGE customers. The facility produces steam
heat and chilled water air conditioning for the University and
approximately 150 megawatts of electricity to meet demand
in the Madison area. Through our subsidiary MGE Power Elm Road,
LLC, also a subsidiary of MGE Power, we exercised an option to
obtain an 8.33% ownership interest in two coal-fired base-load
generating facilities that are a part of WE Energies Power
the Future plan. The plan includes two 615 megawatt advanced
technology, coal-fired generating units in which we have an
interest equivalent to approximately 100 megawatts of generating
capacity.
Our other nonregulated subsidiaries include:
|
|
|
|
|
MGE Construct LLC, which provides construction services for
generating facilities; |
|
|
|
MGE Transco Investment LLC, which holds an investment interest
in American Transmission Company LLC; |
|
|
|
Central Wisconsin Development Corporation, which provides
property-related services and financing to promote development
in the MGE service area; and |
|
|
|
MAGAEL, LLC, which holds title to properties acquired for future
utility plant expansion and nonutility property. |
Our principal executive offices are located at 133 South Blair
Street, Madison, Wisconsin
53703-1231, and our
telephone number is (608) 252-7000. We also have a Web site
located at www.mgeenergy.com. The information on our
website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We expect to use any net proceeds from the sale of our shares of
common stock pursuant to the equity distribution agreement for
financing capital expenditures, in particular those capital
expenditures related to MGE Power Elm Road LLCs ownership
interest in two generating units, for future acquisitions, to
refund or redeem debt and for other general corporate purposes.
S-4
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We have engaged JPMS to act as agent or principal for the offer
of up to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock in one or
more placements or sales pursuant to the equity distribution
agreement. As we and JPMS agree from time to time, JPMS will
seek to solicit offers to purchase on an agency basis and/or
will purchase on a principal basis, our common stock. The number
and purchase price (less an underwriting discount) of the shares
we sell to JPMS will be mutually agreed on the relevant trading
day. The common stock sold under the equity distribution
agreement will be sold at prices related to the prevailing
market price for such securities, and therefore exact figures
regarding the share price, proceeds that will be raised or
commissions to be paid will be described in our SEC filings.
JPMS may also make sales of our common stock pursuant to the
equity distribution agreement in privately negotiated
transactions and/or any other method permitted by law deemed to
be an
at-the-market
offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the
Securities Act of 1933 including sales made on Nasdaq, the
current trading market for our common stock.
Settlement for sales of common stock will occur on the third
business day following the date on which any sales were made in
return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no
arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or
similar arrangement.
This offering of common stock will terminate upon the earlier of
(i) the sale of all shares offered pursuant to this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or
(ii) written notice of termination of the equity
distribution agreement from either us or JPMS to the other
party. The equity distribution agreement may be terminated at
the sole discretion of either party at any time.
Copies of this prospectus supplement will be delivered in
satisfaction of the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, including pursuant to Rule 172
under the Securities Act. We will report at least quarterly the
number of shares of common stock sold to or through JPMS in
at-the-market
offerings, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by
us to JPMS in connection with such sales of common stock.
In connection with the sale of common stock on our behalf, JPMS
may be deemed to be an underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, and the compensation paid
to JPMS may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or
discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and
contribution to JPMS against certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
JPMS and its affiliates have, and in the future may, engage in
transactions with, or perform other services for, us or our
affiliates in the ordinary course of business. We expect to pay
a customary fee to JPMS or its affiliates in connection with
such services.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and managements assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
(which is included in Managements Report on Internal
Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this
Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005 have been so incorporated in
reliance on the report(s) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
LEGAL MATTERS
Matters with respect to our common stock will be passed on for
us by Hunton & Williams LLP, and Stafford Rosenbaum
LLP, Madison, Wisconsin. Certain legal matters with respect to
the common stock will be passed on for JPMS by
Morrison & Foerster LLP, New York, New York.
