CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORP
PRER14A, 1996-06-04
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. 1)

Filed by Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the
appropriate box:

[X]  Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]  Confidential,  for Use of the  Commission  Only  (as  permitted  by Rule
     14a-6(e)(2))
[ ]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-11(c) or ss.240.14a-12

                          Capital Southwest Corporation

                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  $125 per Exchange Act Rules  0-11(c)(1)(ii),  14a-6(i)(1),  14a-6(i)(2)  or
     Item 22(a)(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 14-a6(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 (set forth the amount on which the
          filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):


     4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:


     5)   Total fee paid:


[X]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ] 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>

                                                                    June 5, 1996



To the Shareholders of Capital Southwest Corporation:

     The  Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  of our  Corporation  will be held on
Monday, July 15, 1996, at 10:00 a.m. in the North Dallas Bank Tower Meeting Room
(First Floor), 12900 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas.

     A Notice of the Annual Meeting,  a Proxy and a Proxy  Statement  containing
information  about  matters  to be acted upon are  enclosed.  In  addition,  the
Capital Southwest  Corporation Annual Report for the fiscal year ended March 31,
1996 is enclosed and  provides  information  regarding  the  performance  of the
Corporation  during the past year.  Holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote
on the basis of one vote for each share held. If you attend the Annual  Meeting,
you retain the right to vote in person  even  though you  previously  mailed the
enclosed Proxy.

     It is important that your shares be  represented at the meeting  whether or
not you are  personally in  attendance.  Please  review the Proxy  Statement and
sign,  date and return the enclosed Proxy at your earliest  convenience.  I look
forward to meeting  with you and,  together  with our  directors  and  officers,
discussing the Corporation's business. I hope you will be present.

                                                           Very truly yours,


                                                           William R. Thomas
                                                           Chairman of the Board
                                                           and President


<PAGE>
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD JULY 15, 1996

To the Shareholders of Capital Southwest Corporation:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual  Meeting of the  Shareholders  of Capital
Southwest Corporation, a Texas corporation (the "Corporation"),  will be held on
Monday,  July 15, 1996,  at 10:00 a.m.,  Dallas time, in the Meeting Room (First
Floor) of the North Dallas Bank Tower,  12900 Preston Road,  Dallas,  Texas, for
the following purposes:

1.   To  elect  five  directors  to  serve  until  the next  Annual  Meeting  of
     Shareholders  or until  their  respective  successors  shall be elected and
     qualified;

2.   To approve the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as independent auditors
     for the Corporation;

3.   To consider  and vote upon a proposal to amend the  fundamental  investment
     policies of the Corporation, as set forth in its filings with the SEC under
     the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,  subject to compliance with
     the terms of a pending  exemptive  order for which an application  has been
     submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC");

4.   To consider  and vote upon a proposal to amend the  fundamental  investment
     policies of the Corporation's  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Capital Southwest
     Venture  Corporation,  as set forth in its  filings  with the SEC under the
     Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,  subject to compliance with the
     terms of a  pending  exemptive  order  for  which an  application  has been
     submitted to the SEC; and

5.   To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and
     any adjournment thereof.

Only  holders  of  Common  Stock of the  Corporation  of  record at the close of
business  on May 31,  1996 will be  entitled  to notice  of, and to vote at, the
meeting and any adjournment thereof.

If you do not expect to attend in person,  please  sign and return the  enclosed
proxy.

                                              By Order of the Board of Directors
                                              TIM SMITH
                                              Secretary
Dallas, Texas
June 5, 1996


<PAGE>

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                       FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD JULY 15, 1996

     This Proxy  Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation by
the Board of Directors of Capital  Southwest  Corporation,  a Texas  corporation
(the  "Corporation"),   of  proxies  to  be  voted  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders to be held on July 15, 1996 or any adjournment thereof. The date on
which this Proxy  Statement  and the enclosed form of proxy are first being sent
or given to shareholders of the Corporation is on or about June 5, 1996.

                             PURPOSES OF THE MEETING

     The Annual  Meeting of the  Shareholders  is to be held for the purposes of
(1) electing  five persons to serve as  directors of the  Corporation  until the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders,  or until their respective successors shall
be elected  and  qualified  (see  ELECTION  OF  DIRECTORS);  (2)  approving  the
appointment  by the Board of Directors  of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as  independent
auditors  for the  Corporation  (see  APPROVAL  OF  APPOINTMENT  OF  INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS);  (3) voting  upon the  proposal to amend the  fundamental  investment
policies of the Corporation (see AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES OF
THE  CORPORATION);  (4)  voting  upon  the  proposal  to amend  the  fundamental
investment  policies of Capital  Southwest  Venture  Corporation  ("CSVC")  (see
AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL  INVESTMENT POLICIES OF CSVC); and (5) transacting such
other  business  as may  properly  come  before the  meeting or any  adjournment
thereof.

     To be elected a director,  each nominee must receive the favorable  vote of
the  holders of a majority  of the shares of Common  Stock  entitled to vote and
represented at the Annual  Meeting.  In order to ratify the  appointment of KPMG
Peat Marwick LLP as independent auditors for the Corporation for the year ending
March 31, 1997, the  ratification  proposal must receive the favorable vote of a
majority of the shares of Common Stock  entitled to vote and  represented at the
Annual Meeting.

     The  affirmative  votes of the holders of a majority  of the  Corporation's
outstanding  voting  securities  (Common  Stock) are  required  to  approve  the
amendment of the  fundamental  investment  policies of the  Corporation  and the
amendment of the fundamental investment policies of its wholly-owned subsidiary,
CSVC.  As defined in the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act"), the term "majority of the [Corporation's]  outstanding voting securities"
means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the [Corporation's] Common Stock present at
the meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding Common Stock are
present or  represented by proxy,  or (ii) more than 50% of the  [Corporation's]
outstanding Common Stock, whichever is less.


                                       1
<PAGE>


     The Board of Directors  unanimously  recommends that the shareholders  vote
FOR the election as directors of the persons named under  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS,
FOR the  approval of the  appointment  of KPMG Peat  Marwick LLP as  independent
auditors,  FOR the proposal to amend the fundamental  investment policies of the
Corporation,  and FOR the proposal to amend the fundamental  investment policies
of CSVC.

                              VOTING AT THE MEETING

     The record date for holders of Common  Stock  entitled to notice of, and to
vote at, the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders is the close of business on May 31,
1996, at which time the  Corporation had outstanding and entitled to vote at the
meeting 3,767,051 shares of Common Stock.

     The  presence,  in person or by proxy,  of the holders of a majority of the
shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is
necessary to constitute a quorum. In deciding all questions, a shareholder shall
be entitled to one vote,  in person or by proxy,  for each share of Common Stock
held in his name at the close of business on the record date.  Shareholders  who
are present,  in person or by proxy, but abstain from voting on any item will be
counted as present at the meeting,  but not voting on any such item.  Similarly,
nominees (such as  broker-dealers)  who are present,  in person or by proxy, but
abstain or refrain  from  voting on any item,  will be counted as present at the
meeting, but not voting on any such item.

