UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Check the appropriate box:
¨ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
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AmpcoPittsburgh Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x | No fee required. |
¨ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. |
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF
AMPCO-PITTSBURGH CORPORATION
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation will be held in The Carnegie Room, 3rd Floor, The Duquesne Club, 325 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., for the following purposes:
1. | To elect a class of three Directors for a term that expires in 2011. |
2. | To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2008. |
3. | To act upon a proposal to approve the Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan. |
4. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment thereof. |
Shareholders of record on March 5, 2008 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rose Hoover, | ||
Vice President Administration and Secretary |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
March 6, 2008
All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. Your vote is important and, whether or not you expect to attend in person, it is requested that you PROMPTLY fill in, sign, and return the enclosed proxy card or follow the internet or telephone voting instructions included on the proxy card.
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Nominees for Directors for a Term of Office Expiring in 2011 |
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
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Role of Executive Officers in Determining Executive Compensation |
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Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Proposal 2) |
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Adoption of Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Proposal 3) |
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March 6, 2008
Annual Meeting of Shareholders April 23, 2008
This Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of AMPCO-PITTSBURGH CORPORATION (the Corporation) to be held on April 23, 2008. The first mailing of the proxy material to the shareholders is expected to be made on March 14, 2008.
The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by Directors and employees, in person or by telephone, and brokers and nominees may be requested to send proxy material to and obtain proxies from their principals. The Corporation will pay the costs incurred for those solicitations of proxies and will pay Mellon Investor Services LLC, 480 Washington Blvd., Jersey City, NJ a fee of $7,500, plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, for aid in the solicitation of proxies.
Any shareholder has the power to revoke the proxy at any time prior to the voting thereof. Revocation of the proxy will not be effective until notice thereof has been given to the Secretary of the Corporation or until a duly executed proxy bearing a later date is presented.
VOTING SECURITIES AND RECORD DATE
Only holders of record of Common Stock of the Corporation at the close of business on March 5, 2008, will be entitled to vote at the meeting. On that date, there were 10,177,497 shares of Common Stock outstanding. The holders of those shares are entitled to one vote per share. In the election of Directors, the shares may be voted cumulatively. Cumulative voting means that the number of shares owned by each shareholder may be multiplied by the number of Directors to be elected and that total voted for the nominees in any proportion. Shares that are not voted cumulatively are voted on a one vote per share basis for each nominee, except for those nominees, if any, for whom the shareholder is withholding authority to vote.
Under Pennsylvania law and the Corporations by-laws, the presence of a quorum is required to transact business at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. A quorum is defined as the presence, either in person or by proxy, of a majority of the votes that all shareholders are entitled to cast at the meeting. Abstentions, votes withheld from director nominees, and broker-dealer non-votes (shares held by a broker or nominee as to which the broker or nominee does not have the authority to vote on a particular matter) will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum, but will have no effect on matters to be voted on. Assuming the presence of a quorum, the three nominees for director receiving the highest number of votes will be elected directors and the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting is necessary to approve any other proposal.
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(Proposal 1)
A class of three Directors will be elected for a term of three years to fill the class of Directors whose term expires in 2008. All nominees for election to the Board of Directors are currently Directors. The nominees were recommended by the Nominating and Governance Committee and nominated by the Board of Directors at its February 20, 2008 meeting and are willing to serve as Directors if elected. The Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the election of each of the nominees listed below. If at the time of the Annual Meeting a nominee should be unable or unwilling to stand for election, the proxies will be voted for the election of such person, if any, as may be selected by the Board of Directors to replace him.
Nominees for Directors for a Term of Office Expiring in 2011:
WILLIAM K. LIEBERMAN (age 60, Director since 2004). Mr. Lieberman has been President of The Lieberman Companies since 2003. For more than five years before 2003, he was Executive Vice President of Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton Company of Pittsburgh, an insurance firm.
STEPHEN E. PAUL (age 40, Director since 2002). Mr. Paul has been a managing principal of Laurel Crown Partners, a private investment company, since 2002. He is also a director of Mortons Restaurant Group, Inc.
CARL H. PFORZHEIMER, III (age 71, Director since 1982). Mr. Pforzheimer has been Managing Partner or Manager of Carl H. Pforzheimer & Co. LLC or its predecessors or related entities for more than five years.
Directors Whose Term of Office Expires in 2010:
LEONARD M. CARROLL (age 65, Director since 1996). Mr. Carroll has been Managing Director of Seneca Capital Management, Inc., a private investment company, for more than five years. He is also a Director of Gateway Bank.
LAURENCE E. PAUL (age 43, Director since 1998). Mr. Paul has been a managing principal of Laurel Crown Partners, a private investment company, since 2002. He is also a director of Biovail Corporation.
ERNEST G. SIDDONS (age 74, Director since 1981). Mr. Siddons has been President and Chief Operating Officer since March 2004. Prior to March 2004, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation for more than five years.
Directors Whose Term of Office Expires in 2009:
ROBERT J. APPEL (age 76, Director since 2004); Mr. Appel has been President of Appel Associates since May 2003. Prior to May 2003, he was a partner of Neuberger Berman (an investment advisory firm which was acquired by Lehman Brothers) for more than five years.
WILLIAM D. EBERLE (age 84, Director since 1982). Mr. Eberle has been a private investor and consultant and Chairman of Manchester Associates, Ltd. for more than five years. He is also a director of America Service Group and Mid States, PLC.
PAUL A. GOULD (age 62, Director since 2002). Mr. Gould has been managing director of Allen & Co., Inc., an investment banking company, for more than five years. He is also a director of Liberty Media Corporation, Liberty Global, Inc. and Discovery Holding Company.
ROBERT A. PAUL (age 70, Director since 1970). Mr. Paul has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since March 2004. Prior to March 2004, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for more than five years. He is also the President and a director of The Louis Berkman Investment Company.
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At the February 20, 2008 meeting, upon the announcement of his retirement as a director, the Board of Directors named Louis Berkman Director Emeritus in recognition of his contributions and long term service to the Corporation. Mr. Berkman has been Chairman Emeritus of the Board since March 2004. Prior to March 2004, he was Chairman of the Board for more than five years. Louis Berkman is the father-in-law of Robert A. Paul and the grandfather of Laurence E. Paul and Stephen E. Paul (sons of Robert A. Paul). There are no other family relationships among the Directors and Officers.
The Board of Directors has adopted categorical standards to assist it in evaluating the independence of its Directors. The standards are attached to the Corporate Governance Guidelines which are available on the Corporations website at www.ampcopittsburgh.com. After performing this evaluation in accordance with those guidelines, the Board has determined that Robert J. Appel, Leonard M. Carroll, William D. Eberle, Paul A. Gould, William K. Lieberman and Carl H. Pforzheimer, III do not have material relationships with the Corporation (other than as members of the Board of Directors) and are independent within the meaning of the Corporations independence standards and those of the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE).
Director Nominating Procedures
The Corporations Corporate Governance Guidelines and its Nominating and Governance Committee Charter charge the Nominating and Governance Committee with selecting nominees for election to the Board of Directors and with reviewing at least annually the qualifications of new and existing members of the Board of Directors, considering the extent to which such members may be considered independent within the meaning of applicable NYSE rules as well as other appropriate factors, including overall skills and experience.
The Nominating and Governance Committee will, from time to time, seek to identify potential candidates for director nominees and will consider potential candidates proposed by other members of the Board of Directors, by management of the Corporation or by shareholders of the Corporation.
In considering candidates submitted by shareholders of the Corporation, the Nominating and Governance Committee will take into consideration the needs of the Board of Directors and the candidates qualifications. To have a candidate considered by the Committee, a shareholder must submit the recommendation in writing and must include the following information:
| The name and address of the proposed candidate; |
| The proposed candidates resume or a listing of his or her qualifications to be a director of the Corporation; |
| A description of what would make such person a good addition to the Board of Directors; |
| A description of any relationship that could affect such persons qualifying as an independent director, including identifying all other public company board and committee memberships; |
| A confirmation of such persons willingness to serve as a director if selected by the Nominating and Governance Committee; |
| The name of the shareholder submitting the name of the proposed candidate, together with information as to the number of shares owned and the length of time of ownership; and |
| Any information about the proposed candidate that would, under the federal proxy rules, be required to be included in the Corporations proxy statement if such person were a nominee. |
The shareholder recommendation and information described above must be sent to the Corporate Secretary at 600 Grant Street, Suite 4600, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 and, in order to allow for timely consideration, must be received not less than 120 days in advance of the anniversary date of the release of the proxy statement for the Corporations most recent annual meeting of shareholders.
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Once a person has been identified by the Nominating and Governance Committee as a potential candidate, the Committee may collect and review publicly available information regarding the person to assess whether the person should be considered further. Generally, if the person expresses a willingness to be considered and to serve on the Board of Directors and the Nominating and Governance Committee believes that the candidate has the potential to be a good candidate, the Committee would seek to gather information from or about the candidate, including through one or more interviews as appropriate and review his or her accomplishments and qualifications generally, including in light of any other candidates that the Committee may be considering. The Nominating and Governance Committees evaluation process does not vary based on whether the candidate is recommended by a shareholder.
The non-management directors have regularly scheduled executive sessions. On April 25, 2007 William K. Lieberman was chosen to preside as the lead director at these meetings. A new lead director will be chosen annually. Any shareholder who wants to communicate directly with the presiding director or the non-management directors as a group can do so by following the procedure below under Shareholder Communications with Directors.
Shareholder Communications with Directors
The Board of Directors has established a process to receive communications from shareholders and other interested parties. To communicate with the Board of Directors, any individual director or any group or committee of directors, correspondence should be addressed to the Board of Directors or such individual or group or committee and sent to Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation c/o Corporate Secretary at 600 Grant Street, Suite 4600, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Communications sent in this manner will be reviewed by the office of the Corporate Secretary for the sole purpose of determining whether the contents represent a message to one or more of the Corporations directors.
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COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors held five meetings in 2007 and took action one time by written consent. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors met once and took action two times by written consent. The Executive Committee in 2007 was comprised of five Directors: Robert A. Paul, Ernest G. Siddons, Leonard M. Carroll, William K. Lieberman and Carl H. Pforzheimer, III.
The Compensation Committee met three times in 2007 and is comprised of Robert J. Appel (Chairman), William D. Eberle, Paul A. Gould and William K. Lieberman. The Nominating and Governance Committee met twice in 2007 and is comprised of Paul A. Gould (Chairman), William K. Lieberman and Carl H. Pforzheimer, III. The Investment Committee met four times in 2007 and was comprised of Robert A. Paul, Ernest G. Siddons, Robert J. Appel and Paul A. Gould.
The Audit Committee held eight meetings in 2007 and was comprised of Carl H. Pforzheimer, III (Chairman), William D. Eberle, Leonard M. Carroll, Paul A. Gould and Robert J. Appel. None of the Committee members is now, or has within the past five years been, an employee of the Corporation. The Audit Committee reviews the Corporations accounting and reporting practices, including internal control procedures, and maintains a direct line of communication with the Directors and the independent accountants.
All members of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Compensation Committee are independent as that term is defined by the applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules, listed company standards of the NYSE and the categorical standards adopted by the Board of Directors. Each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate. The Board of Directors has determined that the Chairman of the Audit Committee is a financial expert as defined in the applicable SEC rules.
All of the Directors attended at least 75% of the applicable board and committee meetings.
In 2007, each Director who was not employed by the Corporation received an annual retainer, payable quarterly, of $20,000, except for the Chairman of the Audit Committee, who received $22,500. Each non-employee Director also received $1,000 for each Board meeting and Audit Committee meeting attended and $500 for all other committee meetings attended. Attendance may be either in person or by telephonic connection and Directors did not receive a fee for either Board or committee meetings if they did not attend. In December 2007, the annual retainer to be paid in 2008 to non-employee Directors and to the Chairman of the Audit Committee was increased to $25,000 and $27,500 respectively.
The Nominating and Governance Committee Charter, the Compensation Committee Charter, the Audit Committee Charter and the Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on the Corporations website at www.ampcopittsburgh.com. The Corporation has also adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of its officers, directors and employees, as well as an additional Code of Ethics that applies to the Corporations chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Copies of both Codes are available on the Corporations website. The Corporation will provide a copy of these documents to any shareholder who makes a request in writing to the Corporate Secretary, Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation, 600 Grant Street, Suite 4600, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
The Corporation encourages its Directors to attend the Annual Meeting of the Corporations shareholders. All of the Directors were in attendance at the 2007 Annual Meeting except Louis Berkman.
