<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [_]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [X]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [_] Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12
Connecticut Energy Corporation
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[x] No fee required.
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Filing Party:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Date Filed:
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Notes:
<PAGE>
CONNECTICUT ENERGY CORPORATION
855 MAIN STREET
BRIDGEPORT, CT 06604
1 (800) 760-7776
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
(TO BE HELD JANUARY 27, 1998)
----------------
December 12, 1997
To the Shareholders of Connecticut Energy Corporation:
The Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Connecticut Energy Corporation
(the "Company") will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Trumbull Marriott
Hotel, 180 Hawley Lane, Trumbull, CT, on Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 10:00
A.M. for the following purposes:
1. To elect the three nominees for Director named in the Proxy Statement.
2. To consider and act upon a resolution to approve the appointment of the
firm of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as the independent accountants to audit
the books and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries for the 1998
fiscal year.
3. To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the
meeting.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on December 8, 1997
as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of
and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting.
Samuel W. Bowlby
Secretary
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, MANAGEMENT WOULD
APPRECIATE THE PROMPT RETURN OF THE ENCLOSED PROXY, FILLED IN, DATED AND
SIGNED. AN ADDRESSED ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN
THE UNITED STATES.
<PAGE>
CONNECTICUT ENERGY CORPORATION
855 MAIN STREET
BRIDGEPORT, CT 06604
1 (800) 760-7776
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JANUARY 27, 1998
APPROXIMATE DATE OF MAILING: DECEMBER 12, 1997
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Connecticut Energy Corporation
("Company"), whose principal subsidiary is The Southern Connecticut Gas
Company ("Southern"), to be used at the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders to
be held January 27, 1998 and any adjournment(s) thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on December 8, 1997
as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of
and to vote at the meeting. On December 8, 1997, there were 10,211,483 shares
of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.
Any shareholder may revoke his or her proxy at any time before it is voted.
The Company will consider a proxy to be revoked if it receives a duly executed
proxy bearing a later date or a written statement signed by the shareholder or
his or her authorized representative clearly indicating the shareholder's
intent to revoke an earlier submitted proxy. A shareholder of record on the
record date attending the Annual Meeting may revoke his or her proxy and vote
in person by informing any of the persons named as proxies on the accompanying
proxy card that he or she desires to revoke a previously submitted proxy.
Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not of itself revoke a proxy. If the
proxy is properly signed and is not revoked, it will be voted at the Annual
Meeting in accordance with the shareholder's direction.
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each question to be
presented at the Annual Meeting. A plurality of the vote cast by the shares of
common stock entitled to vote, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting
will elect directors as long as a quorum is present. A quorum consists of a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast on a question. If a quorum exists,
action on the employment of the independent accountant will be approved if
votes, in person or by proxy, cast by shareholders favoring the action exceed
the votes cast by shareholders opposing the action. In certain circumstances,
a shareholder will be considered to be present at the Annual Meeting for
quorum purposes, but will not be deemed to have voted in the election of
directors or in connection with other matters presented for approval at the
Annual Meeting. Such circumstances will exist where a shareholder is present
but specifically abstains from voting, or where shares are represented at a
meeting by a proxy conferring authority to vote on certain matters but not for
the election of directors or on other matters. Under Connecticut law, such
abstentions and non-votes have a neutral effect on the election of
management's nominees for directors and on the approval or disapproval of the
appointment of the independent accountants.
The Company will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to
solicitations by mail, some directors, officers and regular employees of the
Company or its subsidiaries, without extra remuneration, may conduct
solicitations by telephone and personal interview. The Company may also
request brokers, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy
solicitation material to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by
such persons, and will reimburse them for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by them in connection therewith.
<PAGE>
The Company has engaged Georgeson & Company, Inc. ("Georgeson") to assist it
in the solicitation of proxies. Georgeson will solicit the proxies by mail, by
telephone, possibly by personal interview and by requesting brokers,
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy solicitation material to
beneficial owners of shares held of record by such person. The Company will
pay Georgeson a fee of $6,500, plus expenses, for such solicitation services.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The By-Laws of the Company provide that there shall be ten members of the
Board of Directors for the coming year. The Company's Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws further provide that the Board of Directors shall be
divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as possible. Each class
will serve for three years, with one class being elected each year. The
persons elected as Directors will serve until the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified.
Pursuant to the recommendation of its Nominating and Salary Committee, the
Board of Directors has nominated Henry Chauncey, Jr., Richard M. Hoyt and
Christopher D. Turner to fill the vacancies on the Board that will exist on
January 27, 1998.
All of the Nominees have indicated their willingness to serve as Directors
if elected. If, for any reason, any Nominee should not be a candidate for
election at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies may be voted, in the
discretion of those named as proxies, for a substitute nominee.
Certain information concerning the Nominees and the Directors continuing in
office, including the business experience of each during the past five years,
is set forth below.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF
THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR LISTED BELOW.
