SJW Group

10/29/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/29/2024 15:04

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement Form S 3ASR

Document
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2024
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

SJW Group
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 77-0066628
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

110 W. Taylor Street
San Jose, California 95110
(408) 279-7800
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

Andrew F. Walters
SJW Group
110 W. Taylor Street
San Jose, California 95110
(408) 279-7800
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
with copy to:
Robert W. Downes
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
(212) 558-4000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

Table of Contents
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☒
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act ☐

Table of Contents
PROSPECTUS
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Units
We may offer, issue and sell, in one or more offerings, from time to time and in amounts authorized from time to time, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus.

We will provide the specific prices and terms of these securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus at the time of offering. The supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you make your investment decision.
This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves a number of risks. See "Risk Factors" on page 2 before you make your investment decision.
We may offer securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters or dealers, through agents or directly to purchasers. These securities also may be resold by selling securityholders. If required, the prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see "Plan of Distribution" in this prospectus.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "SJW".
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is October 29, 2024



TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
1
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
1
THE COMPANY
2
RISK FACTORS
2
USE OF PROCEEDS
3
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
3
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
9
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
12
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
15
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
18
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
19
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
19
VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK
21
EXPERTS
21
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
21
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
22


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of an "automatic shelf" registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as a "well-known seasoned issuer" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), using a "shelf" registration process.Under this process, we may sell from time to time the securities (including debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, or units) described in this prospectus.This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer.Each time we sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered.The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.You should carefully read both this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us, together with the additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation.
The information in this prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front cover. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any other date.
When used in this prospectus, the terms "SJW," the "Company," "we," "our" and "us" refer to SJW Group and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein contain statements that are "forward-looking" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include statements relating to future events and future results of SJW Group and its subsidiaries that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about SJW Group and its subsidiaries and the industries in which SJW Group and its subsidiaries operate and the beliefs and assumptions of the management of SJW Group.
Forward-looking statements can often be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as "believes," "expects," "estimates," "anticipates," "intends," "seeks," "plans," "projects," "may," "should," "will," or other similar expressions. Our actual results, performance or achievements could be materially different from the results expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risks described in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference, including the "Risk Factors" sections of this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and our reports and other documents filed with the SEC. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks, uncertainties and other cautionary statements made in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference.
There can be no assurance that other factors not currently anticipated by us will not materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Please take into account that forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus or, in the case of any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus or documents incorporated by reference, the date of any such document. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement.
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THE COMPANY
SJW Group was initially incorporated as SJW Corp. in the state of California on February 8, 1985. SJW Group is a holding company with five wholly owned subsidiaries:
•San Jose Water Company ("SJWC"), with its headquarters located at 110 West Taylor Street in San Jose, California 95110, was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of California in 1866. As part of a reorganization on February 8, 1985, SJWC became a wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Group. SJWC is a public utility in the business of providing water service in the metropolitan San Jose, California area.
•SJWNE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, was formed in 2019. SJWNE LLC is a special purpose entity established to hold SJW Group's investment in Connecticut Water Service, Inc. Connecticut Water Service, Inc. with its headquarters located in Clinton, Connecticut, was incorporated in 1974 in the State of Connecticut. As part of the merger transaction between SJW Group and Connecticut Water Service, Inc. on October 9, 2019, Connecticut Water Service, Inc. and its subsidiaries became a wholly owned subsidiary of SJWNE LLC. Connecticut Water Service, Inc. is a holding company with four wholly owned subsidiaries. The Connecticut Water Company and The Maine Water Company are public utilities in the business of providing water service throughout Connecticut and Maine. The remaining two subsidiaries are Chester Realty, Inc., a real estate company in Connecticut, and New England Water Utility Services, Inc., which provides contract water and sewer operations and other water related services.
•SJWTX Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for SJWTX, Inc., doing business as The Texas Water Company ("TWC"), Texas Water Operation Services, LLC ("TWOS") and Texas Water Resources, LLC. TWC is a public utility in the business of providing water service in Bandera, Blanco, Comal, Hays, Kendall, Medina and Travis Counties in the growing region between San Antonio and Austin, Texas. TWC additionally provides wastewater service in Comal and Kendall counties. TWC also holds a 25% equity interest in Acequia Water Supply Corporation. TWOS was created for non-tariffed service operations and TWR was formed to hold wholesale water supply assets.
•SJW Land Company was incorporated in 1985. SJW Land Company owns undeveloped land in California.
•National Water Utility Service LLC was formed in October 2024 to serve as the contacting entity for shared services among the SJW Group affiliates.
The principal executive offices of SJW are located at 110 West Taylor Street, San Jose, California 95110. Its telephone number is (408) 279-7800, and its Internet address is www.sjwgroup.com. The information on, accessible from or hyperlinked to, our website (other than the SEC filings expressly incorporated herein under "Where You Can Find More Information") is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in the securities involves risk. See the risk factors described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (together with any material changes thereto contained in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) and those contained in our other filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. These risks could materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations and cause the value of our securities to decline. You could lose all or part of your investment.

