If a shareholder of record has elected to
reinvest dividends, the Administrator will invest the dollar amount of the dividends in the common stock of WGL Holdings for the
shareholder’s account, instead of sending the dividends to the shareholder.
If shares of common stock are held in a brokerage
account, investors may participate directly by registering some or all of these shares in the investor’s name or by making
arrangements with the broker, bank or other intermediary to participate on the investor’s behalf.
Investors who own shares of preferred stock
of Washington Gas Light Company may reinvest those preferred stock dividends to purchase shares of WGL Holdings common stock under
the Plan. If this election is selected, the holder must reinvest all dividends on the holder’s preferred stock of Washington
Gas Light Company.
Dividends and associated record and payment
dates are subject to declaration by the WGL Holdings Board of Directors. The dividend record date is the date on which a participant
must be registered as a shareholder in order to receive a declared dividend. The timing and amount of future dividends will depend
on earnings, cash requirements, the financial condition of WGL Holdings and its subsidiaries, applicable government regulations
and other factors deemed relevant by the WGL Holdings Board of Directors.
Dividends on WGL Holdings common and Washington
Gas Light Company preferred stock are normally paid on or about the first day of February, May, August and November (the “dividend
payment dates”). Dividends are paid to shareholders of record on record dates established by the Board of Directors of WGL
Holdings or Washington Gas Light Company, as the case may be. Generally, those record dates are January 10, April 10, July 10 and
October 10 of each year. These record dates may vary due to weekends and holidays.
When the Plan is making open market purchases,
a registered broker-dealer designated by the Administrator will generally invest dividends within five and no later than thirty
business days of the dividend payment date. The timing and conditions of investments in open market shares are under the sole control
of the broker-dealer. These periods may also change based on prevailing conditions in the securities markets and the discretion
exercised by the independent agent.
When the Plan is investing dividends in original
issue shares, the dividends will be invested as of the dividend payment dates.
Please see questions 20, 21 and 22 for a description
of open market purchases and original issue shares, including the price at which dividends are reinvested.
With the exception noted below with respect
to preferred stock, participants have three options regarding how their dividends can be treated under the Plan. Optional cash
payments can be made under any option.
A. Full Dividend Reinvestment:
Reinvest all dividends payable on WGL Holdings shares of common stock including certificated, Plan and DRS shares. Unless otherwise
specified, all Plan shares will be treated as full dividend reinvestment. The term “DRS” refers to the Direct Registration
System. Please see question 26 for a further explanation of this term.
B. Partial Dividends Paid in Cash:
Receive cash dividends on a specified number of whole shares of common stock and reinvest dividends on the remaining shares of
common stock. The percentage elected will be applied to all shares, including certificated, Plan and DRS shares. The cash portion
of dividends will be sent by check unless you elect to have those dividends deposited directly to a designated bank account.
C. All Dividends Paid in Cash
(No Dividend Reinvestment): Receive in cash all dividends payable on WGL Holdings shares, including certificated, Plan and DRS
shares.
With the exception noted below with respect
to preferred stock, you may elect to reinvest dividends on less than all shares you own of record, including shares in your Plan
account.
If you elect to partially reinvest your dividends,
you must specify the number of whole shares on which you desire to receive a cash dividend. When a dividend is paid you will receive
a check for the cash dividends on the specified number of your shares, and the balance of your dividends will be used to purchase
additional shares of WGL Holdings common stock and those additional shares will be credited to your Plan account.
If you are reinvesting dividends on Washington
Gas Light Company preferred stock, you must reinvest all dividends on your preferred shares.
When a participant chooses or changes a dividend
option, instructions must be received by Computershare before a dividend record date to be effective for the related dividend payment
date. A participant may change a dividend option at any time by notifying the Administrator. Please see question 6 for a discussion
of record dates and dividend payment dates.
Yes. You will be credited with the amount
of dividends attributable to whole shares and fractional shares.
Yes. Participants may request that cash dividends
be transmitted to a participant’s pre-designated U.S. bank account. No third party accounts can be used. The account must
be at a financial institution that is a member of the National Automated Clearing House Association. To initiate this service,
a participant should log into his or her account online, call the Administrator or send a completed Authorization for Electronic
Direct Deposit Form to Computershare. Participants may request an enrollment package by contacting the Administrator. Initial set-up
or changes to electronic deposit instructions will be made as soon as practicable. See question 2 for Computershare contact information.
Any person or legal entity residing in the
United States, its territories or possessions, whether or not a common stock shareholder of record, is eligible to participate
in the Plan. Citizens, residents and legal entities of a country other than the United States, its territories and possessions
are eligible to participate if such participation would not violate laws applicable to the company or the participant. We reserve
the right to terminate participation of any participant if we deem it advisable under any foreign laws or regulations.
