Spectrum Control, Inc. |
Proxy Statement |
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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION |
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Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) |
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Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: |
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[ ] | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
[ ] | Confidential, for Use of Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
[X] | Definitive Proxy Statement |
[ ] | Definitive Additional Materials |
[ ] | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-11(c) or §240.14a-12 |
Spectrum Control, Inc. | |
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) | |
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): | |
[X] | No fee required. |
[ ] | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. |
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed 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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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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5) Total fee paid: |
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[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. | |
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |
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1) Amount Previously Paid: |
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2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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3) Filing Party: |
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4) Date Filed: |
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SPECTRUM CONTROL, INC. 8031 Avonia Road Fairview, Pennsylvania 16415 |
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Notice of Annual Shareholder Meeting April 5, 2004 |
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SPECTRUM CONTROL, INC. | ||
To the Shareholders: |
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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Spectrum Control, Inc. will be held at the Clarion Hotel, Bel-Aire Conference Center, 2800 West Eighth Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16505, on April 5, 2004, at 9:00 a.m., prevailing time, for the following purposes: |
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1. | To elect four Directors (three to hold office for a term of three years, and one to hold office for a one year term). |
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2. | To approve the amendment of the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan. |
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3. | To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the Company. |
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4. | To transact such other business as may come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
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Accompanying this Notice is a Form of Proxy and Proxy Statement. |
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Shareholders of the Company of record at the close of business on February 16, 2004 are entitled to notice and the right to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each holder of shares of Common Stock is entitled to one (1) vote per share. | ||
ALL SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO ATTEND THE MEETING OR TO VOTE BY PROXY. WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. | ||
By Order of the Board of Directors | ||
JAMES F. TOOHEY, Secretary | ||
You are urged, whether you own one or many shares, to mark, date, sign and promptly mail the enclosed Proxy in the enclosed envelope in order that your Company receives enough proxy vote returns to conduct its annual meeting. |
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Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 5, 2004 |
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Solicitation of Proxy | |
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy will be mailed to all Shareholders of Spectrum Control, Inc., 8031 Avonia Road, Fairview, Pennsylvania 16415 ("Spectrum", "the Corporation" or "the Company") by March 1, 2004, and is furnished in connection with the Directors' solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 5, 2004 at the time and place and for the purposes set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders accompanying this Proxy Statement. Only holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on February 16, 2004, will be entitled to vote. On that date there were 13,000,343 shares of Common Stock outstanding, the holders of which will vote together as a class. Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one (1) vote. With respect to the election of Directors, Shareholders have the right to vote cumulatively. This means that each Shareholder may multiply the number of shares he or she owns by the number of Directors to be elected and distribute this number among any number or all of the candidates in any manner he or she desires. Cumulative voting enables Shareholders to concentrate the voting of their shares in favor of the election of a lesser number of nominees than the total number of Directors being voted upon; persons holding less than a majority of shares voting may thereby be able to elect one or more Directors. |
