<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[ ] 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 sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12
</TABLE>
U.S. ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 2
U.S. ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 5, 1997
To all Stockholders of U.S. Energy Systems, Inc.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders (the
"Stockholders") of U.S. Energy Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), will be held at Rockwell's Restaurant, 515 North Flagler Drive, 20th
Floor, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 on Tuesday, August 5, 1997 at 10:00 a.m.,
Eastern Daylight Savings time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect five Directors for the term of one year, or, if Proposal
Number Two is adopted by the Stockholders, for staggered terms of
one to three years, and until their successors are duly elected and
qualified;
2. To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt an
amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to provide
for staggered three (3) year terms for the Company's Board of
Directors;
3. To ratify the appointment of Richard A. Eisner & Company, LLP, as
the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year
ending January 31, 1998; and
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Annual Meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
Only Stockholders of record at the close of business on June 20, 1997 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments
thereof.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ SEYMOUR J. BEDER
Seymour J. Beder,
Secretary
West Palm Beach, Florida
July 7, 1997
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE PROMPTLY
COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY, WHICH IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY, AND RETURN IT TO THE COMPANY. THE PROXY MAY BE REVOKED
AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED, AND STOCKHOLDERS EXECUTING PROXIES MAY ATTEND
THE MEETING AND VOTE IN PERSON, SHOULD THEY SO DESIRE.
<PAGE> 3
U.S. ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
515 NORTH FLAGLER DRIVE, SUITE 702
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 33401
---------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (THE "BOARD")
OF U.S. ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC. (THE "COMPANY") FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF ITS
STOCKHOLDERS (THE "STOCKHOLDERS") TO BE HELD AT ROCKWELL'S RESTAURANT, 515
NORTH FLAGLER DRIVE, 20TH FLOOR, WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 33401, ON TUESDAY,
AUGUST 5, 1997 AT 10:00 A.M., EASTERN DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.
This Proxy Statement is being mailed to the Stockholders on or about July
7, 1997. All proxies duly executed and received will be voted on all matters
presented at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions given by
such proxies. In the absence of specific instructions, proxies so received will
be voted FOR the named nominees for election to the Board, FOR the proposal to
amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to provide for staggered three
(3) year terms for Board members (the "Staggered Board Amendment"), and FOR the
ratification of Richard A. Eisner & Company, LLP as the Company's independent
public accountants for the fiscal year ending January 31, 1998. The Board does
not anticipate that any of its nominees will be unavailable for election and
does not know of any other matters that may be brought before the Annual
Meeting. In the event that any other matter should come before the Annual
Meeting or that any nominee is not available for election, the persons named in
the enclosed proxy will have discretionary authority to vote all proxies not
marked to the contrary with respect to such matter in accordance with their best
judgment. The proxy may be revoked at any time before being voted either in
person at the Annual Meeting, by written notice to the Secretary of the Company
or by delivery of a later-dated proxy. The Company will pay the entire expense
of soliciting the proxies. Proxies will be solicited by the Board through use of
the mails. Proxies may also be solicited by directors, officers and other
employees of the Company personally or by mail, telephone, or otherwise, but
such persons will not be compensated for such services.
Only holders of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of record at the close of business on June 20, 1997 will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at all adjournments
thereof. As of the close of business on June 20, 1997, the Company had
outstanding 4,334,190 shares of Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock
entitles the record holder thereof to one vote on all matters properly coming
before the Stockholders at the Annual Meeting. The presence in person, or by
proxy, of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting will be necessary to constitute a quorum.
At the Annual Meeting, the Stockholders will be entitled to elect five
directors who, if the Staggered Board Amendment is adopted, will serve for
staggered three (3) year terms, as set forth herein. Each director will be
elected by the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the shares
of Common Stock represented at the Annual Meeting. The adoption of the Staggered
Board Amendment requires the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the
votes entitled to be cast by all shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding
on the Record Date. The vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock
represented at the Annual Meeting is required for the ratification of the
appointment of Richard A. Eisner & Company, LLP, as the Company's independent
public accountants.
Shares represented by proxies which are marked "abstain" or which are
marked to deny discretionary authority will only be counted for determining the
presence of a quorum. Votes withheld in connection with the election of one or
more of the nominees for director will not be counted as votes cast for such
individuals. In addition, where brokers are prohibited from exercising
discretionary authority for beneficial owners who have not provided voting
instructions (commonly referred to as "broker non-votes"), those shares will not
be included in the vote totals.