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USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as otherwise set forth in any accompanying prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities for general corporate purposes, including the financing of our operations, the possible repayment of indebtedness, and possible business acquisitions.
Unless set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds in the event that securities are sold by a selling securityholder.
The following summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of our securities. At the time of any offering and sale, this prospectus together with the accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms of the securities being offered.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
SJW may issue debt securities, in one or more series, under an indenture, between SJW and the trustee specified therein.
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer in one or more series under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the supplement to what extent the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.
We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee. The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth in an officer's certificate or a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet).
General
We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth in an officer's certificate or a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet), including the following terms, if applicable:
•the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions);
•the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities;
•the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities being offered and any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such series of debt securities;
•whether any of our direct or indirect subsidiaries will guarantee the debt securities, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees;
•the date or dates on which the principal of the securities of the series is payable;
•the interest rate, if any, and the method for calculating the interest rate;
•the dates from which interest will accrue, the interest payment dates and the record dates for the interest payments;
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•the place or places where principal of, and any interest on, the debt securities will be payable (and the method of such payment), where the securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to us in respect of the debt securities may be delivered;
•any mandatory or optional redemption terms;
•any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
•any dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;
•the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued;
•whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities;
•the currency of denomination of the debt securities, which may be U.S. dollars or any foreign currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;
•the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of, and any interest on, the debt securities will be made;
•if payments of principal of, any interest on, the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;
•the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, or any interest on, the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;
•any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities;
•any addition to, deletion of or change in the events of default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;
•any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;
•any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents appointed with respect to the debt securities;
•the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any series of debt securities, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price and period, the securities or other property into which the debt securities will be convertible, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, at the option of the holders thereof or at our option, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange if such series of debt securities are redeemed; and
•any other terms of the series of debt securities that may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series, including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities.
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon maturity or a declaration of acceleration of their maturity following an event of default pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Transfer and Exchange
Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, or the depositary, or a nominee of the depositary (we will refer to any such debt security as a "global debt security"), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificate as a "certificated debt security") as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth below, global debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.
Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.
You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.
Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary, and registered in the name of the depositary or a nominee of the depositary. Beneficial interests in global debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form unless (i) the depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such global debt security or has ceased to be qualified to act as such as required by the indenture and we fail to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days of such event, (ii) we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have such securities represented by one or more global securities or (iii) any other circumstances shall exist, in addition to or in lieu of those described above, as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless and until a global debt security is exchanged for certificated debt securities under the limited circumstances described in the previous sentence, a global debt security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.
No Protection In the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
SJW may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to any person (a "successor person") unless:
•SJW is the surviving person or the successor person (if other than SJW) expressly assumes SJW's obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; and
•Immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing.
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Notwithstanding the above, any of SJW's subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to SJW.
Events of Default
"Event of Default" means with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:
•default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period);
•default in the payment of principal of any security of that series at its maturity;
•default in the performance or breach of any covenant by us in the indenture (other than defaults described above or defaults relating to a covenant that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee, or we and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture;
•certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of SJW; and
•any other event of default provided with respect to a series of debt securities that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain events of default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.
If an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization), then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal amount (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by written notice to us and the trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration of acceleration and its consequences if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default.
The indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to perform any duty or exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right of power. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.
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No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or the securities of any series or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:
•that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to debt securities of that series;
•the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request to the trustee to institute the proceedings in respect of such event of default in its own name as trustee under the indenture;
•such holder or holders have offered to the trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the trustee in compliance with such request;
•the trustee has failed to institute any such proceeding for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity; and
•no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series.
Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, and any interest on, that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture from our principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer. If a default or event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of any series and if it is actually known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall mail to each holder of the debt securities of that series notice of a default or event of default within 60 days after it occurs or, if later, after a responsible officer of the trustee has knowledge of such default or event of default. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any default or event of default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if the trustee determines in good faith that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.
Modification and Waiver
We and the trustee may modify and amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of one or more series without the consent of any holder of any debt security:
•to add guarantees with respect to debt securities of a series or secure debt securities of a series;
•to surrender any of our rights or powers under the indenture;
•to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of any series of debt securities;
•to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary;
•to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
•to comply with covenants in the indenture described above under the heading "Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets";
•to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities;
•to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities;
•to conform any supplement to the indenture for a series of securities or the securities of a series to the description of securities for such series in the prospectus supplement or offering document with respect to such series;
•to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture;
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•to effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of any series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee;
•to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; and for certain other reasons set forth in any prospectus supplement.
We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:
•reduce the principal amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
•reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security;
•reduce the principal of, or change the fixed maturity of, any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities;
•reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity;
•waive a default in the payment of the principal of, or interest, if any, on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
•make the principal of, or any interest on, any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security;
•make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, and any interest on, those debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment;
•make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to waivers or amendments; or
•waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security, provided that such redemption is made at our option.
Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, by written notice to the trustee, waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture or the debt securities with respect to such series. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series, waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or any interest on, any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt
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securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.
This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:
•we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading "Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets" and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and
•any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series ("covenant defeasance").
The conditions include:
•depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and
•delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities, including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the indenture or the securities, will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
The following summary description of our capital stock is based on the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws, as amended. This description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the DGCL, as it may be amended from time to time, and to the terms of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as each may be amended from time to time, which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See "Where You Can Find More Information." As used in this "Description of Capital Stock," the terms "SJW," the "Company," "we," "our" and "us" refer to SJW Group, a Delaware corporation, and do not, unless otherwise specified, include our subsidiaries.
Our authorized capital stock consists of 70,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.
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Common Stock
Each holder of record of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held on every matter properly submitted to our stockholders for their vote. Holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. After satisfaction of any dividend rights of holders of any outstanding preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled ratably to any dividend declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for this purpose.
Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably our net assets available, if any, after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock.
Our common stock is not subject to further calls or assessments by SJW, and holders of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption, conversion or exchange rights and no sinking fund provisions.
The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.
All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.
Preferred Stock
Our certificate of incorporation permits us to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, in one or more series, subject to limitations prescribed by law, with such designations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of any wholly unissued series of preferred stock as our board of directors may determine, including without limitation, the dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices, and liquidation preferences of any such series, and the number of shares constituting any such series and the designation thereof, or any of the foregoing.
Our board of directors is further authorized to increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series, the number of which was fixed by it, subsequent to the issuance of shares of such series then outstanding, subject to the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof stated in our certificate of incorporation or the resolution of our board of directors originally fixing the number of shares of such series. If the number of shares of any series is so decreased, then the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.
Our common stock is subject to the express terms of any preferred stock. Our board of directors may issue preferred stock with voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights that could adversely affect the relative rights of the holders of our common stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Other Agreements
Some provisions of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer, proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by stockholders. In particular, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by stockholders of SJW to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors, which is responsible for appointing the members of management.
A description of these provisions is set forth below.
Blank Check Preferred
As described above, our board of directors is authorized to create and issue from time to time, without stockholder approval, up to an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to establish the number of shares of any series of preferred stock and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the shares of each series. The authority to designate preferred stock may be used to issue series of preferred stock, or rights to acquire preferred stock, that could dilute the interest of, or impair the voting power of, holders of our common stock or could also be used as a method of determining, delaying or preventing a change of control.
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Meetings and Elections of Directors
Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws limit the ability of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders to only stockholders holding not less than 20% of outstanding voting power. In particular, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, by the president, by resolution of our board of directors adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (regardless of any vacancy), or by stockholders holding 20% or more of our voting power.
Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. However, directors may not be elected by written consent except by unanimous written consent of all shares entitled to vote for the election of directors.
Vacancies. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that vacancies occurring on our board of directors for any reason and newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled only by vote of a majority of the remaining members of our board of directors, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, at any meeting of our board of directors. A person so elected by our board of directors to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor shall be duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.
No Cumulative Voting
Our certificate of incorporation prohibits cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Interested Stockholder Transaction and Business Combination
The provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL govern SJW. Section 203 of DGCL prohibits, subject to certain exceptions, a Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder (i.e., a stockholder acquiring 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock) for three years following the date that such stockholder becomes an interested stockholder without approval of our board of directors. Section 203 makes certain types of unfriendly or hostile corporate takeovers, or other non-board approved transactions involving a corporation and one or more of its significant stockholders, more difficult by prohibiting large stockholders, in particular those owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, from merging or combining with us for a certain period of time without the consent of our board of directors. Delaware companies may opt out of Section 203 if the original certificate of incorporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not "opt out" of Section 203.
Exclusive Forum
Our certificate of incorporation provides as follows:
•for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of SJW, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of SJW to SJW or SJW's stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, unless SJW consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum shall be a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, in all cases subject to the court's having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants.
•for any claim arising under the Securities Act, or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder (in each case, as amended from time to time), unless SJW consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum shall be the federal district courts of the United States; provided, however, that if the foregoing provisions are, or the application of such provisions to any person or any circumstance is, deemed to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, then the sole and exclusive state court forum for any claim arising under the Securities Act or any rule or regulation
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promulgated thereunder (in each case, as amended from time to time) shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Stockholders cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce exclusive forum provisions in connection with claims arising under the Securities Act, and the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies' charter documents has been challenged in legal proceedings. It is possible that a court could find this type of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable, and if a court were to find this provision in our certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving claims in other jurisdictions, which could have adverse effect on our business and financial performance.
Advance Notice Bylaws
Our bylaws contain an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting will only be able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given SJW's corporate secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder's intention to bring that business before the annual meeting. Our bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of SJW.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SJW".
