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Enron Mail |
I reviewed the UtilityGuide website and while I do not have an issue with Mr.
van Ulden participating on the advisory board I would have a few cautions. It should not include any hard commitments from Enron in terms of funding. We may want to participate in the program but we should not be required too. His compensation should be insignificant or nothing. Otherwise he would have a conflict as their revenues will come from our competitors. I would have a lot of heartburn over that as an Enron representative as well as if I came from the competition. Please let me know final status or if you have any questions. Andrew Wu 12/12/99 07:59 PM To: Jim Badum/HOU/EES@EES cc: Jeff Dasovich/SFO/EES@EES Subject: Dirk vanUlden Jim-- I am in the EES Legal Dept here in California. Jeff Dasovich of Public and Gov't Affairs asked me to send you an email soliciting your thoughts regarding Enron employees participating in third-party deregulation-related companies. Specifically, an Enron employee here in California (Mr. Dirk van Ulden) has been asked to serve on the "advisory board" for a deregulated industry startup called UtilityGuide. UtilityGuide's goal is to create an online forum for buyers and sellers of deregulated energy services. UtilityGuide would be funded by (a) transaction fees paid by services providers, and (b) revenues derived from advertising and sponsorship. The management of UtilityGuide includes an ex-White House policy analyst (I don't know which administration), a web design consultant and former marketing manager for Greenpeace, and an ex-portfolio manager for Union Bank of California. Mr. van Ulden would be one of seven on the advisory board, which does not include any management activities. Mr. van Ulden's main duties appear to be assisting in recruitment of other members of the advisory board, other management members, and identifying potential sources of working capital. The term of Mr. van Ulden's appointment would be one year. Jeff Dasovich and I have reviewed UtilityGuide's website (www.utilityguide.com) and we do not believe that Mr. van Ulden's service on the advisory board would be in conflict with the Enron Corporate Conduct policy, mainly because (a) UtilityGuide as an aggregator of energy servicers and not an energy service provider itself does not appear to be a competitor of Enron, and (b) Mr. van Ulden's position at Enron Energy Services as a project manager under Jeff Messina's Account Management and Delivery group limits virtually all actual conflicts between Mr. van Ulden's duties at EES v. his duties at UtilityGuide. However, because of EES' ongoing forays into the electronic marketplace, we thought it appropriate to ask your thoughts before responding. I believe that Mr. van Ulden has the concurrence of his management as to this appointment, although of course we can seek concurrence from any other management entities deemed necessary or prudent. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Pls let me know if I can provide any further information. I can be reached in San Ramon at 925 543 3706. Jeff Dasovich can be reached in San Francisco at 415 782 7822. Andy
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