     Each proxy delivered to the Corporation,  unless the shareholder  otherwise
specifies  therein,  will be voted FOR the  election as directors of the persons
named  under  ELECTION  OF  DIRECTORS  (PROPOSAL  1),  FOR the  approval  of the
appointment  by the Board of Directors  of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as  independent
auditors  (PROPOSAL  2), FOR the  proposal to amend the  fundamental  investment
policies  of the  Corporation  (PROPOSAL  3) and FOR the  proposal  to amend the
fundamental  investment  policies of CSVC  (PROPOSAL  4). In each case where the
shareholder has appropriately specified how the proxy is to be voted, it will be
voted in accordance with his  specification.  As to any other matter or business
which may be brought  before the  meeting,  a vote may be cast  pursuant  to the
accompanying  proxy in  accordance  with the  judgment  of the person or persons
voting  the same,  but  neither  management  nor the Board of  Directors  of the
Corporation knows of any such other matter or business.  Any shareholder has the
power to revoke  his proxy at any time  insofar as it is then not  exercised  by
giving  notice of such  revocation,  either  personally  or in  writing,  to the
Secretary of the Corporation or by the execution and delivery to the Corporation
of a new proxy dated subsequent to the original proxy.

     In the event a quorum is present at the Annual  Meeting,  but  insufficient
affirmative  votes have been obtained to approve  PROPOSAL 3 and PROPOSAL 4, the
Board of  Directors  may elect to  adjourn  the  meeting  to allow more time for
soliciting  affirmative  votes.  If such an adjournment is proposed,  each proxy
delivered  to the  Corporation  which  contains  a vote  against  PROPOSAL  3 or
PROPOSAL 4 or abstains or fails to vote on either  PROPOSAL 3 or PROPOSAL 4 will
be voted  against such  adjournment.  All proxies  delivered to the  Corporation
which  contain a vote for both  PROPOSAL 3 and  PROPOSAL 4 will be voted for any
such adjournment proposal.


                                       2
<PAGE>


                  STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

     The  following  table sets forth  certain  information  with respect to the
beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Corporation as of May 1, 1996 by (1)
each person, so far as is known to the management of the Corporation, who is the
beneficial  owner (as that term is defined in the rules and  regulations  of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission) of more than 5% of the  outstanding  Common
Stock, (2) each executive officer listed in the Summary  Compensation Table, and
(3) all directors and executive officers of the Corporation as a group.

          Name and Address                   Shares Owned                Percent
         of Beneficial Owner                 Beneficially               of Class
         -------------------                 ------------               --------

William R. Thomas
12900 Preston Rd., Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75230....................     1,177,955 (1)(2)(3)            31.2%

J. Bruce Duty
12900 Preston Rd., Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75230....................     646,867 (1)(2)                 17.2

David M. Smith
2830 Produce Row
Houston, Texas  77021..................     247,226 (1)                     6.6

U.S. Trust Corporation
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036...............     219,350 (4)                     5.8

Gary L. Martin
930 Whitmore Dr.
Rockwall, Texas 75087..................     200,736 (1)(2)                  5.3

Harris Associates L.P.
Two North LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL  60602.....................     193,416 (5)                     5.1

Tim Smith..............................     101,144 (1)(2)                  2.7

Patrick F. Hamner......................      29,104 (2)                     0.8


                                       3
<PAGE>


       Name and Address                         Shares Owned             Percent
     of Beneficial Owner                        Beneficially            of Class

All directors and executive officers
as a group (9 persons)......................    1,374,189  (6)              36.1

     (1)  Messrs.  Duty and Thomas  constitute  a majority  of the  trustees  of
certain trusts  pursuant to employee stock  ownership plans for employees of the
Corporation and its wholly-owned  subsidiaries  owning 515,047 shares,  with the
power as trustees to vote such shares.  Messrs. Duty and Thomas also participate
in the power to direct  the  trustees  in the voting of 88,144  shares  owned by
trusts  pursuant to a pension plan for employees of the  Corporation and certain
wholly-owned  subsidiaries of the  Corporation.  Accordingly,  Messrs.  Duty and
Thomas  have  shared  voting and  investment  power with  respect to the 603,191
shares,  representing  16.0% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation,
owned by the  aforementioned  trusts.  Under the rules  and  regulations  of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  Messrs. Duty and Thomas are both deemed to
be the beneficial owners of such 603,191 shares which are included in the shares
beneficially owned by Messrs. Duty and Thomas.

     Mr. Martin serves as trustee,  with Messrs.  Duty and Thomas, of one of the
aforementioned  trusts owning 104,082 shares. Under the rules and regulations of
the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  Mr.  Martin  is  deemed  to be  the
beneficial  owner of such  104,082  shares  which  are  included  in the  shares
beneficially owned by Mr. Martin.

     Mr. D. Smith,  President  of The  RectorSeal  Corporation,  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Corporation,  serves as trustee, with Messrs. Duty and Thomas,
of one of the aforementioned  trusts owning 240,501 shares.  Under the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. D. Smith is deemed to
be the beneficial  owner of such 240,501 shares which are included in the shares
beneficially owned by Mr. D. Smith.

     Of the shares owned by trusts pursuant to the aforementioned employee stock
ownership plans, 15,316, 3,286 and 16,924 were allocated to Messrs. Duty, Martin
and D. Smith, respectively, all of which were vested.

     Mr. T. Smith,  with Messrs.  Duty and Thomas,  participates in the power to
direct the trustees in the voting of 88,144 shares owned by trusts pursuant to a
pension  plan  for  employees  of  the  Corporation  and  certain   wholly-owned
subsidiaries  of  the  Corporation.  Under  the  rules  and  regulations  of the
Securities and Exchange Commission,  Mr. T. Smith is deemed to be the beneficial
owner of such 88,144 shares which are included in the shares  beneficially owned
by Mr. T. Smith.

     (2)  Includes  8,400,  5,600,  4,385,  3,000 and 10,040  shares  subject to
immediately  exercisable stock options held by Messrs.  Thomas, Duty, Martin, T.
Smith and Hamner, respectively.


                                       4
<PAGE>



     (3) Mr. Thomas has sole voting and investment power with respect to 290,000
shares,  and shared voting and  investment  power with respect to 276,364 shares
which  include  69,839  shares owned by his  children,  as to which he disclaims
beneficial  ownership,  and 206,525  shares owned by Thomas  Heritage  Partners,
Ltd., in which Mr. Thomas has a 65.7% limited partnership  interest.  Mr. Thomas
holds a majority  membership  interest in and is  President  and sole manager of
Thomas  Heritage  Company,  LLC,  the sole  general  partner of Thomas  Heritage
Partners, Ltd.

