Form S-8

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

LOGO

WATSCO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Florida   59-0778222

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

2665 South Bayshore Drive, Suite 901

Coconut Grove, Florida

  33133
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

 

WATSCO, INC. THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK

PURCHASE PLAN

(Full Title of the plan)

 

 

Ana M. Menendez

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Watsco, Inc.

2665 South Bayshore Drive, Suite 901

Coconut Grove, Florida, 33133

(Name and address of agent for service)

(305) 714-4100

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copy to:

Jaret L. Davis, Esq.

Greenberg Traurig, P.A.

1221 Brickell Avenue

Miami, Florida 33131

(305) 579-0676

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 
Title of Securities to be Registered   Amount to be
Registered (1)
  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share (2)
 

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Offering Price (2)

  Amount of
Registration Fee

Common Stock, $.50 par value

  100,000 shares   $38.44   $3,844,000   $151.07
 
 

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock that become issuable under the Watsco, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 1996 Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction affected without the receipt of consideration that results in an increase in the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s common stock.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act and based upon the average of the high and low price of the Registrant’s common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on February 27, 2008.

 

 

 


EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Watsco, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 1996 Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) was approved, adopted and ratified on May 25, 2007 to increase, by 100,000 shares, the number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $.50 per share, available for issuance thereunder. This Registration Statement is being filed pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8 to register such additional 100,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock. Such shares are additional securities of the same class as other securities for which previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Registration Statement No. 333-126824, 333-39380, 333-80341 and 333-10363), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 22, 2005, June 15, 2000, June 9, 1999 and August 16, 1996, respectively, are effective. The contents of the above listed Registration Statements are incorporated by reference herein, except for Items 3, 8 and 9 of such previously filed Registration Statements, which are replaced and superseded by Items 3, 8 and 9 set forth in this Registration Statement.

After giving effect to the amendments to the Plan and the effectiveness of this Registration Statement on Form S-8, the total number of shares registered on Form S-8 and available for grant under the Plan will be 1,000,000.

PART I. INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information specified by Items 1 and 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 of the Securities Act and the Explanatory Note to Part I of Form S-8.

The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participating employees as specified by Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act. Such documents and the documents incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.


PART II. INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

The following documents filed with the SEC by the Registrant are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

(a) the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007; and

(b) the description of the Registrant’s Common Stock set forth in Registrant’s Form S-3 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (Registration No. 333-00371).

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any other subsequently filed document that also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Legal Matters

The validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the Registrant by Greenberg Traurig, P.A., Miami, Florida. Cesar Alvarez, a Director of the Registrant, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Greenberg Traurig. Greenberg Traurig receives customary fees for legal services.

 

Item 8. Exhibits

The exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the Index to Exhibits on the page following the Signatures page to this Registration Statement.

 

Item 9. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent not more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement;

 

II-1


(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-2


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Miami, State of Florida on February 29, 2008.

 

  WATSCO, INC.
  (Registrant)
By:  

/s/ Ana M. Menendez

  Ana M. Menendez
 

Chief Financial Officer

(on behalf of the Registrant

and as Principal Financial Officer)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Albert H. Nahmad and Barry S. Logan, jointly and severally, each in his own capacity, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments, including any post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents to be filed in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

SIGNATURE

  

TITLE

 

DATE

    

/s/ Albert H. Nahmad

Albert H. Nahmad

   Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)   February 29, 2008  

/s/ Barry S. Logan

Barry S. Logan

   Senior Vice President and Secretary   February 29, 2008  

/s/ Ana M. Menendez

Ana M. Menendez

   Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting officer and principal financial officer)   February 29, 2008  

/s/ Cesar L. Alvarez

Cesar L. Alvarez

   Director   February 29, 2008  

/s/ Robert L. Berner III

Robert L. Berner III

   Director   February 29, 2008  

/s/ Denise Dickins

Denise Dickins

   Director   February 29, 2008  

 

II-3


/s/ Frederick H. Joseph

Frederick H. Joseph

  Director   February 29, 2008

/s/ Paul F. Manley

Paul F. Manley

  Director   February 29, 2008

/s/ Bob L. Moss

Bob L. Moss

  Director   February 29, 2008

/s/ George P. Sape

George P. Sape

  Director   February 29, 2008

/s/ Gary L. Tapella

Gary L. Tapella

  Director   February 29, 2008

 

II-4


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

  4.1   Registrant’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (1)
  4.2   Registrant’s Bylaws (2)
  4.3   Watsco, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 1996 Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  5.1   Opinion of Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
23.1   Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
23.2   Consent of Greenberg Traurig, P.A. (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1   Power of Attorney (included as part of the Signatures section of this Registration Statement)

 

(1) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the Registrant’s Form 10-Q dated June 30, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.
(2) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 filed with the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1985.
Third Amended and Restated 1996 Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Exhibit 4.3

WATSCO, INC.

