WASTE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC
8-K, 1999-12-29
REFUSE SYSTEMS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                December 28, 1999


                        Waste Systems International, Inc.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)




          Delaware                    0-25998                      95-420366
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File             (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation)               Number)                Identification No.)



                          420 Bedford Street, Suite 300
                               Lexington, MA 02420
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)



               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (781) 862-3000



<PAGE>



                            1

         ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS.

         On December 28, 1999, Waste Systems International, Inc. (the "Company")
completed a $15 million  private  placement  of Series D  Preferred  Stock.  The
Company's press release announcing such event is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1
and the Certificate of Designation of the Company's  Series D Preferred Stock is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.


Exhibits

99.1     Press Release of the Company dated December 28, 1999
99.2     Certificate of Designation of the Company's Series D Preferred Stock




<PAGE>


                                                     SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                        WASTE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.



Date:    December 29, 1999            By: /s/ James L. Elitzak
                                              ----------------------------
                                              James L. Elitzak
                                              Vice President and Chief
                                              Financial Officer


<PAGE>


Exhibit 99.1


                        Waste Systems International, Inc.
    Lexington Office Park, 420 Bedford Street, Suite 300, Lexington, MA 02420
                       Tel: 781-862-3000; Fax 781-862-2929

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contacts:         Waste Systems International, Inc.
                  Brian Norris, Director of Investor Relations
                  Tel: 781-862-3000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   WASTE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. ANNOUNCES
                 CLOSING OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF PREFERRED STOCK

Lexington, Massachusetts,  December 28, 1999 - Waste Systems International, Inc.
("WSI") (NASDAQ: WSII), a fully integrated  non-hazardous solid waste management
company,  today  announced  that it has  raised  $15,000,000  through  a private
placement of  convertible  preferred  stock.  The preferred  stock carries a 10%
dividend  which is  payable in kind or cash at the  option of the  Company.  The
preferred stock can be converted into shares of the Company's  common stock at a
price of $6.00 per  share at any time at the  option  of the  holder  and can be
mandatorily converted by the Company if its common stock closing price equals or
exceeds  $9.00 for a period of twenty  consecutive  trading days.  Finally,  the
preferred stock is eligible to vote on an as-converted  basis with the Company's
common stock and is redeemable at any time by the Company.  The $6.00 conversion
price  represents a 66% premium over the Company's common stock closing price of
$3.625  on  Monday,  December  27,  1999,  the last  business  day  prior to the
transaction closing.

Commenting  on the  announcement,  Jim Elitzak,  WSI's Vice  President and Chief
Financial Officer said, "This private placement should be viewed by our existing
and prospective shareholders as another positive step in the Company's continued
growth and success. Most importantly, the proceeds of the private placement will
be used to support the  Company's  ongoing  growth-related  capital  development
projects.   These  ventures   include  several  landfill  and  transfer  station
development  projects  throughout the Company's  existing  service  markets.  In
addition,  this  private  placement,  combined  with  the  $16,000,000  offering
completed  in the  third  quarter  of  this  year,  significantly  improves  the
Company's  capital  structure while once again  affirming Wall Street's  growing
level of interest in the Company."

WSI is a fully  integrated  non-hazardous  solid waste management  company.  The
Company currently has operations in Eastern New England,  Central  Pennsylvania,
Vermont, Upstate New York, and Baltimore, Maryland / Washington D.C. which serve
approximately  73,000 commercial,  industrial,  and residential  customers.  The
Company  is  also  evaluating  other   acquisitions  and  opportunities  in  the
Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern markets.

Certain matters discussed in the press release, including statements with regard
to acquisition and growth plans, and prospects, are "forward-looking statements"
intended to qualify  for the safe  harbors  from  liability  established  by the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are
inherently uncertain and subject to risks. Such statements should be viewed with
caution.  Among the important  factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially  from those  indicated  by such  forward-looking  statements  are the
Company's history of losses,  substantial increased leverage,  uncertain ability
to finance the  company's  growth,  ability to identify,  acquire and  integrate
acquisition  targets,   ability  to  manage  growth,   limitations  on  landfill
permitting and  expansion,  dependence on  management,  competition,  geographic
concentration   of  operations,   seasonality,   environmental   and  government
regulations,   potential   environmental   liability   and  adverse   effect  of
environmental regulation,  potential adverse community relations, performance or
surety  bonds  and  letters  of  credit,   environmental   impairment  liability
insurance,  adequacy of accruals  for closure and  post-closure  costs,  capital
expenditures,  Year 2000  compliance,  and the other risk factors  detailed from
time to time in the Company's periodic reports and registration statements filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company makes no commitment to
disclose any revisions to forward-looking  statements,  or any facts,  events or
circumstances  after  the  date  hereof  that  may  bear  upon   forward-looking
statements.

