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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C., 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the registrant [X]
Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ]
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[ ] Preliminary proxy statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
[X] Definitive proxy statement |
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[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 |
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ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
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pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
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was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
THE STOCKHOLDERS OF
ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.
St. Louis, Missouri
December 21, 2005
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF
ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.:
The Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of ESCO Technologies Inc.
will be held at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Hotel, 1335 South
Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis County, Missouri 63131 on Thursday,
February 2, 2006, commencing at 9:30 A.M. St. Louis
time, at which meeting only holders of record of the
Companys common stock at the close of business on
December 7, 2005 will be entitled to vote, for the
following purposes:
1. To elect three directors;
2. To vote on a proposal to approve the Incentive
Compensation Plan For Executive Officers;
3. To vote on a proposal to ratify the Companys
selection of KPMG LLP as independent auditors for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2006; and
4. To transact such other and further business, if any, as
lawfully may be brought before the meeting.
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BY |
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Chairman and |
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Chief Executive Officer |
Secretary
Even though you may plan to attend the meeting in person,
please execute the enclosed form of proxy and mail it promptly.
A return envelope which requires no postage if mailed in the
United States is enclosed for your convenience.
ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.
9900A Clayton Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD
FEBRUARY 2, 2006
This proxy statement is furnished to the holders of all of the
issued and outstanding shares of common stock (the Common
Shares) of ESCO Technologies Inc. (the
Company) in connection with the solicitation of
proxies for use in connection with the Annual Meeting of the
Stockholders to be held February 2, 2006, and all
adjournments thereof, for the purposes set forth in the
accompanying Notice of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders.
Such holders are hereinafter referred to as the
Stockholders. The Company is first mailing this
proxy statement and the enclosed form of proxy to Stockholders
on or about December 21, 2005.
Whether or not you expect to be present in person at the
meeting, you are requested to fill in, sign, date and return the
enclosed form of proxy. If you attend the meeting, you may vote
by ballot. If you do not attend the meeting, the Common Shares
can be voted only when represented by a properly executed proxy.
In this case you have several choices:
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You may vote on each proposal when returning the enclosed proxy
form, in which case the Common Shares will be voted in
accordance with your choices. |
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You may, when appropriate, indicate a preference to abstain on
any proposal, which will have the effect described in
VOTING on page 22. |
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You may return a properly executed proxy form without indicating
your preferences, in which case the proxies will vote the Common
Shares FOR election of the directors nominated by the Board of
Directors, FOR the proposal to approve the Incentive
Compensation Plan For Executive Officers, and FOR the proposal
to ratify the Companys selection of KPMG LLP as
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2006, and in their discretion on such other
business as may properly come before the meeting. |
Any person giving such proxy has the right to revoke it at any
time before it is voted by giving written notice of revocation
to the Secretary of the Company, by duly executing and
delivering a proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the
Annual Meeting and casting a contrary vote in person.
The close of business on December 7, 2005 was fixed as the
record date for the determination of the Stockholders entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders. As of the
record date, 25,576,235 Common Shares were outstanding and
entitled to be voted at such meeting. The Stockholders will be
entitled to cast one vote for each Common Share held of record
on the record date.
A copy of the Companys Annual Report to Stockholders for
the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 accompanies this
proxy statement.
The solicitation of this proxy is made by the Board of Directors
of the Company. The solicitation will be by mail, and the
expense thereof will be paid by the Company. Proxies may also be
solicited by telephone, email or telefax by directors, officers
or regular employees of the Company.
Split of Common Stock
Effective September 9, 2005, the Common Shares were split
two-for-one which was effected in the form of a 100% stock
dividend (the Stock Split). All numbers in this
proxy statement representing quantities of Common Shares and
their respective dollar values have been adjusted to reflect the
Stock Split.
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I. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR
election of C.J. Kretschmer, J.M. McConnell and
D.C. Trauscht, the three nominees for Directors listed
below.
Nominees and Continuing Directors
The Companys Bylaws provide that the number of directors
shall not be less than three nor greater than ten, and shall be
determined from time to time by majority vote of the Board of
Directors. In accordance with the Bylaws, the Board of Directors
has fixed the number of directors at nine. The Board is divided
into three classes, with the terms of office of each class
ending in successive years. Three directors of the Company are
to be elected for terms expiring at the Annual Meeting in 2009,
or until their respective successors have been elected and have
qualified. Currently, there is a total of eight directors.
Pursuant to the Companys Articles of Incorporation, a
majority of the directors in office may fill any vacancy on the
Board of Directors. As of the date of mailing of this proxy
statement, the Company has not determined whether or whom to
propose as an additional director. Certain information with
respect to the nominees for election as directors proposed by
the Company and the other directors whose terms of office as
directors will continue after the Annual Meeting is set forth
below. Should any one or more of the nominees be unable or
unwilling to serve (which is not expected), the proxies (except
proxies marked to the contrary) will be voted for such other
person or persons as the Board of Directors of the Company may
recommend. Proxies cannot be voted for more than three nominees.
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Name, Age, Principal Occupation or |
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Position, Other Directorships |
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Director Since | |
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TO BE ELECTED FOR TERMS ENDING IN 2009
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C.J. Kretschmer, 49
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2002 |
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President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company
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J.M. McConnell, 64
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1996 |
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Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, Instron
Corporation, manufacturer of scientific instruments
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D.C. Trauscht, 72
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1991 |
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Chairman, BW Capital Corporation, private investment company
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Director of OMI Corporation, Bourns Inc. and Recon Optical Inc.
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TO CONTINUE IN OFFICE UNTIL 2008
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W.S. Antle III, 61
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1994 |
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Former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oak
Industries, Inc., manufacturer of engineered products for the
telecommunications industry
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Director of John H. Harland Company and Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
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L.W. Solley, 63
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1999 |
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Retired Executive Vice President, Emerson Electric Co.,
manufacturer of electrical and other products
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J.D. Woods, 74
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2001 |
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Chairman Emeritus and retired Chief Executive Officer, Baker
Hughes Incorporated, supplier of oilfield equipment and services
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Director of National Oilwell Varco, Inc., OMI Corporation,
United States Enrichment Corporation and Foster Wheeler Ltd.
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TO CONTINUE IN OFFICE UNTIL 2007
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V.L. Richey, Jr., 48
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2002 |
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
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J.M. Stolze, 62
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1999 |
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Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Stereotaxis, Inc.,
manufacturer of medical instruments
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Each of the nominees and continuing directors has had the same
position with the same employer as stated in the preceding table
during the past five years, except as follows:
Mr. Kretschmer was Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Company from October 1999 until February 2001 and
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from February
2001 to February 2002. Mr. Kretschmer was Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer from February 2002 to
October 2002. Since the latter date, he has been President and
Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
From April 1990 until December 2001, Mr. McConnell was
President and Chief Executive Officer of Instron Corporation.
From November 1992 until February 2002, Mr. Solley was
Executive Vice President of Emerson Electric Co.
From October 2000 to August 2001, Mr. Richey was Senior
Vice President and Group Executive of the Company.
Mr. Richey was President and Chief Operating Officer from
August 2001 to October 2002. Since October 2002, he has been
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and since April 2003, he
has also been Chairman.
From June 1995 until December 2003, Mr. Stolze was
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MEMC
Electronic Materials, Inc. Since May 2004, he has been Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of Stereotaxis, Inc.
Board of Directors and Committees
As a result of its annual review of director independence, the
Board of Directors has determined that none of the non-employee
directors has a material relationship with the Company and, as a
result, such directors are determined to be independent under
the standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The non-employee
directors are Messrs. W.S. Antle III,
J.M. McConnell, L.W. Solley,
J.M. Stolze, D.C. Trauscht and J.D. Woods. None
of these directors had any relationship, material or otherwise,
with the Company other than in his capacity as a director and
shareholder. There were five meetings of the Board of Directors
during fiscal year 2005. All of the incumbent directors attended
at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and committees on
which they served. The Companys policy requires the
attendance of all directors at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, except for absences due to causes beyond the
reasonable control of the director. Each of the eight directors
in office at the time of the 2005 Annual Meeting attended that
meeting.
The many responsibilities and the substantial time commitment of
being a director of a public company require that the Company
provide adequate incentives for the directors continued
performance by paying compensation commensurate with the
directors expertise and duties. The non-employee directors
are compensated based upon their respective levels of Board
participation and responsibilities, including service on Board
committees. Directors who are employees of the Company do not
receive any compensation for service as directors. Effective
January 1, 2005 and currently, compensation paid to
non-employee directors is as follows: annual cash retainer for
each non-employee director $20,000; additional
annual cash retainer for Lead Director $15,000;
annual fee for Board meetings $4,800; annual cash
retainer for Chairman of Audit and Finance Committee
$7,000; annual cash retainer for Chairmen of Human Resources and
Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committees $5,000; annual fee for meetings of Audit
and Finance Committee and Human Resources and Compensation
Committee $4,800; annual fee for meetings of
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
$6,000. In addition, each non-employee director receives a
retainer of 800 Common Shares per quarter. All of the
above-mentioned cash retainers and fees are paid in advance in
January of each year.
Under the Companys extended compensation plan for
non-employee directors who began Board service prior to April
2001, each director currently on the Board who has served as a
non-employee director for at least five years or whose tenure as
a director expires pursuant to the Companys Bylaws
restriction regarding maximum age for election will, after the
later of termination of services as a director or reaching age
65, receive for life a percentage of the fiscal year 2001 annual
cash retainer for directors of $20,000. Such
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percentage ranges from 50% to 100% based upon years of service
as a director. In the event of death of a retired director who
is eligible under this plan, 50% of the benefit will be paid to
the surviving spouse for life. On or after retirement, if the
eligible director so elects, the actuarial equivalent of the
benefit may be received in a single lump sum.
