UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
___________________________________________ 
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017
Commission file number 1-8966
SJW Group
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
 
77-0066628
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
110 West Taylor Street, San Jose, CA
 
95110
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
408-279-7800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes    No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes       No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “non-accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one)
 
Large accelerated filer  
 
Accelerated filer  
 
Non-accelerated filer  
 
Smaller reporting company  
 
 
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company  ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes     No  
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
As of October 23, 2017 , there were 20,520,856 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.
 




PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SJW Group and Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
OPERATING REVENUE
$
124,578

 
112,344

 
$
295,696

 
260,400

OPERATING EXPENSE:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Production Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchased water
30,833

 
28,681

 
66,938

 
52,863

Power
2,500

 
2,141

 
5,491

 
4,992

Groundwater extraction charges
15,756

 
10,867

 
34,098

 
25,627

Other production expenses
3,874

 
3,311

 
11,040

 
9,815

Total production expenses
52,963

 
45,000

 
117,567

 
93,297

Administrative and general
13,477

 
12,449

 
39,494

 
35,690

Maintenance
4,374

 
4,217

 
12,293

 
12,082

Property taxes and other non-income taxes
3,454

 
3,213

 
10,260

 
9,115

Depreciation and amortization
12,065

 
11,119

 
36,217

 
33,489

Total operating expense
86,333

 
75,998

 
215,831

 
183,673

OPERATING INCOME
38,245

 
36,346

 
79,865

 
76,727

OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest on long-term debt
(5,487
)
 
(4,993
)
 
(17,146
)
 
(15,039
)
Mortgage and other interest expense
(54
)
 
(433
)
 
(208
)
 
(1,291
)
Gain on sale of California Water Service Group stock

 

 

 
3,197

Gain on sale of real estate investments

 
124

 
6,903

 
124

Dividend income
18

 
17

 
54

 
70

Other, net
341

 
410

 
1,382

 
869

Income before income taxes
33,063

 
31,471

 
70,850

 
64,657

Provision for income taxes
13,523

 
12,512

 
27,055

 
25,545

NET INCOME BEFORE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST
19,540

 
18,959

 
43,795

 
39,112

Less net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest

 

 
1,896

 

SJW GROUP NET INCOME
19,540

 
18,959

 
41,899

 
39,112

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gain on investment
80

 
(169
)
 
252

 
848

Reclassification adjustment for gain realized on sale of investments

 

 

 
(1,742
)
SJW GROUP COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
$
19,620

 
18,790

 
$
42,151

 
38,218

SJW GROUP EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.95

 
0.93

 
$
2.04

 
1.91

Diluted
$
0.94

 
0.92

 
$
2.03

 
1.90

DIVIDENDS PER SHARE
$
0.22

 
0.20

 
$
0.65

 
0.61

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
20,516,172

 
20,451,930

 
20,502,274

 
20,434,494

Diluted
20,697,097

 
20,602,410

 
20,675,479

 
20,580,728


See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

2



SJW Group and Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
ASSETS
 
 
 
Utility plant:
 
 
 
Land
$
18,237

 
17,923

Depreciable plant and equipment
1,614,139

 
1,554,016

Construction in progress
111,935

 
70,453

Intangible assets
25,164

 
23,989

 
1,769,475

 
1,666,381

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
542,890

 
520,018

 
1,226,585

 
1,146,363

Real estate investments
56,224

 
62,193

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
10,844

 
11,734

 
45,380

 
50,459

CURRENT ASSETS:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
7,569

 
6,349

Restricted cash

 
19,001

Accounts receivable:
 
 
 
Customers, net of allowances for uncollectible accounts
23,297

 
16,361

Income tax

 
9,796

Other
1,609

 
3,383

Accrued unbilled utility revenue
38,055

 
24,255

Current regulatory assets, net
11,368

 
16,064

Other current assets
5,223

 
4,402

 
87,121

 
99,611

OTHER ASSETS:
 
 
 
Investment in California Water Service Group
3,815

 
3,390

Net regulatory assets, less current portion
140,911

 
135,709

Other
7,758

 
7,844

 
152,484

 
146,943

 
$
1,511,570

 
1,443,376










See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

3



SJW Group and Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
 
 
 
CAPITALIZATION:
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 36,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding shares 20,520,856 on September 30, 2017 and 20,456,225 on December 31, 2016
$
21

 
21

Additional paid-in capital
83,856

 
81,715

Retained earnings
366,818

 
338,386

Accumulated other comprehensive income
1,776

 
1,524

Total stockholders’ equity
452,471

 
421,646

Long-term debt, less current portion
431,009

 
433,335

 
883,480

 
854,981

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
Line of credit
13,000

 
14,200

Current portion of long-term debt

 
125

Accrued groundwater extraction charges, purchased water and power
21,696

 
10,846

Accounts payable
30,658

 
18,739

Accrued interest
7,247

 
6,309

Accrued property taxes and other non-income taxes
3,635

 
1,681

Accrued payroll
3,695

 
4,696

Non-refundable deposit
3,000

 

Income tax payable
1,917

 

Other current liabilities
8,570

 
6,977

 
93,418

 
63,573

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
206,343

 
205,203

ADVANCES FOR CONSTRUCTION
84,496

 
84,815

CONTRIBUTIONS IN AID OF CONSTRUCTION
157,448

 
151,576

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
73,532

 
70,177

OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
12,853

 
13,051

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

 
$
1,511,570

 
1,443,376









See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4



SJW Group and Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Net income before noncontrolling interest
$
43,795

 
39,112

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
37,877

 
34,740

Deferred income taxes
1,283

 
16,755

Share-based compensation
1,633

 
1,316

Gain on sale of real estate investments
(6,903
)
 
(124
)
Gain on sale of California Water Service Group stock

 
(3,197
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable and accrued unbilled utility revenue
(18,335
)
 
(19,298
)
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
2,215

 
(3,496
)
Accrued groundwater extraction charges, purchased water and power
10,850

 
6,534

Tax payable and receivable, and other accrued taxes
14,228

 
(6,972
)
Postretirement benefits
3,355

 
2,838

Regulatory assets and liability related to balancing and memorandum accounts
(503
)
 
9,239

Other changes, net
(1,528
)
 
(518
)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
87,967

 
76,929

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Additions to utility plant:
 
 
 
Company-funded
(103,417
)
 
(102,813
)
Contributions in aid of construction
(2,631
)
 
(5,759
)
Additions to real estate investments
(116
)
 
(254
)
Payments for business/asset acquisition and water rights
(1,149
)
 
(1,063
)
Payments to retire utility plant, net of salvage
(2,323
)
 
(1,418
)
Proceeds from sale of real estate investments
11,180

 
124

Proceeds from non-refundable deposit
3,000

 

Proceeds from sale of California Water Service Group stock

 
4,510

Deposit for long-lived asset held-for-sale

 
20,000

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
(95,456
)
 
(86,673
)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Borrowings on line of credit
28,500

 
53,875

Repayments of line of credit
(29,700
)
 
(24,575
)
Repayments of long-term borrowings
(2,717
)
 
(5,143
)
Payment to noncontrolling interest
(1,896
)
 

Dividends paid
(13,380
)
 
(12,419
)
Receipts of advances and contributions in aid of construction
10,486

 
12,032

Refunds of advances for construction
(1,982
)
 
(1,924
)
Other changes, net
397

 
322

NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
(10,292
)
 
22,168

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
(17,781
)
 
12,424

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
25,350

 
5,239

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
$
7,569

 
17,663

Cash paid during the period for:
 
 
 
Interest
$
18,383

 
18,324

Income taxes
14,552

 
18,072

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:
 
 
 
Increase in accrued payables for construction costs capitalized
11,241

 
10,349

Utility property installed by developers
874

 
5,063





See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

5



SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Note 1.
General
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods.
The unaudited interim financial information has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in SJW Group’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K should be read with the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” This ASU affects entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. ASU 2016-09 identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, classifications on the statement of cash flows and forfeiture rate calculations. SJW Group adopted this standard as of the first quarter of 2017. ASU 2016-09 requires recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies in the income statement, which resulted in the recognition of $500 in income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Prior to adoption, these amounts were recognized as additional paid-in capital. SJW Group did not have any unrecognized excess tax benefits to reclassify upon adoption of this standard. The ASU also requires excess tax benefits and deficiencies to be prospectively excluded from assumed future proceeds in the calculation of diluted shares when calculating diluted earnings per shares using the treasury stock method. The effect of this change on diluted earnings per share was immaterial. In addition, excess income tax benefits from share-based compensation are now classified as cash flows from operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows, prospectively. Further, ASU 2016-09 requires, on a retrospective basis, that employee taxes paid for withheld shares be classified as cash flows from financing activities rather than cash flows from operating activities. As such, the consolidated statements of cash flows for SJW Group for the periods presented have been reclassified to reflect this change. This change resulted in an increase to cash flows from operating activities and a decrease to cash flows from financing activities of $818 and $500 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. SJW Group has elected to account for actual forfeitures as they occur upon adoption of the new guidance. Management determined that the cumulative effect adjustment required under the new guidance was immaterial and therefore SJW Group did not record an adjustment.
Water sales are seasonal in nature and influenced by weather conditions. The timing of precipitation and climatic conditions can cause seasonal water consumption by customers to vary significantly. Due to the seasonal nature of the water business, the operating results for interim periods are not indicative of the operating results for a 12-month period. Revenue is generally higher in the warm, dry summer months when water usage and sales are greater, and lower in the winter months when cooler temperatures and increased rainfall curtail water usage and sales.
On May 9, 2016, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-37-16 to build on existing temporary statewide emergency water restrictions and to establish longer term water conservation measures, including permanent monthly water use reporting, new permanent water use standards in California communities and bans on wasteful water use practices. On May 18, 2016, the State Water Board adopted a new approach to water conservation regulation and replaced its prior percentage reduction-based water conservation standard with a new approach designed to ensure at least a three year supply of available water based on local conditions. On June 14, 2016, the Santa Clara Valley Water District (“SCVWD”) reduced its conservation target from 30% to 20% and also increased the number of allowable outdoor watering days from two to three effective July 1, 2016 through January 31, 2017. On January 24, 2017, and again on June 13, 2017, the SCVWD reaffirmed its call for 20% conservation and restrictions on outdoor watering for ornamental landscapes to no more than three days a week. On April 7, 2017, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-40-17 which lifted the drought emergency in all California counties except Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Tuolumne while maintaining water reporting requirements and prohibitions on wasteful practices.  Executive Order B-40-17 also rescinded two emergency proclamations from January and April 2014 and four drought-related executive orders issued in 2014 and 2015. Conservation and restrictions imposed by SCVWD on June 13, 2017 still remain in effect. 
Effective June 15, 2015, San Jose Water Company was authorized by the CPUC to activate Stage 3 of Tariff Rule 14.1 which is a water shortage contingency plan with mandatory water usage reductions and drought surcharges resulting from usage above customer allocations. Tariff Rule 14.1 focuses primarily on restrictions of outdoor watering which accounts for 50% of a typical customer’s water usage. On June 24, 2016, San Jose Water Company filed with the CPUC to amend its water shortage contingency plan with mandatory water usage reductions and drought surcharges to reflect the SCVWD’s call for 20%

6


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


conservation. This request was approved by the CPUC with an effective date of July 1, 2016. The drought surcharges were not recorded as revenue. Rather, they were recorded in a regulatory liability account authorized by the CPUC to track lost revenues resulting from conservation. The amount recorded in the surcharge account was being used to offset future rate increases that would otherwise be necessary to recover lost revenue due to drought conservation efforts. San Jose Water Company suspended its allocation and drought surcharge program provided for in Schedule 14.1, Water Shortage Contingency Plan with Staged Mandatory Reductions and Drought Surcharges on February 1, 2017. At the end of the second quarter of 2017, San Jose Water Company had no balance remaining in the drought surcharge account to offset future rate increases related to drought conservation efforts. The remaining balance as of September 30, 2017 in San Jose Water Company s balancing and memorandum accounts are related to drought surcharges collected outside of the California regulated entity. On June 13, 2017, the SCVWD adopted Resolution 17-43 to encourage making conservation a way of life in California through recommendations on watering schedules and a call for customers to achieve a 20% reduction in water use as compared to 2013. In addition to the SCVWD’s resolution, the mandatory water use restrictions set forth by the State Water Resources Control Board’s Emergency Regulations remain in effect. San Jose Water Company is continually working to maintain compliance with the various drought rules and regulations and is also working with local governments as well as the SCVWD to communicate consistent messages to the public about use restrictions and related matters associated with the recent drought.
Effective March 31, 2014, San Jose Water Company received approval from the CPUC to institute a Mandatory Conservation Revenue Adjustment Memorandum Account. This account was subsequently replaced with a Water Conservation Memorandum Account (“WCMA”). The WCMA allows San Jose Water Company to track lost revenue associated with reduced sales due to drought related water conservation and the associated calls for water use reduction from the SCVWD. San Jose Water Company records the lost revenue captured in the WCMA regulatory accounts once the revenue recognition requirements of FASB ASU Topic 980 - “Regulated Operations,” subtopic 605-25 are met. For further discussion, please see Note 8 and Note 9.
Basic earnings per share is calculated using income available to common stockholders, divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated using income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock including both shares outstanding and shares potentially issuable in connection with deferred restricted common stock awards under SJW Group’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended, the “Incentive Plan”) and shares potentially issuable under the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , 683 and 714 anti-dilutive restricted common stock units were excluded from the dilutive earnings per share calculation, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , 3,670 and 4,801 anti-dilutive restricted common stock units were excluded from the dilutive earnings per share calculation, respectively.
A portion of depreciation expense is allocated to administrative and general expense. For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , the amounts allocated to administrative and general expense were $551 and $416 , respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 , the amounts allocated to administrative and general expense were $1,660 and $1,251 , respectively.
On September 28, 2017, SJW Group announced that its Board of Directors appointed Eric W. Thornburg to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of SJW Group, effective as of November 6, 2017 (the “Effective Date”). Also on September 28, 2017, SJW Group announced that W. Richard Roth will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer of SJW Group effective as of November 5, 2017. Mr. Roth will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board until the next annual meeting of stockholders. From the Effective Date to December 31, 2017, Mr. Roth will serve as Chief Executive Emeritus of SJW Group and San Jose Water Company. Mr. Thornburg will also serve as the Chief Executive Officer of San Jose Water Company effective as of the Effective Date. For a more detailed discussion of the CEO transition, see SJW Group’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 29, 2017.

Note 2.
Equity Plans
SJW Group accounts for stock-based compensation based on the grant date fair value of awards issued to employees in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 - “Compensation - Stock Compensation,” which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense based on estimated fair value for share-based payment awards. See Note 1 for the effect of the SJW Group’s adoption of ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” in the first quarter of 2017.

7


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


The Incentive Plan allows SJW Group to provide employees, non-employee board members or the board of directors of any parent or subsidiary, consultants, and other independent advisors who provide services to the company or any parent or subsidiary the opportunity to acquire an equity interest in SJW Group. The types of awards included in the Incentive Plan are restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance shares, or other share-based awards. As of September 30, 2017 , the remaining number of shares available under the Incentive Plan was 957,121 , and an additional 214,333 shares were issuable under outstanding restricted stock units and deferred restricted stock units. In addition, shares are issued to employees under the company’s ESPP.
Stock compensation costs charged to income are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. A summary of compensation costs charged to income, proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments, and the tax benefit realized from stock options and similar instruments exercised, that were recorded to additional paid-in capital and common stock, by award type, are presented below for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 .
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Adjustments to additional paid-in capital and common stock for:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation costs charged to income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   ESPP
$
114

 
89

 
$
214

 
168

   Restricted stock and deferred restricted stock
475

 
375

 
1,419

 
1,148

Total compensation costs charged to income
$
589

 
464

 
$
1,633

 
1,316

Excess tax benefits realized from stock issuance:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Restricted stock and deferred restricted stock
$

 
1

 
$

 
203

Total excess tax benefits realized from stock issuance
$

 
1

 
$

 
203

Proceeds from ESPP and similar instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   ESPP
$
645

 
503

 
$
1,215

 
954

Total proceeds from the ESPP and similar instruments
$
645

 
503

 
$
1,215

 
954

Stock, Restricted Stock and Deferred Restricted Stock
On January 3, 2017 , service based restricted stock units covering an aggregate of 8,564 shares of common stock of SJW Group were granted to certain officers of SJW Group and its subsidiaries. The units vest in three equal successive installments upon completion of each year of service with no dividend equivalent rights. Share-based compensation expense of $52.59 per unit which was based on the award grant date fair value is being recognized over the service period beginning in 2017.
On January 24, 2017 , certain officers of SJW Group were granted performance-based restricted stock units covering an aggregate target number of SJW Group’s shares of common stock equal to 10,744 that will vest based on the actual attainment of specified performance goals measured for the 2017 calendar year and continued service through December 31, 2017. Of such performance-based restricted stock units, units covering 6,639 shares of common stock were granted to a key officer which will only vest on the actual attainment of a specified performance goal and the number of shares issuable under this award is either 0% or 100% . The number of shares issuable under the remaining units, ranging between 0% to 150% of the target number of shares, is based on the level of actual attainment of specified performance goals. The units do not include dividend equivalent rights. The awards have no market conditions and the share-based compensation expense of $50.24 per unit which was based on the award grant date fair value is being recognized assuming the performance goals will be attained. As of September 30, 2017 , management believes that the performance goals will be met.
On January 24, 2017 , certain officers of SJW Group were granted performance-based restricted stock units covering an aggregate target number of SJW Group’s shares of common stock equal to 2,737 that will vest based on the actual attainment of specified performance goals for the 2019 calendar year and continued service through December 31, 2019. The number of shares issuable under the awards, ranging between 0% to 150% of the target number of shares, is based on the level of actual attainment of specified performance goals. The units do not include dividend equivalent rights. The awards have no market conditions and the share-based compensation expense of $48.56 per unit which is based on the award grant date fair value is being recognized assuming the performance goals will be attained. As of September 30, 2017 , management believes that the performance goals will be met.

8


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


On April 26, 2017 , restricted stock units covering an aggregate of 9,240 shares of common stock of SJW Group were granted to the non-employee board members of SJW Group. The units vest upon continuous board service through the day immediately preceding the date of the next annual stockholder meeting with no dividend equivalent rights. Share-based compensation expense of $51.13 per unit, which is based on the award grant date fair value, is being recognized over the service period beginning in 2017.
As of September 30, 2017 , the total unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted and deferred restricted stock plans was $1,182 . This cost is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of 0.63 years.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The ESPP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of SJW Group’s common stock at  85% of the fair value of shares on the purchase date. Under the ESPP, employees can designate up to a maximum of  10% of their base compensation for the purchase of shares of common stock, subject to certain restrictions. A total of 400,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the ESPP.
After considering estimated employee terminations or withdrawals from the plan before the purchase date, SJW Group’s recorded expenses were $60 and $177 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, and $51 and $139 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , respectively, related to the ESPP.
The total unrecognized compensation costs related to the semi-annual offering period that ends January 31, 2018 for the ESPP is approximately $92 . This cost is expected to be recognized during the fourth quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2018.

Note 3.
Real Estate Investments
The major components of real estate investments as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows:  
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Land
$
13,262

 
15,218

Buildings and improvements
42,962

 
46,826

Intangibles

 
149

Subtotal
56,224

 
62,193

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
10,844

 
11,734

Total
$
45,380

 
50,459

Depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from 7 to 39 years .
On April 6, 2017, 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. sold all of its interests in the commercial building and land the partnership owned and operated for $11,000 . 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of real estate investments of $6,323 , after selling expenses of $1,156 . SJW Land Company holds a 70% limited interest in 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. SJW Land Company and the noncontrolling interest recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of real estate investments of $4,427 and $1,896 , respectively, on the transaction. In addition, SJW Land Company sold undeveloped land located in San Jose, California for $1,350 on April 6, 2017. SJW Land Company recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of real estate investments of $580 on the transaction, after selling expenses of $14 .
In 2015, SJW Land Company was notified by the Arizona Department of Transportation that in order to achieve their goals of developing a new freeway extension, they, in conjunction with the Federal Highway Commission, would be exercising their powers of eminent domain for SJW Land Company’s warehouse building located in Phoenix, Arizona. On September 8, 2016, SJW Land Company sold the Arizona warehouse building and received a settlement payment of  $20,000 . Title to the property transferred on October 13, 2016 upon the recording of the court’s Final Order of Condemnation. SJW Group recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of real estate investments in the fourth quarter of 2016 of  $9,981 , after selling expenses of  $112 .


9


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


Note 4.
Defined Benefit Plan
San Jose Water Company sponsors a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan for its eligible employees. Employees hired before March 31, 2008 are entitled to receive retirement benefits using a formula based on the employee’s three highest years of compensation (whether or not consecutive). For employees hired on or after March 31, 2008, benefits are determined using a cash balance formula based on compensation credits and interest credits for each employee. Officers hired before March 31, 2008 are eligible to receive additional retirement benefits under the Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan, and officers hired on or after March 31, 2008 are eligible to receive additional retirement benefits under the Cash Balance Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan. Both plans are non-qualified plans in which only officers and other designated members of management may participate. San Jose Water Company also provides health care and life insurance benefits for retired employees under the San Jose Water Company Social Welfare Plan. The components of net periodic benefit costs for San Jose Water Company’s pension plan, its Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan, Cash Balance Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan and Social Welfare Plan for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Service cost
$
1,307

 
1,244

 
$
3,922

 
3,731

Interest cost
1,912

 
1,871

 
5,735

 
5,613

Other cost
1,101

 
1,104

 
3,304

 
3,313

Expected return on assets
(2,060
)
 
(1,894
)
 
(6,179
)
 
(5,683
)
 
$
2,260

 
2,325

 
$
6,782

 
6,974

The following tables summarize the fair values of plan assets by major categories as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :  
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
 
Significant
Observable
Inputs
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
Asset Category
Benchmark
 
Total
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
$
5,573

 
$
5,573

 
$

 
$

Actively Managed (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
All Cap Equity
Russell 3000 Value
 
6,189

 
6,151

 
38

 

U.S. Large Cap Equity
Russell 1000, Russell 1000 Growth, Russell 1000 Value
 
48,102

 
48,102

 

 

U.S. Mid Cap Equity
Russell Mid Cap, Russell Mid Cap Growth, Russell Mid Cap Value
 
8,893

 
8,893

 

 

U.S. Small Cap Equity
Russell 2000, Russell 2000 Growth, Russell 2000 Value
 
8,403

 
8,403

 

 

Non-U.S. Large Cap Equity
MSCI EAFE
 
5,764

 
5,764

 

 

REIT
NAREIT - Equity REIT’S
 
5,953

 

 
5,953

 

Fixed Income (b)
(b)
 
41,953

 

 
41,953

 

Total
 
 
$
130,830

 
$
82,886

 
$
47,944

 
$

The Plan has a current target allocation of 55% invested in a diversified array of equity securities to provide long-term capital appreciation and 45% invested in a diversified array of fixed income securities and cash to provide preservation of capital plus generation of income.
(a)
Actively managed portfolio of securities with the goal to exceed the stated benchmark performance.
(b)
Actively managed portfolio of fixed income securities with the goal to exceed the Barclays 1-5 Year Government/Credit, Barclays Intermediate Government/Credit, and Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock Fixed Rate.