<PAGE> 4
A list of the Stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be
available at the Company's office, 515 North Flagler Drive, Suite 702, West Palm
Beach, Florida 33401, for a period of ten (10) days prior to the Annual Meeting
for examination by any Stockholder.
Officers and directors of the Company beneficially own approximately 8.97%
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. See "Security Ownership of Management
and Principal Stockholders." APPROVAL OF THE AFORESAID MATTERS IS NOT ASSURED;
ACCORDINGLY, THE BOARD URGES STOCKHOLDERS TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN
THE ENCLOSED PROXY PROMPTLY.
<PAGE> 5
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth the number of shares of Common Stock owned
as of June 20, 1997 by each director and executive officer of the Company, by
those persons known to the Company to own beneficially 5% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, and by all directors and
officers of the Company as a group. With respect to any person who beneficially
owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the address of such
person is also set forth.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(1)
-----------------------
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER SHARES PERCENTAGE
- ------------------------------------ ------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
Theodore Rosen.............................................. 152,714(2) 3.43%
Richard H. Nelson........................................... 132,235(3) 3.02%
Seymour J. Beder............................................ 35,000(4) 0.80%
Terrence Page............................................... 0(5) 0.00%
Evan Evans.................................................. 22,500(6) 0.52%
Allen J. Rothman............................................ 20,000(7) 0.46%
Todd Goodwin................................................ 50,000(8) 1.15%
Cambridge Investments Limited............................... 360,000(9) 8.31%
600 Montgomery Street
27th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Austin W. Marxe............................................. 475,000(10) 10.96%
153 East 53rd Street, 51st Floor
New York, NY 10022
AWM Investment Companies, Inc............................... 475,000(10) 10.96%
153 East 53rd Street, 51st Floor
New York, NY 10022
Special Situations Fund..................................... 357,500(10) 8.25%
153 East 53rd Street, 51st Floor
New York, NY 10022
Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P......................... 117,500(10) 2.71%
153 East 53rd Street, 51st Floor
New York, NY 10022
MGP Advisors Limited Partnership............................ 357,500(10) 8.25%
153 East 53rd Street, 51st Floor
New York, NY 10022
Mellon Bank Corporation..................................... 425,000(11) 9.81%
One Mellon Bank Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15258
All officers and directors as a group (7 persons)........... 412,449 8.97%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) The tabular information gives effect to the exercise of warrants or options
exercisable within 60 days of the date of this table owned in each case by
the person or group whose percentage ownership is set forth opposite the
respective percentage and is based on the assumption that no other person
or group
3
<PAGE> 6
exercises its option. The address of each of the officers and directors is
515 North Flagler Drive, Suite 702, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401.
(2) Includes 11,357 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants at an exercise
price of $4.00 per share, 60,250 shares issuable upon exercise of presently
exercisable options at an exercise price of $8.00 per share, and 50,000
shares issuable upon exercise of presently exercisable options at an
exercise price of $3.875 per share. Does not include 50,000 shares issuable
upon exercise of options at an exercise price of $3.875 which will become
exercisable on December 26, 1997.
(3) Includes 50,000 shares issuable upon exercise of presently exercisable
options at an exercise price of $3.875 per share. Does not include 50,000
shares issuable upon the exercise of options which will become exercisable
on December 26, 1997.
(4) Includes 6,250 shares issuable upon exercise of presently exercisable
options at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, 6,250 shares issuable
upon exercise of presently exercisable options at an exercise price of
$4.00 per share, and 20,000 shares issuable upon exercise of presently
exercisable options at an exercise price of $3.875 per share. Does not
include 20,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options at an exercise
price of $3.875 per share which will become exercisable on December 26,
1997.
(5) Does not include 30,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options at an
exercise price of $4.375 per share, 15,000 of which will become exercisable
on April 3, 1998 and the balance of which will become exercisable on April
3, 1999.
(6) Includes 1,250 shares issuable upon exercise of presently exercisable
options at an exercise price of $4.00 per share, and 20,000 shares issuable
upon exercise of presently exercisable options at an exercise price of
$3.875 per share. Does not include 20,000 shares issuable upon exercise of
options at an exercise price of $3.875 per share which will become
exercisable on December 26, 1997.
(7) Includes 20,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within
60 days at an exercise price of $4.00 per share. Does not include 20,000
shares issuable upon exercise of options which will become exercisable on
January 6, 1998.
(8) Includes 20,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within
60 days at an exercise price of $4.00. Does not include 100,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of warrants at an exercise price of $4.00 per share
which will become exercisable on December 2, 1997, nor 20,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of options at an exercise price of $4.00 per share
which will become exercisable on January 6, 1998.
