James
S.
Pignatelli
|
(520)
571-4000
|
Chairman
of
the Board
|
1. |
elect
12
directors to our Board of Directors for the ensuing
year;
|
2. |
approve
the
UniSource Energy Corporation 2006 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan;
and
|
3. |
consider
any
other matters which properly come before the
Meeting.
|
Annual
Meeting
|
May
5,
2006
10:00
a.m.,
MST
|
Doubletree
Hotel
445
S.
Alvernon Way
Tucson,
Arizona 85711
|
||
Record
Date
|
The
record
date is March 21, 2006 (“Record Date”). If you were a shareholder of
record at the close of business on the
Record
Date,
you may vote
at the 2006
Annual
Shareholders’ Meeting (“Meeting”) of UniSource Energy Corporation
(“UniSource Energy”
as
well as
references to “we,” “our” and “us”).
At the
close of business on the Record
Date,
we had
35,064,953 shares of common stock outstanding.
|
|||
Agenda
|
1.
Proposal One: Elect 12 directors to our Board of Directors
("Board") for
the ensuing year.
2.
Proposal Two: Approve the UniSource Energy Corporation 2006
Omnibus Stock
and
Incentive
Plan.
3.
Consider any other matters which properly come before the
Meeting and any
adjournments.
|
|||
Independent
Auditors
|
Representatives
of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP are expected to be present at
the Meeting
with the opportunity to make a statement and respond to appropriate
questions
from our
shareholders.
|
|||
Proxies
We
will
follow your voting instructions. If none, we will vote signed proxies
“for” the nominees.
|
A
form of
proxy for execution by shareholders is enclosed. Unless you tell
us on the
proxy card to vote differently, we will vote signed returned proxies
“for”
the Board’s nominees. The Board or proxy holders will use their discretion
on other matters
that
properly come before the Meeting.
If a
nominee cannot or will not serve as a director, the Board or the
persons
designated as proxies will vote for a person who they believe will
carry
on our present policies.
|
|||
Proxies Solicited
by
|
The
Board.
|
|||
First
Mailing Date
|
We
anticipate
first mailing this Proxy Statement along
with
the proxy
card on or
about
April
3,
2006.
|
|||
Revoking Your
Proxy
|
You
may
revoke your proxy before it is voted at the Meeting. To revoke,
follow the
procedures listed on page 3 under “Voting Procedures/Revoking Your
Proxy.”
|
|||
Comments
We
welcome your comments. The proxy card has room for
them.
|
Your
comments
about any aspects of our business are welcome. You may use the
space
provided on the proxy card for this purpose, if desired. Although
we may
not respond on an individual basis, your comments help us to measure
your
satisfaction, and we may benefit from your
suggestions.
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2
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7
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21
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24
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26
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29
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30
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32
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32
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37
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39
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40
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40
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41
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*
|
We
expect to
vote on this item at the Meeting.
|
**
|
The
Compensation Committee Report and the Performance Graph will
not be
incorporated by reference into any present or future filings
we make with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), even if those reports
incorporate all or any part of this Proxy Statement.
|
You
can
vote by telephone, the Internet, mail or in person. We encourage
you to
vote by telephone or the Internet to help us save
money.
|
You
can vote
your shares by telephone, the Internet, mail or in person at the
Meeting.
Your proxy card contains instructions for voting by telephone or
the
Internet, which are the least expensive and fastest methods of voting.
To
vote by mail, complete, sign and date your proxy card, or your broker’s
voting instruction card if your shares are held by your broker, and
return
it in the enclosed return envelope.
|
|
Under
Arizona
law, a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any single matter
which
may be brought before the Meeting will constitute a quorum. Business
may
be conducted once a quorum is represented at the Meeting. Except
as
otherwise specified by law or in our Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws,
if a quorum exists, action on a matter other than the election of
directors will be deemed approved if the votes cast in favor of the
matter
exceed votes cast against it.
|
Proposal
Two must be approved by a majority of shareholders
voting.
|
Thus,
if a
quorum exists, Proposal Two must be approved by a majority
of the
shareholders who actually vote. Any broker “non-votes” with respect to
Proposal Two will be counted for purposes of determining the
presence or
absence of a quorum, but will not be counted as shares represented
and
voting on the proposal. In contrast, proxies voted “abstain” will have the
same legal effect as shares voted against the proposal.
|
|
Directors
are elected by a plurality of votes.
|
Directors
are
elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled
to vote if
a quorum is present. A plurality means receiving the largest
number of
votes, regardless of whether that is a majority. Withheld votes
will be
counted as being represented at the Meeting for quorum purposes
but will
not have an effect on the vote.
|
|
You
may
cumulate your votes for directors.
|
In
the
election of directors, each shareholder
has the
right to cumulate his votes by casting a total number of votes
equal to
the number of his shares of common stock multiplied by the
number of
directors to be elected.
He
may cast
all of such votes for one nominee or distribute such votes
among two or
more nominees.
For any
other matter that may properly come before the Meeting, each
share of
common stock will be entitled to one vote.
|
|
You
can
revoke your proxy after sending it in by following these
procedures.
|
Any
shareholder giving a proxy has a right to revoke that proxy
by giving
notice to UniSource Energy in writing directed to the Corporate
Secretary,
UniSource Energy Corporation, One South Church Avenue, Suite
2030, Tucson,
Arizona 85701, or in person at the Meeting at any time before
the proxy is
exercised. Those who fail to return a proxy or fail to attend
the Meeting
will not count towards determining any required plurality,
majority or
quorum.
|
|
The
shares
represented by an executed proxy will be voted for the election
of
directors or withheld in accordance with the specifications
in the
proxy.
If
no
specification is made in an
executed
proxy, the
proxy will be voted in favor of the nominees as set forth
herein.
|
||
Proxy
Solicitation
|
We
will bear
the entire cost of the solicitation of proxies.
Solicitations
will be made primarily by mail.
Additional
solicitation of brokers, banks, nominees and institutional
investors may
be made pursuant to a special engagement of DF King &
Co.,
Inc.,
at a cost
of approximately $10,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses.
Solicitations
may also be made by telephone, facsimile or personal interview,
if
necessary, to obtain reasonable representation of shareholders
at the
Meeting. Our employees may solicit proxies but they will not
receive
additional compensation for such services.
We
will
request brokers or other persons holding stock in their names,
or in the
names of their nominees, to forward proxy materials to the
beneficial
owners of such stock or request authority for the execution
of the
proxies.
We
will
reimburse brokers and other persons for reasonable expenses
they incur in
sending these proxy materials to you if you are a beneficial
holder of our
shares.
|
Security
Ownership
of
Management
|
The
following
table sets forth the number and percentage of shares beneficially
owned as
of the Record Date and the nature of such ownership
by each of our directors (all of which are nominees), our Chief Executive
Officer and (as of December 31, 2005) our four other most highly
compensated executive officers (the “Named Executives”) and all directors
and officers as a group. Ownership includes direct and indirect
(beneficial) ownership, as defined by the SEC rules.
|
Title
of
Class
|
Name
and
Title
of
Beneficial
Owner (1)
|
Amount
and
Nature
of
Beneficial
Ownership (2)
|
Percent
of
Class
|
|
Common
|
James
S.
Pignatelli
Chairman,
President and
Chief
Executive Officer
|
738,733
(3)
|
2.1%
|
|
Common
|
Lawrence
J.
Aldrich
Director
|
12,270
(4)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
Larry
W.
Bickle
Director
|
18,210
(5)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
Elizabeth
T.
Bilby
Director
|
13,463
(6)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
Harold
W.
Burlingame
Director
|
14,463
(5)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
John
L.
Carter
Director
|
25,017
(7)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
Robert
A.
Elliott
Director
|
3,009
(8)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
Daniel
W.L.
Fessler
Director
|
13,580
(5)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
Kenneth
Handy
Director
|
7,763
(9)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
Warren
Y.
Jobe
Director
|
7,671
(9)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
Steven
J.
Glaser
Senior
Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer, Transmission and
Distribution
|
71,600
(10)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
Dennis
R.
Nelson
Senior
Vice
President, Utility Services
|
180,660
(11)
|
*
|
Title
of
Class
|
Name
and
Title
of
Beneficial
Owner (1)
|
Amount
and
Nature
of
Beneficial
Ownership (2)
|
Percent
of
Class
|
Common
|
Kevin
P.
Larson
Senior
Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
|
121,312
(12)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
Michael
J.
DeConcini
Senior
Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer, Energy Supply
|
145,008
(13)
|
*
|
|
Common
|
All
directors
and executive officers as a group
|
1,736,192
(14)
|
5%
|
*
|
Represents
less than 1% of the outstanding common stock of UniSource
Energy.
|
(1)
|
Mr.
Joaquin
Ruiz and Ms. Barbara Baumann were appointed to fill vacancies on
the Board
of UniSource Energy effective September 1, 2005. As of March 21,
2006,
neither Mr. Ruiz nor Ms. Baumann owned shares of UniSource Energy
stock.
|
(2)
|
Amounts
include the following:
|
· |
Any
shares
held in the name of the spouse, minor children or other relatives
sharing
the home of the director or officer. Except as otherwise
indicated below, the directors and officers have sole voting and
investment power over the shares shown. Voting power includes the
power to direct the voting of the shares held, and investment power
includes the power to direct the disposition of the shares
held.
|
· |
Shares
subject to options exercisable within 60 days, based on information
from
E*Trade, UniSource Energy’s stock option plan
administrator.
|
· |
Equivalent
share amounts allocated to the individuals’ 401(k) Plan which, since June
1, 1998, has included a UniSource Energy Stock Fund investment
option.
|
(3)
|
Includes
698,881 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days, and
16,894
shares purchased under the 401(k) Plan UniSource Energy Stock Fund
as of
December 31, 2005.
|
(4)
|
Includes
8,358 shares subject to options exercisable within 60
days.
|
(5)
|
Includes
11,558 shares subject to options exercisable within 60
days.
|
(6)
|
Includes
12,758 shares subject to options exercisable within 60
days.
|
(7)
|
Includes
13,958 shares subject to options exercisable within 60
days.
|
(8)
|
Includes
1,196 shares subject to options exercisable within 60
days.
|
(9)
|
Includes
6,358 shares subject to options exercisable within 60
days.
|
(10)
|
Includes
2,914 shares purchased under the 401(k) Plan UniSource Energy Stock
Fund
as of December 31, 2005.
|
(11)
|
Includes
163,952 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days, and
8,626
shares purchased under the 401(k) Plan UniSource Energy Stock Fund as
of December 31, 2005.
|
(12)
|
Includes
90,483 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days, and
2,394
shares purchased under the 401(k) Plan UniSource Energy Stock Fund
as of
December 31,
2005.
|
(13)
|
Includes
135,008 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days, and
5,030
shares purchased under the 401(k) Plan UniSource Energy Stock Fund
as of
December 31, 2005.
|
(14) | Includes 1,408,849 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days, and 41,459 shares purchased under the 401(k) Plan UniSource Energy Stock Fund as of December 31, 2005. |
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
|
As
of March
21, 2006, based on information reported in filings made by the following
persons with the SEC or information otherwise known to us, the following
persons were known or reasonably believed to be, as more fully described
below, the beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common
stock:
|
Title
of
Class
|
Name
and
Address
of
Beneficial Owner
|
Amount
and
Nature
of
Beneficial
Ownership
|
Percent
of
Class
|
|
Common
|
T.
Rowe Price
Associates, Inc.
100
E. Pratt
Street
Baltimore,
MD
21202
|
3,436,717
(1)
|
9.8%
|
|
Common
|
SAB
Capital
Advisors, LLC
712
5th Avenue, 42nd Floor
New
York, NY
10019
|
2,071,800
(2)
|
6.0%
|
|
Common
|
Barclays
Global Investors, NA
45
Fremont
Street
San
Francisco, CA 94105
|
1,836,065
(3)
|
5.3%
|
(1)
|
In
a
statement (Schedule 13G) filed with the SEC on February 14, 2006,
T. Rowe
Price Associates, Inc. (“Price Associates”) indicated it has sole voting
power over 425,200 shares and sole dispositive power over 3,436,717
shares
of our common stock. These securities are owned by various individual
and
institutional investors which Price Associates serves as investment
adviser with power to direct investments and/or sole power to vote
the
securities. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, Price Associates is deemed to be a beneficial
owner
of such securities; however, Price Associates expressly disclaims
that it
is, in fact, the beneficial owner of such
securities.
|
(2)
|
In
a
statement (Schedule 13G) filed with the SEC on February 14, 2006,
SAB
Capital Advisors, LLC indicated it has shared voting and shared
dispositive power over 2,071,800 shares of our common stock. The
filing
indicated that the 2,071,800 shares are owned by SAB Capital Partners,
L.P. (1,008,423 shares), SAB Capital Partners II, L.P. (18,802 shares)
and
SAB Overseas Master Fund, L.P. (1,044,575
shares).
|
(3)
|
In
a
statement (Schedule 13G) filed with the SEC on January 31, 2006,
Barclays
Global Investors, NA indicated that it has sole voting power over
1,683,978 shares of our common stock and sole dispositive power over
1,836,065 shares of our common stock. The filing indicated that the
1,836,065 shares are owned by Barclays Global Investors, NA (676,339
shares) and Barclays Global Fund Advisors (1,159,726
shares).
|
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
|
Section 16(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and regulations
of the
SEC require our executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially
own more than 10% of our common stock, as well as certain affiliates
of
those persons, to file initial reports of ownership and monthly
transaction reports covering any changes in ownership with the SEC
and the
New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). SEC regulations require these persons to
furnish us with copies of all reports they file pursuant to Section
16(a).
|
|||
Based
solely
upon a review of the copies of the reports received by us and on
written
representations of our directors and officers, we believe that, during
fiscal year 2005, except as described below, all filing requirements
applicable to executive officers and directors were complied with
in a
timely manner. Forms 4 reporting purchases and dividend equivalents
credited under the UniSource Energy Corporation Management and Director’s
Deferred Compensation Plan, as applicable on November 25, 2005 and
again
on December 9, 2005, for non-employee directors Ms. Bilby and Mr.
Handy
were filed late. A Form 4 reporting a September 14, 2005 stock option
exercise by Ms. Bilby, a non-employee director, was filed
late.
|
General
We
will
elect 12 directors this year.
|
At
the
Meeting, our shareholders of record will elect 12 directors to
serve on
our Board for the ensuing year and until their successors are elected
and
qualified. The shares represented by executed proxies in the form
enclosed, unless withheld, will be voted for the 12 nominees listed
below,
or, in the discretion of the persons acting as proxies, will be
voted
cumulatively for one or more of such nominees. All of the current
nominees are present members of the Board. All of the nominees
have
consented to serve if elected. If any nominee becomes unavailable
for any reason, or a vacancy should occur before the election,
it is the
intention of the persons designated as proxies to vote, in their
discretion, for other nominees.
|
|
BOARD
NOMINEES
|
||
James
S.