INFORMATION CONCERNING DIRECTORS
NOMINEES WITH TERMS EXPIRING AT THE 2001 ANNUAL MEETING
[PICTURE HENRY CHAUNCEY, JR. is Lecturer and Head of the Management
APPEARS Program, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale
HERE] School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. He was the President and
Chief Executive Officer of Gaylord Hospital from 1988 to 1994.
Previously, from 1982 to 1988, he served as President of
Science Park Development Corporation, a Connecticut non-profit
corporation formed for the purpose of establishing a high
technology business development area in New Haven, CT.
Mr. Chauncey has been a Director of the Company and Southern
since 1986. He is a member of the Company's and Southern's
Nominating and Salary Committees and Executive Committees. He
is 62 years old.
[PICTURE RICHARD M. HOYT is the President and Chief Executive Officer
APPEARS of Chapin & Bangs, a steel service center. He is also the
HERE] Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lindquist Steels,
Inc., a distributor of tool steel, Vice Chairman of the Board
of Directors of Bridgeport Hospital, a Trustee of the
Bridgeport YMCA and a Director of Yale New Haven Health
System. Mr. Hoyt has been a Director of the Company and
Southern since January 1992. He is a member of the Company's
and Southern's Pension Committees. He is 55 years old.
2
<PAGE>
[PICTURE CHRISTOPHER D. TURNER is Project Manager, Energy Sector
APPEARS Restructuring, Bechtel International Consulting Group.
HERE] Previously, he was Regional Manager, Resource Management
International, Manager, Strategic Business Operation, Power
Technologies, Inc. and President of C.D. Turner Associates.
From 1963 through January 1988, Mr. Turner was employed by
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation as Vice President of
Corporate Development.
Mr. Turner has been a Director of the Company and Southern
since 1989. He is a member of the Executive, Nominating and
Salary and Pension Committees of the Boards of Directors of
the Company and Southern. He is 54 years old.
TERMS EXPIRING AT THE 1999 ANNUAL MEETING
[PICTURE JAMES P. COMER, M.D. is the Maurice Falk Professor of Child
APPEARS Psychiatry, Yale Child Study Center and Associate Dean, Yale
HERE] School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Dr. Comer has been a
Director of the Company since 1979 and a Director of Southern
since 1976. He is a member of the Nominating and Salary and
Audit Committees of the Boards of Directors of the Company and
Southern. He is 63 years old.
[PICTURE PAUL H. JOHNSON is President and Chief Executive Officer of
APPEARS Gaylord Hospital, Wallingford, CT. Formerly he was Assistant
HERE] to the Dean, Yale Law School and President and Chief Executive
Officer and a Trustee of Connecticut Savings Bank. He is also
a Director of Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company and Cooper
Instrument Company.
Mr. Johnson has been a Director of the Company since 1979 and
a Director of Southern since 1973. He is a member of the
Executive and Audit Committees and Chairman of the Company's
and Southern's Pension Committees of the Boards of Directors
of the Company and Southern. He is 61 years old.
[PICTURE SAMUEL M. SUGDEN is Chairman of the international law firm of
APPEARS LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae L.L.P. Mr. Sugden has been a
HERE] member of the Board of Directors of the Company and Southern
since July 1993. He is Chairman of the Company's and
Southern's Nominating and Salary Committees. He is 55 years
old.
[PICTURE HELEN B. WASSERMAN chairs the United Way of Eastern Fairfield
APPEARS County's Regional Council for the Homeless. She is a former
HERE] member of the Board of Governors for Higher Education, State
of Connecticut. She is also the former Treasurer and a
Director of Bridgeways Communications Corp. (Channel 43, WBCT-
TV) and a past President of the Jewish Federation of Greater
Bridgeport.
Ms. Wasserman has been a Director of the Company since 1979
and a Director of Southern since 1976. She is a member of the
Pension and Audit Committees of the Boards of Directors of the
Company and Southern. She is 68 years old.
3
<PAGE>
TERMS EXPIRING AT THE 2000 ANNUAL MEETING
[PICTURE J. R. CRESPO is the Chairman of the Boards of Directors and
APPEARS Chief Executive Officer of the Company and each of its
HERE] subsidiaries. He is the President of the Company and Southern.
He is Chairman of the Executive Committees of the Boards of
Directors of the Company and Southern. Mr. Crespo has been a
Director of Southern since January 1989 and a Director of the
Company since April 1989. From 1982 through 1988, he was
Managing Partner--Utility Regulatory and Advisory Services,
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. He is 55 years old.
[PICTURE RICHARD F. FREEMAN is the President and Chief Executive
APPEARS Officer, Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation. He is a principal
HERE] in the firm of Freeman & Associates and the former President
and Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of The Bank Mart. He
is a Director of Physicians Health Services.
Mr. Freeman has been a Director of the Company and Southern
since 1979 and is a member of the Executive, Nominating and
Salary and Pension Committees and Chairman of the Audit
Committees of the Boards of Directors of the Company and
Southern. He is 63 years old.