     (4)  As  reported  to the  Corporation  by  U.S.  Trust  Corporation,  that
corporation has shared dispositive power and shared voting power with respect to
219,350  shares  via  either  a  trust/fiduciary  capacity  and/or  a  portfolio
management/agency relationship with the persons who own the shares.

     (5)  As  reported  to the  Corporation  by  Harris  Associates  L.P.,  that
partnership has sole  dispositive  power with respect to 105,316 shares,  shared
dispositive  power with  respect to 88,100  shares and shared  voting power with
respect to 193,416  shares by reasons of advisory and other  relationships  with
the persons who own the shares.

     (6) Includes (i) the shares owned by the trusts and partnership referred to
in Notes (1) and (3),  respectively,  to the above  table,  (ii)  37,025  shares
subject to immediately exercisable stock options (including those referred to in
Note (2) to the above table),  (iii) 1,500 shares held in a retirement trust for
the benefit of a director of the  Corporation  and (iv) 69,839  shares  owned by
immediate  family  members  of Mr.  Thomas  (as to  which  shares  he  disclaims
beneficial  ownership).  If the 52,975 shares  subject to stock  options  became
exercisable  pursuant to terms of the stock  option plan related to a "change in
control"  of the  Corporation  (see  COMPENSATION  OF  DIRECTORS  AND  EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS - Incentive Stock Option Plan), all executive officers and directors as
a group would,  upon  exercise of such  options,  beneficially  own 37.4% of the
outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation.

                       ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (PROPOSAL 1)

     Five directors are proposed to be elected at the meeting to serve until the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their  respective  successors shall
be elected and qualified.  The persons named in the  accompanying  form of proxy
intend to vote such  proxy  for the  election  of the  nominees  named  below as
directors  of the  Corporation  to  serve  until  the  next  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders  or  until  their  respective   successors  shall  be  elected  and
qualified,  unless  otherwise  properly  indicated on such proxy. If any nominee
shall become  unavailable for any reason,  the persons named in the accompanying
form of proxy  are  expected  to  consult  with the  Board of  Directors  of the
Corporation in voting the shares represented by them at the Annual Meeting.  The
Board of  Directors  has no  reason  to  doubt  the  availability  of any of the
nominees  and no reason to believe  that any of the  nominees  will be unable or
unwilling to serve the entire term for which election is sought.


                                       5
<PAGE>


     The names of the nominees,  along with certain information concerning them,
are set forth below.

GRAEME W. HENDERSON

     Mr.  Henderson,  age 62, has been a director of the Corporation  since 1976
and previously  served as a director of the  Corporation  from 1962 to 1964. Mr.
Henderson has been  self-employed  as a private investor and consultant for more
than five years.  Mr.  Henderson  also serves as a director of Starwood  Lodging
Corporation.

*GARY L. MARTIN

     Mr. Martin,  age 49, has been a director of the Corporation since July 1988
and has  served  as Vice  President  of the  Corporation  since  July  1984.  He
previously  served as Vice President of the Corporation from 1978 to 1980. Since
1980, Mr. Martin has served as President of The Whitmore  Manufacturing Company,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

JAMES M. NOLAN

     Mr. Nolan, age 62, has been a director of the Corporation  since July 1980.
He  has  been  self-employed  as  a  private  investor  and  consultant  to  the
telecommunications  industry  since 1978. Mr. Nolan also serves as a director of
DSC Communications Corporation.

*WILLIAM R. THOMAS

     Mr. Thomas, age 67, has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation  since July 1982 and  President of the  Corporation  since 1980.  In
addition,  he has  been a  director  of  the  Corporation  since  1972  and  was
previously  Senior Vice  President  of the  Corporation  from 1969 to 1980.  Mr.
Thomas also serves as a director  of Alamo Group Inc.,  Encore Wire  Corporation
and Palm Harbor Homes, Inc.

JOHN H. WILSON

     Mr. Wilson, age 53, has been a director of the Corporation since July 1988.
He has been President of U. S. Equity Corporation,  a venture capital investment
firm,  since April  1983.  Mr.  Wilson  also  serves as a director of  Whitehall
Corporation,  Norwood  Promotional  Products,  Inc., Encore Wire Corporation and
Palm Harbor Homes, Inc.

     The following table sets forth the name of each nominee for election to the
Board of Directors of the  Corporation  and the amount and  percentage of Common
Stock of the  Corporation  beneficially  owned (as that term is  defined  in the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) by each nominee
as of May 1, 1996.


                                       6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                  Shares Owned           Percent
               Name of Nominee                   Beneficially<F1>       of Class
               ---------------                   ---------------        --------
<S>                                              <C>                    <C>
 Graeme W. Henderson.............................    4,700  <F2>             ** 
*Gary L. Martin .................................  200,736  <F3>            5.3%
 James M. Nolan..................................    2,500                   **
*William R. Thomas ..............................1,177,955  <F4>           31.2%
 John H. Wilson..................................    1,000                   **

*    Messrs.  Martin and Thomas are "interested persons" as that term is defined
     in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

**   less than 1%
<FN>
<F1> Unless otherwise  indicated  below,  each of the persons named in the above
     table has sole  voting  and  investment  power  with  respect to the shares
     indicated to be beneficially owned.

<F2> Includes  1,500  shares held by a  retirement  trust for the benefit of Mr.
     Henderson.

<F3> Includes an  aggregate  of 104,082  shares  owned on May 1, 1996 by a trust
     pursuant to an employee stock  ownership plan for employees of The Whitmore
     Manufacturing  Company, a wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Corporation.  Mr.
     Martin is deemed the beneficial owner of the 104,082 shares, and has shared
     voting and  investment  power with respect to such shares.  See Note (1) of
     the table under STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS for additional
     information about such trust and beneficial ownership.

     Also includes 4,385 shares subject to immediately exercisable stock options
     held by Mr. Martin.

<F4> Includes an  aggregate  of 603,191  shares  owned on May 1, 1996 by certain
     trusts  pursuant to benefit plans for employees of the  Corporation and its
     wholly-owned subsidiaries. Mr. Thomas is deemed the beneficial owner of the
     603,191 shares,  and has shared voting and investment power with respect to
     such  shares.  See Note (1) of the table under STOCK  OWNERSHIP  OF CERTAIN
     BENEFICIAL   OWNERS  for  additional   information  about  such  trust  and
     beneficial ownership.