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Revocation of Proxy | |
The giving of a proxy does not preclude the right to vote in person should the person giving the proxy desire, and the person giving the proxy has the power to revoke the proxy at any time before it has been exercised. This right of revocation is not limited nor is it subject to any formal procedure. |
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Proxy Solicitation Cost | |
The cost of soliciting proxies in the accompanying form will be borne by the Company. The officers, directors and employees of the Company, without additional compensation, may solicit proxies by mail, facsimile, telephone or personal contact. The Company does not expect to pay any compensation for the solicitation of proxies, but will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding proxies and proxy material to the beneficial owners of its Common Stock. |
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Annual Report | |
The Annual Report of the Company for the year ended November 30, 2003, is being mailed to Shareholders concurrently with this Proxy Statement. The Annual Report is not to be considered a part of the proxy soliciting materials. |
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Corporate Governance | |
The By-Laws of the Corporation provide that the business shall be managed by a Board of Directors, up to eleven (11) in number, who need not be residents of Pennsylvania or Shareholders of the Corporation, and who normally serve for terms of three (3) years each. The Company presently has nine (9) Directors. During the past fiscal year, the Board of Directors met seven (7) times. All Directors attended more than 85% of the Board of Directors and Committee Meetings they were scheduled to attend. Because of the multitude of matters requiring Board consideration, the Board of Directors has established a number of committees to devote attention to specific subjects, as further described below. |
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Committees of the Board
Acquisition, Divestiture, and Major New Business Development Committee: This Committee reviews and recommends to the Board matters involving acquisition of companies and product lines, and divestiture of plant and/or product lines. The current members of this Committee are Gerald A. Ryan, Chairman; Edwin R. Bindseil; John P. Freeman; Melvin Kutchin; and Richard A. Southworth. It met three (3) times in 2003. Audit Committee: The Audit Committee recommends to the Board the engagement of independent public accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company. It also negotiates and recommends the fee to be paid by the Company to the Auditors for audit and non-audit services. Its responsibility further includes reviewing the proposed scope and results of the audit, as well as the scope, adequacy and results of the Company's internal audit and control procedures. The current members of the Audit Committee are: John M. Petersen, Chairman; Paul S. Bates; J. Thomas Gruenwald; and Gerald A. Ryan. It met five (5) times in 2003. Compensation Committee: The Compensation Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board on salary, incentive compensation practices and benefit programs for the compensation of the President and other key employees; recommends to the Board the amount and method of compensation of Board members; and reviews annually the operation and performance of incentive compensation plans that apply to the President and other key employees of the Company. The current members of this Committee are James F. Toohey, Chairman; Edwin R. Bindseil; John M. Petersen; and Gerald A. Ryan. It met four (4) times in 2003. Finance Committee: The Finance Committee of the Board of Directors has the responsibility of analysis of the financial condition and trends of the Company. The Committee reports the information to the full Board for possible resolution or action. Included as specific responsibilities of this Committee are: ratifying and approving all financial projections, forecasts and expectations that are intended for submission to banks, financial institutions or the public. The current members of this Committee are John P. Freeman, Chairman; Edwin R. Bindseil; John M. Petersen; Gerald A. Ryan; and Richard A. Southworth. It met eleven (11) times in 2003. Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee: This Committee has the responsibility for recommending to the Board of Directors nominees to fill Board vacancies, strengthening the Board's oversight of management, and monitoring compliance with the Company's corporate governance guidelines. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also has the responsibility for providing the evaluation of director performance, bringing to the Board recommendations for the membership of the Committees of the Board, and recommending to the Board a successor to the Chief Executive Officer when a vacancy occurs through retirement or otherwise. The Committee will consider Board nominees recommended by management or shareholders, and such recommendations, together with appropriate biographical information, may be delivered in writing to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairman at the Company's principal executive offices. The current members of this Committee are James F. Toohey, Chairman; Melvin Kutchin; and Gerald A. Ryan. It met two (2) times in 2003. |
