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Regatta Office Park, Windward Three, 4th Floor, West Bay Road
P.O. Box 1114
Grand Cayman, KY1-1102
Cayman Islands
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (the Company) will be held at The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa, Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following matters:
1. | The election of one Group I directors to the Board of Directors; |
2. | The advisory vote on executive compensation; |
3. | The ratification of the selection of Marcum LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, at the remuneration to be determined by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors; and |
4. | Such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
Admittance to the meeting will be limited to shareholders. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 23, 2016 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. Accordingly, only shareholders of record at the close of business on that date will be entitled to vote at the meeting. EACH SHAREHOLDER IS URGED TO SUBMIT A PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE VIA EITHER THE INTERNET OR MAIL. ANY PROXY (AND ANY POWER OF ATTORNEY OR OTHER AUTHORITY UNDER WHICH IT IS SIGNED, OR A NOTARIZED COPY OF SUCH AUTHORITY) MUST BE DEPOSITED BY MAIL AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: VOTE PROCESSING, C/O BROADRIDGE, 51 MERCEDES WAY, EDGEWOOD, NY 11717 OR ELECTRONICALLY AT WWW.PROXYVOTE.COM AT LEAST 24 HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING IN ORDER TO BE VOTED AT THE MEETING. SHAREHOLDERS WHO EXECUTE A PROXY MAY ATTEND THE MEETING. ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING WILL AUTOMATICALLY REVOKE A SHAREHOLDERS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED PROXY. THEREFORE, A SHAREHOLDER WHO ATTENDS THE MEETING WILL NEED TO VOTE HIS, HER OR ITS SHARES AT THE MEETING IN ORDER FOR HIS, HER OR ITS SHARES TO BE COUNTED. IN THE CASE OF JOINT HOLDERS, THE VOTE OF THE SENIOR HOLDER WHO TENDERS A VOTE, WHETHER IN PERSON OR BY PROXY, SHALL BE ACCEPTED TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE VOTES OF THE OTHER JOINT HOLDERS, AND FOR THIS PURPOSE SENIORITY SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE ORDER IN WHICH THE NAMES OF THE HOLDERS STAND IN THE REGISTER.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Wilmer F. Pergande
Chairman of the Board
April 15, 2016
Enclosures
This Proxy Statement has been prepared and is distributed and made available by the board of directors (the Board of Directors) of Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (the Company) in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (the Annual General Meeting) to be held at The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa, Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, and any adjournment or postponement thereof for the purpose set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy will be distributed to shareholders and will be made available for viewing, downloading and printing by shareholders at www.proxyvote.com, on or about April 15, 2016. The Company will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies.
Only holders of record of the Companys Ordinary Shares, par value CI$0.50 per share (the Ordinary Shares), and the Companys Redeemable Preference Shares, par value CI$0.50 per share (the Redeemable Preference Shares), on the books of the Company at the close of business on March 23, 2016, are entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting. On that date, 14,785,922 Ordinary Shares and 38,004 Redeemable Preference Shares were issued and outstanding. Our Ordinary Shares and Redeemable Preference Shares are referred to as common stock and redeemable preferred stock, respectively, in our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. All matters that come before this Annual General Meeting will be decided by a poll that will be demanded in each case by Frederick W. McTaggart or David W. Sasnett, the persons who are appointed proxies in the proxy card which accompanies this Proxy Statement. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each Ordinary Share or Redeemable Preference Share (collectively, the Shares) held on all polled matters that come before the Annual General Meeting. The holders of 33 1/3% of the issued and outstanding Shares, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual General Meeting.
For Proposal 1, the election of one director, the nominee shall be elected as a director if the number of Shares cast for such nominees election exceeds the number of Shares voted against such nominees election. The approval of holders of at least a majority of the Shares cast is required for: (i) Proposal 2, the advisory vote on executive compensation; and (ii) Proposal 3, the ratification of the selection of Marcum LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
Abstentions and broker non-votes (which occur when a broker holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner) are not treated as votes cast and, therefore, will not affect the outcome of the vote.
Shares represented by a properly executed proxy must be received not later than 24 hours before the scheduled time of the meeting and, if received in time to permit its use at the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated therein. If no instructions are indicated, the Shares represented by the proxy will be voted (i) for the election of the nominees for director; (ii) for the approval of executive compensation; and (iii) for the ratification of the selection of Marcum LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm.
A shareholder of record who has given a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted at the meeting by giving written notice of such revocation to the office of the Secretary of the Company, or by executing and delivering to the Company not later than 24 hours before the scheduled time of the meeting a proxy bearing a later date. A proxy will be revoked automatically if a shareholder attends the meeting.
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Shareholders may, by electronic means via the Internet or by mail, appoint a proxy to vote Shares as more fully described below:
| By Internet: Go to www.proxyvote.com and follow the instructions. Shareholders should have their proxy card available when accessing the site. |
| By Mail: If shareholders have received a proxy card, shareholders should mark their vote, sign their name exactly as it appears on the proxy card, date the card and return it in the envelope provided. |
Unless otherwise indicated herein, all references to $ are to United States dollars and all references to CI$ are to Cayman Island dollars.
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The shareholders of the Company will vote on the election of one Group I director at the Annual General Meeting. The nominee listed below has consented to being named a nominee in this Proxy Statement and has agreed to serve as a director if elected at the Annual General Meeting. If, prior to the Annual General Meeting, the nominee should become unavailable to serve, the proxies in such nominees favor will be void. The Board of Directors knows of no reason to anticipate that this will occur.
In accordance with the Companys Articles of Association, the Board of Directors is divided into three groups, designated Group I, Group II and Group III. At the 2016 Annual General Meeting, shareholders will vote on the election of the Group I director. Directors in Group II and Group III will be eligible for reelection at the Companys Annual General Meetings in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Each group, upon election, serves for a three-year term.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares cast at the Annual General Meeting is required to elect the director. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not treated as votes cast and, therefore, will not affect the outcome of the vote. Unless a shareholder specifies otherwise on the accompanying proxy, its shares will be voted FOR the Group I nominee listed below.
Brian E. Butler, age 66, has been a director of our Company since 1983. Mr. Butler, a full-time resident of the Cayman Islands, has since 1977 directed a consortium of property development companies presented under the Butler name specializing in luxury resort projects in the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and British Columbia, Canada.
Mr. Butler was selected to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his nearly 46 years of experience as a property developer (40 of those years in the Caribbean), his business and financial knowledge acquired during that period and his knowledge of, and business contacts in, the Cayman Islands.
Information Regarding Group II Directors For Informational Purposes Not to Be Elected at the 2016 Annual General Meeting
Carson K. Ebanks, age 60, became the Cayman Islands government-nominated director of our Company in May 2001. Mr. Ebanks was the Director of Planning for the Cayman Islands from 1991 to 1997. He served the Cayman Islands Government as a Chief Officer beginning in 1997, and, when he retired in November 2011, he was Chief Officer for the Ministry of Finance, Tourism and Development. Mr. Ebanks is a Justice of the Peace, a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Hons. Urban and Regional Planning Peace and Conflict Studies Minor) from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Arts Planning in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia. He is a trustee of the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands and is the Secretary General of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee. Mr. Ebanks has served on the Boards of the Trustee of Cayman Islands National Museum, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority, the Cayman Islands Port Authority, Cayman Islands Turtle Farm, Cayman Islands Airways, the Cayman Islands Civil Service Co-operative Credit Union, the Housing Development Corporation, the Water Authority Cayman and the National Roads Authority.
Mr. Ebanks, who was nominated to serve on our Board of Directors by the Cayman Islands government, was selected to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his knowledge of government affairs, his contacts within the Cayman Islands government and his experience in the water industry.
Richard L. Finlay, age 57, has served as a director of our Company since 1995. Mr. Finlay is an attorney and notary public and has practiced law in the Cayman Islands since 1992. From 2003, he was managing partner of Conyers Dill & Pearman, Cayman. He retired from practice in 2015 and currently acts as a consultant. Mr. Finlay served as Director of Legal Studies of the Cayman Islands Government from 1989 to
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1992. From 1983 to 1989, Mr. Finlay was a partner with a Canadian law firm located in Regina, Canada. Mr. Finlay has served as the Cayman Islands representative to the International Company and Commercial Law Review and is a former editor of the Cayman Islands Law Bulletin.
Mr. Finlay was selected to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his knowledge of our Company and experience as a corporate lawyer, practicing in the Cayman Islands and abroad.
Clarence B. Flowers, Jr., age 60, has been a director of our Company since 1991. Mr. Flowers is, and has been since 1985, the principal of Orchid Development Company, a real estate developer in the Cayman Islands. Mr. Flowers also serves as a director of C.L. Flowers & Sons, which is the largest manufacturer of wall systems in the Cayman Islands, and Cayman National Bank, a retail bank.
Mr. Flowers was selected to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry as a real estate developer in the Cayman Islands.
Frederick W. McTaggart, age 53, has been a director of our Company since 1998, the Companys President since October 2000 and its Chief Executive Officer since January 1, 2004. Mr. McTaggart served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company from February 2001 to January 1, 2004. From April 1994 to October 2000, Mr. McTaggart was the Managing Director of the Water Authority Cayman, the government-owned water utility serving certain areas of the Cayman Islands. From March 1987 to April 1994, he held the positions of Deputy Director and Operations Engineer with the Water Authority Cayman. He received his B.S. degree in Building Construction from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1985. Mr. McTaggart is the brother of Mr. Gregory S. McTaggart, the Companys Vice President of Cayman Operations.
Mr. McTaggart was selected to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his technical and managerial experience in the water industry and his experience as the principal executive officer of the Water Authority Cayman.
