SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ____)
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[X] | Definitive Proxy Statement | ||
[ ] | Definitive Additional Materials | ||
[ ] | Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12 |
ENVIRONMENTAL TECTONICS CORPORATION |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant) |
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ENVIRONMENTAL TECTONICS CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
September 20, 2004
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECTONICS CORPORATION:
The Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Environmental Tectonics Corporation (the Company) will be held at the executive offices of the Company, 125 James Way, County Line Industrial Park, Southampton, Pennsylvania on Monday, September 20, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. for the following purposes:
1 | . | To elect five directors to serve on the board of directors until their successors have been elected and qualified. |
2 | . | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. |
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on August 6, 2004 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN ORDER THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE VOTED. IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU MAY WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON.
By Order of the Board of Directors | |
/s/ Ann M. Allen | |
ANN M. ALLEN, Secretary |
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ENVIRONMENTAL TECTONICS CORPORATION
125 James Way
County Line Industrial Park
Southampton, Pennsylvania 18966
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
September 20, 2004
Solicitation of Proxies
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Environmental Tectonics Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the Company), of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 20, 2004, at our executive offices at 125 James Way, County Line Industrial Park, Southampton, Pennsylvania 18966 and at any adjournment thereof. This proxy statement and accompanying form of proxy are being provided to shareholders on or about August 20, 2004, along with our 2004 Annual Report to shareholders. In addition to the use of the mails, our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. The expense of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company.
Voting and Revocation of Proxies
When a proxy is properly executed and returned in time to be voted at the Annual Meeting, the shares represented thereby will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. Signed proxies not marked to the contrary will be voted FOR the election of the Board of Directors nominees. The Board of Directors knows of no matters other than those that are described in this Proxy Statement that may be brought before the Annual Meeting. However, signed proxies will be voted FOR or AGAINST any other matter that properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof, in the discretion of the persons named as proxyholders. Any such proxy may be revoked at any time before its exercise by (i) executing and delivering a later dated proxy to the Secretary of the Company, (ii) giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company, or (iii) by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Our mailing address is 125 James Way, County Line Industrial Park, Southampton, Pennsylvania 18966.
Voting Securities, Record Date and Quorum
Shareholders of record at the close of business on August 6, 2004 (the Record Date), are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, we had outstanding 7,640,646 shares of common stock. Each issued share of common stock is entitled to one vote with respect to each director nominee and one vote on all other matters coming before the Annual Meeting. Cumulative voting is not permitted
The presence, in person or by proxy, of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes which all shareholders are entitled to cast shall constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Shares voted as abstentions on any matter (or a withhold vote for as to a director) will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting and as unvoted, although present and entitled to vote, for purposes of determining the approval of each matter as to which the shareholder has abstained. Consequently, abstentions and withheld votes have the same effect as a vote against a proposal. If a broker submits a proxy that indicates the broker does not have discretionary authority as to certain shares to vote on one or more matters, those shares will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting, but will not be considered as present and entitled to vote with respect to determining the approval of such matters.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Why am I receiving this proxy statement and proxy card?
You are receiving a proxy statement and proxy card because you own shares of our common stock. This proxy statement describes the matters on which we would like you, as a shareholder, to vote. It also gives you information on these matters so that you can make an informed decision.
What am I voting on?
You are voting for the election of five members of the Board of Directors.
What vote is required to elect directors?
The Board of Directors are elected by a plurality of votes which means that the five directors receiving the highest number of votes will serve as members of the Board of Directors until their successors have been elected and qualified
How do I vote?
After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy statement, you may cast your vote in one of the following ways:
| by completing the accompanying proxy card and returning it in the enclosed envelope; or | |
| by appearing and voting in person at the Annual Meeting. |
If your shares are held in street name, which means that your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution instead of in your own name, you must either direct the financial institution as to how to vote your shares or obtain a proxy from the financial institution to vote at the Annual Meeting.
May I change my vote?
After mailing in your proxy, you may change your vote by following any of these procedures. If you are a shareholder of record, meaning that the shares you own are registered in your name as of August 6, 2004 then to revoke your proxy, you must do one of the following before the vote is taken at the Annual Meeting:
| send written notice revoking your proxy to the Companys Secretary at 125 James Way, County Line Industrial Park, Southampton, Pennsylvania 18966; or | |
| sign and return a proxy with a later date. |
If you are not a holder of record but you are a beneficial holder, meaning that your shares are registered in another name (for example, in street name), you must follow the procedures required by the holder of record, which is usually a brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution, to revoke a proxy. You should contact the holder of record directly for more information on these procedures. In any event, you may not change your vote or revoke your proxy after the vote is taken at the Annual Meeting.
How do I vote in person?
