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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 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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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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Notes:
[LOGO OF SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY]
April 24, 1998
DEAR STOCKHOLDER:
On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, it is a pleasure to
invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Southwest Water
Company. This year's meeting will be held on THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1998, AT 10:00
A.M. AT THE HOTEL INTER-CONTINENTAL, LOCATED AT 251 SOUTH OLIVE STREET, LOS
ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (a map showing the location is on the back cover of the
Proxy Statement). The accompanying Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement
describe the proposals to be decided. Copies of our 1997 Annual Report and Form
10-K are also enclosed. I urge you to read this information carefully.
In addition to the formal business transacted at the meeting, management
will make a presentation on Company developments during the past year, and we
will provide an opportunity for comments and questions of general interest to
stockholders. Refreshments will be served. Your Board of Directors and
management look forward to greeting all stockholders able to attend the meeting.
I am delighted you have chosen to invest in Southwest Water Company!
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete, sign and
return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the envelope provided.
Your vote is important to us. Returning the signed proxy card will ensure your
representation at the Annual Meeting, whether or not you attend in person.
Sincerely,
/s/ Anton C. Garnier
ANTON C. GARNIER
Chairman, President
and Chief Executive Officer
225 North Barranca Avenue, Suite 200, West Covina, CA 91791-1605
Phone: (626) 915-1551, Facsimile: (626) 915-1558,
E-mail: swwc@southwestwater.com
[LOGO OF SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY]
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MAY 28, 1998
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 Hotel Inter-Continental, 251 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, California, on
Thursday, May 28, 1998, at 10:00 a.m. local time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect eight directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of
Stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or as
provided in Proposal 3 below;
2. Approval to Increase the Number of Common Shares Authorized for Issuance
to 25,000,000;
3. Approval of a Classified Board of Directors with Staggered Three-year
Terms;
4. Approval of an Amendment to the Southwest Water Company Employee Stock
Purchase Plan;
5. To ratify the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as the Company's
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998; and
6. 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 31, 1998 shall be entitled to vote at this
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Copies of the Company's Proxy Statement, Annual Report to Stockholders and Form
10-K accompany this notice.
By order of the Board of Directors
PETER J. MOERBEEK
Secretary
West Covina, California
April 24, 1998
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 CARD,
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.
[LOGO OF SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY]
225 NORTH BARRANCA AVENUE, SUITE 200
WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA 91791-1605
____________________
PROXY STATEMENT
MAY 28, 1998
__________
SOLICITATION AND REVOCATION OF PROXY
The Board of Directors (the "Board") of Southwest Water Company (the
"Company") furnishes this Proxy Statement in connection with the solicitation of
proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") to be held
May 28, 1998, 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 24, 1998. Only stockholders of
record at the close of business on March 31, 1998 (the "Record Date") will be
entitled to vote at the Meeting. On March 31, 1998 there were 3,338,406 shares
of the Company`s Common stock and 10,341 shares of the Company`s Series "A"
Preferred stock outstanding. Each share of Common stock is entitled to one
vote, equal to 3,338,406 votes, and each share of Preferred stock is entitled to
five votes, equal to 51,705 votes, for a combined 3,390,111 total number of
votes at the Meeting. In order to constitute a quorum for the conduct of
business at the Meeting, a majority of the outstanding shares of the Common and
Preferred stock entitled to vote at the Meeting must be represented at the
Meeting. Under the Company's Bylaws and Delaware law, shares represented by
proxies that reflect abstentions or "broker non-votes" (i.e. shares held by a
broker or nominee which are represented at the Meeting, but with respect to
which such broker or nominee is not empowered to vote on a particular proposal)
will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum.
All valid Proxies will be voted at the Meeting and will be cast in
accordance with the stockholders' directions as specified on the Proxies. If no
specification is made, shares represented by Proxies will be voted FOR the
election of the nominees as directors of the Company, FOR approval to increase
the number of Common shares authorized for issuance, FOR approval of the
proposal to create a classified Board of Directors, FOR the amendment to the
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and FOR ratification of the appointment of the
Company's independent auditors for 1998. 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, by filing a completed
Proxy bearing a later date, or by voting in person at the Meeting.
On April 6, 1998, the Board adopted a Share Purchase Rights Plan (the
"Plan") to preserve values for the Company's stockholders. The Plan is designed
to deter coercive takeover tactics, to encourage third parties interested in
acquiring the Company to negotiate with the Board and to reduce any adverse
effects that significant stockholders of the Company may have on the public
market for the Company's Common stock. In the event of certain triggering
events under the Plan (e.g., accumulation of a significant block of shares by an
"acquiring person" as defined), the stockholders become entitled to purchase
additional shares of the Company's Common stock at a significant discount.
The form of Proxy which accompanies this Proxy Statement is solicited by
the Board 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: (626) 915-1551, Facsimile: (626) 915-1558, E-mail:
swwc@southwestwater.com.
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the
Board has set the authorized number of directors at eight. It is intended that
the persons named in the Proxy will, unless otherwise instructed, vote for the
election of the eight nominees identified below to serve as directors until the
next Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or if Proposal 3 is approved by the
stockholders, for the proposed terms set forth in Proposal 3. 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. The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for
cumulative voting. Directors are elected by plurality vote. Abstentions and
broker non-votes will not have the effect of votes in opposition to or in favor
of a director.
NOTE: IF THE STOCKHOLDERS APPROVE PROPOSAL 3, A CLASSIFIED BOARD OF
DIRECTORS WILL BE CREATED AND DIRECTORS WILL SERVE THE TERMS SET FORTH ON
PAGE 16 OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
With the exception of Maureen A. Kindel, who was appointed to the Board on
September 1, 1997, each of the nominees was elected to his current term of
office at the last Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
The following biographical summaries and ages as of March 31, 1998 were
furnished to the Company by each of the nominees:
H. FREDERICK CHRISTIE, 64, is an independent consultant. He retired in 1990 as
president and chief executive officer of the Mission Group, 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 Ultramar
Diamond Shamrock, IHOP Corp. and Ducommun Incorporated. He also serves on the
board of 19 mutual funds managed by the Capital Research and Management Company.
He is Chairman 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 first
elected a director in 1996.
MICHAEL J. FASMAN, 88, 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, 57, has been president and chief executive officer of the
Company since 1968. Mr. Garnier was first elected a director in 1968 and was
elected Chairman of the Board in 1996.
MONROE HARRIS, 76, 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, 61, is a partner of HQT Homes, a private real estate
development company. He is also a director of Bixby Ranch Company and a member
of the board of Mead Housing. Mr. Huennekens was first elected a director in
1969.
RICHARD KELTON, 68, is president of Bollenbacher & Kelton, Inc., a commercial
and residential developer. He is Vice President of the Board of Trustees of
the Pacific Asia Museum. Mr. Kelton was first elected a director in 1969.
MAUREEN A. KINDEL, 59, is president of Rose & Kindel, a public affairs firm.
Ms. Kindel is past president of the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works
and is a founding and current member of the Pacific Council on International
Policy. She is a board member of the International Women's Forum, the Board of
the Los Angeles Urban League and the Board of Governors of Town Hall of Los
Angeles. Ms. Kindel is a trustee for the International Foundation of Electoral
Systems and serves on the board of the Los Angeles Amateur Athletic Foundation.
Ms. Kindel was appointed a director in 1997.
2
RICHARD G. NEWMAN, 63, 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. He 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 which the foregoing directors
are employed is 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 that would require
disclosure 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.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has four standing committees, described below.
The members of the Audit Committee during 1997 were Mr. Kelton (Chairman),
Mr. Fasman and Mr. Huennekens. During 1997, 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 audit engagement (as well as management's internal audit program),
reviews the adequacy of the Company's internal control procedures and reviews
the independence of the auditors.
The members of the Investment/Acquisition Committee during 1997 were Mr.
Huennekens (Chairman), Mr. Christie and Mr. Kelton. Among its responsibilities,
the Investment/Acquisition Committee sets overall investment policy with respect
to the Company's short-term funds, 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. During
1997, there were no Investment/Acquisition Committee meetings; Committee
responsibilities were discharged during regularly scheduled Board meetings.
The members of the Nominating Committee during 1997 were Mr. Newman
(Chairman), Mr. Fasman and Mr. Harris. During 1997, 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 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 with respect to amendments to the Company's Bylaws. The Nominating
Committee will consider recommendations for director nominees proposed by
stockholders. Any recommendations for nominees should be submitted in writing to
Mr. Newman at the Company's principal executive offices.
The members of the Compensation Committee during 1997 were Mr. Harris
(Chairman), Mr. Christie and Mr. Newman. During 1997, the Compensation
Committee held four meetings. The Committee is responsible for approving and
reporting to the Board the annual compensation for all executive officers,
including salary, stock options, incentive compensation and other benefits. The
Committee is also responsible for granting stock awards and stock option grants
and reviews the Company`s non-qualified benefit plans. The Compensation
Committee consists of independent, non-employee directors.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
There were no Compensation Committee interlocks or insider participation
during 1997.