Information Regarding Group III Directors For Information Purposes Not to Be Elected at the 2016 Annual General Meeting
Wilmer F. Pergande, age 76, has been a director of our Company since 1978 and Chairman since 2009. He has 50 years of management, sales and engineering experience in the desalination industry. Mr. Pergande is the principal of WF Pergande Consulting LLC and currently provides consulting engineering services in metallurgy, fluid dynamics and chemical separation technologies. He retired in 2006 as the Global Leader for Desalination and Process Equipment for GE Infrastructure, Water and Process Technologies, which position he held since 2002. Mr. Pergande previously held the position of Vice President of Special Projects of Osmonics Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of a desalination subsidiary of Osmonics Inc., a publicly traded water treatment and purification company, until its acquisition by General Electric Co. Before joining Osmonics, Mr. Pergande was the Chief Executive Officer of Licon International Inc., a publicly traded manufacturer of liquid chemical separation, purification and processing equipment. Previously, Mr. Pergande was the President of Mechanical Equipment Company Inc. (MECO) for 14 years and held engineering, sales and executive managerial positions with AquaChem Inc., both companies being manufacturers of seawater desalination equipment. He has a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University and Post Graduate Studies in Metallurgy from the University of Wisconsin. Mr. Pergande served three terms as a Director of the International Desalination Association, in which he held the positions of Treasurer and Secretary.
Mr. Pergande was selected to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his management and engineering experience in the desalinization industry, and for his organizational, sales and marketing skills.
Leonard J. Sokolow, age 59, became a director of our Company on June 1, 2006. From November 1999 until January 2008, Mr. Sokolow was Chief Executive Officer and President, and a member of the Board of Directors, of vFinance Inc., a publicly-traded financial services company, which he cofounded. Mr. Sokolow was the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of vFinance Inc. from January 2007 until July 2008, when it merged into National Holdings Corporation, a publicly traded financial services company. From July 2008 until July 2013, Mr. Sokolow was President of National Holdings Corporation, and from July 2008 until July 2014 he has been Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Holdings
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Corporation. From July 2014 until December 2015, Mr. Sokolow was a consultant and partner at Caribou LLC, a strategic advisory services firm. Since January 1, 2016, Mr. Sokolow has been Chief Executive Officer and President of Newbridge Financial Inc. and Chairman of its principal subsidiary, Newbridge Securities Corporation. Mr. Sokolow was Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Americas Growth Fund Inc., a closed-end 1940 Act management investment company, from 1994 to 1998. From 1988 until 1993, Mr. Sokolow was an Executive Vice President and the General Counsel of Applica Inc., a publicly-traded appliance marketing and distribution company. From 1982 until 1988, Mr. Sokolow practiced corporate, securities and tax law and was one of the founding attorneys and a partner of an international boutique law firm. From 1980 until 1982, he worked as a Certified Public Accountant for Ernst & Young and KPMG Peat Marwick. Since January 2016 Mr. Sokolow has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Safety Quick Lighting & Fans Corp. (SQFL) and Chairman of its Audit Committee, and since April 2010 and August 2013, respectively, he has served as a Director and the Chairman of the Audit Committee of Alberta Oilsands Inc. (TSX-V: AOS).
Mr. Sokolow was selected to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his experience as a director and principal executive officer, his legal, accounting, auditing and consulting background, and his qualifications to serve as our audit committee financial expert.
Raymond Whittaker, age 62, has served as a director of our Company since 1988. Mr. Whittaker was the Managing Director of TransOcean Bank & Trust Ltd., a bank and trust company located in the Cayman Islands and a subsidiary of Johnson International Inc., a bank holding company located in Racine, Wisconsin from 1984 to December 2000. He is now the principal of his own company and management firm, FCM Ltd. On August 25, 2014, Mr. Whittaker was recognized as a Governance Fellow by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) upon completion of NACDs Governance Program and in recognition of an ongoing commitment to exemplary board leadership. Mr. Whittaker continues to participate in various NACD programs.
Mr. Whittaker was selected to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his management, financial and banking experience.
Mr. McTaggart currently serves as our principal executive officer, and Mr. Pergande, an independent director, currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has determined that having an independent director serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors is consistent with corporate governance best practices and is in the best interest of shareholders at this time. The structure ensures a greater role for the independent directors in the oversight of the Company and active participation of the independent directors in setting goals, objectives and agendas to establish priorities and procedures for the work of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors is engaged in the oversight of risk through regular updates from Mr. McTaggart, in his role as our Chief Executive Officer, and other members of our management team, regarding those risks confronting us, the actions and strategies necessary to mitigate those risks and the status and effectiveness of those actions and strategies. The updates are provided at regularly scheduled Board of Directors and Committee meetings as well as through more frequent informal meetings that include the Chairman of the Board of Directors, our Board of Directors, our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), our Chief Financial Officer (CFO), our Chief Operating Officer (COO) and other members of our management team. The Board of Directors provides insight into the issues, based on the experience of its members, and provides constructive challenges to managements assumptions and assertions.
Pursuant to the Companys Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association and Cayman Islands law, the Companys business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors are kept informed of the Companys business through discussions with the Chief Executive Officer and other senior officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees.
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The Board of Directors has determined that the director nominated for re-election and all of the directors whose terms will continue after the Meeting, other than Mr. McTaggart, are independent as such term is defined by the applicable listing standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (NASDAQ).
The Board of Directors based this determination primarily on a review of the responses of the directors to questions regarding their employment, affiliations, family and other relationships.
The Company schedules meetings of the Board of Directors quarterly, in conjunction with its Annual General Meeting, and as necessary throughout the year. The Company expects that all directors will attend each meeting, absent a valid reason, such as a scheduling conflict. The Board of Directors held five meetings during 2015.
Each director attended all of the meetings of the Board of Directors held during 2015, and all of the meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he served during 2015.
The Board of Directors has also adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of the Companys directors, officers (including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) and employees. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on the Investors Governance section of the Companys website: http://www.cwco.com.
If, in the future, the Board of Directors amends the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or grants a waiver to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer with respect to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the Company will post the amendment or a description of the waiver on the Investors Governance section of the Companys website.
The Board of Directors has the following three committees: (1) Compensation, (2) Audit and (3) Nominations and Corporate Governance. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for each of the committees. Such charters are posted on the Investors Governance section of the Companys website: http://www.cwco.com.
Director | Compensation Committee | Audit Committee |
Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee |
|||
Brian E. Butler | C | |||||
Carson K. Ebanks | X | |||||
Richard L. Finlay | C | |||||
Clarence B. Flowers, Jr. | X | |||||
Frederick W. McTaggart | ||||||
Wilmer F. Pergande | X | X | ||||
Leonard J. Sokolow | C | X | ||||
Raymond Whittaker | X | X |
X Member of Committee
C Chairman
The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Ebanks, Finlay, Flowers and Whittaker. The Compensation Committee held two meetings during 2015.
The Compensation Committee is responsible for developing, reviewing and approving the executive compensation program for the Company and its subsidiaries; assessing executive performance; making grants of salary and annual incentive compensation; approving certain employment agreements; and reviewing and consulting with the Companys management regarding the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that is included in the Companys proxy statement for each annual meeting. The Board of Directors has adopted a
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written charter for the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Compensation Committee are independent directors, as such term is defined under the applicable rules of NASDAQ.
The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Pergande, Sokolow and Whittaker. The Audit Committee held four meetings during 2015.
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in monitoring the financial reporting process, the internal control structure and managements testing of such control structure, the independent registered public accountants and the approval of outside consulting services pertaining to the financial and operating functions of the Company. Its primary duties are to serve as an independent and objective party to monitor the Companys financial process and internal control system, to select and determine the remuneration of the Companys independent accountants, to review and appraise the audit effort of the independent accountants and to provide an open avenue of communications among the independent accountants, financial consultants, financial and senior management and the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, and the Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of its charter on an annual basis. During the year, the Board of Directors examined the composition of the Audit Committee in light of NASDAQs corporate governance rules and the regulations promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) applicable to audit committees. Based upon this examination, the Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are independent directors within the meaning of applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQ and the SEC. The Board of Directors has also determined that Mr. Sokolow qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined under applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQ and the SEC.
The Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Messrs. Butler, Pergande and Sokolow. The Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee held three meetings during 2015.
The Nominations and Corporate Governance Committees duties and responsibilities are as set out in the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee Charter. The Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the size and composition of the Board of Directors and the qualifications of the members of the Board of Directors, establishes procedures for the nomination process, recommends candidates for election to the Board of Directors and nominates officers for election by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee are independent directors, as such term is defined under applicable rules of NASDAQ. The criteria for the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee to recommend nominees for membership on the Board of Directors is contained in the Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. Corporate Governance Guidelines, whereby candidates should possess certain applicable qualifications, skills, business experience, personal values, high ethical standards and a commitment to full participation on the Board of Directors and its committees, among other criteria, and whereby diversity shall be a commitment in any such recommendations.
To recommend a prospective nominee for the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committees consideration, a shareholder may submit the candidates name and qualifications in writing to the Secretary of the Company, Consolidated Water Co. Ltd., Regatta Office Park, Windward Three, 4th Floor, West Bay Road, P.O. Box 1114, Grand Cayman, KY1-1102, Cayman Islands.
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Shareholders of the Company who want to communicate with the Board of Directors or any individual director may write to:
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.
Regatta Office Park, Windward Three, 4th Floor, West Bay Road
P.O. Box 1114
Grand Cayman, KY1-1102
Cayman Islands
Attn: Secretary of the Company
The letter should include a statement indicating that the sender is a shareholder of the Company. The Secretary will review all shareholder letters with the Board of Directors and depending on the subject matter will:
| Regularly forward any letter that deals with the function of the Board of Directors or any committees of the Board of Directors (or any matter otherwise appropriate for Board attention) to the director or directors to whom it is addressed; |
| Attempt to handle the inquiry directly if it relates to routine or ministerial matters, including requests for information about the Company and stock-related matters; |
| Based upon the advice of appropriate legal counsel, not forward the letter if it relates to an improper or irrelevant topic; or |
| At each meeting of the Board of Directors, present a summary of all letters received since the last meeting that were not forwarded to the Board of Directors and make those letters available to the Board of Directors upon request. |
The Audit Committee submits the following report for 2015:
The Committee has reviewed and discussed with both management and the independent registered public accountants (the independent auditors) the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Committees review included discussion with the independent auditors of matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended.
The Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, and has discussed with the independent auditors matters relating to their independence.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements referred to above be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, for filing with the SEC.
Submitted by the Members of the 2015 Audit Committee
Wilmer F. Pergande
Leonard J. Sokolow
Raymond Whittaker
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The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2011 (the Dodd-Frank Act) requires companies that are subject to the SECs proxy rules and regulations to hold a shareholder vote to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of their Named Executive Officers as disclosed in their proxy statements in accordance with the SECs rules.