Pignatelli
|
Chairman
of
the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of UniSource Energy
since
July 1998; Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief
Executive Officer of TEP, the principal subsidiary of UniSource
Energy,
since July 1998; Chairman of the Board of Directors, President
and Chief
Executive Officer of Millennium Energy Holdings, Inc. (“Millennium”), a
wholly owned subsidiary of UniSource Energy, since 1997; Director
of
UniSource Energy Services, Inc. (“UES”), a wholly owned subsidiary of
UniSource Energy, since 2003. Board member since 1998. Age
62.
|
|
Lawrence
J.
Aldrich
(4)(5)
|
Chief
Operating Officer of The Critical Path Institute since January
2006;
General Partner of Valley Ventures, LP from September 2002 to December
2005; Managing Director and Founder of Tucson Ventures, LLC, from
February
2000 to September 2002; Director of TEP and Millennium since 2000;
Director of UES since 2004; Board member since 2000. Age 53.
|
|
Barbara
M. Baumann
(1)(2)(4)
|
President
and
Owner of Cross Creek Energy Corporation since 2003; Executive Vice
President of Associated Energy Managers, LLC from 2000 to 2003;
Board
member of St. Mary Land & Exploration since 2002; Director of TEP
since 2005. Board member since 2005. Age 50.
|
|
Larry
W. Bickle
(4)(5)
|
Director
of
St. Mary Land and Exploration since 1995; Executive in Residence
for
Haddington Ventures, LLC, an investment company (“Haddington”), since
January 2006; Managing Director of Haddington from 1997 to 2005;
Director
of Millennium since 1998; Director of UES since 2004; Board
member since 1998. Age 60.
|
|
Elizabeth
T.
Bilby
(4)(5)
|
Retired
President of Gourmet Products, Inc., an agricultural product marketing
company; retired Director of Marketing of Green Valley Pecans;
Director of
TEP since 1995; Director of Millennium from 1998 to 2003; Director
of UES
since 2004. Board member since 1995. Age
66.
|
|
Harold
W. Burlingame
(1)(2)(3)
|
Retired
Executive Vice President of AT&T Wireless Services; Senior Executive
Advisor for AT&T Wireless (now Cingular Wireless Services) from 2001
to 2004; Member of the AT&T Foundation from November 1986 to December
2002; Chairman of ORC Worldwide since December 2004; Director of
TEP since
1998. Board member since 1998. Age 65.
|
|
John
L. Carter
(1)(2)(3)(4)
|
Retired
as
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Burr Brown
Corporation in 1996; Director of TEP since 1996; Director of Millennium
since 1998; Director of UES since 2004; Responsible Director of
Global
Solar Energy, Inc. (“GSE”) since 2004; UniSource Energy Lead Director
since 2005. Board member since 1996. Age
71.
|
Robert
A. Elliott
(1)(2)(3)(5)
|
President
and
owner of The Elliott Accounting Group since 1983; Director and
Corporate
Secretary of Southern Arizona Community Bank since 1998; Television
Analyst/Pre-game Show Co-host for Fox Sports Arizona since 1999;
Chairman
of the Board of Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce from 2002
to 2003;
Treasurer of Tucson Urban League from 2002 to 2003; Chairman of
the Board
of Tucson Urban League from 2003 to 2004; Chairman of the Board
of the
Tucson Airport Authority since 2006; Director of TEP since May
2003. Board
member since 2003. Age 50.
|
|
Daniel
W.L.
Fessler
(2)(3)
|
Of
Counsel to
the law firm of Holland & Knight LLP since 2003; Partner in the law
firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP from 1997 to 2003;
previously served on the UniSource Energy and TEP Boards from 1998
to
2003; Managing Principal of Clear Energy Solutions, LLC since December
2004; Director of TEP since 2005. Board member since 2005. Age
64.
|
|
Kenneth
Handy
(1)(2)(3)
|
Retired
CPA;
former financial executive with Kaiser Permanente Medical Care
Program,
Oakland, California; Director of Millennium from 2001 to 2003;
Director of
TEP since 2001; Lead Director of UES since 2004. Board member since
2001.
Age 67.
|
|
Warren
Y. Jobe
(1)(2)(4)
|
Certified
Public Accountant (licensed, but not practicing); Senior Vice President
of
Southern Company from 1998 to 2001; Director of WellPoint Health
Networks,
Inc. from 2001 to December 2004; Director of WellPoint, Inc. since
December 2004; Director of HomeBanc Corporation since 2004; Trustee
of STI
Classic Funds since 2004; Director of TEP since 2001; Director
of
Millennium from 2001 to 2003; Board member since 2001. Age
65.
|
|
Joaquin
Ruiz
(4)(5)
|
Professor
of
Geosciences, University of Arizona since 1983; Associate Editor,
“Geology,” Geological Society of America from 2000 to 2002; Dean, College
of Science, University of Arizona since 2000; Chair, Search Committee
for
the Dean of College of Education, University of Arizona from 2002
to 2003;
Member of Board of Natural Resources of the National Research Council
from
2002 to 2005; Member, Human Resources Committee, American Geological
Institute from 2000 to 2005; Member, Governing Board, Instituto
Nacional
de Astronomia, Optica y Electronica, Mexico since 2003; Board Member,
Center to Improve Diversity in Earth Systems Sciences, Inc. since
2003;
Member of Board of Earth Sciences, National Research Council of
the
National Academy of Sciences 2005 to 2007; Associate Editor “American
Journal of Science” from 2005 to 2008, Associate Editor, American
Presidents Advisory Board of Research Corporation since 2005; TEP
Board
Member since 2005; UES Board member since 2005. Board Member since
2005.
Age 54.
|
General
|
Shareholders
are being asked to approve the adoption of the UniSource
Energy
Corporation 2006 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”).
The Board believes that the Omnibus Plan is in the best interests
of
UniSource Energy because of the continuing need to provide
certain present
and future employees, directors and consultants with stock-based
incentives and other equity interests in UniSource Energy,
thereby giving
them a stake in the growth and prosperity of UniSource Energy
and
encouraging their continued service with UniSource Energy
or its
subsidiaries. The Board adopted the Omnibus Plan on February
10, 2006 (and
subsequently revised and restated the Omnibus Plan document
by action
without a meeting), to be effective January 1, 2006, subject
to the
approval of the shareholders of UniSource Energy.
The
Omnibus
Plan supersedes and replaces the UniSource Energy Corporation
1994 Omnibus
Stock and Incentive Plan (the “1994 Incentive Plan”), which has expired in
accordance with its terms. The Omnibus Plan will also supersede
and
replace the UniSource Energy Corporation 1994 Outside Directors
Stock
Option Plan (the “1994 Directors Plan”). On March 30, 2006, the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of UniSource
Energy
terminated the 1994 Directors Plan effective January 1, 2006,
contingent
upon shareholder approval of the Omnibus Plan. The Committee
further
resolved that no awards will be issued under the 1994 Directors
Plan after
December 31, 2005 (unless and until the shareholders decline to
approve the Omnibus Plan). Both the 1994 Incentive Plan and
the 1994
Directors Plan remain nominally in effect with respect to
currently
outstanding awards. Upon shareholder approval of the Omnibus
Plan, no
shares available to be issued under the 1994 Directors Plan
at the time of
its termination will be available for awards under the Omnibus
Plan,
except as described below with respect to awards that are
forfeited,
terminate, are canceled or expire.
Below
is a
summary of the principal provisions of the Omnibus Plan.
This summary is
qualified in its entirety by the detailed provisions of the
Omnibus Plan,
a copy of which is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
|
Summary
of the Omnibus Plan
|
Purpose.
The
purpose
of the Omnibus Plan is to promote the long-term growth and
profitability
of UniSource Energy by providing certain present and future
employees,
directors and consultants with stock-based incentives and
other equity
interests in UniSource Energy, thereby giving them a stake
in the growth
and prosperity of UniSource Energy and encouraging their
continued service
with UniSource Energy or its subsidiaries. The Omnibus Plan
may be used to
grant compensation awards that qualify for the performance-based
compensation exemption under Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code,
as amended (the “Code”), but the Omnibus Plan may also be used to grant
awards that do not qualify for that exemption.
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Administration.
The
Omnibus
Plan is administered by a committee (the “Committee”) appointed by the
Board of Directors of UniSource Energy and consisting of
at least two
persons who are “non-employee directors” of UniSource Energy within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
“outside
directors” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), and “independent
directors” as described in the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual. The Omnibus
Plan
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Is
currently
administered by the Compensation Committee of UniSource Energy’s Board of
Directors. However, the Board of Directors performs the functions
of the
Committee for purposes of granting awards to non-employee
directors.
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The
Committee
is authorized to interpret the Omnibus Plan and any award agreement
issued
under the Omnibus Plan, the 1994 Incentive Plan and the 1994 Directors
Plan; to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating
to
the Omnibus Plan; and to make all other determinations necessary
or
advisable for the administration of the Omnibus Plan, but only
to the
extent not contrary to the express provisions of the Plan. The
Committee
has the authority, subject to the express provisions of the Omnibus
Plan,
in its discretion, (i) to determine the employees, directors and
consultants to whom awards shall be granted; (ii) to determine
the times
when awards shall be granted, the size and type of awards, the
purchase
price or exercise price of awards, the period(s) during which such
awards
will be exercisable, and any other terms, restrictions and conditions
applicable to awards (which need not be identical among participants);
(iii) to amend or modify any outstanding awards under the Omnibus
Plan,
the 1994 Incentive Plan and the 1994 Directors Plan, to the extent
permitted by the respective Plan; and (iv) to prescribe, amend
and rescind
such rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to
permit
the participation of participants in foreign jurisdictions.
The
Omnibus
Plan is not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of
1974, as amended, or Section 401(a) of the Code.
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Awards
Available. The
shares to
be delivered under the Omnibus Plan may consist, in whole or in
part, of
authorized but unissued stock or treasury stock, not reserved for
any
other purpose. A total of 2,250,000 shares will be authorized for
issuance
or for use for reference purposes under the Plan (the “overall limit”).
Any shares issued or used for reference purposes in connection
with awards
other than options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) are counted
against the overall share limit as three shares for every one share
issued
in connection with such award or by which the award is valued by
reference; and any shares issued or used for reference purposes
in
connection with awards of options and SARs are counted against
the overall
share limit as one share for every one share issued in connection
with
such award or by which the award is valued by reference.
As
of January
1, 2006, there were outstanding options for 1,389,423 shares under
the
1994 Incentive Plan, and 97,618 shares under the 1994 Directors
Plan,
which may be
summarized (in the aggregate) as
follows:
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Number
of
Option
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price ($)
|
Weighted
Remaining
Average
Term
|
|
Options
with
Dividend Equivalent Rights (“DERs”)
|
357,666
|
18.15120
|
6.01
|
Options
without DERs
|
1,179,375
|
16.32385
|
4.65
|
Total
|
1,537,041
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In
addition,
there were 226,667 restricted shares or stock unit awards (including
restricted awards issued pursuant to DERs) outstanding as of January
1,
2006. On September 15, 2005, the Compensation Committee awarded
a
non-qualified stock option with respect to 50,000 shares of common
stock
of UniSource Energy, which is included in the total number of options
set
forth in the above table, as a material inducement in the hiring
of a
Senior Vice President of UniSource Energy.
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||
Awards
outstanding under the 1994 Incentive Plan or the 1994 Directors
Plan as of
January 1, 2006 will be satisfied from shares previously authorized
under the 1994 Incentive Plan or the 1994 Directors Plan, as applicable,
and will not count against the shares authorized for issuance under
the
Omnibus Plan. No
shares
available to be issued under the 1994 Directors Plan at the time
of its
termination will be available for awards under the Omnibus Plan,
except as
provided in the following paragraph.
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If
any awards
granted under this Omnibus Plan, or under the 1994 Incentive Plan
or the
1994 Directors Plan and outstanding on January 1, 2006, shall be
forfeited, terminate, be canceled or expire, the number of shares
subject
to such award will become available for grant under the Omnibus
Plan.
However, in the case of awards other than options and SARs, three
shares
will be available for grant under the Omnibus Plan for every one
share
issued in connection with such award or by which the award was
valued by
reference. In addition, if shares are not delivered pursuant to
a stock
unit, performance unit or SAR award that is not related to an option,
because the award is paid in cash, such shares are not treated
as having
been delivered for purposes of determining the overall limit on
shares
available under the Omnibus Plan. However, shares tendered or withheld
for
payment of an option exercise price or for tax withholding, and
shares not
issued upon settlement of an SAR in stock, will not increase the
overall
limit.
The
Omnibus
Plan restricts the number of options, SARs or other awards that
may be
granted to any one participant during any 36-month period to a
maximum of
750,000 shares. In addition, no participant may be granted a cash
award in
settlement of performance units in excess of $2,000,000 in any
12-month
period.
In
the event
of any change in corporate capitalization, such as a stock split,
or a
corporate transaction, such as a merger, consolidation, separation,
spin-off or similar event, an adjustment will be made in the number
and
class of shares available for awards, and the number and class
of and/or
price of shares subject to outstanding awards granted under the
Omnibus
Plan, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable to prevent
either
the dilution or enlargement of rights.
If
UniSource
Energy or a subsidiary acquires a corporate entity which also maintains
an
equity compensation plan with outstanding stock-based awards, the
Committee may, in its discretion, make awards under this Omnibus
Plan to
assume, substitute or convert such outstanding awards as the Committee
deems appropriate, to prevent the dilution or enlargement of rights.
Shares used in connection with an award granted in substitution
for an
award outstanding under an acquired plan are not counted against
the
overall limit on shares reserved under the Omnibus Plan. Any shares
authorized and available for issuance under
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the
acquired
plan will, subject to appropriate adjustment, be available for
use in
making awards under the Omnibus Plan with respect to persons eligible
under such acquired plan, consistent with Rule 303A(8) of the NYSE
Listed
Company Manual.
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Types
of Awards.
Each award
under the Omnibus Plan, and each right under any award, may be
exercised
during the participant’s lifetime only by the participant or, if the
participant has become disabled or died, by the participant’s guardian or
legal representative. Generally, awards may not be sold, transferred,
pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated by a participant
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
However,
the Committee may, in its sole discretion upon application of a
participant, permit the transfer of an option or SAR to a family
member or
family trust or partnership, or to a charitable organization, provided
that no value or consideration is received by the participant with
respect
to such transfer.
