UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 28, 2013

 

 

 

Commission

File Number

 

Registrant; State of Incorporation;

Address; and Telephone Number

 

I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.

   
333-21011   FIRSTENERGY CORP.   34-1843785
 

(An Ohio Corporation)

76 South Main Street

Akron, OH 44308

Telephone (800)736-3402

 
   
   
   
000-53742   FIRSTENERGY SOLUTIONS CORP.   31-1560186
 

(An Ohio Corporation)

c/o FirstEnergy Corp.

76 South Main Street

Akron, OH 44308

Telephone (800)736-3402

 
   
   
   
   

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 8.01 Other Events

On February 28, 2013, FirstEnergy Corp. (the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement, dated February 28, 2013 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, RBS Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., PNC Capital Markets LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Underwriters $650 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018 (the “Series A Notes”) and $850 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023 (the “Series B Notes” and, together with the Series A Notes, the “Notes”). The Notes are registered under the Company’s automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-181519) which was filed and became effective on May 18, 2012.

The Company received net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes of approximately $1.489 billion after deducting the underwriters’ discount and estimated expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes to fund all or a portion of the amounts necessary for its subsidiaries FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. (“FES”) and Allegheny Energy Supply Company, LLC (“AE Supply”) to complete the previously announced tender offers for certain series of their respective outstanding long-term debt securities. Pending such repayment, the Company may use the net proceeds to temporarily repay its short-term borrowings under the money pool for its unregulated companies and its revolving credit facility, with the remainder being invested in that money pool. In addition, to the extent available, the Company will use net proceeds for general corporate purposes.

The Series A Notes will mature on March 15, 2018 and the Series B Notes will mature on March 15, 2023. The Series A Notes will bear interest at the rate of 2.75% per annum and the Series B Notes will bear interest at the rate of 4.25% per annum. Interest on the Notes is payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2013 until their respective maturity. The Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part from time to time, at the Company’s option, prior to the date that is one month prior to maturity for the Series A Notes and the date that is three months prior to maturity for the Series B Notes, at a “make-whole” redemption price. After the date that is one month prior to maturity for the Series A Notes and the date that is three months prior to maturity for the Series B Notes, the Notes are redeemable at par.

The Notes were issued on March 5, 2013 under an Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2001, as amended (the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (the “Trustee”). The disclosure in this Item 8.01 is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto, the form of Series A Note, which is filed as Exhibit 4.2 hereto, and the form of Series B Note, which is filed as Exhibit 4.3 hereto. Such exhibits are incorporated herein by reference.

On March 1, 2013, the Company announced the satisfaction of the financing condition of the previously announced cash tender offers of FES and AE Supply as a result of entering into the Underwriting Agreement, the press release for which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated February 28, 2013, by and among the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, RBS Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., PNC Capital Markets LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., as representatives for the underwriters named therein.
  4.1    Officer’s Certificate dated March 5, 2013.
  4.2    Form of Series A Note (contained in Exhibit 4.1 hereto).
  4.3    Form of Series B Note (contained in Exhibit 4.1 hereto).
  5.1    Opinion of Gina K. Gunning, Esq.
  5.2    Opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
23.1    Consent of Gina K. Gunning, Esq. (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
23.2    Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.2 hereto)
99.1    Press Release issued by FirstEnergy, dated March 1, 2013.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto authorized.

March 5, 2013

 

 

FIRSTENERGY CORP.

Registrant

 

FIRSTENERGY SOLUTIONS CORP.

Registrant

By:  

/s/ Harvey L. Wagner

 

Harvey L. Wagner

Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

Exhibit 1.1

FIRSTENERGY CORP.

(an Ohio corporation)

$650,000,000 2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018

$850,000,000 4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

February 28, 2013

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

RBS Securities Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

  

As Representatives of the Underwriters

  named in Schedule I to the Underwriting

  Agreement (as defined below)

  
c/o   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10179

  

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282-2198

  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, NY 10036

  

PNC Capital Markets LLC

225 Fifth Avenue, 5 th Floor

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

  

RBS Securities Inc.

600 Washington Blvd.

Stamford, CT 06901

  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Three World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10013

  

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

1 Liberty Plaza, 25th Floor

New York, NY 10006

Ladies and Gentlemen:

FirstEnergy Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Ohio (the “ Company ”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “ Underwriters ”, which term, when the


context permits, shall also include any underwriters substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 11 ), for whom J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, RBS Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., PNC Capital Markets LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “ Representatives ”), $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018 (the “ 2018 Notes ”) and $850,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023 (the “ 2023 Notes ” and, together with the 2018 Notes, the “ Notes ”), to be issued under the Company’s Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2001, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as heretofore supplemented (the “ Senior Note Indenture ”) and as to be further supplemented, for the issuance of the Notes, by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee pursuant to resolutions of the finance committee of the board of directors of the Company to be effective on or about March 5, 2013 (the “ Officer’s Certificate ,” and, together with the Senior Note Indenture, hereinafter referred to as the “ Indenture ”) in accordance with the terms set forth in this underwriting agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”). The Notes shall have the series designation, denominations, issue price, maturities, interest rates, redemption provisions, if any, and other terms as set forth in the General Disclosure Package (hereinafter defined).

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties .

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(i) An “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 (“ Rule 405 ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), on Form S-3 (File No. 333-181519) to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of debt securities, including the Notes, and other securities of the Company under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Rules and Regulations ”) and the offering thereof from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act, has been prepared and filed by the Company not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Company will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the terms of the Notes pursuant to Rule 424(b) (“ Rule 424(b) ”) under the Securities Act. The Company qualifies for use of Form S-3 for the registration of the Notes and the Notes are registered under the Securities Act. “ Registration Statement ” as of any time means such registration statement in the form then filed with the Commission, including any amendment thereto, any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and any information in a prospectus or prospectus supplement deemed or retroactively deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B (“ Rule 430B ”) or 430C (“ Rule 430C ”) under the Securities Act that has not been superseded or modified. “ Registration Statement ” without reference to a time means the Registration Statement as of the Applicable Time (as hereinafter defined), which time shall be considered the “ Effective Date ” of the Registration Statement relating to the Notes. For purposes of this definition, information contained in a form of prospectus or prospectus supplement that is deemed retroactively to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B shall be considered to be included in the Registration Statement as of the time specified in Rule 430B. At the time of filing the

 

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Registration Statement, at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or form of prospectus), at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Notes in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Securities Act, and as of the date hereof, the Company was and is a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

(ii) At the time the Registration Statement initially became effective, at the time that each amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether by post-effective amendment, incorporated report or form of prospectus) became effective and on the Effective Date relating to the Notes, the Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (“ Trust Indenture Act ”), as the case may be, and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. On the date hereof, on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (as defined in this paragraph (ii)) will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations, and neither of such documents will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except that the foregoing does not apply to statements in or omissions from any of such documents made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives, if any, specifically for use therein or to any statements in or omissions from the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of the Trustee under the Indenture, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof, but nothing contained herein is intended as a waiver of compliance with the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. For purposes of this Underwriting Agreement, “ Statutory Prospectus ” as of any time means the preliminary prospectus supplement (which term includes the base prospectus) relating to the Notes that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any basic prospectus or prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B or 430C that has not been superseded or modified. For purposes of this definition, information contained in a form of prospectus (including a prospectus supplement) that is deemed retroactively to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus only as of the actual time that form of prospectus (including a prospectus supplement) is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and not retroactively. “ Prospectus ” means the final prospectus supplement (which term includes the base prospectus) that discloses the public offering price and other final terms of the Notes and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

(iii) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package (as hereinafter defined) and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material

 

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respects with the requirements, as applicable, of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and, when read together with other information in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as applicable, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

(iv)(A) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Notes and (B) on the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

(v) As of the Applicable Time (as defined in this paragraph (v)), neither (A) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined in this paragraph (v)) listed in Schedule II hereto, the Statutory Prospectus, considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), nor (B) any electronic road show used in connection with the offering of the Notes or any individual Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined in this paragraph (v)), in each case when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any prospectus included in the Registration Statement or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. “ Applicable Time ” means 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the date hereof. “ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 (“ Rule 433 ”) under the Securities Act, relating to the Notes.

