UNITED STATES

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 23, 2016

 

 

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

California

 

001-14431

 

95-4676679

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification
No.)

 

 

 

 

 

630 East Foothill Blvd.
San Dimas, California

 

 

 

91773

(Address of principal executive
offices)

 

 

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (909) 394-3600

 

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2 below):

 

o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 14a-12)

 

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



 

Section 5 - Corporate Governance and Management

 

Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On March 24, 2016, the Board of Directors of American States Water Company approved an amendment to the Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan to prohibit the grant of additional awards after August 15, 2016 if the shareholders of the Company approve a new stock incentive plan at the Company’s annual meeting on May 17, 2016.  The Board of Directors also approved an amendment to the Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan to delete a provision that was confusing and unnecessary.  A copy of this amendment is attached as Exhibit 10.1.

 

On March 23, 2016, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the 2016 short-term incentive program (the “Bonus Program”) for the executive officers (the “Executive Officers”) of American States Water Company.  Under the terms of the Bonus Program, each of the Executive Officers is eligible to earn an objective cash bonus and a discretionary cash bonus for the 2016 calendar year.

 

The target aggregate bonus for Robert J. Sprowls, President and Chief Executive Officer of American States Water Company and its subsidiaries, Eva G. Tang, Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of American States Water Company and its subsidiaries and Treasurer of American States Water Company, Denise L. Kruger, Senior Vice President-Regulated Utilities for Golden State Water Company, James C. Cotton III, Senior Vice President and Procurement Officer of American States Utility Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and Patrick R. Scanlon, Vice President-Water Operations for Golden State Water Company is 70%, 30.5%, 30.5%, 50% and 25%, respectively, of his or her base salary for 2016.  The objective bonus is 80% of the target aggregate bonus for each of these Executive Officers and will become payable based upon each Executive Officer’s attainment of specific performance targets set forth in the Bonus Program.  The discretionary bonus is 20% of the target aggregate bonus for each of these Executive Officers and is payable based on the Company’s subjective assessment of the Executive Officer’s performance in the areas of our business over which he or she has responsibility.

 

A copy of the 2016 Short-Term Incentive Program and the Form of 2016 Short-Term Incentive Program Award Agreement are attached as Exhibits 10.3 and 10.4.

 

Exhibit 8.01.  Other Events.

 

On March 24, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company also approved an amendment to the 2013 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan in order to reduce the aggregate number of common shares issuable under this plan to 200,000 shares.  Furthermore, the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be delivered to an individual under this plan in a calendar year shall not exceed 2,500 shares.  A copy of this amendment is attached as Exhibit 10.2.

 



 

Section 9-Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

The following documents are filed as an Exhibit to this report:

 

Exhibit 10.1:   Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated*

 

Exhibit 10.2:   2013 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan, as amended*

 

Exhibit 10.3:              2016 Short-Term Incentive Program*

 

Exhibit 10.4:              Form of 2016 Short-Term Incentive Program Award Agreement*

 


*Management contract or compensatory arrangement.

 


 

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY:

 

 

Date: March 25, 2016

/s/ Eva G. Tang

 

Eva G. Tang
Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial
Officer, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer

 


EXHIBIT 10.1

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

(Effective March 24, 2016)

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.

THE PLAN

1

 

 

 

1.1

Purpose

1

 

 

 

1.2

Administration and Authorization; Power and Procedure

1

 

 

 

1.3

Participation

3

 

 

 

1.4

Shares Available for Awards; Share Limits

3

 

 

 

1.5

Grant of Awards

4

 

 

 

1.6

Award Period

4

 

 

 

1.7

Limitations on Exercise and Vesting of Awards

4

 

 

 

1.8

No Transferability; Limited Exception to Transfer Restrictions

5

 

 

 

2.

OPTIONS

6

 

 

 

2.1

Grants

6

 

 

 

2.2

Option Price

6

 

 

 

2.3

Limitations on Grant and Terms of Incentive Stock Options

6

 

 

 

2.4

Limits on 10% Holders

7

 

 

 

3.

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

7

 

 

 

3.1

Grants

7

 

 

 

3.2

Restrictions

7

 

 

 

3.3

Return to the Corporation

8

 

 

 

4.

STOCK UNIT AWARDS

8

 

 

 

4.1

Grants

8

 

 

 

4.2

Payouts

8

 

 

 

4.3

Non-Transferability

8

 

 

 

4.4

Dividend Equivalent Rights

8

 

 

 

4.5

Cancellation of Restricted Stock Units

9

 

 

 

4A.

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

9

 

 

 

4A.1

Generally

9

 

 

 

4A.2

Earning of Performance Awards

9

 

 

 

4A.3

Performance Criteria

9

 

 

 

4A.4

Performance Awards and Code Section 162(m)

10

 

 

 

4A.5

Payment of Awards

11

 

i



 

4A.6

Newly Eligible Participants

11

 

 

 

4A.7

Dividend Equivalent Rights

11

 

 

 

5.

OTHER PROVISIONS

12

 

 

 

5.1

Rights of Eligible Employees, Participants and Beneficiaries

12

 

 

 

5.2

Adjustments; Acceleration

13

 

 

 

5.3

Effect of Termination of Service on Awards

15

 

 

 

5.4

Compliance with Laws

16

 

 

 

5.5

Tax Matters

16

 

 

 

5.6

Plan Amendment, Termination and Suspension

17

 

 

 

5.7

Privileges of Stock Ownership

17

 

 

 

5.8

Effective Date of the Plan

17

 

 

 

5.9

Term of the Plan

18

 

 

 

5.10

Governing Law/Construction/Severability

18

 

 

 

5.11

Captions

18

 

 

 

5.12

Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Stock Options or Awards Granted by Other Corporation

18

 

 

 

5.13

Non-Exclusivity of Plan

19

 

 

 

5.14

No Corporate Action Restriction

19

 

 

 

5.15

Other Company Benefit and Compensation Program

19

 

 

 

6.

DEFINITIONS

20

 

 

 

6.1

Definitions

20

 

 

ii



 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.             THE PLAN

 

1.1                             Purpose .

 

The purpose of this Plan is to promote the success of the Company by providing an additional means through the grant of Awards to attract, motivate, retain and reward key employees, including officers, whether or not directors, of the Company with awards and incentives for high levels of individual performance and improved financial performance of the Company.  Capitalized terms are defined in Article 6.

 

1.2                             Administration and Authorization; Power and Procedure .

 

(a)                    Committee .  This Plan shall be administered by and all Awards to Eligible Employees shall be authorized by the Committee.  Action of the Committee with respect to the administration of this Plan shall be taken pursuant to a majority vote or by written consent of its members.  With respect to Awards intended to satisfy the requirements of performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, this Plan shall be administered by a committee consisting solely of two or more outside directors (as this requirement is applied under Section 162(m) of the Code); provided, however, that the failure to satisfy such requirement shall not affect the validity of the action of any committee otherwise duly authorized and acting in the matter.  Award grants, and transactions in or involving Awards, intended to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act must be duly and timely authorized by the Board or a committee consisting solely of two or more non-employee directors (as this requirement is applied under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act).  To the extent required by any applicable listing agency, this Plan shall be administered by a committee composed entirely of independent directors (within the meaning of the applicable listing agency).

 

(b)                   Plan Awards; Interpretation; Powers of Committee .  Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall have the authority:

 

(i)                                   to determine eligibility and, from among those persons determined to be eligible, the particular Eligible Employees who will receive an Award;

 

(ii)                               to grant Awards to Eligible Employees, determine the price at which securities will be offered or awarded and the number of securities to be offered or awarded to any of such persons, and determine the other specific terms and conditions of such Awards consistent with the express limits of this Plan, and establish the installments (if any) in which such Awards shall become exercisable or shall vest (which may include, without limitation, performance and/or time-based schedules), or determine that no delayed exercisability or vesting is required, and establish the events of termination or reversion of such Awards;

 

(iii)                           to approve the forms of Award Agreements (which need not be identical either as to type of Award or among Participants);

 

1



 

(iv)                           to construe and interpret this Plan and any agreements defining the rights and obligations of the Company and Participants under this Plan, further define the terms used in this Plan, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of this Plan or the Awards granted under this Plan;

 

(v)                               to cancel, modify, or waive the Corporation’s rights with respect to, or modify, discontinue, suspend, or terminate any or all outstanding Awards held by Eligible Employees, subject to any required consent under Section 5.6;

 

(vi)                           to accelerate or extend the vesting or exercisability or extend the term of any or all such outstanding Awards (in the case of Options, within the original term of such Awards under Section 1.6), subject to Section 5.3;

 

(vii)                       to adjust the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award, adjust the price of any or all outstanding Awards or otherwise previously imposed terms and conditions, in such circumstances as the Committee may deem appropriate, in each case subject to Sections 1.4 and 5.6, and provided that in no case (except due to an adjustment contemplated by Section 5.2 or any repricing that may be approved by shareholders) shall such an adjustment constitute a repricing (by amendment, substitution, cancellation and regrant, exchange or other means) of the per share exercise or base price of any Option;

 

(viii)                   to determine the date of grant of an Award, which may be a designated date after but not before the date of the Committee’s action (unless otherwise designated by the Committee, the date of grant of an Award shall be the date upon which the Committee took the action granting the Award);

 

(ix)                           to determine whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are required pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof and authorize the termination, conversion, substitution or succession of Awards upon the occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 5.2;

 

(x)                               to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock of Awards under this Plan from time to time and/or the manner in which such value will be determined; and

 

(xi)                           to make all other determinations and take such other action as contemplated by this Plan or as may be necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan and the effectuation of its purposes.

 

(c)                    Binding Determinations/Liability Limitation .  Any action taken by, or inaction of, the Corporation, any Subsidiary, the Board or the Committee relating or pursuant to this Plan and within its authority hereunder or under applicable law shall be within the absolute discretion of that entity or body and shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons.  Neither the Board nor any Committee, nor any member thereof or person acting at the direction thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with this Plan (or any Award made under this Plan), and all such persons

 

2



 

shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under any directors and officers liability insurance coverage that may be in effect from time to time.

 

(d)                  Reliance on Experts .  In making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under this Plan, the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, may obtain and may rely upon the advice of experts, including employees and professional advisors to the Corporation.  No director, officer or agent of the Company shall be liable for any such action or determination taken or made or omitted in good faith.

 

(e)                    Delegation .  The Committee may delegate ministerial, non-discretionary functions to individuals who are officers or employees of the Company or to third parties.

 

1.3                             Participation .

 

Awards may be granted by the Committee only to those persons that the Committee determines to be Eligible Employees.  An Eligible Employee who has been granted an Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards if the Committee shall so determine.

 

1.4                             Shares Available for Awards; Share Limits .

 

(a)                    Shares Available .  Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2, the capital stock that may be delivered under this Plan shall be shares of the Corporation’s authorized but unissued Common Stock.  The shares may be delivered for any lawful consideration.

 

(b)                   Share Limits .  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted to Eligible Employees under this Plan (the “ Share Limit ”) is equal to the sum of the following:  (i) 1,100,000 shares of Common Stock, plus (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for purposes of the Corporation’s 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2000 Plan”) on March 31, 2008 that are in excess of the number of shares of Common Stock then subject to outstanding awards grants under the 2000 Plan reduced by the number of shares that at any time after March 21, 2008 are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations under the 2000 Plan and the number of shares that at any time after March 21, 2008 are subject to or underlie awards that expire or for any reason are cancelled, terminated, or forfeited, or fail to vest or for any other reason are not paid or delivered under the 2000 Plan.  Shares issued in respect of any “Full-Value Award” granted under this Plan shall be counted against the foregoing Share Limit as 2.45 shares for every one share actually issued in connection with such Award.  (For example, if an Award of 100 Restricted Stock shares is granted under this Plan, 245 shares shall be charged against the Share Limit in connection with that Award.)  For this purpose, a “Full-Value Award” means any Award under this Plan that is not an Option.  The following limits also apply with respect to Awards granted under this Plan:

 

(1)                               The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered pursuant to Options qualified as Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan is 187,500 shares.

 

3



 

(2)                               The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to those Options that are granted during any calendar year to any individual under this Plan is 50,000 shares.

