FORM DEF 14A
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
Filed by the Registrant þ
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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)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 |
Preformed Line Products Company
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
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state how it was determined): |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Preformed Line Products Company
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To our shareholders:
The 2009 annual meeting of shareholders of Preformed Line Products Company will be held at the
offices of the Company, 660 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, Ohio, on Monday, April 27, 2009, at 9:00
a.m., local time, for the following purposes:
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To elect three directors, each for a term expiring in 2011; |
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To receive reports at the meeting. No action constituting
approval or disapproval of the matters referred to in the reports is
contemplated; and |
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Any other matters that properly come before the meeting. |
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2009, are entitled to notice
of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Shareholders are urged to complete, date
and sign the enclosed proxy and return it in the enclosed envelope. The principal address of
Preformed Line Products Company is 660 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143.
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By order of the Board of Directors,
Caroline S. VACCARIELLO,
Secretary
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Dated: March 20, 2009
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009:
The proxy statement and the Companys 2008 Annual Report to Shareholders are also available at:
http://materials.proxyvote.com/740444.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY
Preformed Line Products Company
PROXY STATEMENT
Our Board of Directors is sending you this proxy statement to ask for your vote as a Preformed
Line Products Company shareholder on the matters to be voted on at the annual meeting of
shareholders. The annual meeting of shareholders will be held at 660 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village,
Ohio, 44143, on Monday, April 27, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., local time. We are mailing this proxy
statement and the accompanying notice and proxy to you on or about March 20, 2009.
Annual Report. A copy of our Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2008, is enclosed with this proxy statement.
Solicitation of Proxies. Our Board of Directors is making this solicitation of proxies and we
will pay the cost of the solicitation. In addition to solicitation of proxies by mail, our
employees may solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile or electronic mail.
Proxies; Revocation of Proxies. The shares represented by your proxy will be voted in
accordance with the instructions as indicated on your proxy. In the absence of any such
instructions, they will be voted to elect the director nominees set forth under Election of
Directors. Your presence at the annual meeting of shareholders, without more, will not revoke
your proxy. However, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it has been exercised by signing
and delivering a later-dated proxy or by giving notice to us in writing at our address indicated on
the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders by April 24, 2009, or in the open meeting.
Voting Eligibility. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on the record date,
March 11, 2009, are entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting of shareholders and to vote
the common shares that they held on the record date at the meeting. On the record date, our voting
securities outstanding consisted of 5,225,630 common shares, $2 par value, each of which is
entitled to one vote at the meeting.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table shows the amount of the Companys Common Shares beneficially owned as of
March 11, 2009 by (a) the Companys directors, (b) each other person known by the Company to own
beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding Common Shares, (c) the Companys named executive
officers, and (d) the Companys executive officers and directors as a group.
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Number of |
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Shares Beneficially |
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Percent |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
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Owned |
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of Class |
Barbara P. Ruhlman (1) |
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852,722 |
(2) |
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16.3 |
% |
Robert G. Ruhlman (1) |
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1,854,872 |
(3) |
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35.5 |
% |
Randall M. Ruhlman (1) |
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1,660,030 |
(4) |
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31.8 |
% |
KeyCorp (5) |
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404,352 |
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7.7 |
% |
Jeffrey L. Gendell (6) |
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460,140 |
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8.8 |
% |
Eric R. Graef |
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24,383 |
(7) |
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* |
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William H. Haag III |
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22,573 |
(7) |
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* |
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Dennis F. McKenna |
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18,111 |
(7) |
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* |
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J. Cecil Curlee Jr. |
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18,829 |
(7) |
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* |
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Glenn E. Corlett |
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0 |
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* |
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Richard R. Gascoigne |
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0 |
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Michael E. Gibbons |
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0 |
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R. Steven Kestner |
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1,000 |
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* |
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All executive officers and directors as a Group (13 persons) |
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2,993,470 |
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57.3 |
% |
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Represents less than 1%. |
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The mailing address for each of Barbara P. Ruhlman, Robert G. Ruhlman and Randall M. Ruhlman
is 660 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143. |
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Includes 63,335 shares held by The Thomas F. Peterson Foundation, of which Barbara P. Ruhlman
is President and a Trustee. |
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Includes 114,792 shares held by the Preformed Line Products Company Profit Sharing Trust,
93,312 shares held in trust for the benefit of Robert G. Ruhlman and his children (these
93,312 shares are also shown as being beneficially owned by Randall M. Ruhlman) and 300 shares
owned by his wife or held by her as custodian. Also includes 400,452 shares held in the Ethel
B. Peterson Trust of which Robert G. Ruhlman acts as co-Trust Advisor and has voting control
(these 400,452 shares are also shown as being beneficially owned by Randall M. Ruhlman who
also acts as co-Trust Advisor and has voting control); and 1,000,000 shares in the Irrevocable
Trust between Barbara P. Ruhlman and Bernard L. Karr of which Bernard L. Karr is the trustee
and for which Robert G. Ruhlman acts as co-Trust-Advisor and has voting control (these
1,000,000 shares are also shown as being beneficially owned by Randall M. Ruhlman). Also
includes 65,616 restricted shares that may be acquired pursuant to service and performance
vesting requirements. |
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Includes 93,312 shares held in trust for the benefit of Randall M. Ruhlman and his children
(these 93,312 shares are also shown as being beneficially owned by Robert G. Ruhlman). Also
includes 400,452 shares held in the Ethel B. Peterson Trust of which Randall M. Ruhlman acts
as co-Trust Advisor and has voting control (these 400,452 shares are also shown as being
beneficially owned by Robert G. Ruhlman who also acts as co-Trust Advisor and has voting
control); and 1,000,000 shares in the Irrevocable Trust between Barbara P. Ruhlman and Bernard
L. Karr of which Bernard L. Karr is the trustee and for which Randall M. Ruhlman acts as
co-Trust-Advisor and has voting control (these 1,000,000 shares are also shown as being
beneficially owned by Robert G. Ruhlman). |
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The mailing address for KeyCorp is 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. |
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Comprised of shares beneficially owned by Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C (92,850 shares) and
Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. (367,290 shares). The mailing address for Jeffrey L. Gendell
is 55 Railroad Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830. |
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Includes the following number of shares that may be acquired pursuant to currently
exercisable stock options for Eric R. Graef, 10,000; William H. Haag III, 6,098; Dennis F.
McKenna, 6,300; and J. Cecil Curlee Jr., 9,650. Includes the following number of restricted
shares that may be acquired pursuant to |
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service and performance vesting requirements; Eric R. Graef, 13,933; William H. Haag III,
11,663; Dennis F. McKenna, 11,401; and J. Cecil Curlee Jr., 8,929. |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with our Code of Regulations, the number of directors has been fixed at
eight. The Company has classified its Board of Directors into two classes composed of four members
each, both classes serving staggered two year terms. Two of our directors, Barbara P. Ruhlman and Robert G.
Ruhlman, are serving a term that expires at this years annual meeting of shareholders and have
been nominated for re-election at the meeting to a term which expires in 2011. Richard R.
