Edgar Filing: NORTHWEST PIPE CO

Definitive Proxy Statement

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

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NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

200 SW Market Street, Suite 1800

Portland, Oregon 97201-5730

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To the Shareholders of Northwest Pipe Company:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Northwest Pipe Company (the “Company”) will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 at the Heathman Hotel, 1001 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205, at 9:00 a.m., local time. The purposes of the Annual Meeting will be:

Election of Directors. To elect three directors to hold office for a term of three years or until their successors are elected and qualified; and

Other Business. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 14, 2003 as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on that date will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

By Order of the Board of Directors,


Brian W. Dunham
President and Chief Executive Officer

Portland, Oregon

April 8, 2003

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. THEREFORE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND COMPLETE THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

200 SW Market Street, Suite 1800

Portland, Oregon 97201-5730

PROXY STATEMENT FOR

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MAY 13, 2003

INTRODUCTION

General

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders are being furnished to the shareholders of Northwest Pipe Company, an Oregon corporation (the “Company”), as part of the solicitation of proxies by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) for use at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 at the Heathman Hotel, 1001 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205, at 9:00 a.m., local time. At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will be asked to elect three members to the Board of Directors and to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. This Proxy Statement, together with the enclosed proxy card and the 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders, are first being mailed to shareholders of the Company on or about April 14, 2003.

Solicitation, Voting and Revocability of Proxies

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 14, 2003 as the record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, only holders of record of shares of Common Stock at the close of business on such date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, with each such share entitling its owner to one vote on all matters properly presented at the Annual Meeting. On the record date, there were approximately 1,900 beneficial owners of the 6,550,879 shares of Common Stock then outstanding. The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting.

If the enclosed form of proxy is properly executed and returned in time to be voted at the Annual Meeting, the shares represented thereby will be voted in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. Executed but unmarked proxies will be voted FOR the election of the three nominees for election to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors does not know of any matters other than those described in the Notice of Annual Meeting that are to come before the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares represented by such proxy upon such matters as determined by a majority of the Board of Directors.

Shareholders who execute proxies retain the right to revoke them at any time prior to the exercise of the powers conferred thereby by filing a written notice of revocation with, or by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date to, Corporate Secretary, Northwest Pipe Company, 200 Market Street, Suite 1800, Portland, Oregon 97201-5730, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. All valid, unrevoked proxies will be voted at the Annual Meeting.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

At the Annual Meeting, three directors will be elected, each for a three-year term. Unless otherwise specified on the proxy, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the shares represented by each properly executed proxy for the election of the nominees named below. The Board of Directors believes that the nominees will stand for election and will serve if elected as directors. However, if any of the persons nominated by the Board of Directors fails to stand for election or is unable to accept election, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other person as the Board of Directors may recommend.

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors shall be composed of not less than six (6) and not more than nine (9) directors. The Board of Directors has fixed the number of directors at seven (7). The Company’s directors are divided into three classes. The term of office of only one class of directors expires each year, and their successors are elected for terms of three years, and until their successors are elected and qualified. There is no cumulative voting for election of directors.

Information as to Nominees and Continuing Directors

The following table sets forth the names of and certain information about the Board of Directors’ nominees for election as a director and those directors who will continue to serve after the Annual Meeting.

	Age	Director Since	Expiration of Current Term
Nominees:
Brian W. Dunham	45	1995	2003
Wayne B. Kingsley	60	1987	2003
Richard A. Roman	51	2003	2003
Continuing Directors:
Michael C. Franson	48	2001	2004
Vern B. Ryles, Jr.	65	1986	2004
William R. Tagmyer	65	1986	2005
Neil R. Thornton	72	1995	2005

Nominees for Director

Brian W. Dunham has been a director of the Company since August 1995. Mr. Dunham has been President of the Company since January 1998 and became Chief Executive Officer in January 2001. Mr. Dunham had served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary since 1990 and became Executive Vice President in 1995 and Chief Operating Officer in February 1997. From 1981 to 1990, he was employed by Coopers & Lybrand LLP, independent accountants.

Wayne B. Kingsley has been a director of the Company since 1987. Mr. Kingsley is Chairman of the Board of Directors of American Waterways, Inc., a passenger vessel operator, serves as a director of Coleman Natural Products, Inc. and serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of InterVen Partners, Inc.

Richard A. Roman has been director of the Company since January 7, 2003. Mr. Roman is the Chief Operating Officer of Columbia Ventures Corporation, a diversified company producing primary aluminum and aluminum-based products in Iceland, Mexico and the U.S. Prior to joining Columbia Ventures Corporation in 1992, Mr. Roman was a partner at Coopers & Lybrand, an international accounting firm.