[PICTURE NEWMAN M. MARSILIUS, III is the President and Chief Executive
APPEARS Officer, Producto-Moore Companies, a specialty tool and
HERE] machine manufacturer. He is a member of the Boards of
Directors of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and the
Connecticut Business & Industry Association. He has been a
Director of the Company and Southern since September 1992. He
is a member of the Company's and Southern's Audit Committees.
He is 51 years old.
The following table sets forth, as of November 28, 1997, information with
respect to the beneficial ownership of common stock of the Company by the
Nominees and Directors of the Company. Unless otherwise indicated, each holder
has sole voting and investment powers as to shares listed.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND NATURE
OF BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP(1)
-----------------
<S> <C>
Henry Chauncey, Jr............................................ 1,519
Dr. James P. Comer............................................ 1,804
J. R. Crespo.................................................. 46,826(2)
Richard F. Freeman............................................ 5,346
Richard M. Hoyt............................................... 1,150
Paul H. Johnson............................................... 1,592
Newman Marsilius, III......................................... 1,433
Samuel M. Sugden.............................................. 1,100(3)
Christopher D. Turner......................................... 1,354
Helen B. Wasserman............................................ 1,899
</TABLE>
As of November 28, 1997, the shares of common stock beneficially owned by
the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table appearing under
"Executive Compensation", which, in the aggregate, represent less than 1% of
the common stock outstanding were: Mr. Trotta--5,584; Mr. Ammann--5,916 Mr.
McGaughy--7,310; and Ms. Forest--2,784(4). Including such shares, the
Directors and executive officers as a group own beneficially 101,872 shares of
common stock, or 0.01% thereof.
4
<PAGE>
(1) No Director owns more than 0.01% of the common stock of the Company.
(2) Includes 32,795 shares awarded to Mr. Crespo under the Company's
Restricted Stock Award Plan.
(3) All of these shares are held jointly by Mr. Sugden and his wife.
(4) Mr. Ammann's and Mr. McGaughy's totals include 4,612 and 6,261 shares,
respectively, awarded to these officers under the Company's Restricted
Stock Award Plan.
To the knowledge of the Company, except for Brinson Partners, Incorporated,
no person or group of persons is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the
Company's common stock. The following table sets forth as of September 30,
1997, certain information as to the number of shares of common stock
beneficially owned by persons in excess of 5% based on reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or other reliable information:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TITLE NUMBER PERCENT
OF OF OF
NAME AND ADDRESS CLASS SHARES CLASS
---------------- ------ ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Brinson Partners, Inc................................ Common 700,000 8.0%
209 South LaSalle
Chicago, Illinois 60604
</TABLE>
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS OF CONNECTICUT ENERGY CORPORATION
The Directors do not receive any cash compensation for service on the Board
of Directors of Connecticut Energy Corporation, nor do they receive any
compensation for attendance at meetings of Connecticut Energy Corporation's
Board of Directors and meetings of its Committees.
Each Director of Connecticut Energy Corporation is also a Director of
Southern. For the year ending September 30, 1997, Southern's standard
arrangement with its Directors, other than Directors who are officers of
Southern, for their services was to pay them $600 each for each meeting of the
Board of Directors attended. Southern compensated each Committee Chairman $600
for each Committee meeting attended, and Committee members received $500 for
each Committee meeting attended. Except for the Chairman of the Board, each
Director of Southern, who was not an officer of Southern, was paid an annual
retainer of $12,000.
Effective October 1, 1992, Southern has an unfunded retirement plan for its
non-employee Directors. If a Director attains 65 years of age and has received
a retainer for five years, then the Director is eligible to retire and receive
an annual payment, payable in monthly installments commencing on the first day
of the month following such retirement, of an amount equal to the annual
retainer in effect during the fiscal year in which the Director attained the
age of 65. Such payments shall continue for a period of 10 years or the life
of the eligible Director, whichever is shorter, and no monthly payment shall
be made after the month in which an eligible Director dies. If a Director dies
before or after payments under the plan are made, no further amounts are
payable to the Director's surviving spouse, descendants or estate. The plan is
a non-contributory plan and is not intended to qualify under Sections 401(a)
and 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
On November 26, 1996, the Company's Board of Directors adopted the Non-
Employee Director Stock Plan. The Plan was approved by the shareholders on
January 28, 1997. The Plan provides that each Non-Employee Director will
receive annually for his or her service as a Director, 100 shares of common
stock on the day of the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders. An aggregate
of 13,000 shares of common stock will be available for issuance under the Plan
throughout its ten-year projected life. The common stock to be issued under
the Plan will be made available from treasury or authorized and unissued
shares of the common stock of the Company.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
During the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, the Company's Board of
Directors met eight times. All Directors attended more than 75% of the
aggregate of the number of (a) meetings of the Boards of Directors and (b)
meetings of all Committees of the Boards on which such Director served.
