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 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 Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
240.14a-12
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THE AES CORPORATION
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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(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 14-a6(i)(1) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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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):
Not Applicable
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
Not Applicable
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5) Total Fee paid:
None
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[ ] 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:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
The AES Corporation
1001 North 19th Street
Arlington, Virginia 22209
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1999
March 30, 1999
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The AES Corporation (the "Company")
will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at 9:30 a.m. in the Company's corporate
offices at 1001 North 19th Street, Arlington, Virginia. Doors to the meeting
will open at 8:30 a.m.
The meeting will be conducted:
o To elect a board of nine directors;
o To consider and vote on a proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte
& Touche LLP as independent auditors of the Company for the year 1999
(approved by the Board of Directors and set forth in the following Proxy
Statement);
o To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 1999 will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at this meeting.
[sig]
William R. Luraschi
Vice President and Secretary
EACH STOCKHOLDER IS REQUESTED TO EXECUTE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED
PROXY. A PREPAID ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR RETURNING PROXIES. (SEE DIRECTIONS ON
PROXY CARD.)
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PROXY STATEMENT
March 30, 1999
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of The AES
Corporation (the "Company" or "AES") for use at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Company to be held on Tuesday, April 20, 1999 at 9:30 a.m.
at the Company's corporate offices at 1001 North 19th Street, Arlington,
Virginia 22209, or at any adjournment of such meeting. This Proxy Statement and
accompanying proxy are first being sent or given to stockholders on or about
March 30, 1999.
If the proxy is properly executed and returned by mail, the shares it represents
will be voted at the meeting in accordance with the instructions noted thereon.
If no instructions are specified, the shares will be voted for the election of
the directors and in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations as
set forth herein. Any stockholder executing a proxy has the power to revoke it
at any time before it is voted by filing with the Company a written notice of
revocation, by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by
attending the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and voting in person. Proxies
marked as abstentions, or to withhold a vote from a nominee as a director in the
case of the election of directors, will have the effect of a negative vote.
Broker non-votes (where a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner has not
received voting instructions from the beneficial owner with respect to a
particular matter and such nominee does not possess or choose to exercise his
discretionary authority with respect thereto) will be considered as present at
the meeting but not entitled to vote with respect to the particular matter and
will therefore have no effect.
The only securities of the Company entitled to be voted are shares of Common
Stock, and only holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on
March 3, 1999 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. Holders of
Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share. There were 180,587,044 shares
of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on March 3, 1999. The
Company's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 is being
delivered concurrently with this Proxy Statement.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is comprised of nine members, seven of whom are not
officers of or otherwise employed by the Company. In 1998, the Board of
Directors met 14 times, including 10 telephonic meetings; Mrs. O'Leary attended
69% of these meetings. Directors are to be elected to hold office until the next
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors shall have
been elected and qualified. Directors shall be elected by a majority of the
votes of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which a quorum is present.
Roger W. Sant co-founded AES with Dennis Bakke in 1981. He has been Chairman of
the Board and a director of AES since its inception and he held the office of
Chief Executive Officer through December 31, 1993. He currently is Chairman of
the Boards of Directors of The Summit Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund
U.S., a Trustee of the World Wide Fund for Nature, and serves on the Boards of
Directors of the World Resources Institute, Marriott International, Inc., and
the National Symphony Orchestra. He was Assistant Administrator for Energy
Conservation and the Environment of the Federal Energy Administration ("FEA")
from 1974 to 1976 and the Director of the Energy Productivity Center, an energy
research organization affiliated with The Mellon Institute at Carnegie-Mellon
University, from 1977 to 1981.
Dennis W. Bakke co-founded AES with Roger Sant in 1981 and has been a director
of AES since 1986. He has been President of AES since 1987
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and Chief Executive Officer since January 1, 1994. From 1987 to 1993, he served
as Chief Operating Officer of AES; from 1982 to 1986, he served as Executive
Vice President of AES; and from 1985 to 1986, he also served as Treasurer of
AES. He served with Mr. Sant as Deputy Assistant Administrator of the FEA from
1974 to 1976 and as Deputy Director of the Energy Productivity Center from 1978
to 1981. He is a trustee of the Rivendell School and a member of the Board of
Directors of MacroSonix Corporation.
Alice F. Emerson has been a director of AES since 1993. She is a Senior Advisor
at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, was President of Wheaton College in
Massachusetts from 1975 to 1991, and prior to that served as Dean of Students at
the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Boards of Directors of
the World Resources Institute, BankBoston Corporation, Champion International
Corporation, Eastman Kodak Company, Salzburg Seminar, and the MGH Institute of
Health Professions.
Robert F. Hemphill, Jr. has been a director of AES since June 1996. He served as
Executive Vice President of AES from 1982 to June 1996. He currently is the
Managing Director of Toucan Ventures Capital Corporation (an international
venture capital firm). He also serves on the Boards of Directors of the National
Museum of American History, the Pacific International Center for High Technology
Research, and is a member of the Board of Advisors of the George Washington
University.
