UNITED STATESSCHEDULE 14A

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION(RULE 14A-101)

Washington, D.C. 20549INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to SectionPROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934OF THE

(Amendment No.)SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

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þ Definitive Proxy Statement

¨Definitive Additional Materials

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¨Confidential, for Useuse of the Commission Onlyonly (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

xDefinitive Proxy Statement

 

¨Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨

WATERSIDE CAPITAL CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-11(c) or § 240.14a-12

 

 

 

Waterside Capital CorporationN/A

(Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

 

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WATERSIDE CAPITAL CORPORATION

A Small Business Investment Company

 

500 East Main Street, Suite 800

Norfolk, Virginia 23510

 

September 19, 20032005

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the 20032005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Waterside Capital Corporation that will be held at 150 West Main Street, Suite 2100, Norfolk, Virginia 23510 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 21, 2003.17, 2005. At the meeting, you will be asked to elect 1615 Directors to serve one-year terms and to ratify the appointment of Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC as the Company’s independent auditor for 2004.the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.

 

Enclosed are a Notice of the Annual Meeting, a Proxy Card, and a Proxy Statement containing information about the matters to be acted upon at the meeting. Directors and officers of the Company as well as a representative of Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC, our independent auditor, will be present at the Annual Meetingannual meeting to respond to any questions our shareholders may have.shareholder questions.

 

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. Accordingly, we urge you to sign and date the enclosed Proxy Card and promptly return it to us in the enclosed, self-addressed, postage-paid envelope, even if you are planning to attend the meeting. If you attend the meeting, you may vote in person, even if you have previously returned a Proxy Card. The Board of Directors encourageencourages you to voteFOR all the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting.annual meeting.

 

We look forward to the 20032005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and we hope you will attend the meeting or be represented by proxy.

 

Sincerely,

/s/ J. ALAN LINDAUER        Alan Lindauer


J. ALAN LINDAUER, President and

Chief Executive Officer


WATERSIDE CAPITAL CORPORATION

500 EAST MAIN STREET, SUITE 800

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA 23510

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD

OCTOBER 21, 2003October 17, 2005

 

TO THEOUR SHAREHOLDERS:

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Waterside Capital Corporation (the “Company”) will be held at 150 West Main Street, Suite 2100, Norfolk, Virginia 23510 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 21, 200317, 2005 for the following purposes:

 

 1.To elect 16 directors15 Directors to hold office for a term of one year and until their respective successors are elected and qualified;

 

 2.To ratify the appointment of Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC as the Company’s independent auditor for 2004;the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006; and

 

 3.To act upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

Information concerning the matters to be acted upon at the meeting is set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement. The Board of Directors has established the close of business on August 29, 200331, 2005 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meetingannual meeting or any adjournments thereof. The Board of Directors of the Company unanimously recommends that shareholders voteFOR approval of each of the items indicated in 1 and 2 above.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ GERALDGerald T. MCDONALD        McDonald


Gerald T. McDonald, Secretary

 

Norfolk, Virginia

September 19, 20032005

 

PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE EITHER IN PERSON OR THROUGH YOUR PROXY.


PROXY STATEMENT

 

This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy cardProxy Card (“proxy”) are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of Waterside Capital Corporation (the “Company”) to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at 150 West Main Street, Suite 2100, Norfolk, Virginia 23510 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 21, 2003,17, 2005, and at any adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting.

 

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on August 29, 200331, 2005 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement and proxy are being mailed to registered holders of the Common Stock of the Company on or about September 19, 2003.2005.

 

Revocability of Proxy

 

AAny shareholder who gives a proxy may still vote in person, if he so desires, and may revoke histhe proxy at any time before its use. Accordingly, executionprior to the voting of such proxy by contacting the Secretary of the enclosedCompany, Gerald T. McDonald, in writing, or by filing a duly executed proxy will not affectbearing a shareholder’s right to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person.later date. If your proxy is properly signed, received by the Company and not revoked by you, the shares to which it relates will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions. If a shareholder does not return a signed proxy, his or her shares cannot be voted by proxy.instructions, if any.

 

Person Making the Solicitation

 

The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. The Company has retained Registrar and Transfer Company to assist in the solicitation of proxies from brokers and nominees and in the counting of proxies. The Company will pay Registrar and Transfer Company approximately $500 plus out-of-pocket expenses for this assistance. In addition to solicitation by mail, the Company will request banks, brokers, and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxy material to the beneficial owners and to secure their voting instructions, if necessary. The Company, upon request, will reimburse them for their expenses in so doing. Officers and other employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally, by telephone, telefacsimileby facsimile or other means of electronic transmission from some shareholders if proxies are not received promptly, for which no additional compensation will be paid.

 

Voting Shares And Vote Required

 

On the Record Date, the Company had 1,512,6301,456,675 shares of Common Stockcommon stock outstanding, each share having one vote on each matter presented at the Annual Meeting. Only holders of the Company’s Common Stock of record at the close of business on August 29, 2003,31, 2005, will be entitled to vote. A majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast by shareholders at the Annual Meeting. A majority of votes cast is required to ratify the appointment of our independent auditor. Abstentions, broker non-votes, and shares held in street name (“Broker Shares”) voted as to any matterwithheld votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting, but such votes will not be included in determining the number of shares present or represented at the Annual Meeting. Broker Shares that are not voted onconsidered “votes cast” for any matterproposal at the Annual Meeting and therefore will not be included in determininghave no effect on the numberelection of shares presentDirectors or represented atratification of the Annual Meeting.appointment of the Company’s independent auditor.

 

All shareholder meeting proxies, ballots, and tabulations that identify individual shareholders are kept confidential, and will not be available for examination, nor will the identity or the vote of any

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shareholder be disclosed except as may be necessary to meet legal requirements. Votes will be counted and certified by Registrar and Transfer Company, which will act as the inspector of elections.Company.

 

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Unless specified otherwise, your proxy will be voted as follows:

 

(1)FOR the election of the 1615 nominees to serve as directorsDirectors of the Company for a one-year term and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified; and

 

(2)FOR the ratification of the appointment of Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC as the Company’s independent auditor for 2004.the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.

 

The Company is not aware of any matters that are to come before the Annual Meeting other than those described in this Proxy Statement. However, if other matters do properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy card to vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment.