Continuing Directors

Michael C. Franson has been a director of the Company since February 2001. Mr. Franson is a partner with The Wallach Company (“TWC”), an investment banking firm, with responsibility for TWC’s information technology investment banking practice. Mr. Franson joined TWC in 1988 and has led corporate sale and acquisition transactions, recapitalizations, mergers and private placements of debt and equity for both private and public information technology companies throughout the United States. Prior to joining TWC, Mr. Franson was a partner at Boettcher and Company, a regional investment banking firm located in Denver. At Boettcher, he was a founding member of the firm’s venture capital department. Mr. Franson began his career as an equity analyst at Pacific Mutual Insurance Company, located in Newport Beach, California. Mr. Franson also serves as a director of Koala Corporation.

Vern B. Ryles has been a director of the Company since 1986. Mr. Ryles was formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of Poppers Supply, a manufacturer of flavored popcorn snacks and distributor of snack foods and equipment, from 1961 to 2002. Mr. Ryles is also a director of Electro Scientific Industries.

William R. Tagmyer has been the Chairman of the Board since 1986. From 1986 to January 1998, Mr. Tagmyer also served as President of the Company and from 1986 to January 2001 as Chief Executive Officer. He worked for L. B. Foster Company, another steel pipe manufacturer, from 1975 to 1986. Prior to 1975, Mr. Tagmyer was employed by the U.S. Steel Corporation and FMC Corporation in the areas of sales, marketing, product management and contract administration.

Neil R. Thornton has been a director of the Company since 1995. He was previously a director of the Company from 1986 to 1993. Mr. Thornton was President and Chief Executive Officer of American Steel, L.L.C., a distributor of carbon steel products, from 1985 until his retirement in January 1998.

Board of Directors Committees and Nominations by Shareholders

Each year certain members of the Board of Directors whose terms of office are not expiring at the next annual meeting, serve as the Nominating Committee for selecting nominees for election as directors. The Company’s Bylaws also permit shareholders to make nominations for the election of directors, if such nominations are made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Company’s Secretary. To be timely, notice must be delivered to, or mailed to and received at, the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the date of the meeting, provided that at least 60 days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to shareholders. If less than 60 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to shareholders, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be received by the Company not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A shareholder’s notice of nomination must also set forth certain information specified in the Company’s Bylaws concerning each person the shareholder proposes to nominate for election and nominating shareholder.

The Board of Directors met six (6) times during 2002. Each director attended more than 75 percent of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he served. The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating Committee. The Executive Committee, comprised of Messrs. Dunham, Kingsley, and Tagmyer, exercises the authority of the Board of Directors between meetings of the Board, subject to certain limitations. The Executive Committee did not meet in 2002. The Audit Committee is comprised of Messrs. Roman, Ryles, Kingsley and Thornton. The Audit Committee oversees actions taken by the Company’s independent auditors and reviews the Company’s internal audit controls. The Audit Committee met four (4) times in 2002. The Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Franson, Ryles and Thornton. The Compensation Committee reviews the compensation levels of the Company’s employees, makes recommendations to the Board regarding changes in compensation and administers the Company’s stock option plans. The Compensation Committee met three (3) times in 2002. The

Nominating Committee was comprised of Messrs. Tagmyer, Franson, Thornton and Ryles. The Nominating Committee met one (1) time in 2002. There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.

See “Management—Executive Compensation” for certain information regarding compensation of directors.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR the election of its nominees for director. If a quorum is present, the Company’s Bylaws provide that directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists at the Annual Meeting, but are not counted and have no effect on the determination of whether a plurality exists with respect to a given nominee.

MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers

Information with respect to the Company’s current executive officers is set forth below. Officers of the Company are elected by the Board of Directors and hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.

Name	Age	Current Position(s) with Company
William R. Tagmyer	65	Chairman of the Board
Brian W. Dunham	45	Director, Chief Executive Officer and President
Charles L. Koenig	60	Senior Vice President, Water Transmission
Robert L. Mahoney	41	Vice President, Corporate Development
Terrence R. Mitchell	47	Senior Vice President, Tubular Products
John D. Murakami	49	Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
Gary A. Stokes	50	Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Information concerning the principal occupations of Messrs. Tagmyer and Dunham is set forth under “Election of Directors.”

Charles L. Koenig was named Senior Vice President, Water Transmission in July 2001. He had served as Vice President, Water Transmission since February 1997 and, prior to that, had served as Vice President—California Operations since 1993. He has been with the Company since 1992 and is a registered Professional Engineer. Previously, he was Operations Manager with Thompson Pipe and Steel Company, where he was employed for more than twenty years.

Robert L. Mahoney was named Vice President, Corporate Development in July 1998, had served as Director of Business Planning and Development since 1996 and has been with the Company since 1992.

