SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [_] Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12
Southwest Water Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Southwest Water Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2) or
Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
[_] $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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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):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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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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Notes:
Southwest Water Company "A Service Company"
April 10, 1996
DEAR STOCKHOLDER:
[LOGO APPEARS HERE]
You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Southwest
Water Company, to be held on Tuesday, May 21, 1996, at 10:00 a.m. in Salon C-D
of the San Gabriel Valley Marriott, located at 14635 Baldwin Park Towne Center,
Baldwin Park, California.
At this year's meeting, you are asked to elect seven directors, to adopt a
non-employee director stock option plan, and to ratify the appointment of the
Company's independent auditors. The accompanying Notice of Meeting and Proxy
Statement describe these proposals. We have also enclosed a copy of our 1995
Annual Report. We urge you to read this information carefully.
Your Board of Directors unanimously believes that election of its nominees
as directors, adoption of the stock option plan for non-employee directors and
ratification of its appointment of independent auditors for the year 1996 are in
the best interests of Southwest Water and its stockholders, and accordingly
recommends a vote FOR Items 1, 2 and 3 on the enclosed proxy card.
In addition to the formal business to be transacted at the meeting,
management will make a presentation on developments during the past year, and we
will provide an opportunity for comments and questions of general interest to
stockholders. Your Board of Directors and management look forward to greeting
all stockholders able to attend the meeting.
It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting,
regardless of the number of shares you own and whether or not you plan to
attend. ACCORDINGLY, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD
IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
Your interest and participation in the affairs of the Company are
appreciated.
Sincerely,
/s/ Anton C. Garnier
ANTON C. GARNIER
President and Chief Executive Officer
225 North Barranca Avenue, Suite 200, West Covina, CA 91791-1605
Phone: (818) 915-1551, Facsimile: (818) 915-1558
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
[LOGO APPEARS HERE]
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MAY 21, 1996
To the Stockholders of Southwest Water Company:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of SOUTHWEST
WATER COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held at the San
Gabriel Valley Marriott, 14635 Baldwin Park Towne Center, Baldwin Park,
California, on Tuesday, May 21, 1996, at 10:00 a.m. local time, for the
following purposes:
1. To elect seven directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of
Stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
2. To approve adoption of a Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors;
3. To consider and act upon ratification of the Board of Directors'
appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as the Company's independent
auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1996; and
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournments thereof.
In accordance with the bylaws of the Company, only stockholders of record
at the close of business on March 29, 1996, shall be entitled to vote at this
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
A copy of the Company's Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Stockholders
accompanies this notice.
By order of the Board of Directors
PETER J. MOERBEEK
Secretary
West Covina, California
April 10, 1996
IMPORTANT
PLEASE MARK, SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD SO THAT YOUR
SHARES MAY BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WISHES AND TO ASSURE THE PRESENCE OF
A QUORUM AT THE MEETING. THE PROMPT RETURN OF YOUR SIGNED PROXY, REGARDLESS OF
THE NUMBER OF SHARES THAT YOU HOLD, WILL AID THE COMPANY IN REDUCING THE EXPENSE
OF ADDITIONAL PROXY SOLICITATION. THE GIVING OF A PROXY DOES NOT AFFECT YOUR
RIGHT TO VOTE IN PERSON IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ATTEND THE MEETING.
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
[LOGO APPEARS HERE]
225 NORTH BARRANCA AVENUE, SUITE 200
WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA 91791-1605
____________________
PROXY STATEMENT
MAY 21, 1996
__________
SOLICITATION AND REVOCATION OF PROXY
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Southwest Water Company (the "Company") for
use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 21, 1996, or at any
adjournments thereof.
It is expected that the Notice, Proxy Statement and Proxy will be mailed to
stockholders of the Company on or about April 10, 1996. Only stockholders of
record at the close of business on March 29, 1996 (the "Record Date"), will be
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting"). On
March 29, 1996 there were 2,583,254 shares of the Company's Common stock and
10,341 shares of the Company's Series "A" Preferred stock outstanding,
respectively. Each share of Common stock is entitled to one vote, equal to
2,583,254 votes, and each share of Preferred stock is entitled to five votes,
equal to 51,705 votes, for a combined 2,634,959 total number of votes at the
Meeting. The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation does not provide
for cumulative voting; therefore, a simple plurality of the votes cast will
elect all of the directors and will be sufficient to approve the non-employee
director stock option plan and ratify the appointment of the independent
auditors.
Each valid Proxy will be voted at the Meeting, and such vote will be cast
in accordance with the stockholders' directions specified on their Proxies. If
no specification is made, the shares represented by Proxies will be voted FOR
the election as directors of the Company of those persons designated as
management nominees, FOR adoption of a stock option plan for non-employee
directors and FOR ratification of the appointment of the Company's independent
auditors for 1996. Any stockholder of the Company may revoke a Proxy at any time
prior to its use by filing with the Company, at the address indicated herein, a
written notice of revocation or a duly executed Proxy bearing a later date, or
by voting in person at the Meeting.
The form of Proxy which accompanies this Proxy Statement is solicited by
the Board of Directors of the Company, and all expenses incident to the
preparation and mailing, or otherwise making available to the stockholders of
the Company, of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxies and this
Proxy Statement, will be borne by the Company. In addition, Proxies may be
solicited by officers, directors and employees of the Company, personally or by
telephone. The Company is a Delaware corporation with its principal executive
offices located at 225 North Barranca Avenue, Suite 200, West Covina, California
91791-1605, Telephone: (818) 915-1551, Facsimile: (818) 915-1558.
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for a Board
of Directors consisting of seven members. It is intended that the persons named
in the Proxy will, unless otherwise instructed, vote for the election of the
seven nominees identified below to serve as directors until the next Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. If any nominee, for any reason currently unknown,
cannot be a candidate for election, the shares represented by valid Proxies will
be voted in favor of the remaining nominees and may be voted for the election of
a substitute nominee recommended by the Board of Directors. Directors are
elected by plurality vote. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not have the
effect of votes in opposition to a director.
With the exception of Mr. Christie, each of the nominees was elected to his
current term of office at the last Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. Christie
was appointed a director in June 1995.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The following information with respect to each nominee's principal
occupation or employment and each nominee's affiliations and business experience
during the past five years has been furnished to the Company by each of the
respective nominees:
H. FREDERICK CHRISTIE, 62, is a consultant. He retired in 1990 as president and
chief executive officer of the Mission Companies, a subsidiary of SCEcorp (now
Edison International), which oversaw SCEcorp's non-utility businesses. From
1984 to 1987, he served as president of Southern California Edison Company, a
subsidiary of SCEcorp. Mr. Christie is a director of Great Western Financial
Corporation, Great Western Bank, Ultramar Corp., AECOM Technology Corporation,
IHOP Corp., Ducommun Incorporated, Capital Income Builder, Inc., Small Cap World
Fund, Capital World Growth and Income Fund and American Mutual Fund. He is a
Trustee of American Variable Insurance and New Economy Fund and a Director or
Trustee of 13 fixed income funds of the Capital Research and Management Company.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Occidental College, President of the
Board of Trustees of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and a
member of the Board of Councilors for the School of Public Administration at the
University of Southern California. Mr. Christie was appointed a director in
June 1995.
MICHAEL J. FASMAN, 86, is an attorney and a partner of the law firm, Allen and
Fasman. Mr. Fasman was first elected a director in 1975.
ANTON C. GARNIER, 55, has been president and chief executive officer of the
Company since 1968. Mr. Garnier was first elected a director in 1968.
MONROE HARRIS, 74, is a consultant and retired executive vice president and
director of Johns-Manville Corporation. Mr. Harris was first elected a director
in 1963. He resigned from the Board in 1965 when he moved to New York. Mr.
Harris was reelected a director in 1987.
DONOVAN D. HUENNEKENS, 59, is a partner of Huennekens, Quinn & Talcott (a real
estate development company). He is also a director of Bixby Ranch Company, a
trustee of the Mead Foundation and a member of the board of Mead Housing, Inc.
Mr. Huennekens was first elected a director in 1969.
RICHARD KELTON, 66, is president of Bollenbacher & Kelton, Inc., a commercial
and residential developer. Mr. Kelton was first elected a director in 1969.
