TENERA INC
DEF 14A, 2000-05-31
ENGINEERING SERVICES
Previous: HARNISCHFEGER INDUSTRIES INC, 3, 2000-05-31
Next: SONO TEK CORP, 10-K, 2000-05-31





<PAGE>




                                SCHEDULE 14A
                               (Rule 14a-101)

                   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                          SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

         Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                   Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.   )

Filed by the Registrant                       [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant    [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

    [ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    [ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
         Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
    [X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
    [ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
    [ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12


                                TENERA, Inc.
              ------------------------------------------------
              (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

    [X]  No fee required.
    [ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
         0-11.

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

    (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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

    (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transactions applies:

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

    (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
         the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

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

    (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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

    (5)  Total fee paid:

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



<PAGE>




    [ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
    [ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
         Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the
         offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the previous filing
         by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the
         date of its filing.

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

    (1)  Amount Previously Paid:

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

    (2)  Form, Schedule, or Registration Statement No.:

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

    (3)  Filing Party:

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

    (4)  Date Filed:

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



<PAGE>




                               [TENERA, INC. LOGO]

                                  TENERA, Inc.
                       One Market, Spear Tower, Suite 1850
                          San Francisco, CA 94105-1018



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


                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                           TO BE HELD ON JUNE 27, 2000



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


TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS

     You are cordially invited to the  Annual Meeting of Shareholders of TENERA,
Inc. (the  "Company")  which will be held at 1:00 p.m.  (local time) on Tuesday,
June 27, 2000, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Five Embarcadero Center,  Golden Gate
Room,  Bay Level (2nd  Floor),  San  Francisco,  California,  for the  following
purposes as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement:

     1.   To elect two (2) directors to the Board of Directors

     2.   To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors
           for the Company for the year ending December 31, 2000

     3.   To transact  such other  business  as may  properly  come  before  the
           meeting or any adjournments thereof.

     Shareholders  of record  at the close  of  business  on May 22,  2000,  are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

     Your vote is important  to the Company.  Please  complete,  sign, date, and
return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed,  postage-paid  envelope.  If you
attend the meeting and wish to vote in person,  you may withdraw  your proxy and
vote your shares personally.



                                     Sincerely,


                                      /s/ Robert C. McKay
                                     -------------------------------------
                                     Robert C. McKay
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer

May 29, 2000





<PAGE>





















                       This page intentionally left blank.


















<PAGE>



                                                       Mailed to shareholders on
                                                           or about June 2, 2000


                                  TENERA, INC.



                                 PROXY STATEMENT

      This proxy statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of TENERA, Inc. ("TENERA" or the "Company"), a
Delaware  corporation,  for  use at the  2000  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders
("Annual  Meeting") to be held at 1:00 p.m.  (local  time) on Tuesday,  June 27,
2000, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Five Embarcadero Center, Golden Gate Room, Bay
Level (2nd Floor), San Francisco,  California. The Company's principal executive
offices are located at One  Market,  Spear  Tower,  Suite 1850,  San  Francisco,
California 94105-1018.

      Each shareholder of record of Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock")
on May 22, 2000 ("Record  Date"),  is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and
will have one vote for each share of Common  Stock held at the close of business
on the Record Date. A majority of the shares  entitled to vote will constitute a
quorum.   On  May  22,  1999,  there  were  9,948,759  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding.

      If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote by proxy. The
proxies will vote your shares  according to your  instructions.  If you return a
properly  signed and dated proxy  card,  but do not mark a choice on one or more
items, your shares will be voted in accordance with the  recommendations  of the
Board of  Directors as set forth in this proxy  statement.  The proxy card gives
authority  to the proxies to vote your shares at their  discretion  on any other
matter presented at the Annual Meeting.