Frank Jungers was an advisor to the Board of AES from 1982 to 1983 and has been
a director of AES since 1983. He has been consultant to various companies since
prior to 1994. Mr. Jungers is the retired Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of the Arabian American Oil Company. He currently serves on
the Boards of Directors of Georgia-Pacific Corporation (retiring after 20 years,
effective May 1, 1999), Thermo Electron Corporation, Thermo Ecotek Corporation,
ThermoQuest Corporation, Esco Corporation, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Inc.,
Statia Terminals, and the Onix Corporation. He is also Chairman of the Advisory
Board of Common Sense Partners, L.P. He is Chairman of the College of
Engineering Development Committee and member of the Visiting Committee, The
University of Washington. He is also Advisory Trustee of the Board of Trustees,
The American University in Cairo and serves as a Trustee to the High Desert
Museum, and the Oregon Health Sciences University Foundation.
John H. McArthur has been a director of AES since January 1997. He is the
retired Dean of the Harvard Business School, and has been a private business
consultant and active investor in various companies since prior to 1994. He
serves as Senior Advisor to the President of the World Bank Group. He is also a
member of the Boards of Directors of BCE Inc., Cabot Corporation, the
Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation, Glaxo Wellcome plc, Rohm & Haas
Corporation, Springs Industries, Inc. and the Vincam Group, Inc. He also serves
in various capacities with non-profit health, government, and education
organizations in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Hazel R. O'Leary has been a director of AES since April 1997. Mrs. O'Leary
previously served on AES's Board of Directors from September 1988 to June 1989.
Mrs. O'Leary was the seventh Secretary of the United States Department of Energy
from 1993 to 1997. She is consultant and attorney to a diverse group of domestic
and international energy and sustainable development firms. Prior to serving as
U.S. Secretary of Energy, she served as president of the natural gas subsidiary
of Northern States Power Company, and before that as Executive Vice President of
Northern States Power Company. She also serves on the Board of ICF Kaiser
International, and on the non-profit Boards of Morehouse College, the Andrew
Young Center of International Development, the World Wildlife Fund, and the
Keystone Center, where she chairs its Energy Board.
Thomas I. Unterberg has been a director of AES since 1984 and from 1982 to
1983. He has been a Managing Director of C.E. Unterberg,
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Towbin (an investment banking firm) since 1989, having been a Managing Director
of Shearson Lehman Brothers Inc., from 1987 through 1988. He currently serves on
the Boards of Directors of Electronics for Imaging, Inc., Systems and Computer
Technology Corporation, ECCS, Inc., Centrax Corporation, Inc. and Club One, LLC.
During 1998, Unterberg Harris, an affiliate of C.E. Unterberg, Towbin, the
investment banking firm in which Mr. Unterberg is a Managing Director, acted as
a co-managing underwriter for two financial offerings of the Company including
(i) the August 4, 1998 offering of $150 million of 4.5% Convertible Junior
Subordinate Debentures due 2005 and (ii) the August 4, 1998 offering of 4.25
million shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.
Robert H. Waterman, Jr. was an advisor to the Board of AES from 1983 to 1985 and
has been a director of AES since 1985. He is the founder and has been the Chief
Executive Officer of The Waterman Group, Inc. (a business consulting firm) since
1985. His business includes research and writing, consulting and venture
management. He is a co-author of In Search of Excellence, and the author of The
Renewal Factor, Adhocracy -- The Power to Change and What America Does Right,
each of which is a book on business management. He currently is Chairman of the
Board of MindSteps, Inc., and serves on the boards of several non-profit
organizations including the World Wildlife Fund and the Restless Legs Syndrome
Foundation.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS,
DIRECTORS, AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth, as of February 2, 1999, the beneficial ownership
of the Company's Common Stock by (a) each director and named executive officer,
(b) all directors and executive officers as a group and (c) all persons who own
more than five percent (5%) of the Company's Common Stock. Unless otherwise
indicated, each of the persons and group listed below has sole voting and
dispositive power with respect to the shares shown.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE
- ------------------------------------------------ ----------
<S> <C>
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS:
Roger W. Sant ................................. 67
Dennis W. Bakke # ............................. 53
Alice F. Emerson +@ ........................... 67
Robert F. Hemphill, Jr. %+ .................... 55
Frank Jungers +@ .............................. 72
John H. McArthur %+ ........................... 65
Hazel R. O'Leary +% ........................... 62
Thomas I. Unterberg %+ ........................ 68
Robert H. Waterman, Jr. +@# ................... 62
Barry J. Sharp ................................ 39
Thomas A. Tribone ............................. 46
John R. Ruggirello ............................ 48
J. Stuart Ryan ................................ 40
All directors and executive officers as a group
(25 persons) .................................