S-5
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filing number is
000-49965. You may read and copy any document that we have filed
at the SECs Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports,
proxy and information statements, and other information
regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our
filings are available to the public at the SECs Internet
site at http://www.sec.gov. Our filings are also available to
the public on our Web site at http://www.mgeenergy.com. Our
common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol
MGEE. You may inspect copies of any documents we
file with the SEC at the offices of The National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. located at 1735 K Street, NW,
Washington, D.C. 20006.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement (of which
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is a
part) on Form S-3
under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to our securities.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do
not contain all of the information set forth in the registration
statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, certain
parts of which are omitted as permitted by the rules and
regulations of the SEC.
We are incorporating by reference the information we file with
the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information
to you by referring you to those documents. The information we
incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, except
for any information superseded by information in this prospectus
supplement. We incorporate by reference the documents listed
below, which we have filed with the SEC under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934:
|
|
|
|
|
Our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005; |
|
|
|
Our Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended March 31, June 30 and
September 30, 2006; |
|
|
|
Our Definitive Proxy Statement, dated April 17, 2006, for
the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; and |
|
|
|
Our Current Reports on
Form 8-K filed
with the SEC on January 23, February 21, March 2,
April 4 (3 filed), April 26, August 18,
August 22, October 3, October 4, and
November 9, 2006. |
All documents that we file with the SEC under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this prospectus
supplement but before we terminate the offering of our common
stock shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and will
be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus from the date we file that document. Any information
in that document that is meant to supersede or modify any
existing statement in this prospectus supplement will so
supersede or modify the statement as appropriate.
You may request a copy of any or all of the documents
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, except
the exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference in such documents), at no
cost, by writing, telephoning or emailing us at following
address:
MGE Energy, Inc.
Post Office Box 1231
Madison, Wisconsin 53701-1231
Attention: MGE Energy Shareholder Services
Telephone: (800) 356-6423
E-mail:
investor@mgeenergy.com
S-6
Prospectus
MGE ENERGY, INC.
Common Stock $1 Par Value
We intend to offer from time to time, at prices and on terms to
be determined at or prior to the time of sale, shares of our
common stock, par value $1 per share, having an aggregate
public offering price not to exceed $200,000,000, subject to
reduction in the event we sell medium-term notes or other shares
of common stock pursuant to separate prospectuses under the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
We will specify the number of shares of common stock being
offered and the underwriters for the offering, together with the
terms and conditions for such offer, the public offering price,
the underwriting discounts and commissions and our net proceeds
from the sale thereof, in supplements to this prospectus. You
should read both the prospectus and the applicable prospectus
supplements carefully before you invest.
Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under
the symbol MGEE.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of the
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The date of this prospectus is August 18, 2003.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC,
utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this
shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell
shares of our common stock in one or more offerings with a total
offering price not to exceed $200,000,000, subject to reduction
if we sell any medium-term notes or other shares of common stock
which were registered in the same registration statement and
described in separate prospectuses. This prospectus provides you
with a general description of our common stock. Each time we
sell shares of common stock, we will describe in a supplement to
this prospectus the specific terms of that offering. The
applicable prospectus supplement may also add, update or change
information in this prospectus. Please carefully read both this
prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together
with additional information referred to in Where You Can
Find More Information, before investing in the notes.
We are not offering the common stock in any state where the
offer is not permitted.
You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or
any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than
the date on the front of each of those documents.
2
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file, and our wholly owned subsidiary, Madison Gas and
Electric Company (MGE), has filed, annual, quarterly
and special reports and other information with the SEC. Our SEC
filings are available to the public over the Internet on the
SECs web site at www.sec.gov. or on our website at
www.mgeenergy.com. Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq
National Market under the symbol MGEE, and you may
inspect copies of any documents we file with the SEC at the
offices of The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
located at 1735 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with it, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to previously
filed documents. The information incorporated by reference is
considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that
we file later with the SEC will automatically update and
supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the
following documents we and MGE have filed with the SEC and any
future filings that we make with the SEC under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 until all of the common stock registered
hereby has been issued:
|
|
|
|
|
MGE Energys and MGEs combined Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2002. |
|
|
|
MGE Energys and MGEs combined Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2003. |
You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing,
calling or e-mailing us
at the following address:
MGE Energy, Inc.