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Election of Directors | |
The Company presently has nine (9) Directors. It is intended that the proxies given to Directors will be used to elect the nominees named below, all of whom are now members of the Board of Directors and whose present terms expire at the time of this meeting. |
Name | Age | First Elected Director |
Term | Term to End |
Paul S. Bates | 56 | - | 1 yr. | 2005 |
John M. Petersen | 75 | 1970 | 3 yrs. | 2007 |
Richard A. Southworth | 61 | 1998 | 3 yrs. | 2007 |
James F. Toohey | 69 | 1968 | 3 yrs. | 2007 |
The terms of the following five (5) Directors extend beyond the time of this meeting: | ||||
Name | Age | First Elected Director |
Term | Term to End |
Edwin R. Bindseil | 73 | 1991 | 3 yrs. | 2005 |
John P. Freeman | 49 | 1991 | 3 yrs. | 2005 |
J. Thomas Gruenwald | 56 | 2000 | 3 yrs. | 2006 |
Melvin Kutchin | 78 | 1995 | 3 yrs. | 2006 |
Gerald A. Ryan | 68 | 1968 | 3 yrs. | 2006 |
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Directors of the Company |
Paul S. Bates is a 1970 graduate of Penn State University where he received a B.A. in Economics. He received an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Chicago in 1973. Mr. Bates is a former accountant, auditor, and assistant professor of finance at Gannon University. Since 1990, he has been a security analyst with Erie Insurance Group, becoming the portfolio manager of fixed income securities in 2003. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst. He was appointed a Director of the Company in November of 2003. Edwin R. Bindseil obtained his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Detroit and an MBA from Harvard University. Mr. Bindseil retired from AMSCO after 31 years of service, 22 years of which he served in senior executive management positions, including general management, marketing, operations, research and development, acquisitions and corporate strategic planning. Currently, Mr. Bindseil is an independent businessman, consultant and entrepreneur. He also serves as a Director of a number of privately held companies. John P. Freeman is a graduate of Gannon University in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant. He joined the Company in 1988 as Controller. Prior to that time, he was a principal in a public accounting firm. In 1990, he was named Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In December of 2000, he was named Senior Vice President. J. Thomas Gruenwald obtained his undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of Cincinnati, and his Masters degree and Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Purdue University. He has been employed by Tellabs, Inc. since 1991, serving in various executive positions including Vice President of Strategic Resources and Director of Engineering - Network Access Division, and Vice President and General Manager of the Broadband Media Group and Network Solutions Group. Currently, Mr. Gruenwald serves as Senior Vice President of Operations for Tellabs International. Prior to joining Tellabs, Mr. Gruenwald served as President of UNI Quality, Inc., a professional services firm, and held several executive and technical positions with AT&T. He was appointed a Director of the Company in June of 1999. Melvin Kutchin is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and was appointed a Director of the Company in October of 1994. He served as President of Kitchen and Kutchin, Inc., manufacturer's representative of electronic components, from 1961 through January 1994 when he became Chairman of the Board. From 1980 through 1990, he was President of JBM Electronics, manufacturer of delay lines and other magnetic devices. John M. Petersen is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He is the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Erie Family Life Insurance Company, Erie Indemnity Company, Erie Insurance Company and Flagship City Insurance Company, comprising the Erie Insurance Group, and a retired Director of each of these Companies. Since 1995, he has been an investment consultant. Mr. Petersen is a founder and has served as a Director of Spectrum since 1970. Gerald A. Ryan is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has been a Director of the Company since its inception and Chairman since 1991. Mr. Ryan is a principal with Erie Business Management Corporation, Erie, Pennsylvania, which invests in and manages various businesses. Mr. Ryan serves as Chairman of the Board of Automated Industrial Systems, Inc. and Director/Chairman Emeritus of Rent-Way, Inc. a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in the rental-purchase business. Richard A. Southworth is a graduate of Gannon University in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. He joined the Company in 1991 as Vice President and General Manager. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Southworth held executive positions with National Water Specialties, Philips Components, Murata Electronics North America, and Erie Technological Products. In 1997, Mr. Southworth was named President and Chief Executive Officer. James F. Toohey is a graduate of Gannon University and Dickinson School of Law and is a practicing member of the Erie County Bar Association. He is a member of the law firm of Quinn, Buseck, Leemhuis, Toohey & Kroto, Inc., general counsel to the Company, and has been a Director and Secretary of the Company since its organization. |
