================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 --------------- FORM 11-K --------------- |x| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005 or |_| TRANSITION REPORTS PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM __________ TO _________ COMMISSION FILE NO. 000-18516 --------------- A. FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN AND THE ADDRESS OF THE PLAN, IF DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE ISSUER NAMED BELOW: ARTESIAN RETIREMENT PLAN B. NAME OF ISSUER OF THE SECURITIES HELD PURSUANT TO THE PLAN AND THE ADDRESS OF ITS PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE: ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION 664 CHURCHMANS RD. NEWARK, DE 19702 ================================================================================ ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 INDEX Page INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT 1-2 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits, December 31, 2005 3 Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits, December 31, 2004 4 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, Year Ended December 31, 2005 5 Notes to the Financial Statements 6-15 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes 16 Independent Auditors' Report Participants, Board of Trustees and Administrator of Artesian Resources Corporation Retirement Plan We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Artesian Resources Corporation Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Artesian Resources Corporation Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the year ended December 31, 2005 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Independent Auditors' Report (Cont'd.) Our audit was performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule of assets held for investment purposes, referred to as, "supplementary information", is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplementary information is the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplementary information has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. McBride Shopa and Company, P.A. /s/ McBride, Shopa & Co ---------------------------------- Wilmington, Delaware June 16, 2006 - 2 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS DECEMBER 31, 2005 Non- participant Participant Loan Total Directed Directed Fund ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ASSETS Investments, at fair value: Cash $ 3,204 $ 0 $ 3,204 $ 0 Artesian Resources Corp. Class A non- voting common stock 2,206,813 1,222,677 984,136 0 Collective trusts 1,383,896 603,902 779,994 0 Mutual funds 16,781,143 5,065,847 11,715,296 0 Investments, at cost Which approximate fair value: Loans to participants 183,216 0 0 183,216 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Total investments 20,558,272 6,892,426 13,482,630 183,216 Contribution receivable: Employer 129,204 129,204 0 0 Participants 0 0 0 0 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Total assets 20,687,476 7,021,630 13,482,630 183,216 LIABILITIES 0 0 0 0 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $20,687,476 $ 7,021,630 $13,482,630 $ 183,216 =========== =========== =========== =========== See accompanying notes to the financial statements. - 3 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS DECEMBER 31, 2004 Non- participant Participant Loan Total Directed Directed Fund ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ASSETS Investments, at fair value: Cash $ 2,960 $ 0 $ 2,960 $ 0 Artesian Resources Corp. Class A non- voting common stock 1,995,789 1,110,768 885,021 0 Collective trusts 1,256,301 558,588 697,713 0 Mutual funds 13,994,463 4,248,744 9,745,719 0 Investments, at cost Which approximate fair value: Loans to participants 253,113 0 0 253,113 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Total investments 17,502,626 5,918,100 11,331,413 253,113 Contribution receivable: Employer 123,286 123,286 0 0 Participants 0 0 0 0 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Total assets 17,625,912 6,041,386 11,331,413 253,113 LIABILITIES 0 0 0 0 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $17,625,912 $ 6,041,386 $11,331,413 $ 253,113 =========== =========== =========== =========== See accompanying notes to the financial statements. - 4 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005 Non- participant Participant Loan Total Directed Directed Fund ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO: Net investment income: Artesian Resources Corp. Class A non- voting common stock - dividends $ 62,826 $ 35,585 $ 27,241 $ 0 Interest and dividend income from other investments 462,505 180,957 281,548 0 Interest income from Participant loans 14,793 0 0 14,793 Net appreciation in fair value of investments 1,255,857 341,334 914,523 0 Contributions: Employer 753,358 486,265 267,093 0 Participants 858,028 0 858,028 0 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 3,407,367 1,044,141 2,348,433 14,793 DEDUCTIONS FROM NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO: Administrative expenses 0 0 0 0 Participant distributions 345,803 63,897 226,275 55,631 Transfers, net 0 0 0 0 Loan transaction transfers, net 0 0 (29,059) 29,059 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 345,803 63,897 197,216 84,690 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NET INCREASE (DECREASE) 3,061,564 980,244 2,151,217 (69,897) NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS: BEGINNING OF YEAR 17,625,912 6,041,386 11,331,413 253,113 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- END OF YEAR $20,687,476 $ 7,021,630 $13,482,630 $ 183,216 =========== =========== =========== =========== See accompanying notes to the financial statements. - 5 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 NOTE 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN GENERAL Effective July 1, 1984, Artesian Resources Corporation (the "Company") established the Artesian Resources Corporation Retirement Plan (the "Plan") as a defined contribution retirement plan for its employees. Pursuant to Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") Section 401(k), the Plan permits employees