Gascoigne has been nominated by the Board of Directors for election to the Board of Directors for a
term which expires in 2011. In February 2009, Richard R. Gascoigne was elected to fill the vacancy
created by the death of Frank B. Carr. Four directors, Glenn E. Corlett, Michael E. Gibbons, R.
Steven Kestner and Randall M. Ruhlman, are currently serving terms that expires in 2010. There is
one vacancy in the class of directors whose term will expire at the 2011 annual meeting of
shareholders. The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of a majority of the Companys
independent directors, proposes that the nominees described below be elected to the Board of
Directors. At the annual meeting of shareholders, the shares represented by proxies, unless
otherwise specified, will be voted for the three nominees hereinafter named.
The director nominees are identified in the following table. If for any reason any of the
nominees are not a candidate when the election occurs (which is not expected), the Board of
Directors expects that proxies will be voted for the election of a substitute nominee designated by
management. The following information is furnished with respect to each person nominated for
election as a director.
The Board recommends that you vote FOR the following nominees.
Nominees for Election at the Annual Meeting
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Expiration |
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Period |
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of Term |
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Principal Occupation |
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of Service |
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for Which |
Name and Age |
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and Business Experience |
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as a Director |
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Proposed |
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Barbara P. Ruhlman, 76
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President of the Thomas F. Peterson Foundation
since 1988.
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1988 to date
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2011 |
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Robert G. Ruhlman, 52
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Mr. Ruhlman was elected Chairman of the Company
in July 2004. Mr. Ruhlman has served as
Chief Executive Officer since July 2000, and
as President since 1995.
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1992 to date
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2011 |
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Richard R. Gascoigne, 59
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Mr. Gascoigne was Managing Director at Marsh
Inc., subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Co.
from 1995 until his retirement in 2008.
Prior to that, he had held numerous
positions during his twenty-eight year
career at Marsh. Mr. Gascoigne is the
Trustee and Fund Development chair for the
Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland and a
Disbursement Committee Member for Bluecoats,
Inc.
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2009 to date
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2011 |
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Current directors whose terms will not expire at the annual meeting of shareholders:
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Period |
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Principal Occupation |
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of Service |
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Term |
Name and Age |
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and Business Experience |
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as a Director |
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Expiration |
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Glenn E. Corlett, 65 |
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Mr. Corlett is currently a consultant and professor of Accounting at Ohio University. From July 1997
through June 2007, Mr. Corlett was the Dean and the Philip J. Gardner Leadership Professor at The College of Business at Ohio University. Mr.
Corlett currently serves as a Director and Chairman of the audit committee for Rocky Brands, Inc. Mr. Corlett also serves as a
director of the following companies: Inn-Ohio, Inc., Copernicus, Therapeutics, Inc., Grange Insurance Companies and
Palmer-Donavin Manufacturing Corporation. |
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2004 to date |
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2010 |
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Michael E. Gibbons, 56 |
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Mr. Gibbons is the founder and Managing Director
of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company, and is also the chairman of Global M&A. Mr. Gibbons
serves as Chairman and is a member of the executive committee for Global M&A, Dusseldorf, Germany; on the board of
directors, audit committee and chairman of the finance and planning committee for
Associated Estates Realty Corporation (AEC), Richmond Hts., Ohio; on the board of trustees
and executive committee for Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Cleveland, Ohio; on the
board of trustees for Ohio Israeli Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland, Ohio; and on the
visiting committee for Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management, Cleveland, Ohio. |
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2008 to date |
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2010 |
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R. Steven Kestner, 54 |
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Since September 1979, Mr. Kestner has been an attorney
with the law firm Baker & Hostetler LLP, and has been Executive Partner of that firm since January
2004. Mr. Kestner serves on the Board of Trustees for The Cleveland Museum of Art, the
Board of Regents for St. Ignatius High School and the Board of Directors for the Greater Cleveland Partnership. |
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2008 to date |
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2010 |
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Randall M. Ruhlman, 50 |
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President of Ruhlman Motorsports since 1987 |
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1998 to date |
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2010 |
The Board has determined that Messrs. Corlett, Gibbons, Kestner and Gascoigne are independent
under the NASDAQs corporate governance rules. In the opinion of the Board, Mr. Kestners
affiliation with Baker & Hostetler LLP, a law firm that regularly provides legal services to the
Company, does not interfere with Mr. Kestners exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his
duties as a director.
Barbara P. Ruhlman is the mother of Randall M. Ruhlman and Robert G. Ruhlman.
The Board does not have a Nominating Committee nor any charter with respect to nominations,
however, pursuant to NASDAQ corporate governance rules, any Board nominees must be recommended for
Board selection by a majority of the Companys independent directors. The independent directors
are responsible for ensuring that the Board of Directors possess a variety of knowledge, experience
and capabilities derived from substantial business and professional experience, based on an
assessment of
numerous factors such as age and understanding of and experience in manufacturing, technology,
finance and marketing. Nominees for the Board of Directors should be
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committed to enhancing long-term shareholder value and must possess a high level of personal and
professional ethics, sound business judgment and integrity. To this end, the independent directors
rely on its network of contacts to compile a list of potential candidates, and may also consider
qualified candidates suggested by officers, employees, shareholders and others, using the same
criteria to evaluate all candidates.
The Board of Directors has appointed an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. The
Board of Directors does not have a Finance Committee. The Audit Committee is comprised of Messrs.
Gibbons (chairman), Corlett and Gascoigne, each of whom qualify as independent for audit committee
purposes under the NASDAQ rules. The Board of Directors has determined that Michael E. Gibbons is
an audit committee financial expert. The Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Corlett
(chairman), Gibbons and Gascoigne.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors engages the independent registered public
accountants for the Company, reviews with the independent registered public accountants the plans
and results of audit engagements, preapproves all professional services provided by the independent
registered public accountants including audit and non-audit-related services, reviews the
independence of the independent registered public accountants, approves the range of audit and
non-audit fees, reviews the independent registered public accountants management letters and
managements responses, reviews with management their conclusions about the effectiveness of the
Companys disclosure controls and procedures, and reviews significant accounting or reporting
changes. Management does not approve professional services provided by the independent public
accountants for audit and non-audit-related services. The Audit Committee is governed by a written
charter. A copy of the charter was attached as an appendix to the 2007 proxy statement.
The Compensation Committee administers the Companys executive compensation program and as
such, is responsible for reviewing all aspects of the compensation program for the Companys
executive officers. The Compensation Committee meets at scheduled times during the year no less
than twice and has the authority to consider and take action by written consent. The
Compensation Committee Chairman reports on Compensation Committee actions and recommendations at
the Companys Board meetings. The Compensation Committees Charter reflects the responsibilities
of the Committee. The Compensation Committee, together with the Board, periodically reviews and
revises the Charter. In order to meet its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee has the
authority to delegate certain of its responsibilities to subcommittees and/or Officers where
necessary, consistent with applicable law. The Compensation Committee is governed by a written
charter. A copy of the charter was attached as an appendix to the 2007 proxy statement.