3
Directors' Compensation
For all of 1997, Directors who were not officers of the Company were paid
an annual retainer of $12,000 for service on the Board plus an attendance fee of
$1,000 for each Board meeting, Committee meeting or long-range planning meeting.
When a Committee meeting is held on the same day as a Board meeting, attendees
receive a fee of $500 for attendance at the Committee meeting. Committee
Chairmen are paid an additional annual fee of $1,200. Directors who are officers
of the Company are not paid any fees or additional remuneration for service as
members of the Board or any Board Committee.
During 1996, stockholders approved a stock option plan for non-employee
directors (the "Director Option Plan"), which provided for an annual automatic
grant of an option to purchase 1,000 shares of the Company`s Common stock to
eligible non-employee directors of the Company (currently seven directors), on
the date of the Company`s Annual Meeting of Stockholders in each year through
2006. The Plan also provided for a new Director to be granted an initial option
to purchase 1,000 shares of the Company`s Common stock upon his or her
appointment to the Board. Initially, 50,000 shares of the Company`s Common stock
were reserved for issuance under the Director Option Plan. Stock dividends
increased the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Director Option
Plan by an additional 13,000 shares and also changed the annual automatic grant
of option shares to 1,260 per director, respectively. A total of 8,820 stock
options were granted under this Plan in 1997.
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED IN 1997
Individual Grants
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Exercise or
Options Base Price Expiration
Eligible Directors (#)(1) ($/sh.)(2) Date
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H. Frederick Christie 1,260 11.90 2007
Michael J. Fasman 1,260 11.90 2007
Monroe Harris 1,260 11.90 2007
Donovan D. Huennekens 1,260 11.90 2007
Richard Kelton 1,260 11.90 2007
Maureen A. Kindel 1,260 12.74 2007
Richard G. Newman 1,260 11.90 2007
(1) Options vest 50% per year until fully vested. All options have been adjusted
to reflect a 5% stock dividend on January 2, 1998.
(2) All exercise prices represent fair market value on the date of grant, after
adjusting to reflect a 5% stock dividend on January 2, 1998.
4
Prior to the approval of the Director Option Plan, the non-employee
directors were granted stock options under a stock option plan (the "1988 Option
Plan") approved by the stockholders in 1988. The following table sets forth
cumulative summary information concerning the hypothetical value of option
grants made to eligible non-employee directors under the 1988 Option Plan and
the Director Option Plan:
OPTION EXERCISES IN 1997 AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
Shares Number of Value of Unexercised In-
Acquired Unexercised Options the-Money Options at
on Value at December 31, 1997 December 31, 1997 (1)
Exercise Realized Exercisable / Unexercisble Exercisable / Unexercisable
Name (#) ($) (#) ($)
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H. Frederick Christie 0 0 277 / 2,369 2,346 / 16,449
Michael J. Fasman 302 1,737 3,583 / 3,322 21,455 / 27,008
Monroe Harris 0 0 4,218 / 3,321 28,491 / 26,997
Donovan D. Huennekens 0 0 3,782 / 1,577 23,931 / 10,267
Richard Kelton 0 0 3,782 / 1,577 23,931 / 10,267
Maureen A. Kindel 0 0 0 / 1,260 0 / 5,998
Richard G. Newman 0 0 2,723 / 3,162 20,235 / 24,935
(1) Difference between fair market value at fiscal year end of $17.50 and option
exercise price.
At December 31, 1997, the Non-Employee Director Group had a total of 34,953
stock options outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $10.40 per
share.
Attendance at Board and Committee Meetings
During 1997, the Board of Directors held seven Board meetings, one planning
meeting and seven Committee meetings. All directors attended at least 80% of
the combined meetings of the Board and the Committees of the Board on which they
served.
5
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 (each of whom is also a nominee), the chief executive
officer of the Company, and the other Named Executive Officers of the Company
and its subsidiaries (as defined on page 11), and by all directors and executive
officers as a group. 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 of
Name of Shares Options Shares and
Beneficial Owner and Beneficially Beneficially Exercisable Options Percentage
Capacity with Company Owned Owned (a) Beneficially Owned of Class
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H. Frederick Christie, Director 5,292 1,184 6,476 (*)
Michael J. Fasman, Director 4,998 (b) 4,808 9,806 (*)
Monroe Harris, Director 18,937 (c) 5,442 24,379 (*)
Donovan D. Huennekens, Director 13,068 4,570 17,638 (*)
Richard Kelton, Director 32,656 (d) 4,570 37,226 1.1%
Maureen A. Kindel, Director 1,000 0 1,000 (*)
Richard G. Newman, Director 9,261 (e) 3,947 13,208 (*)
Anton C. Garnier, Director, Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer 115,855 (f) 59,055 174,910 5.1%
Peter J. Moerbeek, Vice President
Finance, CFO and Secretary of Company; 4,429 11,004 15,433 (*)
Chief Operating Officer, ECO Resources, Inc.
Michael O. Quinn, President,
Suburban Water Systems 6,869 17,322 24,191 (*)
Robert L. Swartwout, President,
New Mexico Utilities, Inc. 2,181 5,378 7,559 (*)
All Directors and Executive Officers 214,546 117,280 331,826 9.6%
As a Group (11 persons)
* Indicates less than one percent of class of stock.
(a) Includes options that become exercisable within 60 days after the Record
Date.
(b) Excludes 18,341 shares of Common stock held of record by Mr. Fasman's wife,
as trustee. Also excludes 36,536 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 voting or investment control. Mr.
Fasman disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.
(c) Includes 13,514 shares held by Mr. Harris and his wife as co-trustees of a
family trust. Mr. Harris has shared voting and investment power with
respect to such shares. Excludes 1,058 shares held by Mr. Harris' wife. Mr.
Harris has no voting or investment power with respect to such shares.
(d) Included in the table are 9,240 shares of Common stock held by The Kelton
Foundation (the "Foundation"), a charitable corporation. Mr. Kelton is
President of the Foundation and has sole voting and investment power with
respect to such shares. Mr. Kelton disclaims pecuniary interest in the
shares held by the Foundation.
(e) Mr. and Mrs. Newman hold all of the 9,261 shares 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 55,794 shares owned by Mr. and Mrs. Garnier as
trustees of a revocable trust for their benefit. Mr. Garnier is trustee of
such trust and has shared voting and investment power with respect to the
shares. Also included in the table are 42,648 shares representing Mr.
Garnier's proportionate interests in two corporations of which Mr. Garnier
is president, a director and a stockholder. Mr. Garnier has shared voting
and investment power with respect to these two corporations, which own a
total of 204,287 shares (6.1%) of Southwest Water Company Common stock.
Other than his proportionate interests above, Mr. Garnier disclaims
beneficial ownership of these shares.
6
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 five percent 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 Number of Shares Percentage
Class of Stock of 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 five percent 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 Company 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.
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 10 percent of a registered class of the Company`s
equity securities, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
Nasdaq National 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 made by officers and
directors of the Company, all of the Company`s officers, directors and greater-
than-ten-percent beneficial owners made timely filings in accordance with the
Securities and Exchange Commission's Rule 16b-3.
7
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 13 publicly held
water utilities listed in the Edward Jones Water Utility Index and the Standard
and Poor's Index of 500 Companies. The comparison assumes that $100 was
invested on December 31, 1992. The cumulative total return assumes the
reinvestment of dividends. The historical stock performance shown on the graph
is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.
FIVE-YEAR PERFORMANCE GRAPH
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
S&P 500 - $251 ......... 100 110.06 111.52 153.39 188.59 251.49
WATER UTILITY - $220 ... 100 114.3 105.92 134.4 161.35 220.36
SWWC - $178 ............ 100 64.85 59.03 73.41 130.95 177.9
8
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of 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 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 executives, 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.
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.
In 1997, the actual results for the year exceeded the threshold set by the
Committee, and incentive compensation awards were approved for the Company`s
executives.
Long-term Incentive Compensation
The primary purpose of long-term incentives is to encourage and facilitate
personal stock ownership by the executive officers and thus strengthen both
their personal commitments to the Company and a longer-term perspective in their
managerial responsibilities. This component of an executive officer's
compensation directly links the officers' interests with those of the Company`s
other stockholders. Currently, the primary form of long-term incentive
compensation is non-qualified stock options. The Committee approves stock
options for all executives and managers.
In determining the number of stock options awarded, 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.