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BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information, to the extent known by the Corporation, concerning individuals (other than Directors or Officers of the Corporation) or entities holding more than five percent of the outstanding shares of the Corporations Common Stock. The percent of class in the table below is calculated based upon 10,177,497 shares outstanding as of March 5, 2008.
Name of |
Amount and nature of beneficial ownership |
Percent of class | |||
The Louis Berkman Investment Company P. O. Box 576 Steubenville, OH 43952 |
1,613,842 | (1) | 15.86 | ||
Gabelli Funds, Inc. (and affiliates) Corporate Center Rye, NY 10580 |
1,609,362 | (2) | 15.81 | ||
Van Den Berg Management 805 Las Cimas Parkway Austin, TX 78746 |
810,998 | (3) | 7.97 | ||
Keeley Asset Management Corp. 401 South LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60605 |
787,500 | (4) | 7.7 |
(1) | Louis Berkman, Director Emeritus, is an officer and director of The Louis Berkman Investment Company and owns directly 61.51% of its common stock. Robert A. Paul, is an officer and director of The Louis Berkman Investment Company, and disclaims beneficial ownership of the 38.49% of its common stock owned by his wife. |
(2) | Reported in an amendment to Schedule 13D filed with the SEC in July 2007. |
(3) | Reported as of December 31, 2004 on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC disclosing it had shared and sole voting and dispositive power of these shares. |
(4) | Reported as of December 31, 2007 on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC in which it disclosed it shares beneficial ownership of 780,000 shares with Keeley Small Cap Value Fund. |
The following table sets forth as of March 5, 2008 information concerning the beneficial ownership of the Corporations Common Stock by the Directors and Named Executive Officers and all Directors and Executive Officers of the Corporation as a group:
Name of |
Amount and nature of beneficial ownership |
Percent of class | |||
Louis Berkman |
1,831,108 | (1)(2) | 17.99 | ||
Robert A. Paul |
57,922 | (2)(3) | .57 | ||
Carl H. Pforzheimer, III (N) |
2,733 | (4) | .03 | ||
Terrence W. Kenny |
2,500 | (5) | .02 | ||
Ernest G. Siddons |
1,833 | (6) | .02 | ||
Leonard M. Carroll |
1,500 | .01 | |||
Robert J. Appel |
1,000 | * | |||
Paul A. Gould |
1,000 | * | |||
Laurence E. Paul |
1,000 | * | |||
Stephen E. Paul (N) |
1,000 | * | |||
William D. Eberle |
1,000 | (7) | * | ||
William K. Lieberman (N) |
1,000 | (8) | * | ||
Robert F. Schultz |
200 | (9) | * | ||
Directors and Executive Officers |
1,902,530 | (10) | 18.69 |
(N) | Nominee for Director |
* | less than .1% |
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(1) | Includes 215,000 shares owned directly, 1,613,842 shares owned by The Louis Berkman Investment Company and the following shares in which he disclaims beneficial ownership: 1,266 shares held by The Louis and Sandra Berkman Foundation, of which he and Robert A. Paul are Trustees, and 1,000 shares owned by his wife. |
(2) | The Louis Berkman Investment Company owns beneficially and of record 1,613,842 shares of the Corporations Common Stock. Louis Berkman is an officer and director of The Louis Berkman Investment Company and owns directly 61.51% of its common shares. Robert A. Paul, an officer and director of The Louis Berkman Investment Company, disclaims beneficial ownership of the 38.49% of its common stock owned by his wife. The number of shares shown in the table for Robert A. Paul does not include any shares held by The Louis Berkman Investment Company. |
(3) | Includes 42,889 shares owned directly, and the following shares in which he disclaims beneficial ownership: 13,767 shares owned by his wife and 1,266 shares held by The Louis and Sandra Berkman Foundation, of which he and Louis Berkman are Trustees. |
(4) | Includes 1,000 shares owned directly, 800 shares held by a trust of which he is a trustee and principal beneficiary, and the following shares in which he disclaims beneficial ownership: 133 shares held by his daughter and 800 shares held by a trust of which he is a trustee. |
(5) | Shares that he has the right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to stock options. |
(6) | Shares held jointly with his wife. |
(7) | Shares held by a trust of which he is a trustee. |
(8) | Shares held jointly with his wife. |
(9) | Shares held jointly with his wife. |
(10) | Includes 2,500 shares that one officer has the right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to stock options and excludes double counting of shares deemed to be beneficially owned by more than one Director. |
Unless otherwise indicated the individuals named have sole investment and voting power.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Corporations directors, executive officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Corporations common stock, to file reports of holdings and transactions in the Corporations common stock with the SEC and to furnish the Corporation with copies of all Section 16(a) reports that they file. Based on those records and other information furnished, during 2007, executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Corporations common stock complied with all filing requirements.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Introduction
In this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, we address the compensation paid or awarded to the executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table that immediately follows this discussion. We refer to these executive officers as our named executive officers.
Compensation decisions for Mr. Paul, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), are made by the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (the Committee) and approved by the independent directors on the Board of Directors. Mr. Paul is also referred to as Principal Executive Officer or PEO. The Committee, in consultation with Mr. Paul, makes recommendations to our Board of Directors with regard to director compensation and compensation of Mr. Siddons, our President and Chief Operating Officer and other officers and managerial employees if their salaries exceed $200,000 per year. Mr. Paul and Mr. Siddons have been delegated the authority to determine the salaries of named executive officers (and other executive and managerial employees) below an annual level of $200,000, which, for 2007, included the salaries of all named executive officers other than Mr. Paul and Mr. Siddons.
Compensation Objectives
The compensation paid or awarded to our named executive officers for 2007 was designed to meet the following objectives:
| Provide compensation that is competitive with compensation for executive officers providing comparable services, taking into account the size of the Corporation, the nature of its business, and the location of its headquarters. We refer to this objective as competitive compensation. |
| Create a compensation structure under which a meaningful portion of total compensation is based on achievement of performance goals relating to the Corporations and the individuals performance and to enhancement of shareholder value. We refer to this objective as performance incentives. |
| Provide an incentive for long-term continued employment with us. We refer to this objective as retention incentives. |
We considered various components of our 2007 compensation payments and awards (added to payments and awards granted in prior years) to meet these objectives as follows:
Type of Compensation |
Objectives Addressed | |
Salary |
Competitive Compensation Performance Incentives | |
Incentive Bonus Plan Awards |
Competitive Compensation Performance Incentives | |
Discretionary Bonus Awards |
Competitive Compensation Performance Incentives | |
Options |
Competitive Compensation Performance Incentives | |
Change in Control Severance Protection |
Competitive Compensation Retention Incentives | |
SERP Benefits |
Competitive Compensation Retention Incentives |
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Determination of Competitive Compensation
In assessing competitive compensation, we relied primarily on the general knowledge of our Committee and Board members and our Chairman and CEO concerning the level of compensation provided by other middle market public companies headquartered in the Greater Pittsburgh area, with such knowledge derived informally from their service on other boards of directors, their acquaintances with directors and executives of other companies and their review of public filings by such companies. We did not rely on benchmarking data or recommendations provided by outside consultants, and we did not try to set the levels of compensation for named executive officers to correspond with levels established by benchmarking data or surveys. Rather, our goal was to provide an overall compensation package that would generally be in line with what other comparable companies are providing to their executive officers.
Salaries
New salary levels for our named executive officers are established on an annual basis at varying anniversary dates. The Corporations financial results are taken into account in making the adjustments.
Determinations regarding salary adjustments are made based on a number of objective and subjective factors, including cost of living increases, the Corporations financial performance, and a qualitative analysis of each individual officers performance during the preceding year, taking into account such factors as leadership, commitment and execution of corporate initiatives and special projects assigned by the Board or the Chairman or the President. We also consider whether there has been any material change in the officers title, duties and responsibilities in the preceding year. Where an officer has assumed material additional duties, or has been promoted, an above-normal salary adjustment would typically be justified. Finally, in rare circumstances, we may decide to make a market adjustment in salaries, if we determine that salary levels for one or more of our named executive officers have fallen materially below levels that we consider appropriate in order to maintain a competitive compensation package and to discourage valued executives from leaving to pursue other opportunities. Salary adjustments for our Chairman and our President are reviewed and must be approved by the Board of Directors, after a recommendation by the Committee. Salary adjustments for the other named executive officers are determined by the Chairman and President.
The base salary determinations for each named executive officer in 2007 were as follows:
Name |
2007 Base Pre-Adjustment Salary |
2007 Base Adjusted Salary(1) |
Percentage Increase |
||||||
Robert A. Paul |
$ | 494,000 | $ | 519,000 | 5.1 | % | |||
Ernest G. Siddons |
$ | 472,000 | $ | 497,000 | 5.3 | % | |||
Robert F. Schultz |
$ | 186,000 | $ | 196,000 | 5.4 | % | |||
Terrence W. Kenny |
$ | 180,000 | $ | 190,000 | 5.6 | % | |||
Rose Hoover |
$ | 160,000 | $ | 172,500 | 7.8 | % | |||
Marliss D. Johnson |
$ | 135,000 | $ | 155,000 | 14.8 | % |
(1) | The numbers in the above chart are different than the 2007 salary figures in the Summary Compensation Table which appears later in this section because those numbers represent total salary paid during calendar 2007, and not just base salary as in the above chart. |
Incentive Bonus Plan Awards
The Committee adopted in December of 2006 an Incentive Bonus Plan for 2007 for Messrs. Paul and Siddons. Incentive payments were to be determined based on the Corporations 2007 income from operations performance as compared to the Corporations business plan for 2007. The maximum payment that could have been made as a bonus to each of the two individuals was 40% of their base salary. The plan allows for the
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exclusion of costs related to asbestos litigation and related asbestos matters and pension credit from operating income. In addition, the Committee, at its discretion, may award bonuses to the participants if it determines that circumstances so warrant. Based on the Corporations operating income, which in 2007 materially exceeded the business plan, each of Messrs. Paul and Siddons earned an Incentive Bonus Award for 2007 equal to 40% of their annual salary in effect on December 31, 2007, or $207,600 for Mr. Paul and $198,800 for Mr. Siddons. No discretionary award was made.
In December 2007, the Committee approved a similar bonus plan for Messrs. Paul and Siddons for 2008 with a maximum payment to the individuals of 40% of annual salary based on the operating performance of the Corporation in 2008 in comparison to the approved business plan.
Mr. Kenny, Group Vice President and a named executive officer, is also covered by an Incentive Bonus Plan for 2007 based on income from operations of the Air and Liquid Processing segment compared to the business plan for that segment. The Incentive Bonus Plan is established by the Chairman and President and provides for a maximum bonus payment of 35% of base salary. In addition, the plan provides for a discretionary bonus if it is determined that circumstances so warrant. In 2007, Mr. Kenny earned an Incentive Bonus Award equal to 35% of his annual salary in effect on December 31, 2007 or $66,500. No discretionary bonus was awarded. A similar plan was also established for Mr. Kenny by the Chairman and President for 2008.
Discretionary Bonus Awards
Each year, the Chairman and President determine the amount of discretionary bonuses paid to our named executive officers who do not participate in the Incentive Bonus Plans described above. The bonuses are determined in a manner similar to the annual base salary adjustments, that is, based on a number of objective and subjective factors, including the Corporations financial performance, and a qualitative analysis of each individual officers performance during the preceding year, taking into account such factors as leadership, commitment, and execution of corporate initiatives and special projects assigned by the Chairman or by the President. The discretionary bonuses are also considered together with the base salary adjustments in ensuring that our executive officers are provided a competitive level of cash compensation each year, but the discretionary bonus portion provides flexibility to adjust total annual cash compensation to align with current performance (whereas a base salary adjustment is carried forward from year to year). For 2007, the following discretionary bonus awards were given for our named executive officers who did not participate in an Incentive Bonus Plan:
Name |
Bonus Amount | ||
Rose Hoover |
$ | 55,000 | |
Marliss D. Johnson |
$ | 45,000 | |
Robert F. Schultz |
$ | 55,000 |
ROLE OF OPTION GRANTS
In prior years, the Stock Option Committee made grants of stock options under the 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended, to the named executive officers and certain other key employees of the Corporation as determined by the Chairman and President. The Option grants to the named executive officers were determined in a manner similar to the annual base salary adjustments and discretionary bonus program, that is, based on a number of objective and subjective factors, including the Corporations financial performance, and a qualitative analysis of each individual officers performance during the preceding year, taking into account such factors as leadership, commitment, and execution of corporate initiatives and special projects assigned by the Chairman or by the President. There are no more shares reserved for issuance under the 1997 Stock Option Plan and, therefore, no options were granted in 2007.