The Compensation Committees primary objective with respect to executive compensation is to
establish programs which attract and retain key officers and managers, and align their compensation
with the Companys overall business strategies, values, and performance. To this end, the
Compensation Committee has established, and the Board of Directors has endorsed, an executive
compensation philosophy to compensate executive Officers based on their responsibilities and the
Companys overall annual and longer-term performance, which is outlined in the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis. The Committee reviews recommendations from the Companys executive
officers, and utilizes compensation survey data in connection with establishing compensation.
In 2008, the Board of Directors held five meetings. No directors attended less than 75% of
the total meetings of the Board of Directors and the total of meetings held by all committees on
which the director served. In 2008, the Audit Committee held four formal meetings and the
Compensation Committee held six meetings. Additionally, the Audit Committee chairman had numerous
informal meetings with management and the independent public accountants. The Company expects its
directors to attend the Companys annual meeting of shareholders. All of the directors at the
time, except John OBrien, attended last years annual meeting of shareholders.
Audit Committee Report
In accordance with its charter, the Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in
fulfilling its responsibility relating to corporate accounting, reporting practices of the Company,
and the quality and integrity of the financial reports and other financial information provided by
the Company to NASDAQ, Securities and Exchange Commission or the public. Management is responsible
for the financial statements and the reporting
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process, including the system of internal controls. The independent registered public accountants
are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the audited financial statements
with generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit Committee is comprised of three directors
who are not officers or employees of the Company and are independent under the current NASDAQ
rules.
In discharging its oversight responsibility as to the audit process, the Audit Committee
reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December
31, 2008, with the Companys management. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent
auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standard No. 61, as amended,
(AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures
and letter from the independent auditors required by applicable requirements of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent auditors communications with the Audit
Committee concerning independence and the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent
auditor the independent auditors independence. The Audit Committee also considered whether the
provision of non-audit services by the independent auditor is compatible with maintaining the independent auditors
independence. Management has the responsibility for the preparation of the Companys financial
statements, and the independent auditors have the responsibility for the examination of those
statements.
Based on the above-referenced review and discussions with management and the independent
auditors, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Companys audited
financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2008, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Michael E. Gibbons, Chairman
Glenn E. Corlett
Richard R. Gascoigne
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Role of the Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee (Committee) administers the Companys executive compensation
programs. The role of the Committee is to oversee the Companys compensation and benefit plans and
policies for its elected executive officers (Officers), including the Named Executive Officers
(NEOs) who are the Companys principal executive officer (Robert G. Ruhlman, Chairman, President
and Chief Executive Officer), principal financial officer (Eric R. Graef, Chief Financial Officer
and Vice President Finance) and the three other most highly compensated executive officers. The
Committee reviews and approves all executive compensation decisions relating to the Officers,
including all NEOs.
In performance of its duties, the Committee has the authority to allocate all or any portion
of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members, and may delegate all or any
portion of its responsibilities and powers to a committee formed for that purpose, subject to
approval from the entire board of directors. Additionally, the Committee may select and appoint
outside consultants to assist it.
Philosophy of the Compensation Program
The philosophy of the Committee is to provide a compensation program that will attract,
motivate and retain key leadership in order to give the Company a competitive advantage while
ensuring the success and growth of the Company. The Compensation program should ensure that a
significant portion of compensation will be directly related to the Companys performance by tying
annual cash bonus and long-term incentive awards to
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Company performance. The compensation program is intended to motivate the Officers to
enable the Company to achieve its short-term and long-term business goals. The Committee has three goals to guide it in this endeavor: (a) compensation
paid to Officers should be aligned with the performance of the Company on both a long- and
short-term basis; (b) compensation should be competitive within the employment environment; and (c)
compensation should be designed to reward Officers for meeting performance targets.
Compensation Program
The Committee strives to craft a compensation program that pays the Officers at competitive
levels reflective of their individual responsibilities while maintaining consistency and pay equity
among the individual Officers. The Committee conducts an annual review of the compensation
program, as well as changes in the overall composition of the management team and the
responsibilities of the individual Officers. This is to ensure that the compensation is
competitive within the market, supports retention objectives and is internally equitable. Reliance
upon various tools, and the findings from such tools, assists the Committee in its analysis, and
leads to decisions regarding the mix of the various compensation elements to be included.
Additionally, the cost of the compensation program is considered, in recognition that the optimal
compensation program motivates employees to improve the results on a cost-effective basis.
Typically, the Committee finalizes compensation elements for a year in December of the prior year.
Tools and Findings from Analysis. The Committee relies upon tools to analyze the
compensation program internally and within the competitive landscape. Historically, these tools
have been consideration of outside data compiled by various consultants, the use of tally sheets
detailing overall compensation package to the individual Officers and discussions with the CEO
regarding performance levels and goals.
External Data. In 2007, the Committee engaged Tower Perrin (TP) to evaluate the mix of
elements for its compensation program, and to determine whether the compensation plan is adequately
structured to meet the goals. The Committee adopted TPs recommendations with respect to base
compensation and the annual cash incentive award for 2008. In 2008, the Committee also focused on TPs
recommendations regarding the Companys existing long-term incentives for the Officers. TPs
consulting advice was that the existing incentives did not adequately reward management for
sustained shareholder value creation. Moreover, the Companys prior long-term incentive program,
which was comprised of the Companys 1999 Stock Option Plan, did not adequately facilitate
executive stock ownership, an important consideration for the Committee. As discussed more fully
below, TP provided the Committee with a competitive picture of the long-term incentives offered at
companies in the peer group, and recommended that the Committee consider a long-term incentive plan
with a mix of stock options, performance-based restricted stock and service-based restricted stock.
As a result, the Committee approved the Preformed Line Products Company Long Term Incentive Plan
of 2008 (LTIP) which was approved by the shareholders during the April 2008 annual meeting.
Additionally, the Committee generally relies upon various independent surveys, which are
matched to specific positions with similar functional descriptions as those for the Officers. In
2008, the Committee utilized the Watson-Wyatts annual compensation level survey. Using this
independent survey, the Company analyzed the compensation paid to Officers, including the CEO, to
determine in which percentile of the compensation paid to executives holding equivalent positions
in the peer classification group (i.e., durable goods manufacturing companies with employment
levels of between 1,000 and 5,000) the Officers fell. The Officers including the CEO were near the
50th percentile, when reviewing base salary alone. The Company also reviewed total cash
compensation, which included salary and the maximum available bonus, for the Officers, and compared
that data with the peer group data. When comparing total cash compensation, all of the Officers
except the CEO and CFO, were near the 75th percentile, while the CEO and CFO were just
over the 50th percentile. Additionally, the Company reviewed the CEOs salary as a
percentage of the salary of each Officer, as compared with the Watson-Wyatt data, and determined
that the CEOs salary was in line with the peer group results.