     Mr.  Thomas has sole voting and  investment  power with  respect to 290,000
     shares,  and shared  voting and  investment  power with  respect to 276,364
     shares which include  69,839  shares owned by his children,  as to which he
     disclaims beneficial ownership, and 206,525 shares owned by Thomas Heritage
     Partners,  Ltd.,  in  which  Mr.  Thomas  has a 65.7%  limited  partnership
     interest.  Mr.  Thomas  holds  a  majority  membership  interest  in and is
     President  and sole  manager  of Thomas  Heritage  Company,  LLC,  the sole
     general partner of Thomas Heritage Partners, Ltd.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                       7
<PAGE>



      COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  requires
the officers and directors of the Corporation and persons who  beneficially  own
more than ten  percent  of the  Corporation's  common  stock to file  reports of
securities  ownership  and changes in such  ownership  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  (the  "SEC").  Officers,  directors  and greater  than ten
percent  beneficial  owners also are required by rules promulgated by the SEC to
furnish the Corporation with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

     Based  solely  upon a review of the copies of such forms  furnished  to the
Corporation,  or written  representations  that no Form 5 filings were required,
the Corporation  believes that each of its officers,  directors and greater than
ten  percent   beneficial   owners   complied  with  all  Section  16(a)  filing
requirements applicable to them during the year ended March 31, 1996.

                MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The  Board  of  Directors  of the  Corporation  has  established  an  Audit
Committee and a  Compensation  Committee to assist the Board in carrying out its
duties.  The Audit  Committee  makes  recommendations  to the Board of Directors
regarding  the  engagement of the  independent  auditors for audit and non-audit
services;  evaluates  the  independence  of the  auditors;  and reviews with the
independent  auditors the fee, scope and timing of audit and non-audit services.
The  Compensation  Committee  periodically  reviews the  compensation,  employee
benefit  plans and other  fringe  benefits  paid to or provided for officers and
directors of the  Corporation  and  approves the annual  salaries and bonuses of
officers  of the  Corporation.  The  Corporation  does  not  have  a  Nominating
Committee.

     Messrs.  Graeme  W.  Henderson,  James  M.  Nolan  and John H.  Wilson  are
presently  members  of both the Audit and  Compensation  Committees.  During the
fiscal year of the Corporation  ended March 31, 1996,  nine meetings  (including
five telephone  meetings) of the Board of Directors were held. In addition,  two
meetings of the  Compensation  Committee and two meetings of the Audit Committee
were held.  Each of the directors  attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate
of (1) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors  and (2) the total
number of meetings held by all committees on which he served,  except Mr. Nolan,
who attended 54 percent of such meetings.

                                       8
<PAGE>


                                PERFORMANCE GRAPH

     The following graph compares the Corporation's cumulative total stockholder
return during the last five years (based on the market price of the common stock
and assuming reinvestment of all dividends and tax credits on retained long-term
capital  gains) with the Total  Return  Index for the Nasdaq  Stock Market (U.S.
Companies) and with the Total Return Index for Nasdaq Financial Stocks,  both of
which indices have been  prepared by the Center for Research in Security  Prices
at the University of Chicago.

                Comparison of Five Year Cumulative Total Returns


                                [GRAPHIC OMITTED]



                                       9
<PAGE>




                COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Compensation of Directors

     In addition to  reimbursement  of travel  expenses for  attendance at board
meetings,  a director  who is not an  employee  of the  Corporation  receives an
annual  fee of $12,000  for  service  as a  director  and $6,000 for  service as
chairman of a committee of the Board of Directors.  In addition,  a director who
is not an  employee  of the  Corporation  receives  $1,000  for each  directors'
meeting  (excluding  telephone  meetings)  and $500 for each  committee  meeting
attended,  subject to a maximum of $6,000 per year in  aggregate  meeting  fees.
Directors' meetings are normally held on a quarterly basis.

Report of the Compensation Committee

The goals of the Corporation's  compensation program are to attract,  retain and
motivate  competent  executive  officers who have the  experience and ability to
contribute  materially  to the  success  of the  Corporation's  venture  capital
investment  activities.  The  individual  judgments  made  by  the  Compensation
Committee are subjective and are based largely on the Committee's  perception of
each  executive's  contribution  to both the past  performance and the long-term
growth potential of the Corporation.  The principal elements of compensation for
executive officers are base salary,  discretionary bonus payments, stock options
granted under the Incentive Stock Option Plan and contributions  pursuant to the
Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

Base  salaries  were  determined  by the  Committee in July 1995 for each of the
executive officers on an individual basis, taking into consideration  individual
contributions  to the  Corporation's  performance,  length  of  tenure  with the
Corporation,  surveys  of  compensation  levels  for  comparable  positions  and
internal  equities  among  positions.  In addition to base  salaries,  executive
officers  received  bonus  payments  in March  1996,  the  amounts of which were
determined by the Committee on a discretionary  basis, taking into consideration
individual   performance  and  the  Corporation's   overall  performance,   with
particular emphasis on the achievement of long-term investment objectives.

Under the terms of the  Corporation's  1984 Incentive  Stock Option Plan,  which
expired  in 1994,  the  Committee  from time to time  granted  stock  options to
executive officers to reinforce the alignment of their long-term  interests with
those of the  shareholders.  Stock  options were granted at exercise  prices not
less than the fair market  value of the stock on the date of grant and thus have
no value unless the value of the Corporation's stock appreciates. During the ten
years of the 1984 Incentive Stock Option Plan, the Committee  granted options on
a total of  294,000  shares,  of which  204,000  were  exercised  and 90,000 are
currently  unexercised.  The Committee granted no incentive stock options during
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996. An important  additional  equity incentive
is provided by the  Corporation's  Employee Stock  Ownership  Plan, to which the
Corporation   contributed   12%  of  each   participating   employee's   covered
compensation for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.

                                       10
<PAGE>


The Committee  established the base salary of the Corporation's  chief executive
officer,  William R. Thomas, in July 1995 and his  discretionary  bonus in March
1996.  Compensation  levels for Mr.  Thomas were  determined on the basis of the
factors cited in the preceding paragraph,  all of which are applicable to him as
well as other  executive  officers.  Other  relevant  factors  considered by the
Committee were the Corporation's  performance  compared with similar  investment
companies and Mr. Thomas' role in defining and  accomplishing  the Corporation's
long-term  investment  objectives and  administering  its investment  management
activities. 
                                                        Compensation Committee
                                                        James M. Nolan, Chairman
                                                        Graeme W. Henderson
                                                        John H. Wilson

Summary Compensation Table

     The  following   table  sets  forth  summary   information   regarding  the
compensation  earned by or paid to William R. Thomas,  Chairman of the Board and
President; J. Bruce Duty, Senior Vice President; Gary L. Martin, Vice President;
Patrick  F.  Hamner,   Vice  President;   and  Tim  Smith,  Vice  President  and
Secretary-Treasurer, officers of the Corporation whose total compensation earned
during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 exceeded $100,000.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     Annual Compensation

    Name and                  Fiscal                             Other Annual      All Other
Principal Position             Year      Salary         Bonus   Compensation<F1>  Compensation<F2>
- ------------------             ----      ------         -----   ----------------  ----------------
<S>                            <C>       <C>          <C>         <C>             <C>       
William R. Thomas               1996     $250,000     $150,417    $18,000         $      -
     Chairman of the            1995      250,000       30,417     15,000                -
     Board and President        1994      246,000       80,417     18,867                -