10


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
 
Significant
Observable
Inputs
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
Asset Category
Benchmark
 
Total
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
$
10,050

 
$
10,050

 
$

 
$

Actively Managed (a):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
All Cap Equity
Russell 3000 Value
 
5,290

 
5,266

 
24

 

U.S. Large Cap Equity
Russell 1000, Russell 1000 Growth, Russell 1000 Value
 
39,534

 
39,534

 

 

U.S. Mid Cap Equity
Russell Mid Cap, Russell Mid Cap Growth, Russell Mid Cap Value
 
7,021

 
7,021

 

 

U.S. Small Cap Equity
Russell 2000, Russell 2000 Growth, Russell 2000 Value
 
6,357

 
6,357

 

 

Non-U.S. Large Cap Equity
MSCI EAFE
 
4,832

 
4,832

 

 

REIT
NAREIT - Equity REIT’S
 
5,663

 

 
5,663

 

Fixed Income (b)
(b)
 
40,514

 

 
40,514

 

Total
 
 
$
119,261

 
$
73,060

 
$
46,201

 
$

The Plan has a current target allocation of 55% invested in a diversified array of equity securities to provide long-term capital appreciation and 45% invested in a diversified array of fixed income securities and cash to provide preservation of capital plus generation of income.
(a)
Actively managed portfolio of securities with the goal to exceed the stated benchmark performance.
(b)
Actively managed portfolio of fixed income securities with the goal to exceed the Barclays 1-5 Year Government/Credit, Barclays Intermediate Government/Credit, and Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock Fixed Rate.
In 2017 , San Jose Water Company expects to make required and discretionary cash contributions of up to $7,500 to the pension plans and Social Welfare Plan. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , $1,280 and $2,560 , respectively, has been contributed to the pension plans and Social Welfare Plan.

Note 5.
Segment and Non-Tariffed Business Reporting
SJW Group is a holding company with four subsidiaries: (i) San Jose Water Company, a water utility which operates both regulated and non-tariffed businesses, (ii) SJWTX, Inc. which is doing business as Canyon Lake Water Service Company (“CLWSC”), a regulated water utility located in Canyon Lake, Texas, and its consolidated non-tariffed variable interest entity, Acequia Water Supply Corporation, (iii) SJW Land Company and its consolidated variable interest entity, 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P., which operated a commercial building rental (See Note 3), and (iv) Texas Water Alliance Limited, a non-tariffed water utility operation which has acquired permits and leases necessary to develop a water supply project in Texas (See Note 11). In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 280 – “Segment Reporting,” SJW Group has determined that it has two reportable business segments. The first segment is that of providing water utility and utility-related services to its customers through SJW Group’s subsidiaries, San Jose Water Company, CLWSC, and Texas Water Alliance Limited, together referred to as “Water Utility Services.” The second segment is property management and investment activity conducted by SJW Land Company, referred to as “Real Estate Services.”
SJW Group’s reportable segments have been determined based on information used by the chief operating decision maker. SJW Group’s chief operating decision maker includes the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and his senior staff. The senior staff reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis that is accompanied by disaggregated information about operating revenue, net income and total assets, by subsidiaries.

11


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


The following tables set forth information relating to SJW Group’s reportable segments and distribution of regulated and non-tariffed business activities within the reportable segments. Certain allocated assets, revenue and expenses have been included in the reportable segment amounts. Other business activity of SJW Group not included in the reportable segments is included in the “All Other” category.
 
For Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Water Utility Services
 
Real Estate Services
 
All Other*
 
SJW Group
 
Regulated
 
Non-tariffed
 
Non-tariffed
 
Non-tariffed
 
Regulated
 
Non-tariffed
 
Total
Operating revenue
$
120,727

 
2,460

 
1,391

 

 
120,727

 
3,851

 
124,578

Operating expense
83,088

 
1,511

 
875

 
859

 
83,088

 
3,245

 
86,333

Operating income (loss)
37,639

 
949

 
516

 
(859
)
 
37,639

 
606

 
38,245

Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest
19,866

 
473

 
305

 
(1,104
)
 
19,866

 
(326
)
 
19,540

Depreciation and amortization
11,623

 
143

 
299

 

 
11,623

 
442

 
12,065

Senior note, mortgage and other interest expense
4,999

 

 
(2
)
 
544

 
4,999

 
542

 
5,541

Income tax expense (benefit) in net income
13,242

 
340

 
178

 
(237
)
 
13,242

 
281

 
13,523

Assets
$
1,438,433

 
20,239

 
48,917

 
3,981

 
1,438,433

 
73,137

 
1,511,570

 
For Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Water Utility Services
 
Real Estate Services
 
All Other*
 
SJW Group
 
Regulated
 
Non-tariffed
 
Non-tariffed
 
Non-tariffed
 
Regulated
 
Non-tariffed
 
Total
Operating revenue
$
108,502

 
2,056

 
1,786

 

 
108,502

 
3,842

 
112,344

Operating expense
73,179

 
1,355

 
1,108

 
356

 
73,179

 
2,819

 
75,998

Operating income (loss)
35,323

 
701

 
678

 
(356
)
 
35,323

 
1,023

 
36,346

Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest
19,216

 
330

 
239

 
(826
)
 
19,216

 
(257
)
 
18,959

Depreciation and amortization
10,678

 
116

 
325

 

 
10,678

 
441

 
11,119

Senior note, mortgage and other interest expense
4,648

 

 
216

 
562

 
4,648

 
778

 
5,426

Income tax expense (benefit) in net income
12,145

 
247

 
106

 
14

 
12,145

 
367

 
12,512

Assets
$
1,359,419

 
18,092

 
75,909

 
921

 
1,359,419

 
94,922

 
1,454,341

 
For Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Water Utility Services
 
Real Estate Services
 
All Other*
 
SJW Group
 
Regulated
 
Non-tariffed
 
Non-tariffed
 
Non-tariffed
 
Regulated
 
Non-tariffed
 
Total
Operating revenue
$
285,781

 
5,634

 
4,281

 

 
285,781

 
9,915

 
295,696

Operating expense
207,026

 
3,565

 
2,765

 
2,475

 
207,026

 
8,805

 
215,831

Operating income (loss)
78,755

 
2,069

 
1,516

 
(2,475
)
 
78,755

 
1,110

 
79,865

Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest
39,895

 
965

 
5,986

 
(3,051
)
 
39,895

 
3,900

 
43,795

Depreciation and amortization
34,875

 
421

 
921

 

 
34,875

 
1,342

 
36,217

Senior note, mortgage and other interest expense
15,639

 

 
60

 
1,655

 
15,639

 
1,715

 
17,354

Income tax expense (benefit) in net income
24,943

 
713

 
2,294

 
(895
)
 
24,943

 
2,112

 
27,055

Assets
$
1,438,433

 
20,239

 
48,917

 
3,981

 
1,438,433

 
73,137

 
1,511,570


12


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


 
For Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Water Utility Services
 
Real Estate Services
 
All Other*
 
SJW Group
 
Regulated
 
Non-tariffed
 
Non-tariffed
 
Non-tariffed
 
Regulated
 
Non-tariffed
 
Total
Operating revenue
$
250,389

 
4,802

 
5,209

 

 
250,389

 
10,011

 
260,400

Operating expense
175,967

 
3,275

 
3,161

 
1,270

 
175,967

 
7,706

 
183,673

Operating income (loss)
74,422

 
1,527

 
2,048

 
(1,270
)
 
74,422

 
2,305

 
76,727

Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest
37,810

 
649

 
670

 
(17
)
 
37,810

 
1,302

 
39,112

Depreciation and amortization
32,027

 
350

 
1,112

 

 
32,027

 
1,462

 
33,489

Senior note, mortgage and other interest expense
13,929

 

 
706

 
1,695

 
13,929

 
2,401

 
16,330

Income tax expense (benefit) in net income
24,122

 
521

 
354

 
548

 
24,122

 
1,423

 
25,545

Assets
$
1,359,419

 
18,092

 
75,909

 
921

 
1,359,419

 
94,922

 
1,454,341

 *    The “All Other” category includes the accounts of SJW Group on a stand-alone basis.

Note 6.
Long-Term Liabilities and Bank Borrowings
SJW Group’s contractual obligations and commitments include senior notes, mortgages and other obligations. San Jose Water Company, a subsidiary of SJW Group, has received advance deposit payments from its customers on certain construction projects. Refunds of the advance deposit payments constitute an obligation of San Jose Water Company solely.

Note 7.
Fair Value Measurement
The following instruments are not measured at fair value on SJW Group’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2017 , but require disclosure of their fair values: cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The estimated fair value of such instruments as of September 30, 2017 approximates their carrying value as reported on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of such financial instruments are determined using the income approach based on the present value of estimated future cash flows. There have been no changes in valuation technique during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 . The fair value of these instruments would be categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, with the exception of cash and cash equivalents, which would be categorized as Level 1. The fair value of pension plan assets is discussed in Note 4.
The fair value of SJW Group’s long-term debt was approximately $534,075 and $502,446 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively, and was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis, based on the current rates for similar financial instruments of the same duration and creditworthiness of the company. The book value of the long-term debt was $ 431,009 and $ 433,460 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , respectively. The fair value of long-term debt would be categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 , the fair value of the company’s investment in California Water Service Group was $3,815 and $3,390 , respectively, and would be categorized as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Note 8.
Regulatory Rate Filings
On January 6, 2017, San Jose Water Company filed Advice Letter No. 501 with the CPUC requesting authorization to implement a sales reconciliation mechanism to better conform to water forecasts authorized in the last general rate case to recorded consumption for the period of October 2015 through September 2016. The CPUC has ordered all Class A and B water utilities that have a five percent or greater divergence between authorized and actual sales during declared drought years to consider requesting a sales reconciliation mechanism to better conform to sale forecasts authorized in the last general rate case to recorded consumption. On May 3, 2017, the CPUC rejected the filing citing the end of a drought and the improved California water supply conditions. On May 10, 2017, San Jose Water Company formally requested the CPUC s review of the rejection. The request for review is still pending before the CPUC.

13


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


As required by the CPUC, on April 3, 2017 San Jose Water Company filed an application requesting authority to increase its authorized Cost of Capital for the period from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020. If approved by the CPUC, San Jose Water Company’s annual revenues would increase by approximately $7,550 or about 2.1% in 2018. This request is still pending before the CPUC.
On June 6, 2017, San Jose Water Company filed Advice Letter No. 510 with the CPUC requesting authorization to issue a surcredit totaling $1,794 to refund service charge rate changes as a result of a change in billing practice effective January 1, 2017.  The refund period covers prorated service charge rate changes that occurred from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2016. On August 11, 2017, the CPUC rejected Advice Letter No. 510 citing the formal complaint filed by some customers and served to San Jose Water Company by the CPUC over the same issue. A pre-hearing conference was held on the formal complaint on September 12, 2017, where the parties agreed to suspend the proceeding.
On September 29, 2017, San Jose Water Company filed Advice Letter No. 512 with the CPUC requesting authorization to re-implement a surcharge to recover the under-collected balance of $11,474 remaining from the 2012 General Rate Case true-up due to the delayed 2012 General Rate Case Application decision. Actual sales were substantially lower than the CPUC authorized sales estimate used to calculate the surcharge amount over the three-year recovery period. San Jose water Company is seeking to recover the remaining under-collected balance. This request is still pending before the CPUC.

Note 9.
Balancing and Memorandum Account Recovery Procedures
San Jose Water Company established balancing accounts for the purpose of tracking the under-collection or over-collection associated with expense changes and the revenue authorized by the CPUC to offset those expense changes. San Jose Water Company also maintains memorandum accounts to track revenue impacts due to catastrophic events, certain unforeseen water quality expenses related to new federal and state water quality standards, energy efficiency, WCMA, drought surcharges, Monterey Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism, and other approved activities or as directed by the CPUC. Balancing and memorandum accounts are recognized by San Jose Water Company when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process.
In addition, in the case of special revenue programs such as the WCMA, San Jose Water Company follows the requirements of ASC Topic 980-605-25—“Alternative Revenue Programs” in determining revenue recognition, including the requirement that such revenues will be collected within 24 months of the year-end in which the revenue is recorded. A reserve is recorded for amounts SJW Group estimates will not be collected within the 24-month period. This reserve is based on an estimate of actual usage over the recovery period, offset by applicable drought surcharges. In assessing the probability criteria for balancing and memorandum accounts between general rate cases, San Jose Water Company considers evidence that may exist prior to CPUC authorization that would satisfy ASC Topic 980 subtopic 340-25 recognition criteria. Such evidence may include regulatory rules and decisions, past practices, and other facts and circumstances that would indicate that recovery or refund is probable. When such evidence provides sufficient support, the balances are recorded in SJW Group’s financial statements.
Based on ASC Topic 980-605-25, San Jose Water Company recognized regulatory assets of $3,954 and $11,003 due to lost revenues accumulated in the 2017 WCMA account for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. These regulatory assets were partially offset by a regulatory liability in the amount of $(6) and $6,042 for three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, created by Tariff Rule 14.1 drought surcharges collected as allowed for in Advice Letter 473A. At the end of the second quarter of 2017, there was no longer a balance of drought surcharges collected to fully offset the 2017 WCMA account. The remaining balance in the drought surcharge account at September 30, 2017 related to amounts collected outside of the California regulated entity. Of the $3,954 and $11,003 recognized in the 2017 WCMA account for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, $4,826 and $6,103 was not covered by drought surcharges and was recognized as revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, less $866 and $1,142 , respectively, recorded for reserve which is the estimated amount that may not be collected within the 24-month period defined in the guidance. These amounts have been recorded in the 2017 WCMA row shown in the table below.

14


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


 
Three months ended September 30, 2017
 
Three months ended September 30, 2016
Beginning Balance
 
Revenue Increase (Reduction)
 
Refunds (Collections)
 
Surcharge Offset
 
Ending Balance
 
Beginning Balance
 
Revenue Increase (Reduction)
 
Refunds (Collections)
 
Surcharge Offset
 
Ending Balance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Memorandum accounts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014 WCMA*
$
908

 

 
(866
)
 

 
42

 
$
1,563

 
164

 
(1,044
)
 

 
683

2015 WCMA*
2,095

 
(11
)
 
(1,799
)
 

 
285

 
4,747

 
528

 
(1,883
)
 

 
3,392

2016 WCMA

 
55

 

 

 
55

 

 
5,863

 

 
(5,863
)
 

2017 WCMA*
1,001

 
3,954

 

 
6

 
4,961

 

 

 

 

 

All others
4,550

 
144

 

 

 
4,694

 
1,661

 
232

 
176

 

 
2,069

Total memorandum accounts
8,554

 
4,142

 
(2,665
)
 
6

 
10,037

 
7,971

 
6,787

 
(2,751
)
 
(5,863
)
 
6,144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balancing accounts, net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Water supply costs
7,314

 
2,278

 

 

 
9,592

 
2,641

 
2,420

 
452

 

 
5,513

Drought surcharges
(961
)
 

 

 

 
(961
)
 
(1,716
)
 

 
(10,467
)
 
5,863

 
(6,320
)
Pension
(2,907
)
 
224

 

 

 
(2,683
)
 
(520
)
 
280

 
(1,055
)
 

 
(1,295
)
2012 General Rate Case true-up
15,765

 

 
(4,123
)
 

 
11,642

 
27,740

 

 
(3,850
)
 

 
23,890

2015 General Rate Case true-up
2,411

 

 
(2,297
)
 

 
114

 
8,767

 

 
(1,204
)
 

 
7,563

All others
(1,160
)
 
(94
)
 

 

 
(1,254
)
 
1,101

 
(106
)
 
(523
)
 

 
472

Total balancing accounts
$
20,462

 
2,408

 
(6,420
)
 

 
16,450

 
$
38,013

 
2,594

 
(16,647
)
 
5,863

 
29,823

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
29,016

 
6,550

 
(9,085
)
 
6

 
26,487

 
$
45,984

 
9,381

 
(19,398
)
 

 
35,967


15


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


 
Nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2016
Beginning Balance
 
Revenue Increase (Reduction)
 
Refunds (Collections)
 
Surcharge Offset
 
Ending Balance
 
Beginning Balance
 
Revenue Increase (Reduction)
 
Refunds (Collections)
 
Surcharge Offset
 
Ending Balance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Memorandum accounts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014 WCMA*
$

 
1,089

 
(1,047
)
 

 
42

 
$
2,944

 
11

 
(2,272
)
 

 
683

2015 WCMA*
1,589

 
2,101

 
(3,405
)
 

 
285

 
5,372

 
431

 
(2,411
)
 

 
3,392

2016 WCMA

 
1,507

 

 
(1,452
)
 
55

 

 
12,624

 

 
(12,624
)
 

2017 WCMA*

 
11,003

 

 
(6,042
)
 
4,961

 

 

 

 

 

All others
2,768

 
1,473

 
453

 

 
4,694

 
594

 
1,298

 
177

 

 
2,069

Total memorandum accounts
4,357

 
17,173

 
(3,999
)
 
(7,494
)

10,037

 
8,910

 
14,364

 
(4,506
)
 
(12,624
)
 
6,144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balancing accounts, net assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Water supply costs
5,190

 
3,833

 
569

 

 
9,592

 
2,771

 
2,364

 
378

 

 
5,513

Drought surcharges
(7,688
)
 

 
(767
)
 
7,494

 
(961
)
 
(359
)
 

 
(18,585
)
 
12,624

 
(6,320
)
Pension
(2,009
)
 
670

 
(1,344
)
 

 
(2,683
)
 
(552
)
 
840

 
(1,583
)
 

 
(1,295
)
2012 General Rate Case true-up
20,682

 

 
(9,040
)
 

 
11,642

 
33,070

 

 
(9,180
)
 

 
23,890

2015 General Rate Case true-up
5,528

 

 
(5,414
)
 

 
114

 

 
8,767

 
(1,204
)
 

 
7,563

All others
(151
)
 
(540
)
 
(639
)
 
76

 
(1,254
)
 
1,366

 
(332
)
 
(562
)
 

 
472

Total balancing accounts
$
21,552

 
3,963

 
(16,635
)
 
7,570


16,450

 
$
36,296

 
11,639

 
(30,736
)
 
12,624

 
29,823

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
25,909


21,136


(20,634
)

76


26,487

 
$
45,206

 
26,003

 
(35,242
)
 

 
35,967

* As of September 30, 2017 , the reserve balance for the 2017 WCMA was $1,142 which has been netted from the balance above. As of September 30, 2016 , the reserve balance for the 2014 WCMA and 2015 WCMA was $1,267 and $1,892 , respectively, which has been netted from the balances above.
As of September 30, 2017 , the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s balancing and memorandum accounts combined, including interest, that has not been recorded into the financial statements was a net under-collection of $3,810 . All balancing accounts and memorandum-type accounts not included for recovery or refund in the current general rate case will be reviewed by the CPUC in San Jose Water Company’s next general rate case or at the time an individual account reaches a threshold of 2% of authorized revenue, whichever occurs first.


16


SJW GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2017
(in thousands, except share and per share data)


Note 10.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
Regulatory assets and liabilities are comprised of the following as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 :
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Regulatory assets:
 
 
 
 
Income tax temporary differences, net
 
$
10,139

 
10,139

Postretirement pensions and other medical benefits
 
109,795

 
109,795

Balancing and memorandum accounts, net
 
26,487

 
25,909

Other, net
 
5,858

 
5,930

Total regulatory assets, net in Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
$
152,279

 
151,773

Less: current regulatory asset, net
 
11,368

 
16,064

Total regulatory assets, net, less current portion
 
$
140,911

 
135,709


Note 11.
Texas Water Alliance Limited
On February 22, 2016, SJW Group entered into a purchase and sale agreement (“PSA”) with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (“GBRA”), pursuant to which SJW Group agreed to sell all of its equity interests in its wholly owned subsidiary Texas Water Alliance Limited to GBRA for $31,000 in cash. Pursuant to the PSA, upon closing of the transaction, GBRA will hold back $3,000 (the “Holdback Amount”) in the payment of the total purchase price. Pursuant to an amendment agreement entered into by SJW Group and GBRA on June 22, 2017, (i) if closing occurs, GBRA will pay the Holdback Amount to SJW Group on June 30, 2021 subject to reductions under certain circumstances, and (ii) the $3,000 previously deposited in escrow by GBRA was distributed to SJW Group on June 23, 2017 and was classified as a non-refundable deposit on the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2017 (the “Deposit Amount”). If closing occurs, the Deposit Amount will be credited against the $31,000 purchase price. The PSA is subject to the completion of financing by GBRA to fund the purchase price and other customary closing conditions. While there is no assurance that the closing conditions will be satisfied in a timely manner, or at all, we currently expect to close the transaction during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Note 12.
Legal Proceedings
SJW Group is subject to ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business. There are no pending legal proceedings to which SJW Group or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or to which any of its properties is the subject, that are expected to have a material effect on SJW Group’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.


17



ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts and otherwise noted)
The information in this Item 2 should be read in conjunction with the financial information and the notes thereto included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and the related “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in SJW Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 .
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws relating to future events and future results of SJW Group and its subsidiaries that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about SJW Group and its subsidiaries and the industries in which SJW Group and its subsidiaries operate and the beliefs and assumptions of the management of SJW Group. Such forward-looking statements are identified by words including “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “seeks,” “plans,” “projects,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and variation of such words, and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this report and our most recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the item entitled “Risk Factors,” and in other reports SJW Group files with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, each as it may be amended from time to time. SJW Group undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this report, including the forward-looking statements, to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this report.

General:
SJW Group is a holding company with four subsidiaries: San Jose Water Company, SJW Land Company, SJWTX, Inc., and Texas Water Alliance Limited.
San Jose Water Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Group, is a public utility in the business of providing water service to approximately 230,000 connections that serve a population of approximately one million people in an area comprising approximately 138 square miles in the metropolitan San Jose, California area.
The principal business of San Jose Water Company consists of the production, purchase, storage, purification, distribution, wholesale and retail sale of water. San Jose Water Company provides water service to customers in portions of the cities of San Jose and Cupertino and in the cities of Campbell, Monte Sereno, Saratoga and the Town of Los Gatos, and adjacent unincorporated territories, all in the County of Santa Clara in the State of California. San Jose Water Company distributes water to customers in accordance with accepted water utility methods which include pumping from storage and gravity feed from high elevation reservoirs. San Jose Water Company also provides non-tariffed services under agreements with municipalities and other utilities. These non-tariffed services include water system operations, maintenance agreements and antenna site leases.
San Jose Water Company has utility property including land held in fee, impounding reservoirs, diversion facilities, wells, distribution storage, and all water facilities, equipment, office buildings and other property necessary to supply its customers. Under Section 851 of the California Public Utilities Code, properties currently used and useful in providing utilities services cannot be disposed of unless California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) approval is obtained.
San Jose Water Company also has approximately 411 acres of nonutility property which has been identified as no longer used and useful in providing utility services. The majority of the properties are located in the hillside areas adjacent to San Jose Water Company’s various watershed properties.
SJWTX, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Group, doing business as Canyon Lake Water Service Company (“CLWSC”), is a public utility in the business of providing water service to approximately 14,000 connections that serve approximately 42,000 people. CLWSC’s service area comprises more than 244 square miles in western Comal County and southern Blanco County in the growing region between San Antonio and Austin, Texas. SJWTX, Inc. has a 25% interest in Acequia Water Supply Corporation (“Acequia”). The water supply corporation has been determined to be a variable interest entity within the scope of ASC Topic 810 with SJWTX, Inc. as the primary beneficiary. As a result, Acequia has been consolidated with SJWTX, Inc.


