As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2000 REGISTRATION NO. 33-56424 ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ---------------------- POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 EASTERN ENTERPRISES (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) MASSACHUSETTS 04-1270730 (State or other Jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) of Incorporation or Organization) 9 RIVERSIDE ROAD WESTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02493 (Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EASTERN ENTERPRISES EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN (full title of plan) ------------------------------------------------ L. WILLIAM LAW, JR. Eastern Enterprises 9 Riverside Road Weston, Massachusetts 02493 (781) 647-2300 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service) --------------------------------------------------------- Please send copies of all communications to: DAVID B. WALEK, ESQ. Ropes & Gray One International Place Boston, MA 02110 617-951-7000 ================================================================================ Pursuant to Rule 478(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant hereby de-registers any and all shares of Eastern Enterprises Common Stock originally registered hereunder which have not been issued. The Eastern Enterprises Employee Stock Purchase Plan, pursuant to which the shares would have been issued, has either expired by its terms or been terminated and no additional shares may be issued or sold under such plan. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the Town of Weston, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on this 13th day of November, 2000 EASTERN ENTERPRISES /s/ L. William Law, Jr. - ---------------------------- By: L. William Law, Jr. Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post- Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Signature Title Date - ---------------------- --------------------------------- ------------------ * Chairman of the Board, November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- Chief Executive Officer J. Atwood Ives and Trustee * President and Chief November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- Operating Officer Fred C. Raskin * Executive Vice President November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- and Chief Financial Officer Walter J. Flaherty * Senior Vice President and November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- President of Midland Enterprises J. Mark Cook * Senior Vice President, General November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- Counsel and Secretary L. Willliam Law, Jr. * Senior Vice President, November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- President of Boston Gas, Colonial Chester R. Messer Gas and Essex Gas * Trustee November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- James R. Barker * Trustee November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- Richard S. Clayton * Trustee November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- John D. Curtin, Jr. * Trustee November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- Samuel Frankenheim * Trustee November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- Leonard R. Jaskol * Trustee November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- Wendell J. Knox * Trustee November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- F.L. Putnam, Jr. * Trustee November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- Rina K. Spence * Trustee November 13, 2000 - ---------------------- David B. Stone *The undersigned, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign and execute this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-8 on behalf of the above named officers and Trustees of Eastern Enterprises pursuant to the Power of Attorney executed by each such officer and/or Trustee and previously filed with the SEC. By: /s/ L. William Law, Jr. November 13, 2000 --------------------------- L. William Law, Jr. Attorney-in-Fact 2