(9) Based on a Schedule 13-D notice sent to the Company on December 26, 1996.
(10) Based on a Schedule 13-G notice sent to the Company on January 9, 1997. The
aggregate amount of 475,000 shares of Common Stock, which is beneficially
owned by each of Austin W. Marxe and AWM Investment Company, Inc. ("AWM"),
which is privately owned by Mr. Marxe, consists of 357,500 shares of Common
Stock owned by Special Situations Fund III, L.P. (the "Fund") and 117,500
shares of Common Stock owned by Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P. (the
"Cayman Fund"). AWM is a general partner of both the Fund and the Cayman
Fund. The aggregate amount of Common Stock which is beneficially owned by
each of the Fund and MGP Advisors Limited Partnership ("MGP"), a general
partner of the Fund, consists of the referenced 357,500 shares of Common
Stock. These amounts do not include an aggregate amount of 200,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of warrants at an exercise price of $4.00 per share
which will become exercisable on December 2, 1997, 200,000 of which are
beneficially owned by each of Mr. Marxe and AWM, 150,000 of which are
beneficially owned by each of the Fund and MGP and 50,000 of which are
beneficially owned by the Cayman Fund.
(11) Based on a Schedule 13-G notice sent to the Company on February 12, 1997.
4
<PAGE> 7
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The directors and executive officers of the Company are presently as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND AGE POSITION(S) WITH THE COMPANY
- ------------ ----------------------------
<S> <C>
Theodore Rosen (72)............................. Chairman of the Board of Directors
Richard H. Nelson (57).......................... Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
Evan Evans (71)................................. Director
Allen J. Rothman (40)........................... Director
Todd Goodwin (65)............................... Director
Seymour J. Beder (69)........................... Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer
Terrence Page (50).............................. Vice President of Western Region
</TABLE>
Theodore Rosen. Mr. Rosen has been a Director of the Company and Chairman
of the Board of Directors since November 1993. Since June 1993, Mr. Rosen has
been Managing Director of Burnham Securities. He was Senior Vice President of
Oppenheimer & Co. from January 1991 to June 1993, and was Vice President of
Smith Barney & Co. from 1989 to 1991. Mr. Rosen also currently serves as a
director of Waterhouse Investors Cash Management Co., an investment management
company engaged in management of money market mutual funds. Mr. Rosen holds a BA
degree from St. Lawrence University and did graduate work at both Albany Law
School and Columbia University School of Business.
Richard H. Nelson. Mr. Nelson has been President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director of the Company since November 1993. Mr. Nelson has been engaged in
the power plant industry for more than twenty years and has been involved with
over 200 power projects throughout the world, 125 of which have been
cogeneration projects. In 1973, Mr. Nelson formed Sartex Corp., which was merged
into the Company, then called Cogenic Energy Systems, Inc. ("Cogenic"), in 1981.
Mr. Nelson served as president of Cogenic until 1989. Cogenic filed for
reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in 1989. From January
1989 until January 1991, Mr. Nelson was president of Utility Systems Corp., a
subsidiary of Cogenic which was not party to the Chapter 11 filing. In January
1991, Mr. Nelson formed Utility Systems Florida, Inc. ("USF") where he served as
president until November 1993. A Plan of Reorganization was confirmed for
Cogenic in March 1993, after which USF and Cogenic merged, with Cogenic being
the surviving corporation and changing its name to U.S. Envirosystems, Inc. Mr.
Nelson was Special Assistant to the Director of the Peace Corps from 1961 to
1962; thereafter he served as Military Aide to the Vice President of the United
States from 1962 to 1963 and Assistant to the President of the United States
from 1963 to 1967. From 1967 to 1969, Mr. Nelson was Vice President of American
International Bank, and from 1969 to 1973 he was Vice President of
Studebaker-Worthington Corp. Mr. Nelson received his BA degree from Princeton
University.
Evan Evans. Mr. Evans has been a Director of the Company since August 1995.
Since 1983 he has been chairman of Holvan Properties, Inc. ("Holvan"), a real
estate developer, and was managing director of Easco Marine, Ltd. from 1983 to
1988. Also, from 1985 to 1986 Mr. Evans was general manager of Belgian Refining
Corporation ("BRC"), pursuant to a contract between BRC and Holvan. From 1981 to
1983 he was vice president of Getty Trading and Transportation Company and
president of its subsidiary, Getty Trading International, Inc. From 1970 to 1981
Mr. Evans was vice president and member of the board of directors of United
Refining Corp ("URC"). Mr. Evans also currently serves as a director of Holvan
and URC. Mr. Evans received his BS degree in Mathematics from St. Lawrence
University and his BS in Civil Engineering from M.I.T.