(vi) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offering and sale of the Notes or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in the next sentence and in Section 3(j) hereof, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(vii) The historical consolidated financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package.

 

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(viii) The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(ix) Since the most recent time as of which information is given in the General Disclosure Package, other than as set forth therein or contemplated thereby, there has not occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, which has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below).

(x) The Company has been incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio, has the corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate its property and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package and is qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

(xi) Each significant subsidiary (as defined in Regulation S-X) of the Company as of December 31, 2012 (each, a “ Significant Subsidiary ”) has been organized, is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization, has the power and authority as a corporation or other entity necessary to own, lease or operate its property and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package and is qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(xii) The Company or one or more of its direct or indirect subsidiaries owns all of the common stock, membership interests or other ownership interests, as applicable, in each Significant Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and adverse claims, except for such liens, encumbrances and adverse claims as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(xiii) This Underwriting Agreement has been authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(xiv) The Senior Note Indenture has been, and on the Closing Date, the Indenture will be, (1) qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and (2) authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, by general equitable principles (whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or in law) and by an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

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(xv) The Notes have been authorized by the Company, and, when they have been executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture, and issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, by general equitable principles (whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and by an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and will be entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture.

(xvi) The Notes and the Senior Note Indenture conform, and on the Closing Date, the Indenture will conform, in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package.

(xvii) Neither the issuance and sale of the Notes nor the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes will result in a violation or default of, or the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to, (a) any provision of applicable law, (b) the articles of incorporation or code of regulations or bylaws, as the case may be, or other organizational documents, each as amended, of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company, (c) any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or (d) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties, except in the case of clauses (a), (c) and (d) for any such violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Furthermore, neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary of the Company is (x) in violation of any applicable law, or (y) in violation or in default, of its respective articles of incorporation or code of regulations or bylaws, as the case may be, each as amended, or other organizational documents, or in the performance of any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other contract, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or by which any of them is bound, or to which any of its property or assets is subject, except such violations or defaults as have been waived or that would not reasonably be expected to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(xviii) Other than as disclosed in the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, to which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company are subject wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Underwriting Agreement, or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package.

(xix) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act

 

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and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Notes by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and in the General Disclosure Package. The Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries has all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted except where the failure to do so, in each case, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(xx) Other than as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries (i) is in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) has received (or has applied for) all permits, licenses, consent decrees or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business and (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license, consent decree or approval, except in cases in which that noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses, consent decrees or other approvals, or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses, consent decrees or approvals would not reasonably be expected to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxi) The Company maintains (x) systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (y) a system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files with the Commission pursuant to the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting.

(xxii) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(xxiii) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and issued its report with respect to the audited

 

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consolidated financial statements and schedules included and incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and the rules and regulations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(xxiv) Schedule III hereto sets forth a complete and accurate list of each of the Company’s Significant Subsidiaries.

(xxv) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge , any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 relating to loans and Sections 302 and 906 relating to certifications.

(b) Officer’s Certificates . Any certificate signed by any authorized officer of the Company and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters in connection with this offering shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby as of the date of such certificate.

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing .

(a) Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 99.390%, in the case of the 2018 Notes, and 99.276%, in the case of the 2023 Notes, of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from March 5, 2013 to the Closing Date, the principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto plus any additional principal amount of Notes which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 , subject to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Notes.

(b) Payment and Delivery. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, the Notes shall be made at the office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, at 10:00 a.m., (Eastern Time), on the third business day after the date hereof, or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the “ Closing Date ”).

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery to the Underwriters for the account of the Underwriters of the Notes to be purchased by them.

The delivery of the Notes shall be made in fully registered form, registered in the name of CEDE & CO., to the offices of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) in New York, New York, or its designee, and the Underwriters shall accept such delivery.

 

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The certificate(s) representing the Notes shall be made available by the Company for examination by the Representatives not later than 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the last business day prior to the Closing Date at such place as may be agreed upon between the Representatives and the Company.

SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants with the Underwriters as follows:

(a) To promptly file each Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.

(b) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof or any order suspending or preventing the use of the Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or other such order and to obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued.

(c) To furnish without charge to the Representatives as many copies of the Prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference therein at or after the date thereof and any amendments and supplements thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request. The terms “supplement” and “amendment” as used in this Underwriting Agreement shall include all documents filed by the Company with the Commission subsequent to the date of the Prospectus pursuant to the Exchange Act which are deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.

(d) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus or filing with the Commission any document pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, during the period referred to in paragraph (e) below, to furnish to the Representatives a copy of each such proposed amendment, supplement or document for the Representatives’ review prior to filing and not to file any such proposed amendment, supplement or document to which the Representatives reasonably object.

(e) The Company will promptly notify the Underwriters, and confirm such notice in writing (which notice and confirmation may be satisfied by providing the Underwriters with any related periodic report filed under the Exchange Act), of (x) any filing made by the Company of information relating to the offering of the Notes with any securities exchange or any other regulatory body in the United States or any other jurisdiction, and (y) any material changes in or affecting the business, properties, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which (i) make any statement in the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented materially false or misleading or (ii) are not disclosed in the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented. If, at any time when a prospectus covering the Notes is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 under the Securities Act would be) required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Notes by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or counsel for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or to amend or supplement the Prospectus or modify the information incorporated by reference therein

 

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in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 under the Securities Act would be) delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus or modify such information to comply with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, forthwith to prepare and file with the Commission and to furnish (subject to the conditions in paragraph (c) above), at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Representatives will furnish to the Company) to which Notes may have been sold by the Underwriters, and to any other dealers upon request, such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or modifications to the documents incorporated by reference therein, so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended, supplemented or modified will not, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time such Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. If, prior to the Closing Date, there occurs an event or development as a result of which the General Disclosure Package would include an untrue statement of a material fact or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the General Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, the Company promptly will notify the Representatives so that any use of the General Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented, and will promptly prepare an amendment or supplement that will correct such statement or omission.

(f) The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Notes for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect as long as required for the sale of the Notes; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. The Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of each jurisdiction in which the Notes have been qualified as above provided. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Notes for sale in any such state or jurisdiction or the initiating or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose. The Company will also supply the Underwriters with such information as is necessary for the determination of the legality of the Notes for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably request .

(g) The Company shall take all reasonable action necessary to enable Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“ S&P ”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“ Moody’s ”) and Fitch Ratings Inc. (“ Fitch ”) to provide their respective credit ratings of the Notes.

(h) The Company will use the proceeds received by it from the sale of the Notes in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

 

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(i) During a period beginning on the date of this Underwriting Agreement and continuing to and including the Closing Date, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly, issue, sell, offer or agree to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, any other debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries substantially similar to the Notes or securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, the Notes.

(j) If at any time following the issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that time, not misleading, (A) the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and (B) the Company will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(k) The Company will make generally available to its security holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, an earning statement of the Company (which need not be audited, unless required so to be under Section 11(a) of the Securities Act), covering a period of at least 12 months beginning within three months after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158 under the Securities Act) of the Registration Statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

SECTION 4. Free Writing Prospectuses .

(a) Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. The Company represents that it has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 164 under the Securities Act and Rule 433 applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping. The parties hereto agree that the only Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses issued on or prior to the Applicable Time and consented to by the Company and the Representatives are specified on Schedule II hereto (including the final term sheet prepared in accordance with Section 4(b) below).

(b) Final Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a final term sheet relating to the Notes, containing only information that describes the final terms of the Notes and otherwise in a form consented to by the Representatives, and will file such final term sheet within the period required by Rule 433(d)(5)(ii). Any such final term sheet is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Underwriting Agreement and is specified in Schedule II hereto.

 

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SECTION 5. Payment of Expenses .

(a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Underwriting Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and any filing of each Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus, any electronic road show and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and of each amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the preparation, reproduction and delivery to the Underwriters of this Underwriting Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Notes, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Notes to the Underwriters, including any charges of DTC in connection therewith, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors (but not the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters), (v) the qualification of the Notes under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey, any supplement thereto and any legal investment survey (such fees and disbursements not to exceed $7,500), (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Notes and (vii) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Notes in accordance with Section 3(g) hereof.