Post Office Box 1231
Madison, Wisconsin 53701-1231
Attention: MGE Energy Shareholder Services
Telephone: (800) 356-6423
Email: investor@mgeenergy.com
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable
prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to
provide you with different information.
3
MGE ENERGY, INC.
MGE Energy, Inc. (the Company), a Wisconsin
corporation incorporated in 2001, is an exempt holding company
under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. We are the
parent holding company of Madison Gas and Electric Company
(MGE), a regulated public utility, as well as of
non-regulated subsidiaries.
MGE is a Wisconsin public utility that generates and distributes
electricity to nearly 130,000 customers throughout
250 square miles of Dane County, Wisconsin. MGE also
purchases, transports and distributes natural gas to more than
126,000 customers in 1,325 square miles of service
territory in seven counties: Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Iowa,
Juneau, Monroe and Vernon. MGE has served the Madison area since
1896.
MGE Power, LLC has been formed to develop, acquire and own real
estate and electric generating facilities. Together with the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, we expect MGE Power West
Campus, LLC, a subsidiary of MGE Power, LLC, to develop and
build a natural gas-fired cogeneration plant to help meet the
future needs of the University and MGE customers. The facility
will produce steam heat and chilled water air conditioning for
the University and up to 150 MW of electricity to meet
demand in the Madison area. Through MGE Power, LLC, we also have
an option (subject to regulatory approvals and other
contingencies) to obtain a 1/12th equity interest in up to
three coal-fired base-load generating facilities that are a part
of Wisconsin Energy Corporations Power the Future
proposal. The proposal includes three 600 MW coal-fired
generating units, and our option permits us to obtain an
ownership interest equivalent to no more than 150 MW of
generating capacity.
Our other non-regulated subsidiaries include MGE Construct, LLC,
which provides construction services for generating facilities,
Central Wisconsin Development Corp., which provides
property-related services and financing to promote development
in the MGE service area, and MAGAEL LLC, which holds title to
properties acquired for future utility plant expansion and
non-utility property.
Our principal executive offices are located at 133 South Blair
Street, Madison, Wisconsin
53703-1231, and our
telephone number is (608) 252-7000. We also have a web site
located at www.mgeenergy.com.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we indicate otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we
expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of the common stock
for financing capital expenditures and future acquisitions, to
refund or redeem debt and for other general corporate purposes.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any
specific allocation of the proceeds to a particular purpose that
we have made at the date of such prospectus supplement. We will
temporarily invest any net proceeds that we do not immediately
use in marketable securities.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 50,000,000 shares
of common stock, par value $1 per share, of which as of
August 14, 2003, 17,912,933 shares were issued and
outstanding. We have not redeemed any of our common stock nor do
we hold any shares of common stock as treasury stock.
The following summarizes certain provisions of our Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation and the Wisconsin Business
Corporation Law that relate to our common stock and certain
relevant provisions of the Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of
Trust, dated as of January 1, 1946 between MGE and First
Wisconsin Trust Company (now known as U.S. Bank, N.A.), as
Trustee, and indentures supplemental thereto (collectively, the
Bond Indenture).
4
Voting Rights
Except as described below under Limitation of Voting
Rights of Substantial Shareholders, each share of our
common stock entitles its holder to one vote in all elections of
directors and any other matter submitted to a vote at a meeting
of shareholders. Since our common stock does not have cumulative
voting rights, the holders of more than 50% of the shares, if
they choose to do so, can elect all of the directors.