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company LLC.
DESCRIPTION OF DESPOSITARY SHARES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the depositary shares and depositary receipts that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future depositary shares or depositary receipts we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any depositary shares or depositary receipts that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of deposit agreement that describes the terms of the depositary shares and depositary receipts we may offer before the issuance thereof. The following summary is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the deposit agreement applicable to a particular offering of depositary shares or depositary receipts. We urge you to read any applicable prospectus supplement related to the depositary shares or depositary receipts that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete deposit agreement.
Description of Depositary Shares
We may offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts. Each depositary share represents a fraction or a multiple of a share of the particular series of preferred shares issued and deposited with a depositary to be designated by us. The fraction or the multiple of a share of preferred shares which each depositary share represents will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will deposit the preferred shares of any series of preferred shares represented by depositary shares according to the provisions of a deposit agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company which we will select as our preferred shares depositary. We will name the depositary in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each holder of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the underlying preferred shares in proportion to the applicable fraction or multiple of a share of preferred shares represented by the depositary share.
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These rights may include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights. The depositary will send the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications that we deliver to the depositary and which we are required to furnish to the holders of depositary shares.
Depositary Receipts
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to anyone who is buying the fractional preferred shares in accordance with the terms of the applicable prospectus supplement.
While definitive engraved depositary receipts (certificates) are being prepared, we may instruct the depositary to issue temporary depositary receipts, which will entitle holders to all the rights of the definitive depositary receipts and be substantially in the same form. The depositary will prepare definitive depositary receipts without unreasonable delay, and we will pay for the exchange of your temporary depositary receipts for definitive depositary receipts.
Withdrawal of Preferred Shares
Unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption, a holder of depositary shares may receive the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred shares and any money or other property represented by the holder's depositary receipts after surrendering the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the depositary, paying any taxes, charges and fees provided for in the deposit agreement and complying with any other requirement of the deposit agreement. Partial preferred shares will not be issued. If the surrendered depositary shares exceed the number of depositary shares that represent the number of whole preferred shares the holder wishes to withdraw, then the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Once the holder has withdrawn the preferred shares, the holder will not be entitled to re-deposit such preferred shares under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary shares in exchange for such preferred shares. We do not expect that there will be any public trading market for withdrawn preferred shares.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute to record holders of depositary shares any cash dividends or other cash distributions it receives on preferred shares, after deducting its fees and expenses. Each holder will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by the holder. The depositary will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents. The depositary will add any fractional cents not distributed to the next sum received for distribution to record holders of depositary shares. In the event of a non- cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property to the record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such a distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders. The amounts distributed to holders of depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If the series of preferred shares represented by depositary shares is subject to redemption, we will give the necessary proceeds to the depositary. The depositary will then redeem the depositary shares using the funds they received from us for the preferred shares. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price payable per share for the applicable series of the preferred shares and any other amounts per share payable with respect to the preferred shares multiplied by the fraction or multiple of a preferred share represented by one depositary share. Whenever we redeem preferred shares held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem the depositary shares representing the preferred shares on the same day, provided we have paid in full to the depositary the redemption price of the preferred shares to be redeemed and any accrued and unpaid dividends. If fewer than all the depositary shares of a series are to be redeemed, the depositary shares will be selected by lot or ratably or by any other equitable methods as the depositary will decide.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be considered outstanding. Therefore, all rights of holders of the depositary shares will then cease, except that the holders will still be entitled to receive any cash payable upon the redemption and any money or other property to which the holder was entitled at the time of redemption. To receive this amount or other property, the holders must surrender the
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depositary receipts evidencing their depositary shares to the depositary. Any funds that we deposit with the depositary for any depositary shares that the holders fail to redeem will be returned to us after a period of one year from the date we deposit the funds.
Voting the Preferred Shares
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will notify holders of depositary shares of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to the holders. The record date for determining holders of depositary shares that are entitled to vote will be the same as the record date for the preferred stock. The materials the holders will receive will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how the holders, on a certain date, may instruct the depositary to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them on or before the date specified. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the shares as instructed by the holder. We agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable it to vote as a holder has instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any depositary shares, it will vote all shares of that series held by it proportionately with instructions received.
Conversion or Exchange
The depositary, with our approval or at our instruction, will convert or exchange all depositary shares if the shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares are converted or exchanged. In order for the depositary to do so, we will need to deposit the other shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock, or other securities into which the shares of preferred stock are to be converted or for which it will be exchanged.
The exchange or conversion rate per depositary share will be equal to:
•the exchange or conversion rate per share of preferred stock, multiplied by the fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by one depositary share;
•plus all money and any other property represented by one depositary share; and
•including all amounts per depositary share paid by us for dividends that have accrued on the shares of preferred stock on the exchange or conversion date and that have not been paid.
