U S ENERGY SYSTEMS INC
SC 13D, 1998-04-01
MOTORS & GENERATORS
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<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                            U.S. Energy Systems, Inc.
                                (Name of Issuer)

         Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    902951102
                                 (CUSIP Number)



                                 David I. Faust
                         Faust, Rabbach & Oppenheim, LLP
                               488 Madison Avenue
                            New York, New York 10022
                                 (212) 751-7700

                  (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)


                                 March 23, 1998
                          (Date of Event which Requires
                            Filing of this Statement)


         If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G
to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is
filing this Schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following
box [ ].

         Check the following box if a fee is being paid with the statement [ ]


                                Page 1 of 7 pages
<PAGE>   2
                                  SCHEDULE 13D

000CUSIP No. 902951102

               
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.             NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
               S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

               Energy Systems Investors, LLC (I.D. No. Pending)  
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.             CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                                                                        (a)  [ ]
                                                                        (b)  [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.             SEC USE ONLY

              
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.             SOURCE OF FUNDS

                WC 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.             CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS
               REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)                       [ ]

            
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.             CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                        Delaware
               -----------------------------------------------------------------
               7.       SOLE VOTING POWER
                        1,000,000*
               -----------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES         8.       SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY      
OWNED BY EACH        
REPORTING      -----------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH    9.       SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                        1,000,000*
               -----------------------------------------------------------------
               10.      SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
                        1,000,000*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
         CERTAIN SHARES                                                      [ ]

         100% of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
         16.99% of Common Stock (assuming conversion into 1,000,000 of
         Common Stock
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

                  00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*                                              

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!








*250,000 shares of Series A convertible Preferred Stock, convertible
into 1,000,000 shares of common stock, with the current power to vote as if
converted.


                                Page 2 of 7 pages
<PAGE>   3



Item 1.  Security and Issuer

         This filing relates to Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock") of U.S. Energy Systems Inc. (the
"Issuer"). The Preferred Stock is convertible into Common Stock of the Issuer at
the current conversion rate of four (4) shares of Common Stock for each share of
Preferred Stock. The conversion rate is subject to change as provided in the
Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, a copy of
which is annexed as Exhibit 1 (the "Certificate of Designation").

         The principal executive offices of the Issuer are at 515 North Flagler
Drive, Suite 702, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401.

Item 2.  Identity and Background

     (A) Energy Systems Investors LLC ("ESI") is a limited liability company
         formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

         (B)      ESI's principal business is investments. ESI's registered
                  office is c/o National Registered Agents, Inc., 9 East
                  Lockerman Street, Dover, Delaware. It also has an office at
                  450 Park Avenue, Suite 1000, New York, New York 10022.

         (C)      The managers of ESI are Lawrence I. Schneider and Henry
                  N. Schneider, both of whom have offices at 450 Park
                  Avenue, Suite 1000, New York, New York 10022.  Messrs.


                                Page 3 of 7 pages
<PAGE>   4
                  Schneiders' principal occupation is investing.  Henry N.
                  Schneider is the son of Lawrence I. Schneider.

         (D)      During the past five years neither ESI, Lawrence I. Schneider
                  nor Henry N. Schneider have been convicted in a criminal
                  proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
                  misdemeanors).

         (E)      During the past five years neither ESI, Lawrence I.
                  Schneider nor Henry N. Schneider was a party to a civil
                  proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of
                  competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding
                  was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order
                  enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or
                  mandating activities subject to, Federal or State
                  securities laws or finding any violation with respect to
                  such laws.

         (F)      Lawrence I. Schneider and Henry N. Schneider are citizens
                  of the United States of America.

Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

         ESI paid $9.00 per share, for a total of $2,250,000, for the 250,000
shares of Preferred Stock. The funds were contributed to ESI as capital by its
members.

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction

         ESI purchased the Preferred Stock as an investment. It has no current
plans or proposals which relate to or would result in:

         (A)      The acquisition by any person of additional securities of
                  the Issuer, or the disposition of the Issuer (except that
                  (i) subject to the approval of Issuer's shareholders, ESI
                  may purchase up to 222,000 additional shares of Preferred
                  Stock on or prior to May 22, 1999 at the same price and
                  on the same terms and conditions under which it made the
                  purchase reported by this filing, as contemplated in
                  Section 7(g) of the Subscription Agreement, a copy of
                  which is annexed as Exhibit 2 (the "Subscription
                  Agreement"); (ii) ESI may be granted additional shares of
                  Preferred Stock under the circumstances set forth in
                  Section 7(h) of the Subscription Agreement; and (iii) ESI


                                Page 4 of 7 pages
<PAGE>   5
                  may receive shares of Common Stock as dividends on the
                  Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 3 of the Certificate
                  of Designation);

         (B)      An extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger,
                  reorganization or liquidation, involving the Issuer or
                  any of its subsidiaries;

         (C)      A sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the
                  Issuer or of any of its subsidiaries;

         (D)      Any change in the present board of directors or management of
                  the Issuer, including any plans or proposals to change the
                  number or term of directors or to fill any existing vacancies
                  on the board (except that the Issuer has agreed to appoint
                  Lawrence I. Schneider to the Board of Directors effective as
                  of March 23, 1998, to nominate him for a three year term as a
                  director at the next election of directors, and to appoint him
                  as Chairman of the Executive Committee);

         (E)      Any material change in the present capitalization or dividend
                  policy of the Issuer (other than the creation and issuance of
                  the Preferred Stock);

         (F)      Any other change in the Issuer's business or corporate
                  structure, including but not limited to, if the Issuer is a
                  registered closed-end investment company, any plans or
                  proposals to make any changes in its investment policy for
                  which a vote is required by Section 13 of the Investment
                  Company Act of 1940;

         (G)      Changes in the Issuer's charter, by-laws or instruments
                  corresponding thereto or other actions which may impede the
                  acquisition of control of the Issuer by any person;

         (H)      Causing a class of securities of the Issuer to be delisted
                  from a national securities exchange or to cease to be
                  authorized to be quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system of
                  a registered national securities association;


                                Page 5 of 7 pages
<PAGE>   6
         (I)      A class of equity securities of the Issuer becoming eligible
                  for termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4)
                  of the Act; or

         (J)      Any action similar to any of those enumerated above.

Item 5.  Interest in Securities of the Issuer

         On March 23, 1998, ESI bought 250,000 shares of Preferred Stock from
the Issuer. The acquisition was for cash in a private transaction. The Preferred
Stock is convertible on a one-for-four basis into 1,000,000 shares of Common
Stock (such ratio is subject to adjustment as provided in the Certificate of
Designation). The Issuer reported 4,885,628 shares of Common Stock outstanding
as of October 31, 1997. Accordingly, if the Preferred Stock were fully
converted, ESI would hold 16.99% of all of the outstanding Common Stock.

         The Preferred Stock has voting rights equal to the number of shares of
Common Stock into which it is convertible. Messrs. Schneider, as the managers of
ESI, have the sole right to exercise such voting power.

Item 6.  Contracts, Agreements, Undertakings or Relationships with
         Respect to Securities of the Issuer

         The Preferred Stock and its holder have the various rights and
preferences as described in the Certificate of Designation (Exhibit 1).

         The Preferred Stock was acquired by ESI pursuant to the Subscription
Agreement (Exhibit 2).

         The holder of the Preferred Stock has registration rights described in
a Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is annexed as Exhibit 3.


                                Page 6 of 7 pages
<PAGE>   7
Item 7.  Exhibits

         1.       Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible
                  Preferred Stock of U.S. Energy Systems, Inc.

         2.       Subscription Agreement dated as of March 20, 1998.

         3.       Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 20, 1998.    





                                   SIGNATURES

         After reasonable inquiry and to the best knowledge and belief of the
undersigned, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in
this statement by or about it or him is true, complete and correct.