If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and wish to vote in person, we will give you a ballot when you arrive. If your shares are held in street name, you must bring an account statement or letter from the brokerage firm or bank showing that you were the beneficial owner of the shares on August 6, 2004, the record date for determining which of our shareholders are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting, in order to vote at the Annual Meeting. In addition, if you want to vote your shares that are held in street name, you must obtain a legal proxy from the holder of record and present it at the Annual Meeting
Who can answer my questions about the Annual Meeting?
If you have additional questions about the Annual Meeting, you should contact Duane D. Deaner, our Chief Financial Officer, at (215) 355-9100.
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Principal Shareholders
The following table sets forth as of August 6, 2004, the number of shares and percentage of our common stock owned beneficially by each director, each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table, and each person holding, to our knowledge, more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, and all directors and executive officers as a group.
Amount and Nature | ||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | of Beneficial Ownership(1) | Percent of Common Stock | ||||
William F. Mitchell (2) | 1,526,398 | 20.0 | % | |||
c/o Environmental Tectonics Corporation | ||||||
County Line Industrial Park | ||||||
Southampton, PA 18966 | ||||||
Pete L. Stephens, M.D. (3) | 693,500 | (4) | 9.1 | % | ||
31 Ribaut Drive | ||||||
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 | ||||||
Howard W. Kelley (3) | 2,135 | * | ||||
c/o Sally Corporation | ||||||
745 West Forsyth Street | ||||||
Jacksonville, FL 32204 | ||||||
T. Todd Martin, III | 1,268,220 | (5) | 16.6 | % | ||
50 Midtown Park East | ||||||
Mobile, AL 36606 | ||||||
H.F. Lenfest (3) | 2,621,230 | (6) | 25.5 | % | ||
c/o The Lenfest Group | ||||||
1332 Enterprise Drive | ||||||
West Chester, PA 1938 | ||||||
Emerald Advisors, Inc. | 1,278,317 | (7) | 16.7 | % | ||
1703 Oregon Pike | ||||||
Suite 101 | ||||||
Lancaster, PA 17601 | ||||||
George K. Anderson, M.D. (3) | 1,000 | * | ||||
8034 Kidwell Hill Court | ||||||
Vienna, VA 22182 | ||||||
All directors and executive | ||||||
officers as a group (6 persons) | 4,857,144 | (8) | 47.3 | % |
* less than 1%
(1) | Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, based on 7,634,910 shares of common stock outstanding as of August 6, 2004. Unless otherwise noted, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock beneficially owned by them. | ||
(2) | Chairman of the Board, President and Director of the Company. Includes 133,200 shares of common stock held by Mr. Mitchells wife. | ||
(3) | Director of the Company. |
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(4) | Includes 292,330 shares of common stock held by or for the benefit of Dr. Stephens wife and two of his children. | |
(5) | Includes 1,067,720 shares of common stock owned by Advanced Technology Asset Management, LLC (formerly ETC Asset Management, LLC) (ATAM), a limited liability company of which T. Todd Martin, III, is manager. Also includes 135,300 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Martin, 26,900 shares owned by Allied Williams Co, Inc., a corporation of which Mr. Martin is an officer and director, 17,000 shares owned by Equity Management, LLC, a limited liability company of which Mr. Martin is manager, 14,300 shares owned by Mr. Martin jointly with his spouse, and 7,000 shares owned by trusts of which Mr. Martin is trustee. | |
(6) | These shares consist of 2,621,230 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of a promissory note in the principal amount of $10,000,000 and exercise of warrants to purchase shares of common stock. | |
(7) | As of August 6, 2004, Emerald Advisors, Inc. has sole voting power with respect to 711,639 shares of common stock and sole dispositive power over 1,278,317 shares of common stock. | |
(8) | Includes 12,881 shares of common stock which may be acquired by our Chief Financial Officer upon the exercise of options granted under our Incentive Stock Option Plan that are presently exercisable and 2,621,230 shares of common stock which may be acquired by H. F. Lenfest upon conversion of a promissory note in the principal amount of $10,000,000 that is presently convertible and the exercise of warrants to purchase shares of common stock which are presently exercisable. |
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
Our Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three nor more than ten directors. Within the foregoing limits, the Board of Directors may, from time to time, fix the number of directors. The Board of Directors has fixed the number of directors at five directors.
Vacancies in the Board of Directors occurring by reason of death, resignation, removal or disqualification of a director may be filled for the unexpired term by a majority vote of the remaining directors of the Board of Directors although less than a quorum. Newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors by action of the board of directors may be filled by a two-thirds vote of the directors serving at the time of such increase. Each director so elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall hold office until such directors successor is elected by the shareholders at the next annual or special meeting of shareholders or until the earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification of each such director.
At the Annual Meeting, five directors shall be elected to serve for a one-year term and until their successors are elected and qualified.
