​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

   

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

   

The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board for use at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on May 26, 2016, at 10:00 a.m., Mountain Daylight Time, at El Paso Electric Company’s (the “Company”) principal offices, and at any adjournment thereof. The Company’s principal offices are located at the Stanton Tower Building, 100 N. Stanton Street, El Paso, Texas 79901.

The cost of soliciting proxies will be paid by the Company, including a fee of  $6,500 plus expenses to Georgeson LLC, who will help us solicit proxies. In addition to the use of the

mail, proxies may be solicited by telephone, fax, other electronic means or in person by the Board, officers, employees and other agents of the Company. The Company will reimburse brokers, banks and other persons for reasonable expenses in forwarding the Notice of the Meeting to beneficial owners and forwarding printed proxy materials by mail to beneficial owners who specifically request them.

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy are first being made available on the Internet to shareholders of the Company on or about April 15, 2016.

At the close of business on March 29, 2016, the record date for determination of the shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, the Company had outstanding 40,483,000 shares of its common stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”).

Each share of Common Stock outstanding at the record date entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders at the Annual Meeting. The holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock must be represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting for a quorum to be present and business to be conducted.

Under our majority voting policy, in an uncontested election, if a director nominee does not receive a majority of the votes cast in the election (that is, the director nominee receives a greater number of  “withhold” votes than “for” votes), the director nominee is required to tender his or her resignation for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and our Board. Assuming a quorum is present, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting. Please see “Corporate Governance—Majority Voting Policy” below for further details on our majority voting policy.

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on the proposal and represented in person or by proxy at the meeting is required to approve the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.

The outcome of the advisory vote on the Company’s executive compensation will not be binding on the Board. Therefore, there is no “required vote” on this resolution. The Board, in the exercise of its fiduciary duties, will consider the outcome of the advisory vote in determining how to proceed following such vote. The affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal will be considered as the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”).

The outcome of the advisory vote on the frequency of the Company’s “say-on-pay” vote will not be binding on the Board. Therefore, there is no “required vote” on this resolution. The Board, in the exercise of its fiduciary duties, will consider the outcome of the advisory vote in determining how to proceed following such vote. The affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal will be considered as the approval, on an advisory basis, of the frequency of the “say-on-pay” vote of our NEOs.

A shareholder of record having the right to vote at the Annual Meeting may vote either in person or by proxy. A shareholder of record may vote by proxy over the Internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice of the Meeting, or if the shareholder requests printed copies of the proxy materials by mail, the shareholder may also vote by mail or by telephone.

A shareholder who signs and returns a proxy may revoke that proxy at any time before the Annual Meeting by filing with the Corporate Secretary of the Company an instrument in writing revoking the proxy, delivering a duly executed proxy

1 

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

bearing a later date, or attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. The shares represented by a proxy given and not so revoked will be voted and, where the shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon and for which a ballot is provided in the proxy form, the shares will be voted in accordance with the specification so made. If a proxy is properly executed and returned, but no choice is specified, the shares will be voted “FOR” each director nominee, “FOR” each of proposals two and three, and vote “ONE YEAR” for proposal four. With respect to any other matters that will come before the Annual Meeting, such shares will be voted in the discretion of the proxy holder. If no proxy is returned by a shareholder of record, the shares represented by such proxy will not be voted.

The Board is not aware of any matter that will be presented at the Annual Meeting other than as set forth in the accompanying Notice. If, however, any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, the proxy holder will have discretionary authority to vote the shares represented by properly executed proxies in accordance with the proxy holder’s discretion and judgment as to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

Abstentions are included in the determination of the number of shares represented at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present and are counted as a vote “AGAINST” when determining whether a proposal has been approved. Broker non-votes are included in the determination of the number of shares represented at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present and are not counted for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved. Broker

non-votes occur when a beneficial owner who holds shares of Common Stock through a broker does not provide the broker with voting instructions as to any matter on which the broker is not permitted to exercise its discretion and vote without specific instruction.

The rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) determine whether proposals presented at shareholder meetings are routine or non-routine. If a proposal is routine, a broker or other entity holding shares for an owner in street name may vote for the proposal without receiving voting instructions from the owner under certain circumstances. If a proposal is non-routine, the broker or other entity may vote on the proposal only if the owner has provided voting instructions. A broker non-vote occurs when the broker or other entity is unable to vote on a proposal because the proposal is non-routine and the owner does not provide any voting instructions.

The NYSE rules provide that the election of directors in an uncontested election, the advisory vote on executive compensation, and the advisory vote on the frequency of executive compensation advisory votes are non-routine items. This means that brokers who do not receive voting instructions from their clients as to how to vote their shares for these proposals cannot exercise their discretionary authority to vote your shares for these proposals. Therefore, it is important that you instruct your broker as to how you wish to have your shares voted on these proposals, even if you wish to vote as recommended by the Board. The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 is a routine item under the NYSE rules.

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

2 

Article III, Section 2, of the Company’s Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) divides the Board into three classes, as equally as numerically possible, each of which is elected for a three-year term. The Board currently has eleven members with three to four members in each class. The Company would like to thank Ms. Patricia Z. Holland-Branch for her valuable service and time on the Board. Ms. Holland-Branch will be retiring from the Board pursuant to the director retirement policy in the Corporate Governance Guidelines.

The shares represented by the accompanying proxy will be voted to elect the four nominees for Class I Directors as recommended by the Board, unless authority to do so is withheld. Each nominee has agreed to the nomination and has agreed to serve if elected. Should any nominee become unavailable for election, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other person as the Board may recommend in place of such nominee.

Included below is information about the nominees for election as directors and the existing directors who will continue in office after the Annual Meeting. The Board has concluded that the skills, qualifications and experience of each of the

director nominees and continuing directors supports such nominee or director’s continued membership on the Company’s Board.

Owner and President, Brownco Capital, LLC

Director since 2003

Mr. Brown, age 71, has been the Owner and President of Brownco Capital, LLC, a private investment company, since November 2007. From May 1992 to March 2008, Mr. Brown was the President and Chairman of the Board of Desert Eagle Distributing of El Paso, Inc., a distributor of Anheuser-Busch products in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. He currently serves on the board of directors of WestStar Bank. He previously served on the Texas Tech University Board of Regents from 1995 until 2003 and served as chairman of the Board of Regents from 2001 until 2002. He also served as a commissioner for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission from 2003 until 2009. In 2010, Mr. Brown was inducted into the El Paso Business Hall of Fame. Mr. Brown has been a director of the Company since June 2003 and serves on our Audit, Energy Resources and Environmental, and Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Committees.

The Board determined that Mr. Brown should be nominated for election as a director due to his extensive management and business experience. The Board also values his civic leadership and involvement in the El Paso business community.

Senior Executive Vice President for External and Legislative Affairs, AT&T Services, Inc.

Director since 1997

Mr. Cicconi, age 63, has been Senior Executive Vice President of External and Legislative Affairs for AT&T Services, Inc. since November 2005. Prior to that, Mr. Cicconi served as Executive Vice President for Law and Government Affairs and General Counsel of AT&T Corp. He served as a partner of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP (“Akin Gump”) from 1991 to 1998. While practicing law at Akin Gump, Mr. Cicconi specialized in administrative and regulatory law, as well as federal legislation, representing a range of corporate clients. He was also involved in a number of significant transactions, including public sales, restructurings and acquisitions. Mr. Cicconi served as Deputy Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush and also served as the Senior Issues Advisor to President Bush’s 1988 and 1992 election campaigns. In 2016, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Digital Economy Board of Advisors. Mr. Cicconi has been a director of the Company since 1997 and serves as Chairman of our Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Committee. He also serves as a member of our Audit and Executive Committees.

The Board determined that Mr. Cicconi should be nominated for election as a director due to his extensive legal knowledge, having served as the general counsel of a major corporation, compliance, regulatory, M&A, communications, public relations, external affairs, technology and technology strategy issues experience as well as his extensive knowledge gained in his years of service as a director of the Company.

3 

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

Chief Executive Officer since December 2015, El Paso Electric Company

Director since 2015

Ms. Kipp, age 48, was named Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) for the Company in December 2015. Prior to that, Ms. Kipp served as President for the Company from September 2014. Prior to being named President, Ms. Kipp served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for the Company.

Before rejoining the Company in 2007, Ms. Kipp spent four years as a senior enforcement attorney in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Enforcement in Washington, D.C., where she investigated and prosecuted violations of federal energy laws. Before entering government service, Ms. Kipp was an attorney at Greenberg Traurig LLP, the Company and El Paso Natural Gas Company. As an ex-officio member, Ms. Kipp has a standing invitation to attend all Board committee meetings, but she does not count for quorum purposes, vote on committee matters, or receive additional compensation.

The Board determined that Ms. Kipp should be nominated for election as a director due to her extensive knowledge of the industry and the Company, its operations, its people and the Texas and New Mexico community, gained in her years of service with the Company in positions of increasing responsibility.

Retired Chief Executive Officer, El Paso Electric Company

Retired Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, American Electric Power Company, Inc.