J. Bruce Duty                   1996      142,375       71,000          -           18,000
     Senior Vice President      1995      135,625       25,729      9,885            5,115
                                1994      127,400       35,417      8,141            4,885

Gary L. Martin                  1996      147,000       26,423          -                -
     Vice President             1995      143,000       27,701          -            5,115
                                1994      140,000       31,796          -            5,087

Patrick F. Hamner               1996       90,250       43,833          -           16,090
     Vice President             1995       83,750       33,542      7,730            4,000
                                1994       78,720       18,333      4,853            2,912

Tim Smith                       1996       84,500       38,583          -           14,770
       Vice President and       1995       78,750       28,333      7,057            3,652
       Secretary-Treasurer      1994       73,410       18,125      4,577            2,746

<FN>
<F1> Amounts  paid to the  executive  officer in lieu of a  contribution  to his
     account  in  an  employee  stock   ownership  plan  for  employees  of  the
     Corporation and one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the "ESOP").

<F2> Amounts contributed to the ESOP accounts of each executive officer.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                       11
<PAGE>

     The aggregate amount of perquisites and other personal benefits provided to
Messrs. Thomas, Duty, Martin, Hamner and Smith was less than 10% of the total of
annual salary and bonus of such officers.

Additional Compensation Information

     The following table sets forth additional compensation  information for the
fiscal year ended March 31,  1996 for each of the three  highest-paid  executive
officers  whose  compensation  exceeded  $60,000  (William R. Thomas and Gary L.
Martin,  both of whom are directors of the  Corporation,  and J. Bruce Duty) and
for all  other  directors  (Graeme  W.  Henderson,  James M.  Nolan  and John H.
Wilson), none of whom are employees of the Corporation.

<TABLE>

                                                        Pension or Retirement
                                    Aggregate            Benefits Accrued as        Estimated Annual
                                Compensation from       Part of Corporation's         Benefits Upon
Name and Position                the Corporation                Expenses                Retirement
- -----------------                ---------------                --------                ----------
<S>                              <C>                            <C>                     <C>
William R. Thomas <F1>              $418,417                     <F3>                     <F4>
   Director, Chairman
    and President

J. Bruce Duty <F1>                   231,375                     <F3>                     <F4>
   Senior Vice President

Gary L. Martin <F1>                  173,423                     <F3>                     <F4>
   Director and Vice
    President

Graeme W. Henderson <F2>              23,500                     None                      None
    Director

James M. Nolan <F2>                   20,000                     None                      None
   Director

John H. Wilson <F2>                   17,500                     None                      None
  Director

                                       12
<PAGE>
<FN>
<F1> See Option  Exercises and Fiscal Year End Values for information  regarding
     stock options  exercised during or held at the end of the fiscal year ended
     March 31, 1996.  See Incentive  Stock Option Plan for a description  of the
     Corporation's  1984 Incentive Stock Option Plan, which expired on April 16,
     1994; no options were granted  during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.
     See Retirement Plans for information on the  Corporation's  Retirement Plan
     and Retirement Restoration Plan. See Stock Ownership Plan for a description
     of the Corporation's Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Summary Compensation
     Table for amounts contributed to each officer's ESOP account.

<F2> Directors  who are not  employees of the  Corporation  are  compensated  as
     described under  Compensation of Directors and are not  participants in the
     Corporation's  Stock  Option  Plan,   Retirement  Plan  or  Employee  Stock
     Ownership Plan.

<F3> As  described in Note 8 to the  Corporation's  Consolidated  Statements  of
     Financial  Condition  and  Consolidated   Statements  of  Operations,   the
     Retirement  Plan was overfunded  and therefore  generated a benefit for the
     year ended March 31,  1996.  After  deducting  the expense of the  unfunded
     Retirement  Restoration Plan, the Corporation's net benefit attributable to
     both  plans  was  $208,701   for  the  year  ended  March  31,  1996.   The
     Corporation's net benefit is not allocated to individual plan participants.

<F4> Individual  retirement  benefits are based on formulas relating benefits to
     average final  compensation and years of credited  service.  See Retirement
     Plans which includes a table of estimated annual retirement benefits.


</FN>
</TABLE>

Option Exercises and Fiscal Year End Values

     The  following  table   discloses,   for  the  named  executive   officers,
information  regarding stock options  exercised  during,  or held at the end of,
fiscal 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                    Number of Securities         Value of Unexercised
                      Shares                      Underlying Unexercised         In-the-Money Options
                    Acquired on      Value          Options at 3/31/96              at 3/31/96 <F2>
Name                Exercise (#)  Realized <F1> Exercisable(#)Unexercisable(#)  Exercisable Unexercisable
- ------------       ------------  ------------  ------------------------------  ------------------------
<S>                 <C>           <C>          <C>              <C>           <C>         <C>
William R. Thomas       -         $       -       8,400          5,600        $174,825    $116,550

J. Bruce Duty        10,000         220,000       5,600          8,400         136,500     204,750

Gary L. Martin        2,000          39,500       4,385          9,615         106,884     234,366

Patrick F. Hamner    10,000         311,250      10,040          9,960         318,975     242,775

Tim Smith            10,000         182,500       3,000         11,000          73,125     268,125


<FN>
<F1> Value  realized  is  calculated  as the  fair  market  value on the date of
     exercise net of the option exercise  price,  but before any tax liabilities
     or transaction costs.

<F2> Value of  unexercised  options is calculated as the closing market price on
     March 31, 1996 ($60.00) net of the option exercise  prices,  but before any
     tax liabilities or transaction costs.
</FN>
</TABLE>
                                       13
<PAGE>

Incentive Stock Option Plan

     The  Corporation's  1984  Incentive  Stock  Option Plan (the "Stock  Option
Plan"),  which  expired on April 16,  1994,  provided  for the grant of options,
intended to qualify as incentive stock options.  All regular salaried  employees
of the  Corporation  or officers of the  Corporation  who were regular  salaried
employees of the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries were eligible to receive
options. No options were granted during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.

     The  Stock  Option  Plan was  administered  by the  Corporation's  Board of
Directors,  which  approved  the  officers or  employees  to whom  options  were
granted, the number of options granted to each officer or employee, the dates of
grant, the terms and provisions of the respective  option agreements (which need
not be identical) and certain other terms and conditions  governing the options.
The  exercise  price was not less than the fair market value of the Common Stock
on the date the  option was  granted,  and the term of any option did not exceed
ten years.  The Stock  Option Plan  provided  that  outstanding  options  become
immediately  exercisable  if (i) a  person  who has not  owned 5% or more of the
Common  Stock for five  years  acquires  25% or more of the  outstanding  Common
Stock,  (ii) there is a change of a majority of the directors of the Corporation
if such new  directors  have not been approved by the  incumbent  directors,  or
(iii) a duly called  meeting of  shareholders  is held for the purpose of either
electing an opposing majority of the Board of Directors or voting upon a merger,
liquidation or sale of all the assets of the Corporation.  The potential cost of
the benefits  afforded option holders could  discourage  attempts to acquire the
Corporation.