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY OTHERS:
BankAmerica Corporation ....................... Address:
Capital Guardian Trust Company ................ Address:
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK
POSITION HELD BENEFICIALLY % OF
NAME WITH THE COMPANY OWNED(1)(2) CLASS(1)(2)
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<S> <C> <C> <C>
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:
Roger W. Sant ................................. Chairman of the Board and Director 20,991,431(3) 11.85
Dennis W. Bakke # ............................. President, Chief Executive Officer 18,230,041(4) 10.37
and Director
Alice F. Emerson +@ ........................... Director 46,912 *
Robert F. Hemphill, Jr. %+ .................... Director 1,668,004(5) *
Frank Jungers +@ .............................. Director 1,117,168(6) *
John H. McArthur %+ ........................... Director 14,379 *
Hazel R. O'Leary +% ........................... Director 8,304 *
Thomas I. Unterberg %+ ........................ Director 1,266,587(7) *
Robert H. Waterman, Jr. +@# ................... Director 650,446(8) *
Barry J. Sharp ................................ Senior Vice President and Chief Financial 382,834(9) *
Officer
Thomas A. Tribone ............................. Executive Vice President 501,722 *
John R. Ruggirello ............................ Senior Vice President 218,209 *
J. Stuart Ryan ................................ Senior Vice President 411,754(10) *
All directors and executive officers as a group
(25 persons) ................................. 52,646,063(11) 29.88
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY OTHERS:
BankAmerica Corporation ....................... 100 South Tryon Street 11,498,733(12) 6.57
NationsBank Plaza
Charlotte, NC 28255
Capital Guardian Trust Company ................ 11100 Santa Monica Boulevard 9,589,850(13) 5.48
Los Angeles, CA 90025
</TABLE>
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% Member of the Financial Audit Committee.
+ Member of the Environmental, Safety and Social Responsibility Committee.
@ Member of the Compensation Committee.
# Member of the Nominating Committee.
* Shares held represent less than 1% of the total number of outstanding
shares of Common Stock of the Company.
(1) Shares beneficially owned and deemed to be outstanding include Common
Stock of the Company issued or issuable, on or before April 2, 1999, (a)
upon exercise of outstanding options, (b) upon exercise of warrants, (c)
under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Executive Officers, (d) under the
Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, (e) under The AES Corporation
Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan and the Employee Stock Ownership
Plan and (f) under the Supplemental Retirement Plan.
(2) Includes (a) the following shares issuable upon exercise of options: Mr.
Sant - 1,020,387 shares; Mr. Bakke - 760,549 shares; Mr. Sharp - 249,121
shares; Mr. Tribone - 295,890 shares; Mr. Ruggirello - 151,388 shares; Mr.
Ryan - 343,563 shares; Dr. Emerson - 30,864 shares; Mr. Hemphill - 12,638
shares; Mr. Jungers - 24,998 shares; Mr. McArthur - 12,638 shares; Mrs.
O'Leary - 6,458 shares; Mr. Unterberg - 24,998 shares; Mr. Waterman -
24,998 shares; all directors and executive officers as a group - 4,409,453
shares; (b) the following units issuable under the Deferred Compensation
Plan for Executive Officers: Mr. Sant - 29,643 shares; all executive
officers as a group - 29,643 shares; (c) the following units issuable
under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors: Dr. Emerson - 7,186;
Mr. Jungers - 80,720; Mr. McArthur - 1,741; Mrs. O'Leary - 1,496; Mr.
Unterberg - 117,525; Mr. Waterman - 116,954; all directors as a group
325,622; (d) the following shares held in The AES Corporation Profit
Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan and the Employee Stock Ownership Plan:
Mr. Sant - 292,924 shares;
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Mr. Bakke - 280,646 shares; Mr. Hemphill - 198,712 shares; Mr. Sharp -
45,848 shares; Mr. Tribone - 56,860 shares; Mr. Ruggirello - 31,852
shares; Mr. Ryan - 42,253 shares; all executive officers as a group -
1,458,926 shares; and (e) the following units issuable under the
Supplemental Retirement Plan: Mr. Sant - 4,342; Mr. Bakke - 6,456; Mr.
Hemphill - 1,298; Mr. Sharp - 1,183; Mr. Tribone - 1,452; Mr. Ruggirello -
576; Mr. Ryan - 1,135; all executive officers and directors as a group -
25,219.
(3) Includes 14,771,625 shares held jointly by Mr. Sant and his wife. Also
includes 122,382 shares held by his wife, 199,870 held in an IRA for the
benefit of Mr. Sant, 578,928 shares in a trust for Mr. Sant, and 129,742
shares held in an IRA for the benefit of his wife. In addition, includes
2,227,051 shares held by The Summit Foundation, of which Mr. Sant
disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes term convertible securities,
Series A and Series B, convertible into an aggregate of 977,000 shares of
common stock held in trust for Mr. and Mrs. Sant. Mr. and Mrs. Sant can be
reached c/o The AES Corporation, 1001 N. 19th Street, Arlington, Virginia
22209.
(4) Includes 9,521,661 shares held jointly by Mr. Bakke and his wife, 64,907
shares held by his children, 877,587 shares held by his wife and 183,866
shares held by the Mustard Seed Foundation, of which Mr. Bakke disclaims
beneficial ownership. Mr. and Mrs. Bakke can be reached c/o The AES
Corporation, 1001 N. 19th Street, Arlington, Virginia 22209.
(5) Includes 10,652 shares held in an IRA for the benefit of Mr. Hemphill.
(6) Includes 52,781 shares held by Mr. Jungers's wife and 565,485 shares held
by FJF, Inc.