All corporate action to be taken by our shareholders may be
authorized by a majority of votes cast by holders entitled to
vote at a duly authorized meeting, although:
|
|
|
|
|
the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of our
outstanding stock is necessary to amend our Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation and to approve various fundamental
corporate changes, including a merger or share exchange or the
sale of all or substantially all of our assets or the
dissolution of our company; and |
|
|
|
the approval of 80% of the votes cast by holders entitled to
vote at a duly authorized meeting is required to amend the
provisions of our Amended and Restated By-laws relating to the
removal of directors only for cause. |
Limitation of Voting Rights of Substantial Shareholders
Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation provide for
limited voting rights by the record holders of our voting
stock which is beneficially owned by a Substantial
Shareholder (as defined below). These provisions may render more
difficult or discourage (1) a merger involving our company,
(2) an acquisition of our company, (3) the acquisition
of control over our company by a Substantial Shareholder, and
(4) the removal of incumbent management. Voting
stock is defined in our Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation to include our common stock and any class or
series of preferred or preference stock then outstanding
entitling its holder to vote on any matter with respect to which
a determination is being made, unless our shareholders or our
board of directors expressly exempt a class or series of our
preferred or preference stock from this provision of our Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation. Our Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation do not presently authorize any class
of stock other than common stock.
A Substantial Shareholder is defined in our Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation as any person or entity
(other than us, any of our subsidiaries, our and our
subsidiaries employee benefit plans and the trustees
thereof), or any group formed for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting, or disposing of shares of voting stock, that is
the beneficial owner of voting stock representing 10% or more of
the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all the then
outstanding shares of voting stock. For purposes of our Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation, a person is deemed to be
a beneficial owner of any shares of voting stock
which that person (or any of its affiliates or associates)
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or has the right to
acquire or to vote, or which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other person with which that person (or any
of its affiliates or associates) has an agreement, arrangement,
or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting,
or disposing of voting stock.
A Substantial Shareholder (including the shareholders of record
of its beneficially owned shares) is entitled to cast one vote
per share (or another number of votes per share as may be
specified in or pursuant to our Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation) with respect to the shares of voting stock which
would entitle the Substantial Shareholder to cast up to 10% of
the total number of votes entitled to be cast in respect of all
the outstanding shares of voting stock. With respect to shares
of voting stock that would entitle the Substantial Shareholder
to cast more than 10% of the total number of votes, however, the
Substantial Shareholder is entitled to only one one-hundredth
(1/100th) of the votes per share which it would otherwise be
entitled to cast. In addition, in no event may a Substantial
Shareholder exercise more than 15% of the total voting power of
the holders of voting stock (after giving effect to the
foregoing limitations).
If the shares of voting stock beneficially owned by a
Substantial Shareholder are held of record by more than one
person, the aggregate voting power of all holders of record, as
limited by the provisions described above, will be allocated in
proportion to the number of shares held. In addition, our
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation provide that a
majority of the voting power of all the outstanding shares of
voting
5
stock (after giving effect to the foregoing limitations on
voting rights) constitutes a quorum at all meetings of
shareholders.
The following is an example of how the votes available to a
Substantial Shareholder would be limited by the provision in our
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. The example
assumes we have a Substantial Shareholder who holds 600 of 1,000
outstanding shares of voting stock. In the absence of the
provision, the Substantial Shareholder would be entitled to cast
600 out of 1,000 votes, or 60%i.e., one vote for
each share held. Under the provision, the Substantial
Shareholder would be limited to 70 out of 470 votes, or just
under 15%. The provision restricts the votes available to the
Substantial Shareholder in two waysit limits the votes
available for shares representing more than 10% of the
outstanding voting stock and further limits the vote so
calculated to no more than 15% of the total voting power of the
holders of voting stock. Under the first limit, the Substantial
Shareholder would have 105 votesone vote for each share up
to 10% of the outstanding voting stock (100 shares
representing 100 votes) and one-one hundredth vote for each
additional share (500 shares representing 5 votes). The
second limit would further restrict the votes available since,
prior to any further adjustment, the Substantial Shareholder
would be entitled to cast 21% of the total voting
poweri.e., 105 votes out of a total of 505 votes
then entitled to be cast (that is, 105 votes by the Substantial
Shareholder and 400 votes by all other shareholders). The second
limit reduces those votes until the percentage does not exceed
15%i.e., 70 votes out of a total of 470 entitled to
be cast by all shareholders (that is, 70 votes by the
Substantial Shareholder and 400 votes by all other shareholders).
Accordingly, beneficial owners of more than 10% of the
outstanding shares of our voting stock will be unable to
exercise voting rights proportionate to their equity interests.