Discussions with the CEO. All of the non-CEO Officers report directly to the CEO, who
performs a yearly evaluation of the performance of each Officer. The CEOs assessment of the
individual performance forms the basis for the proposed compensation levels of each Officer based
upon the information derived from the aforementioned
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survey. The CEO provides a written evaluation for each Officer that includes his recommendations
for salary adjustments for the subsequent year to the Committee which weighs these recommendations
in determining salary levels.
Compensation Elements. The Company recognizes that its success depends, in large
part, on a leadership team with the skills and commitment necessary to successfully manage a global
organization. The compensation program assists in achieving this objective by relying on the
elements of compensation detailed below. Certain elements are designed to enable the Company to
attract and retain the Officers with the skills to anticipate and respond to the market, while
other elements are intended to motivate the Officers to achieve financial results to enhance
shareholder value. The Companys 2008 total compensation program for Officers consists of the
following elements:
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Base salaries; |
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Annual cash incentive awards; |
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Stock Options; |
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Long-term equity grants; |
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Retirement benefits; and |
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Health and welfare benefits. |
The Company structures the total compensation program so that its reliance on any particular
element of compensation is flexible. Thus, the compensation program strives to meet the goals
outlined above, by balancing short-term (i.e., base salaries, annual cash incentive awards), and
long-term (i.e., stock options, long-term equity grants) incentives, competitively in the market.
There is no difference in the policies and their application for each of the Officers, except for
the CEO.
Base Salaries. The Companys goal is to establish a salary sufficient to attract and retain
talented executives. This goal is based on the Company belief that it is important to maintain
salary levels near a midpoint of comparable peer group executives to be competitive within the
general market and the peer group. The base salaries of the Officers are reviewed annually. In
each case, factors considered in establishing an Officers salary level include a review of the
individuals performance initiated by the CEO, an accounting of the Companys performance, the
experience level for the position and the peer group executive compensation information using
companies with similar revenue and employee levels, derived from independent compensation surveys
and internal equity. In 2008, the Committee determined that the CEOs recommendations for Officer
salaries were thorough and thoughtful, and ratified the CEOs recommendations. For the CEOs
salary, the Committee considered the written recommendation on the competitive market prepared by
the Vice President of Human Resources, as well as the CEOs request for no adjustment. The
Committee believed that because the CEO lead the management team to an outstanding year, an
adjustment was warranted. As such, the Committee approved an increase to the CEO compensation in
line with increases given to all Officers.
Annual Cash Incentive Awards. The annual cash incentive award is designed to motivate and
reward the Officers for their contributions to the Companys performance by making a significant
portion of their total compensation variable and dependent upon the Companys annual financial
performance. As such, it is tied directly to the financial performance of the Company on a sliding
scale of return on shareholders equity. The Committee believes that compensating management by
aligning compensation with shareholders return on their investment is the most effective way to
connect the achievement of performance goals and to encourage growth in the Company while rewarding
Officers for their contributions. The calculation is based on the Companys pretax return on
equity and assessed over a range of 6% to 15%. The implied target is 10.4% which assumes a linear,
symmetrical bonus curve with one-half of the maximum bonus earned at the midpoint of the
performance range. From this calculation, the awards are determined based on a schedule which
provides certain percentages to be applied to base salaries. The maximum bonuses are 100% of
salary for the CEO and 85% of salary for the other Officers. The awards are discretionary, subject
to the Committees approval. Upon approval, the cash incentive payments are granted at year end,
and the cash incentive payment for each Officer except for the CEO utilizes the same percentage of
each Officers salary. The Committee has the ability to exercise discretion and make adjustments,
in the event of a transformational event where circumstances beyond the control of the Officers
occur during the year.
8
Stock Options. The Company believes that an Officers ownership in the Company aligns the
Officers performance with the Companys performance. As such, the Company has an Employee Stock
Option Plan in 1999 (Prior Plan), allowing for the awards of long-term equity grants to all
employees, including Officers. Additionally, the shareholders adopted the LTIP (together with
Prior Plan, Plans) which includes the ability to award up to 100,000 stock options to all
employees including Officers. The purpose of these Plans is to encourage and enable employees of
the Company to acquire a personal financial interest in the Company, to align the Companys
success, and to promote the continued service of the employees. The Committee, with the Boards
approval, has the authority to make such awards, typically based on an individuals performance
after weighing factors including the employees duration with the Company. Additionally, the
Committee has made it a practice to award options to purchase 10,000 shares to each Officer upon
appointment as an officer of the Company. The Company imposes no requirement that its Officers
maintain a minimum ownership interest in the Company. The Committee did not award stock options to
the NEOs for 2008 compensation.
Long-term equity grants. In 2008, the Committee concluded that stock options were not a
desirable method of recognizing management for achieving desired objectives because, in the short
term, the Companys stock price does not react in a direct relationship to the achievement of the
Companys strategic objectives. The Committee believed that the Companys shareholders will be
better served if a greater percentage of the long-term equity incentive program is directly related
to achievement of the Companys board-approved strategic objectives. To that end As discussed above, TP provided the
Committee with a competitive picture of the long-term incentives offered at the peer group, and
recommended that the Committee consider a number of structures to fill the competitive void in the
existing compensation program, with a mix of performance-based restricted shares and service-based
restricted shares at varying scenarios.
The Committee believes that the balanced LTI program consisting of service vested restricted
shares and performance vested restricted shares, is a compelling way to achieve its objectives.
Generally, performance-vesting aligns executive long-term incentive rewards more directly with
shareholder interests since achieving strategic objectives is a better measure of managements
performance than the vagaries of the stock market. Furthermore, the Committee believes that the
shareholders are served well by decisions that further the Companys long-term strategic plan. The
Committee believes that the CEOs long-term incentive should be 100% dependent on the achievement
of the Companys strategic objectives. Nevertheless, the Committee believes that it is appropriate
to include some service vested restricted stock in the long-term incentive of the other Officers in
order to encourage retention of key executives over the duration of a business cycle.
The Committee adopted the LTIP, which was approved by the Board during its February 2008
meeting and adopted by the shareholders at the April 2008 annual meeting. In the summer of 2008,
the Committee then determined the grants to be made under the LTIP which are set forth on the
accompanying compensation tables. The CEOs equity compensation awards will be performance-based
shares, vesting in three years based upon achieving performance standards approved at the time of
the grant by the Companys Board of Directors. The equity compensation awards to the other
participants will be as follows: two-thirds of the award will be performance-based shares, vesting
in three years based on achieving performance standards approved at the time of the grant by the
Companys Board of Directors, and one-third of the award will be service-based shares, vesting three
years after the date of the grant based solely on continued employment by the Company. The
Committee chose to emphasize performance over service over three years (rather than weigh these
measures equally), as it believes this approach aligns the Companys performance with shareholder
interests, while acknowledging the benefit from long-term service. The CEOs target award will be
equal to 100% of the CEOs salary at the date of vesting, with a maximum award equal to two times
the target award. The awards to the other Officers is as follows: the target award will be equal
to that percentage of participants salary at the date of vesting that is specified at the time of
grant. The maximum amount of the performance portion of the award will be equal to two times the
target award. The maximum award for the service vested portion of the award will be equal to the
target award. Each Officer was granted the number of shares equal to the maximum level, under the
performance criteria. For the performance-based shares, the number of restricted shares
in which the participant becomes vested will depend upon the specific level of performance of
growth in pretax income and sales growth over the three-year performance period ending December 31,
2010, with thresholds of 5% and 3% respectively, and maximum of 10% of both. Further, cash
dividends will be reinvested in additional restricted shares, and held subject to the same vesting
requirements as the underlying shares.