Terrence R. Mitchell was named Senior Vice President, Tubular Products in July 2001. He had served as Vice President, Tubular Products since May 1996, and as Vice President and General Manager—Kansas Division since 1993. Mr. Mitchell has been with the Company since 1985. Prior to joining the Company, he was employed by Valmont Industries.

John D. Murakami was named Vice President, Chief Financial Officer in February 1997, and had served as Corporate Controller since September 1995. Prior to joining the Company, he was employed by Babler Brothers, Inc., a manufacturer of concrete pipe products.

Gary A. Stokes was named Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing in July 2001 and had served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing since 1993. He has been with the Company since 1987. Mr. Stokes was previously employed by L. B. Foster Company for eleven years. He served as the Regional Manager responsible for L.B. Foster Company’s West Coast sales operations.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary of Cash and Certain Other Compensation

The following table provides certain summary information concerning compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and each of the four other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company determined as of the end of the last fiscal year (hereafter referred to as the “named executive officers”) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

		Annual Compensation				Long Term Compensation
Name and Principal Position	Year	Salary		Bonus		Stock Options Granted	All Other Compensation
William R. Tagmyer	2002	$	350,000	$	31,000	—	$	18,999	(1)
Chairman of the Board	2001		350,000		—	—		18,749	(1)
	2000		350,000		127,000	38,710		21,106	(1)

Brian W. Dunham	2002	$	400,000	$	176,000	12,798	$	35,597	(2)
Director, Chief Executive Officer and President	2001		368,756		200,000	38,571		33,662	(2)
	2000		325,000		130,000	35,945		25,383	(2)

Charles L. Koenig	2002	$	198,000	$	67,000	4,223	$	35,650	(2)
Senior Vice President, Water Transmission	2001		190,260		171,000	13,590		34,990	(2)
	2000		179,600		78,000	13,272		30,092	(2)

Terrence R. Mitchell	2002	$	194,000	$	30,000	4,138	$	21,374	(2)
Senior Vice President, Tubular Products	2001		187,320		30,000	13,380		20,563	(2)
	2000		178,400		36,000	13,154		19,589	(2)

Gary A. Stokes	2002	$	205,000	$	67,000	4,373	$	28,811	(2)
Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing	2001		193,070		185,500	13,791		27,393	(2)
	2000		181,800		90,000	13,405		21,699	(2)

(1)

Represents $13,499, $13,499 and $15,856 Company-paid life insurance in 2002, 2001 and 2000 respectively; and $5,500, $5,250 and $5,250 of matching amounts contributed to the Company’s 401(k) plan in 2002, 2001 and 2000 respectively.

(2)

Represents matching amounts contributed to the Company’s 401(k) plan and the amount contributed to the Northwest Pipe Non-Qualified Savings Plan in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Stock Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year

The following table contains information concerning the grant of stock options to the named executive officers in 2002.

	Individual Grants						Potential Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for Option Term(2)
Name	Options Granted(1)	Percent of Total Options Granted to Employees in 2002		Exercise Price ($/Sh)		Expiration Date	5%		10%
William R. Tagmyer	—	—			—	—		—		—
Brian W. Dunham	12,798	21.9	%	$	17.900	5/23/12	$	144,070	$	365,101
Charles L. Koenig	4,223	7.2	%		17.900	5/23/12		47,539		120,474
Terrence R. Mitchell	4,138	7.1	%		17.900	5/23/12		46,582		118,048
Gary A. Stokes	4,373	7.5	%		17.900	5/23/12		49,228		124,753

(1)

Stock options are granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. Options granted vest ratably over a 60 month period, and have a ten year term.

(2)

The potential realizable value is calculated based on the term of the option at time of grant (10 years) and is calculated by assuming that the stock price on the date of grant appreciates at the indicated annual rate compounded annually for the entire term of the option and that the option is exercised and sold on the last day of its term for the appreciated price. Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises are dependent on the future performance of the Common Stock and overall stock market conditions

Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year End Option Values

The following table sets forth, for each of the named executive officers, the shares acquired upon option exercises during 2002 and the related value realized, and the number and value of unexercised options as of December 31, 2002.

	Shares Acquired On Exercise	Value Realized(1)		Number of Unexercised Options at December 31, 2002		Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options at December 31, 2002 (2)
Name	Shares Acquired On Exercise	Value Realized(1)		Exercisable	Unexercisable	Exercisable		Unexercisable
William R. Tagmyer	—		—	159,406	30,373	$	485,808	$	96,947
Brian W. Dunham	4,290	$	72,286	156,785	62,822		932,781		170,058
Charles L. Koenig	8,580		120,120	63,680	22,387		384,099		61,495
Terrence R. Mitchell	—		—	55,944	21,898		326,487		60,312
Gary A. Stokes	4,971		69,345	63,747	22,756		381,644		62,279

(1)

The value realized is based on the difference between the market price at the time of exercise of the options, the applicable exercise price and does not necessarily indicate that the optionee sold such stock.