 

(c)                                Share Reservation; Replenishment and Reissue of Unvested Awards .  No Award may be granted under this Plan unless, on the date of grant, the sum of (i) the maximum number of shares issuable at any time pursuant to such Award, plus (ii) the number of shares that have previously been issued pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan, plus (iii) the maximum number of shares that may be issued at any time after such date of grant pursuant to Awards that are outstanding on such date, does not exceed the Share Limit.  Shares that are subject to or underlie Awards which expire or for any reason are cancelled or terminated, are forfeited, fail to vest, or for any other reason are not paid or delivered under this Plan shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan.  Shares that are withheld by the Corporation to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to the Award shall not be available for subsequent Awards under this Plan.  Except as limited by law, if an Award is or may be settled only in cash, such Award need not be counted against any of the limits under this Section 1.4.

 

1.5                             Grant of Awards .

 

Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each Award and the price (if any) to be paid for the shares or the Award.  Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement signed by the Corporation and, if required by the Committee, by the Participant.  The Award Agreement shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the Award established by the Committee consistent with the specific provisions of this Plan.

 

1.6                             Award Period .

 

Each Award and all executory rights or obligations under the related Award Agreement shall expire on such date (if any) as shall be determined by the Committee, but in the case of Options not later than ten (10) years after the Award Date.

 

1.7                             Limitations on Exercise and Vesting of Awards .

 

(a)                    Provisions for Exercise .  Unless the Committee otherwise expressly provides, no Award shall be exercisable or shall vest until at least six months after the initial Award Date, and once exercisable an Award shall remain exercisable until the expiration or earlier termination of the Award.

 

(b)                   Procedure .  Any exercisable Award shall be deemed to be exercised when the Secretary of the Corporation receives written notice of such exercise from the Participant, together with any required payment made in accordance with Section 2.2.

 

(c)                    Fractional Shares .  Fractional share interests shall be disregarded, but may be accumulated. The Committee, however, may determine in the case of Eligible Employees that cash, other securities, or other property will be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional share interests.

 

4



 

1.8                             No Transferability; Limited Exception to Transfer Restrictions .

 

(a)                    Limit On Exercise and Transfer .  Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this Section 1.8, by applicable law and by the Award Agreement, as the same may be amended, (i) all Awards are non-transferable and shall not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge; (ii) Awards shall be exercised only by the Participant; and (iii) amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to an Award shall be delivered only to (or for the account of) the Participant.

 

(b)                   Exceptions .  The Committee may permit Awards to be exercised by and paid only to certain persons or entities related to the Participant, including but not limited to members of the Participant’s immediate family, or trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are members of the Participant’s immediate family, pursuant to such conditions and procedures as the Committee may establish in writing.  Any permitted transfer shall be (i) subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and (ii) subject to the condition that the Committee receive evidence satisfactory to it that the transfer is being made for essentially estate and/or tax planning purposes on a gratuitous or donative basis and without consideration (other than nominal consideration or in exchange for an interest in a qualified transferee).  Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in Section 1.8(c), Incentive Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to any and all additional transfer restrictions under the Code.

 

(c)                    Further Exceptions to Limits On Transfer .  The exercise and transfer restrictions in Section 1.8(a) shall not apply to:

 

(i)                                   transfers to the Corporation,

 

(ii)                               the designation of a beneficiary to receive benefits in the event of the Participant’s death or, if the Participant has died, transfers to or exercise by the Participant’s beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution,

 

(iii)                           subject to applicable limits on Incentive Stock Options, transfers to a family member (or former family member) pursuant to a domestic relations order if approved or ratified by the Committee,

 

(iv)                           if the Participant has suffered a disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the Participant by his or her legal representative, or

 

(v)                                           the authorization by the Committee of “cashless exercise” procedures with third parties who provide financing for the purpose of (or who otherwise facilitate) the exercise of Awards consistent with applicable laws and the express authorization of the Committee.

 

5



 

2.             OPTIONS.

 

2.1                             Grants .

 

One or more Options may be granted under this Article to any Eligible Employee.  Each Option granted shall be designated in the applicable Award Agreement by the Committee as either an Incentive Stock Option, subject to Section 2.3 or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.  No Option once granted may be repurchased by the Company without the approval of shareholders.

 

2.2                             Option Price .

 

(a)                    Pricing Limits .  The purchase price per share of the Common Stock covered by each Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of the Award, but shall not be less than 100% (110% in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant described in Section 2.4) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

(b)                   Payment Provisions . The purchase price of any shares purchased on exercise of an Option granted under this Article shall be paid in full at the time of each purchase in one or a combination of the following methods:  (i) in cash or by electronic funds transfer; (ii) by check payable to the order of the Corporation; (iii) by notice and third party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the Committee; or (iv) by the delivery of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation already owned by the Participant, provided , however , that the Committee may in its absolute discretion limit the Participant’s ability to exercise an Award by delivering such shares, and provided further that any shares delivered which were initially acquired upon exercise of a stock option must have been owned by the Participant at least six months as of the date of delivery.  Shares of Common Stock used to satisfy the exercise price of an Option shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise.

 

2.3                             Limitations on Grant and Terms of Incentive Stock Options .

 

(a)                    $100,000 Limit .  To the extent that the aggregate “Fair Market Value” of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options first become exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, taking into account both Common Stock subject to Incentive Stock Options under this Plan and stock subject to incentive stock options under all other plans of the Company, such options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.  For this purpose, the “Fair Market Value” of the stock subject to Options shall be determined as of the date the Options were awarded.  In reducing the number of Options treated as Incentive Stock Options to meet the $100,000 limit, the most recently granted Options shall be reduced first.  To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted Options is necessary to meet the $100,000 limit, the Committee may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which shares of Common Stock are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(b)                   Option Period .  Each Option and all rights thereunder shall expire no later than 10 years after the Award Date.

 

(c)                    Other Code Limits .  Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Eligible Employees of the Corporation or a Subsidiary that satisfies the other eligibility

 

6



 

requirements of the Code.  There shall be imposed in any Award Agreement relating to Incentive Stock Options such other terms and conditions as from time to time are required in order that the Option be an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.4                             Limits on 10% Holders

 

No Incentive Stock Option may be granted to any person who, at the time the Option is granted, owns (or is deemed to own under Section 424(d) of the Code) shares of outstanding Common Stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation, unless the exercise price of such Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option and such Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such Option is granted.

 

3.             RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.

 

3.1                             Grants .

 

The Committee may, in its discretion, grant one or more Restricted Stock Awards to any Eligible Employee.  Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall specify the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Participant, the date of such issuance, the consideration for such shares (but not less than the minimum lawful consideration under applicable state law) by the Participant, the extent (if any) to which and the time (if ever) at which the Participant shall be entitled to dividends, voting and other rights in respect of the shares prior to vesting, and the restrictions (which may be based on performance criteria, passage of time or other factors or any combination thereof) imposed on such shares and the conditions of release or lapse of such restrictions.  Such restrictions shall not lapse earlier than six months after the Award Date, except to the extent the Committee may otherwise provide.  Stock certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock pending the lapse of the restrictions (“Restricted Shares”) shall bear a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed hereunder and shall be held by the Corporation or by a third party designated by the Committee until the restrictions on such shares shall have lapsed and the shares shall have vested in accordance with the provisions of the Award and Section 1.7.  Upon issuance of the Restricted Stock Award, the Participant may be required to provide such further assurance and documents as the Committee may be required to enforce the restrictions.

 

3.2                             Restrictions .

 

(a)                    Pre-Vesting Restraints .  Except as provided in Section 3.1 and 1.8, Restricted Shares comprising any Restricted Stock Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered, either voluntarily or involuntarily, until the restrictions on such shares have lapsed and the shares have become vested.

 

(b)                   Dividend and Voting Rights .  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant receiving a Restricted Stock Award shall be entitled to cash dividend and voting rights for all shares issued even though they are not vested, provided that such rights shall terminate immediately as to any Restricted Shares which cease to be eligible for vesting.

 

7



 

(c)                    Cash Payments .  If the Participant shall have paid or received cash (including any dividends) in connection with the Restricted Stock Award, the Award Agreement shall specify whether and to what extent such cash shall be returned (with or without an earnings factor) as to any Restricted Shares which cease to be eligible for vesting.

 

3.3                             Return to the Corporation .

 

Unless the Committee otherwise expressly provides, Restricted Shares that remain subject to restrictions at the time of termination of employment or are subject to other conditions vesting that have not been satisfied by the time specified in the applicable Award Agreement shall not vest and shall be returned to the Corporation in such manner and on such terms as the Committee shall therein provide.

 

4.                  STOCK UNIT AWARDS

 

4.1                             Grants .

 

The Committee may, in its discretion, (a) authorize and grant to any Eligible Employee a Stock Unit Award, (b) credit to any Eligible Employee Stock Units, (c) permit an Eligible Employee to irrevocably elect to defer by means of Stock Units or receive in Stock Units all or a portion of any Award hereunder, or (d) grant Stock Units in lieu of, in exchange for, in respect of, or in addition to any other compensation or Award under this Plan.  The specific terms, conditions, and provisions relating to each Stock Unit grant or election, including the applicable vesting and payout provisions of the Stock Units and the form of payment to be made at or following the vesting thereof, shall be set forth in or pursuant to the applicable Award Agreement and any relevant Company bonus, performance or other service or deferred compensation plan, in form substantially as approved by the Committee, in each case subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

4.2                             Payouts .

 

Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the Committee in the applicable Stock Unit Award Agreement or other Award Agreement or the relevant Company deferred compensation plan may permit the Eligible Employee to elect the form and time of payout of vested Stock Units on such conditions or subject to such procedures as the Committee may impose, and may permit Stock Unit offsets or other provision for payment of any applicable taxes that may be due on the crediting, vesting or payment in respect of the Stock Units.

 

4.3                             Non-Transferability .

 

Rights in respect of Stock Unit Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or otherwise disposed of or encumbered, either voluntarily or involuntarily, other than by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

 

4.4                             Dividend Equivalent Rights .

 

In its discretion, the Committee may grant to any Eligible Employee “Dividend Equivalent Rights” concurrently with the grant of any Stock Unit Award, on such terms as set

 

8



 

forth by the Committee in the Stock Unit Agreement or other applicable Award Agreement.  Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be based on all or part of the amount of dividends declared on shares of Common Stock and shall be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date of grant (or such later date as the Committee may set in the Award Agreement) and the date the Stock Unit Award expires (or such earlier date as the Committee may set in the Award Agreement), as determined by the Administrator.  Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be payable in cash or shares at the same time as the Stock Units to which they relate, and may be subject to such conditions, as may be determined by the Administrator.

 

4.5                             Cancellation of Restricted Stock Units .

 

Unless the Committee otherwise expressly provides, Restricted Stock Units that remain subject to conditions to vesting at the time of termination of employment or service or are subject to other conditions to vesting that have not been satisfied by the time specified in the applicable Award Agreement shall not vest and shall be cancelled, unless the Committee otherwise provides in or by amendment to the applicable terms of the Award.

 

4A.                         PERFORMANCE AWARDS.

 

4A.1                 Generally .

 

The Committee shall have the authority to determine (i) the Participants who shall receive Performance Awards, (ii) the size, number, amount or value, as applicable, of Performance Awards, and (iii) the Performance Criteria applicable in respect of such Performance Awards for each Performance Period.  The Committee shall determine the duration of each Performance Period (which may differ from each other), and there may be more than one Performance Period in existence at any one time as to any Participant or all or any class of Participants.  Each grant of Performance Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Performance Criteria applicable thereto and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall determine.

 

4A.2                 Earning of Performance Awards .

 

The grant and/or vesting of Performance Awards shall be contingent, in whole or in part, upon the attainment of specified Performance Criteria or the occurrence of any event or events involving a Change in Control Event, death or Total Disability, as the Committee shall determine either at or after the Award Date.  In addition to the achievement of the specified Performance Criteria, the Committee may, at the grant date, condition earning of Performance Awards on the Participant completing a minimum period of service following the Award Date or on such other conditions as the Committee shall specify.

 

4A.3                 Performance Criteria .