The depositary shares, as such, cannot be converted or exchanged into other shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock, securities of another issuer or any other of our securities or property. Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a holder of depositary shares may be able to surrender the depositary receipts to the depositary with written instructions asking the depositary to instruct us to convert or exchange the shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares into other shares of our preferred stock or common stock or to exchange the shares of preferred stock for any other securities registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. If the depositary shares carry this right, we would agree that, upon the payment of any applicable fees, we will cause the conversion or exchange of the preferred stock using the same procedures as we use for the delivery of shares of preferred stock. If a holder is only converting part of the depositary shares represented by a depositary receipt, new depositary receipts will be issued for any depositary shares that are not converted or exchanged.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the form of depositary receipt without consent of the holder at any time. However, if the amendment adds or increases fees or charges, other than any change in the fees of any depositary, registrar or transfer agent, or prejudices an important right of holders, it will only become effective with the approval of holders of at least a majority of the affected depositary shares then outstanding. We will make no amendment that impairs the right of any holder of depositary shares, as described above under "-Withdrawal of Preferred Stock", to receive shares of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by those depositary shares, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. If an amendment becomes effective, holders are deemed to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the amended deposit agreement if they continue to hold their depositary receipts.
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The deposit agreement automatically terminates if:
•all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or converted or exchanged for any other securities into which they or the underlying shares of preferred stock are convertible or exchangeable;
•each share of preferred stock has been converted into or exchanged for shares of common stock; or
•a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock has been made to the holders of depositary receipts in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.
We may also terminate the deposit agreement at any time we wish. If we do so, the depositary will give notice of termination to the record holders not less than 30 days before the termination date. Once depositary receipts are surrendered to the depositary, it will send to each holder the number of whole or fractional shares of the series of preferred stock underlying that holder's depositary receipts.
Charges of Depositary and Expenses
We will pay the fees, charges and expenses of the depositary provided in the deposit agreement to be payable by us. Holders of depositary receipts will pay any taxes and governmental charges and any charges provided in the deposit agreement to be payable by them. If the depositary incurs fees, charges or expenses for which it is not otherwise liable at the election of a holder of a depositary receipt or other person, that holder or other person will be liable for those fees, charges and expenses.
Limitations on Our Obligations and Liability to Holders of Depositary Receipts
The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary as follows:
•we and the depositary are only liable to the holders of depositary receipts for negligence or willful misconduct;
•we and the depositary have no obligation to become involved in any legal or other proceeding related to the depositary receipts or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any other party, unless you provide us with satisfactory indemnity; and
•we and the depositary may rely upon any written advice of counsel or accountants and on any documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by notifying us of its election to do so. In addition, we may remove the depositary at any time. Within 60 days after the delivery of a notice of resignation or removal of the depositary, we will appoint a successor depositary.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
General
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which consist of warrants to purchase common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares, and/or debt securities in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares, and/or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from those securities.
While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future warrants we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The specific terms of any warrants may differ from the description provided below as a result of negotiations with third parties in connection with the issuance of those warrants, as well as for other reasons. Because the terms of any warrants we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below, you should rely solely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement if that summary is different from the summary in this prospectus.
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We will issue the warrants under a warrant agreement, which we will enter into with a warrant agent to be selected by us. We use the term "warrant agreement" to refer to any of these warrant agreements. We use the term "warrant agent" to refer to the warrant agent under any of these warrant agreements. The warrant agent will act solely as an agent of ours in connection with the warrants and will not act as an agent for the holders or beneficial owners of the warrants.
We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of warrant agreement, including a form of warrant certificate, that describes the terms of the series of warrants we are offering before the issuance of the related series of warrants. The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement applicable to a particular series of warrants. We urge you to read any applicable prospectus supplement related to the warrants that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreement that contain the terms of the warrants and defines your rights as a warrant holder.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms relating to a series of warrants. If warrants for the purchase of debt securities are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, to the extent applicable:
•the offering price and the aggregate number of warrants offered;
•the currencies in which the warrants are being offered;
•the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities that can be purchased if a holder exercises a warrant;
•the designation and terms of any series of debt securities with which the warrants are being offered and the number of warrants offered with each such debt security;
•the date on and after which the holder of the warrants can transfer them separately from the related series of debt securities;
•the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;
•the date on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and the date on which that right expires;
•federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; and
•any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the warrants.
Warrants for the purchase of debt securities will be in registered form only.
If warrants for the purchase of common shares, preferred shares, or depositary shares are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, to the extent applicable:
•the offering price and the aggregate number of warrants offered;
•the total number of shares that can be purchased if a holder of the warrants exercises them;
•the number of warrants being offered with each common share;
•the date on and after which the holder of the warrants can transfer them separately from the related common shares or preferred shares or the related depositary shares;
•the amount of common shares, preferred shares, or depositary shares that can be purchased if a holder exercises the warrant and the price at which those shares may be purchased upon exercise, including, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price and in the securities or other property receivable upon exercise;
•the terms of any rights to redeem or call, or accelerate the expiration of, the warrants;
•the date on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and the date on which that right expires;
•federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; and
•any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the warrants.