Director since 2010

Mr. Shockley, age 71, has been a member of the Board since May 2010. He retired as CEO of the Company in December 2015 after serving since January 2012. Prior to being appointed CEO, Mr. Shockley was Interim CEO from January 2012 until May 2012. He also had a distinguished career in the regulated utility industry. From 2000 to 2004, he served as the Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (“AEP”), one of the largest electric utilities in the United States. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Shockley was President and Chief Operating Officer of Central and South West Corporation, which combined with American Electric Power of Columbus, Ohio in 2000 to form AEP. In his career, Mr. Shockley served in various other executive and management positions in the utility and energy industries. He previously served on the boards of directors of the Foundation Coal Company, Cellnet and on the board of Chase Energy Development. Mr. Shockley serves on our Energy Resources and Environmental, and Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Committees.

The Board determined that Mr. Shockley should be nominated for election as a director due to his extensive knowledge of the industry and the Company, having formerly served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and having over 30 years in the electric utility industry.

Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Santa Fe Group

Director since 2009

Ms. Allen, age 69, has, since 1996, been the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Santa Fe Group, a strategic consulting company providing services to financial institutions and related infrastructure companies in the areas of vendor risk management, cybersecurity and emerging technologies. She was formerly CEO of BITS, a financial services consortium and non-profit industry association from 1997 to 2007. Prior to BITS, she was a senior executive for Dun and Bradstreet, Citicorp, and CBS, focusing on development of technology based products, services and strategies. She sits on a number of non-profit boards including the University of Missouri Research and Development Committee, International Folk Art Alliance, Appleseed New Mexico, which she chairs, Communities in Schools, Lensic Performing Arts Center, Museum of New Mexico Foundation, Women Corporate Directors, and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. She is co-chair of the University of Missouri Capital Campaign Committee and she received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Missouri in 2005. She is the author of four books. She

served on the board of Stewart Title Guaranty Company and Houlihan Lokey, and continues to serve on the board of Synovus Financial Corporation and Analytics Pros. Ms. Allen joined our Board in May 2009 and chairs our Security Committee. She also serves as a member of our Energy Resources and Environmental, Public Policy and Corporate Reputation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.

President and Chief Executive Officer, High Desert Capital LLC

Vice Chairman of the Board since 2015

Director since 2012

Mr. Escudero, age 45, is President and Chief Executive Officer of High Desert Capital LLC, a finance company specializing in providing various types of capital alternatives to small-to-mid-size companies, a role he has held since 2008. Previously, Mr. Escudero was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of C&R Distributing, a major distributor of fuel and lubricants and the owner of various convenience stores in West Texas and Southern New Mexico. He also served as Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of Petro Stopping Centers, LP, where he held vital roles of managing

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

4 

various departments including accounting, legal, human resources, audit, financial planning and information systems. He serves on a number of community boards, including the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation, El Paso Community Foundation Investment Committee, WestStar Bank, El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, and Hospitals of Providence Governing Board. Formerly, Mr. Escudero served as Chairman of the El Paso Water Utility Public Service Board. In February 2015, Mr. Escudero was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Escudero has been a director of the Company since December 2012 and serves as Chairman of our Audit Committee. He also serves as a member of our Executive, Nominating and Corporate Governance, Public Policy and Corporate Reputation, and Security Committees.

Retired Limited Partner of Apollo Advisors, LP

Consultant and Special Advisor to the Chairman of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club

Director since 1996

Mr. Siegel, age 58, is a retired Limited Partner of Apollo Advisors, LP (“Apollo”) and has been an independent business consultant since 1995. Since 2004, Mr. Siegel has served

as a consultant to and on the advisory board of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club. He previously served as a Principal and was a Limited Partner of Apollo (a predecessor to Apollo Global Management) and Lion Advisors, LP. Prior to joining Apollo, Mr. Siegel was a partner of Irell & Manella LLP, a law firm practicing corporate law. He serves as the lead independent director and member of the nominating and governance committee of Ares Capital Corporation, where he has been a board member and a member of the audit committee since 2004. Mr. Siegel has previously served as a director of a number of public and private companies, including Kerzner International Limited (“Kerzner”) where he was a director and chairman of its audit and compensation committees from April 1994 to 2006. He rejoined the Kerzner Board from 2008 until April 2014. He has been a director of the Company since 1996 and serves as Chairman of our Executive and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. He also serves as a member of our Audit, Compensation, and Security Committees.

Managing Partner, OP Food Products, LLC and

Harris Financial Advisors, LLC

Director since 1996

Mr. Harris, age 69, has served as the Managing Partner of OP Food Products, LLC since 2013 and Managing Partner of Harris Financial Advisors, LLC since 2013. From 1993 until 2013, Mr. Harris served as Founder and President of Seneca Financial Group Inc. Previously, Mr. Harris served as Managing Director at Lehman Brothers and Head of the Financial Restructuring Group. Before joining Lehman Brothers, he spent ten years at Citibank, N.A. where he worked in the Institutional Recovery Group and managed lending activities in the international and domestic banking groups. From 2001 to 2003, he was an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business in New York. From 2006 to 2012, Mr. Harris was an adjunct professor at the Kenan-Flagler School of Business Administration at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where he taught a course on Managing Business Turnarounds. He previously served as a director of Peregrine Systems Inc. and was a member of its audit committee. Mr. Harris has been a director of the Company since 1996 and serves on our Compensation, Executive, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.

Executive Chairman, Hunt Companies, Inc.

Director since 2012

Mr. Hunt, age 70, is Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hunt Companies, Inc. and its affiliated companies (“Hunt Companies”). Founded in 1947, Hunt Companies is a holding company that invests and operates in businesses focused in the real estate and infrastructure markets. The activities of Hunt Companies’ affiliates and investees include investment management, mortgage banking, direct lending, loan servicing, asset management, property management, development, construction, consulting and advisory. In addition to his duties with the Hunt Companies, Mr. Hunt is a member of the board of directors for Complete College America; foundation trustee of the College for all Texans Foundation; member of the board of visitors of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center-Houston; chairman of the Borderplex Alliance in El Paso; previously served as chairman of the Texas Business Leadership Council, where he now serves on the executive committee; member of the Texas Institute for Education Reform; member of the Texans for Education Reform; member of the Western Governors University Texas Advisory Board; member of the Paso del Norte Foundation; and board member of WestStar Bank. He was previously chairman of the Texas Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee; vice chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents; a member of the board of directors of the University of Texas Investment Management Company; founding chairman and board member of the Medical Centers of the Americas Foundation; chairman of the Texas Select Commission on Higher Education and

5 

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

Global Competitiveness; a member of the Commission for College Ready Texas and the Texas Tax Reform Commission; a member of the National Board of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education; a member of the Texas Advisory Committee on Higher Education Cost Efficiencies; a member of the Task Force on Higher Education Incentive Funding; a member of the Council for Continuous Improvement and Innovation in Texas Higher Education; and chairman of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation. He was a member of the board of directors and chairman of the finance committee of PNM Resources and has served on numerous other civic, non-profit and professional boards. Mr. Hunt has been a director of the Company since December 2012 and serves on our Compensation and Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Committees.

Managing Director and Founding Partner, W Capital Partners

Director since 1996

Mr. Wertheimer, age 65, has been a Managing Director and Founding Partner of W Capital Partners since 2001. He has over 30 years of experience in investment banking and principal investments. Prior to founding W Capital Partners, Mr. Wertheimer served as a Managing Director of CRT Capital Group, LLC. He was a Founder and Managing Member of Water Capital Management from 1991 to 1997. From 1988 to 1991, he served as a Managing Director and the Group Head of Investment Banking-Asia of PaineWebber Incorporated. Prior to 1988, Mr. Wertheimer was a Managing Director at First Chicago Corporation, where he specialized in tax-structured domestic and international principal investments and was a Vice President with Bank of America’s tax financing group making equity investments for the parent corporation. Mr. Wertheimer has extensive board experience having served on the boards of over forty companies, both public and private. Mr. Wertheimer is a member of the International Council of Advisors of the National Geographic Society. He is also a member of the board and audit and compensation committees of private companies Ravn Air Group, Inc. and World Kitchen, Inc. Mr. Wertheimer also serves on the board of Moosejaw Inc. and serves as a board advisor at Inspirato, LLC. Mr. Wertheimer has been a director of the Company since 1996 and serves as Chairman of our Energy Resources and Environmental Committee. He also

serves as a member of our Audit, Executive, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Security Committees.

Chief Corporate Governance and Compliance Officer, Houlihan Lokey

Chairman of the Board since 2015

Director since 1996

Mr. Yamarone, age 57, has been Chief Corporate Governance and Compliance Officer of Houlihan Lokey since January 1, 2016. From January 2014 through December 2015, he was a Managing Director of Houlihan Lokey where he has been a senior investment banker since November 2009. He currently advises senior management on all aspects of Houlihan Lokey’s corporate governance and compliance matters arising as a result of Houlihan Lokey’s initial public offering and subsequent status as an NYSE-listed public company. Between 1991 and 2009, he was a senior officer of Libra Securities (“Libra”), an institutional broker dealer, and was involved in all areas of Libra’s business including capital markets, corporate finance, sales and trading, research, legal, compliance and operations. Mr. Yamarone is a director of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (United Airlines), and was chairman of the compensation committee since United Airlines and Continental Airlines merged in 2010 until June 2014. He is currently a member of United Continental Holdings, Inc. audit, and compensation committees. He had previously served on the Continental Airlines board of directors since 1995, where he was chairman of the human resources committee and a member of the corporate governance and social responsibility committee. He previously served as a director of four other public companies: Bally’s Grand, Inc., LIVE Entertainment, Merry-Go-Round Enterprises, Inc. and Vagabond Inns, Inc. Mr. Yamarone has been a director of the Company since 1996. In February 2015, Mr. Yamarone was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors. He is Chairman of our Compensation Committee and he also serves as a member of our Audit, Energy Resources and Environmental, and Executive Committees. He is an ex-officio member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance, Public Policy and Corporate Reputation and Security Committees. As an ex-officio member, Mr. Yamarone has a standing invitation to attend these Board committee meetings, but he does not count for quorum purposes, vote on committee matters, or receive additional compensation.