RICHARD G. NEWMAN, 61, is chairman, president and chief executive officer and a
director of AECOM Technology Corporation, the parent of several subsidiaries
that provide architectural, engineering, construction, operations and
maintenance services on an international basis. Mr. Newman also serves on the
board of 13 mutual funds managed by the Capital Research and Management Company.
Mr. Newman was first elected a director in 1991.
There are no family relationships between any director and any executive
officer of the Company. None of the entities by whom the foregoing directors
are employed are related to the Company. No director is a director of any other
corporation subject to Sections 12 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 or registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of
1940. No director or executive officer of the Company has been, during the last
five years, involved in a legal proceeding of the type which would be required
to be disclosed herein by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. There are no
arrangements or understandings between any director and any other persons
pursuant to which any director was or is to be selected as a director or nominee
of the Company or of any other company.
2
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Board of Directors has five committees: Audit, Compensation,
Investment/Acquisition, Nominating and Director Stock Option. The principal
responsibilities of these committees and the members of each committee during
1995 are described below.
The Audit Committee was chaired by Mr. Kelton and also included Messrs.
Fasman, Harris, Huennekens and Newman. Mr. Christie was appointed to serve on
the Audit Committee in December 1995. During 1995, the Audit Committee held two
meetings. Among its responsibilities, the Audit Committee recommends to the
Board the appointment of the Company's independent auditors for the ensuing
year, reviews with the independent auditors and management the scope and results
of the auditing engagement (as well as management's internal auditing program)
reviews the adequacy of the Company's internal control procedures and reviews
the independence of the auditors.
The Compensation Committee was chaired by Mr. Harris and also included
Messrs. Fasman, Huennekens, Kelton and Newman. Mr. Christie was appointed to
serve on the Compensation Committee in December 1995. During 1995, the
Compensation Committee held two meetings. Among its responsibilities, the
Compensation Committee determines Mr. Garnier's compensation program, reviews
and approves management's recommendations as to other executive salaries,
approves the yearly salary administration program for non-executive Company
employees, and reviews and approves changes to the Company's employee benefit
programs. There are no Compensation Committee interlocks.
The Investment/Acquisition Committee was chaired by Mr. Huennekens and also
included Messrs. Fasman, Garnier, Harris, Kelton and Newman. During 1995, the
Investment/Acquisition Committee held one meeting. Among its responsibilities,
the Investment/Acquisition Committee sets overall investment policy with respect
to the Company's short-term funds, provides guidance in the selection of the
Company's banking relationships and analyzes the effects of external economic
conditions on the Company's investment policy. The Committee also provides
direction in the areas of long-term planning, consideration of diversification
alternatives, new business developments, and acquisitions and mergers.
The Nominating Committee was chaired by Mr. Newman and also included
Messrs. Fasman, Harris, Huennekens and Kelton. During 1995, the Nominating
Committee held one meeting. The functions of the Nominating Committee include
establishing criteria for the selection of nominees for election as directors,
reviewing the qualifications of and maintaining information concerning potential
nominees, making recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to
nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and as
vacancies occur on the Board between annual meetings, reviewing on a long-term
basis the size and composition of the Board and investigating and making
recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to amendments to the
Company's Bylaws. The Nominating Committee will consider recommendations for
director nominees proposed by stockholders. Please submit any recommendations
in writing to Mr. Newman at the Company's principal executive offices.
The Director Stock Option Committee was chaired by Mr. Fasman and also
included Mr. Harris until their resignations from the Committee, effective
March 28, 1995. Beginning March 29, 1995, the Committee was chaired by Mr.
Huennekens and included Mr. Kelton. During 1995, the Director Stock Option
committee held three meetings. The Director Stock Option Committee was formed
in 1991 to administer the Company's Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the
"Option Plan"). Messrs. Huennekens and Kelton are qualified to serve on this
committee according to the rules issued pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934.
3
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION
Directors who are not officers of the Company are currently paid an annual
retainer of $12,000 for service on the Board plus a fee of $750 for attendance
at each Board meeting, Committee meeting or long-range planning meeting, except
that Committee or long-range planning meetings receive a fee of $500 if they are
held on the same day as a Board meeting. Directors who are officers of the
Company are not paid any fees or additional remuneration for service as members
of the Board or any Board Committee. Information as to additional directors'
compensation is set forth under the heading "Other Compensation" on page 13 and
under the heading "Proposal 2: Adoption of a Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
Directors" on page 15.
ATTENDANCE AT BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
During 1995, the Board of Directors held six Board meetings, one planning
meeting and nine Committee meetings. All directors attended at least 94% of the
combined meetings of the Board and the Committees of the Board on which they
served.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS
AMENDED.
Federal securities laws require the Company's directors and officers, and
persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company's
equity securities, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
Nasdaq Stock Market initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in
ownership of any securities of the Company.
To the Company's knowledge, based on a review of the copies of reports
furnished to the Company and written representations by officers and directors
of the Company, all of the Company's officers, directors and greater-than-ten-
percent beneficial owners made timely filings, except that Mr. Harris filed one
report late.
4
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY'S SECURITIES
BY MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of the Record Date, the number of shares
of each class of equity securities of the Company beneficially owned by each
director of the Company, the chief executive officer of the Company, the four
other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company and its
subsidiaries, and by all directors and officers as a group. In each case where
the number of shares of a class of securities exceeds 1% of the securities of
that class outstanding on the Record Date, the percentage of ownership of that
class is stated. All securities are Common stock, and except as otherwise
indicated, each individual named has sole investment and voting power with
respect to the securities shown.
NUMBER OF EXERCISABLE TOTAL NUMBER
NAME OF SHARES OPTIONS OF SHARES AND
BENEFICIAL OWNER AND BENEFICIALLY BENEFICIALLY EXERCISABLE OPTIONS PERCENTAGE
CAPACITY WITH COMPANY OWNED OWNED (A) BENEFICIALLY OWNED OF CLASS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Frederick Christie, Director 4,200 - 4,200 *
Michael J. Fasman, Director 4,263 (b) 2,878 7,141 *
Monroe Harris, Director 16,328 (c) 2,878 19,206 *
Donovan D. Huennekens, Director 8,341 2,878 11,219 *
Richard Kelton, Director 25,918 (d) 2,878 28,796 1.1%
Richard G. Newman, Director 7,350 (e) 1,691 9,041 *
Anton C. Garnier, Director, President 89,750 (f) 34,436 124,186 4.7%
and Chief Executive Officer
Peter J. Moerbeek, Vice President 2,625 - 2,625 *
Finance, CFO and Secretary
James E. Furman, President 992 11,106 12,098 *
ECO Resources, Inc.
Michael O. Quinn, Chief Operating 5,244 10,582 15,826 *
Officer Suburban Water Systems
Robert L. Swartwout, President 315 2,730 3,045 *
New Mexico Utilities, Inc.
All Directors and Officers as a Group 165,326 72,057 237,383 8.9%
(11 persons)
__________________________________
* Indicates less than 1% of class of stock.
(a) Includes options which become exercisable within 60 days after the Record
Date.
(b) Excludes 10,126 shares of common stock held of record by Mr. Fasman's wife,
as trustee. Also excludes 29,114 shares of common stock and 147 shares of
Series "A" preferred stock held of record by Mr. Fasman as a co-trustee of
two trusts in which Mr. Fasman has no beneficial interest. Mr. Fasman
disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.
(c) Includes 12,023 shares held by Mr. Harris and his wife as co-trustees of a
family trust and 840 shares held by Mr. Harris' wife.
(d) All of the 25,918 shares are held by Mr. Kelton as trustee of an
irrevocable trust for his benefit. Mr. Kelton is sole trustee of such
trust, and has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the
shares.
(e) All of the 7,350 shares are held by Mr. and Mrs. Newman as trustees of a
revocable trust for their benefit. Mr. Newman is a trustee of such trust,
and has shared voting and investment power with respect to such shares.
(f) Included in the table are 44,282 shares owned by Mr. and Mrs. Garnier as
trustees of a revocable trust for their benefit. Mr. Garnier is a trustee
of such trust and has shared voting and investment power with respect to
the shares. Also included in the table are 33,849 shares representing Mr.