Retirement Plans

     The foregoing Summary Compensation Table does not include any contribution,
payment or  accrual  under a  qualified  non-contributory  retirement  plan (the
"Retirement Plan") maintained by the Corporation and certain of its wholly-owned
subsidiaries  as such  amounts  cannot  readily be  separately  or  individually
calculated.  Messrs.  Duty, Hamner,  Martin, Smith and Thomas participate in the
Retirement Plan. An eligible employee or his survivor will be entitled under the
Retirement  Plan to  receive,  upon  retirement,  death or  disability,  monthly
payments based upon formulas  relating  benefits to salary and years of credited
service,  which is generally  determined by averaging the five consecutive years
of highest  compensation  prior to retirement.  Salaries and bonuses  (excluding
other annual compensation)  reported in the foregoing Summary Compensation Table
are  substantially  identical to  compensation  covered by the  Retirement  Plan
("Covered Compensation").

    
                                       14
<PAGE>


     The following table sets forth, for purposes of illustration, the estimated
annual  retirement  benefit payable under the Retirement Plan as a straight life
annuity,  after deduction of certain  projected Social Security  benefits,  upon
retirement  to  participants  of  specified  Covered  Compensation  and years of
credited  service who are fully vested (five years of  service).  Messrs.  Duty,
Hamner,  Martin, Smith and Thomas had 16, 14, 23, 6 and 34 years,  respectively,
of credited  service under the plan as of May 1, 1996. All  calculations  assume
retirement  at age 65  (normal  retirement  age)  and are  based  on the  Social
Security law in effect on January 1, 1996.

Total Covered                         Estimated Annual Benefits
Compensation                             Based on Service of:
                   15 Years      20 Years     25 Years     30 Years     35 Years
                   ------------------------------------------------------------
$125,000...........$ 34,811      $ 46,415     $ 58,019     $ 69,623     $ 81,226
 150,000...........  42,311        56,415       70,519       84,623       98,726
 175,000...........  49,811        66,415       83,019       99,623      116,226
 200,000...........  57,311        76,415       95,519      114,623      133,726
 225,000...........  64,811        86,415      108,019      129,623      151,226
 250,000...........  72,311        96,415      120,519      144,623      168,726
 300,000...........  87,311       116,415      145,519      174,623      203,726
 350,000........... 102,311       136,415      170,519      204,623      238,726
 400,000........... 117,311       156,415      195,519      234,623      273,726

     Certain of the amounts in the above table are subject to reduction  because
applicable  federal  regulations  limit the amount of annual benefits payable to
certain higher-paid  participants under a tax-qualified  retirement plan such as
the Retirement Plan. The extent of such reductions will vary in individual cases
according  to  circumstances  existing at the time  pension  payments  commence.
Consequently,  the Corporation and certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries have
adopted an  unfunded  benefit  equalization  plan (the  "Retirement  Restoration
Plan") to compensate  employees of the Corporation and chief executive  officers
of  certain  of the  Corporation's  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  for the  loss of
retirement benefits resulting from such limitations. This Retirement Restoration
Plan provides for the payment,  upon retirement,  of the difference  between the
maximum annual payment permissible under the Retirement Plan pursuant to federal
limitations and the amount which would otherwise have been payable.

     Mr. Thomas will be entitled to an additional annual retirement benefit as a
result of his credited  service  prior to April 1972 under a retirement  benefit
formula of the  Corporation's  Retirement  Plan which was  modified for credited
service  subsequent to April 1972.  Assuming Mr. Thomas had retired on March 31,
1996, the annual  retirement  benefit payable to Mr. Thomas under the Retirement
Plan and the  Retirement  Restoration  Plan  described  above  would  have  been
$304,854.

                                      15
<PAGE>


Stock Ownership Plan

     The  Corporation  participates  in an  employee  stock  ownership  plan for
employees of the Corporation and one of its  wholly-owned  subsidiaries in which
Messrs.  Duty,  Hamner  and T. Smith  participate.  The  Whitmore  Manufacturing
Company  maintains an employee stock ownership plan for its employees,  in which
Mr.  Martin  participates.  Employees  who have  completed  one year of credited
service,  as defined  in the plan,  are  eligible  to  participate  in the ESOP.
Contributions to the ESOP are  discretionary,  within limits  established by the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Funds  contributed to the trust established under
the ESOP are  applied by the  trustees  to the  purchase,  in the open market at
prevailing  market prices,  of Common Stock of the Corporation.  A participant's
interest in  contributions  to the ESOP fully vests after five years of credited
service, and such vested interest is distributed to a participant at retirement,
death or total  disability,  or after a one year break in service resulting from
termination of employment for any other reason.  See Note (1) to the table under
STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS.

          APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS (PROPOSAL 2)

     The Board of Directors  has  appointed the firm of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as
independent  auditors  for the fiscal year  ending  March 31,  1997,  subject to
approval  by the  shareholders.  A  representative  of KPMG Peat  Marwick LLP is
expected  to be present  at the Annual  Meeting  with an  opportunity  to make a
statement, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

     In order to approve the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as independent
auditors for the  Corporation  for the year ending March 31, 1997,  the proposal
must receive the favorable vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote and
represented at the Annual Meeting.

                  AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES
                         OF THE CORPORATION (PROPOSAL 3)

     The  existing  fundamental  investment  policies  of the  Corporation  were
approved  by the  shareholders  in  1984 in  conjunction  with  authorizing  the
Corporation  to elect to become a  business  development  company  ("BDC").  The
Corporation made this election in 1988.

     The Corporation has adopted a number of investment policies, which policies
are filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission in accordance  with the
1940  Act.  Certain  of  such  investment  policies  of  the  Corporation,   the
fundamental  investment policies, may be amended only with the required approval
of the shareholders of the Corporation;  others, the non-fundamental  investment
policies,  may be changed by the Board of Directors of the  Corporation  without
such approval.


                                       16
<PAGE>


     To  enlarge  the  Corporation's  ability to obtain  borrowed  funds for its
investment  activities and other  purposes,  the  management of the  Corporation
proposes that the fundamental  investment policies of the Corporation be amended
to enable the Corporation:

     1) To borrow money from banks,  insurance  companies,  other  institutional
     lenders and/or other sources of capital,  on a secured or unsecured  basis.
     (The existing  policy does not encompass other sources of capital or permit
     borrowing on a secured basis).