5
<PAGE>
Both the Company's Board of Directors and Southern's Board of Directors have
Audit Committees consisting of the following Directors:
Richard F. Freeman, Chairman Dr. James P. Comer
Helen B. Wasserman Paul H. Johnson
Newman M. Marsilius, III
The Audit Committees recommend the appointment of independent accountants to
audit the financial statements (see "Appointment of Independent Accountants"),
approve the scope of that audit, confer with the auditors with respect to
their examination of the Company's accounting practices, approve the auditors'
fees for performing both audit and non-audit functions, and report their
activities to the full Board. The Audit Committees held five meetings during
the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997.
The Company's and Southern's Board of Directors have Nominating and Salary
Committees consisting of the following Directors:
Samuel M. Sugden, Chairman Henry Chauncey, Jr.
Richard F. Freeman Dr. James P. Comer
Christopher D. Turner
The Nominating and Salary Committees recommend to the appropriate Board of
Directors (a) nominees to fill Board vacancies, (b) the composition of the
Board Committees, (c) the election of officers of the Company or of Southern
and (d) the salaries paid to the officers of Southern and the other
subsidiaries of the Company. The Nominating and Salary Committees held three
meetings during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997.
The Nominating and Salary Committees will consider recommendations for
nominees to serve on the Board of Directors by shareholders who submit such
recommendations in writing to the Company's Secretary by October 29, 1998 for
the consideration at the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Any such written
recommendation should contain a brief statement of background and
qualifications concerning the person being recommended.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
If a shareholder intends to present a proposal for action at the 1999 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, such proposal must be received by the Company on or
before August 14, 1998 for inclusion in the Company's Proxy Statement and Form
of Proxy for such meeting. The Company reserves the right to omit any
proposals from its Proxy Statement and Form of Proxy where such omission is
permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
REPORT OF THE
NOMINATING AND SALARY COMMITTEE
ON
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Nominating and Salary Committee (the "Committee") is a standing
committee composed entirely of outside Directors who are not employees of the
Company or any of its affiliates. Mr. Sugden is the Chairman. Messrs. Comer,
Freeman, Chauncey and Turner are the other members.
None of the members participate in any of the executive compensation plans
overseen and administered by the Committee with Board of Directors' approval,
and none participates in any compensation plan administered by the executives
of the Company.
6
<PAGE>
COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS
The Committee is responsible for assuring that compensation programs are
developed, implemented and administered to support the Company's fundamental
philosophy that compensation should be effectively linked to corporate and
individual performance. The Committee meets on a regularly scheduled basis.
The Committee reviews salary and incentive compensation programs as well as
the compensation of the President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Crespo, and
other senior executives. Reviews of executive performance and compensation
occur outside the presence of the executives who are being discussed. The
Committee has access to outside professional compensation consultants and
meets with these consultants, with and without executives present. The
Committee also reviews corporate organization, management development plans
and benefits programs. It makes reports and recommendations to the Company's
Board of Directors on all of these matters of organization and compensation.
CORPORATE COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
The Company's executive compensation program is designed to motivate,
reward, and retain the management talent needed to achieve the Company's
business objectives and to maintain a position of leadership in the natural
gas distribution industry. Retention of executives who have developed the
skills and expertise required to lead a capital intensive organization is
vital to the Company's competitive strength. Motivation of these individuals
is, and will continue to be, key to the Company's success.
The philosophical basis of the compensation program is to pay for
performance and the level of responsibility of an individual's position.
Assessments of both individual and corporate performance influence executive
compensation levels. The Committee, with Board of Directors' approval, seeks
to encourage a performance-based environment that motivates individual
performance by recognizing the past year's results and by providing incentives
for further improvement in the future. This includes the ability to implement
the Company's business plans as well as to react to unanticipated external
factors having a significant impact on corporate performance. Compensation
decisions for all executives, including the named executive officers and Chief
Executive Officer, are based on the same criteria.
Compensation opportunities are linked to financial and operating
performance. For each executive, a significant percentage of compensation each
year is at risk, that is, it depends on the accomplishment of challenging
performance goals approved and reviewed by the Committee and the Board of
Directors. The percentage of compensation at risk for an executive increases
with more responsibilities and as opportunities to contribute directly to the
success of the organization increase. The performance upon which the incentive
compensation program is based is assessed annually to ensure that executives
work to support both the current as well as the strategic objectives of the
Company and its subsidiaries.
COMPONENTS OF COMPENSATION
There are two major components to the Company's compensation program: Base
Salary and Management Incentive Compensation Awards.
Base Salary--A competitive base salary supports the philosophy of management
development and career orientation of executives and is consistent with the
long-term nature of the Company's business. The Company's compensation
philosophy is to pay base salaries to its executive officers that do not
exceed the median for comparable positions at other, comparable companies.
Base salaries for some executives will be set at a higher level if the
Committee concludes (and the Board of Directors agrees) that it is appropriate
in light of a particular individual's responsibilities, experience and
personal performance. Compensation opportunities must be sufficient to attract
and retain the highly qualified individuals the Company needs to succeed.
