<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[ ] 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 Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
</TABLE>
The Wackenhut Corporation
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(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> 2
[WACKENHUT - LOGO]
EXECUTIVE OFFICES
4200 Wackenhut Drive #100
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410-4243
Telephone: (561) 622-5656
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS ON APRIL 24, 1998
To the Shareholders:
The Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of The Wackenhut Corporation will be held
on Friday, April 24, 1998, at 9:00 A.M. at the Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach, 100
South Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, Florida, for the purpose of considering and acting
on the matters following:
(1) the election of eleven directors for the ensuing year;
(2) ratification of the action of the Board of Directors in appointing the
firm of Arthur Andersen LLP to be the independent certified public
accountants of the Corporation for the fiscal year 1998, and to
perform such other services as may be requested;
(3) the transaction of any other business as may properly come before the
meeting, or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
Only shareholders of Series A Common Stock of record at the close of business
March 2, 1998, the record date and time fixed by the Board of Directors, are
entitled to notice and to vote at said meeting.
ALL SERIES A COMMON STOCK SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED EITHER TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN
PERSON OR TO VOTE BY PROXY.
You are requested to promptly sign and mail the enclosed proxy, which is being
solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors, regardless of whether you expect
to be present at this meeting. A return envelope which requires no postage is
enclosed for that purpose. If you attend the meeting in person, you may, if you
wish, revoke your proxy and vote in person.
By order of the Board of Directors.
James P. Rowan
Senior Vice President, General Counsel,
and Assistant Secretary
March 19, 1998
<PAGE> 3
PROXY STATEMENT
March 19, 1998
The Wackenhut Corporation
Executive Offices
4200 Wackenhut Drive #100
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410-4243
Telephone: (561) 622-5656
General Information
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies
by the Board of Directors of The Wackenhut Corporation (the "Company" or the
"Corporation") for the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of the Corporation to
be held at the Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach, 100 South Ocean Blvd., Manalapan,
Florida, April 24, 1998, and all adjournments thereof. Please note the Proxy
Card provides a means to withhold authority to vote for any individual
director-nominee. Also note the format of the Proxy Card which provides an
opportunity to specify your choice between approval, disapproval or abstention
with respect to the proposal to ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as
independent certified public accountants of the Corporation. If the enclosed
Proxy Card is executed properly and returned, the shares represented will be
voted in accordance with those instructions. If no instructions are given the
Proxy Card will be voted as follows:
FOR - The election of the Directors nominated by the Board of Directors
FOR - Proposal to ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as the
independent certified public accountants of the Corporation.
Holders of shares of the Series A Common Stock of the Corporation of record as
of the close of business on March 2, 1998, will be entitled to one vote for each
share of stock standing in their name on the books of The Wackenhut Corporation.
On December 28, 1997, 3,855,582 shares of Series A Common Stock were
outstanding. The Series A Common Stock will vote as a single class for the
election of Directors, to ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP and on
any other matter which may properly come before the meeting.
Any person giving a proxy has the power to revoke it any time before it is voted
by written notice to the Corporation or attending the meeting and voting the
shares.
The cost of preparation, assembly and mailing this Proxy Statement material will
be borne by the Corporation. It is contemplated that the solicitation of proxies
will be entirely by mail. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of
proxy are being mailed to shareholders of the Corporation on or about March
19, 1998.
<PAGE> 4
THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors will be comprised of eleven (11) members. Unless
instructed otherwise, the persons named on the accompanying Proxy Card will vote
for the election of the nominees named below to serve for the ensuing year and
until their successors are elected and have qualified. Seven (7) of the nominees
are presently directors of the Corporation who were elected by the shareholders
at their last annual meeting. Carroll A. Campbell was elected by the Directors
in April, 1997. Two (2) of the nominees, Benjamin R. Civiletti and John F.