9
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
Anton C. Garnier has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company since November 1968 and has been Chairman of the Board since August
1996. The Committee reviewed Mr. Garnier's 1997 performance based on the
performance of the Company as a whole and his performance with respect to
quantitative and qualitative objectives approved at the start of the year by the
Committee. The Committee carefully considered the Company's continuing
improvements in financial results, including earnings improvement, new business
development, return on equity and the creation of stockholder value. The
Committee also evaluated Mr. Garnier's progress in attaining qualitative
objectives in such areas as investor relations, planning for the Company's long-
term future, setting strategic objectives, and employee involvement and
communications. The Committee did not use specific weighting factors with
respect to quantitative and qualitative performance measures. The Committee
Chairman prepared a CEO performance evaluation, which was discussed with Mr.
Garnier.
In determining Mr. Garnier's performance for 1997, the Committee gave
particular emphasis to the improved operating results of the Company's contract
operations subsidiary. After the Committee's deliberations, the Committee
increased Mr. Garnier's annual salary to $230,000, effective January 1, 1998,
and awarded him an incentive compensation amount of $154,000 for 1997. In
addition, on January 27, 1998, the Committee awarded Mr. Garnier a stock option
grant of 25,000 shares of the Company's Common stock.
Compensation Committee
Monroe Harris (Chairman)
H. Frederick Christie
Richard G. Newman
February 10, 1998
10
COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the annual and
long-term compensation for services in all capacities to the Company for each of
the three years ended December 31, 1997 of those persons who were either (I) the
chief executive officer of the Company, (ii) one of the other most highly
compensated executive officers of the Company whose annual salary and bonuses
exceeded $100,000 or (iii) any other executive officer who would have qualified
under sections (I) or (ii) of this paragraph but for the fact that the
individual was not serving as an executive officer of the Company at the end of
the 1997 fiscal year (collectively, the "Named Executive Officers").
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation Long-Term Compensation
------------------------------ ----------------------
Restricted
Name and Stock Stock
Principal Salary Bonus Awards Options
Position Year ($)(1) ($) ($)(2) (#)(3)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Anton C. Garnier 1997 220,000 154,000 0 12,600
Chairman, Chief Executive 1996 210,000 85,000 0 12,600
Officer and President 1995 198,000 50,000 0 10,134
Peter J. Moerbeek 1997 161,000 89,900 0 8,400
Vice President Finance and 1996 154,500 60,500 0 7,434
Chief Financial Officer 1995 150,000 10,000 0 15,876
Michael O. Quinn 1997 146,500 44,450 0 2,625
President, 1996 143,700 35,600 0 3,024
Suburban Water Systems 1995 134,800 17,100 0 2,818
Robert L. Swartwout 1997 104,800 16,000 0 2,100
President, 1996 101,800 31,100 0 2,142
New Mexico Utilities Inc. 1995 96,000 20,000 0 1,883
(1) Salary shown in 1995 for Mr. Moerbeek, who joined the Company in August
1995, is annualized based upon a full year of employment
(2) Restricted stock options can no longer be granted. Restricted stock
previously awarded vests 10 years after grant. Should an employee leave the
Company prior to the vesting of the restricted stock, the stock is subject
to repurchase. Dividends on the restricted stock are paid without
restrictions. The following is the restricted stock issued and outstanding
fair market value as of December 31, 1997.: Anton C. Garnier received
14,639 shares (granted in 1988 and 1989) valued at $256,183. Michael O.
Quinn received 4,872 shares (granted in 1988 and 1989) valued at $85,260.
The value of the shares is based on the fair market value of $17.50.
(3) Options have been adjusted to reflect stock dividends of 5% on January 2,
1998, 20% on January 2, 1997, and 5% on January 2,1996 and were granted at
fair market value at the date of grant.
11
EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS
Pursuant to severance compensation agreements entered into in 1995 between
the Company and Messrs. Garnier, Moerbeek, Quinn and Swartwout, 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
meets the requirements for a severance payment, as of December 31, 1997 are as
follows: Mr. Garnier - $418,745; Mr. Moerbeek - $340,046; Mr. Quinn - $250,473;
and Mr. Swartwout - $204,457. In addition to the cash payment, each executive
is entitled to certain health insurance benefits with a value of approximately
$11,520 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 that 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. ("NMUI"), upon a disposition of substantially all assets
of NMUI, Mr. Swartwout is, if he continues his employment with NMUI through
completion of the transaction, entitled to a severance payment of one percent of
the gross disposition price if in excess of $6,000,000, or three percent of the
gross disposition price if in excess of $11,000,000. Upon such a disposition,
Mr. Swartwout would receive a cash payment equal to the greater of (1) the cash
severance payment determined pursuant to his severance compensation agreement or
(2) the amount determined under the NMUI agreement based upon the gross
disposition price of the NMUI assets.
12
OPTIONS GRANTED TO NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Stock options were granted during the Company's most recent fiscal year to
the chief executive officer and the other Named Executive Officers. The
following table sets forth summary information relating to the potential
realizable value of stock options granted in 1997. Exercise prices, number of
options and shares outstanding have been adjusted to reflect a 5% stock dividend
on January 2, 1998.
OPTIONS GRANTED IN 1997
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of Stock
Price Appreciation for
Individual Grants 10-Year Option Term
--------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
% of Total
Options Exercise
Granted to or At 0% At 5% At 10%
Options Employees Base Annual Annual Annual
Granted in Price Expiration Growth Growth Growth
Name (#)(1) Fiscal Year ($/sh.)(2) Date Rate($) Rate($) Rate($)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------
Anton C. Garnier 12,600 26% 12.62 2007 0 100,002 253,424
Peter J. Moerbeek 8,400 17% 12.62 2007 0 66,668 168,949
Michael O. Quinn 2,625 5% 12.62 2007 0 20,834 52,797
Robert L. Swartwout 2,100 4% 12.62 2007 0 16,667 42,237
All Stockholders (3) N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 36,651,113 92,881,115
All Optionees 49,350 100% 12.73 2007 0 394,998 1,001,004
Optionee Gain
as % of Total
Stockholders' Gain N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 1.1% 1.1%
(1) Options vest 20% per year until fully vested. All options adjusted to
reflect a 5% dividend on January 2, 1998. Under the terms of the Company's
Amended and Restated Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, the
Compensation Committee retains discretion, subject to plan limits, to
modify the terms of outstanding options and to re-price the options. The
options were granted for a term of 10 years, subject to earlier
cancellation in certain events related to termination of employment. The
exercise price and tax withholding obligations related to exercise may be
paid by delivery of already owned-shares or by offset of the underlying
shares, subject to certain conditions.
(2) All exercise prices represent fair market value on the date of grant, after
adjusting to reflect a 5% stock dividend on January 2, 1998.
(3) Based on total number of shares outstanding at December 31, 1997.
13
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS BY NAMED 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 the other Named Executive Officers.
OPTION EXERCISES IN 1997 AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
Number of Value of Unexercised In-The-
Shares Unexercised Options Money Options at
Acquired on Value at December 31, 1997 December 31, 1997 (1)
Name Exercise Realized Exercisable / Unexercisable Exercisable / Unexercisable
(#) ($) (#) ($)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anton C. Garnier 0 0 49,962 / 32,814 305,828 / 252,989
Peter J. Moerbeek 0 0 7,837 / 23,873 81,746 / 195,101
Michael O. Quinn 0 0 15,065 / 7,862 92,036 / 62,809
Robert L. Swartwout 1,134 6,475 3,735 / 5,797 26,510 / 45,532
(1) Difference between fair market value at December 31, 1997 of $17.50 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 Company's corporate office, Suburban Water Systems and New
Mexico Utilities, Inc. 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 that 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") was
$160,000 in 1997. The maximum annual defined benefit in 1997 allowable under the
Code was $125,000. These limits are subject to annual cost of living
adjustments.
14
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 1997 are based on July 1, 1997 base
compensation as follows: Anton C. Garnier - $220,000, Peter J. Moerbeek -
$161,000; Michael O. Quinn - $146,500; and Robert L. Swartwout $104,800. At
December 31, 1997, years of credited service of each of such individuals are 27,
2, 18, and 4 years, respectively. Benefits under the Pension Plan are not
subject to offset for amounts received from social security or other sources.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Mr. Garnier is a director and a beneficial owner of approximately 10
percent of the outstanding stock 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 1997, East
Pasadena participated in employee insurance coverage with the Company and
Suburban and reimbursed them an aggregate of $11,289, 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 percent of the common shares outstanding of
such stock.
In 1997, Suburban made a lease payment of $50,549 for the use of water
rights owned by a Garnier family trust. Based upon payments made by other non-
related parties, 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.
PROPOSAL 2: TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES TO 25,000,000
The Company's Board proposes to amend the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company's
Common stock from 10,000,000 shares to 25,000,000 shares. As of the Record
Date, 3,338,406 shares of the Company's Common stock were outstanding and
1,265,250 shares of the Company's Common stock were reserved for issuance under
stock option, employee benefit, and dividend reivestment plans.
The Company's Board believes that the amendment of the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation is advantageous to the Company and its stockholders
by providing additional authorized shares of the Company's Common stock that
could be used from time to time, without further action or authorization by the
stockholders (except as may be required by law or by any stock exchange or
market on which the Company's securities may then be listed), for corporate
purposes which the Company's Board may deem desirable. While the Company has no
present plans, agreements or commitments for the issuance of additional shares
of the Company's Common stock, other than pursuant to its employee benefit
plans, dividend reinvestment plans and a Share Purchase Rights Plan ((the
"Plan") as discussed on page 1), the Board believes that the availability of
these shares would allow the Company to issue additional shares of the Company's
Common stock if market or other conditions indicate that such a course of action
is advisable. In addition, the Company has issued stock dividends in each of
1996, 1997 and 1998, and will continue to address the advisability of issuing
additional stock dividends in the future.
In the event of certain triggering events under the Plan (e.g.,
accumulation of a significant block of shares by an "acquiring person" as
defined), the stockholders become entitled to purchase additional shares of the
Company's Common stock at a significant discount. Accordingly, the Board wants
to ensure that a sufficient reserve of shares of Common stock will be available
for issuance under the Plan. The Plan and availability of the additional shares
for this purpose could have the effect of slowing down or impeding a hostile
acquirer's bid to purchase a controlling interest in the Company and thereafter
replacing current management. The Board, however, believes the existence of the
additional shares for use in conjunction with the implementation of the Plan
will benefit all stockholders by requiring a potential hostile acquirer to
negotiate with the Board in order to arrive at an optimum level of stockholder
value.
15
The foregoing discussion of the proposed amendment to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation constitutes a summary of the proposed amendment to
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation. Such summary is qualified by
reference to the complete text of such amendment set forth in the form of the
Amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, a copy of which is
attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
VOTE REQUIRED; BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
the Company's securities (Common stock and Preferred stock voting together as a
class) entitled to vote at the Meeting is required to approve this Proposal 2.
Abstentions will have the effect of votes against this proposal. Broker non-
votes, however, will be treated as unvoted for purposes of determining approval
of this proposal and will not be counted as votes for or against this proposal.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR APPROVAL
OF THIS PROPOSAL 2 TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK TO 25,000,000.
PROPOSAL 3: TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO
CREATE A CLASSIFIED BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Board proposes to amend the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to implement a staggered Board of Directors divided into three
classes. Each class would have a staggered three-year term, commencing with
the 1998 Annual Meeting. Subject to approval by the stockholders, the Board
would consist of Class I Directors, Class II Directors and Class III Directors.
At each Annual Meeting beginning with the 1999 Annual Meeting, one class of
Directors would be elected to succeed the Directors whose terms then expire,
with each newly elected director to serve a three-year term.
Subject to reelection of the Company's current Directors as set forth in
Proposal 1, the classification of the Company's Board of Directors would be as
follows:
Name Term Expiring
- -------------- -------------
Class I
Michael J. Fasman 1999
Maureen A. Kindel 1999
Class II
Monroe Harris 2000
Donovan D. Huennekens 2000
Richard G. Newman 2000
Class III
H. Frederick Christie 2001
Anton C. Garnier 2001
Richard Kelton 2001
A classified Board could delay a purchaser's ability to obtain control of
the Board in a relatively short period of time because it will generally take a
purchaser two annual meetings of stockholders to elect a majority of the Board.
Also, since neither the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), nor the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws require cumulative voting, a
purchaser of a block of stock of the Company constituting less than a majority
of the outstanding shares would have no assurance of representation on the
Board. This will benefit the stockholders by encouraging a purchaser to
negotiate with the Board to obtain the optimum level of value for all
stockholders.
16
The Board also believes that the longer time required to elect a majority
of a classified Board will help to assure the continuity and stability of the
Company's management and business strategies as at any given time, a majority of
the Directors will have prior experience as directors of the Company.
This proposal would not change the procedures used to remove any directors
since, pursuant to Section 141(k) of the DGCL, any person attempting to remove
one or more members of the Board would need to show cause, and only the
remaining directors would be authorized to fill any vacancy in the office of a
director, including newly created directorships. Any director appointed to fill
a vacancy or newly created directorship would serve until the next Annual
Meeting of Stockholders for which such class would expire, and until his or her
successor has been duly elected.
The foregoing discussion of the amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation is a summary and is qualified by reference to the complete text of
such amendment set forth in the form of the Amendment to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, a copy of which is attached as Appendix A to this
Proxy Statement.
VOTE REQUIRED; BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
the Company's securities (Common stock and Preferred stock, voting together as a
class) entitled to vote at the Meeting is required to approve this Proposal 3.
Abstentions will have the effect of votes against this proposal. Broker non-
votes, however, will be treated as unvoted for purposes of determining approval
of this proposal and will not be counted as votes for or against this proposal.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR APPROVAL
OF PROPOSAL 3 TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO CREATE A
CLASSIFIED BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
PROPOSAL 4: APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
1989 EMPLOYEE QUALIFIED STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
On February 10, 1998, the Board unanimously authorized amendments (the
"Amendment") to the Amended and Restated 1989 Employee Qualified Stock Purchase
Plan (the "Purchase Plan"). Certain of the amendments require stockholder
approval. Thus, the stockholders are being asked to approve the following
amendments: (i) a change in one of the eligibility requirements from minimum
employment of at least one year to minimum employment of at least 90 days, (ii)
an extension of the period during which options may be granted under the
Purchase Plan from January 29, 1999 to December 31, 2007, and (iii) removal of
the requirement to obtain stockholder approval in connection with future
amendments to the Purchase Plan, except amendments increasing the number of
shares of Common stock reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan, or as
otherwise required under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), or any other applicable rule or law.
The Board also unanimously adopted several other amendments to the Purchase
Plan, which did not require stockholder approval. Specifically, the Board: (i)
shortened the offering periods under the Purchase Plan from every six months to
every three months and modified the Date of Exercise; (ii) allowed for rollover
of cash-in-lieu of fractional shares to the next offering period; (iii) changed
the method of determining the fair market value of the stock on the Date of
Grant and the Date of Exercise from the closing price on the immediately
preceding date to the average of the daily average of the high and low sales
price of the Company's Common stock for the three days immediately preceding
such date; (iv) revised certain provisions relating to Rule 16b-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act to correspond to certain recent revisions to such rule;
and (v) made certain other changes as were deemed advisable by the officers of
the Company to facilitate administration of the Purchase Plan. The Board also
authorized the restatement of the Purchase Plan to incorporate all authorized
amendments.
17
The following is a summary of the Purchase Plan, as amended and restated by
the Board. This summary is not intended to be complete, and reference should be
made to the 1998 Amended and Restated Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan for
complete statements of the terms and provisions, a copy of which is attached as
Appendix B to this Proxy Statement.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE PURCHASE PLAN
The Purchase Plan originally became effective on January 24, 1989 and was
thereafter amended and restated in October 1991. As proposed, the Purchase Plan
will terminate as to future option grants on December 31, 2007. The purpose of
the Purchase Plan is to assist employees of the Company (or any parent or
subsidiary corporations) in acquiring stock ownership interests in the Company
pursuant to a plan which is intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase
plan" within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the Code. Under the Purchase Plan,
employees purchase, through payroll deductions, shares of the Company's Common
stock at a discount from the then current market price, without payment of
commissions or other charges. Offering the Company's employees the opportunity
to become owners of the Company's Common stock will help to further identify
such employees' interests with those of the Company's stockholders generally.
The Purchase Plan was also implemented to help employees provide for their
future security and to encourage them to remain in the employment of the
Company, or any of its parent or subsidiary corporations.
The Purchase Plan is not subject to the provisions of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and is not a
qualified plan under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. Proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Common stock
pursuant to the Purchase Plan will be used for general corporate purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PURCHASE PLAN AS AMENDED AND RESTATED
SECURITIES SUBJECT TO THE PURCHASE PLAN
A maximum of 264,600 shares of the Company's Common stock (the "Stock") may
be sold under the Purchase Plan. This amount gives effect to the stock dividends
issued by the Company in January 1996, January 1997 and January 1998. The
shares of Stock may be unissued or treasury shares or shares purchased on the
open market. The Purchase Plan provides for appropriate adjustment in the number
and kind of shares for which options may be granted and the number and kind of
shares of Stock which may be sold pursuant to the Purchase Plan in the event of
a stock split, stock dividend, reorganization or other specified changes in the
capitalization of the Company.
ELIGIBLE PERSONS
All employees of the Company, any parent corporation and any subsidiary
corporation of the Company who (i) do not, immediately after an option is
granted under the Purchase Plan, own stock possessing 5% or more of the total
voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent
corporation or subsidiary of the Company, (ii) were employed by the Company,
parent or any subsidiary of the Company for not less than 90 days, (iii) whose
customary employment is for more than 20 hours per week and (iv) whose customary
employment is for more than five months in any calendar year, are eligible to
receive options to purchase Common stock under the Purchase Plan. Directors of
the Company, or any parent or subsidiary of the Company who are not employees
are not eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan. As of the Record Date,
there were 422 employees eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan.
GRANT OF OPTIONS
Commencing with July 1, 1998, the Company shall offer options under the
Purchase Plan to all eligible employees in successive three-month offering
periods, as follows: January 1 through and including April 1, April 1 through
and including July 1, July 1 through and including October 1, and October 1
through and including January 1, of each year. The Company will offer options
under the Purchase Plan until the earlier of (i) the date when the number of
shares of Stock available under the Purchase Plan have been sold or (ii)
December 31, 2007, the date when the Purchase Plan is terminated. No
participant may be granted an option under the Purchase Plan which permits his
18
rights to purchase stock under the Purchase Plan and under all other employee
stock purchase plans of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of
the Company to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of the fair market value
of such stock for any calendar year.
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
Each participant in the Purchase Plan automatically and without any act on
such participant's part is deemed to have exercised such participant's option on
the last day of the offering period for which the option was granted, to the
extent that the balance in the participant's account under the Purchase Plan is
sufficient to purchase, at the applicable option price, whole shares of Stock
not to exceed 1,000 shares per participant per offering period. No fractional
shares of Common stock will be issued under the Purchase Plan. Any excess
balance in a participant's account after the purchase of whole shares shall be
carried forward and credited to such Participant's account for the next offering
period.
At the end of each offering period, participants are provided with reports
concerning the amount of their deductions and the number of shares purchased
during the offering period. As soon as practicable following each offering
period, the Company shall deliver to each participant a stock certificate for
the number of shares purchased upon exercise of the options granted under the
Purchase Plan.
OPTION PRICE -- DISCOUNT TO FAIR MARKET VALUE
The purchase price for each share of Stock offered under the Purchase Plan
is ninety percent (90%) of the lesser of (a) the fair market value of a share of
the Stock on the date of option exercise (the last day of the offering period
with respect to which the option was granted) or (b) the fair market value of a
share of the Stock on the date of option grant (the first day of the offering
period). The fair market value of a share of Stock as of a given date is (i)
the average over the three Trading Days immediately preceding such date of the
daily average of the high and low prices of a share of Stock, on the principal
exchange on which the Stock is then trading, if any; (ii) if the Company's
Common stock is not traded on an exchange but is quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market or any successor quotation system, the average over the three Trading
Days immediately preceding such date of the daily average of the high and low
prices for a share of Stock, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market, or any
successor quotation system; (iii) if the Stock is not publicly traded, the fair
market value of a share of Stock established by the Committee, as defined below,
acting in good faith. For purposes of this paragraph, "Trading Days" shall be
those days on which the Stock actually traded.
The daily average of the high and low prices for a share of Common stock,
as reported by the Nasdaq National Market on the Record Date was $15.75.
ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE
Each eligible employee participates in the Purchase Plan by means of
payroll deductions. The eligible employee is required to deliver to the Company
no later than five (5) working days before the date of commencement of the
offering period a completed and executed written payroll deduction
authorization, giving notice of election to participate in the next and
subsequent offering periods and designating the amount of payroll deduction.
The payroll deduction will occur on each payday and may be in amounts not less
than $20 each month and shall not exceed 10% of such participant's Eligible
Compensation. Eligible Compensation is the employee's base pay plus any cash
bonuses paid (excluding overtime, commissions, extended work week premiums or
other special payments, fees or allowances). In the case of salespersons,
Eligible Compensation includes regular commissions and bonuses. The cash
compensation payable to each participant during any offering period is reduced
on each payday through the payroll deduction in an amount equal to the stated
percentage of Eligible Compensation or amount specified in the payroll deduction
authorization, and such amount is credited to the participant's account under
the Purchase Plan. The payroll deduction authorization shall remain in effect
until the eligible employee amends the same by completing and delivering to the
Company a new authorization no later than five days before the date of
commencement of the applicable offering period, the eligible employee withdraws
from the Purchase Plan or he or she ceases to be an eligible employee.
19
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PURCHASE PLAN
Any participant may withdraw from participation under the Purchase Plan at
any time except during the last ten (10) calendar days of any offering period.
Upon withdrawal, the balance in the participant's account under the Purchase
Plan will be refunded without interest. A participant who withdraws from the
Purchase Plan and who is still an eligible employee is eligible to participate
again in the Purchase Plan as of the beginning of any subsequent offering period
by delivering to the Company a payroll deduction authorization setting forth
such participant's election to participate in the Purchase Plan.
EXPIRATION OF OPTIONS
Each option expires on the last date of each offering period immediately
after the automatic exercise of the option pursuant to the terms of the Purchase
Plan. Except in the case of death or retirement of the participant, the
participant's participation in the Purchase Plan automatically terminates on the
date of termination of the participant's employment with the Company. Upon such
termination, the balance in the participant's account will be refunded without
interest.
In the case of retirement or death, the participant or the participant's
estate is required to notify the Company of such participant's or participant's
estate's desire to have the balance of the participant's account under the
Purchase Plan refunded. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company will refund
the balance in the participant's account, without interest. If the Company does
not receive such notice prior to the next date of the exercise under the
Purchase Plan, the participant's option shall be exercised on such date.
NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS
Options are not transferable, other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and are exercisable during a participant's lifetime only by the
participant.
RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDERS
A participant shall not be deemed to be a stockholder of the Company, and
the participant shall not have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder,
with respect to shares of Stock issuable under the Purchase Plan until a
certificate for such shares has been issued to the participant.
ADMINISTRATION
The Purchase Plan is administered by a committee appointed by the Company's
Board to administer the Purchase Plan (the "Committee"). The Committee is
comprised of certain members of the Company's Board. The Committee has full
power to interpret the Purchase Plan and to establish and amend rules for its
administration. Action by the Committee is taken by a majority vote or written
consent of a majority of its members.
AMENDMENT OF THE PURCHASE PLAN
The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Purchase Plan at any time and
from time to time, provided approval by a vote of the holders of more than 50%
of the outstanding shares of the Company's capital stock entitled to vote shall
be required to amend the Purchase Plan (i) to change the number of shares of the
Stock reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan, or (ii) in any manner
required under the Code, Rule 16b-3 or any other applicable law or rule, or
(iii) in any manner required to maintain qualification of the Purchase Plan
under Section 423 of the Code.
PARTICIPATION BY NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Since the inception of the Purchase Plan, Mr. Moerbeek acquired a total of
83 shares of Common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $8.95; Mr.
Quinn acquired a total of 1,314 shares of Common stock at a weighted average
exercise price of $7.99; and Mr. Swartwout acquired a total of 141 shares of
Common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $8.76, under the Purchase
Plan. Mr. Garnier has not acquired any shares of Common stock through the
Purchase Plan. All executive officers as a group acquired a total of 1,538
shares of Common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $8.11 under the
Purchase Plan since its inception. Since participation under the
20
Purchase Plan is at the election of the individual and dependent upon the
Company's then current stock price, it is not possible to determine the number
of shares of Common stock that will be acquired by these individuals in the
future under the Purchase Plan.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The Company intends that the Purchase Plan qualify as an "employee stock
purchase plan" within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code and that the tax
consequences set forth below will be realized upon exercise of options and
disposition of shares under the Purchase Plan.
Under an employee stock purchase plan, no taxable income results to a
participant at the time of the grant of the option or upon its exercise. A
participant will only have taxable income in the year of disposition of a share
acquired under the Purchase Plan, or in certain cases in the year of death if
the share is owned at death. Generally, disposition for this purpose includes
any transfer of legal title, including a transfer by sale, exchange or gift, but
does not include a transfer into joint ownership with right of survivorship
where the participant remains one of the joint owners, a pledge or a transfer by
bequest or inheritance. A participant will incur applicable income and
employment taxes upon base pay and commissions deducted from the participant's
payroll for purchase of shares under the Purchase Plan.
If the shares purchased are not disposed of during the prescribed holding
period (two years from the date of grant and one year from the date of purchase)
the lesser of (1) the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time
of disposition over the option price, or (2) the excess of the fair market value
of the shares at the time the option was granted over the option price
(determined assuming that the option was exercised on the date of grant) will be
reportable as ordinary income in the year of disposition. This amount of
ordinary income is to be added to the purchase price for the purpose of
determining any additional long-term capital gain on disposition. No capital
loss will be realized unless the stock is sold for less than the purchase price.
There will be no corresponding tax deduction to the Company.
If the shares are disposed of before the end of the prescribed holding
period (a "disqualifying disposition"), the employee must report as ordinary
income in the year of disposition, and the Company may deduct, the excess of the
fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the option price.
This amount of ordinary income is to be added to the option price for the
purpose of determining any additional capital gain or loss. The gain or loss
will be short-term or long-term, depending on whether the twelve (12) month
holding period for long-term capital gain or loss is satisfied. Upon a
disqualifying disposition, it is possible for an employee to have both ordinary
income and capital loss.
VOTE REQUIRED; BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
the Company's securities (Common stock and Preferred stock voting together as a
class) entitled to vote at the Meeting is required to approve this Proposal 4.
Abstentions will have the effect of votes against this proposal. Broker non-
votes, however, will be treated as unvoted for purposes of determining approval
of this proposal and will not be counted as votes for or against this proposal.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR APPROVAL
OF THE AMENDMENT.
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PROPOSAL 5: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The Board, 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 1998, 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
Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do
so and will be available to respond to questions.
VOTE REQUIRED; BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
the Company's securities (Common stock and Preferred stock voting together as a
class) entitled to vote at the Meeting is required to approve this Proposal 5.
Abstentions will not have the effect of votes against this proposal. Broker
non-votes, however, will be treated as unvoted for purposes of determining
approval of this proposal and will not be counted as votes for or against this
proposal.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF
THE SELECTION OF KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR 1998.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999 ANNUAL MEETING
Any stockholder who desires to submit a proposal to be considered for
inclusion in the Company`s Proxy Statement and Proxy relating to its 1999 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders must submit such proposal in writing to be received by
the Secretary of the Company no later than December 24, 1998. The Company's
address is set forth on the first page of this Proxy Statement
OTHER BUSINESS
Your Board knows of no other business to be presented at the 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 24, 1998
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APPENDIX A
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
ANTON C. GARNIER and PETER J. MOERBEEK certify that:
1. They are the President and Secretary, respectively, of Southwest Water
Company, a Delaware corporation (this "Corporation").
2. The following action, setting forth a proposed amendment (the
"Amendment") to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of this Corporation,
was duly approved by the Board of Directors of Southwest Water Company, a
Delaware corporation and, at the 1998 Annual Stockholder's Meeting, by the
necessary number of shares as required by statute and the Restated Certificate
of Incorporation of this Corporation.
3. Said Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of
Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
WHEREAS, Southwest Water Company filed a Certificate of Incorporation with
the State of Delaware on February 2, 1988, a Restated Certificate of
Incorporation on April 6, 1988, and a Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of
Incorporation on May 1, 1995 (collectively, the "Certificate");
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors desires to amend and restate Article
FOURTH, Paragraph A and Article SIXTH, Paragraph B of the Certificate of this
Corporation;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that Article FOURTH, Paragraph A of
the Certificate is hereafter amended and restated in its entirety to read:
"A. The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is twenty-five million two hundred
fifty thousand (25,250,000), consisting of the following:
(1) two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) shares of Preferred stock,
with a par value of $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"); and
(2) twenty-five million (25,000,000) shares of Common stock, with a
par value of $.01 per share (the "Common Stock")."
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that Article SIXTH, Paragraph B of
the Certificate is hereafter amended and restated in its entirety to read:
"B. The number of Directors shall be not less than seven nor more than
nine, and the exact number of Directors shall be fixed from time to time
exclusively by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by
affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of authorized directors
(whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships
at the time of any such resolution).
The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, designated as
Class I, Class II and Class III. The number of directors in each class shall be
determined by the Board of Directors and shall consist of as nearly equal a
number of directors as practicable. The term of the Class I directors initially
shall expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders ensuing after the 1998
Annual Meeting of Stockholders; the term of Class II directors initially shall
expire at the second Annual Meeting of Stockholders ensuing after the 1998
Annual Meeting of Stockholders; and the term of Class III directors initially
shall expire at the third Annual Meeting of Stockholders ensuing after the 1998
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In the case of each class, the directors shall
serve until their respective successors
A-1
are duly elected and qualified. At each Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
directors of the respective class whose term expires shall be elected, and the
directors chosen to succeed those whose terms shall have expired shall be
elected to hold office for a term to expire at the third ensuing Annual Meeting
of Stockholders after their election, and until their respective successors are
elected and qualified.
Any vacancy in the office of a director shall be filled by the vote of the
majority of the remaining directors, regardless of any quorum requirements set
forth in the Bylaws of the corporation. Any director appointed to fill a
vacancy in the office of director shall serve until the next Annual Meeting of
Stockholders at which directors of the class for which such director shall have
been chosen are to be elected, and until his or her successor is elected and
qualified. Newly created directorships shall be filled by the Board of
Directors."
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Board of Directors hereby authorizes and directs
the Secretary of this Corporation to do and perform all acts, to execute and
deliver all certificates and to take or cause to be taken all other action as
such officer may deem necessary, desirable or appropriate to carry out the full
intent and purpose of the foregoing resolution.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Certificate of
Amendment this __th day of May 1998.
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
a Delaware corporation
-----------------------------
Anton C. Garnier, President
-----------------------------
Peter J. Moerbeek, Secretary
A-2
APPENDIX B
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY AMENDED AND RESTATED
1998 EMPLOYEE QUALIFIED STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware (the "Company"), hereby adopts this Amended and Restated 1998
Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"), effective as of May 28,
1998. This Plan amends and restates the Amended and Restated 1989 Employee
Qualified Stock Purchase Plan of the Company, originally adopted in January 1989
and amended and restated in November 1991. The purposes of the Plan are as
follows:
(1) To assist employees of the Company and its Subsidiary Corporations (as
defined below) in acquiring a stock ownership interest in the Company pursuant
to a plan which is intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan"
within the meeting of Section 423(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
(2) To help employees provide for their future security and to encourage
them to remain in the employment of the Company and its Subsidiary
Corporations.
1. DEFINITIONS
Whenever any of the following terms are used in the Plan with the first
letter or letters capitalized, it shall have the following meaning unless the
context clearly indicates to the contrary (such definitions to be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
(a) "Authorization" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.
(b) "Board of Directors" or "Board" means the Board of Directors of the
Company.
(c) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(d) "Committee" means the Committee appointed to administer the Plan
pursuant to Section 12 hereof.
(e) "Company" means Southwest Water Company, a Delaware corporation.
(f) "Date of Exercise" means, with respect to any Option, the last day of
the Offering Period for which the Option was granted, as set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
(g) "Date of Grant" means, with respect to any Option, the date upon which
the Option is granted, as set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.
(h) "Eligible Compensation" means the employee's base pay plus any cash
bonuses paid (excluding overtime, commissions, extended workweek premiums or
other special payments, fees or allowances). In the case of salespersons,
Eligible Compensation includes regular commissions and bonuses.
(i) "Eligible Employee" means an employee of the Company or any employee
of any Parent Corporation or any Subsidiary Corporation (1) who does not,
immediately after the Option is granted, own stock possessing 5% or more of
the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the
Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation; (2) who has been
employed by the Company or any Subsidiary Corporation for not less than ninety
(90) days; (3) whose customary employment is for more than twenty (20) hours
per week; and (4) whose customary employment is for more than five (5) months
in any calendar year. For purposes of clause (1), the rules of Section 425(d)
of the Code with regard to the attribution of stock ownership shall apply in
determining the stock ownership of an individual, and stock which
B-1
an Eligible Employee may purchase under outstanding options shall be treated
as stock owned by the Eligible Employee. "Eligible Employee" shall not include
any director of the Company, any Parent Corporation or any Subsidiary
Corporation who does not render services to the Company in the status of any
employee within the meaning of Section 3121(d) of the Code.
(j) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(k) "Offering Period" shall mean (i) the four (4) month period from March
1, 1998 to June 30, 1998, and (ii) commencing with July 1, 1998 and continuing
thereafter, shall mean the approximate three (3) month periods of January 1
through and including April 1, April 1 through and including July 1, July 1
through and including October 1, and October 1 through and including January
1, of each year.
(l) "Officer" means an officer of the Company, as defined in Rule 16a-1(f)
promulgated under the Exchange Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to
time.
(m) "Option" means an option granted under the Plan to an Eligible
Employee to purchase shares of the Company's Stock.
(n) "Option Period" means, with respect to any Option, the period
beginning upon the Date of Grant and ending upon the Date of Exercise.
(o) "Option Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(b) hereof.
(p) "Parent Corporation" means any corporation, other than the Company, in
an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of
the granting of the Option, each of the corporations other than the Company
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.
(q) "Participant" means an Eligible Employee who has complied with the
provisions of Section 3(b) hereof.
(r) "Payday" means the regular and recurring established day for payment
of cash compensation to employees of the Company, any Parent Corporation or
any Subsidiary Corporation.
(s) "Plan" means the Southwest Water Company Amended and Restated 1998
Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan, as amended from time to time.
(t) "Rule 16b-3" means that certain Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time.
(u) "Stock" means the shares of the Company's Common Stock, $0.01 par
value.
(v) "Subsidiary Corporation" means any corporation, other than the
Company, in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if,
at the time of the granting of the Option, each of the corporations other than
the last corporation in the unbroken chain 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.
(w) "Withdrawal Election" has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
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2. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
Subject to the provisions of Section 9 hereof (relating to adjustments upon
changes in the Stock) and Section 11 hereof (relating to amendments of the
Plan), the Stock which may be sold pursuant to Options granted under the Plan
shall not exceed in the aggregate 264,600 shares, and may be unissued shares or
treasury shares or shares bought on the market for purposes of the Plan. The
foregoing gives effect to the 5% stock dividend issued on January 20, 1996, the
20% stock dividend issued on January 20, 1997 and the 5% stock dividend issued
on January 20, 1998.
3. GRANT OF OPTIONS
(a) General Statement. The Company shall offer options under the Plan to
all Eligible Employees in successive Offering Periods until the earlier of (i)
the date when the number of shares of Stock available under the Plan have been
sold or (ii) the date when the Plan is terminated. Each Participant shall be
granted an Option for each Offering Period on the Date of Grant. Commencing
July 1, 1998 and continuing thereafter, Dates of Grant and Corresponding Dates
of Exercise shall be, for each year:
Date of Grant Corresponding Date of Exercise
------------- ------------------------------
January 1... the following April 1
April 1..... the following July 1
July 1...... the following October 1
October 1... the following January 1
Dates of Grant and Dates of Exercise may also be such other date or dates
as the Committee may from time to time determine. Each Option shall expire on
the Date of Exercise immediately after the automatic exercise of the Option
pursuant to section 4(a) hereof. The number of shares of Stock subject to each
Option shall equal the lesser of (i) the payroll deductions authorized by each
Participant in accordance with subsection (b) hereof for the Option Period,
divided by the Option Price or (ii) 1,000 shares, except as provide in Section
4(a).
(b) Election to Participate; Payroll Deduction Authorization. Except as
provided in subsection (d) herein, an Eligible Employee shall participate in the
Plan only by means of payroll deduction. Each Eligible Employee who elects to
participate in the Plan shall deliver to the Company during the calendar month
preceding a Date of Grant no later than five (5) working days before such Date
of Grant, a completed and executed written payroll deduction authorization in a
form prepared by the Company (the "Authorization"). An Eligible Employee's
Authorization shall give notice of such Eligible Employee's election to
participate in the Plan for the next following Offering Period and subsequent
Offering Periods and shall designate a stated whole percentage or amount of
Eligible Compensation to be withheld on each Payday. The stated amount shall
not be less than $20.00 each month and shall not exceed 10% of Eligible
Compensation. The cash compensation payable to a Participant for an Offering
Period shall be reduced each Payday through a payroll deduction in an amount
equal to the stated percentage of Eligible Compensation or amount specified in
the Authorization, and such amount shall be credited to the Participant's
account under the Plan. Any authorization pursuant to this subsection shall
remain in effect until the Eligible Employee amends the same pursuant to this
subsection, withdraws pursuant to Section 5 or ceases to be an Eligible Employee
pursuant to Section 6.
(c) $25,000 Limitation. No Eligible Employee shall be granted an Option
under the Plan which permits his rights to purchase Stock under the Plan and
under all other employee stock purchase plans of the Company, any Parent
Corporation or any Subsidiary Corporation to accrue at a rate which exceeds
$25,000 of fair market value of such stock (determined at the time the Option is
granted) for each calendar year in which any such Option is outstanding at any
time. For purpose of the limitation imposed by this subsection, the right to
purchase Stock under an option accrues when the option (or any portion thereof)
first becomes exercisable during the calendar year, the right to purchase stock
under an option accrues at the rate provided in the option, but in no case may
such rate exceed $25,000 of the fair market value of such stock (determined at
the time such option is granted) for any one calendar year, and a right to
purchase stock which has accrued under an option may not be carried over to any
other option.
B-3
(d) Leaves of Absence. During a leave of absence approved by the Company
and meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-7(h)(2), a
Participant may continue to participate in the Plan by making cash payments to
the Company on each Payday equal to the amount of the Participant's payroll
deductions under the Plan for the Payday immediately preceding the first day of
such Participant's leave of absence.
4. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS; OPTION PRICE
(a) General Statement. Each Participant automatically, and without any
act on such Participant's part, shall be deemed to have exercised such
Participant's Option on the Date of Exercise to the extent that the balance then
in the Participant's account under the Plan is sufficient to purchase at the
Option Price whole shares of the Stock subject to the Option, not to exceed
1,000 shares per Participant per Offering Period. No fractional shares of Stock
shall be purchased upon the exercise of an Option, and no certificates for
fractional shares will be issued; any excess balance in a Participant's account
remaining after the purchase of whole shares of Stock upon the exercise of an
Option shall be credited to such Participant's account and carried forward and
applied toward the purchase of whole shares of Stock pursuant to the Option, if
any, exercised by the Participant for the next following Offering Period.
(b) Option Price Defined. The option price per share of Stock (the
"Option Price") to be paid by a Participant upon the exercise of the
Participant's Option shall be equal to 90% of the lesser of the fair market
value of a share of Stock on the Date of Exercise or the fair market value of a
share of Stock on the Date of Grant. The fair market value of a share of Stock
as of a given date shall be: (i) the average over the three Trading Days
immediately preceding such date of the daily average of the high and low prices
of a share of Stock, on the principal exchange on which the Stock is then
trading, if any; (ii) if the Stock is not traded on an exchange but is quoted on
the Nasdaq National Market or a successor quotation system, the average over the
three Trading Days immediately preceding such date of the daily average high and
low prices for a share of Stock, as reported by the Nasdaq Market System or such
successor quotation system; (iii) if the Stock is not publicly traded, the fair
market value of a share of Stock established by the Committee acting in good
faith. For purposes of this paragraph, "Trading Days" shall be those days on
which the Stock actually traded.
(c) Delivery of Share Certificates. As soon as practicable after each
Date of Exercise, the Company shall deliver to each Participant a certificate
issued in the Participant's name for the number of shares of Stock with respect
to which the Participant's Option was exercised. In the event the Company is
required to obtain authority from any commission or agency to issue any such
certificate, the Company will seek to obtain such authority. The inability of
the Company to obtain authority from any such commission or agency which counsel
for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance of any such certificate
shall relieve the Company from liability to any Participant except to return to
the Participant the amount of the balance in the Participant's account without
any interest thereon.
(d) Pro Rata Allocations. If the total number of shares of Stock for
which Options are to be exercised on any date exceeds the number of shares
remaining unsold under the Plan (after deduction of all shares for which Options
have theretofore been exercised), the Committee shall make a pro rata allocation
of the available remaining shares in as nearly a uniform manner as shall be
practicable and any balance of payroll deductions credited to the accounts of
Participants which have not been applied to the purchase of shares of Stock
shall be paid to such Participants in cash in one lump sum within sixty (60)
days after the Date of Exercise, without any interest thereon.
5. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PLAN
(a) General Statement. Any Participant may withdraw from participation
under the Plan at any time except that no Participant may withdraw during the
last ten (10) calendar days of any Offering Period. A Participant who wishes to
withdraw from the Plan must deliver to the Company a notice of withdrawal in a
form prepared by the Company (the "Withdrawal Election") not later than ten (10)
calendar days prior to the Date of Exercise during any Offering Period. Upon
receipt of a Participant's Withdrawal Election, the Company shall pay to the
Participant the amount of the balance in the Participant's account under the
Plan in cash in one lump sum within sixty (60) days, without any interest
thereon. Upon receipt of a Participant's Withdrawal Election by the Company,
the Participant shall cease to participate in the Plan and the Participant's
Option shall terminate.
(b) Eligibility Following Withdrawal. A Participant who withdraws from
the Plan and who is still an Eligible Employee shall be eligible to participate
again in the Plan as of any subsequent Date of Grant by delivering to the
Company an Authorization pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof.
B-4
6. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
(a) Termination of Employment Other than by Retirement or Death. If the
employment of a Participant terminates other than by retirement or death, the
Participant's participation in the Plan automatically and without any act on the
Participant's part shall terminate as of the date of the termination of the
Participant's employment. As soon as practicable after such termination of
employment, the Company will refund to the Participant the amount of the balance
in the Participant's account under the Plan without any interest thereon. Upon a
Participant's termination of employment covered by this Section 6(a), the
Participant's payroll deduction authorization, interest in the Plan and Option
under the Plan shall terminate.
(b) Termination by Retirement. A Participant who retires with the consent
of the Company may by written notice to the Company request payment of the
balance in the Participant's account under the Plan, in which event the Company
shall make such payment without any interest thereon as soon as practicable
after receiving such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Participant's
payroll deduction authorization, interest in the Plan and Option under the Plan
shall terminate. If the Company does not receive such notice prior to the next
Date of Exercise, the Participant's Option will be deemed to have been exercised
on such Date of Exercise.
(c) Termination by Death. If the employment of a participant is
terminated by the Participant's death, the executor of the Participant's will or
the administrator of the Participant's estate, by written notice to the Company,
may request payment of the balance in the Participant's account under the Plan,
in which event the Company shall make such payment without any interest thereon
as soon as practicable after receiving such notice; upon receipt of such notice
the Participant's interest in the Plan and the Participant's Option under the
Plan shall terminate. If the Company does not receive such notice prior to the
next Date of Exercise, the Participant's Option will be deemed to have been
exercised on such Date of Exercise.
7. RESTRICTION UPON ASSIGNMENT
No Option or interest or right therein or part thereof shall be subject to
or liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant 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); provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 7 shall prevent transfer by will or by the applicable laws of descent
and distribution. Except as provided in Section 6(c) hereof, an Option may not
be exercised to any extent except by the Participant and shall be exercisable
only during the Participant's lifetime. The Company will not recognize and
shall be under no duty to recognize any assignment or purported assignment by a
Participant of the Participant's interest in the Plan, the Participant's Option
or any rights under the Participant's Option.
8. NO RIGHTS OF STOCKHOLDERS UNTIL CERTIFICATE ISSUED
With respect to shares of Stock subject to an Option, a Participant shall
not be deemed to be a stockholder of the Company, and the Participant shall not
have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder, until a certificate for
shares has been issued to the Participant following exercise of the
Participant's Option. No adjustments shall be made for dividends (ordinary or
extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distribution or
other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such certificate is
issued, except as otherwise expressly provided herein.
9. CHANGES IN THE STOCK; ADJUSTMENTS OF AN OPTION
Whenever any change is made in the Stock or to Options outstanding under
the Plan, by reason of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or other
subdivision, combination, or reclassification of shares, appropriate action will
be taken by the Committee to adjust accordingly the number of shares of the
Stock subject to the Plan and the number and the Option Price of shares of the
Stock subject to the Options outstanding under the Plan to preserve, but not
increase, the rights of Participants hereunder.
B-5
10. USE OF FUNDS; NO INTEREST PAID
All funds received or held by the Company under the Plan will be included
in the general funds of the Company free of any trust or other restriction and
may be used for any corporate purpose. No interest will be paid to any
Participant or credited to any Participant's account under the Plan with respect
to such funds.
11. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
The Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time
and from time to time, provided that approval by a vote of the holders or more
than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company's capital stock entitled to
vote shall be required to amend the Plan (i) to change the number of shares of
Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) in any manner required under
the Code, Rule 16b-3 or any other applicable law or rule, or (iii) in any manner
required to maintain qualification of the Plan under Section 423 of the Code.
12. ADMINISTRATION BY COMMITTEE; RULES AND REGULATIONS
(a) Appointment of Committee. The Plan shall be administered by a
Committee appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board.
(b) Duties and Powers of Committee. It shall be the duty of the Committee
to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan. The Committee shall have the power to interpret the
Plan and the terms of the Options and to adopt such rules for the
administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent
therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. In its absolute
discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all
rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan.
(c) Majority Rule. The Committee shall act by a majority of its members
in office. The Committee may act either by vote at a meeting or by a memorandum
or other written instrument signed by a majority of the Committee.
(d) Compensation, Professional Assistance; Good Faith Actions. Members of
the Committee shall receive such compensation for their services as members as
may be determined by the Board. All expenses and liabilities incurred by
members of the Committee in connection with the administration of the Plan shall
be borne by the Company. The Committee may, with the approval of the Board,
employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other
persons. The Committee, the Company and its officers and directors 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
Committee in good faith shall be final and binding upon all Participants, the
Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee shall be
personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good
faith with respect to the Plan or the Options, and all members of the Committee
shall be fully protected by the Company in respect to any such action,
determination or interpretation.
13. NO RIGHTS AS AN EMPLOYEE
Nothing in Plan shall be construed to give any person (including any
Eligible Employee or Participant) the right to remain in the employ of the
Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation or to affect the right
of the Company, any Parent Corporation or any Subsidiary corporation to
terminate the employment of any person (including any Eligible Employee or
Participant) at any time, with or without cause.
14. MERGER, ACQUISITION OR LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY
In the event of the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into
another corporation, the acquisition by another corporation of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets or 80% or more of the Company's then-
outstanding voting stock, the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or any
other reorganization of the Company, the Date of Exercise with respect to
outstanding Options shall be the business day immediately preceding the
effective date of such merger, consolidation, acquisition, liquidation,
dissolution, or reorganization unless the Committee shall in its sole
discretion, provide for the assumption or substitution of such Options in a
manner complying with Section 425(a) of the Code.
B-6
15. TERM
No option may be granted during any period of suspension of the Plan or
after termination of the Plan and in no event may any Option be granted under
the Plan after December 31, 2007.
16. EFFECT UPON OTHER PLANS
The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or
incentive plans in effect for the Company, any Parent Corporation or any
Subsidiary Corporation. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to limit the
right of the Company, any Parent Corporation or any Subsidiary Corporation (a)
to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for employees of the
Company, any Parent Corporation or any Subsidiary Corporation or (b) to grant or
assume options otherwise than under this 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.
17. CONDITIONS TO ISSUANCE OF STOCK CERTIFICATES
The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or
certificates for shares of Stock purchased upon the exercise of Options prior to
fulfillment of all 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 Committee 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 Committee 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 upon exercise of the Option, and
(e) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of
the Option as the Committee may from time to time establish for reasons of
administrative convenience.
18. NOTIFICATION OF DISPOSITION
Each Participant shall give prompt notice to the Company of any disposition
or other transfer of any shares of Stock if such disposition or transfer is made
(a) within two (2) years from the date of grant of the Option with respect to
such shares or (b) within one (1) year after the transfer of such shares to such
Participant. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other
transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of
indebtedness or other consideration, by the Participant in such disposition or
other transfer.
19. NOTICES
Any notice to be given under the terms of the Plan to the Company shall be
addressed to the Company in care of its Secretary and any notice to be given to
any Employee shall be addressed to such Employee at such Employee's last address
as reflected in the Company's records. By a notice given pursuant to this
Section, either party may designate a different address for notices to be given
to it, him or her. Any notice which is required to be given to an Eligible
Employee or a Participant shall, if the Eligible Employee or Participant is then
deceased, be given to the Eligible Employee's or Participant's personal
representative if such representative has previously informed the Company of his
status and address by written notice under this Section. Any notice shall have
been deemed duly given if enclosed in a properly sealed envelope or wrapper
addressed as aforesaid at the time it is deposited (with postage prepaid) in a
post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States
Postal Service.
B-7
20. HEADINGS
Headings are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a
basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.
* * * * * * *
I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan, which amends and restates the
Southwest Water Company Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan adopted by the
Board of Directors of Southwest Water Company on January 24, 1989 and by its
stockholders at the 1989 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as amended by the
amendment thereto and restatement thereof, adopted by the Board of Directors on
October 22, 1991, was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Southwest Water
Company on February 10, 1998 and by its stockholders at the 1998 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders.
Executed as of this ____ day of ________________, 1998.
-----------------------------
Peter J. Moerbeek, Secretary
B-8
[MAP APPEARS HERE]
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PROXY
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS--MAY 28, 1998
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 31, 1998, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 28,
1998, 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 ADOPTION OF PROPOSALS 2, 3, AND 4 AND THE
SELECTION OF THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
(Continued on reverse side)
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-- FOLD AND DETACH HERE --
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Please mark
your votes [X]
like this
A VOTE FOR EACH DIRECTOR NOMINEE AND FOR APPROVAL OF EACH PROPOSAL IS
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
FOR ALL NOMINEES WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
LISTED BELOW (EXCEPT TO VOTE FOR ALL
AS MARKED TO THE NOMINEES LISTED
CONTRARY BELOW) BELOW
1. Election as directors of the nominees [_] [_]
listed in the accompanying Proxy
Statement.
H. Frederick Christie, Michael J. Fasman, Anton C. Garnier, Monroe Harris,
Donovan D. Huennekens, Richard Kelton, Maureen A. Kindel and Richard G. Newman
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write
that nominee's name on the line provided below.)
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2. Approval to increase the number of FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
Authorized Common Shares to 25,000,000. [_] [_] [_]
3. Approval to create a Classified Board FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
of Directors with Staggered Three [_] [_] [_]
Year Terms.
4. Approval of an Amendment to the FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
Southwest Water Company Employee Stock [_] [_] [_]
Purchase Plan.
5. Ratification of the appointment of FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as the Company's [_] [_] [_]
independent auditors.
The undersigned hereby ratifies all acts of said proxies hereunder.
Signature _______________________________ Date _______________________ , 1998
Signature _______________________________ Date _______________________ , 1998
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.
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