                                    ENERGY SYSTEMS INVESTORS,LLC



Date: March 27, 1998                By: /s/ Lawrence I. Schneider
                                    -----------------------------
                                            Lawrence I. Schneider
                                            Manager




Date: March 27, 1998                By: /s/ Henry N. Schneider
                                    --------------------------
                                            Henry N. Schneider
                                            Manager


                                Page 7 of 7 pages

<PAGE>   8
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



   Exhibit No.                         Description
                 
         1             Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible
                       Preferred Stock of U.S. Energy Systems, Inc.

         2             Subscription Agreement dated as of March 20, 1998.

         3             Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 20, 1998.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       Exhibit 1

                                STATE OF DELAWARE

                                                                          PAGE 1

                        OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE



         I, EDWARD J. FREEL, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
DESIGNATION OF "U.S. ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.," FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE
TWENTY-THIRD DAY OF MARCH, A.D. 1998, AT 9 O'CLOCK A.M.





                                           /s/ Edward J. Freel
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Edward J.  Freel,  Secretary of State

                          [Seal]           AUTHENTICATION:
      0913844 8100                                   DATE:           8988976
         98ii105i7                                                   03-24-98
<PAGE>   2
                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

                                       OF

                      SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

                                       OF

                            U.S. ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

                         (PURSUANT TO SECTION 151 OF THE
                        DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW)



         U.S. Energy Systems, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation as required by Section 151 of the
Business Corporation Law at a meeting duly called and held on March 18, 1998:

         RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of this Corporation (hereinafter called the "Board of
Directors" or the "Board") in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Corporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a
Series A Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of
the Corporation and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and
fixes the relative rights, preferences, and limitations thereof as follows:

         Convertible Preferred Stock:

         Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series A Convertible Preferred Stock" (the "Preferred Stock") and
the number of shares constituting the Preferred Stock shall be 600,000. Such
number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of
Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of
Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding and 
no increase shall increase the number of shares of Preferred Stock above the 
total number of authorized shares.

         Section 2. Rank. The Preferred Stock shall rank as to distributions of
assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether
voluntary or involuntary: (i) senior to all of the Corporation's common stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"); (ii) senior to any class or
series of capital stock of the Corporation hereafter created specifically
ranking by its terms junior to the Preferred Stock (collectively, with the
Common Stock, "Junior Securities" or "Junior Stock"); and (iii) on parity with
any class or series of capital
<PAGE>   3
stock of the Corporation hereafter created specifically ranking by its terms on
parity with the Preferred Stock ("Parity Securities" or "Parity Stock"). While
any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, no Parity Securities or equity
securities senior to the Preferred Stock shall be authorized or issued without
the written consent of the holders of the Preferred Stock, voting as a class.
This prohibition shall not include the authorization or issuance of any form of
debt securities or instruments to a bank or other institution.

         Section 3. Dividends.

                 (a) The holders of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
receive out of funds of the Corporation legally available for payment cash
dividends, payable quarterly in arrears, at the rate of $0.81 per share per
annum, payable in cash, Common Stock or some combination thereof at the holder's
option. Any Common Stock granted as a Dividend under this Section 3 shall be
granted at a price equal to the average trading price of the Common Stock of the
Corporation on the five trading days prior to the date the Corporation declares
the dividend. Dividends on the Preferred Stock shall accrue from the date of
issuance or thereafter, from the most recent date on which dividends were
payable, and shall be payable quarterly on April 30, July 31, October 3l and
January 3l of each year (each a "Dividend Payment Date"), commencing with a
pro-rata dividend on the first Dividend Payment Date after the initial issuance
of the Preferred Stock; provided, however, that if any such day is a
non-business day, the Dividend Payment Date will be the next business day. Each
declared dividend shall be payable to holders of record as they appear at the
close of business on the stock books of the Corporation on such record date, not
more than 30 calendar days and not less than 10 calendar days preceding the
Dividend Payment Date therefor, as determined by the Board of Directors (each of
such dates a "Record Date"). Quarterly dividend periods (each a "Dividend
Period") shall commence on and include the 1st day of February, May, August and
November of each year and shall end on and include the day next preceding the
next following Dividend Payment Date. If any state or federal laws or
regulations or the then applicable rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, or any market or exchange on which the Common Stock of the
Corporation is traded, prohibit any dividend payment from being made with Common
Stock, then such payment shall be made in cash.

                 (b) No dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for
payment on any Common Stock, Parity Stock or Junior Stock during any calendar
quarter unless full dividends on the Preferred Stock for all Dividend Periods
ending prior to or during such calendar quarter have been or contemporaneously
are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof
is set apart for such payment. When dividends are not so paid in full (or a sum
sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Preferred Stock
and any other Parity Stock, dividends upon the Preferred Stock and dividends on
such other Parity Stock payable during such calendar quarter shall be declared
pro rata so that the amount of such dividends so payable per share on the
Preferred Stock and such other Parity Stock shall in all cases bear to each
other the same ratio that full dividends on the shares of Preferred Stock and
full dividends, if any, on shares of such other Parity Stock, bear to each
other. If full dividends on the Preferred Stock have not been declared and paid
or set apart for payment, no dividend or distribution, other


                                        2
<PAGE>   4
than in shares of capital stock ranking junior to the Preferred Stock as to
dividends or liquidation preference ("Junior Stock"), may be declared, set aside
or paid on any shares of Junior Stock. Except with respect to the Corporation's
9% Convertible Secured Subordinated Debentures and Redeemable Common Stock
Purchase Warrants, so long as any Preferred Stock is outstanding, the
Corporation may not repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its
Junior Stock (except by conversion into or exchange for Junior Stock), and may
not, directly or indirectly, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire (except by
conversion into or exchange for Junior Stock) any shares of any class or series
of Junior Stock or warrants, calls, options or other rights to acquire capital
stock of the Corporation or other security exercisable or exchangeable into
capital stock of the Corporation without the written consent of the holders of
the Preferred Stock. Holders of the Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any
dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of the
dividends provided for herein. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest
shall be payable in respect of any declared dividend payment or payments on the
Preferred Stock which may be in arrears. As used herein, the phrase "set apart"
in respect of the payment of dividends shall require deposit of any funds in a
bank or trust company in a separate deposit account maintained for the benefit
of the holders of the Preferred Stock.

         Section 4. Voting Rights. Each share of Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to a number of votes in any vote brought before the holders of the
Common Stock of the Corporation equal to $9.00 divided by the Conversion Price
(as set forth in Section 6 hereof) determined as of the record date of such vote
of stockholders. Holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
notice of all stockholder meetings or written consents with respect to which
they would be entitled to vote, which notice shall be provided pursuant to the
Corporation's bylaws and applicable law.

         To the extent that under Delaware law the vote of the holders of shares
of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, is required to authorize a
given action of the Corporation, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders
of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock shall
constitute the approval of such action by the class.

         Section 5. Conversion. Subject to and upon compliance with this Section
5, the holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall have conversion rights as
follows:

                 (a) Optional Conversion. Each holder of a share of Preferred
Stock shall have the right, at any time, at the office of the Corporation or any
transfer agent for the Preferred Stock, to convert such share of Preferred Stock
into that number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock equal to
$9.00 divided by the Conversion Price of such share of Preferred Stock as set
forth in Section 6 hereof.

                  (b) Mechanics of Conversion. In order to convert shares of
Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock, the holder of shares of Preferred
Stock shall (i) fax or otherwise deliver a copy of the fully executed notice of
conversion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A ("Notice of Conversion") to
the Corporation at its principal office and to the transfer agent for the
Preferred Stock that such holder elects to convert the same, which notice shall
specify the


                                        3
<PAGE>   5
number of shares of Preferred Stock to be converted and shall contain the
Conversion Price (together with a copy of the first page of each certificate to
be converted) prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard time (the "Conversion Notice
Deadline") on the date of conversion specified on the Notice of Conversion and
(ii) surrender the original certificate or certificates for the shares of
Preferred Stock to be converted, duly endorsed, and deliver the original Notice
of Conversion by either overnight courier or two-day courier, to the principal
office of the Corporation or the office of the transfer agent for the Preferred
Stock; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue
certificates evidencing the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion
unless the certificates evidencing such shares of Preferred Stock are delivered
to the Corporation or its transfer agent as provided above. Upon receipt by the
Corporation of evidence of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any
certificate representing shares of Preferred Stock, and (in the case of loss,
theft or destruction) of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to the
Corporation, and upon surrender and cancellation of any certificate representing
shares of Preferred Stock, if mutilated, the Corporation shall execute and
deliver a new certificate of like tenor and date. No fractional shares of Common
Stock shall be issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock. In lieu of any
fractional share to which the holder of shares of Preferred Stock would
otherwise be entitled, the Corporation shall pay cash to such holder in an
amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Conversion Price then in effect.
In the case of a dispute as to the calculation of the Conversion Rate, the
Corporation's calculation shall be deemed conclusive absent manifest error.