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ONGOING AND POST-EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
We have several plans and agreements that enable our named executive officers to accrue retirement benefits as the executives continue to work for us and one that could provide severance benefits upon a change in control. These plans and agreements have been adopted and/or amended at various times over many years, and they have been designed to be a part of a competitive compensation package. The plans and agreements described below do not include plans that are generally available to all of our salaried employees:
| Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)We maintain a supplemental executive retirement plan, which is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that provides benefits for executives in excess of the benefits that may be provided under our tax qualified defined benefit retirement plan (Plan) as a result of limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. The SERP also provides additional payment rights and benefits in the event of a change in control. All of our named executive officers participate in the SERP. See the Retirement Benefits table and accompanying narrative for a description of the SERP. |
| Change in Control AgreementsWe have change in control agreements with respect to each of our named executive officers. Our agreements with executives provide for payments and other benefits if we terminate an executives employment without cause or if the executive terminates employment for good reason within 24 months following a change in control. The agreements covering our Chairman and our President also provide that if the change in control payments exceed certain threshold amounts, we will make additional payments to reimburse the executives for excise and related taxes imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. The change in control agreements are described under Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control below. See Tax Considerations below for further information regarding the excise tax reimbursement. |
Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, a publicly held corporation may not deduct more than $1 million in a taxable year for certain forms of compensation paid to the chief executive officer and other officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table. Our policy is generally to preserve the federal income tax deductibility of compensation paid to our executives. Nevertheless, we retain the flexibility to authorize compensation that may not be deductible if we believe it is in the best interests of our Corporation. While we believe that all compensation paid to our executives in 2007 was deductible, a portion of compensation paid in future years may not be deductible as a result of Section 162(m).
In the event of a change in control, payments to an executive may be subject to an excise tax, and may not be deductible by us, under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. If change in control payments exceed certain threshold amounts, the change in control agreements with our Chairman and our President require that we may make additional payments to the executives to reimburse them for excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as other taxes in respect of the additional payments. The change in control agreements were implemented in 1988 to motivate our named executives to increase shareholder value while remaining employed by us. Our Chairman and our President are most significantly at risk of incurring a material reduction in the value of their change in control benefits as the result of this excise tax, and we believe that the retention incentives provided to them by these agreements would be frustrated by the possible imposition of these significant excise taxes. We did not wish to have the provisions of these agreements for our Chairman and our President serve as a disincentive to their pursuit of a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of our Corporation and its stockholders. Accordingly, we determined to provide a payment under certain circumstances to reimburse them for excise taxes payable in connection with change in control payments, as well as any taxes that accrue as a result of our reimbursement. We believe that, in view of their record in enhancing value for our stockholders, this determination is appropriate.
ROLE OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN DETERMINING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
As discussed above, Mr. Paul and Mr. Siddons determined the appropriate salary adjustments and discretionary bonuses to be provided to named executive officers other than themselves.
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Summary compensation information for our named executive officers for 2007 is set forth in the following table:
(a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j) | |||||||
Name and Principal Position |
Year ($) | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) |
All Other Compensation (1) ($) |
Total ($) | |||||||
PEORobert A. Paul, |
2007 | 506,500 | 207,600 | 173,688 | 42,155 | 929,943 | ||||||||
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
2006 | 481,500 | 172,900 | 141,363 | 39,317 | 835,080 | ||||||||
Ernest G. Siddons |
2007 | 484,500 | 198,800 | 153,268 | 35,102 | 871,670 | ||||||||
President and Chief Operating Officer |
2006 | 459,500 | 165,200 | 151,672 | 32,885 | 809,257 | ||||||||
Robert F. Schultz |
2007 | 191,000 | 55,000 | 72,981 | 29,970 | 348,951 | ||||||||
Vice President and Senior Counsel |
2006 | 182,500 | 40,000 | 91,811 | 29,347 | 343,658 | ||||||||
Terrence W. Kenny |
2007 | 185,000 | 66,500 | 31,934 | 18,715 | 302,149 | ||||||||
Vice President and Senior Counsel |
2006 | 176,000 | 49,500 | 42,672 | 21,983 | 290,155 | ||||||||
Rose Hoover |
2007 | 162,083 | 55,000 | 84,905 | 21,514 | 323,502 | ||||||||
Vice President Administration and Secretary |
2006 | 143,333 | 40,000 | 41,510 | 23,746 | 248,589 | ||||||||
PFOMarliss D. Johnson, |
2007 | 141,667 | 45,000 | 22,917 | 22,039 | 231,623 | ||||||||
Vice President, Controller and Treasurer |
2006 | 125,000 | 32,500 | 3,725 | 24,141 | 185,366 |
(1) | Represents a medical expense reimbursement plan, personal use of a company provided vehicle and club memberships. None of the individual perquisite values exceeded the threshold of the greater of $25,000 or 10% of the total perquisites. |
(2) | Columns (e) and (f) were omitted because no stock or option awards were granted in 2007. |
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table summarizes certain information regarding outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end:
Option Awards/Stock Awards | ||||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | (e) | (f) | ||||
Name |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable |
Option Exercise Price |
Option Expiration Date | ||||
Terrence W. Kenny |
2,500 | 0 | $13.67/share | 7/26/2015 |
Note: there are no Equity Incentive Plan Awards or Stock Awards so those columns have been omitted
The Supplemental Grants Plan-Based Awards table was omitted because we have no other awards to disclose.
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OPTION EXERCISES DURING FISCAL YEAR
The following table summarizes the number of stock options exercised by our named executive officers in 2007 and the value realized upon exercise:
(a) | (b) | (c) | |||
Name |
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized on Exercise ($) | |||
Robert A. Paul |
120,000 | $ | 3,269,135 | ||
Ernest G. Siddons |
50,000 | $ | 1,325,783 | ||
Robert F. Schultz |
15,000 | $ | 355,928 | ||
Terrence W. Kenny |
10,000 | $ | 266,497 | ||
Rose Hoover |
12,500 | $ | 296,249 | ||
Marliss D. Johnson |
12,500 | $ | 308,925 |
Note: There were no Stock Awards so the columns related to shares acquired on vesting and value realized on vesting have been omitted.
As discussed above, the Corporation maintains a SERP for certain officers and key employees; that plan provides retirement benefits after completion of ten years of service and attainment of age 55. All named executive officers are participants in the SERP. The combined retirement benefit at age 65 or older provided by the Plan and the SERP is 50% of the highest consecutive five-year average earnings in the final ten years of service. Participants are eligible for reduced benefits for early retirement at age 55. A benefit equal to 50% of the benefit otherwise payable at age 65 is paid to the surviving spouse of any participant who has had at least five years of service, commencing on the later of the month following the participants death or the month the participant would have reached age 55. In addition, there is an offset for pensions from other companies. Certain provisions, applicable if there is a change of control, are discussed below in the Change of Control Benefits section.
The following table summarizes certain information regarding the value of the retirement benefits accrued by our named executive officers under the Plan and the SERP:
Pension Benefits
(a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | |||||
Name |
Plan Name |
Number of years credited service (#) |
Present Value of Accumulated Benefit(3)(4) ($) |
Payments During Last Fiscal Year ($) | |||||
Robert A. PaulPEO (1)(3) |
Plan SERP |
43 43 |
$ $ |
1,468,871 1,307,612 |
0 0 | ||||
Ernest G. Siddons (1)(3) |
Plan SERP |
28 28 |
$ $ |
1,813,852 535,749 |
0 0 | ||||
Robert F. Schultz (2) |
Plan SERP |
26 26 |
$ $ |
1,038,295 0 |
0 0 | ||||
Terrence W. Kenny |
Plan SERP |
23 23 |
$ $ |
528,340 44,848 |
0 0 | ||||
Rose Hoover |
Plan SERP |
28 28 |
$ $ |
567,531 36,174 |
0 0 | ||||
Dee Ann JohnsonPFO |
Plan SERP |
8 8 |
$ $ |
41,477 196,504 |
0 0 |
(1) | Mr. Paul and Mr. Siddons are both past normal retirement age at December 31, 2007 and eligible for the benefits indicated above. |
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(2) | Mr. Schultz is eligible for early retirement as of December 31, 2007. Assuming a December 31, 2007 retirement, the present value of accumulated plan benefits is $1,002,782 for the Plan and 0 for the SERP. |
(3) | Benefits shown in column (d) can only be received by participants following retirement in the form of monthly pension payments. A change of control could trigger a lump sum payment for benefits under the SERP. |
(4) | The present value of accumulated retirement and SERP benefits were determined by using normal retirement age, RP 2000 mortality tables, life annuity form of payment for the retirement plan and 50% joint and survivor for the SERP all calculated at a 6.25% discount rate. |
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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL
Mr. Paul and Mr. Siddons each have two-year contracts (which automatically renew for one-year periods unless the Corporation chooses not to extend) providing for compensation equal to five times their annual compensation (with a gross-up provision to cover the cost of any federal excise tax on the benefits) in the event their employment is terminated by the Corporation or they resign for good cause within 24 months following a change of control, as well as the right to equivalent office space and secretarial help for a period of one year after a change in control. All Vice Presidents, including our remaining named executive officers, and one other employee have two-year contracts (which automatically renew for one-year periods unless the Corporation chooses not to extend) providing for three times their annual compensation in the event their employment is terminated by the Corporation or for good cause by the employee within 24 months following a change of control. All of the contracts provide for the continuation of employee benefits, for three years for the two senior executives and two years for the others, and the right to purchase the leased car used by the covered individual at the Corporations then book value. The same provisions concerning change in control that apply to the contracts apply to the SERP and vest the right to that pension arrangement. A change of control triggers the right to a lump sum payment equal to the present value of the vested benefit under the SERP, if applicable.
The following circumstances would trigger payments under these agreements if, following these events, the individuals employment is terminated within 24 months following these events and if the termination was not for cause or because of death, disability or by the individuals without good reason:
| If a person, other than persons currently in control, becomes an owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Corporations outstanding voting securities; |
| If for two consecutive years there ceases to be a majority of the Board of individuals who at the beginning of the period were Board members, other than a new director whose election was approved by a vote of 2/3 of directors then still in office who were directors at beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously approved; |
| If the shareholders approve a merger or consolidation in which the Corporations common stock is converted into shares of another corporation or cash or other property or the Corporations common stock is not converted but 40% of the surviving corporation in the merger is owned by shareholders other than those who owned the Corporations common stock prior to merger; |
| If there occurs any transaction which results in the Corporations common stock no longer being publicly traded; or |
| If the shareholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation or agreement for sale or disposition of substantially all assets followed by distribution of proceeds to shareholders. |
These thresholds for triggering payments under these contracts were selected because the corporation wanted to cover all reasonable circumstances that could be considered a change of control and the provisions were customary for these types of agreements at the time.
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If one of the above events took place on December 31, 2007, the estimated payments and benefits that would be payable by the Corporation to the named executive officers would be as summarized in the following table:
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
Name |
Compensation(1) $ |
Gross up for Excise Tax $ |
Office and Secretary $ |
Benefit Continuation(2) $ |
SERP(3) $ |
Total $ | ||||||
Robert A. Paul |
3,459,500 | 1,711,574 | 45,000 | 82,974 | 1,481,661 | 6,780,709 | ||||||
Ernest G. Siddons |
3,311,000 | 1,504,051 | 45,000 | 82,556 | 610,071 | 5,552,678 | ||||||
Robert F. Schultz |
708,000 | N/A | N/A | 32,528 | 418,078 | 1,158,606 | ||||||
Terrence W. Kenny |
718,500 | N/A | N/A | 51,074 | 634,230 | 1,403,804 | ||||||
Rose Hoover |
637,500 | N/A | N/A | 50,847 | 631,502 | 1,319,849 | ||||||
Dee Ann Johnson |
562,500 | N/A | N/A | 50,620 | 581,954 | 1,195,074 |
(1) | The amount of Compensation for Mr. Paul and Mr. Siddons represents five times their base salary and bonus paid for the prior year. The compensation amount for the remaining named executive officers is three times their base salary and bonus paid for the prior year. |
(2) | The amounts in the table for Benefit Continuation represents the value of 36 months of company provided health, dental, disability, life insurance and other similar benefits for Mr. Paul and Mr. Siddons and 24 months for the remaining named executive officers. |
(3) | Represents the acceleration in the vesting of the retirement benefit (from the required 55/10 to 5 years of service with no age requirement). In addition, the value of retirement benefits is paid in the form of a lump sum. |
In 2007, our non-employee directors were compensated by payment of an annual $20,000 retainer, a meeting fee of $1,000 for each Board and Audit Committee meeting attended, and a meeting fee of $500 for all other committee meetings attended. In recognition of his additional required service and responsibility, the chairman of our Audit Committee, Mr. Pforzheimer, receives an additional annual retainer of $2,500. Each non-employee director is also entitled to reimbursement for his reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with travel and attendance at Board and Board committee meetings. In December 2007, the annual retainer to be paid in 2008 was increased to $25,000. All other fees remained the same.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the compensation earned by each non-employee director and one employee director who served on our Board of Directors in 2007. Other directors who are employed by the Corporation are not given additional compensation for their services as Directors.