As described in detail under the heading Compensation Discussion and Analysis, our executive compensation programs are designed to attract, motivate and retain our Named Executive Officers, who are critical to our success. Under these programs, our Named Executive Officers are rewarded for the achievement of specific annual, long-term and strategic goals, and corporate goals. Please read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and Additional Information Regarding Executive Compensation sections included in this Proxy Statement for additional details about our executive compensation programs, including information relating to changes to our short-term and long-term compensation plans and the fiscal year 2015 compensation of our Named Executive Officers.
The Compensation Committee continually reviews the compensation programs for our Named Executive Officers to ensure they achieve the desired goals of aligning our executive compensation structure with our shareholders interests and current market practices. The Compensation Committee believes the Companys executive compensation programs have been effective at incentivizing the achievement of financial performance and returns to shareholders.
We are asking our shareholders to indicate their support for our Named Executive Officers compensation as described in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a say-on-pay proposal, gives our shareholders the opportunity to express their views on our Named Executive Officers compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement. Accordingly, we will ask our shareholders to vote FOR the following resolution at the Annual General Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the Companys shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the overall compensation philosophy, policies and practices applicable to the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in the Companys Proxy Statement for the 2016 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2015 Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure.
The say-on-pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee or our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors and our Compensation Committee value the opinions of our shareholders, and to the extent that there is any significant vote against the Named Executive Officers compensation as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, we will consider our shareholders concerns and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns. In addition to the advisory vote on executive compensation, we are committed to ongoing engagement with our shareholders on executive compensation and corporate governance issues.
At the 2015 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, approximately 94% of the votes cast on the advisory vote on the executive compensation proposal were cast in favor of our Named Executive Officers compensation as disclosed in the proxy statement for last years meeting. Our Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee reviewed these final vote results and determined that, given the level of support, the Company should maintain the components of our compensation program, as discussed in Compensation Discussion and Analysis in more detail.
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We have determined that our shareholders should vote on a say-on-pay proposal each year, consistent with the preference expressed by our shareholders at the 2011 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.
The approval of holders of at least a majority of the Shares cast is required to approve this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not treated as votes cast and, therefore, will not affect the outcome of the vote.
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The Audit Committee has selected Marcum LLP to continue as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, and to render other professional services as required, at the remuneration to be determined by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
We are asking our shareholders to ratify the selection of Marcum LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by our Articles of Association or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection of Marcum LLP to our shareholders for ratification because we value our shareholders views on the Companys independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event that our shareholders do not ratify the selection, it will be considered as a direction to the Audit Committee to consider the selection of a different firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares voted at the Annual General Meeting is necessary to ratify the selection of Marcum LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
The following table shows the fees that the Company and its affiliates paid or accrued for the audit and other services provided by Marcum LLP for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Audit | $ | 345,000 | $ | 345,000 | ||||
Audit-Related | 62,260 | | ||||||
Tax | 2,000 | 2,000 | ||||||
All Other | | | ||||||
Total | $ | 409,260 | $ | 347,000 |
Audit Fees: This category includes the fees for the examination of the Companys consolidated financial statements and internal controls, review of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reviews of the interim financial statements included in the Companys Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Audit-Related Fees: This category consists of services that are closely related to the financial audit process and primarily consists of review of reports filed and to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and accounting advice relating thereto, and audits in connection with consummated acquisitions.
Tax Fees: This category relates to professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
All audit and non-audit services performed by Marcum LLP were approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee gives due consideration to the potential effect of non-audit services on maintaining the auditors independence.
The approval of holders of at least a majority of the Shares cast is required for this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not treated as votes cast and, therefore, will not affect the outcome of the vote.
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The table below sets forth the beneficial ownership of our Ordinary Shares and Redeemable Preference Shares, of which 14,785,922 and 38,004, respectively, were outstanding as of March 23, 2016, by:
| each person or entity that we know beneficially owns more than 5% of our Ordinary Shares or Redeemable Preference Shares; |
| each of our directors; |
| our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer during the year ended December 31, 2015, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers on December 31, 2015; and |
| all of our executive officers and directors as a group. |
Title of Class | Identity of Person or Group | Amount Owned** | Percentage of Class** |
|||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Wilmer F. Pergande, Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors(1) |
26,843 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Frederick W. McTaggart, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer(2) |
133,629 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | David W. Sasnett, Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer(3) |
13,978 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | John Tonner, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer(4) |
20,127 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Ramjeet Jerrybandan, Vice President of Overseas Operations and Company Secretary(5) |
10,252 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Gerard J. Pereira Vice President of Engineering and Technology(6) |
23,856 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Brian E. Butler, Director | 16,984 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Carson K. Ebanks, Director | 6,307 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Richard L. Finlay, Director | 23,091 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Clarence B. Flowers, Jr., Director | 21,992 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Leonard J. Sokolow, Director(7) |
10,791 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Raymond Whittaker, Director | 35,012 | * | |||||||||
Ordinary Shares | Directors and Executive Officers as a Group(8) |
471,840 | 3.18 | % |
* | Indicates less than 1%. |
** | Unless otherwise indicated, to our knowledge, the persons named in the table above have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares listed. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares issuable under stock options exercisable within 60 days after March 23, 2016 are deemed outstanding for that person, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of ownership of any other person. |
(1) | Of the 26,843 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Pergande, 25,343 have shared investment power, 1,000 are held in an individual retirement account (IRA) of Mr. Pergande and 500 are held in an IRA of Mr. Pergandes spouse. |
(2) | Of the 133,629 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Frederick W. McTaggart, 3,535 have been earned under the Companys long term compensation plan but have not yet been issued, and 11,666 are issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 23, 2016. |
(3) | Of the 13,978 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Sasnett, 1,426 have been earned under the Companys long term compensation plan but have not yet been issued, and 9,441 are issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 23, 2016. |
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(4) | Of the 20,127 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Tonner, 1,327 have been earned under the Companys long term compensation plan but have not yet been issued, and 10,600 are issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 23, 2016. |
(5) | Of the 10,252 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Jerrybandan, 563 have been earned under the Companys long term compensation plan but have not yet been issued, and 5,901 are issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 23, 2016. |
(6) | Of the 23,856 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Pereira, 524 have been earned under the Companys long term compensation plan but have not yet been issued, and 4,721 are issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 23, 2016. |
(7) | Of the 10,791 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Sokolow, all have shared investment power. |
(8) | Of the 471,840 Ordinary Shares owned by the Directors and executive officers as a group, 43,948 have shared investment power, 9,962 have been earned under the Companys long term compensation plan but have not yet been issued, and 53,748 are issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 23, 2016. |
The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2015, with respect to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance under:
| all compensation plans previously approved by our security holders; and |
| all compensation plans not previously approved by our security holders. |
Plan category |
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) |
|||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 149,972 | (1) | $ | 10.52 | (2) | 1,232,428 | (1) | |||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | | | * | |||||||||
Total | 149,972 | (1) | $ | 10.52 | (2) | 1,232,428 | (1) |
* | This equity compensation plan does not have any limits on the amount of shares reserved for issuance under the plans. |
(1) | Includes approximately 29,882 shares that may be issued upon the satisfaction of performance objectives and 25,612 shares that vest in equal 1/3 increments on January 1, 2016, 2017 and 2018, pursuant to awards granted under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. The number of shares reflect the maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to these awards. |
(2) | The exercise price was calculated without considering the shares that will be issued for no monetary consideration in connection with the awards referenced in footnote (1) above. |
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This section provides information concerning the Companys executive officers:
Name | Position with Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. | |
Frederick W. McTaggart(1) | Director, President and Chief Executive Officer | |
David W. Sasnett(2) | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
John Tonner | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | |
Armando Averhoff | Vice President of Information Technology | |
Brent Brodie | Vice President of Sales and Marketing | |
Ramjeet Jerrybandan | Vice President of Overseas Operations and Company Secretary | |
Gregory S. McTaggart | Vice President of Cayman Operations | |
Robert B. Morrison | Vice President of Procurement and Logistics | |
Gerard J. Pereira | Vice President of Engineering and Technology | |
Douglas R. Vizzini | Vice President of Finance |
(1) | For biographical information regarding Mr. McTaggart, see Information Regarding Group II Directors. |
David W. Sasnett, age 59, became our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in June 2006 and also served on our Board of Directors from December 2004 through May 2015. From March 2014 through April 2015, Mr. Sasnett served as a member of the Board of Directors of DubLi Inc. In 2005 and 2006, Mr. Sasnett was the Chief Financial Officer of VoIP Inc., a publicly traded provider of communication services utilizing voice over Internet protocol technology. During 2004, he was the Vice President of Finance and Controller for MasTec Inc., a specialty contractor and infrastructure provider traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Sasnett was the Chief Financial Officer of Catalina Lighting Inc., a publicly traded manufacturer and distributor of residential lighting and other consumer products from 1996 to 2002. Mr. Sasnetts experience also encompasses more than 12 years with the auditing and consulting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Sasnett is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Florida.
John Tonner, age 54, became our Chief Operating Officer in September 2011, was appointed a Vice President of the Company in 2012 and became Executive Vice President in 2013. He is the former President and a partner in Water Consultants International, a leading desalination consulting firm. Mr. Tonner began working in the desalination and water treatment industry in 1985 and worked for Cayman Water from 1986 until 1990 where he was responsible, among other things, for our Companys first seawater reverse osmosis plant. He has broad practical and engineering experience involving all commercially viable desalination processes. Mr. Tonner is registered to practice as a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Environmentalist and European Ingenieur. He has more than 30 years of experience with reverse osmosis and membrane technology and has patented reverse osmosis energy recovery techniques. Mr. Tonner has provided due diligence oversight services for the some of the largest desalination projects in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Mr. Tonner holds an honors degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Paisley in Scotland. He has been a member of the International Desalination Association since the late 1980s, serving on the Board of Directors from 1999 until 2004. He is currently a Director of the American Membrane Technology Association. He was a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Desalination Technical Committee, and served on the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Research Committee for Advancing Desalination Technology.
Armando Averhoff, age 51, joined our Company in November 2010 as the Director of Information Technology and was promoted to Vice President of Information Technology in August 2014. Mr. Averhoff has more than 25 years of experience with various aspects of information technology including infrastructure design, networking, servers, application development, ERP systems and computer operations. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Averhoff was Information Technology Director at Arrow Cargo Airlines and Computer Operations Manager at LNR Property Corporation in Miami, Florida.
