Table of Contents

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 11-K

 

(Mark One)

 

x

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010

 

OR

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

 

For the transition period from                   to                  

 

Commission file number: 001-14431

 

A.  Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

 

Golden State Water Company Investment Incentive Program

 

B.  Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

 

American States Water Company

630 East Foothill Boulevard
San Dimas, California 91773

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Financial Statements and
Supplemental Schedules

As of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and
for the Year Ended December 31, 2010

 



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company
Investment Incentive Program

Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

1

 

 

 

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits as of December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

2

 

 

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 2010

 

3

 

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

4-13

 

 

 

Supplemental Schedules

 

 

 

 

 

Form 5500 — Schedule H — Line 4a — Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions for the Year Ended December 31, 2010

 

14

 

 

 

Form 5500 — Schedule H — Line 4i — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2010

 

15

 

 

 

Signatures

 

16

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1 - Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

17

 

Note:     All schedules other than those listed above have been omitted since the information is either disclosed elsewhere in the financial statements or not required by 29 CFR 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 



Table of Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Golden State Water Company Investment Incentive Program Administrative Committee

San Dimas, California

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for Plan benefits of the Golden State Water Company Investment Incentive Program (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for Plan benefits for the year ended December 31, 2010.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for Plan benefits as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the changes in net assets available for Plan benefits for the year ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming opinions on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The accompanying supplemental schedules of delinquent participant contributions for the year ended December 31, 2010 and assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2010 are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

 

 

/s/ BDO USA, LLP
Costa Mesa, California
July 12, 2011

 

1



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits

 

December 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments, at fair value

 

$

66,256,369

 

$

58,308,376

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

Employee contribution receivables

 

319

 

117,198

 

Employer contribution receivables

 

70,941

 

111,753

 

Notes receivable from participants

 

2,897,706

 

2,639,924

 

Total receivables

 

2,968,966

 

2,868,875

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for plan benefits, at fair value

 

69,225,335

 

61,177,251

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for interest in common and collective trust investment funds relating to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

 

95,419

 

302,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for plan benefits

 

$

69,320,754

 

$

61,479,501

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

2



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

Additions:

 

 

 

Contributions:

 

 

 

Employee

 

$

3,523,465

 

Employee rollovers

 

320,634

 

Employer

 

1,882,168

 

 

 

 

 

Total contributions

 

5,726,267

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income:

 

 

 

Net appreciation in fair value of investments

 

3,296,312

 

Interest and dividends

 

1,582,482

 

Total net investment income

 

4,878,794

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income on notes receivable from participants

 

157,096

 

 

 

 

 

Total net additions

 

10,762,157

 

 

 

 

 

Deductions:

 

 

 

Benefits paid to participants

 

2,905,664

 

Increase in reserve for defaulted notes receivable from participants

 

237

 

Administrative and other expenses

 

15,003

 

 

 

 

 

Total deductions

 

2,920,904

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase

 

7,841,253

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets available for plan benefits

 

 

 

Beginning of year

 

61,479,501

 

 

 

 

 

End of year

 

$

69,320,754

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

1.                                      Plan Description

 

The following description of the Golden State Water Company Investment Incentive Program (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

 

General

 

The Plan is a defined contribution plan established by Golden State Water Company (the “Company”or “GSWC”) under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “IRC”) which includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement as described in Section 401(k) of the IRC, for the benefit of eligible employees. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERlSA”).

 

Prior to inception of the Plan, the Company maintained the Payroll-Based Tax Credit Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “PAYSOP”) for the benefit of participating employees and their beneficiaries. Under the PAYSOP, the Company contributed amounts equal to a tax credit claimed by the Company on its federal income tax return. This credit was calculated as a percentage of qualifying payroll. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 eliminated this credit for tax years after 1986. As a result, the Company terminated the PAYSOP and transferred the net assets into the Plan effective January 1, 1988. The trustee of the Plan maintains a separate account for the net assets which were transferred from the PAYSOP. The net assets relating to the PAYSOP amounted to $2,071,164 and $2,370,930 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Such net assets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 are participant directed investments.