(7) Includes 9,652 shares held by Mr. Unterberg's wife, of which Mr. Unterberg
disclaims beneficial ownership.
(8) Includes 4,740 and 92 shares, held in IRAs for Mr. Waterman and his wife,
respectively, and 503,655 shares held in a family trust.
(9) Includes 86,682 shares held jointly by Mr. Sharp and his wife.
(10) Includes 6,333 shares held in trust for Mr. Ryan's children.
(11) Includes 2,935,726 shares held jointly by one executive officer and his
wife, and 238,402 shares held in trust for his children, and 577,200
shares held in a family trust. Includes 1,122,555 shares held jointly by
another executive officer and his wife, and 56,416 shares held in trust
for his children. Includes 55 shares held by another executive officer's
wife. Includes 10,400 shares held jointly by another executive officer and
his wife. Includes 157,314 shares held jointly by another executive
officer and his wife, and 3,976 and 2,512 shares held in IRAs for their
benefit.
(12) Of this aggregate number, BankAmerica Corporation, including it's
affiliates, NB Holdings Corporation, NationsBank, N.A., BankAmerica NT &
SA, NationsBanc Advisors, Inc., Trade Street Investments Associates,
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC reported on SEC Form SC-13GA filed
with the Securities Exchange Commission dated February 1, 1999, that it
had (a) sole voting power on no shares, (b) shared voting power on
4,181,450 shares, (c) sole dispositive power on no shares and (d) shared
dispositive power on 10,084,216 shares.
(13) Of this aggregate number, Capital Guardian Trust Company, including it's
affiliates, Capital International, Inc., Capital International Limited,
Capital International S.A., reported on SEC Form SC-13G filed with the
Securities Exchange Commission dated February 8, 1999, that it had (a)
sole voting power in 7,593,750 shares, (b) shared voting power on no
shares, (c) sole dispositive power on 9,589,850 shares and (d) shared
dispositive power on no shares.
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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors who are also officers of AES are not paid any fees or additional
compensation for service as members of AES's Board of Directors or any committee
thereof. Each director who is not employed by AES received $30,000 as annual
cash compensation for service on the Board of Directors for 1998, and $1,000 for
each board meeting attended in person and $500 for each meeting in which he or
she participated by telephone conference. For 1999, the Director's annual cash
compensation is $30,000. The directors may elect to defer this compensation
pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors in the form of stock
units. All directors are reimbursed for travel and other related expenses
incurred in attending Board and committee meetings. Directors who are not
employed by AES are not eligible to participate in AES's employee benefit plans
but participate in The AES Corporation Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors
which was adopted in 1992. Under the terms of the plan, the Company issues
options to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock at a price equal to
100% of the fair market value on the date the option is granted. Directors
eligible to participate in the plan receive options annually to purchase common
stock valued at 83.3% of the annual fees payable to directors, as determined by
the Black-Scholes formula on a basis consistent with the Company's stock option
program. These options become eligible for exercise in installments of 50% at
the end of each of the first two years.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
The Board has four standing committees: the Financial Audit Committee, the
Environmental, Safety and Social Responsibility Committee, the Nominating
Committee, and the Compensation Committee.
The Financial Audit Committee recommends which firm will be appointed by the
Board of Directors as independent auditor to examine AES's financial statements
and to perform services related to the audit. The Financial Audit Committee
reviews the scope and results of the audit with the independent auditors,
reviews with the Company and the independent auditors AES's interim and year-end
operating results, considers the adequacy of the internal accounting and control
procedures of AES, reviews any non-audit services to be performed by the
independent auditors and considers the effect of such performance on the
auditors' independence. The Financial Audit Committee met once in 1998.
The Environmental, Safety and Social Responsibility Committee was created by the
Board in January 1997. It monitors the environmental and safety compliance,
respectively, of the Company and its subsidiaries and reviews and approves the
scope of the Company's internal environmental and safety compliance audit
programs to consider the adequacy and appropriateness of the programs being
planned and performed, as well as periodically reviews the Company's commitment
to, and implementation of, its principle to act in a socially responsible way.
The Environmental, Safety and Social Responsibility Committee met twice in 1998.
The Nominating Committee provides recommendations for potential nomination for
election of new members of the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee
considers potential nominations provided by stockholders and submits suggested
nominations, when appropriate, to the Board of Directors for approval. The
Nominating Committee did not meet in 1998. Stockholders wishing to recommend
persons for consideration by the Nominating Committee as nominees for election
to the Company's Board of Directors can do so by writing to the Secretary of the
Company at 1001 North 19th Street, Arlington, Virginia 22209, giving each such
person's name, biographical data and qualifications. Any such recommendation
should be accompanied by a written statement from the person recommended of his
or her consent to be named as a nominee and, if nominated and elected, to serve
as a director. The Company's By-Laws also contain a procedure for
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stockholder nomination of directors. (See "Submission of Stockholder Proposals
and Nominations" below.)