7
<PAGE>
Salary budget expenditures and adjustments to the salary structure are a
result of annual reviews of competitive positioning (how the Company's salary
structure for comparable positions compares with that of other companies),
business performance and general economic factors. While there is no specific
weighting of these factors, competitive positioning is the primary
consideration in setting base salary. Business and other economic factors such
as net income and estimates of inflation are secondary considerations in
establishing base salary.
The Committee recommends and the Board of Directors approves the salaries of
the President and Chief Executive Officer and the salaries of other elected
officers. The Committee met in November 1996 to recommend the 1997 salaries
for the President and Chief Executive Officer and to set the 1997 salaries for
the other elected officers. The Board of Directors approved the Committee's
recommendations. Any changes to these approved salaries must be reviewed by
the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors before implementation.
Mr. Crespo became President and Chief Executive Officer in 1989. His 1997
salary reflects the size and complexity of the Company, as well as his
experience and personal contributions to corporate performance.
Management Incentive Awards--Corporate and individual performance goals are
set by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The goals set
each year are ones which the Committee believes are challenging in light of
all current circumstances. If the financial performance of the Company does
not meet a certain threshold level specified by the Board of Directors for
that year, then no annual incentive awards would be paid for corporate
performance.
Annual incentive opportunities are designed to provide a strong incentive
for executives to increase corporate earnings each year. The program places a
significant portion of the executive's annual compensation at risk. As a
result of the Company's overall compensation philosophy, approximately one
quarter of an executive's total annual cash compensation depends on the
achievement of annual performance goals. The amount of compensation at risk
increases with the executive's responsibilities. With limited exceptions, base
salaries do not exceed the median for comparable positions at comparable
companies. If performance goals are met, then an executive's annual cash
compensation will total more than the median total annual cash compensation
for comparable positions at comparable companies.
In evaluating the performance of Mr. Crespo, President and Chief Executive
Officer, the Committee, in addition to financial performance, considers such
factors as ethical business conduct, progress towards strategic plan
objectives and the general perception of Connecticut Energy Corporation and
its subsidiaries by the financial community and customers. Narrow quantitative
measures or formulas are not viewed as sufficiently comprehensive for this
purpose. Mr. Crespo's 1997 award reflects his significant personal
contributions to the business and his leadership which resulted in 1997
performance that was strong relative to the industry. This determination was
based on the judgment of the Committee with Board of Directors' approval. The
combination of Mr. Crespo's base salary and the management incentive award was
comparable to other Chief Executive Officers of competitive companies of
similar size and with similar business results as those of the Company.
SUMMARY
The Committee has the responsibility to ensure that the Company's
compensation program satisfies the best interests of the shareholders. The
Committee believes that the existing compensation program is competitive and
appropriate. Balancing base salaries with management incentive awards is the
foundation upon which the Company's stability and business success should be
built.
Samuel M. Sugden, Chairman
James P. Comer
Richard F. Freeman
Henry Chauncey, Jr.
Christopher D. Turner
8
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
All of the executive officers of the Company except one are currently
officers of Southern. The Company has no existing plan or arrangement to pay
any remuneration to such officers in addition to the compensation that they
will receive in their respective capacities as employees of Southern or
another Company subsidiary. The salaries paid by Southern or another Company
subsidiary during the last three fiscal years ending September 30, 1997 to
each of the five most highly compensated executive officers (or executive
officers of the Company's subsidiaries) were as follows:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
ANNUAL COMPENSATION (1)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALL OTHER
SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR ($) ($) (2) ($)
- - --------------------------- ---- ------- ------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
J.R. Crespo................................... 1997 411,250 207,244 9,963
Chairman, President & CEO 1996 392,500 159,324 9,190
1995 365,000 132,276 7,320
T.A. Trotta................................... 1997 236,000 84,455 4,725
Exec. VP and COO 1996 223,917 58,280 4,500
1995 206,000 39,585 4,500
V.L. Ammann, Jr............................... 1997 145,275 39,876 4,359
VP and Chief Accounting Officer, 1996 139,275 29,059 4,178
Connecticut Energy Corporation 1995 133,313 26,006 1,559
L.S. McGaughy................................. 1997 142,950 37,291 4,288
President, CNE Energy Services Group, Inc. 1996 122,400 20,965 3,672
1995 112,050 19,694 3,361
C.A. Forest................................... 1997 135,975 37,760 4,079
VP Finance, Treasurer & Asst. Secr. 1996 130,750 29,068 3,922
1995 125,625 24,784 3,769
</TABLE>
- - --------
(1) None of the persons named received any cash compensation in any of the
years shown other than the amounts appearing in the columns captioned
"Salary," "Bonus" and "All Other Compensation." None of the perquisites
and other personal benefits received by such named persons exceed $50,000
or 10% of the total salary and bonus received by such person for each year
shown.