Directors may elect to defer receipt of all of their cash
compensation and/or all of their quarterly stock retainer. If
elected, the deferred amounts are credited to the
directors deferred compensation account in stock
equivalents. Deferred amounts will be distributed in Common
Shares or cash at such future dates as specified by the director
unless distribution is accelerated in certain circumstances,
including a change in control of the Company. The stock portion
which has been deferred may only be distributed in Common Shares.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board of Directors has adopted corporate governance
guidelines and a code of business conduct and ethics applicable
to all of the Companys directors, officers and employees.
These documents are posted on the Companys web site:
www.escotechnologies.com. A copy of each of the corporate
governance guidelines and the code of business conduct and
ethics is also available in print to any Stockholder who
requests it.
Mr. Trauscht, the Companys Lead Director, presides at
meetings of the non-employee directors (each of whom is deemed
independent), which occur on a regular basis. Interested parties
who wish to make their concerns known to the Companys
non-employee directors may communicate directly with the Lead
Director by writing to: Mr. D.C. Trauscht, Lead Director,
ESCO Technologies Inc., 9900A Clayton Road,
St. Louis, MO 63124-1186.
COMMITTEES
The members of the Board of Directors are appointed to various
committees. The standing committees of the Board are: the
Executive Committee, the Audit and Finance Committee, the Human
Resources and Compensation Committee and the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. Each of these committees
operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of
Directors.
The Executive Committees function is to exercise the full
authority of the Board of Directors between Board meetings,
except that the Executive Committee may not take certain
specified actions which the Board of Directors has reserved for
action by the whole Board. The Committee held no meetings in
fiscal year 2005. Mr. Richey (Chairman), Mr. Antle and
Mr. Trauscht are the members of the Committee.
The Audit and Finance Committees functions generally are
to assist oversight by the Board of Directors of the
Companys financial reporting process, the Companys
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the
independent auditors qualifications and independence, and
the performance of the Companys out-sourced internal audit
function and independent auditors. These functions include the
responsibility to appoint, retain and oversee the firm of
independent auditors performing the annual audit; to annually
evaluate the qualifications, independence and prior performance
of the independent auditors; to review the scope of the
auditors work and approve their annual audit fees and
their other non-audit service fees; to review the Companys
internal controls with the independent auditors and the internal
audit executive; to review with the independent auditors any
problems they may have encountered during the annual audit;
discuss 10-K and 10-Q reports with management and independent
auditors before filing; review and discuss earnings press
releases; discuss with management major financial risk
exposures; to review the annual plan and associated resource
allocation of the out-sourced internal audit function; to review
the Companys reports to Stockholders with management and
the independent auditors and receive certain assurances from
management; to prepare a report as required by the Securities
and Exchange Commission to be included in the annual proxy
statement; and to review the effectiveness of the Companys
legal, regulatory and corporate governance compliance programs.
Each member of the Committee is an independent director, as
defined in the applicable listing standards of the New York
Stock Exchange. The Board of Directors has determined that
Mr. Stolze, a member of the Audit and Finance Committee, is
an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of
Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
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Act), and is independent within the meaning of
Item 7(d)(3)(iv) of Schedule 14A under the Exchange
Act. The Committee met eight times in fiscal year 2005.
Mr. Antle (Chairman), Mr. McConnell and
Mr. Stolze are the members of the Committee. The
Committees charter is posted on the Companys
website: www.escotechnologies.com and is available in print to
any Stockholder who requests it.
The Human Resources and Compensation Committees functions
generally are to review and approve corporate goals and
objectives relevant to compensation of the Chief Executive
Officer; to evaluate the Chief Executive Officers
performance in light of these goals and objectives; to determine
and approve the Chief Executive Officers compensation
level based upon the evaluation; to review and approve the
compensation of officers and other key executives,
incentive-compensation plans, equity-based plans and other
compensation plans; to review and approve material changes to
benefit programs, including new programs; to review the
performance and development of Company management in achieving
corporate goals and objectives; to assure that executive
officers and other senior executives of the Company are
compensated in a manner consistent with the strategy of the
Company and competitive practice; to prepare a report on
executive compensation as required by the Securities and
Exchange Commission to be included in the annual proxy
statement; and to oversee the Charitable Contributions Program.
Each member of the Committee is an independent director, as
defined in the applicable listing standards of the New York
Stock Exchange. The Committee met four times in fiscal year
2005. Mr. Woods (Chairman), Mr. Solley and
Mr. Trauscht are the members of the Committee. The
Committees charter is posted on the Companys
website: www.escotechnologies.com and is available in print to
any Stockholder who requests it.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees
functions generally are to identify and recommend approval of
individuals qualified to become Board members; to recommend
director nominees for selection to the Board; to develop and
recommend to the Board effective corporate governance
guidelines; to oversee the Companys ethics programs; and
to lead the Board in its annual review of the Boards
performance. The Committee will consider candidates for election
as directors recommended by Stockholders and evaluate such
individuals in the same manner as other candidates proposed to
the Committee. All candidates must meet the legal, regulatory
and exchange requirements applicable to members of the Board of
Directors. The Committee has not established other specific
minimum qualifications that must be met by a candidate in order
to be considered for nomination by the Committee, but requires
that candidates have varied business and professional
backgrounds; be persons of the highest integrity; possess sound
business judgment and possess such other skills and experience
as will enable the Board to act in the long term interests of
the Stockholders. Additionally, the Committee may establish and
utilize such other specific membership criteria as the Committee
deems appropriate from time to time in light of the Boards
need of specific skills and experience. The Committee may
identify new candidates for nomination based on recommendations
from Company management, employees, non-management directors,
third party search firms, Stockholders and other third parties.
Consideration of a new candidate typically involves the
Committees review of information pertaining to such
candidate and a series of internal discussions, and may proceed
to interviews with the candidate. New candidates are evaluated
based on the above described criteria in light of the specific
needs of the Board and the Company at the time. Incumbent
directors whose terms are set to expire are evaluated based on
the above described criteria, as well as a review of their
overall past performance on the Board of Directors. The
Committee has the authority to engage third-party search firms
to identify candidates, but did not do so in fiscal year 2005.
Stockholders who wish to recommend director candidates for the
next Annual Meeting of Stockholders should notify the Committee
no later than August 28, 2006. Submissions are to be
addressed to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee,
c/o the Companys Corporate Secretary, Alyson
S. Barclay, at ESCO Technologies Inc., 9900A Clayton Road,
St. Louis, MO 63124-1186, which submissions will then be
forwarded to the Committee. The Committee is not obligated to
nominate any such individual for election. No such Stockholder
candidates have been received by the Company for this Annual
Meeting. Each member of the Committee has been determined by the
Board to be an independent director, as defined in the
applicable listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The
Committee met five times in fiscal year 2005. Mr. Trauscht
(Chairman) and Mr. Solley are the members of the Committee.
The Committees charter is posted on the Companys
website: www.escotechnologies.com and is available in print to
any Stockholder who requests it.
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Report of the Audit and Finance Committee
The Audit and Finance Committee (the Committee)
oversees and monitors the Companys financial reporting
process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the
primary responsibility for the financial statements and the
reporting process, including the Companys systems of
internal control. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities,
the Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial
statements to be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended September 30, 2005 with management,
including a discussion of the quality and the acceptability of
the Companys financial reporting practices and the
internal controls over financial reporting.
The Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, who are
responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those
audited financial statements with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America, their
judgments as to the quality and the acceptability of the
Companys financial reporting and such other matters as are
required to be discussed with the Committee under auditing
standards generally accepted in the United States of America. In
addition, the Committee discussed with the independent auditors
the auditors independence from management and the Company,
including the impact of non-audit-related services provided to
the Company and the matters in the auditors written
disclosures and the letter required by Standard No. 1 of
the Independence Standards Board received by the Company. The
Committee also discussed with the independent auditors the
matters required to be discussed by Statements on Auditing
Standards No. 61.
Further, the Committee discussed with the Companys
internal audit executive and independent auditors the overall
scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee meets
periodically with the internal audit executive and independent
auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the
results of the examinations, their evaluations of the
Companys internal controls (including internal controls
over financial reporting), and the overall quality of the
Companys financial reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above,
the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the
audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005
for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Committee also evaluated and reappointed KPMG LLP as the
Companys independent auditors for fiscal 2006.
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The Audit and Finance Committee |
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W.S. Antle III, Chairman |
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J.M. McConnell |
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J.M. Stolze |
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Executive Compensation
Report Of The Human Resources And Compensation Committee
On Executive Compensation
Introduction
The following report is provided by the Human Resources and
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
Committee). The Committee supervises the
Companys Executive Compensation Program (the
Program) and is directly responsible for
compensation actions affecting the executive and other senior
officers of the Company. In this regard, the role of the
Committee is to oversee ESCOs compensation plans and
policies, annually review and approve all decisions relative to
the executive officers compensation, and administer the
plans (including the review and approval of equity awards to
executive officers) and annually review and approve all
decisions relative to the executive officers compensation.
The Committee is also responsible for reviewing and supporting
the corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation
and evaluating the CEOs performance in light of those
goals and objectives.
The Committees charter reflects these various
responsibilities, and the Committee and the Board periodically
review and revise the charter. The Committees membership
is determined by the Board and is composed entirely of
independent directors. The Committee meets at scheduled times
during the year, and it also considers and takes action by
written consent. The Committee Chairman reports on Committee
actions and recommendations at Board meetings. ESCOs Human
Resources Department supports the Committee in its work and in
some cases acts pursuant to delegated authority to fulfill
various functions in administering ESCOs compensation
programs. In addition, the Committee has the authority to engage
the services of outside advisers, experts and others to assist
the Committee.