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Compensation of Directors | |||
Directors who are not full-time employees are compensated for services as Directors as authorized and approved by the full Board of Directors. In 2003, the Directors received annual compensation, paid monthly, as follows: |
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Board of Directors Annual Retainer | $12,000 | ||
Committee Chairman Annual Retainer | 1,000 | ||
Attendance at each Board Meeting | 1,000 | * | |
Attendance at each Committee Meeting | 750 | ||
Secretary Annual Fee | 2,100 | ||
* $500 if attended via telephone |
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Securities Ownership | |||
The following table sets forth, as of February 16, 2004, the securities beneficially owned by: (i) all persons known to the Company to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock, (ii) each Director of the Company, (iii) each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, and (iv) all Officers and Directors of the Company as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, all Shareholders listed below have record and beneficial ownership of, and sole voting and dispositive power over, the securities listed. |
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Beneficial Owner | Shares of Common Stock Owned |
Common Stock Options Owned (1) |
Total Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock Outstanding (1) |
Approximate Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding (1) |
Cannell Capital, LLC (2) | 1,538,086 | - | 1,538,086 | 11.58% |
Quaker Capital Management (3) | 1,360,800 | - | 1,360,800 | 10.24% |
Fidelity Management & | ||||
Research (4) | 1,314,400 | - | 1,314,400 | 9.89% |
Royce & Assoc., LLC (5) | 843,800 | - | 843,800 | 6.35% |
Dimensional Fund | ||||
Advisors, Inc. (6) | 711,300 | - | 711,300 | 5.35% |
David L. Babson & Company (7) | 690,100 | - | 690,100 | 5.19% |
Paul S. Bates | 900 | - | 900 | 0.01% |
Edwin R. Bindseil | 112,600 | 15,000 | 127,600 | 0.96% |
John P. Freeman(8) | 53,103 | 37,333 | 90,436 | 0.68% |
J. Thomas Gruenwald | - | 7,500 | 7,500 | 0.06% |
Lawrence G. Howanitz (8)(9) | 4,118 | 37,333 | 41,451 | 0.31% |
Melvin Kutchin(10) | 30,000 | 15,000 | 45,000 | 0.34% |
John M. Petersen(11) | 361,935 | 15,000 | 376,935 | 2.84% |
Gerald A. Ryan(12) | 133,059 | 15,000 | 148,059 | 1.11% |
Robert L. Smith(8) | 23,788 | 19,500 | 43,288 | 0.33% |
Richard A. Southworth(8) | 82,684 | 61,666 | 144,350 | 1.09% |
James F. Toohey(13) | 245,659 | 15,000 | 260,659 | 1.96% |
Brian F. Ward (8) | 4,124 | 37,333 | 41,457 | 0.31% |
All Officers and | ||||
Directors as a Group (12 persons) | 1,084,967 | 290,665 | 1,375,632 | 10.35% |
(1) |
Includes only Common Stock Options exercisable within sixty days of the date of this Proxy Statement,
which securities are deemed for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 to be owned
beneficially (but not of record) by their respective holders. The shares underlying
these securities are deemed to be outstanding for purposes of determining the percent of
class with respect to each Holder and all Directors and Officers as a group. |
(2) |
Based upon information set forth in Schedule 13G as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Cannell Capital, LLC, 150 California Street, Fifth Floor, San Francisco,
California, 94111. |
(3) |
Based upon information set forth in Schedule 13G as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Quaker Capital Management, 401 Wood Street, Suite 1300, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, 15222. |
(4) |
Based upon information set forth in Schedule 13G as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Fidelity Management & Research, One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts,
02110. |
(5) |
Based upon information set forth in Schedule 13G as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Royce & Associates, LLC, 1414 Avenue of the Americas, Ninth Floor, New York,
New York, 10019. |
(6) |
Based upon information set forth in Schedule 13G as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc., 1229 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor, Santa Monica,
California, 90401. |
(7) |
Based upon information set forth in Schedule 13G as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by David L. Babson & Company, One Memorial Drive, Suite 1100, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, 02142. |
(8) |
Includes the following shares held in the Company's 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan for the
benefit of the named individual: 8,751 shares for Mr. Freeman; 3,718 shares for
Mr. Howanitz; 8,788 shares for Mr. Smith; 7,657 shares for Mr. Southworth; and 4,124
shares for Mr. Ward. |
(9) |
Includes 400 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Howanitz's spouse and child. |
(10) |
Includes 10,000 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Kutchin's spouse. |
(11) |
Includes 20,000 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Petersen's spouse and 5,000 shares held
in Individual Retirement Accounts for the benefit of Mr. Petersen and his spouse. |
(12) |
Includes 70,000 shares of Common Stock held in Individual Retirement Accounts for the
benefit of Mr. Ryan and spouse and 5,000 shares owned by the Ryan Children's Trust of 1993,
of which Mr. Ryan is sole trustee. |
(13) |
Mr. Toohey is a member of the law firm of Quinn, Buseck, Leemhuis, Toohey & Kroto, Inc.