         The Corporation shall use all reasonable efforts to issue and deliver
within seven (7) business days after delivery to the Corporation of the
certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock to be converted, or
after such agreement and indemnification, to such holder of Preferred Stock at
the address of the holder on the books of the Corporation, a certificate or
certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the holder shall
be entitled as aforesaid. The date on which conversion occurs (the "Date of
Conversion") shall be deemed to be the date set forth in such Notice of
Conversion, provided (i) that the advance copy of the Notice of Conversion is
delivered to and received by the Corporation before 5:00 pm., Eastern Standard
time, on the Date of Conversion, and (ii) that the original stock certificates
representing the shares of Preferred Stock to be converted are received by the
Corporation or the transfer agent within two (2) business days thereafter. The
person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Preferred Stock issuable
upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or
holders of such shares of Common Stock on the Date of Conversion. If the
original certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock to be converted
are not received by the Corporation or the transfer agent within two (2)
business days after the Date of Conversion or if the facsimile of the Notice of
Conversion is not received by the Corporation or its transfer agent prior to the
Conversion Notice Deadline, the Notice of Conversion, at the Corporation's
option, may be declared null and void.

         Following any conversion of shares of Preferred Stock, such share of
Preferred Stock shall no longer be outstanding and all rights of a holder with
respect to the shares surrendered for conversion shall immediately terminate
except for the right to receive Common Stock.


                                        4
<PAGE>   6
                 (c) Reservation of Shares. The Corporation shall at all times
reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be
sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of Preferred
Stock and to pay the dividends thereon in Common Stock; and if at any time the
number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient
to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock or to
pay the dividends thereon in Common Stock, the Corporation will take such
corporate action as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such
purpose.

         Section 6. Conversion Price. The "Conversion Price" per share of the
Preferred Stock shall be $2.25, subject to adjustment as set forth below.

                 (a) The Conversion Price shall be adjusted from time to time
as follows:

                     (i) If the Corporation consummates any offering of
its Common Stock (or securities exercisable or convertible into Common Stock) at
a price (or exercise or conversion price) below the Conversion Price, the
Conversion Price of the Preferred Stock shall be reduced to such offering price
(or exercise price or conversion price, as applicable). The provisions of this
Section 6(a) shall not apply upon the issuance of securities in connection with
an acquisition of the stock or equity interests or substantially all the assets
of an entity, or a merger by the Corporation.

                     (ii) The Conversion Price shall not be reduced below $1.00
pursuant to this Section 6(a) unless the Corporation consummates any offering of
its Common Stock or convertible securities at a price or conversion price less
than an amount equal to the net book value per share of the Corporation as
determined using the information provided in the Corporation's last quarterly or
annual report as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

                 (b) If and whenever after the date hereof the Corporation
shall issue or sell any shares of its Common Stock in connection with an
acquisition or merger (as expressly excluded from the provisions of paragraph
(a) above) for a consideration per share less than the Conversion Price in
effect immediately prior to the time of such issue or sale, then, forthwith upon
such issue or sale, the Conversion Price shall be reduced to the price
(calculated to the nearest cent) determined by dividing (i) an amount equal to
the sum of (a) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
prior to such issue or sale multiplied by the then existing Conversion Price,
and (b) the consideration, if any received by the Corporation upon such issue or
sale by (ii) the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after such issue or sale. In case any shares of Common Stock shall be issued or
sold for cash, the consideration received therefor shall be deemed to be the
amount received by the Corporation therefor, without deduction therefrom of any
expenses incurred or any underwriting commissions or concessions paid or allowed
by the Corporation in connection therewith. In case any shares of Common Stock
shall be issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of the


                                       5
<PAGE>   7
consideration other than cash received by the Corporation shall be deemed to be
the fair value of such consideration as determined by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation, without deduction of any expenses incurred or any underwriting
commissions or concessions paid or allowed by the Corporation in connection
therewith.

                 (c) In case at any time the Corporation shall in any manner
grant in connection with an acquisition or merger (as expressly excluded from
the provisions of paragraph (a) above) any rights to subscribe for or to
purchase, or any options for the purchase of, Common Stock ("Options") or any
stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock
("Convertible Securities") whether or not such Options or Convertible Securities
are immediately exercisable or convertible, and the exercise price per share of
such Options or the conversion price per share of such Convertible Securities
shall be less than the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the time
of the granting of such Options or Convertible Securities, then the Conversion
Price shall be reduced to the price (calculated to the nearest cent) determined
by dividing (i) an amount equal to the sum of (a) the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance multiplied by the then
existing Conversion Price, and (b) the aggregate exercise price or conversion
price to be received by the Corporation upon the exercise or conversion of the
Options or Convertible Securities, as applicable, by (ii) the total number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the issuance of Options or
Convertible Securities, assuming the exercise of such Options or the conversion
of such Convertible Securities.

                 (d) If, prior to the conversion of all outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased
by a stock split, stock dividend or other similar event, the Conversion Price
shall be proportionately reduced, or if the number of outstanding shares of
Common Stock is decreased by a combination or reclassification of shares or
other similar event, the Conversion Price shall be proportionately increased.

                 (e) If, prior to the conversion of all outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock, there shall be any merger, consolidation, exchange of shares,
recapitalization, reorganization or other similar event, as a result of which
shares of Common Stock of the Corporation shall be changed into the same or a
different number of shares of the same or another class or classes of stock or
securities of the Corporation or another entity, then the holders of shares of
Preferred Stock shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive upon
conversion of Preferred Stock, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions
specified herein and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock immediately
theretofore issuable upon conversion, such shares of stock and/or securities as
may be issued or payable with respect to or in exchange for the number of shares
of Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the
conversion of the Preferred Stock held by such holders had such merger,
consolidation, exchange of shares, recapitalization or reorganization not taken
place, and in any such case appropriate provisions shall be made with respect to
the rights and interests of the holders of the Preferred Stock to the end that
the provisions hereof (including, without limitation, provisions for adjustment
of the Conversion Price and of the number of shares issuable upon conversion of
the Preferred Stock) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may be
practicable in relation to any shares of stock or


                                        6
<PAGE>   8
securities thereafter deliverable upon the exercise hereof. The Corporation
shaft not effect any transaction described in this subsection 6(e) unless the
resulting successor or acquiring entity (if not the Corporation) assumes by
written instrument the obligation to deliver to the holders of the Preferred
Stock such shares of stock and/or securities as, in accordance with the
foregoing provisions, the holders of the Preferred Stock may be entitled to
purchase.

                 (f) No adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made in an
amount less than $.01 per share.

                 (g) In no event shall the Conversion Price be adjusted
pursuant to this Section 6 in connection with the issuance of Common Stock or
Options to the officers, directors, employees or agents of the Corporation or to
any person who shall be issued Common Stock or Options pursuant to a pending
employment, agency or consulting agreement (whether or not such agreement is to
be consummated in connection with an acquisition or merger).

                 (h) Upon any adjustment of the Conversion Price, then and in
each case the Corporation shall give written notice thereof, by first class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed to each holder of shares of the Preferred Stock
at the address of such holder as shown on the books of the Corporation, which
notice shall state the Conversion Price resulting from such adjustment, setting
forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which
such calculation is based.

