<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )
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
Continental Can Company, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(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 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
...........................................................................
(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>
CONTINENTAL CAN COMPANY, INC.
ONE AERIAL WAY
SYOSSET, NEW YORK 11791
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 21, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO THE HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK OF CONTINENTAL CAN COMPANY, INC.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Continental Can Company, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at 10:00 a.m. on May
21, 1997, at The Union League Club, 38 East 37th Street, New York, New York, for
the following purposes:
1. To elect a Board of eleven Directors of the Company. If the amendment to
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to create a classified Board of
Directors, as described in item 2 below, is approved by the stockholders,
the directors will be elected to a classified Board, with four directors
being elected for a term of one year, four directors being elected for a
term of two years and three directors being elected for a term of three
years. If such amendment is not approved, all eleven directors will be
elected for a term of one year.
2. To consider a proposal to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
to provide for the classification of the Company's Board of Directors into
three classes, each class consisting of approximately one-third of the
total number of authorized directors and being elected every third year for
a three-year term.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournment thereof.
The holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on March 21,
1997, are entitled to vote at the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
LINDA R. DRISCOLL
March 21, 1997 Secretary
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN
AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
<PAGE>
PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors and management of Continental Can Company,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held on May 21, 1997, and at any adjournments thereof.
The principal purposes of the Annual Meeting are the election of directors
and consideration of a proposal to amend the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to provide for the classification of the Board of Directors as
described herein. The Board of Directors of the Company knows of no other
business to come before the meeting. Stockholders who do not plan to be present
at the meeting are requested to date and execute the enclosed form of proxy and
return it to the Company.
The costs of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. Solicitation
is to be made primarily by mail, but may be supplemented to some extent by
telephone calls made by full-time regular employees of the Company, who will not
be specially compensated for this purpose. The approximate date on which this
proxy statement and accompanying form of proxy are being sent to stockholders is
April 7, 1997.
VOTING
The shares represented by each properly signed and returned proxy will be
voted in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. In the event that the
voting instructions are omitted on any such proxy, the shares represented by
such proxy will be voted for the election of Directors and for the proposal to
amend the Certificate of Incorporation to provide for the classification of the
Board of Directors as described herein. Although the Board of Directors does
not know of any business to be transacted at the meeting other than as indicated
herein, if any other matter is properly brought before the meeting, shares with
respect to which proxies have been received will be voted in accordance with the
judgment of the proxies. Stockholders have the right to revoke their proxies by
notifying the Secretary of the Company in writing at any time prior to the time
the shares are actually voted, by executing and delivering a subsequently dated
proxy, or by voting in person at the meeting.
The Company presently has one class of voting securities outstanding and
entitled to vote at the meeting, Common Stock (par value $.25) (the "Common
Stock"). The close of business on March 21, 1997, has been fixed by the Board
of Directors as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled
to vote at the meeting, and only the holders of shares of Common Stock of record
at that time will be entitled to vote. As of the record date, 3,205,835 shares
of Common Stock were outstanding. Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to
one vote for each share held.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Eleven directors are to be elected at the meeting to constitute the Board
of Directors of the Company. If the amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to create a classified Board of Directors, as described herein, is
approved by the stockholders, the directors will be elected to a classified
Board, with four Class A directors being elected for a term of one year, four
Class B directors being elected for a term of two years and three Class C
directors being elected for a term of three years. If such proposal is not
approved, all eleven directors will be elected for a term of one year.
Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes present in person or by
proxy at the meeting. Thus, stockholders who do not vote, or who withhold their
vote from one or more of the nominees named above and do not vote for another
person, will not affect the outcome of the election provided that a quorum is
present at the meeting. A broker who is the record owner of shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by a customer will have discretionary authority to vote
such shares if the broker has not received voting instructions from the
beneficial owner by the tenth day before the meeting, provided that this proxy
statement has been transmitted to the beneficial owner at least 15 days before
the meeting. Information with respect to the persons proposed to be elected as
directors is set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year First
Became Proposed
Name and Age Employment Experience a Director Class
- ------------ --------------------- ---------- --------
<C> <S> <C> <C>
Donald J. Bainton(1) Chairman of the Board of 1983 C
65 Directors and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company. Mr.
Bainton is also a director of
Plastic Containers, Inc.