18



SJW Land Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Group, owned the following real properties during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 :
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
% for Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
of SJW Land Company
Description
 
Location
 
Acreage
 
Square Footage
 
Revenue
 
Expense
Commercial building*
 
San Jose, California
 
2
 
28,000
 
4
%
 
6
%
Warehouse building
 
Knoxville, Tennessee
 
30
 
361,500
 
41
%
 
38
%
Commercial building
 
Knoxville, Tennessee
 
15
 
135,000
 
55
%
 
56
%
Undeveloped land and parking lot
 
Knoxville, Tennessee
 
10
 
N/A
 
N/A

 
N/A

Undeveloped land*
 
San Jose, California
 
5
 
N/A
 
N/A

 
N/A

*
See Note 3 of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the sale of 444 West Santa Clara’s, L.P.’s property as well as a San Jose, California undeveloped land property on April 6, 2017.
SJW Land Company owns a 70% limited partnership interest in 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. One of the California properties was owned by such partnership. The limited partnership has been determined to be a variable interest entity within the scope of FASB ASC Topic 810 – “Consolidation” with SJW Land Company as the primary beneficiary, and as a result, it has been consolidated with SJW Land Company.
Texas Water Alliance Limited (“TWA”), a wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Group, has acquired permits and leases necessary to develop a water supply project in Texas. On February 22, 2016, we entered into an agreement with Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (“GBRA”), pursuant to which SJW Group agreed to sell all of its equity interest in TWA to GBRA for $31,000. The agreement is subject to the completion of financing by GBRA to fund the purchase price and other customary closing conditions. On June 22, 2017, SJW Group and GBRA entered into an amendment to the agreement and SJW Group received $3,000 previously deposited in escrow by GBRA as a non-refundable deposit. See Note 11 of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion on the pending sale of SJW Group’s equity interest in TWA. While there is no assurance that the closing conditions will be satisfied in a timely manner, or at all, we currently expect to close the transaction during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Business Strategy for Water Utility Services:
SJW Group focuses its business initiatives in three strategic areas:
(1)
Regional regulated water utility operations;
(2)
Regional non-tariffed water utility related services provided in accordance with the guidelines established by the CPUC in California and the PUCT in Texas; and
(3)
Out-of-region water and utility related services.
As part of our pursuit of the above three strategic areas, the company considers from time to time opportunities to acquire businesses and assets. However, SJW Group cannot be certain it will be successful in identifying and consummating any strategic business acquisitions relating to such opportunities. In addition, the execution of our business strategy will expose us to different risks than those associated with the current utility operations. We expect to incur costs in connection with the execution of this strategy and any integration of an acquired business could involve significant costs, the assumption of certain known and unknown liabilities related to the acquired assets, the diversion of management’s time and resources, the potential for a negative impact on SJW Group’s financial position and operating results, entering markets in which SJW Group has no or limited direct prior experience and the potential loss of key employees of any acquired company. Any future acquisition we decide to undertake may also impact our ability to finance our business, affect our compliance with regulatory requirements, and impose additional burdens on our operations. Any businesses we acquire may not achieve sales, customer growth and projected profitability that would justify the investment. Any difficulties we encounter in the integration process, including the integration of controls necessary for internal control and financial reporting, could interfere with our operations, reduce our operating margins and adversely affect our internal controls. SJW Group cannot be certain that any transaction will be successful or that it will not materially harm its operating results or financial condition.
Real Estate Services:
SJW Group’s real estate investment activity is conducted through SJW Land Company. As noted above, SJW Land Company owns undeveloped land and operates commercial buildings in Tennessee. SJW Land Company also owns a limited partnership interest in 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. The partnership owned a commercial building in San Jose, California. On April 6, 2017, 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. sold all of its interests in the commercial building and land the partnership owned and

19



operated. In addition, SJW Land Company sold the undeveloped land located in San Jose, California on April 6, 2017. See Note 3 of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the discussion of the sale transactions.
SJW Land Company manages its income producing and other properties until such time a determination is made to reinvest proceeds from the sale of such properties. SJW Land Company’s real estate investments diversify SJW Group’s asset base.

Critical Accounting Policies:
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on the accounting policies used and disclosed in our 2016 consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes that were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and included as part of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 that was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2017.
Our critical accounting policies are described in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 . There have been no changes in our critical accounting policies. Our significant accounting policies are described in our notes to the 2016 consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 .

Impact of Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. When it becomes effective, the new standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in generally accepted accounting principles. Since the issuance of ASU 2014-09, the FASB also has issued additional ASUs that clarify implementation guidance regarding principal versus agent considerations, licensing, and identifying performance obligations, as well as adding certain additional practical expedients. The new standard can be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or on a modified retrospective basis with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings on the date of adoption. SJW Group expects to adopt the new revenue standard using the modified retrospective method. The company does not anticipate the ASU will significantly impact the recognition of metered revenue, however consistent with others in the industry the company is still evaluating the impact the ASU will have on its revenue classification and disclosures related to its alternative revenue programs and treatment of contributions in aid of construction. Concurrently, the company will implement ASU 2017-10, “Identifying the Customer in a Service Concession Arrangement.” SJW Group will adopt these standards on January 1, 2018, their required effective date.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments - Overall” which will significantly change the recognition of changes in fair value of financial liabilities when the fair value option is elected. In addition, the standard requires equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income instead of through other comprehensive income. The update is effective for SJW Group beginning in the first quarter of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the effect that the new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which supersedes the lease requirements in “Leases (Topic 840).” This ASU requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease payment liability for most leases in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. ASU 2016-02 also makes some changes to lessor accounting and aligns with the new revenue recognition guidance. This ASU will be effective for the company in the first quarter of 2019 and earlier adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the effect that the new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” This ASU affects entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. ASU 2016-09 identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, classifications on the statement of cash flows and forfeiture rate calculations. SJW Group adopted this standard as of the first quarter of 2017. ASU 2016-09 requires recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies in the income statement, which resulted in the recognition of $500 in income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Prior to adoption, these amounts were recognized as additional paid-in capital. SJW Group did not have any unrecognized excess tax benefits to reclassify upon adoption of this standard. The ASU also requires excess tax benefits and deficiencies to be prospectively excluded from assumed future proceeds in the calculation of diluted shares when calculating diluted earnings per shares using the treasury stock method. The effect of this change on diluted earnings per share was immaterial. In addition, excess income tax benefits from share-based compensation are now classified as cash flows from operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows, prospectively. Further, ASU 2016-09 requires, on a

20



retrospective basis, that employee taxes paid for withheld shares be classified as cash flows from financing activities rather than cash flows from operating activities. As such, the consolidated statements of cash flows for SJW Group for the periods presented have been reclassified to reflect this change. This change resulted in an increase to cash flows from operating activities and a decrease to cash flows from financing activities of $818 and $500 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. SJW Group has elected to account for actual forfeitures as they occur upon adoption of the new guidance. Management determined that the cumulative effect adjustment required under the new guidance was immaterial and therefore SJW Group did not record an adjustment.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory,” which modifies existing guidance and is intended to reduce diversity in practice with respect to accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets. The ASU requires that the current and deferred income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets be immediately recognized. Prior guidance allowed the entities to defer the consolidated tax consequences of an intercompany transfer of an asset other than inventory to a future period and amortize those tax consequences over time. The update will become effective for SJW Group on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted as of January 1, 2017. The standard requires modified retrospective transition with a cumulative catch-up adjustment to opening retained earnings in the period of adoption. Management is currently evaluating the effect that the new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, “Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Costs,” which requires employers to present the service cost component of the net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line item as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. The standard only allows the service cost component to be eligible for asset capitalization. Employers will present the other components of net periodic benefit costs separately from the line item(s) that includes the service cost and outside of any subtotal of operating income, if one is presented. This ASU will be effective for the company in the first quarter of 2018 and earlier adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the effect that the new standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Results of Operations:
Water sales are seasonal in nature and influenced by weather conditions. The timing of precipitation and climatic conditions can cause seasonal water consumption by customers to vary significantly. Due to the seasonal nature of the water business, the operating results for interim periods are not indicative of the operating results for a 12-month period. Revenue is generally higher in the warm, dry summer months when water usage and sales are greater, and lower in the winter months when cooler temperatures and increased rainfall curtail water usage and sales.
See Note 1 of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the California drought and political and regulatory activities that have occurred in response to the recent drought conditions.
Overview
SJW Group’s consolidated net income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $19,540 , an increase of $581, or approximately 3%, from $18,959 for the same period in 2016 . SJW Group’s consolidated net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $41,899 , an increase of $2,787, or approximately 7%, from $39,112 for the same period in 2016 . The increase in net income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily due to an increase in operating revenue as a result of higher rates and an increase in usage by customers, offset by a decrease in revenue from the Water Conservation Memorandum Account (“WCMA”) and higher water production expenses. The increase in net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily due to an increase in operating revenue as a result of higher rates, an increase in usage by customers, and recognition of $2,634 in revenue from the WCMA which includes $1,371 from 2016 for a revision to new customer classifications, offset by a decrease of $8,767 in true-up revenue from the decision on the 2015 General Rate Case recorded in the prior year and higher water production expenses. In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 a gain on the sale of the limited partnership properties and undeveloped land in San Jose, California generated a pre-tax increase of $6,903, reduced by noncontrolling interest’s gain of $1,896 , which was offset by the pre-tax gain on sale of California Water Service Group stock of $3,197 recorded in the prior year.



21



Operating Revenue
 
Operating Revenue by Segment
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Water Utility Services
$
123,187

 
110,558

 
$
291,415

 
255,191

Real Estate Services
1,391

 
1,786

 
4,281

 
5,209

 
$
124,578

 
112,344

 
$
295,696

 
260,400

The change in consolidated operating revenues was due to the following factors:
 
Three months ended
September 30,
2017 vs. 2016
 
Nine months ended
 September 30,
2017 vs. 2016
Increase/(decrease)
 
Increase/(decrease)
Water Utility Services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumption changes
$
4,543

 
4
 %
 
$
6,136

 
2
 %
Increase in customers
329

 
 %
 
792

 
 %
Rate increases
10,588

 
9
 %
 
34,162

 
13
 %
Balancing and memorandum accounts:


 
 
 


 
 
WCMA
(2,557
)
 
(2
)%
 
2,634

 
2
 %
2015 General Rate Case true-up

 
 %
 
(8,767
)
 
(4
)%
All other
(274
)
 
 %
 
1,267

 
1
 %
Real Estate Services
(395
)
 
 %
 
(928
)
 
 %
 
$
12,234

 
11
 %
 
$
35,296

 
14
 %
Operating Expense
 
Operating Expense by Segment
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Water Utility Services
$
84,599

 
74,534

 
$
210,591

 
179,242

Real Estate Services
875

 
1,108

 
2,765

 
3,161

All Other
859

 
356

 
2,475

 
1,270

 
$
86,333

 
75,998

 
$
215,831

 
183,673

The change in consolidated operating expenses was due to the following factors:
 
Three months ended
September 30,
2017 vs. 2016
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
2017 vs. 2016
Increase/(decrease)
 
Increase/(decrease)
Water production expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in surface water use
$
(339
)
 
%
 
$
6,023

 
3
%
Change in usage and new customers
4,030

 
5
%
 
4,833

 
2
%
Purchased water and groundwater extraction charge and energy price increase
4,272

 
6
%
 
13,414

 
8
%
Total water production expenses
7,963

 
11
%
 
24,270

 
13
%
Administrative and general
1,028

 
2
%
 
3,804

 
2
%
Maintenance
157

 
%
 
211

 
%
Property taxes and other non-income taxes
241

 
%
 
1,145

 
1
%
Depreciation and amortization
946

 
1
%
 
2,728

 
2
%
 
$
10,335

 
14
%
 
$
32,158

 
18
%

22



Sources of Water Supply
San Jose Water Company’s water supply consists of groundwater from wells, surface water from watershed run-off and diversion, reclaimed water, and imported water purchased from the Santa Clara Valley Water District (“SCVWD”) under the terms of a master contract with SCVWD expiring in 2051. Surface water is the least expensive source of water. Changes and variations in quantities from each of these sources affect the overall mix of the water supply, thereby affecting the cost of the water supply. In addition, the water rate for purchased water and the groundwater extraction charge may be increased by the SCVWD at any time. If an increase occurs, then San Jose Water Company would file an advice letter with the CPUC seeking authorization to increase revenues to offset the cost increase.
CLWSC’s water supply consists of groundwater from wells and purchased treated and untreated raw water from the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (“GBRA”). CLWSC has long-term agreements with the GBRA, which expire in 2037, 2040, 2044 and 2050. The agreements, which are take-or-pay contracts, provide CLWSC with an aggregate of 6,900 acre-feet of water per year from Canyon Lake at prices that may be adjusted periodically by GBRA. P roduction wells located in a Comal Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, a regulated portion of the Trinity aquifer, are required to submit groundwater pump tax based upon usage.
The following table presents the change in sources of water supply, in million gallons, for Water Utility Services:
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Increase/
(decrease)
 
% of Total Change
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Increase/
(decrease)
 
% of Total Change
2017
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
Purchased water
7,911

 
7,978

 
(67
)
 
%
 
17,941

 
15,844

 
2,097

 
7
 %
Groundwater
4,582

 
3,495

 
1,087

 
9
%
 
10,479

 
9,172

 
1,307

 
5
 %
Surface water
87

 
1

 
86

 
%
 
563

 
2,445

 
(1,882
)
 
(7
)%
Reclaimed water
233

 
253

 
(20
)
 
%
 
454

 
475

 
(21
)
 
 %
 
12,813

 
11,727

 
1,086

 
9
%
 
29,437

 
27,936

 
1,501

 
5
 %
The changes in the source of supply mix were consistent with the changes in the water production expenses.
Unaccounted-for water on a 12-month-to-date basis for September 30, 2017 and 2016 approximated 8.7% and 8.2%, respectively, as a percentage of total production. The increase in unaccounted-for water is primarily due to increased water loss as a result of higher flows through the system from reduced conservation activities, partially offset by Water Utility Services’ main replacements and lost water reduction programs.
Water Production Expenses
The increase in water production expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 , was primarily attributable to higher per unit costs for purchased water, groundwater extraction and energy charges. Effective July 1, 2017, SCVWD increased the unit price of purchased water by approximately 9% and the groundwater extraction charge by approximately 10%. An increase in usage also contributed to an increase in water production expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , and for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , water production expenses were further increased by a decrease in use of available surface water supply.
Other Operating Expenses
Operating expenses, excluding water production expenses, increased $2,372 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 . The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $1,028 in administrative and general expenses due to annual wage increases, CPUC fees, and executive search fees, an increase of $946 in depreciation and amortization expense due to increases in utility plant, an increase in property and other non-income taxes of $241 due to a State of Delaware franchise tax as a result of the reincorporation to Delaware that was completed in November 2016, an increase in property taxes as a result of increased utility plant additions and annual assessments, and an increase of $157 in maintenance expenses.
Operating expenses, excluding water production expenses, increased $7,888 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 . The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $3,804 in administrative and general expenses due to annual wage increases, CPUC fees, and executive search fees, an increase of $2,728 in depreciation and amortization expense due to increases in utility plant, an increase in property and other non-income taxes of $1,145 due to a State of Delaware franchise tax as a result of the reincorporation to Delaware that was completed in November 2016 and an increase in property taxes as a result of increased utility plant additions and annual assessments, and an increase of $211 in maintenance expenses.

23



Other (Expense) Income
For the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 , the change in other (expense) income was primarily due to an increase in interest on long-term debt from the issuance of the California Pollution Control Financing Authority Revenue Bonds in December 2016.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 , the change in other (expense) income was primarily due to the $6,903 pre-tax gain on sale of the limited partnership properties and undeveloped land compared to the $3,197 pre-tax gain on sale recorded in the prior year for the sale of 159,151 shares of California Water Service Group stock. Additionally, issuance of the California Pollution Control Financing Authority Revenue Bonds in December 2016 resulted in an increase in interest on long-term debt.
Provision for Income Taxes
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 , income tax expense increased $1,011 and $1,510, respectively, as a result of higher pre-tax income. The effective consolidated income tax rate was 41% and 40% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 38% and 40% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the change in rate was due to inclusion of noncontrolling interest gain of sale on 444 West Santa Clara Street L.P. property in income before income taxes with no associated income taxes on the noncontrolling interest. In addition, SJW Group recognized excess tax benefits of $552 relating to share-based payment awards through the income statement for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 .
On July 24, 2017, SJW Group received notification that the California Franchise Tax Board completed its audit of SJW Group’s refund claims for fiscal years 2008 through 2012. SJW Group received a refund of $1,294 from the California Franchise Tax Board in third quarter of 2017.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The change in other comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 was due to the change in market value of the company’s investment in California Water Service Group.
The change in other comprehensive income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 was due to the change in market value and partial sale of the company’s investment in California Water Service Group that occurred in the prior year.
Water Supply
On October 1, 2017 , SCVWD’s 10 reservoirs were approximately 46% full with 77,025 acre-feet of water in storage, which is 91% of twenty-year average for this date. As reported by the SCVWD, there was no recorded rainfall in San Jose for the current rainfall season that commenced on July 1, 2017 . Rainfall at San Jose Water Company’s Lake Elsman was measured at 0.05 inches for the current rainfall season, which is approximately 16% of the five-year average. Under normal hydrologic conditions, state and federal water allocations represent approximately 40% of the SCVWD’s total annual supply. As of October 1, 2017 , the SCVWD reported that allocations from the state and federal water project are approximately 85% and 100%, respectively, of amounts requested in 2017 . SCVWD also reported that the managed groundwater recharge from January to September in the Santa Clara Plain was 112% of the five-year average. The groundwater level in the Santa Clara Plain is approximately 4 feet higher than a year ago in September and 26 feet higher than the five-year average. According to SCVWD, the projected total groundwater storage at the end of 2017 is expected to fall within the normal stage of the SCVWD’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
On October 1, 2017 , San Jose Water Company’s Lake Elsman contained 6,064 acre-feet of water, of which approximately 5,604 acre-feet can be utilized. Local surface water is a less costly source of water than groundwater or purchased water and its availability significantly impacts San Jose Water Company’s results of operations. San Jose Water Company will utilize surface water and additional water from its portfolio of groundwater supplies to supplement imported water from the SCVWD. The Montevina Surface Water Treatment Plant retrofit project remains in progress. It is anticipated that construction of the plant will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2017 . The resulting shutdown impacts the use of local run-off and surface water storage at Lake Elsman, as a result, it significantly restricted use of our local surface water supply during the first three quarters of the year. San Jose Water Company’s smaller Saratoga Water Treatment Plant will be taken out of operation early in the fourth quarter due to a lack of run-off from Saratoga Creek. Plant maintenance will be performed when it is taken offline to ensure operational readiness for the upcoming rain season. San Jose Water Company believes that its various water supply sources will be sufficient to meet customer demand through the remainder of 2017 .
See Note 1 of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the California drought and political and regulatory activities that have occurred in response to the recent drought conditions.

24



SJW Group and San Jose Water Company provide additional information on their web sites relating to ongoing water conservation measures taken or to be taken in response to the recent drought conditions in California, including information on customer water usage. The web sites are accessible at www.sjwater.com and www.sjwgroup.com. SJW Group intends to update the web sites as appropriate during the period in which the water shortage contingency plan of SCVWD remains in effect. The information on our web sites is not a part of and should not be considered incorporated by reference into this Form 10-Q.
CLWSC’s water supply consists of groundwater from wells and purchased treated and untreated raw water from the GBRA. CLWSC has long-term agreements with the GBRA, which expire in 2037, 2040, 2044 and 2050. The agreements, which are take-or-pay contracts, provide CLWSC with an aggregate of 6,900 acre-feet of water per year from Canyon Lake at prices that may be adjusted periodically by GBRA.  
Regulation and Rates
Almost all of the operating revenue of San Jose Water Company results from the sale of water at rates authorized by the CPUC. The CPUC sets rates that are intended to provide revenue sufficient to recover operating expenses and the opportunity to achieve a specified return on common equity. The timing of rate decisions could have an impact on the results of operations.
See Note 8 of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the regulatory activities that have occurred during the year.

Liquidity:
Cash Flow from Operating Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , SJW Group generated cash flows from operations of approximately $88,000 , compared to $76,900 for the same period in 2016 . Cash flow from operations is primarily generated by net income from revenue producing activities, adjusted for non-cash expenses for depreciation and amortization, deferred income taxes, gains on the sale of assets, and changes in working capital items. Cash flow from operations increased by approximately $11,000. This increase was the result of a combination of the following factors: (1) the change of net income taxes which was $21,200 less than the prior period, (2) an increase of $5,700 in amounts previously invoiced and accrued payables, (3) accrued groundwater extraction charges, purchased water and power increased by $4,300 from higher production costs, and (4) general working capital increased by $500, offset by (5) net income before noncontrolling interest adjusted for non-cash items decreased by $10,900, and (6) recognition and collection of the balancing and memorandum accounts, including the regulatory asset recorded in other current assets, drove a net decrease of $9,800.
As of September 30, 2017 , Water Utility Services’ write-offs for uncollectible accounts represent less than 1% of its total revenue, unchanged from September 30, 2016 . Management believes it will continue to collect its accounts receivable balances at its historical collection rate.
Cash Flow from Investing Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , SJW Group used cash flows in investing activities of approximately $95,500 , compared to $86,700 for the same period in 2016 . SJW Group used approximately: (1) $103,000 of cash for company-funded capital expenditures, (2) $2,600 for developer-funded capital expenditures, (3) $1,100 for asset acquisitions and rights to provide water service, (4) $2,300 in utility plant retirement costs, and (5) $100 for additions to nonutility property, offset by (6) $11,100 in proceeds from the sales of our limited partnership property and undeveloped land in San Jose, California, and (7) $3,000 proceeds from the non-refundable deposit resulting from the pending sale of SJW Group’s equity interest in TWA.
Water Utility Services’ budgeted capital expenditures for 2017 , exclusive of capital expenditures financed by customer contributions and advances, are approximately $136,000 . As of September 30, 2017 , approximately $103,000 or 76% of the $136,000 has been spent.
Water Utility Services’ capital expenditures are incurred in connection with normal upgrading and expansion of existing facilities and to comply with environmental regulations. Over the next five years, Water Utility Services expects to incur approximately $663,000 in capital expenditures, which includes replacement of pipes and mains, and maintaining water systems. This amount is subject to CPUC and PUCT approval. Included in this amount is $20,900 relating to upgrades to San Jose Water Company’s 40-year old Montevina Water Treatment Plant. Capital expenditures have the effect of increasing utility plant on which Water Utility Services earns a return. Water Utility Services actual capital expenditures may vary from their projections due to changes in the expected demand for services, weather patterns, actions by governmental agencies, and general economic conditions. Total additions to utility plant normally exceed Company-financed additions as a result of new facilities construction funded with advances from developers and contributions in aid of construction.