Brent Brodie, age 53, was appointed Director of Sales and Marketing in September 2010 and was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2012. Mr. Brodie's experience includes 12 years in a variety of positions with GE Water and Process Technologies, most recently as Capital Equipment Sales Manager for the Caribbean region. Mr. Brodie was responsible for the management of multiple market channels, including
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direct sales, indirect distribution, sales representatives, joint ventures and original equipment manufacturers. Mr. Brodie received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and his Master of Business Administration (Marketing Emphasis) from the University of Michigan.
Ramjeet Jerrybandan, age 48, joined our Company in 1998 as the Operations Engineer in Grand Cayman. He was promoted to Operations Manager (Cayman) in 2005 and became our Vice President of Overseas Operations in May 2006. Mr. Jerrybandan was appointed our Company Secretary in 2013. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and his Master of Science degree in Engineering Management at the University of the West Indies. Mr. Jerrybandan holds an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the Association of Business Executives of London. He also has extensive training in the Information Technology field, including industrial automation systems.
Gregory S. McTaggart, age 52, is our Vice President of Cayman Operations. Mr. McTaggart joined our Company in January 1991 as our resident engineer and has served in his current capacity since 1994. For three years before joining us, Mr. McTaggart worked for the Caribbean Utilities Company, the electrical utility on Grand Cayman, as a mechanical engineer. Mr. McTaggart obtained his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1986. Mr. McTaggart is the brother of Frederick W. McTaggart, the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of our Company.
Robert B. Morrison, age 62, was appointed Vice President of Procurement and Logistics in November 2010. Mr. Morrison holds the designation Certified Supply Chain Management Professional and has more than 25 years of experience in the purchasing and logistics field. He joined DesalCo Limited as Purchasing Manager in June 1996 and held this post until our acquisition of that company in 2003. In March 2003, Mr. Morrison was promoted to Vice President of Purchasing and Information Technology, retaining this post until his acceptance of his current position in 2011. Prior to joining DesalCo Limited, Mr. Morrison was principal Purchasing Officer for the Ministry of Works & Engineering of the Bermuda government and Purchasing Manager for American-Standard in Toronto, Canada.
Gerard J. Pereira, age 45, was appointed Vice President of Product Technology in September 2010. Mr. Pereira obtained his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and joined Ocean Conversion (Cayman) Limited as Operations Engineer in 1995. He was promoted to Operations Manager of Ocean Conversion (Cayman) Limited in 1998, which post he held until our acquisition of that company. In March 2003, Mr. Pereira was promoted to Vice President of Engineering, retaining this post until his acceptance of the Vice President of Sales & Marketing position in 2008 and subsequently his current position of Vice President of Engineering and Technology in 2012.
Douglas R. Vizzini, age 48, joined our Company in 2007 as the Corporate Controller, was appointed Assistant Company Secretary in 2011 and was promoted to Vice President of Finance in 2012. Mr. Vizzini has more than 20 years of experience, including more than eight years with the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP and more than 12 years as the Corporate Controller for various public companies. Mr. Vizzini obtained a Bachelor of Accounting and Master of Science in Taxation from Florida International University and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Florida.
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In this section, we provide an overview and analysis of our compensation program and policies, the material compensation decisions we have made under those programs and policies, and the material factors that we considered in making compensation decisions for our Named Executive Officers, as defined under the heading Additional Information Regarding Executive Compensation. Specific information regarding the compensation earned by or paid to our Named Executive Officers in 2015 is set forth in a series of tables under the heading Additional Information Regarding Executive Compensation. The discussion below is intended to help you understand the detailed information provided in those tables and put that information into context within our overall compensation program.
Executive Compensation | Corporate Governance Highlights | |||||
þ | Short-term incentive compensation plan that specifies Company and individual performance goals, providing greater transparency for investors | þ | Clawback policy that applies to executive incentive awards | |||
þ | Strong relationship between corporate performance and executive compensation through the short-term compensation plan | þ | Company stock may not be hedged or pledged by directors or officers | |||
þ | Long-term compensation plan specifies three-year performance goals | þ | Share ownership guidelines for the CEO and directors | |||
þ | 50% of the target long-term incentive compensation opportunity for the CEO, COO, CFO, and other executives is based on Company performance | þ | Independent Board Chairman | |||
þ | Peer group includes companies with similar business models and comparable industries |
At our 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, our advisory vote on executive compensation received the approval of 94% of the votes cast for this proposal. In response, the Compensation Committee (the Committee) of our Board of Directors determined that we should maintain the components of our compensation program, as discussed in more detail below.
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The table below summarizes the elements of the Companys 2015 executive compensation program and the objectives served by each element. We used multiple metrics in our 2015 compensation program to provide a more complete view of performance, which we intended to capture key business objectives.
Type | Component | Objective | ||
Performance-Based Compensation | Long-Term Incentive Awards | Align the compensation of executives with the financial and operational performance of the Company and the value delivered to shareholders over the longer term. | ||
Reward for increases in stock price over the longer term. | ||||
Provide strong retention value to executives in the service of the Company over the longer term and keep executives focused on the delivery of financial and operational performance and increases in shareholder value. | ||||
Annual Cash Incentive Awards | Align the compensation of executives with the annual financial and operational performance of the Company and its achievement of annual revenue, operating margin and net income objectives. | |||
Fixed Compensation | Base Salary | Provide a competitive fixed payment to the executive for their service to the Company, set at a level that allows the Company to attract and retain top talent. | ||
Benefits & Perquisites | Provide benefits that are competitive and enable the Company to attract and retain top executive talent. |
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The chart below compares the five-year change in CEO compensation and the change in value of $100 invested in the Company (indexed TSR). For purposes of computing the Companys indexed TSR, the Companys quarterly dividends are assumed to be reinvested at the closing price on the dividend payable date. This comparison is used by Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) to assess alignment of CEO compensation with shareholder return. The chart shows that CEO pay and indexed TSR increased over the period. The trend lines show that indexed TSR has increased at a faster rate than CEO pay.
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The mix of total compensation elements for the Named Executive Officers in 2015, as a percentage of total compensation, is set forth in the table and charts below.
Fixed Compensation (as a % of Total Compensation) |
Variable Compensation (as a % of Total Compensation) |
|||||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer | Base Salary | Benefits & Other Compensation |
Annual Cash Incentives |
Annual Equity Incentives |
||||||||||||
CEO | 41 | % | 2 | % | 36 | % | 21 | % | ||||||||
CFO | 57 | % | 3 | % | 23 | % | 17 | % | ||||||||
COO | 58 | % | 3 | % | 23 | % | 17 | % | ||||||||
VP Overseas Ops. | 60 | % | 6 | % | 22 | % | 12 | % | ||||||||
VP Eng. & Tech. | 61 | % | 7 | % | 20 | % | 12 | % |
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The Committee is responsible for establishing, implementing and continually monitoring adherence with our compensation philosophy; maintaining competitive compensation; and structuring compensation to achieve our compensation objectives. Generally, the types of compensation and benefits we provide to our Named Executive Officers are similar to those provided to our other executive officers.
The Committee believes that compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers should be directly aligned with our performance, and that compensation should be structured to ensure that a significant portion of our Named Executives Officers compensation opportunities are directly related to achievement of our financial and operational goals. These goals include meeting revenue and profitability targets, securing new projects and keeping current on the industrys engineering advances in seawater conversion technology, all of which impact shareholder value. The Committee evaluates both performance and compensation to ensure that we maintain our ability to attract and retain highly skilled and motivated employees in key positions and that the compensation provided to key employees remains competitive relative to our Peer Companies (identified below).
The Committee believes executives at peer companies typically receive base salary, an annual bonus and equity-based compensation, with top executives (i.e., Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officers) also receiving severance payments and, at times, payments upon a change of control. Accordingly, for 2015, the Committee determined that the compensation packages that we provided to our executives, including our Named Executive Officers, should include a mix of base salary and incentive-based cash compensation, with our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer also receiving severance payments, and our Chief Financial Officer also receiving severance payments upon a change of control. Beginning in 2015, all executive officers also became eligible to receive long-term equity compensation consisting of shares of our common stock earned over time and upon the satisfaction of Company performance goals.
Based on the foregoing philosophy and objectives, the Committee has structured our Named Executive Officers base salary and incentive-based compensation to motivate executives to achieve our business goals and reward them for achieving those goals.
In setting the base salaries in the employment agreements of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, the Committee determined the approximate total average annual cash compensation paid to executives performing similar functions at our Peer Companies.
In determining and considering adjustments to the base salaries in the employment agreements of our Vice Presidents, our Chief Executive Officer reviewed the average annual salaries paid to executives with similar levels of responsibility within our Peer Companies, taking into account the very limited availability of persons possessing the requisite skills and experience in the local labor market, and gave his recommendation to the Committee. The Committee compared the suggested annual base salary for each of our Vice Presidents to the annual base salaries paid to executives performing similar functions at comparable companies. Given that the suggested annual base salaries for our Vice Presidents were similar to that paid to executives within the Peer Companies, the Committee approved the salaries recommended by our Chief Executive Officer.
A significant amount of the total compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers is allocated to incentive-based compensation, as a result of the philosophy and objectives mentioned above.
In 2014, in furtherance of our compensation philosophy and objectives, the Committee re-engaged the POE Group Inc. (POE), an outside executive compensation consulting firm determined to be independent by the Committee, to conduct a review of, and recommend changes to, our total compensation program for our most highly compensated executive officers. A representative of POE attended Committee meetings at the invitation of the Committee Chairman and was also in contact directly with the Committee from time to time. POE provided the Committee with assistance and advice in the review of the Companys salary structure, annual and equity incentive awards and other related executive pay issues. In addition, POE provided advice regarding marketplace trends and best practices relating to competitive pay levels. POE did not provide any
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services to the Company other than its services as the Committees independent compensation consultant, and POE did not receive any fees or compensation from the Company other than the fee it received as the independent compensation consultant. POE did not provide any services to the Company in 2015. The Committee confirmed that POEs work for the Committee did not create any conflicts of interest.