("PCI"), a subsidiary of the
Company.
Robert L. Bainton(1) Vice Chairman of the Board of 1988 C
69 Directors. Prior to his
retirement in 1991, Mr. Bainton
was President and sole
shareholder of B & B Beverage
Company, a wholesale
distributor of wine and malt
alcoholic beverages in New
Jersey.
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year First
Became Proposed
Name and Age Employment Experience a Director Class
- ------------ --------------------- ---------- --------
<C> <S> <C> <C>
Kenneth O. Bainton(1) Partner of The Kouzmanoff 1990 B
40 Partnership, Architects, in New
York City.
Nils E. Benson Prior to his retirement in 1989 B
73 1989, Mr. Benson was President
of Penn Elastic Company, a
manufacturer of apparel
textiles.
Charles DiGiovanna Chief Executive Officer and 1995 A
56 President of Continental
Plastic Containers, Inc. and
Continental Caribbean
Containers, Inc., subsidiaries
of PCI, since 1992. Prior to
that time he had been a
consultant to the Company since
1991. Mr. DiGiovanna is a
director of PCI and Home Port
Bancorp, Inc.
Rainer N. Greeven Partner of the law firm of 1972 A
60 Greeven & Ercklentz, New York,
N.Y. Mr. Greeven is a director
of Smith Barney World Funds,
Inc. and Smith Barney/Travelers
Series Funds, Inc.
V. Henry O'Neill Private investor. 1987(2) B
72
John J. Serrell Prior to his retirement, Mr. 1981 A
81 Serrell was President of
Kinetic Development, Inc., an
engineering development
company. During the last five
years, Mr. Serrell has also
devoted a portion of his time
to activities as an independent
business consultant.
Robert A. Utting President of R.A. Utting & 1983 B
73 Associates, Inc., a business
consulting firm. Prior to his
retirement, in 1986, Mr. Utting
served as Vice Chairman of The
Royal Bank of Canada.
Abdo Yazgi Executive Vice President, Chief 1991(3) A
44 Administrative Officer and
Assistant Secretary of the
Company. Mr. Yazgi is a
director of PCI.
Jose Luis Zapata Director of Corporate Finance 1992 C
37 of Taenza, S.A. de C.V., since
1989. Mr. Zapata is a director
of Plastic Containers, Inc.
</TABLE>
(1) Donald and Robert Bainton are brothers and Kenneth Bainton is their nephew.
(2) Mr. O'Neill previously served as a director of the Company from 1982 to
1986.
(3) Mr. Yazgi previously served as a director of the Company from 1980 to 1984.
On November 15, 1995, Mr. D. Bainton settled a civil enforcement proceeding
commenced by the Securities and Exchange Commission in the U.S. District Court
for the Southern District of New York. This proceeding arose out of the sale by
a business associate of Mr. Bainton of shares of the Company's common stock.
Without admitting or denying the Commission's allegations, Mr. Bainton agreed to
pay a civil penalty of $30,000 and consented to the entry of an order
permanently enjoining him from violating the federal securities laws.
In case any person named above as a nominee for director shall be
unavailable for service at the time of election (which the Company has no reason
to foresee will be the case), the proxies solicited by the Board of Directors
may be voted in favor of the election of a substitute director selected by the
existing directors.
The Board of Directors of the Company met seven times in 1996. Messrs.
O'Neill and Zapata attended fewer than 75% of the Board and committee meetings
held in 1996.
The Board of Directors has a standing Personnel Committee which determines
the compensation of the Company's officers and other matters relating to
executive personnel. The members of the Personnel Committee are Messrs. Benson
(Chairman), R. Bainton and Serrell. The Personnel Committee met once in 1996.
See "Personnel Committee Report Regarding Executive Compensation."
