<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2)
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
240.14a-12
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] 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: N/A
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
N/A
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): N/A
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: N/A
5) Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: N/A
[ ] 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: N/A
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: N/A
3) Filing Party: N/A
4) Date Filed: N/A
5) Total fee paid: N/A
<PAGE> 2
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
1980 POST OAK BOULEVARD
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77056
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD APRIL 24, 1998
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of
Stewart Information Services Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), will be held on Friday, April 24, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. in the
Independence Room on the eleventh floor of the Company's offices, 1980 Post Oak
Boulevard, Houston, Texas, for the following purposes:
(1) To elect directors of the Company to hold office until the next
Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified.
(2) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The holders of record of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of the
Company at the close of business on February 27, 1998 will be entitled to vote
at the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Max Crisp
Secretary
March 23, 1998
IMPORTANT
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. EVEN IF YOU
PLAN TO BE PRESENT, YOU ARE URGED TO SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY
PROMPTLY. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING YOU CAN VOTE EITHER IN PERSON OR BY YOUR
PROXY.
<PAGE> 3
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD APRIL 24, 1998
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the stockholders of Stewart
Information Services Corporation (the "Company"), 1980 Post Oak Boulevard,
Houston, Texas 77056 (Tel. No. 713/625-8100), in connection with the
solicitation by the Board of Directors of the Company of proxies to be used at
the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on Friday, April 24, 1998, at
8:30 A.M. in the Independence Room on the eleventh floor of the Company's
offices, 1980 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, Texas, and any adjournment thereof.
Proxies in the form enclosed, properly executed by stockholders and
received in time for the meeting, will be voted as specified therein. If a
stockholder does not specify otherwise, the shares represented by his or her
proxy will be voted for the nominees listed therein. The giving of a proxy
does not preclude the right to vote in person should the person giving the
proxy so desire, and the proxy may be revoked at any time before it is
exercised by written notice delivered to the Company at or prior to the
meeting. This Proxy Statement is being mailed on or about March 23, 1998 to
stockholders of record at the close of business on February 27, 1998 (the
"Record Date").
At the close of business on the Record Date, there were outstanding and
entitled to vote 6,389,846 shares of Common Stock and 525,006 shares of Class B
Common Stock, and only the holders of record on such date shall be entitled to
vote at the meeting. As long as 300,000 or more shares of Class B Common Stock
are issued and outstanding, at each election of directors the Common Stock and
Class B Common Stock are voted as separate classes. Shares of the Company's
Class B Common Stock are convertible on a one-for-one basis into shares of the
Company's Common Stock.
The holders of Common Stock, voting as a class, are entitled to elect five
of the nine directors of the Company. Each share of Common Stock is entitled,
at the option of the person voting such share, either to cast one vote per
share for each of the five directors to be elected by the holders of the Common
Stock or to vote cumulatively by casting five votes per share, which may be
distributed in any manner among any number of the nominees. The enclosed form
of proxy provides a means for stockholders to vote for all of the nominees
listed therein, to withhold authority to vote for one or more of such nominees
or to withhold authority to vote for all of such nominees. If authority to
vote for four or fewer of the nominees is withheld, and if there are nominees
other than management nominees for the directorships to be filled by the
holders of the Common Stock, then the persons named in the enclosed proxy may
vote cumulatively by dividing the number of votes represented by the proxy
equally among the nominees for which authority to vote is not withheld. If
there are no nominees for the five positions to be elected by the holders of
Common Stock other than the management nominees set forth herein, it is the
intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to allocate the votes
represented by the proxy evenly among the management nominees. If there should
be any additional nominees for such positions, then the persons named in the
enclosed proxy will vote cumulatively to elect as many as possible of the
management nominees. If it is not possible to elect each of the five
management nominees, then the persons named in the enclosed proxy will have
discretion as to which of such nominees may be elected.
Unless a holder of Common Stock who withholds authority votes in person at
the meeting or votes by means of another proxy, the withholding of authority
will have no effect upon the election of those directors for whom authority to
vote is withheld because the Company's By-Laws provide that directors are
elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Under applicable Delaware law, a
broker non-vote will have no effect on the outcome of the election of
directors. The shares held by each stockholder who signs and returns the
enclosed form of proxy will be counted for purposes of determining the presence
of a quorum at the meeting.