The Board, acting through the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, is responsible for recommending to the shareholders a group of nominees that, taken together, have the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to function effectively as a board. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines require the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to periodically review the composition of the Board in light of the current challenges and needs of the Company and determine whether to add or remove individuals “after considering issues of judgment, diversity, skills, background and experience.”

In addition to the characteristics common to all of our directors, which include integrity, a strong professional reputation and record of achievement in senior executive capacities, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has included on our Board, persons with diverse backgrounds and skills reflecting the needs of the Company. In presenting this year’s nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considered the invaluable experience they have gained in dealing with the Company’s unique challenges over many years, their ability to work as a collegial group during intense and stressful periods in the past and their willingness to dedicate the time necessary to perform their roles despite other commitments.

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

6 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the following additional factors as important qualifications and skills of each member of the Board:

—

Experience in a broad range of occupations and industries, which provides differing viewpoints and expertise relating to execution of the Company’s business plan. These include consumer retail and marketing (Messrs. Brown, Escudero and Wertheimer), telecommunications (Mr. Cicconi), regulated financial (Messrs. Escudero, Harris, Hunt, Siegel, Wertheimer and Yamarone and Mdmes. Allen and Kipp), regulated utility (Ms. Kipp, Messrs. Escudero, Harris and Shockley), non-profit (Ms. Allen and Messrs. Harris and Hunt), technology strategy (Ms. Allen, Messrs. Cicconi and Wertheimer), real estate (Messrs. Harris and Hunt), legal (Messrs. Brown, Cicconi, Siegel, Yamarone and Ms. Kipp) and corporate finance and accounting (Messrs. Brown, Escudero, Harris, Hunt, Siegel, Wertheimer and

​

Yamarone); environmental/alternative energy/solar (Ms. Kipp, Messers. Shockley and Wertheimer); financial controls and auditing (Messrs. Escudero, Harris and Yamarone); and

—

Geographic presence in and knowledge of the communities and constituencies served by the Company in Texas (Messrs. Brown, Escudero, Hunt, and Shockley and Ms. Kipp) and New Mexico (Ms. Allen); and

​

—

Experience in areas applicable to service on the Board’s Committees, including governmental affairs and compliance (Messrs. Brown, Cicconi, and Hunt and Mdmes. Allen and Kipp), utility operations (Messrs. Escudero and Shockley and Ms. Kipp), corporate governance (Mdmes. Allen and Kipp and Messrs. Harris, Shockley, Siegel, Wertheimer and Yamarone) and strategic planning (Ms. Allen and Messrs. Harris, Shockley, Siegel and Wertheimer).

​

7 

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

8 

Although not required by the Company’s Bylaws, since 1996, the offices of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company have been held by different individuals. The Chairman of our Board, Mr. Yamarone, is an independent

director. Our CEO, Ms. Kipp, is the only member of management on the Board. We believe that this leadership structure enhances the accountability of the CEO to the Board and strengthens the Board’s independence from management.

The Board has adopted the Corporate Governance Guidelines (the “Guidelines”) that, along with the charters of the Board Committees, provide the framework for the governance of the Company. The Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing and reviewing the Guidelines at least annually and recommending any proposed changes to the Board for approval. The Guidelines are available on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com. Our website and its contents are not incorporated into or considered a part of this Proxy Statement.

The Board believes that directors should hold meaningful equity ownership positions in the Company. Each non-employee director is expected to be a beneficial owner

of shares of the Company’s Common Stock or common stock equivalents with a market value equivalent to at least three years’ annual cash retainer fees by the end of his or her second year of service on the Board. Each non-employee director with two years or more of service on the Board met this stock ownership guideline as of December 31, 2015. The guidelines for our executive officers are described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”).

In addition, we prohibit our executive officers and directors from engaging in hedging activities related to shares of Common Stock such as trading options (for example, puts, calls and other derivatives) and also prohibit them from holding shares of Common Stock in margin accounts.

The Guidelines, among other things, set forth categorical standards to assist the Board in making determinations of director independence in accordance with the rules of the NYSE. The Board makes a determination regarding the independence of each director annually based on all relevant facts and circumstances. Although any director who meets the following criteria and the independence criteria of the NYSE is presumed to be independent (except for purposes of serving as a member of the Audit Committee, which requires that the director meet additional requirements), the Board may make an affirmative determination to the contrary based on its review of other factors. Under the Guidelines, the following persons will not be considered to be independent:

(i)

A director who serves as an executive officer or employee of, or beneficially owns more than a 10% equity interest in, any corporation, partnership or other business entity that during the most recently completed fiscal year made payments to the Company or received payments from the Company for goods and services if such payments were more than the greater of 2% of such other entity’s gross consolidated revenues for such fiscal year or $1 million.

​

(ii)

A director who serves as an executive officer or employee of, or beneficially owns more than a 10% equity interest in, any bank, corporation, partnership or other business entity to which the Company was indebted at the end of its most recently completed fiscal year in an amount more than the greater of 2% of such other entity’s total consolidated assets at the end of such fiscal year or $1 million.

​

(iii)

A director who is a member or employee of a law firm that has provided services to the Company during the most recently completed fiscal year if the total billings for such services were more than the greater of 2% of the law firm’s gross revenues for such fiscal year or $1 million.

​

(iv)

A director who is a partner, executive officer or employee of any investment banking firm that has performed services for the Company (other than as a participating underwriter in a syndicate) during the most recently completed fiscal year if the total compensation received for such services was more than the greater of 2% of the investment banking firm’s consolidated gross revenues for such fiscal year or $1 million.

​

After a review of all relevant factors and applying these categorical standards and the independence criteria of the NYSE, the Board has determined that:

—

Ms. Allen, and Messrs. Brown, Cicconi, Escudero, Harris, Hunt, Siegel, Wertheimer and Yamarone are independent; and

​

—

Ms. Kipp, who is serving as the Company’s CEO, is not independent.

​

—

Mr. Shockley, who is the Company’s former CEO, is not independent.

​

In determining the independence of Mr. Cicconi, the Board took into account various bilateral payments, which are not material in amount, between the Company and AT&T (for

9 

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

which Mr. Cicconi serves as an executive) relating to utility services and property.

In determining the independence of Mr. Hunt, the Board took into account various bilateral payments, which are not material in amount, between the Company and Hunt Companies, Inc. (for which Mr. Hunt serves as an executive) relating to utility services extended to new real estate developments. The Board also took into account a land sale that was approved in advance by the Board that was beneficial to the Company and is not material in amount.

All members of the Audit Committee are required to meet the independence requirements set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(ii) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets such independence requirements.

In addition, all members of the Compensation Committee are required to meet the independence requirements set forth in Rules 303A.02(a)(ii) and 303A.05 of the NYSE Manual and Rule 10C-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act. The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee meets such independence requirements.

Within the last three years, the Company has not made any charitable contributions to any charitable organization for which a director of the Company serves as an executive officer in excess of the greater of  $1 million or 2% of the charitable organization’s consolidated gross revenues.

Our Board adopted a Majority Voting Policy (the “Policy”) that is included in our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Policy requires that director nominees receive a majority of the votes cast (that is, each nominee must receive more “for” votes than “withhold” votes) in an uncontested election. If an incumbent director in an uncontested election does not receive a majority of the votes cast, he or she must tender a resignation promptly following certification of the shareholder vote. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will act on an expedited basis to determine whether to accept the director’s resignation and will submit its recommendation for prompt consideration by the Board. The Board will act on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind the decision within 90 days following certification of the shareholder vote. The Nominating and

Corporate Governance Committee in making its recommendation, and the Board in making its decision, may each consider any factors or information that it considers appropriate and relevant.

Any director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this Policy will not participate in the consideration of such resignation by either the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board. If an incumbent director’s resignation is not accepted, he or she will continue to serve until the next annual meeting and until his or her successor is duly elected, or his or her earlier resignation or removal. Pursuant to the Policy, the Board will only nominate individuals for a position as a director who agree to comply with the Policy.

The Board is actively involved in the oversight of risks that could impact the Company. It is the responsibility of senior management to identify, assess and manage our exposure to risks inherent in the operation of the Company and the implementation of our strategic plan. The Board, however, plays an important role in overseeing management’s performance of these functions. In connection with its review of the operations of the Company’s business, the Board addresses the primary risks associated with various business decisions and operations. In addition, the Board reviews the risks associated with the Company’s strategic plan periodically throughout the year as part of its consideration of the strategic direction of the Company.