                                      # # #



<PAGE>


Exhibit 99.2


                        WASTE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

               CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS
                         OF A SERIES OF PREFERRED STOCK
                     (SERIES D CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK)


                     By Resolution of the Board of Directors


                  We, Philip  Strauss,  Chairman,  President and Chief Executive
Officer, and Robert Rivkin, Executive Vice President Acquisitions, Treasurer and
Secretary,  of Waste Systems  International,  Inc., a corporation  organized and
existing  under  the  General  Corporation  Law of the  State of  Delaware  (the
"Corporation"),   in  accordance  with  Section  151  of  the  Delaware  General
Corporation Act, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

                  That,  pursuant  to  authority  conferred  upon  the  Board of
Directors of the  Corporation by the Second Amended and Restated  Certificate of
Incorporation of said Corporation, as amended, and pursuant to the provisions of
Section 151 of the Delaware  General  Business  Corporation  Act,  said Board of
Directors  on  December  23,  1999  adopted  a  resolution   providing  for  the
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights,
and the qualifications,  limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without
limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  such  provisions as may be desired
concerning  voting,  redemption,  dividends,  dissolution or the distribution of
assets and conversion,  of a series of preferred  stock,  which resolution is as
follows:

                  RESOLVED,  that pursuant to the authority  vested in the Board
of Directors of the  Corporation in accordance with the provisions of the Second
Amended  and  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of the  Corporation,  as
amended,  and pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, a
series of  preferred  stock of the  Corporation  known as  Series D  Convertible
Preferred Stock (the "Series D Preferred  Stock") be, and it hereby is, created,
classified and  authorized,  and the issuance  thereof is provided for, and that
the  designation  and number of shares,  and relative  rights,  preferences  and
limitations  thereof,  shall  be as set  forth in the form  attached  hereto  as
Exhibit A.


                  [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT A

                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

                  1.  Designation.  The shares of the series of Preferred  Stock
shall be  designated  as "Series D  Preferred  Stock,"  and the number of shares
constituting  such  series  shall  be  20,500.  The par  value  of the  Series D
Preferred Stock shall be $.001 per share.

                  2.       Dividends.

                  (a) The holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall be
entitled,  on a pari passu basis with the holders of  outstanding  shares of any
other series of Preferred  Stock of the  Corporation  but in  preference  to the
holders of any and all other  classes of capital  stock of the  Corporation,  to
receive,  when and if declared by the Board of  Directors,  out of funds legally
available  therefore,  cumulative  dividends  on the Series D  Preferred  Stock,
payable as described  in Section  2(c) below,  at a rate (the "Series D Dividend
Rate") per annum of ten percent  (10%) of, as of the original  issuance  date of
the Series D Preferred Stock (the "Series D Preferred  Original Issuance Date"),
the Initial  Liquidation  Preference  (as defined  below),  or $100 per share of
Series D Preferred Stock, subject to proration for partial years on the basis of
a 365-day year,  compounded  semi-annually  on January 1 and July 1 of each year
(the  "Series D  Preferred  Cumulative  Dividend"),  subject  to  adjustment  as
provided in Section 2(b) below. Such dividends will accumulate  commencing as of
the Series D Preferred  Original  Issuance Date and shall be cumulative,  to the
extent  unpaid,  whether or not they have been  declared  and whether or not the
Corporation  may legally pay the dividends.  Such dividends shall become due and
payable  with  respect to any shares of Series D Preferred  Stock as provided in
Sections  3, 5 and 6 below.  Dividends  paid in an  amount  less  than the total
amount of such dividends at the time  accumulated and payable on all outstanding
shares  of  Series  D  Preferred   Stock  shall  be  allocated  pro  rata  on  a
share-by-share  basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.  So long as
any  shares  of  Series D  Preferred  Stock  are  outstanding  and the  Series D
Convertible  Cumulative  Dividends  have not been  paid in full (i) no  dividend
whatsoever  (other  than  stock  dividends)  shall be paid or  declared,  and no
distribution  shall be  made,  on any  other  capital  stock of the  Corporation
ranking with regard to dividend  rights,  rights upon liquidation or dissolution
or redemption  rights junior to the Series D Preferred  Stock and (ii) no shares
of capital  stock of the  Corporation  ranking  with regard to dividend  rights,
rights upon liquidation or dissolution or redemption rights junior to the Series
D Preferred  Stock shall be purchased,  redeemed or required by the  Corporation
and no monies  shall be paid into or set aside or made  available  for a sinking
fund for the purchase, redemption or acquisition thereof.

     (b) The Series D Dividend  Rate shall be  increased  by one  quarter of one
percent  (0.25%)  on the  first day of each  calendar  quarter  commencing  with
January 1, 2001.


