<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[_] Confidential, for Use of the Commission only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to (S) 240.14a-11(c) or (S) 240.14a-12
OYO GEOSPACE CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
1. Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
2. Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3. Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:
4. Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5. Total fee paid:
[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1. Amount Previously Paid:
2. Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3. Filing Party:
4. Date Filed:
<PAGE>
[LOGO OF OYO GEOSPACE APPEARS HERE]
December 30, 1999
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
I am pleased to invite you to attend OYO Geospace Corporation's 2000 Annual
Stockholders' Meeting. We will hold the meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, the
28th of January 2000, in the Searls Room at the Sugar Creek Country Club, 420
Sugar Creek Boulevard, Sugar Land, Texas.
Following this letter you will find the formal Notice of Meeting and a proxy
statement, which describes the action to be taken at the meeting. We have
enclosed a proxy card so that you may grant your proxy to be voted as you
indicate. We have also enclosed a copy of our 1999 Annual Report. We encourage
you to read these materials.
Your vote is important. Please complete and mail your proxy card promptly,
whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting. If you attend the
meeting you may vote in person even if you have mailed a signed and dated
proxy.
The board of directors recommends that you vote FOR the election of
directors as described in the attached proxy statement.
Thank you for your cooperation. The rest of the board of directors and I
look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Gary D. Owens
-------------------------------------
Gary D. Owens
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
OYO Geospace Corporation
12750 South Kirkwood, Suite 200
Stafford, Texas 77477
December 30, 1999
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held January 28, 2000
The Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of OYO Geospace Corporation will be
held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, the 28th of January 2000, in the Searls Room at
the Sugar Creek Country Club, 420 Sugar Creek Boulevard, Sugar Land, Texas, to
elect three directors, each to hold office until the 2003 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified, and to
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
The holders of record of OYO Geospace Corporation common stock at the close
of business on December 22, 1999, will be entitled to vote at the meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Charles H. Still
------------------------------------
Charles H. Still
Secretary
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please sign, date and mail
the enclosed proxy card promptly. If you attend the meeting you may vote in
person even if you have mailed a signed and dated proxy.
<PAGE>
OYO Geospace Corporation
Proxy Statement
December 30, 1999
The board of directors of OYO Geospace Corporation is soliciting proxies
from its stockholders for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held at
10:00 a.m. on Friday, the 28th of January 2000, in the Searls Room at the
Sugar Creek Country Club, 420 Sugar Creek Boulevard, Sugar Land, Texas, or any
adjournment thereof.
You are entitled to vote at that meeting if you were a holder of record of
OYO Geospace Corporation common stock at the close of business on December 22,
1999. On December 30, 1999, we began mailing to stockholders entitled to vote
at the meeting a proxy card, this proxy statement and our 1999 Annual Report.
On December 22, 1999, there were 5,501,359 shares of OYO Geospace Corporation
common stock outstanding. Each share of common stock entitles the holder to
one vote on each matter considered at the meeting.
Your proxy card will appoint Gary D. Owens and Satoru Ohya as proxy holders,
or your representatives, to vote your shares as you indicate. If you sign,
date and return your proxy card without specifying voting instructions, the
proxy holders will vote your shares FOR the election of the director nominees
named in this proxy statement.
Signing, dating and returning your proxy card does not preclude you from
attending the meeting and voting in person. If you submit more than one proxy,
the latest-date proxy will automatically revoke your previous proxy. You may
revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by sending written notice, to
be delivered before the meeting, to:
American Securities Transfer & Trust, Inc.
1825 Lawrence Street, Suite 444
Denver, Colorado 80202-1817
The enclosed form of proxy provides a means for you to vote for the director
nominees listed in this proxy statement or to withhold authority to vote for
such nominees and to vote for or against the amendment to the stock option
plan or to withhold authority to vote for that proposal.
The board of directors expects the nominees named in this proxy statement to
be available for election. If any nominee is not available, the proxy holders
may vote your shares for a substitute if you have submitted a signed and dated
proxy card that does not withhold authority to vote for nominees. We are not
aware of any matters to be brought before the meeting other than those
described in this proxy statement. If any other matters are properly brought
before the meeting, the proxy holders may vote your shares in their discretion
if you return a signed, dated proxy card.