 

In 1998, the Company formed a holding company, American States Water Company (“ASWC”). At the time of the formation, the Plan’s investments in the Company’s common stock changed to an investment in the ASWC common stock. Such change did not have a significant impact on the financial statements.  As of December 31, 2010, ASWC has no material assets other than the common stock of the Company and ASWC’s other wholly-owned subsidiaries, Chaparral City Water Company (“CCWC”) and American States Utility Services, Inc. (“ASUS”).  On May 31, 2011, ASWC completed the sale of all the common stock of CCWC.

 

Plan Administration

 

The Plan is administered by the Investment Incentive Program Administrative Committee (the “Plan Administrator” or “Committee”), which is appointed by the Company’s Board of Directors.  New York Life Trust Company (“Trustee”) provides the record keeping services and served as the Plan’s appointed trustee.

 

Plan Amendments

 

During 2008, the Plan was amended and changed, among other things: (i) to add a Roth feature, (ii) to provide for automatic enrollment, and (iii) to increase the maximum deferral to 50% of compensation (subject to federal maximums). Effective January 1, 2009, the Plan was restated to incorporate previous amendments. There were no changes to the Plan as a result of the restated Plan documents.  In January 2011, the Plan was amended to incorporate a non-elective employer contribution feature for eligible employees hired or rehired on or after January 1, 2011 who are not eligible to commence or recommence participation in the defined benefit Pension Plan on or after January 1, 2011 (see Note 12).

 

4



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

1.                                      Plan Description (Continued)

 

Eligibility

 

Any employee in participating business units who has completed a period of service of 30 consecutive days is eligible to participate in the Plan. Participation begins on the first day of the payroll period coincident with or next following the attainment of 30 consecutive days of service.  Participating business units include GSWC, CCWC (through May 31, 2011), corporate employees of ASUS, and exempt employees of ASUS’ subsidiaries.  Non-exempt employees of ASUS’ subsidiaries are covered under separate programs.

 

Eligible employees meeting the service requirements are auto-enrolled in the Plan at an employee contribution rate of three percent.  This will generate a dollar for dollar employer matching contribution up to the limits described below.  Employees are given the option to elect additional contributions, to decline contributions all together, or to remain at three percent.  Furthermore, employees are requested to select the funds into which their contribution will be deposited.  The default fund for employees making no elections is the appropriate T. Rowe Price Retirement Fund, based on the employee’s expected retirement date.

 

Contributions

 

Subject to statutory limits, eligible employees can contribute an amount between 1% and 50% of compensation as defined in the Plan document and amendments. In 2010, the maximum allowable pre-tax deferral was $16,500, with additional “catch-up” deferrals of up to $5,500, for participants age 50 or older any time during the Plan year. In addition, eligible employees are provided with matching employer contributions of 100 percent of the first three percent and 50 percent of the next three percent contributed by a participant.

 

The matching contribution for each participant is made to the same investment funds to which the participant’s compensation deferral contribution is made in a given payroll period. If the matching contribution is to any fund other than the ASWC Common Stock Fund, the match is made in cash.  If the matching contribution is made to the ASWC Common Stock Fund, it is made in cash and ASWC Common Stock, since the stock fund is unitized.  For the year ended December 31, 2010, matching contributions of $1.1 million were made in ASWC Common Stock. All investments are participant directed.

 

Employees may elect to contribute to the Plan in the traditional pre-tax manner, or contribute post-tax dollars to the Roth portion of the Plan.  Contributions may be split between Roth and traditional pre-tax, but the matching provisions of the Plan relating to amount of contributions and Company matching contributions will apply to the total.

 

Rollover contributions from qualified plans are permitted.