Allen J. Rothman. Mr. Rothman was appointed to the Board of Directors of
the Company in January 1997. Mr. Rothman is a partner with the law firm of
Robinson, Brog, Leinwand, Greene, Genovese & Gluck P.C. in New York with whom he
has been associated since January 1996. Mr. Rothman specializes in corporate,
finance and real estate law. Prior to joining Robinson Brog, he was associated
with several New York law firms. Mr. Rothman received his BA degree from
Columbia University and his JD degree from Harvard University.
5
<PAGE> 8
TODD GOODWIN. Mr. Goodwin was appointed to the Board of Directors of the
Company in January 1997. From 1984 until the present, Mr. Goodwin has been a
general partner of Gibbons, Goodwin, van Amerongen, an investment banking firm
in New York. From 1978 until 1984, he was a Managing Director of Merrill Lynch,
specializing in corporate finance, advising major client corporations on
acquisitions, divestitures and financings. Mr. Goodwin was a general partner of
White Weld & Co. from 1969 until that firm was acquired by Merrill Lynch in
1978. Mr. Goodwin also currently serves as a director of Johns Manville
Corporation, The Rival Company, Schult Homes Corporation and Wells Aluminum
Corp. He is a trustee of Southampton Hospital and the Madison Square Boys and
Girls Club. Mr. Goodwin received his A.B. degree in Economics from Harvard
College.
SEYMOUR J. BEDER. Mr. Beder has been Secretary, Treasurer, Controller and
Chief Financial Officer of the Company since November 1993. From 1970 through
1980 he was Chief Financial Officer for Lynnwear Corporation, a textile company,
and from 1980 to September 1993, Mr. Beder was president of Executive Timeshare,
Inc., a provider of executive consulting talent. Mr. Beder is a Certified Public
Accountant, and a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public
Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr.
Beder received his BA degree from City College of New York.
TERRENCE PAGE. Mr. Page was appointed Vice President of Western Region of
the Company in March 1997. Prior to his employment with the Company, Mr. Page
served on the Nevada Public Service Commission since 1982. From 1982 to 1989 he
was Regulatory Operations Supervisor, and from 1989 until he resigned to join
the Company, he served as Director of Regulatory Operations. In this position,
he had responsibility for developing all staff positions brought before the
Commission, and coordinated with Federal, state, and local government agencies
on matters of regulatory policy. Mr. Page holds his BS in Business from the
University of the State of New York, and his MS in management from the American
University. He has served on the Nevada Department of Information Services
Advisory Committee, the Ohio State University's National Regulatory Research
Institute Advisory committee, the Las Vegas Regional Transportation Advisory
Committee, and the Washoe Regional Water Planning Commission.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND INFORMATION REGARDING COMMITTEES
The Board has two standing committees, an Audit Committee and a
Compensation Committee. The Company does not have a Nominating Committee.
The Audit Committee is composed of Messrs. Evans, Goodwin and Rothman. The
duties of the Audit Committee include recommending the engagement of independent
auditors, reviewing and considering actions of management in matters relating to
audit functions, reviewing with independent auditors the scope and results of
its audit engagement, reviewing reports from various regulatory authorities,
reviewing the system of internal controls and procedures of the Company and
reviewing the effectiveness of procedures intended to prevent violations of law
and regulations. The Audit Committee held one meeting during the fiscal year
ended January 31, 1997.
The Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Evans, Goodwin and
Rothman. The duties of the Compensation Committee include recommending to the
Board remuneration to be paid to executive officers of the Company, determining
the number of shares and options to be awarded pursuant to the Company's stock
option plans, administering and monitoring compensation and recommending the
establishment of incentive and bonus programs for executives of the Company. The
Compensation Committee held two meetings during the fiscal year ended January
31, 1997.
The Board held eight meetings during the fiscal year ended January 31,
1997. All incumbent directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board
and Committees on which they served during this year.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table shows the total compensation paid by the Company during
the fiscal years ended January 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 to Mr. Nelson, the
Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. There
6
<PAGE> 9
were no other executives of the Company who received total compensation in
excess of $100,000 during any of such years.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
ANNUAL COMPENSATION COMPENSATION
------------------- ------------
SECURITIES
NAME AND PRINCIPAL FISCAL UNDERLYING
POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS OPTIONS
------------------ ------ -------- ----- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Richard H. Nelson,........................ 1997 $150,000 -- 100,000
President and Chief 1996 $150,000 -- --
Executive Officer 1995 $149,850 -- --
</TABLE>
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
(INDIVIDUAL GRANTS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING PERCENT OF TOTAL EXERCISE OR
OPTIONS/SARS OPTIONS/SARS GRANTED TO BASE PRICE
NAME GRANTED (#) EMPLOYEES IN FISCAL YEAR ($/SH) EXPIRATION DATE
- ---- ------------ ------------------------ ----------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Richard H. Nelson...... 100,000 36% $3.875/sh December 26, 2002
</TABLE>
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. Employee directors are not compensated for
attendance at meetings of the Board, although certain travel expenses relating
to attending meetings are reimbursed. Outside directors are compensated at an
annual rate of $10,000 plus travel expenses, and must attend at least four
meetings annually. No additional compensation is given to committee members or
participants in special projects.