The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee which consults with
the Company's independent auditors, and reviews the audit report and the
adequacy of internal financial controls. The members of the Audit Committee are
Messrs. Utting (Chairman), Greeven and O'Neill. The Audit Committee met once in
1996.
4
<PAGE>
The Board of Directors has a standing Nominating Committee which recommends
to the Board nominees for Board membership, including committee assignments,
organization and composition. The members of the Nominating Committee are
Messrs. D. Bainton (Chairman), K. Bainton, Yazgi and Zapata. The Nominating
Committee will not consider nominees recommended by security holders.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Members of the Board of Directors who are not also employees of the Company
or its subsidiaries receive a $6,500 annual retainer, $1,000 for attendance at
each meeting of the Board of Directors and committee of which they are members,
and $2,000 for attendance at each meeting of a committee of which they are
chairmen, plus expenses. Pursuant to the Director Stock Option Plan (the
"Director Plan"), directors may elect to receive a stock option in lieu of the
annual retainer and attendance fees. Each electing director receives an option
to purchase the nearest number of whole shares obtained by dividing the annual
retainer and attendance fees by the fair market value of a share of stock less
one dollar. The option exercise price is one dollar per share and an option may
not be exercised prior to the first anniversary of the date it was granted nor
more than ten years after such date. During 1996, six electing directors
received options to purchase a total of 6,644 shares of Common Stock under the
Director Plan.
Pursuant to the 1992 Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the
"Restricted Plan"), each non-employee director of the Company receives an award
of 300 shares of Company Common Stock during each year of service. Such shares
are restricted from transfer while such recipient remains a member of the Board
of Directors and the shares are subject to forfeiture under certain
circumstances including resignation or failure to stand for reelection prior to
age 70.
The 1990 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "1990 Plan")
provides for the issuance of up to 200,000 shares of Common Stock to directors
who are not employees of the Company or its subsidiaries. The 1990 Plan is
administered by a Board committee. The 1990 Plan provides for the grant to each
Non-Employee Director, at the commencement of his initial term, of an option to
purchase up to 10,000 shares of Common Stock at a price equal to the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock on the date of the grant. The options become
exercisable on a cumulative basis as to one-tenth of the shares subject to
option on the date of the grant and on each of the nine successive anniversaries
of such date. The term of the options is 10 years provided that any option
holder who ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors forfeits any part of
the option grant which has not become exercisable as of such date. No options
were granted under the 1990 Plan in 1996.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION TO ESTABLISH A CLASSIFIED BOARD
The stockholders are being asked to approve at the Annual Meeting an
amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to provide for
classification of the Board of Directors into three classes, each consisting of
a number of directors equal as nearly as practicable to one-third of the total
number of directors. After initial implementation, each class of directors
would be subject to election every third year and would serve for a three-year
term. Currently, all of the Company's directors are elected each year for a
one-year term.
The Board of Directors has unanimously approved the classification of the
Board and recommends that the stockholders approve this proposal. The Board
believes that such classification will promote stability in the management of
the Company and in its long-term planning, strategies and policies, which the
Board believes is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
If the proposal is approved, the Board of Directors will designate the
three classes of directors. One class will serve initially for a one-year term,
until the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (or until the respective
successors to directors of this class are duly elected and qualified), and
thereafter be elected for three-year terms. A second class would initially
serve for a two-year term, and serve until the annual Meeting of Stockholders
(or until the respective successors to directors of this class are duly elected
and qualified), and thereafter be elected for three-year terms. The third class
of directors would immediately commence service for a three-year term, and serve
until the 2000 annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to occur in May 2000 (or
until the respective successors to directors of this class are duly elected and
qualified).
If the Board's nominees herein are elected to the Board of Directors at the
Annual Meeting, Charles F. DiGiovanna, Rainer N. Greeven, John J. Serrell and
Abdo Yazgi will be designated as Class A directors, to serve for a term ending
as of the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; Kenneth O. Bainton, Nils E.
