WESCO FINANCIAL CORP
DEF 14A, 1995-04-07
METALS SERVICE CENTERS & OFFICES
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<PAGE>   1
 
                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
 
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.   )
 
Filed by the Registrant /X/
 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
 
Check the appropriate box:
 
/ /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
/X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
/ /  Definitive Additional Materials
/ /  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-110 or Rule 14a-12
 
                          WESCO FINANCIAL CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
        JEFFREY L. JACOBSON, VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
/X/  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2).
 
/ /  $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).
 
/ /  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
           
     (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

          --------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

          -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
     (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
          pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:

          -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
     (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

          -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
     Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
     was determined.
 
/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
 
     (1)  Amount Previously Paid:

          -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
     (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

          -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
     (3)  Filing Party:

          --------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4)  Date Filed:

          --------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>   2
 
                                    [LOGO]
                          WESCO FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    301 EAST COLORADO BOULEVARD, SUITE 300, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91101-1901
                                 (818) 585-6700
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD MAY 17, 1995
 
     The annual meeting of shareholders of Wesco Financial Corporation ("Wesco")
will be held in the banquet room of Pasadena Cafeteria, 325 East Colorado
Boulevard, Pasadena, California, on Wednesday, May 17, 1995 at 4:00 p.m. for the
following purposes:
 
          1. To elect seven directors to hold office until the next meeting of
     shareholders or until their respective successors shall have been duly
     elected and qualified.
 
          2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
     meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
     The Board of Directors has fixed March 27, 1995, at the close of business,
as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to this notice
and to vote at such annual meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. A
list of the shareholders as of such record date will be open to examination by
any shareholder for any purpose germane to the meeting during ordinary business
hours at Wesco's principal office at 301 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 300,
Pasadena, California for a period of at least ten days prior to May 17, 1995.
 
     All shareholders are requested to sign, date and complete the enclosed form
of proxy promptly and return it in the accompanying postage-prepaid,
self-addressed envelope, whether or not they expect to attend the meeting, to
assure that their shares will be represented. Any shareholder giving a proxy has
the right to revoke it at any time before it is voted at the meeting.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                                  Margery A. Patrick
                                                       Secretary
 
Pasadena, California
April 3, 1995
 
                                   IMPORTANT
 
     WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE,
DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
 
Requests for additional copies of this Notice and accompanying
Proxy Statement should be addressed to Margery A. Patrick, Secretary,
Wesco Financial Corporation, at the above address.
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   3
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
                          WESCO FINANCIAL CORPORATION
 
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
                                  May 17, 1995
 
     This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by
the Board of Directors of WESCO FINANCIAL CORPORATION ("Wesco") of proxies to be
voted at the May 17, 1995 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Wesco. Wesco's
principal office is located at 301 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 300, Pasadena,
California 91101-1901, and its telephone number is (818) 585-6700. This Proxy
Statement is expected to be mailed to shareholders on or about April 10, 1995,
together with Wesco's combined annual report and Annual Report to the Securities
and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31,
1994.
 
                             PROXIES AND REVOCATION
 
     The shares represented by each properly executed, unrevoked form of proxy
received in time for the meeting will be voted. Any shareholder giving a proxy
has the power to revoke it at any time before it is voted at the meeting, and it
shall be suspended if the shareholder is present at the meeting and desires to
vote in person.
 