9
In recognition that the Officers may want to defer receipt of the restricted shares, the
Committee also approved a Deferred Shares Plan, which was also approved by the Board in August 2008.
The Deferred Shares Plan provides Participants who receive awards of restricted shares under the
LTIP with the option to defer actual receipt of such restricted shares when such restricted shares are
no longer subject to substantial risk of forfeiture. The Committee then approved grants of LTIP
awards under the LTIP in August 2008 to each of the Officers, including the CEO, which were awarded
August 2008.
In light of the radical shift in the economy occurring late 2008, the Committee agreed that it
would be necessary to review the methodology to determine the achievement of the performance measures used in determining
the number of performance based shares that vest under the 2008 grant. The Committee clarified how the achievement of the performance measures are to be determined. The
first issue is whether the metrics should be adjusted for currency fluctuations. The Committee
believes that the performance measures should be calculated after adjusting for currency
fluctuations, recognizing that the LTIPs goal is to incent Officers to successfully manage the
business rather than engage in currency hedging and derivative swapping. As such, all sales and
income amounts will be computed by deducting favorable impacts of the currency and adding
unfavorable impacts of the currency. The Committee then addressed whether the
calculations should include non-reoccurring items. The Committee agreed that the LTIP should
measure performance that management can affect, rather than permit non-reoccurring and unusual
items to distort (both positively and negatively) performance. For example, the Company was billed
$519,000 in 2008 by its former auditors for services rendered in 2007. These fees were considered
excess fees given that the auditor did not compute them until after the audit was complete. The
Committee agreed to deduct this amount from the 2007 income and add it into 2008 income which is
the year it was expensed. The Committee also considered the divestiture of Superior Modular
Products (SMP), which occurred in 2008, and determined that the decision to dispose of businesses
which did not fit within the Companys core business should be encouraged. The Committee
determined that the sale of SMP should be excluded from the performance measures by eliminating the
sales, related operating profit or loss and the gain or loss on the sale of SMP from 2008 results.
Retirement Benefits. The Company views retirement benefits as an important component of total
compensation. The Companys primary retirement benefit consists of the Companys 401(k) and profit
sharing plan under which all salaried employees of the Company, including Officers, participate
starting in their third year of employment. The amount the Company provides to the profit sharing
plan is based on the recommendation of management, with the Boards approval. Typically, the
Companys contribution under this plan is approximately 15% of the then-current years cash
compensation which is consistent with the amount contributed for all full-time salaried employees
of the Company, including the cash incentive award, and the Company does not consider gains from
prior awards. Every aspect of this plan is the same for all salaried employees, including
Officers. Thus, each salaried participant elects the investment options with the same options
offered to all salaried employees and Officers. The plan does not involve any guaranteed minimum
return or above-market returns; rather, the investment returns are dependent upon actual
investment results. To the extent an employees award exceeds the maximum allowable contribution
permitted under existing tax laws, the excess is accrued for (but not funded) under a non-qualified
Supplemental Profit Sharing Plan. The return under this Supplemental Profit Sharing Plan is
calculated at a weighted average of the Treasury constant maturity one-year rate plus 1%.
Executive Perquisites. Perquisites and other personal benefits do not comprise a significant
aspect of the compensation program. Although Officers participate in the same benefit programs as
the Companys other employees, the Company provides a few additional benefits to its Officers.
These benefits are designed to enable the Officers to balance their personal, business and travel
schedules. Benefits include the Companys payment of club dues, which in 2008 amounted to less
than $4,000 annually per membership, for four of the NEOs as indicated in the accompanying Summary
Compensation Table. The Company also pays annual dues for Robert G. Ruhlman at a club located near
the Companys Rogers, Arkansas facility, which totaled approximately $3,100 in 2008. This benefit
is also provided to four other employees, primarily for business entertainment purposes. Except as
described here, the corporate aircraft is available to all of the employees, including the
Officers, for business-related travel only. The CEO is permitted to use the Companys corporate
aircraft for personal purposes, as shown on the Summary Compensation Table. The Company also makes
personal financial advice available to the CEO and tax advice available to all its Officers.
10
Directors Compensation. The Company pays each Board member meeting fees for each meeting
attended, including Compensation Committee and Audit Committee Meetings. The Committee reviewed
whether this system appropriately and adequately recognized the active role in corporate governance
required from the Board members on an on-going basis. A crucial driver is the need to ensure that
the Company can retain and recruit Directors who are chosen for the financial and business acumen
rather than prestige. The Committee agreed that elimination of meeting fees and establishment of
an annual retainer was appropriate. This shift enables the Directors to focus on their role as an
overseer of corporate governance on a day-to-day basis.
Tax Deductibility of Pay. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 places a limit
of $1 million on the amount of compensation that a company may deduct in any one year with respect
to each of its NEOs. All Officers were below this threshold in 2008, except the CEO.
Compensation Committee Report
The Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K, and based on the review and discussion, the
Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be
included in this Proxy Statement.
Glenn E. Corlett, Chairman
Michael E. Gibbons
Richard R. Gascoigne
Summary Compensation Table
The table below describes the compensation earned in the last fiscal year for our NEOs.