                 (i) In case at any time:

                     (i) the Corporation shall declare any dividend upon
its Common Stock payable in cash or stock or make any other distribution to the
holders of its Common Stock;

                     (ii) the Corporation shall offer for subscription pro
rata to the holders of its Common Stock any additional shares of stock of any
class or other rights;

                     (iii) there shall be any capital reorganization or
reclassification of the capital stock of the Corporation, or a consolidation or
merger of the Corporation with, or a sale of all or substantially all its assets
to, another corporation; or

                     (iv) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
 liquidation or winding up of the Corporation;

then, in any one or more of said cases, the Corporation shall give, by first
class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to each holder of any shares of Preferred
Stock at the address of such holder as shown on the books of the Corporation,
(i) at least 30 days' prior written notice of the date on which the books of the
Corporation shall close or a record shall be taken for such dividend,
distribution or subscription rights or for determining rights to vote in respect
of any such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
dissolution, liquidation or winding up, and (ii) in the case of any such
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up, at least 30 days' prior written notice of the date
when the


                                        7
<PAGE>   9
same shall take place. Such notice in accordance with the foregoing clause (y)
shall also specify, in the case of any such dividend, distribution or
subscription rights, the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled thereto, and such notice in accordance with the foregoing clause (z)
shall also specify the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property
deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as the case may be, and in the
case of such merger or sale, the aggregate consideration to be received by the
holder of the Corporation's capital stock.

         Section 7. Status of Converted or Reacquired Shares. Any shares of
Preferred Stock converted into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 5
hereof or purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the conversion or
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become
authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of
a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on
issuance set forth herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other
Certificate of Designation creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar
stock or as otherwise required by law.

         Section 8. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

                 (a) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Corporation, either voluntary or involuntary, the holders of shares of
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the
Corporation available for distribution to stockholders under applicable law,
prior and in preference to any distribution to holders of the Common Stock or
any Junior Securities but in parity with any distribution to holders of Parity
Securities, an amount of $9.00 per share, plus a sum equal to all dividends
accrued on such shares (whether or not declared) and unpaid for the then current
Dividend Period. If upon the occurrence of such event, the assets and funds to
be distributed among the holders of shares of Preferred Stock and Parity
Securities shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the
full preferential amounts due to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock and
Parity Securities, respectively, then the entire assets and funds of the
Corporation legally available for distribution shall be distributed among the
holders of shares of Preferred Stock and Parity Securities, pro rata, based on
the respective liquidation amounts to which each such series of stock is
entitled by the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation and any certificate
of designation of preferences.

                 (b) Upon the completion of the distribution required by
subsection 8(a) above, if assets remain in the Corporation, they shall be
distributed to holders of Parity Securities (unless holders of Parity Securities
have received distributions pursuant to subsection 8(a)) and Junior Securities
in accordance with the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, including any
duly adopted certificate(s) of designation of preferences.

                 (c) A consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into
any other corporation or corporations, or a sale, exchange, conveyance or
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation or the
effectuation by the Corporation of a transaction or


                                        8
<PAGE>   10
series of related transactions in which more than 50% of the voting power of the
Corporation is disposed of, shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 8.

         Section 9. Consolidation, Merger, etc, In the event of a merger,
reorganization, recapitalization or similar event of or with respect to the
Corporation (a "Corporate Change") (other than a Corporate Change in which all
or substantially all of the consideration received by the holders of the
Corporation's equity securities upon such Corporate Change consists of cash or
assets other than securities issued by the acquiring entity or any affiliate
thereof), the Preferred Stock shall be assumed by the acquiring entity and
thereafter the Preferred Stock shall be convertible into such class and type of
securities as the holder of shares of Preferred Stock would have received had
such holder converted the Preferred Stock immediately prior to such Corporate
Change.

         Section 10. Redemption.

                 (a) At the option of the Corporation at any time and from time
to time after March 1, 2001, the Preferred Stock may be redeemed in full or in
part (in amounts no less than 50% of the outstanding Preferred Stock held by
such holder) for cash at the following prices per share:

              $12.15 after March 1, 2001 through February 28, 2002
              $11.70 after March 1, 2002 through February 28, 2003
              $11.25 after March 1, 2003

plus, in each case, an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid dividends (whether
or not declared) for all Dividend Periods preceding the date fixed for
redemption (the "Redemption Date").

                 (b) Notice of redemption of the Preferred Stock, specifying the
Redemption Date and place of redemption, shall be given by first class mail to
each holder of record of the shares to be redeemed, at his address of record,
not less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date.
Each such notice shall also specify the redemption price applicable to the
shares to be redeemed. If less than all the shares owned by such holder are then
to be redeemed, the notice shall also specify the number of shares thereof which
are to be redeemed and the fact that a new certificate or certificates
representing any unredeemed shares shall be issued without cost to such holder.

                 (c) Notice of redemption of shares of the Preferred Stock
having been given as provided in Section 10(b), then unless the Corporation
shall have defaulted in the payment of the redemption price and all accrued and
unpaid dividends (whether or not declared), all rights of the holders thereof
(except the right to receive the redemption price and all accrued and unpaid
dividends, whether or not declared) shall cease with respect to such shares on
the Redemption Date and such shares shall not, after the Redemption Date, be
deemed to be outstanding and shall not have the status of Preferred Stock. In
case fewer than all the shares represented by any such 


                                        9
<PAGE>   11
certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the
unredeemed shares without cost to the holder thereof.

                 (d) Shares of the Preferred Stock are not subject or entitled
to the benefit of a sinking fund.

                 (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if notice of redemption
shall have been given pursuant to this Section 10 and any holder of the
Preferred Stock shall, prior to the close of business on the date three business
days next preceding the Redemption Date, give written notice to the Corporation
pursuant to Section 5 hereof of the conversion of any or all of the shares held
by the holder (accompanied by a certificate or certificates for such shares,
duly endorsed or assigned to the Corporation), then the redemption shall not
become effective as to such shares and the conversion shall become effective as
provided in Section 5.

         Section 11. Forced Conversion. At the option of the Corporation at any
time after March 1, 2006, and upon thirty (30) days written notice, the
Corporation may require any holder of Preferred Stock to convert all or part of
the Preferred Stock then held by such Holder into the number of shares of the
Common Stock equal to $9.00 divided by the then applicable Conversion Price,
plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) for all periods
prior to such conversion date.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation has been executed
on behalf of the Corporation by its Chairman of the Board and attested by its
Secretary this 20th day of March, 1998.

                                            On behalf of the Board of Directors:

                                                     /s/ Theodore Rosen
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                         Theodore Rosen
                                             Chairman of the Board of Directors

Attest:

/s/ Seymour J. Beder
- --------------------
Seymour J. Beder
Secretary


                                       10
<PAGE>   12
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                              NOTICE OF CONVERSION

                    (TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER
                IN ORDER TO CONVERT THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK)

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to convert      shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, represented by stock certificate No(s).         (the
"Preferred Stock Certificates") into shares of common stock ("Common Stock") of
U.S. Energy Systems, Inc. (the "Corporation") according to the conditions of the
Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock, as of the date written below. If
shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the
undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto. No fee
will be charged to the holder for any conversion, except for transfer taxes, if
any.

         The undersigned represents and warrants that all offers and sales by
the undersigned of the shares of Common Stock issuable to the undersigned upon
conversion of the Preferred Stock shall be made pursuant to registration of such
shares of Common Stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or pursuant
to an exemption from registration under such Act.

Conversion Calculations:

                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Date of Conversion

                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Applicable Conversion Price

                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Signature

                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name


                                      Address:
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                      ------------------------------------------


*No shares of Common Stock will be issued until the original Preferred Stock
Certificate(s) to be converted and the Notice of Conversion are received by the
Corporation's Transfer Agent. The original Stock Certificate(s) representing the
Preferred Stock to be converted and the Notice of Conversion must be received by
the Corporation's Transfer Agent by the second business day following the Date
of Conversion, or the Notice of Conversion, at the Corporation's option, may be
declared null and void.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 2


                            U.S. ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
                             SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

SUBSCRIBER:                               Energy Systems Investors LLC

SECURITIES SUBSCRIBED FOR:                250,000 shares of Series A Convertible
                                          Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, at 
                                          $9.00 per share.

AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE:                 $2,250,000.00



         SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of March 20, 1998, by and between U.S.
Energy Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Energy Systems
Investors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Investor").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         The Company desires to sell, and the Investor desires to buy, an
aggregate of 250,000 shares of the Company's Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a purchase price of
$9.00 per share, having the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate
of Designation attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Certificate of Designation").
The Preferred Stock is sometimes referred to herein as the "Securities."

         The Company is described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, Quarterly Reports on Form 1O-QSB for
the quarters ended April 30, 1997, July 31, 1997 and October 31, 1997, and
current reports on Form 8-K dated April 24, 1997, August 12, 1997, August 22,
1997 and November 3, 1997 (collectively, the "Reports") filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1.       Subscription and Payment. Subject to the terms and conditions
herein set forth, the Investor hereby subscribes for the number of shares of
Preferred Stock set forth above. The Investor acknowledges that this
subscription shall not be effective until accepted by the Company.

         The Investor agrees to deliver to the Company at the Closing (as
defined below) by wire transfer to an account designated by the Company the
aggregate purchase price of S2,250,000, payable in immediately available funds,
for the Securities subscribed for hereby.
<PAGE>   2
         2.       Closing. The closing (the "Closing") of the purchase and sale
of the Securities subscribed for hereby (the "Offering") shall occur on March
23, 1998 or the earliest date thereafter on which the closing conditions
specified in Sections 8 and 9 of this Agreement shall have been satisfied or
waived (any such date, the "Closing Date"); provided, however, that if the
Closing has not occurred by March 31, 1998, then this Agreement shall terminate
and the Closing shall not take place. At the Closing, the Company will deliver
to the Investor: (i) one executed copy of this Agreement; (ii) a stock
certificate representing the Investor's ownership of the Preferred Stock
subscribed for hereby; (iii) an executed Registration Rights Agreement in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Registration Rights Agreement"); and
(iv) such other certificates, instruments, opinions and documents as are
otherwise set forth herein or contemplated hereby. Subject to the provisions of
Section 13 hereto and prior to execution by the Company, the Company shall have
the right to reject this Subscription Agreement and not issue the Securities to
the Investor, in its discretion.

         3.       Termination of Offering. The Investor understands and agrees
that it will not be entitled to exercise the rights of a Stockholder of the
Company until an appropriate certificate representing the Preferred Stock for
which it has subscribed has been issued to it on the day of the Closing. If (a)
the Company shall have reasonably determined that an event has occurred or a
condition exists which could materially and adversely affect the business or
proposed business of the Company and that such possibility warrants termination
of the Offering, (b) the conditions to the Closing of the Offering are not
satisfied or (c) the Company elects to terminate the Offering, the Offering will
be terminated, and the Company will not issue the Preferred Stock and the
Company will not be entitled to payment of the purchase price for the Preferred
Stock.

         4.       Representations and Warranties by Investor. The Investor
hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:

                  (a)      it is an "accredited investor" as that term is
defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act");

                  (b)      it has the requisite knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters through its managers to be capable of evaluating
the merits and risks of an investment in the Company;

                  (c)      it has received and read the Reports and has
evaluated the risks of investing in the Company;

                  (d)      it has been given the opportunity to ask questions
of, and receive answers from, the Company concerning the terms and conditions of
the Offering and to obtain additional information necessary to verify the
accuracy of the information contained in the Reports or such other information
as it desired in order to evaluate its investment;

                  (e)      in making the decision to purchase the Securities
herein subscribed for, it has relied solely upon the Reports, the
representations, warranties, agreements, undertakings and acknowledgments of the
Company in this Subscription Agreement and independent investigations made by
such Member;


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                  (f)      it understands that an investment in the Company
involves certain risks and the Investor has taken full cognizance of and
understands such risks, including those set forth in the Reports;

                  (g)      it understands that neither the Preferred Stock nor
the shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible has 
been registered under the Act, and agrees that the Preferred Stock and the 
Common Stock may not be sold, offered for sale, transferred, pledged, 
hypothecated or otherwise disposed of except in compliance with the Act and 
subject to the terms of this Subscription Agreement;

                  (h)      it understands that no federal or state agency has
made any finding or determination as to the fairness of the investment in, or
any recommendation or endorsement of, the Preferred Stock;

                  (i)      the Securities herein subscribed for are being
acquired by the Investor in good faith solely for the account of the Investor,
for investment purposes and not with a view to subdivision, distribution or
resale. The Investor will not sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of the
Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, unless:

                           (i)      the Investor shall have advised the Company
         in writing that it intends to dispose of such shares of Preferred Stock
         or Common Stock, as the case may be, in a manner to be described in
         such advice, and counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company and its
         respective counsel shall have delivered to the Company an opinion
         reasonably acceptable to the Company and its respective counsel that
         registration is not required under the Act or under any applicable
         securities laws of any jurisdiction; or

                           (ii)     a registration statement on an appropriate
         form under the Act, or a post-effective amendment to such registration
         statement, covering the proposed sale or other disposition of such
         shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, shall be
         in effect under the Act and such shares of Preferred Stock or Common
         Stock or the proposed sale or other disposition thereof shall have been
         registered or qualified under applicable securities laws of any
         jurisdiction.

         The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the certificates representing
the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock shall bear the following legend (unless
subsequently registered under the Act):

                  "The securities represented by this certificate have not been
                  registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be
                  sold, exchanged, hypothecated or transferred in any manner
                  except in compliance with such Act and that certain
                  Subscription Agreement dated as of March 20, 1998 between the
                  Corporation and Energy Systems Investors LLC."


                                       3
<PAGE>   4
         The Investor also acknowledges that the Comparing may place a stop
transfer order against transfer of the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, if
necessary in the Company's reasonable judgment, in order to assure compliance by
the Investor with the terms of this Agreement.

                  (j)      The Investor represents and warrants that (i) the
individual executing this Agreement has appropriate authority to act on behalf
of the Investor and (ii) the Investor is not an Investment Company, as defined
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Investor and constitutes the
valid and binding agreement of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in
accordance with its terms.

                  (k)      The Investor understands that the Securities are
being offered and sold, and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of the Preferred Stock are being offered hereby in reliance on specific
exemptions from the registration requirements of the Act and that the Company is
relying on the foregoing representations, warranties, agreements, undertakings
and acknowledgments in determining the availability of such exemptions and the
Investor's suitability as the purchaser of the Securities.

         5.       Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to the Investor that:

                  (a)      The Company has duly filed with the Commission all
reports required to be filed by it by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Company has furnished to the Investor a true
and correct copy of each Report. Each Report did not, as of the date on which it
was signed, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                  (b)      The financial statements (including the related
notes) of the Company included in the Reports present fairly the financial
position of the Company as of the dates indicated and its results of operations
for the periods specified therein. All such financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles on a basis
consistently applied.

                  (c)      The Company has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with full power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Reports, and is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the character of the business conducted by it or the
location of the properties owned or leased by it makes such qualification
necessary for the conduct of its business as described in the Reports except
where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on
the Company.


                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                  (d)      The authorized capital stock of the Company consists
of (i) 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value S.01 per share, of which
none are outstanding as of January 31, 1998, and (ii) 35,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of which 5,160,609 shares are issued and
outstanding as of January 31, 1998. At January 31, 1998, there were outstanding
options, warrants and convertible debentures exercisable for or convertible into
a total of 5,912,725 shares of Common Stock. The Company has all requisite power
and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Preferred Stock in accordance with
and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock; and all corporate action
required to be taken by the Company for the due and proper authorization,
issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities and Common Stock has been validly
and sufficiently taken. The outstanding shares of Common Stock are, and the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock in
accordance with their respective terms will be, when issued, duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                  (e)      Except as set forth in this Agreement, or as
described in the Reports, subsequent to the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Reports, the Company has not incurred any material
liability or obligation, direct or contingent, or entered into any material
transaction (except for the transactions contemplated hereby), whether or not in
the ordinary course of business, and there has not been any material change on a
consolidated basis in the capital stock, or any material increase in the
short-term debt or long-term debt, or any material adverse change in the
condition (financial or other), business, key personnel, properties or results
of operations of the Company.