Ruffle are currently Directors of the Corporation's subsidiary, Wackenhut
Corrections Corporation, and are currently proposed for re-election to that
Board of Directors as well as to be elected to the Board of Directors of the
Corporation. Alan B. Bernstein is to be elected to the Board of Directors of the
Corporation for the first time at the April 24, 1998 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
If any nominee for director shall become unavailable (which management has no
reason to believe will be the case), it is intended that the shares represented
by the enclosed Proxy Card will be voted for any such replacement or substitute
nominee as may be nominated by the Board of Directors. A brief biographical
statement for each nominee follows:
NOMINEE AND YEAR PRESENT AND PAST POSITIONS
FIRST BECAME DIRECTOR AND OTHER INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JULIUS W. BECTON, JR. General Becton is the Chief Executive Officer and
1994 Superintendent of the Washington, D.C. Public School
Age 71 System. He is a former President of Prairie View A & M
University. He entered the Army as a Private in 1944
and rose to the rank of Lieutenant General. While in
[PHOTO] the Army, he commanded the lst Cavalry Division and the
VII Corps, and was the Deputy Commanding General of the
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. He is a
veteran of three wars, World War II, the Korean War and
Vietnam. After departing the service in 1983, he served
as Director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster
Assistance, and from 1985 to 1989 was the Director,
Federal Emergency Management Agency. He was later chief
operating officer for American Coastal Industries, Inc.
He is on the Board of Directors of General Dynamics
Corporation, NSC Discovery Center, Inc., and the Marine
Spill Response Corporation. He is a member of the
Defense Science Board Readiness Task Force, and the
Department of Defense Army Advisory Panel. He is a
trustee of the George C. Marshall Foundation, and
serves on the board of several civic public service
organizations. He received numerous U.S. Army service
and valor awards, including the Distinguished Service
Medal; and the Distinguished Service Award for his
service as Director, Federal Emergency Management
Agency. He has a B.S. from Prairie View A & M
University; an M.A. in economics from the University of
Maryland, and has been awarded honorary Doctor of Laws
degrees by three universities.(f)
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3
<PAGE> 5
NOMINEE AND YEAR PRESENT AND PAST POSITIONS
FIRST BECAME DIRECTOR AND OTHER INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALAN B. BERNSTEIN Alan B. Bernstein has been Executive Vice President of
---- the Corporation since 1991, and is also President of
Age 50 the Corporation's North American Operations Group. Mr.
Bernstein has been with the Corporation since 1976,
except for a period in 1982 when he was a partner in a
family-owned security alarm business in New York State.
[PHOTO] He was appointed President, Wackenhut Systems
Corporation in 1983, and subsequently was named Vice
President, Corporate Business Development in 1984; Vice
President, Domestic Operations in 1985; and was Senior
Vice President, Domestic Operations from 1986-91. He
also serves on the Board of Directors of Ranger
Security Detectors, Inc., El Paso, Texas; and several
subsidiaries of the Corporation. He is on the Board of
Directors of the Miami Museum of Science and
Planetarium, and is a member of the American Society
for Industrial Security. He has a B.S.E.E. degree from
the University of Rochester, and an M.B.A. degree from
Cornell University.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CARROLL A. CAMPBELL, JR. Governor Campbell served two terms as the Governor of
1997 South Carolina (1987-95), and four terms representing
Age 57 South Carolina's fourth district in the U.S. House of
Representatives (1979-86). He also served in the South
Carolina House of Representatives (1970-74) and was
elected to the South Carolina Senate in 1976. While
[PHOTO] serving as Governor, he was also Chairman of the
National Governors Association (1993-94) and co-chair
of the National Governors Association Task Force on
Education. He is recognized as a leader in promoting
initiatives for excellence in education at the state
and national levels, and has served as chairman of the
National Education Goals Panel and co-chair of the
National Council on Education Standards and Testing.
Gov. Campbell is currently the President and Chief
Executive Officer of the American Council of Life
Insurance. His business career began at age 19, when he
co-founded a business which eventually developed a
chain of 13 restaurants. He remains active today in
several small business enterprises, and serves on the
boards of directors for the Fluor Corporation, AVX
Corporation, Norfolk Southern Corporation, and the Boy
Scouts of America. He is ex officio board chairman for
he Huntington Society, an arts foundation. He has an
M.A. degree from the American University, is a member
of three national honor societies, and holds nine
honorary doctorate degrees. (b)(e)
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BENJAMIN R. CIVILETTI Mr. Civiletti has served as a Director of Wackenhut
---- Corrections Corporation since April 1994. Mr. Civiletti
Age 62 has been Chairman of the law firm Venable, Baetjer and
Howard since 1993 and was Managing Partner of the firm
from 1987 to 1993. From 1979 to 1980, Mr. Civiletti
served as the Attorney General of the United States.
[PHOTO] Mr. Civiletti is Chairman of the Board of Greater
Baltimore Medical Center and the Founding Chairman of
the Maryland Legal Services Corporation; a Director of
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, and a Director of MBNA
Corporation and MBNA International. Mr. Civiletti is a
Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, the American Law
Institute, and the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Mr. Civiletti was Chairman of the Maryland Governor's
Commission on Welfare Policy in 1993, and a member of
the Maryland Governor's Task Force on Alternatives to
Incarceration in 1991.