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||
The
following
awards may be granted under the Omnibus Plan: non-qualified stock
options,
incentive stock options (“ISOs”), SARs, restricted stock and/or stock
units, and performance units and/or performance shares. No dividend
or
voting rights are accorded to participants with respect to options
or SARs
under the Omnibus Plan.
Stock
Options.
A stock
option granted under the Omnibus Plan provides a participant the
right to
purchase, subject to the terms of the award agreement, a stated
number of
shares of common stock of UniSource Energy, at a price specified
in the
award agreement (the “exercise price”), for a specified period of time
(the “option term”). The Committee determines and designates those persons
to whom option awards are granted and also determines the exercise
price,
the option term, the vesting period, the ability of the participant
to
exercise the option upon termination of employment, and the other
terms,
provisions, limitations and performance requirements, provided
they are
not inconsistent with the Omnibus Plan.
Under
the
terms of the Omnibus Plan, the exercise price for an option share
may not
be less than the fair market value of a share of common stock of
UniSource
Energy on the date of grant,
except in
the case of options that are issued as replacement awards in connection
with the acquisition by UniSource Energy of a corporate entity
which
maintains an equity plan with outstanding option awards. An option
may not
be exercisable prior to the first anniversary of grant, except
in the case
of death, disability or a change in control of UniSource
Energy.
The option
term of any option issued under the Omnibus Plan may not exceed
ten years
from the date of grant. However, in the case of a participant who
owns,
directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the total combined voting
power
of all classes of the stock of UniSource Energy or any subsidiary,
the
exercise price of an ISO must be at least 110% of the fair market
value of
stock on the ISO’s grant date and the ISO cannot be exercisable after the
fifth anniversary of the grant date. All other terms and conditions
of the
options are determined by the Committee, subject to the terms and
conditions of the Omnibus Plan, and set forth in the applicable
award
agreement. However,
except as discussed above with respect to adjustments in capitalization
or
other corporate transactions, an option may not be modified to
reduce the
exercise price after the option has
been
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granted,
and
may not be surrendered or exchanged for a new option having a lower
exercise price, or for cash or other awards, without shareholder
approval.
Upon
exercise
of an option, the participant must pay the full exercise price
for all
shares with respect to which the option is exercised, either (i)
in cash,
(ii) by delivery of shares of common stock of UniSource Energy
valued at
its fair market value on the date of exercise, or (iii) by a combination
of (i) and (ii), at the discretion of the Committee. The Committee,
in its
sole discretion, may also permit payment to be made by having shares
withheld from the common stock to be delivered upon exercise, or
by such
other method as the Committee shall permit. The proceeds from the
payment
of option exercise prices are added to the general funds of UniSource
Energy.
SARs.
An SAR
provides the participant the right to receive an amount equal to
the
excess of the fair market value of a share of common stock of UniSource
Energy on the date of exercise of the SAR over the grant price
of the SAR,
multiplied by the number of shares with respect to which the SAR
is
exercised. The Committee determines and designates those persons
to whom
SAR awards are granted and also determines the exercise price,
the SAR
term, the vesting period, the ability of the participant to exercise
the
SAR upon termination of employment, and the other terms, provisions,
limitation and performance requirements, provided they are not
inconsistent with the Omnibus Plan. SARs may be granted in tandem
with
another award or freestanding and unrelated to another award.
Under
the
terms of the Omnibus Plan, the grant price for an SAR may not be
less than
the fair market value of a share of common stock of UniSource Energy
on
the date of grant, except in the case of SARs
that are
issued as replacement awards in connection with the acquisition
by
UniSource Energy of a corporate entity which maintains an equity
plan with
outstanding SAR awards. An SAR may not be exercisable prior to
the first
anniversary of grant, except in the case of death,
disability or a change in control of UniSource Energy. The term
of an SAR
may not exceed ten years. Additional restrictions apply to SARs
issued in
tandem with ISOs. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee
and
provided in the award agreement, payment for SARs may be made in
cash or
stock, or deferred cash or stock, or in a combination thereof.
All
other
terms and conditions of SARs are determined by the Committee, subject
to
the terms and conditions of the Omnibus Plan, and set forth in
the
applicable award agreement. However, except as discussed above
with
respect to adjustments in capitalization or other corporate transactions,
an SAR may not be modified to reduce the exercise price after the
SAR has
been granted, and may not be surrendered or exchanged for a new
SAR having
a lower exercise price, cash or other awards, without shareholder
approval.
Restricted
Stock and Stock Units.
Subject to
the other applicable provisions of the Omnibus Plan, the Committee
may
grant awards of restricted stock and/or stock units to participants
in
such number and upon such terms and conditions as determined by
the
Committee in its sole discretion. Restricted stock is common stock
of
UniSource Energy that is subject to a risk of forfeiture or other
restrictions that lapse upon the achievement of one or more goals
relating
to completion of service by the participant, or the achievement
of
performance or other
objectives.
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A
stock unit
means a non-voting unit of measurement which is deemed for bookkeeping
purposes to be equivalent to one outstanding share of common stock
of
UniSource Energy.
Conditions
and restrictions on restricted stock and stock units may include,
without
limitation, a requirement that participants pay a stipulated purchase
price per share of restricted stock, restrictions based upon the
achievement of specific performance goals as described below, time-based
restrictions on vesting, sales restrictions under applicable shareholder
agreements or similar agreements, and restrictions under applicable
Federal or state securities laws. Under the Omnibus Plan, the period
of
restriction for restricted stock and stock units may not be less
than
three years, but incremental amounts of restricted stock and stock
units
may be released from restriction during that period in accordance
with the
provisions of the award agreement. The period of restriction for
awards of
restricted stock and stock units to newly hired employees who receive
awards to replace awards forfeited from a prior employer may not
be less
than one year.
Stock
unit
awards may be paid in common stock, in cash, or in a combination
of common
stock and cash, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.
Unless the Committee determines otherwise, shares of restricted
stock (but
not stock units) will have full voting rights and will be credited
with
regular cash dividends during the period of restriction.
Performance
Units and Performance Shares.
Subject to
the other applicable provisions of the Omnibus Plan, the Committee
may
grant awards of performance units and/or performance shares which
provide
an award to a participant upon the achievement of specified performance
objectives. The initial value of performance units is established
by the
Committee at the time of grant. Each performance share will have
an
initial value determined by reference to the fair market value
of a share
of common stock of UniSource Energy on the grant date. The Committee
will
set performance goals in its sole discretion which, depending on
the
extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or
value of
performance units and/or performance shares that will be paid out
to the
participant. The time period during which the achievement of performance
goals is measured (the period or restriction) is determined by
the
Committee in its discretion, but may not be less than one year
or longer
than five years.
The
Committee
may impose such conditions and restrictions on awards of performance
units
or performance shares as it deems advisable, including, without
limitation, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific
performance goals (UniSource Energy-wide, subsidiary-wide, divisional,
and/or individual), time-based restrictions on vesting, which may
or may
not be following the attainment of the performance goals, sales
restrictions under applicable shareholder agreements or similar
agreements, and/or restrictions under applicable Federal or state
securities laws. Performance criteria may include (among other
criteria)
revenue; revenue growth; earnings (including earnings before taxes,
earnings before interest and taxes or earnings before interest,
taxes,
depreciation and amortization); operating income; pre- or after-tax
income; cash flow (before or after dividends); cash flow per share
(before
or after dividends); net earnings; earnings per share; return on
equity;
return on capital (including return on total capital or return
on invested
capital); cash flow return on
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investment;
return on assets or net assets; economic value added (or an equivalent
metric); share price performance; total shareholder return; improvement
in
or attainment of expense levels; and improvement in or attainment
of
working capital levels. Measurement of performance against goals
may
exclude, in the Committee’s sole discretion, the impact of charges for
restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items,
and other
unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of
tax or
accounting changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting
principles and as identified in the financial statements, notes
to the
financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis or other SEC
filings.
Except
as
otherwise provided in the award agreement, payment for performance
unit or
performance share awards may be made in cash or stock, or in
deferred cash
or stock, or in a combination thereof, as designated by the Committee
in
the award agreement consistent with Code Section 409A. To the
extent set
forth in the award agreement, participants may be entitled to
receive
regular cash dividends and other distributions with respect to
shares
which have been earned in connection with grants of performance
units
and/or performance
shares.
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Change
in Control.
In the event
of a change in control of UniSource Energy (as defined in the Omnibus
Plan), unless otherwise specified in the particular award agreement
at
time of grant, the following rules will apply: (i) options and
SARs will
become immediately exercisable for their remaining term; (ii) any
restrictions on restricted stock and stock units will lapse; and
(iii)
performance units and performance shares will be converted to restricted
stock, which will vest over the then-remaining period of restriction.
If
50% or more of the period of restriction has elapsed as of the
date of the
change in control, such conversion will be based upon the value
of the
awards determined based on actual performance to date; and if less
than
50% of the period of restriction has elapsed, the conversion will
be based
on the target value of the awards.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the above rules will not apply if both the Board
of
Directors of UniSource Energy prior to the change in control, and
the
Board of UniSource Energy (or any successor thereto) after the
change in
control, reasonably conclude, in good faith, that participants
holding
awards will be protected by legally binding obligations of UniSource
Energy because such awards either will remain outstanding following
the
change in control or will be assumed and adjusted by the surviving
entity
resulting from the change in control transactions, and that changes
in the
terms of the award resulting from such transactions will not materially
impair the value of the awards or their opportunity for future
appreciation.
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Term
of Omnibus Plan. The
Omnibus
Plan will remain in effect (subject to the right of the Board of
Directors
to amend or terminate the Plan at any time) until all shares subject
to
the Plan shall have been purchased or granted according to the
Plan’s
provisions. However, no award may be granted under the Omnibus
Plan on or
after January 1, 2016. Any awards granted under the Omnibus Plan
prior to
January 1, 2016 will continue in effect until they expire, terminate,
are
exercised or are paid in
full.
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Federal
Income
Tax Consequences
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The
following
summarizes the United States federal income tax consequences that
generally will arise with respect to awards granted under the Omnibus
Plan. Alternative minimum tax and state, local and foreign income
taxes
are not discussed and may vary depending on individual circumstances
and
from locality to locality. This summary is based on the federal
tax laws
in effect as of the date of this Proxy Statement. Changes to these
laws
could alter the tax consequences described below.
ISOs.
The
grant of
an ISO will not be a taxable event for the grantee or for UniSource
Energy. A grantee will not recognize taxable income upon exercise
of an
ISO (except that the alternative minimum tax may apply), and any
gain
realized upon a disposition of stock received upon exercise of
an ISO will
be taxed as long-term capital gain if the grantee holds the shares
for at
least two years after the date of grant and one year after the
date of
exercise (the “holding period requirement”). UniSource Energy will not be
entitled to a business expense deduction with respect to the exercise
of
an ISO, except as discussed below. ISOs are not subject to the
provisions
of Code Section 409A applicable to deferred compensation arrangements.
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If
the
grantee fails to satisfy the holding period requirement, the grantee
will
recognize ordinary income upon the disposition of the common stock
in an
amount generally equal to the excess of the fair market value of
the
common stock at the time the option was exercised over the option
exercise
price (but not in excess of the gain realized on the sale). The
balance of
the realized gain, if any, will be capital gain. UniSource Energy
will
generally be allowed a business expense deduction to the extent
the
grantee recognizes ordinary income, subject to the possible limitations
on
deductibility under Code Sections 280G and 162(m) for compensation
paid to
executives covered by those sections.
Non-Qualified
Options. The
grant of
a non-qualified stock option will not be a taxable event for the
grantee
or for UniSource Energy. Upon exercising a non-qualified option,
a grantee
will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market
value
of the common stock on the date of exercise minus the exercise
price paid
by the grantee for the option. Upon a subsequent sale or exchange
of
shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a non-qualified option,
the
grantee will have taxable gain or loss, measured by the difference
between
the amount realized on the disposition and the tax basis of the
shares
(generally, the fair market value of the common stock on the date
of
exercise). Because non-qualified options awarded under the Omnibus
Plan
may not be issued with an option exercise price of less than the
fair
market value of a share of common stock of UniSource Energy on
the date of
grant and do not otherwise provide for the deferral of income,
such
options are not subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A
applicable
to deferred compensation arrangements.
UniSource
Energy will generally be entitled to a business expense deduction
in the
same amount and generally at the same time as the grantee recognizes
ordinary income, subject to the possible limitations on deductibility
under Code Sections 280G and 162(m). The payment by a grantee of
the
exercise price of a non-qualified option, in full or in part, with
previously acquired shares of common stock will not affect the
tax
treatment of the exercise described
above.
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SARs.
There
are no
immediate tax consequences to receiving an SAR award under the
Omnibus
Plan. Upon exercising an SAR, a grantee will recognize ordinary
income in
an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price and
the fair
market value of the common stock on the date of exercise. UniSource
Energy
will generally be entitled to a business expense deduction in the
same
amount and at the same time as the grantee recognizes ordinary
income.
Because SARs awarded under the Omnibus Plan may not be issued with
an
exercise price of less than the fair market value of a share of
common
stock of UniSource Energy on the date of grant and do not otherwise
provide for the deferral of income, under Proposed Regulations
issued by
the Department of the Treasury, SARs will generally not be subject
to Code
Section 409A provisions applicable to deferred compensation
arrangements.
Restricted
Stock. A
participant
who has been granted a restricted stock award will not realize
taxable
income at the time of grant, and UniSource Energy will not be entitled
to
a deduction at that time, assuming that the restrictions constitute
a
“substantial risk of forfeiture” for Federal income tax purposes. Upon the
vesting of shares subject to an award, the holder will realize
ordinary
income in an amount equal to the then fair market value of those
shares,
and UniSource Energy will be entitled to a corresponding deduction.
Gains
or losses realized by the participant upon disposition of such
shares will
be treated as capital gains and losses, with the basis in such
shares
equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of vesting.
Dividends paid to the holder during the restriction period will
also be
compensation income to the participant and deductible as such by
UniSource
Energy.
A
participant
may elect pursuant to Code Section 83(b) to have the income recognized
and
measured at the date of grant of restricted stock and to have the
applicable capital gain holding period commence as of that date.
If
the
election is made UniSource Energy will be entitled to a corresponding
deduction.