      You may  revoke  your  proxy at any time  prior to  voting  at the  Annual
Meeting  by  delivering  written  notice to the  Secretary  of the  Company,  by
submitting a subsequently dated proxy, or by attending the meeting and voting in
person at the meeting. Under applicable state law and the bylaws of the Company,
a quorum is required for the matters to be acted upon at the Annual  Meeting.  A
quorum is defined as a majority of the shares  entitled to vote,  represented in
person or by proxy, at the meeting.  To pass,  each matter  submitted to a vote,
except the election of  directors,  must be approved by a majority of the shares
represented and voting in person or by proxy at the meeting.  Shares represented
by proxies which are marked  abstain or to deny  discretionary  authority on any
matter  will be  counted as shares  present  for  purposes  of  determining  the
presence of a quorum;  such  shares  will also be counted as shares  present and
entitled to vote,  which will have the same effect as a vote  against any matter
other than election of directors. Proxies relating to "street name" shares which
are not voted by brokers on one or more  matters,  will not be treated as shares
present for purposes of  determining  the presence of a quorum,  unless they are
voted by the broker on at least one matter.  Such  non-voted  shares will not be
treated  as  shares  represented  at this  meeting  as to any  matter  for which
non-vote is indicated on the brokers'  proxy.  Director  nominees must receive a
plurality  of the votes cast at the  meeting,  which means that a vote  withheld
will not affect the outcome of the election.

      The  Company  will bear the cost of  preparing,  handling,  printing,  and
mailing this Proxy Statement,  the  accompanying  proxy card, and any additional
material which may be furnished to shareholders, and the actual expense incurred
by brokerage houses, fiduciaries, and custodians in forwarding such materials to
beneficial  owners of Common  Stock held in their  names.  The  solicitation  of
proxies will be made by the use of the mails and may also be made through direct
communication  with certain  shareholders or their  representatives by officers,
directors,   or  employees  of  the  Company  who  will  receive  no  additional
compensation therefor.





<PAGE>





                        PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

      At the Annual Meeting, two (2) Class II directors of the Company are to be
elected to serve  until the annual  meeting in 2003 and until  their  respective
successors are elected or appointed.  The authorized  number of directors of the
Company  has been  fixed  at six (6) by the  Board of  Directors.  The  Board of
Directors is divided into three  classes:  Class I, Class II, and Class III. The
number of  directors  in each class shall be the whole  number  contained in the
quotient  obtained by dividing  the  authorized  number of  directors  by three.
Directors of each class serve for three years, which terms do not coincide.

      Unless  otherwise  instructed,  the proxy  holders  will vote the  proxies
received by them FOR the two (2) nominees of the Board of Directors named below.
The Board of Directors  has nominated  Thomas S. Loo and Andrea W.  O'Riordan to
serve for three-year terms ending in 2003. Mr. Loo and Ms.  O'Riordan  currently
serve as Class II directors of the Company. In the event that any nominee of the
Company is unable or  declines  to serve as a director at the time of the Annual
Meeting,  the proxies will be voted for any nominee who shall be  designated  by
the current Board of Directors to fill the vacancy.  It is not expected that any
nominee will be unable or will decline to serve as a director. In the event that
additional  persons are nominated  for election as directors,  the proxy holders
intend to vote all proxies received by them FOR the remaining  nominees and such
proxies may be voted for the election of a substitute nominee recommended by the
Board of Directors.

      MANAGEMENT  RECOMMENDS   THAT   SHAREHOLDERS  VOTE  TO  ELECT  MR. LOO AND
MS. O'RIORDAN AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY.

      The current and continuing directors of the Company are:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Director         Term
          Name               Age                          Title                         Since   Class   Expires
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>    <C>                                                 <C>      <C>     <C>

William A. Hasler .......    58     Chairman of the Board of Directors                  1992      I      2002
Robert C. McKay .........    48     Director, President and Chief Executive Officer     1997      I      2002
Thomas S. Loo ...........    56     Director                                            1997      II     2000
Andrea W. O'Riordan......    29     Director                                            1998      II     2000
Jeffrey R. Hazarian .....    44     Director, Executive Vice President,Chief            1996     III     2001
                                    Financial Officer, and Corporate Secretary
George L. Turin .........    70     Director                                            1995     III     2001

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

      Except as set  forth  below,  each of the  continuing  directors  has been
engaged  in the  principal  occupation  described  below.  There  are no  family
relationships among any of the executive officers or directors of the Company.

          William A. Hasler,  58, has served as a Director of the Company  since
     his election in March 1992 and  Chairman of the Board of the Company  since
     July 1998. Mr. Hasler is Co-Chief Executive Officer of Aphton  Corporation,
     a  bio-technology  firm.  Previously,  Mr. Hasler was dean of the Walter A.
     Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to
     his appointment as dean in 1991, Mr. Hasler was Vice Chairman of Management
     Consulting  for KPMG Peat Marwick from 1986 to 1991.  Mr.  Hasler is also a
     director of Solectron  Corporation.,  Aphton  Corporation,  Walker Systems,
     Ditech Communications Corporation, and TCSI Corporation.