In 2014, the Committee, with the assistance of POE, determined our peer group (our Peer Companies) to include the following 12 comparably sized companies, all of which are located in the U.S. These 12 companies also constituted our 2015 peer group. The companies generally fall within the following parameters for 2015:
| 0.7 times to 5.3 times our revenues; and |
| 0.1 times to 3.3 times our market capitalization. |
Artesian Resources Corporation | Capstone Turbine Corporation | |
Connecticut Water Services Inc. | Delta Natural Gas Company Inc. | |
Echelon Corporation | Energy Recovery Inc. | |
FuelCell Energy Inc. | Middlesex Water Company | |
Primo Water Corporation | RGC Resources Inc. | |
SJW Corporation | York Water Company |
The assessment provided by POE included comparative compensation information for executive officers at our Peer Companies that was used for our executive compensation benchmarking and performance benchmarking. We believe that this peer group provides a valid benchmark comparison to our Company.
Metric | Peer Median* |
CWCO* | CWCO Percentile Rank |
|||||||||
Revenue | $ | 91,000 | $ | 57,000 | 25.0 | % | ||||||
Market Capitalization | $ | 229,000 | $ | 181,000 | 41.7 | % | ||||||
Net Income | $ | 6,000 | $ | 8,000 | 58.3 | % | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 233,000 | $ | 162,000 | 41.7 | % |
* | Data for market capitalization is as of December 31, 2015, and revenue, net income and total asset data is as of December 31, 2015, or end of most recently completed fiscal year ($in thousands). |
Based upon POEs report and analysis, our Board of Directors and the Committee have concluded that our compensation plans for 2015 are comparable to the compensation paid by our Peer Companies.
Our Chief Executive Officer determines the base salary and establishes the individual performance goals for our Chief Financial Officer and our Chief Operating Officer. The Committee must approve any compensation components for our Vice Presidents, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer other than base salary. Our Chief Executive Officer is not involved with the setting of compensation for himself.
We have determined that our shareholders should vote on a Say-on-Pay proposal each year, consistent with the preference expressed by our shareholders at our 2011 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Accordingly, we conducted a Say-on-Pay vote at our 2015 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. While this vote was not binding on the Company, our Board of Directors or the Committee, we believe that it is important for our shareholders to have an opportunity to vote on executive compensation as a means to express their views regarding our executive compensation philosophy, our compensation policies and programs and our decisions regarding executive compensation. Our Board of Directors and the Committee value the opinions of our shareholders, and, to the extent that there is any significant vote against the compensation of our Named Executive Officers, we will consider our shareholders concerns and the Committee will evaluate
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whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns. In addition to the advisory vote on executive compensation, we are committed to ongoing engagement with our shareholders on executive compensation and corporate governance issues.
At the 2015 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, approximately 94% of the votes cast on the advisory vote on executive compensation proposal were cast in favor of our Named Executive Officer compensation as disclosed in the proxy statement. Our Board of Directors and the Committee reviewed these final vote results and determined that, given the level of support, the Company should maintain the components of our compensation program, as discussed in more detail below.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the principal components of compensation for our Named Executive Officers were:
| Base salary; |
| Incentive-based compensation; |
| Retirement and other benefits; and |
| Perquisites and other personal benefits. |
Base salaries for our executives are established based on the scope of their responsibilities and their prior relevant background, training and experience, taking into account competitive market compensation paid by the companies represented in the compensation data the Committee reviewed for similar positions, and the overall market demand for such executives at the time of hire or entry into employment agreements. As with total compensation, we believe that executive base salaries should be competitive with the salaries paid to executives at comparable companies. An executives base salary is also evaluated together with other components of the executives compensation to ensure that the executives total compensation is in line with our overall compensation philosophy and objectives.
Base salaries are reviewed annually and increased based upon: (i) a need to realign base salaries with market levels for the same positions at comparable companies; (ii) an internal review of the executives compensation, both individually and relative to other executive officers; (iii) the individual performance of the executive; and (iv) an assessment of whether significant corporate goals were achieved. Additionally, we may adjust base salaries as warranted throughout the year for promotions or other changes in the scope or breadth of an executives role or responsibilities.
All of our executive officers were eligible to earn annual incentive compensation in the form of a cash bonus in 2015. The annual incentive compensation is performance based, with payout of these awards tied to the Companys achievement of specific yearly net income, revenue and operating margin performance objectives, as well as individual performance for the year to the extent discussed below.
Incentive awards for our executive officers for 2015 were determined using four corporate performance measures and targets established for each measure. Such incentive based compensation was structured to provide for a range of payouts corresponding to a range of Company performance outcomes against the performance measures.
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Our executive officers were eligible to earn varying amounts of incentive compensation for 2015 based upon the Companys achievement of the (1) minimum threshold, (2) target or (3) upper amount that was set for each of the short-term performance measures. The following table sets forth the range of percentages of base salary each executive officer was eligible to receive as incentive compensation based upon the relative achievement of each of these amounts:
Named Executive Officer | Below Threshold | Threshold | Target | Maximum | ||||||||||||
Frederick W. McTaggart Chief Executive Officer |
0 | % | 35 | % | 70 | % | 109 | % | ||||||||
David W. Sasnett Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer |
0 | % | 15 | % | 30 | % | 47 | % | ||||||||
John Tonner Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer |
0 | % | 15 | % | 30 | % | 49 | % | ||||||||
Ramjeet Jerrybandan VP Overseas Operations |
0 | % | 12.5 | % | 25 | % | 41 | % | ||||||||
Gerard J. Pereira VP Engineering & Technology |
0 | % | 12.5 | % | 25 | % | 41 | % |
The Committee established the 2015 corporate performance measures for the Company based on the 2015 financial performance estimates approved by the Companys Board and the Companys historical performance. Setting performance measures involves both selecting the performance metrics that will be used to drive short-term business performance and establishing the performance targets for each of those metrics. The 2015 annual bonus for each Named Executive Officer was calculated by the Board of Directors based upon its assessment of the Companys performance in the areas set forth in the table below, with a weighting assigned to each factor for each of the Named Executive Officers noted. The Committee set the corporate performance goals at levels it believed require strong performance for a target payout and superior performance for an upper payout. The four corporate performance criteria, and the respective weighting assigned to each for our Named Executive Officers, are set forth in the table below.
Weighting of Short-Term Performance Measures | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income(1) |
Revenue(2) | Operating Margin(3) |
Mexico Project(4) |
Individual | ||||||||||||||||
Frederick W. McTaggart Chief Executive Officer |
40 | % | 30 | % | 10 | % | 10 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||
David W. Sasnett Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer |
40 | % | 30 | % | 10 | % | 10 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||
John Tonner Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer |
20 | % | 20 | % | 40 | % | 10 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||
Ramjeet Jerrybandan VP Overseas Operations |
30 | % | 20 | % | 40 | % | 0 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||
Gerard J. Pereira VP Engineering & Technology |
20 | % | 20 | % | 40 | % | 10 | % | 10 | % |
(1) | The net income target was based upon the Companys projection of net income for 2015, as adjusted for certain components of net income that are not directly affected by managements performance. |
(2) | The revenue target was based upon the Companys projected adjusted revenue, defined as projected revenues for 2015 adjusted to exclude energy pass-through charges for 2015. |
(3) | The operating margin target was based upon the Companys projected operating margin for 2015. Operating margin is defined as gross profit divided by revenues. |
(4) | The Mexico project target was based upon the Companys subsidiary, N.S.C. Agua S.A. de C.V., obtaining an agreement or agreements for its proposed Rosarito, Mexico plant to supply at least 30 million gallons per day. |
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The Committee selected these four performance measures to capture the most important aspects of the top- and bottom-line performance of the Company and short-term corporate goals. The Committee sets the relative weighting among the performance measures for each of the Named Executive Officers in accordance with the relative importance of those measures, in the Committees view, to the Companys performance, the strength of the Companys business and the Named Executive Officers ability to drive results with respect to these measures.
The relative percentages of the threshold and upper performance amounts to the target amount for each performance measure, and the Company's 2015 performance with respect to each measure, are set forth in the table below.
Performance Measure | Threshold | Target | Upper | Companys 2015 Results |
||||||||||||
Net Income | 75 | % | 100 | % | 125 | % | 119 | % | ||||||||
Revenue | 90 | % | 100 | % | 110 | % | 103 | % | ||||||||
Operating Margin | 90 | % | 100 | % | 110 | % | 111 | % |
The impact of the Company's 2015 performance with respect to each of the performance measures on the 2015 short-term incentive bonus for each Named Executive Officer, based upon the relative weightings assigned to these performance measures for each Executive, is as follows:
Performance Measure | Frederick W. McTaggart | David W. Sasnett | John Tonner | Ramjeet Jerrybandan | Gerard J. Pereira | |||||||||||||||
Net Income | 55 | % | 55 | % | 27 | % | 41 | % | 27 | % | ||||||||||
Revenues | 36 | % | 36 | % | 24 | % | 24 | % | 24 | % | ||||||||||
Operating Margin | 17 | % | 17 | % | 70 | % | 70 | % | 70 | % | ||||||||||
Mexico Project Goal | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | N/A | 0 | % | |||||||||||
Individual Goals | 10 | % | 5 | % | 10 | % | 10 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||
Total percentage of target amounts achieved | 118 | % | 113 | % | 131 | % | 145 | % | 131 | % | ||||||||||
Incentive compensation payable assuming target amounts were achieved | $ | 317,118 | $ | 91,350 | $ | 85,050 | $ | 45,063 | $ | 42,000 | ||||||||||
Incentive compensation earned for 2015 | $ | 374,805 | $ | 103,400 | $ | 111,690 | $ | 65,355 | $ | 55,155 | ||||||||||
Incentive compensation as a percentage of base salary | 83 | % | 34 | % | 39 | % | 36 | % | 33 | % |
The Board has the discretion to pay any of our executives a bonus in addition to the bonus amount payable under our short term incentive compensation plan if it determines the executives accomplishments during the year merited such additional compensation. In 2015, the Board elected to pay Mr. McTaggart and Mr. Sasnett additional bonuses of $25,000 and $16,600, respectively, as a result of their efforts in evaluating, negotiating and ultimately closing (in February 2016) the acquisition of 51% of the ownership of Aerex Industries, Inc. As a result of these additional discretionary amounts, Mr. McTaggarts and Mr. Sasnetts cash bonuses for 2015 totaled $399,805 and $120,000, respectively.