 

Vesting

 

Participants are fully vested in their contributions and the employer contributions made to their account, plus actual earnings thereon.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

1.                                      Plan Description (Continued)

 

Distribution of Benefits

 

Participants’ benefits under the Plan become distributable upon termination of service, as defined in the Plan document. Participants electing to have their distribution deferred will receive benefits equal to the amounts credited to their account as of the distribution value date, as defined in the Plan document. The value of benefits distributable to a participant not electing deferral is based upon amounts credited to the participants account under the Plan as of the distribution value date, except as described below.

 

A participant shall be entitled to request an in-service withdrawal of the lesser of the balance of their account or the total unwithdrawn deferral contributions after the participant has attained age 59 1/2. Subject to the approval of the Plan Administrator, withdrawals from a participant’s account may be permitted before age 59 1/2 to meet a financial hardship, as defined in the Plan document.  Otherwise, withdrawals are permitted only after termination of employment or upon death or total disability.

 

A participant who has attained age 55 and completed at least ten years of participation in the Plan (including any years of participation in the PAYSOP) may elect a distribution of a portion of participant’s PAYSOP account attributable to shares of Company Stock after December 31, 1986, as provided in Section 401(a)(28)(B) of the IRC.

 

Participant Accounts

 

Each participant’s account is credited or debited with the participant’s contributions and related employer matching contributions, as well as the participant’s share of the Plan’s earnings or losses. Certain administrative expenses (i.e. loan processing fee) directly relating to a participant’s account are specifically deducted from the specific participant’s account. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s account balance.

 

Notes Receivable from Participants

 

Notes receivable from participants consist of participants loans. Participants may borrow from their account a minimum of $1,000 and up to a maximum amount equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50 percent of his or her account balance. Loan transactions are treated as a transfer between the investment fund and the Participant Loan Fund. Principal and interest are repayable ratably through payroll deductions over a period of no more than 59 months for all loans, except for loans made to purchase a primary residence, which must be repaid within a period of no more than 10 years. The loans bear interest at the Prime Rate plus one percent. The interest rates on loans outstanding as of December 31, 2010 ranged from 4.25% to 9.25% and mature on various dates through 2018. A loan shall be in default if any scheduled payment is not paid by the last day of the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in which such scheduled payment was due.

 

Management determines the collectibility of participant loans on a periodic basis. This determination is made based on the terms of the Plan document and the related Plan policies and procedures. Those participant loans that are deemed to be uncollectible are written-off and included as loans in default in the financial statements and the Form 5500 for financial reporting purposes in the year the determination is made. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, there were a total of $4,265 and $4,028, respectively, in participant loans deemed to be uncollectible.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

2.                                      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Accounting

 

The accompanying financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Plan’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

 

Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Plan’s investment in the ASWC Common Stock Fund amounted to $20,932,497 and $23,428,535 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Such investments represented approximately 30% and 38% of the Plan’s total net assets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. For risks and uncertainties regarding ASWC, participants should refer to the December 31, 2010 Form 10-K and the March 31, 2011 Form 10-Q of ASWC filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Plan provides for various investment options in mutual funds, common and collective trust investment funds offered by the Trustee, and the ASWC Common Stock Fund. Such investment options are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risk. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the various risk factors in the near term could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements.

 

The Plan invests in common and collective trust investment funds that hold securities of foreign companies, which involve special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These risks include devaluation of currencies, less reliable information about issuers, different securities transactions and changes in foreign currency translation clearance and settlement practices, and possible adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. companies.

 

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

 

Investments are stated at fair value. Investments in registered investment companies are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end. The New York Life Insurance Anchor Account I Stable Value Fund, a fully benefit-responsive investment contract, is stated at fair value and then adjusted to contract value in accordance with accounting guidance for reporting of fully benefit-responsive contracts held by certain investment companies and defined-contribution health and welfare and pension plans. As described in the guidance, investment contracts held by a defined-contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value. However, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for plan benefits of a defined-contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. As required by the accounting guidance, the Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits presents the fair value of the investment contracts as well as an additional line item showing the adjustment of the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts from fair value to contract value. The Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits is prepared on a contract value basis.