          Jeffrey R. Hazarian, 44, has served as a Director of the Company since
     his election in October 1996, and was named its Executive Vice President in
     November  1997.  He has also  served as its  Chief  Financial  Officer  and
     Corporate Secretary since 1992. Previously,  Mr. Hazarian held the position
     of Vice President of Finance from 1992 to 1997.



                                       2


<PAGE>




          Thomas S. Loo,  Esq.,  56, was elected as a Director of the Company in
     February  1997.  He  previously  served as a Director of the  Company  from
     August 1987 to September  1993. Mr. Loo has been a partner,  since 1986, of
     Bryan Cave LLP, general counsel to the Company.  Mr. Loo has also served as
     a director of Teknekron Corporation since March 1989.

          Robert C. McKay, 48, has served as a Director of the Company since his
     election in June 1997,  and was appointed its Chief  Executive  Officer and
     President  in November  1997.  Previously,  Mr.  McKay was Chief  Operating
     Officer of the  Company  since  April  1997.  He was  elected  Senior  Vice
     President of the Company in December 1992.

          Andrea W.  O'Riordan,  29, has served as Director of the Company since
     her election in June 1998. Ms. O'Riordan is Communications Manager of field
     sales,  process and automation,  and core technologies  training for Oracle
     Corporation. Prior to her joining Oracle Corporation in 1996, Ms. O'Riordan
     was Marketing Coordinator,  Latin America, for a Reuters Company, from 1993
     to 1995.

          George L.  Turin,  Sc.D.,  70, has served as a Director of the Company
     since  his  election  in March  1995.  Previously,  Mr.  Turin  served as a
     Professor of Electrical  Engineering and Computer Science at the University
     of California at Berkeley from 1960 to 1990.  Mr. Turin also served as Vice
     President, Technology for Teknekron Corporation from 1988 to 1994.


Board Meetings, Committees, and Director Compensation

      The Board of Directors held five (5) meetings during 1999. No Board member
attended  fewer than 75% of the  meetings of the Board of  Directors  and of the
Committees of the Board on which such director served.

      Among the standing committees of the Board of Directors of the Company are
the Compensation Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Nominating Committee.

      The Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee, currently composed of
four members,  William A. Hasler, Thomas S. Loo, Andrea W. O'Riordan, and George
L.  Turin.  The  Compensation  Committee  of the  Board of  Directors,  composed
entirely  of  non-employee   directors,  is  responsible  for  establishing  and
reviewing annually, the compensation levels of executive officers of the Company
and reviewing recommendations made by Company management concerning salaries and
incentive  compensation for employees of the Company. The Compensation Committee
also serves as the  administrative  committee of the Company's 1992 Option Plan.
The Compensation Committee met one time during 1999.

      The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, currently composed of three
members,  Thomas S. Loo, William A. Hasler,  and Jeffrey R. Hazarian.  The Audit
Committee reviews the results and scope of the audit and other services provided
by  the  Company's  independent  auditors  and  recommends  the  appointment  of
independent  auditors to the Board of  Directors.  (See  Proposal  2.) The Audit
Committee met four (4) times during 1999.

      The Board of Directors has a Nominating  Committee,  currently composed of
two members,  George L. Turin and Andrea W. O'Riordan.  The Nominating Committee
is  responsible  for support of the Board's  director  nomination  process.  The
Nominating Committee did not meet during 1999.

      Except as  described  below,  the  directors  of the  Company  are paid no
compensation by the Company for their services as directors.  William A. Hasler,
Thomas S. Loo,  Andrea W.  O'Riordan,  and  George  L.  Turin,  as  non-employee
directors, are paid a retainer of $1,000 per month. These non-employee directors
are also  paid a fee of  $1,000  for each  meeting  of the  Board  and any Board
Committee,  not held on same day as a Board meeting, which they attend. The 1993
Outside  Directors  Compensation  and  Option  Plan was  approved  by the  Board
effective  March 1, 1994,  as amended by the Board in 1998,  and  reserves up to
300,000 options for issuance to non-employee  directors.  In March 1999,  12,500
stock  options  were  automatically  granted  under this plan to each of Messrs.
Hasler,  Loo, Turin and Ms.  O'Riordan.  The options expire ten (10) years after
the date of  grant,  vest  one (1) year  after  the date of  grant,  and have an
exercise  price equal to the fair market  value of the shares of Common Stock on
the date of grant.  Upon  exercise of the  options,  a director  may not sell or



                                       3


<PAGE>




otherwise  transfer  more than 50% of the shares  until six (6) months after the
date on which the director ceases to be a director of the Company.


