As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 2002 Registration No. 333-__________ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ---------- FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ---------- NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) ---------- Oregon 93-0256722 (State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer of incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 220 N.W. Second Avenue Portland, Oregon 97209 (Address of Principal (Zip Code) Executive Offices) ---------- Northwest Natural Gas Company Restated Stock Option Plan (formerly known as 1985 Stock Option Plan) (Full title of plan) C.J. Rue 220 N.W. Second Avenue Portland, Oregon 97209 (Name and address of agent for service) Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service: (503) 226-4211 Copy to: Stuart Chestler Stoel Rives LLP 900 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 2600 Portland, Oregon 97204-1268 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposed Proposed Maximum Maximum Amount Amount Offering Aggregate of Title of Securities to Be Price Per Offering Registration to Be Registered Registered Share(1) Price(1) Fee ------------------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------ Common Stock, $3 1/6 par value (including 1,200,000 attached Rights to Shares $29.20 $35,040,000 $3,224 Purchase Common Stock) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------(1) The proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price are estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933. The calculation of the registration fee for the shares to be registered is based on $29.20, which was the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock on October 29, 2002 as reported on the New York Stock Exchange. PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT Item 3. Incorporation of Documents By Reference. ---------------------------------------- This Registration Statement incorporates the contents of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed September 28, 1995, Registration No. 33-63017. Item 8. Exhibits. -------- 4.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3a to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994, File No. 0-994. 4.2 Bylaws of the Company, as amended. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, File No. 0-994. 4.3 Rights Agreement, dated as of February 27, 1996, between the Company and Boatmen's Trust Company (ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, as successor), which includes as Exhibit A thereto the form of a Right Certificate and as Exhibit B thereto the Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Shares. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to Form 8-A, dated February 27, 1996, File No. 0-994. 4.4 Amendment No. 1, dated as of October 5, 2001, to Rights Agreement, dated as of February 27, 1996, between the Company and Boatmen's Trust Company (Mellon Investor Services LLC, as successor). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001, File No. 0-994. 5.1 Opinion of Stoel Rives LLP. 23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. 23.2 Consent of Stoel Rives LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). II-1 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Portland, and State of Oregon on the 31st day of October, 2002. NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY By: /s/ RICHARD G. REITEN ------------------------ Richard G. Reiten Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated. Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- /s/ RICHARD G. REITEN Principal Executive October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Officer, and Director Richard G. Reiten Chairman and Chief Executive Officer /s/ BRUCE R. DeBOLT Principal Financial October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Officer Bruce R. DeBolt Senior Vice President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer /s/ STEPHEN P. FELTZ Principal Accounting October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Officer Stephen P. Feltz Treasurer and Controller /s/ JOHN D. CARTER Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- John D. Carter /s/ THOMAS E. DEWEY, JR. Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Thomas E. Dewey, Jr. /s/ C. SCOTT GIBSON Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- C. Scott Gibson /s/ TOD R. HAMACHEK Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Tod R. Hamachek /s/ WAYNE D. KUNI Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Wayne D. Kuni /s/ RANDALL C. PAPE Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Randall C. Pape /s/ ROBERT L. RIDGLEY Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Robert L. Ridgley /s/ DWIGHT A. SANGREY Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Dwight A. Sangrey /s/ MELODY C. TEPPOLA Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Melody C. Teppola /s/ RUSSELL F. TROMLEY Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Russell F. Tromley /s/ RICHARD L. WOOLWORTH Director October 31, 2002 -------------------------------- Richard L. Woolworth II-2 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Document Description -------- -------------------- 4.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3a to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994, File No. 0-994. 4.2 Bylaws of the Company, as amended. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, File No. 0-994. 4.3 Rights Agreement, dated as of February 27, 1996, between the Company and Boatmen's Trust Company (ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, as successor), which includes as Exhibit A thereto the form of a Right Certificate and as Exhibit B thereto the Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Shares. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to Form 8-A, dated February 27, 1996, File No. 0-994. 4.4 Amendment No. 1, dated as of October 5, 2001, to Rights Agreement, dated as of February 27, 1996, between the Company and Boatmen's Trust Company (Mellon Investor Services LLC, as successor). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001, File No. 0-994. 5.1 Opinion of Stoel Rives LLP. 23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche. 23.2 Consent of Stoel Rives LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). II-3