The holders of Class B Common Stock, voting as a class, are entitled to
elect the remaining four of the nine directors of the Company. Each holder of
Class B Common Stock has the right to vote, in person or by proxy, the number
of shares owned by him for the four directors to be elected by the holders of
Class B Common Stock and for whose election he has a right to vote.
<PAGE> 4
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information as of the Record Date with
respect to persons known to the Company to be the beneficial owners of more
than 5% of either class of the Company's voting shares:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND
NATURE OF PERCENT
BENEFICIAL OF
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER TITLE OF CLASS OWNERSHIP CLASS
- ------------------------------------------------- -------------------- ------------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Malcolm S. Morris Class B Common Stock 262,503 50.0
3992 Inverness
Houston, Texas 77019
Stewart Morris, Jr. Class B Common Stock 262,503 50.0
#8 West Rivercrest
Houston, Texas 77042
EQSF Advisers, Inc. Common Stock 975,700(1) 15.3
767 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10017
FMR Corp. Common Stock 580,100(2) 9.1
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Franklin Resources, Inc. Common Stock 493,600(3) 7.7
777 Mariners Island Boulevard
San Mateo, California 94404
Brookhaven Capital Management Co., Ltd Common Stock 412,223(5) 6.5
3000 Sandhill Road, Suite 13
Menlo Park, California 94025
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) EQSF Advisers, Inc. reported sole voting and dispositive power with
respect to all of such shares in its report on Schedule 13G filed February
12, 1998. Such report was also filed on behalf of Martin J. Whitman, an
affiliate of EQSF Advisers, Inc.
(2) FMR Corp. is the indirect parent company of Fidelity Low-Priced Stock
Fund, which owns all of such shares, with sole investment power. Voting
power with respect to such shares resides with the fund's board of
trustees. Information with respect to the ownership of such stockholder
was obtained from the report on Schedule 13G/A of FMR Corp. filed February
11, 1998. Such report was also filed on behalf of Edward C. Johnson 3d
and Abigail P. Johnson, affiliates of FMR Corp.
(3) Direct and indirect investment advisory subsidiaries of Franklin
Resources, Inc. have sole voting and investment power with respect to all
of such shares. Information with respect to the ownership of such
stockholder was obtained from its report on Schedule 13G filed February
10, 1998. Such report was also filed on behalf of Charles B. Johnson,
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and Franklin Advisory Services, Inc., affiliates of
Franklin Resources, Inc.
(4) Brookhaven Capital Management Co., Ltd has sole voting and investment
power with respect to 9,000 of such shares and shared voting and
investment power with respect to 403,223 of such shares. Information with
respect to the ownership of such stockholder was obtained from its report
on Schedule 13D dated December 21, 1994.
The holders of the Class B Common Stock have entered into an agreement
intended to maintain an equal ownership of shares of Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock by Carloss Morris and Malcolm S. Morris, collectively, and by
Stewart Morris and Stewart Morris, Jr., collectively. Such agreement also
provides for rights of first refusal with respect to Class B Common Stock among
themselves in the event of the death, voluntary or involuntary disposition of
the shares of Class B Common Stock and upon certain other specified conditions.
In addition, the agreement provides that the parties will not sell their Class
B Common Stock or convert their Class B Common Stock into Common Stock prior to
January 2005.
2
<PAGE> 5
The following table sets forth information as of the Record Date with
respect to each class of the Company's voting shares beneficially owned by
executive officers, directors and nominees for director of the Company and by
all officers, directors and nominees for director of the Company as a group:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND NATURE
OF BENEFICIAL PERCENT
NAME TITLE OF CLASS OWNERSHIP(1) OF CLASS
---------------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Carloss Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 71,650 1.1
Stewart Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 64,278 1.0
Malcolm S. Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 88,000(2) 1.4
Class B Common Stock 262,503 50.0
Stewart Morris, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 58,000(3) 1.0
Class B Common Stock 262,503 50.0
Max Crisp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 15,500(5) (4)
C. M. Hudspeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 27,165(6) (4)
Nita B. Hanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 183 (4)
Paul W. Hobby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 765 (4)
Dr. E. Douglas Hodo . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 765 (4)
Dr. W. Arthur Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 765 (4)
Lloyd Bentsen, III . . . . . . . . . . . . . Common Stock 2,265 (4)
All officers and directors as a group Common Stock 329,336 5.1
(11 persons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Class B Common Stock 525,006 100.0
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the beneficial owner has sole voting and
investment power.
