================================================================= FORM 8-A SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 -------------------- FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 -------------------- MONTANA POWER CAPITAL I (Exact name of registrant as specified in its Trust Agreement) Delaware To Be Applied For (State of incorporation or (I.R.S. Employer organization) Identification No.) 40 East Broadway Butte, Montana 59701-9394 (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) ---------------- Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: ======================================================================== Title of each class Name of each exchange on which to be so registered each class is to be so registered ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8.45% Cumulative Quarterly New York Stock Exchange Income Preferred Securities (and the Guarantee with respect thereto) ======================================================================== If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1), please check the following box. [ ] If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(2), please check the following box. [ ] Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None ---------------- The Commission respectfully is requested to send copies of all notices, orders and communications to: Robert G. Schuur Reid & Priest LLP 40 West 57th Street New York, New York 10019 ========================================================================== INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be -------------------------------------------- Registered. ---------- The securities to be registered hereby are 8.45% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities ("Preferred Securities"), of Montana Power Capital I, a Delaware business trust. The Preferred Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Montana Power Capital I and are guaranteed by The Montana Power Company (the "Company"), a Montana corporation, to the extent set forth in the form of the Guarantee Agreement by the Company to The Bank of New York, as Guarantee Trustee (the "Guarantee"). The Guarantee is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(d) to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company and Montana Power Capital I (Registration Nos. 333-14369 and 333-14369-01) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on October 18, 1996. Such registration statement, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), became effective on October 31, 1996. The particular terms of the Preferred Securities and the Guarantee are described in the Prospectus, dated November 1, 1996, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the Registration Statement (the "Prospectus"). The Prospectus and the form of Guarantee are incorporated by reference herein as set forth in Item 2 below. Item 2. Exhibits. -------- The Preferred Securities described herein are to be registered on the New York Stock Exchange, on which no other securities of Montana Power Capital I are registered. Accordingly, the following Exhibits required in accordance with Part II to the instructions as to Exhibits to Form 8-A have been duly filed with the New York Stock Exchange. Each Exhibit was previously filed as indicated with the Commission and is incorporated herein by reference. Exhibit Description and Method Number of Filing ------- ---------------------- 1(a) The Prospectus Filed pursuant to Rule 424 in connection with the Registration Statement of the Company and Montana Power Capital I (Reg. Nos. 333-14369 and 333- 14369-01). 4(a) Certificate of Trust of Filed as Exhibit 4(b) Montana Power Capital I to the Registration (contained in Form of Statement of the Amended and Restated Company and Montana Trust Agreement) Power Capital I (Reg. Nos. 333-14369 and 333- 14369-01). 4(b) Trust Agreement of Filed as Exhibit 4(a) Montana Power Capital I to the Registration Statement of the Company and Montana Power Capital I (Reg. Nos. 333-14369 and 333- 14369-01). 4(c) Form of Amended and Filed as Exhibit 4(b) Restated Trust to the Registration Agreement of Montana Statement of the Power Capital I Company and Montana Power Capital I (Reg. Nos. 333-14369 and 333- 14369-01). 4(d) Form of Indenture Filed as Exhibit 4(c) between the Company and to the Registration The Bank of New York, Statement of the as Trustee Company and Montana Power Capital I (Reg. Nos. 333-14369 and 333- 14369-01). 4(e) Form of Subordinated Filed as Exhibit 4(f) Debt Security to the Registration (contained in the Form Statement of the of Officer's Company and Montana Certificate) Power Capital I (Reg. Nos. 333-14369 and 333- 14369-01). 4(f) Form of Guarantee Filed as Exhibit 4(d) Agreement to the Registration Statement of the Company and Montana Power Capital I (Reg. Nos. 333-14369 and 333- 14369-01). 5(a) Form of Preferred Filed as Exhibit 4(g) Security to the Registration Statement of the Company and Montana Power Capital I (Reg. Nos. 333-14369 and 333- 14369-01). SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized. Dated: November 5, 1996 Montana Power Capital I By: /s/ Ellen M. Senechal -------------------------- (Authorized Representative)