 

PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The Company’s Board of Directors is currently comprised of 1615 members. Directors serve for a term of one year and hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualify.qualified. The Board of Directors recommends that the 1615 nominees listed below be elected to the Board of Directors. All of such nominees were previously elected as Directors by the shareholders. Proxies received will be voted for the election of these 1615 nominees unless marked to the contrary. A shareholder who desires to withhold voting of the proxy for the nominees may so indicate on the proxy. Each of the nominees has consented to be named as a nominee and has indicated his intent to serve if elected. If any nominee becomes unable to serve, the proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee to be designated by the Board of Directors, or the number of directors will be reduced.

 

The following information relates to the nominees. There are no family relationships among any of the nominees, nor among any of the nominees and any officer. There is no understanding between any nominee and any other person pursuant to which the nominee was selected. Messrs. Lindauer and Litton are the only nominees that are “interested persons” within the meaning of § 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”). The following table sets forth certain information regarding the nominees.

 

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Director Nominees

 

James E. Andrews, 65, has served as a director of the Company since May 1997. Since 1974, Mr. Andrews has been the principal owner of Anzell Automotive, Inc., an automotive repair firm and franchisor of automotive repair shops. Mr. Andrews is a member of the Audit Committee.

Name(1)


  Age

  Positions
Held


  

Board
Committee(s)


  Term of Office
Length of
Time Served(2)


  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years


James E. Andrews

  67  Director  

Audit

  1997  Retired as Principal Owner of Anzell Automotive, Inc. and franchisor of automotive repair shops

J. W. Whiting Chisman, Jr.

  64  Director  

Audit

Compensation

Executive

  1994  President, Dare Investment Company, a land developer and investor in equities

Eric L. Fox

  58  Director  

—  

  1993  Senior Portfolio Manager, UBS Financial Services, a financial services and investment firm and formerly Portfolio Manager, Paine Webber, an investment firm

Marvin S. Friedberg

  62  Director  

—  

  2000  Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Commonwealth Trading Company, an international trading firm

Roger L. Frost

  73  Director  

—  

  1997  Retired as Senior Partner with Goodman & Company, a firm of Certified Public Accountants

Ernest F. Hardee

  65  Director  

Executive

  1997  President and Chief Executive Officer, Hardee Realty Corporation, a real estate brokerage firm

Henry U. Harris, III

  52  Director  

—  

  1997  President and Portfolio Manager, Virginia Investment Counselors, Inc., a financial consulting firm

Robert I. Low

  68  Director  

Executive

  1993  Retired as Partner with Goodman & Company, a firm of Certified Public Accountants

Peter M. Meredith, Jr.

  53  Director  

Audit

Compensation

Executive

  1994  Executive, Meredith Construction Company

Augustus C. Miller

  71  Director  

—  

  1994  President and Chief Executive Officer, Miller Oil Co., Inc., a fuels distributor

Juan M. Montero, II

  63  Director  

—  

  1995  Physician, private practice of general and thoracic surgery

R. Scott Morgan

  60  Director  

Executive

  1997  President, Towne Bank

Jordan E. Slone

  43  Director  

—  

  1995  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Harbor Group Companies, a diversified real estate and financial services firm

 

J. W. Whiting Chisman, Jr., 62, has served as a director of the Company since February 1994. Since 1988, he has been President of Dare Investment Company, a land developer and investor in equities. Mr. Chrisman is a member of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee, and the Compensation Committee.

Eric L. Fox, 56, has served as a director of the Company since July 1993. In 1975, Mr. Fox joined the investment firm of Kidder, Peabody & Co. which was acquired by Paine Webber in 1995. He is currently a Portfolio Manager of Paine Webber.

Marvin S. Friedberg, 60, has served as a director since May 2000. Since 1989, he has served as Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Commonwealth Trading Company, a firm engaged in international trading.

Roger L. Frost, 71, has served as a director of the Company since May 1997. Between 1956 and 1997, he was an accountant with Goodman & Company, a firm of Certified Public Accountants, from which he retired as a senior partner in 1997. Mr. Frost is a member of the Audit Committee.

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Ernest F. Hardee, 63, has served as a director of the Company since September 1997. Since 1963, he has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Hardee Realty Corporation, a real estate brokerage firm. He also served as a director of Branch Bank & Trust Corp. from 1995 through early 2000. Mr. Hardee is a member of the Executive Committee and the Compensation Committee.

Name(1)


  Age

  Positions
Held


  

Board
Committee(s)


  Term of Office
Length of
Time Served(2)


  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years


“Interested Person” Director Nominees

J. Alan Lindauer(3)

  66  Director,
President
and Chief
Executive
Officer
  Executive  1993  President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company

T. Richard Litton Jr.(4)

  38  Director  Executive  2004  Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Harbor Group International, L.L.C., a commercial real estate investment and management firm

 

Henry U. Harris, III, 50, has served as a director of the Company since September 1997. Since 1980, he has been Portfolio Manager of Virginia Investment Counselors, Inc., a financial consulting firm, of which he is now President. Since 1991, he has been the vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of Heritage Bank & Trust.

(1)All directors receive mail at the Company’s corporate executive offices at 500 East Main Street, Suite 800, Norfolk, Virginia 23510.

 

J. Alan Lindauer, 64, has served as a director since July 1993 and as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Company since December 1993 and since March 1994 as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lindauer is a Certified Management Consultant.

(2)All directors serve one year terms and hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

Robert I. Low, 66, has served as a director of the Company since July 1993. In July of 2003, Mr. Low retired as a senior partner of Goodman & Company, a firm of Certified Public Accountants which he joined in 1969. Mr. Low is a member of the Executive Committee.

(3)Mr. Lindauer is an “interested person” of the Company within the meaning of § 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act by virtue of his serving as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

Peter M. Meredith, Jr., 51, has served as a director of the Company and as Chairman of the Board of Directors since May 1994. Since 1978, he has served in various executive capacities with Meredith Construction Company, Inc. Since 1995, he has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Heritage Bank. Mr. Meredith is a member of the Executive Committee, Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee.

Charles H. Merriman, III, 69 has served as a director of the Company since March 1998. In March of 2003, Mr. Merriman retired from his service as a Managing Director with BB&T Capital Markets, an investment banking firm, where he has served in various capacities since 1972. Mr. Merriman is a member of the Executive Committee.

Augustus C. Miller, 69, has served as a director of the Company since August 1994. Since 1977, he has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Miller Oil Co., Inc., a distributor of fuels.

Juan M. Montero, II, 61, has served as a director of the Company since July 1995. Since 1972, he has engaged in the private practice of general and thoracic surgery.

R. Scott Morgan, Sr., 58, has served as a director of the Company since September 1997. From 1995 through 1998, Mr. Morgan was Executive Vice President and Corporate Banking Manager with the Corporate Banking Group of Branch Bank & Trust Corp. Between 1992 and 1995, he was employed in various capacities with Commerce Bank. Mr. Morgan has been the President of Towne Bank since 2000. Mr. Morgan is a member of the Executive Committee.