 

At the discretion of the Committee, Performance Criteria may be based upon the relative or comparative attainment of one or more of the following criteria during a Performance Period, whether in absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more similarly situated companies or a published index covering the performance of a number of companies: total stockholder return (inclusive or exclusive of dividends paid); stock price; gross, operating or net

 

9



 

earnings or margins; approved rate increases; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; earnings or operating income before or after water purchase costs, power purchase costs, administrative expenses, interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization or construction costs; earnings per share; economic value added; ratio of operating earnings to capital spending; net sales; sales growth; return on assets, capital or equity; income; market share; level of expenses; revenue; revenue growth; cash flow; increases in customer base; capital expenditures; cost reductions and expense control objectives; compliance with environmental or regulatory goals or requirements; conservation; budget objectives; working capital; mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; attainment of objectives measured in terms of water quality, service reliability, efficiency, customer complaints or customer satisfaction, operations, maintenance and/or construction contract awards, and improvements in financial controls; and, in the case of persons who are not Executive Officers, such other criteria as may be determined by the Committee.  Performance Criteria may be established on a Company-wide basis or with respect to one or more business units or divisions or Subsidiaries.

 

At the time the Committee establishes Performance Criteria for a Performance Period, the Committee may exclude any or all “extraordinary items” as determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles including, without limitation, the charges or costs associated with restructurings of the Company or any Subsidiary, discontinued operations, other unusual or non-recurring items, the cumulative effects of accounting changes or such other objective factors as the Committee deems appropriate.  Unless otherwise explicitly stated by the Committee at the time Performance Criteria are established, each applicable performance goal shall be appropriately adjusted for one or more of the following items: (a) asset impairments or write downs; (b) litigation judgments or claim settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or such laws or provisions affecting reported results; (d) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; (e) any extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 225-20 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; (f) the operations of any business acquired by the Company or any affiliate or of any joint venture in which the Company or affiliate participates; (g) the divestiture of one or more business operations or the assets thereof; or (h) the costs incurred in connection with such acquisitions or divestitures; or (i) charges for stock based compensation.

 

Except in the case of Awards to Executive Officers intended to be ‘performance-based compensation’ under Section 162(m)(4) of the Code, the Committee may at any time adjust the Performance Criteria for any Performance Period as it deems equitable in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company, changes in applicable tax laws or accounting principles, or such other factors as the Committee may determine.

 

4A.4                 Performance Awards and Code Section 162(m) .

 

The provisions of this Section 4A.4 shall apply with respect to any Performance Award that is intended to be ‘performance-based compensation’ under Section 162(m)(4) of the Code.

 

10



 

(a)                                Establishment of Performance Criteria .

 

The Committee shall establish the Performance Criteria for the applicable Performance Period no later than the 90 th  day after the Performance Period begins (or by such other date as may be required under Section 162(m) of the Code) but in any event at a time when achievement of the Performance Criteria is substantially uncertain.  The Committee may not in any event increase the amount of compensation payable to an Executive Officer upon attainment of the Performance Criteria above the maximum amount approved by the Committee at the time the Performance Criteria is established.

 

(b)                               Certification of Attainment of Performance Criteria .

 

As soon as practicable after the end of a Performance Period and prior to any payment in respect of such Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing the amount, number or value, as applicable, of the Performance Awards that have been earned on the basis of performance in relation to the established Performance Criteria.

 

(c)                                Maximum Performance Award .

 

The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Performance Awards that are granted during any calendar year to any individual under the Plan is 100,000, or if a Performance Award is measured in cash, the maximum dollar amount granted during any calendar year to any individual under shall not exceed $3,000,000.00.

 

4A.5                 Payment of Awards .

 

Earned Performance Awards shall be distributed to the Participant or, if the Participant has died, to the Participant’s Designated Beneficiary as soon as practicable after the expiration of the Performance Period and the Committee’s certification under Section 4A.4(b) above, provided that , unless the payment of a Performance Award has been deferred in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, distributions of a Performance Award shall be made no later than March 15 of the year following the year in which the amount is earned.

 

4A.6                 Newly Eligible Participants .

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4A to the contrary, the Committee shall be entitled to make such rules, determinations and adjustments as it deems appropriate with respect to any Participant who becomes eligible to receive Performance Awards after the commencement of a Performance Period, except as would cause a Performance Award intended to qualify as ‘performance based compensation’ under Section 162(m) of the Code to fail to do so.

 

4A.7                 Dividend Equivalent Rights .

 

In its discretion, the Committee may grant to any Participant ‘Dividend Equivalent Rights’ concurrently with the grant of any Performance Award on such terms as set forth by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement.  Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be based in all or part of the amount of dividends declared on the shares of Common Stock and shall be

 

11



 

credited as of dividend payment dates, during the date between the date of grant (or such later date as the Committee may set forth in the Award Agreement) and the date that the Performance Award expires (or such earlier date as the Committee may set in the Award Agreement) as determined by the Administrator.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, any Dividend Equivalent Rights granted with respect to a Performance Award shall vest upon the same conditions (including Performance Criteria) that apply to the underlying Performance Award.  Any Dividend Equivalent Right shall be subject to the terms set forth in the Award Agreement and this Section 4A.  Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be payable in cash or shares at the same time as the Performance Awards to which they relate, and shall be included as shares of Common Stock or cash, as applicable, for purposes of the limitations set forth in Section 4A.4(c) above.

 

5.                  OTHER PROVISIONS

 

5.1                             Rights of Eligible Employees, Participants and Beneficiaries .

 

(a)                    Employment Status .  Status as an Eligible Employee shall not be construed as a commitment that any Award will be made under this Plan to an Eligible Employee or to Eligible Employees generally.

 

(b)                   No Employment Contract .  Nothing contained in this Plan (or in any other documents under this Plan or in any Award) shall confer upon any Eligible Employee or Participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Company, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or affect an employee’s status as an employee at will, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company to change a person’s compensation or other benefits, or to terminate his or her employment or other service, with or without cause.  Nothing in this Section, however, is intended to adversely affect any express independent right of such person under a separate employment or service contract other than an Award Agreement.

 

(c)                    Plan Not Funded .  Awards payable under this Plan shall be payable in shares or from the general assets of the Corporation, and (except as provided in Section 1.4(c)) no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit shall be made to assure payment of such Awards.  No Participant, Beneficiary or other person shall have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including shares of Common Stock, except as expressly otherwise provided) of the Company by reason of any Award hereunder.  Neither the provisions of this Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of this Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan shall create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, Beneficiary or other person.  To the extent that a Participant, Beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any Award hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

12



 

5.2                             Adjustments; Acceleration

 

(a)                    Adjustments .

 

(1)                               Upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to):  any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a stock split in the form of a stock dividend) or reverse stock split; any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; any spin-off, split-up or similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Common Stock; or any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation, or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of the Common Stock; then the Committee shall equitably and proportionately adjust (1) the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities) that thereafter may be made the subject of Awards (including the specific share limits, maximums and numbers of shares set forth elsewhere in this Plan), (2) the number, amount and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to any outstanding Awards, (3) the grant, purchase or exercise price of any outstanding Awards, and/or (4) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise or payment of any outstanding Awards, in each case to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by the Plan and the then-outstanding Awards.

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to) any event or transaction described in the preceding paragraph or a sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation as an entirety, the Committee shall equitably and proportionately adjust the performance standards applicable to any then-outstanding performance-based Awards to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by the Plan and the then-outstanding performance-based Awards.

 

It is intended that, if possible, any adjustments contemplated by the preceding two paragraphs be made in a manner that satisfies applicable legal, tax (including, without limitation and as applicable in the circumstances, Section 424 of the Code, Section 409A of the Code and Section 162(m) of the Code) and accounting (so as to not trigger any charge to earnings with respect to such adjustment) requirements.

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 1.2, any good faith determination by the Committee as to whether an adjustment is required under the circumstances pursuant to this Section 5.2(a)(1), and the extent and nature of any such adjustment, shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

(2)                               Corporate Transactions-Assumption or Termination of Awards .  Upon the occurrence of any of the following:  any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation; a sale of all or substantially all the business, stock or assets of the Corporation; a dissolution of the Corporation; or any other event in which the Corporation does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its

 

13



 

Common Stock); then the Committee may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of, or for the assumption, substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding share-based Awards or the cash, securities or property deliverable to the holder of any or all outstanding share-based Awards, based upon, to the extent relevant under the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Common Stock upon or in respect of such event.

 

The Committee may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding Awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash or property settlement and, in the case of Options or similar rights, but without limitation on other methodologies, may base such settlement solely upon the excess if any of the per share amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the exercise or base price of the Award.

 

In any of the events referred to in this Section 5.2(a)(2), the Committee may take such action contemplated by this Section 5.2(a)(2) prior to such event (as opposed to on the occurrence of such event) to the extent that the Committee deems the action necessary to permit the participant to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the underlying shares.

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 1.2, any good faith determination by the Committee pursuant to this Section 5.2(a)(2) shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

(b)                   Possible Early Termination of Accelerated Awards .  If any Option or other right to acquire Common Stock under this Plan has been fully accelerated as required or permitted by Section 5.2(e) but is not exercised prior to (1) a dissolution of the Company, or (2) an event described in Section 5.2(a) that the Company does not survive, or (3) the consummation of an event described in Section 5.2(a) involving a Change in Control Event approved by the Board, such Option or right shall terminate, subject to any provision that has been expressly made by the Board or the Committee, through a plan of reorganization or otherwise, for the survival, substitution, assumption, exchange or other settlement of such Option or right.

 

(c)        Intentionally deleted.

 

(d)                  Possible Rescission of Acceleration .  If the vesting of an Award has been accelerated expressly in anticipation of an event or upon shareholder approval of an event and the Committee or the Board later determines that the event will not occur, the Committee may rescind the effect of the acceleration as to any then outstanding and unexercised or otherwise unvested Awards.

 

(e)                    Acceleration Upon Termination of Service Following a Change in Control .  If any Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company upon or within one year after a Change in Control Event, and the termination is not the result of death, Total Disability, Retirement or a termination for Cause, then, subject to the other provisions of this Section 5.2 (including without limitation Section 5.2(b) and Section 5.4), all outstanding Options and other Awards held by the Participant shall be deemed fully vested immediately prior to the Severance Date and Stock Units shall become payable upon such Severance Date (or, to the extent

 

14



 

applicable under Section 409A, upon the date that is six months after such Severance Date), unless the Award Agreement specifies a different result in the case of a Change in Control Event.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Award shall not be accelerated and/or become payable pursuant to this Section 5.2(e) to the extent that such acceleration and/or payment would cause the holder of such Award to be subject to additional tax under Section 409A of the Code with respect to such Award.

 

5.3                             Effect of Termination of Service on Awards

 

(a)        General .  The Committee shall establish the effect of a termination of employment on the rights and benefits under each Award under this Plan and in so doing may make distinctions based upon the cause of termination.

 

(b)       Options - Resignation or Dismissal .  If the Participant’s employment by the Company terminates for any reason (the date of such termination being referred to as the “Severance Date”) other than Retirement, Total Disability or death, or for Cause (as determined in the discretion of the Committee), the Participant shall have, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 1.6 or 5.2, three months after the Severance Date to exercise any Option to the extent it shall have become exercisable on the Severance Date.  In the case of a termination for Cause, the Option shall terminate on the Severance Date.  In other cases, the Option, to the extent not exercisable on the Severance Date, shall terminate.

 

(c)                    Options - Death or Disability .  If the Participant’s employment by the Company terminates as a result of Total Disability or death, the Participant, Participant’s Personal Representative or his or her Beneficiary, as the case may be, shall have, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 1.6 or 5.2, until 12 months after the Severance Date to exercise any Option to the extent it shall have become exercisable by the Severance Date.  Any Option to the extent not exercisable on the Severance Date shall terminate.

 

(d)                  Options - Retirement .  If the Participant’s employment by the Company terminates as a result of Retirement, the Participant, Participant’s Personal Representative or his or her Beneficiary, as the case may be, shall have, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 1.6 or 5.2, until 12 months after the Severance Date to exercise any Option to the extent it shall have become exercisable by the Severance Date.  The Option, to the extent not exercisable on the Severance Date, shall terminate.

 

(e)                    Events Not Deemed Terminations of Service .  Unless Company policy or the Committee otherwise provides, the employment relationship shall not be considered terminated in the case of (i) sick leave, (ii) military leave, or (iii) any other leave of absence authorized by the Company or the Committee; provided that unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or law, such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days. In the case of any Eligible Employee on an approved leave of absence, continued vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of the Company shall be suspended, unless

 

15



 

the Committee otherwise provides or applicable law otherwise requires.  In no event shall an Award be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

(f)                     Effect of Change of Subsidiary Status .  For purposes of this Plan and any Award, if an entity ceases to be a Subsidiary a termination of employment shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to each Eligible Employee in respect of the Subsidiary who does not continue as an Eligible Employee in respect of another entity within the Company.