4
<PAGE> 6
NOMINEE AND YEAR PRESENT AND PAST POSITIONS
FIRST BECAME DIRECTOR AND OTHER INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNE NEWMAN FOREMAN Mrs. Foreman served as Under Secretary of the
1993 United States Air Force from September 1989 until
Age 50 January 1993. Prior to her tenure as Under Secretary,
she was General Counsel of the Department of the Air
Force and a member of the Department's Intelligence
Oversight Board. Mrs. Foreman served in the White House
[PHOTO] as Associate Director of Presidential Personnel for
National Security (1985-1987) and practiced law with
the Washington office of the Houston-based law firm of
Bracewell and Patterson, and with the British
solicitors Boodle Hatfield, Co., in London, England
(1979-1985). Mrs. Foreman is a former member of the
career Foreign Service, having served in Beirut,
Lebanon; Tunis, Tunisia, and the U.S. Mission to the
United Nations in New York. She was a U.S. Delegate to
the 3lst Session of the U.N. General Assembly and to
the 62nd Session of the U.N. Economic and Social
Council. Mrs. Foreman received a B.A. degree, Magna Cum
Laude, from the University of Southern California and a
M.A. (History) from the same institution. She also
holds a J.D. from American University and was
awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Troy State
University. Mrs. Foreman is a member of Phi Beta Kappa,
has been a member of numerous Presidential delegations,
and was twice awarded the Air Force Medal for
Distinguished Civilian Service. (c)(d) (e)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDWARD L. HENNESSY, JR. Mr. Edward L. Hennessy, Jr., served as Chairman of the
1993 Board and Chief Executive Officer of Allied-Signal Inc.
Age 50 from 1979 to 1991. He was previously Executive Vice
President and member of the Board of Directors and
Executive Committee of United Technologies Corporation,
Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance
[PHOTO] for Heublein, Inc. and Controller with IT&T
Corporation. He is a member of the Board of Directors
of Lockheed Martin, The Bank of New York, Walden
Residential Properties, Inc., and NAI Technologies,
Inc. He is a Trustee of The Catholic University of
America, a Director of The Coast Guard Academy
Foundation, Inc., founding President of the Tri-County
Scholarship Fund and Treasurer of the March of Dimes.
He was a member of The President's Private Sector
Survey on Cost Control, The (New Jersey) Governor's
Management Improvement Plan, Inc., and the Tender Offer
Advisory Committee of the Securities & Exchange
Commission. He also is a member of The Conference
Board, Inc. and the Economic Club of New York. He has
numerous honorary degrees and is a graduate of
Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, where he
is a Trustee and Chairman of the University's Board.
(a)(c)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5
<PAGE> 7
NOMINEE AND YEAR PRESENT AND PAST POSITIONS
FIRST BECAME DIRECTOR AND OTHER INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAUL X. KELLEY General Kelley is a Partner with J.F. Lehman, Inc., a
1988 New York private investment firm. He served as Vice
Age 69 Chairman, Cassidy & Associates, Inc., a government
relations firm from 1989 to 1998. Prior to that, he was
Commandant of the Marine Corps and Member of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff from 1983 until his retirement in 1987.
[PHOTO] He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Allied
Signal, Inc., an aerospace, automotive and engineered
materials company; GenCorp, Inc., a propulsion,
electronics and polymers company; Saul Centers Inc., a
real estate investment trust; Sturm Ruger & Co., Inc.,
a small arms company; and UST, Inc., a tobacco products
and wine company. He is the recipient of numerous
awards for valor and distinguished service during
thirty-seven years of active military service. General
Kelley has a B.S. in Economics from Villanova
University and is a Distinguished Graduate of the Air
War College. He is the recipient of five honorary
doctorate degrees from major universities. (b)(c)(e)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NANCY CLARK REYNOLDS Ms. Reynolds is Senior Consultant of The Wexler Group,
1986 a governmental relations and public affairs consulting
Age 70 firm in Washington, D.C.. She currently serves as a
Director of The Norrell Corporation, a temporary help
service firm. She is a member of the Board of the
National Park Foundation and a trustee of the
Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. She is a
[PHOTO] past President of the Business and Government Relations
Council. She was formerly a Director of the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange, G.D. Searle & Co., Sears, Roebuck
& Co., Allstate Insurance Company and Viacom
International. From 1977-82, she was a Vice President
of the Bendix Corporation. She received her B.A. degree
in English from Goucher College and an Honorary Degree
of Law from Gonzaga University. (f)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOHN F. RUFFLE Mr. Ruffle is a retired Vice Chairman and Director of
---- J.P. Morgan & Co., Inc. and Morgan Guaranty Trust
Age 60 Company of New York since June 1, 1993. He joined J.P.