(2) Consists of 88,000 shares subject to stock options (see "Executive
Compensation--Option Grants and Exercises" at page 7).
(3) Consists of 58,000 shares subject to stock options (see "Executive
Compensation--Option Grants and Exercises" at page 7).
(4) Less than 1%.
(5) Includes 14,000 shares subject to stock options (see "Executive
Compensation--Option Grants and Exercises" at page 7).
(6) Includes 1,665 shares as to which C. M. Hudspeth has sole voting and
investment power and 25,500 shares owned by C. M. Hudspeth's wife and as
to which he has no voting and no investment power.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the meeting, nine directors (constituting the entire Board of Directors)
are to be elected. The holders of Common Stock are entitled to elect five
directors, and the holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to elect four
directors. All directors of the Company hold office until the next annual
meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors are elected and
qualify. All officers of the Company hold office until the regular meeting of
directors following the annual meeting of stockholders or until their
respective successors are elected and qualify.
During 1997, the Board of Directors held five meetings and executed two
consents in lieu of meetings. No director attended fewer than 80% of such
meetings. The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, an Audit
Committee and a Compensation Committee. The Company has no nominating
committee of the Board of Directors.
3
<PAGE> 6
The Executive Committee may exercise all of the powers of the Directors,
except those specifically reserved to the Board of Directors by law, and is
comprised of Carloss Morris, Stewart Morris, Max Crisp and C. M. Hudspeth.
During 1997, the Executive Committee held six meetings at which all members
were present and executed 52 consents in lieu of meetings.
It is the duty of the Audit Committee to (i) review, with the Company's
independent auditors, the scope of the annual audit, (ii) review the
independent auditors' management letter and (iii) meet with the Company's
internal auditors. The Audit Committee is comprised of C. M. Hudspeth, Dr. E.
Douglas Hodo and Lloyd Bentsen III. During 1997, the Audit Committee held two
meetings at which all members were present.
See "Executive Compensation--Compensation Committee" at page 10 for
information with respect to the Company's Compensation Committee.
COMMON STOCK
The following persons have been nominated to fill the five positions to be
elected by the holders of Common Stock. Each was elected by the holders of the
Common Stock at the annual meeting of stockholders held in 1997. It is the
intention of the persons named in the proxy for the holders of Common Stock to
vote the proxies for the election of the nominees named below, unless otherwise
specified. The management of the Company does not contemplate that any of such
nominees will become unavailable for any reason, but if that should occur
before the meeting, proxies will be voted for another nominee, or other
nominees, to be selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NOMINEE, AGE AND POSITION WITH THE COMPANY DIRECTOR SINCE
- ------------------------------------------ ----------------
<S> <C>
Nita B. Hanks, 44, Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1990
Dr. E. Douglas Hodo, 63, Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1988
Paul W. Hobby, 37, Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1989
Max Crisp, 63, Vice President-Finance, Secretary, Treasurer and Director . . . . . . . . . 1970
C. M. Hudspeth, 78, Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1976
</TABLE>
For more than the past five years, Mrs. Hanks has been a Senior Vice
President of Stewart Title Guaranty Company ("Guaranty"), a subsidiary of the
Company.
Dr. Hodo has served as President of Houston Baptist University for more
than the past five years. Dr. Hodo is also a director of the United Services
Group of funds.
Mr. Hobby has served since 1995 as Chairman of Hobby Media Services, Inc.,
a media software company. Mr. Hobby is also a Vice President of Hobby
Communications, L.L.C. Mr. Hobby served as Vice President of H & C
Communications, Inc. until December 31, 1996.
Mr. Crisp has served as Vice President-Finance, Treasurer and Secretary of
the Company for more than the past five years.
Mr. Hudspeth has been of counsel to the law firm of DeLange, Hudspeth,
McConnell & Tibbets, L.L.P., Houston, Texas, and its predecessor firm, for more
than the past five years. Mr. Hudspeth is a Trustee Emeritus of Rice
University, Houston, Texas.