 

(g)                               Committee Discretion .  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.3, in the event of, or in anticipation of, a termination of employment with the Company for any reason, other than discharge for Cause, the Committee may, in its discretion, increase the portion of the Participant’s Option available to the Participant, or Participant’s Beneficiary or Personal Representative, as the case may be, or, subject to the provisions of Section 1.6, extend the exercisability period upon such terms as the Committee shall determine and expressly set forth in or by amendment to the Award Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall any such extension of the exercisability period extend such period beyond the earlier of the following dates:  (i) the latest date the Option could have expired by its original terms or (ii) the 10 th  anniversary of the Award Date.

 

5.4                             Compliance with Laws .

 

This Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under this Plan, the offer, issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock and/or the payment of money under this Plan or under Awards are subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state and federal securities law) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith.  The person acquiring any securities under this Plan will, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements.

 

5.5                             Tax Matters .

 

(a)        Provision for Tax Withholding or Offset .  Upon any exercise, vesting, or payment of any Award or upon the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option prior to satisfaction of the holding period requirements of Section 422 of the Code, the Company shall have the right at its option to (i) require the Participant (or Personal Representative or Beneficiary, as the case may be) to pay or provide for payment of the minimum amount of any taxes which the Company may be required to withhold with respect to such Award event or payment or (ii) deduct from any amount payable in cash the minimum amount of any taxes which the Company may be required to withhold with respect to such cash payment.  In any case where a tax is required to be withheld in connection with the delivery of shares of Common Stock under this Plan, the Committee may in its sole discretion (subject to Section 5.4) grant (either at the time of the Award or thereafter) to the Participant the right to elect, pursuant to such rules and subject to such conditions as the Committee may establish, to have the Corporation reduce the number of shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire) the appropriate number of shares valued at their Fair Market Value, necessary to

 

16



 

satisfy such minimum withholding obligation, determined in each case as of the trading day next preceding the applicable date of exercise, vesting or payment.  In no event shall shares be withheld in excess of the minimum whole number required for tax withholding under applicable law.

 

5.6                             Plan Amendment, Termination and Suspension .

 

(a)                    Board Authorization .  The Board may, at any time, terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend this Plan, in whole or in part.  No Awards may be granted during any suspension of this Plan or after termination of this Plan, but the Committee shall retain jurisdiction as to Awards then outstanding in accordance with the terms of this Plan.

 

(b)                   Shareholder Approval .  To the extent then required by applicable law or any applicable listing agency or required under Sections 162, 422 or 424 of the Code to preserve the intended tax consequences of the Plan, or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, any amendment to this Plan shall be subject to shareholder approval.

 

(c)                    Amendments to Awards .  Without limiting any other express authority of the Committee under (but subject to) the express limits of this Plan, the Committee by agreement or resolution may waive conditions of or limitations on Awards to Participants that the Committee in the prior exercise of its discretion has imposed, without the consent of a Participant, and (subject to the requirements of Section 1.2(b) and 5.6(d)) may make other changes to the terms and conditions of Awards that do not affect in any manner materially adverse to the Participant, the Participant’s rights and benefits under an Award.  Any amendment or other action that would constitute a repricing of an Award is subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1.2(b)(viii).

 

(d)                  Limitations on Amendments to Plan and Awards .  No amendment, suspension or termination of this Plan or change affecting any outstanding Award shall, without written consent of the Participant, affect in any manner materially adverse to the Participant any rights or benefits of the Participant or obligations of the Company under any Award granted under this Plan prior to the effective date of such change.  Changes contemplated by Section 5.2 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments for purposes of this Section 5.6.

 

5.7                             Privileges of Stock Ownership .

 

Except as otherwise expressly authorized by the Committee or this Plan, a Participant shall not be entitled to any privilege of stock ownership as to any shares of Common Stock not actually delivered to and held of record by the Participant.  No adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights as a shareholder for which a record date is prior to such date of delivery.

 

5.8                             Effective Date of the Plan .

 

This Plan is effective as of April 1, 2008.  The Plan shall be submitted for and subject to shareholder approval no later than twelve months after the effective date.

 

17



 

5.9                             Term of the Plan .

 

No Award will be granted under this Plan after the earlier of (i) August 15, 2016 if the shareholders of the Corporation approve a new stock incentive plan on May 17, 2016, or (ii) March 31, 2018 (the “termination date”).  Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted prior to the termination date may extend beyond such date, and all authority of the Committee with respect to Awards hereunder, including the authority to amend an Award, shall continue during any suspension of this Plan and in respect of Awards outstanding on the termination date.

 

5.10                     Governing Law/Construction/Severability

 

(a)                    Choice of Law .  This Plan, the Awards, all documents evidencing Awards and all other related documents shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

 

(b)                   Severability .  If a court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Plan shall continue in effect.

 

(c)                    Plan Construction .

 

(1)                               Rule 16b-3 .  It is the intent of the Corporation that the Awards and transactions permitted by Awards be interpreted in a manner that, in the case of Participants who are or may be subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, satisfies the applicable requirements for exemptions under Rule 16b-3.  The exemption will not be available if the authorization of actions by any Committee of the Board with respect to such Awards does not satisfy the applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall have no liability to any Participant for Section 16 consequences of Awards or events under Awards.

 

(2)                   Section 162(m) .  It is the further intent of the Company that (to the extent the Company or Awards under this Plan may be or become subject to limitations on deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code), Options granted with an exercise or base price not less than Fair Market Value on the date of grant will qualify as performance-based compensation or otherwise be exempt from deductibility limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent that the authorization of the Award (or the payment thereof, as the case may be) satisfies any applicable administrative requirements thereof.

 

5.11                     Captions .

 

Captions and headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference.  Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Plan or any provision thereof.

 

5.12                     Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Stock Options or Awards Granted by Other Corporation .

 

18



 

Awards may be granted to Eligible Employees under this Plan in substitution for employee stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or other stock-based awards granted by other entities to persons who are or who will become Eligible Employees in respect of the Company, in connection with a distribution, merger or other reorganization by or with the granting entity or an affiliated entity, or the acquisition by the Company, directly or indirectly, or all or a substantial part of the stock or assets of the employing entity.  The awards so granted need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, provided the awards reflect only adjustments giving effect to the assumption nor substitution consistent with the conversion applicable to the Common Stock in the transaction and any change in the issuer of the security.  Any shares that are delivered and any awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Corporation, as a result of the assumption by the Corporation of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an acquired company (or previously granted by a predecessor employer (or direct or indirect parent thereof) in the case of persons that become employed by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries in connection with a business or asset acquisition or similar transaction) shall not be counted against the Share Limit in Section 1.4 or other limits on the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan.

 

5.13                     Non-Exclusivity of Plan .

 

Nothing in this Plan shall limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or the Committee to grant awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to the Common Stock, under any other plan or authority.

 

5.14                     No Corporate Action Restriction .

 

The existence of the Plan, the Award Agreements and the Awards granted hereunder shall not limit, affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Board or the shareholders of the Corporation to make or authorize: (a) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Corporation’s or any Subsidiary’s capital structure or its business, (b) any merger, amalgamation, consolidation or change in the ownership of the Corporation or any subsidiary, (c) any issue of bonds, debentures, capital, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Corporation’s or any Subsidiary’s capital stock or the rights thereof, (d) any dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (e) any sale or transfer of all or any part of the Corporation or any Subsidiary’s assets or business, or (f) any other corporate act or proceeding by the Corporation or any Subsidiary.  No Participant, Beneficiary, Personal Representative or any other person shall have any claim under any Award or Award Agreement against any member of the Board or the Committee, or the Corporation or any employees, officers or agents of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, as a result of any such action.

 

5.15                     Other Company Benefit and Compensation Program .

 

Payments and other benefits received by a Participant under an Award made pursuant to this Plan shall not be deemed a part of a Participant’s compensation for purposes of the determination of benefits under any other employee welfare or benefit plans or arrangements, if any, provided by the Corporation or any Subsidiary, except where the Committee or the Board expressly otherwise provides or authorizes in writing.  Awards under this Plan may be made in addition to, in combination with, as alternatives to or in payment of grants, awards or

 

19



 

commitments under any other plans or arrangements of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries.

 

6.                                     DEFINITIONS.

 

6.1                             Definitions .

 

(a)                    Award ” means an award of any Option, Restricted Stock, Stock Unit, or Performance Award, or any combination thereof, whether alternative or cumulative, authorized by and granted under this Plan.

 

(b)                   Award Agreement ” means any writing setting forth the terms of an Award that has been authorized by the Committee.

 

(c)                    Award Date ” means the date upon which the Committee took the action granting an Award or such later date as the Committee designates as the Award Date at the time of the Award.

 

(d)                  Award Period ” means the period beginning on an Award Date and ending on the expiration date of such Award.

 

(e)                    Beneficiary ” means the person, persons, trust or trusts designated by a Participant or, in the absence of a designation, entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution, to receive the benefits specified in the Award Agreement and under this Plan in the event of a Participant’s death, and shall mean the Participant’s executor or administrator if no other Beneficiary is designated and able to act under the circumstances.

 

(f)                     Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

(g)                   Cause with respect to a Participant means (unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement or another applicable contract with the Participant) a termination of employment based upon a finding by the Company, acting in good faith and based on its reasonable belief at the time, that the Participant:

 

(1)                               has failed to render services to the Company where such failure amounts to gross negligence or misconduct of the Participant’s responsibility and duties; or

 

(2)                               has committed an act of fraud or been dishonest against the Company or any affiliate of the Company; or

 

(3)                               has been convicted of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude.

 

A termination for Cause shall be deemed to occur (subject to reinstatement upon a contrary final determination by the Committee) on the date on which the Company first delivers written notice to the Participant of a finding of termination for Cause.

 

(h)                   Change in Control Event ” means any of the following events:

 

20



 

(1)                               the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, unless its business is continued by another entity in which holders of the Corporation’s voting securities immediately before the event own, either directly or indirectly, more than 55% of the continuing entity’s voting securities immediately after the event;

 

(2)                               any sale, lease, exchange or other change in ownership (in one or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, unless its business is continued by another entity in which holders of the Corporation’s voting securities immediately before the event own, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty-five percent (55%) of the continuing entity’s voting securities immediately after the event;

 

(3)                               any reorganization or merger of the Corporation, unless (i) the holders of the Corporation’s voting securities immediately before the event own, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty-five percent (55%) of the continuing or surviving entity’s voting securities immediately after the event, and (ii) at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the surviving entity resulting from such reorganization or merger were members of the incumbent Board of Directors of the Corporation at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of such incumbent Board of Directors providing for such reorganization or merger;

 

(4)                               an acquisition by any person, entity or group acting in concert of more than forty-five percent (45%) of the voting securities of the Corporation, unless the holders of the Corporation’s voting securities immediately before the event own, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty-five percent (55%) of the acquirer’s voting securities immediately after the acquisition;

 

(5)                               the consummation of a tender offer or exchange offer by an individual, entity or group which results in such individual, entity or group beneficially owning (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the voting securities of the Corporation, unless the tender offer is made by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or the tender offer is approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation who were in office at the beginning of the twelve-month period preceding the commencement of the tender offer; or

 

(6)                               a change of one-half or more of the members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation within a twelve-month period, unless the election or nomination for election by shareholders of new directors within such period constituting a majority of the applicable Board was approved by the vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who were in office at the beginning of the twelve-month period.

 

(i)                       Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

(j)                       Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

21



 

(k)                   Committee ” means the Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board to administer all or certain aspects of this Plan, each committee to be comprised solely of one or more directors or such number as may be required under applicable law.

 

(l)                       Common Stock ” means the Common Shares of the Corporation and such other securities or property as may become the subject of Awards, or become subject to Awards, pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 5.2 of this Plan.

 

(m)               Company ” means, collectively, the Corporation and its Subsidiaries.

 

(n)                   Corporation ” means American States Water Company, a California corporation, and its successors.

 

(o)                   Eligible Employee ” means an officer (whether or not a director) or key employee of the Company.