Morgan in 1970 as Controller and was named CFO in 1980,
and elected Vice Chairman in 1985. Earlier, he was
Assistant Treasurer and Director of Accounting for
International Paper Company. Mr. Ruffle also serves as
[PHOTO] a Director of Bethlehem Steel Corporation, American
Shared Hospital Services and Trident Corporation, and
Wackenhut Corrections Corporation. He is a Trustee of
the Johns Hopkins University and of JPM Series Trust
II(mutual funds). He is a past President of the Board
of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation and
a past Chairman of the Financial Executives Institute,
and in 1991 received the Financial Executive
Institute's National Award for Distinguished Service.
Mr. Ruffle is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins
University and earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Rutgers
University. He is also a CPA.
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6
<PAGE> 8
NOMINEE AND YEAR PRESENT AND PAST POSITIONS
FIRST BECAME DIRECTOR AND OTHER INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GEORGE R. WACKENHUT Mr. Wackenhut is Chairman of the Board and Chief
1958 Executive Officer of the Corporation. He was President
Age 78 of the Corporation from the time it was founded until
April 26, 1986. He formerly was a Special Agent of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is Chairman of the
Board of Directors of Wackenhut Corrections
[PHOTO] Corporation, a former member of the Board of Directors
of SSJ Medical Development, Inc., Miami, Florida, and
is on the Dean's Advisory Board of the University of
Miami School of Business. He is on the National Council
of Trustees, Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, the
President's Advisory Council for the Small Business
Administration, Region IV, and a member of the National
Board of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He is a past
participant in the Florida Governor's War on Crime and
a past member of the Law Enforcement Council, National
Council on Crime and Delinquency, and the Board of
Visitors of the U.S. Army Military Police School. He is
also a member of the American Society for Industrial
Security. He was a recipient in 1990 of the Labor Order
of Merit, First Class, from the government of
Venezuela. Mr. Wackenhut received his B.S. degree from
the University of Hawaii and his M.Ed. degree from
Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Wackenhut is married to
Ruth J. Wackenhut, Secretary of the Corporation. His
son Richard R. Wackenhut, is a Director-Nominee.(a)(f)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RICHARD R. WACKENHUT Mr. Wackenhut, President and Chief Operating Officer of
1986 the Corporation since April 26, 1986, was formerly
Age 50 Senior Vice President, Operations from 1983-1986. He
was Manager of Physical Security from 1973-74. He also
served as Manager, Development at the Corporation's
Headquarters from 1974-76; Area Manager, Columbia, SC
[PHOTO] from 1976-77; District Manager, Columbia, SC from
1977-79; Director, Physical Security Division at
Corporate Headquarters 1979-80; Vice President,
Operations from 1981-82; and Senior Vice President,
Domestic Operations from 1982-83. Mr. Wackenhut is a
member of the Board of Directors of Wackenhut
Corrections Corporation, a Director of Wackenhut del
Ecuador, S.A.; Wackenhut UK, Limited; Wackenhut
Dominicana, S.A.; Wackenhut Resources, Inc.; and a
Director of several domestic subsidiaries of the
Corporation. He is Vice Chairman of Associated
Industries of Florida. He is also a member of the
American Society for Industrial Security, a member of
the International Security Management Association, and
the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He
received his B.A. degree from The Citadel in 1969, and
completed the Advanced Management Program of the
Harvard University School of Business Administration in
1987. Mr. Wackenhut is the son of George R. Wackenhut,
a Director-Nominee, and Ruth J. Wackenhut, Secretary of
the Corporation. (a)(d)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Member of Executive Committee
(b) Member of Nominating and Compensation Committee
(c) Member of Audit and Finance Committee
(d) Member of Corporate Planning Committee
(e) Member of Operations and Oversight Committee
(f) Member of Fair Employment Practices Committee
7
<PAGE> 9
The election of the directors listed on the previous pages will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares present or
represented at the shareholders meeting. Abstentions will be treated as shares
represented at the meeting and therefore will be the equivalent of a negative
vote, and broker non-votes will not be considered as shares represented at the
meeting.
COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS OF SPECIFIC COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Wackenhut Corporation has an Audit and Finance Committee whose members are
as follows:
Edward L. Hennessy, Jr., Chairman Anne N. Foremen
Richard G. Capen, Jr., Vice Chairman Paul X. Kelley
The Audit and Finance Committee met five times during the past fiscal year.
The Audit and Finance Committee's principal functions and responsibilities are
as follows:
1. Recommend the selection, retention, or termination of the
Corporation's independent auditors.
2. Review the proposed scope of the audit and fees.
3. Review the quarterly and annual financial statements and the results
of the audit with management, the internal auditors, and the
independent auditors with emphasis on the quality of earnings in terms
of accounting policies selected; this activity would also entail
assisting in the resolution of problems that might arise in connection
with an audit if and when this becomes necessary.
4. Review with management and independent auditors the recommendations
made by the auditors with respect to changes in accounting procedures
and internal accounting controls as well as other matters of concern
to the independent auditors resulting from their audit activity.
5. Review with management and members of the internal audit team the
activities of and recommendations made by this group.
6. Inquire about and be aware of all work (audit, tax, consulting) that
the independent auditors perform for the Corporation.
7. Recommend policies to avoid unethical, questionable, or illegal
activities by Corporation personnel.
8. Make periodic reports to the full Board on its activities.
The Wackenhut Corporation also has a Nominating and Compensation Committee
which, in addition to its role in recommending compensation for the Chief
Executive Officer and the other executive officers, evaluates possible Director
nominees and makes recommendations concerning such nominees to the Board of
Directors, and recommends to the Chairman and the Board itself the composition
of Board Committees and nominees for officers of the Corporation. See the Report
of the Compensation Committee later in this Proxy Statement.
Shareholders desiring to suggest qualified nominees for director should advise
the Assistant Secretary of the Corporation in writing and include sufficient
biographical material to permit an appropriate evaluation.
A total number of four meetings of the Board of Directors was held during the
1997 fiscal year. Julius W. Becton, Jr. attended less than 75% of Board and
assigned Committee meetings, having missed two Board meetings because of
pressing duties associated with his position as Chief Executive Officer and
Superintendent of the Washington, D.C. Public School System.
8
<PAGE> 10
SECURITY OWNERSHIP
The following table shows the number of shares of the Corporation's Series A and
Series B Common Stock, each with a par value of $.10 per share, that was
beneficially owned as of March 2, 1998, by each Director Nominee for election as
director at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, by each named executive
officer, by all Director Nominees and executive officers as a group, and by each
person or group who was known by the Corporation to beneficially own more than
5% of the Corporation's outstanding Series A or Series B Common Stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON STOCK
SERIES A-(VOTING) SERIES B-(NON-VOTING)
BENEFICIAL OWNER (1) AMOUNT & NATURE PERCENT AMOUNT & NATURE PERCENT
OF BENEFICIAL OF OF BENEFICIAL OF
OWNERSHIP (2) CLASS OWNERSHIP (2)(6) CLASS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
DIRECTOR NOMINEES
Julius W. Becton, Jr. -- -- 6,656 *
Alan B. Bernstein 500 * 75,465 *
Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. 0 -- 0 --
Benjamin R. Civiletti 0 -- 0 --
Anne Newman Foreman 200 * 6,550 *
Edward L. Hennessy, Jr. 200 * 6,562(3) *
Paul X. Kelley 1,000(3) * 8,937(3) *
Nancy Clark Reynolds 1,400 * 7,912 *
John F. Ruffle 0 -- 0 --
George R. Wackenhut 1,929,606 50.05% 2,234,571(4) 20.16%
Richard R. Wackenhut 65 * 780,612(5) 7.04%
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
George C. Zoley 0 -- 0 --
Fernando Carrizosa 0 -- 70,606 *
ALL NOMINEES AND EXECUTIVE 1,932,971 50.13% 3,411,454 30.77%
OFFICERS AS A GROUP
OTHER
Eagle Asset Management, Inc. (7) -- -- 1,111,515 10.03%
The TCW Group, Inc. and Robert Day (8) -- -- 716,000 6.46%
Wellington Management Company, LLP (9) 223,600 5.80% -- --
</TABLE>
*Beneficially owns less than 1%
(1) Unless stated otherwise, the address of the beneficial owners is 4200
Wackenhut Drive #100, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
(2) Information concerning beneficial ownership was furnished by the
persons named in the table or derived from documents filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise indicated
below, each person named in the table has sole voting and investment
power with respect to the shares beneficially owned. Each person
reported as the beneficial owner of stock owned of record by, or in
joint tenancy with another person, has only shared voting and
investment power over the stock.