Executive Compensation Philosophy
The Companys general compensation philosophy is that total
cash compensation should vary with ESCOs performance in
achieving financial and non-financial objectives, and that
long-term compensation should be closely aligned with the
Stockholders interests. The Program is designed and
administered to relate executive compensation to four basic
objectives:
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Competitive Position: The Program is designed to pay
competitive compensation so the Company can attract and retain
highly qualified executives. To assist it in determining
competitive compensation practices, the Committee utilizes
information about compensation levels of peer companies and
other industrial companies. The Committee generally seeks to set
executive compensation close to the median levels of such
companies. For fiscal 2005, the Committee retained a
nationally-recognized, independent executive compensation
consultant, which was recommended by management, to provide this
information. When compensation varies from competitive levels,
the Committee makes appropriate adjustments over time through
the annual compensation planning process. |
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Company Performance: The Program is designed to reflect
overall Company performance, with appropriate consideration of
conditions that exist in the industries in which it engages. In
determining compensation levels and compensation changes, the
Committee considers the Companys overall performance in
meeting both short- term and long-term objectives, achievement
of operating objectives, performance in key areas such as
Stockholder value, economic profit, growth and earnings per
share, as well as progress toward long-term strategic objectives. |
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Stockholder Return: The Program has been designed to
establish a direct link between the interests of the
Companys executives and its Stockholders. This is
accomplished by allocating a portion of senior management
compensation to stock-based programs tied directly to
Stockholder return and by establishing executive officer and
other senior officer stock ownership guidelines. |
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Individual Performance: In addition to the above factors,
the Committee considers the executives individual
performance and contributions to the Companys results in
determining appropriate compensation levels. |
The Executive Compensation Program
There are three components to the Companys executive
compensation program: base salary, annual incentive cash
compensation, and long-term incentive compensation. Each
executives compensation is linked directly to the
Companys performance through substantial at-risk variable
pay.
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Base Salary: The base salary of each executive is
reviewed annually and set by the Committee generally at the
beginning of each fiscal year. Salary changes reflect overall
Company performance, pay competitiveness and the
individuals performance. The targeted percentage of total
cash compensation represented by base salary varies based on the
level of the position, with a target of approximately 60% for
the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (the CEO)
and the President and Chief Operating Officer (the
COO), and approximately 70% for the Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer and the Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel. |
|
|
|
Annual Cash Incentive Compensation: A substantial portion
of each executives annual cash compensation is tied to
Company performance through the Companys Performance
Compensation Plan (PCP), an annual cash incentive
compensation (bonus) program. The bonus target
percentage of total cash compensation represented by the PCP
varies based on the level of the position, with a target for
fiscal 2005 of approximately 40% for the CEO and the COO and
approximately 30% for the other executive officers. This at-risk
component closely links the executives pay to the
Companys financial results and provides for compensation
variability through lower incentive payments in times of poor
financial performance and higher compensation in times of strong
performance. The Committee sets bonus targets and evaluation
criteria generally at the beginning of each fiscal year. Actual
PCP payments will vary from the bonus targets depending on the
extent to which performance meets, exceeds or falls below the
Company and individual evaluation criteria. These evaluation
criteria are both subjective and objective and may include
Company performance (considering market conditions and industry
circumstances) in key areas such as earnings per share,
shareholder value, economic profit, growth and other factors, as
well as individual performance as measured against strategic
management objectives. The types and relative importance of
specific financial and other business objectives may vary among
the Companys executives depending upon their position and
the particular function(s) for which they are responsible. |
|
|
|
Long-Term Incentive Compensation: To align the interests
of the Companys management directly with those of
Stockholders, a portion of executive total compensation is
provided by stock-based, long-term compensation plans. To place
emphasis on Stockholder return, the Company has historically
implemented stock option, performance share,
performance-accelerated restricted stock (PARS) and
restricted stock programs. In the past three years, only stock
options and PARS have been awarded to the executive officers.
These awards are included in the tables on pages 12 and 13
of this proxy statement. |
The Companys stock option programs provide for the award
of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, and
stock appreciation rights (SARs). No SARs have been
awarded to date. All options granted to date, when first issued,
have been awarded at an exercise price equal to the fair market
value of the stock on the date of the award. Since options vest
over time, the Company periodically grants new options to
provide continuing incentives for future performance. The size
of previous grants and the number of options held are considered
by the Committee but are not entirely determinative of future
grants. Like base pay, the grants are set with regard to
competitive considerations, individual performance and the
executives potential for future contributions.
The PARS program allows shares to be earned upon the achievement
of specific stock price targets. Vesting is contingent on
continued employment for a specified period after the shares are
earned. However,
9
awards not earned by stock performance will nevertheless vest
and be distributed at the end of the service period established
for the award, provided the recipient continues in the
employment of the Company.
Stock-based programs encourage Stockholder value creation, as
this component of the compensation system is designed to retain
senior executives and motivate them to improve the market value
of the stock over a number of years.
Executive Share Ownership Guidelines
The Committee believes that senior management should have a
significant equity interest in the Company. In order to promote
equity ownership and further align the interests of management
with the Stockholders, the Committee has adopted ownership
guidelines for senior management. Under these guidelines,
certain executives (including the CEO and other executive
officers) are expected to accumulate shares until they achieve
and continue to maintain a significant ownership position,
expressed as a multiple of total cash compensation as follows:
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer five times
total cash compensation; other executive and corporate
officers three times total cash compensation.
The Committee periodically reviews share ownership levels of
those persons subject to these guidelines. These guidelines must
be achieved within five years of the effective date of the
program or the date of appointment as, or promotion to a
corporate officer. Stock options, including vested options, as
well as unvested PARS, are not included in determining whether
an executive has achieved the ownership levels set forth above.
Each of the named executive officers has achieved stockholdings
in excess of the applicable multiple set forth above.
Fiscal 2005 Executive Officer Compensation
Fiscal year 2005 base salaries for the executive officers, which
are shown in the Summary Compensation Table on page 12,
were set at the beginning of fiscal year 2005. The salaries were
set based on a subjective evaluation of fiscal year 2004
performance and the consultants review of the current
salary levels compared to the Companys 2004 Peer Group (as
described on page 17) and a group of broader industrial
companies (together, the Competitive Group),
consistent with the methodology described above. At the time of
the review, all of the executive officers base salaries
were below the median levels of the Competitive Group.
In determining fiscal year 2005 target total cash compensation
(base salary and PCP targets) for the executive officers, the
Committee considered the competitiveness of total cash
compensation levels compared to the Competitive Group. The
fiscal 2005 total cash compensation of the Companys
executive officers is detailed in the Summary Compensation Table
on page 12. The consultants report reflected that the
bonus target percentages were generally in line with the market
median levels.
The Committee granted the executive officers equity awards in
the form of stock options and PARS (See Fiscal 2005
Long Term Incentive Awards below.) The specifics of the
equity awards provided to the executive officers are detailed in
the Summary Compensation Table on page 12.
Fiscal 2005 Chief Executive Officer Compensation
In fiscal 2005, the Company recorded net sales of
$421.9 million, an increase of $7.0 million, or 1.7%,
over fiscal 2004 sales of $422.1 million. Fiscal 2005 net
earnings from continuing operations were $44.5 million, or
$1.66 per share, compared with fiscal 2004 net earnings from
continuing operations of $37.8 million, or $1.42 per share.
Net earnings from continuing operations increased approximately
18% year over year. Net earnings/(loss) were $43.5 million,
or $1.66 per share, $35.7 million, or $2.68 per share and
$(41.1) million, or $(3.13) per share in fiscal 2005, 2004 and
2003, respectively.
The 2004 results of operations included the impact of severance
and move costs related to the closure of the Companys
Puerto Rican manufacturing facility. The 2003 results of
operations included the impact of similar severance and move
costs and several other unusual cost items.
10
Fiscal 2005 base salary of $500,000 for the CEO was set the
beginning of fiscal year 2005. The Committee took into account
the Companys financial and operating performance for 2004,
including the increase in earnings per share over fiscal 2003
and the significant free cash flow. Additionally, the Committee
recognized the continuing progress of the CEO and his management
team in the evaluation and implementation of capital investments
for future growth, continued cost structure improvement, the
Puerto Rico facility closure and the MicroSep divestiture.
In determining the fiscal year 2005 PCP bonus target of $333,000
for the CEO, the Committee considered the total cash
compensation of the CEO compared to the Competitive Group and
the at-risk percentage of the bonus target for this position, in
conjunction with the change in base salary. The actual fiscal
year 2005 PCP award of $499,500 to the CEO was based upon the
factors identified in the Annual Cash Incentive Compensation
paragraph above (page 9) with 50% of the award based upon
achievement of the EPS targets, 35% based upon the achievement
of other Company performance factors, and 15% based upon the
execution of individual objectives which were established by the
Committee in consultation with the Lead Director at the
beginning of fiscal 2005.
Based upon the Companys fiscal 2005 financial performance,
as described above, and relative shareowner return, the value of
similar incentive awards to CEOs in the Competitive Group,
and the awards given to the CEO in the past three years, the CEO
was granted 15,600 stock options and received a PARS award of
15,600 shares in October 2004. See Fiscal 2005 Long Term
Incentive Awards below and the Long-Term
Compensation information in the Summary Compensation Table.
In fiscal 2005, as a result of the achievement of previous PARS
awards share price targets, the CEO earned an additional 21,334
shares, which will vest and be distributed upon his continued
service through March 31, 2006.
Fiscal 2005 Long Term Incentive Awards
The option price of stock options awarded to executive officers
in fiscal 2005 was the fair market value on the date of award.
The fiscal 2005 PARS awards established higher share price
targets than previous awards, and aimed to further align the
long term interests of the executive officers with those of
Stockholders. These shares will be earned subject to the
achievement of specified stock price target levels over the
period from October 2006 through September 2009; however, awards
not earned by stock performance will nevertheless vest and be
distributed at the end of the service period established for the
award, provided the recipient continues in the employment of the
Company. The individual equity grant amounts were based on
internal factors such as the size of prior grants, relative job
scope and contributions made during the past year, as well as a
review (generally over the previous three years) of
publicly-available data on executive officer compensation
provided by an independent nationally-recognized consultant.