Garnier's proportionate interests in two corporations for which Mr. Garnier
is president and a director. Mr. Garnier has shared voting and investment
power with respect to these two corporations, which own a total of 162,134
shares of Southwest Water Company common stock. Other than his
proportionate interests above, Mr. Garnier disclaims beneficial ownership
of these shares.
5
BY OTHERS
The following table identifies each of the persons known to the Company to
own of record and beneficially (as determined pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder), as
of the Record Date, more than 5% of any class or series of the Company's
outstanding voting securities, the number of shares of each class or series so
owned, and the percentage of each class or series owned:
NAME AND ADDRESS OF NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENTAGE
CLASS OF STOCK BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIALLY OWNED OF CLASS *
- ----------------------- --------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------
Series "A" Preferred Lincoln National Life Ins. Co 3,607 35%
C/O Banker's Trust
P.O. Box 704, Church Street
Station, New York, NY 10008
To the knowledge of the Company's management, there are no other beneficial
owners of more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Company. The
Company's management knows of no arrangements that may hereinafter result in a
change in control of the Company. Neither the foregoing beneficial owner, nor
any director, officer or affiliate, nor any of their respective associates is a
party to any legal proceeding adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
COMPARISON OF THE CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
ON THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK TO CERTAIN INDUSTRY STANDARDS
The following graph compares the cumulative total return to holders of the
common stock of the Company during the most recent five fiscal years versus the
average return to investors during the same period achieved by 14 publicly held
water utilities listed in the Edward Jones Water Utility Index and the Standard
and Poor's Index of 500 Companies.
[COMPARISON GRAPH APPEARS HERE]
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY, UTILITY INDEX AND S&P 500 INDEX
Measurement Period SOUTHWEST UTILITY S&P 500
(Fiscal Year Covered) WATER COMPANY INDEX INDEX
- ------------------- ------------- ------- -------
Measurement Pt- 1990 $100.00 $100.00 $100.00
FYE 1991 $ 93.74 $142.79 $130.34
FYE 1992 $114.56 $158.13 $140.25
FYE 1993 $ 74.29 $180.17 $154.32
FYE 1994 $ 67.63 $167.84 $156.42
FYE 1995 $ 84.10 $211.16 $214.99
*Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends and is based on a $100
investment on December 31, 1990.
6
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
This report was prepared by the members of the Compensation Committee (the
Committee) of the Board of Directors, which consists of independent directors
who are not employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Committee
designs and administers the Company's executive compensation programs and has
responsibility for all compensation and benefit matters of the Company's
executive officers. In 1995, the Committee members included all outside
directors.
Executive Officer Compensation Philosophy
The compensation philosophy for executive officers is to ensure that
compensation be directly linked to continuous improvements in the Company's
financial performance and increases in stockholder value. To implement the
philosophy, the Committee is guided by the following objectives: (1) enable the
Company to attract and retain highly qualified executives, (2) focus executives
efforts on the fulfillment of Company annual and long-term business objectives
and strategies, and (3) ensure that a portion of executive compensation is
variable, tied to specific performance measures. The Committee has used various
outside consultants in designing the current executive compensation plan.
Executive Compensation
In determining the base salary levels of executives, including the Chief
Executive Officer, the Committee considers individual performance, the
performance of the operations directed by the executive, and the competitive
salary levels of executives in companies of similar size and complexity.
Competitive salary information, obtained primarily through published
compensation surveys, is used to determine the reasonableness of total
compensation, which includes base salary and incentive compensation. For
executives other than the Chief Executive Officer, the Committee also considers
the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer.
The Committee reviewed Mr. Garnier's performance based on the Company's
1994 financial results in terms of earnings per share and new business
development and also evaluated his overall ability to manage and lead the
Company. The Committee determined that Mr. Garnier's emphasis for 1995 should be
on achieving the financial performance goals required by the incentive
compensation program; therefore, the Committee determined that Mr. Garnier's
base salary would not be increased in 1995.
Annual Incentive Compensation
The Committee believes that the Company's short-term objectives are
enhanced with annual performance-based incentive compensation for its
executives. Annual incentive awards are based on the attainment of certain
financial objectives for the Company and on an executive's achievement of goals
in his or her area of functional responsibility. Executive performance
objectives include both quantitative and qualitative criteria. As an executive's
level of responsibility increases, a greater portion of potential total cash
compensation is at risk in the form of annual performance-based incentives.
Financial goals and performance-based measures are established by the
Committee at the beginning of each year. Awards are made at the end of the year
based on actual performance. Each year the Committee establishes a performance
threshold, and no awards are made if the performance threshold is not attained.
For 1995, the performance threshold established by the Committee was a 30%
growth in earnings per share. The actual results for the year exceeded the
threshold set by the Committee, and incentive compensation awards were approved
for the Company's executives.
Mr. Garnier's incentive compensation award for 1995 is based on the
performance of the Company as a whole and Mr. Garnier's performance with respect
to qualitative and quantitative objectives approved by the Committee. The
Committee reviewed the improvements in revenues, net income and earnings per
share and also evaluated Mr. Garnier's progress in attaining qualitative
objectives in such areas as investor relations, strategic planning for the
Company's long-term future, financial forecasting, and employee involvement and
communications.
7
The Committee does not use specific weighting factors with respect to
qualitative and quantitative performance measures. The Committee gave equal
consideration to the Company's financial performance and Mr. Garnier's
achievement of his qualitative objectives. However, in determining Mr.
Garnier's award for 1995, the Committee gave particular emphasis to the
Company's operating results.
Long-term Incentive Compensation
The primary purpose of long-term incentives is to offer executives and
managers an incentive to cause the Company to achieve superior financial
performance, thereby helping to assure superior financial results for its
shareholders. Currently the primary form of long-term incentive compensation is
the awarding of non-qualified stock options. The Committee recommends to the
Director Stock Option Committee approval of stock options for all executives and
managers, including the five current executives named in the Summary
Compensation Table.
In determining the number of stock options recommended, the Committee
considers a number of factors including the executive's pay level,
responsibilities in the organization, and ability to significantly improve
future financial results. In addition, the Committee compares the Company's
option grant levels with similar industry practices. In 1995 all of the
Committee's recommendations were approved by the Director Stock Option
Committee.
Compensation Committee
Monroe Harris (Chairman) Michael J. Fasman Richard Kelton
H. Frederick Christie Donovan D. Huennekens Richard G. Newman
February 8, 1996
8
COMPENSATION OF CERTAIN EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information as to the compensation
paid during the last three fiscal years of the Company to the chief executive
officer of the Company and to the four other most highly compensated executive
officers of the Company and its subsidiaries:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation Long Term Compensation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other
Annual Restricted All Other
Name and Compen- Stock Stock Compen-
Principal Salary Bonus sation Awards Options sation
Position Year ($) (1) ($) ($) (2) ($) (3) (#) (4) ($) (5)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANTON C. GARNIER, 1995 205,453 50,000 3,712 - 8,043 -
Chief Executive Officer and 1994 201,226 - 5,149 - 8,043 -
President 1993 191,630 - 2,559 - - -
PETER J. MOERBEEK, 1995 156,000 10,000 258 - 12,600 -
Vice President Finance and - - - - - - -
Chief Financial Officer - - - - - - -
JAMES E. FURMAN, 1995 149,325 27,948 1,566 - 4,510 2,987
President, 1994 144,394 - 1,481 - 4,510 2,867
ECO Resources, Inc. 1993 141,417 - 1,344 - - 1,900
MICHAEL O. QUINN, 1995 141,220 17,105 564 - 2,237 -
Chief Operating Officer, 1994 130,184 6,900 2,331 - 2,237 -
Suburban Water Systems 1993 126,322 - 391 - - -
ROBERT L. SWARTWOUT, 1995 92,904 20,000 549 - 1,575 -
President, 1994 91,312 9,720 498 - 1,575 -
New Mexico Utilities, Inc. 1993 90,752 8,586 454 - - -
(1) Salary shown for Mr. Moerbeek, who joined the Company in August 1995,
is annualized based upon a full year of employment.
