Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: October 9, 2024

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New Jersey	0-422	22-1114430
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	File Number)	Identification No.)

485C Route 1 South, Suite 400, Iselin, New Jersey 08830

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

732-634-1500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, No Par Value	MSEX	The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02. Departure of Director or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers.

On October 9, 2024, Middlesex Water Company announced the retirement of Bernadette M. Sohler, Vice President – Corporate Affairs of Middlesex Water Company (the “Company”) effective December 31, 2024, as per the attached release.

Press Release

Middlesex Water Company has announced the retirement, after 30 years of service of Bernadette M. Sohler, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, effective December 31, 2024. As part of organizational realignment under new leadership, Ms. Sohler’s current role is being reevaluated and the selection process will follow in due time. A copy of the Company’s press release dated October 9, 2024 is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description of Document

99.1	Company press release dated October 9, 2024 announcing the retirement of Bernadette M. Sohler from its executive team.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf of the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
	(Registrant)


	/s/Mohammed G. Zerhouni
	Mohammed G. Zerhouni
	Sr. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
	and Treasurer

Dated: October 9, 2024

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF
BERNADETTE SOHLER, VP OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

ISELIN, N.J., October 9, 2024 -- Middlesex Water Company (the “Company” or “Middlesex”), (Nasdaq:MSEX), a provider of water and wastewater and related services primarily in New Jersey and Delaware, today announced that Bernadette M. Sohler, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, will be retiring on December 31, 2024 after a 30-year career with the Company.

Sohler joined Middlesex in 1994 and served in positions of increasing responsibility before being named to the executive leadership team as Vice President in 2007. She oversaw internal and corporate communications strategy including branding of the company’s RENEW, DirectALERT and Water for Tomorrow® initiatives, digital media, community engagement, investor and media relations, sustainability reporting, and served as company spokesperson and primary government affairs liaison.

“On behalf of the Board and our team members, I want to congratulate Bernadette on an impressive and versatile career highlighted by unwavering dedication, communications expertise, and active community and industry leadership. During her tenure at Middlesex, Bernadette established strong relationships with local officials and worked to enhance engagement and stakeholder awareness of our Company, our industry, and the value of water,” said Nadine Leslie, Middlesex Water President and CEO. “We thank her for her many contributions to the growth of our company and wish her well on her retirement journey,” added Leslie.

As part of the Company’s ongoing succession planning and strategic organizational realignment under new leadership, an investor relations director, Jennifer Ketschke has been hired, reporting directly to Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Rally Zerhouni. In addition, Summer DeFeo, Director of Communications, will continue to support other corporate affairs activities.

ABOUT MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

Established in 1897, Middlesex Water Company serves as a trusted provider offering life-sustaining high quality water service for residential, commercial, industrial and fire protection purposes. The Company offers a full range of water, wastewater utility and related services, including municipal and industrial contract operations. The company and its subsidiaries form the Middlesex Water family of companies, which collectively serve a population of half a million people in New Jersey and Delaware. Middlesex is focused on meeting the needs of our employees, customers, and shareholders. We invest in our people, our infrastructure, and the communities we serve to support reliable and resilient utility services, economic growth and quality of life. To learn more about Middlesex Water, visit https://www.middlesexwater.com.

Contact:

Summer DeFeo, Director of Communications

sdefeo@middlesexwater.com

Jennifer Ketschke, Director of Investor Relations & Treasury

jketschke@middlesexwater.com

Cover	Oct. 09, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 09, 2024
Entity File Number	0-422
Entity Registrant Name	MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
Entity Central Index Key	0000066004
Entity Tax Identification Number	22-1114430
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NJ
Entity Address, Address Line One	485C Route 1 South
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 400
Entity Address, City or Town	Iselin
Entity Address, State or Province	NJ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	08830
City Area Code	732
Local Phone Number	634-1500
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, No Par Value
Trading Symbol	MSEX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false