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Warrants for the purchase of common shares, preferred shares, or depositary shares will be in registered form only.
A holder of warrant certificates may exchange them for new certificates of different denominations, present them for registration of transfer and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Until any warrants to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise, including any rights to receive payments of principal, premium or interest on the underlying debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture. Until any warrants to purchase depositary shares or common shares or preferred shares are exercised, holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying depositary shares or common shares or preferred shares, including any rights to receive dividends or to exercise any voting rights, except to the extent set forth under "-Warrant Adjustments" below.
Exercise of Warrants
Each holder of a warrant is entitled to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or number of common shares or preferred shares or depositary shares, as the case may be, at the exercise price described in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the day when the right to exercise terminates (or a later date if we extend the time for exercise), unexercised warrants will become void.
A holder of warrants may exercise them by following the general procedure outlined below:
•deliver to the warrant agent the payment required by the applicable prospectus supplement to purchase the underlying security;
•properly complete and sign the reverse side of the warrant certificate representing the warrants; and
•deliver the warrant certificate representing the warrants to the warrant agent within five business days of the warrant agent receiving payment of the exercise price.
If you comply with the procedures described above, your warrants will be considered to have been exercised when the warrant agent receives payment of the exercise price, subject to the transfer books for the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrant not being closed on such date. After you have completed those procedures and subject to the foregoing, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver to you the debt securities or shares of common shares or preferred shares or depositary shares that you purchased upon exercise. If you exercise fewer than all of the warrants represented by a warrant certificate, a new warrant certificate will be issued to you for the unexercised amount of warrants. Holders of warrants will be required to pay any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with transferring the underlying securities in connection with the exercise of the warrants.
Amendments and Supplements to the Warrant Agreements
We may amend or supplement a warrant agreement without the consent of the holders of the applicable warrants to cure ambiguities in the warrant agreement, to cure or correct a defective provision in the warrant agreement, or to provide for other matters under the warrant agreement that we and the warrant agent deem necessary or desirable, so long as, in each case, such amendments or supplements do not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.
Warrant Adjustments
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the exercise price of, and the number of securities covered by, a warrant for depositary shares or shares of common shares or preferred shares will be adjusted proportionately if we subdivide or combine our common shares or preferred shares, as applicable. In addition, unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, if we, without payment:
•issue shares of common shares or preferred shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for common shares or preferred shares, or any rights to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any of the foregoing, as a dividend or distribution to all or substantially all holders of our common shares or preferred shares;
•pay any cash to all or substantially all holders of our common shares or preferred shares, other than a cash dividend paid out of our current or retained earnings;
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•issue any evidence of our indebtedness or rights to subscribe for or purchase our indebtedness to all or substantially all holders of our common shares or preferred shares; or
•issue common shares, preferred shares or additional shares or other securities or property to all or substantially all holders of our common shares or preferred shares by way of spinoff, split-up, reclassification, combination of shares or similar corporate rearrangement;
then the holders of common share warrants, preferred share warrants, or depositary share warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the warrants, in addition to the securities otherwise receivable upon exercise of the warrants and without paying any additional consideration, the amount of shares and other securities and property such holders would have been entitled to receive had they held the common shares or preferred shares or depositary shares issuable under the warrants on the dates on which holders of those securities received or became entitled to receive such additional shares and other securities and property
Except as stated above, the exercise price and number of securities covered by a warrant for common shares, preferred shares, or depositary shares, and the amounts of other securities or property to be received, if any, upon exercise of those warrants, will not be adjusted or provided for if we issue those securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for those securities, or securities carrying the right to purchase those securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for those securities.
Holders of common share warrants, preferred share warrants or depositary share warrants may have additional rights under the following circumstances:
•certain reclassifications, capital reorganizations or changes of the common shares or preferred shares;
•certain share exchanges, mergers, or similar transactions involving us that result in changes of the common shares or preferred shares; or
•certain sales or dispositions to another entity of all or substantially all of our property and assets.
If one of the above transactions occurs and holders of our common shares, preferred shares, or depositary shares are entitled to receive shares, securities or other property with respect to or in exchange for their securities, the holders of the common share warrants, preferred share warrants, or depositary share warrants then outstanding, as applicable, will be entitled to receive upon exercise of their warrants the kind and amount of shares and other securities or property that they would have received upon the applicable transaction if they had exercised their warrants immediately before the transaction.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may issue units comprising two or more securities described in this prospectus in any combination. For example, we might issue units consisting of a combination of debt securities and warrants to purchase shares of common stock. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the units that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the units and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the units so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit also is the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. Units will be issued pursuant to the terms of a unit agreement, which may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time or at any time before a specified date. A copy of the forms of the unit agreement and the unit certificate relating to any particular issue of units will be filed with the SEC each time we issue units, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the forms of the unit agreement and the related unit certificate, when filed by us in a future Exchange Act report or as an amendment to the Registration Statement that this prospectus forms a part of, see "Where You Can Find Additional Information."