Security Ownership of Directors, Officers, and Principal Shareholders

      The following table sets forth information as of May 22, 2000,  concerning
ownership  of Common Stock by (i) each  director,  (ii) each  executive  officer
named in the Summary Compensation Table, (iii) all directors and named executive
officers  as a  group,  and  (iv)  each  person  known  by  the  Company  to own
beneficially  5% or more of the outstanding  shares of its Common Stock.  Unless
otherwise noted, the listed persons have sole voting and dispositive powers with
respect  to the  shares of Common  Stock  shown as  beneficially  owned by them,
subject to community property laws if applicable.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Shares           Shares
                                                                    Beneficially      Acquirable         Percentage
                             Name                                     Owned(1)        Within 60         Ownership(2)
                                                                                      Days(3)(4)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                 <C>              <C>               <C>

William A. Hasler .............................................       20,000           70,500(3)            *
Jeffrey R. Hazarian ...........................................        7,186          156,250(4)            1.6%
Thomas S. Loo..................................................         --             33,000(3)            *
Robert C. McKay, Jr............................................        1,789          225,500(4)            2.2%
Andrea W. O'Riordan (5)........................................         --             25,000(3)            *
George L. Turin................................................       45,504           60,500(3)            1.0 %
                                                                    ------------     -------------     ------------

All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (6 persons) ...       74,479          570,750               6.1%
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS OTHER THAN DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
Harvey E. Wagner (6)...........................................    3,708,658              --               37.3%
P.O. Box 7463
Incline Village, NV  89450
Dr. Michael John Keaton Trust (7)..............................    1,106,887              --               11.1%
C/O Bryan Cave LLP
120 Broadway, Suite 500
Santa Monica, CA  90401

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
  (1)  The  persons  named  above  have sole  voting and  investment  power with
       respect  to all shares of Common  Stock  shown as  beneficially  owned by
       them, subject to community property laws where applicable.
  (2)  Based on the number of shares  outstanding  at, or  acquirable  within 60
       days of May 22, 2000. Asterisks represent less than 1% ownership.
  (3)  Represents   options   under  the   Company's   1993  Outside   Directors
       Compensation  and Option Plan which are  exercisable  on May 22, 2000, or
       within 60 days thereafter.
  (4)  Represents  options  under  the  Company's  1992  Option  Plan  which are
       exercisable on May 22, 2000, or within 60 days thereafter.
  (5)  Ms. O'Riordan is the daughter of Harvey E. Wagner,  the Company's largest
       stockholder by virtue of his interest in Incline Village Investment Group
       Limited Partnership (see Footnote 6 below).
  (6)  Such  shares  are held of  record by  Incline  Village  Investment  Group
       Limited Partnership, a Georgia limited partnership,  and were contributed
       to  such  partnership  by  Mr.  Wagner  in  exchange  for a  99%  limited
       partnership interest. An additional 37,462 shares, as to which Mr. Wagner
       disclaims beneficial  ownership,  were contributed to such partnership by
       Mr. Wagner's spouse,  Leslie Wagner, in exchange for a 1% general partner
       interest.  Such  partnership  has sole voting and  investment  power with
       respect to all such shares. Mr. Wagner  subsequently  transferred a 14.7%
       limited  partnership  interest in the  partnership  to Ms.  O'Riordan,  a
       director of the Company,  who disclaims  beneficial  ownership of all the
       shares held by such partnership.
  (7)  Mr.  Keaton has sole  voting  and  investment  power with  respect to all
       shares shown as beneficially  owned by him, subject to community property
       laws where applicable.
</FN>
</TABLE>



                                       4



<PAGE>




      Beneficial  ownership as shown in the table above has been  determined  in
accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under this
Rule, certain securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by more than one
person  (such as where  persons  share  voting power or  investment  power).  In
addition,  securities  are  deemed to be  beneficially  owned by a person if the
person has the right to acquire the securities (for example, upon exercise of an
option or the conversion of a debenture)  within 60 days of the date as of which
the  information  is provided;  in computing the  percentage of ownership of any
person, the amount of securities  outstanding is deemed to include the amount of
securities beneficially owned by such person (and only such person) by reason of
these acquisition  rights. As a result,  the percentage of outstanding shares of
any person as shown in the  preceding  tables does not  necessarily  reflect the
person's actual voting power at any particular date.