     Wesco intends to solicit proxies principally by the use of the mail. It
will also request banks, brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries to forward copies of the form of proxy and Proxy Statement to
persons for whom they hold stock of Wesco and request authority for the
execution of proxies. Wesco will reimburse such banks, brokerage firms,
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their actual expenditures incurred in
connection therewith at not higher than usual and customary rates. Officers of
Wesco may solicit proxies to a limited extent by telephone, but without
incremental cost to Wesco, except actual out-of-pocket communication charges,
which are expected to be insignificant. The entire cost of soliciting proxies
will be paid by Wesco.
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     At the annual meeting, the seven nominees for Director receiving the
highest number of affirmative votes will be elected Wesco directors
("Directors"). The term of each Director will expire at the time of the 1996
annual meeting expected to be held in May 1996 or upon the election and
qualification of his or her respective successor. Each nominee is currently a
Director of Wesco. Additional information concerning the nominees is set forth
on page 3.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           Director           Principal Occupation, Business Experience During
         Name                Since              Past Five Years, Age, and Other Information
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                    <C>               <C>
Charles T. Munger           3-20-73      Mr. Munger has been Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                         Executive Officer of Wesco since January 1984; prior to
                                         July 1992 he was also President. He also served as
                                         Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
                                         Mutual Savings and Loan Association ("Mutual Savings"),
                                         formerly a Wesco subsidiary, from January 1984 until
                                         October 1987, and from May 1988 through December 1993. He
                                         also has been a director of Blue Chip Stamps and its
                                         predecessor by the same name (collectively, "Blue Chip")
                                         since 1969; Blue Chip, the parent of Wesco, is engaged in
                                         the trading stamp business. Since 1978, Mr. Munger has
                                         been Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
                                         ("Berkshire"), parent of Blue Chip; Berkshire is engaged
                                         in insurance, candy, retailing, manufacturing, and
                                         newspaper and encyclopedia publishing. He has also served,
                                         since 1977, as Chairman of the Board and a director of
                                         Daily Journal Corporation, publisher of specialty
                                         newspapers in California. Since October 1987, he has been
                                         a director of Salomon Inc, a financial services holding
                                         company, in which Berkshire holds a large but not
                                         controlling interest. Since February 1993 he has been a
                                         director of USAir Group, Inc., which owns a domestic air
                                         carrier and in which Berkshire holds a large but not
                                         controlling interest. Mr. Munger is 71 years of age.
 
Robert H. Bird             12-21-89      Mr. Bird has been President of Wesco since June 1992, and
                                         was also President of Mutual Savings from June 1992
                                         through December 1993. From December 1989 to June 1992, he
                                         served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Wesco and of
                                         Mutual Savings. He has also served as President and a
                                         director of MS Property Company, another Wesco subsidiary,
                                         since its activation in October 1993. He has also served
                                         as President of Blue Chip since January 1987 and, prior
                                         thereto, served in various financial and other offices of
                                         Blue Chip after joining it in 1968. Mr. Bird has also
                                         served as a director of Blue Chip since 1978 and as a Vice
                                         President of Berkshire since 1983. Mr. Bird is 63 years of
                                         age.

Carolyn H. Carlburg         5-23-91      Ms. Carlburg is an attorney and has been engaged in the
                                         practice of law since 1977. For the last fourteen years
                                         she has been in private practice under the name Carolyn H.
                                         Carlburg & Associates, attorneys at law, specializing in
                                         land use matters and business litigation. Ms. Carlburg is
                                         48 years of age.
 
William T. Caspers          3-18-59      Mr. Caspers has been engaged in personal investments since
                                         1977. Prior to that time, he served as a Vice President of
                                         Wesco from 1960 and a Senior Vice President of Mutual
                                         Savings from 1961. Mr. Caspers has been a director of MS
                                         Property Company since October 1993. Mr. Caspers is 72
                                         years of age.
 
James N. Gamble             1-19-65      Mr. Gamble has been engaged in the investment counseling
                                         business since 1956, currently under the name Gamble,
                                         Jones, Holbrook & Bent and previously under his own name.
                                         Mr. Gamble is 72 years of age.
 
Elizabeth Caspers           7-18-67      Mrs. Peters is engaged in personal investments. Before she
  Peters                                 began continuous service as a Director in 1967 she served
                                         on the Board in 1959 and 1960. Mrs. Peters has been a
                                         director of MS Property Company since October 1993. Mrs.
                                         Peters is 69 years of age.
 
David K. Robinson           3-18-59      Mr. Robinson is a partner, through his professional
                                         corporation, in Hahn & Hahn, attorneys at law, and has
                                         been associated with that firm for more than forty years.
                                         He is legal counsel for Wesco, and, through 1993, served
                                         in that capacity for Mutual Savings. Mr. Robinson is 76
                                         years of age.
</TABLE>
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
Mr. Caspers and Mrs. Peters are brother and sister. There are no other family
relationships among Wesco's Directors and officers.
 