Richard G. Ornstein, 61, has served as a director of the Company since September 1997. Since 1964, Mr. Ornstein has been privately engaged in real estate management and development. Mr. Ornstein is a member of the Executive Committee.

Jordan E. Slone, 41, has served as a director of the Company since July 1995. Since 1987, Mr. Slone has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Harbor Group Companies, a diversified real estate and financial services firm.

(4)Mr. Litton is an “interested person” of the Company as a result of his provision of legal services to the Company during its last two fiscal years while he was a partner with Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. Mr. Litton had departed Kaufman & Canoles prior to his appointment to the Board, and therefore has not provided legal services to the Company since joining the Board.

 

Directors are elected by a “plurality” of shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. For the purposes of the Annual Meeting, this means that the 16 director nominees with the most affirmative votes will be elected.

 

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT ALL STOCKHOLDERSSHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE DIRECTOR-NOMINEES SET FORTH ABOVE.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

 

The following table sets forth information as of August 29, 200331, 2005 relating to the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by (i) each of the Company’s directors and each executive officer identified in the Summary Compensation Table below (“Named Executive Officers”) and (ii) all of the Company’s directors and executive officers as a group. Except for those Named Executive Officers and/or directorsDirectors listed below, no other person (or group of affiliated persons) is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Common Stock.

 

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Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)


  Amount of Beneficial Ownership(2)

  Percent of Class(2)

James E. Andrews

  15,582  1.0

J.W. Whiting Chisman, Jr.

  36,446  2.4

Eric L. Fox

  8,015  *

Marvin S. Friedberg

  46,402  3.0

Roger L. Frost

     55,905  3.7

Ernest F. Hardee

      5,170  *

Henry U. Harris, III

      6,061  *

J. Alan Lindauer

  187,806(3) 12.1

Robert I. Low

  5,300  *

Gerald T. McDonald

  57,737(4) 3.7

Peter M. Meredith, Jr.

  106,765(5) 7.0

Charles H. Merriman, III

  1,874  *

Augustus C. Miller

  12,411  *

Juan M. Montero, II

  30,939(6) 2.0

R. Scott Morgan, Sr.

  2,478  *

Richard G. Ornstein

  1,155  *

Jordan E. Slone

  16,491(7) 1.1

Martin N. Speroni

  43,791(8) 2.8

Lex W. Troutman

  35,893(9) 2.3

All officers and directors as a Group (19 persons)

  676,221  40.8

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)


Amount of Beneficial

Ownership(2)


Percent of Class(2)

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities
of the Company(2)


James E. Andrews

15,8051.150,001 – 100,000

J.W. Whiting Chisman, Jr.

41,5542.9Over 100,000

Eric L. Fox

8,196*10,001 – 50,000

Marvin S. Friedberg

46,6023.2Over 100,000

Roger L. Frost

56,5613.9Over 100,000

Ernest F. Hardee

5,407*10,001 – 50,000

Henry U. Harris, III

6,634*10,001 – 50,000

Robert I. Low

5,481*10,001 – 50,000

Gerald T. McDonald

62,377(3)4.2Over 100,000

Peter M. Meredith, Jr.

110,215(4)7.6Over 100,000

Augustus C. Miller

12,429*50,001 – 100,000

Juan M. Montero, II

31,097(5)2.1Over 100,000

R. Scott Morgan

2,515*10,001 – 50,000

Jordan E. Slone

16,753(6)1.250,001 – 100,000

Martin N. Speroni

43,304(7)2.9Over 100,000

Lex W. Troutman

37,541(8)2.5Over 100,000

“Interested Person” Director Nominees

J. Alan Lindauer

268,394(9)17.7Over 100,000

T. Richard Litton, Jr.

165*Less than 10,000
All officers and directors as a Group (18) persons)749,01645.3Over 100,000

*Less than one percent (1%)

 

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(1)
(1)All directors and the executive officers identified above receive mail at the Company’s corporate executive offices at 500 East Main Street, Suite 800, Norfolk, Virginia 23510.
(2)The number of shares and percentages shown in the table are as of August 29, 2003, and are based on (i) the 1,512,630 shares of Common Stock outstanding on such date and (ii) an aggregate of 142,860 shares issuable pursuant to options held by the respective person or group which are presently exercisable or which may be exercised within 60 days after August 29, 2003, as set forth below.

(2)The number of shares and percentages shown in the table are as of August 31, 2005, and are based on (i) the 1,456,675 shares of Common Stock outstanding on such date and (ii) an aggregate of 142,860 shares issuable pursuant to options held by the respective person or group which are presently exercisable or which may be exercised within 60 days after August 31, 2005. Pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, (a) the presently exercisable options are deemed to be outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the person or group holding such options or warrants for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such person or group, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of ownership of any other person or group and (b) the same shares are not counted more than once in computing the aggregate number of shares owned by the officers and directors as a group. See, Notes (7), (8) and (9) below. The dollar range of equity securities of the Company is based on a share price of $4.21, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on June 30, 2005, the last business day of the Company’s 2005 fiscal year.
(3)

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(3)Includes 40,300 shares which Mr. Lindauer has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of options granted under the 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan, and 3,257 shares which Mr. McDonald has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of options granted under the 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan and 15,336 shares held under the Company’s 401(k) plan.
(4)Includes 40,300 shares which Mr. McDonald has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of options granted under the 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan and 10,696 shares under the Company’s 401(k) plan.
(5)

(4)Includes (i) 11,130 shares held by Meredith Realty Company, L.L.C., of which Mr. Meredith is a member, (ii) 35,462 shares held by Pomar Holding Company, L.L.C., of which Mr. Meredith is a member, (iii) 16,118 shares owned by Mr. Meredith’s wife, and (iv) 4,452 shares held in trust for the benefit of Mr. Meredith’s children.
(6)

(5)All except 109 shares are held by Juan M. Montero II M.D. P.C. Profit Sharing and Money Purchase Pension Plan for benefit of Dr. Montero.
(7)

(6)All except 909 shares are held by Garden Capital Acquisitions, LLC of which Mr. Slone is a member.
(8)Includes 31,130 shares which Mr. Speroni has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of options granted under the 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan and 12,661 shares under the Company’s 401(k) plan.
(9)Includes 31,130 shares which Mr. Troutman has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of options granted under the 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan and 2,537

(7)Includes 31,130 shares which Mr. Speroni has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of options granted under the 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan (10,000 of which are also deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Lindauer by virtue of a contractual option arrangement enter into between Mr. Speroni and Mr. Lindauer) and 12,174 shares held under the Company’s 401(k) plan.