4
<PAGE> 7
CLASS B COMMON STOCK
The following persons have been nominated to fill the four positions to be
elected by the holders of Class B Common Stock. Each was elected by the
holders of the Class B Common Stock at the annual meeting of stockholders held
in 1997. It is the intention of the persons named in the proxy for the holders
of Class B Common Stock to vote the proxies for the election of the nominees
named below, unless otherwise specified. The management of the Company does
not contemplate that any of such nominees will become unavailable for any
reason, but if that should occur before the meeting, proxies will be voted for
another nominee, or other nominees, to be selected by the Board of Directors of
the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NOMINEE, AGE AND POSITION WITH THE COMPANY DIRECTOR SINCE
- ------------------------------------------ ----------------
<S> <C>
Carloss Morris, 82, Co-Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1970
Stewart Morris, 78, Co-Chief Executive Officer, President and Director . . . . . . . . . . 1970
Dr. W. Arthur Porter, 56, Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1993
Lloyd Bentsen, III, 53, Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1995
</TABLE>
Carloss Morris and Stewart Morris have served as Co-Chief Executive
Officers of the Company for more than the past five years.
Carloss Morris and Stewart Morris are brothers. Stewart Morris, Jr., an
officer of the Company, is the son of Stewart Morris and a nephew of Carloss
Morris. Malcolm S. Morris, an officer of the Company, is the son of Carloss
Morris and a nephew of Stewart Morris.
Dr. Porter has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Houston
Advanced Research Center, a non-profit research consortium, for more than the
past five years. He also has served as an Adjunct Professor of Electrical
Engineering at Rice University for more than the past five years. Dr. Porter
is also a director of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Bentsen served as an Advisory Director of the Company from 1992 until
his election to the Board of Directors in 1995. Mr. Bentsen is a general
partner and co-founder of Triad Ventures, a group of venture capital funds with
over $50 million of capital that seeks to invest in Texas-based emerging growth
companies. Prior to founding his venture capital firm in 1979, Mr. Bentsen
spent ten years with Rotan Mosle, Inc., a regional investment banking firm, as
a member of the corporate finance department. Mr. Bentsen is a graduate of
Princeton University and holds an MBA from Stanford University.
Carloss Morris, Stewart Morris, Malcolm S. Morris and Stewart Morris, Jr.,
acting together, have the power to direct the management and policies of the
Company. Accordingly, they may be deemed to be "control persons" as such term
is used in regulations adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
5
<PAGE> 8
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY OF COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes compensation information concerning each of
the Company's executive officers for each of the three years ended December 31,
1997.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION (AWARDS)
-------------------------------- ------------- ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS STOCK OPTIONS COMPENSATION
($) ($) (# SHARES) ($)
--------------------------------- ---- ------ ------ ------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Carloss Morris 1997 135,000 220,789 -- 17,713(1)
Chairman of the Board and 1996 135,000 211,305 -- 28,310
Co-Chief Executive Officer(2) 1995 130,000 160,000 -- 22,824
Stewart Morris 1997 135,000 220,789 -- 15,399(3)
President and 1996 135,000 211,305 -- 19,470
Co-Chief Executive Officer(4) 1995 130,000 160,000 -- 17,966
Stewart Morris, Jr. 1997 130,000 224,148 10,000 5,855(5)
Senior Executive Vice 1996 130,000 218,075 10,000 4,416
President--Assistant 1995 125,000 117,790 8,000 5,245
President(6)
Malcolm S. Morris 1997 130,000 224,148 10,000 5,644(7)
Senior Executive Vice 1996 130,000 218,075 10,000 3,951
President--Assistant Chairman(8) 1995 125,000 117,790 8,000 4,427
Max Crisp 1997 140,000 99,318 5,000 7,220(9)
Vice President--Finance(10) 1996 140,000 94,460 5,000 7,670
1995 139,900 67,775 4,000 8,374
</TABLE>
- -------------
(1) Consists of matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan ($1,500),
director's fees ($1,800) and $14,413, representing the portion of
insurance premiums paid by the Company with respect to term life
insurance plus the dollar value of the benefit of the remainder of life
insurance premiums paid by the Company (see"--Insurance" at page 8).
(2) Carloss Morris is also a director of the Company, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of Guaranty and Vice Chairman of the Executive
Committee of Stewart Title Company ("Title"), a subsidiary of the
Company.
(3) Consists of matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan ($1,500),
director's fees ($1,800) and $12,099, representing the portion of
insurance premiums paid by the Company with respect to term life
insurance plus the dollar value of the benefit of the remainder of life
insurance premiums paid by the Company (see"--Insurance" at page 8).
(4) Stewart Morris is also a director of the Company, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of Title and Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee
of Guaranty.