Section 162(m)
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, adopted in
1993, imposes a $1 million cap, subject to certain
exceptions, on the deductibility to a company of compensation
paid to the executive officers named in such companys
proxy statement. To date, all of the stock options, stock
incentive or incentive compensation plans have been approved by
shareholders to enable options granted under those plans to
qualify as deductible performance-based compensation under
Section 162(m). The Company intends, to the extent
practicable, to preserve deductibility under the Internal
Revenue Code of compensation paid to its executive officers
while maintaining compensation programs that effectively attract
and retain exceptional executives in a highly-competitive
environment.
The Committee continues to consider other steps which might be
in the Companys best interests to comply with
Section 162(m), while reserving the right to award future
compensation which would not comply with the Section 162(m)
requirements for nondeductibility if the Committee concludes
that this is in the Companys best interests.
11
Additionally, cash compensation voluntarily deferred by the
named executive officers under the Companys Deferred
Compensation Plan is not subject to the Section 162(m) cap
until the year paid.
In fiscal 2006, the Company is submitting a performance
compensation plan to Stockholders for approval to establish an
objective method for the development of targets and the
subsequent payment of a portion of the executive officers
bonus, and to provide the Company with the flexibility to
establish additional objective bonus criteria as may be
appropriate. See Proposal To Approve The Incentive
Compensation Plan For Executive Officers on page 18.
Summary
The Committee believes the Companys compensation program
has been designed and managed by the Committee to directly link
the compensation of the Companys executives to Company
performance, individual performance and Stockholder return. The
Committee will continue to address these compensation levels
over time, consistent with Company and individual performance,
and will continue to emphasize performance and stock-based
compensation that links management and Stockholder interests.
|
|
|
The Human Resources and |
|
Compensation Committee |
|
|
J.D. Woods, Chairman |
|
L.W. Solley |
|
D.C. Trauscht |
Summary Compensation Table
The following table contains certain information concerning
compensation for each of the last three fiscal years for all
services rendered in all capacities to the Company and its
subsidiaries of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the
other three executive officers serving at September 30,
2005. All share numbers and values in this table and the
following tables have been adjusted to reflect the Stock Split.
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Long-Term Compensation | |
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| |
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Annual Compensation | |
|
Awards | |
|
Payouts | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
($) | |
|
(#) | |
|
|
|
($) | |
|
|
|
|
($) | |
|
Restricted | |
|
Securities | |
|
($) | |
|
All Other | |
Name and |
|
Fiscal | |
|
($) | |
|
($) | |
|
Other Annual | |
|
Stock | |
|
Underlying | |
|
LTIP | |
|
Compen- | |
Principal Position |
|
Year | |
|
Salary | |
|
Bonus | |
|
Compensation | |
|
Awards(1) | |
|
Options | |
|
Payouts | |
|
sation(2) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
V. L. Richey, Jr.
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
500,000 |
|
|
$ |
499,500 |
|
|
$ |
7,455 |
|
|
$ |
542,880 |
(3) |
|
|
15,600 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
27,957 |
|
|
Chairman & Chief
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
360,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
7,081 |
|
|
|
295,200 |
(4) |
|
|
25,400 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
17,375 |
|
|
Executive Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
280,000 |
|
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
55,873 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,069 |
|
C. J. Kretschmer
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
322,000 |
|
|
|
328,490 |
|
|
|
6,816 |
|
|
|
348,000 |
(3) |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
15,021 |
|
|
President & Chief
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
260,000 |
|
|
|
330,000 |
|
|
|
5,876 |
|
|
|
233,700 |
(4) |
|
|
10,200 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
10,818 |
|
|
Operating Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
98,000 |
|
|
|
11,324 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
960 |
|
G. E. Muenster
|
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2005 |
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|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
164,780 |
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|
|
4,140 |
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|
|
222,720 |
(3) |
|
|
6,400 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2,491 |
|
|
Senior Vice President &
|
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|
2004 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
170,000 |
|
|
|
3,298 |
|
|
|
118,080 |
(4) |
|
|
6,800 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2,203 |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
155,000 |
|
|
|
49,000 |
|
|
|
27,953 |
(5) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,162 |
|
A. S. Barclay
|
|
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2005 |
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|
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195,000 |
|
|
|
130,200 |
|
|
|
4,714 |
|
|
|
160,080 |
(3) |
|
|
4,600 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
15,017 |
|
|
Vice President, Secretary &
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
155,000 |
|
|
|
140,000 |
|
|
|
4,381 |
|
|
|
88,560 |
(4) |
|
|
5,600 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
8,318 |
|
|
General Counsel
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2003 |
|
|
|
141,000 |
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|
|
42,000 |
|
|
|
34,360 |
(6) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2,115 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Restricted shares shown in this column are
performance-accelerated restricted shares that will vest if the
named officer continues in the employment of the Company through
the employment service period established for the award;
however, these shares will vest earlier upon achievement of
specified stock price targets established for the award and
continued employment of the named officer through March 31
of the year following the end of the fiscal year in which the
target is achieved. Achievement of target levels is determined
based on the average stock price over a period of thirty
consecutive trading days. All |
12
|
|
|
awards provide for acceleration of vesting in the event of a
change in control of the Company. Dividends, if any, will not be
paid prior to the vesting and distribution of the shares. |
|
(2) |
Amounts shown in this column are Company cash match
contributions under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and/or the
Employee Savings Investment Plan whereby the Company matches
certain percentages of the employees contributions. See
Retirement Plan on page 14. |
|
(3) |
Represents fair market value of $34.80 per share at the time of
award for the shares awarded as follows:
Mr. Richey 15,600 shares;
Mr. Kretschmer 10,000 shares;
Mr. Muenster 6,400 shares;
Ms. Barclay 4,600 shares. At September 30,
2005, each of these individuals held an aggregate of unvested
Company performance-accelerated restricted stock having a value
as follows: Mr. Richey
48,934 shares/$2,450,125; Mr. Kretschmer
38,168 shares/$1,911,072; Mr. Muenster
23,200 shares/$1,161,624; Ms. Barclay
21,534 shares/$1,078,207. |
|
(4) |
Represents fair market value of $24.60 per share at the time of
award for the shares awarded as follows:
Mr. Richey 12,000 shares;
Mr. Kretschmer 9,500 shares;
Mr. Muenster 4,800 shares;
Ms. Barclay 3,600 shares. |
|
(5) |
Includes car allowance of $15,056 including lease costs,
operating expenses and insurance. |
|
(6) |
Includes car allowance of $14,938 including lease costs,
operating expenses and insurance, and $7,242 for club expenses. |
The Companys stock option and performance-accelerated
restricted stock award agreements applicable to the named
executive officers generally provide for acceleration of vesting
and, in certain cases, payout of awards in the event of a change
in control of the Company, as defined in such agreements.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST
FISCAL YEAR
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Individual Grants | |
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| |
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(#) | |
|
% of Total | |
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|
Number of | |
|
Options | |
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|
|
|
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|
Securities | |
|
Granted to | |
|
|
|
|
|
($) | |
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Employees | |
|
($/Share) | |
|
|
|
Grant Date | |
|
|
Options | |
|
in Fiscal | |
|
Exercise | |
|
Expiration | |
|
Present | |
Name |
|
Granted(1) | |
|
Year | |
|
Price | |
|
Date | |
|
Value(2) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
V. L. Richey
|
|
|
15,600 |
|
|
|
4.15 |
|
|
$ |
35.18 |
|
|
|
10/4/2009 |
|
|
$ |
174,712 |
|
C. J. Kretschmer
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
2.66 |
|
|
|
35.18 |
|
|
|
10/4/2009 |
|
|
|
111,995 |
|
G.E. Muenster
|
|
|
6,400 |
|
|
|
1.70 |
|
|
|
35.18 |
|
|
|
10/4/2009 |
|
|
|
71,677 |
|
A. S. Barclay
|
|
|
4,600 |
|
|
|
1.22 |
|
|
|
35.18 |
|
|
|
10/4/2009 |
|
|
|
51,518 |
|
|
|
(1) |
These stock option grants are non-transferable, have a term of
five years from the date of grant, and have an exercise price
equal to 100% of the fair market value on the date of grant. The
options are exercisable as follows: one-third of the options
granted may be exercised on or after one year after the date of
grant, an additional one-third on or after two years after the
date of grant, and the final one-third on or after three years
after the date of grant. In the event of a change in control of
the Company, 100% of the options granted immediately vest. |
|
(2) |
Estimated present values based on the Black-Scholes option
pricing model, a mathematical formula used to value options
traded on stock exchanges. The following assumptions were used
in applying the model to calculate the values: expected future
stock price volatility rate of 28.30%; risk-free rate of return
of 3.630% for the option term; annual dividend yield of 0%; and
a five-year option term. No adjustments have been made for
non-transferability or risk of forfeiture. The actual value of
the options will depend on the market price of the shares on the
date options are exercised, and may vary significantly from the
theoretical values estimated by the Black-Scholes model. |
13
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The following table provides certain information concerning
stock option exercises during fiscal year 2005 by each of the
named executive officers and the value of their unexercised
options at September 30, 2005.