which holds 169,885 shares of Common Stock in its Profit Sharing Plan. All of these shares
are included in the table above for Mr. Toohey. |
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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions | |||
Quinn, Buseck, Leemhuis, Toohey & Kroto, Inc. performed legal services for the Company during the 2003 fiscal year. This law firm is expected to continue to perform such services during the current fiscal year. James F. Toohey, a Director of the Company, is a partner in this law firm. |
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Executive Compensation | |||
Summary Compensation Table. The following table shows the compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer and each of the next four most highly compensated executive officers of the Company who served as executive officers at the end of the 2003 fiscal year, for services rendered to the Company and its subsidiaries during fiscal year 2003. The table also includes amounts relating to the fiscal years 2002 and 2001. Inapplicable column headings have been omitted. |
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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE | ||||||
Annual Compensation | Long Term Compensation Awards |
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Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary($)(1) | Bonus($)(2) | Securities Underlying Options(#) |
All Other Compen-sation($)(3) |
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Richard A. Southworth President, Chief Executive Officer |
2003 2002 2001 |
325,000 325,000 323,558 |
151,613 - - |
40,000 60,000 35,000 |
5,938 5,500 5,250 |
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John P. Freeman Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
2003 2002 2001 |
180,000 180,000 179,261 |
50,382 - - |
18,000 25,000 12,000 |
4,500 4,500 4,482 |
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Lawrence G. Howanitz Senior Vice President, Operations |
2003 2002 2001 |
180,000 180,000 179,173 |
50,382 - - |
18,000 25,000 12,000 |
3,600 3,600 3,583 |
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Brian F. Ward Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing |
2003 2002 2001 |
180,000 180,000 179,173 |
47,382 - - |
12,000 25,000 12,000 |
4,500 4,500 4,393 |
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Robert L. Smith Vice President, Quality and Technology |
2003 2002 2001 |
145,000 145,000 144,308 |
40,586 - - |
9,000 15,000 7,500 |
2,928 2,781 2,632 |
(1) | Includes amounts deferred pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
(2) | Amounts earned under the Company's At-Risk Compensation Plan. |
(3) | Matching contributions made by the Company to the Spectrum Control, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan on behalf of the named executive officers. |
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2003 Option Grants | ||||||
The following table shows information regarding grants of stock options in fiscal year 2003 to the named executive officers. |
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Individual Grants | ||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Options Granted (#)(1) |
% of Total Options Granted to Employees in 2003 Fiscal Year(2) |
Exercise Price per Share ($)(3) |
Expiration Date |
Potential Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for Option Term (4) 5%($) 10%($) |
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Richard A. Southworth |
40,000 | 25.67 | 5.05 | 01/28/08 | 55,809 | 123,323 |
John P. Freeman | 18,000 | 11.55 | 5.05 | 01/28/08 | 25,114 | 55,495 |
Lawrence G. Howanitz | 18,000 | 11.55 | 5.05 | 01/28/08 | 25,114 | 55,495 |
Brian F. Ward | 12,000 | 7.70 | 5.05 | 01/28/08 | 16,743 | 36,997 |
Robert L. Smith | 9,000 | 5.78 | 5.05 | 01/28/08 | 12,557 | 27,748 |
(1) |
All options were granted under the Company's Stock Option Plan of 1995. Options are
exercisable in three equal annual installments commencing two years from the date of grant.
All unexercised options expire five years from the date of grant. |
(2) |
The Company granted options representing 155,800 shares to employees during fiscal year 2003. |
(3) |
The exercise price per share of each option is equal to the fair market value of Common Stock
on the date of grant. |
(4) |
Amounts represent hypothetical gains that could be achieved for the respective options if
exercised at the end of the option term. These gains are based on assumed rates of stock price
appreciation of 5% and 10%, as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
compounded annually from the date the respective options were granted to their expiration date.