(a) | (b) | (g) | (h) | ||||
Name |
Fees earned or paid in cash(1) ($) |
All Other Compensation ($) |
Total ($) | ||||
Robert J. Appel |
40,500 | 40,500 | |||||
Leonard M. Carroll |
34,500 | 34,500 | |||||
William D. Eberle |
34,500 | 34,500 | |||||
Paul A. Gould |
41,000 | 41,000 | |||||
William K. Lieberman |
32,000 | 32,000 | |||||
Laurence E. Paul |
26,000 | 26,000 | |||||
Stephen E. Paul |
26,000 | 26,000 | |||||
Carl H. Pforzheimer, III |
39,000 | 39,000 | |||||
Louis Berkman |
0 | 150,000 | (2) | 150,000 |
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(1) | The primary reason why certain Directors received more fees in 2007 than others is because of their membership on various committees and not because of non-attendance by the Directors receiving less. |
(2) | The amount reported for Mr. Berkman is paid as salary for the benefit of his continued experience and consulting availability to the Corporation and the Board of Directors. As the former Chairman of the Board, he still receives certain other benefits and perquisites. In addition, Mr. Berkman was previously granted stock options in 1998 and 2000 which he exercised and sold in 2007 resulting in compensation of $3,274,315. Mr. Berkman also currently receives a pension of $7,884 per month pursuant to the Corporations retirement plan because Federal law requires that 5% owners start receiving a pension after they reach the age of 70-1/2 whether retired or still employed. |
NOTE: Information and columns related to Stock and Option Awards, Incentive Plans and Pension and Deferred Compensation have been omitted because those items are not applicable.
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The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management and, based on the review and discussions, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Corporations annual report on Form 10-K and, as applicable, the Corporations proxy or information statement.
Robert J. Appel, Chairman
William D. Eberle
Paul A. Gould
William K. Lieberman
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
In 2007, the Corporation bought industrial supplies from a subsidiary of The Louis Berkman Investment Company in transactions in the ordinary course of business amounting to approximately $1,759,663. Additionally, The Louis Berkman Investment Company paid the Corporation $216,300 for certain administrative services. Louis Berkman was an officer, director and shareholder and Robert A. Paul was an officer and director, of that company. These transactions and services were at prices generally available from outside sources. Transactions between the parties will also take place in 2008.
The purchase of industrial supplies from a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Louis Berkman Investment Company follows a competitive bid process which includes several non-related vendors after which annual contract awards are made to the lowest bidder by the purchasing executive at each of the Corporations subsidiary companies. The administration services are provided under an agreement to provide such services for fees which are subject to annual review including an increase to cover inflation in the costs of the Corporation.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management and has discussed with the independent accountants the matters required to be discussed by SAS 61 (Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU 380), as may be modified or supplemented.
The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), and has discussed with the independent accountants their independence.
Based on the review and discussions referred to in the preceding paragraphs, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K for the last fiscal year for filing with the SEC.
The following table summarizes the aggregate fees to the Corporation by Deloitte & Touche LLP:
2007 | 2006 | |||||
Audit fees (a) |
$ | 598,458 | $ | 616,798 | ||
Audit-related fees (b) |
27,590 | 25,105 | ||||
Tax fees (c) |
1,960 | 44,742 | ||||
All other fees (d) |
| 1,900 | ||||
Total (e) |
$ | 628,008 | $ | 688,545 | ||
(a) | Fees for audit services related primarily to the audit of the Corporations annual consolidated financial statements and its internal control over financial reporting. |
(b) | Fees for audit-related services related primarily to the audits of the Corporations employee benefit plans. |
(c) | Fees for tax services related primarily to tax compliance which are services rendered based upon facts already in existence or transactions that have already occurred to document, compute and assess amounts to be included in tax filings. Fees for 2007 consisted of assistance with inquiries from taxing authorities and, for 2006, review of income tax returns and calculation of extraterritorial income exclusion. |
(d) | Fees for all other services billed consisted of permitted non-audit services related to review of a United Kingdom grant application in 2006. |
(e) | The Audit Committee approved all fees in the years reported. |
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In considering the nature of the services provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Audit Committee determined that such services are compatible with the provision of independent audit services. The Audit Committee discussed these services with Deloitte & Touche LLP and the Corporations management to determine that they are permitted under the rules and regulations concerning auditor independence promulgated by the SEC to implement the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
The Audit Committee has adopted a Policy for Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services (the Policy) provided by the Corporations independent auditor. According to the Policy, the Corporations independent auditor may not provide the following prohibited services to the Corporation:
| maintain or prepare the Corporations accounting records or prepare the Corporations financial statements that are either filed with the SEC or form the basis of financial statements filed with the SEC; |
| provide appraisal or valuation services when it is reasonably likely that the results of any valuation or appraisal would be material to the Corporations financial statements, or where the independent auditor would audit the results; |
| provide certain management or human resource functions; |
| serve as a broker-dealer, promoter or underwriter of the Corporations securities; |
| provide any service in which the person providing the service must be admitted to practice before the courts of a U.S. jurisdiction; |
| provide any internal audit services relating to accounting controls, financial systems, or financial statements; or |
| design or implement a hardware or software system that aggregates source data underlying the financial statements or generates information that is significant to the Corporations financial statements, taken as a whole. |
In addition, in connection with its adoption of the Policy, the Audit Committee pre-approved certain audit-related and other non-prohibited services. Any services not prohibited or pre-approved by the Policy must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the Policy. The Policy will be reviewed and approved annually by the Board of Directors.
Carl H. Pforzheimer, III (Chairman)
Robert J. Appel
Leonard M. Carroll
William D. Eberle
Paul A. Gould
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RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
(PROPOSAL 2)
The Audit Committee, comprised of independent members of the Board of Directors, has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP (D&T) as its independent registered public accounting firm for 2008, subject to ratification by the shareholders. Even if the shareholders ratify the Audit Committees appointment of independent accountants, the Audit Committee in its discretion may change the appointment at any time if it determines that such change would be in the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders. If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment of D&T, the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm will be reconsidered by the Audit Committee, but D&T may still be retained.
Representatives of D&T will be in attendance at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they wish to do so and will respond to appropriate questions.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the proposal to ratify the selection of D&T as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2008.
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE 2008 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
(PROPOSAL 3)
The Corporation previously maintained the 1997 Stock Option Plan, which was originally adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board) in February 1997 and expired, by its terms, on December 31, 2007 (the Option Plan). The Option Plan provided for awards of incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options to our eligible employees. The Board believes that the Option Plan was effective in attracting qualified employees to the Corporation and its affiliates and in providing long-term incentives and rewards to those individuals responsible for the Corporations growth and success. The Board further believes that the awards granted under the Option Plan have provided an incentive that aligns the economic interests of plan participants with those of our shareholders.
Stock options have long been an integral and essential component of competitive compensation packages for companies in our industry. However, changes in accounting and tax policies, as well as evolution of the employment marketplace, has contributed to the continuing development of innovative compensation practices involving several alternative forms of equity-based incentives. In view of these developments, the Board believes that the adoption and approval of a new long-term incentive plan permitting the grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares and other stock- and cash-based incentive awards will provide the Corporation with a flexible and dynamic long-term incentive compensation structure and is in the best interests of the Corporation. Accordingly, the Board adopted, subject to the approval of the Corporations shareholders, the Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Incentive Plan). Shareholder approval of the Incentive Plan is desired, among other reasons, to ensure the tax deductibility by the Corporation of awards under the Incentive Plan for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and to meet the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.
The Corporations Option Plan expired, by its terms, on December 31, 2007; therefore, no further grants or awards will be made under such plan. However, the Option Plan will continue in effect after approval of the Incentive Plan for so long as and solely to the extent necessary to administer previously-granted awards that remain outstanding under such plan. As of March 5, 2008, there were only 5,000 previously granted awards outstanding under that plan.
The material features of the Incentive Plan are summarized below. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the specific provisions of the Incentive Plan, the full text of which is set forth as Appendix A to this proxy statement.
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Administration
The Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the Committee). The Committee has the authority to determine, within the limits of the express provisions of the Incentive Plan, the individuals to whom awards will be granted, the nature, amount and terms of such awards and the objectives and conditions for earning such awards. The Committee generally has discretion to delegate its authority under the Incentive Plan to another committee of the Board or a subcommittee, or to such other party or parties, including officers of the Corporation, as the Committee deems appropriate.
Types of Awards
Awards under the Incentive Plan may include incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted shares of common stock, restricted stock units, performance share or unit awards, other stock-based awards and cash-based incentive awards.
Stock Options. The Committee may grant to a participant options to purchase common stock of the Corporation that qualify as incentive stock options for purposes of Section 422 of the Code (incentive stock options), options that do not qualify as incentive stock options (non-qualified stock options) or a combination thereof. The terms and conditions of stock option grants, including the quantity, exercise price, vesting periods, and other conditions on exercise will be determined by the Committee.
The exercise price for stock options will be determined by the Committee in its discretion, but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of one share of the Corporations common stock on the date when the stock option is granted. Additionally, in the case of incentive stock options granted to a holder of more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation on the date of grant, the exercise price may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of one share of common stock on the date the stock option is granted. On March 5, 2008, the market price per share of the Corporations common stock was $42.24 based on the closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on such date.
Stock options must be exercised within a period fixed by the Committee that may not exceed ten years from the date of grant, except that in the case of incentive stock options granted to a holder of more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation on the date of grant, the exercise period may not exceed five years. The Incentive Plan provides for earlier termination of stock options upon the participants termination of service, unless extended by the Committee, but in no event may the options be exercised after the scheduled expiration date of the options.
At the Committees discretion, payment for shares of common stock on the exercise of stock options may be made in cash, shares of the Corporations common stock held by the participant or in any other form of consideration acceptable to the Committee (including one or more forms of cashless exercise).
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant to a participant an award of SARs, which entitles the participant to receive, upon its exercise, a payment equal to (i) the excess of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the exercise date over the SAR exercise price, times (ii) the number of shares of common stock with respect to which the SAR is exercised.
The exercise price for a SAR will be determined by the Committee in its discretion, but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of one share of the Corporations common stock on the date when the SAR is granted. Upon exercise of a SAR, payment may be made in cash, shares of the Corporations common stock held by the participant or in any other form of consideration acceptable to the Committee (including one or more forms of cashless exercise). SARs must be exercised within a period fixed by the Committee that may not exceed ten years from the date of grant.
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Restricted Shares and Restricted Units. The Committee may award to a participant shares of common stock subject to specified restrictions (restricted shares). Restricted shares are subject to forfeiture if the participant does not meet certain conditions such as continued employment over a specified forfeiture period and/or the attainment of specified performance targets over the forfeiture period.
The Committee also may award to a participant units representing the right to receive shares of common stock in the future subject to the achievement of one or more goals relating to the completion of service by the participant and/or the achievement of performance or other objectives (restricted units). The terms and conditions of restricted share and restricted unit awards are determined by the Committee.
For participants who are subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the performance targets described in the preceding two paragraphs may be established by the Committee, in its discretion, based on one or more of the following measures (the Performance Goals):
| Net earnings or net income (before or after taxes) |
| Earnings per share or earnings per share growth, total units, or unit growth |
| Net sales, sales growth, total revenue, or revenue growth |
| Net operating profit |
| Return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales, or revenue) |
| Cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment) |
| Earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization |
| Gross or operating margins |
| Share price or relative share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return) |
| Market share or change in market share |
| Customer retention or satisfaction |
| Working capital targets |
The Performance Goals may be measured with respect to the Corporation or any one or more of its subsidiaries, divisions or affiliates, either in absolute terms or as compared to another company or companies, or an index established or designated by the Committee. The above terms will have the same meaning as in the Corporations financial statements, or if the terms are not used in the Corporations financial statements, as applied pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles, or as used in the industry, as applicable.
Performance Awards. The Committee may grant performance awards to participants under such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. A performance award entitles a participant to receive a payment from the Corporation, the amount of which is based upon the attainment of predetermined performance targets over a specified award period. Performance awards may be paid in cash, shares of common stock or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.