(2) Other amounts consist of expenses paid to or for the benefit of the
named officers.
(3) At December 31, 1995, the following summarizes cumulative holdings of
restricted stock which have been adjusted for a 5% stock dividend on
January 2, 1996:
Value at $9.625
Name Shares (#) per share ($)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANTON C. GARNIER (granted in 1988 and 1989) 11,619 111,833
MICHAEL O. QUINN (granted in 1988 and 1989) 3,867 37,220
Restricted stock awards vest 10 years after grant. Should an employee
terminate prior to the vesting of the restricted stock, the stock is
subject to repurchase. Dividends on the restricted stock are paid
without restrictions.
(4) Options adjusted to reflect 5% stock dividend on January 2, 1996.
(5) Represents ECO's contributions to executive's account in a 401(k)
Plan.
9
EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS
Pursuant to severance compensation agreements entered into on February 21,
1995, between the Company and Messrs. Garnier, Furman, Quinn and Swartwout and a
severance compensation agreement entered into on August 7, 1995 with Mr.
Moerbeek, the Company has agreed to provide severance benefits and payments to
such individuals based on 1-1/2 times the average 5-year compensation of such
individuals and payable to an executive if one of the following conditions is
met as to such executive: (1) termination of the executive's employment by his
employer prior to the second anniversary of a change in control other than by
retirement or for death, disability or cause; or (2) termination of executive's
employment by the executive within two years after a change in control for "good
reason" (including assignment of executive to duties inconsistent with
executive's position, duties, responsibilities and status prior to the change in
control, or alternatively, a reduction of salary, a significant reduction in
benefits, an elimination of stock plans or a relocation of employment greater
than 50 miles), without written consent by executive. Under these agreements,
cash severance payments are based upon base salary, auto benefits, bonuses and
certain life insurance premium amounts paid by the employer and are payable
within five days after termination of employment. Cash severance amounts,
assuming termination meeting the requirements for a severance payment as of
December 31, 1995 are as follows: Mr. Garnier - $317,855; Mr. Moerbeek -
$249,663; Mr. Furman - $237,439; Mr. Quinn - $199,576; and Mr. Swartwout -
$154,836. In addition to the cash payment, each executive is entitled to certain
health insurance benefits with a value of approximately $10,320 and outplacement
services with a maximum benefit of $4,000. For purposes of the severance
compensation agreements, a "change in control" is generally defined as a change
in the person or persons owning, directly or indirectly, sufficient voting stock
to elect the Board of Directors for the entity which employs an executive. These
severance compensation agreements are in addition to the plans described under
the heading "Retirement Benefits."
Pursuant to an agreement entered into in 1992 between Mr. Swartwout and New
Mexico Utilities, Inc. ("NMU"), upon a disposition of substantially all assets
of NMU, Mr. Swartwout is, if he continues his employment with NMU through
completion of the transaction, entitled to a severance payment of 1% of the
gross disposition price if in excess of $6,000,000, or 3% of the gross
disposition price if in excess of $11,000,000. Upon such a disposition, Mr.
Swartwout would receive a cash payment equal to the greater of (1) the cash
severance payment determined pursuant to his severance compensation agreement or
(2) the amount determined under the NMU agreement based upon the gross
disposition price of the NMU assets.
10
OPTIONS GRANTED TO CERTAIN EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Stock options were granted during the Company's most recent fiscal year to
the chief executive officer and other highly compensated officers of the Company
and its subsidiaries as shown below:
STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED IN 1995
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of Stock
Price Appreciation for
Individual Grants Ten-Year Grant Term
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% of Total
Options Exercise
Granted to or At 0% At 5% At 10%
Employees Base Annual Annual Annual
Options in Price Expiration Growth Growth Growth
Name (#) (1) Fiscal Year ($/sh.) (2) Date Rate ($) Rate ($) Rate ($)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anton C. Garnier 8,043 28% 8.57 2005 0 43,271 109,787
Peter J. Moerbeek 12,600 43% 8.33 2005 0 65,898 167,202
James E. Furman 4,510 16% 8.57 2005 0 24,264 61,562
Michael O. Quinn 2,237 8% 8.57 2005 0 12,035 30,535
Robert L. Swartwout 1,575 5% 8.57 2005 0 8,474 21,499
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Stockholders (3) N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 15,598,013 39,503,803
All Optionees (4) 32,115 100% 8.43 2005 0 170,210 431,626
Optionee Gain
as % of Total N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 1.1% 1.1%
Stockholders' Gain
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Options vest 20% per year until fully vested. All options adjusted to
reflect a 5% stock dividend on January 2, 1996.
(2) All exercise prices represent fair market value on the date of grant.
(3) Based on total number of shares outstanding at December 31, 1995, adjusted
for a stock dividend on January 2, 1996.
(4) Includes 3,150 options granted to non-employee directors, set forth on page
14.
11
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS BY CERTAIN EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information as to exercised and
unexercised stock options, value realized and value of unexercised options
during the Company's most recent fiscal year by the chief executive officer of
the Company and other highly compensated officers of the Company and its
subsidiaries:
OPTION EXERCISES AND YEAR-END VALUE TABLE
Number of Value of Unexercised In-the-
Shares Value Unexercised Options Money Options at Fiscal Year-
Acquired on Realized at Fiscal Year-End End (1)
Name Exercise (#) ($) Exercisable/ Unexercisable (#) Exercisable/Unexercisable ($)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anton C. Garnier - - 28,699 / 16,997 539 / 10,641
Peter J. Moerbeek - - - / 12,600 - / 16,317
James E. Furman - - 7,202 / 12,318 302 / 5,967
Michael O. Quinn - - 9,183 / 4,531 150 / 2,960
Robert L. Swartwout - - 1,890 / 3,885 106 / 2,084
(1) Difference between fair market value at fiscal year end of $9.625 and
option exercise price.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
The Company is a party to a Noncontributory Defined Benefit Pension Plan
(the "Pension Plan"), established on December 31, 1957, which provides
retirement benefits and certain death benefits. All regular full-time and
part-time employees of the parent Company, Suburban Water Systems ("Suburban"),
and NMU who meet all eligibility requirements, including the completion of one
year of service, are eligible to participate in the Pension Plan.
Four executive officers of the Company and its participating subsidiaries
are covered under the terms of the Pension Plan. The Company and its
participating subsidiaries pay the entire cost of administering the Pension
Plan. No non-employee director is included in the Pension Plan. All of the
trustees and administrators of the Pension Plan are currently officers or
employees of the participating companies. Payments to the Pension Plan by the
Company are computed on an actuarial basis to provide fixed benefits to
employees in the event of retirement at specified ages.
The following table indicates the approximate annual benefits which would
be received by participants in the Pension Plan, based upon the assumptions
indicated.
ESTIMATED ANNUAL BENEFIT FOR YEARS OF SERVICE INDICATED
5-YEAR AVERAGE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION 15 YEARS 20 YEARS 25 YEARS 30 YEARS 35 YEARS
- ------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 80,000 $ 23,300 $ 31,000 $ 38,800 $ 46,500 $ 54,300
120,000 35,300 47,000 58,800 70,500 82,300
160,000 47,300 63,000 78,800 94,500 110,300
200,000 59,300 79,000 98,800 118,500 138,300
240,000 71,300 95,000 118,800 142,500 166,300
The actual maximum amount of compensation that may be recognized for
Pension Plan purposes according to the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") is
currently $150,000. The maximum annual defined benefit in 1995 allowable under
the Code was $120,000. These limits are subject to annual cost of living
adjustments.
12
The compensation on which benefits under the Pension Plan are based is
limited to salary paid by the Company and certain subsidiaries and excludes
bonuses and other forms of compensation. The amounts used in making the
calculations under the Pension Plan for 1995 are based on July 1, 1995 base
compensation as follows: Anton C. Garnier - $198,032; Michael O. Quinn -
$136,200; and Robert L. Swartwout - $96,928. At December 31, 1995, years of
credited service of each of such individuals are 25, 16, and 2 years,
respectively. Mr. Moerbeek joined the Company in August 1995 and will be
eligible to participate in the Pension Plan upon completion of a twelve-month
period of service. Benefits under the Pension Plan are not subject to offset for
amounts received from Social Security or other sources.