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Non-Equity |
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Stock |
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Incentive Plan |
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All Other |
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Name and |
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Salary |
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Awards |
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Compensation |
|
Compensation |
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Total |
Principal Position |
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Year |
|
($) |
|
($) (1) |
|
($) |
|
($) (2) |
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($) |
Robert G. Ruhlman |
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2008 |
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600,000 |
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165,101 |
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600,000 |
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352,017 |
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1,717,118 |
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Chairman, President and |
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2007 |
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550,000 |
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550,000 |
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254,342 |
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1,354,342 |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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2006 |
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500,000 |
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250,000 |
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216,940 |
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966,940 |
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Eric R. Graef |
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2008 |
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280,000 |
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33,955 |
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238,000 |
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102,198 |
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654,153 |
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Chief Financial Officer
and |
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2007 |
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265,000 |
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225,260 |
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75,333 |
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565,593 |
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Vice President Finance |
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2006 |
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250,000 |
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125,000 |
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61,649 |
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436,649 |
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William H. Haag III |
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2008 |
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236,400 |
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28,667 |
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200,940 |
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84,032 |
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550,039 |
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Vice President - |
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2007 |
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223,600 |
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190,070 |
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61,066 |
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474,736 |
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International Operations |
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2006 |
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215,000 |
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107,500 |
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52,625 |
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375,125 |
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Dennis F. McKenna |
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2008 |
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230,000 |
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27,891 |
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195,500 |
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79,965 |
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533,356 |
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Vice President Marketing |
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2007 |
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212,000 |
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180,200 |
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55,351 |
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447,551 |
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and Business Development |
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2006 |
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200,000 |
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100,000 |
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45,840 |
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345,840 |
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J. Cecil Curlee Jr. |
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2008 |
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180,000 |
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21,828 |
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153,000 |
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60,766 |
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415,594 |
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Vice President Human |
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2007 |
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173,260 |
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147,270 |
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44,107 |
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364,637 |
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Resources |
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2006 |
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165,000 |
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82,500 |
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37,019 |
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284,519 |
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(1) |
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Reflects the dollar amount of expense recognized by the Company for financial statement reporting purposes in 2008, as determined in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standard 123R, with respect to shares of restricted shares under the LTIP. For a further description of these awards, see the discussion under the heading
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11
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Long-term equity grants above and Note G Share-Based Compensation to the Notes to Consolidated
Statements in the Companys 10-K filing. |
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(2) |
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Reflects the employees 2008 earnings and interest accruals to the related non-qualified
Supplemental Profit Sharing Plan, of which the Company accrues for (but does not fund) those
employees awards which exceed the maximum allowable contribution permitted under existing tax
laws for Robert G. Ruhlman, $206,022; Eric R. Graef, $59,482; William H. Haag III, $44,010;
Dennis F. McKenna, $40,094; and J. Cecil Curlee Jr., $24,104. See Non-qualified Deferred
Compensation Table for additional information. Reflects the following perquisites and
personal benefits received by Robert G. Ruhlman: aggregate incremental cost for personal use
of the Companys airplane of $49,114, club dues of $6,546, tax preparation fees of $3,055 and
financial planning of $48,000. The aggregate incremental cost of the personal use of the
corporate airplane is determined on a per flight basis and includes the cost of the fuel used,
the hourly cost of aircraft maintenance for the applicable number of flight hours, landing
fees, trip-related hangar and parking costs, crew expenses and other costs specifically
incurred. Imputed income is assessed to Mr. Ruhlman amounting to the equivalent of a first
class ticket for a comparable flight. Reflects the Companys contributions to the Profit
Sharing Plan in 2008 of $34,500 for each NEO. Also reflects premiums paid for group term life
insurance for 2008: Robert G. Ruhlman, $4,830; Eric R. Graef, $4,076; William H. Haag III,
$1,184; Dennis F. McKenna, $432; and J. Cecil Curlee Jr., $1,352. |
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
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All Other |
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Stock |
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Grant Date |
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Estimated Future |
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Estimated Future |
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Awards: |
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Fair Value |
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Payouts Under Non-Equity |
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Payouts Under Equity |
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Number of |
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of Stock |
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Incentive Plan Awards (1) |
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Incentive Plan Awards (2) |
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Shares of |
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and Option |
Name |
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Grant Date |
|
Approval Date |
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Threshold ($) |
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Target ($) |
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Maximum ($) |
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Threshold (#) |
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Target (#) |
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Maximum (#) |
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Stocks (#) (3) |
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Awards (4) |
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Robert G. Ruhlman |
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|
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|
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|
|
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270,000 |
|
|
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420,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
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Eric R. Graef |
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
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84,000 |
|
|
|
98,000 |
|
|
|
238,000 |
|
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|
|
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William H. Haag III |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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70,920 |
|
|
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82,740 |
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|
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200,940 |
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Dennis F. McKenna |
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|
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69,000 |
|
|
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80,500 |
|
|
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195,500 |
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J. Cecil Curlee Jr. |
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54,000 |
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63,000 |
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|
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153,000 |
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Robert G. Ruhlman |
|
|
8/29/08 |
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|
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8/21/08 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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5,567 |
|
|
|
11,134 |
|
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22,268 |
|
|
|
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1,218,950 |
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Eric R. Graef |
|
|
8/29/08 |
|
|
|
8/21/08 |
|
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|
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65,182 |
|
|
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130,363 |
|
|
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260,727 |
|
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|
953 |
|
|
|
260,727 |
|
William H. Haag III |
|
|
8/29/08 |
|
|
|
8/21/08 |
|
|
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|
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55,027 |
|
|
|
110,055 |
|
|
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220,110 |
|
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|
804 |
|
|
|
220,110 |
|
Dennis F. McKenna |
|
|
8/29/08 |
|
|
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8/21/08 |
|
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53,536 |
|
|
|
107,071 |
|
|
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214,143 |
|
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|
782 |
|
|
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214,143 |
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J. Cecil Curlee Jr. |
|
|
8/29/08 |
|
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8/21/08 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41,890 |
|
|
|
83,780 |
|
|
|
167,559 |
|
|
|
612 |
|
|
|
167,559 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Reflects the dollar amount of the potential payout under the Companys Annual Non-equity
Incentive Plan. |
|
(2) |
|
Reflects the number of performance-based restricted share awards granted during 2008 pursuant
to the LTIP. The awards vest over a three-year performance period from January 1,2008 through
December 31, 2010 and depend on continuous employment and the Companys level of performance
measured by growth in pretax income and sales growth over the performance period. |
|
(3) |
|
Reflects the number of time-based restricted share awards granted during 2008 pursuant to
the LTIP. The awards cliff vest and are no longer subject to risk of forfeiture after
three-years on August 31, 2011 depending on continuous employment. |
|
(4) |
|
The value of the restricted shares was calculated using the closing market price of the
restricted shares on the grant date multiplied by the number of restricted shares granted and
reflects the total amount that the Company would expense in its financial statements over the
restricted awards vesting period assuming service and performance goals are met, in
accordance with FAS 123R. |
12
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
|
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|
OPTION AWARDS |
|
STOCK AWARDS |
|
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|
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|
Equity Incentive |
|
Equity Incentive |
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|
Plan Awards: |
|
Plan Awards: Market |
|
|
Number of |
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|
|
Number of Unearned |
|
or Payout Value of |
|
|
Securities |
|
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|
|
Shares, Units or |
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Unearned Shares, |
|
|
Underlying |
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Other Rights That |
|
Units or Other |
|
|
Unexercised Options |
|
Option Exercise |
|
Option Expiration |
|
Have Not Vested (#) |
|
Rights That Have |
Name |
|
(#) Exercisable |
|
Price ($) |
|
Date |
|
(1) |
|
Not Vested ($) (2) |
|
Robert G. Ruhlman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric R. Graef |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
15.13 |
|
|
|
2/16/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William H. Haag III |
|
|
6,098 |
|
|
|
15.13 |
|
|
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2/16/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis F. McKenna |
|
|
1,300 |
|
|
|
15.13 |
|
|
|
2/16/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis F. McKenna |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
22.10 |
|
|
|
7/28/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Cecil Curlee Jr. |
|
|
9,650 |
|
|
|
14.33 |
|
|
|
4/28/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert G. Ruhlman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,347 |
|
|
|
1,028,856 |
|
Eric R. Graef |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,779 |
|
|
|
220,025 |
|
William H. Haag III |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,034 |
|
|
|
185,725 |
|
Dennis F. McKenna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,925 |
|
|
|
180,707 |
|
J. Cecil Curlee Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,071 |
|
|
|
141,389 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes dividends that were reinvested in additional restricted shares.