The gains shown are net of the option exercise price, but do not include deductions for
taxes or other expenses associated with the exercise of the option or the sale of the
underlying shares. The actual gains, if any, on the stock option exercises will depend
on the future performance of the Common Stock, the optionholder's continued employment
with the Company through the option term, and the date on which the options are exercised
and the underlying shares are sold. The Company did not use an alternative formula for a
grant date valuation, as it is not aware of any formula which will determine with
reasonable accuracy a present value based on future unknown or volatile factors. |
Option Exercises and 2003 Fiscal Year End Values Table. The following table sets forth information with respect to the named executive officers concerning the exercise of options during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003 and unexercised options held as of November 30, 2003. |
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Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year End Option Values |
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Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options at Fiscal Year End (#) |
Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options at Fiscal Year End ($)(2) |
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Name | Shares Acquired on Exercise(#) |
Value Realized ($)(1) |
Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercisable | Unexercisable |
Richard A. Southworth |
- | - | 51,666 | 133,334 | 62,500 | 206,800 |
John P. Freeman |
3,608 | 16,308 | 18,000 | 58,000 | - | 89,100 |
Lawrence G. Howanitz |
21,000 | 62,160 | 18,000 | 58,000 | - | 89,100 |
Brian F. Ward |
5,000 | 20,500 | 18,000 | 52,000 | - | 75,900 |
Robert L. Smith |
- | - | 22,500 | 33,000 | 36,000 | 49,500 |
(1) |
Market value of underlying securities on date of exercise, minus the exercise price. |
(2) |
Total value of options (market value of underlying securities minus exercise price of option)
based on a per share fair market value of Company Common Stock of $7.25 at November 30, 2003. |
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation |
The members of the Compensation Committee during 2003 were Messrs. Bindseil, Petersen, Ryan and Toohey. All four members are non-management or outside directors. None of the executive officers of the Company has served on the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of any other entity of which any member of the Spectrum Board is in any way affiliated. |
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Compensation Committee Report |
The Company's Compensation Committee is charged with the responsibility of recommending an
executive compensation program, plans and policies to the Board of Directors. |
The Compensation Committee is committed to compensating the key executives in such a manner
as to encourage them to develop business strategies to capitalize on Spectrum's position in
the electronic control products and systems business and to grow in new technology markets.
The Committee is dedicated to attracting and retaining the best executive talent available
to achieve its aggressive strategy. |
Accordingly, the Committee periodically retains the services of compensation consultants to
prepare and update executive compensation studies. As a result, the Committee has adopted a
compensation package comprised of base salary, performance-based cash awards and long-term
incentive stock options. |
Base Salary | |
The Committee's goal is to establish base salaries which are fair, reasonable and
competitive with similar industrial companies. With this in mind, the Committee
periodically reviews and analyzes compensation consultant data and establishes base
salaries within plus or minus 20% of the estimated average base compensation levels of
similar companies as indicated in the consultant's report. |
Performance-Based Cash Awards | |
The Company's executive officers and key employees are eligible for annual cash awards
calculated under the Company's At-Risk Compensation Plan (the "ARC"). The purpose of the
plan is to provide strong incentive for key employees to properly motivate individuals
under their direction thereby obtaining for the shareholders the best financial results
possible under the prevailing circumstances. The ARC utilizes Profit Before Taxes
(the "PBT") as a basis for determining payment. Goals for PBT and other key performance
measurements are established annually by the Board of Directors. If these goals are
met or exceeded, eligible employees earn a graduated scale of cash payments.