The Company has an enterprise risk management program that was established in 2010. The Company’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Services and Chief Compliance Officer, who reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and has independent reporting access to the Board of Directors, is

responsible for identifying, evaluating and enabling the development, implementation and monitoring of risk mitigation strategies.

Each of the Board’s Committees also oversees the management of Company risks that fall within such Committee’s areas of responsibility:

—

Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee oversees the operation of the enterprise risk management program, and the Senior Vice President, Corporate Services and Chief Compliance Officer and his team make periodic reports to the Audit Committee about the identified risks and the management controls and methodologies in place to manage those risks. In connection with its risk management role, the Audit Committee periodically meets privately with representatives from the Company’s internal auditors and its independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee provides reports to the Board that include these activities.

​

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

10

—

As part of its oversight of the Company’s executive compensation program, the Compensation Committee considers the impact of the Company’s executive compensation program, and the incentives created by the compensation awards that it approves, on the Company’s risk profile. In addition, the Company reviews all of its compensation policies and procedures, including the incentives that they create and factors that may reduce the likelihood of excessive risk taking, to determine whether they present a significant risk to the Company. Based on this review, the Company has concluded that its compensation policies and procedures are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

​

—

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assists the Board in overseeing risks associated with board organization, membership and structure, succession planning for our directors and executive officers, and corporate governance.

​

—

The Energy Resources and Environmental Committee assists the Board in overseeing risks associated with the Company’s electric generating fleet, including plants for which it is an owner and operator and those plants operated by others in which it owns an interest or on which it relies; reviewing and assessing the operations and needs of the Company’s transmission system; issues facing the Company from legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding climate change,

​

emissions, renewables and alternative energy, and environmental issues, including compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.

—

The Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Committee assists the Board in overseeing risks relating to the Company’s legislative and regulatory affairs including, but not limited to, those relating to local government and the Company’s state and federal regulators; communication and public relations activities related to the Company’s brand and reputation; matters relating to corporate and social responsibility; and contributions by the employee political action committee as well as corporate activities related to civic and charitable affairs in accordance with applicable regulations.

​

—

The Security Committee assists the Board in understanding and oversight of the systems policies, controls and procedures that management has put in place to identify, manage and mitigate risks related to cybersecurity and physical security; respond to incidents with respect thereto; and protect critical infrastructure assets. The Committee also assists the Board in assessing the adequacy of resources, funding, and focus within the Company with respect to cybersecurity and physical security.

​

In performing these functions, each Committee has full access to management, as well as the ability to engage advisors.

The Board has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all directors, officers and employees of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and the Vice President and Controller. A current copy of the Code of Ethics may be found on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com. Any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Ethics applicable to the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Vice President and Controller or persons performing similar functions will be disclosed by posting such information on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com within five business days.

Current copies of the charters of the Audit, Compensation, Energy Resources and Environmental, Executive, Nominating and Corporate Governance, Public Policy and Corporate

Reputation, and Security Committees (the “Committee Charters”) may also be found on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com.

Printed copies of the Guidelines, the Committee Charters and the Code of Ethics are available to any shareholder upon request. Requests for printed copies should be addressed to El Paso Electric Company, 100 N. Stanton Street, El Paso, Texas 79901, Attention: Office of the Secretary.

Shareholders and interested parties may correspond directly with non-management directors by writing to Eric B. Siegel, Chairman, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, P.O. Box 982, El Paso, Texas 79960.

11

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

The Board held ten meetings in 2015 and held executive sessions at each meeting. The Chairman of the Board presides at the executive sessions. All directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and the Committees on which they served.

The Company does not have a formal policy regarding director attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders. All members of the Board except Mr. Harris and Mr. Wertheimer attended the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

During 2015, compensation for non-employee directors consisted of the following:

(1)

Each non-employee director received an annual retainer of  $40,000.

​

(2)

The Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual fee of  $10,000, and the chairman of each of the other Committees of the Board received an additional annual fee of  $5,000. When a Committee Chairman is appointed mid-year, the fee is pro-rated based on his/her days of service.

​

(3)

Each non-employee director who is a member of a Committee or who is invited to attend by the Committee Chairman, received a meeting fee of  $1,000 per meeting for each Board and Committee meeting (other than Audit Committee meetings) attended.

​

(4)

Each Audit Committee member or Board member invited to attend by the Audit Committee Chairman received a meeting fee of  $1,500 per meeting for each Audit Committee meeting attended.

​

(5)

During 2015, the Chairman of the Board received an additional award of  $100,000 payable in cash or stock and the Vice Chairman of the Board received an additional award of  $50,000 payable in cash or stock.

​

(6)

Each non-employee director received an award of 3,500 shares of restricted stock. Restricted stock awarded to directors vests one year after the grant.

​

Directors are also reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in connection with their duties as directors. Non-employee directors are not eligible to participate in the executive incentive program, savings programs or any of the retirement programs for the Company’s employees. Other than as described in this section, there are no separate benefit plans for active directors.

The Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended, provide for indemnification of the Company’s directors and executive officers up to the maximum extent provided by the Texas Business Organizations Code (the “TBOC”), and the Company maintains director and officer liability insurance. The Company has indemnification agreements with each of the Company’s directors and executive officers.

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

12

The Board has the following standing Committees: Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance, Energy Resources and Environmental, Executive, Public Policy and Corporate Reputation, and Security.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee, which held thirteen meetings in 2015, is responsible for appointing the independent auditors of the Company, reviewing all recommendations of the Company’s independent auditors and the Company’s internal auditors, reviewing and approving non-audit services performed by accountants and other consultants retained by the Company, reviewing the Company’s periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and otherwise overseeing the Company’s financial reporting. The Audit Committee, in conjunction with senior management, also reviews the Company’s internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures. The roles and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are described in detail in a written charter adopted by the Board as amended and available on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com.

During 2015, the Audit Committee was composed of Chairman Escudero and directors Brown, Cicconi, Siegel, Wertheimer, and Yamarone. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the experience and independence requirements of the NYSE rules and Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(ii) of the Exchange Act. No member of the Audit Committee serves on the audit committee of more than three public companies. The Board has determined that Messrs. Escudero and Yamarone meet the criteria of Audit Committee financial experts under the SEC’s rules and are independent of management. Certain additional information concerning the composition and role of the Audit Committee is set forth under the caption “Audit Committee Report” below.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee, which held six meetings in 2015, is responsible for evaluating and approving the compensation of executive officers and the Chairman of the Board. It also reviews and approves recommended Company-wide compensation changes for employees, as well as approves the adoption of collective bargaining agreements. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for evaluating, adopting and administering benefit

13

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

plan programs. The roles and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee are described in detail in a written charter adopted by the Board as amended and available on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com. Additional information concerning the Compensation Committee’s process and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive compensation (including its engagement of compensation consultant Frederic W. Cook & Company, Inc. (“FW Cook”) appears under the caption “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below.

During 2015, the Compensation Committee was composed of Chairman Yamarone and directors Harris, Hunt, and Siegel. The Board has determined that each member of this Committee is independent under the rules of the NYSE and Rule 10C-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which held five meetings in 2015, is responsible for identifying qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board, recommending directors for appointment to Committees, evaluating Board performance, and overseeing and setting compensation for the members of the Board. The roles and responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are described in detail in a written charter adopted by the Board and available on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com.

During 2015, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was composed of Chairman Siegel and directors Allen, Escudero, Harris, and Wertheimer. The Board has determined that each member of this Committee is independent under the rules of the NYSE.

Energy Resources and Environmental Committee

The Energy Resources and Environmental Committee held five meetings in 2015. The Energy Resources and Environmental Committee is responsible for reviewing and assessing the operations of the Company’s electric generating fleet, including plants for which it is an owner and operator and those plants operated by others in which it owns an interest or on which it relies; overseeing the affairs and operations of the Company and needs of the Company’s transmission system; determining whether the Company has operated Company facilities in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations; and identifying existing and potential environmental issues facing the Company under federal, state and local law. The roles and responsibilities of the Energy Resources and Environmental Committee are described in detail in a written charter adopted by the Board as amended and available on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com.

During 2015, the Energy Resources and Environmental Committee was composed of Chairman Wertheimer and directors Allen, Brown, Holland-Branch and Yamarone.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee held one meeting in 2015, consults with senior management on administrative matters and directs the strategic planning effort on behalf of the Board. The Executive Committee may exercise all powers of the Board (except as prohibited by the TBOC) between meetings. In addition, the Executive Committee’s responsibilities include analyzing and making recommendations to the Board regarding the maximization of shareholder value. The roles and responsibilities of the Executive Committee are described in detail in a written charter adopted by the Board and available on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com.

During 2015, the Executive Committee was composed of Chairman Siegel (appointed in March 2015), Cicconi, Escudero, (appointed in March 2015), Harris, Wertheimer, and Yamarone (appointed in March 2015).

Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Committee

The Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Committee, which held seven meetings in 2015, is responsible for overseeing matters relating to the Company’s legislative and regulatory affairs including, but not limited to those relating to local government and the Company’s state and federal regulators; communication and public relations activities related to the Company’s brand and reputation; matters relating to corporate and social responsibility; and contributions by the employee political action committee as well as corporate activities related to civic and charitable affairs in accordance with applicable regulations. The roles and responsibilities of the Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Committee are described in detail in a written charter adopted by the Board as amended and available on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com.