|
|
(2) |
|
The market value was calculated using the closing price of the shares of $46.04 as of December
31, 2008. |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
OPTION AWARDS |
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value |
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Realized on |
Name |
|
Exercise (#) |
|
Exercise ($) |
|
Robert G. Ruhlman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric R. Graef |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William H. Haag III |
|
|
650 |
|
|
|
14,544 |
|
Dennis F. McKenna |
|
|
200 |
|
|
|
7,981 |
|
J. Cecil Curlee Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
Non-qualified Deferred Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registrant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributions in |
|
Aggregate Earnings |
|
Aggregate Balance |
Name |
|
Last FY ($) (1) |
|
in Last FY ($) (1) |
|
at Last FYE ($) (2) |
|
Robert G. Ruhlman |
|
|
181,117 |
|
|
|
24,905 |
|
|
|
779,865 |
|
Eric R. Graef |
|
|
54,712 |
|
|
|
4,770 |
|
|
|
169,387 |
|
William H. Haag III |
|
|
41,227 |
|
|
|
3,783 |
|
|
|
108,133 |
|
Dennis F. McKenna |
|
|
38,693 |
|
|
|
1,401 |
|
|
|
72,384 |
|
J. Cecil Curlee Jr. |
|
|
23,577 |
|
|
|
527 |
|
|
|
36,237 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The Companys contributions for the Supplemental Profit Sharing Plan for the year ending
December 31, 2008 included in the identified columns are also included in the Summary Compensation
Table. The amounts are based on compensation that is limited by the IRS to the Companys
qualified retirement plan. Earnings are calculated based on an imputed interest rate multiplied by
the amount that the employee earned under the plan. |
|
(2) |
|
Of the totals in this column, the following amounts have previously been reported in the
Summary Compensation Table in previously filed proxy statements: Robert G. Ruhlman,
$451,529; Eric R.Graef, $106,862; William H. Haag III, $63,328;
Dennis F. McKenna, $32,289; and J.
Cecil Curlee Jr., $12,134. |
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
All of our employees, including executive officers, are employed at will and do not have
employment, severance or change-in-control agreements. However, the LTIP includes a change in
control provision which provides in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan), (a)
any Options outstanding which are not then exercisable and vested shall become fully exercisable
and vested; and (b) the restrictions applicable to any Restricted Stock shall lapse and such
Restricted Stock shall become fully vested and transferable). The following details typical
compensation arrangements upon retirement, resignation, death, disability or other termination for
other plans.
Profit-Sharing Plan
Upon termination of employment, the employee may receive vested contributions plus income
earned on those contributions under the Companys Profit Sharing Plan. Upon disability, the IRS
allows withdrawals to be made if the employee became permanently disabled. Upon death, the vested
account balance of the employee will be paid to the designated beneficiaries.
Supplemental Profit-Sharing Plan
Our Supplemental Profit-Sharing Plan was established to compensate employees whose benefits in
the Profit-Sharing Plan were reduced due to IRS limitations on compensation. Upon termination of
employment, the employee may receive vested contributions plus income earned on those
contributions. Upon disability, the IRS allows withdrawals to be made if the employee became
permanently disabled. Upon death, the vested account balance of the employee will be paid to the
designated beneficiaries.
14
Director Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned |
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
or Paid |
|
Compensation ($) |
|
|
Name |
|
in Cash ($) |
|
(1) |
|
Total ($) |
|
Barbara P. Ruhlman |
|
|
20,900 |
|
|
|
7,238 |
|
|
|
28,138 |
|
Randall M. Ruhlman |
|
|
20,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,900 |
|
Frank B. Carr |
|
|
30,140 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,140 |
|
Glenn E. Corlett |
|
|
31,680 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,680 |
|
John D. Drinko |
|
|
3,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,300 |
|
Michael E. Gibbons |
|
|
22,220 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,220 |
|
R. Steven Kestner |
|
|
17,600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,600 |
|
John P. OBrien |
|
|
12,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,100 |
|
Each director who is not an employee of the Company received $3,300 per quarter for being a
director, and $1,540 for attending each meeting of the Board of Directors and each committee
meeting. Directors who are also employees are not paid a directors fee. The Company reimburses
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by all directors in connection with attending Board of Directors
and committee meetings.
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes compensation attributable to the aggregate incremental cost of the personal use of
the corporate airplane for Barbara P. Ruhlman, $7,238. The aggregate incremental cost of the
personal use of the corporate aircraft is determined on a per flight basis and includes the
cost of the fuel used, the hourly cost of aircraft maintenance for the applicable number of
flight hours, landing fees, trip-related hangar and parking costs, crew expenses and other
costs specifically incurred. Imputed income is assessed to Mrs. Ruhlman amounting to the
equivalent of a first class ticket for a comparable flight. |
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
There are no Compensation Committee interlocks or insider participation.
Transactions with Related Persons
It is the policy of the Company that the Audit Committee approve all related party
transactions.
The Company has a Code of Conduct that addresses the Companys commitment to the honesty,
integrity and ethical behavior of the Companys directors, officers and employees. The Code
governs the actions and working relationships of the Companys directors, officers and employees
with current and potential customers, consumers, fellow employees, competitors, government and
self-regulatory agencies, investors, the public, the media and anyone else with whom the Company
has or may have contact. Each director, elected executive officer and employee is instructed to
always inform the Board when confronted with a situation that may be perceived as a conflict of
interest. All related party transactions must be approved by the Audit Committee in advance. The
Audit Committee may engage outside parties to assist it in assessing the fairness and
reasonableness of related party transactions. Although the policies and procedures for related
parties are not in writing, the results of actions taken by the Audit Committee are documented in
formal minutes and are reported to the Board.
The Companys Belos operation hires temporary employees through a temporary work agency,
Flex-Work Sp. Z o.o., which is 50% owned by Agnieszka Rozwadowska. Agnieszka Rozwadowska is the
wife of Piotr
Rozwadowski, the Managing Director of the Belos operation located in Poland. For the year
ended December 31, 2008, Belos incurred a total of $1.1 million for such temporary labor expense,
which was not preapproved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee
ratified and approved the related party
transaction on February 24, 2009. The Company believes the terms of the temporary employee
arrangement with Flex-Work Sp. Z.o.o are no less favorable to the Company than would be the terms
of a third-party arrangement.
15
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2010 ANNUAL MEETING
Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented, pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), at the 2010 annual meeting of shareholders
must be received by the Company at 660 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143, on or before
November 20, 2009, for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2010
annual meeting of shareholders. In order for a shareholders proposal outside of Rule 14a-8 under
the Exchange Act to be considered timely within the meaning of Rule 14a-4(c) of the Exchange Act,
such proposal must have been received by the Company at the address listed in the immediately
preceding sentence not later than February 4, 2010.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Companys directors and executive officers, and
owners of more than 10% of our Common Shares, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the SEC) initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our Common Shares
and other equity securities. Executive officers, directors and owners of more than 10% of the
Common Shares are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all forms they
file pursuant to Section 16(a).