 

7


 


Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

2.                                      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

Net Appreciation in Fair Value of Investments

 

Net appreciation in fair value of investments is based on the fair value of the assets at the beginning of the year or at the time of purchase for assets purchased during the year and the related fair values on the day investments are sold with respect to realized gains and losses, and on the last day of the year with respect to unrealized gains and losses. Net realized and unrealized appreciation is recorded in the accompanying Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits as net appreciation in fair value of investments.

 

Notes Receivable from Participants

 

Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Delinquent participant loans are reclassified as distributions based upon the terms of the Plan document.

 

Payment of Benefits

 

Benefits are recorded when paid.

 

Administrative Expenses

 

Administrative fees for accountants, legal counsel and other specialists and any other costs of administering the Plan, unless paid directly by the Company, will be paid by the Plan and will be charged against participants’ accounts. Certain administrative expenses directly relating to a participant’s account are specifically allocated and deducted from the specific participant’s account. The Company is not obligated to pay the Plan’s expenses. Administrative expenses paid directly by the Company are allocated to its affiliates.

 

Administrative expenses incurred related to the net assets of the former PAYSOP account that are paid out of the Plan are limited to the lesser of (i) the sum of 10 percent of the first $100,000 and 5 percent of any amount in excess of $100,000 of the income from dividends paid to the Plan with respect to the American States Water Company common stock allocated to the PAYSOP account during the Plan year, or (ii) $100,000. During 2010, Plan administrative expenses borne by the Plan and by the Company were insignificant.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements (ASU 2010-06) to require new disclosures regarding (a) transfers in and out of levels 1 and 2, and (b) activity in level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2010-06 also provides amendments to FASB ASC 820 that clarify existing disclosures regarding (a) level of disaggregation for each class of assets and liabilities, and (b) disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques for fair value measurements that fall in either level 2 or level 3. Levels 1, 2, and 3 of fair value measurements are defined in Note 6 below. The Plan adopted this new accounting standards update in the year ending December 31, 2010 except for the provisions of this update that will be effective in the year ending December 31, 2011. The Plan is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption on the Plan’s financial statements.

 

8



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

2.                                      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

In September 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued accounting guidance on reporting loans to participants by defined contribution pension plans.  This guidance requires that loans to employees be segregated from plan investments and classified as notes receivable and measured at unpaid principal balances plus accrued but unpaid interest. The Plan adopted this guidance during the year ended December 31, 2010. Participant loans have been reclassified to Notes Receivable from Participants as of December 31, 2009 in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits.

 

3.                                      Investment Options

 

Participants may direct their contributions and any related earnings into various investment options. Participants may change their investment elections on a daily basis, in full percentage increments. Certain participants may be restricted to specific periods during which ASWC Common Stock can be traded.  The matching contribution for each participant is made to the same investment funds to which the participant’s compensation deferral contribution is made in a given payroll period.  Participants should refer to the fund information provided by the Trustee for a complete description of the investment options as well as for the detailed composition of each investment fund.

 

4.                                      Investments

 

The following table presents investments that represent 5 percent or more of the Plan’s net assets available for Plan benefits:

 

December 31,

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments at Fair Value as Determined by Quoted Market Price:

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock:

 

 

 

 

 

American States Water Company Common Stock Fund, 585,449 and 636,965 units, respectively

 

$

20,932,497

 

$

23,428,535

 

Registered Investment Companies:

 

 

 

 

 

Victory Special Value (A) Fund, 333,830 and 323,657 units, respectively

 

5,438,096

 

4,385,547

 

PIMCO Total Return Fund, 584,716 and 468,030 units, respectively

 

6,344,168

 

5,054,725

 

American Funds Growth Fund of America (R4), 131,910 and 123,072 units, respectively

 

3,982,367

 

3,336,482

 

MainStay S&P 500 Index Fund (I), 174,355 and 178,364 units, respectively

 