Benson, V. Henry O'Neill and Robert A. Utting will be designated as Class B
directors, to serve for a term ending as of the 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders; and Donald J. Bainton, Robert L. Bainton and Jose Luis Zapata will
be designated as Class C directors, to serve for a term ending as of the May
2000 Annual Meeting. Information concerning the Board's nominees for election
as directors at the Annual Meeting is set forth above under "ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS." If any such nominee is not elected at the meeting, the person
elected in his stead will serve the above mentioned
5
<PAGE>
term for the said nominee. If the proposal to adopt a classified Board is not
approved and implemented, all of the directors elected at the Annual Meeting
will serve for a one-year term.
Designation of a classified Board of Directors is permitted pursuant to
Section 141(d) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Under
Delaware law, a corporation, such as the Company, may divide its Board into two
or three classes, with one-half or one-third of the directors, respectively,
elected at each annual meeting (or as near to one-half or one-third as
practicable). Classified Boards of Directors are permitted under the corporate
law of virtually all states, and approximately one-half of Fortune 500 companies
provide for classified Boards.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to implement a
classified Board of Directors shall be in substantially the form of proposed new
Article 9 set forth in Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement.
VOTE REQUIRED
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the
Company's Common Stock outstanding as of the record date of the meeting will be
required to approve the proposed amendment. Thus, shareholders who do not vote
or who vote to abstain will in effect be voting against the proposal. A broker
who is the record owner of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by a
customer will not have discretionary authority to vote such shares if the broker
has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
CERTAIN EFFECT OF CLASSIFICATION OF BOARD
If adopted, the classification of directors will apply to every future
election of directors; it would not be triggered by the occurrence of a
particular event, such as a "change in control." Under the proposed amendment
to the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors would be divided
into three classes. Directors would serve for a term of three years rather than
one year, and one-third of the directors (or as near to one-third as
practicable) would be elected each year. Initially, the Class A directors would
serve for a term of one year, the Class B directors for a term of two years, and
the Class C directors for a term of three years in order to implement the tri-
annual elections. In each year commencing with the May 1998 Annual Meeting, one
class of directors (consisting of approximately one-third of the directors) will
be considered for election for a three-year term.
The Company's Bylaws currently provide that the Board of Directors shall
consist of not less than three directors, with the exact number specified by the
Board or the majority of stockholders. The Board currently consists of eleven
persons. In the event that the number of directors changes, the increase or
decrease in the number of directors will be apportioned by the Board between the
three classes to make each class as nearly equal as possible. Vacancies in the
Board created by any resignation, removal or other reason, or by an increase in
the size of the Board, may under Delaware law and the Company's Bylaws be filled
by the vote of the majority of the directors remaining in office or by the vote
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares.
The proposed amendment would significantly extend the time required to make
any change in the majority of the Board and would thus tend to render more
difficult or discourage any attempt to remove incumbent management of the
Company, by means of a merger, a tender offer for the Common Stock, a proxy
contest, the acquisition of a large block of Common Stock, or other "change in
control" transaction, even if such actions would be favorable to the interests
of the Company's stockholders or were favored by a majority in interest of the
Company's stockholders. Presently, a change in the Board majority can be
effected at a single annual meeting. By contrast; if the proposed amendment is
adopted, absent intervening vacancies, it would take at least two annual
meetings to effect a change in Board majority, since only a minority of the
directors will be elected at each meeting.
Because of the additional time required to change the overall composition
of the Board, the proposed amendment could tend to perpetuate the present
Company management in office and discourage certain activities that could affect
the market price of the Common Stock, such as the accumulation of large blocks
of stock through a tender offer or otherwise. Therefore, stockholders could be
deprived of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing
market prices. The proposed amendment would also make it more difficult for the
Company's stockholders to change the composition of the Board and management,
even if the only reason for such change is the performance of the incumbent
Board and management.