 

(p)                   Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(q)                   Executive Officer” means any “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.

 

(r)                      Fair Market Value ” on any date means (1) if the stock is listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the closing price of the stock listed on The Wall Street Journal website (www.online.wsj.com), of the principal national securities exchange on which the stock is so listed or admitted to trade, on such date, or, if there is no trading of the stock on such date, then the closing price of the stock as quoted on such website on the next preceding date on which there was trading in such shares; (2) if the stock is not listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the last price for the stock on such date, as furnished by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) through the NASDAQ National Market Reporting System or a similar organization if the NASD is no longer reporting such information; (3) if the stock is not listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange and is not reported on the National Market Reporting System, the mean between the bid and asked price for the stock on such date, as furnished by the NASD or a similar organization; or (4) if the stock is not listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, is not reported on the National Market Reporting System and if bid and asked prices for the stock are not furnished by the NASD or a similar organization, the value as established by the Committee at such time for purposes of this Plan.

 

(s)                     Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option which is intended, as evidenced by its designation, as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, the award of which contains such provisions and is made under such circumstances and to such persons as may be necessary to comply with that section.

 

(t)                      Nonqualified Stock Option ” means an Option that is designated as a Nonqualified Stock Option and shall include any Option intended as an Incentive Stock Option that fails to meet the applicable legal requirements thereof.  Any Option granted hereunder that is

 

22



 

not designated as an incentive stock option shall be deemed to be designated a Nonqualified Stock Option under this Plan and not an incentive stock option under the Code.

 

(u)                   Option ” means an option to purchase Common Stock granted under this Plan.  The Committee shall designate any Option granted to an Eligible Employee as a Nonqualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(v)                   Participant ” means an Eligible Employee who has been granted an Award under this Plan.

 

(w)               Personal Representative ” means the person or persons who, upon the disability or incompetence of a Participant, shall have acquired on behalf of the Participant, by legal proceeding or otherwise, the power to exercise the rights or receive benefits under this Plan and who shall have become the legal representative of the Participant.

 

(x)                   Plan ” means this 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(y)                   Performance Award means an Award granted pursuant to Section 4A of the Plan of a contractual right to receive Stock or a fixed or variable amount of cash (as determined by the Committee) upon the achievement, in whole or in part, of the applicable Performance Criteria.  A grant of Restricted Stock Awards or Stock Unit Awards may be designed to qualify as Performance Awards.

 

(z)                    Performance Criteria means the objectives established by the Committee for a Performance Period pursuant to Section 4A.3 of the Plan for the purpose of determining the extent to which an Award of Performance Awards has been earned.

 

(aa)             Performance Period means the period of no less than six months selected by the Committee during which performance is measured for the purpose of determining the extent to which an Award of Performance Awards has been earned.

 

(bb)           Restricted Shares” or “Restricted Stock ” means shares of Common Stock awarded to a Participant under this Plan, subject to payment of such consideration, if any, and such conditions on vesting (which may include, among others, the passage of time, specified performance objectives or other factors) and such transfer and other restrictions as are established in or pursuant to this Plan and the related Award Agreement, for so long as such shares remain unvested under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(cc)             Restricted Stock Unit ” means a Stock Unit subject to such conditions on vesting and payout as the Committee may determine.

 

(dd)         Retirement ” means retirement from active service as an employee or officer of the Company on or after attaining age 65.

 

(ee)             Rule 16b-3 ”  means Rule 16b-3 as promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time .

 

23



 

(ff)               Section 16 Person ” means a person subject to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

(gg)           Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

(hh)           Stock Unit ” means a bookkeeping entry that serves as a unit of measurement relative to a share of Common Stock for purposes of determining the payment of the Stock Unit grant.  Stock Units are not outstanding shares of Common Stock and do not entitle a grantee to any dividend, voting or other rights in respect of any Common Stock.  Stock Units may, however, by express provision in the applicable Award Agreement, entitle a Participant to dividend equivalent rights, credited in the form of cash or additional Stock Units, as determined by the Committee.  Stock Units are payable in shares of Common Stock.

 

(ii)                   Subsidiary ” means any corporation or other entity a majority of whose outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation.

 

(jj)       Total Disability ” means a “permanent and total disability” within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and such other disabilities, infirmities, afflictions or conditions as the Committee by rule may include.

 

 

 

 

24


EXHIBIT 10.2

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

 

2013 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN, AS AMENDED

(Effective March 24, 2016)

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

Section 1

General Description

1

Section 2.

Definitions

1

Section 3.

Effective Date; Duration

2

Section 4.

Stock Units Awards

3

4.1

Annual Award

3

4.2

Crediting of Dividend Equivalents to Accounts

3

4.3

Units and Other Amounts Vest Immediately

3

4.4

Distribution of Benefits

3

Section 5.

Changes in Capital Structure

4

5.1

Adjustments

4

5.2

Corporate Transactions-Assumption or Termination of Awards

4

Section 6.

Shares Subject to the Plan; Share Limits

5

6.1

Shares Available for Issuance

5

6.2

Share Limits; Cut Backs

5

6.3

Fractional Shares; Minimum Issue

5

Section 7.

Administration

5

7.1

The Administrator

5

7.2

Committee Action

5

7.3

Rights and Duties; Delegation and Reliance; Decisions Binding

5

Section 8.

Amendment and Termination; Shareholder Approval

6

8.1

Amendment and Termination

6

8.2

Shareholder Approval

6

Section 9.

Miscellaneous

6

9.1

Limitation on Participants’ Rights

6

9.2

Beneficiaries

7

9.3

Non-Transferability

7

9.4

Obligations Binding Upon Successors

7

9.5

Governing Law; Severability

8

9.6

Compliance with Laws

8

9.7

Limitations on Rights Associated with Units

8

9.8

Plan Construction

8

9.9

Headings Not Part of Plan

8

9.10

Section 409A

8

 

i



 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

2013 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN

 

 

Section 1.                                General Description

 

The American States Water Company 2013 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan (the “Plan”) provides for grants of stock units to non-employee directors.  The purposes of the Plan are (a) to attract, motivate and retain eligible directors of the Company by providing to them stock-based compensation, and (b) to encourage directors to increase their stock ownership in the Company.

 

Section 2.                                Definitions

 

Whenever the following terms are used in this Plan they shall have the meaning specified below unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary:

 

Account ” means the bookkeeping account maintained by the Company on behalf of each Participant that is credited with Award Units and Dividend Equivalents in accordance with Section 4.

 

Award Units ” means Stock Units credited pursuant to Sections 4.1 and any Dividend Equivalents credited thereon pursuant to Section 4.2.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Common Stock ” means the Common Shares of the Company, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.

 

Committee ” means the Board, the Compensation Committee or any other Committee of the Board acting under delegated authority from the Board.

 

Company ” means American States Water Company, a California corporation, and its successors and assigns.

 

Dividend Equivalent ” means, with respect to a Participant’s Account, the amount of cash dividends or other cash distributions paid by the Company on that number of shares of Common Stock that is equal to the number of Stock Units then credited to the Participant’s Account as of the applicable measurement date for the dividend or other distribution, which amount shall be allocated as additional Stock Units to the Participant’s Account pursuant to Section 4.2.

 

Distribution Date ” means the date that is ninety days following the date of each grant.

 

Effective Date ” means May 21, 2013, subject to shareholder approval at the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

1



 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

Fair Market Value ” on any date means (1) if the stock is listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the closing price of the stock listed on The Wall Street Journal website ( www.online.wsj.com ), of the principal national securities exchange on which the stock is so listed or admitted to trade, on such date, or, if there is no trading of the stock on such date, then the closing price of the stock as quoted on such website on the next preceding date on which there was trading in such shares; (2) if the stock is not listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the last price for the stock on such date, as furnished by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) through the NASDAQ National Market Reporting System or a similar organization if the NASD is no longer reporting such information; (3) if the stock is not listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange and is not reported on the National Market Reporting System, the mean between the bid and asked price for the stock on such date, as furnished by the NASD or a similar organization; or (4) if the stock is not listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, is not reported on the National Market Reporting System and if bid and asked prices for the stock are not furnished by the NASD or a similar organization, the value as established by the Committee at such time for purposes of this Plan.

 

Non-Employee Director ” means a member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary.

 

Participant ” means any person who has been granted Award Units under this Plan.

 

Plan ” means the American States Water Company 2013 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Stock ” means a share of Common Stock.

 

Stock Unit or Unit ” means a non-voting unit of measurement which is deemed for bookkeeping and payment purposes to represent one outstanding share of Common Stock of the Company solely for purposes of determining benefits under this Plan, established pursuant to the grant of Award Units under Sections 4.1, or in respect of Dividend Equivalents under Section 4.2, and payable solely in a share of Stock, on a one-for-one basis.

 

2013 Annual Meeting ”  means the Company’s 2013 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

Section 3.                                Effective Date; Duration

 

The effective date of the Plan is May 21, 2013, subject to approval of the Company’s shareholders at their 2013 annual meeting.  No awards may be granted under the Plan after May 20, 2023.  The Plan shall continue in effect until all matters relating to Stock Units and the administration of the Plan have been completed and all payments of benefits have been made.

 

2



 

Section 4.                                Stock Units Awards

 

4.1                             Annual Award .

 

(a)                                As of the date of each annual meeting of the shareholders commencing in 2013, the Account of each Non-Employee Director in office immediately following the annual meeting shall be credited with a number of Stock Units (the “Compensation Stock Units”) equal to (1) two times the amount of the then-current annual retainer payable by the Company for services rendered as a director for such year (or, if there is no such annual retainer, the average amount of cash compensation received by such Non-Employee Director during the prior fiscal year), divided by (2) the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the last trading date prior to such annual meeting.

 

(b)                               Annual grants that would otherwise exceed the maximum number of shares allotted for issuance under the Plan contained in Section 6.1 shall be prorated within such limitation pursuant to Section 6.2.

 

4.2                             Crediting of Dividend Equivalents to Accounts .

 

(a)                                As of each dividend payment date, a Non-Employee Director’s Account shall be credited with additional Stock Units in an amount equal to the Dividend Equivalents representing dividends payable as of such dividend payment date on a number of shares equal to the aggregate number of Units credited to the Participant’s Account divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the dividend payment date.

 

(b)                               Stock Units credited in respect of Dividend Equivalents shall be paid in Stock at the same time and the same manner as the Stock Units to which they relate.

 

4.3                             Units and Other Amounts Vest Immediately .   All Units or other amounts credited to a Non-Employee Director’s Account shall be at all times fully vested and not subject to a risk of forfeiture ninety days after the date of grant.

 

4.4                             Distribution of Benefits Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the portion of a Non-Employee Director’s Account attributable to Stock Units granted pursuant to Section 4.1 (and any Dividend Equivalents attributable to such Stock Units) shall be distributed in accordance with this Section 4.4.

 

(a)                                Commencement of Benefits Distribution .  With respect to each grant of Stock Units to a Non-Employee Director, the Non-Employee Director shall be entitled to receive such Stock Units (including Dividend Equivalents applicable to such Stock Units) on the Distribution Date.

 

(b)                               Manner of Distribution .  Upon the Distribution Date for each grant, the Company shall, subject to Section 6.2, deliver to the Participant (or his or her Beneficiary, as applicable) a number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Stock Units (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5, if applicable) to which the Participant is then entitled under the terms of Section 4.4.  Such distribution shall be made in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable, but no later than 30 days, following the applicable Distribution Date.

 

3



 

Section 5.                                Changes in Capital Structure

 

5.1                             Adjustments .   Upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to):  any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a stock split in the form of a stock dividend) or reverse stock split; any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; any spin-off, split-up, or similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Common Stock; or any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation, or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of the Common Stock; then the Committee shall equitably and proportionately adjust (1) the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities) that thereafter may be made the subject of awards (including the specific share limits, maximums and numbers of shares set forth elsewhere in this Plan), (2) the number, amount and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to any outstanding awards, (3) the grant of any outstanding awards, and/or (4) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon payment of any outstanding awards, in each case to the extent appropriate to preclude the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under such awards.

 

It is intended that, if possible, any adjustments contemplated by the preceding paragraph be made in a manner that satisfies applicable legal, tax (including, without limitation and as applicable in the circumstances, Section 424 of the Code, Section 409A of the Code and Section 162(m) of the Code) and accounting (so as to not trigger any charge to earnings with respect to such adjustment) requirements.