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(#) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
($) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities | |
|
Value of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Unexercised, | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised | |
|
In-The-Money | |
|
|
(#) | |
|
|
|
Options at | |
|
Options at | |
|
|
Shares | |
|
($) | |
|
9/30/05 | |
|
9/30/05(2) | |
|
|
Acquired | |
|
Value | |
|
Exercisable/ | |
|
Exercisable/ | |
Name |
|
on Exercise | |
|
Realized(1) | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
V. L. Richey
|
|
|
43,616 |
|
|
$ |
1,957,885 |
|
|
|
130,850 / 32,534 |
|
|
|
$4,778,054 / $650,317 |
|
C. J. Kretschmer
|
|
|
43,352 |
|
|
|
1,437,268 |
|
|
|
36,060 / 16,800 |
|
|
|
1,291,688 / 315,532 |
|
G.E. Muenster
|
|
|
16,478 |
|
|
|
451,775 |
|
|
|
75,588 / 10,934 |
|
|
|
3,111,625 / 206,489 |
|
A.S. Barclay
|
|
|
11,184 |
|
|
|
487,899 |
|
|
|
77,682 / 8,334 |
|
|
|
3,132,105 / 160,289 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Based on the difference between the average of the high and low
market prices on the date of exercise and the option price. |
|
(2) |
Based on the difference between the average of the high and low
market prices on September 30, 2005 and the option price. |
RETIREMENT PLAN
At the time of the 1990 spin-off of the Company by Emerson
Electric Co. (Emerson), the Company established a
Retirement Plan (the Retirement Plan) in which the
Companys executive officers as well as other covered
employees participate. Prior to the 1990 spin-off, the executive
officers (other than Mr. Muenster, who was not then an
employee) participated in one of the pension plans of Emerson or
its subsidiaries. The Retirement Plan is substantially identical
to the Emerson Retirement Plan at the time of the 1990 spin-off
(the Emerson Retirement Plan). Under the Retirement
Plan, a participant will be credited with his service under the
Emerson Retirement Plan, but his benefit accrued under the
Retirement Plan will be offset by his benefit accrued under the
Emerson Retirement Plan as of September 30, 1990. Benefits
under the Retirement Plan may be reduced under certain maximum
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. In 1993, the Company
adopted a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the
SERP) which provides that where any such reductions
occur, the Company will pay a retirement supplement to certain
executives including the executive officers (other than
Mr. Muenster). The SERP was designed to maintain total
retirement benefits at the formula level of the Retirement Plan.
Effective December 31, 2003, both the Retirement Plan and
the SERP were frozen with no increase in benefits accruing to
participants.
These plans provide for fixed retirement benefits based on the
participants credited years of service, five-year average
compensation (the highest average annual cash compensation
during any five consecutive years through 2003), and applicable
Social Security covered compensation calculated as of
December 31, 2003, the effective date of the freezing of
the plans.
The annual benefit payable at age 65 from the Retirement Plan
and the SERP, where applicable, for each of the persons named in
the Summary Compensation Table, on the basis of a single life
annuity with five years certain payment option, are as follows
as of December 31, 2003: Mr. Richey, $60,448;
Mr. Kretschmer, $88,498; Mr. Muenster, $31,218; and
Ms. Barclay $37,675. Under the current law, the benefits
amounts will not be subject to any reduction for Social Security
or other offset amounts.
Effective January 1, 2004, the Company modified its
existing Employee Savings Investment Plan (an employee benefit
plan under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code
which is available to substantially all United States employees
including the executive officers), through the addition of a
Company cash match at a rate of 100% of employee contributions
up to 3% of the employees eligible compensation, and 50% of
14
employee contributions which are in excess of such 3%, up to 5%
of the employees eligible compensation, subject to
Internal Revenue Code limits. The amounts contributed in fiscal
year 2005 by the Company to certain persons listed in the
Summary Compensation Table were $8,400 for Mr. Richey,
$8,600 for Mr. Kretschmer and $8,329 for Ms. Barclay.
SEVERANCE PLAN
The Company has established a Severance Plan (the
Plan) covering the executive officers. Under the
Plan, following an occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined
in the Plan), each of the executive officers will be entitled to
be employed by the Company for a two-year period, during which:
(i) he or she will be paid a minimum base salary equal to
his or her base salary prior to the Change of Control, and a
minimum annual bonus based on the average of his or her bonuses
during the last five preceding fiscal years, disregarding the
highest and lowest such years, and (ii) he or she will
continue to receive the employee benefits to which he or she was
entitled prior to the Change of Control. During this employment
period, if the executive officers employment is terminated
by the Company other than for cause or disability, or the
executive officer terminates his or her employment following
certain actions by the Company, he or she will be entitled to
receive, among other things: (i) two times his or her
minimum annual base salary and an annual bonus, as defined in
the Plan, and (ii) the continuation of his or her employee
benefits for two years. The Company may amend the Plan, but no
amendment adverse to the rights of the executive officers will
be effective unless notice thereof has been given by the Company
to the affected executive officer(s) at least one year prior to
the occurrence of a Change of Control.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company entered into employment agreements effective on or
about November 1, 1999 with Messrs. Richey,
Kretschmer, Muenster and Ms. Barclay. These employment
agreements were amended to extend until November 2, 2004,
and were further amended on May 5, 2004 to provide for
automatic renewal after November 2, 2004 for subsequent one
year periods unless a six month notice of non-renewal is given
by the Company or the executive. The agreements provide for a
base salary of not less than their fiscal year 1999 base salary,
as increased in accordance with the Companys compensation
policy, and an annual bonus in accordance with the Performance
Compensation Plan. These executives are also entitled to
participate in any stock options, restricted stock or
performance shares awards and other compensation as the
Companys Human Resources and Compensation Committee shall
determine. They are also entitled to participate in all employee
benefit programs of the Company applicable to senior executives,
and the Company will continue to provide certain perquisites,
including financial planning, an automobile allowance and clubs.
The Company has the right to terminate the employment of the
executive officers at any time upon thirty days notice for cause
or without cause, and these executives have the right to resign
at any time upon thirty days notice. If an executives
employment is terminated by the Company other than for cause, or
if an executive terminates his employment following certain
actions by the Company, the executive will be entitled to
receive certain benefits. In the case of such a termination,
Mr. Richey and Mr. Kretschmer will receive for two
years, and Mr. Muenster and Ms. Barclay will receive
for one year: (i) the continuation of their then-current
base salary and bonus (bonus calculated using the annual
percentage of base salary under the Performance Compensation
Plan for the last fiscal year prior to termination),
(ii) immediate vesting of outstanding stock options and
immediate vesting and payout of shares earned under the
performance-accelerated restricted stock plan, and
(iii) continuation of employee benefits and perquisites for
the period of base salary continuation. If an executives
employment is terminated in connection with a Change of Control
(as defined), the executive will not receive the foregoing
benefits, and will receive instead the benefits payable under
the Companys Severance Plan.
All of the aforementioned agreements prohibit the executives
from disclosing confidential information or trade secrets
concerning the Company, and for a specific period from
soliciting employees of the Company and from soliciting
customers or distributors of the Company.
15
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph presents a comparison of the cumulative
total shareholder return on the Common Shares as measured
against (i) the Standard & Poors 500 Stock Index
(the S&P 500 Index), (ii) the Russell 2000
Index, (iii) the peer group included in last years
performance graph (the 2004 Peer Group) and
(iv) a new peer group (the 2005 Peer Group).
The Company is not a component of the S&P 500 Index or
either of the above peer groups, but it is a component of the
Russell 2000 Index. The measurement period begins on
September 30, 2000 and measures at each September 30
thereafter. These figures assume that all dividends, if any,
paid over the measurement period were reinvested, and the
starting value of each index and the investments in the Common
Shares were $100 at the close of trading on September 30,
2000.
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
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|
|
9/00 | |
|
9/01 | |
|
9/02 | |
|
9/03 | |
|
9/04 | |
|
9/05 | |
|
|
ESCO Technologies Inc.
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
143.31 |
|
|
|
185.90 |
|
|
|
260.55 |
|
|
|
389.99 |
|
|
|
576.35 |
|
|
|
S&P 500
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
73.38 |
|
|
|
58.35 |
|
|
|
72.58 |
|
|
|
82.65 |
|
|
|
92.78 |
|
|
|
Russell 2000
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
78.79 |
|
|
|
71.46 |
|
|
|
97.55 |
|
|
|
115.86 |
|
|
|
136.66 |
|
|
|
2004 Peer Group
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
109.75 |
|
|
|
98.54 |
|
|
|
141.13 |
|
|
|
153.81 |
|
|
|
180.85 |
|
|
|
2005 Peer Group
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
95.76 |
|
|
|
89.53 |
|
|
|
119.71 |
|
|
|
144.94 |
|
|
|
182.61 |
|
|
|
Effective with this proxy statement, the Company is changing
(i) its comparative broad equity market index from the
S&P 500 Index to the Russell 2000 Index because it believes
the latter is more representative of the Company, and
(ii) its peer group from the 2004 Peer Group to the 2005
Peer Group because it believes the latter also is more
representative of the Company inasmuch as it comprises companies
which, taken together, reflect all of the Companys three
industry segments. The 2004 Peer Group is composed of companies
engaged in businesses similar to the Companys Filtration/
Fluid Flow segment, but not engaged in businesses similar to
either of the Companys other two industry segments.
The 2005 Peer Group is comprised of six companies, which
correspond to the Companys three industry segments as
follows: Filtration/ Fluid Flow segment (40% of the
Companys 2005 total revenue) Pall Corporation
and Clarcor Inc.; Communications segment (32% of the
Companys 2005 total revenue) Badger Meter
Inc., Itron Inc. and Roper Industries Inc.; and Test segment
(28% of the Companys 2005 total revenue)
Tektronix Inc.
16
In calculating the composite return of the 2005 Peer Group, the
return of each company comprising the 2005 Peer Group is
weighted by (i) its market capitalization in relation to
the other companies in its corresponding Company industry
segment, and (ii) the percentage of the Companys 2005
total revenue represented by its corresponding Company industry
segment.
The 2004 Peer Group is comprised of Calgon Carbon Corporation,
Clarcor Inc., Cuno Inc., Donaldson, Inc., Ionics Inc., Lydall
Inc., Millipore Corp. and Pall Corporation.