<PAGE>
                                       11

                  (c) Dividends  payable on the Series D Preferred  Stock shall,
when paid, be paid by issuing a number of fully paid and  non-assessable  shares
of Series D Preferred  Stock  (including  fractional  shares  thereof) having an
aggregate  Liquidation  Preference  equal  to  the  amount  of  such  dividends;
provided, however, that such dividends may be paid, in whole or in part, in cash
at the option of the Board of Directors in their sole discretion.  All dividends
paid with  respect to shares of the Series D  Preferred  Stock  pursuant to this
Section 2 shall be paid pro rata to the holders thereof. Declaration and payment
of such dividends shall be made twice each year, payable on January 1 and July 1
of each year, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors.

         (d) All numbers  relating to the  calculation of dividends  pursuant to
this  Section 2 shall be subject  to  equitable  adjustment  in the event of any
stock split, combination, reorganization, recapitalization,  reclassification or
other similar event involving a change in the Series D Preferred Stock.

                  3.       Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

                  (a) Upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each a
"Liquidation  Event"),  the  holders of each share of Series D  Preferred  Stock
outstanding  shall be entitled  to be paid out of the assets of the  Corporation
available for  distribution  to  stockholders,  whether such assets are capital,
surplus, or earnings, and before any payment shall be made to the holders of any
class of  Common  Stock or of any stock  ranking  on  liquidation  junior to the
Series D Preferred  Stock,  an amount  equal to (i) $1,000 per share of Series D
Preferred Stock held by such holder (appropriately adjusted for any stock split,
stock combination,  stock dividend or similar  recapitalization  with respect to
the Series D Preferred Stock) (the "Initial  Liquidation  Preference") plus (ii)
any accrued but unpaid dividends to which such holder is then entitled,  if any,
pursuant to Section 2 hereof (the sum of clauses (i) and (ii) being  referred to
as the "Series D Liquidation Amount"): (i) a liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary; or (ii) any transaction
or  series  of  transactions  involving:  (A) the  sale,  transfer,  conveyance,
exchange or other  disposition,  other than in the usual and  regular  course of
business,  of all or substantially all of the consolidated  assets or properties
of the  Corporation to one or more persons or entities who are not affiliates of
the  Corporation,  or (B) the  sale,  transfer,  conveyance,  exchange  or other
disposition (including,  without limitation,  by merger or consolidation) of all
or substantially  all of the Common Stock to one or more persons or entities who
are not affiliates of the Corporation. If upon any liquidation,  dissolution, or
winding up of the  Corporation,  the assets to be  distributed to the holders of
the Series D Preferred Stock under the foregoing  sentence shall be insufficient
to permit payment to such holders of the full Series D Liquidation  Amount, then
all of the assets of the Corporation  available for distribution to such holders
under such sentence  shall be distributed to such holders pro rata, so that each
holder  receives that portion of the assets  available for  distribution  as the
number of shares of Series D Preferred  Stock held by such  holder  bears to the
total number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock then outstanding.



<PAGE>


                  4.  Voting  Rights.  Except as  otherwise  expressly  provided
herein or as  required  by law,  the holder of each share of Series D  Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to vote on all matters. Each share of Series D Preferred
Stock  shall  entitle  the holder  thereof to such  number of votes per share as
shall equal the number of shares of Common Stock into which each share of Series
D Preferred Stock is then  convertible.  Except as otherwise  provided herein or
required by law,  the holders of shares of the Series D Preferred  Stock and the
Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters.

                  5. Conversion. The holders of the Series D Preferred Stock and
the Corporation shall have the following conversion rights:

                  (a) Subject to and in compliance  with the  provisions of this
Section 5, any shares of the Series D Preferred  Stock may, at the option of the
holder,  be  converted  at any time or from  time to time  into  fully-paid  and
non-assessable  shares of Common Stock.  The number of shares of Common Stock to
which a holder of the Series D Preferred Stock shall be entitled upon conversion
shall be the product  obtained by  multiplying  the Applicable  Conversion  Rate
(determined  as  provided  in Section  5(b)) by the number of shares of Series D
Preferred Stock being  converted.  For purposes of this Section 5, the number of
shares of Series D  Preferred  Stock being  converted  shall  include  shares of
Series D  Preferred  Stock that would be  issuable in payment of any accrued and
unpaid dividends at the time of conversion.