 

*Represents less than one percent (1%) interest.
(8)Includes 31,130 shares which Mr. Troutman has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of options granted under the 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan (10,000 of which are also deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Lindauer by virtue of a contractual option arrangement enter into between Mr. Troutman and Mr. Lindauer) and 2,448 held under the Company’s 401(k) plan.

(9)Includes 40,300 shares which Mr. Lindauer has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of options granted under the 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan, 3,129 shares held under the Company’s 401(k) plan, and 20,000 shares which Mr. Lindauer has the right to acquire immediately by virtue of contractual option arrangements entered into with each of Messrs. Speroni and Troutman.

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

Meetings/Annual Meeting Attendance

The business of the Company is managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors has been delegated the power, with certain exceptions, to act in place of the full Board during all periods between regular meetings of the Board. The Board of Directors held 12 meetings during fiscal year 2005. All members of the Board of Directors except Mr. Lindauer and Mr. Litton, are independent directors. Each member of the Board of Directors attended at least 75% of the Board Meetings during fiscal year 2005, other than Messrs. Chisman, Harris, Low, Miller, Montero, Morgan and Slone. The Board of Directors does not have a policy regarding attendance at annual shareholders’ meetings, however Directors are encouraged to attend such meetings. During the Company’s last annual meeting of shareholders held on December 6, 2004, ten Board members were in attendance.

Committees

The Board of Directors has established an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, and a Compensation/Stock Option Committee. The Company’s Articles of Incorporation provide for the appointment by the Board of Directors of an Executive Committee comprised of not less than five nor more than nine members, all of whom must be members of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee was constituted by the Board of Directors in December 1993 and, under Virginia law, may exercise all the authority of the Board of Directors except that it may not (i) approve or recommend to shareholders action that Virginia law requires to be approved by shareholders, (ii) fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or any committee, (iii) amend the Articles of Incorporation, (iv) adopt, amend, or repeal the Bylaws, (v) approve a plan of merger, (vi) authorize or approve a distribution, except according to a general formula or method prescribed by the Board of Directors, or (vii) authorize or approve the issuance or sale or contract for sale of shares, or determine the designation of the relative rights, preferences and limitations of a class or series of shares within limits specifically prescribed by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee meets on call to review significant developments affecting the Company and to act on matters requiring approval. It also holds special meetings when an important matter requires action between scheduled meetings.

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The Executive Committee did not meet during fiscal year 2005. The members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chisman, Hardee, Lindauer, Litton, Low, Meredith and Morgan.

The Audit Committee held two meetings during fiscal year 2005. Its members were James E. Andrews, J. W. Whiting Chisman Jr., Roger L. Frost and Peter M. Meredith, Jr. See “Audit Committee Report” below. Mr. Frost resigned June 30, 2005.

The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors as to, among other things, the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, each officer who is also a director of the Company and designated other members of senior management, as well as new compensation and stock plans. The Compensation Committee met one time during fiscal year 2005. The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Chisman, Hardee, and Meredith. See “Compensation Committee Report” below.

Director Nominations

The Board of Directors of the Company does not maintain a nominating committee, rather the entire Board is responsible for selecting nominees for election as Directors. The Company believes that the Board is able to fully consider and select qualified nominees for election to the Board without delegating that responsibility to a committee of independent Directors or adopting formal procedures. A majority of the independent Directors then serving on the Board must approve any nominee to be recommended by the Board to the Company’s shareholders.

The Board does not currently have a committee charter or written policy with regard to the nomination process. Candidates have traditionally been recommended to the Board by its members, and there is not a formal process for identifying or evaluating new director nominees. Any recommendations for potential Director nominees received from shareholders will be evaluated in the same manner that potential nominees recommended by Board members, management or other parties are evaluated. Nominations should be addressed to: Gerald T. McDonald, Secretary, Waterside Capital Corporation, 500 East Main Street, Suite 800, Norfolk, Virginia 23510.

Qualifications for consideration as a Director nominee may vary according to the particular areas of expertise being sought as a complement to the existing Board composition. However, in making its nominations, the Board of Directors considers, among other things, an individual’s business experience, community involvement, industry experience, financial background, breadth of knowledge about issues affecting the Company, time available for meetings and consultation regarding Company matters, and other particular skills and experience possessed by the individual.

 

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

Meetings

The business of the Company is managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors has been delegated the power, with certain exceptions, to act in place of the full Board during all periods between regular meetings of the Board, and the Executive Committee meets on a regularly scheduled basis during the year. The Board of Directors held one meeting during fiscal year 2003. All of the members of the Board of Directors except Mr. Lindauer are independent directors. Each member of the Board of Directors attended the meeting during fiscal year 2003, other than Messrs. Chisman and Ornstein, who were absent from the meeting.

Committees

The Board of Directors has established an Executive Committee (“Executive Committee”), an Audit Committee (“Audit Committee”) and a Compensation/Stock Option Committee (“Compensation Committee”). The Company’s Articles of Incorporation provide for the appointment by the Board of Directors of an Executive Committee comprised of not less than five nor more than nine members, all of whom must be members of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee was constituted by the Board of Directors in December 1993 and, under Virginia law, may exercise all the authority of the Board of Directors except that it may not (i) approve or recommend to shareholders action that Virginia law requires to be approved by shareholders, (ii) fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or any committee, (iii) amend the Articles of Incorporation, (iv) adopt, amend, or repeal the Bylaws, (v) approve a plan of merger, (vi) authorize or approve a distribution, except according to a general formula or method prescribed by the Board of Directors, or (vii) authorize or approve the issuance or sale or contract for sale of shares, or determine the designation of the relative rights, preferences and limitations

7


of a class or series of shares within limits specifically prescribed by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee meets on a regularly scheduled basis during the year to review significant developments affecting the Company and to act on matters requiring approval. It also holds special meetings when an important matter requires action between scheduled meetings.

The Executive Committee met nine times during fiscal year 2003. All members of the Executive Committee attended at least 75% of all Executive Committee meetings in fiscal year 2003, except for Messrs. Chisman, Hardee, Low Morgan and Ornstein. The members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Chisman, Hardee, Lindauer, Low, Meredith, Merriman, Morgan, and Ornstein.

The Audit Committee held six meetings in 2003. At year-end, its members were James E. Andrews, J. W. Whiting Chisman Jr., Roger L. Frost and Peter M. Meredith, Jr. See “Audit Committee Report.”