(2) The amounts appearing in this column are matching contributions by
Southern or another Company subsidiary to a Section 401(k) plan for each
of the named individuals except Mr. Crespo. The amount shown for the years
1997, 1996 and 1995 for Mr. Crespo include premium payments of $5,238,
$4,690 and $2,820, respectively, for a renewable term life insurance
policy.
9
<PAGE>
PENSION AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS
The approximate annual retirement benefits payable under Southern's Pension
Plan and its supplemental retirement plans to an individual whose compensation
as defined in the Pension Plans is in the classification indicated would be as
follows:
PENSION PLAN TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS OF SERVICE
------------------------------------------------
REMUNERATION 15 20 25 30 35
------------ -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$175,000 $105,000 $105,000 $105,000 $105,000 $105,000
$200,000 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000
$225,000 $135,000 $135,000 $135,000 $135,000 $135,000
$250,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000
$300,000 $180,000 $180,000 $180,000 $180,000 $180,000
$400,000 $240,000 $240,000 $240,000 $240,000 $240,000
$450,000 $270,000 $270,000 $270,000 $270,000 $270,000
$500,000 $300,000 $300,000 $300,000 $300,000 $300,000
$550,000 $330,000 $330,000 $330,000 $330,000 $330,000
$600,000 $360,000 $360,000 $360,000 $360,000 $360,000
$650,000 $390,000 $390,000 $390,000 $390,000 $390,000
$700,000 $420,000 $420,000 $420,000 $420,000 $420,000
$750,000 $450,000 $450,000 $450,000 $450,000 $450,000
</TABLE>
Remuneration covered for pension purposes is defined as the employee's
average annual compensation (which includes taxable compensation and pre-tax
employee contributions to Southern's Section 401(k) plan) for the five
consecutive years of the employee's last ten years of service yielding the
highest such average. Remuneration for pension purposes is the sum of the
amounts shown in the Salary and Bonus columns of the Summary Compensation
Table above.
The projected years of service for each of the five highest paid executive
officers at age 65 are: Mr. Crespo, 19 years; Mr. Trotta, 48 years; Mr.
Ammann, 34 years; Mr. McGaughy, 22 years and Ms. Forest, 34 years. The
benefits illustrated are payable as life annuities. The benefits for the named
individuals are not subject to any offset, except Mr. McGaughy's, which are
subject to Social Security offset.
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD PLAN
On November 26, 1996, the Company's Board of Directors adopted the 1997
Restricted Stock Award Plan (the "Plan") which was subsequently approved by
the Company's shareholders on January 28, 1997. The date of the Board's
approval of the Plan is the effective date of the Plan. The Plan is
administered by the Nominating and Salary Committee, which can establish rules
and regulations consistent with the terms of the Plan.
Any officer or senior salaried employee of the Company or any of its
affiliates, including the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation
Table, may be selected by the Committee to become a participant in the Plan.
No participant may be awarded more than 180,000 shares of stock, nor may a
participant receive more than $250,000 in dividends or distributions with
respect to shares of stock actually awarded for any one performance period.
Awards consist initially of target awards, actual receipt of some, all or up
to 150% of which is conditioned upon satisfaction of performance and vesting
conditions. After satisfaction of performance conditions, an award is
immediately vested.
The purpose of the Plan is to motivate participants to work to achieve
corporate objectives beneficial to the Company and its shareholders by
awarding to them shares of the common stock of the Company which become vested
upon or after achievement of the objectives. The Plan should assist the
Company to retain capable officers and other key employees who are eligible to
participate in the Plan, and to attract and retain others who may
10
<PAGE>
reasonably expect to become participants in the Plan after a reasonable period
of employment with the Company or its affiliates. Five senior officers
received the initial awards for the three-year performance period beginning
October 1, 1996, and additional employees may eventually participate in the
Plan.
The following table sets forth information on awards of stock made pursuant
to the Plan during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 to senior
executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS--AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERFORMANCE ESTIMATED
NAME OF OR OTHER FUTURE PAYOUTS
SHARES, UNITS PERIOD UNTIL UNDER NON-STOCK
OR OTHER MATURATION PRICE-BASED
NAME RIGHTS (#) (1) OR PAYOUT PLANS
- - ---- -------------- --------------- ---------------
TARGET (#)
---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
J.R. Crespo.................... 32,795 10/1/96-10/1/99 32,795
Vincent L. Ammann, Jr.......... 4,612 10/1/96-10/1/99 4,612
Larry S. McGaughy.............. 6,261 10/1/96-10/1/99 6,261
Phyllis A. O'Brien, Group VP... 4,362 10/1/96-10/1/99 4,362
Peter D. Loomis, Group VP,
Customer and Operating
Services...................... 4,217 10/1/96-10/1/99 4,217
</TABLE>
- - --------
(1) Long-term performance awards were initiated during fiscal 1997 to
executive officers under the Company's 1997 Restricted Stock Award Plan.