(b) Termination of Underwriting Agreement. If this Underwriting Agreement is terminated by the Underwriters in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 , the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters which were reasonably incurred.

SECTION 6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1(a) as of the Applicable Time, the time this Underwriting Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements made in certificates of the Company executed by any officer of the Company or any officer of any of the Company’s subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) No Stop Orders . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Underwriting Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall be in effect, no order of the Commission directed to the adequacy or accuracy of any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus shall be in effect, and no proceedings for either purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or relating to the offering of the Notes shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission.

(b) No Material Adverse Change . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Underwriting Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the Applicable Time), any Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.

 

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(c) Officer’s Certificate . The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Sections 6(a) and (b)  above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company in Section 1(a) were true and correct in all material respects when made and are true and correct in all material respects with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Date, and that the Company has complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date. The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

(d) Opinions of Counsel for the Company. At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received the favorable opinions, each dated as of the Closing Date, of Gina K. Gunning, Esq., Associate General Counsel of FirstEnergy Corp., Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, special counsel to the Company, and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Morristown, New Jersey, special New Jersey counsel to the Company, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letters for the other Underwriters, to the effect set forth in Exhibits A-1 , A-2 and A-3 hereto and to such further effects as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request. Each counsel may state that, insofar as her or its opinion involves factual matters, such counsel has relied, to the extent she or it deems proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

(e) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Date, of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters. In giving such opinion such counsel may state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

(f) Comfort Letter.

(i) On or prior to the date of this Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a comfort letter, dated the date hereof, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters (of the type ordinarily issued in transactions covered by registration statements filed under the Securities Act) with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and any Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus or incorporated therein by reference, with a specified date not more than three business days prior to the date hereof.

(ii) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a letter dated as of the Closing Date, confirming, as of a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Date, the statements contained in the letter delivered pursuant to Section 6(f)(i) hereof.

 

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(g) Maintenance of Ratings. The Company shall have delivered to the Underwriters a letter, dated as of the Closing Date, from each of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, confirming that the Notes have been assigned the ratings set forth on the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus substantially in the form attached as Annex A to Schedule II hereof and filed with the Commission on the date hereof; and since the date of this Underwriting Agreement, there shall not have occurred any downgrading or withdrawal, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or withdrawal or of any surveillance or review for a possible change that either indicates a negative change or does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company’s securities by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch.

(h) Clearance and Settlement. At the Closing Date, the Notes shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

(i) Additional Documents. At the Closing Date, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Notes as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained.

(j) Termination of Underwriting Agreement. If any condition contemplated by this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriters by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Date, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 5 and except that Sections 7 , 8 , 9 , 15(a) and 15(b) shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 7. Indemnification .

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities that arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus at any time, the Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission are based upon information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished

 

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by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof, or are based upon statements or omissions from that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of the Trustee. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity and reimbursement obligation from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with respect to untrue statements or alleged untrue statements or omissions or alleged omissions made in the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriters through the Representative expressly for use therein. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page of the Prospectus regarding delivery of the Notes and, under the caption “Underwriting,” (i) the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph, (ii) the seventh paragraph, and (iii) the third sentence in the eighth paragraph related to market making activities, in the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for use in the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters may otherwise have.

(c) Actions Against Parties; Notification. In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs, such person (the “ indemnified party ”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “ indemnifying party ”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. The omission so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from any liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent such failure results in the loss by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded upon advice of counsel that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party or (iii) the indemnifying party fails to assume the defense of such proceeding or to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. It is understood that, except as provided in the preceding sentence, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or

 

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related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate counsel for all such indemnified parties. Such counsel shall be designated in writing by the Representatives in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to the second preceding paragraph, and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to the first preceding paragraph.

(d) Settlement. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there has been a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include any statement as to, or any admission of, fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

SECTION 8. Contribution . In the event that the indemnity provided for in Section 7 is held by a court to be unavailable, in whole or in part, to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “ Losses ”) to which the Company and any of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Notes. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is held by a court to be unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other hand, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8 , no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amounts of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable

 

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considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8 , no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 8 , each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer that signs the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the principal amount of Notes set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I hereto and not joint.

SECTION 9. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery . All representations, warranties and indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Underwriting Agreement or in certificates of the Company submitted pursuant hereto shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Underwriting Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive delivery of the Notes to the Underwriters.

SECTION 10. Termination of Underwriting Agreement . The Underwriters may terminate this Underwriting Agreement by notice given by the Representatives to the Company, if after the effectiveness of this Underwriting Agreement and prior to delivery of and payment for the Notes (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, the New York Stock Exchange, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over the counter market, (iii) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or any material disruption in commercial banking, securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets, any declaration of war by Congress, or any calamity or crisis that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (iv), makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Sections 7 , 8 , 9 , 15(a) and 15(b) shall survive any termination under this Section 10 and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Default by One or More of the Underwriters . If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Date to purchase the Notes which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Underwriting Agreement (the “ Defaulted Notes ”), the Underwriters shall have the right, but not the obligation, within 36 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other Underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Notes in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Underwriters shall not have completed such arrangements within such 36-hour period, then:

(a) if the number of Defaulted Notes does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective obligations to purchase hereunder bear to the obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

 

17


(b) if the number of Defaulted Notes exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, this Underwriting Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section 11 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default under this Underwriting Agreement.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Underwriting Agreement, either the Underwriters or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.

SECTION 12. Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk – 3rd Floor, Facsimile (212) 834-6081; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10036, Attention: Investment Banking Division, Facsimile (212) 507-8999; RBS Securities Inc., 600 Washington Blvd, Stamford, CT 06901, Attention: Debt Capital Markets/Syndicate, Facsimile (203) 873-4534; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10013, Attention: General Counsel, Facsimile (212) 816-7912; Goldman, Sachs & Co., 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, Attention: Prospectus Department, Facsimile (212) 902-9316; PNC Capital Markets LLC, 5th Floor, 225 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attention: Debt Capital Markets, Corporate Securities, Facsimile (412) 705-2014; RBC Capital Markets LLC, 200 Vesey Street New York, NY 10281, Attention: Transaction Management, Facsimile (212) 658-6137; Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., 1 Liberty Plaza, 25th Floor, 165 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, Attention: Debt Capital Markets, Facsimile (212) 225-6550; notices to the Company shall be directed to it at 76 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44308, Attention: Treasurer, Facsimile: (330) 384-3772.

SECTION 13. Parties . This Underwriting Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Underwriting Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Underwriting Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Underwriting Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons, officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Notes from the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

 

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SECTION 14. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) the Representatives have been retained solely to act as underwriters in connection with the sale of Notes and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Representatives have been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement, irrespective of whether the Representatives have advised or are advising the Company on other matters;

(b) the price of the Notes set forth in the final term sheet attached as Annex A to Schedule II hereto was established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representatives and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement;

(c) the Company has been advised that the Representatives and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Representatives have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

(d) the Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Representatives for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Representatives shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

SECTION 15. Miscellaneous .

(a) GOVERNING LAW AND TIME . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THEREOF. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

The Company and the Underwriters hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Underwriting Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

(b) Waiver of Jury Trial . The Company and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Underwriting Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

(c) Counterparts . This Underwriting Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together, shall constitute but one and the same agreement.

 

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(d) Successors . This Underwriting Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon, each of the Company, the several Underwriters, and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Sections 7 and 8 hereof. The term “successor” as used in this Section shall not include any purchaser, as such, of any Notes from the Underwriters.

(e) Integration . This Underwriting Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(f) Effect of Headings . The section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign counterparts hereof.