If you do not currently own any of our common
stock you may join the Plan by completing an Initial Enrollment Form and returning it to the Administrator together with a check
payable to “Computershare/WGL Holdings, Inc.” in the amount of at least $250 up to a maximum of $10,000, or enroll
online at
www.computershare.com/investor
. Any initial investment greater than $10,000 will require you to submit to us a
request for waiver and to receive our prior approval, which we may grant or refuse in our sole discretion.
Your personal checks must be in U.S. dollars
and drawn on a U.S. bank. Third party checks, cashier checks, foreign checks and money orders will not be accepted and will be
returned. Do not send cash. There is an initial enrollment fee of $15.00. The Administrator will arrange for the purchase of shares
for your account but will not pay interest on amounts held pending investment. After the initial shares are purchased, a statement
will be mailed to you.
Computershare reserves the right to limit
or combine accounts with identical taxpayer identification numbers and/or legal registrations.
A shareholder who currently holds shares in
an account with Computershare, but is not enrolled in the Plan, may apply by sending a completed Shareholder Enrollment Form to
Computershare or by accessing the Administrator’s website at
www.computershare.com/investor
. There is no enrollment
fee for shareholders of record.
If the completed authorization is received
by the Administrator on or before the record date for the next dividend, that dividend will be invested in additional shares of
common stock for the shareholder. If the authorization is received by the Administrator after the record date, that dividend will
be paid in cash and investment will begin with the next dividend.
The Administrator cannot reinvest dividends
paid on shares held in street name. Beneficial owners of common stock whose shares are held in brokerage accounts may participate
directly by registering some or all of these shares in the investor’s name or by making arrangements with the broker, bank
or other intermediary to participate on the investor’s behalf if such service is offered by such broker, bank or intermediary.
Employees
Employees of WGL Holdings, employees of Washington
Gas Light Company and employees of other participating subsidiaries may elect to participate in the Plan by payroll deduction.
To enroll, the employee must complete and return to the company’s payroll department a payroll deduction form. The minimum
payroll deduction is $4.00 per pay period. The amount of payroll deduction can be changed or terminated by completing a payroll
deduction form and returning it to the employee’s payroll department. The change will be effective on the next available
pay period. The minimum payroll deduction amount may be changed at any time.
Employees of participating subsidiaries other
than Washington Gas Light Company should check with their payroll department to determine if that subsidiary participates in the
payroll deduction program.
OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS AND AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS
13.
|
May I purchase additional shares of common stock through the Plan from time to time?
|
Yes. If you have a Plan account, you can buy
additional shares through “optional cash payments.” You can make optional cash payments of up to $10,000 per transaction.
The minimum optional cash payment is $50. In its sole discretion, the company may permit investments of greater than $10,000. There
is no obligation to make an optional cash payment in any period, and optional cash payments may be made in different amounts.
Optional cash payments in excess of $10,000
may be made only after submission to us of a written request, which we refer to as a “request for waiver,” and after
we have given our written approval, which we may grant or refuse to grant in our sole discretion. See Questions 18 and 19 for a
discussion of requests for waiver.
14.
|
How do I make optional cash payments?
|
You can mail a personal check payable to Computershare/WGL
Holdings, Inc. in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. bank for no less than the minimum. Third party checks, cashier checks, foreign
checks and money orders will not be accepted and will be returned. Do not send cash. Please include the tear-off portion on your
Plan statement when sending your personal check. If the Administrator receives checks for more or less than the permissible amount,
no investment will be made
. The funds will be returned to you by regular U.S. mail.
You may also make automatic individual or
monthly purchases by means of electronic funds transfers from your U.S. bank account.
15.
|
When will optional cash investments be made for my account?
|
Optional cash payments are invested
at
least once during every five business days.
Because purchases are credited only one during every five business days, there
may be a delay of up to five business days between the date the Administrator receives your funds and the date that the shares
are credited to your Plan account. This period may change, however, based on prevailing conditions in the securities markets and
the discretion exercised by the broker-dealer. You will not receive interest on cash held by the Plan pending investment.
The
purchase of such shares shall be completed as promptly as administratively feasible; however where postponement is necessary to
comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act or other applicable provisions of securities law such purchases must be completed
within 35 trading days following the investment date or the optional cash payment will be returned to the shareholder.