Under the awards described in the table, the number of shares initially
awarded to a participant is determined by the Nominating and Salary
Committee. Payouts are based on the cumulative total shareholder return
("TSR") on common stock relative to that of other companies included in
the Edward D. Jones Natural Gas Average Monthly Report over a three year
performance period ending October 1, 1999, as well as earnings per share
("EPS") or, with respect to executive officers of subsidiaries, cumulative
net earnings goals for the relevant subsidiary over the same three year
period. If the target results are achieved, 100% of the award will be
earned; if certain threshold results are achieved, 50% of the award will
be earned; and if certain maximum results are achieved, 150% of the award
will be earned. No payouts are earned if the relative cumulative TSR on
the Company's common stock and EPS (or cumulative net earnings, as
appropriate) do not meet certain threshold levels.
OTHER
The Boards of Directors has approved employment and deferred compensation
agreements with Mr. Crespo. Pursuant to these agreements, Mr. Crespo's base
salary was set at the rate of $225,000 per year, subject to upward revision
when the salaries of other officers of Southern are revised. The term of the
employment agreement is for three years commencing March 24, 1992 and shall be
automatically extended on the first day of each succeeding month to end three
years from such extension. Mr. Crespo also participates in the Company's
Management Incentive Compensation Plan. His agreements with the Company and
Southern provide for certain compensation and benefits to be paid if his
employment is terminated without "Cause," or terminated by him for "Good
Reason," or if there is a "Change in Control" of the Company as those terms
are defined in the agreements. If there is a "Change in Control," the Company
will pay Mr. Crespo his full base salary through the date of termination and
all benefits and awards to which he is entitled under benefits plans and
policies in effect prior to the "Change in Control." Additionally, the Company
will pay Mr. Crespo three times (1) his annual base salary on the effective
day of the termination or, if higher, immediately prior to a "Change in
Control," (2) the highest bonus he received in the previous five fiscal years
or, if higher, during the year in which a "Change in Control" took place, and
(3) amounts paid by the Company to Southern's Section 401(k) Plan on Mr.
Crespo's behalf plus an amount equal to 35% of his annual base salary on the
date of termination or, if higher, immediately prior to the "Change in
Control" as compensation for medical, life insurance and other
11
<PAGE>
benefits lost as a result of termination. If any of the foregoing payments
result in the imposition of an excise tax under the Internal Revenue Code, the
amount paid to Mr. Crespo will not be reduced because of the imposition of
such excise tax.
If Mr. Crespo terminates his employment for "Good Reason" or if the Company
and Southern terminate his employment without "Cause," Mr. Crespo will
continue to receive his base salary for the remaining term of the agreement
and any amounts payable under the Compensation Plan within 12 months of
termination to which he is entitled unless he is receiving payments because of
a "Change in Control."
Mr. Crespo's deferred compensation agreement provides for compensation
payments upon retirement or termination of his employment. Under the
agreement, if employed by the Company until December 1, 2004, he would be
entitled to receive, on retirement or termination of his employment, 65% of
the average of his total base pay plus any incentive compensation paid in
those five highest paid consecutive years out of the 10 years preceding his
retirement or termination, less amounts paid under Southern's retirement
plans. He will receive lesser amounts if he retires or his termination occurs
prior to December 1, 2004. The deferred compensation agreement also contains
provisions relating to the election of benefits for his spouse, the receipt of
deferred compensation prior to attaining the age of 65, payments in the event
of his death or disability, and provisions for supplemental term life
insurance.
During 1996, the Company and Southern entered into agreements with Mr.
Trotta and Ms. Forest which, among other things, provide for certain payments
to these executives in the event there is a "Change of Control" of the
Company.
12
<PAGE>
SHARE PERFORMANCE CHART
The following chart compares the total cumulative return on an investment in
the Company's Common Stock with the cumulative total return of the Standard &
Poor's 500 C+Stock Index and the Standard & Poor's Utilities Index (which
includes telephone, electric, gas pipeline and gas distribution companies)
over the last five fiscal years in accord with the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (1):
[LINE GRAPH APPEARS HERE]
Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Connecticut
Energy 100 118 109 104 114 149
- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P 500 100 113 117 152 183 256
- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P Utilities 100 124 108 138 148 169
- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
- - -------
(1) While the Company's five-year total return is slightly below the Standard
and Poor's Utility Index, the Company's one-year total return of thirty
percent (30%) exceeds most comparable peers.
Total return assumes reinvestment of all dividends on the payment date. The
changes displayed are not necessarily indicative of future returns measured by
this, or any method.
2. APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
On November 4, 1997 and November 25, 1997, the Audit Committees of the
Boards of Directors of the Company and Southern and the Boards of Directors of
the Company and Southern each respectively voted to recommend to the
shareholders that Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. be appointed as the independent
accountants to audit the books and affairs of the Company and its
subsidiaries, respectively, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998.
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. was the independent accountant engaged as the
principal accountant to audit the Company's and its subsidiaries' books and
records for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997.
