What are the Board’s voting recommendations?
The Board recommends that you vote your shares “FOR” Proposals 1 and 2.
Who may attend in the Special Meeting?
You are entitled to attend and participate in the Special Meeting only if you were a shareholder of record as of the close of business on August 24, 2020, if you hold a valid proxy for the meeting, or if you are our invited guest. If you plan to attend the meeting in person, you will need an admission ticket and a valid government issued photo ID to enter the meeting. For shareholders of record, an admission ticket is attached to your notice of Internet availability of proxy materials or proxy card. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, please bring your account statement as that will serve as your ticket.
When is the record date and who is entitled to vote?
Only shareholders of record, meaning those holders whose shares of our common stock, are registered directly with our transfer agent, Broadridge, at the close of business on August 24, 2020 may vote at the meeting.
If you are a beneficial owner, meaning you hold shares in our Company in “street name” (i.e., through a broker, bank or other nominee), you generally cannot vote your shares directly and must instead instruct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your shares.
On the record date, the Company had 100,587,912 shares of common stock outstanding. Shareholders are entitled to one vote per share on each matter to be acted upon.
What is a shareholder of record?
A shareholder of record, or registered shareholder, is a person whose ownership of SJI stock is reflected directly on the books and records of our transfer agent, Broadridge. If you hold stock through an account with a bank, broker or similar organization, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” by that institution and not a shareholder of record. For shares held in street name, the shareholder of record is the bank, broker or similar organization. As the beneficial owner, such shareholders have the right to direct the bank, broker or similar organization that holds such shares how to vote by following the instructions from the holder of record.
How do I vote without attending the Special Meeting?
If you are a shareholder of record, you may vote or submit a proxy by any of the following methods:
1. By Internet—You may submit your proxy by going to www.proxyvote.com and following the instructions on how to complete an electronic proxy card. You will need the 16-digit number included on your notice of Internet availability of the proxy materials, on your proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials in order to vote by Internet.
2. By Telephone—you may submit your proxy by using a touch-tone telephone to dial 1-800-690-6903 and following the recorded instructions. You will need the 16-digit number included on your notice of Internet availability of the proxy materials, on your proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials in order to vote by telephone.
3. By Mail—You may vote by mail by requesting a proxy card from us, indicating your vote by completing, signing and dating the card where indicated and by mailing or otherwise returning the card in the envelope that will be provided to you. You should sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy card. If you are signing in a representative capacity, you must indicate your name and title or capacity.
If you are a beneficial owner holding your shares in “street name,” you may vote by submitting voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee. In most instances, you will be able to do this on the Internet, by telephone or by mail as indicated above. Please refer to information from your bank, broker or other nominee on how to submit voting instructions.