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS. Mr. Nelson has an employment contract with the
Company to serve as its President and Chief Executive Officer for a term of five
years ending December 1, 2001. Mr. Nelson's contract provides for an annual
salary of $150,000 plus normal benefits, subject to upward adjustment by the
Board. Under the terms of Mr. Nelson's employment agreement, he may not disclose
any confidential information pertaining to the Company nor compete with the
Company during the term of his employment with the Company plus an additional
two years. Mr. Nelson works for the Company full-time.
Mr. Rosen has an employment contract with the Company to serve as the
Chairman of the Board of Directors for a term of five years ending December 1,
2001. Mr. Rosen's contract provides for an annual salary of $60,000 plus normal
benefits, subject to upward adjustment by the Board. On December 16, 1996, the
Board approved an increase to $84,000 annually. Mr. Rosen devotes a minimum of
40 hours per week to the Company. Under the terms of Mr. Rosen's employment
agreement, Mr. Rosen agrees that he will not disclose any confidential
information pertaining to the Company nor compete with the Company during the
term of his employment with the Company plus an additional two years.
Mr. Terrence Page has an employment contract with the Company to serve as
Vice President of Western Region for a term of two years ending March 3, 1999.
Mr. Page's contract calls for an annual salary of $90,000 plus normal benefits.
Under the terms of Mr. Page's employment agreement, Mr. Page agrees that he will
not disclose any confidential information pertaining to the Company nor compete
with the Company during the term of his employment with the Company plus an
additional two years.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
The Plan of Reorganization of Cogenic Energy Systems, Inc. (the "Plan") was
originally filed and financed by Richard Nelson, who was then the sole
shareholder and sole director of Utility Systems Florida, Inc. ("USF"). The Plan
was confirmed by the bankruptcy court in March 1993 to take effect upon the
merger with USF, which took place in November 1993. Under the Plan, 100,000
shares of the reorganized debtor were issued to Richard Nelson as the proponent
and financier of the Plan. An additional 125,000 shares (the
7
<PAGE> 10
"Merger Shares") were issued to USF upon consummation of the Plan and upon the
merger of the reorganized debtor with USF. The Merger Shares were distributed to
individuals and companies who purchased shares of USF for purposes of providing
USF with the financing to acquire the Company and to allow the Company to
continue as the surviving corporation.
Messrs. Nelson and Rosen were participants in a secured loan of $1,000,000
made to the Company by certain directors, officers and other affiliates of the
Company in October 1994 (the "Plymouth Loan"). The Plymouth Loan accrued
interest at the rate of 2.5% per annum above the prime rate. Messrs. Nelson and
Rosen benefited by the payment to them from the net proceeds of the Company's
public offering of its Common Stock, which closed on December 17, 1996 (the
"Offering"), of $31,000 and $30,900, respectively in connection with the
repayment of the Plymouth Loan. Mr. Rosen also held Convertible Debentures of
the Company in the amount of $125,000. Accrued interest on Mr. Rosen's
Convertible Debentures, repaid from the proceeds of the Offering, amounted to
$33,000.
In June 1995, the Company issued 57,500 shares of Series One Preferred
Stock to Anchor Capital Company LLC ("Anchor") under the terms of a loan by
which Anchor loaned the Company the sum of $660,000 bearing interest at the rate
of 18% per annum (the "Anchor Loan"). The Anchor Loan was cross-collateralized
(together with the Solvation Loan described below) by a first lien on all of the
assets of the Company and 97,250 shares of Common Stock owned by Messrs. Nelson
and Rosen. The purpose of the Anchor Loan was to finance the costs and expenses
of the Offering and provide other funding to the Company for various costs and
expenses. The Anchor Loan was repaid with $796,000 of the proceeds of the
Offering, which included $136,000 of accrued interest. The 57,500 shares of
Series One Preferred Stock were exchanged for 205,000 shares of Common Stock in
a preferred stock exchange which was consummated concurrently with the Offering.