(2)

The value of unexercised in-the-money options is calculated based on the difference between the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 31, 2002, $17.30 per share, and the applicable exercise price.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2002 with respect to the shares of the Company’s Common Stock that may be issued under the Company’s existing equity compensation plans.

Plan Category	Number of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options	Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options		Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders (1)	996,970	$	14.134	33,923
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders (2)	—		—	—

Total	996,970	$	14.134	33,923

(1)

Consists of the Company’s 1986 Stock Incentive Plan, 1995 Stock Incentive Plan and the 1995 Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Directors.

(2)

The Company does not have any equity compensation plans or arrangements that have not been approved by shareholders.

Change in Control Agreements

The Company has entered into change in control agreements (the “Agreements”) with its executive officers, including the named executive officers. Each of the Agreements was originally for a term ending July 19, 2001, provided that on that date and each anniversary thereafter, the term of the Agreements will be automatically extended by one year unless either party gives 90 days prior written notice that the term of an agreement shall not be so extended. If a “Change in Control” (as defined in the Agreements and described below) occurs during the term of Agreements, the Agreements will continue in effect until two years after the Change in Control.

If an executive officer’s employment with the Company is terminated within two years after a Change in Control either by the Company without “Cause” (as defined in the Agreements and described below) or by the executive officer for “Good Reason” (as defined in the Agreements and described below), the executive officer will be entitled to receive his full base salary through the date of termination and any benefits or awards (both cash and stock) that have been earned or are payable through the date of termination plus (i) a lump sum payment equal to two year’s base salary (three years in the case of Messrs. Tagmyer and Dunham) and (ii) an amount equal to two times (three times in the case of Messrs. Tagmyer and Dunham) the average cash bonuses paid to the executive officer during the previous three years. In addition, the executive officer would be entitled to the continuation of health and insurance benefits for certain periods and all outstanding unvested stock options would immediately become fully vested. In the event that the payments made to an executive officer would be deemed to be a “parachute payment” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, an executive officer may choose to accept payment of a reduced amount that would not be deemed to be a “parachute payment.”

If an executive officer’s employment with the Company is terminated within two years after a Change in Control either by the Company for Cause or as a result of the executive officer’s disability or death, the executive officer will be entitled to receive his full base salary through the date of termination plus any benefits or awards (both cash and stock) that have been earned or are payable through the date of termination.

For purposes of the Agreements, a “Change in Control” includes (i) any merger or consolidation transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, unless shareholders of the Company immediately before such transaction have the same proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation in the transaction, (ii) the acquisition by any person of 30 percent or more of the Company’s total combined voting

power, (iii) the liquidation of the Company or the sale or other transfer of substantially all of its assets, and (iv) a change in the composition of the Board of Directors during any two-year period such that the directors in office at the beginning of the period and/or their successors who were elected by or on the recommendation of two-thirds of the directors in office at the beginning of the period do not constitute at least a majority of the Board. For purposes of the Agreements, “Good Reason” includes (i) an adverse change in the executive officer’s status, title, position(s) or responsibilities or the assignment to the executive of duties or responsibilities which are inconsistent with the executive officer’s status, title or position, (ii) a reduction in the executive officer’s base salary or the failure to pay compensation otherwise due to the executive officer, (iii) a requirement that the executive officer be based anywhere other than within 10 miles of his job location before the Change in Control, (iv) the Company’s failure to continue in effect any compensation or employee benefit plan or program in effect before the Change in Control or any act or omission that would adversely effect the executive officer’s continued participation in any such plan or program or materially reduce the benefits under such plan or program, and (v) the failure by the Company to require any successor to the Company to assume the Company’s obligations under the Agreements within 30 days after a Change in Control. For purposes of the Agreements, “Cause” means the willful and continued failure to satisfactorily perform the duties assigned to the executive officer within a certain period after notice of such failure is given and commission of certain illegal conduct.