In 1988, the Company established the Profit-Sharing 401(k) Plan for
Southwest Water Company's Related Companies ("Profit-Sharing Plan") covering
employees of ECO Resources, Inc. ("ECO"). Participants may elect to contribute
up to 15% of their salary to the Profit-Sharing Plan. The Company matches a
participant's contribution for an amount up to 50% of the first 4% of a
participant's salary. Company contributions vest immediately. Company
contributions to the Profit-Sharing Plan were $103,525 in 1995. Mr. Furman is a
member of the Profit-Sharing Plan, and the Company made $2,987 in contributions
to the Profit-Sharing Plan during 1995 for Mr. Furman. No other officer of the
Company is eligible to participate in the Profit-Sharing Plan. ECO pays the cost
of administering the Profit-Sharing Plan.
On January 1, 1994, the Company established a 401(k) plan (the "Utility
401(k) Plan") covering the employees of the Company, Suburban and NMU.
Participants may elect to contribute up to 15% of their salary. The Utility
401(k) Plan does not provide for Company contributions. All named executive
officers, other than Mr. Furman, are eligible to participate in the Utility
401(k) Plan. The parent Company, Suburban and NMU pay the cost of administering
the Utility 401(k) Plan.
OTHER COMPENSATION
Information as to compensation paid to directors is included under the
caption "Information Regarding the Board of Directors" under the heading
"Directors' Compensation." Information concerning stock options and restricted
stock issued to officers of the Company is set forth under the headings
"Compensation of Certain Executive Officers," "Options Granted to Certain
Executive Officers" and "Exercise of Options by Certain Executive Officers."
Information concerning options issued to non-employee directors of the Company
is set forth on page 14.
In 1988, the stockholders approved a stock option and restricted stock plan
(the "Option Plan"), which was amended in 1989 to provide for the grant of stock
appreciation rights. All officers and certain directors of the Company are
eligible to receive options under the Option Plan. In 1993, the stockholders
approved another amendment to the Option Plan, which provided for an increase in
the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder from 150,000 to 250,000
and an extension of the period during which options to purchase shares of the
common stock of the Company may be granted under the Option Plan from February
17, 1998, to February 17, 2003. In addition, the Amendment eliminated any future
issuances of restricted stock under the Option Plan. In December 1995, the Board
of Directors approved a five percent stock dividend to stockholders of record on
January 2, 1996, payable on January 20, 1996. This stock dividend increased the
number of shares reserved for issuance by five percent, or an additional 12,500
shares, increasing the total number of shares reserved for issuance in the
Option Plan to 262,500 shares.
13
The following table sets forth summary information concerning the
hypothetical value of option grants made in 1995 to all eligible non-employee
directors under the Option Plan:
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED IN 1995
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of Stock
Price Appreciation for
Individual Grants Ten-Year Grant Term
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exercise or
Options Base Price Expiration
Eligible Directors (#) (1) ($/sh.) (2) Date 5% ($) 10% ($)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael J. Fasman 1,260 8.10 2005 6,388 16,229
Monroe Harris 1,260 8.10 2005 6,388 16,229
Richard G. Newman 630 8.10 2005 3,194 8,114
(1) Options vest 20% per year until fully vested. All options adjusted to
reflect a 5% stock dividend on January 2, 1996.
(2) All exercise prices represent fair market value on the date of grant.
At December 31, 1995, there were a total of 138,576 options outstanding
with a weighted average exercise price of $12.71 per share and no options had
been exercised. At December 31, 1995, the Non-Executive Officer Director Group
had 24,414 options outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $14.72
per share.
At December 31, 1995, 21,071 shares of restricted stock had been issued
under the Option Plan, and 15,486 shares were outstanding. Of the restricted
shares issued, 5,585 shares have been released from escrow. Only those persons
specified in footnote 3 of the "Summary Compensation" table held any restricted
stock under the Option Plan as of December 31, 1995. Additionally, the
restrictions with respect to outstanding shares of restricted stock had not
lapsed. Unearned compensation of $237,692 related to the issuance of 15,486
shares of restricted stock is being amortized over the vesting period. In 1995,
$23,769 was recorded as compensation expense.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Mr. Garnier is the beneficial owner of approximately 10% of the outstanding
stock and is a director of California Michigan Land and Water Company
("California Michigan"). East Pasadena Water Company ("East Pasadena"), a water
purveyor, is a wholly owned subsidiary of California Michigan. In 1995, East
Pasadena participated in employee insurance coverage with the Company and
certain of its subsidiaries. In 1995, East Pasadena paid to Suburban and the
Company an aggregate of $36,599, representing its proportionate share of the
cost of services involved.
East Pasadena is also a party to the Noncontributory Defined Benefit
Pension Plan, and makes contributions and pays administrative fees on the same
actuarial basis as payments by the Company. The Pension Plan owns 363 shares
of California Michigan stock, or 17% of the common shares outstanding.
In 1995, Suburban made a lease payment of $47,223 for the use of water
rights owned by a Garnier family trust. Based upon information obtained by
Suburban, the lease payments were at market rate.
The foregoing transactions were reviewed and approved by the outside
members of the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr. Garnier did not
participate in the Board's consideration of these transactions.
14
PROPOSAL 2: ADOPTION OF A STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors proposes that the stockholders approve a Stock Option
Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Director Option Plan") which provides for
automatic grants of options to non-employee directors in set amounts and at set
times, beginning with the date of the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The
Director Option Plan is designed to maintain the Company's ability to attract
and retain the services of experienced and highly qualified outside directors
and to increase the alignment of their interests with the interests of
stockholders in the Company's continued success. The following summary
description of the Director Option Plan is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the full text of the Director Option Plan, which is attached to
this Proxy Statement as Exhibit A.
If approved by the Stockholders, the Director Option Plan shall provide for
an annual automatic grant of an option to purchase 1,000 shares of the Company's
Common stock to eligible non-employee directors of the Company (currently six
directors), beginning with the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and on the
date of the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders in each subsequent year
through 2006. A new Director shall be granted an initial option to purchase
1,000 shares of the Company's Common stock upon his or her appointment to the
Board.
The price per share of the Common Stock subject to each option granted under
the Director Option Plan shall be 100% of the fair market value of such shares
of Common Stock on the date the option is granted. The fair market value per
share on December 31, 1995 was $9.625.
No option may be exercised in whole or in part during the first year after
the option is granted. Thereafter, the options become exercisable in equal
annual installments of 50% of the shares covered by the option on the first and
second anniversaries of the date of grant. Options shall expire ten years and
one day from the date granted, unless the Director ceases to be a non-employee
Director prior to such expiration date. If a Director terminates service on the
Board through retirement (as determined by the Board) or disability, previously
granted options shall become immediately exercisable and will expire six months
from the date of termination. In the event of the death of a Director,
previously granted options will become immediately exercisable and will expire
one year from the date of the Director's death. In the event that a Director
is removed, the vested portion of the option shall expire three months from the
date of termination. Options granted under the Director Option Plan may be
exercised in whole or in part; provided, however, that the Company will not be
required to issue fractional shares and partial exercises must be for at least
one hundred (100) shares.
The Director Option Plan reserves an aggregate of 50,000 shares of the
Company's Common stock, subject to appropriate adjustments as provided in the
Plan to reflect corporate restructurings. Shares subject to options which
terminate unexercised would be available for future option grants. The options
granted under the Director Option Plan shall be non-statutory options not
intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Thus, the
grant of options will not result in taxable income to the Director or a tax
deduction for the Company. However, the exercise of an option by a Director
normally will result in taxable income to the Director and a deduction for the
Company, as determined by the Internal Revenue Code.
The Director Option Plan will be administrated by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt, amend and rescind rules relating
to the administration of the Director Option Plan. The Company pays all costs
of administering the Director Option Plan.