(3) All shares held jointly with his wife.
9
<PAGE> 11
(4) George R. Wackenhut and Ruth J. Wackenhut, his wife and Secretary of
the Corporation, through trusts over which they have sole dispositive
and voting power, control 50.05% of the issued and outstanding voting
common stock of The Wackenhut Corporation.
(5) 65 shares of Series A and 137 shares of Series B held in trust for
daughter, Jennifer A. Wackenhut, under Florida Gifts to Minors Act and
698,155 Series B shares held in an irrevocable family trust for the
benefit of Richard R. Wackenhut and the balance held directly by him.
(6) Includes Series B shares over which the Executive Officers and
Director Nominees have options.
(7) The address of Eagle Asset Management, Inc. is 880 Carillon Parkway,
St. Petersburg, FL 33716.
(8) The address of The TCW Group, Inc. and Robert Day is 865 South
Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90017.
(9) The address of Wellington Management Company is 75 State Street,
Boston, MA, 02109.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table shows remuneration paid or accrued by the Corporation during
the fiscal year ended December 28, 1997, and each of the two preceding fiscal
years, to the Chief Executive Officer and to each of the four most highly
compensated executive officers of the Corporation other than the Chief Executive
Officer for services in all capacities while they were employees of the Company,
and the capacities in which the services were rendered.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
-------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
AWARDS PAYOUTS
RESTRICTED SECURITIES ALL OTHER
STOCK UNDERLYING LTIP COMPEN-
AWARDS OPTIONS/ PAYOUTS SATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) ($)(1)(2) SARS(#)(6) ($)(5) ($)(3)& (4)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
George R. Wackenhut, 1997 1,006,000 250,000 -- 22,000 - 16,543
Chairman of the Board and 1996 859,000 335,000 -- 18,000 - 16,543
Chief Executive Officer 1995 784,000 198,000 -- 25,000 - 16,543
Richard R. Wackenhut, 1997 643,000 200,000 42,329 20,000 - 78,500
President and Chief 1996 555,000 217,000 36,663 16,000 - 127,500
Operating Officer 1995 508,000 128,000 33,330 22,500 - 60,000
Alan B. Bernstein, 1997 382,000 165,000 22,498 15,000 - 67,000
Executive Vice President, 1996 313,000 150,000 18,598 14,000 - 109,000
and President, North 1995 287,000 96,000 16,798 16,250 - 51,000
American Operations Group
George C. Zoley 1997 366,000 122,500 -- 20,000 - 32,004
Wackenhut Corrections Corp. 1996 288,000 101,500 -- 20,000 - 25,906
President and Chief Executive 1995 249,000 70,000 -- 7,500 - 11,755
Officer and Director
Fernando Carrizosa 1997 253,000 100,000 13,332 12,000 - 63,000
Senior Vice President and 1996 226,000 75,000 11,999 12,000 - 84,000
President, International 1995 207,000 55,000 10,932 12,500 - 50,000
Group
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE> 12
(1) The aggregate number and value of restricted stock holdings (including
restricted stock units and performance shares) based upon the Series B
Common Stock fair market value at December 28, 1997 is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Restricted
STOCK PERFORMANCE TOTAL FAIR
UNITS SHARES UNITS/SHARES MARKET VALUE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
G. R. Wackenhut -- 28,681 28,681 $521,636
R. R. Wackenhut 16,935 11,142 28,077 510,650
A. B. Bernstein 8,148 5,787 13,935 253,443
G. C. Zoley -- -- -- --
F. Carrizosa 5,273 3,577 8,850 160,959
</TABLE>
Restricted stock units and performance shares have been restated to reflect the
25% stock dividend declared in 1995. Restricted stock units do not vest until
after 7 years continuous employment from the date of grant.
(2) Dividends are paid on restricted stock.
(3) This column represents (for the CEO) the cost of a split-dollar life
insurance policy covering George R. Wackenhut and Ruth J. Wackenhut.
(4) This column represents (except for the CEO) the cost of providing for
future liabilities under the Senior Officer Retirement Plan except for
Mr. Zoley who is provided for under the Corrections Subsidiary Senior
Officer Retirement Plan.