Employment Agreement

The Company entered into an Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with Mr. Tagmyer effective November 14, 2000. The Employment Agreement is for a term ending on December 31, 2010, unless terminated earlier by the parties. During calendar years 2001, 2002 and 2003, the Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Tagmyer will receive a base salary of $350,000, will be eligible for annual bonuses in an amount, if any, determined by the Board and will be entitled to all fringe benefits to which he was entitled before the date of the Employment Agreement. During calendar years 2004 through 2010, Mr. Tagmyer will receive a base salary of $150,000 per year. If the Employment Agreement is terminated by Mr. Tagmyer or by the Company for “Cause” (as defined), Mr. Tagmyer would be paid all compensation and expenses to which he is entitled through the date of termination of the Employment Agreement. If the Employment Agreement is terminated by the Company for any reason other than for “Cause” or as a result of Mr. Tagmyer’s death, Mr. Tagmyer would be entitled to receive all of the remaining payments that he would have been entitled to receive under the Employment Agreement if it had not been terminated. If the Employment Agreement is terminated as a result of Mr. Tagmyer’s death, Mr. Tagmyer’s beneficiary or estate would be entitled to receive fifty percent of the remaining payments under the Employment Agreement to which Mr. Tagmyer would have been entitled had he survived. If the Employment Agreement is terminated by the Company for any reason other than “Cause” or Mr. Tagmyer’s death or disability at a time when Mr. Tagmyer’s Change in Control Agreement remains in effect and would apply to such termination, Mr. Tagmyer will be permitted to elect whether to accept the benefits payable under the Employment Agreement or the benefits payable under the Change in Control Agreement. The Employment Agreement contains certain noncompetition provisions that apply to Mr. Tagmyer’s activities during the term of the Employment Agreement and for a period of one year after the later of the date of termination of the Agreement or the date the last payment is made under the Agreement.

Director Compensation

The members of the Company’s Board of Directors are reimbursed for their travel expenses incurred in attending Board meetings. In addition, each nonemployee member of the Board of Directors receives a $16,000 annual retainer, $1,000 for each Board meeting attended, $500 for each telephonic Board meeting attended and $500 for each meeting of a committee of the Board attended. The Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Directors (the “1995 Nonemployee Director Plan”) provides that an option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock is granted to each new nonemployee director at the time such person is first elected or appointed to the Board of Directors. In addition, each nonemployee director receives an option to purchase 2,000 shares of Common Stock annually after each Annual Meeting of shareholders. The number of options which may be granted under the 1995 Nonemployee Director Plan in any fiscal year may not exceed 20,000, subject to stock splits and similar events, and

a total of 100,000 shares of Common Stock have been reserved for issuance upon exercise of stock options granted under the 1995 Nonemployee Director Plan. On May 23, 2002 options to purchase 2,000 shares of Common Stock, at $17.90 each, were granted to each of Messrs. Franson, Kingsley, Ryles and Thornton.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Messrs. Franson, Ryles and Thornton, each of whom is an outside director, served on the Compensation Committee in 2002. No director or executive officer of the Company serves on the compensation committee of the board of directors of any company for which Messrs. Franson, Ryles or Thornton serve as executive officers or directors.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

Under rules established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Company is required to provide certain data and information with regard to the compensation and benefits provided to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers. In fulfillment of this requirement, the Compensation Committee has prepared the following report for inclusion in this Proxy Statement.

Executive Compensation Philosophy

The Compensation Committee is composed entirely of nonemployee, outside directors and is responsible for setting and monitoring policies governing compensation of executive officers. The Compensation Committee reviews the performance and compensation levels for executive officers, and sets salary and bonus levels and option grants under the Company’s stock option plans. The objectives of the Committee are to correlate executive compensation with the Company’s business objectives and performance and to enable the Company to attract, retain and reward executive officers who contribute to the long-term success of the Company.

The Omnibus Budget Act of 1993 added Section 162(m) to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which limits to $1,000,000 the deductibility of compensation (including stock-based compensation) individually paid to a publicly-held company’s chief executive officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers. The Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee intend to take the necessary steps to structure executive compensation policies to comply with this limit on deductibility of executive compensation.

Salaries. The Compensation Committee annually assesses the performance and sets the salary of the Company’s executive officers. Salaries for executive officers are based on a review of salaries for similar positions requiring similar qualifications. In determining executive officer salaries, the Compensation Committee reviews recommendations from management which include information from salary surveys. Additionally, the Compensation Committee establishes both financial and operational based objectives and goals. These goals and objectives include sales and spending forecasts, along with published executive compensation literature for comparable sized companies. The Compensation Committee considers not only the performance evaluations of executive officers but also reviews the financial condition of the Company in setting salaries.

Bonus Awards. The Compensation Committee believes that a significant portion of total cash compensation for executive officers should be subject to the Company’s attainment each year of certain financial and non-financial performance criteria. This approach creates a direct incentive for executive officers to achieve desired performance goals and places a significant percentage of each executive officer’s compensation at risk. Final determination of bonus amounts is subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee and their assessment of performance compared to goals given the operating environment and issues faced by management. Bonuses ranging in amounts from $30,000 to $176,000 were paid for 2002 based on the Company’s partial achievement of the financial performance goals for 2002.