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 7.3, any good faith determination by the Committee pursuant to this Section 5.1 shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

5.2                             Corporate Transactions-Assumption or Termination of Awards .  Upon the occurrence of any of the following:  any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation; a sale of all or substantially all the business, stock or assets of the Corporation; a dissolution of the Corporation; or any other event in which the Corporation does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Common Stock); then the Committee may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of, or for the assumption, substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding share-based awards or the cash, securities or property deliverable to the holder of any or all outstanding share-based awards, based upon, to the extent relevant under the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Common Stock upon or in respect of such event.

 

The Committee may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash or property settlement.

 

In any of the events referred to in this Section 5.2, the Committee may take such action contemplated by this Section 5.2 prior to such event (as opposed to on the occurrence of such event) to the extent that the Committee deems the action necessary to permit the participant to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the underlying shares.

 

4



 

Without limiting the generality of Section 7.3, any good faith determination by the Committee pursuant to its authority under this Section 5.2 shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

Section 6.                                Shares Subject to the Plan; Share Limits

 

6.1                             Shares Available for Issuance .   Subject to adjustment under Section 5, the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued or delivered under the Plan shall not exceed 500,000 shares, and the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be delivered to any individual in a calendar year shall not exceed 5,000 shares.  Stock delivered by the Company under the Plan shall be shares of authorized and unissued shares of Stock and shall be fully paid and non-assessable when issued.

 

6.2                             Share Limits; Cut Backs .   If any award or crediting of Stock Units would cause the sum of the shares of Stock previously issued and shares issuable under outstanding awards under the Plan to exceed the maximum number of shares authorized under the Plan, the Company shall prorate among the Non-Employee Directors the award of Stock Units.  If and for so long as no available share authorization remains, no additional Stock Units shall be credited and cash shall be paid in lieu of dividend equivalents under Section 4.2 for such duration.

 

6.3                             Fractional Shares; Minimum Issue .   Fractional share interests may be accumulated but shall not be issued.  Cash will be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional share interests that remain upon a distribution under the Plan.

 

Section 7.                                Administration

 

7.1                             The Administrator The Administrator of this Plan shall be the Compensation Committee; provided that the Board may from time to time appoint the Board as a whole or any other Committee to serve as administrator of this Plan.  The participating members of any Committee so acting shall include, as to decisions in respect of participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, only those members who are Non-Employee Directors (as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act).  Members of any Committee so acting shall not receive any additional compensation for administration of this Plan.

 

7.2                             Committee Action A member of the Committee shall not vote or act upon any matter which relates solely to himself or herself as a Participant in this Plan.  Action of the Committee with respect to the administration of this Plan shall be taken pursuant to a majority vote or (assuming compliance with Section 7.1) by unanimous written consent of its members.

 

7.3                             Rights and Duties; Delegation and Reliance; Decisions Binding Subject to the limitations of this Plan, the Committee shall be charged with the general administration of this Plan and the responsibility for carrying out its provisions, and shall have powers necessary to accomplish those purposes, including, but not by way of limitation, the following:

 

(a)                                To construe and interpret this Plan;

 

5



 

(b)                               To resolve any questions concerning the amount of benefits payable to a Participant (except that no member of the Committee shall participate in a decision relating solely to his or her own benefits);

 

(c)                                To make adjustments under Section 5 and all other determinations required by this Plan;

 

(d)                              To maintain all the necessary records for the administration of this Plan; and

 

(e)                                To make and publish forms, rules and procedures for the administration of this Plan.

 

The determination of the Committee made in good faith as to any disputed question or controversy and the Committee’s determination of benefits payable to Participants, including decisions as to adjustments under Section 5, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Plan.  In performing its duties, the Committee shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements prepared or presented by:  (i) officers or employees of the Company whom the Committee believes to be reliable and competent as to such matters; and (ii) counsel (who may be employees of the Company), independent accountants and other persons as to matters which the Committee believes to be within such persons’ professional or expert competence.  The Committee shall be fully protected with respect to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith pursuant to the advice of such persons.  The Committee may delegate ministerial, bookkeeping and other non-discretionary functions to individuals who are officers or employees of the Company.

 

Section 8.                                Amendment and Termination; Shareholder Approval

 

8.1                             Amendment and Termination .   Subject to Section 8.2, the Board shall have the right to amend this Plan in whole or in part from time to time or may at any time suspend or terminate this Plan; provided , however , that, except as contemplated by Section 5, no amendment or termination shall cancel or otherwise adversely affect in any way, without his or her written consent, any Participant’s rights with respect to Stock Units credited to his or her Account.  Any amendments authorized hereby shall be stated in an instrument in writing, and all Participants shall be bound by such amendment.  Changes contemplated by Section 5 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments for purposes of this Section 8.1.

 

8.2                             Shareholder Approval .   The Plan, any grant, action, crediting or vesting prior to shareholder approval, shall be subject to approval of the Plan by the shareholders of the Company and, to the extent required under applicable law or listing agency rule, required by the provisions of Section 8.1, or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, any amendment to the Plan shall be subject to shareholder approval.

 

Section 9.                                Miscellaneous

 

9.1                             Limitation on Participants’ Rights .   Participation in this Plan shall not give any person the right to continue to serve as a member of the Board or any rights or interests other than as expressly provided herein.  This Plan shall create only a contractual obligation on the part

 

6



 

of the Company as to such amounts and shall not be construed as creating a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Company, the Board, the Committee, and any Participant or other person.  This Plan, in and of itself, has no assets.  Participants shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, on their Accounts, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Common Stock (or equivalent value as a general unsecured creditor) with respect to Accounts.  Participants shall not be entitled to receive actual dividends or to vote Shares until after delivery of the Shares.

 

9.2                             Beneficiaries .

 

(a)                                Beneficiary Designation .  Upon forms provided by the Company each Non-Employee Director may designate in writing the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries (as defined in Section 9.2(b)) whom such Non-Employee Director desires to receive any amounts payable under the Plan after his or her death.  Beneficiary designation forms shall be effective on the date that the form is received by the Corporate Secretary.  A Non-Employee Director may from time to time change his or her designated Beneficiary or Beneficiaries without the consent of such Beneficiary or Beneficiaries by filing a new designation in writing with the Corporate Secretary.  However, if a married Non-Employee Director wishes to designate a person other than his or her spouse as Beneficiary, such designation shall be consented to in writing by the spouse.  The Non-Employee Director may change any election designating a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries without any requirement of further spousal consent if the spouse’s consent so provides.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, spousal consent shall not be necessary if it is established that the required consent cannot be obtained because the spouse cannot be located or because of other circumstances prescribed by the Committee.  The Company and the Committee may rely on the Non-Employee Director’s designation of a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries last filed in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

(b)                               Definition of Beneficiary .  A Participant’s “Beneficiary” or “Beneficiaries” shall be the person, persons, trust or trusts (or similar entity) designated by the Participant or, in the absence of a designation, entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive the Participant’s benefits under this Plan in the event of the Participant’s death, and shall mean the Participant’s executor or administrator if no other Beneficiary is identified and able to act under the circumstances.

 

9.3                             Non-Transferability .   A Participant’s rights and interests under the Plan in respect to Stock Units, including amounts payable or Stock deliverable under or in respect thereof, may not be assigned, pledged, or transferred except in the event of a Participant’s death, to a designated beneficiary as provided in Section 9.2(b) above, or in the absence of such designation, by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

The above transfer restrictions shall not apply to transfers to the Company or transfers pursuant to a court order.

 

9.4                             Obligations Binding Upon Successors Obligations of the Company under this Plan shall be binding upon successors of the Company.

 

7



 

9.5                             Governing Law; Severability .   The validity of this Plan and any agreements entered into under the Plan or any of its provisions shall be construed, administered and governed in all respects under the laws of the State of California.  If any provisions of this Plan shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be fully effective.

 

9.6                             Compliance with Laws This Plan and the offer, issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock and/or the payment of benefits under this Plan are subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state and federal securities law) and to such approvals by any listing, agency or any regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith.  Any securities delivered under this Plan shall be subject to prior registration or such restrictions as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal requirements, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as it may reasonably request to assure such compliance.

 

9.7                             Limitations on Rights Associated with Units .   A Non-Employee Director’s Account shall be a memorandum account on the books of the Company.  The Units credited to a Non-Employee Director’s Account shall be used solely as a device for the determination of the number of shares of Stock to be distributed to the Participant in accordance with this Plan.  The Units shall not be treated as property or as a trust fund of any kind.  No Participant shall be entitled to any voting or other shareholder rights with respect to Units credited under this Plan.  The number of Units credited to a Participant’s Account shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5 and the terms of this Plan.

 

9.8                             Plan Construction It is the intent of the Company that transactions pursuant to this Plan satisfy and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies the applicable conditions for exemption under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Rule 16b-3”) so that, to the extent consistent therewith, the crediting of Units and the payment of Stock will be entitled to the benefits of Rule 16b-3 or other exemptive rules under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and will not be subjected to avoidable liability thereunder.

 

9.9                             Headings Not Part of Plan .   Headings and subheadings in this Plan are inserted for reference only and are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.

 

9.10                     Section 409A.   It is the intent that the payments under this Plan shall comply with or be exempt from Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively, “ Code §409A ”), and accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance with or exempt from Code §409A.  A termination of service shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Plan unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code §409A.  Notwithstanding any other payment schedule provided herein to the contrary, if the Non-Employee Director is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Code §409A, then to the extent required under Code §409A such payment shall be delayed until the six month anniversary of such termination or the Non-Employee Director’s death.

 

8



 

AMENDMENT TO 2013 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN

 

This Amendment to the American States Water Company 2013 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan (as amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”), is made by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of American States Water Company (the “Company”), effective as of May 20, 2014 (the “Effective Date”).  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan.

 

Section 1.  Amendment .  Pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Plan, the Plan is hereby amended by deleting and replacing Section 4.1 with the following:

 

4.1                             Annual Award .

 

(a)                                As of the date of each annual meeting of the shareholders in 2013 and 2014, the Account of each Non-Employee Director in office immediately following the annual meeting shall be credited with a number of Stock Units equal to (1) two times the amount of the then-current annual cash retainer payable by the Company for services rendered as a director for such year (or, if there is no such annual cash retainer, the average amount of cash compensation received by such Non-Employee Director during the prior fiscal year) divided by (2) the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the last trading day prior to such annual meeting.

 

(b)                               As of the date of each annual meeting of the shareholders commencing in 2015, the Account of each Non-Employee Director in office immediately following the annual meeting shall be credited with a number of Stock Units equal to (1) an amount established by the Board of Directors prior to such annual meeting divided by (2) the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the last trading day prior to such annual meeting; provided that, in no event, may such amount exceed two times the amount of the then-current annual retainer payable by the Company for services rendered as a director for such year (or, if there is no such annual retainer, the average amount of cash compensation received by such Non-Employee Director during the prior fiscal year).

 

(c)                                Annual grants that would otherwise exceed the maximum number of shares allotted for issuance under the Plan contained in Section 6.1 shall be prorated within such limitation pursuant to Section 6.2.

 

Section 2. Effect of Amendment .  On and after the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Plan to “this Plan,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” or words of like import referring to the Plan, shall mean and be a reference to the Plan, as amended by this Amendment.  Except as amended hereby, the Plan continues and shall remain in full force and effect in all respects.

 

9



 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO 2013 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN

 

This Amendment to the American States Water Company 2013 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan (as amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan”), is made by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of American States Water Company (the “Company”), effective as of March 24, 2016 (the “Effective Date”).  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan.

 

Section 1.  Amendment.  Pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Plan, the Plan is hereby amended by deleting and replacing Section 6.1 with the following:

 

6.1 Shares Available for Issuance .  Subject to adjustment under Section 5, the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued or delivered under the Plan shall not exceed 200,000 shares, and the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be delivered to an individual in a calendar year shall not exceed 2,500 shares. Stock delivered by the Company under the Plan shall be shares of authorized and unissued shares of Stock and shall be fully paid and non-assessable when issued.

 

Section 2. Effect of Amendment.  On and after the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Plan to “this Plan,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” or words of like import referring to the Plan, shall mean and be a reference to the Plan, as amended by this Amendment.  Except as amended hereby, the Plan continues and shall remain in full force and effect in all respects.