Executive Officers

      The names and ages of the current executive officers of the Company are as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Name                  Age                                  Position
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>    <C>

Robert C. McKay* ...............    48     President and Chief Executive Officer
Jeffrey R. Hazarian* ...........    44     Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Corporate Secretary

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * Director of the Company.
</TABLE>


Executive Compensation

      The following tables set forth certain information  covering  compensation
paid by TENERA to the Chief Executive  Officer ("CEO") and each of the Company's
other  executive  officers,  other than the CEO,  whose total annual  salary and
bonus exceeded  $100,000 (the "named  executives") for services to TENERA in all
their  capacities  during the fiscal years ended  December 31, 1999,  1998,  and
1997.


                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Annual Compensation             Awards
                                              ------------------------------    -------------
                                                                                 Securities        All Other
         Name and                                                                Underlying        Compensa-
    Principal Position            Year           Salary          Bonus(1)        Options(2)         tion(3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>         <C>               <C>                <C>            <C>
Robert C. McKay, Jr.              1999        $ 223,958         $ 90,000           40,000         $   3,200
Chief Executive Officer           1998          200,000          152,500               --             3,200
President                         1997          179,375            2,179           90,000                --

Jeffrey R. Hazarian               1999          181,064           67,500           40,000             3,200
Executive                         1998          159,000           50,400           75,000             3,180
Vice President and                1997          145,875           25,000               --                --
Chief Financial Officer
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
  (1)  Includes $100,000  retention  bonus paid to Mr. McKay in 1998 (see "Other
       Compensation Arrangements" below).
       Mr. Hazarian's bonus  amounts in 1999 and 1998 include accrued bonuses of
       $4,000 and $3,000, respectively, paid in the beginning of the subsequent
       years.
   (2) Reflects the number of options  granted under the  Company's  1992 Option
       Plan.  The options expire at the earlier of the end of the option period,
       generally six years, or three months after employment termination.
   (3) These amounts  represent the amounts accrued for the benefit of the named
       executives under the Company's 401(k) Plan.
</FN>
</TABLE>



                                       5
<PAGE>




Compensation Committee Report

      The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors ("Committee") is made
up of only outside directors and oversees the Company's  executive  compensation
programs.  The  Committee  oversees  all  elements  of  executive  compensation,
including base compensation,  annual incentive bonuses, and long-term incentives
such as the Company's 1992 Option Plan. The Committee consults periodically with
outside  compensation  and  benefit  consultants  and  the  Company's  executive
management  regarding  overall plan design and  competitively-based,  as well as
performance-based,  individual targets and awards. Annually, the Committee makes
recommendations  to the Board of Directors for approval,  but has the discretion
to make mid-year recommendations. In 1994, the Committee enlisted the assistance
of compensation and benefit  consultants to review and make  recommendations  on
overall  compensation  philosophy and policy, as well as to make recommendations
on specific programs. Based on the consultant's  recommendations,  the Committee
recommended,  and the  Board of  Directors  adopted  a  competitively-based  and
performance-oriented  Executive Compensation Program, the base elements of which
are set forth below. The Committee continued this program during 1999.

      Executive Compensation Philosophy. TENERA's overall executive compensation
philosophy is as follows:

      o Attract,  motivate,  and retain  executives of  exceptional  ability and
        potential, who are critical to both the short-term and long-term success
        of the Company

      o Reinforce strategic performance objectives through the use of annual and
        long-term incentive compensation programs

o       Create a  mutuality  of interest  between  executives  and  shareholders
        through  compensation  structures  that share the  rewards  and risks of
        strategic decision-making

o       Provide  executives  with  the  opportunity  to hold  substantial  stock
        options in TENERA,  to more closely  align  executives'  interests  with
        those of the shareholders.