16.
|
What happens if my check for an optional cash payment is returned unpaid, or if my electronic funds transfer is refused?
|
If your check submitted for an optional cash
payment is returned unpaid for any reason, or your authorized electronic payment is refused for any reason, Computershare will
immediately remove shares that were purchased in anticipation of the collection of those funds from your Plan account. Those shares
will be sold to recover any uncollected funds. If the net proceeds
of the sale of those shares are not sufficient to recover the
full amount of the uncollected funds, Computershare reserves the right to sell additional shares from any accounts you maintain
with Computershare as may be necessary to recover the full uncollected balance. There is a $35 fee for any check or other deposit
that is returned unpaid by your bank and if your authorized electronic payment is refused for any reason. This fee will be collected
by Computershare through the sale of the number of shares from your Plan account necessary to satisfy the fee
17.
|
How do automatic payments work?
|
You may authorize Computershare to make automatic
individual or monthly purchases of a specified dollar amount of WGL Holdings stock for your Plan account by automatic withdrawal
from your U.S. bank account by electronic funds transfer. For monthly purchases, funds generally will be withdrawn from your bank
account on the 25th day of each month (or the next business day if the 25th is not a business day). Purchases will be made within
one week after the withdrawal. Please allow four to six weeks for the initial withdrawal. To terminate monthly purchases by automatic
withdrawal, you must contact the Administrator by one of the methods mentioned in question 2.
18.
|
May I invest more than the transaction maximum of $10,000?
|
Yes. If a participant or investor wishes to
make an optional cash payment, including an initial cash payment, in excess of $10,000, a participant must obtain the company’s
prior written approval. If a participant is interested in obtaining such approval, a participant must submit a “request for
waiver”. To make a request for waiver, a participant should obtain a request for waiver form by contacting the company at
1-202-624-6129 or
www.wglholdings.com
.
Completed request for waiver forms should be sent by facsimile to the company
at the number indicated on the form. The company will notify a participant as to whether a request for waiver has been granted
or denied, either in whole or in part, within three business days of the receipt of the request. If the request for waiver is granted
in part, the company will advise the participant of the maximum amount that will be accepted from the participant in connection
with the purchase. If a request is approved, the company must receive the funds for the purchase prior to or on the applicable
date specified by the company for the relevant pricing period (which typically will be one business day prior to the applicable
pricing period). If the participant does not receive a response from the company in connection with a request for waiver, the company
will be deemed to have denied the request.
The company may alter, amend, supplement or
waive, in its sole discretion, the time periods and/or other parameters relating to optional cash payments in excess of $10,000
made by one or more participants in the Plan, at any time and from time to time, prior to the granting of any request for waiver.
For more information regarding a particular pricing period (including applicable pricing period start dates), please contact the
company at 1-202-624-6129
.
Please see question 19 for a discussion of the pricing applicable to any approved request for
waiver.
The company has the sole discretion whether
to approve any request to make an optional cash payment in excess of the $10,000 individual transaction maximum. The company may
approve requests for waiver in order of receipt or by any other method that it determines appropriate. The company also may determine
the amount that may be invested pursuant to a waiver. In deciding whether to approve a request for waiver, the company may consider,
among other things, the following factors:
|
•
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whether, at the time of such request, the Plan is acquiring shares of common stock directly from the company or in the open market;
|
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•
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the company’s need for additional funds;
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•
|
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the company’s desire to obtain additional funds through the sale of common stock as compared to other sources of funds;
|
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•
|
|
the purchase price likely to apply to any sale of common stock;
|
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•
|
|
the extent and nature of the participant’s prior participation in the Plan;
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•
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the number of shares of common stock the participant holds; and
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•
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the total amount of optional cash payments for which requests for waiver have been submitted.
|
19.
|
If a request for waiver for optional cash payments over $10,000 has been approved, how are shares priced and purchased?
|
Shares purchased pursuant to an approved request
for waiver will be purchased directly from the company. Optional cash
payments made pursuant to a request for waiver will
be priced as follows:
|
•
|
|
Investments for which a request for waiver has been approved will be made subject to a “pricing period,” which generally will consist of one to 30 separate days during which trading of the company’s common stock is reported on the NYSE. Each of these separate days will be an “investment date,” and an equal proportion of the optional cash payment will be invested on each trading day during such pricing period, subject to the qualifications listed below. The purchase price for shares acquired on a particular investment date will be equal to 100% (subject to change as provided below) of the consolidated volume-weighted average price (less any applicable discount), rounded to four decimal places, of the company’s common stock as reported by the NYSE only, obtained from Bloomberg, LP for the trading hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time (through and including the last trade on the NYSE even if reported after 4:00 p.m.), for that investment date. For example, if an optional cash payment of $10 million is made pursuant to an approved request for waiver and the pricing period is 10 days, the number of shares will be calculated for each day of the pricing period by taking a pro rata portion of the total optional cash payment for each day of the pricing period, which would be $1 million, and dividing it by the volume-weighted average price obtained from Bloomberg, LP for the trading hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time (through and including the last trade on the NYSE even if reported after 4:00 p.m.), less the discount, if any. Funds for such optional cash payments must be received by the company not later than the business day before the first day of the pricing period.