The Compensation Committee establishes rates of salary, bonuses, profit sharing
contributions, grants of stock options, retirement and other compensation for
all directors and officers of AES and for such other people as the Board may
designate. All of the members of this committee are "disinterested persons"
under the provisions of Rule 16b-3 adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Compensation Committee's primary
responsibility is to formulate and maintain the compensation program of the
Company in order to develop, retain (and attract, when necessary) people
important to the Company's performance. This committee specifically acts to
evaluate the performance and set the total compensation for the executive
officers of the Company, including the CEO, in accordance with the guidelines
discussed below. This committee has delegated to the CEO the power to set
compensation for the non-executive officers. The Compensation Committee met once
in 1998.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee's (the "Committee") guidelines for compensation of
executive officers are designed to provide fair and competitive levels of total
compensation while integrating pay with performance. Executive officers,
including the CEO, are evaluated annually on the basis of both individual
responsibilities and contributions, as well as Company-wide results in two
related areas: (i) corporate culture (or principles) and (ii) business or
functional area performance.
There are three elements in the Company's executive officer compensation
program. These elements are:
o Base salary
o Annual incentive compensation
o Stock option program
Base salary is adjusted annually by the Committee to account for general
economic and cost of living changes. Adjustments are also made periodically to
recognize significant new or additional responsibilities of individual executive
officers. The Committee's guidelines are to provide base salary compensation
generally consistent with its interpretation of industry averages for
individuals with similar responsibility levels.
Annual incentive compensation is based upon both objective and subjective
measures in the areas of corporate culture and business or functional area
performance, and generally takes the form of bonuses payable after year-end.
With respect to corporate culture, the Company's shared principles of fairness,
integrity, fun and social responsibility are integral to its operations and
serve as its founding principles. These principles apply equally to the internal
activities of the Company as well as its external relationships. Each executive
officer's individual contribution to demonstrating and nurturing these shared
values is reviewed and considered as a factor in determining annual incentive
compensation. Evaluations by the Committee in this area are inherently
subjective.
The second area considered in the determination of annual incentive compensation
is the individual executive officer's performance with respect to his or her
related business responsibilities and/or functional area. Although all aspects
of an individual's responsibilities are considered in determining annual
incentive compensation, several quantitative measures of annual performance are
considered significant, including operating margin improvements, operating
reliability, earnings per share contributions, environmental performance, and
plant and Company-wide safety. The qualitative factors considered significant
include business and project development progress, effective strategic planning
and implementation, Company-wide support, understanding of and adherence to the
Company's values, and community relations and people development.
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Important strategic successes or failures can take several years to translate
into objectively measurable results. The Committee does not compute annual
incentive compensation using a mathematical formula of pre-determined
performance goals and objective criteria. As a result, the Committee's ultimate
determination of the amount, if any, of annual incentive compensation is made at
the end of each year based on a subjective evaluation of several quantitative
and qualitative factors, with primary emphasis given this year to those factors
listed in the preceding paragraph. There are no targeted, minimum or maximum
levels of annual incentive compensation, and such compensation does not
necessarily bear any consistent relationship to salary amounts or total
compensation.
The Company's stock option program is used to reward people for the corporate
responsibilities they undertake, their performance of those duties and to help
them to think and act like owners. All executive officers and approximately 69%
of the total people in the Company located in the United States (approximately
7% of AES people worldwide) participate in this program. Historically, because
of differing legal environments in many countries, options had been primarily
granted to U.S. people. However, the Company has taken steps to incorporate
those people who reside outside of the United States into this program by
qualifying its stock option plan in each country where AES people currently
reside or work, and the Company expects the total participation to increase in
the future. Stock options are usually granted annually at the fair market value
on the date of grant and provide vesting periods to reward people for continued
service to the Company. The Committee's determination of the number of options
to be granted to executive officers is based upon the same factors as such
officer's annual incentive compensation discussed above with additional
consideration given to the number of options previously granted.
Since 1994, the Company has participated in an annual survey conducted by an
outside consulting firm which encompasses over 400 public companies. Based in
part on the survey results, the Committee established guidelines for suggested
ranges of option grants to executive officers as well as the rest of the people
in the Company. Based on the survey, the Committee established guideline ranges
for eligible participants between the 50th and 90th percentile of similar
companies. As with annual incentive compensation, the determination of an
individual's grant is subjective and although the Committee has established
suggested guidelines, the grants are not formula based.
Total compensation is reviewed to determine whether amounts are competitive with
other companies whose operations are similar in type, size and complexity with
those of the Company, as well as a broad range of similarly sized companies.
Comparisons are made with published amounts, where available, and, from time to
time, the Company also participates in various industry-sponsored compensation
surveys in addition to the public-company survey described above. The Committee
also has, in the past, engaged an independent compensation consultant to
specifically review the level and appropriateness of executive officer
compensation. Other than as described above, the Company uses the results of
surveys, when available, for informational purposes only and does not target
individual elements of or total compensation to any specific range of survey
results (i.e., high, low or median) other than the Committee's suggested
guidelines for stock option grants as discussed in the previous paragraph.
Because each individual's compensation is determined, in part, by experience and
performance, actual compensation generally varies from industry averages.