No business can be conducted at the meeting unless a majority of all
outstanding shares entitled to vote are either present at the meeting in
person or represented by proxy. The three nominees who receive the most votes
will be elected to the three open directorships even if they receive less than
a majority of the votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as
shares present for determining if there are sufficient shares present to hold
the meeting. They are not counted as votes for or against any item.
Representatives of American Securities Transfer & Trust, Inc., the transfer
agent and registrar for the common stock, will act as the inspectors of
election.
<PAGE>
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the meeting, the stockholders will elect three directors. The board of
directors is divided into three classes, each class being composed as equally
in number as possible. The classes have staggered three-years terms, with the
term of one class expiring at each annual meeting of stockholders.
The directors in Class II, whose terms expire at the meeting, are Katsuhiko
Kobayashi, Michael J. Sheen and Charles H. Still. Messrs. Kobayashi, Sheen and
Still are nominees to serve in Class II for another term expiring at the 2003
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The directors in Class III are serving terms
that expire at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The directors in Class
I are serving terms that expire at the 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Information regarding the director nominees and directors whose terms will
continue following the meeting follows.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class I Directors
(Terms Expiring at the 2002 Director
Annual Meeting of Stockholders) Age Position Since
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Thomas L. Davis, Ph.D.(a)(b).. 52 Director 1997
Ernest M. Hall, Jr............ 74 Director 1994
<CAPTION>
Nominees for Election for Class
II
(Terms Expiring at the 2003
Annual Meeting of Stockholders)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Katsuhiko Kobayashi(a)........ 54 Director 1995
Michael J. Sheen.............. 51 Senior Vice President and
Chief Technical Officer, Director 1997
Charles H. Still(a)(b)........ 57 Director 1997
<CAPTION>
Class III Directors
(Terms Expiring at the 2001
Annual Meeting of Stockholders)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Gary D. Owens................. 52 Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer 1997
Satoru Ohya................... 67 Director 1994
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Member of the Audit Committee.
(b) Member of the Compensation Committee.
Background of Nominees and Continuing Directors
Thomas L. Davis, Ph.D. became a director in connection with our initial
public offering in November 1997. Dr. Davis is Professor of Geophysics at the
Colorado School of Mines. He also is coordinator of the Reservoir
Characterization Project, whose objective is to characterize reservoirs
through development and application of 3-D and time lapse 3-D multicomponent
seismology. Dr. Davis consults and lectures worldwide and has written and co-
edited numerous papers and other works in the field of seismic interpretation.
Ernest M. Hall, Jr. has been a director since the company's formation in
September 1994. From then until his retirement in July 1997, Mr. Hall served
as the President and Chief Executive Officer. He served as President of OYO
Corporation U.S.A. ("OYO U.S.A."), the holder of a majority of the common
stock, from 1985 until 1995 and was re-elected to that position effective
October 1, 1997. From 1980 to 1985, Mr. Hall served as a consultant to OYO
U.S.A.
Katsuhiko Kobayashi joined OYO Corporation, the sole shareholder of OYO
U.S.A., in 1995 and has been a Managing Director since March 1999. From 1973
to 1995 he was employed by Sanwa Bank in its international banking area, where
he last held the position of general manager of the International Credit
Administration Department from 1993 to 1995. He is also a director of
TrueTime, Inc. (Nasdaq:TRUE), an affiliate of OYO U.S.A.
2
<PAGE>
Michael J. Sheen joined the company as Senior Vice President and Chief
Technical Officer in August 1997 and became a director in connection with our
initial public offering in November 1997. Mr. Sheen had been a Senior Vice
President and Chief Technical Officer of Input/Output, Inc. ("I/O") since 1991
and had held other positions at I/O since 1977.
Charles H. Still became a director in connection with our initial public
offering in November 1997. He has been Secretary since the company's formation
in September 1994 and Secretary of various affiliates and predecessors of the
company since 1980. He has been a partner in the law firm of Fulbright &
Jaworski L.L.P. since 1975. He is also a director of TrueTime, Inc.
Gary D. Owens joined the company as President and Chief Executive Officer in
August 1997 and became Chairman of the Board in September 1997. From October
1993 until May of 1997, Mr. Owens was the President and Chief Executive
Officer of I/O. Mr. Owens had held other positions at I/O since 1977.
Satoru Ohya, who is a geologist by education at Tokyo University, was
Chairman of the Board from the company's formation in September 1994 until Mr.