Based upon the goals established and the Company's 2003 actual performance,
aggregate awards of $544,831 were earned for the fiscal year 2003. In accordance
with the terms of the ARC, these performance based awards were paid in fiscal year 2004. |
Long-Term Incentive Stock Options | |
In recognition that an overall compensation package should include rewards for efforts
which impact on the value of the company stock, the Committee has recommended and the
Board has adopted a policy to award competitive amounts of annual stock options to the
key executives of Spectrum. Such options are priced at 100% of the Common Stock's fair
market value as of the date of grant. The grant of these options shall be consistent with
the adoption of the Annual Operating Plan. |
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The Company currently utilizes the Stock Option Plan of 1995 to provide the annual grant
of stock options. |
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2003 Chief Executive Officer Compensation |
Mr. Southworth's base salary in 2003 of $325,000 was determined in accordance with the
criteria described in the "Base Salary" section of this report. The At-Risk Compensation
Plan for 2003 provided for a possible award to Mr. Southworth not to exceed 100% of his
annualized salary. The actual award is calculated and paid upon completion of the year
end audit and is arithmetically determined based upon the amount of PBT and the attainment
of other key performance factors as established by the Board of Directors. Based upon
these factors, an award of $151,613 was earned for performance in fiscal year 2003 and
paid in fiscal year 2004. |
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Change in Control Agreements | |
The Company does not have any employment agreements with its executive officers. However, these officers are subject to
confidentiality agreements which require them to treat all information concerning the Company as confidential during and
after their employment with the Company. The Company has entered into Change in Control Agreements with
Mr. Southworth and seven (7) additional Company employees. Pursuant to these agreements, Mr. Southworth and the seven
additional executives will each receive, if terminated within twenty four months of a change in control of the Company,
a lump sum severance allowance within thirty days of such termination in an amount which is equal to the sum of the following:
(A) the amount equivalent to (i) the executive's monthly base salary, at the rate in effect immediately prior to termination,
multiplied by (ii) the greater of (iii) 24 minus the number of full calendar months from the effective date of the Change in
Control Agreement to the date of termination or (iv) 12. The executives will also receive a pro rata share of the amount of
incentive compensation at the target rate (as defined in the ARC or other then current incentive plan) which would have been
payable for the incentive period which includes the termination date;
(B) the amount equivalent to 24 calendar months (reduced by the number of complete calendar
months from the effective date of the Change in Control Agreement to the date of termination,
but not less than 12) of incentive compensation at the target rate (as defined in the ARC or other
then current incentive compensation), which includes his or her termination date. |
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Submitted by the Compensation Committee: |
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James F. Toohey, Chairman | |
Edwin R. Bindseil | |
John M. Petersen | |
Gerald A. Ryan | |
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Employee 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan |
The Company maintains a Qualified Employee 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. Annual profit sharing contributions to the Plan,
if any, are determined by the Board of Directors. The assets of the Plan are held in
trust and invested in various mutual funds and collective trusts under the direction of
the Plan participants. Substantially all U.S. employees are eligible for participation in
the Plan. The annual allocation to each Employee's Profit Sharing Account is based upon
the actual compensation paid to the Participant. |
A Participant becomes fully vested in his Profit Sharing Account balance on the earliest
of the following dates: (i) upon the completion of seven years of service; (ii) upon
attaining normal retirement age of 65; (iii) upon incurring total disability; or (iv)
on the date of the Participant's death. A Participant may not receive a distribution
from the Employee Profit Sharing Account prior to the earliest of the following dates:
(i) termination of employment with the Company; (ii) retirement or (iii) death. The Plan
provides that distribution of the Participant's entire interest in the Plan must begin no
later than the taxable year in which the Participant attains age seventy and one-half (70-1/2)
or, if later, the year the Participant retires and terminates employment with the Employer. |
The Plan includes a tax deferred employee savings plan pursuant to Section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code. The Company matches an employee's contribution to the savings plan
at a rate determined by the Board of Directors. The Company's matching contribution to the
401(k) plan is not subject to any vesting requirements. |
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Directors' Long-Term Incentive Plan |
The 1996 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") was approved by the Corporation's stockholders on April 1, 1996.
The Plan is designed to promote the long-term success of the Corporation by creating a mutuality of interests between the non-employee directors and the stockholders.
Under the terms of the Plan, stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock are granted annually to all qualified non-employee Directors.
The option exercise price is equal to the market price of the Company's Common Stock on the date of the option grant.
The options become exercisable at varying dates and expire five years from the date of grant.
In 2003, aggregate options to purchase 72,000 shares of Common Stock were granted to non-employee Directors, at an exercise price of $5.28 per share.
In 2002, aggregate options to purchase 72,000 shares of Common Stock were granted to non-employee Directors, at an exercise price of $7.28 per share.
In 2001, aggregate options to purchase 45,000 shares of Common Stock were granted to non-employee Directors, at an exercise price of $7.00 per share. |
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Stock Price Performance Graph |
The following graph shows the Company's total return to shareholders compared to the S&P 500 Index and the
NASDAQ Electronic Components Stock Index over the five-year period from 1999 though 2003.