     In addition to Messrs. Munger and Bird, the executive officers of Wesco are
the individuals listed below. All officers are elected to serve for one year or
until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Principal Occupation, Business Experience During
         Name                         Past Five Years, Age, and Other Information
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                   <C>
Jeffrey L. Jacobson   Mr. Jacobson has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
                      Wesco since 1984. He also served Mutual Savings as Vice President and Chief
                      Financial Officer from 1984 through 1993 and has served MS Property Company
                      in that capacity since October 1993. He has also served in various financial
                      and other offices of Blue Chip since joining it in 1977 -- currently he is
                      Vice President and Chief Financial Officer -- and has served as a Blue Chip
                      director since 1987. Mr. Jacobson is 47 years of age.

Robert E. Sahm        Mr. Sahm has served Wesco as Vice President in charge of building management
                      since 1971 and, prior thereto, served as Building Manager from 1967. He also
                      served as Senior Vice President in charge of property development for Mutual
                      Savings from 1989 through 1993 and, prior thereto, as Vice President from
                      June 1988. Since October 1993, he has also served MS Property Company as
                      Senior Vice President in charge of property development and sales, and as a
                      director. Mr. Sahm is 67 years of age.
</TABLE>
 
                     VOTING SECURITIES AND HOLDERS THEREOF
 
     On March 27, 1995, the record date for determination of shareholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting, a total of 7,119,807
shares of capital stock were outstanding. All information regarding stock
ownership is given as of that date. Shareholders have the right to elect
Directors by cumulative voting in accordance with Wesco's Bylaws: each share has
votes equal to the number of Directors to be elected (seven), and the votes may
be cast for one candidate or distributed among two or more candidates. On all
other matters, each share has one vote. Votes withheld as to specific Directors
on forms of proxy are treated as votes cast in determining if a quorum is
present to transact business and are subtracted from the votes cast in favor of
such Directors. Any portion of the shares held by a broker or other party that
is not voted on an omnibus proxy is neither counted in determining if a quorum
is present nor treated as votes cast for any purpose.
 
     The persons appointed as proxies on the accompanying form of proxy have
informed Wesco of their intent to distribute, in such proportion as they see
fit, the votes represented by proxies (i) in favor of the election of the seven
nominees named above, or (ii) in the event one or more of said nominees is
unable to serve, which event is not contemplated, for the remainder of the
nominees named above supplemented by any substitute nominee or nominees selected
by the Board of Directors
 
     Blue Chip, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire owns 5,703,087 shares
(80.1%) of Wesco stock. Warren E. Buffett, Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of Berkshire, has sole voting power with respect to 479,222
shares (40.7%) and shared voting power with respect to 36,986 shares (3.1%) of
Berkshire. Therefore, Mr. Buffett may be deemed to be in control of Berkshire,
Blue Chip and Wesco. Charles T. Munger, Chairman of the Board of Wesco, is also
Vice Chairman of the Board of Berkshire, and consults with Mr. Buffett with
respect to Wesco's investment decisions and major capital allocations, but Mr.
Buffett has no active participation in Wesco's management.
 
     Berkshire's principal executive offices are located at 1440 Kiewit Plaza,
Omaha, Nebraska 68131, which is also Mr. Buffett's principal address. Blue
Chip's principal executive offices are located at 5901 South Eastern Avenue, Los
Angeles, California 90040.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
     Beneficial ownership of Wesco's capital stock as of the record date by Blue
Chip (the only company or person known to Wesco's management to beneficially own
5% or more of its outstanding capital stock), by all nominees for Director, by
executive officers, and by all Directors and executive officers as a group is
set forth below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Amount and Nature
                                                                       of Beneficial         Percent
                                    Name                               Ownership(1)          of Class                            
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          <S>                                                            <C>                  <C>
          Blue Chip Stamps                                               5,703,087(2)         80.102%
          William T. Caspers                                                 5,750(3)           *
          Elizabeth Caspers Peters                                          95,993(4)          1.348
          David K. Robinson                                                    300              *
          Robert E. Sahm                                                        50              *
          All Directors and executive officers as a group                  102,093             1.434(3,4,5)
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
 * Less than 1%.
 