Subject to specified expectations, Section 180.1150 of the
Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, which is referred to as the
Wisconsin control share statute, limits the voting power of
shares of a Wisconsin corporation held by any person or persons
acting as a group in excess of 20% of the voting power in the
election of directors to 10% of the full voting power of those
excess shares. In other words, a person holding 500 shares
of a corporation subject to Section 180.1150 of the
Wisconsin Business Corporation Law with 1,000 shares
outstanding would be limited to 230 votes (that is, 200 votes
(20% of the total voting power) plus 30 votes (10% of the excess
300 shares)) on any matter subjected to a shareholder vote.
Full voting power may be restored if a majority of the voting
power shares represented at a meeting are voted in favor of a
restoration of full voting power. This provision may deter any
shareholder from acquiring in excess of 20% of our outstanding
voting stock.
Possible Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of our
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and
Restated By-laws and Wisconsin State Law
Provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
and Amended and Restated By-laws providing for a classified
board of directors, limiting the rights of shareholders to
remove directors, reducing the voting power of persons holding
10% or more of our common stock, requiring a two-thirds vote
with respect to an amendment of the Articles and various
fundamental corporate changes and permitting us to issue
additional shares of common stock without further shareholder
approval except as required under rules of the Nasdaq National
Market could have the effect, among others, of discouraging
takeover proposals for our company or impeding a business
combination between us and a major shareholder.
The Wisconsin Holding Company Act provides that no person may
take, hold or acquire, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of
the outstanding voting securities of a holding company unless
the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW)
determines that such action is in the best interest of utility
consumers, investors and the public.
Dividend Rights
Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends on
their shares when, as and if declared by our board of directors
out of funds legally available for distribution. As a practical
matter, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock will be
determined by the ability of our operating subsidiaries,
principally MGE, to pay dividends to us.
6
MGEs ability to pay dividends to us will be subject to its
earnings and the needs of its business and, to a degree, the
provisions of the Wisconsin Holding Company Act. The PSCW has
the authority under that Act to restrict the payment of
dividends by MGE if it finds that MGEs capital will be
impaired by payment of those dividends. Also, as part of the
approval we received from the PSCW to become the holding company
for MGE, the PSCW limited MGE from paying dividends in excess of
its traditional dividend policy so long as its common equity
ratio is below 55 percent. As of June 30, 2003,
MGEs common equity ratio was 55.2%.
Also, under the terms of the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture
to the Bond Indenture, so long as any of the bonds authorized
thereunder are outstanding, dividends on MGEs common stock
cannot exceed an amount equal to MGEs retained income,
less dividends, in each case accumulated since December 31,
1945. No portion of MGEs retained income is so restricted
at this time. At present, there is one series of bonds
outstanding under the Seventeenth Supplement to the Bond
Indenture, representing indebtedness in the amount of
$21,200,000.
Liquidation Rights
In the event we liquidate or dissolve, holders of our then
outstanding common stock are entitled to receive ratably all of
our assets remaining after all of our liabilities have been
paid. In addition, because our operations are currently
conducted primarily through MGE, the rights of the holders of
our common stock to participate in the distribution of assets of
MGE upon the liquidation or reorganization of that subsidiary or
otherwise will be subject to the prior claims of any holders of
preferred stock of MGE. Currently, there is no outstanding
preferred stock of MGE.
Preemptive and Subscription Rights
Holders of our common stock, solely by virtue of their holdings,
do not have any preemptive rights to subscribe for or purchase
any shares of our capital stock which we may issue in the future.
Liability to Further Calls or to Assessment
All of our outstanding shares of common stock have been fully
paid and are nonassessable. However, in accordance with
Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin Business
Corporation Law, shareholders may be personally liable for an
amount equal to the par value of their stock for all debts owing
to our employees for services performed, but not exceeding six
months service in any one case.
Miscellaneous
We reserve the right to increase, decrease, or reclassify our
authorized capital stock and to amend or repeal any provisions
in our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or in any
amendment thereto in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by
law, subject to the limitations in our Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation. All rights conferred on the holders
of our common stock in our Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation or any amendment thereto are subject to this
reservation. Our common stock does not have any conversion
rights.