25



A substantial portion of San Jose Water Company’s distribution system was constructed during the period from 1945 to 1980. Expenditure levels for renewal and modernization of this part of the system will grow at an increasing rate as these components reach the end of their useful lives. In most cases, replacement cost will significantly exceed the original installation cost of the retired assets due to increases in the costs of goods and services and increased regulation.
Cash Flow from Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 decreased by approximately $32,400 from the same period in the prior year, primarily as a result of (1) a decrease in net borrowings on our lines of credit and payments for long-term debt of $28,000, (2) a payment to noncontrolling interest of $1,900, (3) net receipts and refunds from advances and contributions in aid of construction of $1,600, and (4) a $900 increase in payments for dividends and equity plans.

Sources of Capital:
San Jose Water Company’s ability to finance future construction programs and sustain dividend payments depends on its ability to maintain or increase internally generated funds and attract external financing. The level of future earnings and the related cash flow from operations is dependent, in large part, upon the timing and outcome of regulatory proceedings.
San Jose Water Company’s financing activity is designed to achieve a capital structure consistent with regulatory guidelines of approximately 49% debt and 51% equity. As of September 30, 2017 , San Jose Water Company’s funded debt and equity were approximately 46% and 54%, respectively.
Funding for San Jose Water Company’s future capital expenditure program is expected to be provided primarily through internally-generated funds, the issuance of new long-term debt, the issuance of equity securities or the sale of all or part of our investment in California Water Service Group, all of which will be consistent with the regulator’s guidelines.
San Jose Water Company’s unsecured senior note agreements generally have terms and conditions that restrict San Jose Water Company from issuing additional funded debt if: (1) the funded debt would exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) net income available for interest charges for the trailing 12-calendar-month period would be less than 175% of interest charges. San Jose Water Company was not restricted from issuing future indebtedness as a result of these terms and conditions at September 30, 2017 .
SJW Group’s unsecured senior note agreement has terms and conditions that restrict SJW Group from issuing additional funded debt if: (1) the funded consolidated debt would exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) the minimum net worth of SJW Group becomes less than $175,000 plus 30% of Water Utility Services cumulative net income, since June 30, 2011. SJW Group was not restricted from issuing future indebtedness as a result of these terms and conditions at September 30, 2017 .
San Jose Water Company’s loan agreements with the California Pollution Control Financing Authority contains affirmative and negative covenants customary for loan agreements relating to revenue bonds, including, among other things, complying with certain disclosure obligations and covenants relating to the tax exempt status of the interest on the bonds and limitations and prohibitions relating to the transfer of the projects funded by the loan proceeds and the assignment of the loan agreement. As of September 30, 2017 , San Jose Water Company was in compliance with all such covenants.
SJWTX, Inc.’s unsecured senior note agreement has terms and conditions that restrict SJWTX, Inc. from issuing additional funded debt if: (1) the funded debt would exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) net income available for interest charges for the trailing 12-calendar-month period would be less than 175% of interest charges. In addition, SJW Group is a guarantor of SJWTX, Inc.’s senior note which has terms and conditions that restrict SJW Group from issuing additional funded debt if: (1) the funded consolidated debt would exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) the minimum net worth of SJW Group becomes less than $125,000 plus 30% of Water Utility Services cumulative net income, since December 31, 2005. As of September 30, 2017 , SJWTX, Inc. and SJW Group were not restricted from issuing future indebtedness as a result of these terms and conditions.
As of September 30, 2017 , SJW Group and its subsidiaries had unsecured bank lines of credit, allowing aggregate short-term borrowings of up to $145,000, of which $15,000 was available to SJW Group and SJW Land Company under a single line of credit, $5,000 was available to SJWTX, Inc. under a second line of credit, and $125,000 was available to San Jose Water Company under a third line of credit. At September 30, 2017 , SJW Group and its subsidiaries had available unused short-term bank lines of credit totaling $132,000 . These lines of credit bear interest at variable rates and expire on June 1, 2021. The cost of borrowing on SJW Group’s short-term credit facilities has averaged 2% as of September 30, 2017 . The SJW Group and SJWTX, Inc. unsecured bank lines of credit have the following affirmative covenants calculated with the financial statements of SJW Group, on a consolidated basis: (1) the funded debt cannot exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) net income available for interest charges for the trailing 12-calendar-month period cannot be less than 175% of interest charges. As of September 30, 2017 , SJW Group and SJWTX, Inc. were in compliance with all covenants. San Jose Water Company’s unsecured bank lines of credit have the following affirmative covenants: (1) the funded debt cannot exceed 66-2/3% of total

26



capitalization, and (2) net income available for interest charges for the trailing 12-calendar-month period cannot be less than 175% of interest charges. As of September 30, 2017 , San Jose Water Company was in compliance with all covenants.
On February 22, 2016, we entered into an agreement with GBRA, pursuant to which SJW Group agreed to sell all of its equity interest in TWA to GBRA for $31,000. Pursuant to the agreement, upon closing of the transaction, GBRA will hold back $3,000 in the payment of the total purchase price. Pursuant to an amendment agreement entered into by SJW Group and GBRA on June 22, 2017, (i) if closing occurs, GBRA will pay the hold back amount of $3,000 to SJW Group on June 30, 2021 subject to reductions under certain conditions, and (ii) the $3,000 previously deposited in escrow by GBRA was distributed to SJW Group on June 23, 2017 and was classified as a non-refundable deposit and such deposit amount will be credited against the $31,000 purchase price if closing occurs. The agreement is subject to the completion of financing by GBRA to fund the purchase price and other customary closing conditions. While there is no assurance that the closing conditions will be satisfied in a timely manner, or at all, we currently expect to close the transaction during the fourth quarter of 2017.
On April 6, 2017, 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. sold all of its interests in the commercial building and land the partnership owned and operated for $11,000 . 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of real estate investments of $6,323 , after selling expenses of $1,156 . SJW Land Company holds a 70% limited interest in 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. SJW Land Company and the noncontrolling interest recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of real estate investments of $4,427 and $1,896 , respectively, on the transaction. In addition, SJW Land Company sold undeveloped land located in San Jose, California for $1,350 on April 6, 2017. SJW Land Company recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of real estate investments of $580 on the transaction, after selling expenses of $14 .

ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
SJW Group is subject to market risks in the normal course of business, including changes in interest rates, pension plan asset values, and equity prices. The exposure to changes in interest rates can result from the issuance of debt and short-term funds obtained through SJW Group’s variable rate lines of credit. San Jose Water Company sponsors a noncontributory pension plan for its employees. Pension costs and the funded status of the plan are affected by a number of factors including the discount rate and investment returns on plan assets. SJW Group also owned 100,000 shares of common stock of California Water Service Group as of September 30, 2017 , which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is therefore exposed to the risk of fluctuations and changes in equity prices.
SJW Group has no derivative financial instruments, financial instruments with significant off-balance sheet risks, or financial instruments with concentrations of credit risk.

ITEM 4.
  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
SJW Group’s management, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of SJW Group’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that SJW Group’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report have been designed and are functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by SJW Group in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. SJW Group believes that a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the control system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.
There has been no change in internal control over financial reporting during the third fiscal quarter of 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal controls over financial reporting of SJW Group.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
SJW Group is subject to ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business. There are no pending legal proceedings to which SJW Group or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or to which any of its properties is the subject, that are expected to have a material effect on SJW Group’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.


27



ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” in SJW Group’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 , and our other public filings, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. There have been no material changes from risk factors previously disclosed in “Risk Factors” in SJW Group’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 .

ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION
On October 25, 2017, the Board of Directors of SJW Group declared the regular quarterly dividend of $0.2175 per share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on December 1, 2017 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 6, 2017.
SJW Group post information about the operating and financial performance of SJW Group and its subsidiaries on its web sites at www.sjwater.com and www.sjwgroup.com from time to time. The information on our web sites is not a part of and should not be considered incorporated by reference into this Form 10-Q.

ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
  
Description
 
 
 
10.1
  
 
 
 
10.2
 
 
 
 
10.3
 
 
 
 
10.4
 
 
 
 
10.5
 
 
 
 
31.1
  
 
 
 
31.2
  
 
 
 
32.1
  
 
 
 
32.2
  
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
  
(1)
Filed currently herewith.


28



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
SJW GROUP
 
 
 
 
 
DATE:
October 30, 2017
By:
 
/s/ JAMES P. LYNCH
 
 
 
 
James P. Lynch
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal financial officer)


29
Exhibit 10.1


SECOND AMENDMENT
TO THE
SJW GROUP
EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN
(As Amended and Restated January 1, 2010 and As Further Amended October 26, 2010 and November 15, 2016)


WHEREAS , SJW Group (the “Company”) maintains the SJW Group Executive Severance Plan (the “Plan”);
WHEREAS , the Company wishes to amend the Plan to include certain additional confidentiality provisions as required by law.
NOW, THEREFORE , the Plan is hereby amended as follows to be effective as of the date set forth below:
1. Section 4 of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
4.      CONFIDENTIALITY.
(a)      Preservation of a continuing business relationship between the Company or other members of the Employer Group and their respective customers, representatives, and employees is of critical importance to the continued business success of the Company and the other members of the Employer Group, and it is the active policy of the Company and the other members of the Employer Group to guard as confidential certain information not available to the public relating to the business affairs of the Company and the other members of the Employer Group. In view of the foregoing, no Officer shall, without prior written consent of the Company, disclose to any person or entity any such confidential information that was obtained by the Officer in the course of his or her employment with the Company or any other member of the Employer Group. This Section 4 shall not be applicable if and to the extent the Officer is required to testify in a legislative, judicial or regulatory proceeding pursuant to an order of Congress, any state or local legislature, a judge or an administrative law judge or is otherwise required by law to disclose such information.
(b)    Nothing in this Plan or any other Company document prohibits an Officer from providing confidential information to, or from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, any self-regulatory authority or governmental agency, or from making disclosures that are protected under the applicable whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation.
(c)    Federal law provides certain protections to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain confidential circumstances. Specifically, federal law provides that an individual shall not be criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret under either of the following conditions: (i) where the disclosure is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and

 
 
 



(2) solely for the purposes of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) where the disclosure is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. See 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)(1). Federal law also provides that an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (B) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. See 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)(1).”
2.      Exhibit C of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety and its attachment replaced in its entirety by Addendum 1 , attached hereto to this Second Amendment.
3.      Except as expressly modified by this Second Amendment, all the terms and provisions of the Plan shall continue to remain in full force and effect.
[Signature Page Follows]


 
 
 




IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has caused this Second Amendment to be
executed on this 26 th day of July, 2017.

SJW Group
By: /s/ W. Richard Roth
W. Richard Roth, President and
Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of Board of Directors



[ Signature Page to the Second Amendment to the Executive Severance Plan ]



ADDENDUM 1
RELEASE AGREEMENT
This Release Agreement (“Release”) was given to me, ________________ (“Officer”), this ___ day of __________, 20__, by ________________ (the “Employer”). At such time as this Release becomes effective and enforceable (i.e., the revocation period discussed below has expired), and assuming Officer is otherwise eligible for payments under the terms of the SJW Group Executive Severance Plan (the “Plan”), Employer agrees to pay Officer pursuant to the terms of the Plan an amount equal to $_____ payable in ______ (____) equal annual installments (minus customary payroll taxes and withholdings).
In consideration of the receipt of the promise to pay such amount, Officer hereby agrees, for himself or herself, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns (hereinafter referred to as the “Releasors”), to fully release and discharge the Employer and its officers, directors, employees, agents, insurers, underwriters, subsidiaries, parents, affiliates, associates, successors and assigns (hereinafter referred to as the “Releasees”) from any and all actions, causes of action, claims, obligations, costs, losses, liabilities, damages and demands under any federal, state or local law or laws, or common law, whether or not known, suspected or claimed, which the Releasors have, or hereafter may have, against the Releasees arising out of or in any way related to Officer's employment with the Employer or the termination of that employment, including (without limitation) claims of wrongful discharge, emotional distress, defamation, fraud, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, discrimination claims based on sex, age, race, national origin, disability or any other basis under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”), the Americans with Disability Act, contract claims, tort claims, and wage or benefit claims, including (without limitation) claims for salary, bonuses, commissions, stock grants, stock options, vacation pay, fringe benefits, severance pay or any other form of compensation (other than the payments and benefits to which Officer is entitled under the Plan, his or her vested rights under the San Jose Water Company Section 401(k) Plan, the San Jose Water Company Retirement Plan, the San Jose Water Company Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan, the San Jose Water Company Cash Balance Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan, and any worker's compensation benefits under any workers' compensation insurance policy or fund).
In releasing claims unknown to Officer at present, Officer is waiving all rights and benefits under Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, and any law or legal principle of similar effect in any jurisdiction: “A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor.”

 
 
 



This Release and Waiver does not pertain to any claims which may subsequently arise in connection with the Employer's default in any of its payment obligations under the Plan.
Officer acknowledges that, among other rights subject to his or her Release and Waiver, Officer is hereby waiving and releasing any rights he or she may have under ADEA, that this release and waiver is knowing and voluntary, and that the consideration given for this release and waiver is in addition to anything of value to which Officer was already entitled from the Employer. Officer further acknowledges that he or she has been advised, as required by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, that: (a) the release and waiver granted herein does not relate to claims which may arise after this release and waiver is executed; (b) he or she has the right to consult with an attorney prior to executing this release and waiver (although Officer may choose voluntarily not to do so); and if Officer is over 40 years old upon execution of this (c) Officer has twenty-one (21) days from the date of termination of his or her employment with the Employer in which to consider this release and waiver (although Officer may choose voluntarily to execute this release and waiver earlier); (d) Officer has seven (7) days following the execution of this release and waiver to revoke his or her consent to this release and waiver; and (e) this release and waiver shall not be effective until the seven (7)-day revocation period has expired.
Nothing in this Release restricts or prohibits Officer from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. However, to the maximum extent permitted by law, Officer is waiving his or her right to receive any individual monetary relief from the Employer or any others covered by this Release resulting from such claims or conduct, regardless of whether Officer or another party has filed them, and in the event Officer obtains such monetary relief, the Employer will be entitled to an offset for the payments made pursuant to this Release. This Release does not limit Officer’s right to receive an award from any Regulator that provides awards for providing information relating to a potential violation of law. Officer does not need the prior authorization of the Employer to engage in conduct protected by this paragraph, and Officer does not need to notify the Employer that Officer has engaged in such conduct.
Please take notice that federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2) related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law.

 
 
 



In case any part of this Release is later deemed to be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, Officer agrees that the legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Release will not be affected in any way.


Dated: ______________, __________            ______________________________
(“Officer”)

 
 
 

Exhibit 10.2


THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE

SJW GROUP EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN
(As Amended and Restated January 1, 2010 and As Further Amended
October 26, 2010, November 15, 2016 and July 26, 2017)
WHEREAS , SJW Group (the “Company”) maintains the SJW Group Executive Severance Plan (the “Plan”); and
WHEREAS , the Company wishes to amend the Plan to revise the formula provisions of the Plan governing the calculation of the cash severance benefits payable under the Plan for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer thereunder and to provide that the Company’s Chief Executive Officer shall not be eligible to receive the tax gross-up benefits under the Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as follows effective November 6, 2017:
1.    The last sentence of Section 1(j) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“The persons who are officers as of November 6, 2017 are set forth on Exhibit A”.
2.    Section 2(a) is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“(a)    If (i) at any time during the period beginning with the execution of a definitive agreement to effect a Change in Control and ending with the earlier of (x) the termination of that agreement without a Change in Control or (y) the expiration of the twenty‑four (24)-month period measured from the effective date of the Change in Control contemplated by that agreement, an Officer incurs a Separation from Service because his or her Employee status is involuntarily terminated by his or her Employer for any reason other than Good Cause, or (ii) at any time within the twenty‑four (24)-month period measured from the effective date of a Change in Control, the Officer incurs a Separation from Service as a result of his or her resignation from Employee status for Good Reason, then the Employer shall provide that Officer with the following benefits (collectively the “Change in Control Benefit”), provided and only if such Officer timely delivers the requisite release under Section 2(b) and such release become effective in accordance with applicable law:
(1)
A cash amount determined in accordance with the formula provisions set forth below shall be paid (less any customary taxes and withholdings) in a series of successive equal annual installments over the period of years equal to the Applicable Multiple. Unless otherwise specified in attached Exhibit A, the Applicable Multiple for each Officer shall be three (3). The first such annual installment shall be paid on the last day of the sixty (60)-day period measured from the date of the Officer’s Separation from Service, provided that the release required of the Officer under Section 2(b) is delivered within the applicable time period set forth in such Section 2(b) and such release is




effective and enforceable at that time following the expiration of any applicable revocation period. Each subsequent installment shall be paid on each successive one-year anniversary of the initial payment date, and the right to each installment payment hereunder shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments for purposes of Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing generally applicable payment schedule for such cash amount, should the applicable Change in Control event not otherwise qualify as a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, as determined in each instance in accordance with the standards of Section 1.409A-3(i)((5) of the Treasury Regulations, or should the Separation from Service triggering the Change in Control Benefit otherwise occur prior to such a qualifying Change in Control event, then such cash amount shall be paid at such other time and in such other form, or pursuant to such other schedule, as is necessary to comply with any applicable requirements of Code Section 409A. The applicable cash amount for each Officer participating in the Plan shall be equal to the Applicable Multiple of the sum of the Officer’s annual rate of Salary and annual target bonus (each at the level in effect in the fiscal year of such cessation of Employee status or, if higher, immediately before the Change in Control).
(2)
A cash amount for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer equal to the annual bonus for the year of such cessation of Employee status based on actual performance, pro-rated for the number of days of employment during the year of termination, which shall be paid in a lump sum payment at the same time annual bonuses for such year are paid to other executives of the Company (but in any event no later than March 15 of the year following the year of the cessation of Employee status).
(3)
If the Officer elects to continue medical care coverage under the Company’s group health care plans pursuant to COBRA, the Employer will reimburse the Officer for the costs such Officer incurs to obtain such continued coverage for himself or herself and his or her spouse and eligible dependents (collectively, the “Coverage Costs”) until the earlier of (x) the date of the last annual installment payable under Section 2(a)(1) above or (y) the first date on which the Officer is covered under another employer’s health benefit program without exclusion for any pre-existing medical condition. During the period for which the Officer’s COBRA coverage rights are in effect, such coverage shall be obtained under the Company’s group health care plans. For the period (if any) following the completion of such COBRA coverage and continuing through the completion of the limited period for which medical care coverage is to be provided hereunder, such coverage shall continue under the Company’s group health plans or pursuant to one or more other plans or insurance policies providing equivalent coverage. In order to obtain reimbursement for the Officer’s Coverage Costs under each applicable plan or policy, the Officer must submit appropriate evidence to the Employer

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of each periodic payment of his or her Coverage Costs within ninety (90) days after the required payment date of those Coverage Costs, and the Employer shall within thirty (30) days after such submission reimburse the Officer for that payment. To the extent the Officer incurs any other medical care expenses reimbursable pursuant to the coverage obtained in accordance herewith, the Officer shall submit appropriate evidence of each such expense to the plan administrator within ninety (90) days after incurrence of that expense and shall receive reimbursement of the documented expense within thirty (30) days after such submission or after any additional period that may be required to perfect the claim. During the period such medical care coverage remains in effect hereunder, the following provisions shall govern the arrangement: (a) the amount of Coverage Costs or other medical care expenses eligible for reimbursement in any one calendar year of such coverage shall not affect the amount of Coverage Costs or other medical care expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year for which such reimbursement is to be provided hereunder; (ii) no Coverage Costs or other medical care expenses shall be reimbursed after the close of the calendar year following the calendar year in which those Coverage Costs or expenses were incurred; and (iii) the Officer’s right to the reimbursement of such Coverage Costs or other medical care expenses cannot be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit. To the extent the reimbursed Coverage Costs are treated as taxable income to the Officer, the Employer shall report the reimbursement as taxable W-2 wages and collect the applicable withholding taxes, and the resulting tax liability shall be the Officer’s sole responsibility.
(4)
The Company will make provisions in its Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan (SERP) so that the Officer will, upon a Separation from Service under the circumstances set forth in Section 2(a), be credited for purposes of computing such Officer's benefits under the SERP with an additional number of Years of Service and years of age equal to the number of years for which such Officer is, upon his or her Separation from Service, to receive continued Salary by reason of the Applicable Multiple in effect for him or her pursuant to Section 2(a)(1) above. In no event, however, shall any benefit be payable under the SERP earlier than it otherwise would have been paid in the absence of such additional Years of Service and age credits.
(5)
All outstanding stock options held by the Officer will immediately vest and become exercisable in full and may be exercised for any or all of the underlying shares until the expiration or sooner termination of the option term. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the agreement evidencing such award, each restricted stock unit or other stock award held by the Officer will also immediately vest, and the underlying shares will become issuable, in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement. All outstanding Dividend Equivalent Rights held by the Officer at such time will

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immediately vest, and any shares or cash amounts attributable to those rights will be paid to the Officer at the same time those shares and amounts would have otherwise been payable in the absence of such vesting acceleration.
(6)
The Officer (other than the Company’s Chief Executive Officer) shall, to the extent applicable, also be entitled to the special Tax Gross-Up under Section 14 of this Plan as part of his or her Change in Control Benefit.”
3.    The provisions of Section 14 of the Plan (other than Section 14(a)) shall not apply to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
4.    Exhibit A attached to the Plan is revised as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.
5.    Except as expressly modified by this Third Amendment, all the terms and provisions of the Plan shall continue to remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be executed on this 20th day of October, 2017.
SJW Group
By: /s/ W. Richard Roth
W. Richard Roth, President and
Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of Board of Directors



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EXHIBIT A
OFFICERS (as of November 6, 2017)
    
Name
Office

Eric W. Thornburg
President and Chief Executive Officer of SJW Group and SJW Land Company; Chief Executive Officer of San Jose Water Company and SJWTX, Inc.

W. Richard Roth
Chief Executive Emeritus of SJW Group and San Jose Water Company; President and Chief Executive Officer of Texas Water Alliance Limited

Wendy Avila-Walker
Controller and Assistant Treasurer of San Jose Water Company; Controller of SJW Group

Dana R. Drysdale
Vice President of Information Systems of San Jose Water Company

Andrew R. Gere
President and Chief Operating Officer of San Jose Water Company

Craig S. Giordano
Vice President of Engineering of San Jose Water Company

Palle Jensen
Executive Vice President of San Jose Water Company; Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs of SJWTX, Inc.