(1) Beneficial owner has sole voting and investment power, and economic
    interest, except as indicated.
 
(2) Voting and investment power may be deemed to be controlled by Warren E.
    Buffett by virtue of the relationships described on page 4.
 
(3) Includes 3,200 shares held by a trust of which Mr. Caspers is trustee and
    income beneficiary.
 
(4) Includes 16,843 shares held by a trust of which Mrs. Peters is a co-trustee
    with her children and income beneficiary.
 
(5) Does not include the 5,703,087 shares (80.102%) held by Blue Chip, of which
    Wesco Directors Charles T. Munger and Robert H. Bird are directors and
    executive officers.
 
             BOARD OF DIRECTOR INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     Charles T. Munger, Chairman of the Board of Wesco, is also Chairman of the
Board of Blue Chip and Vice Chairman of the Board of Berkshire. Mr. Munger
directly owns 19,429 shares (1.6%) of Berkshire.
 
                REQUIREMENTS FOR REPORTING SECURITIES OWNERSHIP
 
     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires Wesco's
executive officers and Directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered class of Wesco's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and
changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
American Stock Exchange. Executive officers, Directors and shareholders owning
more than ten percent are required by SEC regulation to furnish Wesco with
copies of all such Section 16(a) reports they file.
 
     Based solely on its review of the copies of such Section 16(a) reports
received by it, or written representations from certain persons subject to
Section 16(a) reporting that no such reports were required to be filed, Wesco
believes that its executive officers, Directors, and beneficial owners of more
than ten percent complied with all applicable filing requirements during 1994.
 
                            COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS
 
     Wesco has a standing Audit Committee whose members are William T. Caspers,
Chairman; Carolyn H. Carlburg; James N. Gamble; and David K. Robinson. The
primary functions of the Audit Committee are to recommend to the Board of
Directors a firm of independent auditors to examine and report on the financial
statements; to review the audited financial statements and the results of the
audit; and to inquire into important
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
internal control, accounting and financial reporting matters. Wesco does not
have nominating, compensation, or other committees.
 
     The Board of Directors held six regularly scheduled meetings during the
year 1994. The Audit Committee held one meeting during the year 1994. No
Director attended fewer than 75 percent of the combined total number of meetings
of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee (if a member thereof) held during
the year.
 
                COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     Directors who are not officers currently receive an annual fee of $3,600,
plus $300 for each special meeting which they attend. The Chairman of the Audit
Committee receives an annual fee of $1,800. Other members of the Audit Committee
receive $300 for each meeting attended.
 
     The following table shows compensation paid by Wesco and its subsidiaries
to its Chief Executive Officer and its other executive officers for the three
years ended December 31, 1994.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Annual Compensation
                                                                  -------------------------------------
     Name and Capacity                                                                     All Other
     in Which Served                                     Year     Salary(1)    Bonus(2)  Compensation(3)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                      <C>      <C>          <C>       <C>
     Charles T. Munger -- Chairman of the Board and      1994     $     --     $    --       $   --
       Chief Executive Officer, Wesco and, through       1993           --          --        2,107
       December 1993, Mutual Savings; President,         1992           --          --        2,097
       Wesco prior to July 1992.                                                      
     
     Robert H. Bird -- President, Wesco since July       1994      180,000          --           --
       1992, Mutual Savings from July 1992 through       1993      200,000          --        1,478 
       December 1993, and MS Property Company since      1992       96,000          --        1,439
       October 1993;  Vice Chairman, Wesco and           
       Mutual Savings prior to July 1992.
 
     Jeffrey L. Jacobson -- Vice President and Chief     1994      120,000          --           --
       Financial Officer, Wesco, Mutual Savings through  1993      125,000          --           --
       December 1993, and MS Property Company since      1992      117,600          --           --
       October 1993.
 