Performance
Units, Performance Shares and Stock Units. The
tax
consequences associated with an award of performance units, performance
shares and stock units granted under the Omnibus Plan will vary
depending
on the specific terms of the award. In general, a participant who
has been
granted such an award will not realize taxable income at the time
of
grant, and UniSource Energy will not be entitled to a deduction
at that
time. Upon
payment of
such an
award, the participant will realize ordinary income in an amount
equal to
the then fair market value of the amount received under the award,
and
UniSource Energy will be entitled to a corresponding deduction
as of the
date of grant.
Code
Section 409A Compliance. Code
Section
409A generally provides that covered amounts deferred under a nonqualified
deferred compensation arrangement are includable in the participant’s
gross income to the extent not subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture
and not previously included in income, unless certain requirements
are
met, including limitations on the timing of deferral elections
and events
that may trigger the distribution of deferred amounts. In addition,
Section 409A imposes a 20% penalty tax (and requires the recognition
of
imputed interest) on deferred compensation required to be recognized
under
the section. To the extent that an award or payment under the Omnibus
Plan
may constitute deferred compensation for purposes of Code Section
409A,
the Plan
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contemplates
that such award or payment will comply with the requirements of
Section
409A.
Deferrals
under a non-qualified deferred compensation plan made after December
31,
2004, are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
Section
409A was enacted as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004
and
substantially changes the federal income tax rules associated with
the
deferral of income under nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements.
A transitional relief period is currently in effect during which
plans are
required to operate in good faith compliance with Section 409A.
The
Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department have issued
certain
interim and proposed guidance and are expected to issue final regulations
for Section 409A compliance. During this transitional relief period,
which
has been extended through December 31, 2006, plans may be amended
to
comply with Section 409A. Accordingly, certain provisions of the
Omnibus
Plan may be modified in order to comply with Section 409A and such
guidance.
Code
Section 162(m) Deductibility Rules.
In
general,
Code Section 162(m) denies a publicly held corporation a deduction
for
federal income tax purposes for compensation in excess of $1,000,000
per
year per person to its chief executive officer and the four other
officers
whose compensation is disclosed in its proxy statement, subject
to certain
exceptions. Stock options and SARs will generally qualify under
the
“performance-based compensation” exception if (i) the options or SARs are
granted under a plan that states the maximum number of shares with
respect
to which options or SARs may be granted to any employee during
a specified
period, (ii) the exercise price is not less than the fair market
value of
the common stock at the time of grant, and (iii) the plan under
which the
options or SARs are granted is approved by shareholders and is
administered by a committee comprised of two or more outside directors.
The Omnibus Plan is intended to satisfy these requirements with
respect to
grants of options and SARs to covered employees.
With
respect
to awards of restricted stock, stock units, performance units and
performance shares, in order to satisfy the “performance-based
compensation” exception to the deduction limitation of Code Section
162(m), the vesting of the award must be contingent solely on the
attainment of one or more performance goals determined by a committee
of
two or more outside directors. The Omnibus Plan is designed to
permit
awards of restricted stock, stock units, performance units and
performance
shares which qualify under the “performance-based compensation” exception
to Section 162(m) of the Code.
Required
Vote. The
approval
and adoption of the UniSource Energy Corporation 2006 Omnibus Stock
and
Incentive Plan requires the affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority
of the shares of our common stock present at the Annual Meeting
in person
or by proxy and entitled to vote, provided a quorum is
present.
|
Board
Meetings
|
In
2005, the
Board held a total of seven regular and special meetings. Each
director
attended at least 75% of his or her Board and committee meetings.
Additionally, the non-management directors met at regularly scheduled
executive sessions without management present. Mr. Carter was
the Lead
Director at these executive sessions.
|
|
Board
Communication
|
Shareholders
or other interested parties wishing to communicate with the Board,
the
non-management directors or any individual director may contact
the Lead
Director by mail, addressed to UniSource Energy Lead Director,
c/o
Corporate Secretary, UniSource Energy Corporation, One South
Church
Avenue, Suite 2030, Tucson, Arizona 85701. The communications
will be kept
confidential and forwarded to the Lead Director. Communications
received
by the Lead Director will be forwarded to the appropriate director(s)
or
to an individual non-management director.
Shareholders
or other interested parties wishing to communicate with the Board
regarding non-financial matters may contact the Chairperson of
the
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee either by mail,
addressed to
Chairperson, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, UniSource
Energy Corporation, P.O. Box 31771, Tucson, Arizona 85751-1771,
or by
e-mail at unscorpgov@earthlink.net.
Shareholders or other interested parties wishing to communicate
with the
Board regarding financial matters may contact the Chairperson
of the Audit
Committee either by mail, addressed to Chairperson, Audit Committee,
UniSource Energy Corporation, P.O. Box 191191, Atlanta, Georgia
31119, or
by e-mail at unscorpaudit@earthlink.net.
Items
that
are unrelated to a director’s duties and responsibilities as a Board
member may be excluded from consideration, including, without
limitation,
solicitations and advertisements, junk mail, product-related
communications, job referral materials such as resumes, surveys
and
material that is determined to be illegal or otherwise
inappropriate.
|
|
Board
Committees
|
The
Audit Committee reviews
current and projected financial results of operations, selects
a firm of
independent registered public accountants to audit our financial
statements annually, reviews and discusses the scope of such
audit,
receives and reviews the audit reports and recommendations, transmits
its
recommendations to the Board, reviews our accounting and internal
control
procedures with our internal audit department from time to time,
makes
recommendations to the Board for any changes deemed necessary
in such
procedures and performs such other functions as delegated by
the Board.
Our Audit Committee held nine meetings in 2005 and was in compliance
with
its written charter, as amended on December 2, 2005 and attached
to this
Proxy Statement as Appendix B.
Upon
the
recommendation of the Audit Committee, our Board adopted a code
of ethics
for our directors, officers and
employees.
|
The
Compensation Committee
reviews the
performance of our directors and officers and reviews and approves
directors’ and officers’ compensation. Our Compensation Committee held
five meetings in 2005
and was
in compliance with its written charter.
|
||
The
Finance Committee
reviews and
recommends to the Board long-range financial policies, objectives
and
actions required to achieve those objectives.
Specifically,
the Finance Committee reviews capital and operating budgets, current
and
projected financial results of operations, short-term and long-range
financing plans, dividend policy, risk management activities and
major
commercial banking, investment banking, financial consulting and
other
financial relations of UniSource Energy. Our Finance Committee
held five
meetings in 2005 and was in compliance with its written
charter.
|
||
The
Environmental, Safety and Security (“ESS”) Committee reviews
the
Company’s structure and operations to assess whether significant operating
risks in the areas of environmental, safety and security have been
identified and appropriate mitigation plans have been implemented.
The
Committee also reviews the processes in place which are designed
to ensure
compliance with all environmental, safety and security related
legal and
regulatory requirements, as well as reviews with Management the
impact of
proposed or enacted laws or regulations related to environmental,
safety
and security issues. Our ESS Committee held two meetings in 2005
and was
in compliance with its written charter.
|
||
The
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
reviews and
recommends corporate governance principles, interviews potential
directors
and nominates and recommends to the shareholders and directors,
as the
case may be, qualified persons to serve as directors. The Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee also reviews and recommends
membership
for all the committees to the Board and reviews applicable rules
and
regulations relating to the duties and responsibilities of the
Board. Our
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee held six meetings
in
2005
and was
in compliance with its written charter.
|
||
The
Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee identifies and considers nominee
candidates supplied by shareholders and Board members. The Corporate
Secretary, as directed by the Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee, prepares portfolios for nominee candidates that include
confirmation of the candidate’s interest, independence, biographical
information, review of business background and experience and reference
checks. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee then
evaluates
candidates using, in large part, the criteria set forth in the
next
paragraph and any other criteria the Committee deems appropriate,
and
conducts a personal interview with each candidate. Upon completion
of this
process, formal invitations are extended to accept election to
the
Board.
|
||
The
Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee has not adopted specific minimum
qualifications with respect to a Committee-recommended Board nominee,
but
desirable qualifications are set forth in the Corporate Governance
Guidelines and include prior community, professional or business
experience that
|
demonstrates
leadership capabilities, the ability to review and analyze complex
business issues, the ability to effectively represent the interests
of our
shareholders while keeping in perspective the interests of our
customers,
the ability to devote the time and interest required to attend
and fully
prepare for all regular and special Board meetings, the ability
to
communicate and work effectively with the other Board members and
personnel and the ability to fully adhere to any applicable laws,
rules or
regulations relating to the performance of a director’s duties and
responsibilities.
While
no
formal policy exists, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
does consider recommendations for Board nominees received from
our
shareholders. The deadline for consideration of recommendations
for next
year’s annual meeting of the shareholders is December 4,
2006.
Recommendations must be in writing and include detailed biographical
material indicating the candidate’s qualifications and a written statement
from the candidate of willingness and availability to serve.
Recommendations should be directed to the Corporate Secretary,
UniSource
Energy Corporation, One South Church Avenue, Suite 2030, Tucson,
Arizona
85701. The Board will consider nominees on a case-by-case basis
and does
not believe a formal policy is warranted at this time due to a
manageable
volume of nominations.
|
||
Each
member
of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance
and Nominating Committee is independent based upon independence
criteria
established by our Board, which criteria are in compliance with
applicable
NYSE listing standards.
|
||
Copies
of Charters, Guidelines and Code of Ethics
|
A
copy of the
Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
Charters, as well as our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code
of
Ethics, are available on our Web site at www.UNS.com
or may be
obtained by shareholders, without charge, upon written request
to Library
and Resource Center, UniSource Energy Corporation, 3950 East Irvington
Road, Mail Stop RC114, Tucson, Arizona 85714.
|
Retainer
and Fees
|
In
2005, each
non-employee director received a $20,000 annual cash retainer,
$1,000 for
each Board meeting attended, $1,000 for each committee meeting
attended
and an additional $1,000 per committee meeting if acting as a
committee
chairperson. We reimburse directors for any expenses related
to their
Board and
committee
service.
|
Effective
in
May 2005, a Chairmanship retainer replaced the additional $1,000
per
committee meeting previously paid to the committee chairman.
The annual
Chairmanship retainer for the Audit Chairman is $20,000. The
annual
Chairmanship retainer for all other Chairmanships, including
special
committee chairmanships, is $15,000. The Lead Director also receives
an
annual retainer of $20,000. Chairmanship and Lead Director retainers
will
be credited to individual Director accounts in the form of stock
units and
will accrue dividend equivalent stock units. The stock units
will be
distributed in cash in the year following termination of Board
service
unless UniSource Energy solicits and receives shareholder approval
for a
new stock incentive plan, such as the Omnibus Plan, in which
case the
stock units may be distributed in shares at the Board’s or Compensation
Committee’s discretion.
|
||
Option
and Restricted Share Grants
|
Under
the
terms of the 1994 Outside Director Stock Option Plan, each non-employee
director in office on the first business day of each year, and
who has
been a director for at least three months, was granted a stock
option
covering a number of shares of our common stock equal to $10,000
divided
by the value of an option (based on a Black-Scholes calculation
methodology) as of the date of grant. In 2005, non-employee directors
received an award of restricted stock units in lieu of stock
options due
to the impact at the time of a proposed merger (which was ultimately
not
consummated) on the market value of our common stock. Restricted
stock
units vest in one-third increments over three years.
Each
non-employee director in office on the first business day of
each year (no
three-month minimum service requirement is applicable) is also
granted a
number of restricted shares of our common stock equal to $10,000
divided
by the then fair market value of a share of our common stock.
Restricted
shares vest on the third anniversary of the grant date.
On
January 3,
2005, each of the non-employee directors received 408 restricted
stock
units and 408 restricted shares of our common stock.
Effective
for
2005, the value of the equity compensation component of non-employee
director compensation was increased from $20,000 to $40,000.
Because
awards valued at $20,000 were made under the 1994 Outside Director
Stock
Option Plan in January 2005, a one-time award of restricted stock
units
equal to $20,000 divided by the then fair market value of a share
of our
common stock was made to each non-employee director in office
on May 6,
2005, the date of the annual Shareholder Meeting. The awards
will vest
over a one-year period and, once vested, will accrue dividend
equivalent
stock units. The stock units will be distributed in cash in the
year
following termination of Board service unless UniSource Energy
solicits
and receives shareholder approval for a new stock incentive plan
(such as
the Omnibus Plan), in which case the stock units may be distributed
in
shares at the Board’s or Compensation Committee’s discretion. Unvested
awards are forfeited at termination other than for disability
or
retirement.
|
Cash
Compensation
|
Security
Grants
|
|||
Name
(1)
|
Annual
Retainer
Fee
($)
(2)
|
Meeting
Fees
($)
(2)
|
Number
of
Shares Subject to Restricted Stock
Award
(6)
|
Number
of
Securities Underlying Options
|
Lawrence
J.
Aldrich
|
20,000
|
28,000
(3)
(4)
(5)
|
1,476
|
0
|
Barbara
M.
Baumann
|
6,667
|
14,000
(4)
(5)
|
1,189
|
0
|
Larry
W.
Bickle
|
20,000
|
25,000
(4)
(5)
|
1,476
|
0
|
Elizabeth
T.
Bilby
|
20,000
|
26,000
(4)
(5)
|
1,476
|
0
|
Harold
W.
Burlingame
|
20,000
|
37,000
(4)
(5)
|
1,476
|
0
|
John
L.
Carter
|
20,000
|
48,000
(3)
(4)
(5)
|
1,476
|
0
|
Robert
A.
Elliott
|
20,000
|
37,000
(4)
(5)
|
1,476
|
0
|
Daniel
W.L.
Fessler
|
1,667
|
6,000
(4)
(5)
|
1,279
|
0
|
Kenneth
Handy
|
20,000
|
40,000
(3)
(4)
(5)
|
1,476
|
0
|
Warren
Y.
Jobe
|
20,000
|
37,000
(4)
|
1,476
|
0
|
Joaquin
Ruiz
|
6,667
|
6,000
(4)
|
1,189
|
0
|
(1)
|
Mr.
Pignatelli is not listed in this table because directors who are
officers
of UniSource Energy or salaried employees of its subsidiaries do
not
receive compensation in their capacity as members of the Board.
Refer
to the
Summary Compensation Table for information concerning his
compensation.
|
(2)
|
Cash
compensation includes amounts earned but deferred at the election
of
directors. The
Management and Directors Deferred Compensation Plan may be amended
during
2006 to the extent necessary to avoid adverse tax consequences
under Code
Section 409A.
|
(3)
|
As
members of
the GSE board, Mr. Aldrich, Mr. Carter and Mr. Handy each received
an
additional $1,000 for attending GSE board meetings during 2005.