The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors as to, among other things, the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, each officer who is also a director of the Company and designated other members of senior management, as well as new compensation and stock plans. The Compensation Committee met one time during fiscal year 2003. The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Chisman, Hardee, and Meredith. See “Compensation Committee Report.”

Identification of Director-Nominees

The Company has no nominating committee. The duties of selecting nominees for Directors and executive officers is performed by the entire Board of Directors. The Company will consider director-nominees recommended by shareholders, although it has not actively solicited recommendations from shareholders for nominees, nor has the Company established any procedure for this purpose for the Annual Meeting.

Audit Committee Report

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of four (4)three directors, each of whom is an “independent director” as that term is defined under the Nasdaq listing standards. To be an independent director under this definition, a director may not be an officer or an employee of the Company or have any other relationship with the Company that interferes with the exercise of independent judgment. Because we are an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act, any director who is an “interested person” of the Company within the meaning of § 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act will not be deemed independent under Nasdaq rules. As discussed above, the Audit Committee held sixtwo meetings during fiscal year 2003.2005. Responsibilities of

10


the Audit Committee are set forth in its Charter, which is reviewed and amended periodically by the Company’s Board of Directors, as appropriate. A copy of the Company’s Audit Committee Charter was attached to the Proxy Statement prepared by the Company and distributed to shareholders in connection with the Company’s 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Among other things, the Audit Committee:

 

serves as an independent and objective monitor of the Company’s financial reporting process and internal control systems;

 

appraises the efforts and effectiveness of the Company’s independent auditors, including their independence and professionalism;

 

provides an efficient means for communication among the Board, the independent auditors, and the Company’s financial and senior management;

 

8


recommends to the Board of Directors the engagement of, and the fees to be paid to, the Company’s independent auditor; and

 

supervises the Company’s compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

 

The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility of the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls. In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and the independent auditors. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the financial statements with management and the independent auditors. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication(Communication with Audit Committees)Committees). In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors’ independence from the Company and its management, including the matters in the written disclosures required by the Independence Standards Board Standards No. 1 (Independence(Independence Discussions With Audit Committees)Committees). The Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s independent auditor the overall scope and specific plans for their respective audits.

 

The Audit Committee meets with the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, the evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. The meetings also are designed to facilitate any private communications with the Audit Committee desired by the independent auditors. In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements of the Company be included in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005. The Audit Committee and the Board have also appointed, subject to shareholder ratification, the selection of the Company’s independent auditor, Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC.

 

•      James E. Andrews

•      J. W. Whiting Chisman, Jr.

•      Roger L. Frost

•      Peter M. Meredith, Jr

James E. Andrews

 

J. W. Whiting Chisman, Jr.

Peter M. Meredith, Jr.

11


EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The table below sets forth certain information regarding cash and other compensation paid during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2001, 20022003, 2004 and 20032005 to each of the Named Executive Officers (the Chief Executive Officer and the three highest compensated Officers receiving more than $60,000$100,000 in annual compensation) in all capacities in which they served.

 

9


Summary Compensation Table

 

   Annual Compensation

  

(1)

Long-term
Compensation
Awards
Securities
Underlying
Options /
SARs(#)


(2)

All Other
Compensation


Name and Principal

Position


  Year

  Salary

  Bonus

  All Other Annual
Compensation(1)


  Aggregate
Compensation
From the
Company


J. Alan Lindauer


CEO & President

  

2005
2004
2003

2002
2001

  

$


 


171,600
167,750
165,000

165,000
150,000

  

$



—  

27,000
—  

35,000

  

—  

—  $
 

11,726
11,636
11,779
  

—  $

 

15,000

183,260
206,386
176,779

$

11,779

8,809

5,328

Gerald T. McDonald


CFO, Treasurer & Secretary

  2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
   
 
 
125,801
112,250
121,000
121,000
110,000


—  

—  
35,000

—  

—  
—  

—  

—  
15,000

   
 
 
8,821—  
8,70718,000
4,811

Lex W. Troutman

Business Development

Officer

—  
  2003
2002
2001
9,116
7,898
8,821
   
 
 
121,000134,917
121,000138,148
100,000
129,821

—  Lex W. Troutman

—  

30,000
Business Development Officer

  —  2005
—  2004
—  
2003
  

—  

 

10,000

130,317

9,108123,000
8,256

5,969

Martin N. Speroni

Director of Research

2003
2002
2001121,000
   
 
 
110,000—  
110,00018,000
100,000
—  
  



9,387
8,533
9,108


139,704
149,533
130,108

—  Martin N. Speroni

—  

30,000
Director of Research

  —  2005
—  2004
—  
2003
  

 

 

10,000

124,800

120,333
110,000
  

 
 


8,019

8,556—  
4,65618,000

(1)—    Amount represents stock options granted in the year indicated.

8,914
8,268
8,019


133,714
146,601
118,019

(2)(1)Includes 401(k) match and term life insurance premiums paid on behalf of the Named Executive Officers.

 

The following table contains information concerning exercises of stock options by the Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 and the fiscal year-end value of all unexercised stock options held by the Named Executive Officers. There were no exercises of stock options by, or grants of stock options to, the Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.2005.

 

12


Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-

End Option/SAR Values

 

Name


  Shares Acquired
on Exercise(#)


  

Value

Realized($)


  

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options/SARs at
FY-end(#)

 

Exercisable/
Unexercisable


  

Value of
Unexercised In-
the-Money
options/SARs at
FY-end(1)

 

Exercisable/
Unexercisable


J. Alan Lindauer
CEO & President

  —    —    60,300/0  $2,975

Gerald T. McDonald
CFO, Treasurer & Secretary

  —    —    40,300/0   1,275

Lex W. Troutman
Business Development Officer

  —    —    31,130/0   850

Martin N. Speroni
Director of Research

  —    —    31,130/0   850

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options/SARs at
FY-end(#)(1)


Value of
Unexercised In-

the-Money
options/SARs at
FY-end($)(1)


Name


Shares Acquired
on Exercise(#)


Value
Realized($)


Exercisable/
Unexercisable


Exercisable/
Unexercisable


J. Alan Lindauer

CEO & President

—  —  40,300/0-/-

Gerald T. McDonald

CFO, Treasurer & Secretary

—  —  40,300/0-/-

Lex W. Troutman

Business Development Officer

—  —  31,130/0-/-

Martin N. Speroni

Director of Research

—  —  31,130/0-/-

10


(1)Under Securities and Exchange Commission rules, an option is only considered in-the-money for purposes of the chart if the per share exercise price is less than $2.67,$4.21, the last reported sales price of our common stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on June 30, 2003,2005, the last business day of the Company’s 20032005 fiscal year. None of the stock options held by the Named Executive Officers are exercisable for less than $2.67 per share.