     Robert E. Sahm -- Vice President, Wesco; Senior     1994      122,400      10,600           --
       Vice President, Mutual Savings through            1993      117,600       9,800           --
       December 1993, and MS Property since              1992      108,000       9,000           --
       October 1993.                                        
                                                         
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Messrs. Munger, Bird and Jacobson are employees of, and compensated by, Blue
    Chip but spend part or most of their time on the activities of Wesco and its
    subsidiaries. The figures represent the amounts paid to Blue Chip by Wesco
    and its subsidiaries for the services of Messrs. Bird and Jacobson during
    the three years shown. Blue Chip was not compensated by Wesco or its
    subsidiaries for Mr. Munger's services during the three-year period or for
    Mr. Bird's prior to July 1992. Mr. Munger was paid a total of $100,000 by
    Blue Chip for each of the three years shown.
 
(2) Mr. Sahm's bonus is based on a longevity-of-service formula applicable to
    all employees of Wesco, Mutual Savings and MS Property Company and is equal
    to one month's salary.
 
(3) The Chairman of the Audit Committee and his dependents have been eligible
    for coverage under a health and dental insurance program maintained by a
    wholly owned subsidiary. Prior to 1994, that benefit was also made available
    to all Directors and their dependents. The amount shown as "All Other
    Compensation" represents the portion of the cost of such coverage which was
    provided the Director at no charge but would have been charged had the
    Director been an employee. The corresponding cost for the Audit Committee
    Chairman and his dependents was $2,110 in 1994.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
     Until October 8, 1993, Mutual Savings maintained a non-contributory pension
plan, which provided retirement benefits for all Mutual Savings and Wesco
employees. Company contributions were actuarially determined to provide a trust
fund with assets sufficient for the payment of benefits. No company
contributions were required for several years prior to plan termination because
the plan was overfunded. Benefits were payable under the plan to eligible
participants at retirement, either monthly or in an actuarially determined lump
sum. The normal benefit for a person retiring at age 65 with 20 years of service
was equal to 20% of final average compensation plus 13% of such compensation in
excess of average maximum compensation used for social security purposes. An
adjustment was made if a person retiring was older or younger than age 65, or
had more or less than 20 years of service.
 
     The pension plan was terminated effective October 8, 1993 and all employees
of Wesco and Mutual Savings became vested. In November 1994, after receipt of
regulatory approvals, all plan assets were distributed to the benefit of plan
participants. Distributions comprised (1) a benefit based on compensation and
years of service through plan termination date and (2) a pro rata share of the
amount by which the plan was overfunded. Mr. Sahm, who had 29 years of credited
service, received a total distribution of $466,763. Messrs. Munger, Bird and
Jacobson were not covered by the plan.
 
                       REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION*
 
     Wesco's program of executive compensation is believed different from most
public corporations' programs. Messrs. Munger, Bird and Jacobson are not
employees of Wesco or a Wesco subsidiary, nor are they remunerated directly by
Wesco or a Wesco subsidiary for their services. All three are employed by, and
constitute the board of directors of, Blue Chip. Wesco and its subsidiaries
reimburse Blue Chip for the services of Messrs. Bird and Jacobson based on Blue
Chip's cost of their compensation, including related taxes and benefits, and an
estimate of the relative time each individual devotes to the business of each
company. Wesco and its subsidiaries do not reimburse Blue Chip for Mr. Munger's
services.
 
     The Board of Directors of Wesco, at least annually, reviews and approves
the compensation of, or any reimbursement to Blue Chip for, Wesco's executive
officers based on the recommendation of Mr. Munger. Factors considered annually
by Mr. Munger are typically subjective and include individual performance,
changes in responsibility and inflation. Neither the profitability of Wesco nor
the market price of Wesco's stock is considered in setting executive
compensation.
- ---------------
 