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 QUALIFIED

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      
1.    Effective Date and Purpose of the Plan
2.    Definitions
3.    Eligibility
4.    Participation
5.    Common Stock Available Under the Plan
6.    Purchases of Common Stock
7.    Investing in the Plan
8.    Limitation on Purchases
9.    Changing Payroll Deductions; Refunds
10.    Rights as a Shareholder
11.    Accounts
12.    Delivery of Share Certificates; Restriction on Transfer
13.    No Transfer Rights
14.    Administration
15.    Designation of Beneficiary
16.    Selling Stock
17.    Shareholder Approval
18.    Amendments
19.    Termination of Plan
20.    Laws and Regulations; Governing Law
21.    Employment Termination; Participant Retirement; Death
22.    Employment
23.    Use of Funds; No Interest Paid
24.    Additional Restrictions of Rule 16b-3
25.    Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization


WATSCO, INC.

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

1. Effective Date and Purpose of the Plan

The effective date of the Watsco, Inc. 1996 Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) was July 1, 1996. The Plan was amended and restated in 1997 to increase the number of shares available for purchase under the Plan from 600,000 shares to 800,000 shares. The Plan was subsequently amended and restated on April 1, 2005 to increase the number of shares available for purchase under the Plan from 800,000 shares to 900,000 shares, subject to the voting results of the Company’s shareholders, and to modify certain other provisions of the Plan. The Plan was further amended, effective as of January 1, 2006, to change the method for determining the purchase price for shares purchased pursuant to the Plan and to modify certain other provisions of the Plan. On February 26, 2007, the Plan was amended to increase the number of shares available for purchase under the Plan from 900,000 shares to 1,000,000 shares.

The purpose of the Plan is to encourage ownership of Watsco, Inc. Common Stock by eligible employees of the Company, thereby enhancing employee interest in the success and progress of Watsco. The Plan provides the opportunity to invest in such stock at a discounted price through payroll deductions or lump-sum cash contributions. The Plan is intended to comply with Section 423 of the Code.

2. Definitions

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms used in this document have the meanings defined below:

“Account”—a separate account maintained by the Custodian for each Participant which reflects the number of shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan by each Participant.

“Agent, Custodian and Recordkeeper”—American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

“Business Day”—a day on which there is trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

“Code”—the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including any amendments.

“Committee”—the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Watsco.

“Common Stock”—Watsco’s $.50 par value, Common Stock, presently traded on the NYSE.

“Company”—Watsco and any of its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code) whose employees are designated by the Committee as being Eligible Employees.

“Compensation”—the amount of a Participant’s base wages, overtime, commissions and cash bonuses, before giving effect to any reductions made in connection with any plans described in Section 401(k) or Section 125 of the Code.

“Custodian”—American Stock Transfer and Trust Company or such other custodial agent as may be appointed by the Committee.

“Eligible Employees”—an employee of the Company who is eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 3.

“Enrollment Date”—the first Business Day of each Purchase Period.

“Exchange Act”—The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


“Fair Market Value”—the value of a share of Common Stock on any Business Day shall be the closing price of the Common Stock as published in the NYSE listing for such day; in the event such prices are not published, the Fair Market Value shall be the most recent published price available.

“NYSE”—the New York Stock Exchange.

“Participant”—each Eligible Employee who has elected to have amounts deducted from his or her Compensation to participate in this Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

“Purchase Date”—the first Business Day after the month end of each Purchase Period on which it is administratively possible to execute the purchase, but no more than five business days after the end of each Purchase Period.

“Purchase Period”—each of the three month periods ending on the last day of March, June, September and December.

“Purchase Price”—the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Purchase Date, less a discount of 5%.

“Watsco”—Watsco, Inc., a Florida corporation.

3. Eligibility

Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan if, at the Enrollment Date, the employee has completed 90 days of continuous employment and is regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week and more than 5 months per year. No employee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if, immediately after the Enrollment Date, the employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to the employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own stock and/or options to purchase stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of Watsco or any parent company or subsidiaries thereof.