Executive officers also participate in the Company's profit sharing plan (or
deferred compensation plan for executive officers) on the same terms as all
other people in the Company, subject to any legal limitations on amounts that
may be contributed or benefits that may be payable under the plan. Matching
contributions and annual
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<PAGE>
profit sharing contributions are made with the common stock of the Company to
further encourage long-term performance. In addition, certain individuals of the
Company participate in the Company's supplemental retirement plan, which
provides supplemental retirement benefits to "highly compensated employees" (as
defined in the Internal Revenue Code) of any amount which would be contributed
on such individual's behalf under the profit sharing plan (or the deferred
compensation plan for executive officers) but is not so contributed because of
the limitations contained in the Internal Revenue Code.
In most cases, the Committee has taken steps to qualify income paid to any
officer as a deductible business expense pursuant to regulations issued by the
Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Section 162 (m) of the Internal Revenue
Code with respect to qualifying compensation paid to executive officers in
excess of $1 million. Compensation earned pursuant to the exercise of options
granted under the Company's former stock option plan (which was discontinued in
1991) is not considered for purposes of the $1 million aggregate limit, and
exercises under the 1991 Plan are similarly excluded. The Committee will
continue to consider the implications to the Company of qualifying all
compensation as a deductible expense under Section 162 (m), but retains the
discretion to pay bonuses commensurate with an executive officer's contributions
to the success of the Company, irrespective of whether such amounts are entirely
deductible.
MR. BAKKE'S 1998 COMPENSATION
Mr. Bakke's compensation for 1998 was reviewed and approved by the Committee
utilizing the guidelines discussed above. Specifically, the following primarily
positive factors considered were:
o Strong adherence, understanding, and awareness by the people in the Company
to its shared principles of integrity, fairness, social responsibility and
fun, as indicated by the Company's internal values survey, with particular
emphasis made on excellent progress made at the Company's foreign
subsidiaries.
o Net income and diluted earnings per share increased 68% and 55% from 1997 to
1998, respectively.
o Significant development of new project and business opportunities,
including:
o the acquisition of CLESA, a distribution company in El Salvador
o the acquisition of Eletropaulo Metropolitana, the distribution company
for Sao Paolo, Brazil by an affiliate of AES
o the acquisition of three generating stations totalling approximately
4,000 MW from Southern California Edison
o the acquisition of Edelap, a distribution company in the province of
Buenos Aires, Argentina
o agreements to acquire businesses in India, Panama, Argentina, Illinois
(U.S.) and New York (U.S.)
o commencement of operations at numerous facilities, including those in
China, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Argentina
o numerous project development successes represented by project
financings, start of construction or successful bid awards in Mexico,
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Argentina
o Successful public issuance of approximately $200 million aggregate
principal amount of senior notes, $150 million of convertible junior
subordinated debentures, and $190 million of common stock.
o Successful resolution of Pakistan political dispute
o An exceptional year in plant reliability and availability across the
Company.
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<PAGE>
o Continued excellent environmental performance below permitted levels (on
average).
o An increase in total net megawatts in operation, in construction or under
advanced development from approximately 18,000 to 27,000.
The following primarily negative factors considered were:
o While the Company's overall safety record continued to improve in 1998,
several very serious injuries occurred, including six (five amongst the
Company's contractors) that resulted in loss of life.
o An increase in the price of the Company's stock of 1%, including a mid-year
drop of almost 60%.
Mr. Bakke's 1998 cash compensation decreased 71% over 1997 cash compensation, as
compared to a total cash compensation increase of approximately 52% from 1996 to
1997. However, total compensation for 1998, including the grant of stock
options, increased approximately 33%.
The Committee decided that, beginning in 1999, Mr. Bakke's cash compensation
would be reduced to $0. Mr. Bakke will be compensated solely by the grant of
stock options (in lieu of a cash salary and cash bonus). The Committee believes
that this method of compensation will align Mr. Bakke's compensation more
closely with the financial interests of the Company's other shareholders.
Frank Jungers, Chairman
Alice F. Emerson
Robert H. Waterman, Jr.
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<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table discloses compensation received by the five most highly
compensated executive officers for the three years ended December 31, 1998,
adjusted through February 2, 1999.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG TERM COMPENSATION
-------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
SECURITIES
OTHER ANNUAL UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) COMPENSATION ($) OPTIONS (#) (1) COMPENSATION ($) (2)
- ----------------------------- ------ ------------ ----------- ------------------ ----------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
DENNIS W. BAKKE 1998 500,000 -0- 11,924 160,000 56,000
Chief Executive 1997 450,000 1,300,000 9,699 55,209 61,250
Officer and President 1996 410,000 738,000 12,508 141,666 54,600
BARRY J. SHARP 1998 225,000 500,000 264 16,667 28,500
Senior Vice President and 1997 200,000 650,000 3,553 13,542 32,500
Chief Financial Officer 1996 170,000 325,000 8,951 22,500 28,200
THOMAS A. TRIBONE 1998 235,000 425,000 696 20,000 29,500
Executive Vice President 1997 200,000 800,000 2,920 16,667 32,500
1996 175,000 500,000 10,393 25,000 28,750
JOHN R. RUGGIRELLO 1998 190,000 450,000 1,770 15,556 25,000
Senior Vice President 1997 165,000 300,000 1,502 12,500 21,309
1996 150,000 200,000 1,203 20,834 16,644
J. STUART RYAN 1998 220,000 375,000 339,891* 16,667 28,000
Senior Vice President 1997 200,000 425,000 237,003* 13,542 31,000
1996 170,000 300,000 414,153* 29,164 26,700
</TABLE>
- ----------
* Includes ex-patriate and relocation compensation.