UniSource
Energy owns 99% of GSE.
|
(4)
|
As
members of
the TEP board during 2005, Mr. Aldrich, Ms. Bilby, Mr. Burlingame,
Mr.
Carter, Mr. Handy and Mr. Jobe each received an additional $5,000
for
attending five TEP board meetings, Mr. Elliott received an additional
$4,000 for attending four TEP board meetings, Ms. Baumann and Mr.
Ruiz
received an additional $2,000 for attending two TEP board meetings
and Mr.
Fessler received an additional $1,000 for attending a TEP board
meeting,
As a member of the UniSource Energy board, Mr. Bickle also received
an
additional $5,000 for attending TEP board meetings during 2005.
UniSource
Energy owns 100% of TEP.
|
(5)
|
As
members of
the UES board, Mr. Aldrich, Mr. Bickle, Ms. Bilby, Mr. Carter and
Mr.
Handy each received an additional $4,000 for attending UES board
meetings
during 2005. As members of the UniSource Energy board, Ms. Baumann,
Mr.
Burlingame and Mr. Fessler each received an additional $1,000 and
Mr.
Elliott received and additional $2,000 for attending UES board
meetings
during 2005. UniSource Energy owns 100% of
UES.
|
(6)
|
As
of
December 30, 2005, based on the closing market price of UniSource
Energy’s
Stock on that date of $31.20, Mr. Aldrich held 2,667 stock units
(including dividend equivalent stock units) valued at $83,201;
Mr. Bickle
held 1,473 stock units (including dividend equivalent stock units)
valued
at $45,958; Ms. Bilby held 2,667 stock units (including dividend
equivalent stock units) valued at $83,204; Mr. Burlingame held
2,895 stock
units (including dividend equivalent stock units) valued at $90,318;
Mr.
Carter held 1,813 stock units (including dividend equivalent stock
units)
valued at $56,566; Mr. Elliott held 1,473 stock units (including
dividend
equivalent stock units) valued at $45,958; Mr. Fessler held 707
stock
units (including dividend equivalent stock units) valued at $22,043;
Mr.
Handy held 2,945 stock units (including dividend equivalent stock
units)
valued at $91,881; and Mr. Jobe held 2,868 stock units (including
dividend
equivalent stock units) valued at
$89,482.
|
Summary
of Compensation
|
The
following
table summarizes the compensation and stock option grants to,
and stock
options/SARs held by,
the
Named
Executives.
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Annual
Compensation
|
Long
Term Compensation
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Awards
|
Payouts
|
||||||||||||
Name
and
Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Restricted
Stock Awards
($) (1)
|
Securities
Underlying Options/SARs
(#)
|
LTIP
Payouts
($)
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
(3)
|
||||||||||
James
S.
Pignatelli Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
|
2005
2004
2003
|
649,039
624,231
599,327
|
200,000
525,000
550,000
|
--
--
--
|
0
0
21,226
|
250,500
(2)
327,958
0
|
14,000
13,000
12,000
|
||||||||||
Steven
J.
Glaser
Senior
Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer, Transmission and Distribution
|
2005
2004
2003
|
294,616
284,692
274,596
|
80,000
178,000
166,000
|
--
--
--
|
0
0
9,729
|
114,228
(2)
150,708
0
|
13,258
9,225
11,232
|
||||||||||
Dennis
R.
Nelson
Senior
Vice
President, Utility Services
|
2005
2004
2003
|
282,319
274,846
269,732
|
70,000
137,000
150,000
|
--
--
--
|
0
0
9,552
|
110,220
(2)
147,537
0
|
12,700
12,368
12,000
|
||||||||||
Kevin
P.
Larson
Senior
Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
|
2005
2004
2003
|
253,785
229,692
219,462
|
65,000
130,000
145,000
|
--
--
--
|
0
0
7,783
|
92,184 (2)
141,370
0
|
11,411
10,336
9,876
|
||||||||||
Michael
J.
DeConcini
Senior
Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer, Energy Supply
|
2005
2004
2003
|
264,727
244,537
229,192
|
50,000
138,000
145,000
|
--
--
--
|
0
0
8,137
|
98,196 (2)
125,290
0
|
11,906
11,004
10,314
|
(1)
As
of
December 30, 2005, based on the closing market price of UniSource
Energy’s
stock on that date of $31.20, Mr. Pignatelli held 113,635 stock
units
(including dividend equivalent stock units) valued at $3,545,412;
Mr.
Glaser held 8,258 stock units (including dividend equivalent
stock units)
valued at $257,650; Mr. Nelson held 25,257 stock units (including
dividend
equivalent stock units) valued at $788,018; and Mr. DeConcini
held 24,954
stock units (including dividend equivalent stock units) valued
at
$778,565.
(2)
Payments
made
were the first of three installments associated with a long-term
incentive
““award made in 2004. Remaining installments under the 2004 award
were or
will be made in January 2006 and January 2007.
(3)
All
Other
Compensation is comprised of UniSource Energy’s contributions to the
401(k) Plan and Excess 401(k) contributions to the UniSource
Energy
Corporation Management and Directors Deferred Compensation
Plan.
|
Stock
Option
Grants
in 2005
|
During
2005,
the Compensation Committee of our Board granted no stock options
to Named
Executives.
|
Option
and
SAR
Holdings
|
The
following
table includes the number and value of exercisable and
non-exercisable
options and SARs held by the Named Executives as of December 31,
2005.
|
Name
|
Shares
Acquired
on
Exercise
(#)
|
Value
Realized ($)
|
Number
of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options/SARs at Fiscal Year-End
(#)
Exercisable/
Unexercisable
|
Value
of
Unexercised
In-the-Money
Options/SARs
at
Fiscal
Year End ($)
Exercisable/
Unexercisable (1)
|
|
James
S.
Pignatelli
|
8,883
|
141,106
|
698,881
/
0
|
10,997,070
/
0
|
|
Steven
J.
Glaser
|
186,201
|
2,730,976
|
0
/
0
|
0
/
0
|
|
Dennis
R.
Nelson
|
15,036
|
223,810
|
163,952
/
0
|
2,540,060
/
0
|
|
Kevin
P.
Larson
|
14,671
|
262,481
|
90,483
/
0
|
1,367,786
/
0
|
|
Michael
J.
DeConcini
|
0
|
0
|
135,008
/
0
|
2,070,558
/
0
|
|
_______________________
|
(1) Includes
cash
dividend equivalents on stock options awarded in 2002 under the
1994
UniSource Energy Corporation Omnibus
Stock
and Incentive
Plan.
|
2005
Long-Term Incentive Awards
|
Under
the
2005-2007 long-term incentive award, the Named Executives are eligible
to
earn a payout, which could be in cash or shares (subject to shareholder
approval), in 2008 based on the achievement of two performance
goals over
the three-year period of 2005-2007. The two performance goals,
which are
equally weighted for purposes of calculating any payout, are UniSource
Energy earnings per share and UniSource Energy consolidated operating
cash
flow.
Eligible
payout levels range from a threshold of 80% of target performance
for the
two goals over the three-year period to 120% of target performance.
At the
80% threshold level, the Named Executives would be eligible to
receive a
payout equal to 50% of their annual 2005 salary; at the 100% target
level,
100% of their 2005 annual salary; and at the 120% target level,
200% of
their 2005 salary.
For
2005, the
weighted performance level for the two performance goals was approximately
50% of target performance. Actual 2005 results, together with current
projected results for 2006 and 2007, indicate that the three-year
performance results will likely fall short of the threshold payout
level.
The following table includes the number of shares, units or other
rights
awarded to the Named Executives in the last fiscal year under any
long-term incentive arrangement.
|
Name
|
Number
of
Shares, Units or Other
Rights (1) (#) |
Performance
or
Other
Period
Until Maturation or Payout
|
Estimated
Future Payouts under
Non-Stock
Price-Based Plans (2)
|
||
Threshold
($)
|
Target($)
|
Maximum
($)
|
|||
James
S.
Pignatelli
|
--
|
1/1/05
-
12/31/07
|
325,000
|
650,000
|
1,300,000
|
Steven
J.
Glaser
|
--
|
1/1/05
-
12/31/07
|
147,500
|
295,000
|
590,000
|
Dennis
R.
Nelson
|
--
|
1/1/05
-
12/31/07
|
141,250
|
282,500
|
565,000
|
Kevin
P.
Larson
|
--
|
1/1/05
-
12/31/07
|
140,000
|
280,000
|
560,000
|
Michael
J.
DeConcini
|
--
|
1/1/05
-
12/31/07
|
140,000
|
280,000
|
560,000
|
(1)
No
shares or
performance units were issued; the 2005-2007 award provides for
a payout
in 2008, was based on varying percentages of salary that are
dependent
upon performance of the goals over the three-year period of
2005-2007.
(2)
Payout
estimates are based on the achievement of threshold (80% of target),
target and maximum (120% of target) performance goals.
|
Equity
Compensation Plans
|
Our
only
equity-based compensation plan that has not been approved
by shareholders
is the Management and Directors Deferred Compensation Plan
(the “DCP”).
Shareholder approval of the DCP has not been required. Under
the DCP,
certain eligible officers and other employees selected for
participation,
and non-employee members of the Board, may elect to defer
a percentage of
the compensation or fees that would otherwise become payable
to the
individual for their services to us.
We also
credit DCP accounts of employees participating in our
401(k) Plan
with the additional amount of UniSource
Energy
matching
contributions that the participant would have been entitled
to under the
401(k) Plan if certain Code limits did not apply to limit
the amount of
UniSource
Energy
matching
contributions made under the 401(k) Plan. Each participant
in the DCP may
elect that his or her deferrals be credited in the form of
deferred shares
instead of cash. Deferred shares are bookkeeping entries
that, when
payable, will be paid in the form of an equivalent number
of shares of
UniSource Energy common stock, subject to shareholder approval
prior to
the issuance of any such shares. Deferred shares accrue dividend
equivalents, credited in the form of additional deferred
shares, as
dividends are paid by UniSource Energy on its issued and
outstanding
common stock. Each participant elects the time and manner
of payment (lump
sum or installments) of his or her deferred shares under
the DCP. The
shares used to satisfy our
stock
obligations under the DCP are shares that have been purchased
on the open
market. To date, payment of deferred amounts have been only
in the form of
cash and no participant has elected to take shares in lieu
of
cash.
|
Equity
Compensation
|
The
following
table sets forth information as of December 31, 2005, with respect
to
UniSource Energy’s equity compensation plans.
|
Plan
Category
|
Number
of
Shares of UniSource Energy Common Stock to
be
Issued
Upon Exercise of Outstanding
Options
and
Rights
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of Outstanding Options |
Number
of
Shares of UniSource Energy Common Stock Remaining Available for
Future
Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
(Excluding
Shares Reflected
in
the First Column)
|
Equity
Compensation
Plans Approved by Shareholders (1) |
1,757,291
(2)
|
$16.75
(3)
|
152,918
(4)
|
Equity
Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders
|
59,820 (5)
|
--
|
--
(6)
|
Total
|
1,817,111
|
--
|
--
|
(1)
The
equity
compensation plans approved by shareholders are the UniSource Energy
Corporation 1994 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan and the UniSource
Energy
Corporation 1994 Outside Director Stock Option Plan. Under
the
terms of the UniSource Energy Corporation 1994 Omnibus Stock and
Incentive
Plan, no award may be granted after February 3, 2004. The plan
remains in
effect until all awards have expired or terminated or shall have
been
exercised or fully vested, and any stock thereto shall have been
purchased
or acquired.
(2)
Includes
options outstanding as to 1,537,041 shares, and stock units, dividend
equivalent stock units and restricted stock units (payable in an
equivalent number of shares) outstanding as to 220,250
shares.
(3)
Calculated
based on the outstanding options and exclusive of outstanding stock
units.
(4)
The
UniSource
Energy Corporation 1994 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan expired
in
accordance with its terms, effective February 3, 2004. On March
30, 2006,
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of UniSource
Energy
terminated the 1994 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan effective
January
1, 2006, contingent upon shareholder approval of the Omnibus Plan.
The
Committee further resolved that no awards will be issued under
the 1994
Directors Plan after December 31, 2005 (unless and until the shareholders
decline to approve the Omnibus Plan). As of December 31, 2005,
152,918
were available for additional awards under the 1994 Outside Director
Stock
Option Plan. Awards authorized under the 1994 Outside Director
Stock Plan
include options, restricted stock and dividend equivalents. The
Omnibus
Plan will also supersede and replace the UniSource Energy Corporation
1994
Outside Directors Stock Option Plan (the “1994 Directors Plan”). Both the
1994 Incentive Plan and the 1994 Directors Plan remain nominally
in effect
with respect to currently outstanding awards. No shares available
to be
issued under the 1994 Directors Plan at the time of its termination
will
be available for awards under the Omnibus Plan, except as described
in
Proposal Two with respect to awards that are forfeited, terminate,
are
canceled or expire.
(5)
Deferred
shares credited under the DCP.
(6)
There
is no
explicit share limit under the DCP. The number of shares to be
delivered
with respect to the DCP in the future depends on the levels of
fees and
compensation that participants elect to defer under the DCP. The
UniSource
Energy shares used to satisfy our
stock
obligations under the DCP are shares that have been purchased on
the open
market.
|
New
Omnibus Plan Benefits
|
The
allocation of awards in 2006 under the UniSource Energy Corporation
2006
Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan for persons other than non-employee
directors is not currently determinable because awards will be
made in
accordance with future decisions of the Compensation Committee
following
the general guidelines of the Omnibus Plan. For a description
of the
incentive awards granted during 2005 to Named Executive Officers,
see the
“Summary Compensation Table” and the “Long-Term Incentive Plans Awards in
Last Fiscal Year” table.
The
following
table sets forth the awards that will be made to non-employee
directors
under the Omnibus Plan for the calendar year beginning January
1, 2006,
assuming that the Omnibus Plan is approved by shareholders and
that 11
non-employee Directors are then serving on the
Board:
|
Name
and
Position
|
Dollar
Value
($) (1)
|
Number
of
Units (2)
|
Non-employee
Directors
|
440,000
|
--
|
___________________
|
(1)
|
For
2006,
each non-employee director will receive an annual grant of restricted
stock units equal to a number of shares of common stock with an
aggregate
fair market value, determined on the date of grant, of $40,000.
|
(2)
|
The
number of
shares associated with award amounts is not determinable at this
time.
|
Pension
Plans
|
The
following
table shows the estimated annual retirement benefit payable to
participants, including the Named Executives, for the average
annual
compensation and years of service indicated.