(5) Consists of matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan ($1,500),
director's fees ($2,550) and $1,805, representing the portion of
insurance premiums paid by the Company with respect to term life
insurance plus the dollar value of the benefit of the remainder of life
insurance premiums paid by the Company.
(6) Stewart Morris, Jr., age 49, is also President and Chief Executive
Officer of Title and Chairman of the Board of Guaranty.
(7) Consists of matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan ($1,500),
director's fees ($1,850) and $2,294, representing the portion of
insurance premiums paid by the Company with respect to term life
insurance plus the dollar value of the benefit of the remainder of life
insurance premiums paid by the Company.
(8) Malcolm S. Morris, age 51, is also President and Chief Executive Officer
of Guaranty and Chairman of the Board of Title.
6
<PAGE> 9
(9) Consists of matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan ($1,500),
director's fees ($1,800) and $3,920, representing the portion of
insurance premiums paid by the Company with respect to term life
insurance plus the dollar value of the benefit of the remainder of life
insurance premiums paid by the Company.
(10) Max Crisp is also Secretary, Treasurer and a Director of the Company and
Vice President-Finance of Guaranty and Title.
Each executive officer of the Company holds office until the regular
meeting of directors following the annual meeting of stockholders or until his
successor is elected and qualifies.
OPTION GRANTS AND EXERCISES
The following table sets forth information concerning individual grants
of stock options made during the year ended December 31, 1997 to each of its
executive officers. All such grants were made on May 27, 1997, under the terms
of the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan. The Company did not grant any stock
appreciation rights during such year. The hypothetical values on the date of
grant of stock options granted in 1997 shown below are presented pursuant to
the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and are calculated under
the modified Black-Scholes Model (the "Model") for pricing options. This
hypothetical value of options trading on the stock markets bears little
relationship to the compensation cost to the Company or potential gain realized
by an optionee. The actual amount, if any, realized upon exercise of stock
options will depend upon the market price of the Company's Common Stock
relative to the exercise price per share of Common Stock issuable under the
stock option at the time the stock options are exercised. There is no
assurance that the hypothetical present values of stock options reflected in
this table actually will be realized.
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF
TOTAL OPTIONS
GRANTED GRANT DATE
OPTIONS TO EMPLOYEES EXERCISE EXPIRATION PRESENT
NAME GRANTED IN 1997 PRICE DATE VALUE(1)
- ---------------------------- ------------ ----------- ---------- ------------ ---------
(# shares) (%) ($) ($)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Stewart Morris, Jr. . . . 10,000(2) 26 19.50 5/27/07 81,690
Malcolm S. Morris . . . . 10,000(2) 26 19.50 5/27/07 81,690
Max Crisp . . . . . . . . 5,000(3) 13 19.50 5/27/07 40,845
</TABLE>
- -----------
(1) The grant date present values are calculated under the Model. The Model is
a mathematical formula used to value stock options and is based on the
stock's historical volatility, dividend rate, option term and risk-free
rate of return. The grant date present value does not reflect any discount
with respect to prohibitions on transfer.
(2) The options become exercisable as follows: 1,775 shares on January 1,
1998, 5,128 shares on January 1, 1999 and 3,097 shares on January 1, 2000.
(3) The options become exercisable as follows: 4,902 shares on May 27, 1997,
and 98 shares on January 1, 1998.
7
<PAGE> 10
The following table sets forth information concerning each exercise of
stock options during the year ended December 31, 1997 by each of its executive
officers and the value of unexercised options at December 31, 1997. The
Company has not issued any tandem or freestanding stock appreciation rights.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 1997 AND OPTION VALUES AT DECEMBER 31, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
OPTIONS AT DECEMBER 31, 1997 DECEMBER 31, 1997
SHARES ---------------------------- ----------------------------
ACQUIRED ON VALUE
NAME EXERCISE REALIZED EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
----------------------- --------- ---------- ------------- ------------- ----------- -------------
(# shares) ($) (# shares) (# shares) ($) ($)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Stewart Morris, Jr. -- -- 44,869 13,131 726,776 120,424
Malcolm S. Morris -- -- 74,869 13,131 1,321,776 120,424
Max Crisp -- -- 13,902 98 125,169 931
</TABLE>
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors of the Company, other than employees of the Company, receive an
annual retainer of $7,500 and directors' fees of $2,000 per meeting attended.