Stock Options. The Compensation Committee believes that employee equity ownership provides significant motivation to executive officers to maximize value for the Company’s shareholders and, therefore, periodically grants stock options under the Company’s stock option plans. Stock options are granted at the current market price and will only have value if the Company’s stock price increases over the exercise price. The Compensation Committee determines the size and frequency of option grants for executive officers, after consideration of recommendations from the Chief Executive Officer. Recommendations for option grants are based upon the relative position and responsibilities of each executive officer, expected contributions of each officer to the Company and previous option grants to such executive officers.

Chief Executive Officer Compensation. Mr. Dunham’s 2002 base salary was determined in the same manner as the other executives as described in Salaries above. The Compensation Committee approved Mr. Dunham’s 2002 annual base salary of $400,000, based on the salary survey data referred to above and compensation levels of Chief Executive Officers of comparable size companies in industries similar to the Company’s. Mr. Dunham also received a bonus award of $176,000 based on the Company’s partial achievement of the financial performance goals established by the Compensation Committee for 2002. Final determination of bonus amounts is subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee and their assessment of performance compared to goals given the operating environment and issues faced by management. Mr. Dunham also received a grant of options to purchase 12,798 shares of Common Stock.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Michael C. Franson

Vern B. Ryles, Jr.

Neil R. Thornton

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is comprised of four directors who are considered independent under applicable Nasdaq Stock Market rules. The Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board.

The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee the Company’s auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes, system of internal controls, and tax, legal, regulatory and ethical compliance on behalf of the Board and report the results of its activities to the Board. The Audit Committee annually reviews and recommends to the Board the selection of the Company’s independent accountants.

Recent business failures and the downturn in the general economy have reemphasized the importance of the responsibilities of the Audit Committee. The SEC and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) have indicated the need for the Audit Committee to increase its attention to the Company’s disclosures in the annual report. The scope of the audit of the Company’s 2002 financial statements was expanded to include matters the SEC and AICPA have designated for increased attention. Additional emphasis was focused on off- and on-balance sheet financing arrangements, related party transactions, internal controls, cross-credit links, pension plans and critical accounting policies. More in-depth discussions were held between the auditors and management on the risks, significant estimates and judgments, trends, events or uncertainties that were the basis for the financial reports.

Management is responsible for maintaining (1) the Company’s accounts and preparing periodic financial statements based thereon; and (2) the system of internal controls. The independent accountants are responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s audited financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and to issue a report thereon. The Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes. In performing this function, the Audit Committee acts only in an oversight capacity. The Committee relies on the work and the assurances of the Company’s management, which has the primary responsibility for financial statements and reports, and of the independent auditors, who, in their report express an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s annual financial statements to generally accepted accounting principles.

In this context, the Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management and the independent accountants. The Committee also has discussed with the independent accountants the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees).

The Company’s independent accountants also provided to the Committee the written disclosures and letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), and the Committee discussed with the independent accountant’s that firm’s independence. The Audit Committee has considered whether the services covered by Audit Fees and All Other Fees is considered compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent accountants.

Based on the above discussions and review with management and the independent accountants, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 for filing with the Commission.

Respectfully submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Richard A. Roman

Vern B. Ryles, Jr.

Wayne B. Kingsley

Neil R. Thornton

STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The SEC requires that registrants include in their proxy statement a line-graph presentation comparing cumulative five-year shareholder returns on an indexed basis, assuming a $100 initial investment and reinvestment of dividends, of (a) the registrant, (b) a broad-based equity market index and (c) an industry-specific index. The following graph includes the required information from December 31, 1997 through the end of the last fiscal year, December 31, 2002. The broad-based market index used is the Russell 2000 Index and the industry-specific index used is a peer group of companies consisting of Ameron International, Inc., Lindsay Manufacturing Co., Valmont Industries, Inc., and Maverick Tube Corporation.

	Indexed Returns
	Northwest Pipe Company	Russell 2000 Index	Peer Group
December 31, 1997	100.00	100.00	100.00
December 31, 1998	67.19	97.45	52.66
December 31, 1999	58.33	118.17	81.04
December 31, 2000	29.43	114.60	86.18
December 31, 2001	68.13	117.45	69.04
December 31, 2002	72.08	93.39	74.73

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended requires the Company’s directors and executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such persons also are required to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.

Based solely on its review of the copies of such reports received by it with respect to 2002, or written representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes that all filing requirements applicable to its directors, officers and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities have been complied with for 2002.

STOCK OWNED BY MANAGEMENT AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

The table below sets forth certain information, as of March 14, 2003, regarding the beneficial ownership of the Common Stock by: (i) each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of its outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each of the named executive officers, (iii) each of the Company’s directors and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group. The address of each of the named executive officers and directors is c/o Northwest Pipe Company, 200 SW Market Street, Suite 1800, Portland, Oregon 97201-5730.