                  (b) (i) In the  event  that  after  the  Series D  Convertible
Original Issuance Date the closing bid price of the  Corporation's  Common Stock
on the Nasdaq National Market (or, in the event that such security is not traded
on the Nasdaq  National  Market,  such other  national  or  regional  securities
exchange or automated  quotation  system upon which such  security is listed and
principally traded or, if no such price is available, the per share market value
of the Common Stock as determined by a nationally  recognized investment banking
firm  or  other  nationally   recognized   financial  adviser  retained  by  the
Corporation for such purpose) is equal to or greater than 150% of the Applicable
Conversion  Value for a period of any twenty (20)  successive  trading days, the
Corporation may, at its option,  within thirty (30) days following the twentieth
(20th)  successive  trading day,  effect the  automatic  conversion of shares of
Series D Preferred  Stock,  in whole or in part,  at the  Applicable  Conversion
Rate. With respect to any automatic conversion of fewer than all the outstanding
shares of Series D Preferred  Stock,  the number of shares to be converted shall
be determined by the Board of Directors and the shares to be converted  shall be
selected  pro  rata.  If the  foregoing  condition  has been  satisfied  and the
Corporation has elected to effect the automatic conversion of shares of Series D
Preferred Stock, it shall deliver a notice to that effect by overnight  delivery
service to each holder of shares of Series D  Preferred  Stock.  The  conversion
will be effective  five (5) days after the delivery of such notice in accordance
with the provisions of Section 5(b)(ii) below.



<PAGE>


     (ii) Upon the occurrence of the events specified in Section (5)(b)(i),  the
outstanding  shares  of  Series  D  Preferred  Stock  to be  converted  shall be
converted automatically without any further action by the holders of such shares
and whether or not the certificates  representing such shares are surrendered to
the Corporation or its transfer agent,  provided,  however, that the Corporation
shall not be obligated  to issue  certificates  evidencing  the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon such conversion unless  certificates  evidencing such shares
of the Series D Preferred  Stock being  converted  are either  delivered  to the
Corporation  or any  transfer  agent,  as  hereinafter  provided,  or the holder
notifies the  Corporation or any transfer agent as  hereinafter  provided,  that
such  certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement
satisfactory  to the  Corporation  to indemnify  the  Corporation  from any loss
incurred by it in connection therewith.

         Upon the  occurrence  of the automatic  conversion  of any  outstanding
shares of Series D Preferred Stock, the holders of such Series D Preferred Stock
shall surrender the certificates  representing  such shares at the office of the
Corporation  or of any transfer  agent for the Common  Stock.  Thereupon,  there
shall be issued and  delivered to each such holder,  promptly at such office and
in his  name as  shown  on  such  surrendered  certificate  or  certificates,  a
certificate or certificates  for the number of shares of Common Stock into which
the shares of the Series D Preferred  Stock  converted  were  convertible on the
date on which such automatic conversion occurred.

                  (c) The conversion rate in effect at any time (the "Applicable
Conversion  Rate") shall equal the quotient  obtained by dividing (i) the sum of
$1,000 plus the per share accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series D Preferred
Stock  at the  time of  conversion  by (ii)  the  Applicable  Conversion  Value,
calculated as hereinafter provided.

                  (d) The Applicable  Conversion Value in effect initially,  and
until first adjusted in accordance with Section 5(e), shall be $6.00.

                  (e) Upon the happening of an Extraordinary  Common Stock Event
(as hereinafter defined), the Applicable Conversion Value shall,  simultaneously
with the  happening of such  Extraordinary  Common  Stock Event,  be adjusted by
dividing  the then  effective  Applicable  Conversion  Value by a fraction,  the
numerator  of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock of all classes
outstanding  immediately  after such  Extraordinary  Common  Stock Event and the
denominator  of which  shall be the  number of  shares  of  Common  Stock of all
classes outstanding  immediately prior to such Extraordinary Common Stock Event,
and the  quotient so obtained  shall  thereafter  be the  Applicable  Conversion
Value. The Applicable  Conversion Value, as so adjusted,  shall be readjusted in
the same manner upon the happening of any successive  Extraordinary Common Stock
Event or Events.  "Extraordinary Common Stock Event" shall mean (i) the issue of
additional  shares  of  Common  Stock  of  any  class  as a  dividend  or  other
distribution  on outstanding  Common Stock,  (ii) the subdivision of outstanding
shares of Common  Stock of any class  into a greater  number of shares of Common
Stock,  or (iii) the  combination of  outstanding  shares of Common Stock of any
class into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock.



<PAGE>


                  (f) In the event the Corporation shall make or issue, or fix a
record  date for the  determination  of  holders  of Common  Stock  entitled  to
receive,  a  dividend  or  other  distribution  payable  in  securities  of  the
Corporation  other than shares of Common Stock (other than in connection  with a
rights offering with respect to Preferred Stock which has substantially the same
terms, rights, privileges and preferences as the Series D Preferred Stock, which
rights  offering is  consummated on or before  September 30, 2000),  then and in
each such event lawful and adequate  provision shall be made so that the holders
of Series D Preferred Stock shall receive upon conversion thereof in addition to
the  number of  shares  of Common  Stock  receivable  thereupon,  the  number of
securities of the Corporation  which they would have received had their Series D
Preferred  Stock been  converted into Common Stock on the date of such event and
had they  thereafter,  during  the  period  from  the date of such  event to and
including  the date of conversion  of their Series D Preferred  Stock,  retained
such  securities  receivable  by them as aforesaid  during such  period,  giving
application to all adjustments  called for during such period under this Section
5 with respect to the rights of the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock.