Security Ownership Of Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information with respect
to the number of Common Shares (adjusted for the Stock Split)
beneficially owned by the directors and executive officers of
the Company as of December 12, 2005. Except as otherwise
noted, each person has sole voting and investment power as to
his or her shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
Percent | |
|
|
|
|
Common Shares | |
|
of Outstanding | |
|
|
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Beneficially Owned(1) | |
|
Common Shares | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
W.S. Antle III
|
|
|
32,089 |
(2) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
A.S. Barclay
|
|
|
167,875 |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
C.J. Kretschmer
|
|
|
195,296 |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
J.M. McConnell
|
|
|
23,754 |
(4) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
G.E. Muenster
|
|
|
212,690 |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
V.L. Richey, Jr.
|
|
|
354,801 |
|
|
|
1.4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
L.W. Solley
|
|
|
11,000 |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
J.M. Stolze
|
|
|
16,600 |
(5) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
D.C. Trauscht
|
|
|
10,600 |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
J.D. Woods
|
|
|
11,266 |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons)
|
|
|
1,035,971 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Includes the following Common Shares covered by employee stock
options which the individual has the right to acquire within
60 days after December 12, 2005: Ms. Barclay
79,214, Mr. Kretschmer 39,392, Mr. Muenster 77,720,
Mr. Richey 136,050, and all directors and executive
officers as a group 332,376. |
|
(2) |
Includes 16,497 stock equivalents credited to
Mr. Antles deferred compensation account under the
Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. |
|
(3) |
The percentage of total outstanding Common Shares beneficially
owned by this individual does not exceed 1%. |
|
(4) |
Includes 7,100 stock equivalents credited to
Mr. McConnells deferred compensation account under
the Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. |
|
(5) |
Includes 11,000 stock equivalents credited to
Mr. Stolzes deferred compensation account under the
Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The following table sets forth certain information with respect
to each person known by the Company to beneficially own more
than five percent of the outstanding Common Shares:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
Percent of | |
Name and Address of |
|
Common Shares | |
|
Outstanding | |
Beneficial Owner |
|
Beneficially Owned | |
|
Common Shares | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, L.P.
|
|
|
3,646,600 |
(1) |
|
|
14.3 |
% |
|
227 West Monroe, Suite 3000
|
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|
|
Chicago, IL 60606
|
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17
|
|
(1) |
Based on information provided by Columbia Wanger Asset
Management, L.P. (CWAM), an investment advisor to
the following registered owners which may be deemed to be the
beneficial owners of the shares: Columbia Acorn Fund, 2,100,000
shares; Oregon State Treasury, 200,000 shares; Columbia Acorn
USA, 564,000 shares; Wanger Advisors Trust US Smaller
Companies, 486,000 shares; Wanger Investment Company PLC, US
Smaller Companies, 146,000 shares; Fairfax County
Employees Retirement, 30,000 shares; Fleet Bank Pension,
28,600 shares; Optimum Small Cap Growth, 18,000 shares;
Northeastern University, 10,000 shares; New America Small Caps,
60,000 shares; Banque du Louvre Multi Select, 4,000 shares. CWAM
and its general partner, WAM Acquisition G.P., hold shared
voting power and investment power with the registered owners as
to the 3,646,600 shares. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
requires the Companys directors and executive officers and
persons who own beneficially more than ten percent of any class
of equity security of the Company to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission initial reports of such ownership and
reports of changes in such ownership. Officers, directors and
such beneficial owners are required by Securities and Exchange
Commission regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file. To the Companys
knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports
furnished to the Company and written representations that no
other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2005, all Section 16(a) reports
applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten
percent beneficial owners were timely filed.
II. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE
THE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR
approval of the Incentive Compensation Plan For Executive
Officers, which is described below.
The purpose of the ESCO Technologies Inc. Incentive Compensation
Plan For Executive Officers (the Plan) is to provide
executive officers an annual cash incentive compensation which
is based upon a participating employees performance and
the performance of the Company during a fiscal year. In
particular, the Plan is designed to (a) pay such officers a
portion of their total compensation on the basis of (i) the
Companys performance during a given fiscal year based on
objective criteria identified in the Plan as may be established
by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee
(Committee) from time to time, and (ii) in some
cases, the demonstrated individual performance of the
participating employee as measured against strategic management
objectives; and (b) enable the Company to stay competitive
with general industry trends in executive compensation.
The Company is seeking approval of the Stockholders for the Plan
such that Awards under the Plan will qualify as
performance-based compensation under
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code). See Federal Income Tax
Consequences below. In implementing the annual cash
incentive compensation objectives of the Companys
executive compensation program, the Committee may make Awards
under both the Plan and the Companys existing Performance
Compensation Plan.
The complete text of the Plan is set forth in Appendix A to
this proxy statement. The following summary of certain
provisions of the Plan is qualified by reference to the text of
the Plan.
Eligibility
Participation in the Plan is limited to those Covered Employees
of the Company as the Committee determines upon recommendation
by the Chief Executive Officer. The Company currently has four
Covered Employees. Additions to or deletions from the Plan
during a fiscal Year are made only in the event of an unusual
circumstance, such as a promotion or new hire.
18
A Covered Employee is an employee who, as of the
last day of a fiscal year, is the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, or one of the other executive officers of the Company,
as determined by the Company pursuant to the executive
compensation disclosure rules under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, or such other person defined as a Covered
Employee under Section 162(m) of the Code.
Determination of Incentive Compensation Awards
Awards to participating employees are based upon the
accomplishment of specific performance objectives. During the
first 90 days of a fiscal year, the Committee will
establish, for such fiscal year, performance objectives based
upon one or more of the criteria specified in the Plan.
Performance criteria may be measured solely on a corporate,
business unit or individual basis, or a combination thereof.
Performance objectives need not be the same for all
participating employees and may be established separately for
the Company as a whole or for its various groups, divisions,
subsidiaries and affiliates.
Each of the performance objectives is to be specifically defined
in advance by the Committee, and may include or exclude
specified items of an unusual or non-recurring nature. No Award
will be paid to any participating employee unless the applicable
performance objective(s) are achieved and certified by the
Committee or if the Plan is not approved by stockholders of the
Company. In no event will the total amount payable under an
Award to any participating employee for any fiscal year exceed
$2,000,000.
As soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, Awards
for each participating employee for such fiscal year will be
determined by the Committee. The Committee will certify in
writing the achievement of the applicable performance
objective(s) and the amount of any Awards payable to
participating employees. Awards to such participating employees
may be denied or adjusted downward by the Committee as, in the
Committees sole judgment, is prudent based upon its
assessment of the participating employees performance. The
Committee will not have discretion to increase the amount of
payment under an Award upon attainment of a performance
objective.
Manner of and Time for Payments
Awards will normally be paid in cash by November 30
following the end of each fiscal year. However, each
participating employee will have the right to elect to defer all
or part of his or her payment under the Award until the
following January. Such election must be made no later than
December 31 of the fiscal year with respect to which the
Award is granted by filing with the designated executive
compensation executive an executed form supplied by the Company.
Except in the case of hardship described below, such election
may only be revoked prior to December 31 of the fiscal year
with respect to which the Award is granted. All elections (or
revocations) must be made by filing with the executive
compensation executive an executed form supplied by the Company.
The Committee may direct, upon a showing of an emergency beyond
the participating employees control which results in
severe financial hardship, that a participating employee who has
elected to defer payment until the following January receive so
much of his or her payment prior to such time as will enable the
participating employee to meet such emergency.
Vesting
A participating employee must generally be an employee of the
Company on the date the Award is payable although the Committee
does have the sole discretion to direct that all or a portion of
the Award be paid to an employee whose employment has terminated.
Administration of the Plan
The overall administration and control of the Plan, including
final determination of Awards to each participating employee, is
the responsibility of the Committee. The executive compensation
executive will be responsible for implementing the actions
required under the Plan.
19
Federal Income Tax Consequences
A participating employee recognizes compensation income at the
time the Award is paid, and the Company is entitled to an income
tax deduction of the same amount. Although Section 162(m)
of the Code generally prohibits a deduction for compensation in
excess of $1 million paid to a Covered Employee for any
year there is an exception for performance-based
compensation approved by stockholders of the Company. It is
intended that all Awards payable to Covered Employees under the
Plan qualify as performance-based compensation under
Section 162(m).