to exclude contributions to the Plan from their current taxable income, subject to certain limits. The Plan is administered by a Committee of Trustees, which consists of five members appointed by the Company's Board of Directors. Plan administration expenses may be paid out of the plan unless paid by the Company. The Company paid all such expenses incurred during 2005. (Note 3) PARTICIPATION, VESTING AND WITHDRAWALS Generally, all employees are eligible for Plan participation after attaining age 21 and completing 1,000 hours of service during a one-year period. Employees may elect to make tax-deductible contributions up to the IRC limitation of $14,000 ($18,000 for participants age 50 and older) for all deferrals under all plans in 2005 (basic contribution). For every dollar an employee contributes up to 6 percent of compensation, the Company will provide a 50 percent matching contribution. In each Plan year, the Company may make a discretionary contribution to the Plan based on up to 2 percent of compensation for all employees eligible to participate in the Plan. The full discretionary contribution was made for 2005. - 6 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (CONT'D.) PARTICIPATION, VESTING AND WITHDRAWALS (CONT'D.) The Company's Board of Directors, at its sole discretion, may make an additional discretionary contribution. No additional discretionary contributions were made for 2005. Participant contributions, and the related earnings, are fully vested. Company contributions, and the related earnings, vest as follows: Years of Service Vested Percentage ---------------- ----------------- Less than 2 0% 2 but less than 3 20% 3 but less than 4 40% 4 but less than 5 60% 5 but less than 6 80% 6 years or more 100% Any forfeitures of non-vested contributions are offset against required Company contributions. Withdrawals may generally commence without penalty upon attaining age 59 1/2 or for situations involving hardship, as defined in the Plan and the IRC. The Company also sponsored another defined contribution plan for its employees, the Supplemental Plan, which was merged into the Plan on March 31, 2000. The contribution and vesting guidelines for the participants of the Supplemental Plan continued and consist of the following: - 7 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (CONT'D.) PARTICIPATION, VESTING AND WITHDRAWALS (CONT'D.) o Only employees as of April 26, 1994 are eligible for participation. o A service contribution is made by the Company to the Plan for all eligible participants each quarter based upon each employee's years of service and current compensation in accordance with the following schedule: Years of Service % of Compensation ---------------- ----------------- 1-5 2% 6-10 4% 11-20 5% over 20 6% o Participant contributions, and the related earnings thereon, are fully vested at all times. Company contributions, and the related earnings thereon, vest as follows: Years of Service Vested Percentage ---------------- ----------------- Less than 2 0% 2 but less than 3 20% 3 but less than 4 40% 4 but less than 5 60% 5 but less than 6 80% 6 years or more 100% o Forfeitures are offset against required Company contributions. Any participant who separates from the Company for any reason, shall be entitled to receive the vested interest in their account. - 8 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (CONT'D.) INVESTMENT ELECTIONS Participants may allocate basic and matching contributions among the various mutual fund investments and/or the Company's Class A non-voting common stock. Participants may elect an allocation among one or more of the investment funds in multiples of one (1) percent with a minimum investment of one (1) percent in any selected fund. Discretionary Company contributions are invested by the Trustee in a uniform manner for all participants. LOANS Participants may borrow from the Plan under the following guidelines: - A participant may borrow as much as 50 percent of his or her account balance, subject to certain minimum and maximum limitations as defined in the Plan. - Loans are repaid over a period not to exceed 5 years, unless the loan is to buy, build or substantially rehabilitate the borrower's principal residence. - The participant's account balance is secured as collateral when the loan is executed. If a participant defaults on a loan, the loan is treated as a distribution from the plan to the participant. - 9 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (CONT'D.) LOANS (CONT'D.) - Interest rates on loans are prime plus one percent at the date of the loan. - As loans are repaid to the plan, the total payment, principal plus interest, is credited back to the participants account. As disclosed in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, the net transfer into Participant Loans for the year ended December 31, 2005 was made up of: New loans $ 51,094 Loan repayments (65,360) Transfer of interest income (14,793) --------- $(29,059) ========= BENEFITS Participants are entitled to a benefit payment equal to the amount credited to their accounts upon retirement, upon permanent disability, at age 59 1/2, or upon termination of employment or death. In the event of death of a participant, a death benefit payment is made to the participant's beneficiary. In the event of termination, distributions of less than $5,000 must be made in a lump sum. All other distributions may be made in the form of a joint and survivor annuity, installments or in a lump sum subject to certain restrictions as defined in the Plan. - 10 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (CONT'D.) TERMINATION The Company may amend or terminate the Plan. In the event of Plan termination, the accounts of all participants affected shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable. Assets remaining in the Plan may be immediately distributed to the participants, inactive participants and beneficiaries in proportion to their respective account balances; or the trust may be continued with distributions made at such time and in such manner as though the Plan had not been terminated. NOTE 2 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES BASIS OF ACCOUNTING For financial reporting purposes, the assets and liabilities of the Plan are reflected on the accrual basis of accounting. USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. - 11 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT'D.) INVESTMENT VALUATION AND INCOME RECOGNITION Plan assets held in mutual funds and the Company's Class A non-voting common stock are unsecured and are valued at fair value based on quoted market prices. Plan assets held in collective trusts are unsecured and are valued at trading unit prices, which approximates fair value. In accordance with the policy of stating investments at fair value, net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for the year is included in the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits. Participant loans are valued at cost which approximates fair value. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. PARTICIPANT DISTRIBUTIONS Participant distributions are recorded when paid. - 12 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT'D.) INCOME TAXES The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated March 19, 2002, that the original Plan plus amendments is qualified and the trust established under the Plan is tax-exempt, under the appropriate sections of the Internal Revenue Code. NOTE 3 PLAN ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES Plan administration fees are based on asset value and number of participants. The Plan invests in various mutual funds with revenue-sharing agreements that help to offset fees. The Company paid the following net plan expenses on behalf of the Plan in 2005: Fees charged to the Plan $ 77,015 Revenue-sharing offsets (52,234) --------- Net plan expenses $ 24,781 ========= NOTE 4 CREDIT RISK The Plan has $3,204 in mutual fund money market accounts at December 31, 2005 ($2,960 in 2004). These funds are fully insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). NOTE 5 MARKET RISK All investments in the Plan, including holdings in the Company's Class A non-voting common stock, are subject to market risk. - 13 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 NOTE 6 INVESTMENTS REPRESENTING 5% OR MORE OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS During 2005, the Plan's investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in value as follows: Artesian Resources Corp. Class A non-voting common stock $ 104,486 Collective Trusts 43,981 Mutual funds 1,107,390 ----------- $ 1,255,857 =========== The following investments each represent 5% or more of the net assets available for benefits at December 31: 2005 * 2004 * ----------- ----------- Common Stocks Artesian Resources Corp. Class A non-voting common stock $ 2,206,813 $ 1,995,789 Collective Trusts Gartmore Morley Trust Co. Stable Value Fund 1,383,896 1,256,301 Mutual Funds American Funds Growth Fund of America A $ 4,459,847 $ 3,714,650 Davis Funds NY Venture A 4,548,589 4,056,245 Dodge & Cox Funds Stock Fund 2,991,141 2,563,932 PIMCO Funds Total Return Fund Admin 1,561,024 1,288,336 Templeton Funds Foreign Fund R 1,232,589 989,095 * Includes both non-participant directed and participant directed funds Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants are reported on the Schedule H of Form 5500 for benefit claims that have been processed and approved for payment prior to December 31st but not yet paid as of that date. - 14 - ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2005 NOTE 7 RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO SCHEDULE H OF FORM 5500 The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements at December 31, 2005 and 2004 to Schedule H of Form 5500: 2005 2004 ----------- ----------- Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements $20,687,476 $17,625,912 Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants - - ----------- ----------- Net assets available for benefits per Schedule H to the Form 5500 $20,687,476 $17,625,912 =========== =========== The following is a reconciliation of benefits paid to participants per the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 to Schedule H of Form 5500: Benefits paid to participants per the financial statements $ 345,803 Add: Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants at December 31, 2005 - Less: Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants at December 31, 2004 - ---------- Benefits paid to participants per Schedule H of Form 5500 $ 345,803 ========== - 15 - SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION RETIREMENT PLAN EIN: 51-0002090, PLAN NO.: 003 SCHEDULE H, PART IV, LINE 4i: SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AT END OF YEAR AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005 (a) (b) Identity of issue, borrower, (c) Description of investment including maturity date, (e) Current lessor or similar party rate of interest, collateral, par or maturity value (d) Cost** Value ** --------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------ Cash ---- Investment Liquidity Fund $ 3,204 $ 3,204 Common Stocks ------------- * Artesian Resources Corporation Class A non-voting common stock 1,686,485 2,206,813 Collective Trusts ----------------- Gartmore Morley Trust Co Stable Value Fund 1,289,741 1,383,896 Mutual Funds ------------ American Funds Growth Fund of America A 3,019,970 4,459,847 Calamos Growth A 387,844 500,921 Columbia Funds Acorn Z 420,722 557,069 Columbia Funds Mid Cap Value A 43,501 43,080 Davis Funds New York Venture A 3,059,338 4,548,589 Dodge & Cox Funds Balanced 75,329 82,604 Dodge & Cox Funds Stock Fund 2,159,985 2,991,141 Lord Abbett Mid-Cap Value A 385,617 436,880 PIMCO Funds Total Return Fund Admin 1,591,121 1,561,024 Royce Low-Priced Stock 290,754 367,399 Templeton Funds Foreign Fund R 940,605 1,232,589 ----------- ----------- 12,374,786 16,781,143 Participant Loans ----------------- Various Participants Interest rates range from 5.00% to 10.50%, can borrow up to 50% of account balance, repayment terms range from 5 to 15 years, secured by vested account balance 0 183,216 ----------- ----------- $15,354,216 $20,558,272 =========== =========== * Identifies the party as a "Party in Interest". ** Includes both nonparticipant directed and participant directed funds. - 16 -