Compensation
is comprised of the officers’ average annual compensation during the five
consecutive years of employment with the highest compensation
within the
last 15 years preceding retirement.
Compensation
is comprised of salary and bonus, as shown on the Summary Compensation
Table.
|
Years
of
Service
|
||||||
Remuneration
($)
|
10
|
15
|
20
|
25
|
30
|
35
|
125,000
|
54,850
|
54,850
|
54,850
|
54,850
|
54,850
|
54,850
|
150,000
|
65,820
|
65,820
|
65,820
|
65,820
|
65,820
|
65,820
|
175,000
|
76,790
|
76,790
|
76,790
|
76,790
|
76,790
|
76,790
|
200,000
|
87,760
|
87,760
|
87,760
|
87,760
|
87,760
|
87,760
|
225,000
|
98,730
|
98,730
|
98,730
|
98,730
|
98,730
|
98,730
|
250,000
|
109,700
|
109,700
|
109,700
|
109,700
|
109,700
|
109,700
|
300,000
|
131,640
|
131,640
|
131,640
|
131,640
|
131,640
|
131,640
|
400,000
|
175,520
|
175,520
|
175,520
|
175,520
|
175,520
|
175,520
|
450,000
|
197,460
|
197,460
|
197,460
|
197,460
|
197,460
|
197,460
|
500,000
|
219,400
|
219,400
|
219,400
|
219,400
|
219,400
|
219,400
|
550,000
|
241,340
|
241,340
|
241,340
|
241,340
|
241,340
|
241,340
|
Years
of
Service
|
||||||
Remuneration
($)
|
10
|
15
|
20
|
25
|
30
|
35
|
600,000
|
263,280
|
263,280
|
263,280
|
263,280
|
263,280
|
263,280
|
650,000
|
285,220
|
285,220
|
285,220
|
285,220
|
285,220
|
285,220
|
700,000
|
307,160
|
307,160
|
307,160
|
307,160
|
307,160
|
307,160
|
750,000
|
329,100
|
329,100
|
329,100
|
329,100
|
329,100
|
329,100
|
800,000
|
351,040
|
351,040
|
351,040
|
351,040
|
351,040
|
351,040
|
850,000
|
372,980
|
372,980
|
372,980
|
372,980
|
372,980
|
372,980
|
900,000
|
394,920
|
394,920
|
394,920
|
394,920
|
394,920
|
394,920
|
950,000
|
416,860
|
416,860
|
416,860
|
416,860
|
416,860
|
416,860
|
1,000,000
|
438,800
|
438,800
|
438,800
|
438,800
|
438,800
|
438,800
|
1,100,000
|
482,680
|
482,680
|
482,680
|
482,680
|
482,680
|
482,680
|
1,200,000
|
526,560
|
526,560
|
526,560
|
526,560
|
526,560
|
526,560
|
The
amount of
the pension benefit is equal to a base of 40% of the compensation
for ten
years of service, plus 9.7% (life annuity factor) of such calculated
amount.
The
estimated
benefits shown in the Pension Plan Table are straight-life annuities
not
subject to a reduction for any Social Security benefits.
The
table
also reflects amounts payable under the Excess Benefits Plan which
will
pay from the general funds of UniSource Energy the difference,
if any,
between the benefits under TEP’s pension plan and any benefit payments,
which may be limited by federal regulations. This
plan may
be amended during 2006 to the extent necessary to avoid adverse
tax
consequences under Code Section
409A.
|
Name
|
Credited
Years
of
Service
|
James
S.
Pignatelli
|
11
|
Steven
J.
Glaser
|
15
|
Dennis
R.
Nelson
|
27
|
Kevin
P.
Larson
|
20
|
Michael
J.
DeConcini
|
17
|
Change
in
Control Agreements were adopted to attract and retain quality
management.
|
TEP
has
Change in Control Agreements (“Agreements”) with all of its officers. The
Agreements are in effect until the later of: (i) five years after
the date
either TEP or the officer gives written notice of termination
of the
Agreement, or (ii) if a change in control occurs during the term
of the
Agreement, five years after the change in control.
On
March 29,
2004, a change in control occurred for purposes of the Agreements
when our
shareholders, at a special meeting, approved the acquisition
agreement
that provided for an affiliate of Saquaro Utility Group L.P.
to acquire
all of our outstanding shares of common stock. This was not affected
by
the fact that the acquisition was ultimately not consummated.
For
the
purpose of the Agreements, a change in control includes the acquisition
of
beneficial ownership of 30% of the common stock of UniSource
Energy,
certain changes in the UniSource Energy Board of Directors, approval
by
the
|
shareholders
of certain mergers or consolidations or certain transfers of
the assets of
UniSource Energy.
The
Agreements provide that each officer shall be employed by TEP,
or one of
its subsidiaries or affiliates, in a position comparable to
his or her
current position, with compensation and benefits, which are
at least equal
to their then current compensation and benefits, for an employment
period
of five years after a change in control (subject to earlier
termination
due to the officer’s acceptance of a position with another company or
termination for cause).
|
||
In
the event
that the officer’s employment is terminated by TEP (with the exception of
termination due to the officer’s acceptance of another position or for
cause), or if the officer terminates employment because of
a reduction in
position, responsibility, compensation or for certain other
stated
reasons, the officer is entitled to severance benefits in the
form of:
(i)
a lump
sum payment equal to the present value of three times annual
salary and
bonus compensation, (ii) the present value of the additional
amount
(including any amount under the Excess Benefits Plan) the officer
would
have received under the TEP Retirement Plan if the officer
had continued
to be employed for the five-year period after a change in control
occurs,
plus (iii) the present value of any employee awards under the
1994 Omnibus
Stock and Incentive Plan or any successor plan, which are outstanding
at
the time of the officer’s termination (whether vested or not), prorated
based on length of service. Such
officer
is also entitled to continue to participate in TEP’s health, death and
disability benefit plans for five years after the termination.
The
Agreements further provide that TEP will make a payment to
the officer to
offset any excise taxes that may become payable under certain
conditions.
Any payments made in respect of such excise taxes are not deductible
by
us. Assuming Mr.
Pignatelli’s
and the
other Named Executives’
employment
was terminated,
the total
payments made by UniSource Energy pursuant to the Agreements
would not be
expected to exceed $18.6 million.
On
March 3,
2005, TEP provided the officers, with respect to which the
Agreements were
in effect at that time, written notice of termination of the
Agreements.
Pursuant to the terms of the Agreements, the termination will
become
effective on March 3, 2010, the fifth anniversary of the date
of the
written notice of termination. These
Agreements may be amended during 2006 to the extent necessary
to avoid
adverse tax consequences under Code Section
409A.
|
Board
independence is determined by consideration of established
criteria.
|
The
Board has
established the following criteria for determining
independence,
among other
things, in order to determine eligibility to serve on the
Audit
Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance
and
Nominating Committee.
|
Directors
that meet each of the following criteria are deemed
independent:
1. A
director
who is an employee of the Company or whose immediate family member
is an
executive officer of the Company cannot
be
“independent” until three years after the employment has ended. Employment
as an interim Chairman or CEO shall not disqualify a director from
being
considered independent following that employment.
2. A
director who
is, or in the past three years has been, affiliated with or
|
employed
in a
professional capacity by a present or former internal or external
auditor
of the
Company
or whose
immediate family member is, or in the past three years has been,
affiliated with or employed in a professional capacity by a present
or
former internal or external auditor of the Company cannot be “independent”
until three years after the end of the affiliation, employment
or auditing
relationship.
3. A
director
who is employed, or whose immediate family member is employed,
as an
executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s present
executives serve on that company’s compensation committee is not
“independent” until three years after the end of such service or the
employment relationship.
4. A
director
who receives, or whose immediate family member receives, more than
$100,000 per year in direct compensation from the Company, other
than
director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred
compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not
contingent in any way on continued service), is not independent
until
three years after he or she ceases to receive more than $100,000
per year
in such compensation.
|
||
Compensation
received by a director for former service as an interim Chairman
or CEO
need not be considered in determining independence. Compensation
received
by an immediate family member for service as a non-executive employee
of
the Company need not be considered in determining independence
under this
test.
|
||
5. A
director
who is an executive officer or an employee, or whose immediate
family
member is an executive officer, of a company that makes payments
to, or
receives payments from, the Company for property or services in
an amount
which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of $1 million
or 2%
of such other company’s consolidated gross revenue, is not “independent”
until three years after falling below such threshold.
|
||
6. Directors
who
possess an interest in any transaction for which disclosure would
be
required pursuant to Item 404(a) of SEC Regulation S-K (generally,
this
item requires proxy statement disclosure of transactions exceeding
$60,000
between a director and the
Company
or any of
our
subsidiaries) are not independent.
7. Directors
that do not meet item 6 of the aforementioned criteria may nonetheless
be
deemed independent by a majority of independent directors, provided
the
basis for such determination shall be disclosed in the
Company’s
Proxy
Statement.
|
||
Based
upon
the foregoing criteria, the Board has deemed each director to be
independent, with the exceptions of Mr. Aldrich, Mr. Bickle,
Ms. Bilby
and Mr. Pignatelli.
See
“Transactions with Management and Others” below.
|
Haddington
Energy
Partners
II LP
|
Millennium
was authorized by its Board of Directors in 2000 to invest $15
million, in
aggregate, over a three- to five-year period in Haddington Energy
Partners
II LP. Mr. Bickle, a member of our Board, is an executive in
residence of
Haddington Ventures LLC, the general partner of Haddington Energy
Partners
II LP, and maintains a financial interest in Haddington Ventures,
LLC. As
of December 31, 2005, Millennium had funded approximately $13
million
under this commitment, $2 million of which was funded in
2005.
|
|
Valley
Ventures III, LP
|
In
2000,
Millennium made a commitment of $5 million in capital plus a
share of
expenses to Tucson Ventures, LLC, a venture capital fund. In
2002, Tucson
Ventures, LLC merged with Valley Ventures III, LP, also a venture
capital
fund. In connection with the merger of the funds, Millennium’s commitment
was revised to a total of $6 million, including expenses. Mr.
Aldrich, a
member of our Board, was a general partner of the company that
manages
Valley Ventures III, LP until January 1, 2006, at which time
Mr. Aldrich
terminated his role and interest as general partner, but maintained
a
non-voting financial interest in Valley Ventures III, LP.
|
|
Millennium
Energy
Investments
|
Mr.
Stephen
Alexander, an immediate family member of Ms. Bilby, a member
of our Board,
was employed by Millennium through December 31, 2005, at which
time he
resigned from his position with Millennium. As Director of Energy
Investments, Mr. Alexander assisted in overseeing Millennium’s investment
portfolio. For his services in 2005, Mr. Alexander received compensation
of approximately $260,103 from
Millennium.
|
The
Committee
|
The
Compensation Committee is responsible for developing and administering
executive compensation policies and programs for UniSource
Energy and TEP
and making recommendations to the Board with respect thereto.
The
Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board with
respect to
the compensation of UniSource Energy’s executive officers, including Mr.
Pignatelli and the other Named Executives, and sets policies
for and
reviews the compensation awarded to other key members of
management.
UniSource
Energy applies a consistent philosophy to compensation for
all executive
employees, including the Named Executives.
Under
the
terms of its charter, the Compensation Committee is required
to consist of
at least three members of the Board of Directors who meet the
independence
requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. In 2005, the Compensation
Committee had five formal meetings. In advance of each meeting,
management
reviews the agenda with the Compensation Committee Chair and,
prior to
every meeting, each Compensation Committee member received
a complete
briefing book that details each topic to be considered. The
Compensation
Committee Chair reports to the Board of Directors on Compensation
Committee decisions and key actions. The Committee members
also completed
a written assessment of the Committee’s performance in April at the annual
Board of Directors Retreat. The Compensation Committee has
retained the
services of a nationally recognized compensation consulting
firm that
serves as an independent advisor
in
|
matters
related to executive compensation. That consulting firm advises
the
Committee on matters including but not limited to: executive compensation
and benefits and director compensation. From time to time members
of the
consulting firm attend Committee meetings either in person or
telephonically. The Committee has sole discretion over the terms
and
conditions of the retention of consultants it retains.
|
||
Overall
Objectives
|
UniSource
Energy’s executive compensation policies and programs generally are
intended to (i) relate the compensation of employees to the success
of
UniSource Energy and the corresponding creation of shareholder
value and
deliver rewards for superior performance and consequences for
underperformance and (ii)
attract,
retain and motivate executives and key employees with competitive
compensation opportunities.
|
|
Executive
Compensation Generally
|
The
Compensation Committee reviews our executives’ compensation each year.
Compensation depends on many factors, including individual performance,
responsibilities, future challenges and objectives and the executive’s
potential contribution to our future success. The Compensation
Committee
also looks at our financial performance and the compensation levels
at
comparable companies.
|
|
UniSource
Energy’s 2005 compensation program consisted of three components:
·
base
salary;
·
short-term
incentive compensation; and
·
long-term
incentive compensation.
To
ensure
that compensation levels are reasonably competitive with market
rates, the
Company commissioned an independent consulting firm to conduct
a survey of
executive compensation levels in a defined group of companies.
The
surveyed companies were selected based on: (i) similarity of business
to
UniSource; (ii) comparability to UniSource in terms of size as
measured by
annual revenues and market capitalization; and (iii) the competitive
market for executive talent. The surveyed companies include several,
but
not all, of the companies in the Edison
Electric Institute Index of Investor-Owned Electrics (EEI
Index)
on page 39.
The Towers Perrin Energy Services Industry Survey was used as an
additional data source.
After
considering the various survey data, business objectives, and compensation
policies, the Committee determines targeted levels of base compensation
and annual and long-term incentives. In approving base pay and
incentive
payments for executives other than the chief executive officer,
the
Compensation Committee also considers recommendations made by the
chief
executive officer. The compensation of individuals can and does
vary from
the benchmark data based on such factors are individual performance,
potential for future advancement, the importance of the executive’s
position to the Company and the difficulty of replacement, current
responsibilities, length of time in current positions, and, for
recently
hired executives, their prior compensation packages. The Committee
also
considers the competitive market for executive talent and individual
performance.
|
Base
Salary
|
The
base
salary component of compensation is intended to be competitive
with that
paid by comparable companies in the energy industry, while recognizing
the
experiences and qualifications that an individual brings to the
role. Base
pay is generally targeted to the market median salary for comparable
positions at the surveyed companies.