 

10


EXHIBIT 10.3

 

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

 

2016 SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PROGRAM

 

1.                                     Purpose of 2016 Short-Term Incentive Program

 

American States Water Company, a California corporation, (the “ Corporation ”) has adopted the American States Water Company Performance Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) to promote the success of the Corporation by (a) motivating executives selected to participate in the Plan to maximize the performance of the Corporation both from a financial perspective and in serving its customers and (b) rewarding them with cash Objective Bonuses directly related to such performance.  The Corporation’s board of directors recognizes that the ability of the Corporation and its subsidiaries to attract capital at a low cost is based on its financial performance and that the Corporation’s customers benefit through its ability to attract low cost capital.  This 2016 Short-Term Incentive Program (the “ 2016 STIP ”) sets forth the names of the individuals selected to be Participants who are eligible to earn Objective Bonuses under the Plan for the 2016 calendar year and the applicable Business Criteria, Performance Targets, and Payout Percentages for the 2016 calendar year.  The 2016 STIP also provides for Discretionary Bonuses, which when added to the Objective Bonuses under the Plan, equal the Aggregate Bonuses payable under the 2016 STIP for the 2016 calendar year.

 

2.                                     Term of 2016 STIP

 

The Performance Period covered by the 2016 STIP (the “ Term ”) began on January 1, 2016 and will end on December 31, 2016.

 

3.                                     Relationship to American States Water Company Performance Incentive Plan

 

The Objective Bonuses based on the Business Criteria payable under Awards granted under the 2016 STIP are granted under the authority of the Plan and are subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, and any rules adopted by the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Plan, as such rules are in effect from time to time.  The Discretionary Bonuses are granted under the general authority of the Compensation Committee to determine the compensation payable to Executives.

 

4.                                     Definitions

 

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Plan.  In addition, the following phrases shall have the meanings specified below:

 

Adjusted EPS - ASUS ” means the EPS of ASUS for 2016 adjusted to remove the general office allocation to ASUS related to any transaction fees and/or gain or loss on sale recognized in the financial statements in 2016 associated with a sale of any of the Corporation’s business units or the acquisition of any new businesses.

 

Adjusted EPS - AWR Consolidated ” means the Corporation’s EPS for 2016 adjusted to remove 1) any write-offs associated with the CPUC’s 2014 procurement audit of GSWC

 

1



 

arising out of the settlement of claims approved by the CPUC in December 2011 related to the capital projects contracting matter and 2) any transaction fees and/or gain or loss on sale recognized in the financial statements in 2016 associated with a sale of any of the Corporation’s business units or the acquisition of any new businesses.

 

Adjusted EPS - Regulated Utilities ” means the sum of the EPS of each of the Regulated Utilities for 2016 adjusted to remove 1) any write-offs associated with the CPUC’s 2014 procurement audit of GSWC arising out of the settlement of claims approved by the CPUC in December 2011 related to the capital projects contracting matter and 2) any transaction fees and/or gain or loss on sale recognized in the financial statements in 2016 associated with a sale of any of the Corporation’s business units or the acquisition of any new businesses.

 

Aggregate Bonus ” means the combination of a Participant’s Objective Bonus and his or her Discretionary Bonus.

 

“ASUS” means American States Utility Services, Inc., a California corporation, and wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

“Award Agreement” means a written agreement setting forth the material terms and conditions of the Award as determined by the Committee consistent with the express limitations of the Plan and the 2016 STIP.

 

“Base Salary” means the Participant’s rate of annual base pay on the date the Committee approves the Business Criteria and Performance Targets.

 

Board of Directors means the Corporation’s board of directors.

 

“Budget” or “Budgeted” means in the case of Adjusted EPS for the Corporation, the Regulated Utilities or ASUS, as the case may be, the projected Adjusted EPS for 2016 as set forth in the Operating Budget and for Construction Revenues – ASUS, and Direct Construction Margin – ASUS, the amounts included for these metrics in the Operating Budget.

 

“Business Criteria” means Adjusted EPS-AWR Consolidated, Adjusted EPS- Regulated Utilities, Adjusted EPS-ASUS, Customer Complaints-RU, Customer Complaint Standards-RU, Capital Expenditures-RU, Construction Revenues-ASUS, Direct Construction Margin-ASUS, G&A Rate-ASUS, SOX Deficiencies-RU, SOX Deficiencies-ASUS, Economic Value of Redeterminations-ASUS, Field Office Overhead Rate-ASUS, Safety-Recordable Work Incidents-RU,  Satisfaction of Customers-Small Business Utilization (SBU)-ASUS and Supplier Diversity-RU.

 

“CAB” means the CPUC Consumer Affairs Branch.

 

“Capital Expenditures - RU” means the dollar amount of capital expenditures for 2016 for the Regulated Utilities.

 

2



 

Construction Revenues – ASUS ” – means the total revenues from the construction segment of ASUS during 2016 for the military bases served by subsidiaries of ASUS on December 31, 2015.

 

Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

CPUC ” means the California Public Utilities Commission.

 

Customer Complaint Standards - RU ” means the number of complaints on all matters on GSWC received by CAB in 2016 divided by the average number of customers served by GSWC during 2016.

 

Customer Complaints - RU ” means the number of water quality, pressure, service, and leak complaints received from water customers by GSWC divided by the average number of water customers served by GSWC during 2016.

 

Direct Construction Margin – ASUS ” means a percentage determined by dividing total construction revenues less ASUS construction costs (reported as expenses in the Company’s Form 10-K for 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) by total construction revenues.

 

Discretionary Bonus ” means a bonus payable to a Participant based on that Participant’s Individual Performance Measures.

 

“Economic Value of Redeterminations - ASUS” means the increase in the monthly combined amount of operations and maintenance and renewal and replacement billings at December 31, 2016 completed as a result of Redeterminations for the military bases served by subsidiaries of ASUS at December 31, 2015, which are projected to be completed during 2016.

 

EPS ” means fully diluted earnings per share as reported in the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements for 2016.

 

“Field Office Overhead Rate – ASUS” means negotiated rate for field offices for each of the subsidiaries of ASUS, other than Fort Bliss Water Services Company as of December 31, 2015 for renewal and replacement projects.

 

“G&A Rate – ASUS” means the number of 50-year contracts for subsidiaries of ASUS as of December 31, 2015 that have adopted during the performance period the general and administrative rate at December 31, 2015 negotiated with the Defense Logistics Agency – Energy (DLA) for New Capital Upgrade Projects.

 

GSWC ” means Golden State Water Company, a California corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

 

Individual Performance Measures ” means the criteria or goals utilized to determine the amounts of each Participant’s Discretionary Bonus.

 

3



 

Objective Bonus ” means a bonus based on the degree of achievement of the Performance Targets for the Business Criteria.

 

Operating Budget ” means the Company’s operating budget for 2016 as presented to the Board of Directors at its January 26, 2016 meeting.

 

New Capital Upgrade Projects ” means the capital upgrade projects awarded to subsidiaries of ASUS in 2015.

 

Payout Percentage ” means the percentage of a Participant’s Target Aggregate Bonus that is payable based on the degree of satisfaction of a Performance Target or the Individual Performance Measures.

 

Performance Measures ” means the Business Criteria and Individual Performance Measures.

 

Performance Target ” means a specific goal established by the Committee with respect to the Business Criteria as set forth in Section 6.

 

“Redeterminations” means redeterminations pursuant to filings by subsidiaries of ASUS for price redeterminations, economic price adjustments and asset transfers.

 

“Regulated Utilities” means GSWC and any other utility acquired by the Corporation which is designated a “regulated utility” by the Committee.

 

“Safety-Recordable Work Incidents - RU ” means the number of work-related injuries and illnesses as reported on the OSHA Form 300 for GSWC.

 

“Satisfaction of Customers - Small Business Utilization (SBU) - ASUS ” means the percentage of total contract awards during 2016 by subsidiaries of ASUS with qualified small business vendors for the purpose of meeting the requirements of the U.S. government’s small business utilization program divided by the total expenditures incurred with all vendors. Qualified vendors are 1) Service Disabled Veteran-owned, Small Business, 2) Veteran-owned Small Business, 3) Historically Underutilized Business Zones, 4) Women-owned small business, 5) Small Disadvantaged Business and 6) Small Business.

 

SOX ” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

SOX Deficiencies - ASUS ” means the number of “control deficiencies” (each a “ CD ”), “significant deficiencies” (each an “ SD ”) and “material weaknesses” (each a “ MW ”) reported for ASUS in the independent auditor’s report for 2016 pursuant to Section 404 of SOX.

 

SOX Deficiencies - RU ” means the number of CDs, SDs and MWs reported for the Regulated Utilities in the independent auditor’s report for 2016 pursuant to Section 404 of SOX.

 

“Supplier Diversity - RU” means the percentage reported by GSWC to the CPUC annually by March 1 in its General Order 156 Compliance Filing.  The percentage is calculated by taking GSWC’s total procurement dollars for the reporting period with CPUC qualified

 

4



 

women-owned, minority-owned, and disabled veteran-owned business enterprises divided by GSWC’s total procurement dollars (net of exclusions allowed under the General Order 156 Compliance Filing for the reporting period, such as payments for purchased water, purchased power, pump taxes, income taxes, franchise fees, and postage).

 

Target Aggregate Bonus ” means the amount of bonus that would be payable if each of the Performance Targets were met at the targeted level and the Participant’s Individual Performance Measures were met at the targeted level.

 

5.                                     Participation and Individual Awards

 

The individuals who have been selected as Participants in the 2016 STIP are set forth below together with the amount of their Target Aggregate Bonuses as a percentage of Base Salary:

 

 

Participant

 

Target
Aggregate Bonus

 

 

GSWC Officers

 

Administrative
and General

Robert J. Sprowls

70.0%

Eva G. Tang

30.5%

Gladys M. Farrow

25.0%

Operations

Denise L. Kruger

30.5%

Paul J. Rowley

19.0%

Patrick R. Scanlon

25.0%

William C. Gedney

25.0%

Bryan K. Switzer (Keith)

25.0%

 

 

 

 

ASUS Officers

 

 

James C. Cotton III

50.0%

 

Granville R. Hodges, Jr. (Rusty)

25.0%

 

James B. Gallagher

25.0%

 

For purposes of this 2016 STIP, the GSWC officers will be divided into (1) Administrative and General Officers and (2) Operations Officers.

 

The Corporation will enter into an Award Agreement with each Participant that (a) describes his or her Individual Performance Measures and sets forth his or her Target Aggregate Bonus, (b) sets forth his or her threshold, target and maximum Performance Targets and (c) incorporates the terms and conditions of the Plan and this 2016 STIP by reference.  The Target Aggregate Bonus amount set forth above shall represent the aggregate amount of up to two separate bonuses: an Objective Bonus under the Plan, and a Discretionary Bonus.

 

5



 

6.                                     Performance Targets for Objective Bonuses

 

The threshold, target and maximum Performance Targets for the 2016 STIP are set forth in Exhibit A to this 2016 STIP.

 

7.                                     Determination of Participants’ Aggregate Bonuses

 

The Aggregate Bonus payable to each Participant shall be determined on the basis of the extent to which the Performance Targets for the Business Criteria and that Participant’s Individual Performance Measures are achieved.  The amount of Aggregate Bonus payable is equal to the amount of the Target Aggregate Bonus multiplied by the sum of the Payout Percentages for each of the Performance Measures as determined pursuant to the tables in (a) Section B of Exhibit A for Participants that are Administrative and General Officers employed by GSWC, (b) Section C for Participants that are Operations Officers employed by GSWC and (c) Section D for Participants employed by ASUS.

 

As soon as practicable following the end of the Term of the 2016 STIP and the completion of the independent auditor’s report for 2016, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the Performance Targets for the Business Criteria are achieved and the extent to which the Individual Performance Measures are achieved, and determine the Payout Percentage for each of the Performance Measures.  In order for a Participant to receive any payment with respect to the Participant’s Discretionary Bonus, the Participant must meet the standards established for the Participant’s position, which standards shall be one of the components of the Participant’s Individual Performance Measures.  The determination of whether the standards established for the Participant’s position are achieved shall be made by the Committee, which (other than for the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer) determination shall be based on the recommendations of the President and Chief Executive Officer or other direct supervisor of the Participant.