In addition, under Delaware law, any director of the entire Board of
Directors of the Company may currently be removed, with or without cause, by the
holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. If the
classification proposal is approved by the shareholders and effected,
stockholders may effect such removal only "for cause." There is little guidance
under
6
<PAGE>
Delaware law as to the kind of conduct which would justify the removal of a
director for cause. As a result, any effort to remove a director in any but
egregious cases of misconduct would probably be the subject of protracted
litigation.
The proposal to adopt a classified Board of Directors is not the result of
management's knowledge of any specific effort by a stockholder or group of
stockholders to attain representation on the Board of Directors or otherwise to
acquire control of the Company or greater influence in its management, and is
not part of a plan by management to adopt, or to ask the stockholders to
approve, a series of other proposals which could be considered as "anti-
takeover' measures. Currently the company's Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws do not contain any provisions commonly considered to have an "anti-
takover" effect.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The table below shows the compensation paid or credited by the Company and
its subsidiaries during the past three fiscal years to the Chief Executive
Officer and each other executive officer of the Company whose cash compensation
(paid or deferred) in 1996 exceeded $100,000 (the "named executive officers").
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG TERM COMPENSATION
------------------- -------------------------------
AWARDS
-------------------------------
Common Shares
Name and Restricted Stock Underlying All Other
Prinicipal Position Year Salary Bonus Awards (1) Options Compensation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Donald J. Bainton 1996 $420,000 - - - -
Chairman of the Board 1995 $415,813 - $269,500 - -
and CEO 1994 $400,000 - $200,000 - -
Abdo Yazgi, 1996 $280,000 - - - -
Executive VP 1995 $276,924 - $117,600 - -
1994 $265,000 $130,000 - - -
John Andreas 1996 $110,000 - - - -
VP-Manufacturing 1995 $108,170 - $ 19,110 - -
1994 $ 99,000 $ 25,000 - - -
</TABLE>
(1) A holder of restricted Common Stock is entitled to receive dividends paid
on such shares. The number and market value of the named executive officers'
aggregate restricted stock holdings at the end of the Company's last fiscal year
(December 31, 1996) were as follows: Mr. Bainton-105,643 shares ($1,492,207)
Mr. Yazgi- 4,800 shares ($67,800) and Mr. Andreas-1,780 shares ($25,143).
STOCK OPTION
The table below shows the total number and values of options to purchase
common shares held by named executive officers at December 31, 1996. No options
were granted to, or exercised by, such individuals during 1996.
FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Common Shares Underlying Value of Unexercised In-The-Money Options
Unexercised Options at Fiscal Year-End at Fiscal Year-End (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Donald J. Bainton 214,000 6,000 $798,650 -
Abdo Yazgi 82,000 4,000 $188,750 -
John Andreas - - - -
</TABLE>
(1) The value of unexercised options is the difference between the aggregate
value of the underlying common shares ($14.125 per share on December 31, 1996)
and the aggregate exercise price of the options.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Pursuant to Mr. Donald Bainton's employment agreement, which expires on May
17, 2006, 105,643 shares of restricted stock previously issued to him as
compensation shall remain subject to forfeiture if he voluntarily leaves the
employ of the Company
7
<PAGE>
prior to May 17, 2006, for any reason except his death or disability. This
agreement also provides that in the event of his death prior to May 17, 2006,
Mr. Bainton's spouse will continue to receive one-half of his salary until her
death.
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT REGARDING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The goal of the Company's executive compensation program is to attract,
motivate and retain executives of the highest caliber. In the belief that this
goal is most effectively achieved by closely linking executive compensation to
corporate performance and returns to stockholders, the Company has established
an executive compensation plan that conditions a very substantial portion of
such compensation on the Company's achievement of its annual performance goals,
the value of the Company's common stock, and the progress made by the Company
toward the achievement of its long term strategies and objectives.