      Base  Compensation.  The Committee's  approach to base  compensation is to
offer  competitive   salaries  in  comparison  with  market  practices.   Salary
determination  is based on a  combination  of factors  including  evaluation  of
compensation for executive  positions within similar size and like companies and
the individual's past performance against established annual goal attainment.

      Annual  Incentive Bonus Plans. The annual bonus program for executives and
top  performing   nonexecutives   was   established  to  promote   teamwork  and
cooperation,  and the attainment of defined performance  objectives.  The target
bonus (generally  ranging from 25% to 40% of salary for executives) is generally
linked to job grade, corporate plan, and/or individual  performance.  Incentives
are designed to reward the achievement of significant,  agreed-upon expectations
that  contribute to the  achievement  of key,  Company-  and/or  subsidiary-wide
business  goals  such as  increased  profitability,  improvement  in  contracted
backlog, and improved margins. The primary measure of bonus eligibility for each
employee  will be their level of  performance  as measured  against the mutually
agreed  upon  performance  expectations  for each  year  after  Company-  and/or
subsidiary-wide performance has exceeded plan.

      Long-Term   Incentive   Compensation.   Executives   and  top   performing
nonexecutives  are  eligible for stock option  awards under the  Company's  1992
Stock Option Plan. It is the Committee's  philosophy that executive ownership of
substantial  levels of stock options  further aligns the  executive's  interests
with those of the shareholders.

      The  Committee  sets the  target  range of  options  to be granted to each
individual  executive  based  primarily  on the level of  responsibilities.  The
actual number of options  granted are based on performance  against  established
annual   corporate,   subsidiary,   and  individual  goals.  In  evaluating  the
performance of executives other than the Chief Executive Officer,  the Committee
consults  with  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  others  in  management,  as
applicable.  In evaluating the performance of the Chief Executive  Officer,  the
Committee consults with the Board of Directors.  Executive  performance for each
fiscal year is reviewed and evaluated by the Committee following the end of such
fiscal year. In an effort to attract and retain highly qualified  executives and



                                       6



<PAGE>




other  employees,  stock  options  may  also  be  granted  by the  Committee  to
newly-hired executives and other employees as an inducement to accept employment
with the Company.

      1999  Compensation for the Chief Executive  Officer.  Mr. McKay was paid a
salary of $223,958,  based upon competitive  compensation market information for
chief executives of similar  companies.  The 1999 annual bonus plan provided for
the payment of bonuses to executives  only after business plan  objectives  were
exceeded.  Based on  increased  contracted  sales  activity  and  attainment  of
business plan objectives, Mr. McKay was paid an annual bonus of $90,000 in 1999.

      1999  Compensation  for  Other  Executives.  The  salary  and  annual  and
long-term  incentives for the other named executive,  Mr.  Hazarian,  were based
upon competitive  compensation  information and the establishment and attainment
of  annual  Company-  and/or  subsidiary-wide  goals,  as well as  level  of job
responsibilities,  contributions  made by this individual in helping the Company
and/or  subsidiaries,  achievement of his annual and long-term goals,  continued
cost control attainment, and meeting planned operating results for 1999.

      As business plan  objectives  were met in 1999,  Mr.  Hazarian was paid an
annual  bonus of $67,500.  Management  of the  Company's  energy and  government
services  subsidiaries were also paid bonuses reflective of their achievement of
the subsidiaries' 1999 business plan objectives.

                                         Compensation Committee

                                         William A. Hasler, Chairman
                                         Thomas S. Loo
                                         Andrea W. O'Riordan
                                         George L. Turin



                                       7



<PAGE>




      The following  table sets forth  certain  information  concerning  options
granted during 1999 to the named executive officers:




                             OPTIONS GRANTS IN 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          Potential Realizable
                                                                                            Value at Assumed
                                                                                         Annual Rates of Stock
                                                                                          Price Appreciation
                                                 Individual Grants                          for Option Term
                                ----------------------------------------------------     -----------------------
                                               % of
                                               Total
                                              Options
                                Number of     Granted
                                Securities       to        Exercise
                                Underlying    Employees     or Base
                                 Options      in Fiscal     Price       Expiration
           Name                  Granted        Year       ($/Share)       Date              5%            10%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>           <C>      <C>               <C>       <C>           <C>
Robert C. McKay, Jr. .....        40,000        14.04    $     1.3625      3/09/05   $     18,535  $     42,050
Jeffrey R. Hazarian.......        40,000        14.04          1.3625      3/09/05         18,535        42,050

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>




Other Compensation Arrangements

      The 1992 Option Plan  provides  that options may become  exercisable  over
such periods as provided in the agreement  evidencing the option award.  Options
granted to date,  including options granted to executive  officers and set forth
in the above tables,  generally  call for vesting over a four-year  period.  The
1992 Option Plan provides that a change in control of the Company will result in
immediate vesting of all options granted and not previously vested.