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•
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The company may establish a minimum, or “threshold,” price for any pricing period that the volume-weighted average price, rounded to four decimal places, of the company’s common stock must equal or exceed during each trading day of the pricing period for investments made pursuant to a request for waiver. If the threshold price is not satisfied for a trading day in the pricing period, then the company will exclude from the pricing period such trading day and refund that day’s proportional investment amount. For example, if the threshold price is not met for two of the trading days in a 10-day pricing period, then the company will return 20% of the funds submitted in connection with a request for waiver, without interest, unless the company has activated the pricing period extension feature for the pricing period, as described below. The company is not required to notify a participant that a threshold price has been established for any pricing period. The establishment of the threshold price and the possible return of a portion of the payment applies only to optional cash payments exceeding $10,000 made pursuant to approved requests for waiver. Setting a threshold price for a pricing period will not affect the setting of a threshold price for any other pricing period. The company may waive its right to set a threshold price for any particular pricing period.
|
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•
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For each pricing period, the company may establish a discount from the market price for shares purchased pursuant to a request for waiver. This waiver discount, if any, will range from 0% to 3% of the purchase price and may vary for each pricing period. The waiver discount, if any, will be established in the company’s sole discretion after a review of current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan, the attractiveness of obtaining additional funds through the sale of common stock as compared to other sources of funds and the company’s need for additional funds. To obtain information regarding the waiver discount, if any, please contact the company at 1-202-624-6129 or
www.wglholdings.com
. Setting a waiver discount for a particular pricing period will not affect the setting of a waiver discount for any subsequent pricing period. The waiver discount, if any, will apply only to optional cash payments in excess of $10,000 made pursuant to an approved request for waiver. The waiver discount, if any, however, will apply to the entire optional cash payment made pursuant to the request for waiver and not just the portion in excess of $10,000.
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•
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The company may elect to activate for any particular pricing period a pricing period extension feature that will provide that the initial pricing period be extended by the number of days that the threshold price is not satisfied, subject to a maximum of five trading days. If the company elects to activate the pricing period extension feature and the threshold price is satisfied for any additional day that has been added to the initial pricing period, that day will be included as one of the trading days for the pricing period instead of the day on which the threshold price was not met. For example, if the determined pricing period is 10 days, and the threshold price is not satisfied for three out of those 10 days in the initial pricing period, and the company had previously announced that the pricing period extension feature was activated, then the pricing period will be automatically extended, and if the threshold price is satisfied on the next three trading days (or a subset thereof), then those three days (or subset thereof) would become investment dates instead of the three days on which the threshold price was not met. As a result, because there were 10 trading days during the initial and extended pricing periods on which the threshold price was satisfied, all of the funds that were included with a request for waiver would be invested.
|
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•
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Newly issued shares purchased pursuant to a request for waiver will be posted to participants’ accounts within three business days following the end of the applicable pricing period, or, if the company elects to activate the continuous settlement feature, within three business days of each separate investment date beginning on the first investment date in the relevant pricing period and ending on the final investment date in the relevant pricing period, with an equal
|
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amount being invested on each day, subject to the qualifications set forth above. During any period when the company is proposing to approve requests for waiver for one or more investments, the company may elect to activate the continuous settlement feature for such investments by announcing in the request for waiver form that it will be doing so. For each pricing period (assuming the threshold price is met on each trading day of that pricing period), the company would have a separate settlement of each investment date’s purchases, each based on the volume-weighted average price for the trading day relating to each of the investment dates during the pricing period.
|
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|
|
•
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Request for waiver forms and information regarding the establishment of a threshold price, if any, and discount, if any, may be obtained by contacting the company at 1-202-624-6129 or
www.wglholdings.com
.
|
PURCHASES OF COMMON STOCK
20.
|
How are shares purchased for my Plan account?
|
Dividends and optional cash payments will
be invested in your Plan account in shares of WGL Holdings common stock by Computershare, as Administrator for the Plan. Computershare
may acquire these shares in one of two ways:
|
•
|
Computershare may acquire shares through the public securities markets or in privately negotiated transactions. Computershare will use a registered broker-dealer that is independent of WGL Holdings to make these purchases (the “independent agent”). The independent agent may be affiliated with Computershare. Neither the company nor any participant will have any control over the times or prices at which the independent agent buys or sells shares on the open market or the selection of the broker-dealer who executes the transactions. These types of purchases are referred to in this prospectus as “open market purchases.”
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
Computershare may also buy shares directly from WGL Holdings. These transactions are referred to in this prospectus as “original issue purchases.”
|
The company has the discretion to operate
the Plan through either open market purchases or original issue purchases. The company may change the method of purchase at any
time without notice to the Plan participants, however, no more often than once per quarter.