Employment Agreements

Mr. Lindauer is employed as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer under an employment agreement dated January 1, 2001 (the “Lindauer Employment Agreement”). The Lindauer Employment Agreement expires on January 31, 2004, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. In addition, if a change of control of the Company occurs during the period covered by the Lindauer Employment Agreement, the term is automatically extended for a period of 36 months beyond the month in which the change of control occurred. Mr. Lindauer is paid an annual salary of $165,000. The Lindauer Employment Agreement provides, should Mr. Lindauer leave employment with the Company, a two-year covenant not to compete with the Company within the Commonwealth of Virginia and a one-year employee non-solicitation clause. It also imposes certain non-disclosure obligations on Mr. Lindauer with respect to the Company’s confidential and proprietary information.

Mr. McDonald is employed as the Company’s Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer under an employment agreement dated January 1, 2001 (the “McDonald Employment Agreement”). The McDonald Employment Agreement expires on January 31, 2004, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. In addition, if a change of control of the Company occurs during the period covered by the McDonald Employment Agreement, the term is automatically extended for a period of 36 months beyond the month in which the change of control occurred. Mr. McDonald is paid an annual salary of $121,000. The McDonald Employment Agreement provides, should Mr. McDonald leave employment with the Company, a two-year covenant not to compete with the Company within the Commonwealth of Virginia and a one-year employee non-solicitation clause. It also imposes certain non-disclosure obligations on Mr. McDonald with respect to the Company’s confidential and proprietary information.

Mr. Troutman is employed as the Company’s Vice President and Business Development Officer under an employment agreement dated January 1, 2001 (the “Troutman Employment Agreement”). The Troutman Employment Agreement expires on January 31, 2004, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. In addition, if a change of control of the Company occurs during the period covered by the Troutman Employment Agreement, the term is automatically extended for a period of 36 months beyond the month in which the change of control occurred. Mr. Troutman is paid an annual salary of $121,000. The Troutman Employment Agreement provides, should Mr. Troutman leave employment with the Company, a two-year covenant not to compete with the Company within the Commonwealth of Virginia and a one-year employee non-solicitation clause. It also imposes certain non-disclosure obligations on Mr. Troutman with respect to the Company’s confidential and proprietary information.

Mr. Speroni is employed as the Company’s Vice President and Director of Research under an employment agreement dated January 1, 2001 (the “Speroni Employment Agreement”). The Speroni Employment Agreement expires on January 31, 2004, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. In addition, if a change of control of the Company occurs during the period covered by the Speroni Employment Agreement, the term is automatically extended for a period of 36 months beyond the month in which the change of control occurred. Mr. Speroni is paid an annual salary of $110,000. The Speroni Employment Agreement provides, should Mr. Speroni leave employment with the Company, a two-year covenant not to compete with the Company within the Commonwealth of Virginia

11


and a one-year employee non-solicitation clause. It also imposes certain non-disclosure obligations on Mr. Speroni with respect to the Company’s confidential and proprietary information.

 

401(k) Plan

 

In July of 1998, the Company adopted a profit sharing and thrift plan qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “401(k) Plan”). All employees of the Company may elect to participate and contribute up to 8% of their annual salary in the 401(k) Plan. The Company may make matching contributions and the amount of such contributions, if any, will be determined by the Company each year. The Company made 100% matching contributions of the first 6% of each participating employee’s contributions to the 401(k) Plan during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.2005.

 

Stock Option Plan

 

The Waterside Capital Corporation 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “Option Plan”) was approved by the shareholders of the Company on October 22, 1998. The shareholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Plan on October 25, 1999. The Option Plan provides for the issuance of stock option awards to employees of the Company. The purpose of the Option Plan is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of the Company by providing employees with incentives to improve stockholdershareholder value and contribute to the growth and financial success of the Company, and by enabling the Company to attract, retain, and reward highly motivated and qualified employees. The maximum number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that may be issued with respect to awards granted under the Option Plan is 212,000. The maximum number of shares that may be issued with respect to awards under the Plan to an individual in a calendar year may not exceed 25,000 shares. The Option Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee and the Option Plan authorizes the Compensation

13


Committee to make all awards. The Compensation Committee determines the prices, vesting schedules, expiration dates, and other material conditions under which such awards may be exercised.

 

Directors’ Compensation

 

During 2003,2005, Directors and members of the committees of the Board of Directors received $100 for each meeting they attended. In lieu of receiving cash, all Directors who were entitled to receive fees for meeting attendance elected to receive such fees in the form of Common Stock purchased by the Company on the open market. Directors who are also employees of the Company received no compensation from the Company in their capacity as directors. The Company reimburses all of its directorsDirectors for travel and out of pocket expenses in connection with their attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors. The following table contains information concerning the compensation paid to the Company’s Directors during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005:

 

Section 16 Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, requires directors, officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of stock of the Company to file initial reports of ownership (Forms 3) and reports of changes in beneficial ownership (Forms 4 and 5) with the SEC and NASDAQ. Such persons are also required under the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

12

Name of Director


  Total Compensation
from the Company
Paid to Directors(1)


James E. Andrews

  $1,200

J. W. Whiting Chisman, Jr.

   1,000

Eric L. Fox

   1,000

Marvin S. Friedberg

   900

Roger L. Frost

   1,200

Ernest F. Hardee

   1,100

Henry U. Harris III

   600

Robert I. Low

   800

Peter M. Meredith, Jr.

   1,300

Augustus C. Miller

   200

Juan M. Montero II

   800

R. Scott Morgan

   300

Jordan E. Slone

   500

“Interested Person” Directors

    

J. Alan Lindauer

   —  

T. Richard Litton Jr.

   900


During the Company’s 2003 fiscal year, each Director of the Company failed to file a Form 4 relating to the receipt by such Director of shares of Common Stock issued by the Company in lieu of directors’ fees. These shares were purchased on the open market and issued to Directors on a periodic basis.

(1)Paid in the form of Common Stock purchased by the Company on the open market.

 

Compensation Committee Report Concerning Compensation of Certain Executive Officers

 

This report describes the Company’s executive officer compensation strategy, the components of the compensation program, and the manner in which the 20032005 compensation determinations were made for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, J. Alan Lindauer, and the Company’s other executive officers (collectively “Executive Officers”).

