<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.1
[FIRST ENERGY LOGO]
Thank you for investing in FirstEnergy. Please take a moment now to vote your
shares of common stock for the Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger
between FirstEnergy Corp. and GPU, Inc.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
YOU CAN VOTE TODAY IN ONE OF THREE WAYS:
1. VOTE BY TELEPHONE - You will be asked to enter the Control Number below.
Then, if you wish to vote as recommended by the Board of Directors,
simply press 1. If you do not wish to vote as the Board recommends, you
need only respond to a few simple prompts.
--------------------------------
YOUR CONTROL NUMBER IS:
1-888-457-2961
CALL ON A TOUCH-TONE TELEPHONE ANYTIME.
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS CALL.
FOR TELEPHONE OR INTERNET VOTING
--------------------------------
Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named Proxies to vote your
shares in the same manner as if you had marked, signed and returned your
proxy card.
OR
2. VOTE BY INTERNET - Access http://www.proxyvoting.com/fe and respond to a
few simple prompts after entering the Control Number above.
OR
3. VOTE BY MAIL - If you do not have access to a touch-tone telephone or to
the Internet, complete and return the proxy card below in the envelope
provided.
TEAR HERE
Vote by marking an (X) in the appropriate box. When properly executed, your
proxy card will be voted in the manner you direct and, if you do not specify
your choices, your proxy card will be voted FOR Item 1.
-----------------------------------------------------
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEM 1.
-----------------------------------------------------
ITEM 1 - To adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger
and the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation
described in the proxy statement.
FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN / /
-----------------------------------------------------
/ / Check this box if you expect to attend the
meeting in person.
----------------------------------------- -----------
Signature(s) Date
Sign above as name(s) appear on this proxy card. If
signing for a corporation or partnership or as an
agent, attorney or fiduciary, indicate the capacity
in which you are signing.
<PAGE>
PROXY
[FIRSTENERGY LOGO]
This Proxy Card is Solicited by the Board of
Directors for the Special Meeting of Shareholders
to be held at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, 3180 West
Market Street, Akron, Ohio, on Tuesday, November 21,
2000, at 9 a.m., Eastern Time.
The undersigned appoints Nancy C. Ashcom and Edward J. Udovich as Proxies
with the power to appoint their substitute; authorizes them to represent and
to vote, as directed on the reverse side, all the shares of common stock of
FirstEnergy Corp. which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if
personally present at the Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on
November 21, 2000, or at any adjournment; and authorizes them to vote, at
their discretion, on any matters incident to the conduct of the meeting.
You are urged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate box on the
REVERSE SIDE, but you do not need to mark any box if you wish to vote as the
Board of Directors recommends.
SIGN THIS CARD ON THE REVERSE SIDE
PLEASE SIGN AND MAIL PROMPTLY IF YOU ARE NOT VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET
<PAGE>
HILTON AKRON/FAIRLAWN
3180 WEST MARKET STREET
AKRON, OHIO
[Graphic of Map] [Graphic of Map]
Hilton Akron/Fairlawn
3180 West Market Street Akron, Ohio
330-867-5000
DRIVING SOUTH ON I-77: Take Ghent Road exit for Fairlawn. Turning right off
exit ramp (south), follow Ghent Road until it ends as
West Market Street. Turn right and immediately left
into the Hilton lot.
DRIVING NORTH ON I-77: Take Miller/Ridgewood Road exit. Exit ramp turns into
Miller road. Follow Miller Road to West Market
Street. Turn left. Hilton is on left side across from
Summit Mall.
DRIVING EAST ON I-76: I-76 and I-77 come together in downtown Akron. Follow
I-77 North out of downtown Akron and follow the I-77
North directions above.
DRIVING NORTH Take Route 18 - Medina exit. Drive east for about 10
OR SOUTH ON I-71: miles on Route 18 and the Hilton is on right side
across from Summit Mall.
FROM OHIO TURNPIKE: Take exit 11 off the Ohio Turnpike. Follow signs for
I-77 South and follow the I-77 South directions
above.