The Board of Directors has unanimously nominated George K. Anderson, M.D., MPH, Howard W. Kelley, H. F. Lenfest, William F. Mitchell and Pete L. Stephens, M.D., for election as directors of the Company. Each of the nominees has consented to being named in this proxy statement and to serve if elected. If any of the nominees become unable to accept nomination or election, the persons named in the proxy may vote for a substitute nominee selected by the Board of Directors. The Companys management, however, has no present reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as a director, if elected.
The five nominees who receive the highest number of votes cast at the Annual Meeting will be elected as directors. Shares represented by properly executed proxies will be voted for the nominees named below unless otherwise specified in the proxy by the shareholder. Any shareholder who wishes to withhold authority from the proxyholders to vote for the election of directors or to withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee may do so by marking his or her proxy to that effect. Shareholders cannot cumulate their votes for the election of directors. No proxy may be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.
Nominees for Election as Director and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information, as of August 6, 2004, with respect to our directors and executive officers:
Served as Director or | ||||
Name | Age | Officer Since (1) | Positions and Offices | |
William F. Mitchell (2) | 62 | 1969 | Chairman of the Board, President and Director | |
Pete L. Stephens, M.D. (3) | 66 | 1974 | Director | |
Howard W. Kelley (4) | 62 | 2002 | Director | |
George K. Anderson, M.D. (5) | 58 | 2003 | Director | |
H.F. Lenfest (6) | 74 | 2003 | Director | |
Duane D. Deaner (7) | 56 | 1996 | Chief Financial Officer |
(1) | Directors are elected for one-year terms. | ||
(2) | Mr. Mitchell has been our Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer since 1969, except for the period from January 24, 1986 through January 24, 1987, when he was engaged principally in soliciting sales for our products in the over seas markets. Mr. Mitchell received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Drexel University and has completed graduate work in mechanical and electrical engineering. He is a member of the ASME and Drexel University engineering advisory boards. Additionally, he is a member of the Society of Automotive/Aerospace Engineering, the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, the Aerospace Medical Association, the American Society of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute of Environmental Sciences. |
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(3) | Recently retired from the practice of medicine, Dr. Stephens had been a physician engaged in private practice for 30 years. Dr. Stephens graduated from Bethany College and the Medical College of Virginia. He presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lowcountry Block and Paver, a manufacturing company located in South Carolina. | |
(4) | Mr. Kelley is President of Sally Industries, Jacksonville, Florida, which is one of the oldest and largest designers and fabricators of animation robotics and dark ride attractions used worldwide in theme parks, museums and entertainment attractions. He is also President of Aspergantis, LLC, an Internet and communications consulting business. He previously spent over 25 years in the broadcasting industry, including ten years in television management as a news director and later as Vice President and General Manager of Channel 12 WTLV (NBC) in Jacksonville, Florida. He is the former Chairman of the Board of Tempus Software, a medical software development firm located in Jacksonville, Florida. He has also previously served as broadcast strategic planner for a major U.S. communications company and as director of several U.S. technology firms with international business activities. In the academic arena, Mr. Kelley serves as an executive professor at the University of North Florida College of Business Administration, and is a college adjunct instructor on Internet technology and E-commerce on the internet. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Harvard Business School PMD. | |
(5) | Dr. Anderson is an experienced physician executive and preventive medicine leader. He began his professional career as an Air Force flight surgeon, serving overseas medical duty in Korea and Germany as well as aerospace medicine leadership positions in the United States. Following 30 years of military service, he transitioned to physician executive positions in the private sector. Subsequent to his retirement from the military, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Koop Foundation from 1997 to 1998 and as President and Chief Executive Officer at Oceania, Inc., a medical software company, from 1999 to 2001. He is presently a principal and member of the board of directors of New World Healthcare Solutions, a medical consulting and executive search firm. Dr. Andersons positions in the Air Force include serving as Deputy Assistant Director of Defense (Health Services Operations and Readiness), Commander of the Human Systems Center, Air Force Material Command, which included the Armstrong Laboratory, the School of Aerospace Medicine and the Human Systems Program Office. He retired from active duty in the grade of Major General | |
(6) | Mr. Lenfest practiced law with Davis Polk & Wardwell before joining Triangle Publications, Inc. in Philadelphia as Associate Counsel in 1965. In 1970, Mr. Lenfest was placed in charge of Triangles Communications Division, serving as Editorial Director and Publisher of Seventeen Magazine and President of the CATV Operations. In 1974, Mr. Lenfest, with the support of two investors, formed Lenfest Communications, Inc., which purchased Suburban Cable TV Company and Lebanon Valley Cable TV Company from Triangle with a total of 7,600 subscribers. In January 2000, Mr. Lenfest sold his cable television operations, which by then served 1.2 million subscribers, to Comcast Corporation but still retains interests in companies principally involved in national satellite promotion of cable programming and software for marketing cable advertising and marketing promotions. Additionally, Mr. Lenfest is the owner of various other businesses in Pennsylvania and Maryland and is active in many philanthropic activities including as Chairman of the Board of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Lenfest Foundation. Mr. Lenfest is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and Columbia Law School. | |
(7) | Mr. Deaner has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 1996. Mr. Deaner served as Vice President of Finance for Pennfield Precision Incorporated from September 1988 to December 1995. Mr. Deaner received an MBA in Finance from Temple University and a B.A. in Mathematics from Millersville University in Pennsylvania. |
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The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote for Messrs. Kelley,
Lenfest and Mitchell and Drs. Anderson and Stephens.