Owens' election to that position September 1997, and he has continued as a
director. He has been President of OYO Corporation since 1993. For
approximately 40 years, Mr. Ohya has been an employee or officer of OYO
Corporation and various of its affiliates, including serving as Chief
Executive Officer of the company's predecessors from 1983 to 1994. He is also
a director of TrueTime, Inc.
Committees of the Board of Directors and Meeting Attendance
The board of directors has an audit committee and compensation committee.
The board of directors has not established a nominating committee.
The audit committee is charged with recommending to the entire board the
engagement and discharge of independent auditors of the financial statements
of the company, reviewing the professional service provided by independent
auditors, reviewing the independence of independent auditors, reviewing with
the auditors the plan and results of the auditing engagement, considering the
range of audit and non-audit fees and reviewing the adequacy of the company's
system of internal accounting controls. The audit committee met four times
during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999.
The compensation committee is charged with recommending to the entire board
the compensation to be paid to officers and key employees of the company and
the compensation of members of the board of directors. The compensation
committee also makes recommendations to the entire board regarding the grant
of stock options and restricted stock awards. The compensation committee met
four times during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999.
The board of directors met four times during the fiscal year ended September
30, 1999. Each director attended, in person or by telephone, all meetings held
by the board of directors and by the committees on which the director served.
Compensation of Directors
Non-employee directors are compensated for their services at a rate of
$25,000 per year, of which one-half is payable in shares of common stock based
on the fair market value thereof at the date of issuance pursuant to the
company's 1997 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan. Also pursuant to that plan,
each non-employee director serving on the board of directors following each
annual meeting of stockholders receives a grant of options to acquire 3,150
shares of common stock at the fair market value on the date of that grant.
Messrs. Hall, Kobayashi and Ohya have not accepted this annual stipend or any
stock options to date and have indicated that they will not accept such
compensation in fiscal 2000. All non-employee directors are reimbursed for
ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in attending board or committee
meetings.
3
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The beneficial ownership as of December 22, 1999, of shares of the company's
common stock of each director and executive officer, each person known to the
company to beneficially own more than 5% of outstanding common stock and all
directors and executive officers as a group, along with the percentage of
outstanding common stock that such ownership represents, follows. Each person
named has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares
indicated except as otherwise stated in the notes to the table.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Beneficial Owner Shares Percentage
--------------------------------------------------- --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
OYO Corporation (1)................................ 2,850,000 51.8%
OYO Corporation U.S.A. (1)......................... 2,850,000 51.8
Gary D. Owens (2).................................. 222,500 4.0
Michael J. Sheen (2)............................... 32,500 *
Thomas L. Davis (3)................................ 11,740 *
Ernest M. Hall, Jr................................. 40,000 *
Katsuhiko Kobayashi................................ -- *
Satoru Ohya (1).................................... 2,850,000 51.8
Charles H. Still (3)............................... 11,740 *
Thomas T. McEntire (4)............................. 16,250 *
R. Chaney & Partners III L.P. (5).................. 482,000 8.8
Pebbleton Corporation, N.V. (6).................... 464,900 8.5
Eagle Asset Management (7)......................... 460,025 8.4
Executive officers and directors as a group (8
people)........................................... 3,184,730 57.9%
</TABLE>
- --------
* Less than one percent.
(1) The shares indicated as beneficially owned by OYO Corporation are held
directly by its wholly-owned subsidiary, OYO Corporation U.S.A. The
address of OYO Corporation is Ichigaya Building 2-6, Kudan-kita 4-chome,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102, Japan. The address of OYO Corporation U.S.A. is
7334 N. Gessner Road, Houston, Texas 77040. OYO Corporation and OYO
Corporation U.S.A. share the voting and dispositive power of these shares.
The shares indicated as beneficially owned by Mr. Ohya are the same shares
owned directly by OYO Corporation U.S.A. and are included because of Mr.
Ohya's affiliation with OYO Corporation. Mr. Ohya disclaims beneficial
ownership of the shares of common stock owned by OYO Corporation U.S.A.
within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
(2) Includes unexercised options to purchase 12,500 shares.
(3) Includes unexercised options to purchase 9,450 shares.
(4) Includes unexercised options to purchase 6,250 shares.