 

Very truly yours,

FIRSTENERGY CORP.

as Issuer

By:  

/s/ Steven R. Staub

Name:   Steven R. Staub
Title:   Vice President and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

as of the date first above written:

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC       GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
By:   

/s/ Robert Bottamedi

      By:   

/s/ Adam T. Greene

Name:    Robert Bottamedi       Name:    Adam T. Greene
Title:    Vice President       Title:    Vice President
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC       PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC
By:   

/s/ Yurij Slyz

      By:   

/s/ Valerie Shadeck

Name:    Yurij Slyz       Name:    Valerie Shadeck
Title:    Executive Director       Title:    Director
RBS SECURITIES INC.       RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By:   

/s/ Okwudiri Onyedum

      By:   

/s/ Scott G. Primrose

Name:    Okwudiri Onyedum       Name:    Scott G. Primrose
Title:    Managing Director       Title:    Authorized Signatory
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.       SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
By:   

/s/ Brian D. Bednarski

      By:   

/s/ Paul McKeown

Name:    Brian D. Bednarski       Name:    Paul McKeown
Title:    Managing Director       Title:    Managing Director

Acting as representatives of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule I.

 

 

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


Schedule I

 

Underwriters

   Principal Amount
of 2018 Notes
     Principal Amount
of 2023 Notes
 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   $ 102,050,000       $ 133,450,000   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

   $ 102,050,000       $ 133,450,000   

RBS Securities Inc.

   $ 102,050,000       $ 133,450,000   

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

   $ 69,550,000       $ 90,950,000   

PNC Capital Markets LLC

   $ 69,550,000       $ 90,950,000   

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

   $ 69,550,000       $ 90,950,000   

Scotial Capital (USA) Inc.

   $ 69,550,000       $ 90,950,000   

Goldman Sachs & Co.

   $ 13,130,000       $ 17,170,000   

CIBC World Markets Corp.

   $ 13,130,000       $ 17,170,000   

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

   $ 13,130,000       $ 17,170,000   

The Huntington Investment Company

   $ 13,130,000       $ 17,170,000   

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

   $ 13,130,000       $ 17,170,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 650,000,000       $ 850,000,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

Sch I


Schedule II

Schedule of Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses

 

   

Final pricing term sheets attached to this Schedule II as Annex A (Issuer Free Writing Prospectus)

 

 

Sch. II


ANNEX A

TO SCHEDULE II

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Registration No. 333-181519

February 28, 2013

FirstEnergy Corp.

Pricing Term Sheet

2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018

 

Issuer:    FirstEnergy Corp.
Issue Format:    SEC registered
Principal Amount:    $650,000,000
Security Type:    2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018
Trade Date:    February 28, 2013
Settlement Date:    March 5, 2013; T+3
Maturity Date:    March 15, 2018
Interest Payment Dates:    Semi-annual payments in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2013
Optional Redemption:    Make-whole call at T+30 bps
Reference Benchmark:    0.875% due January 31, 2018
Benchmark Yield:    0.752%
Reoffer Spread:    +200 bps
Reoffer Yield:    2.752%
Coupon:    2.75%
Price to Public:    99.990% of principal amount
Net Proceeds (%):    99.390%
Net Proceeds ($):    $646,035,000
CUSIP:    337932 AE7
ISIN:    US337932AE78

 

Sch. II, Annex A-1


Joint-Bookrunners:   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

RBS Securities Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Co-managers:   

CIBC World Markets Corp.

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

The Huntington Investment Company

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

Pro Forma Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the Year Ended December 31, 2012:    1.87

 

* Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for this offering. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by searching the SEC online database (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you may obtain a copy of the prospectus from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC by calling collect at 1-212-834-4533, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC by calling toll-free at 1-866-718-1649 or RBS Securities Inc. by calling toll-free at 1-866-884-2071.

FirstEnergy Corp.

Pricing Term Sheet

4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023

 

Issuer:    FirstEnergy Corp.
Issue Format:    SEC registered
Principal Amount:    $850,000,000
Security Type:    4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023
Trade Date:    February 28, 2013
Settlement Date:    March 5, 2013; T+3
Maturity Date:    March 15, 2023
Interest Payment Dates:    Semi-annual payments in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2013
Optional Redemption:    Make-whole call at T+40 bps
Reference Benchmark:    2.00% due February 15, 2023

 

Sch. II, Annex A-2


Benchmark Yield:    1.884%
Reoffer Spread:    +237.5 bps
Reoffer Yield:    4.259%
Coupon:    4.25%
Price to Public:    99.926% of principal amount
Net Proceeds (%):    99.276%
Net Proceeds ($):    $843,846,000
CUSIP:    337932 AF4
ISIN:    US337932AF44
Joint-Bookrunners:   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

RBS Securities Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Co-managers:   

CIBC World Markets Corp.

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

The Huntington Investment Company

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

Pro Forma Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the Year Ended December 31, 2012:    1.87

 

* Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for this offering. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by searching the SEC online database (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you may obtain a copy of the prospectus from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC by calling collect at 1-212-834-4533, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC by calling toll-free at 1-866-718-1649 or RBS Securities Inc. by calling toll-free at 1-866-884-2071.

 

Sch. II, Annex A-3


Schedule III

Significant Subsidiaries

 

Name of Subsidiary

   State of
Organization
   % Ownership  
Allegheny Energy Supply Company, LLC    Delaware      100
FirstEnergy Generation, LLC    Ohio      100
FirstEnergy Nuclear Generation, LLC    Ohio      100
FirstEnergy Service Company    Ohio      100
FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.    Ohio      100
FirstEnergy Transmission, LLC    Delaware      100
Jersey Central Power & Light Company    New Jersey      100
Monongahela Power Company    Ohio      100
Ohio Edison Company    Ohio      100

 

Sch. III - 1

Exhibit 4.1

FIRSTENERGY CORP.

OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE

Creating the

2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018

4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023

Steven R. Staub, the Vice President and Treasurer of FirstEnergy Corp. (the “ Company ”), pursuant to the authority granted in the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company dated September 13, 2001, March 15, 2011 and May 15, 2012, the resolutions of the Finance Committee of such Board dated November 9, 2001, February 19, 2013 and February 28, 2013 and Sections 102, 201 and 301 of the Indenture defined herein, does hereby certify to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (the “ Trustee ”) under the Indenture of the Company (For Unsecured Debt Securities) dated as of November 15, 2001 (the “ Indenture ”) that:

 

  1. The Securities of the first and second series to be issued under the Indenture shall be designated “2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018” (the “ Series A Notes ”) and “4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023” (the “ Series B Notes ” and, together with the Series A Notes, the “ Notes ”), respectively. All capitalized terms used in this certificate which are not defined herein but are defined in the form of Series A Notes and form of Series B Notes attached hereto as Exhibit A and Exhibit B, respectively, shall have the meanings set forth in such Exhibit A or Exhibit B; all other capitalized terms used in this certificate which are not defined herein or in Exhibit A or Exhibit B hereto but are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture;

 

  2. The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes shall mature and the principal thereof shall be due and payable together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon on March 15, 2018 and March 15, 2023, respectively;

 

  3. The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes shall bear interest as provided in the forms of the Notes set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto, respectively;

 

  4.

The principal and each installment of interest on the Notes shall be payable at, and registration and registration of transfers and exchanges in respect of the Notes may be effected at, the office or agency of the Company in The City of New York; provided that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the address of the persons entitled thereto or by wire transfer to an account designated by the person entitled thereto; and provided further that so long as the Notes are registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”), or its nominee as discussed below, all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Notes will be made in immediately available funds. Notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes may be served at the office or agency of the Company in The City of New York. The Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee will initially be the agency of the Company for such payment, registration and registration of transfers and exchanges and service of notices and demands, and the Company hereby appoints the


  Trustee as its agent for all such purposes; provided, however, that the Company reserves the right to change, by one or more Officer’s Certificates any such office or agency and such agent. The Trustee will be the Security Registrar and the Paying Agent for the Notes;

 

  5. The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes shall be redeemable as provided in the form of such Notes set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto, respectively;

 

  6. The Notes will be originally issued in global form payable to Cede & Co. (as nominee for DTC, the initial securities depositary for the Notes) and will, unless and until the Notes are exchanged in whole or in part for certificated Notes, registered in the names of various beneficial holders thereof (in accordance with the conditions set forth in the legend appearing in the form of the Series A Notes and Series B Notes set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto, respectively), contain restrictions on transfer, substantially as described in such form;

 

  7. No service charge shall be made for the registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes; provided, however, that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with the exchange or transfer;

 

  8. The Series A Notes and the Series B Notes shall have such other terms and provisions as are provided in the forms set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto, respectively and shall be issued in substantially such form;

 

  9. The undersigned has read all of the covenants and conditions contained in the Indenture relating to the issuance of the Notes and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto and in respect of which this certificate is made;

 

  10. The statements contained in this certificate are based upon the familiarity of the undersigned with the Indenture and the documents accompanying this certificate, and upon discussions by the undersigned with officers and employees of the Company familiar with the matters set forth herein;

 

  11. In the opinion of the undersigned, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to express an informed opinion whether or not such covenants and conditions have been complied with; and

 

  12. In the opinion of the undersigned, such conditions and covenants and conditions precedent, if any (including any covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) to the authentication and delivery of the Notes requested in the accompanying Company Order have been complied with.