Meetings and Committees of Board of Directors
During the fiscal year ended February 27, 2004, the Board of Directors held three meetings. All members of the Board of Directors attended all of the meetings of the Board of Directors held while they were members of the Board of Directors
During the fiscal year ended February 27, 2004, we had an Audit Committee consisting of Messrs. Kelley, Stephens and Anderson. Mr. Kelley serves as the Chairman and the financial expert (as defined by the American Stock Exchange) and has been designated as the Audit Committee Financial Expert as defined by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, all members of the Audit Committee meet the financial literacy requirements of the American Stock Exchange and satisfy the definition of independence under the rules of the American Stock Exchange. The Audit Committee held four meetings during the year ended February 27, 2004. Among other responsibilities, the Audit Committee meets (via face-to-face or via telephone) with the external auditors to review and make recommendations to management concerning (if appropriate) the quarterly and annual financial results and the reports on forms 10-Q and 10-K. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of the amended and restated Audit Committee Charter is attached as Exhibit A to this proxy statement and is also posted on our website at www.etcusa.com. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of our independent accountants in their preparation or issuance of an audit report or the performance of other audit and review services
Messrs. Kelley, Stephens and Anderson also served on our Compensation Committee during the year ended February 27, 2004, with Dr. Stephens serving as Chairman. The Compensation Committee is charged with reviewing the compensation and incentive plans of officers and key personnel. The Compensation Committee met for its annual review in February 2004. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is posted on our website at www.etcusa.com.
Messrs. Kelley, Stephens and Anderson also served on our Committee to Recommend Directors Compensation. Our directors who do not serve as officers are paid a fee of $2,000 (either in cash or equivalent value of common stock of the Company) per quarter for attending Board of Directors and committee meetings. At a meeting of the Board of Directors on May 28, 2004, the Board formed a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and appointed Mr. Kelley and Drs. Stephens and Anderson as members of such committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies and recommends individuals to the Board of Directors for nomination as members of the Board of Directors and its committees and assists the Board of Directors in the event of a vacancy on the Board of Directors or any committee by identifying and recommending individuals qualified to fill the vacancy. The Nominating Committee considers candidates suggested by our stockholders, provided that the recommendations are made in accordance with the procedures set forth in our Bylaws and described in this Proxy Statement under Shareholder Proposals for Next Annual Meeting. Stockholder nominations that comply with the appropriate procedures will receive the same consideration that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees nominees receive. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee nominated Messrs. Mitchell, Lenfest and Kelley and Drs. Anderson and Stephens for election to one-year terms on the Board of Directors. A copy of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter is also available on our website at www.etcusa.com.
At a Board meeting on May 28, 2004, the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee were reappointed and all existing committee members were nominated and re-elected to serve for another year on their respective committees. (In addition, the Board of Directors adopted an amended and restated Audit Committee Charter, a copy of which is attached as Annex A hereto.)
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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of three independent directors, as defined in Section 121(A) of the American Stock Exchange listing standards.
The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee recommends to the Board of Directors the appointment of the Companys independent accountants.
Management is responsible for the Companys internal controls and the financial reporting process. The Companys independent accountants are responsible for performing an independent audit of its consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and to issue a report on the Companys financial statements. The Audit Committees responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.
In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended February 27, 2004, and met and discussed them with management and the Companys independent accountants, Grant Thornton LLP. The Audit Committee also has discussed with the independent accountants the matters required to be discussed by the U.S. Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61.
The Audit Committee has received from the independent accountants the written disclosures and letter required by the U.S. Independent Standards Board Standard No. 1, and the Audit Committee has discussed with the accountants their independence from the Company and management. The Audit Committee also considered whether non-audit services provided by the independent accountants during the last fiscal year were compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent accounts.
Based on the review and discussions described above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Companys audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 27, 2004, be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for that fiscal year
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REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Companys executive compensation program is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee is composed entirely of non-employee Directors. The executive compensation programs are structured to link executive compensation to the Companys performance and, through programs which use the Companys stock as a compensation medium, to more closely align the interests of executive management with those of the Companys shareholders.