* Submitted by the Wesco Board of Directors: Charles T. Munger, Robert H. Bird,
  Carolyn H. Carlburg, William T. Caspers, James N. Gamble, Elizabeth Caspers
  Peters and David K. Robinson.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
                            STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
     The following graph compares the value of $100 invested in Wesco capital
stock from December 31, 1989 through December 31, 1994 with similar investments
in the Standard and Poor's ("S&P") 500 Stock Index, the S&P Property-Casualty
Insurance Index and the S&P Financial Index,* assuming reinvestment of
dividends.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         S&P
                                        Wesco            S&P           Property-        S&P
      Measurement Period              Financial       500 Stock        Casualty      Financial
    (Fiscal Year Covered)               Corp.           Index          Insurance       Index
    ---------------------             ---------       ---------        ---------     ----------
<S>                                     <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
1989                                       100             100             100             100
1990                                     78.17            96.9           97.71           78.57
1991                                    119.96          126.42          122.33          118.43
1992                                    139.34          136.05          143.26          146.11
1993                                    219.25          149.76          140.73          162.33
1994                                    196.51          151.74          147.62          159.59
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* There is still considerable diversity in Wesco's operations, and thus Wesco is
  not believed to be a member of any peer group of companies whose stocks could
  be indexed for meaningful comparison. However, with the withdrawal of Mutual
  Savings from the savings and loan business in October 1993, the principal
  activity of the Wesco consolidated group has clearly become the property and
  casualty insurance business. Thus, the S&P Property-Casualty Index, among
  others, is now included for those wishing to make a comparison with Wesco's
  stock performance.
 
                         INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
     Upon recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors has
selected Deloitte & Touche as the independent public accounting firm for Wesco
and its subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 1995. It is expected said
firm will perform services similar to those rendered in 1994. Representatives
from Deloitte & Touche are expected to be present at the May 17, 1995 annual
meeting of shareholders; they will be given the opportunity to make a statement
if they so desire and to respond to any appropriate questions.
 
                           PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
     Any shareholder wishing to present a proposal at the annual meeting of
shareholders expected to be held in May 1996 must submit the proposal to Wesco
by December 10, 1995. The proposal must be in accordance with the provisions of
Rule 14a-8 of Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. It is
suggested the proposal be submitted by certified mail -- return receipt
requested.
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
     As far as Wesco is aware, there are no other matters to be brought before
the May 17, 1995 annual meeting other than the election of Directors and the
approval of the accuracy of the minutes of Wesco's last shareholders' meeting.
Should any other matters come before the meeting, action will be taken thereon
by the persons appointed as proxies on the accompanying form of proxy, or their
substitutes, according to their discretion.

                                       By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                              Margery A. Patrick
                                                   Secretary
Pasadena, California
April 3, 1995
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
                                                                     Please mark
                                                                /X/  your votes
                                                                      like this


                                ---------------
                                     COMMON

1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until
    their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified.

                                     WITHHOLD
                              FOR    AUTHORITY
    all nominees listed       / /      / /          to vote for all 
    at the right (except                            nominees listed at the 
    as marked to the                                right         
    contrary)

    Charles T. Munger, Robert H. Bird, Carolyn H. Carlburg, William T. Caspers,
    James N. Gamble, Elizabeth Caspers Peters, David K. Robinson

    INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE,
    LINE THROUGH HIS OR HER NAME ABOVE.

2.  In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
    business as may properly come before the meeting.



This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein
by the undersigned shareholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE ELECTION AS DIRECTORS OF ALL NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1.

Please sign exactly as name appears herein. If shares are held by joint tenants,
both should sign. If signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, please give full title as such. If signing on behalf of a corporation,
an authorized officer such as the president should sign in full corporate name
together with signature and title. If signing on behalf of a partnership, an
authorized person should sign in full partnership name together with signature
and position.

Dated:                     , 1995
      ---------------------


- --------------------------------------------------
Signature

- --------------------------------------------------



PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.


<PAGE>   11

PROXY

                         WESCO FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                   PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                                 MAY 17, 1995


         THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints CHARLES T. MUNGER and MARGERY A. PATRICK,
or either of them, as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his or
her substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as
directed on the other side hereof, all shares of capital stock of WESCO
FINANCIAL CORPORATION held of record by the undersigned on March 27, 1995 at
the annual meeting of shareholders to be held in the banquet room of Pasadena
Cafeteria, 325 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California, on Wednesday, May
17, 1995, at 4:00 p.m., or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

                (Continued and to be signed on the other side)



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