During 2015, the Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Committee was composed of Chairman Cicconi and directors Allen, Brown, Escudero, Holland-Branch and Hunt.

Security Committee

The Security Committee, which held seven meetings in 2015, enhances the Board’s understanding and oversight of the systems policies, controls and procedures that management has put in place to identify, manage and mitigate risks related to cybersecurity and physical security; respond to incidents with respect thereto; and protect critical infrastructure assets. The Committee also assists in the Board’s assessment of the adequacy of resources, funding, and focus within the Company with respect to cybersecurity and physical security. The roles and responsibilities of the Security Committee are described in detail in a written charter adopted by the Board and available on the Company’s website at www.epelectric.com.

During 2015, the Security Committee was composed of Chairman Allen and directors Escudero, Holland-Branch, Siegel, and Wertheimer.

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

14

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominees for the Board submitted in writing by a shareholder. A shareholder wishing to nominate one or more individuals to stand for election as a director at an annual or special meeting of the shareholders must provide written notice thereof not less than 80 days in advance of such meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the meeting was not publicly announced by the Company more than 90 days prior to the meeting, such notice, to be timely, must be delivered not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the date of the meeting was publicly announced. A shareholder’s notice must set forth (i) the name and address of the shareholder making the nomination; (ii) such information regarding the nominee(s) proposed by such shareholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC had the nominee(s) been nominated by the Board; (iii) a representation of the shareholder as to the number of shares of stock of the Company that are beneficially owned by the shareholder and the shareholder’s intent to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination; and (iv) the written consent of the nominee(s) to serve as a member of the Board if so elected. Any such shareholder notice should be submitted in writing to: El Paso Electric Company, Attention: Office of the Secretary, 100 N. Stanton Street, El Paso, Texas 79901.

In making its recommendations regarding nominees to serve on the Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews an individual’s qualifications, and makes a determination as to the independence of the candidate based on the independence criteria described above. If the nominee is being evaluated for re-nomination to the Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will assess the prior performance of such director as well. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also periodically review the composition of the Board in light of its current challenges and needs and determine whether it may be appropriate to add or remove individuals after considering issues of judgment, diversity, age, skills, background and experience. Our Board does not have a formal written policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees, but its practice has been to seek a combination of skills, experience, geographic and local knowledge, backgrounds and outlook that is in the best interest of the Company and its various constituencies. No director may serve on the boards of more than three other public companies while serving on the Company’s Board.

15

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

The Board has selected KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. At the Annual Meeting, the Company will ask shareholders to ratify the Board’s selection. KPMG LLP, which served in the same capacity in 2014 and 2015, is expected to be represented at the Annual Meeting. Representatives of KPMG LLP will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will respond to appropriate questions. If the shareholders

do not ratify the Board’s proposal, the Board will reconsider its action with respect to the appointment of KPMG LLP. Approval of the resolution, however, will in no way limit the Board’s authority to terminate or otherwise change the engagement of KPMG LLP during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. Fees related to the services provided to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 by KPMG LLP are set forth below.

KPMG LLP determined that these services did not affect its independence under applicable auditing standards. The Audit Committee pre-approved the engagement of KPMG LLP to provide the audit and permissible non-audit services described above in accordance with the requirements of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and determined that KPMG LLP’s provision of the services described above under “Audit-Related Fees,” “Tax Fees,” and “All Other Fees” is compatible with KPMG LLP’s independence.

The Audit Committee charter provides that the Audit Committee will pre-approve audit services and non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s independent auditors pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures established by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee may consult with management in the decision-making process, but may not delegate this authority to management. The Audit Committee may delegate its authority to pre-approve services to one or more Audit Committee members, provided

that such designees present any such pre-approvals to the full Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting. The Audit Committee pre-approved the engagement of KPMG LLP to provide the audit and permissible non-audit services provided in 2015 in accordance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and determined that KPMG LLP’s provision of the services provided in 2015 is compatible with KPMG LLP’s independence.

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

16

The Audit Committee assists the Board in reviewing the Company’s financial reporting process. In fulfilling its responsibilities in 2015, the Audit Committee, among other things, (i) reviewed and discussed the interim financial information contained in each quarterly earnings announcement with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”) and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to public release; (ii) reviewed and discussed the audited financial information contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Company’s management, including the CFO, and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to public release; (iii) obtained from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm a formal written statement describing all relationships between the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the Company that might bear on the auditors’ independence consistent with Independence Standards Board, Standard No. 1, “Independence Discussions with Audit Committees”; (iv) discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm any relationships that may impact their objectivity and independence, and satisfied itself as to the auditors’ independence; (v) discussed with management, the internal auditors and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the quality and adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and the internal audit function’s organization, responsibilities, budget and staffing; and (vi) reviewed with both the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the Company’s internal auditors their audit plans, audit scope, and identification of audit risks.

In addition, the Audit Committee discussed and reviewed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm all communications required by generally accepted accounting standards, including those described in the

Statement on Auditing Standards No. 16, as amended, “Communication with Audit Committees” and, with and without management present, discussed and reviewed the results of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm’s examination of the financial statements. The Audit Committee also reviewed the results of the internal audit examinations.

The Audit Committee reviewed with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the audited financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. Management is responsible for the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for the examination of those statements.

Based on the above-mentioned review and discussions with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, for filing with the SEC. The Audit Committee also recommended the reappointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s registered independent public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, and the Board concurred in such recommendation.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Edward Escudero, Chairman
John Robert Brown
James W. Cicconi
Eric B. Siegel
Stephen N. Wertheimer
Charles A. Yamarone

17

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act and related rules of the SEC, we are once again providing our shareholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers or NEOs (as hereinafter defined) as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

Shareholders are encouraged to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) section of this Proxy Statement for a more detailed discussion of how our compensation programs further the Company’s objectives.

At this meeting, the shareholders will be asked to vote on the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the shareholders approve the compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and related narratives and other materials in the Company’s Proxy Statement.”

The Board is committed to excellence in governance and recognizes that executive compensation is an important matter for our shareholders. The Board and the Compensation Committee believe that the Company’s executive officer compensation program, as described in the CD&A and other related sections of this Proxy Statement, is reasonable and effective in aligning the interests of the executive officers with the interests of the Company’s shareholders. We believe

that our executive compensation program is designed to reward our NEOs for the achievement of short-term and long-term strategic and operational goals and the achievement of increased total shareholder value while at the same time avoiding the encouragement of unnecessary or excessive risk-taking. In particular, as described in detail in our CD&A below, our program has the following features:

—

Strong focus on performance-based pay consisting of annual incentives tied to key financial and operating measures and long-term incentives tied to shareholder return;

​

—

67% of the ongoing long-term incentive program is tied directly to relative shareholder return;

​

—

Limited perquisites; and

​

—

No tax gross-ups in our change in control or severance programs.

​

The vote on this resolution is not intended to address any specific element of compensation; rather, the vote relates to the compensation of our NEOs, as described in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. This vote is advisory, which means that it is not binding on us, our Board or the Compensation Committee of our Board. The Compensation Committee and our Board value the views of our shareholders and will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future compensation decisions for our NEOs.

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

18

This proposal provides shareholders the opportunity to vote, on a non-binding, advisory basis, on the frequency of holding “Say-on-Pay” advisory votes on the Company’s compensation to our NEOs. Shareholders have the option of selecting a frequency of one year, two years, or three years, or abstaining. At the 2011 Annual Meeting, the shareholders indicated a preference for holding “Say-on-Pay” advisory votes on an annual basis as recommended by the Board. Thus, the advisory vote in Proposal 3 reflects the approved annual frequency and the next advisory vote on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes will occur no later than at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The Board has determined that an advisory vote on executive compensation that occurs once every year is the most appropriate alternative for the Company at this time.

This vote is advisory, which means that it is not binding on us, our Board or the Compensation Committee of our Board. Our Board and its Compensation Committee will, however,

carefully consider the outcome of the vote when considering the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. Our Board may decide that it is in the best interests of our shareholders to hold an advisory vote on the compensation of our NEOs more or less frequently than the frequency receiving the most votes cast by our shareholders.

The proxy card provides shareholders with the opportunity to choose among four options (holding the vote every one, two or three years, or abstaining) and, therefore, shareholders will not be voting to approve or disapprove the recommendation of our Board. The alternative (other than abstention) that receives the most votes will be deemed the advice of our shareholders.

19

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

Our executive compensation program is designed to:

—

Attract and retain qualified executives by providing comprehensive and market-competitive compensation;

​

—

Encourage a high level of performance by linking a significant amount of executive pay to the financial results and operating performance of the Company; and

​

—

Motivate our executive team to achieve the Company’s business strategy and ensure focus on long-term shareholder return.

​

To meet these goals, our executive compensation program currently consists of base salary, an annual performance bonus payable in cash, and stock-based long-term incentive awards, along with retirement and other benefits. The levels of compensation are determined through a combination of market data, company performance and individual responsibility and performance.