                  (f)      The Company is not in violation of any material
provision of its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or in default in the
performance of any material obligation contained in any material agreement,
indenture or other instrument. The performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein
contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach of the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, or any material agreement, indenture or
other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, or
(assuming the accuracy of the Investor's representations and warranties herein)
any law, rule, administrative regulation or decree of any court or governmental
authority having jurisdiction over the Company or its properties, or result in
the creation or imposition of any material lien, charge, claim or encumbrance
upon any property or asset of the Company. Except as required by the Act and
applicable state securities or blue sky laws and except for the filing of the
Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,
no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental
authority is required in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The rights granted to the Investor hereunder do
not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with any rights granted to
the holders of the Company's securities or debt instruments.

                  (g)      The Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock, upon such issuance, will conform to the description thereof
contained in the Reports. Except as


                                       5
<PAGE>   6
described in the Reports, there are no preemptive rights or other rights to
subscribe for or to purchase, or any restriction upon the voting or transfer of,
any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws or any agreement or other instrument to which the
Company is a party. Neither the Offering nor the sale of the Preferred Stock as
contemplated in this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the
registration of any shares of Common Stock (other than as provided in Section 10
of this Agreement).

                  (h)      The Company has full right, power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company and (assuming the accuracy of the Investor's and
Members' representations and warranties herein) constitutes the legal, valid and
binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms (except in all cases as such enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except that the
availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance or injunctive
relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may
be brought).

                  (i)      Except as set forth in the Reports, there are no
actions, suits or proceedings pending before or by any court or governmental
agency or authority, or any arbitrator, which seek to restrain or prohibit the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or which might reasonably
be expected to result in any material adverse change in the condition (financial
or other), business or results of operations of the Company and, to the best of
the Company's knowledge, no such action, suit or proceeding has been threatened.

                  (j)      The Company is not in violation of any law,
ordinance, governmental rule or regulation or court decree to which it may be
subject and the Company has not failed to obtain any license, permit, franchise
or other governmental authorization necessary to the ownership of its property
or to the conduct of its business, which violation or failure to obtain is
likely to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other),
business or results of operations of the Company, except that (i) the Company
and its affiliates have not received all authorization required to construct the
private geothermal heating district project currently being developed by Reno
Energy LLC in Reno, Nevada, and (ii) the Company and its affiliates have not
received authorization necessary to renew its air commissions permit with
respect to its cogeneration unit in Lehi, Utah.

         6.       Covenants of the Investor.

                  (a)      The Investor covenants with the Company that at all
times during which it holds the Preferred Stock or Common Stock, it shall comply
with all applicable federal and state securities laws, the rules and regulations
of the Nasdaq Stock Market, or any other market or exchange on which the
Company's securities are traded, and any applicable state law relating to the
governance of corporations, pertaining to the amount of equity ownership of the
Company that the Investor or its members may beneficially own, the aggregate
voting rights the Investor or its members may have in respect to all other
stockholders of the Company, and the affective


                                       6
<PAGE>   7
change in control of the Company. Should the Company reasonably believe that any
dividend or distribution of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, additional grants
of Preferred Stock or Common Stock. Purchase Price adjustment or other
occurrence would place the Investor, the members or the Company in violation of
any such rules, regulations or laws, it shall have the right to take any action
it deems necessary to avoid any such violation, including, but not limited to,
substitution of cash for any payment of a stock dividend or distribution or
grant of additional securities of the Company.

                  (b)      The Investor will not engage in any activity that
would jeopardize the status of the Offering as an exempt transaction under the
Act or under the laws of any state in which the Offering is made.

                  (c)      The Investor acknowledges that the representations,
warranties, agreements, undertakings and acknowledgments are made by the
Investor with the intent that they be relied upon by the Company in determining
whether to issue the Securities.

         7.       Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with the
Investor that:

                  (a)      The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale
of the Securities to working capital and other general corporate purposes and
possible acquisitions.

                  (b)      The Company will, so long as the Investor shall be
the holder of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, furnish to the Investor, as soon
as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report with respect
to such year (including financial statements audited by independent public
accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each quarterly period
(other than the last quarterly period) of each fiscal year, a statement (which
need not be audited) of the results of operations of the Company for such
period, and, to the extent not otherwise furnished, promptly upon the filing
thereof, copies of all reports filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant
to the Exchange Act.

                  (c)      The Company shall at all times keep in reserve the
number of shares of its Common Stock issuable from time to time upon the
conversion of all the outstanding Preferred Stock.

                  (d)      The Investor shall have the right to nominate one
person to the Company's Board of Directors, which person shall be appointed to
the Board of Directors at the Closing, and shall be included in the slate of the
Board of Directors for a three-year term as presented to the Stockholders of the
Company at their 1998 annual meeting.

                  (e)      The Investor shall have the right to purchase in any
public or private offering of the Company's securities (exclusive of issuances
of Common Stock or options to purchase Common Stock to officers, directors,
employees and consultants of the Company, or stock issued in connection with an
acquisition or merger by the Company) within two (2) years


                                       7
<PAGE>   8
of the Closing Date a portion of such offering, on the same terms offered to
other investors, equal to the Investor's then-current percentage of equity
ownership in the Company.

                  (f)      Neither the Company nor any of its officers,
directors or employees will engage in any activity that would jeopardize the
status of the Offering as an exempt transaction under the Act or under the laws
of any state in which the offering is made.

                  (g)      The Company acknowledges that the representations,
warranties, agreements, undertakings and acknowledgments are made by the Company
with the intent that they be relied upon by the Investor and the Members in
determining whether to subscribe for the Securities.

                  (h)      The Company shall grant the Investor additional
shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock (provided such grant does not increase
the Investor's (or combined group of investors) voting control in the Company
above 19.9% at such time unless previously approved by the stockholders of the
Company) or pay the Investor in cash, or some combination thereof at the
Company's option, if any non-operational, extraordinary or non-recurring event
(an "Event") occurs within 24 months of the Closing Date and which arises from a
situation preceding the Closing Date hereof, which diminishes the stockholder
equity in the Company as of January 31, 1998, in an amount greater than
$500,000. The amount of any additional grant of Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock, or payment of cash pursuant to this Section 7(h), shall be equal to the
decrease in stockholder equity multiplied by the Investor's then-current equity
percentage ownership in the Company, divided by the lesser of (a) the average
market price of the Company's Common Stock on the five days prior to the Event
or (b) 150% of the Conversion Price.

                  (i)      Any dividends to be received by the Investor pursuant
to Section 3 of the Company's Certificate of Designation of its Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid by the Company in cash or a grant of
Common Stock or some combination thereof, at the option of the Investor.

                  (j)      Subject to the approval of a majority of the
stockholders of the Company in accordance with the rules of Nasdaq, the Investor
shall have the option to purchase up to an additional 222,000 shares of
Preferred Stock within one year of the date hereof on the same terms and
conditions as set forth herein.

         8.       Conditions of Investor Obligations. The Investor's obligations
under this Agreement are subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Company made in Section 5 hereof in all material respects, and
to the performance by the Company of its other obligations under this Agreement
to be performed at or prior to the Closing.

         9.       Conditions of Obligations of the Company. The obligations of
the Company under this Agreement are subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Investor and the Members made in Section 4
hereof in all material respects, and to the 


                                       8
<PAGE>   9
performance by the Investor and the Members of their other obligations under
this Agreement to be performed at or prior to the Closing.

         10.      Rule 144. The Company covenants that it will file the reports
required to be filed by it under the Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder (or, if it ceases to be
required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of the Investor, make
publicly available other information that fulfills the information requirements
set forth in Rule 144 (c) (2)), and it will take such further action as the
Investor may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to
enable the Investor to sell the Common Stock without registration under the Act
within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the Act,
as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (b) any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of the
Investor, the Company will deliver to it a written statement as to whether the
Company has complied with such information disclosure and other requirements.