(1) The number of options shown as compensation as of December 31, 1998 were for
services rendered for 1998. Those stock options were awarded by the
Compensation Committee of the Board in February 1999.
(2) This column constitutes Company contributions to The AES Corporation Profit
Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan and the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of
the Company, and allocations to the Company's Supplemental Retirement Plan.
Specifically for 1998, (a) amounts contributed to The AES Profit Sharing and
Stock Ownership Plan and Employee Stock Ownership Plan: Mr. Bakke - $18,000;
Mr. Sharp - $18,000; Mr. Tribone - $18,000; Mr. Ruggirello - $18,000; Mr.
Ryan - $18,000; and (b) amounts allocated to the Supplemental Retirement
Plan: Mr. Bakke - $38,000; Mr. Sharp - $10,500; Mr. Tribone - $11,500; Mr.
Ruggirello - $7,000; Mr. Ryan - $10,000.
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<PAGE>
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table provides information on options granted for 1998 to the
named executive officers.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
% OF TOTAL
NUMBER OF OPTIONS
SECURITIES GRANTED
UNDERLYING TO ALL
OPTIONS AES PEOPLE EXERCISE GRANT DATE
GRANTED FOR FISCAL OR BASE EXPIRATION PRESENT VALUE
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION (#)(1) YEAR PRICE ($/SH) DATE ($) (2)
- ----------------------------- ------------ ------------ -------------- ------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
DENNIS W. BAKKE 160,000 16.3% 34.25 2/02/09 3,600,000
Chief Executive
Officer and President
BARRY J. SHARP 16,667 1.7% 34.25 2/02/09 375,008
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
THOMAS A. TRIBONE 20,000 2.0% 34.25 2/02/09 450,000
Executive Vice President
JOHN R. RUGGIRELLO 15,556 1.6% 34.25 2/02/09 350,010
Senior Vice President
J. STUART RYAN 16,667 1.7% 34.25 2/02/09 375,008
Senior Vice President
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) All options are for shares of Common Stock of the Company. Options granted
for services performed in 1998 were granted at the fair market value on the
date of grant, and vest at the rate of 50% per year through December 2000.
(2) The Black-Scholes stock option pricing model was used to value the stock
options on the grant date (February 2, 1999). The Company's assumptions
under this model include an expected volatility of 48.55%, a 4.66% risk free
rate of return and no dividends. The options have 10 year terms and vest at
50% per year. There were no adjustments made to account for vesting
provisions, and no adjustments were made for non-transferability or risk of
forfeiture.
The use of such amounts and assumptions are not intended to forecast any
possible future appreciation of the Company's stock price or dividend policy.
12
<PAGE>
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR, AND FISCAL YEAR-END O
PTION VALUE
The following table provides information on option exercises in 1998 by the
named executive officers and the value of such officers' unexercised options at
December 31, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF DOLLAR
SECURITIES VALUE OF
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS AT OPTIONS AT
NUMBER OF FY-END FY-END
SHARES DOLLAR --------------- ------------------
ACQUIRED ON VALUE EXERCISABLE/ EXERCISABLE/
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION EXERCISE REALIZED (1) UNEXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE (2)
- --------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- --------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
DENNIS W. BAKKE 44,188 1,579,058 736,766/ 26,812,474/
Chief Executive Officer and President 75,171 2,032,754
BARRY J. SHARP 38,626 1,720,305 251,280/ 9,674,956/
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 21,300 606,993
THOMAS A. TRIBONE 33,476 872,575 288,971/ 11,256,130/
Executive Vice President 22,170 593,865
JOHN R. RUGGIRELLO 10,428 467,806 151,388/ 5,422,130/
Senior Vice President 14,250 357,344
J. STUART RYAN -0- -0- 340,378/ 12,851,456/
Senior Vice President 30,176 938,172
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) The amounts in this column have been calculated based upon the difference
between the fair market value of the securities underlying each stock option
on the date of exercise and its exercise price.
(2) The amounts in this column have been calculated based on the difference
between the fair market value on December 31, 1998 of $47.375 per share
for each security underlying such stock option and the per share exercise
price.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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<PAGE>
THE AES CORPORATION STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
PEER GROUP INDEX*
The 1998 Peer Group consists of the following publicly-traded companies in the
global power generation industry: Edison International, CMS Energy Corporation,
CalEnergy Company, Inc. and National Power, PLC.
The 1998 Peer Group Index reflects the weighted average total return for the
entire Peer Group calculated for the period in which the Company's equity
securities were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant
to the Exchange Act, from a base of 100. In compliance with Securities and
Exchange Commission regulations, the returns of each company in the 1998 Peer
Group Index have been weighted according to their market capitalization as of
the beginning of the period.
The Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation and The AES
Corporation Stock Price Performance Graph shall not be deemed to be "soliciting
material" or to be "filed" with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
subject to Regulation 14A or 14C under the Exchange Act.
- ----------
* Excludes The AES Corporation
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<PAGE>
SECTION 16 (A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Based solely on the Company's review of reports filed under Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and certain representations, the Company
believes that in 1998 there were no reports which were not reported on a timely
basis and no known failure to file a required form, except that Dr. Emerson did
not timely report the purchase of 423 shares on Form 4; Mr. Hanrahan did not
timely report the sale of 21,998 shares from his AES Profit Sharing and Stock
Ownership Plan account on Form 4; Mr. McMillen did not timely report the sale of
10,000 shares on Form 4; Mr. Prieto did not timely report the sale of 21,902
shares on Form 4; and Ms. Slusser did not timely report the sale of 4,324 shares
from her AES Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan account on Form 4.
PROPOSAL 2
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The Board of Directors has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP, a firm of
independent public accountants, as auditors to examine and report to
stockholders for the year 1999. Deloitte & Touche LLP has acted as the Company's
independent auditors since 1981. The appointment was made upon the
recommendation of the Financial Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting
and will be given an opportunity to make a statement. They also will be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders ratify the appointment
of Deloitte & Touche LLP, and intends to introduce at the forthcoming Annual
Meeting the following resolution (designated herein as Proposal 2):
"RESOLVED, that the appointment by the Board of Directors of Deloitte &
Touche LLP as independent auditors for this Company for the year 1999 is
hereby approved, ratified and confirmed."
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares of Common Stock
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at
which a quorum is present, is necessary for the ratification of the appointment
of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditors for the Company for the year
1999.
SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS
Any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors and who meets the
requirements of the proxy rules under the Exchange Act may submit to the Board
of Directors proposals to be considered for submission to the stockholders at
the Year 2000 Annual Meeting. Any such proposal should be submitted in writing
by notice delivered or mailed by first-class United States mail, postage
prepaid, to the Secretary, The AES Corporation, 1001 North 19th Street,
Arlington, Virginia 22209 and must be received no later than February 13, 2000
in compliance with new regulations promulgated by the Commission. Any such
notice shall set forth: (a) the name and address of the stockholder and the text
of the proposal to be introduced; (b) the number of shares of stock held of
record, owned beneficially and represented by proxy by such stockholder as of
the date of such notice; and (c) a representation that the stockholder intends
to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to introduce the proposal
specified in the notice. The chairperson of the meeting may refuse to
acknowledge the introduction of any stockholder proposal not made in compliance
with the foregoing procedure.
AES's By-Laws contain a procedure for stockholder nomination of directors. The
By-Laws provide that any record owner of stock entitled to be voted generally in
the election of directors may nominate one or more persons for election as a
director at a stockholders meeting only if written notice is given to the
Secretary of AES of the intent to make such nomination. The notice must be
given, with respect to an annual meeting, not later than 90 days in advance of
such annual
15
<PAGE>
meeting and with respect to a special meeting, not later than the close of
business on the seventh day following the earlier of (a) the date on which
notice of such special meeting is first given to stockholders and (b) the date
on which a public announcement of such meeting is first made. Each notice must
include (i) the name and address of each stockholder who intends to appear in
person or by proxy to make the nomination and of the person or persons to be
nominated; (ii) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the
stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming them)
pursuant to which the nomination is to be made by the stockholder; (iii) such
other information regarding each nominee proposed by such stockholder as would
have been included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act; and (iv) the consent of each nominee to serve if elected. The
presiding officer of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any
person not made in compliance with this procedure. The procedure for stockholder
nomination of directors described above may have the effect of precluding a
nomination for election of directors at a particular meeting if the required
procedure is not followed.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
Proxies will be solicited by mail, telephone, or other means of communication.
The Company has retained the services of First Chicago Trust Company of New York
and Corporate Investor Communications, Inc. to assist in the solicitation of
proxies from stockholders for a fee, including its expenses, estimated at
$5,000. In addition, solicitation may be made by directors, officers, and
regular employees of the Company. The Company will reimburse brokerage firms,
custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries in accordance with the rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., for reasonable expenses
incurred by them in forwarding materials to the beneficial owners of shares. The
entire cost of solicitation will be borne by the Company.
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
ANY STOCKHOLDER WHO DESIRES A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S 1998 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM
10-K FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION MAY OBTAIN A COPY
(EXCLUDING EXHIBITS) WITHOUT CHARGE BY ADDRESSING A REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY,
THE AES CORPORATION, 1001 NORTH 19TH STREET, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22209. EXHIBITS
ALSO MAY BE REQUESTED, BUT A CHARGE EQUAL TO THE REPRODUCTION COST THEREOF WILL
BE MADE. STOCKHOLDERS MAY ALSO VISIT THE COMPANY'S WEB SITE AT HTTP://
WWW.AESC.COM
By Order of the Board Of Directors,
William R. Luraschi
Vice President and Secretary
16