Highlights regarding our 2015 executive compensation program include the following:

—

In December 2015, Mr. Shockley, our CEO since 2012, retired. Pursuant to an extensive succession planning process, the Board elected Mary E. Kipp as CEO and as a member of the Board. We entered an Employment Agreement with Ms. Kipp comprising a mix of annual base pay, bonus opportunity and long term incentives set at the market median and including a time and performance-based restricted stock grant designed to better ensure her retention and focus on the Company’s strong financial performance.

​

—

Pursuant to Ms. Kipp’s promotion to CEO, we entered into a new Change of Control Agreement with her providing essentially the same terms and benefits as her previously existing Change of Control Agreement to reflect her new title and compensation. We believe that our CEO’s potential severance benefits are consistent with market practices, in that the Change of Control Agreement provides for 36 months of base salary and bonus at Target level, a prorated annual bonus for the year in which termination occurs, and up

​

to 12 months of reimbursement for health benefits coverage, together with accelerated vesting of equity awards.

—

The Compensation Committee has incorporated double-trigger severance arrangements into the CEO’s Change of Control Agreement requiring both termination of employment and a change in control to receive change of control severance benefits, which is consistent with both market practice and our agreements with the other NEOs.

​

—

In 2015, our Earnings Per Share and Customer Service and Compliance measures exceeded Target performance, compared to the established goals of our Annual Cash Bonus Plan (“ACBP”), resulting in an above-Target cash bonus payout to our NEOs. This result under the terms of our ACBP is consistent with our philosophy of pay for performance and market-competitive executive compensation.

​

—

The three-year performance period for our 2013 performance-based equity awards ended in 2015, and because our relative Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”)

​

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

20

failed to meet the Threshold payout level versus our compensation comparator group, we did not pay out any performance shares to our NEOs, further demonstrating alignment of our compensation program with our pay for performance philosophy and shareholder interests.

—

Our performance-based equity awards depend on relative TSR performance over a three-year period, and we do not pay dividends on unearned performance awards.

​

—

The Compensation Committee engaged in regular executive sessions without management present, and regularly consulted with its external executive compensation consultant.

​

—

The Compensation Committee reviewed tally sheets for the CEO, other NEOs and other executive officers, together with reviewing and approving the Company’s annual report to shareholders regarding executive compensation.

​

Our Compensation Committee reviews and approves compensation for all executive officers. The Compensation Committee reviews the performance of our CEO at least annually. Our CEO reviews other executive officers’ performance and reports his/her evaluations to the Compensation Committee. Our CEO also recommends to and discusses with the Compensation Committee the non-equity compensation elements for the other executive officers, although the Compensation Committee approves the actual compensation awarded.

Since May 2012, the Compensation Committee has engaged Frederic W. Cook & Company, Inc. (“FW Cook”) as its independent outside executive compensation consulting firm. FW Cook’s services to the Compensation Committee during 2015 included:

—

An executive compensation study covering market competitive practices for base salary, short-term incentives, long-term incentives, benefits and perquisites for executives of the Company using an approved peer group and published surveys.

​

—

A report on CEO compensation and recommendations with respect to the CEO’s compensation package.

​

—

Regular updates on emerging trends and best practices at scheduled Compensation Committee meetings.

​

—

A review and comment on proxy disclosures, including this CD&A report, summary compensation tables, and shareholder proposals.

​

—

Ad hoc support on issues directly related to the Compensation Committee’s scope of duties and responsibilities such as attraction and retention issues and incentive plan design.

​

—

Comprehensive review of our executive compensation plans, programs and policies.

​

The FW Cook consultant regularly attended meetings of the Compensation Committee and, when requested, attended its executive sessions. In addition, members of the

Compensation Committee held discussions with the FW Cook consultant between meetings as the need arose. Pursuant to SEC rules, the Compensation Committee reviewed the independence of the FW Cook consultant and concluded there was no conflict of interest or other factors that might impair the consultants’ independence.

The Compensation Committee generally makes decisions regarding base salary, annual bonus targets and equity incentive awards at one or more regularly scheduled meetings during the first quarter of each year. The Compensation Committee continues to review compensation matters throughout the year and changes or approves compensation at other times in response to hiring needs, market changes and other occurrences. The Compensation Committee’s decisions about equity awards are not “timed” or otherwise affected by the planned announcement of material information. At least annually, (and at other times when material decisions are being considered) the Compensation Committee reviews a summary of compensation (also called a “tally sheet”) with its outside independent executive compensation consulting firm for each executive officer showing all compensation, equity holdings and accrued retirement benefits. The tally sheets are designed to inform the Compensation Committee of the total compensation potentially payable to the executive officers, particularly in the event of change in control and/or separation from the Company, but were not a material factor in making any particular compensation decision during the year.

In 2015, we again held a shareholder advisory vote to approve the compensation of our NEOs, commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote. More than 93% of shareholder votes (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) were cast in favor of the compensation of our NEOs. Although this was an advisory vote, we believe the approval by our shareholders shows support for our compensation philosophy and approach, and our Compensation Committee did not make any specific changes in response to this vote. Instead, it retained its general approach to determining our executive compensation as described in this CD&A, while focusing on particular needs that arise during the year.

In consultation with FW Cook, the Compensation Committee approved a group of companies (referred to in this discussion as the “Compensation Comparator Group”), which includes United States shareholder-owned electric and diversified utilities, and which is used for an annual benchmarking review

of our compensation program. These companies are regional electric and diversified utilities with business issues, scale and organization characteristics similar to our own. The Compensation Committee reviews compensation information of the Compensation Comparator Group compiled from

21

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

publicly available data and data from similarly-sized utilities from the Towers Watson Energy Services Executive Compensation Database.

For compensation decisions made in 2015, the companies in the Compensation Comparator Group consisted of the following:

​

The primary components of our compensation program for the NEOs (as hereinafter defined) are:

—

Base salary;

​

—

Short-term incentive compensation, currently awarded through an annual cash performance-based bonus plan; and

​

—

Long-term incentive equity compensation, currently awarded in a combination of time-based restricted stock awards and performance shares.

​

We do not target any element of compensation to be a particular percentage of total compensation.

Base Salary. Base salary levels for our executive officers are reviewed and set annually, or, as warranted, in connection with hiring, promotions or reassignments. The Compensation Committee generally targets the 50th-percentile level of the Compensation Comparator Group, although the

Compensation Committee also considers each executive officer’s responsibility level, experience and individual performance in setting base salaries. The Compensation Committee approved base salary increases effective January 2015, for the CEO and NEOs ranging from 0% to 8.3%. For 2015, each of the NEOs’ salaries fell within 5% of the 50th percentile, as determined by FW Cook, with the average being below the 50th percentile of similarly-positioned executives at companies in the Compensation Comparator Group. Individual variations from the 50th percentile primarily reflect each executive’s skills, experience and performance in the position.

The Compensation Committee also approved a base salary increase for Ms. Kipp in December 2015 when she was promoted to CEO, with her base salary reflecting a 38.9% change. The following table reflects changes in annual base salary during 2015 for the CEO and NEOs.

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

22

Annual Cash Bonus Plan. The purpose of our ACBP is to provide market-based compensation opportunities based on achievement of specific business goals and objectives that are established in advance on an annual basis. All employees, including our NEOs, are eligible to participate in the ACBP.

Each executive officer is assigned a Target award opportunity expressed as a percentage of base salary. The Target for each of the NEOs for 2015 was as follows: (i) 80% for the CEO; (ii) 60% for the President; (iii) 50% for the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and (iv) 45% for the other NEOs. The Target award represents the level of bonus payment the executive officer may earn in the event that plan performance is achieved at Target or expected levels of performance. Payments at the Target levels combined with base salary are further intended to approximate the 50th percentile of the total annual cash compensation opportunity among the Compensation Comparator Group. In addition, Maximum and Threshold award levels are established for each metric that adjust payouts for performance levels that exceed or fall below our plan. The CEO could earn 28% of his/her Target bonus opportunity (15% for the President, 18% for the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and 20% for the other NEOs) if all metrics were achieved at Threshold performance, and could earn no more than 200% of the Target bonus opportunity (183% for the President, 180% for the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and 178% for the other NEOs) at Maximum.

For our NEOs, the goals under the ACBP for 2015 were based solely on the following corporate financial and operational performance measures:

—

Financial performance measured by earnings per share; and

​

—

Operational performance, measured by a combination of customer satisfaction, system reliability, and compliance goals.

​

No individual performance modifier was applied by the Committee in determining payouts to the NEOs under the ACBP.

The Customer Satisfaction goal in the ACBP is based on two separate measures – the Customer Satisfaction Survey and Call Center Performance. The measurement of the customer satisfaction survey goal is based on an annual customer survey designed and conducted by a third-party market research organization. Survey responses are provided by a combination of customer classes and are weighted as

follows: (i) 50% for residential customers; (ii) 25% for small commercial customers; and (iii) 25% for large industrial customers and are designed to measure overall customer satisfaction and meeting our customers’ expectations.

The second customer satisfaction goal (“Call Center Service Level”) is designed to focus our customer call center employees on fast and efficient service for customers contacting our call center. The Call Center Service Level is a measure of the percentage of incoming calls answered within the first minute.