 

In addition to the information set forth above under “Executive Compensation,” the Compensation Committee is required to provide shareholders a report explaining the rationale and considerations that led to the fundamental executive compensation decisions affecting the Company’s Executive Officers. In fulfillment of this requirement, the Compensation Committee, at the direction of

14


the Company’s Board of Directors, has prepared the following report for inclusion in this Proxy Statement. None of the members of the Compensation Committee are executive officers or employees of the Company.

 

Compensation Philosophy

 

The compensation of the Company’s Executive Officers is designed to attract, retain, motivate and reward qualified, dedicated executives, and to directly link compensation with (i) the Executive Officer’s previous and anticipated performance, (ii) the contributions and responsibilities of the Executive Officer to the Company and (iii) the Company’s profitability. None of these three factors is given more relative consideration than any other. The principal components of an Executive Officer’s compensation package during fiscal year 20032005 were (i) a base salary at a stated annual rate, together with certain other benefits as may be provided from time to time and (ii) discretionary cash bonuses. See “Bonus Program” below. In addition, stock option awards have been made in the past, and will continue to be made in the future, to the Company’s Executive Officers pursuant to the Company’s 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan.

 

Employment Agreements

The Company has entered into Employment Agreements with certain Executive Officers. The Compensation Committee believes that written employment agreements are necessary to attract and retain a quality management team and are consistent with the Company’s compensation philosophy. To strengthen the Company’s ability to retain quality management, four written employment agreements were entered into between certain Executive Officers effective January 1, 2001. The principal terms of these employment agreements are described under “Executive Officer Employment Agreements” above.

Bonus Program

 

The Company has historically awarded annual cash bonuses to Executive Officers based upon individual performance and financial performance of the Company. Although no bonus awards were made to Executive Officers during fiscal year 2003, the Compensation Committee expects that such bonuses will be awarded in the future.

 

13


1998 Employee Stock Option Plan

 

The Board and the Compensation Committee strive to compensate key employees of the Company in a manner that aligns closely the interests of such key employees with the interests of the Company’s shareholders. In furtherance of this goal, in 1998 the Board adopted the Waterside Capital Corporation 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan, which was approved by shareholders. During 1999, the Board adopted, and the shareholders approved, an amendment to the Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to support the business goals of the Company and to attract, retain and motivate management officials of high caliber by providing incentives that will, through the award of options to acquire the Company’s Common Stock, associate more closely the interests of Executive Officers and key employees of the Company with the interests of the Company’s shareholders. The Compensation Committee did not grant any stock options to Executive Officers during fiscal year 2003,2005, however, the Committee expects that such stock option grants will be awarded in the future.

 

Limitation on Deductibility of Certain Compensation for Federal Income Tax Purposes

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (“162(m)”) precludes the Company from taking a deduction for compensation in excess of $1 million for the Chief Executive Officer or certain of its other highest paid officers. Certain performance based compensation, however, is specifically exempt from the deduction limit. The Compensation Committee has concluded that 162(m) will not impact the Company during fiscal year 20042005 because compensation in excess of $1 million will not be paid to any employee of the Company.

 

15


J. W. Whiting Chisman, Jr.

Ernest F. Hardee

Peter M. Meredith, Jr.

 

THE PRECEDING “COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT CONCERNING COMPENSATION OF CERTAIN EXECUTIVE OFFICERS” AND THE AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE SOLICITING MATERIAL OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED, OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN ANY DOCUMENTS SO FILED.

 

Section 16 Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Investment Company Act, requires directors, officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of stock of the Company to file initial reports of ownership (Forms 3) and reports of changes in beneficial ownership (Forms 4 and 5) with the SEC and NASDAQ. Such persons are also required under the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

PROPOSAL 2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

 

Effective as of May 12, 2003, the Company appointed Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC as the new independent auditor for the Company. Effective as of May 8, 2003, the Company dismissed KPMG LLP as the independent auditor of the Company. This change in the auditor for the Company was approved by theThe Company’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Audit Committee decided to solicit audit proposals from three independent public accounting firms, including KPMG LLP prior to the commencement of the audit for the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2003. After receiving these proposalshas selected and considering a variety of factors, including cost, the Audit Committee decided to dismiss KPMG LLP and engage Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC as the Company’s independent auditor.

14


During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years, there were no disagreements between the Company and KPMG LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG LLP, would have caused KPMG LLP to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report. None of the reportable events described under Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Regulation S-K”), occurred within the Company’s two most recent fiscal years prior to KPMG LLP’s dismissal.

The audit reports of KPMG LLP on the financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. The Company provided KPMG LLP with a copy of the foregoing disclosure, and KPMG LLP issued a letter to the Company on May 12, 2003 stating its agreement with such statements.

During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years, and prior to its engaging Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC, the Company did not consult with Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC with respect to the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statement, or any other matters or reportable events listed on Item 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.

The Board of Directors of the Company desires that the Company’s appointment ofapproved Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC as the Company’s independent auditor to audit the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, and the Audit Committee desires that such appointment be ratified by the Company’s shareholders. Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC audited the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005. A representative of Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC will be present at the Annual Meeting. Such representative will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. Ratification by the shareholders of the appointment of Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting.

 

16


Fees Paid to Principal Accountants

The following table sets forth the professional fees paid to the Company’s independent auditor by the Company for professional services rendered for the Company’s last two completed fiscal years.

   2005

  % of Total

  2004

  % of Total

 

Audit fees(1)

  $40,000  77.2% $4,000  25.3%

Audit-related fees(2)

   6,000  11.6   6,000  38.0 

Tax fees(3)

   5,000  9.7   5,000  31.6 

All other fees (4)

   800  1.5   800  5.1 

Total

  $51,800  100% $15,800  100%

(1)These fees are paid for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal 2005 and 2004. Fees for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal 2005 in the amount of approximately $24,000 have paid during fiscal 2006.

(2)These are fees paid for assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of Company’s financial statements that are not reported under “Audit fees” above, including consultations regarding internal controls and financial accounting and reporting matters.

(3)These are fees paid for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice.

(4)These are fees for permissible work performed by Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC that does not fall within the specifications of the above categories. This did not include any services for financial information system design or implementation.

The Company’s Audit Committee pre-approves all audit, audit-related and non-audit services provided by our independent auditor, Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC. Generally, services are pre-approved by the Audit Committee through its annual review of the engagement letter. Subsequently, as the need for additional services arise, detailed information regarding the specific audit, audit-related, tax and permissible non-audit services are submitted to the Audit Committee for its review and approval prior to the provision of such services. In the event that the Audit Committee cannot meet prior to the provision of such services, the Committee has delegated to its Chair the authority to pre-approve such services. All such pre-approvals are then reported to the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF WITT MARES EGGLESTON SMITH, PLC AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT AUDITOR.