The Compensation Committee evaluates and recommends, to the Board of Directors, compensation and awards for the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers.
Compensation Philosophy
One of the Companys principal goals in establishing its compensation policies is to maximize the possibilities for enhanced shareholder value by closely aligning compensation for its executive officers with the profitability of the Company. In that regard, it is considered essential to the success of the Company that compensation policies enable the Company to attract, retain and satisfactorily reward executive officers who are contributing to the long-term growth and success of the Company.
Components of Compensation
At present, the executive compensation program is comprised of salary, annual cash bonus incentive opportunities and long-term incentive opportunities in the form of options to acquire Company stock. Base salary levels for the executive officers of the Company are set near the average base salary levels paid by other companies within the Companys peer group. Mr. William F. Mitchell, President and Chief Executive Officer, received a base salary of $225,000 in the 2004 fiscal year.
Short-Term Incentive Compensation
Based on the performance for the fiscal year ended February 27, 2004, no incentive compensation awards were made to any officers or key employees. The review included an assessment of the Companys performance against financial and non-financial targets, set at the beginning of the 2004 fiscal year, relating to bookings, sales, net income, stock price and individually tailored goals. The targets reflected the Board of Directors determination of the appropriate goals for the Company. Under the Executive Management/Key Employee Plan (the Executive Management Plan) executive officers (other than CEO) are eligible to receive bonuses in an amount up to 25% of base salary if the predetermined goals are attained.
Under the Chief Executive Officer Plan (the CEO Plan), Mr. Mitchell was eligible to receive a bonus for fiscal 2004 (i) in an amount up to 25% of base salary if the Company attained predetermined goals regarding sales and net income and (ii) in an amount from 25% to 100% of base salary if the Companys stock price performance met predetermined goals. Based on these criteria, Mr. Mitchell did not receive any bonus for fiscal 2004, but he did receive a deferred bonus from prior fiscal years.
Under the CEO Plan and the Executive Management Plan, 75% of any bonuses awarded for a particular fiscal year are paid in May of the following fiscal year, and the remaining 25% is paid in equal installments over the succeeding five years with interest at the average prime rate being charged over the period by the Companys principal bank. Deferred bonus amounts are not vested until paid and are subject to continued employment. No bonus awards were earned or paid for the year ended February 27, 2004, as the Company did not achieve the predetermined goals. However, deferred bonus awards from prior years were paid to officers and key employees.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
The Companys 1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan is a long-term plan designed not only to provide incentives to management, but also to align a significant portion of the executive compensation program with shareholder interests. The 1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan permits the Company to grant certain officers and employees a right to purchase shares of stock at the fair market value per share at the date the option is granted. No options were granted in fiscal 2004. In granting stock options to officers and employees, the Compensation Committee takes into account the Companys financial performance, long-term strategic goal of increasing shareholder value, the executives level of responsibility and his continuing contributions to the Company. The amount of the award to any employee is based on the employees base salary and the total award for any employee is limited to one percent (1%) of total outstanding shares on award date. Mr. Mitchell did not receive any options during the past three fiscal years.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
George K. Anderson, M.D., MPH
Peter L. Stephens, M.D.
Howard W. Kelley
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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the compensation we paid to our Chief Executive Officer for services rendered during fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002. There are no other executive officers whose total annual salary and bonus exceeds $100,000. The footnotes to the table provide additional information concerning our compensation and benefit programs.
Annual Compensation | ||||||||
Name and | Other Annual | |||||||
Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($)(1) | Compensation (2) | Compensation ($)(3) | |||
William F. Mitchell, | 2004 | 225,000 | 9,172 | | 4,707 | |||
President and Chief | 2003 | 225,000 | 0 | | 4,493 | |||
Executive Officer | 2002 | 225,000 | 10,051 | | 4,413 |
(1) | These amounts represent a portion of a deferred bonus from fiscal 1999 due 75% in 1999 and 5% in each of the five following fiscal years. No bonus awards for fiscal 2002, 2003 or 2004 were paid. No deferred bonus amounts from fiscal 1999 were paid in fiscal 2003. | |
(2) | Our Chief Executive Officer receives certain perquisites. For fiscal years 2002, 2003 and 2004, the perquisites received by Mr. Mitchell did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of his salary and bonus. | |
(3) | These amounts represent our contribution to ETCs Retirement Savings Plan on behalf of Mr. Mitchell. |
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors of the Company who are not officers of the Company are paid $2,000 per quarter (either in cash or in equivalent value of common stock of the Company) for attending Board of Directors and Committee meetings
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
On February 19, 2003, we completed a refinancing of our indebtedness with the PNC Bank, National Association and H. F. Lenfest in the aggregate amount of $29,800,000. Pursuant to the terms of a Convertible Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated February 18, 2003, between us and Mr. Lenfest, we issued to Mr. Lenfest (i) a 10% senior subordinated convertible promissory note in the original principal amount of $10,000,000 and (ii) warrants to purchase 803,048 shares of our common stock. As a condition to closing the financing, we appointed Mr. Lenfest to our Board of Directors. For a more detailed description of the financing provided by Mr. Lenfest and PNC, see the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of our Annual Report to Stockholders attached as Exhibit 13 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 27, 2004, and provided to you with this proxy statement.