Directors of the Company who are employees receive directors' fees of $150 per
meeting. Members of the Audit Committee and members of the Compensation
Committee who are not employees of the Company receive $1,000 per meeting
attended. No additional amounts are paid to members of the Executive Committee
for their services as such. Mr. Hudspeth receives aggregate annual fees of
$36,000 for his services as a director and member of each of the committees of
the Board of Directors. Pursuant to the Stewart Information Services
Corporation 1996 Directors' Stock Plan (the "1996 Plan"), each non-employee
Director receives, in addition to the annual retainer and per meeting fees
described above, an annual award of shares of Common Stock of the Company
valued at $7,500 based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date
of the award. The Company also reimburses each director for the cost of an
annual medical examination.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS
On March 10, 1986, the Company entered into a Deferred Compensation
Agreement with each of Malcolm S. Morris, Stewart Morris, Jr. and Max Crisp
(individually, a "Beneficiary"). Pursuant to such agreements, as amended, a
Beneficiary or his designee is entitled to receive, commencing upon his death
or attainment of the age of 65 years, 15 annual payments in amounts that will,
after payment of income taxes thereon, result in a net annual payment of
$66,667 to Max Crisp and $133,333 to each of Malcolm S. Morris and Stewart
Morris, Jr. For purposes of such agreements, each Beneficiary is deemed to be
subject to federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate applicable to
individuals. Such benefits are fully vested and are forfeited only if a
Beneficiary's employment with the Company is terminated by reason of fraud,
dishonesty, embezzlement or theft. Any death or income benefits provided to a
Beneficiary under certain insurance policies currently maintained by the
Company will reduce payments due to such Beneficiary under his Deferred
Compensation Agreement.
INSURANCE
The Company is a party to Life Insurance Coverage Agreements dated December
1, 1993, with Carloss Morris and Stewart Morris under which the Company has
agreed to maintain $1,000,000 of life insurance coverage on the lives of each
of them, with death benefits payable to their designated beneficiaries.
Pursuant to such agreements, the Company has purchased split-dollar life
insurance policies ("SD Policies") for which the Company pays annual premiums
of $55,776 and $42,000 for the SD Policies on the lives of Carloss Morris and
Stewart Morris, respectively. Premiums under the SD Policies will be returned
to the Company from the proceeds of death benefits under the SD Policies. In
1997, the net death benefits to Carloss Morris and Stewart Morris under the SD
policies were $609,568 and $706,000, respectively, and such benefits will
decline annually by the amount of the premiums paid by the Company. The net
death benefit under each SD Policy will also be affected by annual earnings
under such policy. The Company currently anticipates that the net death
benefit under the SD Policies will decline to approximately $400,000 for
Carloss Morris by the year 2000 and $400,000 for Stewart Morris by the year
2004.
8
<PAGE> 11
Prior to 1994, the Company established two paid up life insurance policies
having no cash surrender value and providing death benefits of $890,954 and
$769,873 to the beneficiaries of Carloss Morris and Stewart Morris,
respectively. No premiums were paid by the Company under such policies in
1997; however, pursuant to applicable federal income tax regulations, taxable
income attributable to the such policies in 1997 of $40,199 and $34,736 was
incurred by Carloss Morris and Stewart Morris, respectively.
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in the Company's
cumulative total stockholder return on Common Stock with the cumulative total
return of the Russell 2000 Index and the Russell 2000 Financial Services Sector
Index (which includes the Company and its major publicly owned competitors) for
five years ended December 31, 1997. The graph assumes that the value of the
investment in the Company's Common Stock and each index was $100 at December
31, 1992 and that all dividends were reinvested.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG THE COMPANY, RUSSELL 2000 AND RUSSELL 2000 FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR
[chart]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AT DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
-------- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 100.00 $ 147.76 $ 114.94 $ 162.42 $ 158.62 $ 224.10
Russell 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.00 118.91 116.74 149.94 174.67 213.72
Russell 2000 Financial
Services Sector . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.00 122.92 123.68 171.73 221.25 300.96
</TABLE>
9
<PAGE> 12
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
It is the duty of the Compensation Committee to approve the compensation of
the executive officers. The Compensation Committee is comprised of C. M.
Hudspeth, Paul W. Hobby and Dr. W. Arthur Porter. During 1997, the
Compensation Committee held two meetings at which all members were present.