                  (g) If the Common Stock  issuable  upon the  conversion of the
Series D Preferred Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of
shares  of any  class or  classes  of  stock,  whether  by  reclassification  or
otherwise,  then and in each  such  event the  holder of each  share of Series D
Preferred  Stock shall have the right  thereafter to convert such share into the
kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property  receivable
upon such  reorganization,  reclassification  or other change, by holders of the
number of shares of Common  Stock into which such  shares of Series D  Preferred
Stock  might  have  been  converted  immediately  prior to such  reorganization,
reclassification  or other change, all subject to further adjustment as provided
herein.

                  (h) Unless such  transaction is a Liquidation  Event (in which
case Section 3(a) shall apply and this Section 5(h) shall not apply),  if at any
time or from time to time there shall be a capital  reorganization of the Common
Stock or a merger  or  consolidation  of the  Corporation  with or into  another
corporation  or  the  sale  of  all or  substantially  all of the  Corporation's
properties and assets to any other person, then, as a part of and as a condition
to the  effectiveness  of such  reorganization,  merger,  consolidation or sale,
lawful and adequate  provision shall be made so that the holders of the Series D
Preferred  Stock shall  thereafter be entitled to receive upon conversion of the
Series D Preferred  Stock the number of shares of stock or other  securities  or
property of the Corporation or of the successor  corporation resulting from such
merger or  consolidation  or sale, to which a holder of such number of shares of
Common Stock deliverable upon conversion would have been entitled to receive had
the conversion of such holder's shares of Series D Preferred Stock been effected
immediately  prior to such capital  reorganization,  merger,  consolidation,  or
sale. In any such case, appropriate provisions shall be made with respect to the
rights of the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock after the  reorganization,
merger,  consolidation  or sale to the end that the provisions of this Section 5
(including  without  limitation  provisions  for  adjustment  of the  Applicable
Conversion  Value and the number of shares  purchasable  upon  conversion of the
Series D Preferred Stock) shall  thereafter be applicable,  as nearly as may be,
with  respect to any  shares of stock,  securities  or assets to be  deliverable
thereafter upon the conversion of the Series D Preferred Stock.



<PAGE>


                  Each holder of Series D Preferred Stock upon the occurrence of
a capital reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Corporation or the sale
of all or substantially all of its assets and properties as such events are more
fully set forth in the first  paragraph of this Section 5(h) and with respect to
which Section 5(h) applies, shall have the option of (i) requiring redemption by
the  Corporation  on the effective  date of such event of all (but not less than
all) of the shares of Series D Preferred Stock held by such holder for an amount
per share equal to the Series D Liquidation Amount (the "Transaction  Redemption
Price") or (ii)  electing  treatment  of its shares of Series D Preferred  Stock
under the first  paragraph of this Section 5(h),  notice of which election shall
be submitted in writing to the  Corporation  at its  principal  offices no later
than ten (10) days before the  effective  date of such event  provided  that any
such notice  shall be  effective if given not later than ten (10) days after the
date of the Corporation's notice to shareholders with respect to such event.

                  (i) In  each  case of an  adjustment  or  readjustment  of the
Applicable Conversion Rate, the Corporation will furnish each holder of Series D
Preferred Stock with a certificate,  prepared by the Chief Financial  Officer of
the Corporation,  showing such adjustment or readjustment, and stating in detail
the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based.

                  (j) To  exercise  its  conversion  privilege  as  provided  in
Section 5(a) above,  a holder of Series D Preferred  Stock shall  surrender  the
certificate  or  certificates  representing  the shares  being  converted to the
Corporation  at its  principal  office or to the  transfer  agent for the Common
Stock and shall give written notice to the  Corporation at that office that such
holder  elects to convert such shares.  Such notice shall also state the name or
names (with address or addresses) in which the certificate or  certificates  for
shares of Common Stock issuable such conversion shall be issued. The certificate
or  certificates  for  shares  of  Series  D  Preferred  Stock  surrendered  for
conversion shall be accompanied by proper assignment  thereof to the Corporation
or in  blank.  The  date  on  which  such  written  notice  is  received  by the
Corporation  together with the  certificate  or  certificates  representing  the
shares of Series D Preferred  Stock being  converted,  shall be the  "Conversion
Date." As promptly as  practicable  after the Conversion  Date, the  Corporation
shall issue and shall deliver to each holder of the shares of Series D Preferred
Stock being  converted,  or on its written order, a certificate or  certificates
for the number of full shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon the  conversion of
such shares of Series D Preferred  Stock in  accordance  with the  provisions of
this Section 5 and cash as provided in Section  5(k), in respect of any fraction
of a share of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion.  Such conversion shall
be deemed to have been  effected  immediately  prior to the close of business on
the Conversion  Date, and at such time the rights of the holder as holder of the
converted  shares of Series D  Preferred  Stock  shall  cease and the  person or
persons in whose name or names any  certificate  or  certificates  for shares of
Common  Stock shall be  issuable  upon such  conversion  shall be deemed to have
become the holder or  holders  of record of shares of Common  Stock  represented
thereby.