Prior to the consummation of the refinancing, ATAM, a shareholder and a holder of warrants to purchase 332,820 shares of our common stock, consented to the financing transactions with PNC and Lenfest including the below-market issuance of warrants to Mr. Lenfest. As a result of its consent, ATAM waived, solely in connection with the issuance to Mr. Lenfest, the anti-dilution rights contained in its warrant. In exchange for ATAMs consent and waiver, we issued to ATAM warrants to purchase an additional 105,000 shares of common stock. Except for the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, the new ATAM warrants have substantially the same terms as the warrants issued to Mr. Lenfest. As of the date that these warrants were issued to ATAM, it was the beneficial owner of greater than 5% of our common stock as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In March, 2004, ATAM exercised all its warrants and received a total of 437,820 shares of common stock of the company. For a more detailed description of the financing provided by Mr. Lenfest and PNC, see the Liquidity and Capital Resources Section of our Annual Report to Stockholders attached as Exhibit 13 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Mr. Kelley and Drs. Anderson and Stephens serve on the Compensation Committee. None of these individuals has at any time been an officer or employee of the Company. Prior to formation of the Compensation Committee, all decisions regarding executive compensation were made by the full Board of Directors. No interlocking relationship exists between the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of any other company, nor has any interlocking relationship existed in the past.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the American Stock Exchange. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. The rules of the SEC regarding the filing of Section 16(a) reports require that late filings of Section 16(a) reports be disclosed in our proxy statement.
Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms which we received, or written representations from reporting persons that no Section 16(a) reports were required for those persons, we believe that, during the fiscal year ended February 27, 2004, our officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners complied with all applicable filing requirements except for Mr. Kelley, who had one late filing, Mr. Stephens who had three late filings (two of which were one day late), and Mr. Mitchell, who had one late filing.
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PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return on the Companys Common Stock against the cumulative total return on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) Index and Peer Group Index for the periods indicated. The graph assumes an initial investment of $100.00 with dividends, if any, reinvested over the periods indicated.
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED FEBRUARY 26, 1999
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 27, 2004
FISCAL YEAR ENDED | |||||||||||||||||
COMPANY/INDEX/MARKET | 2/26/1999 | 2/25/2000 | 2/23/2001 | 2/22/2002 | 2/28/2003 | 2/27/2004 | |||||||||||
The Company | $100 | $ | 176.74 | $ | 104.81 | $ | 80.00 | $ | 74.42 | $ | 109.64 | ||||||
Peer Group Index (1) | $100 | $ | 135.12 | $ | 128.32 | $ | 122.63 | $ | 118.95 | $ | 179.64 | ||||||
AMEX Market Index | $100 | $ | 90.99 | $ | 75.15 | $ | 91.49 | $ | 76.59 | $ | 121.29 |
(1) | The Peer Group Index is comprised of companies that have the same Standard Industrial Classification Code as the Company. The composition of the Peer Group Index is as follows:BVR Systems LTD., Datakey, Inc., ECC International Corp., Evans & Sutherland Co., Firearms Training Systems, Isomet Corp., Quad Systems Corp., Relm Wireless Corp., Rofin-Sinar Tech, Inc., Standard Motor Products and United Industrial Corp. |
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INFORMATION REGARDING
THE COMPANYS INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Under the Companys Bylaws and the governing law, authority to select the Companys auditors rests with the Board of Directors. Such selection is made through formal act of the Board of Directors. It has not been and is not the Companys policy to submit selection of its auditors to the vote of the shareholders because there is no legal requirement to do so. Grant Thornton LLP was the Companys auditors for the fiscal year ended February 27, 2004. Auditors have not been selected for the current fiscal year. A representative of Grant Thornton is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will be given an opportunity to make a statement to the shareholders, if he or she desires to do so. Grant Thorntons representative will also be available to answer appropriate questions from shareholders.
Set forth below is information relating to the aggregate Grant Thornton LLP fees for professional services provided to the Company for the fiscal years ended February 28, 2003 and February 27, 2004:
Audit Fees
The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP for the audit of the Companys annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended February 28, 2003 and February 27, 2004, respectively, and fees billed for other services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP.