All of our executive officers are eligible to earn annual incentive compensation in the form of grants of common stock that vest in the future. This long-term component of the Companys incentive compensation program is designed to better align the interests of our executive officers with those of our shareholders. Under the long-term incentive compensation plan, all executive officers participate in the plan with the same measures and weights, but at different levels of opportunity. The plan includes a combination of performance based and time vesting grants of common stock.
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Effective in 2015, on January 1 of each year all of our executive officers are granted rights to receive a number of shares of common stock in the future under our long-term incentive compensation plan. The aggregate number of shares each executive is eligible to receive is initially based upon the following formula (the Long Term Share Formula), and subsequently adjusted based upon the Companys actual performance relative to its long-term performance measures:
Number of Shares = | Base Salary as of 12/31 of prior year |
X | Applicable Bonus Percentage |
|||||||||
Company Share Price as of 12/31 of prior year |
Of the number of shares calculated under the Long Term Share Formula, 50% consist of grants that vest in equal 1/3 increments on each January 1 in the three year period following the grant date, assuming the executive officer remains employed by the Company on the vesting date. The remaining 50% of the shares calculated under the Long Term Share Formula constitute performance-based grants, as the executives receipt of the shares under these grants is dependent upon the Companys cumulative financial performance over a three year period relative to various performance measures. The number of performance based shares the executive ultimately receives will be equal to 50% of the number of shares calculated under the Long Term Share Formula if the Companys performance equals the target amount for each of the long-term performance measures. Such number of shares will be adjusted downward or upward based upon the achievement of minimum threshold and upper amounts for each performance measure.
The following sets forth the number of shares of common stock underlying grants made to each named executive officer for 2015 under the Long Term Share Formula based upon the closing pricing of $10.68 for the Companys stock on December 31, 2014.
Bonus % |
Number of Shares Granted | |||||||||||
Time Vesting(1) | Performance Based(2) | |||||||||||
Frederick W. McTaggart Chief Executive Officer |
50 | % | 10,604 | 10,604 | ||||||||
David W. Sasnett Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer |
30 | % | 4,277 | 4,277 | ||||||||
John Tonner Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer |
30 | % | 3,982 | 3,982 | ||||||||
Ramjeet Jerrybandan VP Overseas Operations |
20 | % | 1,688 | 1,688 | ||||||||
Gerard J. Pereira VP Engineering & Technology |
20 | % | 1,573 | 1,573 |
(1) | These shares vest in equal 1/3 increments on January 1 of 2016, 2017 and 2018. |
(2) | Represents the number of shares that may be earned by the executive assuming achievement of the three year cumulative financial performance target amounts established by the Board for the three year period ending December 31, 2017. The actual number of shares earned may be adjusted upward or downward based upon the financial performance of the Company relative to the long term financial performance measures. |
The long-term performance measures selected by the Board of Directors and the specific rationale for selecting each measure are set forth below:
1. | Three-Year Cumulative Operating Cash Flows The Board selected this measure because it is important for us to continue to generate positive cash flows to pay dividends and to fund future expansion. |
2. | Three-Year Cumulative Earnings Per Share This measure encourages increasing profits on a per-share basis, which reflects an increase in value for our shareholders. |
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3. | Three-Year Cumulative Revenues (net of energy costs) This measure accounts for additions to revenue from the new projects and organic growth from our existing business operations. |
The respective weighting assigned to each long-term performance measure for our Named Executive Officers, are set forth in the table below.
Weighting of Long-Term Performance Measures | ||||||||||||
Three-Year Cumulative Operating Cash Flow | Three-Year Cumulative Earnings Per Share |
Three-Year Cumulative Revenues | ||||||||||
Frederick W. McTaggart Chief Executive Officer |
20 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % | ||||||
David W. Sasnett Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer |
20 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % | ||||||
John Tonner Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer |
20 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % | ||||||
Ramjeet Jerrybandan VP Overseas Operations |
20 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % | ||||||
Gerard J. Pereira VP Engineering & Technology |
20 | % | 40 | % | 40 | % |
Under our long term incentive compensation plan our executive officers are eligible to earn varying numbers of shares of our common stock based upon the Companys achievement of the (1) minimum threshold, (2) target or (3) upper amount that has been established for each of the long-term performance measures. The following table sets forth the number of shares each executive officer is eligible to receive as incentive compensation based upon the relative achievement of each of these amounts:
Named Executive Officer | Below Threshold | Threshold | Target | Maximum | ||||||||||||
Frederick W. McTaggart Chief Executive Officer |
0 | 5,302 | 10,604 | 16,754 | ||||||||||||
David W. Sasnett Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer |
0 | 2,139 | 4,277 | 6,758 | ||||||||||||
John Tonner Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer |
0 | 1,991 | 3,982 | 6,292 | ||||||||||||
Ramjeet Jerrybandan VP Overseas Operations |
0 | 844 | 1,688 | 2,667 | ||||||||||||
Gerard J. Pereira VP Engineering & Technology |
0 | 787 | 1,573 | 2,485 |
As with every employer in the Cayman Islands, we are required by the National Pension Law to provide a pension plan for our employees in the Cayman Islands. We belong to the Cayman Islands Chamber Pension Plan, the Ocean Conversion Staff Pension Plan and the Fidelity Pension Plan in the Cayman Islands. The Chamber Pension Plan is a non-profit entity that is administered by the Bank of Butterfield; the Ocean Conversion Staff Pension Plan has as its trustee Colonial Private Trustee Limited and is administered by the British Caymanian Insurance Company Ltd.; and the Fidelity Pension Plan is administered by Fidelity Pension Services (Cayman) Limited, who are also the trustees of the plan.
Under the Cayman Islands National Pensions Law, all employees between the ages of 18 and 60 must contribute a specified minimum percentage of their earnings to a pension plan. Since June 1, 2002, all employees must contribute 5% of their earnings to a pension plan. An employee also has the option of contributing more than the prescribed minimum. We are required to match the contribution of the first 5% of each participating employees salary to a maximum of $72,000. Employees earning more than $72,000 are not
26
required to make contributions on amounts over $72,000. All contributions by our employees are collected by us and paid into the various pension plans on a monthly basis.
All three plans are defined contribution plans, and as such the amount that an employee receives upon retirement is directly related to the amount contributed to the plan by the employee while working. Once an employee retires (employees become eligible for retirement at age 60 in the Cayman Islands), an employee has the following options for receiving benefits:
| Receive a cash payout if the employees retirement savings are less than $6,000; |
| Transfer the retirement savings to a life annuity for investment by a life insurance company and payment of a regular income stream to the employee for the remainder of the employees life (and the employees spouses life if the employee is married at the time of retirement); or |
| Transfer the retirement savings to a Retirement Savings Arrangement account with an approved provider or bank, and receive regular income payments until the account is depleted. |
Pursuant to their respective employment agreements, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Overseas Operations and Vice President of Engineering & Product Technology were each provided with an automobile expense allowance of $1,150 per month in 2015. Pursuant to the employment agreement with our Chief Operating Officer, we provided him with an automobile expense allowance of $1,000 per month in 2015.
Our Named Executive Officers employment agreements may be terminated upon the occurrence of the following:
| the death of the Named Executive Officer; |
| the Named Executive Officer being adjudicated bankrupt; |
| the Named Executive Officer giving six months notice of termination; and |
| the Named Executive Officer being unable to discharge his duties due to physical or mental illness for a period of more than 60 days. |
Additionally, our Chief Financial Officers employment agreement may be terminated due to his conviction of a felony or his commission of an act or omission that could result in material harm to us or conduct justifying dismissal under Cayman Islands law. Our other Named Executive Officers employment agreements may be terminated due to conduct by such Named Executive Officer justifying dismissal under Cayman Islands law.
Upon termination due to the Named Executive Officers inability to discharge his duties due to physical or mental illness for a period of more than 60 days, the Named Executive Officer will be relieved of his duties. In the case of all Named Executive Officers other than our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer, we will pay such Named Executive Officer $1,000 per year, provide medical insurance for him and his family, and contribute to a pension fund for the Named Executive Officer for a period of two years. In the case of our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer, we will pay him $1,000 per year and provide medical insurance for him and his family for a period of one year.
If our Chief Financial Officer or Chief Operations Officer terminates his respective employment agreement upon six months notice or if we terminate his employment agreement due to his commission of an act or omission that could result in material harm to us, he will forfeit all unvested shares issued pursuant to his employment agreement. If his employment agreement is otherwise terminated or upon a Change in Control, as defined below, all unvested shares issued pursuant to his employment agreement will vest immediately.
Upon termination of employment, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer are entitled to receive severance payments under their employment agreements. In determining whether
27
to approve and setting the terms of such severance arrangements, the Committee recognizes that executives, especially highly ranked executives, often face challenges securing new employment following termination. These employment agreements provide for a lump sum severance payment equal to 24 months to our Chief Executive Officer, a lump sum severance payment of 12 months to our Chief Financial Officer and a lump sum severance payment equal to six months to our Chief Operating Officer, of their then current respective base salaries if their employment is terminated without cause or if their employment agreements are not renewed. The Committee negotiated our Chief Executive Officers severance package to provide him an amount equal to his base salary for the length of his non-competition arrangement with us. Based upon the data reviewed by the Committee, we believe that our Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers and Chief Operating Officers severance packages are generally in line with severance packages offered to chief executive officers, chief financial officers and chief operating officers of comparable companies.
Upon a Change in Control, as defined below, our Chief Financial Officer may elect to terminate his employment and receive a lump sum payment equal to three times his then current base salary. In determining whether to approve and setting the terms of such Change in Control arrangement, the Committee recognizes the importance to the Company and our shareholders of avoiding the distraction and loss of key management personnel that may occur in connection with rumored or actual fundamental corporate changes. A properly arranged Change in Control provision protects shareholder interests by enhancing employee focus during rumored or actual Change in Control activity through:
| Incentives to remain with us despite uncertainties while a transaction is under consideration or pending; and |
| Assurance of compensation for terminated employees after a Change in Control. |
Our Chief Financial Officers employment agreement provides that, at his election, he may terminate his employment upon a Change in Control and receive a payment of 36 months of his then current base salary. After reviewing the practices of companies represented in the compensation data we obtained, the Committee negotiated our Chief Financial Officers Change in Control arrangement to provide him an amount equal to three times his base salary. We believe that our Chief Financial Officers Change in Control arrangement is generally in line with such arrangements offered to chief financial officers of comparable companies.