Award periods will be established at the discretion of the Committee. The performance targets will also be determined by the Committee. With respect to participants subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the applicable performance targets will be established, in the Committees discretion, based on one or more of the Performance Goals described under the section titled Restricted Shares and Restricted Units above. To the extent that a
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participant is not subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, when circumstances occur that cause predetermined performance targets to be an inappropriate measure of achievement, the Committee, at its discretion, may adjust the performance targets or the amount or value of the performance award.
Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may grant equity-based or equity-related awards, referred to as other stock-based awards, other than options, SARs, restricted shares, restricted units, or performance awards. The terms and conditions of each other stock-based award will be determined by the Committee. Payment under any other stock-based awards will be made in common stock or cash, as determined by the Committee.
Cash-Based Awards. The Committee may grant cash-based incentive compensation awards, which would include performance-based annual cash incentive compensation to be paid to covered employees subject to Section 162(m) of the Code. The terms and conditions of each cash-based award will be determined by the Committee. The following material terms will be applicable to performance-based cash awards granted to covered executives subject to Section 162(m):
| The class of persons covered consists of those senior executives of the Corporation who are from time to time determined by the Committee to be subject to Section 162(m) of the Code (the covered employees). |
| The targets for annual incentive payments to covered employees will consist only of one or more of the Performance Goals discussed under the section titled Restricted Shares and Restricted Units above. Use of any other target will require ratification by the shareholders if failure to obtain such approval would jeopardize tax deductibility of future incentive payments. Such performance targets will be established by the Committee on a timely basis to ensure that the targets are considered preestablished for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. |
| In administering the incentive program and determining incentive awards, the Committee will not have the flexibility to pay a covered executive more than the incentive amount indicated by his or her attainment of the performance target under the applicable payment schedule. The Committee will have the flexibility, based on its business judgment, to reduce this amount. |
| The cash incentive compensation feature of the Incentive Plan does not preclude the Board or the Committee from approving other incentive compensation arrangements for covered employees. |
Dividend Equivalents. The Committee may provide for the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to any shares of common stock subject to an award under the Incentive Plan.
Eligibility and Limitation on Awards
The Committee may grant awards to any employee, director or consultant providing services to the Corporation or its affiliates. It is presently contemplated that approximately 30 persons will be eligible to receive awards.
The maximum awards that can be granted under the Incentive Plan to a single participant in any calendar year will be 100,000 shares of common stock in the form of options or SARs, restricted shares, restricted units, performance units or share awards and other stock-based awards, and $750,000 in the form of cash-based incentive awards.
Awards Granted Under the Incentive Plan
As of the date hereof, no specific awards have been granted or are contemplated under the Incentive Plan. In addition, the exact types and amounts of any future awards to be made to any eligible participants pursuant to the
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Incentive Plan are not presently determinable. As a result of the discretionary nature of the Incentive Plan, it is not possible to state who the participants in the Incentive Plan will be in the future or the number of options or other awards to be received by a person or group.
Shares Subject to the Incentive Plan
An aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of the Corporations common stock is reserved for issuance and available for awards under the Incentive Plan, including incentive stock options granted under the Incentive Plan. Further, no more than 500,000 of the total shares of common stock reserved under the Incentive Plan may be awarded as restricted shares, restricted units, performance awards or other stock-based awards.
With respect to awards made under the Incentive Plan, shares of common stock underlying awards that are forfeited or canceled (as a result, for example, of the lapse of an option or a forfeiture of restricted stock), as well as any shares surrendered to or withheld by the Corporation in payment or satisfaction of the exercise price of a stock option or tax withholding obligations with respect to an award, will be available for additional grants under the Incentive Plan. Shares to be issued or purchased under the Incentive Plan will be authorized but unissued shares of common stock. Shares issued with respect to awards assumed by the Corporation in connection with acquisitions do not count against the total number of shares available for new awards under the Incentive Plan.
Anti-dilution Protection
In the event of any corporate event or transaction that results in a change in the capital structure of the Corporation, including a change resulting from a stock dividend or stock split, or combination or reclassification of shares, the Committee is empowered to make such equitable adjustments with respect to awards or any provisions of the Incentive Plan as it deems necessary and appropriate, including, if necessary, any adjustments in the maximum number of shares of common stock subject to the Incentive Plan, the number of shares of common stock subject to and the exercise price of an outstanding award, or the maximum number of shares that may be subject to one or more awards granted to any one recipient during a calendar year.
Amendment and Termination
The Board of Directors may at any time amend or terminate the Incentive Plan, provided that no such action may be taken that adversely affects any rights or obligations with respect to any awards theretofore made under the Incentive Plan without the consent of the recipient. No awards may be made under the Incentive Plan after the tenth anniversary of its effective date. Certain provisions of the Incentive Plan relating to performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of the Code will expire on the fifth anniversary of the effective date.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The federal income tax consequences of the issuance and exercise of awards under the Incentive Plan are as described below. The following information is only a summary of the tax consequences of the awards, and participants should consult with their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences inherent in the ownership or exercise of the awards, and the ownership and disposition of any underlying securities.
Incentive Stock Options. A participant who is granted an incentive stock option will not recognize any taxable income for federal income tax purposes either on the grant or exercise of the incentive stock option. If the participant disposes of the shares purchased pursuant to the incentive stock option more than two years after the date of grant and more than one year after the exercise of the option (the required statutory holding period), (a) the participant will recognize long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be, equal to the difference between the selling price and the option price; and (b) the Corporation will not be entitled to a deduction with respect to the shares of stock so issued. If the holding period requirements are not met, any gain realized upon disposition will be taxed as ordinary income to the extent of the excess of the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise over the option price, and (ii) the gain on the sale. Also in that
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case, the Corporation will be entitled to a deduction in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant. Any additional gain will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain depending upon the holding period for the stock. A sale for less than the option price results in a capital loss.
The excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the option price is, however, includable in the option holders income for alternative minimum tax purposes.
Nonqualified Stock Options. A participant who is granted a nonqualified stock option under the Incentive Plan will not recognize any income for federal income tax purposes on the grant of the option. Generally, on the exercise of the option, the participant will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date over the option price for the shares. The Corporation generally will be entitled to a deduction on the date of exercise in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant. Upon disposition of the shares purchased pursuant to the stock option, the participant will recognize long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be, equal to the difference between the amount realized on such disposition and the basis for such shares, which basis includes the amount previously recognized by the participant as ordinary income.
Stock Appreciation Rights. A participant who is granted SARs will normally not recognize any taxable income on the receipt of the SARs. Upon the exercise of a SAR, (a) the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the amount received (the increase in the fair market value of one share of the Corporations common stock from the date of grant of the SAR to the date of exercise); and (b) the Corporation will be entitled to a deduction on the date of exercise in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant.
Restricted Shares. A participant will not be taxed at the date of an award of restricted shares, but will be taxed at ordinary income rates on the fair market value of any restricted shares as of the date that the restrictions lapse, unless the participant, within 30 days after transfer of such restricted shares to the participant, elects under Section 83(b) of the Code to include in income the fair market value of the restricted shares as of the date of such transfer. If the participant makes the election under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Corporation will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. Any disposition of shares after restrictions lapse will be subject to the regular rules governing long-term and short-term capital gains and losses, with the basis for this purpose equal to the fair market value of the shares at the end of the restricted period (or on the date of the transfer of the restricted shares, if the employee elects to be taxed on the fair market value upon such transfer). To the extent dividends are payable during the restricted period under the applicable award agreement, any such dividends will be taxable to the participant at ordinary income tax rates and will be deductible by the Corporation unless the participant has elected to be taxed on the fair market value of the restricted shares upon transfer, in which case they will thereafter be taxable to the employee as dividends and will not be deductible by the Corporation.
Restricted Units. A participant will normally not recognize taxable income upon an award of restricted units, and the Corporation will not be entitled to a deduction until the lapse of the applicable restrictions. Upon the lapse of the restrictions and the issuance of the earned shares, the participant will recognize ordinary taxable income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the common stock received and the Corporation will be entitled to a deduction in the same amount.
Performance Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash-Based Awards. Normally, a participant will not recognize taxable income upon the grant of performance awards, other stock-based awards and cash-based awards. Subsequently, when the conditions and requirements for the grants have been satisfied and the payment determined, any cash received and the fair market value of any common stock received will constitute ordinary income to the participant. The Corporation also will then be entitled to a deduction in the same amount.
Effective Date
The Incentive Plan will be effective on April 23, 2008 if approved by the shareholders of the Corporation. If not approved by the shareholders, no awards will be made under the Incentive Plan.
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Vote Required
Approval of the Incentive Plan will require the affirmative vote of at least a majority in voting interest of the shareholders present in person or by proxy and voting at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, assuming the presence of a quorum. If the shareholders do not approve the Incentive Plan, it will not be implemented, but the Corporation reserves the right to adopt such other compensation plans and programs as it deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the proposal to approve the Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2009
Any shareholder who wishes to place a proposal before the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders must submit the proposal to the Corporations Secretary, at its executive offices, not less than 120 calendar days in advance of the anniversary date of the release of this proxy statement to have it considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting in 2008.
The Board of Directors does not know of any other business that will be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. Should any other matter come before the meeting, however, action may be taken thereon pursuant to proxies in the form enclosed unless discretionary authority is withheld.
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Appendix A
AMPCO-PITTSBURGH CORPORATION
2008 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE AND ADOPTION OF THE PLAN
1.01. Purpose. The purpose of the Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation 2008 Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the Plan) is to assist in attracting and retaining highly competent employees, directors and consultants to act as an incentive in motivating selected employees, directors and consultants of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries to achieve long-term corporate objectives and to enable stock-based and cash-based incentive awards to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of the tax deduction limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code.
1.02. Adoption and Term. The Plan has been approved by the Board to be effective as of February 20, 2008, subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Corporation. The Plan shall remain in effect until terminated by action of the Board; provided, however, that no Awards may be granted hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the Plans initial effective date.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Plan, capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
2.01. Award means any one or a combination of Non-Qualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options described in Article VI, Stock Appreciation Rights described in Article VI, Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units described in Article VII, Performance Awards described in Article VIII, other stock-based Awards described in Article IX, short-term cash incentive Awards described in Article X or any other award made under the terms of the Plan.
2.02. Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Corporation and a Participant or a written acknowledgment from the Corporation to a Participant specifically setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award granted under the Plan.
2.03. Award Period means, with respect to an Award, the period of time, if any, set forth in the Award Agreement during which specified target performance goals must be achieved or other conditions set forth in the Award Agreement must be satisfied.
2.04. Beneficiary means an individual, trust or estate who or which, by a written designation of the Participant filed with the Corporation, or if no such written designation is filed, by operation of law, succeeds to the rights and obligations of the Participant under the Plan and the Award Agreement upon the Participant's death.
2.05. Board means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
2.06. Change in Control means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of, any one of the following events:
(a) The acquisition in one or more transactions, other than from the Corporation, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than the Corporation, a Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
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Corporation or a Subsidiary, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of a number of the Corporations Voting Securities in excess of 50% of the Corporations Voting Securities unless such acquisition has been approved by the Board;
(b) Any election has occurred of persons to the Board that causes two-thirds of the Board to consist of persons other than (i) persons who were members of the Board on the effective date of the Plan and (ii) persons who were nominated for elections as members of the Board at a time when two-thirds of the Board consisted of persons who were members of the Board on the effective date of the Plan, provided, however, that any person nominated for election by a Board at least two-thirds of whom constituted persons described in clauses (i) and/or (ii) or by persons who were themselves nominated by such Board shall, for this purpose, be deemed to have been nominated by a Board composed of persons described in clause (i);
(c) The consummation (i.e. closing) of a reorganization, merger or consolidation involving the Corporation, unless, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Corporations Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 75% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or trustees, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Corporations Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, as the case may be;
(d) The consummation (i.e. closing) of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation, unless, following such sale or disposition, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Corporations Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition, following such sale or disposition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 75% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or trustees, as the case may be, of the entity purchasing such assets in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Corporations Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition, as the case may be; or
(e) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation.
2.07. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. References to a section of the Code shall include that section and any comparable section or sections of any future legislation that amends, supplements or supersedes said section.
2.08. Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
2.09. Corporation means Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation, and its successors.
2.10. Common Stock means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1.00 per share.
2.11. Corporations Voting Securities means the combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors to the Board.
2.12. Date of Grant means the date designated by the Committee as the date as of which it grants an Award, which shall not be earlier than the date on which the Committee approves the granting of such Award.