21.
|
When are dividends reinvested and optional cash payments invested in my Plan account?
|
|
|
|
•
|
When the Plan is making open market purchases
, Computershare or its broker-dealer will generally invest dividends within five and no later than 30 business days of the dividend payment date. Dividend payment dates are usually the first business days of February, May, August and November. Optional cash payments will be invested within five business days of receipt of the optional cash payment.
|
|
|
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|
•
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When the Plan is making original issue purchases
, dividends will be invested on the dividend payment date and optional cash payments will generally be invested within five and no later than 35 business days of receipt of the optional cash payment.
|
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22.
|
How is the purchase price determined?
|
|
|
|
•
|
For open market purchases
, Computershare may combine a participant’s funds with funds of other participants and generally will batch purchase types (reinvested dividends, initial investments, optional cash payments and payroll deductions) for separate execution by its broker-dealer. At Computershare’s discretion these batches may be combined and executed by its broker-dealer. Computershare also direct its broker-dealer to execute each purchase type in several batches throughout a trading day. Depending on the number of shares being purchased and current trading volume in the shares, Computershare’s broker-dealer may execute purchases for any batch or batches in multiple transactions and over more than one day. If different purchase types are batched, the price per share of the common shares purchased for each participant’s account, whether purchased with funds contributed, dividends or both, shall be the weighted average price of the specific batch for such shares purchased by Computershare’s broker-dealer on that investment date.
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•
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For original issue purchases
, the price will be the average of the high and low prices on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape for WGL Holdings common stock on the date of purchase. This procedure applies to the reinvestment of dividends, initial investments, optional cash payments and payroll deductions. No trading fee will apply to original issue purchases.
|
The purchase price for shares purchased
from the company pursuant to a request for waiver is described in question 19.
COSTS
23.
|
Are there any expenses in connection with participation under the Plan?
|
When the company elects to use open market
purchases, a trading fee will be charged to participants for those transactions. The trading fee will be reflected in the purchase
price of shares acquired in the open market. As of the date of this prospectus, it is $0.05 per share purchased. Trading fees include
any applicable fees Computershare is required to pay.
There are no trading fees charged when
original issue purchases are used by the company to acquire shares for the Plan.
New investors will incur a one-time $15
enrollment fee for their initial purchase of shares through the Plan.
As of the date of this prospectus, the
batch order sales fee is $15 per sale and the trading fee is $0.12 per share sold. The market order, day limit order and good-til-canceled
limit order sales fee is $25 per sale and the trading fee is $0.12 per share sold. These fees will be deducted from the proceeds
of the sale. Any required tax withholdings and regulatory fees will be deducted from the proceeds of the sale as well. Trading
fees include any applicable fees Computershare is required to pay. Any fractional share will be rounded up to a whole share for
purposes of calculating the trading fee. An additional $15 will be charged if the assistance of a Customer Service Representative
is required when selling shares. Please see Appendix A-Fee Schedule for a list of fees as of the date of this prospectus. Fees
are subject to change at any time.
REPORTS TO PARTICIPANTS
24.
|
What reports will I receive?
|
Computershare will send each participant
a transaction advice or statement following any dividend reinvestment, optional cash payment, sale of Plan shares, certificates
deposited and transfer activity. If no dividends are paid, the annual statement will be mailed as soon as practicable following
the end of the year. The statement will include specific cost basis information
in accordance with applicable law.
Participants also will receive IRS Form
1099-DIV showing total dividends paid. If applicable, IRS Form 1099-B will be provided separately representing the proceeds of
any stock sale. Participants also will receive any communications sent to record holders of our common stock, including proxy and
other annual meeting materials in accordance with SEC rules and regulations.
Participants should retain all statements.
These statements provide cost basis information which is necessary for certain tax calculations. Requests for replacement account
activity information may entail a service fee.
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
25.
|
Will certificates be issued for shares of common stock purchased?
|
Normally, certificates for shares of common
stock purchased under the Plan will not be issued to participants. The number of shares credited to your account under the Plan
will be shown on your statement of account. This procedure protects against loss, theft or destruction of stock certificates.
Certificates for any number of whole shares
credited to your account will be issued upon request to the Administrator, and issuance of those certificates will not terminate
your participation in the Plan. Any remaining whole shares and fraction of a share will continue to be credited to the participant’s
account. Certificates for fractional shares will not be issued under any circumstances. Shares credited to the account of a participant
under the Plan may not be pledged as collateral or otherwise transferred. A participant who wishes to pledge or transfer any shares
held in the Plan must request that certificates for those shares be issued in the participant’s name.
Please use the tear-off stub attached
to the bottom of your Dividend Reinvestment Plan Statement when you request a certificate. This tear-off stub will help to expedite
your request.