(5) Based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 28, 1999, by R. Chaney & Partners IV L.P. ("Fund IV"),
R. Chaney & Partners III L.P. ("Fund III"), R. Chaney Investments, Inc.
("Investments"), R. Chaney & Partners, Inc. ("Partners"), and Mr. Robert
H. Chaney. According to this Schedule 13G, Fund IV, Investments and Mr.
Chaney have the sole power to vote or to direct the vote, and the sole
power to dispose or to direct the disposition of, 99,000 shares. Fund III,
Partners and Mr. Chaney have the sole power to vote or direct the vote,
and the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of, 383,000
shares, and the address of each these entities is 909 Fannin, Suite 1275,
Two Houston Center, Houston, Texas 77010-1006.
(6) Based solely on a Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on December 14, 1998. According to this Schedule 13D, these
shares are beneficially owned by Pebbleton Corporation, N.V. and Mr. Issam
M. Fares, the address of each of whom is Pietermaai 15, Curacao,
Netherlands Antilles, and each of whom shares the voting and dispositive
power of these shares.
(7) Based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on January 29, 1999. According to this Schedule 13G, the
address of Eagle Asset Management, Inc. is 880 Carillon Parkway, St.
Petersburg, Florida 33716.
4
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND COMPENSATION
Information regarding the executive officers follows.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Position
- ---- --- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Gary D. Owens 52 Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
Michael J. Sheen 51 Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer
Thomas T. McEntire 39 Chief Financial Officer
</TABLE>
Thomas T. McEntire joined the company as Chief Financial Officer in
September of 1997. Mr. McEntire had been Financial Controller of APS Holding
Corporation ("APS") since February 1995 and held other senior financial
management positions since joining APS in 1990. Prior to joining APS, Mr.
McEntire held various positions with Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. from 1982 to
1990.
Mr. Owens' and Mr. Sheen's backgrounds are described above under "Background
of Nominees and Continuing Directors".
Summary of Compensation
A summary of the compensation earned by the executive officers in the fiscal
years ended September 30, 1999, 1998 and 1997 follows.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Long-term
Compensation Compensation Awards
------------------ ---------------------
Restricted Shares
Name and Principal Stock Underlying Other (4)
Position Year (1) Salary Bonus (2) Awards (3) Options Compensation
- ------------------ -------- -------- --------- ---------- ---------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gary D. Owens........... 1999 $175,000 -- -- 10,000 $5,250
Chairman of the Board, 1998 175,000 $131,250 $160,000 20,000 3,578
President and CEO 1997 29,167 -- -- -- --
Michael J. Sheen........ 1999 150,000 -- -- 10,000 4,500
Vice President 1998 150,000 112,500 160,000 20,000 3,079
and Chief 1997 25,000 -- -- -- --
Technical Officer
Thomas T. McEntire...... 1999 125,000 -- -- 5,000 3,635
Chief Financial 1998 100,000 75,000 80,000 10,000 1,558
Officer 1997 8,333 -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Salaries for fiscal 1997 represent less than a full fiscal year. Messrs.
Owens and Sheen joined the company effective August 1, 1997. Mr. McEntire
joined the company effective September 1, 1997.
(2) Bonuses are shown in the fiscal year in which they are earned but are
actually paid in the following fiscal year.
(3) These awards are subject to vesting. For each executive officer, 25% of
these shares were vested as of September 30, 1999. This dollar value was
calculated by multiplying the number of shares of restricted stock awarded
by the closing price of the common stock on the date the awards were
granted. All of these awards were granted in connection with, and were
conditioned upon the closing of, our initial public offering. While the
initial public offering price of the common stock was $14.00 per share,
the closing price on November 26, 1997, the date the offering closed and
these restricted stock awards were granted, was $16.00 per share. The
executive officers held the number of shares indicated below as of
September 30, 1999, which had the indicated values as of that date based
on the $10.875 closing price of the common stock on that date. These
awards vest as to one fourth of the shares on each November 26 from 1998
through 2001.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Shares Value at September 30, 1999
---------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Gary D. Owens................ 10,000 $108,750
Michael J. Sheen............. 10,000 108,750
Thomas T. McEntire........... 5,000 54,375
</TABLE>
(4) Other Compensation includes our contributions to defined contribution
401(k) retirement savings plans.