The Reliability goal in 2015 measured system-wide SAIDI (system average interruption duration index) with Target set at the prior five-year average. Threshold was set at the highest (worst) SAIDI over the last five years and Maximum was set at the lowest (best) SAIDI over the last five years. Results were further subject to compliance with a Public Utility Commission of Texas (“PUCT”) system-wide standard for both SAIFI (system average interruption frequency index) and SAIDI, a numerical calculation based on performance data for 2008-2010. No payout could be made for the Reliability metric if either of the PUCT standards were exceeded.

The Compliance goal under operational performance is designed to ensure employees complete all required compliance-related trainings and activities during the year. The 2015 Target performance level is based on the individual employee’s satisfactory completion of this training during the year.

The Earnings Per Share bonus goal for 2015 was established based on a range between a Threshold of  $1.75 and a Maximum of  $2.15. Executive officers would receive no bonus if the Threshold Earnings Per Share goal was not achieved.

The table below “2015 Annual Cash Bonus Plan” shows the individual metrics, their respective weighting and the performance goals at Target, Threshold and Maximum levels of performance. Except for the Compliance metric described above, results between the Threshold and Target, or between the Target and Maximum, are interpolated to calculate the achievement of the metric. The Compliance metric pays out at Target for full compliance or at Maximum for completion of additional defined activities. The table also shows the actual performance result for each metric and the resulting final payout percentage of Target opportunity earned by the NEOs. As noted above, the CEO has a wider and higher range of payout under this plan to better focus his/her short term compensation on performance.

23

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

Bonuses are paid in late February or early March after the Compensation Committee reviews the audited financial results and operational performance for the previous year. As reported in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and as shown in the above table, the Company had net income of  $2.03 per basic share, which includes an accrual for the cost of the bonus pool. The Company also met (or failed to meet) its Customer Satisfaction goals, Reliability goal, and Compliance goal, at the respective levels reflected in the above table. As a result, each NEO received a bonus, as set

forth in the table below and also in the “Summary Compensation Table” later in this Proxy Statement. The total bonus paid to the Company’s approximately 1,100 employees for 2015 was approximately $10.5 million, of which approximately $2.7 million was paid to the NEOs and the 10 other executive officers as a group.

The following table shows the payout amounts of the 2015 ACBP compared with the payout opportunity at Target for each of the NEOs:

Other Cash Awards. In 2015, except for the annual strategy execution bonus provided under Mr. Shockley’s Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, the Compensation Committee approved no other cash bonus award for any other NEO.

Long-Term Equity Incentives. Generally, we grant stock awards annually to our NEOs with a three-year performance cycle and payout. These awards are designed to focus executive officers on the relative performance of our stock, and secondarily, as a retention tool based on deferred vesting. Since 2004, the Compensation Committee has granted annual long-term equity incentives consisting of two elements:

—

Performance shares, which are earned based on our relative TSR over a three-year performance period; and

​

—

Time-vested restricted stock, which vests in one installment at the end of a three-year performance period.

​

All of our NEOs (other than Mr. Shockley) received these awards in February 2015, in the amounts set forth in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table below. Mr. Shockley did not receive an equity award in February 2015 when the other NEOs received their annual long-term incentive grant

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

24

because his employment term was scheduled to end in December 2015 and the February 2015 grants were based on a three-year performance cycle ending in 2017.

For our NEOs, the mix for each annual equity award was based on a weighting of 67% for performance shares and 33% for time-vested restricted stock. We have chosen to place more weight on the performance shares to emphasize long-term performance and shareholder returns, consistent with the Company’s compensation philosophy. We believe that the time-vested restricted stock awards are also an effective retention and incentive tool because their actual value is tied to the value of the Company’s stock no earlier than the vesting date, and the vesting schedule require that participants be employed at the end of the three-year vesting period. The initial Target values (i.e., the initial value of the time-vested restricted stock plus performance shares at Target), when combined with annual cash compensation, are intended to approximate the 50th percentile of the annual total direct compensation value among the Compensation Comparator Group. Dividends on shares of Common Stock are paid quarterly on time-vested restricted stock but are

not paid on unearned performance shares, until such time as they are earned and converted to shares.

The actual number of performance shares earned at the end of each three-year cycle depends on the Company’s TSR percentile ranking within the Compensation Comparator Group.

The actual number of performance shares earned at the end of the three-year cycle can range from 0% to 200% of Target, depending on our ranking within the 16-member Compensation Comparator Group (including the Company) for TSR. As with the time-vested restricted stock, participants are required to be employed at the end of the three-year cycle to be eligible for any award. TSR is defined as the change in stock value, plus dividends paid, over the three-year performance period. To eliminate volatility from measuring stock price on a particular date, the beginning and ending stock price used to calculate TSR is the average closing price for the month of December. The performance share payout scale is as follows:

For the 2013 to 2015 performance cycle, which ended on December 31, 2015, our TSR ranked below the 30th percentile within the Compensation Comparator Group established at the time that long-term incentives were granted in 2013. Therefore, the performance shares awarded for that performance cycle were not earned and were forfeited.

Type of Equity Awards. We have chosen to make recent long-term awards to executive officers in the form of  “full-value” stock awards because they have significant retention value

due to their value being directly linked to the stock price in the future. In addition, this type of award limits the negative retention impact of short-term volatility in our stock price compared to stock options. The Compensation Committee regularly reviews our equity incentive program and reserves the right to grant different types of equity awards in the future. We began paying dividends on our Common Stock in 2011, but do not pay dividends on unearned performance share awards.

Retirement Benefits. We provide our employees, including our executive officers, with a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan, which provides employees the opportunity to earn service toward income replacement at retirement. However, the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) imposes a limit on the amount of compensation that can be taken into account for purposes of determining these retirement benefits and the qualified plan does not achieve a market-competitive structure for executive officers whose total compensation can include a significant amount of variable short-term incentive compensation. We established a non-qualified excess benefit plan to provide supplemental retirement benefits to executive officers calculated on basic compensation, together with regular wages and bonuses paid pursuant to the Company’s ACBP, applied to the qualified retirement plan formula without regard to the Code’s limitations on qualified plan benefits.

Perquisites and Other Benefits. The Company generally provides to our NEOs the same benefits as it does to other executive officers and employees. For example, our NEOs participate in the same medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment, and short-term and long-term disability plans, as do other employees, and their Company matching contributions to the 401(k) plan are on the same basis as other employees.

The Company provides limited perquisites to executive officers including car allowance, and, for senior officers, an allowance for financial, tax and estate planning.

Change of Control/Termination Agreements. The Compensation Committee approved a change of control severance agreement for each of our NEOs and all other executive officers. As further described in this Proxy Statement, these agreements provide executive officers with benefits in the event of involuntary termination (other than for cause or disability) or adverse job changes in connection with or after

25

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

a change in control. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the costs of these agreements and the market practice. The Compensation Committee believes these agreements offer important protection in the event of a change of control, while also ensuring that in the event of an actual proposed change of control, key executive officers

will be willing to remain through the closing because of this protection. This is especially important in the utility industry when the need for regulatory approvals can result in significant delays in consummating transactions following the execution of definitive agreements.

We believe that stock ownership by executive officers can directly correlate to improved performance and enhancement of shareholder value. Therefore, the Compensation Committee

has established recommended stock ownership guidelines for executive officers. The guidelines are as follows:

CEO Compensation. Mr. Shockley served as CEO from January 2012, until December 15, 2015, at which time he retired consistent with the terms of his Amended and Restated Employment Agreement.

—

Mr. Shockley’s compensation during 2015 consisted of base salary and annual cash bonus set at levels consistent with the market median for his position. Because the term of his employment was scheduled to be completed at the end of 2015, Mr. Shockley was not granted a change in base salary during 2015.

​

—

Mr. Shockley’s annual performance bonus for 2015 was set at a Target level of 80% of annualized base compensation with a Maximum annual bonus opportunity of 200% of his Target opportunity, subject to meeting performance goals under the Company’s ACBP. The 2015 ACBP Plan and payouts are described above under “Annual Cash Bonus Plan.”

​

—

In addition, Mr. Shockley was eligible for an annual strategic cash bonus of up to $350,000 based on the Compensation Committee’s subjective evaluation of the Company’s progress toward its long term strategic goals and his contributions to this progress. For 2015, based on its review of Mr. Shockley’s 2015 performance, the Compensation Committee and independent members of the Board approved payment of a $350,000 strategic bonus. This bonus was based on its assessment of Mr. Shockley’s performance and progress toward strategic goals during this period, in particular by continuing to advance the Company’s priorities with the community, leading the Company during a period of critical regulatory proceedings, advancing its leadership development and succession planning process and improving the corporate culture at the Company.

​

—

Mr. Shockley had been granted restricted stock awards earlier in his period of employment that vested during or at the completion of the actual expected term of his service rather than over a longer period. The Compensation Committee believed these grants were appropriate because they encouraged his commitment

​

to our stock price performance and aligned his compensation with the interests of our shareholders, while acknowledging the limited-term nature of his employment.

—

Mr. Shockley had not been granted a long term performance incentive award under the Long Term Incentive Plan for the 2013 to 2015 performance cycle. As noted earlier, however, the minimum required level of TSR for the period in question was not achieved and no performance shares were paid to participants in that Plan.