For the purposes of this discussion, a Change of Control occurs when: (i) any person, including a group as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, publicly announces that such person or group has become the beneficial owner of more than 30% of the combined voting power (Controlling Voting Power) of our then outstanding securities that may be cast for the election of directors and (ii) the persons who were our directors before such event shall cease to constitute a majority of our Board of Directors, or any successor, as the direct or indirect result of any person or group acquiring Controlling Voting Power.
The Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on its review and discussions with management, the Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2015 and this proxy statement.
Submitted by the Members of the 2015 Compensation Committee
Carson K. Ebanks
Richard L. Finlay
Clarence B. Flowers, Jr.
Raymond Whittaker
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The following table summarizes the compensation of (1) our Chief Executive Officer, (2) our Chief Financial Officer and (3) our three other most highly compensated executive officers based upon total compensation (collectively, our Named Executive Officers) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) |
Bonus ($)(1) |
Stock Awards ($)(2) |
All Other Compensation ($)(3) |
Total ($) |
||||||||||||||||||
Frederick W. McTaggart Chief Executive Officer |
2015 | 453,025 | 399,805 | 226,513 | 18,000 | 1,097,343 | ||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 453,026 | 381,685 | | 17,400 | 852,111 | |||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 411,841 | 308,883 | 173,458 | 16,800 | 910,982 | |||||||||||||||||||
David W. Sasnett Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer |
2015 | 304,500 | 120,000 | 91,350 | 14,400 | 530,250 | ||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 300,000 | 108,325 | | 13,800 | 422,125 | |||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 285,525 | 100,000 | | 13,200 | 398,725 | |||||||||||||||||||
John Tonner Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer |
2015 | 283,500 | 111,690 | 85,050 | 12,600 | 492,840 | ||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 275,215 | 94,935 | | 12,000 | 382,150 | |||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 245,725 | 70,000 | | 11,400 | 327,125 | |||||||||||||||||||
Ramjeet Jerrybandan VP Overseas Operations |
2015 | 180,250 | 65,355 | 36,050 | 18,000 | 299,655 | ||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 175,000 | 56,870 | | 17,400 | 249,270 | |||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 166,320 | 50,000 | | 16,800 | 233,120 | |||||||||||||||||||
Gerard J. Pereira VP Engineering & Technology |
2015 | 168,000 | 55,155 | 33,600 | 18,000 | 274,755 | ||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 157,293 | 47,180 | | 17,400 | 221,873 | |||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 152,712 | 45,815 | | 16,800 | 215,327 |
(1) | Bonus amounts have been determined pursuant to the bonus terms outlined in our Named Executive Officers respective employment agreements. |
(2) | Amounts for 2015 represent the value of time vesting and performance share grants issued on January 1, 2015 under the Companys long term incentive compensation plan. |
Under the terms of Mr. McTaggarts employment agreement, through the year ended December 31, 2013 his bonus was to be paid 75% in cash and 25% in Ordinary Shares, valued at the market price at the close of trading on December 31, of the relevant fiscal year. As a result, Mr. McTaggart received 12,302 common shares with a value of $173,458 in connection with his bonus for 2013.
(3) | Represents (i) pension plan contributions of $3,600 for Frederick W. McTaggart, Ramjeet Jerrybandan and Gerard Pereira for 2015, 2014 and 2013; (ii) car allowance of $14,400, $13,800, and 13,200 for Frederick W. McTaggart, Mr. Sasnett, Mr. Jerrybandan and Mr. Pereira for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively; and (iii) car allowance of $12,600, $12,000, and $11,400 for Mr. Tonner for 2015, 2014 and 2013. |
On January 1, 2004, we entered into a three-year employment agreement with Frederick W. McTaggart, our President and Chief Executive Officer. This agreement is subject to extension each year upon mutual agreement such that the term will be for three years from January 1 of the next following year, which is currently through December 31, 2017. If we terminate Mr. Frederick McTaggart without cause, he is entitled to twice his current annual base salary.
Mr. McTaggart is also entitled to an automobile expense allowance, which amounted to $14,400, $13,800 and $13,200 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. This allowance increases on January 1 of each year by $50 per month.
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Effective January 1, 2008, we entered into a two-year employment agreement with Mr. Sasnett, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, which has since been extended through December 31, 2017. Under the terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Sasnett is entitled to an annual base salary and a performance bonus if certain performance goals are met. Prior to 2014, these performance goals were established by the Companys Chief Executive Officer. Beginning in 2014, the Companys Compensation Committee establishes Company performance goals and the Chief Executive Officer establishes Mr. Sasnetts individual performance goals. If the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the Company decides not to extend the term of the employment agreement, the term of the employment agreement will expire on December 31 of the year in which such decision is made, and the Company will be obligated to pay Mr. Sasnett, in cash, a severance payment equal to his base salary on the expiration date.
Mr. Sasnett is also entitled to an automobile expense allowance, which amounted to $14,400, $13,800 and $13,200 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. This allowance increases on January 1 of each year by $50 per month.
Effective September 1, 2011, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Tonner. Under the terms of this employment agreement, Mr. Tonner is entitled to an annual base salary and a performance bonus pursuant to the completion of certain performance goals. Prior to 2014, these performance goals were established by the Companys Chief Executive Officer. Beginning in 2014, the Companys Compensation Committee establishes Company performance goals and the Chief Executive Officer establishes Mr. Tonners individual performance goals.
Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Tonner is entitled to an automobile expense allowance, which amounted to $12,600, $12,000 and $11,400 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. This allowance increases on January 1 of each year by $50 per month during the term of this agreement.
Effective January 1, 2008, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Jerrybandan. Under the terms of this employment agreement, Mr. Jerrybandan is entitled to an annual base salary and a performance bonus pursuant to the completion of certain performance goals. Prior to 2014, these performance goals were established by the Companys Chief Executive Officer. Beginning in 2014, the Companys Compensation Committee establishes Company performance goals and the Chief Executive Officer establishes Mr. Jerrybandans individual performance goals.
Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Jerrybandan is entitled to an automobile expense allowance, which amounted to $14,400, $13,800 and $13,200 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. This allowance increases on January 1 of each year by $50 per month during the term of this agreement.
Effective January 1, 2008, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Pereira. Under the terms of this employment agreement, Mr. Pereira is entitled to an annual base salary and a performance bonus pursuant to the completion of certain performance goals. Prior to 2014, these performance goals were established by the Companys Chief Executive Officer. Beginning in 2014, the Companys Compensation Committee establishes Company performance goals and the Chief Executive Officer establishes Mr. Pereiras individual performance goals.
Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Pereira is entitled to an automobile expense allowance, which amounted to $14,400, $13,800 and $13,200 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. This allowance increases on January 1 of each year by $50 per month during the term of this agreement.
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The following table summarizes the outstanding option awards as of December 31, 2015, for each Named Executive Officer.
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options at Fiscal Year End |
Option Exercise Price(1) |
Option Grant Date |
Option Expiration Date(2) |
|||||||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer | Exercisable | Unexercisable | ||||||||||||||||||
Frederick W. McTaggart | 23,333 | | 10.68 | 02/22/11 | 02/22/17 | |||||||||||||||
David W. Sasnett | 14,383 | | 10.68 | 02/22/11 | 02/22/17 | |||||||||||||||
John Tonner | 10,600 | | 9.11 | 07/15/11 | 07/15/17 | |||||||||||||||
Ramjeet Jerrybandan | 5,901 | | 10.68 | 02/22/11 | 02/22/17 | |||||||||||||||
Gerard J. Pereira | 9,442 | | 10.68 | 02/22/11 | 02/22/17 |
(1) | These options vest annually in equal tranches beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. |
(2) | These options expire three years from the applicable vesting date. |
The following table provides information for each of the Named Executive Officers on stock option exercises during the year ended December 31, 2015, including the number of shares acquired upon exercise and the value realized, before payment of any applicable withholding tax and broker commissions.
Option awards | ||||||||
Named Executive Officer | Number of shares acquired on exercise |
Value realized on exercise |
||||||
Frederick W. McTaggart | | | ||||||
David W. Sasnett | 11,883 | 19,745 | ||||||
John Tonner | 7,400 | 28,022 | ||||||
Ramjeet Jerrybandan | 5,901 | 4,017 | ||||||
Gerard J. Pereira | 3,925 | 8,439 |
No shares vested to the Named Executive Officers during the year ended December 31, 2015.
We do not have any defined benefit plans and only offer defined contribution plans.
We do not have any non-qualified deferred contribution plans or other deferred compensation plans.
The section below describes the payments that may be made to the Named Executive Officers upon termination or Change in Control, as defined below, pursuant to individual agreements. For payments made to a participant upon a retirement other than in connection with termination or a Change in Control, see Pension Benefits above.
Our Named Executive Officers employment agreements may be terminated upon the occurrence of the following:
| the death of the Named Executive Officer; |
| the Named Executive Officer being adjudicated bankrupt; |
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| the Named Executive Officer giving six months notice of termination; and |
| the Named Executive Officer being unable to discharge his duties due to physical or mental illness for a period of more than 60 days. |
Additionally, our Chief Financial Officers employment agreement may be terminated due to his conviction of a felony or his commission of an act or omission that could result in material harm to us or conduct justifying dismissal under Cayman Islands law. Our other Named Executive Officers employment agreements may be terminated due to conduct by such Named Executive Officer justifying dismissal under Cayman Islands law.
Upon termination due to the Named Executive Officers inability to discharge his duties due to physical or mental illness for a period of more than 60 days, the Named Executive Officer will be terminated. In the case of all Named Executive Officers other than our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, we will pay such Named Executive Officer $1,000 per year, provide medical insurance for him and his family, and contribute to a pension fund for the Named Executive Officer for a period of two years. In the case of our Chief Financial Officer, we will pay him $1,000 per year and provide medical insurance for him and his family for a period of one year. In the case of our Chief Operating Officer, we will pay him $1,000 per year and provide medical insurance for him and his family for a period of two years.
Assuming our Named Executive Officers employment agreements were terminated on December 31, 2015, due to the Named Executive Officers inability to discharge his duties due to physical or mental illness for a period of more than 60 days, the compensation due to our Named Executive Officers would be as set forth in the following table.