The Board of Directors may provide for the termination of the Director
Option Plan upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the merger or
consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or the acquisition
of the Company by another corporation or person. However, in such event, the
Company's Board of Directors may accelerate the exercisability of outstanding
options prior to such event even though the options have not yet become fully
exercisable.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the
Company's voting stock present or represented at the Meeting is required to
adopt the Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors. Abstentions as to this
Proposal 2 will be treated as votes against it. Broker non-votes, however, will
be treated as unvoted for purposes of determining approval of Proposal 2 and
will not be counted as votes for or against it. Properly executed, unrevoked
Proxies will be voted FOR Proposal 2 unless a vote against Proposal 2 or
abstention is specifically indicated in the Proxy. Adoption of Proposal 2 will
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voting on the proposal.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ADOPTION OF THIS
PROPOSAL.
15
PROPOSAL 3: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of its Audit Committee, has
appointed the accounting firm of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP to serve as independent
auditors of the Company for 1996, and proposes the ratification of such
decision. The firm has served as the Company's independent auditors since 1978,
and is familiar with the business and operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries.
Representatives of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP are expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. They will have an opportunity to make a
statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to questions.
Adoption of Proposal 3 will require the affirmative vote of a majority of
the shares voting on the proposal, and abstentions and broker non-votes will not
have the effect of votes in opposition.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF
THE SELECTION OF KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE YEAR
1996.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1997 ANNUAL MEETING
The Company anticipates mailing its 1997 Proxy statement to all
stockholders on or about April 10, 1997. Based on this estimated mailing date,
stockholder proposals intended for inclusion in the Company's Proxy Statement
for the Company's 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the
Secretary of the Company no later than December 12, 1996, at the Company's
address set forth on the first page of this Proxy Statement.
OTHER BUSINESS
Your Board of Directors knows of no other business to be presented at the
Annual Meeting, but if other matters do properly come before the Meeting, the
persons named on the enclosed Proxy will have discretionary authority to vote
all Proxies in accordance with their best judgment.
PETER J. MOERBEEK
Secretary
West Covina, California
April 10, 1996
16
APPENDIX A
STOCK OPTION PLAN
FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS OF
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
Southwest Water Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware, hereby adopts this Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
Directors of Southwest Water Company ("Director Option Plan"). The purpose of
this Director Option Plan is to enable the Company to obtain and retain the
services of experienced Non-Employee Directors considered essential to the long
range success of the Company, and to motivate them by providing an opportunity
to become owners of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the exercise of
options granted under this Director Option Plan.
ARTICLE
Definitions
Section 1.1-General
Whenever the following terms are used in this Director Option Plan they
shall have the meaning specified below unless the context clearly indicates to
the contrary.
Section 1.2-Board
"Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company as constituted
from time to time.
Section 1.3-Code
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.
Section 1.4-Common Stock
"Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of
the Company.
Section 1.5-Company
"Company" shall mean Southwest Water Company, a Delaware corporation.
Section 1.6-Director
"Director" shall mean a person who is a member of the Board as constituted
at that time.
Section 1.7-Employee
"Employee" shall mean any employee (as defined in accordance with the
Regulations and Revenue Rulings then applicable under Section 3401(c) of the
Code) of the Company, or of any corporation which is then a Subsidiary or a
Parent corporation, whether such employee is so employed at the time this
Director Option Plan is adopted or becomes so employed subsequent to the
adoption of this Director Option Plan.
Section 1.8-Non-Employee Director
"Non-Employee Director" shall mean any Director who is not at the same time
an Employee.
Section 1.9-Exchange Act
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
17
Section 1.10-Option
"Option" shall mean a non-qualified stock option to purchase Common Stock
of the Company granted under this Director Option Plan.
Section 1.11-Optionee
"Optionee" shall mean a Non-Employee Director to whom an Option is granted
under this Director Option Plan.
Section 1.12-Parent Corporation
"Parent Corporation" shall have the meaning given in Section 424(e) of the
Code.
Section 1.13-Director Option Plan
"Director Option Plan" shall mean this Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
Directors of Southwest Water Company, as the same may be amended from time to
time.
Section 1.14-Pronouns
The masculine pronoun shall include the feminine and neuter and the
singular shall include the plural, where the context so indicates.
Section 1.15-Rule 16b-3
"Rule 16b-3" shall mean that certain Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time.
Section 1.16-Secretary
"Secretary" shall mean the Secretary of the Company.
Section 1.17-Securities Act
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Section 1.18-Subsidiary
"Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation in an unbroken chain of
corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than
the last corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing 50% or
more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the
other corporations in such chain.
Section 1.19-Termination as a Non-Employee Director
"Termination as a Non-Employee Director" shall mean the time when the
Optionee who is a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a member of the Board by
reason of such Optionee's death, disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code) or in any other manner other than Removal as a
Non-Employee Director.
Section 1.20-Removal as a Non-Employee Director
"Removal as a Non-Employee Director" shall mean the time when the Optionee
who is a Non-Employee Director is removed from the Board as provided in Section
141 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
18
ARTICLE 2
Shares Subject to Director Option Plan
Section 2.1-Shares Subject to Director Option Plan
Subject to Section 4.6 (relating to adjustments in shares upon a
-----------
Recapitalization, as defined therein), the shares of stock subject to Options
shall be shares of Common Stock. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock
which may be issued upon exercise of Options shall not exceed 50,000.
Section 2.2-Unexercised Options
If any Option expires or is canceled without having been fully exercised,
the number of shares subject to such Option but as to which such Option was not
exercised prior to its expiration or cancellation may again be optioned
hereunder, subject to the limitations of Section 2.1.
-----------
ARTICLE 3
Granting of Options
Section 3.1-Eligibility
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3, each person who is a Non-Employee
-----------
Director shall be eligible to receive Options in accordance with Section 3.2.
-----------
Section 3.2-Grant of Options to Non-Employee Directors
Subject to Section 3.3 below, each person who is elected or re-elected as a
-----------
Non-Employee Director at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be
granted automatically as of the date of such meeting an initial Option to
purchase 1,000 shares of Common Stock. Each person who first becomes a
Non-Employee Director after the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders by election
or appointment to the Board shall be granted automatically on the date of such
person's election or appointment to the Board, an initial Option to purchase
1,000 shares of Common Stock. In addition, each person who is a Non-Employee
Director immediately following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be
granted automatically on the date of the Company's Annual Meeting of
Stockholders in (I) the year following the date upon which such Non-Employee
Director is granted the initial Option under this Director Option Plan, as
provided in the preceding two sentences, and (ii) each year thereafter, an
Option to purchase an additional 1,000 shares of Common Stock.
Section 3.3-No Option Grants When Prohibited by Law or Policy
No person shall be granted an Option under this Director Option Plan if at
the time of such Option grant, as provided in Section 3.2 above, the grant of
-----------
such Option to such person is prohibited by applicable law or the policies of
the employer of such person or of any other company on whose board of directors
such person is a member.
ARTICLE 4
Terms Of Option
Section 4.1-Option Agreement
Each Option shall be evidenced by a written Stock Option Agreement, which
shall be executed by the Optionee and an authorized officer of the Company and
which shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine,
consistent with this Director Option Plan.
19
Section 4.2-Option Price
(a) The price per share of the Common Stock subject to each Option
shall be 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date
such Option is granted.
(b) For purposes of this Director Option Plan, the fair market value
of a share of Common Stock as of a given date shall be: (I) the closing price of
a share of the Common Stock on the principal exchange on which shares of the
Common Stock are then trading, if any, on the trading day preceding such date
or, if shares were not traded on the day preceding such date, then on the next
preceding trading day during which a sale occurred; or (ii) if the Common Stock
is not traded on an exchange (x) the last sales price of a share of the Common
Stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market (if the stock is then traded on The Nasdaq
Stock Market) on the trading day preceding such date, or, if shares were not
traded on the day preceding such date, then on the next preceding trading day
during which a sale occurred; or (y) the mean between the closing representative
high and low prices for the Common Stock on the trading day next preceding such
date as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. through
Nasdaq or a successor quotation system or, if shares were not quoted on the day
immediately preceding such date, then on the next preceding trading day during
which a quote occurred, or (iii) if the Common Stock is not publicly traded on
an exchange and prices are not provided through The Nasdaq Stock Market, NASDAQ
or a successor quotation system, the mean between the closing high and low
prices for the Common Stock on the trading day next preceding such date as
determined in good faith by the Board; or (iv) if the Common Stock is not
publicly traded, the fair market value of the Common Stock established by the
Board acting in good faith.