[Signature page follows]

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Officer’s Certificate this 5th day of March, 2013.

 

/s/ Steven R. Staub

Steven R. Staub
Vice President and Treasurer

[ Signature page to Officer’s Certificate establishing the Notes ]


Exhibit A

 

No.    R -         $            
Cusip No.    337932 AE7   

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

(See legend at the end of this Security for restrictions on transferability and change of form)

FIRSTENERGY CORP.

2.75% NOTES, SERIES A, DUE 2018

FirstEnergy Corp., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio (herein referred to as the “ Company ”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns the principal sum of $             on March 15, 2018 (the “ Maturity Date ”), and to pay interest on said principal sum, semiannually on March 15 and September 15 of each year (each an “ Interest Payment Date ”) at the rate of 2.75% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest on the Securities of this series will accrue from March 5, 2013, to the first Interest Payment Date, and thereafter will accrue from the last Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for. In the event that any Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the February 28 or August 31 immediately preceding the corresponding Interest Payment Date; provided , however , that interest payable at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in The City of New York, the State of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that, at the option of the Company, interest on this Security may be paid by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto, as such address shall appear on the Security Register or by


wire transfer to an account designated by the person entitled thereto; and provided further, that so long as the Securities of this series are registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof, all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Securities of this series will be made in immediately available funds.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank ]

 

A-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

[SEAL]     FIRSTENERGY CORP.
    By:  

 

      Steven R. Staub
      Vice President and Treasurer
ATTEST:      

 

     
Rhonda S. Ferguson      
Vice President and Corporate Secretary      

 

A-3


[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,
as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

A-4


[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “ Securities ”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2001 (herein, together with any amendments thereto, called the “ Indenture ”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, including the Board Resolutions and Officer’s Certificate filed with the Trustee on March 5, 2013 creating the series designated on the face hereof, for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

The interest rate payable on the Securities will be subject to adjustments from time to time if either Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“ Moody’s ”) or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“ S&P ”) or, if either Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities or fails to make a rating of the Securities publicly available for reasons outside our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by us as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P (a “ substitute rating agency ”) downgrades (or subsequently upgrades) the credit rating assigned to the Securities, in the manner described below.

If the rating from Moody’s (or any substitute rating agency thereof) of the Securities is decreased to a rating set forth in the immediately following table, the interest rate on the Securities will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance plus the percentage set forth opposite the ratings from the table below:

 

Moody’s Rating*

   Percentage  

Ba1

     0.25

Ba2

     0.50

Ba3

     0.75

B1 or Below

     1.00

 

* Including successor ratings of Moody’s or the equivalent ratings of any substitute rating agency for Moody’s.

 

A-5


If the rating from S&P (or any substitute rating agency thereof) of the Securities is decreased to a rating set forth in the immediately following table, the interest rate on the Securities will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance plus the percentage set forth opposite the ratings from the table below:

 

S&P Rating*

   Percentage  

BB

     0.25

BB-

     0.50

B+

     0.75

B or Below

     1.00

 

* Including successor ratings of S&P or the equivalent ratings of any substitute rating agency for S&P.

If at any time the interest rate on the Securities has been adjusted upward and either Moody’s or S&P (or, in either case, a substitute rating agency thereof), as the case may be, subsequently increases its rating of the Securities to any of the threshold ratings set forth above, the interest rate on the Securities will be decreased such that the interest rate for the Securities equals the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance plus the percentages set forth opposite the ratings from the tables above in effect immediately following the increase in rating. If Moody’s (or any substitute rating agency thereof) subsequently increases its rating of the Securities to Baa3 (or its successor or its equivalent, in the case of a substitute rating agency) or higher, and S&P (or any substitute rating agency thereof) increases its rating to BB+ (or its successor or its equivalent, in the case of a substitute rating agency) or higher, the interest rate on the Securities will be decreased to the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance. In addition, the interest rate on the Securities will permanently cease to be subject to any adjustment described above (notwithstanding any subsequent decrease in the ratings by either or both rating agencies), if the Securities become rated A-3 and A- (or its successor or the equivalent of either such rating, in the case of a substitute rating agency) or higher by Moody’s and S&P (or, in either case, a substitute rating agency thereof), respectively (or one of these ratings if the Securities are only rated by one rating agency).

Each adjustment required by any decrease or increase in a rating set forth above, whether occasioned by the action of Moody’s or S&P (or, in either case, a substitute rating agency thereof), shall be made independent of any and all other adjustments. In no event shall (1) the interest rate for the Securities be reduced to below the interest rate on the Securities on the date of their issuance or (2) the total increase in the interest rate on the Securities exceed 2.00% above the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance.

No adjustments in the interest rate of the Securities shall be made solely as a result of a rating agency ceasing to provide a rating of the Securities. If at any time fewer than two rating agencies provide a rating of the Securities for a reason beyond our control, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a rating of the Securities from a substitute rating agency, to the extent one exists, and, if a substitute rating agency exists, for purposes of determining any increase or decrease in the interest rate on the Securities pursuant to the tables above, (a) such substitute rating agency will be substituted for the last rating agency to provide a

 

A-6


rating of the Securities which has since ceased to provide such rating, (b) the relative rating scale used by such substitute rating agency to assign ratings to senior unsecured debt will be determined in good faith by us and, for purposes of determining the applicable ratings included in the applicable table above with respect to such substitute rating agency, such ratings will be deemed to be the equivalent ratings used by Moody’s or S&P, as applicable, in such table and (c) the interest rate on the Securities will increase or decrease, as the case may be, such that the interest rate equals the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance plus the appropriate percentage, if any, set forth opposite the rating from such substitute rating agency in the applicable table above (taking into account the provisions of clause (b) above) (plus any applicable percentage resulting from a decreased rating by the other rating agency). Subject to the first sentence of the next paragraph, for so long as only one rating agency provides a rating of the Securities, any subsequent increase or decrease in the interest rate of the Notes necessitated by a reduction or increase in the rating by the agency providing the rating shall be twice the percentage set forth in the applicable table above. Subject to the first sentence of the next paragraph, for so long as none of Moody’s, S&P or a substitute rating agency provides a rating of the Securities, the interest rate on the Securities will increase to, or remain at, as the case may be, 2.00% above the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance.

Any interest rate increase or decrease described above will take effect from the first day of the interest period commencing after the date on which a rating change occurs that requires an adjustment in the interest rate. If Moody’s or S&P (or, in either case, a substitute rating agency thereof) changes its rating of the Securities more than once during any particular interest period, the last change by such agency will control for purposes of any interest rate increase or decrease with respect to the Securities described above relating to such rating agency’s action.

If the interest rate payable on the Securities is increased as described above, the term “interest,” as used with respect to the Securities, will be deemed to include any such additional interest unless the context otherwise requires.

Securities of this series shall be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part from time to time, upon notice mailed to each registered owner, at his last address appearing on the Security Register, (i) prior to the date that is one month prior to the Maturity Date, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed then outstanding; or (2) as determined by an Independent Investment Banker, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Securities of this series to be redeemed (not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus 30 basis points, and (ii) on or after the date that is one month prior to the Maturity Date at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed then outstanding, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption on the Securities of this series to be redeemed.