In 1995, the Committee retained an independent executive compensation
consultant to prepare a comprehensive report on the Company's compensation
policy and practices and generally to advise the Committee in connection with
the performance of its duties in executive compensation matters. The
independent consultant assisted the Committee in establishing the following
compensation guidelines for the Company's executive officers. Fixed
compensation or base salaries are to fall at or near the 50th percentile of
those paid by comparable multinational manufacturing companies while
opportunities for variable incentive compensation should also be at or near the
50th percentile of such group, subject to adjustment in both cases based on the
experience and performance of the individual executives. Actual short and long
term incentive compensation will reach this goal only in years in which the
Committee is satisfied with corporate and individual performance.
The Company's executive compensation program has three principal
components: annual base salaries, short-term incentives consisting of annual
bonuses, and long-term incentives. Long-term incentives consist of stock
options granted under the Company's 1988 Restricted Stock Option Plan or
otherwise as determined by the Board and restricted stock granted under the 1995
Restricted Stock Compensation Plan to officers and other key employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries. Short-term incentives consisting of annual
bonuses are based primarily upon the Committee's subjective evaluation of
corporate and individual performance and thus are directly linked to Company
performance, while the long-term incentive of stock options and restricted stock
indirectly reflects the Company's performance through changes in the value of
the Company's common stock. Both the short-term and long-term incentives have
been designed to align the interests of the Company's executive officers with
those of the Company's stockholders.
Base salaries for each executive officer are reviewed annually. Salaries
are targeted at the competitive median paid by comparable multinational
manufacturing companies for each position. The Chief Executive Officer reviews
both relevant survey data as well as the past and expected contributions of each
executive officer in determining what adjustments should be made to the salary
of each executive officer. These determinations are reviewed with the Committee
each year and subject to its approval.
The Committee reviews and establishes the base salary of the Chief
Executive Officer based on similar competitive compensation data and the
Committee's subjective evaluation of his past performance and its expectations
as to his future contributions. These deliberations are made with periodic
advice by independent compensation consultants.
Bonuses are reviewed and established by the Committee annually based on the
Committee's subjective evaluation of corporate and individual performance.
Bonuses for executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer are
discussed and reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer with the Committee and
subject to its approval.
Under the Company's 1988 Restricted Stock Option Plan, options to purchase
common stock of the Company are granted on a periodic basis to certain officers
and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, including executive
officers, at an exercise price as determined by the Committee on the date of the
grant. Because the compensation element of options is dependent on increases
over time in the market value of such shares, stock options represent
compensation that is tied to the Company's long-term performance. The Committee
determines the number of options and shares of restricted stock to be granted
based on the Committee's subjective assessment of individual performance, and on
the individual's level of compensation and position with the Company.
In 1996, the base salary of the Chief Executive Officer, despite the
Committee's satisfaction with the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and
external market factors for comparable companies, was not changed by the
Committee and remained at $420,000 reflecting the Committee's assessment of the
Company's financial performance for the year 1995.
The Committee believes that the executive compensation program is properly
structured to attract and retain the executive resources needed to maximize
stockholder returns. The emphasis on variable pay programs, which address both
long-term and annual performance as well as both financial and stock
performance, ensures that the program functions in the best interests of the
Company's stockholders.
Personnel Committee: Nils Benson (Chairman)
John J. Serrell
Robert L. Bainton
8
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the yearly change in the
cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's Common Stock during the
last five fiscal years with the yearly change in the New York Stock Exchange
Market Index and a Peer Group Index (the Dow Jones Container and Packaging Group
Index).
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN /1/
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
December 31 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Continental Can Company, Inc. $100.00 $64.47 $58.61 $64.47 $47.99 $41.39
Peer Group Index $100.00 $107.15 $105.67 $108.38 $117.05 $148.01
NYSE Market Index $100.00 $104.70 $118.88 $116.57 $151.15 $182.08
</TABLE>
1. Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 1991, and that all dividends were
reinvested.