 

FEES PAID TO PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANTS

Audit Fees

KPMG LLP, the former independent auditor for the Company, billed the Company an aggregate of $41,400 relating to its (i) completion of the audit of the Company’s financial statements for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 and (ii) reviews of the Company’s financial statements included in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC billed the Company an aggregate of $36,000 for the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.

Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees

Neither Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC nor KPMG LLP provided any services to the Company, and did not therefore bill the Company for any such services, relating to financial information systems design and implementation.

1517


All Other Fees

KPMG, LLP billed the Company an aggregate of $6,000 during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 for services not related to the financial statements referenced above. These fees consisted of fees for assisting the Company with the preparation of tax returns and other miscellaneous services. Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC did not bill the Company during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 for any services other than those services related to the financial statements referenced above.

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Board of Directors does not know of any matters that will be presented for action at the Annual Meeting other than those described above or matters incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting. If, however, any other matters not presently known to management should come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the shares represented by proxies will be voted on such matters in accordance with the discretion of the holders of such proxies.

 

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS

The Company does not currently have a formal policy regarding shareholder communications with the Board of Directors as it does not receive a significant amount of such communications; however, any shareholder may submit written communications to Gerald T. McDonald, Secretary, Waterside Capital Corporation, 500 East Main Street, Suite 800, Norfolk, Virginia 23510, whereupon such communications will be forwarded to the Board of Directors if addressed to the Board of Directors as a group or to the individual Director or Directors addressed.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

 

The next Annual Meeting will be held on or about October 21, 2004.16, 2006. Any shareholder who wishes to submit a proposal for consideration at that meeting, and who wishes to have such proposal included in the Company’s proxy statement, must comply with SEC Rule 14a-8 and must submit the proposal in writing no later than May 22, 2004.2006. The deadline for shareholders to notify the Company of non-Rule 14a-8 matters that may be raised for consideration at the next Annual Meeting is May 22, 2004.August 5, 2006. All such proposals and notifications should be sent to Gerald T. McDonald, the Secretary of the Company, at the Company’s principal executive offices, 500 East Main Street, Suite 800, Norfolk, Virginia.

 

GENERAL

 

The Company’s 20032005 Annual Report to Shareholders accompanies this Proxy Statement. The 20032005 Annual Report does not form any part of the material for the solicitation of proxies. Upon written request, the Company will provide shareholders with a copy of its Report on Form N-SAR for the year ended June 30, 20032005 (the “Form N-SAR”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, without charge. Please direct written requests for a copy of the Form N-SAR to: Gerald T. McDonald, Chief Financial Officer, Waterside Capital Corporation, 500 East Main Street, Suite 800, Norfolk, VA 23510.

 

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY PROMPTLY

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ Gerald T. McDonald

Gerald T. McDonald, Secretary

September 19, 2005

 

September 19, 2003

1618


x  PLEASE MARK VOTES

      AS IN THIS EXAMPLE

REVOCABLE PROXY                                    

WATERSIDE CAPITAL CORPORATION                                    

    For  

With-REVOCABLE PROXY

holdWATERSIDE CAPITAL CORPORATION

 For All Except

PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE 2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 21, 200317, 2005 AT 11:00 a.m.

A.M. EASTERN TIME
  

1. To elect 16 directors to hold office for a term of one year and until their respective successors are elected and qualified;

 ¨¨¨

The undersigned, having received the Annual Report to Shareholders and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement dated September 12, 2003,19, 2005, hereby appoints Ernest F. Hardee and Peter M. Meredith, Jr. (each with the power to act alone), as proxies, with full power of substitution, and hereby authorizes them to represent and vote, as directed below, all the shares of the Common Stock of Waterside Capital Corporation held of record by the undersigned on August 29, 2003,31, 2005, at the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on October 21, 2003,17, 2005, and any adjournment thereof.

  

1. To elect 15 directors to hold office for a term of one year and until their respective successors are elected and qualified;

 

FOR:  ¨    WITHHOLD:  ¨     FOR ALL EXCEPT:  ¨

NOMINEES:

James E. Andrews;Andrews, J.W. Whiting Chisman, Jr., Eric L. Fox, Marvin S. Friedberg, Roger L. Frost, Ernest F. Hardee, Henry U. Harris, III, J. Alan Lindauer, T. Richard Litton, Jr., Robert L.I. Low, Peter M. Meredith, Jr., Charles H. Merriman III, Augustus C. Miller, Juan M. Montero, II, R. Scott Morgan, Sr., Richard G. Ornstein, and Jordan E. Sloan.

 

INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark “For All Except” and write that nominee’s name in the space provided below.

  

Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy in the box below.


  ForAgainstAbstain

2. To ratify the appointment of Witt Mares Eggleston Smith, PLC as the Company’s independent auditorsauditor for 2004.

¨¨¨
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.
  

FOR:  ¨    WITHHOLD:  ¨     FOR ALL EXCEPT:  ¨

3. To act upon such other matters as may properly come

Shareholder sign above

Date

before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 _____________________________

Please be sure to sign and date        Date

  this Proxy in the box below.


THIS PROXY IS REVOCABLE AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO

ITS EXERCISE. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY

Co-holder (if any)

Date

EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. WHEN NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR 1 and 2.AND 2 ABOVE.

Detach above card, sign, date and mail in postage paid envelope provided.

WATERSIDE CAPITAL CORPORATION

NOTE: Please sign your name(s) exactly as they appear hereon. If signer is a corporation, please sign the full corporate name by duly authorized officer. If any attorney, guardian, administrator, executor, or trustee, please give full title as such. If a partnership, sign in partnership name by authorized person.

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE.

IF YOUR ADDRESS HAS CHANGED, PLEASE CORRECT THE ADDRESS IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW AND RETURN THIS PORTION WITH THE PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.

 

Shareholder sign above  Co-holder (if any) sign above


é    Detach above card, sign, date and mail in postage-paid envelope provided.     é

WATERSIDE CAPITAL CORPORATION


NOTE: Please sign your name(s) exactly as they appear hereon. If signer is a corporation, please sign the full corporate name by duly authorized officer. If any attorney, guardian, administrator, executor, or trustee, please give full title as such. If a partnership, sign in partnership name by authorized person.

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY

IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE.


IF YOUR ADDRESS HAS CHANGED, PLEASE CORRECT THE ADDRESS IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW AND RETURN THIS PORTION WITH THE PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.