UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: October 8, 2014
(Date of earliest event reported)
Gas Natural Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Ohio | 001-34585 | 27-3003768 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||
| 8500 Station Street, Mentor, Ohio | 44060 | |||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||
(440) 974-3770
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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:
| ¨ | 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 October 2, 2014, Gas Natural filed a suit against our former chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Richard M. Osborne, captioned “Gas Natural Inc. v. Richard M. Osborne” in the United States District Court Northern District of Ohio (Case No. 1:14-cv-2181) in response to inappropriate letters to shareholders written by Mr. Osborne that were not filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In this case, the company sought to enjoin Mr. Osborne from sending additional letters to our shareholders without complying with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act and related regulations that require shareholder solicitations to be filed with the SEC.
On October 8, 2014, the judge granted our requested injunction requiring Richard Osborne to file with the SEC any letters he writes to shareholders so long as a lawsuit filed by Mr. Osborne against the company in Lake County is pending. Mr. Osborne subsequently appealed the Federal court’s injunction, which we believe is wholly without merit and will vigorously contest.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Gas Natural Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ James E. Sprague | |
| Name: | James E. Sprague | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
Dated: October 17, 2014