5
<PAGE>
Stock Options
Information regarding stock options granted to the executive officers in
fiscal 1999 follows.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Shares of Annual Rates of Stock
Common Percent of Price Appreciation for
Stock Total Options Exercise Option Term(1)
Underlying Granted to Price per ----------------------
Name Options Employees Share Expiration 5% 10%
- ------------------------ ---------- ------------- --------- ---------- ---------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gary D. Owens........... 10,000 10.0% $14.56 11/16/08 $ 91,567 $ 232,048
Michael J. Sheen........ 10,000 10.0 14.56 11/16/08 91,567 232,048
Thomas T. McEntire...... 5,000 5.0 14.56 11/16/08 45,784 116,024
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The potential realizable value of the options is based on an assumed
appreciation in the price of the common stock at a compounded annual rate
of 5% or 10% from the date the option was granted until the date the
option expires. The 5% and 10% appreciation rates are set forth in the
Securities and Exchange Commission's regulations. We do not represent that
the common stock will appreciate at these assumed rates or at all.
Information regarding unexercised options held by the executive officers as
of September 30, 1999, follows. None of the executive officers exercised any
options in fiscal 1999. None of these options were in the money on September
30, 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options at
Name September 30, 1999 (# shares)
---- -------------------------------
<S> <C>
Gary D. Owens............................. 30,000
Michael J. Sheen.......................... 30,000
Thomas T. McEntire........................ 15,000
</TABLE>
- --------
Employment Agreements
Messrs. Owens and Sheen have entered into employment agreements with the
company. Mr. Owens' base annual salary is $175,000, and Mr. Sheen's base
annual salary is $150,000. These salaries may be adjusted by the board of
directors. Messrs. Owens and Sheen are is entitled to participate in our
401(k) plan and any bonus plan the board of directors adopts and to receive
certain other benefits and vacation. Pursuant to their employment agreements,
each of Messrs. Owens and Sheen is entitled to receive the severance benefits
described below upon termination of his employment unless the termination:
. results from his death, disability or retirement;
. is by the company for Cause; or
. is by the employee other than for Good Reason.
"Cause" is defined to mean the employee's willful and continued failure to
perform his duties after a demand for his performance of those duties or the
employee's willfully engaging in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably
injurious to the company. "Good Reason" is defined to mean a demotion, a
reduction in base salary, a relocation of the employee's base location of
employment, the discontinuation of any employee benefit without comparable
substitution, the failure of any successor of the company to assume the
employment agreement or a purported termination not in compliance with the
employment agreement.
The severance benefits to which Messrs. Owens and Sheen would be entitled on
termination include
. his salary through the date of termination;
6
<PAGE>
. twice his base salary and pro-rated bonus for the fiscal year of
termination;
. any relocation and indemnity payments to which he is entitled and any
costs and legal fees incurred in connection with any dispute over his
employment agreement; and
. a gross-up for any applicable "excess parachute payment" tax imposed by
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
In connection with these employment agreements, each of Messrs. Owens and
Sheen has agreed that he will not disclose or misappropriate any confidential
information of the company.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The compensation committee comprises Dr. Thomas L. Davis, Ph.D., and Mr.
Charles H. Still. Mr. Still is a partner in the law firm of Fulbright &
Jaworski L.L.P., which provides legal services to the company. Fulbright &
Jaworski L.L.P. also provides legal services to OYO Corporation and to OYO
U.S.A. and its affiliates. Mr. Still also serves as Secretary of the company.
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
Our executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate and
retain talented management personnel and to reward management for the
company's successful financial performance and for increasing stockholder
value. We provide compensation and incentives through a combination of
salaries, annual performance bonuses and long-term incentive stock-based
awards.
Base Annual Salaries
Prior to the company's initial public offering in 1997, and prior to the
formation of the compensation committee, the company entered into employment
agreements with Messrs. Owens and Sheen as described under "--Employment
Agreements" above. The compensation levels reflected in those employment
agreements were established in July 1997 by negotiations among Messrs. Owens
and Sheen, before they joined the company, and representatives of OYO U.S.A.,
the company's sole stockholder at that time.
The base annual salaries of the company's executive officers for fiscal 1999
were as follows.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Mr. Owens, Chief Executive Officer.............................. $175,000
Mr. Sheen, Chief Technical Officer.............................. 150,000
Mr. McEntire, Chief Financial Officer........................... 125,000
</TABLE>
The compensation committee has the authority to adjust these base salaries;
however, the employment agreements described above require that Messrs. Owens'
and Sheen's base salaries not be reduced from the base amounts set forth
above. To date, we have not adjusted the base salaries of Messrs. Owens and
Sheen, as we believe them to be within an acceptable range for the officers'
positions and responsibility and the company's size. For fiscal 1999, we
approved an increase in Mr. McEntire's base annual salary to $125,000 in
recognition of his contributions to the company in fiscal 1998.