The prospectus supplement relating to any particular issuance of units will describe the terms of those units, including, to the extent applicable, the following:
•the designation and terms of the units and the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
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•any provision for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and
•whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
Information about selling securityholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment or in filings we make with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We, and any selling securityholder, may offer and sell the securities covered by this prospectus from time to time, in one or more transactions, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to market prices, at a fixed price or prices subject to change, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices, by a variety of methods, including the following:
•through agents;
•to or through underwriters;
•in "at the market offerings," within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise;
•through brokers or dealers;
•directly by us or any selling securityholders to purchasers, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process; or
•through a combination of any of these methods of sale.
Registration of the securities covered by this prospectus does not mean that those securities necessarily will be offered or sold.
In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by us may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Broker-dealer transactions may include:
•purchases of the securities by a broker-dealer as principal and resales of the securities by the broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus;
•ordinary brokerage transactions; or
•transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers.
In addition, we and any selling securityholder may sell any securities covered by this prospectus in private transactions or under Rule 144 of the Securities Act rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
We may sell offered securities through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent in the offer or sale of the securities for which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to that agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless indicated in such prospectus supplement, the agents will have agreed to use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment.
In connection with the sale of securities covered by this prospectus, broker-dealers may receive commissions or other compensation from us in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions. Broker-dealers may also receive compensation from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as principals or both. Compensation as to a particular broker-dealer may be in excess of customary commissions or in amounts to be negotiated. In connection with any underwritten offering, underwriters may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Any underwriters, broker-dealers agents or other persons acting on our behalf that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the
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Securities Act, and any profit on the sale of the securities by them and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by any of those underwriters, broker-dealers agents or other persons may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
In connection with the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus or otherwise, we or any selling securityholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions. In connection with such transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of our securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with us or any selling securityholder. We or any selling securityholder may also sell securities short and deliver the securities offered by this prospectus to close out our short positions. We or any selling securityholder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus, as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction. We or any selling securityholder may also from time to time pledge our securities pursuant to the margin provisions of our customer agreements with our brokers. Upon our default, the broker may offer and sell such pledged securities from time to time pursuant to this prospectus, as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction.
At any time a particular offer of the securities covered by this prospectus is made, a revised prospectus or prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of securities covered by this prospectus being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents, any discounts, commissions, concessions and other items constituting compensation from us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. Such prospectus supplement, and, if necessary, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, will be filed with the SEC to reflect the disclosure of additional information with respect to the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus. In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities sold under this prospectus may only be sold through registered or licensed broker-dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is satisfied.
In connection with an underwritten offering, we and any selling securityholder would execute an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the revised prospectus or applicable prospectus supplement, such underwriting agreement would provide that the obligations of the underwriter or underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent, and that the underwriter or underwriters with respect to a sale of the covered securities will be obligated to purchase all of the covered securities, if any such securities are purchased. We or any selling securityholder may grant to the underwriter or underwriters an option to purchase additional securities at the public offering price, less any underwriting discount, as may be set forth in the revised prospectus or applicable prospectus supplement. If we or any selling securityholder grants any such option, the terms of that option will be set forth in the revised prospectus or applicable prospectus supplement.
To the extent that we make sales through one or more underwriters or agents in at the market offerings, we will do so pursuant to the terms of a sales agency financing agreement or other at the market offering arrangement between us and the underwriters or agents. If we engage in at the market sales pursuant to any such agreement, we will issue and sell our securities through one or more underwriters or agents, which may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis. During the term of any such agreement, we may sell securities on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise as we agree with the underwriters or agents. The agreement will provide that any securities sold will be sold at prices related to the then prevailing market prices for our securities. Therefore, exact figures regarding proceeds that will be raised or commissions to be paid cannot be determined as of the date of this prospectus. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of our common stock or other securities. The terms of each such agreement will be set forth in more detail in a prospectus supplement.
Underwriters, agents, brokers or dealers may be entitled, pursuant to relevant agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us or any selling securityholder against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in this prospectus, any supplement or amendment hereto, or in
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the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters, agents, brokers or dealers may be required to make.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York. Any underwriters will also be advised about legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of SJW Group, incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the effectiveness of SJW Group's internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information and reports we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and the information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede the information already incorporated by reference. We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below, which we have already filed with the SEC, and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, except as to any portion of any future report or document that is not deemed filed under such provisions until we sell all of the securities:
•our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2024 (the "2023 Form 10-K");
•our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2024, and June 30, 2024, and September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 26, 2024, July 25, 2024, andOctober 28, 2024, respectively;
•our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC (other than information furnished rather than filed) on May 30, 2024, June 21, 2024, August 2, 2024, August 20, 2024, andOctober 28, 2024; and
•the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A, filed with the SEC on November 15, 2016, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description, including the description of capital stock contained in Exhibit 4.6 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, incorporated by reference into our 2023 Form 10-K.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless specifically stated to the contrary, information that we furnish (and that is not deemed "filed" with the SEC) under Items 2.02 and 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits under Item 9.01, is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Upon request, either orally or in writing, we will provide, without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, a copy of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus. You may request a copy of these filings, and any exhibits we have specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus, at no cost by writing us at the following address: SJW Group, 110 West Taylor Street, San Jose, CA 95110 or calling us at (408) 279-7800.