4. Participation

Participation in the Plan is voluntary. An eligible employee may elect to participate by completing an enrollment form and returning it to the payroll department of each subsidiary. The payroll deductions will start at the Enrollment Date, subject to the receipt of a completed enrollment form by the payroll department no later than 15 days prior to such Enrollment Date.

Purchase Periods begin on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year. The Committee shall have the power to change the duration of the Purchase Period with respect to any future Purchase Period without shareholder approval if such change is announced at least fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Purchase Period to be affected. So long as the Plan remains in effect, once an employee enrolls, he/she will automatically continue participation in subsequent Purchase Periods on the same basis, unless he/she elects to change deduction amounts, withdraws or becomes ineligible.

5. Common Stock Available Under the Plan

The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased under the Plan is 1,000,000, subject to adjustment in the event of any capital change by reason of any stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger in which Watsco is the surviving entity, combination or exchange of shares or similar corporate change. In such an event, the number and type of shares of Watsco which Participants may purchase under the Plan, and the maximum number of shares which may be purchased under the Plan, will be adjusted, as appropriate, by the Board of Directors described in Section 25.


6. Purchases of Common Stock

On the Purchase Date for each Purchase Period, whole and fractional shares shall be purchased for each Participant with the accumulated Participant payroll deductions and/or with any additional lump-sum amounts contributed by the Eligible Employee. The Purchase Price shall be equal to 95% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Purchase Date. Additionally, commission charges relating to the purchase of Common Stock under the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

7. Investing in the Plan

There are two methods for investing in the Plan: (1) payroll deductions and (2) lump-sum contributions.

Plan elections for payroll deductions must be made in whole dollar amounts. The minimum dollar amount is $10.00 per payroll period for employees that are paid weekly and $20.00 per pay period for employees that are paid either bi-weekly or semi-monthly.

If an employee elects to make a lump-sum contribution, the minimum cash payment is $100 per Purchase Period. A completed lump-sum contribution form, together with the applicable cash payment, shall be received by the payroll department prior to the Enrollment Date.

8. Limitation on Purchases

The Fair Market Value of Common Stock that a Participant has the right to Purchase under the Plan cannot exceed $25,000 in one calendar year. This limitation is based on calculating the Fair Market Value at the beginning of each Purchase Period.

9. Changing Payroll Deductions; Refunds

A Participant’s elected payroll deduction may be increased or decreased effective with the next Purchase Period. The form must be received by the payroll department no later than 15 days prior to the next Purchase Period. An elected payroll deduction may not be changed during a Purchase Period.

Participants may, however, cease deductions or obtain a refund of his/her lump-sum contribution during a Purchase Period so long as notice is received by the payroll department prior to the Purchase Date. If a Participant ceases deductions during a Purchase Period or wishes the refund of a lump-sum contribution, the deductions already taken or the amount of the lump-sum contribution will be refunded to the Participant as soon as practicable. The Participant would not be eligible to participate again until the Purchase Period after the one in which he/she withdrew. In order to rejoin the Plan, a new enrollment form must be submitted.

10. Rights as a Shareholder

From the initial Purchase Date of shares of Common Stock and thereafter (unless and until the Participant sells the Common Stock), the Participant shall have all the rights and privileges of a stockholder of Watsco with respect to the shares of Common Stock purchased by the Participant. Proxy information will be provided for each stockholders meeting, so that each Participant may have his/her full and fractional shares voted in accordance with their instructions.

11. Accounts

American Stock Transfer and Trust Company has been appointed Custodian for the Plan. The Custodian will maintain an Account for each Participant. A statement or confirmation will be issued following the purchase of shares of Common Stock, which will include the number of full or fractional shares (rounded to three decimal places) purchased for the Participant at the end of each Purchase Period, the total number of shares owned by the Participant under the Plan and the cost per share.


12. Delivery of Share Certificates; Restriction on Transfer

As soon as practicable after each Purchase Date, the Custodian shall issue a certificate representing the total number of whole shares of Common Stock for aggregate purchases of all of the Participants hereunder. Any remaining amount, representing a fractional share that may not be certificated shall be carried forward to the next date of exercise for certification as a part of a whole share.

For each Purchase Period ending on or before December 31, 2005, except as hereinafter provided, for a period of 12 months after each Enrollment Date for each such Purchase Period in which the Participant purchases stock (the “Restriction Period”), the shares of Common Stock purchased for that Purchase Period may not be sold, transferred or disposed of by the Participant other than upon death by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to immediate family members or trusts established for their benefit. This restriction shall not apply with respect to shares of Common Stock purchased with respect to any Purchase Period beginning on or after January 1, 2006.