2.13. Dividend Equivalent Account means a bookkeeping account in accordance with Section 11.17 and related to an Award that is credited with the amount of any cash dividends or stock distributions that would be payable with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to such Awards had such shares been outstanding shares of Common Stock.
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2.14. Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.15. Exercise Price means, with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right, the amount established by the Committee in the Award Agreement, which is to be subtracted from the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise in order to determine the amount of the payment to be made to the Participant, as further described in Section 6.02(b).
2.16. Fair Market Value means, on any date, (i) the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Listed Companies (or other established stock exchange on which the Common Stock is regularly traded) on such date or, if there were no sales on such date, on the last date preceding such date on which a sale was reported; or (ii) if shares of Common Stock are not listed for trading on an established stock exchange, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith.
2.17. Incentive Stock Option means a stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
2.18. Merger means any merger, reorganization, consolidation, exchange, transfer of assets or other transaction having similar effect involving the Corporation.
2.19. Non-Qualified Stock Option means a stock option which is not an Incentive Stock Option.
2.20. Options means all Non-Qualified Stock Options and Incentive Stock Options granted at any time under the Plan.
2.21. Outstanding Common Stock means, at any time, the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.
2.22. Participant means a person designated to receive an Award under the Plan in accordance with Section 5.01.
2.23. Performance Awards means Awards granted in accordance with Article VIII.
2.24. Performance Goals means (i) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes), (ii) earnings per share or earnings per share growth, total units, or unit growth, (iii) net sales, sales growth, total revenue, or revenue growth, (iv) net operating profit, (v) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales, or revenue), (vi) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment), (vii) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization, (viii) gross or operating margins, (ix) share price or relative share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return), (x) market share or change in market share, (xi) customer retention or satisfaction, (xii) working capital targets, and (xiii) quantifiable, objective measures of individual performance relevant to the particular individuals job responsibilities; any one of such Goals may be measured with respect to the Corporation or any one or more of its Subsidiaries and divisions and either in absolute terms or as compared to another company or companies.
2.25. Plan has the meaning given to such term in Section 1.01.
2.26. Purchase Price, with respect to Options, shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b).
2.27. Restricted Shares means Common Stock subject to restrictions imposed in connection with Awards granted under Article VII.
2.28. Restricted Stock Unit means a unit representing the right to receive Common Stock or the value thereof in the future subject to restrictions imposed in connection with Awards granted under Article VII.
2.29. Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, as the same may be amended from time to time, and any successor rule.
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2.30. Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.31. Stock Appreciation Rights means awards granted in accordance with Article VI.
2.32. Subsidiary means a subsidiary corporation of the Corporation within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.
2.33. Termination of Service means the voluntary or involuntary termination of a Participants service as an employee, director or consultant with the Corporation or a Subsidiary for any reason, including death, disability, retirement or as the result of the divestiture of the Participants employer or any similar transaction in which the Participants employer ceases to be the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries. Whether entering military or other government service shall constitute Termination of Service, or whether and when a Termination of Service shall occur as a result of disability, shall be determined in each case by the Committee in its sole discretion.
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION
3.01. Committee.
(a) Duties and Authority. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Committee shall have exclusive and final authority in each determination, interpretation or other action affecting the Plan and its Participants. The Committee shall have the sole discretionary authority to interpret the Plan, to establish and modify administrative rules for the Plan, to impose such conditions and restrictions on Awards as it determines appropriate, and to make all factual determinations with respect to and take such steps in connection with the Plan and Awards granted hereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. The Committee shall not, however, have or exercise any discretion that would disqualify amounts payable under Article X as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may delegate such of its powers and authority under the Plan as it deems appropriate to a subcommittee of the Committee or designated officers or employees of the Corporation. In addition, the full Board may exercise any of the powers and authority of the Committee under the Plan. In the event of such delegation of authority or exercise of authority by the Board, references in the Plan to the Committee shall be deemed to refer, as appropriate, to the delegate of the Committee or the Board. Actions taken by the Committee or any subcommittee thereof, and any delegation by the Committee to designated officers or employees, under this Section 3.01 shall comply with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the performance-based provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the regulations promulgated under each of such statutory provisions, or the respective successors to such statutory provisions or regulations, as in effect from time to time, to the extent applicable.
(b) Indemnification. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board or the Committee, or an officer or employee of the Corporation to whom authority was delegated in accordance with the Plan, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such individual in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Corporations approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Corporation an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnification shall not apply to any loss, cost, liability, or expense that is a result of his or her own willful misconduct. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Corporations Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, conferred in a separate agreement with the Corporation, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Corporation may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
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ARTICLE IV
SHARES
4.01. Number of Shares Issuable. The total number of shares initially authorized to be issued under the Plan shall be 1,000,000 of Common Stock. No more than 750,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Plan as Incentive Stock Options. No more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Plan as Awards under Articles VII, VIII and IX. The foregoing share limits shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11.07. The shares to be offered under the Plan shall be authorized and unissued Common Stock, or issued Common Stock that shall have been reacquired by the Corporation.
4.02. Shares Subject to Terminated Awards. Common Stock covered by any unexercised portions of terminated or forfeited Options (including canceled Options) granted under Article VI, Common Stock forfeited as provided in Section 7.02(a), Stock Units and other stock-based Awards terminated or forfeited as provided in Article IX, and Common Stock subject to any Awards that are otherwise surrendered by the Participant may again be subject to new Awards under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock surrendered to or withheld by the Corporation in payment or satisfaction of the Purchase Price of an Option or tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award shall be available for the grant of new Awards under the Plan. In the event of the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights, whether or not granted in tandem with Options, only the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued in payment of such Stock Appreciation Rights shall be charged against the number of shares of Common Stock available for the grant of Awards hereunder.
ARTICLE V
PARTICIPATION
5.01. Eligible Participants. Participants in the Plan shall be such employees, directors and consultants of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may designate from time to time. The Committees designation of a Participant in any year shall not require the Committee to designate such person to receive Awards or grants in any other year. The designation of a Participant to receive Awards or grants under one portion of the Plan does not require the Committee to include such Participant under other portions of the Plan. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems pertinent in selecting Participants and in determining the type and amount of their respective Awards. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11.07, in any calendar year, no Participant shall be granted Awards in respect of more than 100,000 shares of Common Stock (whether through grants of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or other Awards of Common Stock or rights with respect thereto) or cash-based Awards for more than $750,000.
ARTICLE VI
STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
6.01. Option Awards.
(a) Grant of Options. The Committee may grant, to such Participants as the Committee may select, Options entitling the Participant to purchase shares of Common Stock from the Corporation in such number, at such price, and on such terms and subject to such conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as may be established by the Committee. The terms of any Option granted under this Plan shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.
(b) Purchase Price of Options. The Purchase Price of each share of Common Stock which may be purchased upon exercise of any Option granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall the Purchase Price be less than the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant.
(c) Designation of Options. The Committee shall designate, at the time of the grant of each Option, the Option as an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
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(d) Incentive Stock Option Share Limitation. No Participant may be granted Incentive Stock Options under the Plan (or any other plans of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) that would result in shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the Date of Grant) of more than $100,000 first becoming exercisable in any one calendar year.
(e) Rights as a Shareholder. A Participant or a transferee of an Option pursuant to Section 11.04 shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to Common Stock covered by an Option until the Participant or transferee shall have become the holder of record of any such shares, and no adjustment shall be made for dividends in cash or other property or distributions or other rights with respect to any such Common Stock for which the record date is prior to the date on which the Participant or a transferee of the Option shall have become the holder of record of any such shares covered by the Option; provided, however, that Participants are entitled to share adjustments to reflect capital changes under Section 11.07.
6.02. Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) Stock Appreciation Right Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant to any Participant one or more Stock Appreciation Rights. Such Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted either independent of or in tandem with Options granted to the same Participant. Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with Options may be granted simultaneously with, or, in the case of Non-Qualified Stock Options, subsequent to, the grant to such Participant of the related Option; provided however, that: (i) any Option covering any share of Common Stock shall expire and not be exercisable upon the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right with respect to the same share, (ii) any Stock Appreciation Right covering any share of Common Stock shall expire and not be exercisable upon the exercise of any related Option with respect to the same share, and (iii) an Option and Stock Appreciation Right covering the same share of Common Stock may not be exercised simultaneously. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right with respect to a share of Common Stock, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the Exercise Price of such Stock Appreciation Right established in the Award Agreement, which amount shall be payable as provided in Section 6.02(c).
(b) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price established under any Stock Appreciation Right granted under this Plan shall be determined by the Committee, but in the case of Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with Options shall not be less than the Purchase Price of the related Option; provided, however, that in no event shall the Exercise Price be less than the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant. Upon exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with options, the number of shares subject to exercise under any related Option shall automatically be reduced by the number of shares of Common Stock represented by the Option or portion thereof which are surrendered as a result of the exercise of such Stock Appreciation Rights.
(c) Payment of Incremental Value. Any payment which may become due from the Corporation by reason of a Participants exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid to the Participant as determined by the Committee (i) all in cash, (ii) all in Common Stock, or (iii) in any combination of cash and Common Stock. In the event that all or a portion of the payment is made in Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock delivered in satisfaction of such payment shall be determined by dividing the amount of such payment or portion thereof by the Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date. No fractional share of Common Stock shall be issued to make any payment in respect of Stock Appreciation Rights; if any fractional share would be issuable, the combination of cash and Common Stock payable to the Participant shall be adjusted as directed by the Committee to avoid the issuance of any fractional share.
6.03 Terms of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) Conditions on Exercise. An Award Agreement with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may contain such waiting periods, exercise dates and restrictions on exercise (including, but not limited to, periodic installments) as may be determined by the Committee at the time of grant.
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(b) Duration of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate upon the first to occur of the following events:
(i) Expiration of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right as provided in the Award Agreement; or
(ii) Termination of the Award in the event of a Participants disability, retirement, death or other Termination of Service as provided in the Award Agreement; or
(iii) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, ten years from the Date of Grant; or
(iv) Solely in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Option, upon the expiration of the related Option.
(c) Acceleration or Extension of Exercise Time. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the right (but shall not be obligated), exercisable on or at any time after the Date of Grant, to permit the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (i) prior to the time such Option or Stock Appreciation Right would become exercisable under the terms of the Award Agreement, (ii) after the termination of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right under the terms of the Award Agreement, or (iii) after the expiration of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.
6.04. Exercise Procedures. Each Option and Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be exercised prior to the close of business on the expiration date of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right by notice to the Corporation or by such other method as provided in the Award Agreement or as the Committee may establish or approve from time to time. The Purchase Price of shares purchased upon exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid in full in cash by the Participant pursuant to the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the Committee may (but shall not be required to) permit payment to be made by delivery to the Corporation of either (a) Common Stock (which may include Restricted Shares or shares otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option, subject to such rules as the Committee deems appropriate) or (b) any combination of cash and Common Stock, or (c) such other consideration as the Committee deems appropriate and in compliance with applicable law (including payment under an arrangement constituting a brokerage transaction as permitted under the provisions of Regulation T applicable to cashless exercises promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board, unless prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). In the event that any Common Stock shall be transferred to the Corporation to satisfy all or any part of the Purchase Price, the part of the Purchase Price deemed to have been satisfied by such transfer of Common Stock shall be equal to the product derived by multiplying the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise times the number of shares of Common Stock transferred to the Corporation. The Participant may not transfer to the Corporation in satisfaction of the Purchase Price any fractional share of Common Stock. Any part of the Purchase Price paid in cash upon the exercise of any Option shall be added to the general funds of the Corporation and may be used for any proper corporate purpose. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, any Common Stock transferred to the Corporation as payment of all or part of the Purchase Price upon the exercise of any Option shall be held as treasury shares.
6.05. Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, all Options outstanding on the date of such Change in Control, and all Stock Appreciation Rights shall become immediately and fully exercisable. The provisions of this Section 6.05 shall not be applicable to any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted to a Participant if any Change in Control results from such Participant's beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Common Stock or the Corporations Voting Securities.
ARTICLE VII
RESTRICTED SHARES AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
7.01. Award of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may grant to any Participant an Award of Restricted Shares consisting of a specified number of shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant subject to such terms, conditions and forfeiture and transfer restrictions, whether based on performance
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standards, periods of service, retention by the Participant of ownership of specified shares of Common Stock or other criteria, as the Committee shall establish. The Committee may also grant Restricted Stock Units representing the right to receive shares of Common Stock in the future subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions, whether based on performance standards, periods of service, retention by the Participant of ownership of specified shares of Common Stock or other criteria, as the Committee shall establish. With respect to performance-based Awards of Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Units intended to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, performance targets will consist of specified levels of one or more of the Performance Goals. The terms of any Restricted Share and Restricted Stock Unit Awards granted under this Plan shall be set forth in an Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with this Plan.