FY 2003 | FY 2004 | ||||
Audit fees | $ | 81,980 | $ | 89,530 | |
Audit related fees (1) | 40,455 | 15,143 | |||
Audit and audit related fees | $ | 122,435 | $ | 104,673 | |
Tax fees (2) | $ | 34,868 | $ | 37,646 | |
All other fees (3) | 21,268 | | |||
Total fees | $ | 178,571 | $ | 142,319 |
(1) | Audit related fees consist primarily of audits of the Companys financial statements, employee benefit plan audits, and assistance with foreign statutory financial statements. | |
(2) | Tax fees consist of tax compliance services and other consultations on miscellaneous tax matters. | |
(3) | All other fees consist of compliance issues and fees associated with the Companys refinancing in fiscal year 2003. |
All audit related services, tax services and other services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by Grant Thornton LLP was compatible with the maintenance of that firms independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. The Audit Committees policy provides for pre-approval of audit, audit-related and tax services specifically prescribed by the Audit Committee on an annual basis and, in addition, individual engagements anticipated to exceed pre-established thresholds must be separately approved. The policy authorizes the Audit Committee to delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services. Any decision must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE NEXT
ANNUAL MEETING
The Companys 2005 annual meeting of shareholders will be held on or about September 8, 2005.
Proposals which shareholders desire to have included in the Proxy Statement for the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders must conform to the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning the submission and content of proposals and must be received in writing at the Companys executive offices, 125 James Way, County Line Industrial Park, Southampton, Pennsylvania 18966 on or before April 22, 2005.
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Shareholders may propose matters for consideration at the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders by notice, in writing, delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary of the Company no later than July 6, 2005. If proposals are submitted after July 6, 2005, management proxyholders could have discretionary authority to vote on those matters at the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders.
Any such proposal must also comply with the other provisions contained in our bylaws relating to stockholder proposals.
Notice of a proposed item of business must include:
| a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting this business at the annual meeting; |
| any material interests of the stockholder in this business; |
| the stockholders name and address as it appears in Environmental Tectonics records; and |
| the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the stockholder. |
Any director nomination by a stockholder must include the following information about the nominee: | |
| name; |
| age; |
| business and residence address; |
| principal occupation or employment; |
| the number of common shares beneficially owned by the nominee; |
| the information that would be required under SEC rules in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of directors; and |
| a signed consent of the nominee to serve as a director of Environmental Tectonics Corporation, if elected. |
OTHER MATTERS
The Company knows of no other business which will be presented for consideration at the meeting. However, if other matters come before the annual meeting, it is the intention of the proxyholders to vote upon such matters as they, in their discretion, may determine.
The Companys Annual Report to the Shareholders for the year ended February 27, 2004 is enclosed. Each person solicited hereunder can obtain a copy of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 27, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 27, 2004, without charge by sending a written request to Environmental Tectonics Corporation, 125 James Way, County Line Industrial Park, Southampton, Pennsylvania 18966, Attention: Ann M. Allen, Secretary. In addition, the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K is accessible on the Internet at the Companys website located at www.etcusa.com and at the Securities and Exchange Commissions website located at www.sec.gov.
By Order of the Board of Directors
ANN M. ALLEN, Secretary
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ENVIRONMENTAL TECTONICS CORPORATION
ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2004
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned, revoking all prior proxies, hereby appoints Pete L. Stephens and Howard W. Kelley, or either of them, with full power of substitution, as the undersigneds proxies to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders called for September 20, 2004 and at any adjournment thereof:
Please mark your [X] votes as in this example.
To withhold authority to vote for any | |||||
FOR all nominees listed at right | individual nominee, strike a line through | ||||
(except as marked to the contrary) | WITHHOLD the vote for all nominees | the nominees name listed below: | |||
1. | Election of Directors: [ ] | [ ] | George K. Anderson, M.D., MPH | ||
Howard W. Kelley | |||||
H.F. Lenfest | |||||
William F. Mitchell | |||||
Pete L. Stephens, M.D |
2. | In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. | |
This
proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
and designated herein by the undersigned shareholder. In the absence
of designation, this Proxy will
be voted FOR the election of all of the Board of Directors
nominees as directors. |
||
I plan to attend the Annual Meeting on September 20, 2004 [ ] | ||
In Witness Whereof, the Undersigned has set his hand and seal. | ||
_____________________________________________________(SEAL) | ||
Shareholders Signature | ||
_____________________________________________________(SEAL) | ||
Shareholders Signature | ||
Dated: _____________________________, 2004 | ||
NOTE: | Please sign exactly as name appears herein. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, etc. please give full title as such. |
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CHARTER
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Environmental Tectonics Corporation
The Board of Directors of Environmental Tectonics Corporation (the Company) has established an Audit Committee (the Committee) with authority, responsibility, and specific duties as described in this charter. The Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this charter at least annually and report its conclusion and any recommendations to the Board of Directors.