Section 4.3-Commencement of Exercisability
(a) No Option may be exercised in whole or in part during the first
year after such Option is granted.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.3(a), 4.3(c) and 7.3,
-------------------------------
Options shall become exercisable in two (2) cumulative installments as follows:
(i) The first installment shall consist of fifty percent
(50%) of the shares covered by the Option and shall become exercisable on the
first anniversary of the date the Option is granted.
(ii) The second installment shall consist of fifty percent
(50%)of the shares covered by the Option and shall become exercisable on the
second anniversary of the date the Option is granted.
(c) No portion of an Option which is unexercisable on the date of
Removal as a Non-Employee Director shall thereafter become exercisable. The
portion, if any, of a previously granted Option which is unexercisable on the
date of Termination as a Non-Employee Director shall become immediately
exercisable.
Section 4.4-Expiration of Options
No Option may be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur
of the following events:
(i) The expiration of a period of ten years and one day from
the date such Option was granted; or
(ii) The expiration of three months from the date of the
Optionee's Removal as a Non-Employee Director for any reason unless the Optionee
dies within said three-month period; or
(iii) The expiration of six months from the date of the
Optionee's Termination as a Non-Employee Director for any reason other than such
Optionee's death unless the Optionee dies within said six month period; or
(iv) The expiration of one year from the date of the
Optionee's death.
20
Section 4.5-Consideration
In consideration of the granting of the Option, the Optionee shall agree,
in the written Stock Option Agreement, to remain as a Non-Employee Director of
the Company for a period of at least one year after the Option is granted,
unless the stockholders of the Company fail to reelect the Non-Employee Director
upon expiration of the Director's term of office prior to the expiration of the
one year period.
Section 4.6-Adjustments in Outstanding Options
In the event that the outstanding shares of the Common Stock subject to
Options are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares
of the Company or other securities of the Company by reason of merger (including
reincorporation by means of merger), consolidation, recapitalization,
reclassification, stock split-up, stock dividend or combination of shares (a
"Recapitalization"), the Board shall make an appropriate and equitable
adjustment in (I) the number and kind of shares as to which all outstanding
Options, or portions thereof then unexercised, shall be exercisable, to the end
that after such event the Optionee's proportionate interest shall be maintained
as before the occurrence of such event and (ii) the limitations in Section 2.1
-----------
above on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued on exercise
of Options. Such adjustment in an outstanding Option shall be made without
change in the total price applicable to the Option or the unexercised portion of
the Option (except for any change in the aggregate price resulting from
rounding-off of share quantities or prices) and with any necessary corresponding
adjustment in option price per share. Any such adjustment made by the Board
shall be final and binding upon all Optionees, the Company and all other
interested persons.
Section 4.7-Merger, Consolidation, Exchange, Acquisition, Liquidation or
Dissolution
The Board may provide by the terms of any Option that such Option cannot be
exercised after the merger or consolidation of the Company into another
corporation, the exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company for the securities of another corporation, the acquisition by another
corporation of 80% or more of the Company's then outstanding voting stock or the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or the Board may, in its absolute
discretion and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, also
provide that such Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by
any successor corporation of the Company, or the Board may, in its absolute
discretion and upon such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, provided
by resolution adopted prior to the occurrence of such merger, consolidation,
exchange, acquisition, liquidation or dissolution, that, for some period of time
prior to such event, that such Option shall be exercisable as to all shares
covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.3(a) or
--------------
Section 4.3(b). Any determinations made by the Board pursuant to this Section
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4.7 shall be applied uniformly to all Options outstanding on the date of such
- ---
determination.
ARTICLE 5
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
Section 5.1-Person Eligible to Exercise
During the lifetime of the Optionee, only the Optionee may exercise an
Option granted to the Optionee, or any portion thereof; provided, however, that
nothing in this Section 5.1 shall prevent the exercise of an Option by a person
-----------
to whom such Option was lawfully transferred, in whole or in part, pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order (as defined in the Code). After the death of
the Optionee, any exercisable portion of an Option may, prior to the time when
such portion becomes unexercisable under Section 4.4 or Section 4.7 or any
----------- -----------
provisions of such Option, be exercised by his personal representative or by any
person empowered to do so under the deceased Optionee's will or under the then
applicable laws of descent and distribution.
Section 5.2-Partial Exercise
At any time and from time to time prior to the time when any exercisable
Option or exercisable portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 4.4 or
-----------
Section 4.7 or any provisions of such Option, such Option or portion thereof may
- -----------
be exercised in whole or in part; provided, however, that the Company shall not
be required to issue fractional shares and partial exercises shall be at least
one hundred (100) shares.
21
Section 5.3-Manner of Exercise
An exercisable Option, or any exercisable portion thereof, shall be
exercised solely by delivery to the Secretary or his office of all of the
following prior to the time when such Option or such portion becomes
unexercisable under Section 4.4 or Section 4.7:
----------- -----------
(a) Notice in writing signed by the Optionee or other person
then entitled to exercise such Option or portion, stating that such Option or
portion is exercised; and
(b) The payment to the Company for the aggregate Option
exercise price for the shares with respect to which such Option or portion is
thereby exercised in:
(i) Cash;
(ii) (A) shares of the Company's Common Stock
owned by the Optionee duly endorsed for transfer to the Company, or (B) subject
to the timing requirements of Section 5.4, shares of the Company's Common Stock
-----------
issuable to the Optionee upon exercise of the Option, with a fair market value
(as determined under Section 4.2(b)) on the date of Option exercise equal to the
--------------
aggregate exercise Option price of the shares with respect to which such Option
or portion is thereby exercised; or
(iii) A full recourse promissory note bearing
interest (at no less than such rate as shall then preclude the imputation of
interest under the Code or any successor provision) and payable upon such terms
as may be prescribed by the Board. The Board may also prescribe the form of such
note and the security to be given for such note. No Option may, however, be
exercised by delivery of a promissory note or by a loan from the Company when or
where such loan or other extension of credit is prohibited by law; or
(iv) Any combination of the consideration provided
for in the foregoing subsections (i), (ii) or (iii); and
(c) The payment to the Company of all amounts which it is
required to withhold under federal, state or local law in connection with the
exercise of the Option or a portion thereof. All or any part of such payment may
be made, with the consent of the Board, (i) subject to the timing requirements
of Section 5.4, with shares of the Company's Common Stock issuable to the
-----------
Optionee upon exercise of the Option, or (ii) with shares of the Company's
Common Stock owned by the Optionee duly endorsed for transfer, in each case,
valued in accordance with Section 4.2(b) at the date of Option exercise; and
--------------
(d) Such representations and documents as the Board, in its
absolute discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with all
applicable provisions of the Securities Act and any other Federal or state
securities laws or regulations. The Board may, in its absolute discretion, also
take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to effect such compliance
including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing
stop-transfer orders to transfer agents and registrars; and
(e) In the event that the Option shall be exercised pursuant
to Section 5.1 by any person or persons other than the Optionee, appropriate
-----------
proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, an Optionee may satisfy
the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 5.3 concerning
-----------
payment for the shares and all applicable withholding taxes, with the consent of
the Board, through the delivery to the Secretary or his office of (i) an
irrevocable written exercise notice containing instructions to the Company to
deliver to Optionee's broker the certificate(s) representing the shares with
respect to which such Option or portion is thereby exercised and (ii) a copy of
Optionee's irrevocable written instructions to such broker to deliver to the
Company, within five business days from the date of the Company's receipt of
such exercise notice, full payment (in cash or by check) for the shares with
respect to which such Option or portion is thereby exercised and all amounts
which the Company is required to withhold under federal, state or local law in
connection with the exercise of the Option or portion thereof. Provided the
Optionee complies with clauses (i) and (ii) above and the Company receives such
full payment the Optionee shall be deemed to have exercised such Option on the
date of the Company's receipt of the deliveries specified in clauses (i) and
(ii) above. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.7, the
-----------
Board shall not take any discretionary action which will result in the failure
of the Director Option Plan to satisfy any exemptive condition imposed by Rule
16b-3 of the Code with respect to the effected Option.