7.02. Restricted Shares.
(a) Issuance of Restricted Shares. As soon as practicable after the Date of Grant of a Restricted Share Award by the Committee, the Corporation shall cause to be transferred on the books of the Corporation, or its agent, Common Stock, registered on behalf of the Participant, evidencing the Restricted Shares covered by the Award, but subject to forfeiture to the Corporation as of the Date of Grant if an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Shares covered by the Award is not duly executed by the Participant and timely returned to the Corporation. All Common Stock covered by Awards under this Article VII shall be subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions contained in the Plan and the Award Agreement entered into by the Participant. Until the lapse or release of all restrictions applicable to an Award of Restricted Shares, the share certificates representing such Restricted Shares may be held in custody by the Corporation, its designee, or, if the certificates bear a restrictive legend, by the Participant. Upon the lapse or release of all restrictions with respect to an Award as described in Section 7.02(d), one or more share certificates, registered in the name of the Participant, for an appropriate number of shares as provided in Section 7.02(d), free of any restrictions set forth in the Plan and the Award Agreement shall be delivered to the Participant.
(b) Shareholder Rights. Beginning on the Date of Grant of the Restricted Share Award and subject to execution of the Award Agreement as provided in Section 7.02(a), the Participant shall become a shareholder of the Corporation with respect to all shares subject to the Award Agreement and shall have all of the rights of a shareholder, including, but not limited to, the right to vote such shares and the right to receive dividends; provided, however, that any Common Stock distributed as a dividend or otherwise with respect to any Restricted Shares as to which the restrictions have not yet lapsed, shall be subject to the same restrictions as such Restricted Shares and held or restricted as provided in Section 7.02(a).
(c) Restriction on Transferability. None of the Restricted Shares may be assigned or transferred (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or to an inter vivos trust with respect to which the Participant is treated as the owner under Sections 671 through 677 of the Code, except to the extent that Section 16 of the Exchange Act limits a Participant's right to make such transfers), pledged or sold prior to lapse of the restrictions applicable thereto.
(d) Delivery of Shares upon Vesting. Upon expiration or earlier termination of the forfeiture period without a forfeiture and the satisfaction of or release from any other conditions prescribed by the Committee, or at such earlier time as provided under the provisions of Section 7.04, the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares shall lapse. As promptly as administratively feasible thereafter, subject to the requirements of Section 11.05, the Corporation shall deliver to the Participant or, in case of the Participant's death, to the Participant's Beneficiary, one or more share certificates for the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock, free of all such restrictions, except for any restrictions that may be imposed by law.
(e) Forfeiture of Restricted Shares. Subject to Sections 7.02(f) and 7.04, all Restricted Shares shall be forfeited and returned to the Corporation and all rights of the Participant with respect to such Restricted Shares shall terminate unless the Participant continues in the service of the Corporation or a Subsidiary as an employee
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until the expiration of the forfeiture period for such Restricted Shares and satisfies any and all other conditions set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee shall determine the forfeiture period (which may, but need not, lapse in installments) and any other terms and conditions applicable with respect to any Restricted Share Award.
(f) Waiver of Forfeiture Period. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VII to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive the forfeiture period and any other conditions set forth in any Award Agreement under appropriate circumstances (including the death, disability or Retirement of the Participant or a material change in circumstances arising after the date of an Award) and subject to such terms and conditions (including forfeiture of a proportionate number of the Restricted Shares) as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
7.03. Restricted Stock Units.
(a) Settlement of Restricted Stock Units. Payments shall be made to Participants with respect to their Restricted Stock Units as soon as practicable after the Committee has determined that the terms and conditions applicable to such Award have been satisfied or at a later date if distribution has been deferred. Payments to Participants with respect to Restricted Stock Units shall be made in the form of Common Stock, or cash or a combination of both, as the Committee may determine. The amount of any cash to be paid in lieu of Common Stock shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date any such payment is processed. As to shares of Common Stock which constitute all or any part of such payment, the Committee may impose such restrictions concerning their transferability and/or their forfeiture as may be provided in the applicable Award Agreement or as the Committee may otherwise determine, provided such determination is made on or before the date certificates for such shares are first delivered to the applicable Participant.
(b) Shareholder Rights. Until the lapse or release of all restrictions applicable to an Award of Restricted Stock Units, no shares of Common Stock shall be issued in respect of such Awards and no Participant shall have any rights as a shareholder of the Corporation with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by such Award of Restricted Stock Units.
(c) Waiver of Forfeiture Period. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 7.03 to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive the forfeiture period and any other conditions set forth in any Award Agreement under appropriate circumstances (including the death, disability or retirement of the Participant or a material change in circumstances arising after the date of an Award) and subject to such terms and conditions (including forfeiture of a proportionate number of shares issuable upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Units constituting an Award) as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
(d) Deferral of Payment. If approved by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant may elect to defer the amount payable with respect to the Participants Restricted Stock Units in accordance with such terms as may be established by the Committee.
7.04. Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, all restrictions applicable to Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall terminate fully and the Participant shall immediately have the right to the delivery in accordance with Section 7.02(d) of a share certificate or certificates evidencing a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the full number of shares subject to each such Award (in the case of Restricted Stock) or payment in accordance with Section 7.03(a) of a number of shares of Common Stock determined by the Committee, in its discretion, but, in the case of a performance-based or other contingent Award, in no event less than the number of shares payable at the target level for each such Award (in the case of Restricted Stock Units). The provisions of this Section 7.04 shall not be applicable to any Restricted Share Award granted to a Participant if any Change in Control results from such Participant's beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Common Stock or the Corporations Voting Securities.
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ARTICLE VIII
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
8.01. Performance Awards.
(a) Award Periods and Calculations of Potential Incentive Amounts. The Committee may grant Performance Awards to Participants. A Performance Award shall consist of the right to receive a payment (measured by the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock, increases in such Fair Market Value during the Award Period and/or a fixed cash amount) contingent upon the extent to which certain predetermined performance targets have been met during an Award Period. The Award Period shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee, in its discretion and under such terms as it deems appropriate, may permit newly eligible Participants, such as those who are promoted or newly hired, to receive Performance Awards after an Award Period has commenced.
(b) Performance Targets. Subject to Section 11.18, the performance targets applicable to a Performance Award may include such goals related to the performance of the Corporation or, where relevant, any one or more of its Subsidiaries or divisions and/or the performance of a Participant as may be established by the Committee in its discretion. In the case of Performance Awards to covered employees (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code), the targets will be limited to specified levels of one or more of the Performance Goals. The performance targets established by the Committee may vary for different Award Periods and need not be the same for each Participant receiving a Performance Award in an Award Period.
(c) Earning Performance Awards. The Committee, at or as soon as practicable after the Date of Grant, shall prescribe a formula to determine the percentage of the Performance Award to be earned based upon the degree of attainment of the applicable performance targets.
(d) Payment of Earned Performance Awards. Subject to the requirements of Section 11.05, payments of earned Performance Awards shall be made in cash or Common Stock, or a combination of cash and Common Stock, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may define, and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, such terms and conditions with respect to the payment of earned Performance Awards as it may deem desirable.
8.02. Termination of Service. In the event of a Participants Termination of Service during an Award Period, the Participants Performance Awards shall be forfeited except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable Award Agreement.
8.03. Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, all Performance Awards for all Award Periods shall immediately become fully vested and payable to all Participants and shall be paid to Participants in accordance with Section 8.01(d), within 30 days after such Change in Control. The provisions of this Section 8.03 shall not be applicable to any Performance Award granted to a Participant if any Change in Control results from such Participant's beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Common Stock or the Corporations Voting Securities.
ARTICLE IX
OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS
9.01. Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards. Other stock-based awards, consisting of stock purchase rights (with or without loans to Participants by the Corporation containing such terms as the Committee shall determine), Awards of Common Stock, or Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock, may be granted either alone or in addition to or in conjunction with other Awards under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of shares of
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Common Stock to be granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other conditions of the Awards. Any such Award shall be confirmed by an Award Agreement executed by the Committee and the Participant, which Award Agreement shall contain such provisions as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of this Plan with respect to such Award.
9.02. Terms of Other Stock-Based Awards. In addition to the terms and conditions specified in the Award Agreement, Awards made pursuant to this Article IX shall be subject to the following:
(a) Any Common Stock subject to Awards made under this Article IX may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered prior to the date on which the shares are issued, or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction, performance or deferral period lapses; and
(b) If specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement, the recipient of an Award under this Article IX shall be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, interest or dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to the Common Stock or other securities covered by the Award; and
(c) The Award Agreement with respect to any Award shall contain provisions dealing with the disposition of such Award in the event of a Termination of Service prior to the exercise, payment or other settlement of such Award, whether such termination occurs because of Retirement, disability, death or other reason, with such provisions to take account of the specific nature and purpose of the Award.
ARTICLE X
SHORT-TERM CASH INCENTIVE AWARDS
10.01. Eligibility. Executive officers of the Corporation who are from time to time determined by the Committee to be covered employees for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code will be eligible to receive short-term cash incentive awards under this Article X.
10.02. Awards.
(a) Performance Targets. The Committee shall establish objective performance targets based on specified levels of one or more of the Performance Goals. Such performance targets shall be established by the Committee on a timely basis to ensure that the targets are considered preestablished for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(b) Amounts of Awards. In conjunction with the establishment of performance targets for a fiscal year or such other short-term performance period established by the Committee, the Committee shall adopt an objective formula (on the basis of percentages of Participants salaries, shares in a bonus pool or otherwise) for computing the respective amounts payable under the Plan to Participants if and to the extent that the performance targets are attained. Such formula shall comply with the requirements applicable to performance-based compensation plans under Section 162(m) of the Code and, to the extent based on percentages of a bonus pool, such percentages shall not exceed 100% in the aggregate.
(c) Payment of Awards. Awards will be payable to Participants in cash each year upon prior written certification by the Committee of attainment of the specified performance targets for the preceding fiscal year or other applicable performance period.
(d) Negative Discretion. Notwithstanding the attainment by the Corporation of the specified performance targets, the Committee shall have the discretion, which need not be exercised uniformly among the Participants, to reduce or eliminate the Award that would be otherwise paid.
(e) Guidelines. The Committee may adopt from time to time written policies for its implementation of this Article X. Such guidelines shall reflect the intention of the Corporation that all payments hereunder qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.
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(f) Non-Exclusive Arrangement. The adoption and operation of this Article X shall not preclude the Board or the Committee from approving other short-term incentive compensation arrangements for the benefit of individuals who are Participants hereunder as the Board or Committee, as the case may be, deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XI
TERMS APPLICABLE GENERALLY TO AWARDS GRANTED UNDER THE PLAN
11.01. Plan Provisions Control Award Terms. Except as provided in Section 11.16, the terms of the Plan shall govern all Awards granted under the Plan, and in no event shall the Committee have the power to grant any Award under the Plan which is contrary to any of the provisions of the Plan. In the event any provision of any Award granted under the Plan shall conflict with any provision in the Plan as constituted on the Date of Grant of such Award, the provision in the Plan as constituted on the Date of Grant of such Award shall control. Except as provided in Section 11.03 and Section 11.07, the terms of any Award granted under the Plan may not be changed after the Date of Grant of such Award so as to materially decrease the value of the Award without the express written approval of the holder.
11.02. Award Agreement. No person shall have any rights under any Award granted under the Plan unless and until the Corporation and the Participant to whom such Award shall have been granted shall have executed and delivered an Award Agreement or received any other Award acknowledgment authorized by the Committee expressly granting the Award to such person and containing provisions setting forth the terms of the Award.
11.03. Modification of Award After Grant. No Award granted under the Plan to a Participant may be modified (unless such modification does not materially decrease the value of the Award) after the Date of Grant except by express written agreement between the Corporation and the Participant, provided that any such change (a) shall not be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, and (b) shall be approved by the Committee.
11.04. Limitation on Transfer. Except as provided in Section 7.02(c) in the case of Restricted Shares, a Participant's rights and interest under the Plan may not be assigned or transferred other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of a Participant, only the Participant personally (or the Participant's personal representative) may exercise rights under the Plan. The Participant's Beneficiary may exercise the Participant's rights to the extent they are exercisable under the Plan following the death of the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act with respect to Participants subject to such Section, the Committee may grant Non-Qualified Stock Options that are transferable, without payment of consideration, to immediate family members of the Participant or to trusts or partnerships for such family members, and the Committee may also amend outstanding Non-Qualified Stock Options to provide for such transferability.