PURPOSE
The Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its fiduciary oversight responsibilities relating to the Companys financial statements, accounting policies, the adequacy of disclosures, the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the financial reporting process, the systems of internal accounting and financial controls, and the sufficiency of relevant financial auditing. The Committee also maintains financial oversight of the Companys retirement and other benefit plans.
The Committee is responsible for evaluating the quality, independence, and objectivity of the independent auditors and internal auditors. It is the responsibility of the Committee to maintain free and open communication between the Committee, independent auditors, the internal auditors, and management of the Company. The opportunity for the independent auditors and the internal auditors to meet with the entire Board of Directors is not to be restricted. The Committee is to ensure that the independent auditors are ultimately accountable to it. The Committee has the ultimate authority and responsibility to evaluate and appoint the independent auditors, determine their compensation and, if appropriate, to terminate the independent auditors.
In discharging its oversight role, the Committee is granted the authority to investigate any activity of the Company and its subsidiaries, and all employees shall be directed to cooperate as may be requested by members of the Committee. If the Committee determines that additional expertise is required in order to fulfill its responsibilities, the Committee is empowered to retain and compensate persons or firms as necessary to assist the Committee in fulfilling its responsibility.
MEMBERSHIP
The Committee shall consist of three or more members of the Board of Directors. All Committee members must be independent of management and the Company and shall be financially literate in accordance with the applicable SEC and AMEX regulations and policies. At least one member of the Committee shall, in the judgment of the Board, be a Financial Expert as the term as defined by the SEC and AMEX. Consistent with the Companys policy for all directors, Committee members receive no compensation from the Company, except for retainer fees and reimbursement of expenses in connection with Board and Committee service.
MEETINGS
The Committee will meet at least four times each year, with additional meetings as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities.
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MINUTES
Minutes of each meeting will be prepared and approved by the Committee prior to submission to the full Board. Minutes of all meetings shall be maintained in the Corporate Record Book.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The following are the principal recurring duties of the Committee:
1. | Request from the independent auditors at least annually a formal written statement delineating all relation ships between the auditors and the Company consistent with Independent Standards Board Standard No.1, as may be modified or supplemented; discuss with the independent auditors any such disclosed relationships, including non-audit services, and their impact on the auditors independence; and take action, if appropriate, in response to the independent auditors statement in order to satisfy itself of the auditors independence. | |
2. | Select, and retain the services of, the Companys independent auditor, which will be subject to the share holders ratification, and terminate their services when appropriate. | |
3. | Review the scope and results of the annual audit with the independent auditor. | |
4. | Pre-approve permitted audit and non-audit services, as defined by the SEC. | |
5. | Establish policies for the hiring of employees and former employees of the independent auditor. | |
6. | Review and discuss with the internal auditors the overall scope and plans for their audits and determine whether the internal audit function has the appropriate resources and expertise. | |
7. | Review and discuss with management, the internal auditors, and the independent auditors, the adequacy and effectiveness of the Companys internal accounting and financial controls, the quality of the financial and accounting personnel, and any relevant recommendations and managements responses thereto. | |
8. | Discuss Company policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, review contingent liabilities and risks that may be material to the Company, and review major legislative and regulatory developments which could materially impact the Companys contingent liabilities and risks. | |
9. | Make, or cause to be made, all necessary inquiries of management, the independent auditors and the internal auditors concerning established standards of corporate conduct and performance and relevant deviations. A compliance report of the Companys code of business conduct is to be furnished annually to the Committee. | |
10. | Establish procedures for the confidential and anonymous receipt and treatment of complaints regarding the Companys accounting, internal controls, and audit matters. | |
11. | Review the interim financial statements with management and the independent auditors prior to the filing of | |
the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Also, the Committee shall discuss the results of the | ||
quarterly review and any other matters that are required to be communicated to the Committee by the | ||
independent auditors in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards No. 71, as modified or | ||
supplemented. The Chairman of the Committee may represent the entire Committee for the purposes of this review. |
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12. | Review with management and the independent auditors the financial statements to be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K, including their judgment about the quality, not just acceptability, of accounting principles, the consistency of accounting policies, unusual transactions, the reasonableness of significant estimates and judgments, the clarity and completeness of the disclosures in the financial statements, and any other matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as modified or supplemented. Also, the Committee shall discuss the results of the annual audit and any other matters required to be communicated to the Committee by the independent auditors, including any disagreements with management. | |
13. | Recommend to the Board of Directors whether the audited financial statements are satisfactory to be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K. | |
14. | Review and reassess, at least annually, the adequacy of this charter and report its conclusion and any recommendations to the Board of Directors. | |
15. | Prepare an annual report for inclusion in the Companys annual proxy statement as required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. | |
16. | Review its own performance annually and report to the Board. | |
17. | Review and evaluate the financial condition of the Companys retirement and other benefit plans. |
Approved by the Board of Directors
Environmental Tectonics Corporation
May 28, 2004
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