Adjusted Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date:

 

   

the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release

 

A-7


 

designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from these yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month); or

 

   

if the release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain these yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for the redemption date. The Adjusted Treasury Rate will be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such securities (“ Remaining Life ”).

Comparable Treasury Price ” means (1) the average of three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means:

 

   

each of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, RBS Securities Inc. and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States (a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”), the Company will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer; and

 

   

any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.

 

A-8


The Company will mail a notice of redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date to each holder of the Securities of this series to be redeemed. If the Company elects to partially redeem the Securities of this series, the Trustee will select in a fair and appropriate manner the Securities of this series to be redeemed. The redemption price determined by the Independent Investment Banker, absent manifest error, shall be binding and conclusive upon the Holders of the Securities of this series, the Company and the Trustee.

If at the time notice of redemption is given, the redemption monies are not on deposit with the Trustee, then the redemption shall be subject to their receipt on or before the redemption date and such notice shall be of no effect unless such monies are received.

Upon payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on and after the applicable redemption date on the Securities of this series or portions thereof called for redemption. The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series at the time Outstanding in respect of which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series at the time Outstanding in respect of which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request

 

A-9


and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor and of authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

A-10


LEGEND

Unless and until this Security is exchanged in whole or in part for certificated Securities registered in the names of the various beneficial holders hereof as then certified to the Trustee by The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) or its successor (the “ Depositary ”), this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of the Depositary to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate to be issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary and any amount payable thereunder is made payable to Cede & Co., or such other name, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

This Security may be exchanged for certificated Securities registered in the names of the various beneficial owners hereof if (a) the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, or (b) the Company elects to issue certificated Securities to beneficial owners. Any such exchange shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order therefor and certificated Securities of this series shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as shall be certified to the Company and the Trustee by the Depositary.

 

A-11


Exhibit B

 

No.    R -         $            
Cusip No.    337932 AF4   

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

(See legend at the end of this Security for restrictions on transferability and change of form)

FIRSTENERGY CORP.

4.25% NOTES, SERIES B, DUE 2023

FirstEnergy Corp., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio (herein referred to as the “ Company ”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns the principal sum of $             on March 15, 2023 (the “ Maturity Date ”), and to pay interest on said principal sum, semiannually on March 15 and September 15 of each year (each an “ Interest Payment Date ”) at the rate of 4.25% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest on the Securities of this series will accrue from March 5, 2013, to the first Interest Payment Date, and thereafter will accrue from the last Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for. In the event that any Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the February 28 or August 31 immediately preceding the corresponding Interest Payment Date; provided , however , that interest payable at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in The City of New York, the State of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that, at the option of the Company, interest on this Security may be paid by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto, as such address shall appear on the Security Register or by


wire transfer to an account designated by the person entitled thereto; and provided further, that so long as the Securities of this series are registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof, all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Securities of this series will be made in immediately available funds.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank ]

 

B-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

[SEAL]     FIRSTENERGY CORP.
    By:  

 

      Steven R. Staub
      Vice President and Treasurer
ATTEST:      

 

     
Rhonda S. Ferguson      
Vice President and Corporate Secretary      

 

B-3


[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,
as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

B-4


[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “ Securities ”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2001 (herein, together with any amendments thereto, called the “ Indenture ”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, including the Board Resolutions and Officer’s Certificate filed with the Trustee on March 5, 2013 creating the series designated on the face hereof, for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

The interest rate payable on the Securities will be subject to adjustments from time to time if either Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“ Moody’s ”) or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“ S&P ”) or, if either Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities or fails to make a rating of the Securities publicly available for reasons outside our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by us as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P (a “ substitute rating agency ”) downgrades (or subsequently upgrades) the credit rating assigned to the Securities, in the manner described below.

If the rating from Moody’s (or any substitute rating agency thereof) of the Securities is decreased to a rating set forth in the immediately following table, the interest rate on the Securities will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance plus the percentage set forth opposite the ratings from the table below:

 

Moody’s Rating*

   Percentage  

Ba1

     0.25

Ba2

     0.50

Ba3

     0.75

B1 or Below

     1.00

 

* Including successor ratings of Moody’s or the equivalent ratings of any substitute rating agency for Moody’s.

 

B-5


If the rating from S&P (or any substitute rating agency thereof) of the Securities is decreased to a rating set forth in the immediately following table, the interest rate on the Securities will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance plus the percentage set forth opposite the ratings from the table below:

 

S&P Rating*

   Percentage  

BB

     0.25

BB-

     0.50

B+

     0.75

B or Below

     1.00

 

* Including successor ratings of S&P or the equivalent ratings of any substitute rating agency for S&P.

If at any time the interest rate on the Securities has been adjusted upward and either Moody’s or S&P (or, in either case, a substitute rating agency thereof), as the case may be, subsequently increases its rating of the Securities to any of the threshold ratings set forth above, the interest rate on the Securities will be decreased such that the interest rate for the Securities equals the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance plus the percentages set forth opposite the ratings from the tables above in effect immediately following the increase in rating. If Moody’s (or any substitute rating agency thereof) subsequently increases its rating of the Securities to Baa3 (or its successor or its equivalent, in the case of a substitute rating agency) or higher, and S&P (or any substitute rating agency thereof) increases its rating to BB+ (or its successor or its equivalent, in the case of a substitute rating agency) or higher, the interest rate on the Securities will be decreased to the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance. In addition, the interest rate on the Securities will permanently cease to be subject to any adjustment described above (notwithstanding any subsequent decrease in the ratings by either or both rating agencies), if the Securities become rated A-3 and A- (or its successor or the equivalent of either such rating, in the case of a substitute rating agency) or higher by Moody’s and S&P (or, in either case, a substitute rating agency thereof), respectively (or one of these ratings if the Securities are only rated by one rating agency).

Each adjustment required by any decrease or increase in a rating set forth above, whether occasioned by the action of Moody’s or S&P (or, in either case, a substitute rating agency thereof), shall be made independent of any and all other adjustments. In no event shall (1) the interest rate for the Securities be reduced to below the interest rate on the Securities on the date of their issuance or (2) the total increase in the interest rate on the Securities exceed 2.00% above the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance.

No adjustments in the interest rate of the Securities shall be made solely as a result of a rating agency ceasing to provide a rating of the Securities. If at any time fewer than two rating agencies provide a rating of the Securities for a reason beyond our control, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a rating of the Securities from a substitute rating agency, to the extent one exists, and, if a substitute rating agency exists, for purposes of determining any increase or decrease in the interest rate on the Securities pursuant to the tables above, (a) such substitute rating agency will be substituted for the last rating agency to provide a

 

B-6


rating of the Securities which has since ceased to provide such rating, (b) the relative rating scale used by such substitute rating agency to assign ratings to senior unsecured debt will be determined in good faith by us and, for purposes of determining the applicable ratings included in the applicable table above with respect to such substitute rating agency, such ratings will be deemed to be the equivalent ratings used by Moody’s or S&P, as applicable, in such table and (c) the interest rate on the Securities will increase or decrease, as the case may be, such that the interest rate equals the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance plus the appropriate percentage, if any, set forth opposite the rating from such substitute rating agency in the applicable table above (taking into account the provisions of clause (b) above) (plus any applicable percentage resulting from a decreased rating by the other rating agency). Subject to the first sentence of the next paragraph, for so long as only one rating agency provides a rating of the Securities, any subsequent increase or decrease in the interest rate of the Notes necessitated by a reduction or increase in the rating by the agency providing the rating shall be twice the percentage set forth in the applicable table above. Subject to the first sentence of the next paragraph, for so long as none of Moody’s, S&P or a substitute rating agency provides a rating of the Securities, the interest rate on the Securities will increase to, or remain at, as the case may be, 2.00% above the interest rate payable on the Securities on the date of their issuance.

Any interest rate increase or decrease described above will take effect from the first day of the interest period commencing after the date on which a rating change occurs that requires an adjustment in the interest rate. If Moody’s or S&P (or, in either case, a substitute rating agency thereof) changes its rating of the Securities more than once during any particular interest period, the last change by such agency will control for purposes of any interest rate increase or decrease with respect to the Securities described above relating to such rating agency’s action.