5,051,067

 

4,578,616

 

Others (less than 5%)

 

16,247,160

 

11,526,396

 

 

 

37,062,858

 

28,881,766

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

57,995,355

 

52,310,301

 

Investments at Estimated Fair Value:

 

 

 

 

 

Common and Collective Trusts Investment Funds:

 

 

 

 

 

Golden State Stable Value Fund

 

8,261,014

*

5,998,075

*

 

 

8,261,014

 

5,998,075

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Investments

 

$

66,256,369

 

$

58,308,376

 

 


* As stated in Note 2 above, the stable value fund, which is deemed to be fully benefit-responsive, is stated at fair value in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits, with a corresponding adjustment to reflect contract value. The estimated fair value of this fund as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $8,261,014 and $5,998,075, respectively. The contract value of the fund as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, which is a component of net assets available for Plan benefits, totaled $8,356,433 and $6,300,325, respectively.  During 2010 and 2009, this fund yielded approximately 2.2% and 2.9%, respectively.

 

9



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

4.                                      Investments (Continued)

 

During 2010, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought, sold and held during the year) appreciated in value by a net $3,296,312 as follows:

 

Net Change in Fair Value:

 

2010

 

Investments at Fair Value as Determined by Quoted Market Price:

 

 

 

American States Water Company Common Stock Fund

 

$

(268,098

)

Registered Investment Companies

 

3,564,410

 

Net appreciation in fair value of investments

 

$

3,296,312

 

 

At December 31, 2010, the Plan had no unfunded commitments related to the Golden State Stable Value Fund.  The redemption of the Golden State Stable Value Fund is subject to the preference of individual Plan participants and contains no restrictions on the timing of redemption, however, participant redemptions may be subject to certain redemption fees.

 

5.                                      Investment Contracts

 

The Plan has the Golden State Stable Value Fund (the “Fund”) as an investment option. The Fund is a bank collective fund whose only investment is the New York Life Insurance Company Anchor Account I Stable Value Fund, a collective trust fund sponsored by New York Life. The fair value of the Fund is based on the underlying unit value reported in the New York Life Insurance Company Anchor Account I Stable Value Fund, which totaled $3,279,135,922 and $3,659,950,634 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

6.                                      Fair Value Measurements

 

Effective January 1, 2008, the Plan adopted accounting guidance for fair value measurements for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis.  This guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under this guidance are described below:

 

Basis of Fair Value Measurement:

 

Level 1

-

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

 

 

 

Level 2

-

Quoted prices in markets that are not considered to be active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; and

 

 

 

Level 3

-

Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

 

10



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company

Investment Incentive Program

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

6. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

 

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s investment assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. As required by the accounting guidance, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

 

 

Fair Value Measured and Recorded at

 

 

 

December 31, 2010 Using:

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

American States Water Company Common Stock Fund:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

$

20,180,427

 

$

 

$

 

$

20,180,427

 

MainStay Cash Reserves Fund I

 

752,070

 

 

 

752,070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registered Investment Companies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Equity Funds

 

19,430,498

 

 

 

19,430,498

 

International Equity Funds

 

2,532,239

 

 

 

2,532,239

 

Balance Funds

 

8,755,953

 

 

 

8,755,953

 

Bond Funds

 

6,344,168

 

 

 

6,344,168

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common and Collective Trusts Investment Funds

 

 

8,261,014

 

 

8,261,014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Investments Measured at Fair Value

 

$

57,995,355

 

$

8,261,014

 

$

 

$

66,256,369

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measured and Recorded at

 

 

 

December 31, 2009 Using:

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American States Water Company Common Stock Fund:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

$

22,554,931

 

$

 

$

 

$

22,554,931

 

MainStay Cash Reserves Fund I

 

873,604

 

 

 

873,604

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registered Investment Companies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Equity Funds

 

16,447,525

 

 

 

16,447,525

 

International Equity Funds

 

