AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 1, 2002. REGISTRATION NO. 333- ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 NUEVO ENERGY COMPANY (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) DELAWARE 76-0304436 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (I.R.S. EMPLOYER OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NUMBER) 1021 MAIN STREET, SUITE 2100, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002 (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) NUEVO ENERGY COMPANY 2001 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (FULL TITLE OF PLAN) BRUCE K. MURCHISON 1021 MAIN, SUITE 2100 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002 (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE) (713) 652-0706 (TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE) COPY TO: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP 1000 LOUISIANA, SUITE 4300 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002 ATTN: GEORGE G. YOUNG III (713) 547-2081 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE ================================================================================================================== PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE PER AGGREGATE REGISTRATION REGISTERED SHARE OFFERING PRICE FEE ------------------------------------ ------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------ Common Stock, par value $0.01 per 250,000 $13.945 $3,486,250 $320.74 share (1) (2) (3) ================================================================================================================== (1) Including preferred stock purchase rights issued under our Shareholders Rights Plan, dated March 5, 1997. (2) In addition pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein. (3) Computed pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h) of the Securities Act, based on the average of the high and low sale prices, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on October 31, 2002 ($13.945). 1 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE This registration statement is being filed for the purpose of registering in accordance with Instruction E of Form S-8 an additional 250,000 shares of our common stock, to be issued pursuant to our 2001 Stock Incentive Plan. The contents of our registration statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-70780) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2001, are incorporated herein by reference. NUEVO ENERGY COMPANY AMENDMENTS TO 2001 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN By means of the 2001 Form S-8, we registered 200,000 shares of common stock issuable under the 2001 plan. On October 29, 2002, our board of directors amended the 2001 plan to increase the number of shares of common stock issuable under the 2001 plan by 250,000 shares. This registration statement registers the additional 250,000 shares of common stock issuable under the 2001 plan. PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT After reasonable efforts, Nuevo Energy Company (the "Company") has not been able to obtain the written consent of Arthur Andersen LLP to the incorporation by reference of its report into this Registration Statement. The Company has dispensed with the requirement to file the written consent of Arthur Andersen LLP in reliance on Rule 437a promulgated under the Securities Act. Since the Company has not been able to obtain the written consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, investors will not be able to recover against Arthur Andersen LLP under Section 11 of the Securities Act for any untrue statements of material fact contained in the financial statements audited by Arthur Andersen LLP incorporated by reference herein or any omissions to state a material fact required to be stated herein. ITEM 8. EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Description ------ ----------- 5.1 Opinion of Haynes and Boone, LLP 24.1 Power of Attorney (included in the signature page) 23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (omitted pursuant to Rule 437(a) under the Securities Act) 23.2 Consent of Haynes and Boone, LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1) 99.1 Amendment to the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan 99.2 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8, Reg. No. 33-70780) 2 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 Houston, State of Texas, on November 1, 2002. NUEVO ENERGY COMPANY By: /s/ James L. Payne ----------------------------------------------- James L. Payne Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer 3 POWER OF ATTORNEY Each of the undersigned hereby appoints James L. Payne as attorney and agent for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 any and all amendments and exhibits to this Registration Statement and any and all applications, instruments and other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to the registration of the securities covered hereby, with full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever requisite or desirable. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on October 31, 2002. Signature Title --------- ----- /s/ James L. Payne Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer -------------------------------------------------------- (principal executive officer) James L. Payne /s/ Janet F. Clark Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting and -------------------------------------------------------- financial officer) Janet F. Clark /s/ Robert L. Gerry III Director -------------------------------------------------------- Robert L. Gerry III /s/ Gary R. Petersen Director -------------------------------------------------------- Gary R. Petersen /s/ James T. Jongebloed Director -------------------------------------------------------- James T. Jongebloed /s/ Isaac Arnold, Jr. Director -------------------------------------------------------- Isaac Arnold, Jr. /s/ Charles M. Elson Director -------------------------------------------------------- Charles M. Elson /s/ Sheryl K. Pressler Director -------------------------------------------------------- Sheryl K. Pressler 4 EXHIBIT INDEX ITEM 8. EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Description ------ ----------- 5.1 Opinion of Haynes and Boone, LLP 24.1 Power of Attorney (included in the signature page) 23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (omitted pursuant to Rule 437(a) under the Securities Act) 23.2 Consent of Haynes and Boone, LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1) 99.1 Amendment to the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan 99.2 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8, Reg. No. 33-70780) 5