<PAGE>
YOU MAY VOTE BY TELEPHONE TOLL-FREE
OR BY COMPLETING AND MAILING THIS VOTING DIRECTION FORM
Voting by touch-tone phone is easy, and you can vote 24 hours a day and 7 days a
week. Have this from available when you call the toll-free number. Then, just
enter your control number and follow the simple prompts.
If you prefer to vote by mail, complete, sign and date this form, and return it
in its entirety to the Trustee in the postage-paid envelope provided.
DO NOT RETURN THIS FORM IF YOU VOTE BY TELEPHONE.
-------------------------------------------- Call Toll-Free
on a Touch-Tone Phone:
1-888-216-1289
Enter the following Control Number:
------------------------------
------------------------------
IMPORTANT: YOUR VOTING DIRECTIONS, BY TELEPHONE OR BY MAIL, MUST BE RECEIVED
NO LATER THAN NOON, EASTERN STANDARD TIME, ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17.
FIRST ENERGY CORP. SAVINGS PLAN
VOTING DIRECTION FORM
FirstEnergy Special Meeting of Shareholders - November 21, 2000
TO: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE OF THE FIRSTENERGY CORP.
SAVINGS PLAN
As a participant in the FirstEnergy Savings Plan, I direct State Street
Bank and Trust Company, Trustee, to vote, as directed below, shares of
FirstEnergy common stock which are allocated to my account, and also my
proportionate number of shares which have not been allocated to participants or
for which no direction forms are received, at the Special Meeting of
Shareholders on November 21, 2000, or at any adjournment, and in its discretion
it is authorized to vote upon any other matters incident to the conduct of the
meeting.
Indicate your direction by marking an (x) in the appropriate boxes below. If no
directions are indicated, the shares represented by this designed direction form
will be voted as your Board of Directors recommends, which is FOR Item 1.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALLOCATED SHARES: UNALLOCATED SHARES (Proportion to be determined.)
----------------- --------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEM 1. YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEM 1.
---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Item 1. To adopt the Agreement and Plan of Item 1. To adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger
Merger and the amendment to the Articles and the amendment to the Articles of
of Incorporation described in the proxy Incorporation described in the proxy
statement. Statement
|_| FOR |_| AGAINST |_| ABSTAIN |_| FOR |_| AGAINST |_| ABSTAIN
Date
------------------------------------------------ -----------------------, 2000
SIGNATURE, Sign as name appears above.
</TABLE>
To assure your representation at the meeting, please sign and mail promptly in
the enclosed, postage-paid envelope to State Street Bank and Trust Company,
Box 1997 G.P.O., New York, N.Y. 10117-0024.
DO NOT RETURN THIS FORM IF YOU VOTE BY TELEPHONE.
<PAGE>
First Energy (LOGO) 76 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Peter Burg
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
October 19, 2000
Dear Savings Plan Participant:
The proposed merger with FPU, Inc., requires approval by holders of a
majority of FirstEnergy's outstanding common stock.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MERGER AND JOINS YOUR
MANAGEMENT TEAM IN RECOMMENDING THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE MERGER. We are convinced
the merger will enhance the value of your 401 (k) Savings Plan investment - a
portion of which includes FirstEnergy common stock - by offering benefits,
including being immediately accretive to cash flow and earnings, improving
operating efficiencies, providing new sources of revenue, and offering more
career opportunities for employees.
Please look over the enclosed proxy material, which provides additional
information about the merger. After your review, take a moment to vote your Plan
shares. We encourage you to vote by calling our automated voting system at this
toll-free number - 1-888-216-1289; or, you can sign and date the enclosed VOTING
DIRECTION FORM and return it in the postage-paid envelope.
Your participation and support of the merger are essential as we work
together to improve our opportunities for success in what has become a rapidly
changing and increasingly competitive energy market.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call Investor Services at
1-800-736-3402. Thanks for your continuing support.
Sincerely,
/s/ H. Peter Burg
<PAGE>
FIRSTENERGY CORP. 401(K) RETIREMENT SAVING PLAN
FOR IBEW REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
AT THE BEAVER VALLEY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
VOTING DIRECTION FORM
FIRSTENERGY SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - NOVEMBER 21, 2000
-------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Complete, sign and date this form, and return it in its entirety
to the Trustee in the postage-paid envelope provided.