The graph assumes that $100 was invested on December 1, 1998, in the Company's Common Stock
and in each of the other indices. |
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Approval of Amendment of the 1995 Stock Option Plan |
The 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") was amended by the Company's Board of Directors on
November 17, 2003, subject to approval by the Company's stockholders. The Board of
Directors recommends that the stockholders vote "FOR" approval of the amendment of the Plan.
Unless otherwise directed therein, the proxies solicited hereby will be voted for approval of
the amendment of the Plan. The only change to the Plan is to extend the term of the Plan for
an additional ten years from its current expiration date. |
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance |
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's directors,
executive officers and owners of more than 10% of the Common Stock to file reports of
ownership of equity securities of the Company and to furnish copies of such reports to the
Company. Based on a review of such reports, the Company believes that during the fiscal year
ending November 30, 2003, all such filing requirements were met except for the initial filing
of a Form 3 for the Company's new director, Paul S. Bates. |
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Appointment of the Company's Auditors for the Fiscal Year 2004 |
Upon recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors has resolved to appoint
Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's auditors for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2004,
subject only to ratification by the Shareholders. Fees for the last fiscal year's annual
audit were $100,700, audit related fees including SEC registration statements were $3,900,
and fees for all other non-audit services were $24,200. |
Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the meeting with the opportunity to
make a statement, if they desire to do so, and such representatives will be available to
respond to appropriate questions. All services of the auditors were reviewed by the Audit
Committee and approved by the Board of Directors prior to commencement. No relationship
exits other than the usual relationship between independent public accountant and client. |
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Report of the Audit Committee | |
The Audit Committee, composed of four non-employee Directors is governed by a written charter
approved by the Board of Directors. A copy of this charter is included in Exhibit A.
In accordance with this charter, the Audit Committee oversees the Company's 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
systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee
reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management including a
discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the
reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial
statements. |
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The Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, who are responsible for expressing an
opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted
accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of
the Company's accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed
with the Committee under generally accepted auditing standards. In addition, the Committee
has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors' independence from management and
the Company, including the matters in the written disclosures required by the Independence
Standards Board, and considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors'
independence. |
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The Committee discussed with the independent auditors the overall scope and plan for their
audit. The Committee meets with the independent auditors, with and without management present,
to discuss the results of their examination, their evaluation of the Company's internal controls,
and the overall quality of the Company's financial reporting. The Committee held five (5)
meetings during fiscal year 2003. |
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In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to
the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements
be included in the Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended November 30, 2003 for
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Committee and the Board have also
recommended, subject to shareholder approval, the selection of the Company's independent
auditors. |
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Submitted by the Audit Committee: |
|
John M. Petersen, Chairman | |
Paul S. Bates | |
J. Thomas Gruenwald | |
Gerald A. Ryan | |
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General Matters | |
The Directors know of no matter, other than those referred to in this Proxy Statement,
which will be presented at the meeting. However, if other matters properly come before
the meeting or any of its adjournments, the person or persons voting the proxies will vote
them in accordance with their judgment in such matters. Should any Nominee for the office
of Director become unable to accept nomination or election, the persons named in the proxy
will vote it for the election of such other person, if any, as the Board of Directors may
recommend. The Board of Directors is not aware that any Nominee named herein will be unable
or unwilling to accept nomination or election. |
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You are advised that the deadline for submitting Shareholder proposals for consideration at
the next annual meeting is December 6, 2004. |
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The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. Regular employees of the
Company may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. In addition to solicitation by
mail and regular employees as aforesaid, arrangements may be made with brokerage houses and
other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxies and proxy soliciting material to
their principals, and the Company may reimburse them for their expense in so doing. |
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You are urged to sign and return your proxy promptly to make certain your shares will be
voted at the meeting. You may revoke the proxy at any time before it is voted, and if you
attend the meeting, as we hope you will, you may vote your shares in person. For your
convenience, a return envelope is enclosed, requiring no additional postage if mailed in the
United States. |
|
JAMES F. TOOHEY, Secretary | |
Dated: March 1, 2004 | |
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