13
<PAGE>
Representatives of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. will be present at the Annual
Meeting and they will be given the opportunity to make a statement on behalf
of their firm if they so desire. They will also be available to respond to
appropriate questions from shareholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPOINTMENT
OF COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P. AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.
3. OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be presented for
consideration at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. If any other matter
should properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the
persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters in accordance
with their judgment.
By order of the Board of Directors
SAMUEL W. BOWLBY
Secretary
Dated: December 12, 1997
14
<PAGE>
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS TO THE
TRUMBULL MARRIOTT HOTEL:
IF YOU'RE DRIVING TO THE HOTEL FROM THE MERRITT PARKWAY NORTH BOUND (direction
toward New Haven): Take Exit 51; turn right off ramp onto Rte. 108 South
(Nichols Ave.); drive 1/2 mile; turn left onto Hawley Lane, hotel will be 3/10
of a mile on the left side of the road.
IF YOU'RE DRIVING TO THE HOTEL FROM THE MERRITT PARKWAY SOUTH BOUND (direction
toward Bridgeport/New York): Take Exit 52; follow Rte. 108 signs; turn left
off ramp onto Rte. 108 South (Nichols Ave.); drive 3/10 of a mile; turn left
onto Hawley Lane, hotel will be 3/10 of a mile on the left side of the road.
IF YOU'RE DRIVING TO THE HOTEL FROM INTERSTATE 95: Take Exit 27A (Rtes. 8 &
25), Follow Rte. 8 (at fork, stay on Rte. 8, which is the right side of the
fork) to Exit 8; turn left off ramp, turn right at first stoplight onto Rte.
108 South (Nichols Ave.); make a quick left at first stoplight onto Hawley
Lane, hotel will be 3/10 of a mile on the left side of the road.
15
<PAGE>
2140 -PS-97
<PAGE>
The 1998 Annual Meeting for
[LOGO] CONNECTICUT ENERGY CORPORATION
will be held Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 10:00 a.m.
at the Trumbull Marriott Hotel, Trumbull, Connecticut.
(Directions are on the reverse side of this card).
PLEASE PRESENT THIS CARD TO BE ADMITTED.
Please Print
Name
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Shares Owned
---------------------------------------------------------------
DETACH HERE
CONNECTICUT ENERGY CORPORATION
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JANUARY 27, 1998
The undersigned hereby appoints James P. Comer, Paul H. Johnson, Samuel M.
Sugden and Helen B. Wasserman and each of them, with power of substitution,
proxies and agents of the undersigned to vote at the Annual Meeting of the
Shareholders of Connecticut Energy Corporation (the "Company"), to be held in
the Grand Ballroom of the Trumbull Marriott Hotel, 180 Hawley Lane, Trumbull,
Connecticut on Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 10:00 A.M., and at any adjournment
thereof, all shares of common stock of the Company which the undersigned would
be entitled to vote if personally present for the following matters set forth on
the reverse side.
-----------
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE SEE REVERSE
SIDE
-----------
<PAGE>
Travel Directions to the
Trumbull Marriott Hotel:
If you're driving to the hotel from the Merritt Parkway North Bound
(direction toward New Haven): Take Exit 51; turn right off ramp onto Rte. 108
South (Nichols Ave); drive 1/2 mile; turn left onto Hawley Lane, Hotel will be
3/10 of a mile on the left side of the road.
If you're driving to the hotel from the Merritt Parkway South Bound
(direction toward Bridgeport/New York): Take Exit 52; follow Rte. 108 signs;
turn left off ramp onto Rte. 108 South (Nichols Ave.); drive 3/10 of a mile;
turn left onto Hawley Lane, hotel will be 3/10 of a mile on the left side of the
road.
If you're driving to the hotel from Interstate 95: Take Exit 27A (Rtes. 8 &
25), follow Rte. 8 (at fork, stay on Rte. 8, which is the right side of the
fork) to Exit 8; turn left off ramp, turn right at first stoplight onto Rte. 108
South (Nichols Ave.); make a quick left at first stoplight onto Hawley Lane,
hotel will be 3/10 of a mile on the left side of the road.
DETACH HERE
[X] Please mark
votes as in
this example.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed
herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no directive is made the proxy
will be voted FOR proposals 1 and 2.
1. Election of Directors
Nominees: Henry Chauncey, Jr., Richard M. Hoyt and Christopher D. Turner
FOR WITHHELD
[_] [_]
[_]______________________________
FOR ALL EXCEPT AS LISTED ABOVE
2. TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P. as the independent
public accountants to audit the books and affairs of the Company and its
subsidiaries for the fiscal year 1998.
FOR WITHHELD ABSTAIN
[_] [_] [_]
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT [_]
Please mark, sign, date and return the proxy card
promptly using the enclosed envelope.
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When
shares are held by joint tenants both should
sign. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give
full title as such. If a corporation, please sign
in full corporate name by President or other
authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign
in partnership name by an authorized person.
Signature: ________________ Date:______ Signature:________________ Date: ______