During 1997, the Company and its subsidiaries paid a total of $80,280 to
the law firm of DeLange, Hudspeth, McConnell & Tibbets, L.L.P. C. M. Hudspeth
is of counsel to such firm.
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
To the Board of Directors of
Stewart Information Services Corporation:
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
Compensation Policy. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
(the "Committee") is responsible for the oversight and administration of the
Company's executive compensation program. The Committee reviews the
compensation program of the Company during each year as it deems necessary.
The objective of the Committee is to provide executive officers of the Company
with a compensation package that is fair and reasonable based on their
individual levels of responsibility and performance in relation to the
compensation of executive officers of other publicly held companies in the
title insurance and comparable industries. In making its determinations as to
the reasonableness of the Company's executive compensation, the Committee
relies in part on the advice of a nationally recognized, independent
compensation consulting firm.
The principal elements of the Company's executive compensation program are
an annual salary, an annual cash bonus and stock option grants to officers of
the Company other than the co-chief executive officers. The Company also
provides life insurance to each of its executive officers.
Base Salary. For 1997, the base salary levels for the executive officers
of the Company were unchanged. Historically, base salaries of the Company's
executive officers have remained relatively stable from year to year. Base
salaries are set at levels deemed reasonable by the Committee based upon its
subjective evaluation of the executive officer's level of responsibility.
Annual Bonus. Each of the co-chief executive officers is eligible to
receive an annual cash bonus based on the consolidated net income of Guaranty.
The annual bonus tends to link a portion of the executive's compensation to the
Company's annual results. The Committee believes that the consolidated income
of Guaranty, and the effect thereof on the level of dividends paid by the
Company and the Company's book value per share, are important determinants over
time of the value of the Company's Common Stock. For more than the past ten
years, each of the co-chief executive officers has received an annual bonus
equal to three percent of the annual consolidated net income of Guaranty. For
1995, the maximum amount of such bonus was limited to $160,000 per year per
recipient. In 1996, the Committee reduced the bonus formula percentage and
eliminated the cap on bonuses payable to the co-chief executive officers, which
resulted in an increase of $51,305 in the bonus paid to each of the co-chief
executive officers in 1996 as compared with 1995. For 1997, the bonus formula
for each of the co-chief executive officers was changed to 1.5% of the first
$13 million of consolidated net income of Guaranty and 0.75% of such income in
excess of $13 million, which resulted in an increase of $9,484 in the bonus
paid to each of the co-chief executive officers in 1997 as compared with 1996.
For 1998, the Committee has recommended a bonus formula for each of the
co-chief executive officers of 1.0% of the first $20 million of income before
taxes of Guaranty and 0.75% of such income in excess of $20 million, with a
minimum bonus of $125,000. Had such formula been in effect for 1997, the bonus
paid to each of the co-chief executive officers would have been increased by
$15,433.
Stock Options. The Company has in effect its 1995 Stock Option Plan, the
purpose of which is to make available to the Committee a form of compensation
that will align the interests of executive officers with those of the
stockholders over a multi-year term. Executive officers, other than Carloss
Morris and
10
<PAGE> 13
Stewart Morris, who were omitted from the plan at their request, are eligible
for grants of options at a purchase price not less than the fair market value
of the shares on the date of grant. Pursuant to the plan, in 1997 the
Committee granted options to Malcolm Morris, Stewart Morris, Jr. and Max Crisp
for 10,000, 10,000 and 5,000 shares, respectively. See "--Option Grants and
Exercises" elsewhere in the Proxy Statement in which this report is included.
The values of such options were taken into account by the Committee in
determining the reasonableness of the recipient officer's annual compensation
package. After giving effect to stock option grants in 1997, an aggregate of
30,000 shares are available for stock option grants under the plan.
Insurance. Pursuant to agreements dated December 1, 1993, the Company pays
the premiums on individual split-dollar life insurance policies for the
co-chief executive officers and their beneficiaries. The Company will recover
the full amount of premiums paid from the death benefit upon the death of the
insured. See "--Insurance" elsewhere in the Proxy Statement in which this
report is included. Except with respect to the co-chief executive officers,
such insurance is not considered by the Compensation Committee to be a
significant part of the aggregate compensation package afforded by the Company
to its executive officers.
