Filed pursuant to Rule 425 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
deemed filed under Rule 14a-12 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Filer: SJW Group
Commission File No.: 1-08966
Subject Company: Connecticut Water Service, Inc.
Commission File No.: 0-08084
From: Thornburg, Eric
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 3:05 PM
To: Everyone - SJWC & SJWTX
Subject: Update on Merger
April 25, 2018
Update on Merger with Connecticut Water: Preliminary Proxy Filing
Dear Team,
Today we reached an important milestone as we move towards completing our previously announced merger with Connecticut Water. We filed our preliminary proxy statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This legal filing will be available to stockholders of both companies and provides detailed information about the merger and its strategic merits. In particular, it reiterates Connecticut Water’s and SJW Group’s continued belief that our combination has the potential to benefit all stakeholders and create long-term value for our stockholders. It is important to note that the preliminary proxy statement is not yet final.
I want to emphasize that the many benefits we discussed when we announced our merger of equals with Connecticut Water remain true today. Together, Connecticut Water and SJW Group will create a larger and more geographically diverse company better able to deliver greater value and benefits to our shareholders, employees, customers and communities. As we have shared from the beginning of this process, we do not anticipate any job losses or changes in compensation and benefits as a result of our merger of equals with Connecticut Water. Instead, we believe our pending transaction will provide better opportunities and outcomes for employees of both companies.
You will also note in the filing that we disclose that we received and rejected an unsolicited non-binding indication of interest from a third party strategic acquirer regarding a proposal to acquire SJW Group. In accordance with the terms of our merger agreement with Connecticut Water, our Board of Directors carefully and thoroughly reviewed the third party’s non-binding indications of interest and voted unanimously to reject it and reaffirm our merger of equals with Connecticut Water. Our merger agreement with Connecticut Water remains in place and we are moving forward to complete the transaction during the fourth quarter of 2018.
Today’s disclosure could continue to generate increased interest in and speculation about our company and our proposed merger with Connecticut Water. It is important that we not get distracted. We are continuing to operate as usual and are counting on all employees to remain focused on our customers, world-class water service, safe operations and day-to-day responsibilities.
We intend to keep you updated as we move through the merger process. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your supervisor or anyone on the executive leadership team, as usual. Consistent with company policies, all media related inquiries should be forwarded to Jayme Ackemann (jayme.ackemann@sjwater.com).
Thank you for your professionalism, your service to your customers and your commitment to our company.
In Service,
Eric
* * *
Forward Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “strategy,” or “anticipates,” or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology.
The accuracy of such statements is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, but not limited to, the following factors: (1) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the transaction are not satisfied, including the risk that required approvals from the shareholders of Connecticut Water or the stockholders of SJW Group for the transaction are not obtained; (2) the risk that the regulatory approvals required for the transaction are not obtained, or that in order to obtain such regulatory approvals, conditions are imposed that adversely affect the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction or cause the parties to abandon the proposed transaction; (3) the risk that the anticipated tax treatment of the transaction is not obtained; (4) the effect of water, utility, environmental and other governmental policies and regulations; (5) litigation relating to the transaction; (6) uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the transaction and the ability of each party to consummate the transaction; (7) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts the current plans and operations of Connecticut Water or SJW Group; (8) the ability of Connecticut Water and SJW Group to retain and hire key personnel; (9) competitive responses to the proposed transaction; (10) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction; (11) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; (12) the combined companies’ ability to achieve the growth prospects and synergies expected from the transaction, as well as delays, challenges and expenses associated with integrating the combined companies’ existing businesses; and (13) legislative and economic developments. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed transaction, are more fully discussed in the joint proxy statement/prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with the proposed transaction.
In addition, actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to SJW Group’s overall business, including those more fully described in SJW Group’s filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and Connecticut Water’s overall business and financial condition, including those more fully described in Connecticut Water’s filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and speak only as of the date made, and neither SJW Group or its management nor Connecticut Water or its management undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction between SJW Group and Connecticut Water, on April 25, 2018, SJW Group filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that
includes a joint proxy statement of SJW Group and Connecticut Water that also constitutes a prospectus of SJW Group. These materials are not yet final and will be amended. SJW Group and Connecticut Water may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for the joint proxy statement/prospectus, Form S-4 or any other document which SJW Group or Connecticut Water may file with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF SJW GROUP AND CONNECTICUT WATER ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the Form S-4 and the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by SJW Group and Connecticut Water through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by SJW Group are available free of charge on SJW Group’s investor relations website at https://sjwgroup.com/investor_relations. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by Connecticut Water are available free of charge on Connecticut Water’s investor relations website at https://ir.ctwater.com/.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy, or a solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
Participants in the Solicitation
SJW Group, Connecticut Water and certain of their respective directors and officers, and other members of management and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of SJW Group and Connecticut Water securities in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding SJW Group’s directors and officers is available in SJW Group’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and its proxy statement for its 2018 annual meeting dated March 6, 2018, which are filed with the SEC. Information regarding Connecticut Water’s directors and officers is available in Connecticut Water’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and its proxy statement for its 2018 annual meeting dated April 6, 2018, which are filed with the SEC. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interest of such participants by reading the Form S-4 and the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by SJW Group and Connecticut Water. These documents are available free of charge from the sources indicated above.