Denia Leal
Vice President of Human Resources of San Jose Water Company

James P. Lynch
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of SJW Group, San Jose Water Company, SJW Land Company, SJWTX, Inc. and Texas Water Alliance Limited

Suzy Papazian
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of SJW Group and San Jose Water Company; Corporate Secretary of SJW Land Company, SJWTX, Inc. and Texas Water Alliance Limited

Curtis A. Rayer, Jr.
Vice President of Operations of San Jose Water Company





John Tang
Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and
Government Relations of San Jose Water Company

Andrew F. Walters
Chief Administrative Officer of San Jose Water Company

Thomas Hodge
President of SJWTX, Inc.; Vice President of Texas Water Alliance Limited


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Exhibit 10.3

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into by and between SJW Group (the “ Company ”) and Eric W. Thornburg (the “ Executive ”) as of September 26, 2017.
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as its President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive desires to serve in such capacity on behalf of the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:
1.
Employment .
(a)      Term . The initial term of this Agreement shall begin on November 6, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”), and shall continue until December 31, 2019, unless sooner terminated by either party as set forth below, or until the termination of the Executive’s employment, if earlier. This Agreement shall automatically renew for successive additional one-year periods at the end of the initial term and each successive one-year period, if any, unless either party gives the other party written notice at least 90 days prior to the end of the initial term or any one-year renewal period (as applicable) that the term of this Agreement shall not be further extended. The period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date on which the term of this Agreement terminates is referred to herein as the “ Term ”. The Company’s failure to renew the Agreement at the end of the Term shall not, by itself, constitute termination without Cause (as defined below).
(b)      Positions and Duties . During the Term, the Executive shall serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Chief Executive Officer of San Jose Water Company, the President and Chief Executive Officer of SJW Land Company and the Chief Executive Officer of SJWTX, Inc. with duties, responsibilities and authority commensurate therewith and shall report to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”). The Executive shall also serve in officer positions with one or more other subsidiaries of the Company as requested by the Board. The Executive shall perform all duties and accept all responsibilities incident to such positions as may be reasonably assigned to the Executive by the Board.
(c)      Board Position . On the Effective Date, the Executive shall be appointed as a member of the Board. For as long as the Executive remains the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Company agrees to nominate the Executive as a member of the Board at each meeting of shareholders at which Board members are to be elected. It is the Company’s expectation that the Executive shall be appointed Chairman of the Board at the Board meeting immediately following the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Executive shall also serve as a member of the board of directors of San Jose Water Company and such other subsidiaries of the Company as requested by the Board. The Executive shall serve in such capacities at no additional compensation.
(d)      At-Will Employment . Although this Agreement has a term set forth above, the Executive’s employment with the Company may be terminated by the Executive or by the Company at any time during or after the term of the Agreement, for any reason, subject to the provisions of




Section 7 below. The at-will nature of the Executive’s employment relationship with the Company, as described immediately above, may only be changed by express written approval of a disinterested majority of the Board.
(e)      Efforts . During the Term, the Executive shall devote his full business time, efforts and attention to promote the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliated entities, and shall be engaged in other business activities only to the extent that such activities do not materially interfere or conflict with the Executive’s obligations to the Company hereunder, including, without limitation, obligations pursuant to Section 13 and Section 14 below. The foregoing shall not be construed as preventing the Executive from (i) serving on civic, educational, philanthropic or charitable boards or committees, or, with the prior written consent of the Board, in its sole discretion, on for-profit boards, and (ii) managing personal investments, so long as such activities are permitted under the Company’s Code of Ethical Business Conduct and employment policies and do not violate the provisions of Section 13 and Section 14 below.
(f)      Principal Place of Employment . The Executive understands and agrees that his principal place of employment will be in the Company’s offices located in San Jose, California, and that the Executive will be required to travel for business in the course of performing his duties for the Company.
2.      Compensation .
(a)      Base Salary . During the Term, the Company shall pay the Executive a base salary (“ Base Salary ”), at the annual rate of $700,000, which shall be paid in installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices. Beginning for 2019, the Executive’s Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Board pursuant to the normal performance review policies for senior level executives and may be adjusted from time to time as the Board deems appropriate.
(b)      Annual Bonus . The Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus for each calendar year during the Term, commencing with the 2018 year, based on the attainment of individual and corporate performance goals and targets established by the Executive Compensation Committee (“ Annual Bonus ”). The target amount of the Executive’s Annual Bonus for any calendar year during the Term shall be no less than 50% of the Executive’s annual Base Salary, with the actual Annual Bonus for any calendar year within the Term ranging from 0% to a maximum Annual Bonus of 75% of the Executive’s annual Base Salary, based on the Executive Compensation Committee’s determination of the level of achievement of the applicable performance goals for the year. Any Annual Bonus shall be paid after the end of the calendar year to which it relates, at the same time and under the same terms and conditions as the bonuses for other executives of the Company; provided that in no event shall the Executive’s Annual Bonus be paid later than March 15 after the calendar year to which the Annual Bonus relates. The Annual Bonus shall be subject to the terms of the Company’s Executive Officer Short-Term Incentive Plan, as may be amended.
(c)      Special Sign-On Bonus . The Executive shall be eligible to receive a special sign-on bonus in the amount of $310,000 (the “Sign-On Bonus”), payable at the same time as the bonuses for other executives of the Company for calendar year 2017 are paid, subject to continued employment through the payment date (but in any event no later than March 15, 2018).



(d)      Equity Compensation . Contingent upon the commencement of the Executive’s employment on the Effective Date and continued employment through the applicable grant dates, the Executive shall be eligible to receive the initial and special equity awards as set forth below, subject to the terms of the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan, as may be amended.
(i)      Initial Grants : The Executive will be granted two initial awards of restricted stock units (“ RSUs ”):
(1)      The first award will cover a number of shares of the Company’s common stock determined by dividing $225,000 by the Share Price on the date of grant of the award, rounded to the nearest whole number (the “ Initial Time-Based Grant ”). The Initial Time-Based Grant shall be made at the same time as the 2018 annual time-based equity awards are granted to other executives of the Company in the first quarter of 2018. The Initial Time-Based Grant will vest in three equal installments on each of December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, subject to continued employment with the Company through the respective vesting dates. The remaining terms of the Initial Time-Based Grant (including any accelerated vesting), shall be as set forth in substantially the form of the Restricted Stock Unit Issuance Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A .
(2)      The second award will cover a target number of shares of the Company’s common stock determined by dividing $525,000 by the Share Price on the date of grant of the award, rounded to the nearest whole number (the “ Initial Performance-Based Grant ”). The Initial Performance-Based Grant shall be made at the same time as the 2018 annual performance-based equity awards are granted to other executives of the Company in the first quarter of 2018. The Initial Performance-Based Grant will vest on December 31, 2020 based on the achievement of performance goals (as measured over the applicable three-year performance period) as determined by the Executive Compensation Committee and consistent with past practices, and continued employment with the Company through the vesting date (except to the extent any accelerated vesting is approved by the Executive Compensation Committee at the time of grant of the award).
(ii)      Special Grant : The Executive will be granted a special award of RSUs which will be made following the Effective Date but prior to December 31, 2017. The award will cover a number of shares of the Company’s common stock determined by dividing $900,000 by the Share Price on the date of grant of the award, rounded to the nearest whole number (the “ Special Time-Based Grant ”). The Special Time-Based Grant will vest in three equal installments on each of December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, subject to continued employment with the Company through the respective vesting dates. The remaining terms of the Special Time-Based Grant (including any accelerated vesting), shall be as set forth in substantially the form of the Restricted Stock Unit Issuance Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B .
(iii)      For purposes of this Section 2(d), “Share Price” shall mean the closing price per share of Company common stock at the close of regular hours trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the relevant date.
(iv)      Dividend equivalent rights will not accrue with respect to the Initial Grant or the Special Grant.



(e)      Relocation Expenses . The Company will reimburse the Executive for (i) up to six months of reasonable temporary housing expenses in the San Jose area (to be extended on a month by month basis as necessary and approved by the Chair of the Executive Compensation Committee for up to an additional six months) commencing as of the Effective Date and conditioned on the Executive’s continued employment with the Company and (ii) the reasonable moving and travel expenses incurred in connection with the Executive’s (and his spouse’s) relocation to the San Jose Area.
3.      Retirement and Welfare Benefits and Perquisites .
(a)      During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s social welfare and qualified retirement benefit plans and programs available to employees of the Company, pursuant to their respective terms and conditions. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company or any affiliate of the Company from terminating or amending any employee benefit plan or program from time to time after the Effective Date.
(b)      The Executive will be eligible to receive the same perquisites as in effect for other senior executives of the Company, including a Company-provided motor vehicle and maintenance thereof. In addition, effective January 1, 2018 and continuing during the Term, the Company will reimburse the Executive for reasonable business related personal expenses (which are approved by the Chair of the Executive Compensation Committee), up to $40,000 per calendar year.
4.      Cash-Balance SERP Benefits .  The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s Cash Balance Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan (the “ Cash-Balance SERP ”) with respect to the benefit described in Article III of the Cash-Balance SERP (i.e., the Retirement Benefit that is offset by the benefit payable to the Executive under the terms of the San Jose Water Company Retirement Plan, a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan); provided, the Cash-Balance SERP benefit shall provide the Executive with a compensation crediting rate of 39% until the end of the calendar quarter in which the Executive attains age 65.  Beginning with the calendar quarter next following the Executive’s attainment of age 65, the Executive’s compensation crediting rate will revert to the then applicable rate under Section 3.2(a) of the Cash-Balance SERP.
5.      Vacation . During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to three weeks of vacation each year and holiday and sick leave at levels commensurate with those provided to other senior executives of the Company, in accordance with the Company’s vacation, holiday and other pay for time not worked policies; provided, however, that beginning in 2019, the Executive shall be eligible for four weeks of vacation each year.
6.      Business Expenses . The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all necessary and reasonable travel (which does not include commuting) and other business expenses incurred by the Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder.
7.      Termination of Employment .



(a)      Termination . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment at any time with or without Cause, subject to the provisions of this Section 7. The Executive may voluntarily terminate employment for any reason upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Company or in accordance with the requirements of Section 7(d) in the event of a termination for Good Reason. Upon the Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, the Company shall pay the Executive (i) the Base Salary through the date of termination, (ii) any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for any year preceding the year of termination, (iii) the value all accrued and unused vacation based on the Executive’s most recent level of Base Salary and (iv) any benefits accrued and due under any applicable benefit plans and programs of the Company (the “ Accrued Obligations ”).
(b)      Severance Benefits .
(i)      The Executive shall be eligible for benefits under the Company’s Executive Severance Plan, as may be amended from time to time, which provides benefits in the event of a qualifying termination of the Executive’s employment in connection with a Change in Control, as defined therein with the applicable cash amount under Section 2(a)(1) to be determined in the same manner as for the other officers participating in the plan; provided, however, that the Executive shall not be eligible to receive any tax gross-up benefits thereunder. In addition, if the Executive’s employment is terminated under circumstance entitling him to benefits under the Executive Severance Plan, the Company will pay the Executive an amount equal to the Annual Bonus for the year of termination based on actual performance, pro-rated for the number of days of employment during the year of termination, which shall be paid in a lump sum payment at the same time annual bonuses for such year are paid to other executives of the Company (but in any event no later than March 15 of the year following the year of the termination of employment).
(ii)      If (A) the Executive incurs an Involuntary Termination (other than due to death or Disability, as all such terms are defined below), (B) the Executive is not eligible for benefits under the Company’s Executive Severance Plan and (C) the Executive timely executes and does not revoke a written Release (as defined below), the Executive shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of any payments under any severance plan or program for employees or executives, the severance payments and benefits set forth in either subsection (1) or (2) below (but not both).
(1)      If the Involuntary Termination occurs on or prior to December 31, 2019, the Company will pay the Executive an amount equal to:
a.      two times the sum of (A) the Executive’s annual Base Salary, plus (B) the Executive’s target Annual Bonus for the year of termination, which shall be paid in a lump sum payment on the 60th day following the termination date;
b.      the Sign-On Bonus to the extent unpaid, which shall be paid in a lump sum payment on the 60th day following the termination date; and
c.      an amount equal to the Annual Bonus for the year of termination based on actual performance, pro-rated for the number of days of employment



during the year of termination, which shall be paid in a lump sum payment at the same time annual bonuses for such year are paid to other executives of the Company.
(2)      If the Involuntary Termination occurs after December 31, 2019, the Company will pay the Executive an amount equal to
a.      the sum of (A) the Executive’s annual Base Salary, plus (B) the Executive’s target Annual Bonus for the year of termination, which shall be paid in a lump sum payment on the 60th day following the termination date; and
b.      an amount equal to the Annual Bonus for the year of termination based on actual performance, pro-rated for the number of days of employment during the year of termination, which shall be paid in a lump sum payment at the same time annual bonuses for such year are paid to other executives of the Company.
(c)      Cause ” shall mean the Executive’s:
(i)      material breach of this Agreement;
(ii)      breach of the confidentiality policies of, or breach of the non-solicitation or inventions assignment agreement with, the Company or any of its affiliates;
(iii)      commission of an act of dishonesty, fraud, embezzlement or theft;
(iv)      engagement in conduct that causes, or is likely to cause, material damage to the reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates;
(v)      gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of the material duties of the Executive’s positions (other than by reason of Disability) after receipt of a written warning from the Board;
(vi)      commission of a felony or any crime of moral turpitude; or
(vii)      material failure to comply with the Company’s Code of Ethical Business Conduct or the Company’s material written employment policies.
(d)      Good Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following without the Executive’s express written consent:
(i)      a material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities;
(ii)      a material change in the geographic location at which the Executive must perform services under this Agreement;
(iii)      a material diminution in the Executive’s base compensation;



(iv)      any action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of this Agreement;
(v)      the failure of a successor to the Company to assume this Agreement in accordance with Section 23; or
(vi)      the appointment of a Chairman of the Board other than the Executive after the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; provided that this shall not be Good Reason if the rules of the principal exchange on which the Company’s securities trade or other applicable law prohibit an individual from simultaneously holding the offices of both Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board; and provided further that it shall not be Good Reason if the Executive is not appointed as Chairman of the Board for any period on or after the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders.
In order to constitute Good Reason, (i) the Executive must provide written notice identifying the event of Good Reason to the Company within 30 days after the event constituting Good Reason, (ii) the Company shall have a period of 30 days in which it may correct the act or failure to act that constitutes the grounds for Good Reason as set forth in the Executive’s notice of termination and (iii) if the Company does not correct the act or failure to act, the Executive’s employment will terminate for Good Reason on the first business day following the Company’s 30-day cure period.

(e)      Involuntary Termination ” means (i) the Executive’s termination of employment by the Company other than for Cause or (ii) the Executive’s voluntary termination of employment for Good Reason.
(f)      Release ” shall mean a separation agreement and general release of any and all claims against the Company, it subsidiaries and all their related parties with respect to all matters arising out of the Executive’s employment by the Company and its subsidiaries, and the termination thereof (other than claims for any entitlements under the terms of this Agreement or under any plans or programs of the Company under which the Executive has accrued and is due a benefit). The Release will be in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C , subject to such legally required changes as the Company may require.
(g)      Termination for Cause . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment at any time for Cause upon written notice to the Executive, in which event all payments under this Agreement shall cease, except for any Accrued Obligations.
(h)      Termination following Disability . If the Executive incurs a Disability during the Term, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment on or after the date of Disability. If the Executive’s employment terminates on account of Disability, the Executive shall be entitled to receive any Accrued Obligations. Otherwise, the Company shall have no further liability or obligation under this Agreement to the Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Disability ” shall mean the Executive is eligible to receive long-term disability benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan.
(i)      Death . If the Executive dies during the Term, the Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date of death and the Company shall pay to the Executive’s executor, legal



representative, administrator or designated beneficiary, as applicable, any Accrued Obligations. Otherwise, the Company shall have no further liability or obligation under this Agreement to the Executive’s executors, legal representatives, administrators, heirs or assigns or any other person claiming under or through the Executive.
8.      Section 409A .
(a)      This Agreement is intended to comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and its corresponding regulations, or an exemption, and payments may only be made under this Agreement upon an event and in a manner permitted by section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable. Severance benefits under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from section 409A of the Code under the “short-term deferral” exception, to the maximum extent applicable, and then under the “separation pay” exception, to the maximum extent applicable. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if required by section 409A of the Code, if the Executive is considered a “specified employee” for purposes of section 409A of the Code and if payment of any amounts under this Agreement is required to be delayed for a period of six months after separation from service pursuant to section 409A of the Code, payment of such amounts shall be delayed as required by section 409A of the Code, and the accumulated amounts shall be paid in a lump sum payment within ten days after the end of the six-month period. If the Executive dies during the postponement period prior to the payment of benefits, the amounts withheld on account of section 409A of the Code shall be paid to the personal representative of the Executive’s estate within 60 days after the date of the Executive’s death.
(b)      All payments of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of section 409A of the Code), which are to be made upon a termination of employment under this Agreement, may only be made upon a “separation from service” under section 409A of the Code. For purposes of section 409A of the Code, each payment hereunder shall be treated as a separate payment and the right to a series of installment payments under this Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments. In no event may the Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of a payment. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the timing of the Executive’s execution of the Release, directly or indirectly, result in the Executive designating the calendar year of payment of any amounts of deferred compensation subject to section 409A of the Code, and if a payment that is subject to execution of the Release could be made in more than one taxable year, payment shall be made in the later taxable year.
(c)      All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of section 409A of the Code, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during the period of time specified in this Agreement, (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made no later than the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement or in kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.



9.      Non-Solicitation . During the Term and for one year thereafter, the Executive hereby agrees that he will not (i) encourage any employee, consultant, or person who was employed by the Company on the date of termination of the Executive’s employment (or at any time during the six-month period prior to termination of the Executive’s employment) to leave the Company for any reason, nor will the Executive solicit their services; or (ii) assist any other person or entity in such encouragement or solicitation. This provision is not intended to restrict the Executive from performing the duties of the Executive’s employment in the best interest of the Company.
10.      Proprietary Information
(a)      Confidentiality of Proprietary Information . At all times, the Executive will hold in strictest confidence and will not disclose, use, lecture upon or publish any of the Proprietary Information (defined below) of the Company or an affiliate, except as such disclosure, use or publication may be required in connection with the Executive’s work for the Company or as described in Section 10(b) below, or unless the Company expressly authorizes such disclosure in writing. “ Proprietary Information ” shall mean any and all confidential and/or proprietary knowledge, data or information of the Company and its affiliates and shareholders, including but not limited to information relating to financial matters, investments, budgets, business plans, marketing plans, personnel matters, business contacts, products, processes, know-how, designs, methods, improvements, discoveries, inventions, ideas, data, programs, and other works of authorship.
(b)      Reports to Government Entities . Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict the Executive from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “ Regulators ”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in such communications, respond to such inquiries, provide confidential information or documents to the Regulators, or make any such reports or disclosures to the Regulators. The Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has engaged in such communications with the Regulators. If the Executive is required by law to disclose Proprietary Information, other than to Regulators as described above, the Executive shall give prompt written notice to the Company so as to permit the Company to protect its interests in confidentiality to the extent possible. Federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law.



(c)      Inventions Assignment . The Executive agrees that all inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, reports, and all similar or related information which relates to the Company’s or its affiliates’ actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed or made by Executive while employed by the Company (“ Work Product ”) belong to the Company. The Executive will promptly disclose such Work Product to the Board and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Term) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorneys and other instruments). If requested by the Company, the Executive agrees to execute any inventions assignment and confidentiality agreement that is required to be signed by Company employees generally.
(d)      Return of Company Property . Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, and at any earlier time the Company requests, the Executive will deliver to the person designated by the Company all originals and copies of all documents and property of the Company or an affiliate that is in the Executive’s possession, under the Executive’s control or to which the Executive may have access. The Executive will not reproduce or appropriate for the Executive’s own use, or for the use of others, any property, Proprietary Information or Work Product.
11.      Legal and Equitable Remedies .
(a)      Because the Executive’s services are personal and unique and the Executive has had and will continue to have access to and has become and will continue to become acquainted with the proprietary information of the Company and its affiliates, and because any breach by the Executive of any of the restrictive covenants contained in Section 9 and Section 10 would result in irreparable injury and damage for which money damages would not provide an adequate remedy, the Company shall have the right to enforce Section 9 and Section 10 and any of their provisions by injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, without bond and without prejudice to any other rights and remedies that the Company may have for a breach, or threatened breach, of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 9 and Section 10. The Executive agrees that in any action in which the Company seeks injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, the Executive will not assert or contend that any of the provisions of Section 9 or Section 10 are unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable.
(b)      The Executive irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees that any legal proceeding arising out of this Agreement shall be brought solely in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, or if such court does not have jurisdiction or will not accept jurisdiction, in any court of general jurisdiction in Santa Clara County, (ii) consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court in any such proceeding, and (iii) waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such proceeding in any such court. The Executive also irrevocably and unconditionally consents to the service of any process, pleadings, notices or other papers.
(c)      Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive breaches any of the Executive’s obligations under Section 9 or Section 10, the Company shall be obligated to provide only the compensation and accrued benefits required by any Company benefit



plans, policies or practices then applicable to the Executive in accordance with the terms thereof, and all payments under Section 2 or Section 7 hereof, as applicable, shall cease other than the payment of Accrued Benefits. In such event, the Company may require that the Executive repay all amounts theretofore paid to him pursuant to Section 7 hereof, and in such case, the Executive shall promptly repay such amounts within the timeframe specified by the Company (which shall be no earlier than 60 days following notice of the required payment to the Executive).
12.      Acknowledgement of Satisfaction of All Pre-Employment Conditions .
(a)      Right to Work . For purposes of federal immigration law, the Executive will be required to provide to the Company documentary evidence of the Executive’s identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. Such documentation must be provided to the Company within three days following the Effective Date, or the Company’s employment relationship with the Executive may be terminated and this Agreement will be void.
(b)      Verification of Information . By entering into this Agreement, the Executive warrants that all information provided by the Executive is true and correct to the best of the Executive’s knowledge, and the Executive expressly releases all parties from any and all liability for damages that may result from obtaining, furnishing, collecting or verifying such information, as well as from the use of or disclosure of such information by the Company or its agents.
13.      No Conflicting Obligations . The Executive understands and agrees that by entering into this Agreement, the Executive represents to the Company that performance of the Executive’s duties to the Company and the terms of this Agreement will not breach any other agreement (written or oral) to which the Executive is a party (including without limitation, current or past employers) and that the Executive has not, and will not during the term of the Executive’s employment with the Company, enter into any oral or written agreement which may result in a conflict of interest or may otherwise be in conflict with any of the provisions of this Agreement or the Company’s policies. The Executive is not to bring with the Executive to the Company, or use or disclose to any person associated with the Company, any confidential or proprietary information belonging to any former employer or other person or entity with respect to which the Executive owes an obligation of confidentiality under any agreement or otherwise. The Company does not need and will not use such information. Also, the Company expects the Executive to abide by any obligations to refrain from soliciting any person employed by or otherwise associated with any former employer and suggest that the Executive refrain from having any contact with such persons until such time as any non-solicitation obligation expires. To the extent that the Executive is bound by any such obligations, the Executive must inform the Company’s General Counsel immediately prior to accepting this Agreement.
14.      General Obligations . As an employee, the Executive will be expected to adhere to the Company’s standards of professionalism, loyalty, integrity, honesty, reliability and respect for all. Please note that the Company is an equal opportunity employer. The Company does not permit, and will not tolerate, the unlawful discrimination or harassment of any employees, applicants, consultants, or related third parties on the basis of sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex stereotype, transgender, race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, military or protected veteran status, immigration status, mental or physical disability



or medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, or any other status protected by applicable law. Any questions regarding this EEO statement should be directed to Human Resources. The Executive will also be required to review, understand, and comply with all other generally applicable written employment policies that the Company may adopt from time to time.
15.      Termination Obligations .
(a)      Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive will resign in writing (or be deemed to have resigned) from all other offices and directorships then held with the Company or any affiliate of the Company, unless otherwise agreed with the Company.
(b)      Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall fully cooperate with the Company in all matters relating to the winding up of pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of duties, responsibilities, and knowledge to such persons as the Company shall designate. The Executive shall also cooperate in the defense of any action brought by any third party against the Company. If necessary, the Company shall pay the Executive for the Executive’s time incurred to comply with this provision at a reasonable per diem or per hour rate as to be mutually determined between the Executive and the Company.
(c)      Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive agrees that the Executive will not at any time make any statements or comments (written or oral) to any third party or take any action disparaging the integrity or reputation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, employees, officers or directors, subject to the provisions of Section 10(b).
16.      Survival . The respective rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement (including, but not limited to, Sections 9, 10, 11 and 15) shall survive any termination of the Executive’s employment or termination or expiration of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations.
17.      No Mitigation or Set Off . In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive obtains other employment. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others.
18.      Section 280G . In the event of a change in ownership or control under section 280G of the Code, if it shall be determined that any payment or distribution in the nature of compensation (within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (a “ Payment ”), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G



of the Code, the aggregate present value of the Payments under this Agreement shall be reduced (but not below zero) to the Reduced Amount (defined below) if and only if the Accounting Firm (described below) determines that the reduction will provide Executive with a greater net after-tax benefit than would no reduction. No reduction shall be made unless the reduction would provide the Executive with a greater net after-tax benefit. The determinations under this Section shall be made as follows:
(a)      The “ Reduced Amount ” shall be an amount expressed in present value which maximizes the aggregate present value of Payments under this Agreement without causing any Payment under this Agreement to be subject to the Excise Tax (defined below), determined in accordance with section 280G(d)(4) of the Code. The term “ Excise Tax ” means the excise tax imposed under section 4999 of the Code, together with any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such excise tax.
(b)      In the event of a reduction of a Payment under this Section 18, the reduction shall occur in the following order:  (i) any cash Payments that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (ii) any cash Payments subject to Section 409A of the Code in the reverse order in which such Payments would be paid or provided (beginning with such payment or benefit that would be made last in time and continuing, to the extent necessary, through to such payment or benefit that would be made first in time); (iii) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards; and (iv) reduction of continued employee benefits.  In the event that acceleration of vesting of equity award compensation is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Executive’s equity awards.
(c)      All determinations to be made under this Section shall be made by an independent certified public accounting firm selected by the Company and agreed to by the Executive immediately prior to the change in ownership or control transaction (the “ Accounting Firm ”). The Accounting Firm shall provide its determinations and any supporting calculations both to the Company and Executive within ten days of the transaction. Any such determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive. All of the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm in performing the determinations referred to in this Section shall be borne solely by the Company.
19.      Notices . All notices and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement or necessary or convenient in connection herewith shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when hand delivered (including by courier) or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows (provided that notice of change of address shall be deemed given only when received):
If to the Company, to:
SJW Group
110 W. Taylor Street
San Jose, CA 95110-2131
Attn: Corporate Secretary of SJW Group




If to the Executive, to the most recent address on file with the Company or to such other names or addresses as the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, shall designate by notice to each other person entitled to receive notices in the manner specified in this Section.
20.      Withholding . All payments under this Agreement shall be made subject to applicable tax withholding, and the Company shall withhold from any payments under this Agreement all federal, state and local taxes as the Company is required to withhold pursuant to any law or governmental rule or regulation. The Executive shall bear all expense of, and be solely responsible for, all federal, state and local taxes due with respect to any payment received under this Agreement.
21.      Reimbursements . In order to receive reimbursements under this Agreement, the Executive must submit proper documentation for each expense eligible for reimbursement within sixty (60) days after the later of (i) the Executive’s incurrence of such expense or (ii) the Executive’s receipt of the invoice for such expense. If such expense qualifies for reimbursement, then the Company will reimburse the Executive for that expense within thirty (30) business days thereafter, net of applicable withholding taxes.
22.      Remedies Cumulative; No Waiver . No remedy conferred upon a party by this Agreement is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other remedy given under this Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity. No delay or omission by a party in exercising any right, remedy or power under this Agreement or existing at law or in equity shall be construed as a waiver thereof, and any such right, remedy or power may be exercised by such party from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient or necessary by such party in its sole discretion.
23.      Assignment . All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto, except that the duties and responsibilities of the Executive under this Agreement are of a personal nature and shall not be assignable or delegable in whole or in part by the Executive. The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, within 15 days of such succession, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place, and the Executive acknowledges that in such event the obligations of the Executive hereunder, including but not limited to those under Section 9 and Section 10, will continue to apply in favor of the successor.
24.      Clawback . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all compensation paid to the Executive by the Company and/or any subsidiary (whether payable pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise) will be subject to reduction, recovery and/or recoupment to the extent required by any present or future law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement or any policy adopted by the Company to comply with applicable law, government regulation and/or stock exchange listing requirement.



25.      Company Policies . The Executive shall be subject to the insider trading policies, and other policies that may be implemented by the Board from time to time with respect to officers of the Company.
26.      Indemnification . The Company and the Executive shall enter into the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement.
27.      Attorneys’ and Financial or Compensation Advisor Fees . The Company will pay directly or reimburse the Executive for reasonable legal fees and costs and the reasonable fees and costs of a financial or compensation advisor incurred in connection with negotiating and reviewing this Agreement and any related documents or matters.
28.      Entire Agreement . This Agreement (together with the Executive Severance Plan, the SERP and all other documents referenced herein) sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the Executive’s employment by the Company. This Agreement may be changed only by a written document signed by the Executive and the Chair of the Executive Compensation Committee.
29.      Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or application thereof to anyone or under any circumstances is adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or application of this Agreement which can be given effect without the invalid or unenforceable provision or application and shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision or application in any other jurisdiction. If any provision is held void, invalid or unenforceable with respect to particular circumstances, it shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect in all other circumstances.
30.      Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the substantive and procedural laws of California without regard to rules governing conflicts of law.
31.      Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including facsimile counterparts), each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
                        
SJW GROUP
 
/s/ Daniel B. More
Name: Daniel B. More
Title: Chair, Executive Compensation Committee
Date: September 26, 2017
EXECUTIVE
 
/s/ Eric W. Thornburg
Name: Eric W. Thornburg






Exhibit A

Restricted Stock Unit Issuance Agreement (Initial Time-Based Grant)




SJW GROUP
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT ISSUANCE AGREEMENT

RECITALS

A.    The Board has adopted the Plan for the purpose of retaining the services of selected Employees of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

B.    Participant is to render valuable services to the Corporation (or a Parent or Subsidiary), and this Agreement is executed pursuant to, and is intended to carry out the purposes of, the Plan in connection with the Corporation’s issuance of an equity incentive award under the Plan designed to retain Participant’s continued service.

C.    All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to them in the attached Appendix A.
NOW, THEREFORE , it is hereby agreed as follows:
1.     Grant of Restricted Stock Units . The Corporation hereby awards to Participant, as of the Award Date, Restricted Stock Units under the Plan. Each Restricted Stock Unit which vests during Participant’s period of Service shall entitle Participant to receive one share of Common Stock on the applicable issuance date for that share. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the awarded Restricted Stock Units, the applicable vesting schedule for those shares, the applicable date or dates on which those vested shares shall become issuable to Participant and the remaining terms and conditions governing the award (the “Award”) shall be as set forth in this Agreement.
Participant
__________________________
Award Date :
___________________
Number of Shares
Subject to Award :
________ shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”)
Vesting Schedule :
The Shares shall vest in a series of three (3) successive equal annual installments upon Participant’s completion of each year of Service over the three (3)-year period measured from the Award Date (the “Normal Vesting Schedule”). However, the Shares may be subject to accelerated vesting in accordance with the provisions of Paragraphs 4 and 6 below.




Issuance Schedule :
The Shares in which the Participant vests on an annual basis in accordance with the Normal Vesting Schedule shall be issued, subject to the Corporation’s collection of all applicable Withholding Taxes, on the applicable annual vesting date (the “Issuance Date”) or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable, but in no event later than the close of the calendar year in which such annual vesting date occurs or (if later) the fifteenth day of the third calendar month following such vesting date. The Shares which vest pursuant to Paragraph 4 or Paragraph 6 of this Agreement shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Paragraph. The applicable Withholding Taxes are to be collected pursuant to the procedure set forth in Paragraph 8 of this Agreement.

2.     Limited Transferability . Prior to actual receipt of the Shares which vest and become issuable hereunder, Participant may not transfer any interest in the Award or the underlying Shares. Any Shares which vest hereunder but which otherwise remain unissued at the time of Participant’s death may be transferred pursuant to the provisions of Participant’s will or the laws of inheritance or to Participant’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of this Award. Participant may also direct the Corporation to re-issue the stock certificates for any Shares which in fact vest and become issuable under the Award during his or her lifetime to one or more designated family members or a trust established for Participant and/or his or her family members. Participant may make such a beneficiary designation or certificate directive at any time by filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator or its designee.
3.     Cessation of Service . Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph 4 or Paragraph 6 below, should Participant cease Service for any reason prior to vesting in one or more Shares subject to this Award, then the Award shall be immediately cancelled with respect to those unvested Shares, and the number of Restricted Stock Units will be reduced accordingly. Participant shall thereupon cease to have any right or entitlement to receive any Shares under those cancelled units.
4.     Accelerated Vesting . Should Participant cease Employee status by reason of death or Disability, then all of the Shares at the time subject to this Award shall immediately vest and shall be issued on the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service due to such death or Disability or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter, subject to the Corporation’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes, but in no event later than the close of the calendar year in which such Separation from Service occurs or (if later) the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month following the date of such Separation from Service.
5.     Stockholder Rights . Participant shall not have any stockholder rights, including voting, dividend or liquidation rights, with respect to the Shares subject to the Award until the Shares vest and Participant becomes the record holder of those Shares upon their actual issuance following the Company’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes.



6.     Change in Control .
A.    Any Restricted Stock Units subject to this Award at the time of a Change in Control may be assumed by the successor entity or otherwise continued in full force and effect or may be replaced with a cash retention program of the successor entity which preserves the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares at the time of the Change in Control and provides for the subsequent vesting and payout of that value in accordance with the same vesting and payout provisions that would be applicable to those Shares in the absence of such Change in Control. In the event of such assumption or continuation of the Award or such replacement of the Award with a cash retention program, no accelerated vesting of the Restricted Stock Units shall occur at the time of the Change in Control.
B.    In the event the Award is assumed or otherwise continued in effect, the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award will be adjusted immediately after the consummation of the Change in Control so as to apply to the number and class of securities into which the Shares subject to those units immediately prior to the Change in Control would have been converted in consummation of that Change in Control had those Shares actually been issued and outstanding at that time. To the extent the actual holders of the outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for the Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award at that time, substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in the Change in Control transaction, provided such shares are registered under the federal securities laws and readily tradable on an established securities exchange.
C.    Should either of the following events occur during the period commencing with the earlier of (i) the execution date of any definitive agreement for a Change in Control transaction or (ii) the actual occurrence of a Change in Control and ending with the earlier of (x) the expiration of the twenty-four (24)-month period measured from the effective date of the Change in Control or, to the extent applicable, (y) the date the definitive agreement for the Change in Control transaction is terminated or cancelled without the consummation of the contemplated Change in Control transaction:
(i)    Participant’s Employee status is terminated other than for Good Cause, or    
(ii)    Participant resigns from Employee status for Good Reason,
then all of the Shares (or other securities or property) at the time subject to this Award shall immediately vest, and those vested Shares shall be issued on the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service in connection with such cessation of Employee status or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter, subject to the Corporation’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes, but in no event later than the close of the calendar year in which such Separation from Service occurs or (if later) the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar



month following the date of such Separation from Service, unless a further deferral is required under Paragraph 9.
D.    If the Restricted Stock Units subject to this Award at the time of the Change in Control are not assumed or otherwise continued in effect or replaced with a cash retention program in accordance with Paragraph 6.A above, then those units shall vest immediately prior to the closing of the Change in Control. The Shares subject to those vested units shall be converted into the right to receive the same consideration per share of Common Stock payable to the other stockholders of the Corporation in consummation of that Change in Control, and such consideration per Share shall be distributed to Participant upon the tenth (10th) business day following the earliest to occur of (i) the Issuance Date determined for that Share in accordance with the Normal Vesting Schedule, (ii) the date of Participant’s Separation from Service or (iii) the first date following a Qualifying Change in Control on which the distribution can be made without contravention of any applicable provisions of Code Section 409A. Such distribution shall be subject to the Corporation’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 8.
E.    This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
7.     Adjustment in Shares . Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction, extraordinary dividend or distribution or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, or should the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock be substantially reduced as a result of a spin-off transaction or an extraordinary dividend or distribution, or should there occur any merger, consolidation or other reorganization, then equitable adjustments shall be made by the Plan Administrator to the total number and/or class of securities issuable pursuant to this Award in order to reflect such change, and the determination of the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. In the event of a Change in Control, the adjustments (if any) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 6.
8.     Issuance of Shares/Collection of Withholding Taxes .
A.    On each applicable Issuance Date (or any earlier date on which the Shares are to be issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), the Corporation shall issue to or on behalf of the Participant a certificate (which may be in electronic form) for the applicable number of shares of Common Stock, subject, however, to the Corporation’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes.
B.    The Corporation shall collect the applicable Withholding Taxes with respect to the Shares which vest and become issuable hereunder through an automatic share withholding procedure pursuant to which the Corporation will withhold, at the time of such issuance, a portion of the Shares with a Fair Market Value (measured as of the applicable issuance date) equal to the amount of those taxes; provided, however , that the amount of any Shares so withheld shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the Corporation‘s required tax withholding obligations



using the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes that are applicable to supplemental taxable income. In the event payment is to be made in a form other than the Shares, then the Corporation shall collect from the Participant the applicable Withholding Taxes pursuant to such procedures as the Corporation deems appropriate under the circumstances.
C.    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Paragraph 8.B, the employee portion of the federal, state and local employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation in connection with the vesting of the Shares or any other amounts hereunder (the “Employment Taxes”) shall in all events be collected from the Participant no later than the last business day of the calendar year in which the Shares or other amounts vest hereunder. Accordingly, to the extent one or more vested Shares are issued, or other amounts are distributed, in a year subsequent to the calendar year in which those Shares or other amounts vest, the Participant shall, on or before the last business day of the calendar year in which the Shares or other amounts vest, deliver to the Corporation a check payable to its order in the dollar amount equal to the Employment Taxes required to be withheld with respect to those Shares or other amounts. The provisions of this Paragraph 8.C shall be applicable only to the extent necessary to comply with the applicable tax withholding requirements of Code Section 3121(v).
D.    Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph 6 and Paragraph 8.B, the settlement of all Restricted Stock Units which vest under the Award shall be made solely in shares of Common Stock. In no event, however, shall any fractional shares be issued. Accordingly, the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Award shall, to the extent necessary, be rounded down to the next whole share in order to avoid the issuance of a fractional share.
9.     Deferred Issuance Date . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, no Shares or other amounts which become issuable or distributable by reason of Participant’s Separation from Service shall actually be issued or distributed to Participant prior to the earlier of (i) the first day of the seventh (7th) month following the date of such Separation from Service or (ii) the date of Participant’s death, if Participant is deemed at the time of such Separation from Service to be a specified employee under Section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations issued under Code Section 409A, as determined by the Plan Administrator in accordance with consistent and uniform standards applied to all other Code Section 409A arrangements of the Corporation, and such delayed commencement is otherwise required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Code Section 409A(a)(2). The deferred Shares or other distributable amount shall be issued or distributed in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh (7th) month following the date of Participant’s Separation from Service or, if earlier, the first day of the month immediately following the date the Corporation receives proof of Participant’s death.
10.     Benefit Limit. The benefit limitation of this Paragraph 10 shall apply only to the extent Participant is not otherwise entitled to a Code Section 4999 tax gross-up under the Corporation’s Executive Severance Plan (or any successor plan) with respect to the Shares that vest on an accelerated basis in connection with a Change in Control or subsequent cessation of Employee status:



In the event the vesting and issuance of the Shares subject to this Award would otherwise constitute a parachute payment under Code Section 280G, then the vesting and issuance of those Shares shall be subject to reduction to the extent necessary to assure that the number of Shares which vest and are issued under this Award will be limited to the greater of (i)  the number of Shares which can vest and be issued without triggering a parachute payment under Code Section 280G or (ii)  the maximum number of Shares which can vest and be issued under this Award so as to provide the Participant with the greatest after-tax amount of such vested and issued Shares after taking into account any excise tax the Participant may incur under Code Section 4999 with respect to those Shares and any other benefits or payments to which the Participant may be entitled in connection with any change in control or ownership of the Corporation or the subsequent termination of the Participant’s Service.
11.     Compliance with Laws and Regulations . The issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Award shall be subject to compliance by the Corporation and Participant with all applicable requirements of law relating thereto and with all applicable regulations of any Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed for trading at the time of such issuance.
12.     Notices . Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to Participant shall be in writing and addressed to Participant at the address indicated below Participant’s signature line on this Agreement. All notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be notified.
13.     Successors and Assigns . Except to the extent otherwise provided in this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and assigns and Participant, Participant’s assigns, the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of Participant’s estate and any beneficiaries of the Award designated by Participant.
14.     Construction . This Agreement and the Award evidenced hereby are made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject to the terms of the Plan. All decisions of the Plan Administrator with respect to any question or issue arising under the Plan or this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Award. To the extent there is any ambiguity as to whether any provision of this Agreement would otherwise contravene one or more applicable requirements or limitations of Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, such provision shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that complies with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each installment distribution of Shares (or other installment distribution hereunder) shall be treated as a separate payment, and Participant’s right to receive each such installment of Shares (or other installment distribution hereunder) shall accordingly be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments.



15.     Governing Law . The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without resort to that State’s conflict-of-laws rules
16.     Employment at Will . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Participant) or of Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate Participant’s Service at any time for any reason, with or without cause.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this Restricted Stock Unit Issuance Agreement on the respective dates indicated below.


                            
SJW GROUP
By:                                                               
Dated:                                                           
 

    


                            
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
Signature:                                                     
Address:                                                      
Dated:                                                           
 

                    




APPENDIX A
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:
A.     Agreement shall mean this Restricted Stock Unit Issuance Agreement.
B.     Award shall mean the award of Restricted Stock Units made to Participant pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.
C.     Award Date shall mean the date the Restricted Stock Units are awarded to Participant pursuant to the Agreement and shall be the date indicated in Paragraph 1 of the Agreement.
D.     Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.
E.     Change in Control shall mean any change in control or ownership of the Corporation which occurs by reason of one or more of the following events:
(i)    the acquisition, directly or indirectly by any person or related group of persons (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the Corporation or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under control with, the Corporation or an employee benefit plan maintained by any such entity, of beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities of the Corporation that results in such person or related group of persons beneficially owning thirty percent (30%) or more of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s then-outstanding securities;
(ii)    a merger, recapitalization, consolidation, or other similar transaction to which the Corporation is a party, unless securities representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the surviving entity or a parent thereof are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately before the transaction;

(iii)    a sale, transfer or disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets, unless securities representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the entity acquiring the Corporation’s assets or parent thereof are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately before the transaction,





(iv)    a merger, recapitalization, consolidation, or other transaction to which the Corporation is a party or the sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets if, in either case, the members of the Board immediately prior to consummation of the transaction do not, upon consummation of the transaction, constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the surviving entity or the entity acquiring the Corporation’s assets, as the case may be, or a parent thereof (for this purpose, any change in the composition of the board of directors that is anticipated or pursuant to an understanding or agreement in connection with a transaction will be deemed to have occurred at the time of the transaction); or

(v)    a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (a) have been Board members since the beginning of such period or (b) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members who were described in clause (a) or who were previously so elected or approved and who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or nomination; provided, however, that solely for purposes of determining whether a permissible Section 409A distribution can be made under Paragraph 6.D in connection with such Change in Control event, the period for measuring a change in the composition of the Board shall be limited to a period of twelve (12) consecutive months or less;

provided, however , that no Change in Control shall occur if the result of the transaction is to give more ownership or control of the Corporation to any person or related group of persons who held securities representing more than thirty percent (30%) of the combined voting power of the Corporation's outstanding securities as of March 3, 2003.

F.     Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
G.     Common Stock shall mean the shares of the Corporation’s common stock.
H.     Corporation shall mean SJW Group., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of SJW Group. which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan and/or assume the Award.
I.     Disability shall mean the Participant’s permanent and total disability as determined pursuant to Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
J.     Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance; provided, however, that solely for purposes of determining whether Participant has incurred a Separation from Service, the term




“Employee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Separation from Service definition set forth in this Appendix.
K.     Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be the closing selling price per share on the date in question on the Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock is at that time primarily traded, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If there is no reported sale of Common Stock on such Stock Exchange on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the exchange on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
L.     Good Cause shall mean:
(i)     Any act or omission by Participant that results in substantial harm to the business or property of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) and that constitutes dishonesty, intentional breach of fiduciary obligation or intentional wrongdoing,
(ii)    Participant’s conviction of a criminal violation involving fraud or dishonesty, or
(iii)    Participant’s intentional and knowing participation in the preparation or release of false or materially misleading financial statements relating to the operations and financial condition of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) or Participant’s intentional and knowing submission of any false or erroneous certification required of him or her under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is at the time listed for trading.
The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to discharge or dismiss Participant or any other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of the Plan or this Agreement, to constitute grounds for termination for Good Cause.

M.     Good Reason shall be deemed to exist with respect to Participant if and only if, without Participant’s express written consent:
(i)    there is a significantly adverse change in the nature or the scope of Participant’s authority or in his or her overall working environment;
(ii)    Participant is assigned duties materially inconsistent with his or her present duties, responsibilities and status;
(iii)    there is a reduction in the sum of Participant’s rate of base salary and target bonus; or
(iv)    the Corporation changes by fifty-five (55) miles or more the principal location in which Participant is required to perform services;




provided, however , that, before Participant may resign for any Good Reason event or transaction, Participant must first provide written notice to the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Participant) identifying such Good Reason event or transaction within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of such event or transaction and the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Participant) shall have failed to cure such event or transaction within thirty (30) days after receipt of such written notice.