26.
|
Does the Plan provide for safekeeping of certificated shares?
|
Yes, however this applies only to certificates
of common stock. Safekeeping is not available for certificates of preferred stock of Washington Gas Light Company, even if you
are reinvesting your preferred stock dividends into common stock.
Direct registration enables an investor
to be registered directly on the books of the company without the need for physical certificates. The Direct Registration System
(“DRS”) is managed by the Depository Trust Clearing Corporation and enables its participants to move securities electronically
between street name ownership and the books of the company. Direct registration shares can be enrolled in the Plan.
You may forward common stock certificates
to the Administrator accompanied by a letter directing the Administrator to deposit the shares into your Plan account. The stock
certificates and letter should be sent to the Administrator at the following address:
WGL Holdings, Inc.
c/o Computershare Trust Company,
N.A.
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, TX 77842-3170
It is recommended that these common stock
certificates be sent by registered or certified mail, with return receipt requested, or some other form of traceable mail and properly
insured
27.
|
In whose name will certificates be issued?
|
Accounts under the Plan are maintained
in the name or names in which the account was opened. Consequently, certificates for whole shares issued upon the request of participants
will be issued in the same name(s).
SALE OF SHARES
28.
|
How can I sell my Plan shares?
|
You may request that Computershare sell
any or all of your shares held in your Plan account by any of the following methods described below:
Market Order:
A market order is
a request to sell securities promptly at the current market price. Market order sales are only available at
www.computershare.com/investor
,
through Investor Centre, or by calling Computershare directly at 1-800-330-5682. Market order sale requests received at
www.computershare.com/investor
,
through Investor Center, or by telephone will be placed promptly upon receipt during market hours (normally 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time). Any orders received after 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, will be placed promptly on the next day the market is open. Depending
on the number of shares being sold and current trading volume in the shares, a market order may only be partially filled or not
filled at all on the trading day in which it is placed, in which case the order, or remainder of the order, as applicable, will
be cancelled at the end of such day. To determine if your shares were sold, you should check your account online at
www.computershare.com/investor
or call Computershare directly at 1-800-330-5682. If your market order sale was not filled and you still want the shares sold,
you will need to re-enter the sale request. The price shall be the market price of the sale obtained by Computershare’s broker-dealer,
minus a trading fee, which as of the date of this prospectus is $0.12 per share sold. Each market order sale will also incur a
transaction fee of $25.
Batch Order:
A batch order is an
accumulation of all sale requests for a security submitted together as a collective request. Batch orders are submitted on each
market day, assuming there are sale requests to be processed. Sale instructions for batch orders received by Computershare will
be processed no later than five business days after the date on which the order is received (except where deferral is required
under applicable federal or state laws or regulations), assuming the applicable market is open for trading and sufficient market
liquidity exists. All sale requests received in writing will be submitted as batch order sales. Computershare will seek to sell
shares in round lot (100 shares) transactions. For this purpose Computershare may combine each selling Plan participant’s
shares with those of other selling participants. In every case of a batch order sale, the proceeds to each selling Plan participant
for each share sold will be the weighted average sale price obtained by Computershare’s broker-dealer for each aggregate
order placed by Computershare and executed by the broker, minus a trading fee, which as of the date of this prospectus is $0.12
per share sold. Each batch order sale will also incur a transaction fee of $15.
Day Limit Order:
A day limit order
is an order to sell securities when and if they reach a specific trading price on a specific day. The order is automatically cancelled
if the price is not met by the end of that day (or, for orders placed after market hours, the next day the market is open). Depending
on the number of securities being sold and the current trading volume in the securities, such an order may only be partially filled,
in which case the remainder of the order will be cancelled. The order may be cancelled by the applicable stock exchange, by Computershare
at its sole discretion or, if Computershare’s broker-dealer has not filled the order, at your request made online at
www.computershare.com/investor
or by calling Computershare directly at 1-800-330-5682. Each day limit order sale will incur a transaction fee of $25 and a trading
fee, which as of the date of this prospectus is $0.12 per share sold.
Good-Til-Cancelled (GTC) Limit Order:
A GTC limit order is an order to sell securities when and if the securities reach a specific trading price at any time while
the order remains open (generally up to 30 days). Depending on the number of securities being sold and current trading volume in
the securities, sales may be executed in multiple transactions and over more than one day. If an order remains open for more than
one day during which the market is open, a separate fee will be charged for each such day. The order (or any unexecuted portion
thereof) is automatically cancelled if the trading price is not met by the end of the order period. The order may be cancelled
by the applicable stock exchange, by Computershare at its sole discretion or, if Computershare’s broker-dealer has not filled
the order, at your request made online at
www.computershare.com/investor
or by calling Computershare directly at 1-800-330-5682.