Based solely on a review of these reports and written representations from the executive
officers and directors, the Company believes that there was compliance with all such filing
requirements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, except that the Form 8-K dated August 29,
2008. In addition Barbara Ruhlman, Director, inadvertently filed a late Form 4 and Form 3 related
to a change in ownership to a trust. Robert Ruhlman, Chief Executive Officer and Randall Ruhlman,
Director; inadvertently filed one late Form 4 related to one
transaction.
OTHER MATTERS
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2009.
Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP, which served as the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2008, are expected to be present at the annual
meeting of shareholders, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and will
be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP (E&Y) for
the audit of the Companys annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008, the
audit of internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 and E&Ys review of the
financial statements included in the Companys Form 10-Qs filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) for the second and third quarters of 2008 were $1,294,000, which include
statutory audits of various international subsidiaries. The aggregate fees billed for professional
services rendered by the Companys former independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte &
Touche LLP (Deloitte) review of the financial statements included in the Companys Form 10-Q
filed with the SEC for the first quarter of 2008 were $89,000. The aggregate fees billed for
professional services rendered by Deloitte, for the audit of the Companys annual financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2007, the audit of internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2007 and Deloittes
reviews of the financial statements included in the Companys Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the
first, second and third quarters of 2007 were $2,235,000, which includes statutory audits of
various international subsidiaries.
Audit-Related Fees
The incremental fees billed for professional services rendered by E&Y for audit-related
services for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $63,000. Fees included in 2008 were for
services related to the review of the
16
final purchase price allocation related to the acquisition of
Belos SA. The incremental fees billed for professional services rendered by Deloitte, prior to the
change to E&Y, for audit-related services for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $17,400 and
included services related to the purchase price allocation related to the acquisition of Belos SA
and an intercompany inventory review at our Australian subsidiary. The incremental fees billed for
professional services rendered by Deloitte for audit-related services for the year ended December
31, 2007 were $539,000. Fees included in 2007 were for expenses related to the review of responses
to the SEC comment letters and applicable changes to financial statements included in the Companys
Forms 10-K/A, 10-Q/A and 10-Qs filed with the SEC due to responses to the comment letters.
Tax Fees
The incremental fees billed for professional services rendered by E&Y for tax-related services
for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $43,000. Fees included in 2008 were for an earnings and
profits study and unremitted earnings study. The incremental fees billed for professional services
rendered by Deloitte for tax-related services for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $5,000,
prior to the change to E&Y. Fees included in 2008 were for a transfer pricing analysis at the
Companys Mexican subsidiary. The incremental fees billed for professional services rendered by
Deloitte for tax-related services for the year ended December 31, 2007 were $15,000. Fees included
in 2007 were for transfer pricing analysis at the Companys Mexican subsidiary and income tax
return preparation for the Companys Australian subsidiary.
All Other Fees
The incremental fees billed for professional services rendered by E&Y for all other
services for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $0. The incremental fees billed for
professional services rendered by the Deloitte for all other services for the year ended December
31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 were $5,200 and $6,900, respectively. The fees included in 2008
were for filing the Companys financial statements in Puerto Rico. The fees included in 2007 were
for a workers compensation audit for our Australian subsidiary and filing the Companys financial
statements in Puerto Rico.
Communication with the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Company believes that it is
important for shareholders to have a process to send communications to the Board of Directors.
Accordingly, shareholders who wish to communicate with the Board of Directors or a particular
director may do so by sending a letter to:
|
|
|
|
|
Caroline S. Vaccariello
|
|
- or -
|
|
Michael E. Gibbons |
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
|
|
|
|
Chairman, Audit Committee |
Preformed Line Products Company
|
|
|
|
1111 Superior Ave |
660 Beta Drive
|
|
|
|
Suite 900 |
Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143
|
|
|
|
Cleveland, OH 44114 |
The mailing envelope must
contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is a Stockholder-Board Communication
or Stockholder-Director Communication. All such letters must identify the author as a
stockholder and clearly state whether the intended recipients are all members of the Board of
Directors or certain specified individual directors. The Secretary and Mr. Gibbons, as applicable,
will make copies of all such letters and circulate them to the appropriate director or directors.
The directors are not spokespeople for the Company and shareholders should not expect a response or
reply to any communication.
Miscellaneous
If the enclosed proxy card is executed and returned to the Company, the persons named in it
will vote the shares represented by that proxy at the meeting. The form of proxy permits
specification of a vote for the election of directors as set forth under Election of Directors
above, the withholding of authority to vote in the election of directors, or the withholding of
authority to vote for one or more specified nominees. When a choice has been specified in the
proxy, the shares represented will be voted in accordance with that specification. If no
specification is made, those shares will be voted at the meeting to elect directors as set forth
under Election of Directors above.
17
Under Ohio law and our Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, broker non-votes and abstaining votes will not be counted in favor of or against any
nominee but will be counted as present for purposes of determining whether a quorum has been
achieved at the meeting. Director nominees who receive the greatest number of affirmative votes
will be elected directors. All other matters to be considered at the meeting require for approval
the favorable vote of a majority of the shares voted at the meeting in person or by proxy. If any
other matter properly comes before the meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote thereon in
accordance with their judgment. We do not know of any other matter that will be presented for
action at the meeting and we have not received any timely notice that any of our shareholders
intend to present a proposal at the meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
By order of the Board of Directors,
|
|
|
caroline S. Vaccariello, |
|
|
Secretary |
|
|
Dated: March 20, 2009
18
PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
The undersigned hereby appoints Robert G. Ruhlman, Eric R. Graef and Caroline S. Vaccariello,
and each of them, attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to
attend the annual meeting of shareholders of Preformed Line Products Company to be held at 660 Beta
Drive, Mayfield Village, Ohio, on Monday, April 27, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., local time, or any
adjournment thereof, and to vote the number of common shares of Preformed Line Products Company
which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, and with all the power the undersigned would
possess if personally present as directed on the reverse.
|
|
|
|
|
Receipt of the Notice of Annual
Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy
Statement dated March 20, 2009, is
hereby acknowledged. |
|
|
|
|
|
Dated
, 2009 |
|
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|
Signature(s) |
|
|
|
|
|
(Please sign exactly as your name or
names appear hereon, indicating, where
proper, official position or
representative capacity.) |
PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY
PROXY
The Proxies will vote as specified below, or if a choice is not specified, they will vote FOR the
nominees listed in Item 1.
|
1. |
|
FOR, or WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for, the following nominees for
election as directors, each to serve until the 2011 annual meeting of the shareholders and
until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified: Barbara P. Ruhlman, Robert G.
Ruhlman and Richard R. Gascoigne |
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any particular nominee, write that nominees
name on the line provided below.)
|
2. |
|
On such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
2