         11.      Expenses. The Company agrees that it will pay in the aggregate
up to $25,000 of the Investor's and the members' legal and other expenses
incurred in connection with this Offering. All expenses of the Investor or any
member in excess of $25,000 shall be borne solely by them.

         12.      Notices.

                  (a)      Any notice required to be given or delivered to the
Investor or the Members shall be mailed first class, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, to the Investor's address shown on the signature page hereof.

                  (b)      Any notice required to be given or delivered to the
Company shall be mailed first class, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,
to:

                           U.S. Energy Systems, Inc.
                           515 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 702
                           W. Palm Beach, FL 33401
                           Attn: Richard A. Nelson, President and CEO

         13.      Break-up Fee. The Company shall pay the Investor a break-up
fee (the "Break-up Fee") in the amount of $100,000 if the Company refuses for
reasons within its control to issue the Preferred Stock to the Investor as set
forth herein, and engages in a corporate financing transaction with another
investor within 90 days of the termination of the Offering.

         14.      Survival of Representations and Warranties. All
representations and warranties and agreements hereunder shall survive execution
of this Agreement and delivery of the Securities.

         15.      Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations
of the parties shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly
within that State.


                                       9
<PAGE>   10
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Subscription
Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                    ENERGY SYSTEMS INVESTORS LLC, a
                                    Delaware limited liability company

                                    By: /s/ Lawrence I. Schneider
                                        Lawrence I. Schneider, Manager



The terms of the foregoing including the
subscription described therein are agreed to
and accepted on this 20th day of March, 1998:

U.S. ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.


By: /s/ Richard H. Nelson
    Richard H. Nelson, President and CEO


                                       10

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       Exhibit 3

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered
into to be effective as of this 20th day of March, 1998, between U.S. ENERGY
SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and ENERGY SYSTEMS
INVESTORS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Holder").

                                    RECITALS

         I. Pursuant to that certain Subscription Agreement dated as of March
20, 1998 (the "Subscription Agreement"), the Company has agreed to provide to
Holder certain registration rights with respect to the shares of the Company's
Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of 250,000 shares of the Company's
Series A Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") issued to the Holder pursuant
to the Subscription Agreement, and any shares of Common Stock granted as
dividends or otherwise on or with respect to the Preferred Stock (all of such
shares of Common Stock being referred to herein as the "Restricted Shares").

         II. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed thereto in the Subscription Agreement.

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and covenants set
forth in the Subscription Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

         1.       Incidental (Piggyback) Registration Rights.

                  (a)      Subject to the limitations set forth in this
Agreement, if the Company at any time after the first anniversary of the Closing
Date proposes to file on its behalf and/or on behalf of any of its security
holders other than the Holder ("the demanding security holders") a registration
statement (a "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), on any form (other than a Registration Statement
on Form S-4 or S-8 or any successor form not available for registering the
Restricted Shares, or any form for securities to be offered in a transaction of
the type referred to in Rule 145 under the Securities Act or to employees of the
Company pursuant to any employee benefit plan, respectively) for the general
registration of securities to be sold for cash with respect to its Common Stock
or any other class of equity security (as defined in Section 3(a)(11) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the Company, it will give
written notice to the Holder at least thirty (30) days before the initial filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission) of such
Registration Statement, which notice shall set forth the intended method of
disposition of the securities proposed to be registered by the Company. The
notice shall offer to include in such filing the aggregate number of shares of
Restricted Shares as the Holder may request.
<PAGE>   2
                  (b)      If the Holder desires to have Restricted Shares
registered under this Section 1, he shall advise the Company in writing within
fifteen (15) days after the date of receipt of such offer from the Company,
setting forth the amount of such Restricted Shares for which registration is
requested. The Company shall thereupon include in such filing the number of
shares of Restricted Shares for which registration is so requested; provided
that nothing herein shall prevent the Company from abandoning or delaying any
such registration at any time. In the event that the proposed registration by
the Company is, in whole or in part, an underwritten public offering of
securities of the Company, the Company shall not be required to include any of
the Restricted Shares in such underwriting unless the Holder agrees to accept
the offering on the same terms and conditions as the shares of Common Stock, if
any, otherwise being sold through underwriters under such registration;
provided, however, that if the managing underwriter advises the Company in
writing that the inclusion of all Restricted Shares proposed to be included by
the Holder in the underwritten public offering and other issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock proposed to be included therein by the persons other than
the Holder, the Company (the "Other Shares") would jeopardize the success of the
Company's offering, then the Company shall be required to include in the
offering (in addition to the number of shares to be sold by the Company) only
that number of Restricted Shares that the managing underwriter believes will not
jeopardize the success of the Company's offering and the number of Restricted
Shares and Other Shares not included in such underwritten public offering shall
be reduced pro rata based upon the number of shares of Restricted Shares and
Other Shares requested by the holders thereof to be registered in such
underwritten public offering. In the event the Company chooses a registration
form which limits the size offering either in terms of the number of shares or
dollar amount, the Company shall not be required to include in the offering (in
addition to the number of shares to be sold by the Company) Restricted Shares
which would exceed such limits.

                  (c)      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Section 1, in the event that there is a firm commitment underwritten public
offering of securities of the Company pursuant to a registration covering
Restricted Shares and the Holder does not elect to sell his Restricted Shares to
the underwriters of the Company's securities in connection with such offering,
the Holder shall refrain from selling such Restricted Shares so registered
pursuant to this Section 1 during the period of distribution of the Company's
securities by such underwriters and the period in which the underwriting
syndicate participates in the after market; provided, however, that the Holder
shall, in any event, be entitled to sell its Restricted Shares commencing on the
90th day after the effective date of such registration statement.

         2.       Demand Registration Rights.

                  (a)      At any time after the second anniversary of the
Closing Date and prior to the fifteenth anniversary of the Closing Date (the
"Registration Period"), the Holder shall have one right to request (a
"Registration Request") by delivery of written notice to the Company that the
Company effect the registration under the Securities Act, of all or any portion
of the Restricted Shares. In such event, the Company shall use reasonable
efforts to cause the Restricted Shares to be registered under the Securities Act
and to promptly effect and comply with all such qualifications, compliances and
requirements as may be necessary to permit the sale or other transfer of such
Restricted Shares in the manner described in such Registration Request,


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
including, without limitation, qualifications under the applicable Blue Sky or
other state securities laws (provided that the Company shall not be required in
connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general
consent to service of process in any state); provided, however, that (i) the
Company shall not be obligated to file and cause to become effective more than
one registration statement in which Restricted Shares are sold pursuant to this
subsection (a) (it being understood that (a) the Company will not withdraw any
such registration statement if the Holder exercises his rights to a piggyback
registration under Section 1 until the Section 1 registration statement becomes
effective or (b) if the Company does withdraw the registration statement under
this section after the Holder exercises his piggyback rights prior to the
effectiveness of the registration statement under Section 1 hereof and the
Section 1 registration statement does not become effective, then the Company
will file another registration statement pursuant to Section 2) and (ii) the
Company shall not be obligated to conduct a special audit of its financial
statements, unless such audit shall have been requested by the Commission, or in
any other case unless the Holder undertakes to pay the costs associated with
such audit.

                  (b)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay
filing a registration statement, and may withhold efforts to cause the
registration statement to become effective, if the Board of Directors of the
Company determines in good faith that such registration would reasonably be
likely to (i) interfere with or affect the negotiation or completion of any
transaction that is being contemplated by the Company (whether or not a final
decision has been made to undertake such transaction) at the time the right to
delay is exercised, or (ii) involve initial or continuing disclosure obligations
that would not be in the best interest of the Company's stockholders. If, after
a registration statement becomes effective, the Company advises the holders of
registered shares that the Company considers it appropriate for the registration
statement to be amended, the holders of such shares shall suspend any further
sales of their registered shares until the Company advises them that the
registration statement has been amended.