Annual Performance Bonuses
In November 1998, management recommended to the board of directors, and the
board of directors adopted, a comprehensive, company-wide cash bonus
compensation plan for all employees for the fiscal year 1999. The cash bonus
plan set forth various targets and criteria for each of the company's
operating subsidiaries based on the financial results of the subsidiary and
established a cash bonus for each employee of the subsidiaries that met those
targets. The financial targets were designed to provide incentives for the
employees of each subsidiary to work as a team to improve our financial
results.
7
<PAGE>
As reported in this committee's report on executive compensation published
in OYO's proxy statement relating to last year's annual meeting, we set a
single financial target for fiscal 1999 for bonuses at the executive level:
the company as a whole needed to achieve a predetermined amount of net income
per share for the fiscal year. At the time we adopted this plan, we believed
this designated earnings goal was an aggressive but attainable amount for the
fiscal year in light of the company's success in fiscal 1998. As in fiscal
1998, the fiscal 1999 bonus for executive officers was an "all-or-nothing"
bonus; there was to be no graduated payout if the company did not achieve the
financial target. The bonus plan would have provided a cash bonus to each of
the company's executive officers in an amount equal to 75% of the officer's
base salary. As reported in our 1999 annual report to stockholders, the
company's net income per share was $.15 for the year ended September 30, 1999,
which was below the target we set in November 1998, and the executive officers
thus did not receive annual performance bonuses in respect of fiscal 1999.
Recently, we approved a company-wide bonus plan, including financial targets
and bonus levels, for fiscal 2000. For fiscal 2000, the executive officers'
bonuses will awarded only if the company achieves certain fiscal goals in
fiscal 2000.
Long-Term Stock-Based Compensation
We also believe that long-term incentive compensation is an important
component of the company's compensation program and that the value of this
compensation should be directly related to increases in stockholder value.
Therefore, in addition to base salaries and annual performance bonuses, the
executive officers participate in the company's 1997 Key Employee Stock Option
Plan, which allows the company to grant long-term incentive compensation to
its executive officers in the form of stock options and restricted stock
awards. These options and restricted stock awards typically vest 25% per year
over four years and are therefore intended to compensate executive officers
for long-term appreciation in the market value of the common stock.
In connection with the company's initial public offering, the company
granted options to purchase stock and restricted stock to the executive
officers as set forth above under "Summary of Compensation" and "Stock
Options". The amounts of these options and restricted stock were determined
before the initial public offering by negotiations among Mr. Owens and
representatives of OYO U.S.A. Options granted at the time of the initial
public offering have an exercise price of $14 per share, which is equal to the
initial public offering price, and vest over four years.
In November 1998, we recommended to the board of directors, and the board of
directors approved, the grant of options to purchase 10,000 shares to each of
Messrs. Owens and Sheen and options to purchase 5,000 shares to Mr. McEntire.
These options have exercise prices of $14.56 and also vest over four years.
Applicable Tax Code Provision
The compensation committee has reviewed the potential consequences for the
company of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which limits the tax
deduction the company can claim for annual compensation in excess of $1
million to certain executives. This limit did not impact the company in fiscal
1999 and is not expected to impact the company in fiscal 2000.
Compensation Committee:
Dr. Thomas L. Davis, Ph.D.
Mr. Charles H. Still
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Common Stock Performance Comparisons
The following graphs compare the performance of the common stock with the
performance of the Russell 2000 index and the Standard & Poor's Oil & Gas
(Drilling & Equipment) index from our initial public offering through the end
of fiscal 1999.
[GRAPH APPEARS HERE]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
11/20/97 9/30/98 9/30/99
-------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
OYOG............................................. 100 113 78
Russell 2000..................................... 100 86 100
S&P Oil & Gas (Drilling & Equipment)............. 100 56 75
</TABLE>
These graphs assume $100 invested (a) at our initial public offering price
but as of the date on which the common stock became registered under Section
12 of the Securities Exchange Act, (b) in the stocks comprising the Russell
2000 index on that day and (c) in the stocks comprising the Standard & Poor's
Oil & Gas (Drilling & Equipment) index that day. Reinvestment of all dividends
on stocks comprising the two indices is assumed.