​

—

Mr. Shockley participated in all benefit plans available to senior executives of the Company including but not limited to the Company’s retirement and welfare benefit plans, monthly car allowance, life insurance coverage and annual paid time-off. Mr. Shockley’s participation in these plans ceased upon his retirement from the Company.

​

The Board elected Mary E. Kipp as CEO and member of the Board effective December 15, 2015, coinciding with Mr. Shockley’s retirement. In anticipation of her appointment, the Compensation Committee met on several occasions to consider her promotion and to establish an appropriate compensation arrangement for her new role. In these deliberations the Compensation Committee consulted with its independent executive compensation consultant to consider compensation elements and amounts consistent with competitive market practices and Ms. Kipp’s new role.

Pursuant to these deliberations, the Compensation Committee approved and entered into an Employment Agreement with Ms. Kipp effective December 15, 2015, consisting of the following:

—

Ms. Kipp’s annual base salary was established at $625,000 subject to modification (but not decrease) from time to time as determined by the Compensation Committee.

​

—

Ms. Kipp’s annual Target performance bonus opportunity under the ACBP was established at 80% of annualized base compensation with a Maximum annual bonus set

​

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

26

at 200% of the Target opportunity. The actual bonus to be paid under this provision will be determined by completion of the performance goals under the Company’s ACBP as determined by the Compensation Committee.

—

The intrinsic grant value of annual long term incentive award(s) that Ms. Kipp would be granted was set at $1,350,000, commencing with grants to be made in 2016. Otherwise, no initial grant of awards under this provision was made to Ms. Kipp at the time of her appointment as CEO. The composition of the long term incentive award currently comprises 33% restricted shares with a three-year vesting and 67% performance shares with a three-year performance cycle based on TSR compared to our peer group of companies. The Compensation Committee may revise such allocation between restricted and performance shares from time to time.

​

—

Ms. Kipp’s Employment Agreement also provides for an equity award representing a right to receive shares of Common Stock (“Retention Grant”) under the Long Term Incentive Plan valued at $1,000,000 as of the effective date of her Employment Agreement. The Retention Grant will cliff vest on December 15, 2020 subject to her employment by the Company on that date. This vesting, however, is first subject to a performance condition to be satisfied during the period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018, requiring cumulative net income of at least $45 million in any two fiscal quarters during that performance period.

​

—

The Compensation Committee determined the Retention Grant as an appropriate element of Ms. Kipp’s compensation arrangement, as it would help ensure stability of Company leadership during a period of ongoing regulatory and strategic challenges, while encouraging her commitment to our stock price performance and aligning her compensation with the interests of our shareholders.

​

—

Ms. Kipp has been and will continue to be eligible to participate in all benefit plans available from time to time to senior executives of the Company, including but not limited to retirement plans, health and welfare benefit plans, disability and life insurance coverage and paid time off in accordance with the Company’s policies.

​

—

Ms. Kipp’s Employment Agreement also provides for a continuation of the Change of Control Agreement previously entered into between her and the Company. Ms. Kipp’s Change of Control Agreement was subsequently updated to reflect her new title and compensation.

​

—

Ms. Kipp’s Change of Control Agreement provides for payments and benefits in the event of her termination by the Company without cause (or by Ms. Kipp under defined circumstances), including in connection with a change of control of the Company, as further described below. In the event that she is terminated without cause or terminates her employment for good reason (such as if she is removed as CEO or has her duties materially reduced), including in connection with a change in control of the Company, Ms. Kipp will receive severance benefits of up to 36 months base salary and bonus at Target level, a prorated bonus for the year in which termination occurs and reimbursement of COBRA benefits for 12 months, or a cash payment in lieu thereof, and accelerated vesting of certain outstanding unvested equity awards as described below under “Change of Control Agreements and Other Termination Benefits.”

​

—

In determining that the arrangement was reasonable and appropriate for the circumstances, the Compensation Committee reviewed with its independent executive compensation consultant the costs and benefits of Ms. Kipp’s compensation arrangement compared to those provided by the members of our Compensation Comparator Group to their respective CEOs. Our executive compensation consultant reported to the Compensation Committee that the annualized value of Ms. Kipp’s proposed Target total direct compensation for 2016 was within 1% of the market median of our Compensation Comparator Group data, and 8% above the median if a prorata portion of the Retention Grant were included. Our executive compensation consultant advised that the compensation arrangement for Ms. Kipp in her new role as CEO was reasonable and well aligned with competitive market practices.

​

For 2015, during which time she served as President of the Company and before the above described Employment Agreement was entered, Ms. Kipp’s compensation included an annual base salary of  $450,000 in addition to the following elements of compensation:

—

Ms. Kipp’s annual bonus opportunity at Target as President was 60% of annualized compensation, with a Maximum annual bonus opportunity of 183% of her Target opportunity. The 2015 bonus plan and payouts to Ms. Kipp and other NEO’s are described above under “Annual Cash Bonus Plan.”

​

—

In early 2015, Ms. Kipp also received a grant of restricted shares of Common Stock under the terms of our Long Term Incentive Plan for the 2015-2017 performance cycle. This grant comprised 33% time-vested restricted shares and 67% performance based shares. The terms of this award are generally described above in the section “Long-Term Equity Incentives.”

​

27

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

Historically, the accounting and tax treatment of compensation has not been a driving factor in determining the design or amounts of pay at the Company. For example, the Company granted “full value” awards prior to its adoption of FASB ASC Topic 718 and continues to do so, although the Compensation Committee does review the expected accounting treatment of its equity grants.

Section 162(m) of the Code generally limits the tax deductibility to public companies for compensation in excess of  $1 million per person per year, unless the compensation is “performance-based” within the meaning of the tax regulations. The Compensation Committee considers it important to retain

flexibility to design compensation programs, even where compensation payable under our programs may not be fully deductible, if the programs effectively recognize a full range of criteria important to the Company’s success. The Company retains the ability to grant equity awards such as time-vested restricted stock that are not eligible for the Section 162(m) performance-based compensation exception. Our Amended and Restated 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan allows the Compensation Committee to approve awards that qualify as “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) to the extent the Compensation Committee deems appropriate.

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed this Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) be included in this Proxy Statement.

THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Charles A. Yamarone, Chairman
James W. Harris
Woodley L. Hunt
Eric B. Siegel

 

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

28

The Summary Compensation Table sets forth the compensation for each individual who served as principal executive officer or principal financial officer during fiscal year 2015, and each of the Company’s other three most highly

compensated executive officers for fiscal year 2015. The persons named in the Summary Compensation Table are referred to collectively as the “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”.

29

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement      ​

30

The following table sets forth information concerning outstanding stock awards held by the NEOs at December 31, 2015 except for the performance shares that vested in

January 2016. The performance goals for these shares were not met and no shares were paid out. There were no option awards held by the NEOs at December 31, 2015.

31

      El Paso Electric Company 2016 Proxy Statement

The Company established the Retirement Income Plan for Employees of El Paso Electric Company (the “Pension Plan”) as of July 1, 1945. Over the years, the Pension Plan has been amended and/or restated many times. Although the Pension Plan has traditionally provided final average pay benefits, it was amended in 2014 to provide cash balance benefits for all employees hired on or after January 1, 2014 and for all employees hired before 2014 who chose to have their future service benefits provided as cash balance benefits effective April 1, 2014. Employees in the latter group have both a frozen final average pay benefit and accrue an ongoing cash balance benefit.

The purpose of the Pension Plan is to reward eligible employees for long service by providing them with retirement benefits. The Pension Plan is maintained for the exclusive

benefit of eligible employees and their beneficiaries. To the extent they meet the eligibility requirements, each of the NEOs participates in the Pension Plan.

The Pension Plan is qualified under the Internal Revenue Code as a defined benefit plan, which is a plan that provides definitely determinable benefits. These benefits are generally payable over a participant’s lifetime and, if elected, over the lifetime of a surviving spouse or beneficiary. Participants earning cash balance benefits also have an option to take their entire pension benefit as a lump sum.

Final Average Pay Benefits. For employees who chose to continue earning final average pay benefits, retirement benefits are calculated using the formula:

Average monthly earnings under the Pension Plan is the employee’s annualized rate of basic compensation (excluding bonus, overtime pay, expense allowances, profit sharing and any other compensation) for the five-year period ending on a particular date, divided by 60 months. The maximum benefit payable under the Pension Plan only considers compensation up to the IRS limit, which was $265,000 in 2015. A year of service is provided for any year during which the employee works at least 1,000 hours. Final average pay participants are eligible to participate in the Pension Plan on the first day

of the month coinciding with or immediately following completion of one year of service during which the employee completes 1,000 hours of service. An employee is vested after completing five years of service.

Benefits from the Pension Plan are generally payable at age 65. However, a participant may retire and begin to receive a monthly benefit from the Pension Plan upon attaining age 55 and five years of vesting service. Benefits paid before age 65 are reduced in accordance with the following table:

In addition, unreduced pension benefits are provided to participants who retire after age 62 with 20 years of service or after a participant’s age and service exceed 85.

Cash Balance Benefits. Cash balance benefits are expressed as a lump sum cash balance account. Cash balance accounts grow each year with pay credits and interest credits. Pay

credits are provided as of the last day of each year based on the following schedule and the participant’s age and years of service as of the end of the plan year.