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table summarizes certain information regarding
Common Shares that may be issued by the Company pursuant to its
equity compensation plans existing as of September 30,
2005. All numbers of Common Shares included in the table and
footnotes have been adjusted to reflect the Stock Split.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
remaining available for | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
future issuance under | |
|
|
Number of securities to | |
|
Weighted-average | |
|
equity compensation | |
|
|
be issued upon exercise | |
|
exercise price of | |
|
plans (excluding | |
|
|
of outstanding options, | |
|
outstanding options, | |
|
securities reflected in | |
Plan Category |
|
warrants and rights(1) | |
|
warrants and rights | |
|
column (a))(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(a) | |
|
(b) | |
|
(c) | |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(2)
|
|
|
1,567,216 |
(3) |
|
$ |
20.4786 |
(4) |
|
|
2,389,862 |
(5)(6) |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
331,000 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,567,216 |
|
|
$ |
20.4786 |
|
|
|
2,720,862 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Number of Common Shares is subject to adjustment for any future
changes in capitalization for stock splits, stock dividends and
similar events. |
|
(2) |
Consists of the Companys 1990, 1994 and 1999 Stock Option
Plans, the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2004 Incentive
Compensation Plan. The 1990, 1994 and 1999 Stock Option Plans
and the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan have been amended without
Stockholder approval in accordance with their terms, as follows:
the Companys 1990, 1994 and 1999 Stock Option Plans have
been amended to provide for withholding, to provide for
adjustment upon a special distribution and/or in certain other
respects; the 1994 and 1999 Stock Option Plans have been amended
to reflect the change of the Companys name and the
elimination of the Companys common stock trust receipts;
the 1994 Stock Option Plan was amended to permit the Human
Resources and Compensation Committee (the
Committee), in its discretion, to extend the period
during which an optionee who terminates employment on account of
retirement on or after age 60 may exercise his stock option
to five years after retirement, but before ten years from the
date of grant; and the 1990, 1994 and 1999 Stock Option Plans
and the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan were amended to authorize the
Committee to delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the power
to delegate to other employees the power to extend a stock
option beyond termination of employment for persons who are not
officers as defined in Rule 16a-1 under the
Exchange Act; and the 1994 and 1999 Stock Option Plans and the
2001 Stock Incentive Plan have been amended to authorize the
Committee to delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the power
to grant stock options to persons who are not such
officers, with the limitation of 10,000 shares per
award and 100,000 shares awarded in the aggregate in any fiscal
year. |
|
(3) |
Includes 243,336 Common Shares issuable in connection with the
vesting and distribution of outstanding performance-accelerated
restricted share awards under the Companys 2001 Stock
Incentive Plan. |
|
(4) |
Does not include 243,336 Common Shares issuable in connection
with the vesting and distribution of outstanding
performance-accelerated restricted share awards under the 2001
Stock Incentive Plan, for which there are no exercise prices. |
|
(5) |
Comprises 9,514 Common Shares under the 1999 Stock Option Plan,
420,348 Common Shares under the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan and
1,960,000 Common Shares under the 2004 Incentive Compensation
Plan. |
20
|
|
(6) |
Does not include shares that may be purchased on the open market
pursuant to the Companys Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
ESPP). Under the ESPP, participants may elect to
have up to 10% of their current salary or wages withheld and
contributed to one or more independent trustees for the purchase
of Common Shares. At the discretion of an officer of the
Company, the Company or a domestic subsidiary or division may
contribute cash in an amount not to exceed 20% of the amounts
contributed by participants. The total number of Common Shares
purchased with the Companys matching contributions,
however, may not exceed 183,446. As of September 30, 2005,
17,044 shares had been purchased with the Companys
matching funds. |
|
(7) |
Represents Common Shares issuable pursuant to the Compensation
Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the Compensation
Plan), which provides for each director to be paid (in
addition to other fees) an annual retainer fee payable partially
in cash and partially in Common Shares. Periodically, the Human
Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
determines the amount of the retainer fee and the allocation of
the fee between cash and Common Shares. The maximum number of
Common Shares available for distribution under the Compensation
Plan is 400,000 shares. The stock portion of the retainer fee is
distributable in quarterly installments. Directors may elect to
defer receipt of all of their cash compensation and/or all of
the stock portion of the retainer fee. The deferred amounts are
credited to the directors deferred compensation account in
stock equivalents. Deferred amounts are distributed in Common
Shares or cash at such future dates as specified by the director
unless distribution is accelerated in certain circumstances,
including a change in control of the Company. The stock portion
which has been deferred may only be distributed in Common Shares. |
III. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY
COMPANYS SELECTION OF KPMG LLP
AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR
ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as independent
auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006.
The Audit and Finance Committee has appointed KPMG LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, as independent
auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2006.
KPMG LLP or its predecessor firms have served as the independent
auditors of the Company since its incorporation in 1990. A
representative of KPMG LLP is expected to be present at the 2006
Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement and
respond to appropriate questions from Stockholders.
Although this appointment is not required to be submitted to a
vote of Stockholders, the Board of Directors believes it is
appropriate to request that the Stockholders ratify the
appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors of the Company
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006. If the
Stockholders do not ratify, the Audit and Finance Committee will
investigate the reasons for Stockholder rejection and will
reconsider the appointment.
IV. INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
KPMG LLP was the Companys independent auditors for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2005, and the Audit and
Finance Committee (the Committee) has selected them
as independent auditors for the year ending September 30,
2006. The Committee has adopted pre-approval policies and
procedures requiring that the Committee pre-approve all audit
and non-audit services. In accordance with this policy, the
Committee has pre-approved and has set specific quarterly
limitations on fees for the following categories of services:
general accounting and SEC consultation, compliance with
pertinent legislation, general taxation matters and tax returns.
Services which have not received specific pre-approval by the
Committee must receive such approval prior to the rendering of
the services.
21
The following fees were paid to KPMG LLP for services rendered
for each of the last two fiscal years:
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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Audit Fees
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$ |
924,000 |
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512,000 |
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Audit-Related Fees
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3,000 |
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200,000 |
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Tax Fees
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85,000 |
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68,500 |
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Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees
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All Other Fees
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Total KPMG LLP Fees Paid
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$ |
1,012,000 |
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780,500 |
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Audit Fees primarily represent amounts paid for the audit of the
Companys annual financial statements, reviews of SEC
Forms 10-Q and 10-K, statutory audit requirements at
certain non-United States locations, and attestation of
managements report on internal controls over financial
reporting pursuant to Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404
procedures. The increase in audit fees from 2004 to 2005
resulted primarily from increased services related to
Section 404 compliance.
Audit-Related Fees represent amounts paid for services that are
related to the performance of the audit, including audits of
benefit plans, review of general accounting matters and bank
debt compliance letters.
Tax Fees represent amounts paid for tax services, including tax
advice and tax return assistance.
In the process of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the
Companys independent auditors for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2006, the Committee has determined that the
non-audit services provided by KPMG LLP are compatible with
maintaining the independence of KPMG LLP.
V. VOTING
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common
Shares entitled to vote which are present in person or
represented by proxy at the 2006 Annual Meeting is required to
elect directors, to approve the Incentive Compensation Plan For
Executive Officers (the Plan), to ratify the
Companys selection of independent auditors for fiscal
2006, and to act on any other matters properly brought before
the meeting. Common Shares represented by proxies which are
marked withhold authority with respect to the
election of any one or more nominees for election as directors,
proxies which are marked Abstain on the proposal to
approve the Plan and on the proposal to ratify the selection of
independent auditors, and proxies which are marked to deny
discretionary authority on other matters will be counted for the
purpose of determining the number of shares represented by proxy
at the meeting. Such proxies will thus have the same effect as
if the Common Shares represented thereby were voted against such
nominee or nominees, against such proposal to approve the Plan,
against such proposal to ratify the selection of independent
auditors, and against such other matters, respectively. Common
Shares not voted on one or more but less than all such matters
on proxies returned by brokers will be treated as not
represented at the meeting as to such matter or matters.
The Company knows of no other matters to come before the
meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting,
the proxies solicited hereby will be voted on such matters in
accordance with the judgment of the persons voting such proxies.
VI. STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of Stockholders intended to be presented at the 2007
Annual Meeting must be received by the Company by
August 28, 2006 for inclusion in the Companys proxy
statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. Upon
receipt of any such proposal, the Company will determine whether
or not to include such proposal in the proxy statement and form
of proxy in accordance with regulations governing the
solicitation of proxies.
22
In order for a Stockholder to nominate a candidate for director,
under the Companys Articles of Incorporation, timely
notice of the nomination must be given to the Company in advance
of the meeting. Ordinarily, such notice must be given not less
than 60 nor more than 90 days before the meeting (but if
the Company gives less than 50 days notice or prior public
disclosure of the date of the meeting, then the Stockholder must
give such notice within ten days after notice of the meeting is
mailed or other public disclosure of the meeting is made,
whichever occurs first). The Stockholder filing the notice of
nomination must describe various matters regarding the nominee,
including such information as name, address, occupation and
shares held.
In order for a Stockholder to bring other business before a
Stockholder meeting, timely notice must be given to the Company
within the time limits described above. Such notice must include
a description of the proposed business, the reasons therefor and
other specified matters. The Board may reject any such proposals
that are not made in accordance with these procedures or that
are not a proper subject for Stockholder action in accordance
with the provisions of applicable law. These requirements are
separate from and in addition to the requirements a Stockholder
must meet to have a proposal included in the Companys
proxy statement. The foregoing time limits also apply in
determining whether notice is timely for purposes of rules
adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to
the exercise of discretionary voting authority.
In each case, the notice must be given to the Secretary of the
Company, whose address is 9900A Clayton Road, St. Louis,
Missouri 63124-1186. Any Stockholder desiring a copy of the
Companys Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws will be
furnished one without charge upon written request to the
Secretary.
23
APPENDIX A
ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The purpose of this ESCO Technologies Inc. Incentive
Compensation Plan For Executive Officers is to provide an annual
cash incentive compensation plan which is based upon a
participating employees performance and the performance of
the Company during a Fiscal Year. In particular, the Plan is
designed to (a) pay such employees a portion of their total
compensation on the basis of (i) the Companys
performance during a given Fiscal Year based on objective
criteria as identified in Section IV as may be established
by the Committee from time to time, and (ii) in some cases,
the demonstrated individual performance of the participating
employee as measured against strategic management objectives;
and (b) stay competitive with general industry trends in
executive compensation.
The following words shall have the following meanings unless the
context clearly requires otherwise:
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A. Board of Directors means the Board of
Directors of ESCO Technologies Inc. |
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B. Executive Compensation Executive means the
Executive Compensation Executive of ESCO Technologies Inc. |
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C. Chief Executive Officer means the Chief
Executive Officer of ESCO Technologies Inc. |
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D. Committee means the Human Resources and
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of ESCO
Technologies Inc., which is comprised of members who are both
not eligible to participate in the Plan, and who are outside
Directors within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
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E. Company means ESCO Technologies Inc., a
Missouri Corporation. |
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F. Covered Employee means an employee who, as
of the last day of a Fiscal Year, is the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company, or one of the other executive officers of the
Company, as determined by the Company pursuant to the executive
compensation disclosure rules under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, or such other person defined as a Covered
Employee under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended. |
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G. Fiscal Year means the Fiscal Year of the
Company which is currently the twelve-month period ending
September 30. |
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H. Incentive Compensation Award means the
amount payable to a participating employee under the Plan. |
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I. Plan means this ESCO Technologies Inc. Incentive
Compensation Plan for Executive Officers. |
Participation in the Plan shall be limited to those Covered
Employees of the Company as the Committee shall determine upon
recommendation by the Chief Executive Officer. Additions or
deletions to the Plan during a Fiscal Year shall be made only in
the event of an unusual circumstance, such as a promotion or new
hire.