In December 1995, Solvation, Inc. ("Solvation") loaned the Company
$200,000, which bore an interest rate of 10% per annum and was repaid upon the
closing of the Offering. Solvation loaned the Company an additional $50,000 in
May 1996 on the same terms and conditions (together with the $200,000 loan, the
"Solvation Loan"), which amount was also repaid upon the closing of the
Offering.
The 97,250 shares of the Company's Common Stock which Messrs. Nelson and
Rosen pledged in connection with the Anchor Loan and the Solvation Loan were
released from such pledges upon repayment of the two loans.
During December 1996, the Company engaged the law firm of Robinson, Brog,
Leinwand, Green, Genovese & Gluck P.C. for certain legal services. Mr. Rothman,
a director of the Company, is a partner in that law firm.
All transactions between the Company and its officers, directors, principal
shareholders or other affiliates have been on terms no less favorable than those
that are generally available from unaffiliated third parties. Any such future
transactions will be on terms no less favorable to the Company than could be
obtained from an unaffiliated third party on an arm's-length basis and will be
approved by a majority of the Company's independent and disinterested directors.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")
requires that the Company's officers and directors, and persons who own more
than ten percent of a registered class of the Company's equity securities, file
reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are
required by regulation to furnish to the Company copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file. Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received
by it, or written representations from certain reporting persons, the Company
believes that during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, all such filing
requirements applicable to its officers, directors, and greater than ten percent
beneficial owners were met.
8
<PAGE> 11
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board currently consists of five (5) directors. The directors are
elected annually to serve until the next annual meeting of Stockholders and
until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. If, at the time of
election, any of the nominees should be unavailable for election, a circumstance
which is not expected by the Company, it is intended that the proxies will be
voted for such substitute nominee as may be selected by the Company. Proxies not
marked to the contrary will be voted for the election of the persons listed
below. Messrs. Rosen, Nelson and Evans are standing for re-election by the
Stockholders. Messrs. Rothman and Goodwin, who were appointed members of the
Board in January 1997 by action of the Board, are standing for election by the
Stockholders for the first time. The Board proposes the election of the
following five (5) nominees to the Board:
Theodore Rosen
Richard H. Nelson
Evan Evans
Allen J. Rothman
Todd Goodwin
Biographical information relating to these nominees for director positions
appears above starting on page 5 of this Proxy Statement under the heading
"DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS".
Proposal Number Two, as contained in this Proxy Statement, would amend the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation (the "Staggered Board Amendment") to
provide for staggered three (3) year terms for Board members. If the Staggered
Board Amendment is approved by Stockholders, the directors who are elected shall
fill the terms as designated below:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Class I Director: Todd Goodwin
Class II Directors: Evan Evans and Allen J. Rothman
Class III Directors: Theodore Rosen and Richard H. Nelson
</TABLE>
The Class I Director's term would expire at the 1998 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders; the Class II Directors' terms would expire at the 1999 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders; and the Class III Directors' terms would expire at the
2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In the event that the Staggered Board
Amendment is not approved, the terms of each of the elected directors will
expire at the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
ABOVE-MENTIONED NOMINEES AS DIRECTORS.
PROPOSAL 2: CREATION OF STAGGERED BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board has determined that it is advisable to amend Article Seventh of
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to create a staggered Board, such
that each director would be elected to a three-year, staggered term. A copy of
Article Seventh of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as proposed to be
amended, is attached to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit A.
AMENDMENT
The Board has approved, subject to Stockholder approval at the Annual
Meeting, a staggered Board of Directors. The Company's directors are presently
elected annually to hold office until the next annual meeting of Stockholders
and until their successors are elected and qualified. If the Staggered Board
Amendment is approved by the Stockholders, directors will be elected for
three-year terms, with approximately one-third of such overall directors elected
each year; except that at the Annual Meeting to be held on August 5, 1997, the
Class I Director will be elected for one year term, Class II Directors will be
elected for two year terms and Class III Directors will be elected for the full
three year terms. Thereafter, Class I Directors will be elected for a full three
year term commencing the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Class II
Directors will be
9
<PAGE> 12
elected for a full three year term commencing the 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. In the event that the Stockholders do not approve the Staggered
Board Amendment, the directors elected at the Annual Meeting will serve until
the next Annual Meeting.