      Other than as set forth below for Mr. McKay, the Company has no employment
contracts or arrangements for its executive officers.

      Mr.  McKay,  upon  appointment  to Chief  Operating  Officer in 1997,  was
granted a retention bonus arrangement, amounting to $100,000, dependent upon his
continued  employment  through June 30, 1998. The bonus was paid to Mr. McKay in
1998 in accordance with the arrangement.



                                       8



<PAGE>




Performance Graph

      The  Comparison  Stock   Performance  Graph  below  shall  not  be  deemed
incorporated by reference by any general  statement  incorporating  by reference
this proxy  statement  into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under
the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  except  to  the  extent  the  Company
specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise
be deemed under such Acts.

      The following graph compares the cumulative, five-year total return on the
Company's  Common  Stock with the  Standard & Poor's  Small Cap 600 Index and an
index of peer  companies.  The peer  group  consists  of six other  professional
services and information  systems  companies which provide services and products
similar to that of TENERA. The companies included in the peer group are COMARCO,
Inc.; TRC COS, Inc.; URS Corp.; VSE Corp.; and Roy F. Weston,  Inc.  Information
concerning  the peer  group and the  Standard  & Poor's  Small Cap 600 Index was
supplied  to the  Company by  Standard  & Poor's  Compustat,  a division  of the
McGraw-Hill Companies.

                               [PERFORMANCE GRAPH]

<TABLE>
                  [TABULAR DATA IN PLACE OF PERFORMANCE GRAPH]
<CAPTION>
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                            Indexed Returns
                                         -----------------------------------------------------
                                                 Year Ending December 31,
                            ------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Base
                            Period
    Company Name/Index       1994       1995        1996        1997        1998        1999
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
<S>                         <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
TENERA, Inc. .............    100     $ 136.39    $ 100.00    $ 118.20    $ 236.54    $ 118.20
S&P Small Cap 600 Index ..    100       129.96      157.67      198.01      195.42      219.66
Peer Group ...............    100       117.63      120.39      154.04      193.75      184.06
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

<FN>
(1)  Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 1999, in TENERA, S&P Small Cap 600 Index, and the Peer
     Group, and any dividends that were reinvested.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     During 1999, the Compensation  Committee was composed of William A. Hasler,
Thomas S. Loo, Andrea W. O'Riordan, and George Turin. Thomas S. Loo is a partner
in the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP,  general counsel to the Company and Teknekron
Corporation, and is a director of Teknekron Corporation.  Andrea W. O'Riordan is
the daughter of Harvey E. Wagner, the Company's largest stockholder by virtue of
a limited  partnership  interest in Incline  Village  Investment  Group  Limited
Partnership  (see  "Security  Ownership of  Directors,  Officers,  and Principal
Shareholders").  Mr.  Wagner  is also the sole  stockholder  and a  director  of
Teknekron Corporation.


Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

      See "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation."



                                       9



<PAGE>




         PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

      The Board of  Directors  has  appointed  Ernst & Young LLP as  independent
auditors of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2000. Ernst & Young LLP
or its predecessor has audited the Company's  financial  statements  since 1985.
Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP, expected to be at the Annual Meeting, will
have an  opportunity  to make a  statement  if they desire to do so, and will be
available to respond to appropriate questions.



               MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 2



                         SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2000

      Proposals  of  shareholders  that  are  intended  to be  presented  at the
Company's 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Company no
later than  December 31,  2000.  Such  proposals  may be included in next year's
Proxy Statement if they comply with certain rules and regulations promulgated by
the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  Proposals must comply with the proxy
rules  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  relating  to  stockholder
proposals  in  order  to be  included  in  the  proxy  materials.  Additionally,
management  proxy holders for the Company's 2001 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders
will have  discretionary  authority to vote on any shareholder  proposal that is
presented at such Annual Meeting but that is not included in the Company's Proxy
materials,  unless  notice of such  proposal is received by the Secretary of the
Company on or before April 20, 2001.



                COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

      Section  16(a)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  requires  the
Company's officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered  class  of the  Company's  equity  securities,  to  file  reports  of
ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.
Officers,  directors,  and more than ten percent  shareholders  are  required by
Securities and Exchange Commission regulation to furnish the Company with copies
of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

      Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms  received by it, or
written  representations  from certain reporting  persons,  the Company believes
that, during 1999, its officers, directors, and more than ten percent beneficial
owners complied with all filing requirements applicable to them.



                          ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS

      The  Company's   1999  Annual  Report  was   previously   distributed   to
shareholders.



                                       10



<PAGE>




                                 OTHER BUSINESS

      The Board of  Directors  knows of no other  matters to be presented at the
Annual  Meeting,  but if any other  matters  should  properly  come  before  the
meeting,  it is intended that the persons named in the  accompanying  proxy will
vote the same in accordance with their best judgment.

                                              By Order of the Board of Directors


                                                 /s/ Jeffrey R. Hazarian
                                           -------------------------------------
                                             Jeffrey R. Hazarian
                                             Director, Executive Vice President,
                                             Chief Financial Officer, and
                                             Corporate Secretary

San Francisco, California
May 29, 2000



                                       11



<PAGE>




                                    ANNEX A

                               FORM OF PROXY CARD


                               FRONT OF PROXY CARD


PROXY

                                TENERA, INC.
                PROXY for 2000 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TENERA, INC.

   The undersigned shareholder of TENERA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby appoints Jeffrey R. Hazarian and Robert C. McKay as the
undersigned's proxies, each with full power of substitution to attend and act
for the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be
held on Tuesday, June 27, 2000 at 1:00 p.m., local time, at the Hyatt Regency
Hotel, Five Embarcadero Center, Golden Gate Room, Bay Level (2nd Floor),
San Francisco, California, and any adjournments thereof, and to represent and
vote as designated on the other side, all of the shares of Common Stock of the
Company that the undersigned would be entitled to vote.

   The proxies, and each of them, shall have all the powers that the
undersigned would have if acting in person. The undersigned hereby revokes any
other proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting and hereby ratifies and confirms all
that the proxies, and each of them, may lawfully do by virtue hereof. With
respect to matters not known at the time of the solicitation of this proxy,
the proxies are authorized to vote in accordance with their best judgment.

   The proxies present at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by
substitute (or if only one shall be present and act, then that one), shall
vote the shares represented by this proxy in the manner indicated on the other
side by the undersigned. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY ARE INDICATED ON
THIS PROXY, IT WILL BE VOTED FOR ITEMS 1 AND 2 SHOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE.



<PAGE>




                             BACK OF PROXY CARD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Please mark   -------
                                                                                    your votes as   |     |
                                                                                     indicated in   |  X  |
                                                                                    this example.   -------

Management recommends a vote FOR ALL of the nominees in Item 1.
<S>                                               <C>            <C>                      <C>
                                                                       WITHHOLD              WITHHOLD
                                                    FOR all           AUTHORITY             AUTHORITY
                                                     of the       to vote for all of       to vote for
                                                    nominees       the nominees as        one nominee as
                                                  listed below     indicated below        indicated below
Item 1. Election of Directors:                     ----------         ----------            ----------
        (INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY        |        |         |        |            |        |
        TO VOTE FOR ANY NOMINEE, DRAW A LINE       |        |         |        |            |        |
        THROUGH THAT NOMINEE'S NAME BELOW)         ----------         ----------            ----------

        Thomas S. Loo        -- Class II
        Andrea W. O'Riordan  -- Class II

</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Management recommends a vote FOR Item 2.
<S>                                                                <C>        <C>        <C>
                                                                     FOR      AGAINST    ABSTAIN
Item 2. Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as    -------    -------    -------
        independent auditors for the Company for the year end-     |     |    |     |    |     |
        ing December 31, 2000                                      -------    -------    -------

</TABLE>

Signature of Shareholder(s) __________________________  Date: ________ , 2000
IMPORTANT: In signing this proxy, please sign your name or names on the
signature line in the same way as stenciled on this proxy. When signing as an
attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full
title as such. EACH JOINT OWNER MUST SIGN.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE PROVIDED



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission