SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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[ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
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[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-11(c) or ss.240.14a-12

                          Capital Southwest Corporation
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                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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     (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

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                                                                    June 2, 2000



To the Shareholders of Capital Southwest Corporation:

         The Annual Meeting of Shareholders  of our Corporation  will be held on
Monday, July 17, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. in the North Dallas Bank Tower Meeting Room
(First Floor), 12900 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas.

         A  Notice  of  the  Annual  Meeting,  a  Proxy  and a  Proxy  Statement
containing information about matters to be acted upon are enclosed. In addition,
the Capital Southwest  Corporation Annual Report for the fiscal year ended March
31, 2000 is enclosed to provide  information  regarding the  performance  of the
Corporation  during the past year.  Holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote
on the basis of one vote for each share held. If you attend the Annual  Meeting,
you retain the right to vote in person  even  though you  previously  mailed the
enclosed Proxy.

         It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting  whether
or not you are personally in attendance.  Please review the Proxy  Statement and
sign,  date and return the enclosed Proxy at your earliest  convenience.  I look
forward to meeting  with you and,  together  with our  directors  and  officers,
discussing the Corporation's business. I hope you will be present.

                                          Very truly yours,



                                          William R. Thomas
                                          Chairman of the Board
                                          and President









                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                            TO BE HELD JULY 17, 2000

To the Shareholders of Capital Southwest Corporation:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual  Meeting of the  Shareholders  of Capital
Southwest Corporation, a Texas corporation (the "Corporation"),  will be held on
Monday,  July 17, 2000,  at 10:00 a.m.,  Dallas time, in the Meeting Room (First
Floor) of the North Dallas Bank Tower,  12900 Preston Road,  Dallas,  Texas, for
the following purposes:

1.   To  elect  five  directors  to  serve  until  the next  Annual  Meeting  of
     Shareholders  or until  their  respective  successors  shall be elected and
     qualified.

2.   To ratify  the  appointment  of KPMG LLP as  independent  auditors  for the
     Corporation.

3.   To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and
     any adjournment thereof.

Only  holders  of  Common  Stock of the  Corporation  of  record at the close of
business  on June 1, 2000 will be  entitled  to notice  of,  and to vote at, the
meeting and any adjournment thereof.

If you do not expect to attend in person, please sign, date and return the proxy
at your earliest  convenience in the enclosed  envelope.  No postage is required
for  mailing  in the  United  States.  A prompt  return  of your  proxy  will be
appreciated as it will save the expense of further mailings.

                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
                                          TIM SMITH
                                          Secretary

Dallas, Texas
June 2, 2000








                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                       FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD JULY 17, 2000

         This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation
by the Board of Directors of Capital Southwest Corporation,  a Texas corporation
(the  "Corporation"),   of  proxies  to  be  voted  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders to be held on July 17, 2000 or any adjournment thereof. The date on
which this Proxy  Statement  and the enclosed form of proxy are first being sent
or given to shareholders of the Corporation is on or about June 2, 2000.

                             PURPOSES OF THE MEETING

         The Annual Meeting of the  Shareholders  is to be held for the purposes
of (1) electing five persons to serve as directors of the Corporation  until the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders,  or until their respective successors shall
be elected  and  qualified  (see  ELECTION  OF  DIRECTORS);  (2)  ratifying  the
appointment  by the Board of Directors of KPMG LLP as  independent  auditors for
the Corporation (see APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT  AUDITORS);  and (3)
transacting  such other  business as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournment thereof.

         To be elected a director,  each nominee must receive the favorable vote
of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock  entitled to vote and
represented at the Annual  Meeting.  In order to ratify the  appointment of KPMG
LLP as independent  auditors for the  Corporation  for the year ending March 31,
2001, the ratification proposal must receive the favorable vote of a majority of
the  shares of Common  Stock  entitled  to vote and  represented  at the  Annual
Meeting.

         The Board of Directors  unanimously  recommends  that the  shareholders
vote FOR the  election  as  directors  of the persons  named  under  ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS and FOR the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent
auditors.

                              VOTING AT THE MEETING

         The record date for holders of Common Stock  entitled to notice of, and
to vote at, the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders is the close of business on June
1, 2000, at which time the  Corporation  had outstanding and entitled to vote at
the meeting 3,815,051 shares of Common Stock.

                                       1




         The  presence,  in person or by proxy,  of the holders of a majority of
the  shares of Common  Stock  outstanding  and  entitled  to vote at the  Annual
Meeting is  necessary  to  constitute a quorum.  In deciding  all  questions,  a
shareholder shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share
of Common  Stock held in his name at the close of business  on the record  date.
Shareholders who are present,  in person or by proxy, but abstain from voting on
any item will be counted as present at the  meeting,  but not voting on any such
item. Similarly, nominees (such as broker-dealers) who are present, in person or
by proxy,  but abstain or refrain  from  voting on any item,  will be counted as
present at the meeting, but not voting on any such item.

         Each  proxy  delivered  to  the  Corporation,  unless  the  shareholder
otherwise specifies therein,  will be voted FOR the election as directors of the
persons named under ELECTION OF DIRECTORS  (PROPOSAL 1) and FOR the ratification
of the appointment by the Board of Directors of KPMG LLP as independent auditors
(PROPOSAL 2). In each case where the shareholder has appropriately specified how
the proxy is to be voted, it will be voted in accordance with his specification.
As to any other matter or business  which may be brought  before the meeting,  a
vote may be cast  pursuant  to the  accompanying  proxy in  accordance  with the
judgment of the person or persons  voting the same,  but neither  management nor
the Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation  knows of any such other  matter or
business.  Any shareholder has the power to revoke his proxy at any time insofar
as it is  then  not  exercised  by  giving  notice  of such  revocation,  either
personally  or in  writing,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Corporation  or by the
execution and delivery to the Corporation of a new proxy dated subsequent to the
original proxy.

                  STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

         The following table sets forth certain  information with respect to the
beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Corporation as of May 1, 2000 by (1)
each person, so far as is known to the management of the Corporation, who is the
beneficial  owner (as that term is defined in the rules and  regulations  of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission) of more than 5% of the  outstanding  Common
Stock, (2) each executive officer listed in the Summary  Compensation Table, (3)
each director of the Corporation,  and (4) all directors and executive  officers
of the Corporation as a group.  Unless otherwise  indicated  below,  each of the
persons named in the table has sole voting and investment  power with respect to
the shares indicated to be beneficially owned.




          Name and Address                          Shares Owned                    Percent
         of Beneficial Owner                        Beneficially                   of Class
         -------------------                        ------------                   --------
                                                                          

         William R. Thomas
         12900 Preston Rd., Suite 700
         Dallas, Texas 75230.......................    960,473     (1)(2)             25.2%






                                       2






          Name and Address                          Shares Owned                    Percent
         of Beneficial Owner                        Beneficially                   of Class
         -------------------                        ------------                   --------

         Tim Smith
         12900 Preston Rd., Suite 700
         Dallas, Texas  75230......................    402,031     (2)(3)             10.5


         First Manhattan Company
         437 Madison Avenue
         New York, New York  10022.................    285,493        (4)              7.5


         U.S. Trust Corporation
         114 West 47th Street
         New York, New York 10036..................    220,530        (5)              5.8

         Gary L. Martin............................    149,713     (2)(3)              3.9

         Patrick F. Hamner.........................    127,208     (2)(3)              3.3

         Graeme W. Henderson.......................      4,700        (6)              0.1

         James M. Nolan............................      4,000                         0.1

         John H. Wilson............................      1,000                         -

         All directors and executive officers
         as a group (7 persons)....................  1,141,906        (7)             29.6

(1) Mr. Thomas has sole voting and investment power with respect to 584,842 shares, which include 49,130 shares owned by two of his children and 206,525 shares owned by Thomas Heritage Partners, Ltd., in which Mr. Thomas has a 50.7% limited partnership interest. Mr. Thomas holds a majority interest in and is President and sole manager of Thomas Heritage Company, LLC, the sole general partner of Thomas Heritage Partners, Ltd. (2) Messrs. Smith and Thomas constitute a majority of the trustees of certain trusts pursuant to employee stock ownership plans for employees of the Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries owning 287,487 shares, with the power as trustees to vote such shares. Messrs. Smith and Thomas also participate in the power to direct the trustees in the voting of 88,144 shares owned by a trust pursuant to a pension plan for employees of the Corporation and certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Corporation. Accordingly, Messrs. Smith and Thomas have shared voting and investment power with respect to the 375,631 shares, representing 9.8% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation, owned by the aforementioned trusts. Under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Messrs. Smith and Thomas are both deemed to be the beneficial owners of such 375,631 shares, which are included in the shares beneficially owned by Messrs. Smith and Thomas. 3 Mr. Martin serves as trustee, with Messrs. Smith and Thomas, of one of the aforementioned trusts owning 43,444 shares. Accordingly, Mr. Martin has shared voting and investment power with respect to the 43,444 shares. Under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Martin is deemed to be the beneficial owner of such 43,444 shares, which are included in the shares beneficially owned by Mr. Martin. Of the shares owned by trusts pursuant to the aforementioned employee stock ownership plans, 3,825 and 1,076 were allocated to Messrs. Martin and Smith, respectively, all of which were vested. Mr. Hamner, with Messrs. Smith and Thomas, participates in the power to direct the trustees in the voting of 88,144 shares owned by one of the aforementioned trusts. Under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Hamner is deemed to be the beneficial owner of such 88,144 shares, which are included in the shares beneficially owned by Mr. Hamner. (3) Includes 14,000 shares each subject to immediately exercisable stock options held by Messrs. Hamner, Martin and Smith. (4) As reported to the Corporation by First Manhattan Co., that partnership has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 3,000 shares, shared voting power with respect to 271,053 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 282,493 shares by reasons of advisory and other relationships with the persons who own the shares. (5) As reported to the Corporation by U.S. Trust Corporation, that corporation has shared dispositive power and shared voting power with respect to 220,530 shares via either a trust/fiduciary capacity and/or a portfolio management/agency relationship with the persons who own the shares. (6) Includes 1,500 shares held by a retirement trust for the benefit of Mr. Henderson. (7) Includes (a) the shares owned by the partnership and trusts referred to in Notes (1) and (2), respectively, to the above table, (b) 42,000 shares subject to immediately exercisable stock options (including those referred to in Note (3) to the above table), (c) 1,500 shares held in a retirement trust for the benefit of Mr. Henderson and (d) 49,130 shares owned by immediate family members of Mr. Thomas. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (PROPOSAL 1) Five directors are proposed to be elected at the meeting to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their respective successors shall be elected and qualified. The persons named in the accompanying form of proxy intend to vote such proxy for the election of the nominees named below as 4 directors of the Corporation to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their respective successors shall be elected and qualified, unless otherwise properly indicated on such proxy. If any nominee shall become unavailable for any reason, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy are expected to consult with the Board of Directors of the Corporation in voting the shares represented by them at the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors has no reason to doubt the availability of any of the nominees and no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve the entire term for which election is sought. The names of the nominees, along with certain information concerning them, are set forth below. GRAEME W. HENDERSON Mr. Henderson, age 66, has been a director of the Corporation since 1976 and previously served as a director of the Corporation from 1962 to 1964. Mr. Henderson has been self-employed as a private investor and consultant for more than five years. He served as a director of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. from 1986 to February 1999. *GARY L. MARTIN Mr. Martin, age 53, has been a director of the Corporation since July 1988 and has served as Vice President of the Corporation since July 1984. He previously served as Vice President of the Corporation from 1978 to 1980. Since 1980, Mr. Martin has served as President of The Whitmore Manufacturing Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation. JAMES M. NOLAN Mr. Nolan, age 66, has been a director of the Corporation since July 1980. He has been self-employed as a private investor and consultant to the telecommunications industry since 1978 and served as a director of DSC Communications Corporation from 1981 to 1996. *WILLIAM R. THOMAS Mr. Thomas, age 71, has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation since July 1982 and President of the Corporation since 1980. In addition, he has been a director of the Corporation since 1972 and was previously Senior Vice President of the Corporation from 1969 to 1980. Mr. Thomas also serves as a director of Alamo Group Inc., Encore Wire Corporation, Mail-Well, Inc. and Palm Harbor Homes, Inc. JOHN H. WILSON Mr. Wilson, age 57, has been a director of the Corporation since July 1988. He has been President of U. S. Equity Corporation, a venture capital investment firm, since 1983 and President of Whitehall Corporation from 1995 to 1998. Mr. Wilson also serves as a director of Encore Wire Corporation and Palm Harbor Homes, Inc. 5 * Messrs. Martin and Thomas are "interested persons" as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires officers and directors of the Corporation and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of the Corporation's common stock to file reports of securities ownership and changes in such ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners also are required by rules promulgated by the SEC to furnish the Corporation with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely upon a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Corporation, or written representations that no Form 5 filings were required, the Corporation believes that each of its officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them during the year ended March 31, 2000. MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors of the Corporation has established an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee to assist the Board in carrying out its duties. The Audit Committee monitors the Company's financial reports and accounting practices to ascertain that they are within acceptable limits of sound practice; reviews audit reports submitted by the Corporation's independent auditors; makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the engagement of the independent auditors for audit and non-audit services; evaluates the independence of the auditors; and reviews with the independent auditors the fee, scope and timing of audit and non-audit services. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the compensation, employee benefit plans and other fringe benefits paid to or provided for officers and directors of the Corporation and approves the annual salaries and bonuses of officers of the Corporation. The Corporation does not have a Nominating Committee. Messrs. Graeme W. Henderson, James M. Nolan and John H. Wilson are presently members of both the Audit and Compensation Committees. During the fiscal year of the Corporation ended March 31, 2000, thirteen meetings (including eight telephone meetings) of the Board of Directors were held. In addition, two meetings (including one telephone meeting) of the Compensation Committee and two meetings of the Audit Committee were held. Each of the directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (1) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and (2) the total number of meetings held by all committees on which he served. 6 PERFORMANCE GRAPH The following graph compares the Corporation's cumulative total stockholder return during the last five years (based on the market price of the common stock and assuming reinvestment of all dividends and tax credits on retained long-term capital gains) with the Total Return Index for the Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S. Companies) and with the Total Return Index for Nasdaq Financial Stocks, both of which indices have been prepared by the Center for Research in Security Prices at the University of Chicago. Comparison of Five Year Cumulative Total Returns [Graph omitted] Nasdaq Total Return (U.S.) Nasdaq Financial Stocks Capital Southwest Corporation 1995 100.000 100.000 100.000 1996 135.795 137.799 169.453 1997 150.952 177.516 197.909 1998 228.876 275.790 281.456 1999 309.191 248.436 220.191 2000 574.039 236.548 169.494 7 COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Compensation of Directors In addition to reimbursement of travel expenses for attendance at board meetings, a director who is not an employee of the Corporation receives an annual fee of $16,000 for service as a director and $6,000 for service as chairman of a committee of the Board of Directors. In addition, a director who is not an employee of the Corporation receives $1,000 for each directors' meeting (excluding telephone meetings) and $500 for each committee meeting attended, subject to a maximum of $6,000 per year in aggregate meeting fees. Directors' meetings are normally held on a quarterly basis. Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation None of the Corporation's executive officers served as a member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or as a director of any other entity, one of whose executive officers served as a member of the Compensation Committee of the Corporation's Board of Directors. Report of the Compensation Committee The goals of the Corporation's compensation program are to attract, retain and motivate competent executive officers who have the experience and ability to contribute materially to the success of the Corporation's venture capital and business development activities. The individual judgments made by the Compensation Committee are subjective and are based largely on the Committee's perception of each executive's contribution to both the past performance and the long-term growth potential of the Corporation. The principal elements of compensation for executive officers are base salary, discretionary bonus payments, stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan and contributions pursuant to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Base salaries were determined by the Committee in July 1999 for each of the executive officers on an individual basis, taking into consideration individual contributions to the Corporation's performance, length of tenure with the Corporation, compensation levels for comparable positions and internal equities among positions. In addition to base salaries, certain executive officers received bonus payments in March 2000, the amounts of which were determined by the Committee on a discretionary basis, taking into consideration individual performance, with particular emphasis on contributions to the Corporation's achievement of long-term investment objectives. In July 1999, the Committee established the base salary of the Corporation's chief executive officer, William R. Thomas, at $250,000 per annum, a continuation of the level established in July 1993. The compensation level for Mr. Thomas was determined on the basis of the factors cited above, all of which are applicable to him as well as other executive officers. Other relevant factors considered by the Committee were the Corporation's performance and Mr. Thomas' role in defining and accomplishing the Corporation's long-term investment objectives and administering its investment management activities. At Mr. Thomas' request, he was not awarded a year-end bonus in March 2000. 8 The Corporation's 1999 Stock Option Plan was approved by the shareholders in 1999 and will expire on April 19, 2009. The Stock Option Plan, which provides for incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options, authorizes the granting of options to purchase an aggregate of 140,000 shares of common stock. All regular salaried employees of the Corporation or officers of the Corporation who are regular salaried employees of one of its subsidiaries, are eligible to receive options. In July 1999, the Committee granted incentive stock options to four employees to purchase an aggregate of 32,000 shares at $77.00 per share (the fair market value on the date of grant) and incentive stock options to William R. Thomas, the Corporation's chief executive officer, to purchase 6,000 shares at $84.70 per share (110% of the fair market value on the date of grant). The remaining 102,000 authorized options have not been granted. An additional equity incentive is provided by the Corporation's Employee Stock Ownership Plan, to which the Corporation contributed 8.733% of each participating employee's covered compensation for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000. Compensation Committee James M. Nolan, Chairman Graeme W. Henderson John H. Wilson Summary Compensation Table The following table sets forth summary information regarding the compensation (excluding retirement benefits) earned by or paid to William R. Thomas, Chairman of the Board and President; Gary L. Martin, Vice President; Patrick F. Hamner, Vice President; and Tim Smith, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer, officers of the Corporation whose total compensation earned during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 exceeded $100,000. Annual Compensation ---------------------------------------- Name and Fiscal Other Annual All Other Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation(1) Compensation(2) ------------------ ------ ------ ----- --------------- --------------- William R. Thomas 2000 $250,000 $ 10,417 $16,000 - Chairman of the 1999 250,000 85,417 12,000 - Board and President 1998 250,000 145,833 24,000 - Gary L. Martin 2000 169,500 22,380 - 3,200 Vice President 1999 157,000 42,279 - 1,600 1998 152,500 1,481 - - 9 Annual Compensation ---------------------------------------- Name and Fiscal Other Annual All Other Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation(1) Compensation(2) ------------------ ------ ------ ----- --------------- --------------- Patrick F. Hamner 2000 $126,252 $50,417 $2,027 $13,973 Vice President 1999 112,248 44,792 3,180 8,598 1998 102,500 48,667 8,511 14,164 Tim Smith 2000 116,250 35,000 1,916 13,209 Vice President and 1999 103,750 39,375 2,898 7,836 Secretary-Treasurer 1998 98,000 43,333 7,957 13,243
- ------------ (1) Amounts accrued for each executive officer in lieu of a contribution to his account in an employee stock ownership plan for employees of the Corporation and one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the "ESOP"). (2) Amounts contributed to the ESOP accounts of each executive officer. The aggregate amount of perquisites and other personal benefits provided to Messrs. Thomas, Martin, Hamner and Smith was less than 10% of the total of annual salary and bonus of such officers. In accordance with the Corporation's established policy, its officers and employees are required to remit to the Corporation all compensation received for serving as a director of any portfolio company of the Corporation. Additional Compensation Information The following table sets forth additional compensation information for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 for each of the three highest-paid executive officers whose compensation exceeded $60,000 (William R. Thomas and Gary L. Martin, both of whom are directors of the Corporation, and Patrick F. Hamner) and for all other directors (Graeme W. Henderson, James M. Nolan and John H. Wilson), none of whom are employees of the Corporation. Pension or Retirement Aggregate Benefits Accrued as Estimated Annual Compensation from Part of Corporation's Benefits Upon Name and Position the Corporation Expenses Retirement - ----------------- ----------------- --------------------- ---------------- William R. Thomas (1) $276,417 (3) (4) Director, Chairman and President 10 Pension or Retirement Aggregate Benefits Accrued as Estimated Annual Compensation from Part of Corporation's Benefits Upon Name and Position the Corporation Expenses Retirement - ----------------- ----------------- --------------------- ---------------- Gary L. Martin (1) $195,080 (3) (4) Director and Vice President Patrick F. Hamner (1) 192,669 (3) (4) Vice President Graeme W. Henderson (2) 28,000 None None Director James M. Nolan (2) 28,000 None None Director John H. Wilson (2) 22,000 None None Director
- ------------ (1) See Option Exercises and Fiscal Year End Values for information regarding stock options exercised during or held at the end of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000. See Retirement Plans for information on the Corporation's Retirement Plan and Retirement Restoration Plan. See Stock Ownership Plan for a description of the Corporation's Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Summary Compensation Table for amounts contributed to each officer's ESOP account. (2) Directors who are not employees of the Corporation are compensated as described under Compensation of Directors and are not participants in the Corporation's Retirement Plan or Employee Stock Ownership Plan. (3) As described in Note 8 to the Corporation's Consolidated Financial Statements, the Retirement Plan was overfunded and therefore generated a benefit for the year ended March 31, 2000. After deducting the expense of the unfunded Retirement Restoration Plan, the Corporation's net benefit attributable to both plans was $435,984 for the year ended March 31, 2000. The Corporation's net benefit is not allocated to individual plan participants. (4) Individual retirement benefits are based on formulas relating benefits to average final compensation and years of credited service. See Retirement Plans which includes both a table of estimated annual retirement benefits and a description of the retirement benefits currently payable to Mr. Thomas. 11
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year Number of Potential Realizable Value Securities % of Total at Assumed Annual Rates of Underlying Options Granted Stock Price Appreciation Options to Employees Exercise Expiration for Option Term(2) Granted (1) in Fiscal Year Price ($/Sh) Date 5%(3) 10%(4) ----------- -------------- ------------ ---------- -------- ---------- William R. Thomas 6,000 15.8% $84.70 7/19/04 $ 81,442 $ 235,856 Patrick F. Hamner 10,000 26.3% 77.00 7/19/09 484,249 1,227,182 Tim Smith 10,000 26.3% 77.00 7/19/09 484,249 1,227,182
(1) All options become exercisable in eight equal annual installments beginning July 19, 2000, except for options granted to Mr. Thomas which are exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning July 19, 1999. (2) The values shown are based on the indicated assumed annual rates of appreciation compounded annually over the term of the option. Actual gains realized, if any, on stock option exercises and common stock holdings are dependent on the future performance of the common stock and overall stock market conditions. There can be no assurance that values shown in this table will be achieved. (3) Represents an assumed market price per share of common stock of $98.27 at July 19, 2004 and $125.42 at July 19, 2009. (4) Represents an assumed market price per share of common stock of $124.01 at July 19, 2004 and $199.72 at July 19, 2009. Option Exercises and Fiscal Year End Values The following table discloses, for the named executive officers, information regarding stock options exercised during, or held at the end of, fiscal 2000. 12 Number of Securities Value of Unexercised Shares Underlying Unexercised In-the-Money Options Acquired on Value Options at 3/31/00 at 3/31/00 (2) Name Exercise (#) Realized (1) Exercisable(#) Unexercisable(#) Exercisable Unexercisable - ---- ------------ ------------ -------------- ---------------- ----------- ------------- William R. Thomas - - 1,200 4,800 $ - $ - Gary L. Martin - - 14,000 - 267,750 - Patrick F. Hamner - - 14,000 10,000 267,750 - Tim Smith - - 14,000 10,000 267,750 -
- ------------ (1) Value realized is calculated as the fair market value on the date of exercise net of the option exercise price, but before any tax liabilities or transaction costs. (2) Value of unexercised options is calculated as the closing market price on March 31, 2000 ($54.75) net of the option exercise price, but before any tax liabilities or transaction costs. Retirement Plans The foregoing Summary Compensation Table does not include any contribution, payment or accrual under a qualified non-contributory retirement plan (the "Retirement Plan") maintained by the Corporation and certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries as such amounts cannot readily be separately or individually calculated. Messrs. Hamner, Martin, Smith and Thomas participate in the Retirement Plan. An eligible employee or his survivor will be entitled under the Retirement Plan to receive, upon retirement, death or disability, monthly payments based upon formulas relating benefits to salary and years of credited service, which is generally determined by averaging the five consecutive years of highest compensation prior to retirement. Salaries and bonuses (excluding other annual compensation) reported in the foregoing Summary Compensation Table are substantially identical to compensation covered by the Retirement Plan ("Covered Compensation"). The following table sets forth, for purposes of illustration, the estimated annual retirement benefit payable under the Retirement Plan as a straight life annuity upon retirement to participants of specified Covered Compensation and years of credited service who are fully vested (five years of service). Messrs. Hamner, Martin, Smith and Thomas had 18, 27, 10 and 38 years, respectively, of credited service under the plan as of May 1, 2000. All calculations assume retirement in 2000 at age 65 (normal retirement age). 13 Total Covered Estimated Annual Benefits Compensation Based on Service of: 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years 35 Years ------------------------------------------------------------- $125,000............. $ 32,203 $ 42,937 $ 53,671 $ 64,406 $ 75,140 150,000............. 39,328 52,437 65,546 78,656 91,765 175,000............. 46,453 61,937 77,421 92,906 108,390 200,000............. 53,578 71,437 89,296 107,156 125,015 225,000............ 60,703 80,937 101,171 121,406 141,640 250,000............ 67,828 90,437 113,046 135,656 158,265 300,000............ 82,078 109,437 136,796 164,156 191,515 350,000............. 96,328 128,437 160,546 192,656 224,765 400,000............. 110,578 147,437 184,296 221,156 258,015
Certain of the amounts in the above table are subject to reduction because applicable federal regulations limit the amount of annual benefits payable to certain higher-paid participants under a tax-qualified retirement plan such as the Retirement Plan. The extent of such reductions will vary in individual cases according to circumstances existing at the time pension payments commence. Consequently, the Corporation and certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries have adopted an unfunded benefit equalization plan (the "Retirement Restoration Plan") to compensate employees of the Corporation and chief executive officers of certain of the Corporation's wholly-owned subsidiaries for the loss of retirement benefits resulting from such limitations. This Retirement Restoration Plan provides for the payment, upon retirement, of the difference between the maximum annual payment permissible under the Retirement Plan pursuant to federal limitations and the amount which would otherwise have been payable. Mr. Thomas is entitled to a substantially increased annual retirement benefit as a result of his service beyond the normal retirement age and to an additional annual retirement benefit as a result of his credited service prior to April 1972 under a retirement benefit formula of the Corporation's Retirement Plan which was modified for credited service subsequent to April 1972. Although Mr. Thomas is a full-time employee of the Corporation, Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code required that he begin receiving monthly retirement benefit payments on April 1, 2000 because of his age and ownership of more than 5% of the Corporation's common stock. Retirement benefits payable (for life only) to Mr. Thomas under the Retirement Plan and Retirement Restoration Plan total $440,342 per annum. Stock Ownership Plan The Corporation maintains an employee stock ownership plan ("ESOP") for employees of the Corporation and one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries in which Messrs. Hamner and Smith participate. The Whitmore Manufacturing Company maintains an employee stock ownership plan for its employees, in which Mr. Martin participates. Employees who have completed one year of credited service, as defined in the plan, are eligible to participate in the ESOP. Contributions to the ESOP are discretionary, within limits established by the Internal Revenue Code. Funds contributed to the trust established under the ESOP are applied by the trustees to the purchase, in the open market at prevailing market prices, of 14 Common Stock of the Corporation. A participant's interest in contributions to the ESOP fully vests after five years of credited service, and such vested interest is distributed to a participant at retirement, death or total disability, or after a one year break in service resulting from termination of employment for any other reason. See Note (2) to the table under STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS. APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS (PROPOSAL 2) The Board of Directors has appointed the firm of KPMG LLP as independent auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2001, subject to ratification by the shareholders. A representative of KPMG LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with an opportunity to make a statement, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. In order to approve the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors for the Corporation for the year ending March 31, 2001, the proposal must receive the favorable vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote and represented at the Annual Meeting. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2001 ANNUAL MEETING Any shareholder proposal to be considered by the Corporation for inclusion in the proxy material for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation, 12900 Preston Road, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75230, no later than February 3, 2001. Mere submission of a proposal for consideration does not guarantee its inclusion in the proxy material or presentation at the meeting. All shareholder proposals are subject to the rules under the federal securities laws. EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION OF PROXIES In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by personal interview and telephone by directors, officers and other employees of the Corporation, who will not receive additional compensation for such services. The Corporation will also request brokerage houses, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to forward soliciting materials to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by them and will reimburse such persons for forwarding materials. The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Corporation. ANNUAL REPORT The Annual Report to Shareholders covering the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 accompanies this proxy statement, but is not deemed a part of the proxy soliciting material. A copy of the fiscal 2000 Form 10-K report to the Securities and Exchange Commission will be mailed to shareholders without charge upon written request to Tim Smith, Secretary, Capital Southwest Corporation, 12900 Preston Road, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75230. 15
Appendix A Capital Southwest Corporation PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS -- JULY 17, 2000 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION. The undersigned (1) acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Capital Southwest Corporation, a Texas corporation, (the "Corporation") to be held on Monday, July 17, 2000, at 10:00 a.m., Dallas time, in the Meeting Room (1st floor) of the North Dallas Bank Tower, 12900 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas, and the Proxy Statement in connection therewith; and (2) appoints James M. Nolan, William R. Thomas and John H. Wilson, and each of them, his proxies with full power of substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to vote upon and act with respect to all of the shares of Common Stock of the Corporation standing in the name of the undersigned, or with respect to which the undersigned is entitled to vote and act at the meeting and at any adjournment thereof, and the undersigned directs that this proxy be voted: IMPORTANT: SIGN ON OTHER SIDE FOR all nominees WITHHOLD AUTHORITY listed at right to vote for (except as marked all nominees to the contrary below) listed at right Nominees: Graeme W. Henderson 1. Election of Gary L. Martin Directors James M. Nolan --------- --------- William R. Thomas (INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for John H. Wilson any individual nominee, write that nominee's name in the space provided below.) - ------------------------------------------------- FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 2. Proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors for the Corporation. ------ ------ ------ 3. In the discretion of the proxies, on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting or, subject to the conditions in the Proxy Statement, any adjournment thereof. This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed. Unless otherwise marked, this proxy will be voted for the election of the persons named at the left hereof and for the proposal described in (2) above. If more than one of the proxies named herein shall be present in person or by substitute at the meeting or at any adjournment thereof, the majority of the proxies so present and voting, either in person or by substitute, shall exercise all of the powers hereby given. The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy or proxies heretofore given to vote upon or act with respect to such stock and hereby ratifies and confirms all that the proxies, their substitutes, or any of them, may lawfully do by virtue hereof. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED. - ------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------------------- Date: ,2000 Signature of Shareholder Signature of Shareholder Title, if applicable --------
NOTE: Please date this proxy and sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. Where there is more than one owner, each should sign. When signing as an attorney, administrator, executor, guardian or trustee, please add your title as such. If executed by a corporation, the proxy should be signed by a duly authorized officer. EACH JOINT TENANT SHOULD SIGN.