                  (k) No fractional shares of Common Stock or scrip representing
fractional  shares shall be issued upon conversion of Series D Preferred  Stock.
Instead of any  fractional  shares of Common  Stock  which  would  otherwise  be
issuable upon conversion of Series D Preferred Stock, the Corporation  shall pay
to the holder of the shares of Series D Preferred  Stock which were  converted a
cash  adjustment  in respect  of such  fraction  in an amount  equal to the same
fraction of the market price per share of the Common Stock (as  determined  in a
manner  prescribed  by the Board of  Directors)  at the close of business on the
Conversion Date.



<PAGE>


                  (l) In the  event  some but not all of the  shares of Series D
Preferred Stock  represented by a certificate or  certificates  surrendered by a
holder are  converted,  the  Corporation  shall execute and deliver to or on the
order of the  holder,  at the  expense  of the  Corporation,  a new  certificate
representing  the number of shares of Series D Preferred  Shares  which were not
converted.

                  (m) The  Corporation  shall  at all  times  reserve  and  keep
available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock,  solely for
the purpose of effecting the  conversion of the shares of the Series D Preferred
Stock,  such number of its shares of Common  Stock as shall from time to time be
sufficient to effect the  conversion of all  outstanding  shares of the Series D
Preferred  Stock (without  regard to Section  5(a)(ii)),  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 the  Series D
Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall take such corporate action as may, in the
opinion of its counsel,  be necessary  to increase its  authorized  but unissued
shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient  for such
purpose.

                  6.       Redemption.

                  (a) Call Redemption. The Corporation may redeem, at the option
of the  Corporation in its sole  discretion,  to the extent it has funds legally
available  therefor,  in whole  but not in part,  all of the  shares of Series D
Preferred Stock then  outstanding  (the "Call  Redemption") at a price per share
equal to:

                           (i) through and  including the first  anniversary  of
the Series D Preferred Original Issuance Date, 105% multiplied by the Series D
Liquidation Amount, and

                           (ii)  after the  first  anniversary  of the  Series D
Preferred Original Issuance Date, the Series D Liquidation Amount, (as the case
may be, the "Call Redemption  Price").  The term "Redemption Price" as used
herein  refers to each of the Call  Redemption  Price,  the  Transaction
Redemption  Price and the Series D Liquidation  Amount payable upon a redemption
in connection with a Liquidation Event.



<PAGE>


                  (b) Notice of Call  Redemption.  Notice of the Call Redemption
of  shares  of  Series D  Preferred  Stock,  specifying  the  time and  place of
redemption and the Redemption Price (the "Redemption Notice"),  shall be sent by
overnight  delivery  service to each  holder of Series D  Preferred  Stock to be
redeemed,  at the address for such holder shown on the Corporation's  record not
more than sixty (60) nor less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date
(as  hereinafter  defined).  Each such  Redemption  Notice shall state:  (i) the
Redemption Date; (ii) the Redemption Price (as hereinafter  defined);  (iii) the
manner and place or places at which payment for the shares of Series D Preferred
Stock offered for  redemption  will be made,  presentation  and surrender to the
Corporation of the certificates  evidencing the shares being redeemed; (iv) that
dividends on the shares of Series D Preferred  Stock being  redeemed shall cease
to accrue on the Redemption Date unless the Corporation  defaults in the payment
of the  Redemption  Price;  and (v) that  the  rights  of  holders  of  Series D
Preferred Stock as stockholder of the  Corporation  with respect to shares being
redeemed  shall  terminate  as of the  Redemption  Date  unless the  Corporation
defaults  in  the  payment  of the  Redemption  Price.  Upon  mailing  any  such
Redemption  Notice,  the  Corporation  shall  become  obligated to redeem at the
Redemption  Price on the  applicable  Redemption  Date all  shares  of  Series D
Preferred Stock therein specified.