Named Executive Officer | Salary ($) |
Medical Insurance ($) |
Pension Fund Contribution ($) |
Total Compensation ($) |
||||||||||||
Frederick W. McTaggart | 2,000 | 29,175 | 7,200 | 38,375 | ||||||||||||
David W. Sasnett | 1,000 | 24,052 | | 25,052 | ||||||||||||
John Tonner | 2,000 | 52,882 | | 54,882 | ||||||||||||
Ramjeet Jerrybandan | 2,000 | 13,314 | 7,200 | 22,514 | ||||||||||||
Gerard J. Pereira | 2,000 | 37,519 | 7,200 | 46,719 |
If our Chief Financial Officer terminates his employment agreement or if we terminate his employment agreement due to his commission of an act or omission that could result in material harm to us or conduct justifying dismissal under Cayman Islands law, he will forfeit all unvested shares issued pursuant to his employment agreement. If his employment agreement is otherwise terminated or upon a Change in Control, as defined below, all unvested shares issued pursuant to his employment agreement will vest immediately.
Upon termination of employment, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer are entitled to receive severance payments under their employment agreements. Our Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers and Chief Operating Officers employment agreements provide for a lump sum severance payment equal to 24 months, 12 months and six months, respectively, of their then current respective base salaries if their employment is terminated without cause or if their employment agreements are not renewed. The Committee negotiated these severance packages to provide them with an amount equal to their base salary for the length of their non-competition arrangements with us. The following table sets forth the total amount of severance payments that would be made to Messrs. McTaggart, Sasnett and Tonner if their employment agreements were terminated without cause as of December 31, 2015:
Name | Severance ($) |
|||
Frederick W. McTaggart | 906,050 | |||
David W. Sasnett | 304,500 | |||
John Tonner | 141,750 |
32
Upon a Change in Control, as defined below, our Chief Financial Officer may elect to terminate his employment and receive a lump sum payment equal to three times his then current base salary. In determining whether to approve and setting the terms of such Change in Control arrangement, the Committee recognizes the importance to us and our shareholders of avoiding the distraction and loss of key management personnel that may occur in connection with rumored or actual fundamental corporate changes. A properly arranged Change in Control provision protects shareholder interests by enhancing employee focus during rumored or actual Change in Control activity through:
| Incentives to remain with us despite uncertainties while a transaction is under consideration or pending; and |
| Assurance of compensation for terminated employees after a Change in Control. |
Our Chief Financial Officers employment agreement provides that, at his election, he may terminate his employment upon a Change in Control and receive a payment of 36 months of his then current base salary. After reviewing the practices of companies represented in the compensation data we obtained, the Committee negotiated our Chief Financial Officers Change in Control arrangement to provide him an amount equal to three times his base salary. We believe that our Chief Financial Officers Change in Control arrangement is generally in line with such arrangements offered to chief financial officers of comparable companies.
For the purposes of this discussion, a Change of Control occurs when: (i) any person, including a group as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, publicly announces that such person or group has become the beneficial owner of more than 50% of the combined voting power (Controlling Voting Power) of our then outstanding securities that may be cast for the election of directors and (ii) the persons who were our directors before such event shall cease to constitute a majority of our Board of Directors, or any successor, as the direct or indirect result of any person or group acquiring Controlling Voting Power.
The following table sets forth the total amount of change in control payments that would be made to Mr. Sasnett if his employment agreement was terminated upon a Change in Control as of December 31, 2015:
Name | Change In Control ($) |
|||
David W. Sasnett | 913,500 |
The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation earned by our non-employee directors and/or paid to certain of our non-employee directors in 2015.
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(1) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||
Brian E. Butler* | 38,550 | 15,800 | 54,350 | |||||||||
Carson K. Ebanks* | 35,200 | 15,200 | 50,400 | |||||||||
Richard L. Finlay*(2) | 46,700 | 15,200 | 61,900 | |||||||||
Clarence B. Flowers, Jr.* | 35,200 | 15,200 | 50,400 | |||||||||
Wilmer F. Pergande*(3) | 138,700 | 19,400 | 158,100 | |||||||||
Leonard J. Sokolow*(4) | 66,700 | 19,400 | 86,100 | |||||||||
Raymond Whittaker*(5) | 65,100 | 18,800 | 83,900 |
* | The Board of Directors has determined that each of such persons is an independent director under the corporate governance rules of NASDAQ. |
(1) | Represents fair value on the date of grant. |
33
(2) | Of the $46,700 fees earned or paid in cash, $10,000 is related to director fees from Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Limited. |
(3) | Of the $138,700 fees earned or paid in cash, $27,500 is related to director fees from Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Limited, $20,000 is related to director fees from N.S.C. Agua, S.A. de C.V., $7,500 is related to director fees from Ocean Conversion (BVI) Limited and $3,000 is related to director fees from Consolidated Water (Asia) Pte. Limited. |
(4) | Of the $66,700 fees earned or paid in cash, $20,000 is related to director fees from N.S.C. Agua, S.A. de C.V. and $3,000 is related to director fees from Consolidated Water (Asia) Pte. Limited. |
(5) | Of the $65,100 fees earned or paid in cash, $10,000 is related to director fees from Consolidated Water (Belize) Limited and $15,500 is related to director fees from Ocean Conversion (BVI) Limited. |
Our Chairman receives an annual retainer of $58,000 in addition to the meeting and attendance fees paid to each non-executive director.
Each director who is not an executive officer is entitled to an annual retainer of $18,000 and an attendance fee of $3,000 for each Board of Directors meeting attended, and $1,000 for each telephonic Board of Directors meetings attended.
Each director who is a member of the Audit Committee is entitled to an attendance fee of $1,100 for each Audit Committee meeting attended, except for the Chairman of the Audit Committee, who is entitled to $1,850 for each Audit Committee meeting attended.
Each director who is a member of the Compensation Committee is entitled to an attendance fee of $1,100 for each Compensation Committee meeting attended, except for the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, who is entitled to $1,850 for each Compensation Committee meeting attended.
Each director who is a member of the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee is entitled to an attendance fee of $1,100 for each Nominations Committee meeting attended, except for the Chairman of the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee, who is entitled to $1,850 for each Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee meeting attended.
In addition, under the non-executive directors share grant plan, each director received Ordinary Shares worth the share equivalent of $2,000 for each quarterly Board of Directors meeting and $600 for each Committee meeting attended for periods through May 28, 2015. Following May 28, 2015, each director receives Ordinary Shares worth the share equivalent of $4,000 for each quarterly Board of Directors meeting and $1,200 for each Committee meeting attended. The Ordinary Shares are calculated by dividing the accumulated share attendance fees by the prevailing market price on October 1 of the preceding year.
Our Directors who are also executive officers of our Company are not entitled to an annual retainer or any attendance fees.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors consists of Messrs. Ebanks, Finlay, Flowers and Whittaker. No member of the Compensation Committee is, or at any time in the past has been, an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
We are required to identify each person who was an officer, director or beneficial owner of more than 10% of our registered equity securities during our most recent fiscal year and who failed to file on a timely basis reports required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). To our knowledge, based solely on review of these filings and written representations from the certain reporting persons, we believe that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, our officers, directors and significant stockholders have timely filed the appropriate form under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
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The Company has a written policy regarding the review, approval or ratification of related person transactions. A related person transaction for the purposes of the policy is a transaction between the Company and one of the Companys directors or nominees for director, executive officers, 5% shareholders, or a member of one of these persons immediate family, in which such person has a direct or indirect material interest and involves more than $120,000. Under this policy, related person transactions are prohibited unless the Audit Committee has determined in advance that the transaction is in the best interests of the Company.
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The following graph compares the changes over the last five years in the value of $100 invested in (i) the Companys Ordinary Shares, (ii) the Standard & Poors 500 Stock Index (S&P 500 Index) and (iii) ratably in each of the five companies that constitute the Companys peer group index. The peer group consists of Middlesex Water Company, Connecticut Water Services Inc., American States Water Co., California Water Service Group and Artesian Resources Corporation. The year-end values of each investment are based on share price appreciation without consideration of the reinvestment of all dividends.
Historical stock price performance shown on the performance graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. | S&P 500 Index |
Peer Group Index | ||||||||||
2010 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | |||||||||
2011 | 93.57 | 100.00 | 99.52 | |||||||||
2012 | 80.70 | 113.40 | 113.89 | |||||||||
2013 | 153.76 | 146.97 | 130.62 | |||||||||
2014 | 116.47 | 163.71 | 145.12 | |||||||||
2015 | 133.48 | 162.52 | 159.08 |
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Shareholder proposals intended to be presented under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act for inclusion in the Companys proxy statement and accompanying proxy for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, including nomination of an individual for election as a director at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, must be received at the Companys principal executive offices in the Cayman Islands on December 17, 2016 and must meet all the requirements of Rule 14a-8. To recommend a prospective nominee for the Nominations and Corporate Governance Committees consideration, see Committees of the Board of Directors.
Proposals and other notices should be sent to:
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.
Regatta Office Park, Windward Three,
4th Floor, West Bay Road
P.O. Box 1114
Grand Cayman, KY1-1102
Cayman Islands
Attn: Secretary of the Company
Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of householding proxy statements, annual reports and Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. This means that only one copy of the Companys proxy statement, annual report and Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials may have been sent to multiple shareholders in your household. The Company will promptly deliver a separate copy of any of the documents to you if you notify the Companys Secretary at the Companys executive offices of your desire to receive additional copies. If you wish to receive separate copies of the annual report, proxy statement and Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you may contact your bank, broker or other nominee record holder, or you may contact the Companys Secretary at the Companys executive offices.
The Companys financial statements are contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 that was filed with the SEC on March 15, 2016, a copy of which is included with this proxy statement. Such report and the financial statements contained therein are not to be considered a part of this soliciting material.
The Companys 2015 Annual Report, which is included with this proxy statement, does not include copies of the exhibits to that filing. The Company will furnish any such exhibits by request sent to the Companys Secretary.
Management knows of no matters that are to be presented for action at the meeting other than the matters set forth above. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote the shares represented by proxies in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
The Company will make available a list of shareholders of the Company before the close of business on May 6, 2016, for inspection during normal business hours from 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., at the Companys corporate headquarters located at Regatta Office Park, Windward Three, 4th Floor, West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, KY1-1102, Cayman Islands. The list will also be available for inspection during the meeting.
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