Base
salaries
for UniSource Energy’s executive officers, including Mr. Pignatelli and
the other Named Executives, are reviewed annually and were adjusted
in
December 2004 to reflect executive performance and contributions
and to
retain highly qualified executives in light of the pending merger.
Effective as of February 13, 2006, the Compensation Committee increased
Mr. Pignatelli’s salary to $670,000
which is a 3.08% increase,
in
recognition of strategic accomplishments, including ahead-of-schedule
progress on generation projects, integration and consolidation
of
distribution business units and continued outstanding service to
customer
and community stewardship.
|
|
Short-Term
Incentive
Compensation
|
The
Board
adopted a Short-Term Incentive Plan to provide compensation for
meeting or
exceeding specified objectives, designed to contribute to the attainment
of UniSource Energy’s performance targets and long-term strategic plan.
Under the Short-Term Incentive Plan, target award levels are set
as a
percentage of each participant’s base salary. In 2005, the target award
levels for our executive officers ranged from 30% to 80% of base
salary.
Awards for Mr. Pignatelli and the remaining executive officers
are
determined by the Board based on the achievement of corporate financial
goals, including earnings per share and consolidated cash flow,
and the
accomplishment of previously established individual goals and contribution
to business results. Based on the foregoing factors, the Compensation
Committee determined that certain goals had been met or exceeded
and
consequently made awards to the Named Executives ranging from 18%
to 31%
of base salary. The awards were less than target award levels due
to the
failure to meet certain financial targets primarily as a result
of plant
outages. The
Committee
determined to recognize achievements distinct from financial measures
and
determined the level of awards on other achievements in 2005. In
determining Mr. Pignatelli’s award, the Compensation Committee focused on
the achievement of previously established strategic, operating
and
community goals. Incentive compensation awarded to Mr. Pignatelli
and the
other Named Executives is set forth in the preceding Summary Compensation
Table.
|
|
Long-Term
Incentive
Compensation
|
UniSource
Energy’s long-term incentive compensation is intended to attract and
retain quality employees over the long-term in a manner that directly
aligns their interests with those of UniSource Energy’s shareholders and
promote UniSource Energy’s long-term performance goals.
|
|
Under
the
2005-2007 long-term incentive award, the Named Executives are eligible
to
earn a payout, which could be in cash or shares, in 2008 based
on the
achievement of two performance goals over the three-year period
of
2005-2007.
The two
performance goals, which are equally weighted for purposes of calculating
any payout, are Unisource Energy earnings per share and UniSource
Energy
consolidated operating cash
flow.
|
Eligible
payout levels range from a threshold of 80% of target performance
for the
two goals over the three-year period to 120% of target performance.
At the
80% threshold level, officers would be eligible to receive a payout
equal
to 50% of their 2005 annual salary; at the 100% target level, 100%
of
their 2005 annual salary; and at the 120% level, 200% of their
2005
salary.
For
2005, the
weighted performance level for the two performance goals was approximately
50% of target.
Actual 2005
results, together with current projected results for 2006 and 2007,
indicate that the three-year performance results will likely fall
short of
the threshold payout level.
In
determining the 2005-2007 long-term incentive award, the Compensation
Committee did not consider awards, including stock options, previously
granted or outstanding.
If
the 2006
Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan described on pages 9-18 is approved
by
shareholders, we anticipate that future long-term incentive grants
will be
in the form of UniSource equity to strengthen the alignment between
management and shareholder interests.
|
||
The
Compensation Committee believes that senior management should have
a
significant equity interest in UniSource Energy. In order to promote
equity ownership and further align the interests of management
with those
of UniSource Energy’s shareholders, the Compensation Committee adopted
share retention and ownership guidelines for senior management
at its
February 3, 2005 meeting. Under these guidelines certain executives
are
expected to maintain a significant ownership position in UniSource
Energy
common stock, expressed as a multiple of their salary as
follows:
· Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer 5
times
salary
· Senior
Vice
President 3
times
salary
· Other
Vice
President 1
times
salary
|
||
The
Compensation Committee periodically reviews share ownership levels
of the
persons subject to these guidelines. The following types of shares
count
towards meeting the specified ownership levels: (i) shares owned
outright,
jointly with spouse, or in trust for the executive’s benefit, (ii) shares
held in qualified retirement and savings plans and (iii) stock
units
payable in shares held in nonqualified deferred compensation accounts.
Nine of the ten executives subject to these guidelines have achieved
shareholdings in excess of the applicable multiple set forth
above.
|
Tax
Code
Concerns
|
The
Compensation Committee does not presently have a policy regarding
qualifying compensation paid to executive officers for deductibility
under
Section 162(m) of the Code. However, all compensation earned during
2005
by the named executives was fully deductible by the Company.
|
|
Summary
|
The
Compensation Committee believes that the caliber and motivation
of
UniSource Energy’s people, and the leadership of its CEO and executive
officers, are critical factors in the Company’s ability to create
competitive advantage for shareholders through Company performance.
We
believe that the long-term component of compensation is an important
element of our total compensation approach. Shareholder approval
of the
2006 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan is critically important to
the
Company’s ability to offer equity incentives that align the interests of
UniSource Energy employees with shareowners for the success of
the
Company. We believe the 2006 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan (discussed
on pages 9-18 of this Proxy Statement) is worthy of your
support.
|
|
Respectfully
submitted,
THE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Harold
W.
Burlingame, Chair
Barbara
M.
Baumann
John
L.
Carter
Robert
A.
Elliott
Daniel
W.L.
Fessler
Kenneth
Handy
Warren
Y.
Jobe
|
The
Committee
|
The
Audit
Committee is made up of six financially literate directors who
are
independent based upon independence criteria established by our
Board,
which criteria are in compliance with applicable NYSE listing
standards. Our
Board has
determined that while each member of the Audit Committee has accounting
and/or related financial management expertise, Mr. Jobe is the
Audit
Committee financial expert for the purposes of Item 401(h) of SEC
Regulation S-K. In addition to Mr. Jobe, there are two other financial
experts on the Committee. Each financial expert is independent
as that
term is used in Item 7(d)(3)(iv) of Schedule 14A under the Securities
and
Exchange Act of 1934. The
Board
previously adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. On
December
2, 2005, the Board approved amendments to the Charter. The Audit
Committee
Charter is included as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement. The
Committee
has complied with its charter, including the requirement to meet
periodically with our independent auditors, internal audit department
and
management to discuss the auditors’ findings and other financial and
accounting matters.
|
|
In
connection
with our December 31, 2005 financial statements, the Audit Committee
has
(i) reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with
management, (ii) discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, our
independent auditor, the matters required to be discussed by SAS
61
(Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU Sec. 380),
(iii)
received from PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP the written disclosures
and the
letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1
(Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and (iv) discussed
with
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP its independence.
|
||
Based
on all
of its activities during the year, the Audit Committee recommended
to the
Board that the audited financial statements for 2005 be included
in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for filing with the SEC.
|
||
Pre-Approved
Policies and Procedures
|
Rules
adopted
by the SEC in order to implement requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of
2002 require public company audit committees to pre-approve audit
and
non-audit services. Our Audit Committee has adopted a policy pursuant
to
which audit, audit-related, tax and other services are pre-approved
by
category of service. Recognizing that situations may arise where
it is in
our best interest for the auditor to perform services in addition
to the
annual audit of our financial statements, the policy sets forth
guidelines
and procedures with respect to approval of the four categories
of service
designed to achieve the continued independence of the auditor when
it is
retained to perform such services for us. The policy requires the
Audit
Committee to be informed of each service and does not include any
delegation of the Audit Committee’s responsibilities to management. The
Audit Committee may delegate to the Chairman of the Audit Committee
the
authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and non-audit services
requiring
Audit Committee approval where the Audit Committee Chairman believes
it is
desirable to pre-approve such services prior to the next regularly
scheduled Audit Committee meeting. The decisions of the Audit Committee
Chairman to pre-approve any such services from one regularly scheduled
Audit Committee meeting to the next shall be reported to the Audit
Committee.
|
Fees
|
The
following
table details fees paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP for professional
services during 2004 and 2005. The Audit Committee has considered
whether
the provision of services to us by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP,
beyond
those rendered in connection with their audit and review of our
financial
statements, is compatible with maintaining their independence as
auditors.
|
2004
|
2005
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
$2,190,556
|
$1,737,245
|
Audit-Related
Fees
|
$76,583
|
$59,875
|
Tax
Fees
|
$2,002
|
$30,565
|
All
Other
Fees
|
$3,228
|
$0
|
Total
|
$2,272,369
|
$1,827,685
|
Audit
fees
include fees for the audit of our consolidated financial statements
included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and review of financial
statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Audit
fees also
include services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP in connection
with the audit of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting and on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting, comfort letters, consents and
other
services related to SEC matters and financing transactions, statutory
and
regulatory audits, and accounting consultations to the extent necessary
for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP to fulfill their responsibilities
under
generally accepted auditing standards.
Audit-related
fees during 2005 principally include fees for employee benefit
plan audits
and services related to extending the depreciable life of utility
plant.
During 2004, audit-related fees related primarily to due diligence-type
services associated with proposed acquisitions and audits of employee
benefit plans.
Tax
fees
include tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
All
other
fees consist of fees for all other services other than those reported
above and, in 2004, principally include subscription fees for research
tools.
|
|||
All
services
performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP are approved in advance
by the
Audit Committee in accordance with the Audit Committee’s pre-approval
policy for services provided by the independent auditor.
|
|||
Respectfully
submitted,
THE
AUDIT
COMMITTEE
Warren
Y.
Jobe, Chair
Barbara
M.
Baumann
Harold
W.
Burlingame
John
L.
Carter
Robert
A.
Elliott
Kenneth
Handy
|
Data
and
Calculations
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
UniSource
Energy
|
-1.3%
|
-2.2%
|
46.7%
|
0.4%
|
32.6%
|
EEI
Index
|
-8.8%
|
-14.7%
|
23.5%
|
22.8%
|
16.1%
|
S&P
500
|
-12.1%
|
-23.4%
|
26.4%
|
9.0%
|
3.0%
|
General
|
Rule
14a-4 of
the SEC’s proxy rules allows us to use discretionary voting authority to
vote on a matter coming before an annual meeting of our
shareholders, which was not included in our Proxy Statement (if
we do not
have notice of the matter at least 45 days before the date on which
we
first mailed our proxy materials for the prior year’s annual meeting of
the shareholders).
In
addition,
we may also use discretionary voting authority if we receive timely
notice
of such matter (as described in the preceding sentence) and if,
in the
Proxy Statement, we describe the nature of such matter and how
we intend
to exercise our discretion to vote on it.
Accordingly,
for our 2006
annual
meeting of shareholders,
any such
notice must be submitted to the Corporate Secretary of UniSource
Energy on
or before February 17, 2007.
|
We
must
receive your shareholder proposals by December 4,
2006.
|
This
requirement is separate and apart from the SEC’s requirements that
a
shareholder
must meet in order to have a shareholder proposal included in our
Proxy
Statement. Shareholder proposals intended to be presented at our
2007
annual
meeting of the shareholders must
be
received by us no later than December 4, 2006
in
order to
be eligible for inclusion in our Proxy Statement and the form of
proxy
relating to that meeting.
Direct
any
proposals, as well as related questions, to the
undersigned.
|
Only
one copy
of our 2005 Annual Report to Shareholders and Proxy Statement
for the
Meeting will be delivered to an address where two or more shareholders
reside unless we have received contrary instructions from a shareholder
at
the address. A separate proxy card and a separate notice of the
Meeting
will be delivered to each shareholder at the shared address.
If
you are a
shareholder who lives at a shared address and you would like
additional
copies of the 2005 Annual Report, this Proxy Statement, or any
future
annual reports or proxy statements, please contact the Library
and
Resource Center, UniSource Energy Corporation, 3950 East Irvington
Road,
Mail Stop RC114, Tucson, Arizona 85714, telephone number (520)
745-3349,
and we will promptly mail you copies.
If
you share
the same address with another UniSource Energy shareholder and
you
currently receive multiple copies of annual reports or proxy
statements,
you may request delivery of a single copy of future annual reports
or
proxy statements at any time by calling (520) 745-3349, or by
writing to
the Library and Resource Center, UniSource Energy Corporation,
3950 East
Irvington Road, Mail Stop RC114, Tucson, Arizona
85714.
|
The
Board
knows of no other matters for consideration at the Meeting. If
any other
business should properly arise, the persons appointed in the enclosed
proxy have discretionary authority to vote in accordance with their
best
judgment.
|
||
Copies
of our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K may be obtained by shareholders,
without charge, upon written request to the Library and Resource
Center,
UniSource Energy Corporation, 3950
East Irvington Road, Mail Stop RC114, Tucson, Arizona
85714.