                  (c) Redemption  Date. The  Corporation  shall fix the date for
the Call  Redemption  no earlier  than  thirty (30) but not more than sixty (60)
days after the  Redemption  Notice is sent as set forth in Section  6(b) hereof.
Any date upon which a redemption is to occur in  accordance  with this Section 6
or Section 5(h) hereof or in connection with a Liquidation  Event is referred to
as a "Redemption Date."

                  (d) Payment and Surrender.  On the  Redemption  Date, the full
Redemption  Price  shall  become  payable  in cash for the  shares  of  Series D
Preferred  Stock  being  redeemed on such  Redemption  Date.  As a condition  of
payment of the Redemption  Price,  each holder of Series D Preferred  Stock must
surrender the  certificate or certificates  representing  the shares of Series D
Preferred Stock being redeemed to the Corporation in the manner and at the place
designated  in  the  Redemption  Notice  or in the  event  such  certificate  or
certificates  have been lost,  stolen or  destroyed,  must  execute an agreement
satisfactory  to the  Corporation  to indemnify  the  Corporation  from any loss
incurred by it in connection  therewith.  Each surrendered  certificate shall be
canceled  and  retired.  In the event some but not all of the shares of Series D
Preferred  Stock  represented  by a surrendered  certificate  are redeemed,  the
Corporation   will  execute  and  deliver  to  the  holder  a  new   certificate
representing  the number of shares of Series D  Preferred  Stock  which were not
redeemed.  All  redemption  payments  will be made to the  holders of the shares
being redeemed.

                  (e)  Termination.  On any  Redemption  Date,  dividends on the
Series D Preferred  Stock redeemed shall cease to accumulate,  and all rights of
holders of such redeemed shares shall terminate, except for the right to receive
the Redemption Price; provided, however, that in the event that shares of Series
D Preferred  Stock are unable to be redeemed and continue to be  outstanding  in
accordance  with  Section  6(f),  such shares  shall  continue to be entitled to
dividends  thereon as provided in Sections 2 and 6(f) (and shall  continue to be
entitled to such other  rights,  including  the  conversion  rights set forth in
Section 5 hereof,  as set forth  herein) until the date on which such shares are
actually redeemed by the Corporation.



<PAGE>


                  (f)  Restrictions  on  Redemption.   Notwithstanding  anything
herein to the  contrary,  the  Series D  Preferred  Stock  will not be  redeemed
(including, without limitation, in accordance with Section 5(h) or in connection
with a Liquidation  Event) unless prior to or concurrently  with such redemption
both (i) either (A) all obligations under the Loan and Security  Agreement dated
as of July 21,  1999 (as  amended  from  time to time)  among  the  Corporation,
certain of its subsidiaries and The Howard Bank, N.A., as lender,  and the other
lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively,  the "Lender") shall have
been paid and satisfied in full, or (B) the Lender shall have  consented to such
redemption and (ii) either (A) all of the Corporation's 11 1/2% Senior Notes due
2006 issued under the Indenture dated as of March 2, 1999 (as supplemented  from
time to time) among the Corporation  and Bank of New York, as successor  trustee
to IBJ Whitehall Bank & Trust Company, shall have been redeemed in full, (B) the
Corporation  has  complied  with  the  Indenture  Sections  1012 and 1013 of the
Indenture or (C) the Corporation obtains the requisite consent of the holders of
such Senior Notes to such redemption. If the Corporation fails for any reason to
redeem shares for which  redemption is required  pursuant to Section 5(h),  this
Section  6  or  in  connection  with  a  Liquidation  Event,  including  without
limitation due to a prohibition of such redemption under this Section 6(f), then
during the period from the applicable  Redemption Date through the date on which
such shares are redeemed,  the applicable  Series D Dividend Rate shall,  at the
end of each  calendar  quarter,  increase by 1% per annum  until the  Redemption
Price (as so  increased)  is paid in full,  subject to a maximum rate of 18% per
annum.


                  7.       Restrictions and Limitations.

                  (a) Corporate Action.  Except as expressly  provided herein or
as required by law,  so long as any shares of Series D  Preferred  Stock  remain
outstanding,  the Corporation  shall not without the approval by vote or written
consent (which written consent need not be unanimous) by the holders of at least
fifty-one  percent  (51%) of the then  outstanding  shares of Series D Preferred
Stock, voting as a separate class:

     (i)  authorize or issue,  or obligate  itself to  authorize  or issue,  any
equity  security  senior to or on parity with the Series D Preferred Stock as to
liquidation  preferences,  dividend rights,  redemption  rights or voting rights
(except for common stock as to voting rights);

     (ii) merge or  consolidate  with any other  corporation,  or sell,  assign,
lease or otherwise  dispose of or voluntarily  part with the control of (whether
in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all, or substantially all, of
its  assets  (whether  now owned or  hereinafter  acquired),  or  consent to any
liquidation,  dissolution, winding up, reorganization or recapitalization of the
Corporation, or permit any subsidiary to do any of the foregoing, except for (A)
any  wholly-owned  subsidiary  may merge into or  consolidate  with or  transfer
assets to any other wholly-owned subsidiary, and (B) any wholly-owned subsidiary
may merge into or transfer assets to the Corporation; or

     (iii) amend,  restate,  modify or alter the certificate of incorporation or
the by-laws of the Corporation in any way which adversely  affects the rights of
the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock.