N.     1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
O.     Participant shall mean the person to whom the Award is made pursuant to the Agreement.
P.     Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
Q.     Plan shall mean the Corporation’s Long-Term Incentive Plan.
R.     Plan Administrator shall mean either the Board or a committee of the Board acting in its capacity as administrator of the Plan.
S.     Qualifying Change in Control shall mean a transaction effecting a change in control or ownership of the Corporation that also qualifies as: (i) a change in the ownership of the Corporation, as determined in accordance with Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v) of the Treasury Regulations, (ii) a change in the effective control of the Corporation, as determined in accordance with Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi) of the Treasury Regulations, or (iii) a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Corporation, as determined in accordance with Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii) of the Treasury Regulations.
T.     Restricted Stock Unit shall mean each unit subject to the Award which shall entitle Participant to receive one (1) share of Common Stock upon the vesting of that unit.
U.     Separation from Service shall mean the Participant’s cessation of Employee status by reason of his or her death, retirement or termination of employment. The Participant shall be deemed to have terminated employment for such purpose at such time as the level of his or her bona fide services to be performed as an Employee (or as a consultant or independent contractor) permanently decreases to a level that is not more than twenty percent (20%) of the average level of services he or she rendered as an Employee during the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) months (or such shorter period for which he or she may have rendered such services). Solely for purposes of determining when a Separation from Service occurs, Participant will be deemed to continue in “Employee” status for so long as he or she remains in the employ of one or more members of the Employer Group, subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. “Employer Group” means the Corporation and any Parent or Subsidiary and any other corporation or business controlled by,




controlling or under common control with, the Corporation, as determined in accordance with Sections 414(b) and (c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, except that in applying Sections 1563(1), (2) and (3) of the Code for purposes of determining the controlled group of corporations under Section 414(b), the phrase “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place the latter phrase appears in such sections and in applying Section 1.414(c)-2 of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining trades or businesses that are under common control for purposes of Section 414(c), the phrase “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place the latter phrase appears in Section 1.4.14(c)-2 of the Treasury Regulations. Any such determination as to Separation from Service, however, shall be made in accordance with the applicable standards of the Treasury Regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code.
V.     Service shall mean Participant’s performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in the capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the Board or a consultant or independent advisor. Participant shall be deemed to cease Service immediately upon the occurrence of either of the following events: (i) Participant no longer performs services in any of the foregoing capacities for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) or (ii) the entity for which Participant performs such services ceases to remain a Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation, even though Participant may subsequently continue to perform services for that entity. Service as an Employee shall not be deemed to cease during a period of military leave, sick leave or other personal leave approved by the Corporation; provided, however , that the following special provisions shall be in effect for any such leave:
(i)    Should the period of such leave (other than a disability leave) exceed six (6) months, then Participant shall be deemed to cease Service and to incur a Separation from Service upon the expiration of the initial six (6) - month period of that leave, unless Participant retains a right to re-employment under applicable law or by contract with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
(ii)    Should the period of a disability leave exceed twenty-nine (29) months, then Participant shall be deemed to cease Service and to incur a Separation from Service upon the expiration of the initial twenty-nine (29)-month period of that leave, unless Participant retains a right to re-employment under applicable law or by contract with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary). For such purpose, a disability leave shall be a leave of absence due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or to last for a continuous period of not less than six (6) months and causes Participant to be unable to perform the duties of his or her position of employment with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) or any substantially similar position of employment.
(iii)    Except to the extent otherwise required by law or expressly authorized by the Plan Administrator or by the Corporation’s written policy on leaves of absence, no Service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period Participant is on a leave of absence.




W.     Stock Exchange shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange.
X.     Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
Y.     Withholding Taxes shall mean (i) the employee portion of the federal, state and local employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation in connection with the vesting of the shares of Common Stock (or any other property) under the Award and (ii) the federal, state and local income taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation in connection with the issuance of those vested shares (or any other property).





Exhibit B

Restricted Stock Unit Issuance Agreement (Special Time-Based Grant)





SJW GROUP
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT ISSUANCE AGREEMENT

RECITALS

A.    The Board has adopted the Plan for the purpose of retaining the services of selected Employees of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

B.    Participant is to render valuable services to the Corporation (or a Parent or Subsidiary), and this Agreement is executed pursuant to, and is intended to carry out the purposes of, the Plan in connection with the Corporation’s issuance of an equity incentive award under the Plan designed to retain Participant’s continued service.

C.    All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to them in the attached Appendix A.
NOW, THEREFORE , it is hereby agreed as follows:
1.     Grant of Restricted Stock Units . The Corporation hereby awards to Participant, as of the Award Date, Restricted Stock Units under the Plan. Each Restricted Stock Unit which vests during Participant’s period of Service shall entitle Participant to receive one share of Common Stock on the applicable issuance date for that share. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the awarded Restricted Stock Units, the applicable vesting schedule for those shares, the applicable date or dates on which those vested shares shall become issuable to Participant and the remaining terms and conditions governing the award (the “Award”) shall be as set forth in this Agreement.
Participant
__________________________
Award Date :
___________________
Number of Shares
Subject to Award :
________ shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”)
Vesting Schedule :
The Shares shall vest in a series of three (3) successive equal annual installments upon Participant’s completion of each year of Service over the three (3)-year period measured from the Award Date (the “Normal Vesting Schedule”). However, the Shares may be subject to accelerated vesting in accordance with the provisions of Paragraphs 4 and 6 below.





Issuance Schedule :
The Shares in which the Participant vests on an annual basis in accordance with the Normal Vesting Schedule shall be issued, subject to the Corporation’s collection of all applicable Withholding Taxes, on the applicable annual vesting date (the “Issuance Date”) or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable, but in no event later than the close of the calendar year in which such annual vesting date occurs or (if later) the fifteenth day of the third calendar month following such vesting date. The Shares which vest pursuant to Paragraph 4 or Paragraph 6 of this Agreement shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Paragraph. The applicable Withholding Taxes are to be collected pursuant to the procedure set forth in Paragraph 8 of this Agreement.

2.     Limited Transferability . Prior to actual receipt of the Shares which vest and become issuable hereunder, Participant may not transfer any interest in the Award or the underlying Shares. Any Shares which vest hereunder but which otherwise remain unissued at the time of Participant’s death may be transferred pursuant to the provisions of Participant’s will or the laws of inheritance or to Participant’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of this Award. Participant may also direct the Corporation to re-issue the stock certificates for any Shares which in fact vest and become issuable under the Award during his or her lifetime to one or more designated family members or a trust established for Participant and/or his or her family members. Participant may make such a beneficiary designation or certificate directive at any time by filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator or its designee.
3.     Cessation of Service . Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph 4 or Paragraph 6 below, should Participant cease Service for any reason prior to vesting in one or more Shares subject to this Award, then the Award shall be immediately cancelled with respect to those unvested Shares, and the number of Restricted Stock Units will be reduced accordingly. Participant shall thereupon cease to have any right or entitlement to receive any Shares under those cancelled units.
4.     Accelerated Vesting . Should Participant cease Employee status by reason of death, Disability, termination by the Company other than for Good Cause, or resignation by the Participant for Good Reason, then all of the Shares at the time subject to this Award shall immediately vest and shall be issued on the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service due to such death, Disability, termination by the Company other than for Good Cause, or resignation by the Participant for Good Reason, or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter, subject to the Corporation’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes, but in no event later than the close of the calendar year in which such Separation from Service occurs or (if later) the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month following the date of such Separation from Service.
5.     Stockholder Rights . Participant shall not have any stockholder rights, including voting, dividend or liquidation rights, with respect to the Shares subject to the Award until the Shares vest and Participant becomes the record holder of those Shares upon their actual issuance following the Company’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes.




6.     Change in Control .
A.    Any Restricted Stock Units subject to this Award at the time of a Change in Control may be assumed by the successor entity or otherwise continued in full force and effect or may be replaced with a cash retention program of the successor entity which preserves the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares at the time of the Change in Control and provides for the subsequent vesting and payout of that value in accordance with the same vesting and payout provisions that would be applicable to those Shares in the absence of such Change in Control. In the event of such assumption or continuation of the Award or such replacement of the Award with a cash retention program, no accelerated vesting of the Restricted Stock Units shall occur at the time of the Change in Control.
B.    In the event the Award is assumed or otherwise continued in effect, the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award will be adjusted immediately after the consummation of the Change in Control so as to apply to the number and class of securities into which the Shares subject to those units immediately prior to the Change in Control would have been converted in consummation of that Change in Control had those Shares actually been issued and outstanding at that time. To the extent the actual holders of the outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for the Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award at that time, substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in the Change in Control transaction, provided such shares are registered under the federal securities laws and readily tradable on an established securities exchange.
C.    If the Restricted Stock Units subject to this Award at the time of the Change in Control are not assumed or otherwise continued in effect or replaced with a cash retention program in accordance with Paragraph 6.A above, then those units shall vest immediately prior to the closing of the Change in Control. The Shares subject to those vested units shall be converted into the right to receive the same consideration per share of Common Stock payable to the other stockholders of the Corporation in consummation of that Change in Control, and such consideration per Share shall be distributed to Participant upon the tenth (10th) business day following the earliest to occur of (i) the Issuance Date determined for that Share in accordance with the Normal Vesting Schedule, (ii) the date of Participant’s Separation from Service or (iii) the first date following a Qualifying Change in Control on which the distribution can be made without contravention of any applicable provisions of Code Section 409A. Such distribution shall be subject to the Corporation’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 8.
D.      This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
7.     Adjustment in Shares . Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction, extraordinary dividend or distribution or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, or should




the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock be substantially reduced as a result of a spin-off transaction or an extraordinary dividend or distribution, or should there occur any merger, consolidation or other reorganization, then equitable adjustments shall be made by the Plan Administrator to the total number and/or class of securities issuable pursuant to this Award in order to reflect such change, and the determination of the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. In the event of a Change in Control, the adjustments (if any) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 6.
8.     Issuance of Shares/Collection of Withholding Taxes .
A.    On each applicable Issuance Date (or any earlier date on which the Shares are to be issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), the Corporation shall issue to or on behalf of the Participant a certificate (which may be in electronic form) for the applicable number of shares of Common Stock, subject, however, to the Corporation’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes.
B.    The Corporation shall collect the applicable Withholding Taxes with respect to the Shares which vest and become issuable hereunder through an automatic share withholding procedure pursuant to which the Corporation will withhold, at the time of such issuance, a portion of the Shares with a Fair Market Value (measured as of the applicable issuance date) equal to the amount of those taxes; provided, however , that the amount of any Shares so withheld shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the Corporation‘s required tax withholding obligations using the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes that are applicable to supplemental taxable income. In the event payment is to be made in a form other than the Shares, then the Corporation shall collect from the Participant the applicable Withholding Taxes pursuant to such procedures as the Corporation deems appropriate under the circumstances.
C.    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Paragraph 8.B, the employee portion of the federal, state and local employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation in connection with the vesting of the Shares or any other amounts hereunder (the “Employment Taxes”) shall in all events be collected from the Participant no later than the last business day of the calendar year in which the Shares or other amounts vest hereunder. Accordingly, to the extent one or more vested Shares are issued, or other amounts are distributed, in a year subsequent to the calendar year in which those Shares or other amounts vest, the Participant shall, on or before the last business day of the calendar year in which the Shares or other amounts vest, deliver to the Corporation a check payable to its order in the dollar amount equal to the Employment Taxes required to be withheld with respect to those Shares or other amounts. The provisions of this Paragraph 8.C shall be applicable only to the extent necessary to comply with the applicable tax withholding requirements of Code Section 3121(v).
D.    Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph 6 and Paragraph 8.B, the settlement of all Restricted Stock Units which vest under the Award shall be made solely in shares of Common Stock. In no event, however, shall any fractional shares be issued. Accordingly, the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Award shall, to the extent necessary, be rounded down to the next whole share in order to avoid the issuance of a fractional share.




9.     Deferred Issuance Date . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, no Shares or other amounts which become issuable or distributable by reason of Participant’s Separation from Service shall actually be issued or distributed to Participant prior to the earlier of (i) the first day of the seventh (7th) month following the date of such Separation from Service or (ii) the date of Participant’s death, if Participant is deemed at the time of such Separation from Service to be a specified employee under Section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations issued under Code Section 409A, as determined by the Plan Administrator in accordance with consistent and uniform standards applied to all other Code Section 409A arrangements of the Corporation, and such delayed commencement is otherwise required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Code Section 409A(a)(2). The deferred Shares or other distributable amount shall be issued or distributed in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh (7th) month following the date of Participant’s Separation from Service or, if earlier, the first day of the month immediately following the date the Corporation receives proof of Participant’s death.
10.     Benefit Limit. The benefit limitation of this Paragraph 10 shall apply only to the extent Participant is not otherwise entitled to a Code Section 4999 tax gross-up under the Corporation’s Executive Severance Plan (or any successor plan) with respect to the Shares that vest on an accelerated basis in connection with a Change in Control or subsequent cessation of Employee status:
In the event the vesting and issuance of the Shares subject to this Award would otherwise constitute a parachute payment under Code Section 280G, then the vesting and issuance of those Shares shall be subject to reduction to the extent necessary to assure that the number of Shares which vest and are issued under this Award will be limited to the greater of (i)  the number of Shares which can vest and be issued without triggering a parachute payment under Code Section 280G or (ii)  the maximum number of Shares which can vest and be issued under this Award so as to provide the Participant with the greatest after-tax amount of such vested and issued Shares after taking into account any excise tax the Participant may incur under Code Section 4999 with respect to those Shares and any other benefits or payments to which the Participant may be entitled in connection with any change in control or ownership of the Corporation or the subsequent termination of the Participant’s Service.
11.     Compliance with Laws and Regulations . The issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Award shall be subject to compliance by the Corporation and Participant with all applicable requirements of law relating thereto and with all applicable regulations of any Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed for trading at the time of such issuance.
12.     Notices . Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to Participant shall be in writing and addressed to Participant at the address indicated below Participant’s signature line on this




Agreement. All notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be notified.
13.     Successors and Assigns . Except to the extent otherwise provided in this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and assigns and Participant, Participant’s assigns, the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of Participant’s estate and any beneficiaries of the Award designated by Participant.
14.     Construction . This Agreement and the Award evidenced hereby are made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject to the terms of the Plan. All decisions of the Plan Administrator with respect to any question or issue arising under the Plan or this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Award. To the extent there is any ambiguity as to whether any provision of this Agreement would otherwise contravene one or more applicable requirements or limitations of Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, such provision shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that complies with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each installment distribution of Shares (or other installment distribution hereunder) shall be treated as a separate payment, and Participant’s right to receive each such installment of Shares (or other installment distribution hereunder) shall accordingly be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments.
15.     Governing Law . The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without resort to that State’s conflict-of-laws rules
16.     Employment at Will . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Participant) or of Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate Participant’s Service at any time for any reason, with or without cause.
    




IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this Restricted Stock Unit Issuance Agreement on the respective dates indicated below.



SJW GROUP
By:                                                               
Dated:                                                           
 




[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
Signature:                                                     
Address:                                                      
Dated:                                                           
 






APPENDIX A
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:
A.     Agreement shall mean this Restricted Stock Unit Issuance Agreement.
B.     Award shall mean the award of Restricted Stock Units made to Participant pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.
C.     Award Date shall mean the date the Restricted Stock Units are awarded to Participant pursuant to the Agreement and shall be the date indicated in Paragraph 1 of the Agreement.
D.     Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.
E.     Change in Control shall mean any change in control or ownership of the Corporation which occurs by reason of one or more of the following events:
(i)    the acquisition, directly or indirectly by any person or related group of persons (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the Corporation or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under control with, the Corporation or an employee benefit plan maintained by any such entity, of beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities of the Corporation that results in such person or related group of persons beneficially owning thirty percent (30%) or more of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s then-outstanding securities;
(ii)    a merger, recapitalization, consolidation, or other similar transaction to which the Corporation is a party, unless securities representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the surviving entity or a parent thereof are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately before the transaction;

(iii)    a sale, transfer or disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets, unless securities representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the entity acquiring the Corporation’s assets or parent thereof are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately before the transaction,





                



(iv)    a merger, recapitalization, consolidation, or other transaction to which the Corporation is a party or the sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets if, in either case, the members of the Board immediately prior to consummation of the transaction do not, upon consummation of the transaction, constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the surviving entity or the entity acquiring the Corporation’s assets, as the case may be, or a parent thereof (for this purpose, any change in the composition of the board of directors that is anticipated or pursuant to an understanding or agreement in connection with a transaction will be deemed to have occurred at the time of the transaction); or

(v)    a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (a) have been Board members since the beginning of such period or (b) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members who were described in clause (a) or who were previously so elected or approved and who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or nomination; provided, however, that solely for purposes of determining whether a permissible Section 409A distribution can be made under Paragraph 6.D in connection with such Change in Control event, the period for measuring a change in the composition of the Board shall be limited to a period of twelve (12) consecutive months or less;

provided, however , that no Change in Control shall occur if the result of the transaction is to give more ownership or control of the Corporation to any person or related group of persons who held securities representing more than thirty percent (30%) of the combined voting power of the Corporation's outstanding securities as of March 3, 2003.

F.     Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
G.     Common Stock shall mean the shares of the Corporation’s common stock.
H.     Corporation shall mean SJW Group., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of SJW Group. which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan and/or assume the Award.
I.     Disability shall mean the Participant’s permanent and total disability as determined pursuant to Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
J.     Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance; provided, however, that solely for purposes of determining whether Participant has incurred a Separation from Service, the term


                



“Employee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Separation from Service definition set forth in this Appendix.
K.     Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be the closing selling price per share on the date in question on the Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock is at that time primarily traded, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If there is no reported sale of Common Stock on such Stock Exchange on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the exchange on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
L.     Good Cause shall mean:
(i)     Any act or omission by Participant that results in substantial harm to the business or property of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) and that constitutes dishonesty, intentional breach of fiduciary obligation or intentional wrongdoing,
(ii)    Participant’s conviction of a criminal violation involving fraud or dishonesty, or
(iii)    Participant’s intentional and knowing participation in the preparation or release of false or materially misleading financial statements relating to the operations and financial condition of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) or Participant’s intentional and knowing submission of any false or erroneous certification required of him or her under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is at the time listed for trading.
The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to discharge or dismiss Participant or any other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of the Plan or this Agreement, to constitute grounds for termination for Good Cause.

M.     Good Reason shall be deemed to exist with respect to Participant if and only if, without Participant’s express written consent:
(i)    there is a significantly adverse change in the nature or the scope of Participant’s authority or in his or her overall working environment;
(ii)    Participant is assigned duties materially inconsistent with his or her present duties, responsibilities and status;
(iii)    there is a reduction in the sum of Participant’s rate of base salary and target bonus; or
(iv)    the Corporation changes by fifty-five (55) miles or more the principal location in which Participant is required to perform services;


                



provided, however , that, before Participant may resign for any Good Reason event or transaction, Participant must first provide written notice to the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Participant) identifying such Good Reason event or transaction within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of such event or transaction and the Corporation (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Participant) shall have failed to cure such event or transaction within thirty (30) days after receipt of such written notice.

N.     1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
O.     Participant shall mean the person to whom the Award is made pursuant to the Agreement.
P.     Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
Q.     Plan shall mean the Corporation’s Long-Term Incentive Plan.
R.     Plan Administrator shall mean either the Board or a committee of the Board acting in its capacity as administrator of the Plan.
S.     Qualifying Change in Control shall mean a transaction effecting a change in control or ownership of the Corporation that also qualifies as: (i) a change in the ownership of the Corporation, as determined in accordance with Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v) of the Treasury Regulations, (ii) a change in the effective control of the Corporation, as determined in accordance with Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi) of the Treasury Regulations, or (iii) a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Corporation, as determined in accordance with Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii) of the Treasury Regulations.
T.     Restricted Stock Unit shall mean each unit subject to the Award which shall entitle Participant to receive one (1) share of Common Stock upon the vesting of that unit.
U.     Separation from Service shall mean the Participant’s cessation of Employee status by reason of his or her death, retirement or termination of employment. The Participant shall be deemed to have terminated employment for such purpose at such time as the level of his or her bona fide services to be performed as an Employee (or as a consultant or independent contractor) permanently decreases to a level that is not more than twenty percent (20%) of the average level of services he or she rendered as an Employee during the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) months (or such shorter period for which he or she may have rendered such services). Solely for purposes of determining when a Separation from Service occurs, Participant will be deemed to continue in “Employee” status for so long as he or she remains in the employ of one or more members of the Employer Group, subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. “Employer Group” means the Corporation and any Parent or Subsidiary and any other corporation or business controlled by,


                



controlling or under common control with, the Corporation, as determined in accordance with Sections 414(b) and (c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, except that in applying Sections 1563(1), (2) and (3) of the Code for purposes of determining the controlled group of corporations under Section 414(b), the phrase “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place the latter phrase appears in such sections and in applying Section 1.414(c)-2 of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining trades or businesses that are under common control for purposes of Section 414(c), the phrase “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place the latter phrase appears in Section 1.4.14(c)-2 of the Treasury Regulations. Any such determination as to Separation from Service, however, shall be made in accordance with the applicable standards of the Treasury Regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code.
V.     Service shall mean Participant’s performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in the capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the Board or a consultant or independent advisor. Participant shall be deemed to cease Service immediately upon the occurrence of either of the following events: (i) Participant no longer performs services in any of the foregoing capacities for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) or (ii) the entity for which Participant performs such services ceases to remain a Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation, even though Participant may subsequently continue to perform services for that entity. Service as an Employee shall not be deemed to cease during a period of military leave, sick leave or other personal leave approved by the Corporation; provided, however , that the following special provisions shall be in effect for any such leave:
(i)    Should the period of such leave (other than a disability leave) exceed six (6) months, then Participant shall be deemed to cease Service and to incur a Separation from Service upon the expiration of the initial six (6) - month period of that leave, unless Participant retains a right to re-employment under applicable law or by contract with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
(ii)    Should the period of a disability leave exceed twenty-nine (29) months, then Participant shall be deemed to cease Service and to incur a Separation from Service upon the expiration of the initial twenty-nine (29)-month period of that leave, unless Participant retains a right to re-employment under applicable law or by contract with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary). For such purpose, a disability leave shall be a leave of absence due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or to last for a continuous period of not less than six (6) months and causes Participant to be unable to perform the duties of his or her position of employment with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) or any substantially similar position of employment.
(iii)    Except to the extent otherwise required by law or expressly authorized by the Plan Administrator or by the Corporation’s written policy on leaves of absence, no Service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period Participant is on a leave of absence.


                



W.     Stock Exchange shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange.
X.     Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
Y.     Withholding Taxes shall mean (i) the employee portion of the federal, state and local employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation in connection with the vesting of the shares of Common Stock (or any other property) under the Award and (ii) the federal, state and local income taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation in connection with the issuance of those vested shares (or any other property).