(5) There was no payout of awards because return on equity performance
goals were not met.
(6) The following securities underlying options were granted under stock
option plans of Wackenhut Corrections Corporation:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SECURITIES UNDERLYING OPTIONS(#)
NAME 1997 1996 1995
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
George R. Wackenhut ------ ------ ------
Richard R. Wackenhut ------ ------ ------
Alan B. Bernstein ------ ------ ------
George C. Zoley 20,000 20,000 ------
Fernando Carrizosa ------ ------ ------
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE> 13
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN - AWARDS IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table sets forth certain information concerning awards made under
the Company's Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan to the named
executives during 1997. The Plan is a series of successive overlapping
three-year periods commencing the first day of each fiscal year. Awards are
earned only if certain predetermined criteria are met. Adjustments may be made
in performance share awards to consider aspects of performance that may not be
reflected in the Company's financial results.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS
NUMBER OF PERFORMANCE UNDER NON-STOCK PRICE-BASED PLAN
SHARES, OR OTHER
UNITS, OR PERIOD UNTIL THRESHOLD TARGET MAXIMUM
OTHER RIGHTS MATURATION OR PAYOUT(2) PAYOUT PAYOUT
NAME (#) (1) PAYOUT (2) ($) ($) ($)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
George R. Wackenhut 14,474 1997-1999 110,000 220,000 330,000
Richard R. Wackenhut 5,570 1997-1999 42,336 84,671 127,007
Alan B. Bernstein 2,961 1997-1999 22,501 45,002 67,503
George C. Zoley 0 1997-1999 0 0 0
Fernando Carrizosa 1,754 1997-1999 13,334 26,668 40,002
</TABLE>
(1) Performance shares and restricted stock units are awarded under the
Plan, however, only performance shares are reflected above since
restricted stock units are not contingent upon performance and are
reported separately in the Summary Compensation Table, Long-Term
Compensation Restricted Stock Awards column.
(2) Average return on equity performance goals are set by the Nominating
and Compensation Committee for all of the three-year performance
cycles.
OPTIONS/SAR GRANTS IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
VALUE ASSUMED
ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
PRICE APPRECIATION
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS FOR OPTION TERM (3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL
SECURITIES OPTIONS/SARS
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE OR
OPTIONS/SARS EMPLOYEES IN BASE PRICE EXPIRATION
NAME GRANTED FISCAL YEAR ($/SHARE) DATE 5% ($) 10% ($)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
George R. Wackenhut (1) 22,000 10.3% 15.25 27-Jan-07 210,994 534,701
Richard R. Wackenhut (1) 20,000 9.4% 15.25 27-Jan-07 191,813 486,091
Alan B. Bernstein (1) 15,000 7.0% 15.25 27-Jan-07 143,860 364,569
George C. Zoley (2) 20,000 11.7% 21.50 22-Jan-07 270,425 685,309
Fernando Carrizosa (1) 12,000 5.6% 15.25 27-Jan-07 115,088 291,655
</TABLE>
(1) Options granted under the Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan
of the Corporation (the "Incentive Stock Plan").
(2) Options granted under Wackenhut Corrections Corporation's Stock Option
Plan (the "Second Plan").
(3) The full option term was used in the 5% and 10% annual growth
projections for the price of the underlying stock.
12
<PAGE> 14
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES VALUE OF
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED IN-THE MONEY
OPTIONS/SARS OPTIONS/SARS
AT FISCAL AT FISCAL
SHARES YEAR-END (#) YEAR-END ($)
ACQUIRED VALUE ----------------------------------------------
ON EXERCISE REALIZED EXERCISABLE (E)/ EXERCISABLE (E)/
(#) ($) UNEXERCISABLE (U) UNEXERCISABLE (U)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
George R. Wackenhut (A) NONE NA 99,375 E 738,133 E
(B) NONE NA 32,864 E 677,409 E
(C) NONE NA 74,666 E 1,348,655 E
Richard R. Wackenhut (A) NONE NA 89,750 E 667,828 E
(C) NONE NA 74,666 E 1,348,655 E
Alan B. Bernstein (A) 15,000 96,035 53,688 E 460,572 E
(B) 14,188 396,200 - E - E
(C) NONE NA 56,000 E 1,011,500 E
George C. Zoley (A) 7,500 61,500 - -
(C) 24,666 641,957 62,000 E 904,375 E
28,000 U 3,750 U
Fernando Carrizosa (A) NONE NA 55,250 E 403,359 E
(C) NONE NA 46,666 E 842,905 E
</TABLE>
(A) The Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan of the Corporation
(the "Incentive Stock Plan").