If the interest rate payable on the Securities is increased as described above, the term “interest,” as used with respect to the Securities, will be deemed to include any such additional interest unless the context otherwise requires.

Securities of this series shall be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part from time to time, upon notice mailed to each registered owner, at his last address appearing on the Security Register, (i) prior to the date that is three months prior to the Maturity Date, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed then outstanding; or (2) as determined by an Independent Investment Banker, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Securities of this series to be redeemed (not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus 40 basis points, and (ii) on or after the date that is three months prior to the Maturity Date at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed then outstanding, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption on the Securities of this series to be redeemed.

Adjusted Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date:

 

   

the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release

 

B-7


 

designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from these yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month); or

 

   

if the release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain these yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for the redemption date. The Adjusted Treasury Rate will be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such securities (“ Remaining Life ”).

Comparable Treasury Price ” means (1) the average of three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means:

 

   

each of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, RBS Securities Inc. and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States (a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”), the Company will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer; and

 

   

any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.

 

B-8


The Company will mail a notice of redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date to each holder of the Securities of this series to be redeemed. If the Company elects to partially redeem the Securities of this series, the Trustee will select in a fair and appropriate manner the Securities of this series to be redeemed. The redemption price determined by the Independent Investment Banker, absent manifest error, shall be binding and conclusive upon the Holders of the Securities of this series, the Company and the Trustee.

If at the time notice of redemption is given, the redemption monies are not on deposit with the Trustee, then the redemption shall be subject to their receipt on or before the redemption date and such notice shall be of no effect unless such monies are received.

Upon payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on and after the applicable redemption date on the Securities of this series or portions thereof called for redemption. The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series at the time Outstanding in respect of which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series at the time Outstanding in respect of which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request

 

B-9


and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor and of authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

B-10


LEGEND

Unless and until this Security is exchanged in whole or in part for certificated Securities registered in the names of the various beneficial holders hereof as then certified to the Trustee by The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) or its successor (the “ Depositary ”), this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of the Depositary to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate to be issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary and any amount payable thereunder is made payable to Cede & Co., or such other name, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

This Security may be exchanged for certificated Securities registered in the names of the various beneficial owners hereof if (a) the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, or (b) the Company elects to issue certificated Securities to beneficial owners. Any such exchange shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order therefor and certificated Securities of this series shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as shall be certified to the Company and the Trustee by the Depositary.

 

B-11

EXHIBIT 5.1

[LETTERHEAD OF FIRSTENERGY CORP.]

March 5, 2013

FirstEnergy Corp.

76 South Main Street

Akron, Ohio 44308

 

  Re: $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of FirstEnergy Corp.’s 2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018 and $850,000,000 aggregate principal amount of FirstEnergy Corp.’s 4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am Associate General Counsel of FirstEnergy Service Company, and have acted as counsel for its parent FirstEnergy Corp., an Ohio corporation (the “ Company ”). This opinion is furnished in connection with the registration, pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended (File No. 333-181519) (the “ Registration Statement ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), of the offering and sale by the Company of $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018 and $850,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023 (collectively, the “ Notes ”), issued under an Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2001, as amended (the “ Senior Note Indenture ”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by an Officer’s Certificate, dated March 5, 2013 (the “ Officer’s Certificate ,” and together with the Senior Note Indenture, hereinafter referred to as the “ Indenture ”) and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated February 28, 2013, by and among J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, RBS Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., PNC Capital Markets LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., as Representatives of the Underwriters listed on Schedule I thereto (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”) and the Company (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”). This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation
S-K under the Act.

In connection with this opinion, I or persons under my supervision or control have reviewed originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of the Indenture, the forms of the Notes, the Underwriting Agreement, the Articles of Incorporation and the Code of Regulations (as amended and restated, where applicable) of the Company and resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on September 13, 2001, March 15, 2011 and May 15, 2012 and resolutions adopted by the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company on February 19, 2013 and February 28, 2013 authorizing the issuance and sale of the Notes. In addition, I or persons under my supervision or control have reviewed originals, or


copies certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such other instruments, certificates, records, receipts and documents and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company, and have reviewed such questions of law, as I have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this letter. In particular, I or persons under my supervision or control have reviewed and relied upon the in-house opinions and certificates of officials of the Company and its affiliates delivered in connection with the original execution and delivery of the Senior Note Indenture. In such review, I have also relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Trustee as to the Trustee’s due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture and the authentication of the Notes, and have assumed that, the Notes have been paid for by the Underwriters and that, except for documents signed by officers of the Company, the signatures on all documents examined by me or persons under my supervision or control are genuine, which assumptions I have not independently verified.

I am a member of the Bar of the State of Ohio, and, for purposes of this letter, I do not hold myself out as an expert on the laws of any other jurisdiction. I express no opinion herein as to the application or effect of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Ohio. The phrase “the laws of the State of Ohio” and similar phrases refers to the laws of the State of Ohio that are, in my experience, generally applicable to the transactions of the type contemplated under the Underwriting Agreement, and specifically excludes (i) laws of any counties, cities, towns, municipalities and special political subdivisions and any agencies thereof; (ii) zoning, land use, building code and construction laws; and (iii) any environmental, labor, tax, pension, employee benefit, antiterrorism, money laundering, insurance, antitrust, securities or intellectual property laws.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, I am of the opinion that the Notes have been authorized by all necessary corporate action of and executed by the Company.

My opinion is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no opinion is to be inferred or implied beyond the opinion expressly set forth herein. I undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any changes in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in the law, a change in any fact relating to the Company or any other person or any other circumstance.

I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Commission on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation by reference of this letter into the Registration Statement and to the use of my name in the Prospectus Supplement dated February 28, 2013, forming a part of the Registration Statement under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Gina K. Gunning
Associate General Counsel of
FirstEnergy Service Company

LOGO

EXHIBIT 5.2

March 5, 2013

FirstEnergy Corp.

76 South Main Street

Akron, Ohio 44308

 

  Re: $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of FirstEnergy Corp.’s 2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018 and $850,000,000 aggregate principal amount of FirstEnergy Corp.’s 4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to FirstEnergy Corp., an Ohio corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the registration, pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended (File No. 333-181519) (the “ Registration Statement ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), of the offering and sale by the Company of $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2.75% Notes, Series A, due 2018 and $850,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.25% Notes, Series B, due 2023 (collectively, the “ Notes ”), issued under an Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2001, as amended (the “ Senior Note Indenture ”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by an Officer’s Certificate, dated March 5, 2013 (the “ Officer’s Certificate ,” and together with the Senior Note Indenture, hereinafter referred to as the “ Indenture ”) and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated February 28, 2013, by and among J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, RBS Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., PNC Capital Markets LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., as Representatives of the Underwriters listed on Schedule I thereto (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”) and the Company (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”). This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

We have examined originals or certified copies of such corporate records of the Company and other certificates and documents of officials of the Company, public officials and others as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of this letter. We have also assumed (i) the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed and certified or reproduced copies, (ii) that the Notes


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FirstEnergy Corp.

March 5, 2013

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conform to the specimens thereof we have reviewed, and (iii) that the Indenture and the Notes have been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by or on behalf of the Company. We have also assumed that the Indenture is a valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its terms. As to various questions of fact relevant to this letter, we have relied, without independent investigation, upon certificates of public officials and certificates of officers of the Company, all of which we assume to be true, correct and complete.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that when the Notes have been duly executed by the Company, duly authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.

The opinions and other matters in this letter are qualified in their entirety and subject to the following:

 

A. We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

 

B. The matters expressed in this letter are subject to and qualified and limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally; (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and (iii) securities laws and public policy underlying such laws with respect to rights to indemnification and contribution.

 

C. This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no opinion is to be inferred or implied beyond the opinion expressly set forth herein. We undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any changes in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in the law, a change in any fact relating to the Company or any other person or any other circumstance.

 


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FirstEnergy Corp.

March 5, 2013

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We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Commission on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation by reference of this opinion into the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus dated May 18, 2012 and the Prospectus Supplement dated February 28, 2013, forming a part of the Registration Statement under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

   Very truly yours,
   /s/ AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

                             For Release : March 1, 2013

FirstEnergy Corp.