Each GTC limit order sale will incur a transaction fee of $25 and a trading fee, which as of the date of this prospectus is $0.12
per share sold.
Alternatively, you may choose to sell
shares in your Plan account through a broker-dealer of your choice, in which case you should contact your broker-dealer about transferring
shares from your Plan account to your brokerage account.
Computershare generally supports the sales
options set forth above. All sales options, however, may not be available at all times.
All trading fees include any brokerage
commissions Computershare is required to pay. Any fractional share will be rounded up to a whole share for purposes of calculating
the trading fee. An additional $15 will be charged if the assistance of a Customer Service Representative is required when selling
shares.
Computershare may, for various reasons,
require a transaction request to be submitted in writing. Participants should contact Computershare to determine if their particular
request, including any sales request, must be submitted in writing. Computershare reserves the right to decline to process a sale
if it determines, in its sole discretion, that supporting legal documentation is required. In addition, no one will have any authority
or power to direct the time or price at which shares for the Plan are sold (except for prices specified for day limit orders or
GTC limit orders), and no one, other than Computershare, will select the broker-dealer through or from whom sales are to be made.
You should be aware that the price of
WGL shares may rise or fall during the period between a request for sale, its receipt by Computershare and the ultimate sale on
the open market. Instructions sent to Computershare to sell shares are binding and may not be rescinded.
If you elect to sell shares online at
www.computershare.com/investor
through Investor Center, you may utilize Computershare’s international currency exchange
service to convert your sale proceeds to your local currency prior to being sent to you. Receiving your sales proceeds in a local
currency and having your check drawn on a local bank avoids the timely and costly ‘‘collection’’ process
required for cashing U.S. dollar checks. This service is subject to additional terms and conditions and fees, which you must agree
to online.
TRANSFER OF SHARES
29.
|
May I assign or transfer all or a part of my Plan shares to another person?
|
You may change ownership of all or part
of your Plan shares through a gift, sale or otherwise at any time. You must contact the Administrator to obtain the proper instructions
to effect the transfer. If you dispose of all or a portion of the shares in your name that you are reinvesting, Computershare will
continue to reinvest the dividends on your remaining shares, if any.
WITHDRAWAL
30.
|
How and when may I withdraw or change my participation method?
|
You may withdraw from the Plan or change
a method of participation by notifying the Administrator at any time.
Please use the tear-off stub attached
to the bottom of your dividend reinvestment plan statement to withdraw from the plan. This tear-off stub will help to expedite
your request.
31.
|
How can an employee withdraw from the Plan?
|
An employee may withdraw from the Plan
by notifying the Administrator by completing and signing the tear-off stub of the dividend reinvestment statement (please see question
2 for the Administrator’s address).
Employees who are participating in payroll
deduction must contact their payroll department for a payroll deduction form to discontinue or change deductions. Only the employee
needs to sign this form.
Employees who discontinue payroll deductions
may not re-enroll by payroll deduction for 90 days following the date on which payroll deductions are terminated.
32.
|
What happens when I withdraw from the Plan or the Plan is terminated?
|
If you withdraw from the Plan, or if the
company terminates the Plan, you have three options for receiving the proceeds from the account. You may (i) request that certificates
for whole shares credited to the account under the Plan be issued, and a cash payment be made for any fraction of a share less
any applicable fees, (ii) request that all of the shares, both whole and fractional, credited to the account in the Plan, be sold
as described in question 28, or (iii) request that some shares be issued in certificate form and the balance of the shares be sold.
The sale of the shares will be made for your account as soon as practical after receipt of instructions by the Administrator. You
will receive the proceeds of the sale, less any applicable fees. See Appendix A-Fee Schedule regarding costs for sales.
If notice of termination is received near
a record date for a plan account whose dividends are to be reinvested, Computershare, in its sole discretion, may either distribute
such dividends in cash or reinvest them in shares on your behalf. In the event reinvestment is made, Computershare will process
the termination as soon as practicable, but in no event later than five business days after the investment is complete.
OTHER INFORMATION
33.
|
What happens if WGL Holdings issues a stock dividend, declares a stock split or has a rights offering?
|
Any shares distributed by WGL Holdings
as a stock dividend, or upon a stock split, will be credited to a participant’s account whether the stock is held in the
participant’s account or the participant’s own name.
If additional shares are authorized and
issued through a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction, this prospectus shall be deemed to cover such additional shares.
In a rights offering, a participant’s
entitlement will be based upon the participant’s total holdings, including shares credited to the participant’s account
under the Plan. The proceeds from the sale of stock purchase rights applicable to the participant’s shareholdings, whether
held in the Plan or in the participant’s own name, will be credited to the participant’s account under the Plan. The
proceeds will then be applied as an optional cash payment to purchase shares of common stock on the next investment date. Any participants
who wish to be in a position to exercise their rights should request, prior to the record date of the rights offering, that the
Administrator issue certificates to them.