	Shares Beneficially Owned(1)
Name of Beneficial Owner	Shares	Percent
Benson Associates, LLC(2) 111 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 2130 Portland, OR 97204	725,727	11.1	%
Fleet Boston Financial Corporation(3) 100 Federal Street Boston, MA 02110	543,132	8.3	%
Wellington Management Company, LLP(4) 75 State Street Boston, MA 02109	497,800	7.6	%
Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.(5) 1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor Santa Monica, CA 90401	450,100	6.9	%
Frontier Capital Management LLC(6) 99 Summer Street Boston, MA 02110	422,550	6.5	%
Liberty Wanger Asset Management, L.P.(7) 227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3000 Chicago, IL 60606	395,000	6.0	%
Becker Capital Management, Inc.(8) 1211 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 2185 Portland, OR 97204	393,710	6.0	%
FMR Corp.(9) 82 Devonshire Street Boston, MA 02109	354,888	5.4	%
William R. Tagmyer	347,106	5.2	%
Brian W. Dunham	209,687	3.1	%
Charles L. Koenig	112,913	1.7	%
Gary A. Stokes	67,113	1.0	%
Terrence R. Mitchell	59,162	*
Wayne B. Kingsley(10)	28,494	*
Neil R. Thornton	24,378	*
Vern B. Ryles, Jr.	14,000	*
Michael C. Franson	9,500	*
Richard A. Roman	0	*
All directors and executive officers as a group, (twelve persons)	927,052	12.9	%

(*)

Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent of the outstanding Common Stock.

(1)

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and includes voting power and investment power with respect to shares. Shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days from March 14, 2003 are considered outstanding for the purpose of calculating the percentage of Common

Stock owned by such person, but not for the purpose of calculating the percentage of Common Stock owned by any other person. The number of stock options that are exercisable within 60 days of March 14, 2003 is as follows: Mr. Kingsley—14,000; Mr. Ryles—14,000; Mr. Thornton—19,000; Mr. Franson—9,000; Mr. Tagmyer—166,724; Mr. Dunham—165,906; Mr. Stokes—67,113; Mr. Koenig—67,002; Mr. Mitchell—59,162; and all directors and officers as a group—634,240.

(2)

The information as to beneficial ownership is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Benson Associates, LLC on March 5, 2003, reflecting its beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of February 28, 2003. The Schedule 13G/A states that Benson Associates, LLC has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 725,727 shares of Common Stock.

(3)

The information as to beneficial ownership is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Fleet Boston Financial Corporation on February 14, 2003, reflecting its beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of December 31, 2002. The Schedule 13G states that Fleet Boston Financial Corporation has sole voting power with respect to 384,216 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 543,132 shares of Common Stock.

(4)

The information as to beneficial ownership is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Wellington Management Company, LLP on February 12, 2003, reflecting its beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of December 31, 2002. The Schedule 13G states that Wellington Management Company, LLP has shared voting power with respect to 252,100 shares of Common Stock and shared dispositive power with respect to 497,800 shares of Common Stock.

(5)

The information as to beneficial ownership is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. on February 11, 2003, reflecting its beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of December 31, 2002. The Schedule 13G states that Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 450,100 shares of Common Stock.

(6)

The information as to beneficial ownership is based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Frontier Capital Management LLC on February 5, 2003, reflecting its beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of December 31, 2002. The Schedule 13G states that Frontier Capital Management LLC has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 422,550 shares of Common Stock.

(7)

The information as to beneficial ownership is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Liberty Wanger Asset Management, L.P. on February 12, 2003, reflecting its beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of December 31, 2002. The Schedule 13G states that Liberty Wanger Asset Management, L.P. and its affiliates have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 395,000 shares of Common Stock.

(8)

The information as to beneficial ownership is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Becker Capital Management, Inc. on February 4, 2003, reflecting its beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of December 31, 2002. The Schedule 13G states that Becker Capital Management has sole voting power with respect to 350,310 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 393,710 shares of Common Stock.

(9)

The information as to beneficial ownership is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by FMR Corp. on February 14, 2003, reflecting its beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of December 31, 2002. The Schedule 13G states that FMR Corp. has sole dispositive power with respect to 354,888 shares of Common Stock and no voting power with respect to such shares.

(10)

Shares held by Mr. Kingsley include 2,593 shares held in trust over which Mr. Kingsley has sole voting and dispositive power.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, as the auditors of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2003. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP served as the Company’s auditors for the year ended December 31, 2002. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and for the reviews of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for fiscal years ending December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002 fiscal year were $120,000 and $130,000 respectively.

Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees. No fees were billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for professional services rendered for information technology services related to financial information systems design and implementation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.