You may also access these documents, free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or on our website at www.sjwgroup.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed from, our website as part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. We have incorporated exhibits into this registration statement. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus or those documents.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.These documents may be accessed through the SEC's electronic data gathering, analysis and retrieval system, or EDGAR, via electronic means, including the SEC's home page on the Internet (www.sec.gov). Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at www.sjwgroup.com. We have the authority to designate and issue more than one class or series of stock having various preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption.See "Description of Capital Stock."We will furnish a full statement of the relative rights and preferences of each class or series of our stock which has been so designated and any restrictions on the ownership or transfer of our stock to any stockholder upon request and without charge.Written requests for such copies should be directed to SJW Group, 110 West Taylor Street, San Jose, CA 95110; telephone:(408) 279-7800.Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and, therefore, is not part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. Certain information in the registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. For more detail about us and any securities that may be offered by this prospectus, you may examine the registration statement on Form S-3 and the exhibits filed with it at the locations listed in the previous paragraph. Please be aware that statements in this prospectus referring to a contract or other document are summaries and you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or document.

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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth estimated fees and expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby (other than any underwriting discounts and commissions).
Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee
$
*
Accounting Fees and Expenses
**
Legal Fees and Expenses
**
Printing Fees
**
Transfer Agents and Trustees' Fees and Expenses
**
Rating Agency Fees
**
Stock Exchange Listing Fees
**
Miscellaneous
**
Total
$
**
* Deferred in reliance on Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act.
** Since an indeterminate amount of securities is covered by this registration statement, the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities are not currently determinable.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The registrant is a Delaware corporation. Reference is made to Section 102(b)(7) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"), which enables a corporation in its certificate of incorporation to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director or officer for violations of the director's or officer's fiduciary duty, except:
•for any breach of the director's or officer's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;
•for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
•solely in the case of directors, pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions);
•for any transaction from which a director or officer derived an improper personal benefit; or
•in the case of an officer, in any action by or in the right of SJW Group.
Reference is also made to Section 145 of the DGCL, which provides that a corporation may indemnify any persons, including officers and directors, who are, or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such director, officer, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the person's conduct
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was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify officers and directors in an action by or in the right of the corporation under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify the officer against the expenses that such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred. The indemnification permitted under the DGCL is not exclusive, and a corporation is empowered to purchase and maintain insurance against liabilities whether or not indemnification would be permitted by statute.
The registrant's certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as amended, provide for indemnification of its directors and officers to the fullest extent currently permitted by the DGCL. The registrant also has indemnification agreements with its directors and officers. In addition, the registrant maintains liability insurance for its directors and officers.
Item 16. Exhibits
Exhibit
Number 		Description of Exhibits
1.1* Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
Form of Indenture.
4.3*
Form of Depositary Agreement
4.4*
Form of Global Note.
4.5*
Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate
4.6*
Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate
4.7*
Form of Debt Securities Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate
4.8*
Form of Preferred Stock Certificate of Designations
4.9*
Form of Unit Agreement and Unit Certificate
5.1
Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2
Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
25.1* Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Trustee under the Indenture.
107
Calculation of Filing Fee Table
* To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement, including a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
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(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;
(2) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
(i) the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and
(ii) each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no
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statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; and
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California on the 29th day of October, 2024.
SJW GROUP
By:
/s/ Eric W. Thornburg
Name:
ERIC W. THORNBURG
Title: Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates stated. Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Eric W. Thornburg, Andrew F. Walters and Willie Brown, and each of them severally, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and exhibits to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, and to any registration statement filed under SEC Rule 462, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on October 29, 2024.
Signature Capacity in which Signed Date
/s/ Eric W. Thornburg
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
October 29, 2024
ERIC W. THORNBURG
/s/ Andrew F. Walters
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
October 29, 2024
ANDREW F. WALTERS
/s/ Carl Guardino
Director
October 29, 2024
CARL GUARDINO
/s/ Mary Ann Hanley
Director
October 29, 2024
MARY ANN HANLEY
/s/ Heather Hunt
Director
October 29, 2024
HEATHER HUNT
/s/ Rebecca A. Klein
Director
October 29, 2024
REBECCA A. KLEIN
/s/ Denise L. Kruger
Director
October 29, 2024
DENISE L. KRUGER
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/s/ Gregory P. Landis
Director
October 29, 2024
GREGORY P. LANDIS
/s/ Daniel B. More
Director
October 29, 2024
DANIEL B. MORE
/s/ Carol P. Wallace
Director
October 29, 2024
CAROL P. WALLACE
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