The foregoing graphs are based on historical data and are not necessarily
indicative of future performance. These graphs shall not be deemed to be
"soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or subject to the Regulations of 14A or 14C under the Exchange Act
or to the liabilities of Section 18 under that act.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS
Mr. Ohya, a director of the company, is President of OYO Corporation and
Chairman of the Board of OYO U.S.A. and holds other offices of subsidiaries of
OYO U.S.A. Mr. Kobayashi, also a director of the company, is a Managing
Director of OYO Corporation. Mr. Kobayashi also holds offices with many
subsidiaries of OYO U.S.A. Mr. Hall, also a director of the company, is the
President of OYO U.S.A. Mr. Still, also a director of the company, is the
Secretary of OYO U.S.A. and also serves in that position with respect to most
of the subsidiaries of OYO U.S.A. Mr. Still is a partner in the law firm of
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., which provides legal services to the company.
In fiscal 1999, we purchased printheads for our thermal plotters from OYO
Corporation pursuant to a Printhead Purchase Agreement that we entered into
with OYO Corporation before our initial public offering. OYO Corporation had
in turn purchased the printheads primarily from another Japanese corporation
and, to a lesser extent, from two other Japanese corporations. For its service
and assistance in these transactions, pursuant to the Printhead Purchase
Agreement, OYO Corporation marked up its cost for these printheads by five
percent in reselling them to us. We believe that by purchasing the heads
through OYO Corporation we receive a more favorable price for the heads than
we could obtained if we were to negotiate directly for their purchase. We
intend to continue purchasing printheads from OYO Corporation pursuant to this
arrangement in future periods.
Pursuant to a Master Sales Agreement that we entered into with OYO
Corporation before our initial public offering, we and OYO Corporation
purchase products from one another at scheduled discounts of 5 to 20 percent
off the seller's list prices. In fiscal 1999, we sold approximately $0.3
million in goods to OYO Corporation and its affiliates and purchased
approximately $2.7 million in goods from OYO Corporation (including the
products covered by the Printhead Purchase Agreement).
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP served as the company's principal independent
public accountants for the 1999 fiscal year. Representatives of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are expected to attend the meeting, will have the
opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to
respond to appropriate questions.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the company's
officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of
the company's equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and
greater than 10% stockholders are required by the regulation to furnish the
company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.
Based solely on a review of reports on those filings furnished to the
company and written representations from reporting persons that no additional
reports were required, the company believes that during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1999, all officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders
complied with all filing requirements applicable to them.
PROPOSALS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING; OTHER MATTERS
Any proposals of holders of common stock intended to be presented at the
annual meeting of stockholders of the company to be held in 2001 must be
received by the company at its principal executive offices, 12750 S. Kirkwood,
Suite 200, Stafford, Texas 77477, no later than August 30, 2000 to be included
in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting.
The cost of solicitation of proxies in the accompanying form will be paid by
the company. In addition to solicitation by use of the mails, the directors,
officers or employees of the company may solicit the return of proxies by
telephone, telecopy or in person.
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OYO Geospace Corporation
PROXY--ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
January 28, 2000
This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned holder of Common Stock of OYO Geospace Corporation ("OYOG")
hereby appoints Gary D. Owens and Satoru Ohya, or either of them, proxies of
the undersigned with full power of substitution, to vote at the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders of OYOG to be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, the 28th of January
2000, in the Searls Room at the Sugar Creek Country Club, 420 Sugar Creek
Boulevard, Sugar Land, Texas, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof,
the number of votes that the undersigned would be entitled to cast if
personally present.
Please mark, sign, date and return in the enclosed envelope, which requires
no postage if mailed in the United States.
(continued and to be signed on other side)
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:
FOR all of the nominees listed below [_]
(except as indicated to the contrary below)
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY [_]
to vote for election of directors
NOMINEES: Katsuhiko Kobayashi, Michael J. Sheen and Charles H. Still
(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write
that nominee's name in the space provided below.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In their discretion, the above-named proxies are authorized to vote upon such
other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment
thereof and upon matters incident to the conduct of the meeting.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein
by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be
voted FOR the election of the director nominees named above, or if any one or
more of the nominees becomes unavailable, FOR another nominee or other nominees
to be selected by the Board of Directors.
-----------------------------------
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Signature of Stockholder(s)
Please sign your name exactly as
it appears hereon. Joint owners
must each sign. When signing as
attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give
your full title as such.
Date ______________________________