A-1
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IV. |
DETERMINATION OF INCENTIVE COMPENSATION AWARDS |
Incentive Compensation Awards to participating employees shall
be based upon the accomplishment of specific performance
objectives. During the first 90 days of a Fiscal Year, the
Committee shall establish, for such Fiscal Year, performance
objectives based upon one or more of the following criteria:
earnings per share; sales; earnings; cash flow; profitability;
customer satisfaction; investor relations; revenues; financial
return ratios; market performance; shareholder return and/or
value; operating profits (including earnings before income
taxes, depreciation and amortization); net profits; earnings per
share growth; profit returns and margins; stock price; working
capital; business trends; production cost; project milestones;
plant and equipment performance; safety; environment; gross
margin; operating margin; net margin; expense margins; EBIT
margin; EBIT growth; EBITDA margin; EBITDA growth; NOPAT margin;
GOPAT; NIBCLs; net assets; working capital; asset turnover;
working capital turnover; accounts receivable turnover; accounts
payable turnover; inventory turnover; inventory days
outstanding; accounts receivable days outstanding; accounts
payable days outstanding; debt to equity; debt to capital;
current ratio; return on equity; return on assets; return on net
assets; return on invested capital; return on gross assets; cash
flow return on investment; cash value added; price to earnings
ratio; market to book ratio; market to capital ratio; cost of
capital; cost of debt; cost of equity; market risk premium;
stock price appreciation with or without divisions; total
shareholder return; economic value added; economic profit; sales
growth percents; ESS growth percents; cash flow growth year over
year; return on total capital; or any combination of the
foregoing. Performance criteria may be measured solely on a
corporate, business unit or individual basis, or a combination
thereof. Performance objectives need not be the same in respect
for all participating employees and may be established
separately for the Company as a whole or for its various groups,
divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. Each of the performance
objectives is to be specifically defined in advance by the
Committee, and may include or exclude specified items of an
unusual or non-recurring nature. No award shall be paid to any
participating employee unless the applicable performance
objective(s) are achieved and certified by the Committee or if
the Plan is not approved by stockholders of the Company. In no
event shall the total amount payable under an Incentive
Compensation Award to any participating employee for any Fiscal
Year exceed $2,000,000.
As soon as practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year,
Incentive Compensation Awards for each participating employee
for such Fiscal Year shall be determined by the Committee. The
Committee shall certify in writing the achievement of the
applicable performance objective(s) and the amount of any Awards
payable to participating employees. Incentive Compensation
Awards to such participating employees may be denied, or
adjusted downward by the Committee, as, in the Committees
sole judgment, is prudent based upon its assessment of the
participating employees performance. The Committee shall
not have discretion to increase the amount of payment under an
Incentive Compensation Award upon attainment of a performance
objective.
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V. |
MANNER OF AND TIME FOR PAYMENTS. |
Incentive Compensation Awards will normally be paid in cash by
November 30 following the end of each Fiscal Year. However,
each participating employee shall have the right to elect to
defer all or part of his or her payment under the Award until
the following January. Such election must be made no later than
December 31 following the end of the Fiscal Year with
respect to which the Incentive Compensation Award is granted by
filing with the Executive Compensation Executive an executed
form supplied by the Company. Except in the case of hardship
described below, such election may only be revoked prior to
December 31 following the end of the Fiscal Year with
respect to which the Incentive Compensation Award is granted.
All elections (or revocations) hereunder must be made by filing
with the Executive Compensation Executive an executed form
supplied by the Company.
The Committee may direct, upon a showing of an emergency beyond
the participating employees control which results in
severe financial hardship, that a participating employee who has
elected to defer payment until the following January receive so
much of his or her payment prior to such time as will enable the
participating employee to meet such emergency.
A-2
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VI. |
DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY |
If a participating employee dies prior to receiving the entire
amounts due under the Plan, the unpaid amounts will be paid in a
lump sum to his or her beneficiary at the time such amounts
would have been paid to the participating employee.
Each participating employee shall have the right to designate a
beneficiary, and to change such beneficiary from time to time,
by filing a request in writing with the Executive Compensation
Executive. In the event the participating employee shall not
have so designated a beneficiary, or in the event a beneficiary
so designated shall predecease the participating employee, the
amounts otherwise payable to such beneficiary shall be paid to
the person in, or divided equally among, the first of the
following classes of successive preference beneficiaries in
which there shall be any person surviving such participating
employee:
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(a) the participating employees spouse |
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(b) the participating employees children |
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(c) the participating employees executors or
administrators. |
The share payable to any minor pursuant to the provisions hereof
may be paid to such adult or adults as, in the opinion of the
Executive Compensation Executive, have assumed the custody and
principal support of such minor.
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VII. |
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN |
The overall administration and control of the Plan, including
final determination of Incentive Compensation Awards to each
participating employee, is the responsibility of the Committee.
The Executive Compensation Executive shall be responsible for
implementing the actions required under the Plan.
A participating employee must be an employee of the Company on
the date the award is payable pursuant to Section V hereof.
The final determination as to Awards to be granted, and if so,
the amount of such Awards, shall be made by the Committee.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, and in accordance
with this Section VIII, in the event a participating
employee terminates or is terminated by the Company before or
after the end of the Fiscal Year for any reason, including, but
not limited to, retirement, disability, or death, the Committee
shall have the sole discretion as to whether any such Award
shall be paid, and, if so, the amount of such payment and the
time such Award shall be paid, but not later than the date
described in Section V, and provided that the provisions of
Section IV are satisfied.
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IX. |
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION |
The Plan may be amended or terminated at any time by action of
the Committee. Provided, that no such action shall cause any
payment under an Incentive Compensation Award to fail to qualify
as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
The Plan is subject to the approval of the Stockholders of the
Company. No payment shall be made under the Plan without such
Stockholder approval.
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A. All payments under the Plan shall be made from the
general assets of the Company. To the extent any person acquires
a right to receive payments under the Plan, such right shall be
no greater than that of an unsecured general creditor of the
Company. |
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B. Nothing contained in the Plan and no action taken
pursuant thereto shall create or be construed to create a trust
of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and
any other person. |
A-3
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C. No amount payable under the Plan shall be subject in any
manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment,
pledge, encumbrance or charge, either voluntary or involuntary,
and any attempt to so alienate, anticipate, sell, transfer,
assign, pledge, encumber or charge the same shall be null and
void. No such amount shall be liable for or subject to the
debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or torts of any
person to whom such benefits or funds are or may be payable. |
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D. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed as
conferring upon any participating employee the right to continue
in the employ of the Company nor to limit the right of the
Company to discharge the participating employee at any time,
with or without cause. |
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E. The Plan shall be construed and administered in
accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri, without
regard to the principles of conflicts of law which might
otherwise apply. |
A-4
REVOCABLE PROXY
ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.
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x
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PLEASE MARK VOTES
AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
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The undersigned, as holder of record of the common
stock of ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. (the Company), does hereby
appoint V.L. Richey, Jr., C.J. Kretschmer and A.S. Barclay, or
any of them, the true and lawful attorneys in fact, agents and
proxies of the undersigned to represent the undersigned at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, to be held on
February 2, 2006, commencing at 9:30 A.M., St. Louis time, at
the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac Hotel, 1335 South Lindbergh
Blvd., St. Louis County, Missouri 63131 and at any and all
adjournments of such meeting, and to vote all the shares of
common stock of the Company standing on the register of the
Companys stock transfer agent in the name of the undersigned
as follows, and in their discretion on such other business as
may properly come before the meeting:
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Please be sure to date and sign
this Proxy in the box below.
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Date |
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Stockholder sign above
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Co-holder (if any) sign above |
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With- |
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For All |
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For |
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hold |
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Except |
1.
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Election of Directors of
all nominees listed (except
as marked to the contrary
below):
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C. J.
KRETSCHMER J.M.
MCCONNELL D. C. TRAUSCHT
INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any
individual nominee, mark For All Except and write
that nominees name in the space provided below.
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
2.
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Approval of Incentive Compensation Plan
For Executive Officers
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3.
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Ratification of Companys Selection of
KPMG LLP as Independent Auditors for
Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2006
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MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
ABOVE PROPOSALS.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the
Notice of the Annual Meeting and accompanying Proxy
Statement dated December 21, 2005.
The proxies will vote your common stock in the
manner directed herein by the undersigned Stockholder.
If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted
FOR each of Proposals 1, 2 and 3.
Please sign exactly as your name appears on this
form. When signing as an attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full
title as such. If signing on behalf of a corporation,
please sign in full corporate name by President or
other authorized officer. If signing on behalf of a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by
authorized person.
5 Detach above form, sign, date and mail in postage paid envelope provided. 5
ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.
PLEASE ACT PROMPTLY
SIGN, DATE & MAIL YOUR PROXY FORM TODAY
December 21, 2005
Dear Stockholder:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ESCO Technologies Inc.will be held at the Hilton
St. Louis Frontenac Hotel, 1335 South Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis County, Missouri 63131 at 9:30 A.M.,
St. Louis time, on Thursday, February 2, 2006.
It is important that your shares are represented at this meeting. Whether or not you plan to
attend the meeting, please review the enclosed proxy materials, complete the attached proxy form
above, and return it promptly in the envelope provided.
Thank you.
IF YOUR ADDRESS HAS CHANGED, PLEASE CORRECT THE ADDRESS IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW AND
RETURN THIS PORTION WITH THE PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.