2,140,055

 

 

 

2,140,055

 

Balance Funds

 

5,239,461

 

 

 

5,239,461

 

Bond Funds

 

5,054,725

 

 

 

5,054,725

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common and Collective Trusts Investment Funds

 

 

5,998,075

 

 

5,998,075

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Investments Measured at Fair Value

 

$

52,310,301

 

$

5,998,075

 

$

 

$

58,308,376

 

 

11



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company
Investment Incentive Program

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

6. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

 

The categorization of debt and equity securities is classified on the basis of the nature and risk of the investment.  The Plan’s investments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, such as the American States Water Company Common Stock Fund and money market funds, mutual funds, and equity securities included within the Registered Investment Companies are generally classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of these investments are based on quoted market prices in active markets. The Plan also invests in common and collective trusts for which the valuation is based on the values of the underlying investments. Based on the nature of the underlying investments in the common and collective trusts, these investment assets have been classified as Level 2. There are no plan liabilities recorded at fair value at December 31, 2010 or 2009.

 

7.                        Related Party Transactions

 

The Trustee and the Company are parties-in-interest as defined by ERISA. Certain Plan investments are shares of common and collective trusts investment funds offered by the Trustee, and shares of ASWC Common Stock Fund. Such transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions permitted by the Department of Labor (“DOL”) regulations. Fees paid to the Trustee for the year ended December 31, 2010 were insignificant.

 

8.                        Nonexempt Transactions

 

As reported on the Form 5500, Schedule H, Line 4a — Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions, certain participant contributions were not remitted to the Plan within the time frame specified by DOL Regulation 29 CFR 2510.3-102, thus constituting nonexempt transactions between the Plan and the Company. Late remittances amounted to $33 and the lost earnings were de minimis. The Company remitted the lost earnings to the participant accounts in June 2010.

 

9.                        Tax Status

 

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued a favorable determination letter dated January 15, 2003 stating that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable IRC requirements as of that date. The determination letter covered amendments through October 9, 2001. The Plan has been amended and restated effective January 1, 2009 and the restated document has been submitted to the IRS, for determination. The Plan Administrator and the Plan’s tax counsel believe that the Plan is designed and is currently operated in compliance with the applicable provisions of the IRC. Therefore, the Plan Administrator believes that the Plan was qualified and the related trust was tax-exempt as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2010, ther are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for the years prior to 2007.

 

10.                 Plan Termination

 

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan document to discontinue its contributions at any time and to amend or terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA.

 

12



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company
Investment Incentive Program

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

11.                 Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500

 

Investments

 

The following is a reconciliation of investments at fair value per the financial statements at December 31, 2010 and 2009 to the Form 5500:

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Investments in common and collective trust investment funds at fair value per the financial statements

 

$

8,261,014

 

$

5,998,075

 

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

 

95,419

 

302,250

 

Investments in common and collective trust investment funds at contract value per Form 5500

 

$

8,356,433

 

$

6,300,325

 

 

12.                 Subsequent Event

 

In January 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the closing of the Defined Benefit Pension Plan to new hires as of December 31, 2010. Anyone hired or rehired on or after January 1, 2011 will participate in the Investment Incentive Program, as amended, to include additional benefits after 30 days of service. The Golden State Water Company Investment Incentive Program was amended and restated to incorporate a non-elective employer contribution feature for employees hired or rehired by the Company on or after January 1, 2011.  Under the amended Plan, the Company will provide a contribution of 5.25% of applicable pay which can be invested, at the employees’ choice, in any of the 401K Plan investment options, except ASWC Common Stock. Full and complete vesting in the account balances of this new program will be achieved when the participant attains three years service.