     2) To reduce its required  asset  coverage  (defined in the 1940 Act as the
     ratio  which  the  value  of the  total  assets  less all  liabilities  and
     indebtedness not represented by senior  securities,  bears to the aggregate
     amount of senior  securities  representing  indebtedness of such issuer) to
     200%  for the  Corporation  individually  and for the  Corporation  and its
     wholly-owned  subsidiary  (CSVC) on a  consolidated  basis.  (The  existing
     policy,  which requires 300% asset coverage,  would limit the Corporation's
     indebtedness represented by senior securities to approximately  $94,523,000
     on a  consolidated  basis as of March 31,  1996;  the  proposed  200% asset
     coverage policy would limit the Corporation's  indebtedness  represented by
     senior  securities  to  approximately  $189,047,000  on the same date.  The
     Corporation  had   $50,000,000  in   indebtedness   represented  by  senior
     securities at March 31, 1996, which was subsequently  repaid.  Although the
     Corporation has no present plan to increase its indebtedness represented by
     senior  securities,   it  may  in  the  future  rely  extensively  on  such
     indebtedness, up to the proposed 200% asset coverage limit).

     The proposed  amendments  outlined above affect only paragraph A.(2) of the
Corporation's  fundamental  investment  policies.  This paragraph as it would be
amended is set forth below with a line drawn through deletions (---deletions---)
and a line drawn below additions (additions):
                                  ---------

     A.(2) The  Corporation  may borrow money from banks,  insurance  companies,
- ---and/or--- other institutional  investors and/or other sources of capital on a
                                            -------------------------------    -
secured or unsecured basis, and issue senior debt securities when and as, in the
- ----------
opinion of the Board of Directors,  such action will serve the best interests of
the Corporation.  Such securities may be in series, with such interest rates and
sinking or purchase funds and other terms and provisions,  including  conversion
rights  and  conversion  prices,  as may be  deemed  advisable  by the  Board of
Directors.  Borrowings and issuance of senior debt securities by the Corporation
will  be  subject  to  the  limitations  of the  1940  Act  and  its  rules  and
                                                                 ---
regulations,  as modified by any exemptive orders issued thereunder.  Borrowings
              ------------------------------------------
and senior debt securities of the Corporation, individually, and the Corporation
and its wholly-owned subsidiary,  Capital Southwest Venture Corporation ("CSVC")
- ---formerly named CSC Capital  Corporation---) on a consolidated  basis, will be
limited to  amounts  which will have an asset  coverage  of at least  ---300%---
200%. 
- ----

                                       17
<PAGE>




Shareholder Vote Required

     The  affirmative  vote of the  holders of a majority  of the  Corporation's
outstanding  voting  securities  (Common Stock),  as such term is defined in the
1940 Act (see definition on pages 1 and 2 of this Proxy Statement),  is required
to approve the proposed amendment to the fundamental  investment policies of the
Corporation.  The proposed amendment of the fundamental  investment  policies of
the Corporation  will become  effective upon  shareholder  approval,  subject to
compliance with the terms of a pending  exemptive order for which an application
has been submitted to the SEC.  There is no assurance that the requested  relief
will be  granted  by the SEC;  therefore,  the  proposed  amendment  will not be
effective in the absence of a compatible  SEC  exemptive  order.  Other than the
proposed  amendments to the fundamental  investment  policies of the Corporation
and CSVC, the pending  application  for an SEC exemptive  order does not include
any matters requiring shareholder approval.

     The Board of Directors of the Corporation recommends that shareholders vote
FOR the proposal to amend the Corporation's fundamental investment policies.

                  AMENDMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES
                              OF CSVC (PROPOSAL 4)

     As a registered  investment  company  under the 1940 Act,  CSVC has its own
investment  policies which  contemplate the operation of CSVC as an SBIC subject
to the Small Business  Investment Act of 1958. Those policies of CSVC identified
as fundamental  investment  policies may not be changed  without the approval of
the shareholders of the Corporation. The non-fundamental policies of CSVC may be
changed by the Board of Directors  without  approval of the  shareholders of the
Corporation.

     To enhance  CSVC's  ability  to obtain  borrowed  funds for its  investment
activities and other purposes,  the management of the Corporation  proposes that
the fundamental investment policies of CSVC be amended as follows:

     1) To enable CSVC to borrow money from other sources of capital in addition
     to Capital Southwest  Corporation,  SBA and/or institutional  lenders whose
     loans are guaranteed by SBA. (The existing  policy does not encompass other
     sources of capital.)

     2)  To  eliminate  the  existing   limitation   against  the  Corporation's
     guaranteeing  CSVC's borrowing.  (The existing policy's  limitation of such
     guarantees  by the  Corporation  is deemed  to be  unnecessary  and  unduly
     restrictive.  The  Corporation  has no  present  plan to  guarantee  CSVC's
     indebtedness, but may in the future provide such guarantees.)

     3) To eliminate the existing limitation that CSVC's borrowing be limited to
     four times the amount of its paid-in  capital and  surplus.  (The  existing
     policy's limitation is, in the opinion of management of the Corporation, an
     unnecessary restriction of CSVC's potential borrowing, which is governed by
     both the SBA and the 1940 Act as modified by any  exemptive  orders  issued
     thereunder. CSVC has no present plan to increase its indebtedness,  but may
     in the future rely extensively on borrowed funds.)


                                       18
<PAGE>



     The  proposed  amendments  outlined  above affect only  paragraph  A.(2) of
CSVC's fundamental investment policies. This paragraph as it would be amended is
set forth below with a line drawn through deletions (---deletions---) and a line
drawn below additions (additions):
                       ---------

     A.(2) CSVC may borrow from Capital Southwest Corporation ("CSC"), from
                                                                       -----
other sources of capital,  and from the Small  Business  Administration  ("SBA")
- -------------------------   and/or   institutional   lenders   whose  loans  are
guaranteed  by SBA, on whatever  basis SBA may from time to time  establish  for
lending or providing  guarantees for  indebtedness of small business  investment
companies  ---  provided  that  CSC will not  guarantee  any such  borrowing---.
However,  CSVC may not  borrow  from  any  person  other  than  CSC,  if CSC has
outstanding  publicly  distributed  senior  securities.--- In no event will CSVC
borrowing in the  aggregate  exceed four times the amount of its paid in capital
and  surplus.---  All borrowing by CSVC will conform to the  requirements of the
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
1940 Act and its rules and  regulations,  as  modified by any  exemptive  orders
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
issued thereunder.
- ------------------


     The  introductory  paragraph  which  preceded  the  fundamental  investment
policies of CSVC set forth in the 1984 Proxy  Statement of the  Corporation  and
non-fundamental  investment  policy  B.(6)  in the  same  1984  Proxy  Statement
indicated that CSVC would elect to be a BDC as soon as it becomes possible to do
so  without  loss of  status  as a  regulated  investment  company  pursuant  to
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. Because of an ambiguity in Subchapter
M, CSVC's  classification  as a BDC could adversely  affect both its ability and
the  Corporation's  ability  to qualify  to be taxed as a  regulated  investment
company;  therefore,  CSVC  will  not  elect to  become a BDC in the  forseeable
future.   However,  in  accordance  with  paragraph  A.(9)  of  its  fundamental
investment  policies,  CSVC,  upon any future  election to be a BDC, will at all
times operate within the limits and restrictions  imposed upon a BDC by the 1940
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time.