<PAGE>


                  (b) Amendments to Charter. The Corporation shall not amend its
Certificate of  Incorporation  without the approval,  by vote or written consent
(which written consent need not be unanimous),  by the holders of at least sixty
percent (60%) of the then  outstanding  shares of Series D Preferred  Stock,  if
such amendment would adversely affect any of the rights, preferences, privileges
of or limitations  provided for herein for the benefit of any shares of Series D
Preferred Stock. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence,  the
Corporation will not amend its Certificate of Incorporation without the approval
by the holders of at least sixty percent (60%) of the then outstanding shares of
Series D Preferred Stock if such amendment would:

                           (i)     change the relative  seniority  rights of the
holders of Series D Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends  in  relation
to the  holders of any other  capital  stock of the Corporation,  or create any
other class or series of capital  stock  entitled to seniority as to the payment
of dividends in relation to the holders of Series D Preferred Stock;

                           (ii)  reduce  the amount  payable  to the  holders of
Series D Preferred Stock upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or change the relative seniority
of the liquidation preferences of the holders of Series D Preferred Stock to the
rights upon liquidation of the holders of other capital stock of the Corporation
or change the dividend rights of the holders of Series D Preferred Stock;

                         (iii) cancel or modify the rights of the holders of the
Series D Preferred Stock provided for in this Section 7.

                8. No Reissuance of Series D Preferred Stock. No share or shares
of the  Series D  Preferred  Stock  acquired  by the  Corporation  by  reason of
redemption,  purchase or otherwise shall be reissued,  and all such shares shall
be canceled, retired, and eliminated from the shares which the Corporation shall
be  authorized  to  issue.  The  Corporation  may from  time to time  take  such
appropriate corporate action as may be necessary to reduce the authorized number
of shares of the Series D Preferred Stock accordingly.

                9.  Notices  of Record  Date.  In the event (i) the  Corporation
establishes  a record date to determine  the holders of any class of  securities
who are  entitled to receive any dividend or other  distribution,  or (ii) there
occurs any capital  reorganization of the Corporation,  any  reclassification or
recapitalization of the capital stock of the Corporation, any Liquidation Event,
any merger or  consolidation  of the  Corporation,  and any  transfer  of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to any other corporation,  or
any  other  entity or  person,  or any  voluntary  or  involuntary  dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the Corporation shall mail to each
holder of  Series D  Preferred  Stock at least  twenty  (20) days  prior to such
record date or such transaction, as the case may be, a notice specifying (a) the
date of any such record date for the  purpose of such  dividend or  distribution
and a description  of such dividend or  distribution,  (b) the date on which any
such  reorganization,  reclassification,  recapitalization,  Liquidation  Event,
transfer,  consolidation,  merger,  dissolution,  liquidation  or  winding up is
expected to become effective,  and (c) the time, if any, that is to be fixed, as
to when the  holders of record of Common  Stock (or other  securities)  shall be
entitled to exchange  their  shares of Common  Stock (or other  securities)  for
securities   or   other   property   deliverable   upon   such   reorganization,
reclassification,  recapitalization, Liquidation Event, transfer, consolidation,
merger, dissolution, liquidation or winding up.


<PAGE>


                10.  Other  Rights.   Except  as  otherwise   provided  in  this
resolution  or as  otherwise  may be  required  by law,  each  share of Series D
Preferred  Stock  and each  share of  Common  Stock  shall be  identical  in all
respects, shall have the same powers, preferences and rights, without preference
of any such  class or share  over any other  such  class or share,  and shall be
treated as a single class of stock for all purposes.

                           [Signature page to follow.]


<PAGE>



                IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Waste  Systems  International,  Inc.,  has
caused  this  certificate  to be  executed  under  seal by Philip  Strauss,  its
Chairman,  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer,  and  Robert  Rivkin,  its
Executive Vice President - Acquisitions, Treasurer and Secretary, as of the 27th
day of December, 1999.

                        WASTE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                        By:  /s/  Philip Strauss
                        Name:     Philip Strauss
                        Title:    Chairman, President and Chief
                                  Executive Officer


                        By:  /s/  Robert Rivkin
                        Name:     Robert Rivkin
                        Title:    Executive Vice President - Acquisitions,
                                  Treasurer and Secretary



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