                




Exhibit C

Confidential Settlement Agreement and Release


                




CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
This Confidential Settlement Agreement and General Release (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Eric W. Thornburg for himself and his heirs, successors and assigns (hereinafter “Executive”), and SJW Group (hereinafter “Company”) (collectively, the “Parties”), effective on this ___ day of _______ 20__:
1.     Release . Executive understands and agrees that in exchange for the consideration described in Section 7 of the Employment Agreement between Executive and Company, which is in addition to anything of value to which Executive is entitled to receive, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Executive and his representatives, agents, estate, heirs, successors and assigns, absolutely and unconditionally hereby release, remise, discharge, and hold harmless the Releasees (which is defined to include the Company and/or any of its parents, subsidiaries or affiliates, predecessors, successors or assigns, and its and their respective current and/or former partners, directors, shareholders/stockholders, officers, employees, employee benefit plans, insurers, attorneys and/or agents, all both individually and in their official capacities), from any and all legally waivable actions or causes of action, suits, claims, complaints, contracts, liabilities, agreements, promises, contracts, torts, debts, damages, controversies, judgments, rights and demands, whether existing or contingent, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which arise out of Executive’s employment with, change in employment status with, and/or separation of employment from, the Company. This release is intended by Executive to be all-encompassing and to act as a full and total release of any legally waivable claims, whether specifically enumerated herein or not, that Executive may have or have had against the Releasees arising from conduct occurring up to and through the date of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any legally waivable claims arising from any federal, state or local law, regulation or constitution dealing with either employment, employment benefits or employment discrimination including any claims or causes of action Executive have or may have relating to discrimination under federal, state or local statutes including, but not limited to, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, all as amended from time to time, and any contract, whether oral or written, express or implied; any tort; any claim for equity or other benefits; or any other statutory and/or common law claim.
Executive agrees and understands that, except as may be required by subpoena, court order, or other legal proceedings, he shall not, in any way, assist any individual or entity in commencing or prosecuting any action or proceeding, including, but not limited to, any administrative agency claims, charges or complaints or any lawsuit against the Releasees, or in any way cooperate or participate in any such action or proceeding, including trial, pretrial preparation, prelitigation fact-gathering or administrative agency proceeding connected with any and all matters. Absent legal compulsion, this Agreement bars Executive from testifying, providing documents or information, advising, counseling or providing any other form of assistance to any person or entity who wishes to make or who is making claims against the


                



Releasees. Executive understands and agrees that, notwithstanding any provisions and covenants in this Paragraph, nothing in this Agreement and Release is intended to constitute an unlawful release or waiver of any of Executive’s rights under any laws and/or to prevent, impede, or interfere with Executive’s ability and/or right to provide truthful testimony if under subpoena to do so.
2.     No Filing of Claims . Executive represents and warrants that he does not presently have on file any claims, charges, grievances, actions, appeals or complaints against Releasees in or with any administrative, state, federal or governmental entity, agency, board or court, or before any other tribunal or arbitrator(s), public or private, based upon any actions occurring prior to the date of this Agreement.
3.     Waiver of Unknown Claims . It is further understood and agreed by the Parties that as a condition of this Agreement, Executive hereby expressly waives and relinquishes any and all claims, rights or benefits that he may have under California Civil Code Section 1542, which provides as follows:
“A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or his favor at the time of executing the release which if known by him or his must have materially affected his or his settlement with the debtor.”
In connection with such waiver and relinquishment, Executive hereby acknowledges that he or his attorneys may hereafter discover claims or facts in addition to, or different from, those which they now know or believe to exist, but that he expressly agrees to fully, finally and forever settle and release any and all claims, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which exist or may exist on his behalf against Releasees at the time of execution of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any and all claims relating to or arising from Executive’s employment with Company, the cessation of that employment, or the subsequent Lawsuit arising out of that employment. The Parties further acknowledge, understand and agree that this representation and commitment is essential to each Party and that this Agreement would not have been entered into were it not for this representation and commitment.
4.     Reports to Government Entities . Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict the Executive from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “ Regulators ”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in such communications, respond to such inquiries, provide confidential information or documents to the Regulators, or make any such reports or disclosures to the Regulators. The Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has engaged in such communications with the


                



Regulators. If the Executive is required by law to disclose Proprietary Information, other than to Regulators as described above, the Executive shall give prompt written notice to the Company so as to permit the Company to protect its interests in confidentiality to the extent possible. Federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law.
5.     Non-Admission of Liability . The Parties acknowledge that they each deny any wrongdoing whatsoever in connection with one another and that the settlement agreement made pursuant to this Agreement is made solely for the purpose of compromising disputed claims and avoiding the time, expense and uncertainty of litigation. It is expressly understood and agreed that nothing contained in this Agreement shall constitute or be treated as an admission of any wrongdoing or liability on the part of Company or Executive.
6.     Confidentiality . Executive represents that he will not hereafter without compulsion of legal process, disclose to others, either directly, indirectly or by implication, the existence of this Agreement, the terms of his severance benefits (either by specific dollar amount, by number of “figures”, or otherwise), or the fact of the payment of said amounts, or the facts or circumstance if any actual or alleged claims that Executive may have against Releasees, except to the extent previously disclosed to the public by the Company and except that Executive may disclose such information as is necessary to his spouse, or his attorneys, accountants or other professional advisors to effect the purposes for which he has consulted such attorneys, accountants, or professional advisors, or where disclosure is required by law. Any person or entity to which Executive is permitted to and in fact discloses such information, other than where a disclosure is required by law, must agree to be bound by the terms of this confidentiality provision. In the event that Executive believes he is legally obligated by statutory or regulatory requirements (including compulsory legal process), to make such disclosures, he shall so notify Company in writing immediately, and in no event less than ten (10) days prior to the date for disclosure. If it is not possible to do so at least ten (10) days in advance, Executive will notify the Company’s General Counsel within twenty-four (24) hours of receiving notice that Executive is so obligated. If Company takes any action to challenge such disclosure, Executive shall defer making such disclosure until Company’s challenge is finally resolved, unless ordered by a Court to give the information notwithstanding Company’s challenge. Executive agrees and acknowledges that a violation of this paragraph by Executive shall be a material breach of this Agreement
7.     Payments of Taxes. Executive agrees to pay all federal, state and local taxes and any other legal obligations, if any, which are required by law to be paid with respect to the payments received under Section 7 of the Employment Agreement.  With respect to the Settlement Payment, Executive further agrees that should any of the foregoing payments be found improper or unwarranted by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority, with the result that Executive is held obligated to pay additional taxes, fees, penalties, or interest,


                



he will not assert, file, or make any claims against Company or pursue any other causes of action against it or its representatives for such taxes, fees, penalties, or interest as they may be compelled to pay and the costs, including attorneys’ fees, which he may have to pay in connection with any disputes between his and the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.
8.     Acknowledgement of Wages Paid and No Other Amounts Due . Executive acknowledges that, except as expressly provided for in this Agreement, he has been paid any and all salary, bonuses, commissions or other amounts due from Releasees, and that no other amounts are due to Executive from Releasees.
9.     No Further Employment with Company . Executive understands and agrees that he has no right to employment with Company or any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or related companies and is not eligible for re-hire by Company or any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or related companies. Executive further agrees that he shall not apply for re-employment directly with Company or any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or related companies.
10.     Right to Revoke .
Executive understands and agrees that he:
(a)
Has a full twenty-one (21) days (or forty-five (45) days if such longer period is required under applicable law) after receipt of this Agreement within which to review and consider the Agreement;
(b)
Is advised to consult with an attorney which he may freely choose prior to executing this Agreement;
(c)
Has carefully read and fully understands the provisions of this Agreement;
(d)
Is, through and in accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement, releasing Releasees from any and all claims he has or may come to have against the Releasees;
(e)
Is knowingly and voluntarily agreeing to all the terms set forth in this Agreement;
(f)
Has seven (7) days after the execution of this Agreement within which he may revoke this Agreement. In order to revoke this Agreement, Executive must deliver to the Company’s General Counsel, a letter stating that he is revoking this Agreement no later than seven (7) days after he executes it;
(g)
That, because of this revocation period, this Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the eighth (8 th ) day following the date Executive executes this Agreement (the “Effective Date”);


                



(h)
Is not waiving any rights or claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.) that may arise after the date this Agreement is executed; and
(i)
Is, by reason of this Agreement and the release of claims herein, receiving from Company good and sufficient consideration in addition to anything of value to which he is already entitled.
11.     Non-Solicitation and Proprietary Information and Termination Obligations . Executive understands and agrees that he will remain bound by the provisions of Sections 9, 10 and 15 of the Employment Agreement.
12.     Legal and Equitable Remedies.
(a)    Because any breach by the Executive of any of the restrictive covenants contained in Section 9 and Section 10 of the Employment Agreement would result in irreparable injury and damage for which money damages would not provide an adequate remedy, the Company shall have the right to enforce Section 9 and Section 10 of the Employment Agreement and any of their provisions by injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, without bond and without prejudice to any other rights and remedies that the Company may have for a breach, or threatened breach, of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 9 and Section 10 of the Employment Agreement. The Executive agrees that in any action in which the Company seeks injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, the Executive will not assert or contend that any of the provisions of Section 9 or Section 10 of the Employment Agreement are unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable.
(b)    The Executive irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees that any legal proceeding arising out of this Agreement shall be brought solely in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, or if such court does not have jurisdiction or will not accept jurisdiction, in any court of general jurisdiction in Santa Clara County, (ii) consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court in any such proceeding, and (iii) waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such proceeding in any such court. The Executive also irrevocably and unconditionally consents to the service of any process, pleadings, notices or other papers.
(c)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive breaches any of the Executive’s obligations under Section 9 or Section 10 of the Employment Agreement, all payments under Section 7 of the Employment Agreement shall cease. In such event, the Company may require that the Executive repay the after-tax value of all amounts theretofore paid to him pursuant to Section 7 of the Employment Agreement, and in such case, the Executive shall promptly repay such amounts within the timeframe specified by the Company (which shall be no earlier than 60 days following the notice to the Executive).
13.     Ownership of Claims . The Parties represent and warrant that they are the sole and lawful owner of all rights, title and interest in and to all released matters, claims and demands referred to herein. The Parties further represent and warrant that there has been no


                



assignment or other transfer of any interest in any such matters, claims or demands that the Parties may have against one another.
14.     California Law Applies . This Agreement, in all respects, shall be interpreted, enforced and governed by and under the laws of the State of California.
15.     Successors and Assigns . It is expressly understood and agreed by the Parties that this Agreement and all of its terms shall be binding upon each Parties’ representatives, heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.
16.     Drafting . The Parties agree that this Agreement shall be construed without regard to the drafter of the same and shall be construed as though each party to this Agreement participated equally in the preparation and drafting of this Agreement.
17.     Attorneys’ Fees . In the event that any party to this Agreement asserts a claim for breach of this Agreement or seeks to enforce its terms, the prevailing party in any such proceeding shall be entitled to recover costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
18.     Execution of Additional Documents . The Parties agree to execute such other, further, and different documents as reasonably may be required to effectuate this Agreement.
19.     Consultation with Counsel . The Parties and each of them acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel of their choice prior to execution and delivery of this Agreement, and that they have in fact done so. Executive acknowledges that he has been specifically advised by counsel of the consequences of the Release he has signed.
20.     Headings . The headings in each paragraph herein are for convenience of reference only and shall be of no legal effect in the interpretation of the terms hereof.
21.     Integration . This Agreement constitutes a single, integrated, written contract, expressing the entire agreement between the Parties. It supersedes all prior agreements between the Parties, with the exception of the provisions in the Employment Agreement specifically referenced herein. The Parties represent and warrant that they are not relying on any promises or representations that do not appear written herein. The Parties further understand and agree that this Agreement can be amended or modified only by a written agreement, signed by all of the Parties hereto.
22.     Severability . If any provision in this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, it shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions and the court shall enforce the remaining provisions to the extent permitted by law.
23.     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts and each such counterpart shall be deemed an original with the same effect as if all Parties had signed the same document.
24.     Voluntary Agreement . Executive understands and agrees that he may be waiving significant legal rights by signing this Agreement, and represents that he has entered into


                



this Agreement voluntarily, after consulting with his attorneys, with a full understanding of and in agreement with all of its terms.
25.     Authority to Enter Into Agreement . Each party represents and warrants that, as of the date of the execution of this Agreement, he, he or it has the right and authority to execute this Agreement, and he, he or it has not sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed, or otherwise disposed of any claims or demands relating to any right surrendered by virtue of this Agreement. Each party further represents and warrants that he, he or it has had the opportunity to consult and has consulted legal counsel in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement. Each of the Parties and his, his or its signatory represents that the signatory is either a party or a business representative or assignee of, and is fully authorized to execute this Agreement on behalf of, the party for whom he or he signs.
26.     PDF Signature . PDF signatures on this Agreement shall be treated as original signatures.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Settlement Agreement and Release on the dates indicated below.
PLEASE READ THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT CAREFULLY. IT INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.
DATED:
Eric W. Thornburg
DATED:
SJW Group.
By:                                                                     
Its:                                                                     
 



Exhibit 10.4

SJW Group
110 W Taylor Street
San Jose, CA 95110-2131
(408) 279-7800
Fax (408) 279-7934

September 26, 2017
W. Richard Roth

Dear Rich:
The purpose of this letter is to document the understanding we have reached concerning the transition of your title, positions and duties with SJW Group (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries. This document (the “Transition Agreement”) will supersede anything to the contrary in your existing employment agreement with the Company originally dated December 9, 2008 and subsequently amended effective December 16, 2009, January 26, 2010 and July 30, 2014 (the “Employment Agreement”) regarding your title, positions and duties and also provides a waiver of Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement) termination. All other terms of the Employment Agreement (or any other agreement between you and the Company, including without limitation any equity award agreements) that are not so superseded by the terms of this Transition Agreement shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect.
1.     Transition of Position . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Transition Agreement, you will continue to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Chief Executive Officer of San Jose Water Company, the President and Chief Executive Officer of SJW Land Company, the Chief Executive Officer of SJWTX, Inc. and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Texas Water Alliance Limited (each such position, a “Position”) until November 5, 2017, unless an earlier date is mutually agreed by you and the Company (the “Transition Date”). Until the Transition Date, the terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Effective on the Transition Date, you will resign from each Position (except with respect to Texas Water Alliance Limited) but will continue as an employee of the Company as set forth in this Transition Agreement. You will continue as the President, Chief Executive Officer and chairman of the board of directors of Texas Water Alliance Limited until November 30, 2017 or such earlier date as deemed appropriate by the Board. You will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and the Chairman of the Board until the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (the “2018 Meeting”). You will also continue to serve as the chairman of the board of directors of San Jose Water Company, SJW Land Company and SJWTX, Inc. until the 2018 Meeting (or any earlier date as deemed appropriate by the Board).




2.     Transition Services and Compensation . Effective as of the Transition Date and through December 31, 2017 (such date, the “Separation Date” and such period, the “Transition Period”), you will continue as a full-time employee and officer as Chief Executive Emeritus of the Company and San Jose Water Company, reporting to the Board. During the Transition Period, you will assist in the transition of your responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and your other Positions. Depending on your duties, as they may be agreed upon from time to time, your services during the Transition Period may be performed at the Company’s offices or via telecommuting. You will at all times during the Transition Period remain subject to the control and direction of the Company as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.
This Transition Agreement does not change the compensation and benefits payable to you under the Employment Agreement except in connection with the waiver of Good Reason termination as set forth below in Section 4. You will remain eligible to receive all payments and benefits under any deferred compensation or other arrangements that provide for payments following your separation from service in accordance with their terms.
Prior to your Separation Date, the Company will transfer to you the ownership of the Company-provided motor vehicle you currently use.
Effective January 2018, you will be eligible to receive fees for your Board services in accordance with the Company’s Director Compensation and Expense Reimbursement Policies.
3.     Termination of Employment . Effective as of the Separation Date, you will resign from employment with the Company and its subsidiaries for all purposes, including for the purposes of all compensation and employee benefit plans in accordance with the terms of such plans, except as provided herein. Following the date of such resignation, you will continue to be subject to (i) the insider reporting and trading restrictions under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and (ii) the Company’s insider trading policy.
4.     Employment Agreement; No Good Reason . You acknowledge and agree that your transition from the position of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and your other Positions is a voluntary decision by you and that neither the transition nor the appointment of a new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and its subsidiaries will constitute Good Reason within the meaning of the Employment Agreement. You similarly acknowledge and agree that any changes in your title, duties, scope of authority or overall working environment as of the Transition Date and during the Transition Period do not and will not constitute Good Reason. You understand and agree that you hereby waive, and are not entitled to, any benefits under the Employment Agreement, or any other plan or program of the Company, that are premised upon a resignation by you for Good Reason for any of the changes to your title, positions, duties, authority and working environment as set forth in this Transition Agreement.
5 .     Termination of Employment Agreement . Your Employment Agreement will not be renewed upon the expiration of its term on the Separation Date, and your Employment Agreement will accordingly terminate and cease to have any force or effect at the close of business on the Separation Date, except that (a) the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 13 of your Employment

2



Agreement will continue to be binding upon you for the one (1)-year period measured from the date you cease employment with the Company and (b) Sections 14 and 17 of your Employment Agreement will also survive the termination of your Employment Agreement.

6.     Public Announcement . The Company will provide you with a reasonable opportunity to review and provide input into the Form 8-K filing that will be made by the Company in connection with the parties entering into this Transition Agreement.
7.     Governing Law . This Transition Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the substantive and procedural laws of California without regard to rules governing conflicts of law.
Sincerely,
/s/ Daniel B. More
Daniel B. More
Chair, Executive Compensation Committee


ACCEPTANCE
I hereby accept the foregoing terms and conditions of this Transition Agreement governing my resignation as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and from each of the other Positions with the Company’s subsidiaries, my continuation in full-time status as Chief Executive Emeritus of the Company and San Jose Water Company and agree that my existing Employment Agreement is hereby amended and modified in accordance with the foregoing terms and conditions and will terminate on December 31, 2017. I also agree that (i) the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 13 of my Employment Agreement shall continue to be binding upon me for the one (1)-year period measured from the date I cease to be an employee of the Company, and (ii) Sections 14 and 17 of my Employment Agreement shall survive the termination of my Employment Agreement. My acceptance of this Transition Agreement will serve as my resignation from my employment and the Positions and offices on the respective dates as set forth in this Transition Agreement and I will not be required to execute any additional documentation to effectuate such resignations.

/s/ W. Richard Roth
W. Richard Roth
 
Dated: September 26, 2017

3

Exhibit 10.5

FOURTH AMENDMENT
TO THE
SAN JOSE WATER COMPANY CASH BALANCE
EXECUTIVE SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN
(Amended and Restated on January 25, 2012, Effective as of January 1, 2012)
WHEREAS , San Jose Water Company (the “Company”) maintains the San Jose Water Company Cash Balance Executive Supplement Retirement Plan (the “Cash Balance SERP”);
WHEREAS , the Company wishes to amend the Cash Balance SERP to add special provisions for Eric Thornburg’s participation thereunder;
WHEREAS , Section 8.01 of the Cash Balance SERP permits the Board of Directors to amend the Cash Balance SERP;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Cash Balance SERP is hereby amended as follows effective November 6, 2017:
1.
Section 6.2 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
6.2     Special Provisions for Designated Participants .
(a)    The participation in the Plan by James P. Lynch shall be subject to the following modifications of the terms and provisions otherwise in effect for all other Participants in the Plan and shall, accordingly, apply to and govern his Compensation Credits under the Plan:
For each Plan Quarter that James P. Lynch remains an Eligible Employee participating in the Plan, Compensation Credits shall be made to his Account in an amount determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.2(a) of the Plan but based on the following chart in lieu of the chart that otherwise appears in such Section 3.2(a):
Years of Credited Service
Percent of Compensation
Less than 20
15%
20 or more
16%
(b)    The participation in the Plan by Eric Thornburg shall be subject to the following modifications of the terms and provisions otherwise in effect for all other Participants in the Plan and shall, accordingly, apply to and govern his Compensation Credits under the Plan:
(i)    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1.10, the special sign-on bonus specified in Eric Thornburg’s employment agreement will be included in his Compensation for the Plan Quarter in which it is paid.
(ii)    Notwithstanding the provisions of Article II, Eric Thornburg shall become a Participant in the Plan as of November 6, 2017.




(iii)    For each Plan Quarter that Eric Thornburg remains an Eligible Employee participating in the Plan through the end of the Plan Quarter including Eric Thornburg’s sixty-fifth birthday, Compensation Credits shall be made to his Account in in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.2(a) of the Plan, but in an amount determined under the following chart in lieu of the chart that appears in such Section 3.2(a):
Percent of Compensation
39%
(iv)    For each Plan Quarter that Eric Thornburg remains an Eligible Employee participating in the Plan beginning with the Plan Quarter following the quarter in which occurs Eric Thornburg’s sixty-fifth birthday, Compensation Credits shall be made to his Account in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.2(a), but based on his Years of Credited Service in an amount determined under the following chart:
Years of Credited Service
Percent of Compensation
Less than 10
11%
10 but less than 15
12%
15 but less than 20
14%
20 or more
16%
(c)    The participation in the Plan by James P. Lynch and Andrew F. Walters shall be subject to the following modifications of the terms and provisions otherwise in effect for all other Participants in the Plan and shall, accordingly, apply to and govern the vesting of their Accrued Benefit thereunder:
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.1 of the Plan, James P. Lynch and Andrew F. Walters shall each vest in their Accrued Benefit under the Plan upon their completion of Years of Service as follows:
Years of Service Completed
Vested Percentage
Less than 3
None
3 or More
100%
(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.1 of the Plan, Eric Thornburg shall fully vest in his Accrued Benefit under the Plan upon his attainment of age sixty-five (65).
(e)    Except as expressly provided in this Section 6.2, all the terms and provisions of the Plan shall apply to James P. Lynch, Andrew F. Walters and Eric Thornburg and shall govern their participation in the Plan and their accrual of a Retirement Benefit thereunder.
(f)    The provisions of this Section 6.2 shall not apply to any Participant in the Plan other than James P. Lynch, Andrew F. Walters and Eric Thornburg, and shall have no




effect or impact on any such other Participant’s benefit entitlement or benefit accrual under the Plan.
2.    Except as expressly modified by this Fourth Amendment, all the terms and provisions of the Cash Balance SERP shall continue to remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be
executed on this 26th day of September, 2017.
                    
SAN JOSE WATER COMPANY
 
By: /s/ W. Richard Roth
W. Richard Roth, President,
Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of Board of Directors






Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATIONS
I, W. Richard Roth, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of SJW Group (the “registrant”);
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:
October 30, 2017
/s/ W. RICHARD ROTH
 
 
W. Richard Roth
 
 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
(Principal executive officer)







Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATIONS
I, James P. Lynch, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of SJW Group (the “registrant”);
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date:
October 30, 2017
/s/ JAMES P. LYNCH
 
 
James P. Lynch
 
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
 
(Principal financial officer)






Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of SJW Group (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, W. Richard Roth, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge on the date hereof:
(1)
the Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)
the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
/s/ W. RICHARD ROTH
 
W. Richard Roth
 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
(Principal executive officer)
 
October 30, 2017
 






Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of SJW Group (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, James P. Lynch, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge on the date hereof:
(1)
the Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)
the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
/s/ JAMES P. LYNCH
 
James P. Lynch
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
(Principal financial officer)
 
October 30, 2017