The foregoing restriction shall not apply to the transfer of shares pursuant to a plan of reorganization of the Company, but the stock, securities or other property received in exchange therefore shall also become subject to the same transfer restrictions applicable to the original shares of Common Stock, and shall be held by the Custodian pursuant to the provisions hereof.

Upon expiration of the Restriction Period, the transfer restrictions shall cease to apply and the Participant may direct the sale of some or all of the whole shares of Common Stock in his/her Account that are not then subject to transfer restrictions.

13. No Transfer Rights

The rights granted under this Plan may not be assigned or transferred under any circumstances other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and are exercisable during a Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant.

14. Administration

The Plan is administered by the Committee. The members of the Committee are not eligible to participate in the Plan. The Committee has the authority to interpret the Plan and to establish rules and regulations for its administration, and the decisions and interpretations by the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Participants. The Committee has the authority to delegate the day-to-day administration of the Plan.

15. Designation of Beneficiary

A Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares and cash in the Participant’s Account, as well as any uninvested cash, if any, in the event of such Participant’s death. A Participant’s beneficiary designation may be changed by the Participant at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participant’s death, the Company shall deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor of the Participant’s estate, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.

16. Selling Stock

Participants may sell shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan by completing and submitting the appropriate form to the payroll department or by notifying the Custodian. Participants will be responsible for payment of a commission equal to 5 cents per share of Common Stock sold.


Restrictions may apply to the sale of shares of Common Stock by certain officers and executives of the Company and those having similar responsibilities, who are subject to Watsco’s Code of Conduct for Senior Executives.

17. Shareholder Approval

The Plan shall become effective on July 1, 1996, subject to approval by the shareholders of Watsco in accordance with applicable law and the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. Participation in the Plan may commence on the effective date, prior to receipt of shareholder approval, provided that, if shareholder approval is not received, no shares of Common Stock shall be purchased under the Plan until Participants are advised of SEC rules regarding the purchase of shares. Participants would have the option to remain in the Plan or have deducted amounts returned. In addition, to the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or under Section 423 of the Code or other applicable law, the Committee shall obtain approval of the shareholders of Watsco of any Plan or any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

18. Amendments

The Committee may at any time, or from time to time, amend the Plan in any respect, except that, without approval of the shareholders of Watsco, no amendment may be made (a) increasing the number of shares which may be purchased under the Plan (other than provided in Section 5 herein), (b) materially increasing the benefits accruing to Participants, or (c) materially modifying the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan.

19. Termination of the Plan

The Plan and all rights hereunder shall terminate on the earliest of:

 

   

the date on which the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for purchase under the Plan has been purchased;

 

   

the termination of the Plan by the Committee;

 

   

the effective date of any consolidation or merger in which Watsco is not the surviving entity, any exchange or conversion of outstanding shares of Watsco for or into securities of another entity or other consideration, or any complete liquidation of Watsco.

Upon termination of the Plan, any full shares in the Participant’s account together with a cash amount for any fractional shares shall be delivered by the Custodian to the Participant or his/her legal representative as soon as practicable following such termination.

20. Laws and Regulations; Governing Law

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the rights of Participants to purchase Common Stock hereunder shall be subject to all applicable Federal, state, and foreign laws, rules and regulations and the rules of each stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is from time to time listed.

As a condition to issuing any shares, the Company may require the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of any such issuance that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

The Company may make such provisions as it deems appropriate for withholding by the Company pursuant to federal or state tax laws of such amounts as the Company determines it is required to withhold in connection with the purchase or sale by a Participant of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan.


The Company may require a Participant to satisfy any relevant tax requirements before authorizing any issuance of Common Stock to such Participant.

The Plan and purchase of Common Stock hereunder shall be subject to additional rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the Plan that may be promulgated from time to time by the Committee regarding the purchases and sales of Common Stock.

The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan will be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable Federal law.