 

For levels of achievement between threshold and maximum, the Committee shall determine the Payout Percentage by interpolation.  Subject to Section 8 below, the Aggregate Bonus for each Participant shall be the sum of the Payout Percentages determined with respect to each Performance Measure multiplied by the amount of Participant’s Target Aggregate Bonus.

 

8.                                     Payment of Accounts

 

At the time the Committee makes the determinations described in Section 7, it shall certify, in accordance with Section 4.8 of the Plan, the amounts of the Objective Bonuses payable to Participants.  The Committee shall, at the same time, determine the amount of the Discretionary Bonus payable to Participants.  Payment of such bonuses (the Aggregate Bonuses) shall be made as soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification, but in no event later than December 31, 2017.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Objective Bonus otherwise payable to any Participant under this 2016 STIP shall be subject to the adjustments, limitations (including the dollar limitation under Section 4.3 of the Plan), Committee’s discretionary authority to make downward adjustments and other terms and conditions set forth in the Plan.  Any Discretionary Bonus otherwise payable under this 2016 STIP shall be subject to any adjustments, limitations, upward

 

6



 

or downward adjustments in amounts and any other terms or conditions that the Committee may impose in its sole discretion.

 

9.          Effect of Termination of Employment

 

Except as otherwise provided in an employment agreement, memorandum of understanding, other contract between a Participant and the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, or by the Committee in its sole discretion, the bonuses payable under a Participant’s Award will be forfeited, and the Participant will not be entitled to any bonus payments with respect to such Award if the Participant ceases to be employed by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries for any reason prior to the date the bonus payments under the 2016 STIP are paid to Participants.

 

10.        Recoupment of Bonuses

 

Any payment of an Objective Bonus, Discretionary Bonus or Aggregate Bonus under this 2016 STIP is subject to recoupment pursuant to the Corporation’s Policy Regarding the Recoupment of Certain Performance-Based Compensation Payments as in effect from time to time, or as otherwise be required by law and a Participant shall promptly make any reimbursement requested by the Board of Directors or the Committee pursuant to such policy with respect to any such bonuses.  Further, each Participant shall agree, by accepting an Award under the 2016 STIP and executing an Award Agreement, that the Corporation and/or any of its affiliates may deduct from any amounts it may owe the Participant from time to time (such as wages or other compensation) any and all amounts the Participant is required to reimburse the Corporation pursuant to such policy with respect to the Award.

 

7



 

EXHIBIT A

 

2016 STIP

 

PERFORMANCE TARGETS AND PAYOUT PERCENTAGES

 

A.         PERFORMANCE TARGETS FOR OBJECTIVE BONUSES

 

 

Performance
Measure

 

Performance Targets

 

 

Threshold

 

 

Target

 

 

Maximum

 

Adjusted EPS - AWR Consolidated

 

76% Budget

 

100% Budget

 

124% Budget

 

Adjusted EPS - Regulated Utilities (RU)

 

75% Budget

 

100% Budget

 

125% Budget

 

Adjusted EPS - ASUS

 

80% Budget

 

100% Budget

 

130% Budget

 

Customer Complaints - RU

< 0.25%

 

< 0.215%

 

< 0.18%

 

Customer Complaint Standards - RU

 

Rate of Complaints to
the CAB < 0.04%

 

Rate of Complaints to
the CAB < 0.0275%

 

Rate of Complaints to
the CAB < 0.02%

 

Capital Expenditures - RU

 

> $67.5 million

 

> $85 million

 

> $95.6

 

Supplier Diversity - RU

 

> 18.0%

 

> 21.5%

 

> 25.0%

 

Safety - Recordable Work Incidents - RU

 

23

 

17

 

13

 

SOX Deficiencies - RU

 

No MW, No SD & No
more than 5 CDs

 

No MW, No SD & No
more than 3 CDs

 

No MW, No SD & No
more than 1 CD

 

SOX Deficiencies - ASUS

 

No MW, No SD & No
more than 2 CDs

 

No MW, No SD & No
more than 1 CD

 

No MW, No SD & No
CD

 

Economic Value of Redeterminations - ASUS

 

> $660,200

 

> $878,237

 

> $1,045,321

 

Construction Revenues - ASUS

 

90% of Budget

 

100% of Budget

 

110% of Budget

 

Satisfaction of Customers - Small Business Utilization (SBU) - ASUS

 

> 75%

 

> 78%

 

> 80% and 2% in Hub (1)
zone

 

G&A Rate – ASUS

 

1 Contract

 

2 Contracts

 

3 Contracts

 

Field Office Overhead Rate – ASUS

 

1 Contract

 

3 Contracts

 

5 Contracts

 

Direct Construction Margin - ASUS

 

> Budget less 100 basis
points

 

At Budget

 

> Budget plus 100 basis
points

 

 

(1)  HUB Zone – Historically Underutilized Business Zone

 

A- 1



 

B.         PAYOUT PERCENTAGES FOR PERFORMANCE MEASURES - GSWC ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL OFFICERS

 

 

Performance
Measure

 

Payout Percentage

 

 

Threshold

 

 

Target

 

 

Maximum

 

Adjusted EPS - AWR Consolidated (1)

 

15.0%

 

20.0%

 

25.0%

 

Adjusted EPS - Regulated Utilities (RU) (2)

 

16.5%

 

20.0%

 

23.5%

 

Adjusted EPS - ASUS

 

5.0%

 

10.0%

 

18.5%

 

Customer Complaints - RU

1.5%

 

5.0%

 

7.0%

 

Customer Complaint Standards - RU

 

1.5%

 

5.0%

 

7.0%

 

Capital Expenditures - RU

 

4.0%

 

10.0%

 

15.0%

 

SOX Deficiencies - RU

 

2.0%

 

5.0%

 

7.0%

 

SOX Deficiencies - ASUS

 

2.0%

 

5.0%

 

7.0%

 

Objective Bonus Total

 

47.5%

 

80.0%

 

110.0%

 

Individual Performance Measure
(Discretionary Bonus)

 

12.5%

 

20.0%

 

35.0%

 

Aggregate Bonus

 

60.0%

 

100.0%

 

145.0%

 

 

(1)       For the Adjusted EPS-AWR Consolidated performance measure, the payout may be reduced, at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee, based upon adverse information concerning the actions of an officer obtained by the Company in the procurement audit being conducted by the CPUC.

(2)       For the Adjusted EPS-Regulated Utilities (RU) performance measure, the payout may be reduced, at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee, based upon adverse information concerning the actions of an officer obtained by the Company in the procurement audit being conducted by the CPUC.

 

A- 2



 

C.         PAYOUT PERCENTAGES FOR PERFORMANCE MEASURES - GSWC OPERATIONS OFFICERS

 

 

Performance
Measure

 

Payout Percentage

 

 

Threshold

 

 

Target

 

 

Maximum

 

Adjusted EPS - Regulated Utilities (RU) (1)

 

30.0%

 

40.0%

 

50.0%

 

Customer Complaints - RU

 

2.0%

 

5.0%

 

7.0%

 

Customer Complaint Standards - RU

2.0%

 

5.0%

 

7.0%

 

Capital Expenditures - RU

 

7.5%

 

15.0%

 

20.0%

 

Supplier Diversity - RU

 

2.0%

 

5.0%

 

7.0%

 

Safety - Recordable Work Incidents - RU

 

2.0%

 

5.0%

 

7.0%

 

SOX Deficiencies - RU

 

2.0%

 

5.0%

 

7.0%

 

Objective Bonus Total

 

47.5%

 

80.0%

 

105.0%

 

Individual Performance Measure
(Discretionary Bonus)

 

12.5%

 

20.0%

 

35.0%

 

Aggregate Bonus

 

60.0%

 

100.0%

 

140.0%

 

 

(1)       For the Adjusted EPS-Regulated Utilities (RU) performance measure, the payout may be reduced, at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee, based upon adverse information concerning the actions of an officer obtained by the Company in the procurement audit being conducted by the CPUC.

 

A- 3



 

D.         PAYOUT PERCENTAGES FOR PERFORMANCE MEASURES - ASUS

 

 

Performance
Measure

 

Payout Percentage

 

 

Threshold

 

 

Target

 

 

Maximum

 

Adjusted EPS - ASUS

 

17.5%

 

40.0%

 

70.0%

 

SOX Deficiencies - ASUS

 

2.5%

 

5.0%

 

7.5%

 

Economic Value of Redeterminations - ASUS

 

5.0%

 

9.0%

 

15.0%

 

Construction Revenues - ASUS

 

4.5%

 

9.0%

 

15.0%

 

Satisfaction of Customers (SBU) - ASUS

 

1.0%

 

2.0%

 

3.5%

 

G&A Rate - ASUS

 

1.0%

 

5.0%

 

9.0%

 

Field Office Overhead Rate - ASUS

 

1.0%

 

3.0%

 

5.0%

 

Direct Construction Margin

 

5.0%

 

7.0%

 

10.0

 

Objective Bonus Total

 

37.5%

 

80.0%

 

135.0%

 

Individual Performance Measure
(Discretionary Bonus)

 

12.5%

 

20.0%

 

35.0%

 

Aggregate Bonus

 

50.0%

 

100.0%

 

170.0%

 

 

A- 4


EXHIBIT 10.4

 

FORM OF

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY
2016 SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PROGRAM

 

 

March 23, 2016

 

 

To:  2016 Short-Term Incentive Program Participants

 

American States Water Company (the “Company”) is pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a participant in the Company’s 2016 Short-Term Incentive Program (the “Bonus Program”).  Unless otherwise defined in this award agreement, capitalized terms used in this award agreement have the same meanings as in the Bonus Program.

 

As a participant in the Bonus Program, you are eligible to earn two separate cash bonuses for the 2016 calendar year—an Objective Bonus and a Discretionary Bonus.  Your total Target Aggregate Bonus is set forth opposite your name in the Bonus Program and is equal to the sum of the target amount of your Objective Bonus plus the target amount of your Discretionary Bonus.

 

Your Objective Bonus is subject to the terms of the Bonus Program and the Company’s Performance Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), and will only become payable if all of the applicable terms and conditions of both the Bonus Program and the Plan are satisfied.  The portion of your Target Aggregate Bonus attributable to your Objective Bonus will become payable based on the Company’s attainment of the specific Performance Targets established for the Business Criteria  that have been established for you.  Your applicable Business Criteria, Performance Targets (including the threshold, target and maximum Performance Targets) and Payout Percentages are set forth in Exhibit A to the Bonus Program.  Please note, however, that payment of your Objective Bonus remains subject to the Compensation Committee’s discretion to reduce Objective Bonuses pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

 

Your Discretionary Bonus is subject to the terms of the Bonus Program (but not the Plan), and will only become payable if all of the applicable terms and conditions of the Bonus Program are satisfied. The portion of your Target Aggregate Bonus attributable to your Discretionary Bonus will become payable based on the Company’s assessment of your attainment of the core performance objectives for your position, and you will only be entitled to receive a Discretionary Bonus if you are determined to meet the standards established for your position.  These individual performance requirements applicable to your Discretionary Bonus are referred to as your Individual Performance Measures.  The Payout Percentage for your Discretionary Bonus is set forth in Exhibit A to the Bonus Program.

 

Any Objective Bonus or Discretionary Bonus that becomes payable to you will be paid as soon as practicable following the Compensation Committee’s determination and certification pursuant

 



 

to Section 8 of the Bonus Program, but in no event later than December 31, 2017.  However, any Objective Bonus or Discretionary Bonus that becomes payable to you is subject to recoupment pursuant to the Company’s Policy Regarding the Recoupment of Certain Performance-Based Compensation Payments as in effect from time to time or as otherwise may be required by law, and you agree to promptly make any reimbursement requested by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee pursuant to such policy with respect to any such bonuses.  In addition, you agree that the Company and/or any of its affiliates may deduct from any amounts it may owe you from time to time (such as wages or other compensation) any and all amounts that you are required to reimburse the Company pursuant to such policy.

 

Copies of the Bonus Program and the Plan are being provided to you with this award agreement. The Company advises you to read these documents carefully because they are legal documents that establish the terms and conditions of your Objective Bonus and your Discretionary Bonus.  The Bonus Program and the Plan are each incorporated into this award agreement by reference and will control in the event there is any conflict between the terms of this award agreement and the Bonus Program or Plan, as applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert J. Sprowls

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Accepted and Agreed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Executive]