The Company's net earnings increased from $2.13 per diluted share in 1996
to $2.22 per diluted share in 1997 (after deducting a nonrecurring charge of
$.18 per share in the fourth quarter of 1997), primarily due to favorable
mortgage interest rates in 1997. The Committee recognizes that the title
insurance industry is strongly affected by nationally prevailing interest
rates, and the Company's financial results from year to year will depend
largely on the level of real estate activity in its primary markets. The
Committee subjectively evaluates the performance of the Company's executive
officers, including the co-chief executive officers, with respect to their
efforts to provide for the long- term financial well being of the Company and
to respond to continuing changes in the industry environment. In 1997, the
Committee gave particular consideration to the efforts of the co-chief
executive officers and other executive officers in further developing the
Company's automation programs, increasing the Company's market share in
existing markets, entering new markets through acquisitions and pursuing
opportunities in international markets.
C. M. Hudspeth Paul W. Hobby
Dr. W. Arthur Porter
Members of the Compensation Committee
11
<PAGE> 14
SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP has been selected by the Company as its principal
independent auditors for the Company's fiscal year ending December 31, 1998,
and served in such capacity for the Company's fiscal year ended December 31,
1997. Representatives of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP are expected to be present at
the annual meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to
do so, and such representatives are expected to be available to respond to
appropriate questions.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
During 1997, the Company and its subsidiaries paid a total of $167,540 to
the law firm of Morris, Lendais, Hollrath & Snowden, P.C., of which Carloss
Morris and Malcolm S. Morris are shareholders. In connection with real estate
transactions processed by Title, such firm receives legal fees from its clients
who are also customers of Title and who select such firm as their counsel.
During 1997, the Company and its subsidiaries also paid legal fees to a law
firm to which C. M. Hudspeth is of counsel (see "Executive
Compensation--Compensation Committee--Compensation Committee Interlocks and
Insider Participation" at page 10).
During 1997, Marietta Maxfield, a daughter of Carloss Morris, was a
full-time attorney for Guaranty and was paid $95,078 for services rendered in
such capacity.
PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
Any proposals of holders of Common Stock or Class B Common Stock intended
to be presented at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held
in 1999 must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices,
1980 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77056, no later than
November 23, 1998, in order to be included in the proxy statement and form of
proxy relating to that meeting. Pursuant to the Company's By-Laws, nominations
of persons for election by the holders of Common Stock to the Board of
Directors of the Company at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company
to be held in 1999 must be received by the Company no later than February 15,
1999.
OTHER MATTERS
The management of the Company knows of no other matters which may come
before the meeting. However, if any matters other than those referred to above
should properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons
named in the enclosed proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their best
judgment.
The cost of solicitation of proxies in the accompanying form will be paid
by the Company. The Company has retained Georgeson & Co., a proxy solicitation
firm, to assist it in soliciting proxies for the proposals described in this
proxy statement. The Company has agreed to pay Georgeson & Co. a fee for such
services, which is not expected to exceed $5,500, plus expenses. In addition
to solicitation by use of the mails, certain officers or employees of the
Company, and of Georgeson & Co., may solicit the return of proxies by
telephone, telegram or personal interview.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Max Crisp
Secretary
March 23, 1998
12
<PAGE> 15
PROXY PROXY
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
THIS PROXY FOR HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK IS SOLICITED ON
BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS -- APRIL 24, 1998
The undersigned appoints Ken Anderson, Jr. and Tannie L. Pizzitola, Jr.,
and each of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution and revocation,
to vote, as designated on the reverse side hereof, all the Common Stock of
Stewart Information Services Corporation which the undersigned has power to
vote, with all powers which the undersigned would possess if personally
present, at the annual meeting of stockholders thereof to be held on April 24,
1998, or at any adjournment thereof.
Unless otherwise marked, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of the
nominees named.
PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD
PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.)
<PAGE> 16
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
PLEASE MARK VOTE IN OVAL IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER USING DARK INK ONLY.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Election of Directors -- For Withheld For All
Nominees; Nita B. Hanks, Dr. E. Douglas Hodo, Paul W. Hobby, All All Except
Max Crisp, C.M. Hudspeth [ ] [ ] [ ]
</TABLE>
- ----------------------------------
(Except nominee(s) written above.)
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual
Meeting of Stockholders and of the Proxy Statement.
Dated , 1998
----------------------------
Signature(s)
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
Please sign exactly as your name appears. Joint owners
should each sign personally. Where applicable, indicate
your official position or representation capacity.