You
may also obtain our SEC filings through the Internet at
www.sec.gov
or
www.UNS.com.
|
Page
|
|
ARTICLE
I ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE, AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN
|
1
|
1.1. Establishment
|
1
|
1.2. Purpose
|
1
|
1.3. Effective
Date
|
1
|
ARTICLE
II DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
2.1. “Award”
|
1
|
2.2. “Award
Agreement”
|
1
|
2.3. “Board”
|
1
|
2.4. “Change
in Control”
|
1
|
2.5. “Code”
|
3
|
2.6. “Committee”
|
3
|
2.7. “Company”
|
3
|
2.8. “Director”
|
3
|
2.9. “Disability”
|
3
|
2.10. “Employee”
|
3
|
2.11. “Fair
Market Value”
|
3
|
2.12. “Incentive
Stock Option” or “ISO”
|
3
|
2.13. “Named
Executive Officer”
|
3
|
2.14. “Nonqualified
Stock Option” or “NQSO”
|
3
|
2.15. “Non-Tandem
SAR”
|
4
|
2.16. “Option”
|
4
|
2.17. “Participant”
|
4
|
2.18. “Performance-Based
Exception”
|
4
|
2.19. “Performance
Share”
|
4
|
2.20. “Performance
Unit”
|
4
|
2.21. “Period
of Restriction”
|
4
|
2.22. “Plan”
|
4
|
2.23. “Restricted
Stock”
|
4
|
2.24. “Retirement”
|
4
|
2.25. “Share”
|
4
|
2.26. “Stock”
|
4
|
2.27. “Stock
Appreciation Right” and “SAR”
|
4
|
2.28. “Stock
Unit”
|
5
|
2.29. “Subsidiary”
|
5
|
2.30. “Tandem
SAR”
|
5
|
2.31. “Termination
of Service”
|
5
|
ARTICLE
III ADMINISTRATION
|
5
|
3.1. Administration
|
5
|
3.2. Actions
of the Committee
|
5
|
3.3. Authority
of the Committee
|
5
|
Page
|
|
ARTICLE
IV STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN
|
6
|
4.1. Number
|
6
|
4.2. Lapsed
Awards
|
7
|
4.3. Adjustment
in Capitalization
|
7
|
4.4. Replacement
Awards
|
7
|
ARTICLE
V DURATION OF PLAN
|
8
|
5.1. Duration
of Plan
|
8
|
ARTICLE
VI STOCK OPTIONS
|
8
|
6.1. Grant
of Options
|
8
|
6.2. Limitations
on Incentive Stock Options
|
8
|
6.3. Option
Award Agreement
|
8
|
6.4. Exercise
Price
|
8
|
6.5. Duration
of Options
|
9
|
6.6. Exercise
of Options
|
9
|
6.7. Payment
|
9
|
6.8. Termination
of Service
|
9
|
6.9. Non
Transferability of Options
|
9
|
ARTICLE
VII STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
|
10
|
7.1. Grant
of Stock Appreciation Rights
|
10
|
7.2. SAR
Award Agreement
|
10
|
7.3. Duration
of SAR
|
10
|
7.4. Exercise
of SARs
|
10
|
7.5. Payment
of SAR Amount
|
11
|
7.6. Termination
of Service
|
11
|
7.7. Non-Transferability
of SARs
|
11
|
ARTICLE
VIII RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS
|
11
|
8.1. Grant
of Restricted Stock
|
11
|
8.2. Period
of Restriction and Vesting Conditions
|
11
|
8.3. Transferability
|
12
|
8.4. Voting
Rights
|
12
|
8.5. Dividends
and Other Distributions
|
12
|
8.6. Termination
of Service
|
12
|
8.7. Form
and Timing of Payment
|
13
|
ARTICLE
IX PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES
|
13
|
9.1. Grant
of Performance Units or Performance Shares
|
13
|
9.2. Value
of Performance Units and Performance Shares
|
13
|
9.3. Form
and Timing of Payment
|
14
|
9.4. Termination
of Service
|
14
|
9.5. Non-Transferability
|
14
|
ARTICLE
X PERFORMANCE MEASURES
|
15
|
10.1. Permitted
Performance Measures
|
15
|
10.2. Compliance
with Code Section 162(m)
|
15
|
Page
|
|
ARTICLE
XI BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
|
16
|
11.1. Beneficiary
Designation
|
16
|
ARTICLE
XII RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF PARTIES
|
16
|
12.1. No
Guarantee of Employment or Service Rights
|
16
|
12.2. Participation
|
16
|
12.3. Right
of Setoff
|
16
|
12.4. Section
83(b) Election
|
16
|
12.5. Disqualifying
Disposition Notification
|
17
|
12.6. Forfeiture
of Awards
|
17
|
12.7. Restrictions
on Stock Transferability
|
17
|
12.8. Rights
of Shareholder
|
18
|
ARTICLE
XIII CHANGE IN CONTROL
|
18
|
13.1. In
General
|
18
|
13.2. Exceptions
|
18
|
ARTICLE
XIV AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION OF PLAN
|
19
|
14.1. Amendment,
Modification, and Termination
|
19
|
14.2. Awards
Previously Granted
|
19
|
ARTICLE
XV TAX WITHHOLDING
|
19
|
15.1. Tax
Withholding
|
19
|
15.2. Share
Withholding
|
19
|
ARTICLE
XVI INDEMNIFICATION
|
20
|
16.1. Indemnification
|
20
|
ARTICLE
XVII REQUIREMENTS OF LAW
|
20
|
17.1. Requirements
of Law
|
20
|
17.2. Governing
Law
|
20
|
17.3. Securities
Law Compliance
|
20
|
17.4. Severability
|
20
|
ARTICLE
XVIII MISCELLANEOUS
|
21
|
18.1. Funding
of Plan
|
21
|
18.2. Successors
|
21
|
18.3. Fractional
Shares
|
21
|
18.4. Gender
and Number; Headings
|
21
|
1.
|
COMPOSITION
|
The
Audit
Committee
of the Board
of Directors (the “Committee”) consists of no fewer than three independent
Directors appointed annually by the Board. Directors eligible
to serve on
the Committee shall be determined in accordance with the
NYSE Listed
Company Manual, Corporate Governance Standards for Audit
Committees and
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Board shall designate
one of the
Committee members as Chairman of the Committee. Each member
of the
Committee shall be financially literate, and at least one
member shall
have accounting or financial management expertise.
|
2.
|
APPOINTMENT
AND REMOVAL OF COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
|
All
members
of the Committee shall be appointed and/or removed by the
Board of
Directors.
|
3.
|
MEETINGS
|
The
Committee
will hold at least four regular meetings each year, and such
additional
meetings as it may deem necessary. Additional meetings will
be called by
the Chairman of the Committee. The agendas for the regular
meetings shall
include all items necessary to complete the duties of the
Committee as set
forth herein. In addition to the Committee members and the
Secretary, the
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and other
members of
management, internal audit and representatives of the independent
auditors
may attend as appropriate.
|
4.
|
RULES
OF PROCEDURE
|
The
Committee
will determine its own rules of procedure with respect to
how its meetings
are to be called, as well as the place and
time.
|
5.
|
COMPENSATION
|
Each
member
will be paid such fees as may be established from time
to time
by the
Board for
service on the Committee, and will be reimbursed for travel
expenses
incurred by attendance at meetings. Directors’ fees are the only
compensation an Audit Committee member may receive from
the
Company.
|
6.
|
COMMITTEE
SECRETARY
|
The
Secretary
of the Committee will be the Corporate Secretary of the
Company (or such
other representative of management as the Committee may
designate) and not
be a member of the Committee. The Secretary will attend
all meetings and
maintain minutes, advise members of all meetings called,
arrange with the
Chairman or other convening authority for preparation and
distribution of
the agenda for each meeting, and carry out other functions
as may be
assigned from time to time by the Committee. At such meetings
where
attendance by a Company representative is not appropriate,
the Chairman
shall act as
|
secretary
of
the meeting or appoint another member of the Committee
to act as secretary
of such meetings.
|
7.
|
QUORUM
|
A
majority of
the total membership of the Committee will constitute a
quorum.
|
8.
|
COMMITTEE
PURPOSE
|
The
Audit
Committee is appointed by the Board to assist with Board
oversight
of
|
(1)
|
the
integrity
of the Company’s financial
statements
|
(2)
|
the
Company’s
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, except
those handled by
the Environmental, Safety & Security
Committee
|
(3)
|
the
independent auditor’s qualifications and independence,
and,
|
(4)
|
the
performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent
auditors.
|
The
Audit
Committee must also prepare the report that SEC rules require
be included
in the Company’s annual proxy
statement.
|
9.
|
SPECIFIC
DUTIES OF THE
COMMITTEE
|
Independent
Audit:
|
(1)
|
Sole
authority to appoint, retain and terminate the Company’s independent
auditor.
|
(2)
|
Sole
authority to approve all audit engagement fees and terms,
as well as all
significant, non-audit engagements (in accordance with
SEC) with the
independent auditors.
|
(3)
|
Annually
obtain and review a report from the independent auditors
delineating all
relationships between the auditor and the Company (to assess
the auditors’
independence).
|
(4)
|
Review
the
experience and qualifications of the lead partner of the
independent
auditor.
|
(5)
|
Ensure
the
rotation of the audit partner(s) as required by
law.
|
(6)
|
At
least
annually, obtain and review a report from the independent
auditors
describing the firm’s internal quality control process, including any
material issues raised by the most recent internal quality
control review
or peer review of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation
by
governmental, regulatory or professional authorities within
the past five
years, respecting one or more independent audits carried
out by the firm,
and any steps taken to deal with any such issues.
|
(7)
|
Review
the
results of each independent audit, including any qualifications
in the
independent auditor’s opinion, and deficiencies identified by the
independent auditor in connection with the audit.
|
(8)
|
Review
the
annual audited financial statements with management and
the independent
auditor, including management’s discussion and analysis, major issues
regarding accounting and auditing principles and practices,
as well as the
adequacy of internal
|
|
controls.
Recommend to the Board, based on such review and discussion,
whether the
audited financial statements should be included in the
Company’s annual
report on Form 10-K.
|
(9)
|
Annually
review an analysis prepared by management and the independent
auditor of
significant financial reporting issues, quality of financial
reporting,
and judgments made in connection with the preparation of
the Company’s
financial statements, including an analysis of the effect
of alternative
GAAP methods on the Company’s financial statements. Review the procedures
employed by the
Company
in preparing published financial statements and related
management
commentaries.
|
(10)
|
Review
with
management and the independent auditor the Company’s quarterly financial
statements prior to the filing of its Form 10-Q, including
management’s
discussion and analysis and the results of the independent
auditors’
review of the quarterly financial statements (SAS 90).
Note: This can be
performed by a member of the Audit
Committee.
|
(11)
|
Discuss
annually with the independent auditor the required communications
contained within Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
relating to the
conduct of the audit.
|
(12)
|
Discuss
with
the independent auditor material issues on which the national
office of
the independent auditor was consulted by the Company’s audit
team.
|
(13)
|
Meet
with the
independent auditor prior to the audit to discuss the planning
and
staffing of the audit.
|
(14)
|
Review
the
appointment, replacement, reassignment or dismissal of
the
Company’s General
Auditor.
|
(15)
|
Review
and
approve the internal audit department charter, annual audit
plan and the
audit methodology.
|
(16)
|
Review
management and General Auditor reports submitted to the
Committee that are
material to the Company as a whole, and management’s response to those
reports.
|
(17)
|
Annually
review the General Auditor’s Summary of Officer’s Annual Travel and
Entertainment expense schedule. Include in this review
a discussion of
perquisites.
|
(18)
|
Review
earnings press release as well as financial information
and earnings
guidance provided to analysts and ratings agencies.
|
(19)
|
Review
quarterly updates from management on material
litigation.
|
(20)
|
Periodically
review with management and the Finance Committee, the Company’s policies
on major financial risk exposure, and the measures taken
to reduce such
risk.
|
(21)
|
Annually
review the Company’s Corporate Code of Conduct and compliance
therewith.
|
(22)
|
Establish
and
maintain procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission
by
employees of the Company of concerns regarding accounting
or auditing
matters.
|
(23)
|
Establish
guidelines for the Company’s hiring of employees or former employees of
the independent auditor.
|
(24)
|
Annually
review this Audit Committee Charter and make any necessary
changes.
|
(25)
|
Annually
perform an evaluation of the Committee, its members, functions
and
performance.
|
(26)
|
Review
disclosures made by the Company’s CEO and CFO during their certification
process for the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q about any significant
deficiencies
in the design or operation of internal controls or material
weaknesses
therein and any fraud involving management or other employees
who have a
significant role in the Company’s internal
controls.
|
10.
|
EXECUTIVE
SESSION
|
Meet
quarterly with management, the General Auditor and the independent
auditor
in separate executive sessions.
|
11.
|
RESPONSIBILITIES
OF THE CHAIRMAN
|
The
Chairman
of the Committee will present the Committee’s recommendations to the Board
for its approval and periodically provide the Board, for
its information,
with a summary of the Committee’s determinations and approvals.
Additionally, set the annual compensation for the General
Auditor in
conjunction with the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer.
|
12.
|
RESPONSIBILITIES
OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER
|
The
Chief
Executive Officer of the Company will advise and make recommendations
to
the Committee and, in the normal course, attend all meetings
of the
Committee.
|
13.
|
OTHER
AUTHORITY
|
The
Audit
Committee shall have the authority to retain special legal,
accounting or
other consultants to advise the Committee. The Audit Committee
has full
discretion to meet with individuals within or outside the
Company.
|
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT
VOTE
BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET
24
HOURS A DAY - 7 DAYS A WEEK
|
INTERNET
https://www.proxyvotenow.com/uns
·
Go
to the
website address listed above.
· Have
your proxy card ready.
·
Follow
the
simple instructions that appear on your computer screen.
|
OR
|
TELEPHONE
1-866-358-4695
·
Use
any
touch-tone telephone.
·
Have
your proxy card ready.
·
Follow
the
simple recorded instructions.
|
OR
|
MAIL
· Mark,
sign
and date your proxy card.
· Detach
your
proxy card.
· Return
your
proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided.
|
For
Shareholders who have elected to receive UniSource Energy’s Proxy
Statement and Annual Report electronically you can now view the 2006
Annual Meeting materials on the Internet by pointing your browser
to
www.UNS.com
|
|
1-866-358-4695 |
|
Please
Sign, Date and Return the Proxy Promptly Using the Enclosed
Envelope.
|
T
Votes
MUST be indicated
(x) in Black or Blue Ink. |
1. |
Election
of
Directors
|
FOR
all nominees listed below
|
£
|
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below
|
£
|
*EXCEPTIONS
|
£
|
If
you agree
to access our Annual Report and Proxy Statement electronically
in the
future, please mark this box.
|
£
|
||
Nominees:
01 - James
S. Pignatelli, 02 - Lawrence J. Aldrich, 03 - Barbara
Baumann, 04 - Larry W. Bickle, 05 - Elizabeth T.
Bilby, 06 - Harold W. Burlingame, 07 - John L.
Carter, 08 - Robert A. Elliott, 09 - Daniel W.L.
Fessler, 10 - Kenneth Handy, 11 - Warren Y. Jobe,
12 - Joaquin Ruiz
|
To
change
your address, please mark this box.
|
£
|
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(INSTRUCTIONS:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark
the
“Exceptions” box and write that nominee’s name in the space provided
below).
|
To
include
any comments, please mark this box.
|
£
|
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*Exceptions
|
2. |
UniSource
Energy Corporation 2006 Omnibus Stock and Incentive
Plan
|
FOR£ AGAINST£ ABSTAIN£
|
SCAN
LINE
|
|||||
PLEASE
SIGN
EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS HEREON. When shares are held by joint
tenants
in common or as community property, both should sign. When signing
as
attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or custodian,
please
give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in corporate
name
by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please
sign in
partnership name by authorized person. Receipt is hereby acknowledged
of
Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and the 2005 Annual
Report.
|
||||||
Date Shareholder
sign here
|
Co-Owner
sign
here
|
Doubletree
Hotel
445 South Alvernon Way Tucson, AZ (520) 881-4200 Transportation
From Tucson International Airport Shuttle
Service
Arizona Stagecoach Call 520-889-1000 Automobile
- Interstate
10 to
Alvernon Way Exit |