22
Section 5.4-Certain Timing Requirements
To the extent required by Rule 16b-3, shares of the Company's Common Stock
issuable to the Optionee upon exercise of the Option may be used to satisfy the
Option price or the tax withholding consequences of such exercise only (i)
during the period beginning on the third business day following the date of
release of the quarterly or annual summary statement of sales and earnings of
the Company and ending on the twelfth business day following such date or (ii)
pursuant to an irrevocable written election by the Optionee to use shares of the
Company's Common Stock issuable to the Optionee upon exercise of the Option to
pay all or part of the Option price or the withholding taxes (subject to the
approval of the Board) made at least six months prior to the payment of such
Option price or withholding taxes.
Section 5.5-Conditions to Issuance of Stock Certificates
The shares of stock issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of an
Option, or any portion thereof, may be either previously authorized but unissued
shares or issued shares which have then been reacquired by the Company. The
Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or
certificates for shares of stock purchased upon the exercise of any Option or
portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions:
(a) The admission of such shares to listing on all stock
exchanges, if any, on which such class of stock is then listed; and
(b) The completion of any registration or other qualification of
such shares under any state or federal law or under the rulings or regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory
body, which the Board shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or
advisable; and
(c) The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any
state or federal governmental agency which the Board shall, in its absolute
discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable; and
(d) The payment to the Company of all amounts which it is
required to withhold under Federal, state or local law in connection with the
exercise of the Option; and
(e) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the
exercise of the Option as the Board may establish from time to time for reasons
of administrative convenience.
Section 5.6-Rights as Stockholders
The holders of Options shall not be, nor have any of the rights or
privileges of, stockholders of the Company in respect of any shares purchasable
upon the exercise of any part of an Option unless and until certificates
representing such shares have been issued and delivered by the Company to such
holders.
Section 5.7-Transfer Restrictions
No shares acquired upon exercise of any Option may be sold, assigned,
pledged, encumbered or otherwise transferred until at least six months have
elapsed from (but excluding) the date that such Option was granted; provided,
however, that nothing in this Section 5.7 shall prevent transfers by will or by
-----------
the applicable laws of descent and distribution, or, to the extent not
prohibited by the Code, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order. The
Board, in its absolute discretion, may impose such other restrictions on the
transferability of the shares purchasable upon the exercise of an Option as it
deems appropriate and any such restriction shall be set forth in the respective
Stock Option Agreement and may be referred to on the certificates evidencing
such shares.
23
ARTICLE 6
ADMINISTRATION
Section 6.1-Duties and Powers of Board
It shall be the duty of the Board to conduct the general administration of
the Director Option Plan in accordance with its provisions. The Board shall
have the power to interpret the Director Option Plan and the Options and to
adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the
Director Option Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or
revoke any such rules.
Section 6.2-Professional Assistance; Good Faith Actions
All expenses and liabilities incurred by members of the Board in connection
with the administration of the Director Option Plan shall be borne by the
Company. The Board may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers,
brokers or other persons. The Board and the Company shall be entitled to rely
upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken
and all interpretations and determinations made by the Board in good faith shall
be final and binding. No member of the Board shall be personally liable for any
action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the
Director Option Plan or the Options, and all members of the Board shall be fully
protected, indemnified and held harmless by the Company in respect to any such
action, determination or interpretation.
ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 7.1-Options Not Transferable
No Option or interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for
the debts, contracts or engagements of the Optionee or his successors in
interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation,
anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such
disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment,
levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings
(including bankruptcy) and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and
void and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 7.1 shall
-----------
prevent transfers by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution,
or, to the extent not prohibited by the Code, pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order (as defined in the Code).
Section 7.2-Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Director Option Plan
The Director Option Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise
modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board.
However, without approval of the Company's stockholders given within 12 months
before or after the action by the Board, no action of the Board may, increase
any limit imposed in Section 2.1 on the maximum number of shares which may be
-----------
issued upon exercise of Options (except for anti-dilution adjustments), modify
the eligibility requirements of Section 3.1, modify the number of shares which
-----------
may be granted to an Optionee, or the timing of such Option grants under Section
-------
3.2, change the minimum option price in Section 4.2(a), modify the provisions
- --- --------------
relating to the Exercisability of the Options in Section 4.3, extend the limit
-----------
imposed in this Section 7.2 on the period during which Options may be granted,
-----------
or amend or modify the Director Option Plan in a manner requiring shareholder
approval under Rule 16b-3. In addition, the Director Option Plan shall not be
amended more than once every six months, other than to comport with changes in
the Code or the rules promulgated thereunder. Neither the amendment, suspension
nor termination of the Director Option Plan shall, without the consent of the
holder of an Option, alter or impair any rights or obligations under any Option
theretofore granted. No Option may be granted during any period of suspension
nor after termination of the Director Option Plan, and in no event may any
Option be granted under this Director Option Plan after May 21, 2006.
24
Section 7.3-Approval of Director Option Plan by Stockholders
This Director Option Plan will be submitted for the approval of the
Company's stockholders within 12 months after the date of the Board's initial
adoption of the Director Option Plan. Options may be granted prior to such
shareholder approval; provided, however that such Options shall not be
exercisable prior to the time when the Director Option Plan is approved by the
stockholders; provided, further, that if such approval has not been obtained at
the end of said 12-month period, all Options previously granted under the
Director Option Plan shall thereupon be canceled and become null and void.
Section 7.4-Effect of Director Option Plan Upon Other Options and Compensation
Plans
The adoption of this Director Option Plan shall not affect any other
compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any Subsidiary.
Nothing in this Director Option Plan shall be construed to limit the right of
the Company or any Subsidiary to grant or assume options otherwise than under
this Director Option Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose,
including, but not by way of limitation, the grant or assumption of options in
connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or
otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, firm or
association.
Section 7.5-Titles
Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a
basis for interpretation or construction of the Director Option Plan.
Section 7.6-Conformity to Securities Laws
The Director Option Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary
with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all
regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder, including without limitation Rule 16b-3. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, the Director Option Plan shall be administered, and
Options shall be granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to
conform to such laws, rules and regulations. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, the Director Option Plan and Options granted hereunder shall be
deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and
regulations.
25
________________________________________________________________________________
Please mark [X]
your votes as
indicated in
this envelope
A VOTE FOR EACH DIRECTOR NOMINEE AND FOR APPROVAL OF EACH PROPOSAL IS
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
1. Election as directors For all nominees listed WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
the nominees listed in below (except as marked to to vote for all nom-
the accompanying the contrary below) inees listed below)
Proxy Statement. [_] [_]
2. Adoption of the Stock Option 3. Ratification of the selection
Plan for Non-Employee KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as the
Directors Company's independent auditors.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
H. Frederick Christie, [_] [_] [_] [_] [_] [_]
Michael J. Fasman, Anton C.
Garnier, Monroe Harris,
Donovan D. Huennekens, Richard Kelton
and Richard G. Newman
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write
that nominee's name on the line provided below.)
__________________________________________
I//WE WILL ATTEND [_]
THE ANNUAL MEETING.
SIGNATURE(S) _____________________________________ DATE______________, 1996
Please sign exactly as your name appears on this Proxy. If signing for estates,
trusts, corporations or partnerships, titles or capacities should be stated.
Each joint tenant should sign.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
________________________________________________________________________________
PROXY
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS--MAY 21, 1996
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The signatory
of this proxy hereby appoints Anton C. Garnier and Peter J. Moerbeek as Proxies,
each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to
represent and to vote as designated below, all the shares of common or preferred
stock of Southwest Water Company held of record by the undersigned on March 29,
1996, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 21, 1996, or any
adjournments thereof.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY SHALL BE VOTED OR NOT VOTED AS SPECIFIED.
ANY EXECUTED PROXY WHICH CONTAINS NO SPECIFICATION WILL BE VOTED FOR ELECTION OF
EACH DIRECTOR NOMINEE NAMED, FOR APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN AND
FOR RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
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FOLD AND DETACH HERE