21. Employment Termination; Participant Retirement; Death

Disposition of Account Upon Termination of Employment Other Than Retirement or Death-

If the employment of a Participant terminates for any reason other than retirement or death, his/her participation in the Plan terminates automatically as of the date of the termination of employment. The Company shall promptly refund the amount of any uninvested amounts held under the Plan. In addition, upon termination of employment, for Participants with fewer than 100 restricted shares in his/her account, the Custodian, as soon as is practicable following notification, shall sell all whole shares of Common Stock in the Participant’s Account and any fractional shares shall also be converted into cash. Such proceeds (less commissions and/or service charges) upon sale of the whole shares together with the cash from the conversion of such fractional shares shall be delivered to the Participant. For participants with 100 shares or greater in his/her Account, the Participant may elect to request that the Custodian issue a share certificate for some or all of such shares in the Account or may request that such shares be sold. Such disposition of shares shall not apply to Participants that are subject to Rule 16b-3 requirements; such participants may obtain certificates for any whole shares held in his/her Account upon notification to the Custodian.

Disposition of Shares Upon Termination by Retirement-

A Participant, upon attainment of age 65 and retirement from the Company, may by written notice to the Company, request a certificate for any whole shares held in the Account. Unless such a request is received upon notification of retirement, the shares will be subject to sale upon termination of employment as described above.

Disposition of Shares Upon Death-

Upon the death of the Participant, shares will be disposed of in accordance with Section 16.

22. Employment

The Plan shall not confer any rights of continued employment upon any employee of the Company.

23. Use of Funds; No Interest Paid

All funds received by the Company under the Plan shall be included in the general funds of the Company and may be used for any corporate purpose. No interest shall be paid to any Participant or credited to his/her account under the Plan.

24. Additional Restrictions of Rule 16b-3

Persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor provision. This Plan shall be deemed to contain such additional conditions and restrictions as may be required by Rule 16b-3 to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions. In the event that Rule 16b-3 provides specific requirements for the administrators of plans of this type, the Plan shall only be administered by such


body and in such a manner as to comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3. Unless permitted by Rule 16b-3, no discretion concerning decisions regarding the Plan shall be afforded to any Committee or person that is not “disinterested” as that term is used in Rule 16b-3.

25. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization

Subject to any required action by the stockholders of Watsco, the number of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan and the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized but are unissued under the Plan (collectively, the “Reserves”), as well as the price per share of Common Stock at which such shares may be purchased, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination, or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by Watsco; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of Watsco shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Committee, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issue by Watsco of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject the Plan.

In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of Watsco, the Purchase Period will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise provided by the Committee. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Watsco, or the merger of Watsco with or into another corporation, shares under the Plan shall be assumed or an equivalent share shall be assumed or substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation.

The Committee may, if it so determines in the exercise of its sole discretion, also make provision for adjusting the Reserves, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option, in the event that Watsco effects one or more reorganizations, recapitalization, rights offerings or other increases or reductions of shares of its outstanding Common Stock, and in the event of Watsco being consolidated with or merged into any other corporation.

Opinion of Greenberg Traurig, P.A.

Exhibit 5.1

February 29, 2008

Watsco, Inc.

2665 South Bayshore Drive, Suite 901

Coconut Grove, Florida 33133

Re: REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On the date hereof, Watsco, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), sent for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the offering and sale by the Company of up to 100,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $.50 per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to the Company’s Third Amended and Restated 1996 Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”). We have acted as special counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement.

In connection therewith, we have examined and relied upon the original or a copy, certified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company; (ii) records of corporate proceedings of the Company authorizing the Plan, any amendments thereto, and the preparation of the Registration Statement and related matters; (iii) the Registration Statement and exhibits thereto; and (iv) such other documents and instruments as we have deemed necessary for the expression of the opinions herein contained. In making the foregoing examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies. As to various questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied, to the extent we deem reasonably appropriate, upon representations or certificates of officers or directors of the Company and upon documents, records and instruments furnished to us by the Company, without independently checking or verifying the accuracy of such documents, records and instruments.

Based upon the foregoing examination, we are of the opinion that the Company presently has available at least 100,000 authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock from which the 100,000 shares of Common stock proposed to be sold pursuant to the Plan may be issued, and, assuming that the Company maintains an adequate number of authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock available for issuance pursuant to purchases made under the Plan and the consideration for shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan is actually received by the Company as provided in the Plan, the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to purchases made under and in accordance with the terms of the Plan will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Sincerely,
GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A.
By:  

/s/ Jaret L. Davis

  Jaret L. Davis, Esq.
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We have issued our reports dated February 29, 2008, accompanying the consolidated financial statements (which report expressed an unqualified opinion and contains an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” and Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”) and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Watsco, Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in the 2007 Annual Report of Watsco, Inc. to its shareholders, which are incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and accompanying the schedule included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of the aforementioned reports.

 

     /s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Miami, Florida  
February 29, 2008