SCHEDULE 14A
SCHEDULE 14 INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [ ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ x ]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section
240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter:
Comfort Systems USA
Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement:
Sheet Metal Workers' International Association
Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box)
[ ] $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii),
14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2).
[ ] $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules
14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
REVISED PRELIMINARY] PROXY STATEMENT
INDEPENDENT SHAREHOLDER SOLICITATION for
Annual Shareholders Meeting
Comfort Systems USA
May 23, 2002 11am
Doubletree Hotel
2001 Post Oak Blvd.
Houston TX
For release to Shareholders 4/< 20
II. PROXY VOTING:
PLEASE USE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD TO VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL. IF
YOU SUPPORT IT, DO NOT SEND BACK A CARD TO MANAGEMENT (UNLESS
THAT CARD GIVES YOU A BOX TO VOTE " FOR" THIS PROPOSAL). IT IS
A RULE OF PROXY VOTING THAT ANY PROXY CARD IS CANCELLED OUT
BY SUBMITTING A LATER-DATED PROXY CARD.
We intend to solicit at least a majority of the voting power of
the outstanding stock. Our proposal is a nonbinding
recommendation to the Board. You can revoke any proxy vote
prior to the tally at the shareholders meeting by signing and
submitting a new proxy card, by sending written notice of
revocation to the proxy holder, or by appearing at the meeting
and voting in person. The record date for eligibility to vote
is April 9, 2002.
We seek no discretionary voting authority for the meeting: we
will vote your stock as you instruct us. If you return the
enclosed card but give us no instructions, we will vote your
stock FOR the proposal and not vote the card in the directors
election or on any other matter. The board election and
management's proposal to amend the non-employee directors' stock
plan are the only matters listed by management as coming up
for a vote at this meeting. We incorporate by reference all
information concerning the board of directors election and
management's proposal to amend the directors' plan and voting
procedures contained in management's proxy statement at pages
1-8.
III. INFORMATION ON PARTICIPANTS IN THIS SOLICITATION:
This solicitation is conducted by Sheet Metal Workers'
International Association (SMWIA), which owns 1,400 shares of
Comfort Systems USA stock. Prior to the Company's recent sale of
several subsidiaries, SMWIA represented about 500 Company
employees for collective bargaining purposes. Several hundred
were represented by other unions. A total of approximately
2,795 were unionized, out of approximately 10,000 nonmanagement
personnel. Most of the unionized subsidiaries were sold in 2002;
we do not have the current number of total employees or unionized
employees. To SMWIA's knowledge, there are no strikes, contract
disputes, picketing, or boycotts going on currently. We do not
seek your support in labor matters.
SMWIA will bear all solicitation costs (anticipated at $5000) and
will not seek reimbursement from the Company. SMWIA will solicit
proxies by mail, phone, e-mail, fax and in person using its
regular staff, who shall not receive any additional compensation,
but SMWIA may also hire an outside solicitor. SMWIA will
reimburse banks, brokers, and other custodians, nominees or
fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred in forwarding proxy
material to beneficial owners.
IV. YOUR RIGHT TO MAKE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS:
If a shareholder has owned more than $2000 worth of stock for
more than a year and meets the other criteria of SEC Rule 14a-8,
then he or she has the legal right to have a proposal appear in
management's proxy statement and proxy card. The deadline for
shareholders to submit proposals for inclusion in management's
proxy materials for the year 2003 is December 16, 2002.
V. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION/SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND
5% OWNERS:
We incorporate by reference the information contained in
management's proxy statement at pages 8-10.
VI. TEXT OF OUR PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED that shareholders urge the Board of Directors to adopt a
policy that the Company shall not, without prior approval of the
holders of a majority of stock, reprice stock options already
granted to any executive officer or director to a lower exercise
price, nor terminate and regrant any such option at a lower
price, nor grant new options to such persons on account of the
market price dropping below the exercise price of prior options.
This proposal shall not be construed as asking the Board to
breach any existing contract nor to amend any option plan
without shareholder approval.
PLEASE RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD TODAY.
For more information, contact SMWIA's Research & Education
Department at (800) 457-7694.
VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL BEFORE ANY
STOCK OPTIONS GET REPRICED OR REISSUED DUE TO A DROP IN STOCK
PRICE (ITEM #3 ON THE ENCLOSED CARD)
For more information, contact Allen Smith at SMWIA at (800)
457-7694.
PROXY CARD
solicited by SMWIA for Annual Shareholders Meeting of
Comfort Systems USA, May 23 2002
The undersigned hereby designates SMWIA Research er Allen
Smith, with full power of substitution, as the proxy of the
undersigned for the sole purpose of voting all stock of the
undersigned in the manner marked below at the Comfort Systems
annual shareholders meeting for 2002. This proxy card grants no
discretionary voting authority: if matters come before
the meeting other than the items below, the stock of the
undersigned will not be voted on such matters.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
For: [ ]
J. Gordon Beittenmiller
Robert D. Wagner
Steven S. Harter
[the above are nominees of the current Board]
To withhold authority for individual candidates, cross out
name(s)
Withhold Authority as to all above: [ ]
2. Approval of Board's Proposed Amendment to 1997 Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan
.
For [ ]
Against [ ]
[we make no recommendation on this issue]
3 . SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL TO PROHIBIT THE BOARD FROM
REPRICING OR REPLACING STOCK OPTIONS WITHOUT FIRST GETTING
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL
FOR THIS PROPOSAL: [ ]
AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL: [ ]
ABSTAIN: [ ]
[WE RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL]
Dated: ________
SIGNATURE:_______________________________________
PRINT SHAREHOLDER NAME:____________________________________
Optional information to help us keep you informed:
Telephone _________ Fax ____________ E-mail address: ____________
Mail to us in the enclosed envelope or fax to (202) 662-0891.