Transaction processing may be curtailed
or suspended between the record date and payable date for stock dividends, stock splits and/or rights offerings.
34.
|
What are the responsibilities of the company under the Plan?
|
WGL Holdings and the Administrator will
not be liable for any act done in good faith or for the good faith omission to act including, but not limited to (a) any claim
of liability arising out of failure to terminate a participant’s account upon such participant’s death prior to receipt
of notice in writing of such death, or (b) with respect to the prices at which shares are
purchased for the participant’s
account and the time when such purchases are made, or (c) with respect to any loss or fluctuation in the market value after purchase
or sale of shares.
35.
|
May the Plan be changed or discontinued?
|
The company has the right to amend, suspend
or terminate the Plan at any time without the approval of the participants. Notice of any such amendment, suspension or termination
will be sent to all participants who shall in all events have the right to withdraw from the Plan. See questions 30, 31 and 32
regarding withdrawal.
36.
|
How are Plan shares voted?
|
All Plan shares are voted in the same
manner as certificate and DRS shares registered in a shareholder of record’s name. Participants will receive proxy materials
from the company for each stockholder meeting, including a form of proxy that includes all Plan shares as of the proxy record date
and voting instructions. If voting instructions are not received, none of the participant’s shares will be voted unless the
participant votes in person or appoints another person as proxy to vote the participant’s shares. The form of proxy will
contain instructions for voting by telephone or online. In addition to annual proxy materials, Plan participants will also receive
all communications sent to holders of our common stock. Plan participants can also obtain current financial and other information
about us through the Investor Relations’ drop-down menu on our web site at
www.wglholdings.com
.
37.
|
Are Plan participants protected against losses by participating in the Plan?
|
No. We cannot assure you of a profit or
protect you against a loss on shares of our common stock that you purchase or sell under the Plan. The payment of dividends is
at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon future earnings, our financial condition and other factors. There
can be no assurance as to the declaration or payment of any dividend on our common stock. Also, see “Risk Factors”
on page 1 for additional information.
38.
|
When Plan participants sell shares issued under the Plan, how is the cost basis of the shares sold calculated for U.S. federal income tax purposes?
|
Because certain aspects of the Plan
do not fall within the narrow definition of “dividend reinvestment plan” under Treasury Regulations, we expect
that Plan participants will not be able to elect to cause our transfer agent to use cost basis averaging for shares in the
Plan. The Administrator’s default method of determining cost basis is FIFO—First In, First Out, meaning the
oldest (earliest acquired) shares are sold first. At the time you sell there may be other cost basis options available for
you to choose. However, Plan rules do not allow average cost basis as one of the methods.
TERMINATION OF PLAN PARTICIPATION
39.
|
Can Computershare terminate participation in the Plan?
|
Yes. If the Plan share balance in an account
is less than one share and there are no certificate or DRS shares in the account, Computershare reserves the right to terminate
the account without advance notice. The shares will be sold and a check for the value (based on the then current market price,
less applicable trading and service fees) will be sent to the participant. Computershare reserves the right to waive certain sales
fees when terminating participation of accounts. Further, Computershare reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate participation
in the Plan by otherwise eligible persons in order to eliminate practices which are inconsistent with the purpose of the Plan.
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Our articles of
incorporation provide that the company shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, as from time to time in effect,
indemnify any person in connection with civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action or proceedings because he or she
was a director or officer of the company. The articles of incorporation further provide for the limitation or elimination of any
liability of an officer or director for monetary damages to the company or its shareholders to the full extent permitted under
the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia as currently in effect or as hereafter amended.
Our bylaws provide
for indemnification of officers and directors against expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement in connection with
actions, suits or proceedings by reason of being an officer or director, except in relation to matters as to which the person is
finally adjudged to have knowingly violated the criminal law or be liable for willful misconduct in the performance of the person’s
duty to the company.
We carry a policy
of insurance which, among other things, provides for payment to the company of sums expended pursuant to our bylaws regarding indemnification
for liability of officers and directors.
PLAN MODIFICATION OR INTERPRETATION
We may in our absolute discretion interpret
and regulate the Plan as deemed necessary or desirable in connection with the operation of the Plan and direct Computershare with
respect to resolving questions or ambiguities concerning the various provisions of the Plan. Our officers are authorized to take
any actions that are consistent with the Plan’s terms and conditions. We reserve the right to interpret and regulate the
Plan as we deem necessary or desirable in connection with the Plan’s operations. We and the Administrator also reserve the
right to change any administrative procedures of the Plan.