COMMON STOCK DIVIDENDS AND MARKET
We have paid four dividends on common stock since the share
exchange in which we became the parent holding company of MGE.
Our practice of paying dividends quarterly (in March, June,
September, and December), the time of payment, and the amount of
future dividends are necessarily dependent upon our earnings,
financial requirements, and other factors.
Our common stock is traded in the
over-the-counter market
and is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
MGEE.
7
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell shares of our common stock, in or outside of the
United States, to underwriters or dealers, through agents,
directly to purchasers or through a combination of these
methods. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain
specific information relating to the terms of the offering,
including:
|
|
|
|
|
the name or names of any underwriters or agents; |
|
|
|
the purchase price of the common stock; |
|
|
|
our net proceeds from the sale of the common stock; |
|
|
|
any underwriting discounts and other items constituting
underwriters compensation; and |
|
|
|
the initial public offering price and any discounts or
concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers. |
By Underwriters
If underwriters are used in the sale, the shares of common stock
will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account.
Underwriters may offer the common stock directly or through
underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing
underwriters. The underwriters may resell the common stock in
one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at
a fixed public offering price, which may be changed, or at
varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations
of the underwriters to purchase the shares of common stock will
be subject to certain conditions. The initial public offering
price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or
paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
By Dealers
If dealers are used in the sale, unless otherwise specified in
the applicable prospectus supplement, we will sell the shares of
common stock to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then
resell the common stock to the public at varying prices to be
determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The applicable
prospectus supplement will contain more information about the
dealers, including the names of the dealers and the terms of our
agreement with them.
By Agents and Direct Sales
We may sell the shares of common stock directly to the public,
without the use of underwriters, dealers or agents. We may also
sell the common stock through agents we designate from time to
time. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain more
information about the agents, including the names of the agents
and any commission we agree to pay the agents.
We also may engage Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. (Banc
One) from time to time to act as agent or principal for
the offer of our common stock in one or more placements pursuant
to a distribution agreement. If we and Banc One agree, we will
sell to Banc One, as agent or as principal, and Banc One will
seek to solicit offers to purchase on an agency basis and/or
will purchase on a principal basis, our common stock. The number
and purchase price (less an underwriting discount) of the shares
we sell to Banc One will be mutually agreed on the relevant
trading day. The common stock sold under the distribution
agreement will be sold at prices related to the prevailing
market price for such securities, and therefore exact figures
regarding the share price, proceeds that will be raised or
commissions to be paid will be described in a prospectus
supplement to this prospectus or in other filings made in
accordance with and as permitted by the Securities Act of 1933
and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Banc One may make sales
of our common stock pursuant to the distribution agreement in
privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method
permitted by law deemed to be an
at-the-market
offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the
Securities Act of 1933 including sales made on the NASDAQ
National Market, the current trading market for our common
stock. At-the-market
offerings may not exceed 10% of the aggregate market value of
our outstanding voting securities held by non-affiliates
calculated as of a date within 60 days prior to the filing
of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
8
General Information
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the
distribution of the common stock may be deemed underwriters as
defined in the Securities Act of 1933, and any discounts or
commissions we pay to them and any profit made by them on the
resale of the common stock may be treated as underwriting
discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any
underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation
from us will be described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
We may agree with the underwriters, dealers and agents to
indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with
respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents
may be required to make.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in
transactions with or perform services for, us in the ordinary
course of their businesses.
LEGAL MATTERS
Legal matters with respect to the common stock offered by this
prospectus will be passed upon for us by Stafford Rosenbaum LLP,
Madison, Wisconsin. Underwriters counsel will render an
opinion as to the validity of the common stock for any
underwriters, dealers, purchasers or agents.
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by
reference to the combined Annual Report on
Form 10-K of MGE
Energy, Inc. and Madison Gas and Electric Company for the year
ended December 31, 2002 have been so incorporated in
reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as
experts in auditing and accounting.
9