         3.       Registration Procedures.

                  (a)      In connection with the filing of a Registration
Statement pursuant hereto, the Company will:

                           (i)      prepare and file with the Commission a
Registration Statement with respect to such securities and use its reasonable
efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become and remain effective for
a period of time (not to exceed thirty (30) days) required for the disposition
of such securities by the Holder thereof;

                           (ii)     prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus
used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with
respect to the sale or other disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement until the earlier of


                                       3
<PAGE>   4
such time as all of such securities have been disposed of in a public offering
or the expiration of sixty (60) days.

                           (iii)    furnish to the Holder such number of copies
of a summary prospectus or other prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus,
in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other
documents, as the Holder may reasonably request;

                           (iv)     use its reasonable efforts to register or
qualify the securities covered by such Registration Statement under such other
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as
the Holder of such securities shall reasonably request (provided, however, the
Company shall not be obligated to qualify as a foreign corporation to do
business under the laws of any jurisdiction in which it is not then qualified or
to file any general consent to service or process), and do such other reasonable
acts and things as may be required of it to enable the Holder to consummate the
disposition in such jurisdiction of the securities covered by such Registration
Statement;

                           (v)      enter into customary agreements (including
an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such
Common Stock and as shall be required in connection with the action taken by the
Company; and

                           (vi)     promptly notify in writing the Holder of the
happening of any event, during the period of distribution, as a result of which
the Registration Statement includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then
existing (in which case, if so requested by the Company in writing, the Holder
shall promptly take action to cease making any offers of the Restricted Shares
until receipt and distribution of a revised or supplemental prospectuses).

                  (b)      In connection with any registration hereunder, the
Holder will (i) prior to issuing a Registration Request or notifying the Company
of his intent to include Restricted Shares in a registration statement to be
filed by the Company, agree in writing to convert the shares of Preferred Stock
necessary to provide the Holder that number of shares of Common Stock to be sold
pursuant to the registration statement not later than the effective date of such
registration statement, (ii) furnish the Company in writing such information
with respect to himself and the proposed distribution by him as reasonably
requested by the Company and all such information necessary in order to assure
compliance with Federal and applicable state securities laws and (iii) if the
Holder elects to sell the Restricted Shares to underwriters, enter into an
agreement with the managing underwriters in such form and containing such
provisions as are customary in the securities business for such an arrangement
between major underwriters and companies of the Company's size and investment
stature, provided that such agreement shall not contain any provisions
applicable to the Company which are inconsistent with the provisions


                                       4
<PAGE>   5
hereof and, provided further, that the time and place of the closing of such
agreement shall be as mutually agreed upon between the Company and the managing
underwriter.

         4.       Expenses. All expenses incurred in complying with this
Agreement, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees,
printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, expenses
of any special audits incident to or required by any such registration and
expenses (including attorneys' fees) of complying with the securities or blue
sky laws of any jurisdictions pursuant to Section 3(d), except to the extent
required to be paid by participating selling security holders by state
securities or blue sky laws, shall be paid by the Company; provided, however,
that the Holder (and not the Company) shall be liable for (i) all fees,
discounts and commissions to any underwriter or broker, if any, (ii) all
transfer taxes, if any, and (iii) all fees and disbursements of legal counsel to
the Holder, if any.

         5.       Indemnification.

                  (a)      Indemnification by the Company. In the event of any
registration of any Restricted Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to this
Agreement, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, each
underwriter of the Restricted Shares, if any, each such broker or any other
person, if any, who controls any of the foregoing persons, within the meaning of
the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which any of the foregoing persons may become subject under the
Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
under which such Restricted Shares were registered under the Securities Act, any
final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
arise out of or are based upon the omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or, with respect to any final prospectus, necessary to make the
statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and shall reimburse the Holder, such underwriter, broker and each
such controlling person for any legal expenses reasonably incurred by any of
them in connection with defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to so
indemnify the Holder, such underwriter, broker or any such controlling person
insofar as such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon
an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made in said Registration Statement, said final prospectus or said amendment or
supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Company or such underwriter or broker by the Holder in writing for use in
preparation thereof.

                  (b)      Indemnification by Holder. Before Restricted Shares
held by the Holder shall be included in any Registration Statement pursuant to
this Agreement, the Holder shall indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner
and to the same extent as set forth in Section 5(a) hereof for the
indemnification of the Holder by the Company) the Company, each director of the
Company, each officer of the Company who shall sign such Registration Statement
and any person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities
Act, with respect to any untrue statement or omission from such Registration
Statement or final prospectus contained


                                       5
<PAGE>   6
therein or any amendment or supplement thereto, if such untrue statement or
omission was (i) made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Company by the Holder in writing for use in the preparation of
such Registration Statement, final prospectus or amendment or supplement or (ii)
contained in any Registration Statement which was utilized by the Holder or any
controlling person or affiliate of the Holder after the Holder was notified, in
accordance with Section 3(a)(vi) hereof, that such Registration Statement
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact.

                  (c)      Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by
an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any action involving a
claim referred to in this Section 5, such indemnified party will, if a claim in
respect thereof is made against any indemnifying party, give written notice to
the latter of such claim and/or the commencement of such action. In case any
such action is brought against an indemnified party, the indemnifying party will
be entitled to participate in and assume the defense thereof, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified to the extent that it may wish, with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from
the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall be responsible for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by the latter in connection with the
defense thereof, provided that if any indemnified party shall have reasonably
concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to such
indemnified party which conflict in any material respect with those available to
the indemnifying party, or that such claim or litigation involves or could have
an effect upon matters beyond the scope of the indemnity agreement provided in
this Section 5, such indemnifying party shall reimburse such indemnified party
and shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of
such indemnified party and such indemnifying party shall reimburse such
indemnified party and any person controlling such indemnified party for that
portion of the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the indemnified
party which are reasonably related to the matters covered by the indemnity
agreement provided in this Section 5. The indemnifying party shall not make any
settlement of any claims indemnified against thereunder without the written
consent of the indemnified party or parties, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
5, if pursuant to an underwritten public offering of the Common Stock, the
Company, the Holder and the underwriters enter into an underwriting or purchase
agreement relating to such offering which contains provisions covering
indemnification among the parties thereto in connection with such offering, the
indemnification provisions of this Section 5 shall be deemed inoperative for
purposes of such offering.

         6.       Certain Limitations on Registration Rights. Notwithstanding
the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to
register the Restricted Shares of the Holder if, in the opinion of counsel to
the Company, the sale or other disposition of the Holder's Restricted Shares may
be effected without registering such Restricted Shares under the Securities Act.


                                        6
<PAGE>   7
         7.       Miscellaneous.

                  (a)      Notice Generally. Any notice, demand, request,
consent, approval, declaration, delivery or other communication hereunder to be
made pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall be sufficiently given or
made if in writing and either delivered in person with receipt acknowledged,
delivered by reputable overnight courier, telecopied and confirmed separately in
writing by a copy mailed as follows or sent by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as set forth in the
Subscription Agreement.

                  (b)      Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties hereto; provided, however, that, the Holder's rights hereunder may not
be assigned or transferred without the prior written consent of the Company.

                  (c)      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by
the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the provisions thereof
relating to conflict of laws.

                  (d)      Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of
this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid
under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited
by or invalid under applicable law, such provisions shall be ineffective to the
extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of
such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

                  (e)      Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the
Subscription Agreement, is intended by the parties as a final expression of
their agreement and intended to be a complete exclusive statement of the
understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or
undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof.

                  (f)      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of separate counterparts, each of which shall collectively and
separately, constitute one agreement.

                  (g)      Dispute Resolution. In the event that a dispute
arises in connection with any matter directly or indirectly related to this
Agreement which cannot be resolved by the parties hereto or by mediation of the
parties hereto, the parties shall resolve any such dispute through arbitration
in New York, New York in accordance with the regulations of the American
Arbitration Association.


                                        7
<PAGE>   8
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Holder have executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                         U.S. ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC., a
                                         Delaware corporation

                                         By: /s/ Richard H. Nelson
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Richard H. Nelson, President and CEO


                                         ENERGY SYSTEMS INVESTORS, LLC, a
                                         Delaware limited liability company

                                         By: /s/ Lawrence I. Schneider
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Lawrence I. Schneider, Manager



                                       8


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