STOCK OWNERSHIP
As of the Record Date, the following were the only persons known by the
Company to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Common Stock. Donald
J. Bainton is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and address Amount and nature
of beneficial owner of beneficial ownership (1) Percent of class
- ------------------- -------------------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Donald J. Bainton 453,445 (2) 13.3%
One Aerial Way
Syosset, New York
Aileen Moody Bainton 184,018 (2) 5.7%
Edgewater Drive
Nassau, Bahamas
R.B. Haave Associates, Inc. 622,300 19.4%
36 Grove Street
New Canaan, CT
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. 164,300 (3) 5.1%
1299 Ocean Avenue
11th Floor
Santa Monica, CA
</TABLE>
9
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth information concerning the beneficial
ownership of Common Stock as of the Record Date by each director, nominee and
named executive officer and by all directors, nominees and executive officers as
a group:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares underlying Total amount of
Name of beneficial owner (1) stock options (4) beneficial ownership (5) Percent of class
- ------------------------ ------------------ ------------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Donald J. Bainton 200,000 453,445 (2) 13.3%
Kenneth Bainton 8,000 73,641 (2) 2.3%
Robert L. Bainton 9,670 12,770 (2) *
Nils E. Benson 9,874 11,974 *
Charles DiGiovanna 21,667 31,867 *
Rainer N. Greeven 9,559 37,233 1.2%
V. Henry O'Neill 10,075 37,575 1.2%
John J. Serrell 9,559 12,419 *
Robert A. Utting 10,117 33,968 1.1%
Abdo Yazgi 72,667 132,710 4.0%
Jose Luis Zapata 3,334 5,434 *
John H. Andreas 3,334 6,749 *
All directors, nominees and executive
officers as a group (14 individuals) 371,356 843,036 23.6%
</TABLE>
* Less than 1%
(1) Beneficial ownership means direct ownership with sole voting and
dispositive power unless otherwise indicated.
(2) Pursuant to the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
relating to beneficial ownership, Donald, Robert, Kenneth and Aileen Moody
Bainton may be deemed to be a group for purposes of determining beneficial
ownership. On this basis, each would be deemed the beneficial owner of
705,874 shares of Common Stock (20.6%). Each of the Messrs. Bainton and
Mrs. Bainton disclaims beneficial ownership of shares beneficially owned by
the others.
(3) Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. ("Dimensional"), a registered investment
advisor, is deemed to have beneficial ownership of 164,300 shares of Common
Stock as of December 31, 1996. All such shares are held in portfolios of
DFA Investment Dimensions Group, Inc., a registered open-end investment
company, or in series of the DFA Investment Trust Company, a Delaware
business trust, or the DFA Group Trust and DFA Participation Group Trust,
investment vehicles for qualified employee benefit plans, for all of which
Dimensional serves as investment manager. Dimensional disclaims beneficial
ownership of all such shares.
(4) Stock options which were exercisable on the Record Date or which will
become exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date.
(5) Includes the shares underlying the stock options in the column to the left.
INFORMATION CONCERNING INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP acted as the Company's independent accountants in
1996 and has been selected to act in that capacity in 1997. It is expected that
a representative of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting
to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement, if the
representative so desires.
10
<PAGE>
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
One report on Form 4 reporting eight transactions in the Company's Common
Stock by Robert Utting, a director of the Company, was not filed on a timely
basis in 1996.
TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT
PCI has outstanding an aggregate of 100 shares of common stock (the "PCI
Shares"). Prior to December 17, 1996, 50 PCI Shares were owned by the Company,
and 50 PCI Shares were owned by Merrywood, Inc. ("Merrywood"), in which Mr.
Zapata has an ownership interest. In July 1996, Merrywood exercised its right
to put its 50 PCI Shares to the Company for $30 million, plus interest of
approximately $15.4 million, pursuant to an Agreement entered into in 1992. In
October 1996, the Company and Merrywood entered into a new Agreement (the "1996
Agreement") pursuant to which the Company purchased 34 PCI Shares in December
1996 for $30 million, plus a warrant exercisable through December 31, 2000 to
purchase 150,000 shares of Common Stock at the lesser of $20.00 per share or
book value at December 31, 1996. The 1996 Agreement also provided that the
remaining 16 PCI Shares would be purchased by the Company prior to December 31,
2000 for approximately $15.4 million plus interest at 10%. Until such shares
are purchased, the Company has agreed to cause one of Merrywood's designees to
be nominated as a director of the Company and PCI. Mr. Zapata is the designee
of Merrywood. All prior agreements between the Company and Merrywood were
terminated by the 1996 Agreement. Merrywood, with the Company's consent, has
since assigned its rights under the 1996 Agreement to a related corporation in
which Mr. Zapata does not have an interest.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the 1998 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders must be received by the Company on or before December 15, 1997
to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's Proxy Statement and Form of Proxy
relating to the 1998 Meeting.
ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS
A copy of the Company's Annual Report for 1996, containing financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 1996 (which is not made a part of
this Proxy Statement), is concurrently being furnished to each stockholder of
record at the record date for this meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
LINDA R. DRISCOLL
SECRETARY
11
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
PROPOSED NEW ARTICLE 9
TO THE COMPANY'S
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Classified Board of Directors. The Company's Board of Directors shall be
-----------------------------
divided into three classes designated as Class A, Class B, and Class C,
respectively. Directors shall be initially designated as Class A, Class B and
class C directors at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. At the first
annual meeting of the stockholders following the 1997 Annual Meeting at which
this amendment is approved, the term of office of the Class A directors shall
expire and Class A directors shall be elected for a full term of three years.
At the second annual meeting of the stockholders following the annual meeting at
which this amendment is approved, the term of office of the Class B directors
shall expire and Class B directors shall be elected for a full term of three
years. At the third annual meeting of the stockholders following the 1997
Annual Meeting, the term of office of the Class C directors shall expire and
Class C directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At each
succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected for a full
term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at
such annual meeting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article 9, each director
shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until
his earlier death, resignation, or removal. No decrease in the number of
directors constituting the board of directors shall shorten the term of any
incumbent director. Vacancies on the board may be filled by the remaining
directors for the remainder of the full class term.
12
<PAGE>
PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS, MAY 21, 1997
The undersigned stockholder of CONTINENTAL CAN COMPANY, INC. hereby
appoints DONALD J. BAINTON, LINDA DRISCOLL and ABDO YAZGI, or any one or more of
them, with full power of substitution and revocation, proxies of the undersigned
to vote all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to
vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of said
corporation to be held at 10:00 a.m. on May 21, 1997 at the Union League Club,
38 East 37th Street, New York, New York, and at any adjournment thereof, as
follows:
(1) Election of Directors
Nominees:Donald J. Bainton, Kenneth O. Bainton,
Robert L. Bainton, Nils E. Benson,
Charles DiGiovanna, Rainer N. Greeven,
V. Henry O'Neill, John J. Serrell,
Robert A. Utting, Abdo Yazgi,
and Jose Luis Zapata
(Mark only one)
[ ] FOR all nominees listed above, except authority
to vote withheld for the following nominees (if any):
-----------------------------------------------------
[ ] WITHHOLD authority for all nominees.
(2) Proposal to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to
provide for the classification of the Company's Board of Directors
into three classes, each class consisting of approximately one-third
of the total number of authorized directors and being elected every
third year for a three-year term.
[ ] For [ ] Against [ ] Abstain
(3) In accordance with their best judgment upon such other matters as may
properly come before the meeting.
(continued and to be signed on other side)
1
<PAGE>
(continued from other side)
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND, WHEN EXECUTED, WILL BE
VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS MADE BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER
ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF. TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH SPECIFICATIONS ARE OMITTED,
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE ELECTION OF THE LISTED NOMINEES FOR
DIRECTOR, AND ON OTHER MATTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BEST JUDGMENT OF THE
PROXIES.
PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO DATE THIS PROXY DATED:__________,1997
-----------------------------------
Signature of Stockholder
-----------------------------------
Signature of Stockholder
(Please sign exactly as name appears at
left. Executors, administrators,
guardians, trustees, attorneys and
officers signing for corporations should
give full title. For joint owners, each
should sign.)
2