76 South Main Street

Akron, Ohio 44308

www.firstenergycorp.com

FIRSTENERGY ANNOUNCES SATISFACTION OF FINANCING CONDITION FOR TENDER OFFERS

AKRON, OH (March 1, 2013) –FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) (“FirstEnergy”) today announced that the financing condition related to the previously announced tender offers by FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. (“FES”) and Allegheny Energy Supply Company, LLC (“AE Supply” and together with FES, the “Companies”) to purchase for cash any and all outstanding 5.75% Notes due 2019 issued by AE Supply, any and all outstanding 6.75% Notes due 2039 issued by AE Supply, any and all outstanding 6.80% Senior Notes due 2039 issued by FES (each of the foregoing an “Any and All Offer”), and up to the Maximum Tender Amount (as defined below) of the 6.05% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “6.05% Notes” and, collectively with each series of notes subject to the Any and All Offers, the “Notes”) issued by FES (the “Maximum Tender Offer”), has been satisfied by FirstEnergy’s entry into an agreement on February 28, 2013 to issue and sell $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of its senior unsecured notes (the “FirstEnergy Notes”) in a registered public offering. As previously disclosed, FirstEnergy and the Companies intend to use the proceeds from the FirstEnergy Notes and/or borrowings by FES and AE Supply from the intercompany money pool among FirstEnergy’s unregulated subsidiaries to fund the consideration to be paid in respect of the Any and All Offers and the Maximum Tender Offer.

The Maximum Tender Offer is subject to an aggregate purchase limit of $1,080,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.05% Notes less the aggregate principal amount of Notes purchased in the Any and All Offers (the “Maximum Tender Amount”). The Any and All Offers will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 13, 2013 and the Maximum Tender Offer will expire on 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on March 27, 2013, in each case unless extended or earlier terminated by the Companies on the terms set forth in the Offer to Purchase.

The tender offers are being made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and related Letter of Transmittal, each dated February 28, 2013, which set forth a more detailed description of the tender offers.

Information relating to the Offers

In connection with the tender offers, FES and AE Supply have retained Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Santander Investment Securities Inc. and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. to serve as Dealer Managers for the tender offers. Bondholder Communications Group, LLC has been retained to serve as the Information and Tender Agent for the tender offers.

For additional information regarding the terms of the tender offers, please contact: Goldman, Sachs & Co. at 800-828-3182 (toll free) or 212-902-5183 (collect) or Morgan Stanley at 800-624-1808 (toll free) or 212-761-1057 (collect). Requests for documents and questions regarding the tender of Notes may be directed to the Information and Tender Agent at 888-385-2663 (toll free) or 212-809-2663 (collect).

The respective obligations of FES and AE Supply to accept any Notes tendered and to pay the applicable consideration for them are set forth solely in the Offer to Purchase and related Letter of Transmittal. None of the Companies, FirstEnergy, the Dealer Managers or the Information and Tender Agent is making any recommendations to holders of Notes as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering their Notes in the tender offers. Holders of Notes must decide how many Notes they will tender, if any.

This news release is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. FES or AE Supply may, subject to applicable law, amend, extend or terminate the tender offers. Each tender offer is being made only pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and related Letter of Transmittal that the Companies are distributing to holders of the Notes. The tender offers are not being made in any jurisdiction in which such tender offers, solicitation or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the tender offers are required to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, they shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Managers on behalf of the Companies.


Information relating to the FirstEnergy Notes

A registration statement relating to the FirstEnergy Notes has been filed, and became effective upon filing, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any FirstEnergy Notes nor shall there be any sales of any FirstEnergy Notes in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state. The offering of FirstEnergy Notes may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus forming part of the effective registration statement. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, when available, can be obtained from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC by calling collect at 1-212-834-4533, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC by calling toll-free at 1-866-718-1649 or RBS Securities Inc. by calling toll-free at 1-866-884-2071.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia. Its generation subsidiaries control more than 20,000 megawatts of capacity from a diversified mix of scrubbed coal, non-emitting nuclear, natural gas, hydro, pumped-storage hydro and other renewables. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergy Corp.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements based on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These statements include declarations regarding management’s intents, beliefs and current expectations. These statements typically contain, but are not limited to, the terms “anticipate,” “potential,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate” and similar words. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially due to: the speed and nature of increased competition in the electric utility industry, in general, and the retail sales market in particular, the impact of the regulatory process on the pending matters before FERC and in the various states in which we do business including, but not limited to, matters related to rates and pending rate cases, the uncertainties of various cost recovery and cost allocation issues resulting from ATSI’s realignment into PJM, economic or weather conditions affecting future sales and margins, regulatory outcomes associated with Hurricane Sandy, changing energy, capacity and commodity (including, but not limited to, coal, natural gas and oil) market prices and availability and their impact on retail margins, financial derivative reforms that could increase our liquidity needs and collateral costs, the continued ability of our regulated utilities to collect transition and other costs, operation and maintenance costs being higher than anticipated, other legislative and regulatory changes, and revised environmental requirements, including possible GHG emission, water discharge, water intake and coal combustion residual regulations, the potential impacts of CAIR, and any laws, rules or regulations that ultimately replace CAIR, and the effects of the EPA’s MATS rules including our estimated costs of compliance, the uncertainty of the timing and amounts of the capital expenditures that may arise in connection with any litigation, including NSR litigation or potential regulatory initiatives or rulemakings (including that such expenditures could result in our decision to deactivate or idle certain generating units), the uncertainties associated with the deactivation of certain older unscrubbed regulated and competitive fossil units, including the impact on vendor commitments, and the timing thereof as they relate to, among other things, the RMR arrangements and the reliability of the transmission grid, adverse regulatory or legal decisions and outcomes with respect to our nuclear operations (including, but not limited to the revocation or non-renewal of necessary licenses, approvals or operating permits by the NRC or as a result of the incident at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant), adverse legal decisions and outcomes related to ME’s and PN’s ability to recover certain transmission costs through their TSC riders, the impact of future changes to the operational status or availability of our generating units, the risks and uncertainties associated with litigation, arbitration, mediation and like proceedings, including, but not limited to, any such proceedings related to vendor commitments, replacement power costs being higher than anticipated or inadequately hedged, the ability to comply with applicable state and federal reliability standards and energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates, changes in customers’ demand for power, including but not limited to, changes resulting from the implementation of state and federal energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates, the ability to accomplish or realize anticipated benefits from strategic and financial goals including, but not limited to, the ability to successfully


complete the proposed West Virginia asset transfer and to improve our credit metrics, our ability to improve electric commodity margins and the impact of, among other factors, the increased cost of fuel and fuel transportation on such margins, the ability to experience growth in the Regulated Distribution segment and to continue to successfully implement our direct retail sales strategy in the Competitive Energy Services segment, changing market conditions that could affect the measurement of liabilities and the value of assets held in our NDTs, pension trusts and other trust funds, and cause us and our subsidiaries to make additional contributions sooner, or in amounts that are larger than currently anticipated, the impact of changes to material accounting policies, the ability to access the public securities and other capital and credit markets in accordance with our financing plans, the cost of such capital and overall condition of the capital and credit markets affecting us and our subsidiaries, actions that may be taken by credit rating agencies that could negatively affect us and our subsidiaries’ access to financing, increase the costs thereof, and increase requirements to post additional collateral to support outstanding commodity positions, LOCs and other financial guarantees, changes in national and regional economic conditions affecting us, our subsidiaries and our major industrial and commercial customers, and other counterparties including fuel suppliers, with which we do business, issues concerning the stability of domestic and foreign financial institutions and counterparties with which we do business, the risks and other factors discussed from time to time in our SEC filings, and other similar factors. The foregoing review of factors should not be construed as exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor assess the impact of any such factor on the business of FirstEnergy or the Companies or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. FirstEnergy and the Companies expressly disclaim any current intention to update, except as required by law, any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

www.firstenergycorp.com

News Media: Tricia Ingraham, +1-330-384-5247, Investor Relations: Irene Prezelj, +1-330-384-3859