 

13



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company
Investment Incentive Program

Form 5500 — Schedule H — Line 4a —

Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions for the Year Ended December 31, 2010

 

EIN:  95-1243678
Plan Number: 005

 

(a)(b) Relationship to
the Plan, employer or
the party-in-interest

 

(c) Description of investment
including maturity date, rate of
interest, par or maturity value

 

(d) Deferral or
principal amount

 

(e) Origination
Date

 

(f) Payment
date

 

(g) Period
in days

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Employer

 

Inadvertent untimely remittances of employee contributions

 

$

33

 

04/27/2010

 

06/3/2010

 

37

 

 


*              Represents a party-in-interest as defined by ERISA.

 

14



Table of Contents

 

Golden State Water Company
Investment Incentive Program

Form 5500 — Schedule H — Line 4i —

Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2010

 

EIN:  95-1243678
Plan Number: 005

 

(a)(b) Identity of issuer, borrower,
lessor, or similar party

 

(c) Description of investment
including maturity date, rate of
interest, par or maturity value

 

(d) Cost

 

(e) Current
Value

 

Investments at Fair Value as Determined by Quoted Market Prices:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* American States Water Company

 

American States Water Company Common Stock Fund:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MainStay Cash Reserves Fund I

 

**

 

$

752,070

 

 

 

American States Water Company Common Stock

 

**

 

20,180,427

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,932,497

 

Registered Investment Companies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oakmark

 

Oakmark Equity & Income Fund (I)

 

**

 

2,049,306

 

Victory

 

Victory Special Value (A) Fund

 

**

 

5,438,096

 

PIMCO

 

PIMCO Total Return Fund (Admin)

 

**

 

6,344,168

 

Dodge & Cox

 

Dodge & Cox Stock Fund

 

**

 

2,867,009

 

American Funds

 

Growth Fund of America (R4)

 

**

 

3,982,367

 

Royce Premier

 

Financial Intermediary Fund

 

**

 

2,091,960

 

Thornburg International

 

Thornburg Intl Value Fund (R5)

 

**

 

2,532,239

 

MainStay

 

S&P Index Fund

 

**

 

5,051,067

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement Income Fund

 

**

 

105,196

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2005 Fund

 

**

 

44,686

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2010 Fund

 

**

 

233,061

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2015 Fund

 

**

 

895,095

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2020 Fund

 

**

 

1,278,139

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2025 Fund

 

**

 

1,339,909

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2030 Fund

 

**

 

1,023,625

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2035 Fund

 

**

 

814,348

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2040 Fund

 

**

 

444,503

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2045 Fund

 

**

 

409,382

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2050 Fund

 

**

 

91,560

 

T. Rowe Price

 

Retirement 2055 Fund

 

**

 

27,142

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37,062,858

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

57,995,355

 

Investments at Estimated Fair Value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common/Collective Trusts Investment Funds:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Golden State Stable Value Fund

 

NYL Insurance Anchor Account I Stable Value Fund

 

**

 

8,261,014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investments

 

 

 

 

 

66,256,369

 

* Notes receivable from participants

 

Notes with maturities through 2018, interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 9.25%

 

**

 

2,897,706

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

69,154,075

 

 


*                      Represents a party-in-interest as defined by ERISA.

**               The cost is only required for non-participant directed investments.

 

15



Table of Contents

 

Signatures

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the members of the Investment Incentive Plan Administrative Committee have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY

 

INVESTMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ ROBERT J. SPROWLS

 

Robert J. Sprowls

 

Member - Investment Incentive Plan Administrative Committee

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ MCCLELLAN HARRIS

 

McClellan Harris III

 

Member - Investment Incentive Plan Administrative Committee

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ DENISE L. KRUGER

 

Denise L. Kruger

 

Member - Investment Incentive Plan Administrative Committee

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ JAMES B. GALLAGHER

 

James B. Gallagher

 

Member - Investment Incentive Plan Administrative Committee

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ EVA G. TANG

 

Eva G. Tang

 

Member - Investment Incentive Plan Administrative Committee

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ BRYAN K. SWITZER

 

Bryan K. Switzer

 

Member - Investment Incentive Plan Administrative Committee

 

 

Dated: July 12, 2011

 

 

16