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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 sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12
STONE & WEBSTER, INCORPORATED
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
STONE & WEBSTER, INCORPORATED
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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/ $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), or 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2)
or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(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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STONE & WEBSTER, INCORPORATED
(LOGO) 250 West 34th Street
New York, New York 10119
March 29, 1996
Dear SHAREHOLDER:
We cordially invite our Shareholders to attend the 1996 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of Stone & Webster, Incorporated which will be held at the
King/Sullivan Room, Hotel duPont, 11th and Market Streets, Wilmington, Delaware,
on Thursday, May 9, 1996, at 2:00 P.M. We ask Shareholders who plan to attend
the Annual Meeting to mark the appropriate box on the enclosed proxy card.
As more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement, the Board of
Directors recommends that you vote FOR the election of Directors and FOR the
ratification of the selection of independent accountants.
With a sense of deep appreciation for their many years of service to the
Corporation and its Shareholders, we announce that three of our Directors whose
terms of office expire this year have decided not to stand for re-election.
William L. Brown (a Director of the Corporation for 26 years), John A. Hooper (a
Director for 22 years), and Kenneth G. Ryder (a Director for 9 years) have
distinguished themselves in their individual careers and have each made
significant contributions to the Corporation through their dedicated service as
members of the Board and its Committees. We gratefully acknowledge their efforts
on our behalf.
We are also very pleased to welcome to the Board this year, and the Board
has nominated for re-election at the Annual Meeting, John P. Merrill, Jr. and
Peter M. Wood, who were elected Directors at the meeting of the Board on March
20, 1996. Both bring strong backgrounds and a wealth of expertise to our
organization -- Mr. Merrill in international business, policy-level consulting
in the electricity sector, privatization, and project development, and Mr. Wood
in finance, mergers and acquisitions, and management consulting. Also nominated
for re-election this year is Bernard W. Reznicek, Dean of Creighton University
College of Business Administration and former Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Boston Edison Company.
It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting whether or
not you are personally present. Accordingly, we ask that you sign, date and mail
the enclosed proxy promptly.
As in past years, members of management will review the performance and
prospects of the Corporation and will be available to answer questions during
and after the meeting.
Sincerely,
KENT F. HANSEN H. KERNER SMITH
Chairman of the President and
Board Chief Executive Officer
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STONE & WEBSTER, INCORPORATED
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NOTICE OF MEETING
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250 West 34th Street, New York, New
York 10119
March 29, 1996
To the Shareholders of
STONE & WEBSTER, INCORPORATED:
Notice is hereby given that the 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Stone & Webster, Incorporated (the Corporation) will be held at the
King/Sullivan Room, Hotel duPont, 11th and Market Streets, Wilmington, Delaware,
on Thursday, May 9, 1996, at 2:00 P.M., Wilmington time, for the purpose of
considering and acting upon the following:
1. The election of three Directors for a term of three years and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified.
2. The ratification of the selection by the Corporation's Board of Directors of
the firm of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent accountants, as auditor of
the Corporation and its subsidiaries for the year 1996.
3. Any and all other business that may properly come before the meeting.
Only Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 1996 will
be entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO BE PERSONALLY PRESENT AT THE MEETING, YOU ARE
REQUESTED TO SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND TO RETURN IT PROMPTLY.
By order of the Board of Directors,
PETER F. DURNING
Secretary
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STONE & WEBSTER, INCORPORATED
250 West 34th Street
New York, New York 10119
PROXY STATEMENT
The following information is furnished to each shareholder (the
Shareholder) of Stone & Webster, Incorporated (the Corporation) in connection
with the foregoing notice of the 1996 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of the
Corporation (the Annual Meeting) to be held on Thursday, May 9, 1996, and the
enclosed proxy for use at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or
postponements thereof. This Proxy Statement and the form of the proxy are being
mailed to Shareholders commencing on or about March 29, 1996.
The enclosed proxy is being solicited by and on behalf of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation. A proxy executed on the enclosed form may be
revoked by the Shareholder at any time before the shares are voted by filing
with the Secretary of the Corporation an instrument revoking such proxy or a
duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the Annual Meeting and
electing to vote in person. If a Shareholder is a participant in the
Corporation's Dividend Reinvestment Plan, the proxy represents the shares in the
Shareholder's plan account in addition to the shares registered in the
Shareholder's name. If the Shareholder is a participant in the Employee
Investment Plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan or Payroll-based Employee Stock
Ownership Plan of Stone & Webster, Incorporated and Participating Subsidiaries,
the proxy will constitute voting instructions to the trustee under those plans
directing how the shares in the participant's accounts in the plans are to be
voted. The shares of the Corporation's Common Stock represented by all proxies
which are received by the Corporation, or voting instructions received by the
trustee under the plans, will be voted as specified. If no specification is
made, the shares represented thereby will be voted:
(1) FOR the election of the Board's nominees as Directors; and
(2) FOR the ratification of the selection of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.,
independent accountants, as auditor of the Corporation and its
subsidiaries for the year 1996.
CONFIDENTIALITY; VOTING
The Board of Directors has adopted a policy of confidentiality regarding
the voting of shares by Shareholders. Under this policy, all Shareholder votes
by proxy or ballot will be kept permanently confidential and will not be
disclosed to the Corporation or third parties unless disclosure is required by
law or the Shareholder consents to or requests disclosure, or in the case of a
contested election or other matter, where the contesting proponent does not
agree in writing to comply with the same policy. Voting instructions given to
the trustee by a participant in the Employee Investment Plan, Employee Stock
Ownership Plan or Payroll-based Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Stone &
Webster, Incorporated and
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Participating Subsidiaries will be mailed directly to the trustee (or its
representative) and will be kept permanently confidential and will not be
disclosed to the Corporation or third parties unless disclosure is required by
law or the participant consents to or requests disclosure.
Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting will be counted by
the persons appointed by the Corporation to act as inspectors of election for
the meeting. The inspectors of election will treat shares of Common Stock
represented by proxies that specify abstentions as shares that are present and
entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. However,
abstentions will be treated as negative votes for purposes of determining the
outcome of any matter submitted to Shareholders which requires the approval of a
majority of votes entitled to be cast on such matters.
The inspectors of election will treat shares represented by proxies for
shares held by brokers or nominees as to which instructions have not been
received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and which the
broker or nominee does not have discretionary power to vote on a particular
matter (sometimes referred to as "broker non-votes") as shares that are present
and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.
However, for the purposes of determining the outcome of any matter as to which
the broker has physically indicated on the proxy that it does not have
discretionary authority to vote, those shares will be treated as not present and
not entitled to vote with respect to that matter (even though those shares are
considered entitled to vote for quorum purposes and may be entitled to vote on
other matters).
The expenses in connection with the solicitation of proxies, including the
cost of preparing, assembling and mailing proxy material, and also the payment
or reimbursement of charges of brokerage houses and other institutions, nominees
and fiduciaries in forwarding the Corporation's proxy material to beneficial
owners, will be borne by the Corporation. In addition to solicitations by mail,
some of the officers and regular employees of the Corporation and its
subsidiaries may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, facsimile or
telegraph. The Corporation has also retained D. F. King & Co., Inc. to assist in
the solicitation of proxies by the methods referred to above at an estimated
cost of $10,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses.
SHARE OWNERSHIP
The Corporation had outstanding, as of March 11, 1996, 13,300,513 shares of
Common Stock (excluding 4,430,975 shares held in the treasury), each share of
which is entitled to one vote. Only Shareholders of record at the close of
business on March 11, 1996 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof.
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As of March 11, 1996, the institutional trustees under the following
employee benefit plans held of record more than 5% of the outstanding Common
Stock of the Corporation:
The Employee Investment Plan of Stone & Webster, Incorporated and
Participating Subsidiaries (the Employee Investment Plan) -- 1,741,995
shares (approximately 13.1%)
and
The Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Stone & Webster, Incorporated and
Participating Subsidiaries (ESOP) (including PAYSOP shares referred to
below) -- 2,897,754 shares (approximately 21.8%).
The Committee under the Employee Investment Plan (the Plan Committee) may
be considered a beneficial owner of the shares held under the Employee
Investment Plan by reason of the definition of beneficial ownership contained in
Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission)
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
Act). The Employee Investment Plan provides that shares allocated to the
investment accounts of participants will be voted as the participants direct,
and shares as to which participants have not given directions will be voted in
accordance with the direction of the Plan Committee. To the extent that the Plan
Committee shares voting power as aforesaid, the Plan Committee may be considered
a beneficial owner under the Commission definition. The Plan Committee is
presently composed of Kenneth G. Ryder, Chairman, Donna R. Fitzpatrick, Kent F.
Hansen, and John A. Hooper, all of whom are non-employee Directors of the
Corporation. Pursuant to the ESOP, shares allocated to the accounts of
participants are voted as the participants direct, and allocated shares as to
which participants have not given directions and all unallocated shares are
voted in the proportions the allocated shares are voted by the participants.
Shares held under the ESOP may not be transferred by the trustee of that plan,
other than to meet distribution requirements of the ESOP or in connection with a
statutory reclassification of the Corporation's Common Stock or a statutory
merger, consolidation or sale of assets or in certain limited circumstances,
upon the direction of the participants.
As of March 11, 1996, the Payroll-based Employee Stock Ownership Plan
(PAYSOP) trust (which was merged into, but held in a separate account within,
the ESOP trust effective as of January 1, 1995) held 67,463 shares
(approximately 0.5%) of Common Stock. Shares allocated to the accounts of
participants from the PAYSOP are voted as the participants direct, and allocated
shares as to which no participant directions are given will not be voted.
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In addition to the foregoing, the following table sets forth information
concerning beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of
the Corporation:
PERCENTAGE OF
NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING
NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES COMMON STOCK
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Frank J. A. Cilluffo(1).......................... 1,615,736 12.15%
Cilluffo Associates, L.P.
160 Broadway, East Building
New York, New York 10038
Warburg, Pincus Counsellors, Inc.(2)............. 877,400 6.60%
466 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
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(1) Frank J. A. Cilluffo, a Director of the Corporation, reporting for himself
and Cilluffo Associates, L.P., Zenith Associates, L.P., Frank and Irja
Cilluffo Foundation, and Edward C. Meyer, has furnished information to the
Corporation which disclosed that as of March 11, 1996, such individuals and
entities beneficially owned, taken together, 1,615,736 shares. Mr. Cilluffo
disclaims beneficial ownership of the 1,484,800 shares held by Cilluffo
Associates, L.P. and the 105,800 shares held by Zenith Associates, L.P.
except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in the securities. He also
disclaims beneficial ownership of 10,000 shares held by the Frank and Irja
Cilluffo Foundation. Mr. Cilluffo also has options to purchase 2,000 shares
issued under the Corporation's 1995 Stock Option Plan which are currently
exercisable.
(2) Warburg, Pincus Counsellors, Inc., investment advisors, have furnished
information to the Corporation which disclosed that as of January 22, 1996,
Warburg, Pincus Counsellors, Inc. exercised investment discretion with
respect to 877,400 shares, which were owned by its accounts.
To the knowledge of the Corporation, as of March 11, 1996 no other person
beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the
Corporation.
I. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(PROXY ITEM NO. 1)
In accordance with the Corporation's By-Laws, the Board of Directors will
consist of ten members and is divided into three classes. The three Directors to
be elected at this Annual Meeting will be elected to serve until the 1999 Annual
Meeting of the Shareholders, and until their successors are duly elected and
qualified. The vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at the Annual
Meeting shall be sufficient to elect a Director. The Board recommends that
Shareholders vote FOR each of the nominees listed below. It is intended that
proxies and voting instructions which are executed without specification (other
than broker non-votes) will be voted for the election of the nominees listed
below, all of whom are now Directors of the Corporation:
JOHN P. MERRILL, JR., BERNARD W. REZNICEK, AND PETER M. WOOD
Certain information, as reported to the Corporation, respecting such
persons and other persons whose term of office as Director will continue after
the Annual Meeting, and information relating to the
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beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Corporation of other Named
Executives (as hereinafter defined) who are not Directors of the Corporation, is
set forth below:
SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK
OF THE
CORPORATION
BENEFICIALLY
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE OWNED ON
DIRECTORS AND NOMINEES FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, DIRECTOR MARCH 11,
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AGE AND OTHER INFORMATION SINCE 1996(A)
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NOMINEES FOR TERMS EXPIRING IN 1999
John P. Merrill, Jr...... Chairman, Merrill International, Ltd. 1996 200(B)
(International project development)
President of Wing-Merrill Group from
1991 to 1993 (52).
Bernard W. Reznicek...... Dean, Creighton University College of 1995 268
Business Administration; former
Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Boston Edison
Company. (Education; Public
utilities) (59). Also Director of
State Street Boston Corporation,
CalEnergy Company and Guarantee Life
Company.
Peter M. Wood............ Former Managing Director, J.P. Morgan & 1996 200(B)
Co. Incorporated ((Finance) (57).
Also Director of First Alert, Inc.
DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 1997
Donna R. Fitzpatrick..... President and Chief Executive Officer, 1994 236(C)
Radiance Services Company
(Microelectronics cleaning
technology) (47).
Kent F. Hansen........... Chairman of the Board of the 1988 336(C)
Corporation. Professor of Nuclear
Engineering, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (Education) (64). Also
Director of EG&G, Inc.
Elvin R. Heiberg III..... President, Heiberg Associates, Inc. 1994 236(C)
(Consulting) (64).
H. Kerner Smith.......... President and Chief Executive Officer 1996 2,000(D)
of the Corporation. Former Managing
Director of Deutsche Babcock AG and
President and Chief Executive Officer
of Deutsche Babcock Technologies,
Inc., and former President and Chief
Executive Officer of Riley
Consolidated, Inc. (51).
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SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK
OF THE
CORPORATION
BENEFICIALLY
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE OWNED ON
DIRECTORS AND NOMINEES FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, DIRECTOR MARCH 11,
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AGE AND OTHER INFORMATION SINCE 1996(A)
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DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 1998
Frank J. A. Cilluffo..... Managing Partner, Cilluffo Associates, 1994 1,605,736(C),(E)
L.P. (Private investment partnership)
(52).
J. Angus McKee........... Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 1984 645(C)
Gulfstream Resources Limited (Oil and
gas) (60).
Edward J. Walsh.......... Executive Vice President of the 1995 1,915(F)
Corporation(44).
OTHER NAMED EXECUTIVES OF THE CORPORATION WHO
ARE NOT DIRECTORS OR NOMINEES
Jeremiah P. Cronin....... Executive Vice President (52). -- 8,544(F)
Peter F. Durning......... Secretary (57). -- 2,703(F)
Daniel P. Levy........... Corporate Controller (47). -- 0
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(A) The information contained in this column reflects the definition of
beneficial ownership for the purposes of the proxy rules of the Commission.
The nature of beneficial ownership for shares shown in this column is sole
voting and investment power, except to the extent set forth in footnotes (B)
through (F).
(B) Mr. Merrill and Mr. Wood each purchased 200 shares subsequent to March 11,
1996.
(C) Shares shown do not include 2,000 shares issuable upon exercise of stock
options issued under the Corporation's 1995 Stock Option Plan which are
currently exercisable. Under the Rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such shares are considered to be beneficially owned for the
purpose of this Proxy Statement. For the purpose of calculating percentage
ownership, such shares were also considered to be outstanding.
(D) Shares shown do not include 100,000 shares issuable upon exercise of stock
options issued under the Corporation's 1995 Stock Option Plan which are
exercisable during the ten year term of the option granted on February 12,
1996. Under the Rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such shares
are considered to be beneficially owned for the purpose of this Proxy
Statement. For the purpose of calculating percentage ownership, such shares
were also considered to be outstanding.
(E) Includes 1,590,600 shares held by Mr. Cilluffo and his associates as
previously set forth in this Proxy Statement, but excludes 10,000 shares
held by the Frank and Irja Cilluffo Foundation, Inc. Mr. Cilluffo disclaims
beneficial ownership of the shares held by Cilluffo Associates, L.P. and by
Zenith Associates, L.P. except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in
such securities.
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(F) Includes (i) shares allocated under the Employee Investment Plan and which
are subject to its terms and provisions with respect to termination and
withdrawal and, in limited circumstances, to forfeiture, and held as of
December 31, 1995 by The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., trustee under the plan
(with respect to such shares, voting power and investment power are
determined in accordance with the provisions of the plan); (ii) shares
allocated under the ESOP and which are subject to its terms with respect to
forfeiture and held as of December 31, 1995 by The Chase Manhattan Bank,
N.A., trustee under the plan; (iii) shares allocated under the PAYSOP and
which are subject to its terms and held as of December 31, 1995 by The
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., trustee; and (iv) shares awarded under the
Corporation's Restricted Stock Plan and which are subject to its terms with
respect to forfeiture. Shares held in accounts of employees in the Employee
Investment Plan, ESOP and PAYSOP, including Messrs. Walsh and Durning, are
voted by the trustees of such plans in accordance with the instructions of
the employees; in the absence of such instructions, such shares are voted
by the trustees in accordance with the terms of such plans.
As of March 11, 1996, the Directors and officers of the Corporation, as a
group, beneficially owned 1,740,986 shares or approximately 13.0% of the
Corporation's outstanding Common Stock, including shares allocated under the
Employee Investment Plan, the ESOP and the PAYSOP. The nature of beneficial
ownership for said shares was sole voting and investment power, except (1) as
referred to in footnotes (B) through (F) above, (2) 2,432 shares were held under
the Employee Investment Plan and hence voting power was shared as described on
page 3 of this Proxy Statement, and (3) 536 shares, 999 shares and 432 shares
were owned by William L. Brown, John A. Hooper and Kenneth G. Ryder,
respectively, Directors of the Corporation who are not standing for re-election;
these amounts do not include 2,000 shares each which are issuable upon exercise
of stock options issued under the Corporation's 1995 Stock Option Plan which are
currently exercisable (under the Rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such shares are considered to be beneficially owned for the purpose
of this Proxy Statement, and for the purpose of calculating percentage
ownership, such shares were also considered to be outstanding.). Except for Mr.
Cilluffo, no Director or officer beneficially owned as much as 1% of the
outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Corporation's Directors, its
executive officers, and persons holding (as defined in the regulations of the
Commission) more than 10% of a registered class of the Corporation's equity
securities, to file reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership
with the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. Directors, executive
officers, and greater than 10% Shareholders are also required by Commission
regulations to furnish the Corporation with copies of all such reports that they
file. Based solely on its review of the copies of such reports received by it
and written representations from certain reporting persons, the Corporation
believes that all filing requirements applicable to its Directors, executive
officers, and greater than 10% Shareholders were complied with during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1995.
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CERTAIN COMMITTEES, ATTENDANCE, AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
The Board has appointed an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee, and a
Compensation Committee whose report appears below. All of the members of these
committees are non-employee Directors.
The Audit Committee consists of William L. Brown (Chairman), Frank J. A.
Cilluffo, Donna R. Fitzpatrick, Kent F. Hansen and J. Angus McKee. The Audit
Committee, which met three times during 1995, among other things, considers and
recommends to the full Board the selection of the independent auditor; reviews
the performance of the audit function; and reviews with the independent and the
internal auditors the scope and results of the Corporation's internal auditing
procedures and the adequacy of internal accounting controls.
The Nominating Committee consists of Kent F. Hansen (Chairman), William L.
Brown, Elvin R. Heiberg, III and John A. Hooper. The Nominating Committee, which
met twelve times during 1995, considers and makes recommendations to the Board
of Directors as to criteria for Board composition and membership, and the names
of persons whom it concludes should be considered for Board membership. The
Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Shareholders. Such
recommendations should be submitted to the attention of the Corporate Secretary,
Stone & Webster, Incorporated, 250 West 34th Street, 32nd Floor, P. O. Box 1244,
New York, NY 10116.
The Compensation Committee consists of John A. Hooper (Chairman), William
L. Brown, Bernard W. Reznicek and Kenneth G. Ryder. The Compensation Committee
met eight times during 1995. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the
compensation and/or method of determining compensation of the principal officers
and employees of the Corporation, considers compensation plans which are
subsequently presented to the full Board, authorizes the grant of awards of
Common Stock under the Restricted Stock Plan, and determines the award of stock
options under the 1995 Stock Option Plan. For additional information regarding
the policies and mission of the Compensation Committee, see "Report of the
Compensation Committee" below. There are no compensation committee interlocks or
insider participation relationships on the Compensation Committee.
The Board of Directors met fourteen times during 1995. In 1995, each of the
Directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and
of the committees of the Board on which the Director served. Directors who are
not employees of the Corporation receive an annual retainer of $8,000, all of
which is paid in shares of Common Stock of the Corporation (Common Stock), and a
fee of $2,000 for each Board meeting attended and $1,000 for each committee
meeting attended, except that the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives a
committee meeting fee of $2,000 and the Chairman of each other committee
receives a committee meeting fee of $1,500. Prior to August 15, 1995, a Chairman
of the Board who was not an officer or employee of the Corporation was paid a
fee of $2,000 for each meeting of the Board of Directors attended. The 1995
Stock Plan For Non-Employee Directors of Stone & Webster, Incorporated provides
that Directors who are not officers or employees of the Corporation receive all
of the annual retainer of $8,000 in the form of shares of Common Stock, and
permits such Directors to elect to receive all or a portion of Board and
Committee meeting fees in Common Stock in lieu of cash. In 1995,
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one-half of the annual retainer, payable prior to the Shareholders' approval of
the 1995 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors at the 1995 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, was paid in cash, and the one-half payable after such
Shareholders' approval was paid in shares of Common Stock. The 1995 Stock Option
Plan permits the grant of nonqualified options to purchase 2,000 shares
initially, and 1,000 shares annually thereafter, of Common Stock to each
Director who is not an officer or employee of the Corporation. Directors are
reimbursed for expenses incurred in performing services as a Director, including
expenses for attending Board and committee meetings.
In addition to the foregoing standard arrangements relating to the
compensation of Directors, Dr. Hansen receives an annual payment of $50,000,
payable on a quarterly basis in arrears, in consideration of his additional
duties and responsibilities as a non-executive Chairman of the Board. This
arrangement became effective as of his election as Chairman on August 15, 1995
and is payable for a minimum period extending from that date to the date of the
1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Pursuant to this arrangement, Dr. Hansen
received $6,386 during 1995. He also received a total of $14,500 during 1995 in
fees, plus travel expenses, for services as a member of the Strategic Planning
Committee of Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation during the first three
months of 1995, and, during the following eight months, as liaison to that
Committee from the Board of Directors of the Corporation; Dr. Hansen is no
longer a member of or liaison to this Committee. Mr. McKee received $6,000
(Canadian) in fees, plus travel expenses, in 1995 from Stone & Webster Canada
Limited for services as a Director of that subsidiary of the Corporation.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Under the direction of the Compensation Committee (the Committee), the
Corporation has developed and implemented compensation plans and programs which
are designed to enhance the growth and profitability of the Corporation and to
increase Shareholder value. The Committee is comprised of four Directors none of
whom has ever been an officer or employee of the Corporation or its
subsidiaries. The following is a report on the compensation philosophy and
practices of the Committee.
The Committee's fundamental approach is to compensate the Named Executives
(included in the Summary Compensation Table of this Proxy Statement) and other
key employees at a basic level commensurate with the responsibilities assigned
to them, while supplementing this with compensation that is directly related to
the performance of the Corporation. The objectives of the Corporation's
executive compensation programs are to attract and retain very highly competent
individuals, to encourage them to achieve and surpass the Corporation's business
goals, and to link the interests of the Corporation's executives with the
interests of Shareholders.
The Corporation, through its operating subsidiaries, is primarily engaged
in providing engineering and construction services. These businesses tend to be
cyclical in nature, driven both by general business cycles and by activity in
the clients' industries. Due to this cyclical nature, it is important to keep
overhead costs low, while ensuring that the Corporation is able to provide the
specialized technical expertise expected by its clients. As a result, the
Committee recognizes the need to balance limited fixed
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compensation costs with the ability to attract and retain highly competent
professionals and reward them for improving the performance of the Corporation
and providing a return to Shareholders.
Accordingly, the philosophy of the Corporation has been to provide the
Named Executives and the professional and supervisory staff, with base salaries
together with incentive compensation contingent upon the profits of the
business.
In 1995, the Committee retained an outside compensation consulting firm to
assist the Corporation in evaluating its executive compensation programs. In
analyzing competitive compensation, the firm utilized compensation information
from a broader range of companies than are included in the performance graph to
better reflect Stone & Webster's relevant market for attracting and retaining
executive talent. The Committee in 1996 has again retained an outside consulting
firm to review the Corporation's compensation practices and needs to ensure that
the compensation programs are structured to provide incentives based on
improving the financial performance of the Corporation, and continue to be in
line with practices of other similar organizations.
1995 Compensation Programs
In 1995, important changes were made to the structure and responsibilities
of the executive officer group. In August, 1995, Mr. Coles resigned from his
position as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. At that time, Mr.
Walsh was elected acting President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Two other
executive officers included in the group of Named Executives first joined the
Corporation in 1995.
Base Salary
Based on the Committee's assessment of competitive market conditions, base
salary increases were awarded to two of the Named Executives in 1995 which were
on average 6% of their annual base salaries. The other Named Executives were
either new to the Corporation in 1995 or, in the case of Mr. Walsh as acting CEO
and President, performing different services for the Corporation than in prior
years. Base salaries for these executives were determined based on competitive
market conditions and compensation levels appropriate for attracting these key
executives.
Annual Incentives
The Committee reviewed its executive compensation programs including its
annual incentive plan in 1994, with the assistance of an outside consulting
firm, and developed a new Incentive Compensation Plan specifically designed to
reward performance which results in the achievement of the Corporation's
financial objectives. This new plan subsequently was approved by the Board of
Directors in February 1995.
Under the Incentive Compensation Plan, a pool is funded based on the
after-tax earnings of the Corporation and distributed to participants based on
corporate, division, project and individual performance. For the Named
Executives, the incentive amount potentially earned is based solely on the
financial performance of the Corporation. The maximum incentive percentage each
participant can earn is determined by the Committee at the beginning of the year
and based on a number of factors, including the participant's position,
experience level, special expertise, and potential ability to affect financial
performance.
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Under the 1995 Incentive Compensation Plan, the CEO could earn from 0% to
25% of base salary depending upon Corporate performance. The other Named
Executives could earn from 0% to 20% of base salary based on similar measures.
The Committee believes that these maximum levels are appropriate by industry
standards.
The Committee evaluated the performance of the Corporation in determining
annual incentive compensation for the Named Executives, in accordance with the
factors described above, and awarded incentive compensation with respect to 1995
as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table; this incentive amount was paid
in February 1996. No awards were made under the incentive compensation plan in
1995 with respect to 1994 because of the level of the Corporation's earnings in
1994. Similarly, no awards were made in 1994.
Stock Option Awards
Under the Corporation's 1995 Stock Option Plan (see discussion below) the
Committee may make awards of stock options to the Named Executives as well as
other key employees in order to motivate and reward them for increases in
Shareholder value. In 1995, based on recommendations from the outside consulting
firm addressing competitive stock option awards, the Committee granted stock
options to the Named Executives as shown in the Summary Compensation Table, as
well as to other key employees. The Committee believes that these options are an
effective way to align management's interests with the interests of Shareholders
since these options will reward executives only if the share price appreciates.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
Mr. Coles resigned from the Corporation as Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer in August, 1995. He received compensation for his services
prior to his resignation as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table,
including an increase in his base salary annual rate from $400,000 to $550,000,
effective as of July 1, 1995. Mr. Walsh served as the acting Chief Executive
Officer from the time of Mr. Coles' resignation until February, 1996, and
received a base salary of $191,418 for fiscal 1995 for his service in this
capacity. The Committee evaluated the performance of the Corporation in
determining annual incentive compensation for Mr. Walsh, in accordance with the
factors described above, and awarded him incentive compensation of $50,000 with
respect to 1995; this incentive amount was paid in February 1996. Mr. Walsh
received a stock option for 5,000 shares under the Corporation's 1995 Stock
Option Plan. The Committee believes that this option represents a modest
long-term incentive opportunity given Mr. Walsh's responsibilities.
On February 12, 1996, the Corporation entered into an employment agreement
with Mr. H. Kerner Smith to become President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation. All aspects of Mr. Smith's 1996 compensation will be governed by
this employment agreement and his future compensation will be determined in
accordance with the philosophies outlined above as well as the conditions of his
employment agreement. The terms of Mr. Smith's employment agreement are set
forth below in the section entitled "Employment and Change of Control
Agreements" on page 20.
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The Compensation Committee and the full Board of Directors approved Mr.
Smith's employment agreement after an extensive search had been conducted by the
Board with the assistance of an executive search firm. In settling on the final
compensation amounts, the Board focused on the importance of hiring a Chief
Executive Officer with an outstanding business record who could provide the
leadership necessary to improve the Corporation's competitiveness and
profitability, particularly in the international marketplace. Mr. Smith's
contractual base salary and annual incentive opportunity were determined based
upon discussions with the outside executive search firm as well as an outside
compensation consulting firm, a review of competitive industry compensation
levels, and the overall compensation package required to attract someone of Mr.
Smith's calibre to the Corporation.
The Corporation does not currently maintain employment agreements with any
of its Named Executives, other than Mr. Smith; see also the section entitled
"Employment and Change of Control Agreements" below.
Deductibility of Executive Compensation
The Corporation believes that it is important that all of its executive
compensation be deductible and fall within the regulations of the Internal
Revenue Code Section 162(m) $1 million limit on deductible compensation. The
Corporation accordingly has reviewed its compensation policies with respect to
its covered executives and determined that Section 162(m) had no impact on the
Corporation's policies in 1995 and should have no impact in 1996.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
John A. Hooper, Chairman
William L. Brown
Bernard W. Reznicek
Kenneth G. Ryder
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth information concerning compensation awarded
to, earned by or paid to any person serving as the Corporation's Chief Executive
Officer (or any person acting in a similar capacity during the last completed
fiscal year), and each of the four most highly compensated executive officers of
the Corporation (collectively, the Named Executives), for services rendered to
the Corporation in all capacities during each of the last three fiscal years in
which such person was an executive officer of the Corporation.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG TERM COMPENSATION
----------------------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION(1) AWARDS(4) PAYOUTS
------------------------------- ------------------------ -------
OTHER SECURITIES ALL
ANNUAL RESTRICTED UNDER- OTHER
NAME AND COMPEN- STOCK LYING LTIP COMPEN-
PRINCIPAL (2) (2) SATION AWARD(S) OPTIONS/ PAYOUTS SATION
POSITION YEAR SALARY($) BONUS($) (3)($) ($) SARS(#) ($) ($)(5)
- ----------------------------- ---- --------- -------- ------- ---------- ----------- ------- -------
Edward J. Walsh(6)........... 1995 191,418 50,000 0 0 5,000 0 4,420
Acting President and 1994 - - - - - - -
Chief Executive Officer 1993 - - - - - - -
Bruce C. Coles(7)............ 1995 350,899 0 0 0 0(8) 0 4,420
President and Chief 1994 380,000 0 1,051(9) 0 0 0 5,554(10)
Executive Officer 1993 349,000 0 - 306,000 0 0 6,187
Jeremiah P. Cronin(11)....... 1995 229,167 40,044 0 198,750 15,000 0 0
Executive Vice 1994 - - - - - - -
President 1993 - - - - - - -
Kenneth F. Reinschmidt(12)... 1995 230,000 15,710 0 0 5,000 0 4,420
Senior Vice President 1994 221,375 0 - 0 0 0 4,420
1993 201,400 0 - 0 0 0 5,387
Daniel P. Levy(13)........... 1995 83,013 5,977 0 0 0 0 0
Corporate Controller 1994 - - - - - - -
1993 - - - - - - -
Peter F. Durning(14)......... 1995 149,200 10,190 0 0 3,500 0 4,063
Secretary 1994 138,765 0 - 0 0 0 3,933
1993 - - - - - - -
- ---------------
(1) Salaries for the years 1993, 1994 and 1995 were paid to certain employees
of the Corporation, including the Named Executives, under plans adopted for
each of those years for compensating the individuals selected, in part by a
fixed amount ("Salary" in the table above) and in part by a contingent
incentive amount ("Bonus"), the latter amount being measured by a
percentage, as determined by the Compensation Committee in each individual
case, of the Corporation's Adjusted Consolidated Net Earnings determined as
provided in the plan and subject to certain limitations including a
percentage limitation on the total contingent amounts which may be paid.
The Compensation Committee has developed and the Board of Directors has
adopted a new plan for the compensation of executives of the Corporation
and its subsidiaries in which the Named Executives (except Mr. Coles) are
among those selected to participate. Under the proxy regulations of the
Commission, the second column under "Annual Compensation" is required to be
labeled "Bonus"; these amounts would more accurately be described as
"Contingent Payments"
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because the amounts paid are dependent on the Corporation's performance
during the year, and there is no assurance that any such amounts would be
paid, as was the case for 1993 and 1994 when no such payments were made.
The "Bonus" payments shown in the table above with respect to 1995 were
actually paid in February 1996. See also the Report of the Compensation
Committee.
(2) Includes amounts deferred by the Named Executives under provisions of the
Employee Investment Plan pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
(3) Perquisites and personal benefits paid to each Named Executive during 1993,
1994 and 1995 in each instance aggregated less than $50,000 or 10% of the
total annual salary and contingent payment set forth in the columns
entitled "Salary" and "Bonus" and, accordingly, are omitted from the table
as permitted by the rules of the Commission.
(4) Restrictions on shares awarded pursuant to the Restricted Stock Plan lapse
in five equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary date
of each award. Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Plan, Mr. Coles forfeited
9,600 shares of Common Stock which had been previously awarded but were not
yet vested upon his resignation. No other Named Executive holds any shares
of restricted stock which have not fully vested under the terms of the
Restricted Stock Plan, except that, as of December 31, 1995, Mr. Cronin
held 6,000 shares of Common Stock with a market value of $215,250, which
were awarded in 1995 as reflected in the table above. Dividends are payable
on restricted stock awards directly to the holder of restricted stock. The
Corporation did not have any plans which provide compensation in the form
of stock appreciation rights (SAR's) during the years covered by this
table. A Stock Option Plan was first adopted in 1995, as discussed below.
(5) Includes contributions made by the Corporation under the Employee
Investment Plan during 1995 on behalf of Messrs. Walsh, Coles, Reinschmidt
and Durning in the amount of $1,875, $1,875, $1,875, and $1,865,
respectively, and contributions made by the Corporation under the ESOP
during 1995 of $2,545, $2,545, $2,545, and $2,198, respectively. Under the
terms of the Employee Investment Plan and the ESOP, Mr. Cronin and Mr. Levy
did not become eligible to participate in those plans until January 1,
1996, at which date they began to participate in the plans.
(6) On August 15, 1995, Mr. Walsh was elected Acting President and Chief
Executive Officer, and an Executive Vice President. He was elected a
Director on August 31, 1995. He relinquished the positions of Acting
President and Chief Executive Officer on February 12, 1996 and continues to
be Executive Vice President and a Director. Data with respect to his
compensation for 1993 and 1994 is not included in the table above because
he was not an Executive Officer of the Corporation during 1993 and 1994.
(7) On May 12, 1994, the Board of Directors elected Mr. Coles Chief Executive
Officer and President of the Corporation. On May 11, 1995, the Board of
Directors elected Mr. Coles to the additional position of Chairman of the
Board. On August 15, 1995, Mr. Coles resigned as Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer. On August 31, 1995, Mr. Coles resigned as a
Director.
(8) Options for 25,000 shares of Common Stock granted to Mr. Coles on June 20,
1995 expired unexercised due to the termination of his position with the
Corporation on August 31, 1995.
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(9) Includes $1,051 in tax payments in 1994 made by the Corporation on behalf
of Mr. Coles in connection with the supplemental term life insurance
discussed below in the description of the Employee Retirement Plan.
(10) Includes $1,134 representing the cost in 1994 of supplemental term life
insurance purchased by the Corporation on behalf of Mr. Coles, as discussed
below in the description of the Employee Retirement Plan.
(11) Mr. Cronin was first employed by the Corporation on March 1, 1995 in the
capacity of Executive Vice President. He is also Chief Financial Officer of
the Corporation.
(12) Dr. Reinschmidt retired under the Stone & Webster, Incorporated Incentive
Retirement Program under the Employee Retirement Plan effective as of March
1, 1996.
(13) Mr. Levy was first employed by the Corporation on July 10, 1995 and was
appointed Corporate Controller effective July 19, 1995.
(14) Mr. Durning served as an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation prior to
his election as Secretary on July 20, 1994. He is also General Counsel of
the Corporation. Data with respect to his compensation for 1993 is not
included in the table above because he was not an Executive Officer of the
Corporation during 1993.
STOCK OPTIONS
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table shows all individual grants of stock options under the
Corporation's 1995 Stock Option Plan to the Named Executives of the Company
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS VALUE AT ASSUMED
--------------------------------------------------------------------- ANNUAL RATES OF
NUMBER OF PERCENT OF STOCK PRICE
SECURITIES TOTAL OPTIONS APPRECIATION FOR
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO OPTION TERM (3)
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES IN EXERCISE OR BASE EXPIRATION ---------------------
NAME GRANTED (#)(1) FISCAL YEAR PRICE ($/SH)(2) DATE 5% 10%
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
- -------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------------- ---------- -------- --------
E. J. Walsh......... 5,000 3.08 31.00 6/19/2005 $ 97,478 $247,029
B. C. Coles(4)...... 25,000 15.38 31.00 8/31/1995 - -
J. P. Cronin........ 15,000 9.23 31.00 6/19/2005 292,434 741,089
K. S. Reinschmidt... 5,000 3.08 31.00 6/19/2005 97,478 247,029
P. F. Durning....... 3,500 2.15 31.00 6/19/2005 68,234 172,920
D. P. Levy.......... 0 - - - - -
- ---------------
(1) Options become exercisable three years from the date of grant and expire ten
years from the date of grant, subject to earlier termination in certain
events related to termination of employment, death, retirement or
disability. Upon a change of control, all outstanding options become
exercisable.
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(2) The initial exercise price of $31.00 for the options granted in 1995 is
determined as set forth in the 1995 Stock Option Plan to be the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of the grant. The exercise
price may be paid in cash, by the delivery of previously owned shares of
Common Stock, or by such other method as may be permitted by the Committee.
(3) As required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"),
potential values stated are based on the prescribed assumption that the
Corporation's Common Stock will appreciate in value from the date of the
grant to the end of the option term (ten years from the date of grant) at
annualized rates of 5% and 10% (total appreciation of 63% and 159%),
respectively, and therefore are not intended to forecast future
appreciation, if any, in the price of the Corporation's Common Stock. These
dollar amounts are also calculated based on the assumption that the options
are exercised at the end of the full ten year term of the option. The
options would have no value to the option holders if the price of the Common
Stock does not increase above the exercise price of the options. As an
alternative to the assumed potential realizable values stated in Columns (f)
and (g), SEC rules would permit stating the present value of such options at
the date of the grant. Methods of computing present value suggested by
different authorities can produce significantly different results. Moreover,
since stock options granted by the Corporation are not transferrable, there
are no objective criteria by which any computation of present value can be
verified. Consequently, the Corporation's management does not believe there
is a reliable method of computing the present value of such stock options.
(4) The options granted to Mr. Coles expired unexercised due to the termination
of his positions with the Corporation prior to their vesting date.
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AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
The following table provides information concerning each option exercised
during the last fiscal year by each of the Named Executives and the value of
unexercised options held by such executive officers at the end of the fiscal
year.
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES UNDERLYING VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
FISCAL YEAR END (#) FISCAL YEAR END ($)(1)
SHARES ACQUIRED --------------------------- ---------------------------
NAME ON EXERCISE (#) REALIZED ($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
- ------------------ --------------- ------------ --------------------------- ---------------------------
E. J. Walsh....... 0 $0 0 5,000 $ 0 $24,375
B. C. Coles....... 0 0 0 0 0 0
J. P. Cronin...... 0 0 0 15,000 0 73,125
K. F.
Reinschmidt..... 0 0 0 5,000 0 24,375
P. F. Durning..... 0 0 0 3,500 0 17,062
D. P. Levy........ 0 0 0 0 0 0
- ---------------
(1) Values stated are based on the closing price of $35.875 per share of the
Corporation's Common Stock as listed in the New York Stock Exchange
Composite Transactions on December 29, 1995, the last trading day of the
fiscal year, and are calculated by subtracting the option exercise price
from said closing price.
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the five year cumulative total Shareholder
return (assuming the reinvestment of dividends) on the Corporation's Common
Stock against the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock
Index (S&P 500) and the Dow Jones Heavy Construction Group Index. The Investor's
Business Daily Building - Heavy Construction Industry Index published by William
O'Neil, which had previously been used by the Corporation in its Proxy Statement
performance graph, is no longer issued for general distribution by its publisher
and is not generally accessible by the Corporation's Shareholders; accordingly,
the graph does not compare the Corporation's total return with that of the
William O'Neil index used in the Proxy Statement in connection with the 1995
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The graph assumes an initial investment of $100
on December 31, 1990 in the Corporation's Common Stock or in the underlying
securities which comprise each of those market indices.
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COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG
STONE & WEBSTER, INCORPORATED, S&P 500 AND THE
DOW JONES HEAVY CONSTRUCTION GROUP INDEX
MEASUREMENT PERIOD
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) S&P 500 S&W INDEX
1990 100.00 100.00 100.00
1991 130.00 100.00 119.00
1992 140.00 86.00 115.00
1993 155.00 96.00 121.00
1994 157.00 118.00 116.00
1995 215.00 130.00 162.00
RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
Under the provisions of the Restricted Stock Plan approved by the
Shareholders in 1976, and amendments to the plan approved by the Shareholders in
1983 and 1988, shares of the Corporation's Common Stock have been awarded by the
Compensation Committee, subject to forfeiture provisions, to a limited number of
selected key employees. As approved by the Shareholders at the 1988 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, the plan was amended to increase the number of shares
available for restricted stock awards to 2,400,000 shares and to extend the
termination date of the plan to June 1, 1998. Restrictions on awarded shares
lapse in five equal annual increments commencing on the first anniversary date
of each award. Restrictions on certain shares lapse in 1996 through 2000 on the
anniversary dates of awards. Shares subject to restrictions may not be sold or
otherwise disposed of and must be returned to the Corporation if the employee's
employment is terminated for any reason other than death or disability occurring
more than one year after the date of the award. The 1983 amendments to the plan
approved by the Shareholders also provide that restrictions on the sale or
transfer of Common Stock of the Corporation awarded pursuant to the plan will
lapse upon and simultaneously with any
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change in control of the Corporation occurring without the prior approval of the
incumbent Board of Directors prior to the change in control. Such a change in
control would be deemed to have taken place if (i) a third person, including a
"group" as defined in Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, acquires shares of the
Corporation having 20% or more of the total number of votes that may be cast for
the election of directors of the Corporation, or (ii) as the result of any cash
tender or exchange offer, merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other similar
transaction, the persons who were Directors before such transaction shall cease
to constitute a majority of the Board or any successor to the Corporation. In
the event of such a change in control, the lapse of restrictions on shares
awarded under the plan to some or all of the Named Executives might be deemed to
constitute payments received from the Corporation.
Upon approval by the Shareholders of the Corporation of the 1995 Stock
Option Plan at the 1995 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the number of shares of
Common Stock available for future awards under the Restricted Stock Plan was
reduced to 250,000 shares.
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLAN
The Corporation's Employee Retirement Plan is a trusteed, non-contributory,
defined benefit plan which applies to all eligible employees of the Corporation.
Benefits are based upon the length of credited service and the amounts of annual
compensation (as defined in the plan) received during that period of service.
Normal retirement age is the employee's Social Security Retirement Age. The
formula for computing benefits provides that, for employees under the plan who
had not attained their retirement date prior to January 1, 1992, annual
retirement benefits are equal to the sum of (a) 0.75% of average annual
compensation for the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 up to $21,000 plus 1.35% of such
compensation in excess of $21,000, multiplied by the years and months of
credited service before January 1, 1992 for up to 35 years, plus (b) 1% of such
annual compensation for the years and months of credited service before January
1, 1992 in excess of 35 years, plus (c) for each year of credited service after
January 1, 1992, 1% of annual compensation up to an indexed amount (which was
$47,250 for 1995) equal to 1.75 times the "Social Security Covered Compensation"
(a 35-year average Social Security earnings base), plus 1.45% of such annual
compensation in excess of such amount; provided that employees with more than 35
years of service at retirement will be credited with a flat 1.33% of annual
compensation for each year of service after the 35th year. With respect to the
Named Executives, compensation, for purposes of calculating retirement benefits,
includes both the fixed and contingent portions of salaries shown in the Summary
Compensation Table under the Salary and Bonus headings, respectively. As of
January 1, 1996, the number of full credited years of service for Messrs. Walsh,
Coles, Reinschmidt and Durning is 22, 27, 20, and 22 years, respectively, and
the estimated annual benefit payable to them upon retirement at normal
retirement age and assuming the continuance of current rates of compensation for
each (except Mr. Coles and Dr. Reinschmidt) until normal retirement age is
$85,880, $74,380, $78,313 (actual), and $49,782, respectively. Mr. Cronin and
Mr. Levy had less than one year of service with the Corporation as of January 1,
1996 and were not yet eligible to participate in the plan. Dr. Reinschmidt
retired under the plan as of March 1, 1996. These amounts do not reflect any
limitations on annual benefits which may be paid from a tax-qualified retirement
plan at the time of retirement imposed by Section 415 of the Internal Revenue
Code, as amended from time to time, nor do
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they reflect any limitations imposed by Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal
Revenue Code on the amount of compensation upon which benefits may be
determined. The Board of Directors has adopted a Supplemental Retirement
Program, which was amended in 1989, under which a trust has been established to
fund the payment of any benefits calculated under the provisions of the Employee
Retirement Plan which would be in excess of the limitations imposed by Sections
415 and 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code.
During 1994, the Corporation purchased supplemental term life insurance to
provide an additional death benefit to Mr. Coles' spouse in the event of his
death prior to normal retirement age, in an amount intended to reflect the value
of the additional survivors' benefit he would have earned if he lived until
normal retirement age. No additional payments toward this insurance were paid
after 1994. Upon his termination of employment, Mr. Coles received a lump sum
payment of $206,874 under the Supplemental Retirement Program.
EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS
The Corporation entered into a three-year employment agreement with Mr.
Smith on February 12, 1996 under which Mr. Smith is to serve as President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The agreement provides Mr. Smith
with: an annual base salary of $500,000, with increases subject to annual
review; an annual performance bonus for 1996 of $250,000 or such larger amount
based upon performance and at the discretion of the Board, and with such amounts
in years after 1996 to be based upon a new annual incentive plan to be approved
by the Board (and in the absence of a new plan, the $250,000 minimum amount
would continue in 1997 and 1998); severance arrangements providing for three (3)
times annual compensation if employment is terminated, or deemed to be
terminated, without cause; a supplemental retirement benefit designed to provide
Mr. Smith a monthly retirement income benefit, commencing at age 60, from all of
the Corporation's pension plans equivalent to 25% of Mr. Smith's average last
three year's total compensation, with an equal benefit to be paid to Mr. Smith's
wife for her life if she survives Mr. Smith; and a 10-year stock option for
100,000 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $34.875 (with the
exercise price being the market price on the trading day immediately prior to
the grant date in accordance with the Corporation's 1995 Stock Option Plan). The
agreement also sets forth the intention of the Board to elect Mr. Smith as
Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Board of Directors meeting immediately
following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 1997.
Each of Messrs. Smith, Walsh, Cronin, Levy and Durning has entered into a
special Change of Control Agreement providing for severance pay and a
continuation of certain benefits should a "Change of Control" occur. Entry into
these agreements was unanimously approved by the independent members of the
Board of Directors. In order to receive benefits under these special agreements,
a "Change of Control" must have occurred as a result of any of the following
circumstances:
a. Accumulation by any individual, entity or group of 20% or more of
the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation;
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b. A change in the make up of a majority of the persons serving as
Directors of the Corporation from the majority currently in office (with
such majority including those replacements or additions subsequently
approved by a majority of Directors currently in place);
c. A merger or other business combination resulting in persons other
than current shareholders of the Corporation owning more than 50% of the
resulting entity;
d. Approval of a liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation.
In order for severance benefits to be payable under these agreements, in
addition to the Change of Control, the executive's employment must be terminated
either involuntarily without cause (actual or "constructive") or if, after a
Change of Control, the executive remains in the employ of the Corporation for a
one year period, the executive may, subject to the terms of such agreements,
voluntarily terminate his employment and receive the severance benefits.
Under the special Change of Control Agreements, severance payments would
equal, in the case of Messrs. Smith, Walsh, Cronin and Durning, an amount equal
to three times, and in the case of Mr. Levy, an amount equal to two times, the
executive's most recent annual base salary and most recent highest bonus. In
addition, medical, life and disability benefits would be provided at the expense
of the Corporation for the applicable period of three years or, in the case of
Mr. Levy, two years. In addition, the executive would receive an amount equal to
the actuarial equivalent of the benefit that such executive would have received
under the Corporation's qualified defined benefit retirement plan assuming that
the executive had remained in the employ of the Corporation during the
three-year, or in the case of the Mr. Levy two-year, period following the right
to receive benefits under these agreements. In addition, all options outstanding
on the date of a change of control would become immediately and fully
exercisable and all restrictions upon any restricted shares would lapse and
immediately all such shares would become fully vested.
All payments to executives under these Change of Control Agreements are
subject to the limitation that such payments will be reduced to avoid the
imposition of the excise tax required by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 as amended, it being the intention of the Corporation, as expressed
in such agreements, that no payments under these agreements shall be deemed to
be an "excess parachute payment" pursuant to Section 280G of said Code.
II. SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
(PROXY ITEM NO. 2)
The Shareholders will be asked to ratify the selection, on the
recommendation of the Audit Committee, by the Corporation's Board of Directors
of the firm of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent accountants, as auditor of
the Corporation and its subsidiaries for the year 1996. A representative of said
firm is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the
opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and to respond to
appropriate questions raised at the Annual Meeting.
21
25
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P. AS THE CORPORATION'S INDEPENDENT
ACCOUNTANTS FOR 1996. PROXIES AND VOTING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF
THE RATIFICATION UNLESS THE SHAREHOLDER SPECIFIES OTHERWISE.
III. AS TO OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING
Management knows of no business which will be presented to the Annual
Meeting other than as set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting. However,
if any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments
or postponements thereof, it is intended that the persons named in the enclosed
form of proxy, or their respective substitutes, shall have authority to vote
said proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters. In the event that
one or more of the nominees for election as Directors should become unavailable
for election for any reason, it is intended that the persons named in said
proxy, or their respective substitutes, shall have authority to vote according
to their judgment for other persons in lieu thereof. Management has no present
knowledge that any of the nominees for election as a Director will be
unavailable to serve.
IV. LAST DATE TO SUBMIT SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1997 ANNUAL MEETING
November 30, 1996 is the date by which proposals of Shareholders intended
to be presented at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by
the Corporation to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, Stone & Webster,
Incorporated, 250 West 34th Street, 32nd Floor, P. O. Box 1244, New York, N.Y.
10116, in order to be considered for inclusion in the Corporation's Proxy
Statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A COPY OF THE CORPORATION'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1995, INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT
SCHEDULE BUT WITHOUT EXHIBITS, WILL BE FURNISHED UPON REQUEST WITHOUT CHARGE TO
ANY PERSON WHO WAS A BENEFICIAL OWNER OF COMMON STOCK OF THE CORPORATION AS OF
MARCH 11, 1996, THE RECORD DATE FOR THE 1996 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS. ALL
REQUESTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE CORPORATION TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CORPORATE
SECRETARY, STONE & WEBSTER, INCORPORATED, 250 WEST 34TH STREET, 32ND FLOOR, P.O.
BOX 1244, NEW YORK, NY 10116.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IN KEEPING WITH OUR CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT,
THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER.
(RECYCLE LOGO)
22
26
STONE & WEBSTER, INCORPORATED
LOGO
250 West 34th Street
New York, New York 10119
March 29, 1996
To Participants in the Employee Investment Plan,
Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and
Payroll-based Employee Stock Ownership
Plan of Stone & Webster, Incorporated and
Participating Subsidiaries
VOTING RIGHTS
As a participant in the Employee Investment Plan, Employee Stock Ownership
Plan, and Payroll-based Employee Stock Ownership Plan, you may instruct The
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., Trustee under the Plans, to vote the shares of Stone
& Webster, Incorporated standing to your credit under the Plans at the Annual
Shareholders' Meeting of the Corporation to be held May 9, 1996.
Enclosed for your information and use are:
1. Combined Notice and Proxy Statement.
2. A form of Voting Instructions to Trustee card.
3. A postage-paid, pre-addressed envelope to return your card directly
to the Trustee in care of its tabulator of Voting Instructions.
To vote, please mark and sign the enclosed Voting Instructions card and
return it to the Trustee in the enclosed envelope.
Voting rights with respect to shares in the Employee Investment Plan Trust
not exercised by participants will be exercised by the Trustee in accordance
with the directions of the Committee under the Employee Investment Plan. With
respect to shares in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust, shares allocated
to the accounts of participants are voted as the participants direct, and
allocated shares not voted by the participants and all unallocated shares are
voted in the proportions the allocated shares are voted by the participants.
Allocated shares in the Payroll-based Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust are
voted as the participants direct, and allocated shares not voted by participants
will not be voted.
A copy of the Corporation's 1995 Annual Report to Shareholders has been
furnished to you.
PLEASE NOTE: THE CORPORATION HAS ALWAYS HAD AND CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN A
STRICT POLICY OF PERMANENT CONFIDENTIALITY REGARDING THE VOTING OF SHARES IN
THESE THREE EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. NO EMPLOYEE OF THE STONE & WEBSTER
ORGANIZATION HAS ACCESS TO THE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS OF ANY PLAN PARTICIPANT,
WHICH ARE AVAILABLE ONLY TO THE TRUSTEE AND ITS INDEPENDENT VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
TABULATOR. DISCLOSURE TO THE CORPORATION OR TO THIRD PARTIES IS NOT PERMITTED
UNLESS REQUIRED BY LAW OR THE PARTICIPANT REQUESTS OR CONSENTS TO DISCLOSURE.
Employee Benefits Committee
Stone & Webster, Incorporated
27
Please mark
your votes as indicated in
this example /X/
THESE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE VOTED FOR ITEMS (1) AND (2) UNLESS A CONTRARY
CHOICE IS SPECIFIED
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEMS 1 AND 2.
FOR WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
1. The election of John P. Merrill, Jr.,
Bernard W. Reznicek and Peter M. Wood
as Directors to serve until the 1999
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. / / / /
You may withhold authority to vote for any
nominee by writing his or her name on
the line below.
--------------------------------------------
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. The ratification of the selection of
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent
accountants, as auditor for the year 1996. / / / / / /
3. In accordance with the recommendation of
management of Stone & Webster, Incorporated
upon all such other matters as may properly
come before the meeting.
You may instruct the Trustee to abstain from
voting or to vote against any management
recommendation on such other matters by
writing Abstain or Against on the line below.
---------------------------------------------
Please check box if you plan to
attend the meeting. / /
SIGNATURE_____________________________________ DATE_________________, 1996
NOTE: PLEASE SIGN AS NAME APPEARS HEREON.
STONE & WEBSTER EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT PLAN TRUST
STONE & WEBSTER EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN TRUST
STONE & WEBSTER PAYROLL-BASED EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN TRUST
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS TO TRUSTEE
These voting instructions are solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors
To the Trustee:
In accordance with provisions of the Employee Investment Plan, the
Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and the Payroll-based Employee Stock Ownership
Plan of Stone & Webster, Incorporated and Participating Subsidiaries, I hereby
instruct you, as Trustee, to vote or cause to be voted at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of Stone & Webster, Incorporated to be held on May 9, 1996 and at
any and all adjournments and postponements thereof, all shares in said
Corporation standing to my credit in each of the trusts under the foregoing
Plans in which I may be a participant and which I am entitled to vote at such
meeting as follows:
(continued and to be SIGNED on the Reverse Side)
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
28
Please mark
your votes as indicated in
this example /X/
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ITEMS (1) AND (2) UNLESS A CONTRARY CHOICE IS
SPECIFIED
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEMS 1 AND 2.
FOR WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
1. The election of John P. Merrill, Jr.,
Bernard W. Reznicek and Peter M. Wood
as Directors to serve until the 1999
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. / / / /
You may withhold authority to vote for any
nominee by writing his or her name on
the line below.
------------------------------------------
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. The ratification of the selection of
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent
accountants, as auditor for the year 1996. / / / / / /
3. Upon all such other matters as may properly
come before the meeting.
Please check box if you plan to
attend the meeting. / /
SIGNATURE_____________________________________ DATE_________________, 1996
NOTE: PLEASE SIGN AS NAME APPEARS HEREON. JOINT OWNERS SHOULD EACH SIGN. WHEN
SIGNING AS ATTORNEY, EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR, TRUSTEE OR GUARDIAN, PLEASE GIVE
FULL TITLE AS SUCH.
STONE & WEBSTER, INCORPORATED
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints H. KERNER SMITH, JEREMIAH P. CRONIN and
PETER F. DURNING, or any one of them, as attorneys, with full power of
substitution, for and in the name of the undersigned, to vote, or withhold from
voting, all shares of the undersigned in Stone & Webster, Incorporated at the
Annual Meeting of its Shareholders to be held, in accordance with notice and
proxy statement received, in Wilmington, Delaware, on May 9, 1996, and at any
and all adjournments and postponements thereof:
(continued and to be SIGNED on the Reverse Side)
FOLD AND DETACH HERE