TO: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE
As a participant in the FirstEnergy Corp. 401(k) Retirement Savings
Plan for IBEW Represented Employees at the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant, I
direct State Street Bank and Trust Company, Trustee, to vote, as directed below,
shares of FirstEnergy common stock which are allocated to my account, and also
my proportionate number of shares which have not been allocated to participants
or for which no direction forms are received, at the Special Meeting of
Shareholders on November 21, 2000, or at any adjournment, and in its discretion
it is authorized to vote upon any other matters incident to the conduct of the
meeting.
Indicate your direction by marking an (x) in the appropriate boxes below. If no
directions are indicated, the shares represented by this aligned direction form
will be voted as your Board of Directors recommends, which is FOR Item 1.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALLOCATED SHARES: UNALLOCATED SHARES (Proportion to be determined.)
----------------- --------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEM 1. YOUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEM 1.
---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Item 1. To adopt the Agreement and Plan of Item 1. To adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger
Merger and the amendment to the Articles and the amendment to the Articles of
of Incorporation described in the proxy Incorporation described in the proxy
statement. Statement
|_| FOR |_| AGAINST |_| ABSTAIN |_| FOR |_| AGAINST |_| ABSTAIN
------------------------------------------------ Date -----------------------, 2000
SIGNATURE, Sign as name appears above.
</TABLE>
To assure your representation at the meeting, please sign and mail promptly in
the enclosed, postage-paid envelope to State Street Bank and Trust Company,
Box 1997 G.P.O., New York, N.Y. 10117-0024.
<PAGE>
FIRSTENERGY CORP. 401(K) RETIREMENT SAVING PLAN
FOR IBEW REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
AT THE BEAVER VALLEY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
VOTING DIRECTION FORM
FIRSTENERGY SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - NOVEMBER 21, 2000
-------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Complete, sign and date this form, and return it in its entirety
to the Trustee in the postage-paid envelope provided.
TO: THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
As a participant in the FirstEnergy Corp. 401(k) Retirement Savings
Plan for IBEW Represented Employees at the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant, I
direct THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, Trustee, to vote, as directed below,
shares of FirstEnergy common stock which are allocated to my account, and also
my proportionate number of shares for which no direction forms are received, at
the Special Meeting of Shareholders on November 21, 2000, or at any adjournment,
and in its discretion it is authorized to vote upon any other matters incident
to the conduct of the meeting.
Indicate you direction by marking an (x) in the appropriate boxes below. If no
directions are indicated, the shares represented by this signed direction form
will be voted as your Board of Directors recommends, which is FOR Item 1.
ALLOCATED SHARES:
-------------------------------------------------------
YOU BOARD RECOMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEM 1.
-------------------------------------------------------
Item 1. To adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger and
the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation described
in the proxy statement.
|_| FOR |_| AGAINST |_| ABSTAIN
----------------------------------------- Date -----------------------, 2000
SIGNATURE, Sign as name appears above.
To assure your representation at the meeting, please sign and mail promptly in
the enclosed, postage-paid envelope to THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,
Box 1997 G.P.O., New York, N.Y. 10117-0024.
<PAGE>
FirstEnergy(TM) 76 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Peter Burg
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
October 19, 2000
Dear Savings Plan Participant:
The proposed merger with GPU, Inc., requires approval by holders of a
majority of FirstEnergy's outstanding common stock.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MERGER AND JOINS YOUR
MANAGEMENT TEAM IN RECOMMENDING THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE MERGER. We are convinced
the merger will enhance the value of your 401 (k) Savings Plan investment - a
portion of which includes FirstEnergy common stock - by offering benefits,
including being immediately accretive to cash flow and earnings, improving
operating efficiencies, providing new sources of revenue, and offering more
career opportunities for employees.
Please look over the enclosed proxy material, which provides additional
information about the merger. After your review, take a moment to vote your Plan
shares by signing and dating the enclosed VOTING DIRECTION FORM and returning it
in the postage-paid envelope.
Your participation and support of the merger are essential as we work
together to improve our opportunities for success in what has become a rapidly
changing and increasingly competitive energy market.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call Investor Services at
1-800-736-3402. Thanks for your continuing support.
Sincerely,
/s/ H. Peter Burg