11.05. Taxes. The Corporation shall be entitled, if the Committee deems it necessary or desirable, to withhold (or secure payment from the Participant in lieu of withholding) the amount of any withholding or other tax required by law to be withheld or paid by the Corporation with respect to any amount payable and/or shares issuable under such Participants Award, or with respect to any income recognized upon a disqualifying disposition of shares received pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, and the Corporation may defer payment or issuance of the cash or shares upon exercise or vesting of an Award unless indemnified to its satisfaction against any liability for any such tax. The amount of such withholding or tax payment shall be determined by the Committee and shall be payable by the Participant at such time as the Committee determines in accordance with the following rules:
(a) The Participant shall have the right to elect to meet his or her withholding requirement (i) by having withheld from such Award at the appropriate time that number of shares of Common Stock, rounded up to the next whole share, whose Fair Market Value is equal to the amount of withholding taxes due, (ii) by direct payment to the Corporation in cash of the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award or (iii) by a combination of shares and cash.
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(b) In the case of Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee may impose such limitations and restrictions as it deems necessary or appropriate with respect to the delivery or withholding of shares of Common Stock to meet tax withholding obligations.
11.06. Surrender of Awards. Any Award granted under the Plan may be surrendered to the Corporation for cancellation on such terms as the Committee and the Award holder approve. With the consent of the Participant, the Committee may substitute a new Award under this Plan in connection with the surrender by the Participant of an equity compensation award previously granted under this Plan or any other plan sponsored by the Corporation; provided, however, that no such substitution shall be permitted without the approval of the Corporations shareholders if such approval is required by the rules of any applicable stock exchange.
11.07. Adjustments to Reflect Capital Changes.
(a) Recapitalization. In the event of any corporate event or transaction (including, but not limited to, a change in the Common Stock or the capitalization of the Corporation) such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, partial or complete liquidation, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Corporation, a combination or exchange of Common Stock, dividend in kind, or other like change in capital structure, number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to shareholders of the Corporation, or any similar corporate event or transaction, the Committee, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants rights under this Plan, shall make equitable and appropriate adjustments and substitutions, as applicable, to or of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards, the Purchase Price or Exercise Price for such shares, the number and kind of shares available for future issuance under the Plan and the maximum number of shares in respect of which Awards can be made to any Participant in any calendar year, and other determinations applicable to outstanding Awards. The Committee shall have the power and sole discretion to determine the amount of the adjustment to be made in each case.
(b) Merger. After any Merger in which the Corporation is the surviving corporation, each Participant shall, at no additional cost, be entitled upon any exercise of all Options or receipt of other Award to receive (subject to any required action by shareholders), in lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock receivable or exercisable pursuant to such Award, the number and class of shares or other securities to which such Participant would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the Merger if, at the time of the Merger, such Participant had been the holder of record of a number of shares equal to the number of shares receivable or exercisable pursuant to such Award. Comparable rights shall accrue to each Participant in the event of successive Mergers of the character described above. Notwithstanding Section 11.15, in the event of a Merger in which the Corporation is not the surviving corporation, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the agreement governing the Merger, which may provide, without limitation, for the assumption of Awards by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary, for the substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary of its own awards for such Awards, for accelerated vesting and accelerated expiration, or for settlement in cash or cash equivalents. In any event, the exercise and/or vesting of any Award that was permissible solely by reason of this Section 11.07(b) shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Merger.
(c) Options to Purchase Shares or Stock of Acquired Companies. After any Merger in which the Corporation or a Subsidiary shall be a surviving corporation, the Committee may grant substituted Options under the provisions of the Plan, pursuant to Section 424 of the Code, replacing old options granted under a plan of another party to the Merger whose shares or stock subject to the old options may no longer be issued following the Merger. The foregoing adjustments and manner of application of the foregoing provisions shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Any such adjustments may provide for the elimination of any fractional shares which might otherwise become subject to any Options.
11.08. No Right to Continued Service. No person shall have any claim of right to be granted an Award under this Plan. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the service of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries.
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11.09. Awards Not Includable for Benefit Purposes. Payments received by a Participant pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall not be included in the determination of benefits under any pension, group insurance or other benefit plan applicable to the Participant which is maintained by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, except as may be provided under the terms of such plans or determined by the Board.
11.10. Governing Law. All determinations made and actions taken pursuant to the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and construed in accordance therewith.
11.11. No Strict Construction. No rule of strict construction shall be implied against the Corporation, the Committee, or any other person in the interpretation of any of the terms of the Plan, any Award granted under the Plan or any rule or procedure established by the Committee.
11.12. Compliance with Rule 16b-3. It is intended that, unless the Committee determines otherwise, Awards under the Plan be eligible for exemption under Rule 16b-3. The Board is authorized to amend the Plan and to make any such modifications to Award Agreements to comply with Rule 16b-3, as it may be amended from time to time, and to make any other such amendments or modifications as it deems necessary or appropriate to better accomplish the purposes of the Plan in light of any amendments made to Rule 16b-3.
11.13. Captions. The captions (i.e., all Section headings) used in the Plan are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of the Plan, and shall not be deemed to limit, characterize or affect in any way any provisions of the Plan, and all provisions of the Plan shall be construed as if no captions have been used in the Plan.
11.14. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision in the Plan and every Award at any time granted under the Plan shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of the Plan or any Award at any time granted under the Plan shall be held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, then (a) such provision shall be deemed amended to accomplish the objectives of the provision as originally written to the fullest extent permitted by law and (b) all other provisions of the Plan and every other Award at any time granted under the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.
11.15. Amendment and Termination.
(a) Amendment. The Board shall have complete power and authority to amend the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not, without the requisite affirmative approval of shareholders of the Corporation, make any amendment which requires shareholder approval under the Code or under any other applicable law or rule of any stock exchange which lists Common Stock or the Corporations Voting Securities. No termination or amendment of the Plan may, without the consent of the Participant to whom any Award shall theretofore have been granted under the Plan, adversely affect the right of such individual under such Award.
(b) Termination. The Board shall have the right and the power to terminate the Plan at any time. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the termination of the Plan, but the termination of the Plan shall not have any other effect and any Award outstanding at the time of the termination of the Plan may be exercised after termination of the Plan at any time prior to the expiration date of such Award to the same extent such Award would have been exercisable had the Plan not terminated.
11.16. Foreign Qualified Awards. Awards under the Plan may be granted to such employees of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries who are residing in foreign jurisdictions as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine from time to time. The Committee may adopt such supplements to the Plan as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the applicable laws of such foreign jurisdictions and to afford Participants favorable treatment under such laws; provided, however, that no Award shall be granted under any such supplement with terms or conditions inconsistent with the provision set forth in the Plan.
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11.17. Dividend Equivalents. For any Award granted under the Plan, the Committee shall have the discretion, upon the Date of Grant or thereafter, to establish a Dividend Equivalent Account with respect to the Award, and the applicable Award Agreement or an amendment thereto shall confirm such establishment. If a Dividend Equivalent Account is established, the following terms shall apply:
(a) Terms and Conditions. Dividend Equivalent Accounts shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and as shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Such terms and conditions may include, without limitation, for the Participants Account to be credited as of the record date of each cash dividend on the Common Stock with an amount equal to the cash dividends which would be paid with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by the related Award if such shares of Common Stock had been owned of record by the Participant on such record date.
(b) Unfunded Obligation. Dividend Equivalent Accounts shall be established and maintained only on the books and records of the Corporation and no assets or funds of the Corporation shall be set aside, placed in trust, removed from the claims of the Corporation's general creditors, or otherwise made available until such amounts are actually payable as provided hereunder.
11.18. Adjustment of Performance Goals and Targets. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall have the authority to adjust any Performance Goal, performance target or other performance-based criteria established with respect to any Award under the Plan if circumstances occur (including, but not limited to, unusual or nonrecurring events, changes in tax laws or accounting principles or practices or changed business or economic conditions) that cause any such Performance Goal, performance target or performance-based criteria to be inappropriate in the judgment of the Committee; provided, that with respect to any Award that is intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, any adjustment by the Committee shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder.
11.19. Legality of Issuance. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan or any applicable Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee shall have the sole discretion to impose such conditions, restrictions and limitations (including suspending exercises of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the tolling of any applicable exercise period during such suspension) on the issuance of Common Stock with respect to any Award unless and until the Committee determines that such issuance complies with (i) any applicable registration requirements under the Securities Act (or the Committee has determined that an exemption therefrom is available), (ii) any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, (iii) any applicable Corporate policy or administrative rules, and (iv) any other applicable provision of state, federal or foreign law, including foreign securities laws where applicable.
11.20. Restrictions on Transfer. Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Common Stock under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state, the Corporation may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge, or other transfer of such Common Stock (including the placement of appropriate legends on stock certificates) if, in the judgment of the Corporation and its counsel, such restrictions are necessary or desirable to achieve compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act, the securities laws of any state, the United States or any other applicable foreign law.
11.21. Further Assurances. As a condition to receipt of any Award under the Plan, a Participant shall agree, upon demand of the Corporation, to do all acts and execute, deliver and perform all additional documents, instruments and agreements which may be reasonably required by the Corporation, to implement the provisions and purposes of the Plan.
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This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
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The undersigned hereby appoints Robert A. Paul, Ernest C. Siddons and Rose Hoover as proxies with full power of substitution, to vote as specified on the reverse side the shares of stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of AMPCO-PITTSBURGH CORPORATION, to be held at The Duquesne Club, in The Carnegie Room, 3rd Floor, 325 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., and any adjournments thereof.
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WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED IN ITEM 1 (OR, IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES, THE SHARES MAY BE VOTED CUMULATIVELY) AND FOR PROPOSAL 2 AND PROPOSAL 3. THE PROXIES NAMED ABOVE ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE IN THEIR DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
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PLEASE SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE and mail in the enclosed, postage prepaid envelope. | ||
Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side) |
p FOLD AND DETACH HERE p
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INTERNET OR TELEPHONE VOTING,
BOTH ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.
Internet and telephone voting is available through 11:59 PM Eastern Time
the day prior to annual meeting day.
However, if you choose to cumulate votes for directors you must vote by mail.
INTERNET http://www.proxyvoting.com/AP
Use the Internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site.
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OR | TELEPHONE 1-866-540-5760
Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you call. |
If you vote your proxy by Internet or by telephone, you do NOT need to mail back your proxy card.
To vote by mail, mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
Choose MLinkSM for fast, easy and secure 24/7 online access to your future proxy materials, investment plan statements, tax documents and more. Simply log on to Investor ServiceDirect® at www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/isd where step-by-step instructions will prompt you through enrollment.
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Mark Here | ||||||||||||||||||
for Address | ||||||||||||||||||
Change or Comments | ||||||||||||||||||
SEE REVERSE SIDE |
1. CUMULATIVE VOTING Insert your vote for the nominees named below in the designated space provided. The Directors will be elected by cumulative voting. If you chose to cumulate your votes, multiply the number of shares held by you by three and vote the result for the nominees listed below in any proportion. Stockholders may withhold authority to vote for a nominee by entering zero in the space following the nominees name. |
FOR all nominees listed to the left, cumulative votes to be divided equally between the nominees |
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed to the left |
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. |
A proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2008. | ¨
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FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3. |
A proposal to approve the Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nominees | Votes | OR | ¨ | OR | ¨ | All proxies heretofore given or executed with respect to the shares of stock represented by this proxy are by the filing of this proxy, expressly revoked.
PLEASE DO NOT FOLD, STAPLE OR DAMAGE. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01 William K. Lieberman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02 Stephen E. Paul | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
03 Carl H. Pforzheimer, III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: The total number of votes you cast in the election of directors should not exceed the number of shares shown above times three. | Dated: |
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, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Signature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Signature if held jointly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NOTE: Signature should conform exactly to name as stenciled hereon. Executors, administrators, guardians, trustees, attorneys and officers signing for a corporation should give full title. For joint accounts each owner must sign. |
p FOLD AND DETACH HERE p
CALCULATION OF NUMBER OF VOTES YOU MAY CAST
IN THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Fill in the number of shares you own: |
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Multiply by 3: |
X3 | |||||||
Total votes: |
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The number in the box is the total number of votes you may cast in the election of directors. The total number of votes you may cast must be less than or equal to the number in the box, and it cannot exceed the number in the box. |
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope.
PLEASE VOTE