If the Staggered Board Amendment is approved by the Stockholders, any
subsequent action to amend or repeal the Staggered Board Amendment will require
the affirmative vote of the holders of 66 2/3 percent of the outstanding shares
of the Company's Common Stock, voting together as a single class, unless such
action has been previously approved by a majority vote of the full Board, in
which case the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock entitled to vote thereon will be sufficient
to amend or repeal any provision of the Staggered Board Amendment. The Staggered
Board Amendment will allow the Board to fill vacancies on the Board which occur
during the year with appointees who will serve for the remainder of the full
term of the resigning director's seat.
Currently, the election and removal of directors is governed by the
Company's Bylaws, which provide that the Company shall have not less than three
and not more than fifteen directors, with the exact number to be determined by a
vote of a majority of the entire Board. The Board has, by resolution, fixed the
number of directors at this time at five. Each director serves until the next
annual meeting of Stockholders or until his successor has been elected or
appointed. A director may be removed with or without cause by a majority vote of
the Stockholders at a meeting called for such purpose or by a sufficient number
of other candidates receiving more votes than the director at the next annual
meeting. Because the directors will be directly affected by the proposed
Staggered Board Amendment, they may be deemed to have an interest in the outcome
of such proposal.
The text of Article Seventh of the Certificate of Incorporation as it would
read assuming adoption of the Staggered Board Amendment is set forth on Exhibit
A attached hereto. Stockholders are urged to read carefully the following
material, as well as Exhibit A, as they involve matters of particular
importance.
POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF STAGGERED BOARD AMENDMENT
The Board believes that a staggered system of electing directors would
provide important benefits to the Company, including:
- The staggered Board system helps assure continuity of the Company's
business strategies and policies. Since at least two Stockholder
meetings will generally be required to effect a change in control of the
Board, a majority of directors at any given time will have prior
experience as directors of the Company. This is particularly important
to a relatively small, growth-oriented organization, such as the
Company.
- The staggered Board system helps assure stability in the operations of
the Company. The Company believes that greater certainty over the future
control of the Company, which the proposed Staggered Board Amendment may
help build, makes it easier for the Company to develop relationships
with local and state regulatory and permitting agencies, and to form
partnerships for the development and co-ownership of independent power
plants with large utility companies.
- In the event of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to take over or
restructure the Company, the staggered Board system would permit the
Company time to negotiate with the sponsor, to consider alternative
proposals and to assure that Stockholder value is maximized.
POSSIBLE ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECT OF THE STAGGERED BOARD AMENDMENT
A staggered Board may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect since it
may create, under certain circumstances, an impediment which would frustrate
persons seeking to effect a takeover or otherwise gain control of the Company. A
possible acquiror may not proceed with a tender offer because it would be unable
to obtain control of the Company's Board for a period of at least two years. No
more than one-third of the sitting Board would be up for election at any annual
meeting of Stockholders.
10
<PAGE> 13
The adoption of the Staggered Board Amendment requires the affirmative vote
of not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of
Common Stock issued and outstanding on the Record Date. If the Staggered Board
Amendment is approved by the Stockholders, any subsequent action to amend or
repeal the Staggered Board Amendment will require the affirmative vote of the
holders of 66 2/3 percent of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common
Stock, voting together as a single class, unless such action has been previously
approved by a majority vote of the full Board, in which case, the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company's
Common Stock entitled to vote thereon will be sufficient to amend or repeal any
provision of the Staggered Board Amendment. The Staggered Board Amendment will
allow the Board to fill vacancies on the Board which occur during the year with
appointees who will serve for the remainder of the full term of the resigning
director's seat.
If the proposed Staggered Board Amendment is approved by the Stockholders,
it will become effective upon filing and recording of a Certificate of Amendment
as required by the Delaware General Corporation Law. If the Staggered Board
Amendment is not approved, the terms of the Company's directors will not change.
The effect of an abstention or a broker non-vote is the same as that of a vote
against the proposal.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED STAGGERED BOARD AMENDMENT.
PROPOSAL 3: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Company has retained, subject to Stockholder ratification, Richard A.
Eisner & Company, LLP, as its independent public accountants for the fiscal year
ending January 31, 1998. Richard A. Eisner & Company, LLP has been the
independent accountants for the Company for the past four years and has no
financial interest, either direct or indirect, in the Company. A representative
of Richard A. Eisner & Company, LLP is expected to attend the Annual Meeting and
to have an opportunity to make a statement and/or respond to appropriate
questions from Stockholders. If the Stockholders do not ratify the appointment
of Richard A. Eisner & Company, LLP as the Company's independent public
accountants, the Board will consider the selection of another accounting firm.