All Other Fees. The aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for services other than as described above under “Audit Fees” and “Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees” for the year ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002 were $150,550 and $153,017 respectively, primarily for the following professional services:

	2002		2001
Audit-related services (1)	$	24,250	$	24,250
Income tax compliance and related tax services		128,767		126,300

	$	153,017	$	150,550

(1)

Audit related fees include fees for issuance of consents and comfort letter, audits of the Company’s employee benefit plans.

DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, some shareholder proposals may be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s 2004 proxy statement. Any such proposal must be received by the Company not later than December 13, 2003. Shareholders interested in submitting such a proposal are advised to contact knowledgeable counsel with regard to the detailed requirements of the applicable securities law. The submission of a shareholder proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in the Company’s proxy statement. Alternatively, under the Company’s bylaws, a proposal or nomination that a shareholder does not seek to include in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 may be delivered to the Secretary of the Company not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the date of an annual meeting, unless notice or public disclosure of the date of the meeting occurs less than 60 days prior to the date of such meeting, in which event, shareholders may deliver such notice not later than the 10th day following the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure thereof was made. A shareholder’s submission must include certain specified information concerning the proposal or nominee, as the case may be, and information as to the shareholder’s ownership of common stock of the Company. Proposals or nominations not meeting these requirements will not be entertained at the annual meeting. If the shareholder does not also comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-4(c)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company may exercise discretionary voting authority under proxies it solicits to vote in accordance with its best judgment on any such proposal or nomination submitted by a shareholder.

OTHER MATTERS

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors does not know of any other matters to be presented for action by the shareholders at the 2003 Annual Meeting. If, however, any other matters not now known are properly brought before the meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote such proxy in accordance with the determination of a majority of the Board of Directors.

COST OF SOLICITATION

The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition to use of the mails, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone by directors, officers and employees of the Company, who will not be specially compensated for such activities. Such solicitations may be made personally, or by mail, facsimile, telephone, telegraph or messenger. The Company will also request persons, firms and companies holding shares in their names or in the name of their nominees, which are beneficially owned by others, to send proxy materials to and obtain proxies from such beneficial owners. The Company will reimburse such persons for their reasonable expenses incurred in that connection.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2002 accompanies this Proxy Statement. The Company will provide, without charge, on the written request of any beneficial owner of shares of the Company’s Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2002. Written requests should be mailed to the Corporate Secretary, Northwest Pipe Company, 200 Market Street, Suite 1800, Portland, OR 97201-5730.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

Brian W. Dunham

Chief Executive Officer and President

Portland, Oregon

April 8, 2003

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY

Proxy for Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on May 13, 2003

The undersigned hereby names, constitutes and appoints William R. Tagmyer and Brian W. Dunham, or each of them acting in absence of the other, with full power of substitution, my true and lawful attorneys and Proxies for me and in my place and stead to attend the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Northwest Pipe Company (the “Company”) to be held at 9:00 a.m. local time in Portland, Oregon on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 at the Heathman Hotel, 1001 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205 and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, and to vote all the shares of Common Stock held of record in the name of the undersigned on March 14, 2003, with all the powers that the undersigned would possess if he were personally present.

(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)

é FOLD AND DETACH HERE é

Please mark your votes as indicated in this example.

FOR all nominees listed below

(except as marked to the contrary below)

WITHHOLD AUTHORITY

(to vote for all nominees listed below)

1. PROPOSAL 1—Election of Directors

Upon such other matters as may properly come before, or incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting, the Proxy holders shall vote in such manner as they determine to be in the best interests of the Company. The Company is not presently aware of any such matters to be presented for action at the meeting.

(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any individual

nominee, strike a line through the nominee’s name in the list below.)

01 Brian W. Dunham 02 Wayne B. Kingsley 03 Richard A. Roman

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS

A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY. IF NO SPECIFIC DIRECTION IS GIVEN AS TO ANY OF THE ABOVE ITEMS, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE THREE NOMINEES NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1. THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THE COMPANY’S PROXY STATEMENT AND HEREBY REVOKES ANY OTHER PROXY OR PROXIES PREVIOUSLY GIVEN.

I do

do not

plan to attend the meeting

(please check)

Please sign exactly as your name appears on the Proxy Card. If shares are registered in more than one name, the signatures of all such persons are required. A corporation should sign in its full corporate name by a duly authorized officer, stating his/her title. Trustees, guardians, executors and administrators should sign in their official capacity, giving their full titles as such. If a partnership is signing, please sign in the partnership name by authorized person(s). If you receive more than one Proxy Card, please sign and return all such cards in the accompanying envelope.

Signature

Dated:

, 2003

é FOLD AND DETACH HERE é