Shareholder Vote Required

     The  affirmative  vote of the  holders of a majority  of the  Corporation's
outstanding  voting  securities  (Common Stock),  as such term is defined in the
1940 Act (see definition on pages 1 and 2 of this Proxy Statement),  is required
to approve the proposed  amendment  to the  fundamental  investment  policies of
CSVC. The proposed amendment of the fundamental investment policies of CSVC will
become effective upon shareholder approval, subject to compliance with the terms
of a pending  exemptive order for which an application has been submitted to the
SEC. There is no assurance that the requested relief will be granted by the SEC;
therefore,  the  proposed  amendment  will not be  effective in the absence of a
compatible  SEC  exemptive  order.  Other than the  proposed  amendments  to the
fundamental  investment  policies  of the  Corporation  and  CSVC,  the  pending
application  for an SEC exemptive  order does not include any matters  requiring
shareholder approval.


                                       19
<PAGE>


     The Board of Directors of the Corporation recommends that shareholders vote
FOR the proposal to amend CSVC's fundamental investment policies.

                  SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1997 ANNUAL MEETING

     Any shareholder  proposal to be considered by the Corporation for inclusion
in the proxy  material  for the 1997  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  must be
received by the Secretary of the  Corporation,  12900  Preston Road,  Suite 700,
Dallas,  Texas  75230,  no later than  February 3, 1997.  Mere  submission  of a
proposal  for  consideration  does not  guarantee  its  inclusion  in the  proxy
material or presentation at the meeting.  All shareholder  proposals are subject
to the rules under the federal securities laws.

                       EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

     In addition to the use of the mails,  proxies may be  solicited by personal
interview  and  telephone  by  directors,  officers  and other  employees of the
Corporation, who will not receive additional compensation for such services. The
Corporation  will  also  request  brokerage  houses,  nominees,  custodians  and
fiduciaries to forward  soliciting  materials to the beneficial  owners of stock
held of record by them and will reimburse such persons for forwarding materials.
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Corporation.

                                  ANNUAL REPORT

     The Annual Report to Shareholders  covering the fiscal year ended March 31,
1996  accompanies  this proxy  statement,  but is not deemed a part of the proxy
soliciting material.

     A copy of the fiscal 1996 Form 10-K report to the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  excluding exhibits,  will be mailed to shareholders  without charge
upon written request to Tim Smith,  Secretary,  Capital  Southwest  Corporation,
12900 Preston Road, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75230. Such requests must set forth
a good faith  representation  that the  requesting  party was either a holder of
record or a beneficial owner of Common Stock of the Corporation on May 31, 1996.
Exhibits  to the Form 10-K will be mailed  upon  similar  request and payment of
specified fees.

     Please date, sign and return the proxy at your earliest  convenience in the
enclosed  envelope.  No postage is required for mailing in the United States.  A
prompt return of your proxy will be  appreciated  as it will save the expense of
further mailings.

                                              By Order of the Board of Directors
                                                           TIM SMITH
                                                           Secretary
Dallas, Texas
June 5, 1996

<PAGE>
                          CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION
            PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - JULY 15, 1996
     The undersigned (1) acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders  of  Capital  Southwest  Corporation,  a  Texas  corporation,  (the
"Corporation") to be held on Monday,  July 15, 1996, at 10:00 a.m., Dallas time,
in the Meeting  Room (1st floor) of the North Dallas Bank Tower,  12900  Preston
Road, Dallas,  Texas, and the Proxy Statement in connection  therewith;  and (2)
appoints Graeme W. Henderson,  William R. Thomas and John H. Wilson, and each of
them, his proxies with full power of  substitution,  for and in the name,  place
and stead of the  undersigned,  to vote upon and act with  respect to all of the
shares  of  Common  Stock  of  the  Corporation  standing  in  the  name  of the
undersigned,  or with respect to which the  undersigned  is entitled to vote and
act, at the meeting and at any adjournment  thereof, and the undersigned directs
that this proxy be voted:

1.   Election of Directors

     [ ] FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below).

     [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below.

Graeme W. Henderson,  Gary L. Martin, James M. Nolan, William R. Thomas and John
H. Wilson

(INSTRUCTION:  To withhold authority to vote for any individual  nominee,  write
that nominee's name in the space provided below.)

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

2.   Proposal to approve the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as independent
     auditors for the Corporation.

                 [ ] FOR             [ ]  AGAINST                 [ ] ABSTAIN

3.   Proposal to amend the fundamental investment policies of the Corporation.

                 [ ] FOR             [ ] AGAINST                  [ ] ABSTAIN

4.   Proposal to amend the fundamental  investment policies of Capital Southwest
     Venture Corporation, the Corporation's wholly-owned subsidiary.

                 [ ] FOR             [ ] AGAINST                  [ ] ABSTAIN

5.   In the  discretion  of the  proxies,  on any other matter that may properly
     come  before  the  meeting  or,  subject  to the  conditions  in the  Proxy
     Statement, any adjournment thereof.

                          IMPORTANT: SIGN ON OTHER SIDE


<PAGE>

                            CONTINUED FROM OTHER SIDE

     This proxy when  properly  executed  will be voted in the manner  directed.
Unless  otherwise  marked,  this  proxy  will be voted for the  election  of the
persons named on the reverse side hereof and for each of the proposals  referred
to under (2), (3) and (4) above.

     If more than one of the proxies  named herein shall be present in person or
by substitute at the meeting or at any adjournment  thereof, the majority of the
proxies so present and voting, either in person or by substitute, shall exercise
all of the powers hereby given.

     The  undersigned  hereby revokes any proxy or proxies  heretofore  given to
vote upon or act with respect to such stock and hereby ratifies and confirms all
that the proxies,  their substitutes,  or any of them, may lawfully do by virtue
hereof.

 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION.

                                Date:     ________________________________, 1996

                                ------------------------------------------------
                                               Signature of Shareholder
                                
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                               Signature of Shareholder

                                ------------------------------------------------
                                                 Title, if applicable
                                  
                    Please  date this  proxy and sign  your name  exactly  as it
                    appears  hereon.  Where  there is more than one owner,  each
                    should sign.  When  signing as an  attorney,  administrator,
                    executor,  guardian  or  trustee,  please  add your title as
                    such.  If executed  by a  corporation,  the proxy  should be
                    signed  by a duly  authorized  officer.  EACH  JOINT  TENANT
                    SHOULD SIGN.  PLEASE MARK,  SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY
                    PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED.

<PAGE>


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