The vote of a majority of the shares of its Common Stock represented at the
Annual Meeting is required for the ratification of Richard A. Eisner & Company,
LLP as the Company's independent public accountants.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD A. EISNER & COMPANY, LLP AS THE
COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31,
1998.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of Stockholders of the Company that are intended to be presented
at the Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the
Company no later than April 1, 1998 in order for them to be included in the
proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting.
11
<PAGE> 14
EXHIBIT A
AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE SEVENTH
OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
SEVENTH:
1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
All corporate powers shall be exercised by the Board of Directors, except
as otherwise provided by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation, or any
amendment thereof, or by the By-Laws. The By-Laws may be adopted, amended or
repealed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, except as otherwise
provided by law, but any by-law made by the Board of Directors is subject to
amendment or repeal by the stockholders of the Corporation.
2. CLASSIFICATION
The directors shall be classified with respect to the time for which they
shall severally hold office into three classes as nearly equal in number as
possible. The Class I directors shall be elected to hold office for an initial
term expiring at the 1998 annual meeting of stockholders, the Class II directors
shall be elected to hold office for an initial term expiring at the 1999 annual
meeting of stockholders and the Class III directors shall be elected to hold
office for an initial term expiring at the 2000 annual meeting of stockholders,
with the members of each class of directors to hold office until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified. At each annual meeting of
stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose term expires at
that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual
meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their
election and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. At
each annual meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present, the persons
receiving a plurality of the votes cast shall be elected directors. Election of
directors need not be by written ballot unless the By-Laws of the Corporation so
provide.
3. VACANCIES
Any vacancy on the Board of Directors resulting from death, retirement,
resignation, disqualification or removal from office or other cause, as well as
any vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors which occurs
between annual meetings of the stockholders at which directors are elected,
shall be filled only by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in
office, though less than a quorum, except that those vacancies resulting from
removal from office by a vote of the stockholders may be filled by a vote of the
stockholders at the same meeting at which such removal occurs. The directors
chosen to fill vacancies shall hold office for a term expiring at the end of the
next annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of the class to which they
have been elected expires. No decrease in the number of directors constituting
the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of one or more classes
or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately, as a class
or series, to elect directors, the election, term of office, filling of
vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by
the terms of the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors
applicable thereto, and each director so elected shall not be subject to the
provisions of this Article Seventh unless otherwise provided therein.
4. AMENDMENT AND REPEAL OF ARTICLE SEVENTH
Notwithstanding any provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation and of
the By-Laws, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be
specified by Delaware law, unless such action has been approved by a majority
vote of the full Board of Directors, the affirmative vote of 66 2/3 percent of
the votes which all holders of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Corporation would be entitled to cast thereon, voting together as a single
class, shall be required to amend or repeal any provision of this Article
Seventh or to adopt any provision inconsistent with this Article Seventh. In the
event such action has been previously approved by a majority vote of the full
Board of Directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon shall be sufficient to amend or
repeal any provision of this Article Seventh or adopt any provision inconsistent
with this Article Seventh.
<PAGE> 15
APPENDIX A
PROXY
U. S. ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Richard H. Nelson and Seymour J. Beder each with power of substitution, are
hereby authorized to vote all shares of common stock which the undersigned would
be entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of U.S. Energy Systems, Inc. (the "Company") to be held on August 5, 1997, or
any postponements or adjournments thereof, as indicated below and on the reserve
side.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY
THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED
FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES AND FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3 SET FORTH ON THE
REVERSE SIDE. As to any other matter, said Proxies shall vote in accordance with
their best judgment.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the 1997 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, the Proxy Statement and the Annual Report for the
fiscal year ended January 31, 1997 furnished herewith.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[ ] FOR all nominees listed below* [ ]WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all
nominees listed below
</TABLE>
A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES IS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Nominees are: Theodore Rosen, Richard H. Nelson, Evan Evans, Allen J. Rothman,
Todd Goodwin
*To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominee's
name in the space provided below.
Exceptions:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side)
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THIS PROXY CARD USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
2.APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO ADOPT A STAGGERED
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
A VOTE FOR IS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
3. RATIFICATION OF RICHARD A. EISNER & COMPANY, LLC AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS:
A VOTE FOR IS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
4. IN THEIR DISCRETION, ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE
MEETING.
[ ] Change of Address and or Comments Mark Here
Please sign exactly as name
appears hereon. When shares are
held by joint tenants, both should
sign. If acting as attorney,
executor, trustee, or in any
representative capacity, sign name
and title.
Dated , 1997
----------------------
----------------------------------
Signature
----------------------------------
Signature if held jointly
Votes must be indicated [X] in
Black or Blue ink.