(B) Wackenhut Corrections Corporation 1994 Stock Option Plan (the "First
Plan")
(C) Wackenhut Corrections Corporation Stock Option Plan (the "Second
Plan")
13
<PAGE> 15
SENIOR OFFICER RETIREMENT PLAN
The following table sets forth the estimated annual benefits payable under the
Retirement Plan for senior officers.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RETIREMENT PLAN TABLE
ANNUAL BENEFITS
-----------------------------------------------------------
OFFICER BENEFICIARIES
-----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
G.R. Wackenhut - - - -
R.R. Wackenhut $ 175,000 20 years $ 100,000 10 years
A.B. Bernstein 150,000 20 years 100,000 10 years
G.C. Zoley - - - -
F. Carrizosa 100,000 20 years 50,000 10 years
</TABLE>
The Retirement Plan for senior officers provides that the Corporation will pay
certain sums to the senior officers or their beneficiaries for twenty (20) years
beginning on the date of their death or retirement after age 60, or to their
beneficiaries for ten (10) years if they die before age 60.
The Corporation has purchased life insurance on the lives of such senior
officers in amounts that, in the aggregate, will substantially fund its future
liability under the Retirement Plan.
With respect to the five most highly compensated executive officers of the
Corporation, George R. Wackenhut is not a participant in the Retirement Plan,
and George C. Zoley participates in an Executive Officer Retirement Plan
established by Wackenhut Corrections Corporation.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Nominating and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
"Compensation Committee") met four times in fiscal 1997. The Compensation
Committee is composed exclusively of independent, non-employee directors who are
not eligible to participate in any of the executive compensation programs. Among
its duties, the Compensation Committee is responsible for recommending to the
full Board the annual remuneration for all executive officers, (with the
exception of Mr. Zoley whose compensation is recommended by the Compensation
Committee of Wackenhut Corrections Corporation) including the Chief Executive
Officer and the other officers named in the Summary Compensation Table set forth
above, and to oversee the Company's compensation plans for key employees. The
Compensation Committee seeks to provide, through its administration of the
Company's compensation program, salaries that are competitive and incentives
that are primarily related to corporate performance. The components of the
compensation program are base salary, annual incentive bonuses, and long-term
incentive awards.
Base salary is the fixed amount of total annual compensation paid to executives
on a regular basis during the course of the fiscal year. Management of the
Company determines a salary for each senior executive position (exclusive of the
CEO and COO) that it believes is appropriate to attract and retain talented and
experienced executives, and that is generally competitive with salaries for
executives holding similar positions at comparable companies. The starting point
for this analysis is each officer's base salary for the immediately preceding
fiscal year. From time to time, management obtains reports from independent
organizations concerning compensation levels for reasonably comparable
companies. This information is used as a market check on the reasonableness of
the salaries proposed by management. The comparator companies are composed of a
diversified group of service companies whose revenue, performance, and position
matches were deemed relevant and appropriate by the outside firm. Management
recommends executive salaries to the Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee reviews and adjusts the salaries suggested by
management as it deems appropriate, and generally asks management to justify its
recommendations, particularly if there is substantial deviation between the
recommended salary and an officer's compensation for the prior fiscal year. In
establishing the base salary for each officer (including that of the CEO and
COO), the Compensation Committee evaluates numerous factors, such as the
Company's operating results, net income trends, and stock market performance, as
well as comparisons with financial
14
<PAGE> 16
and stock performance of other companies, including those that are in
competition with the Company. In addition, data developed as a part of the
strategic planning process, but which may not directly relate to corporate
profitability, is utilized as appropriate. For example, the Compensation
Committee may take into consideration an officer's efforts in positioning the
Company for future growth.
The Summary Compensation Table set forth elsewhere in this Proxy Statement shows
the salaries of the CEO and the other named executive officers for the last
three years. The increase in the CEO's salary for 1997 was attributable to the
overall financial performance of the Company, strategic objectives and the
quality of his leadership. In 1997, the Compensation Committee formally
evaluated the performance of the CEO.
The Company has an incentive compensation plan (the Bonus Plan) for officers and
key employees. The aggregate amount of incentive compensation payable under the
Bonus Plan is based on the Company's consolidated revenue and icome and Business
Unit revenues and service profits. The Bonus Plan is intended as an incentive
for executives to increase revenue and profit and uses these as factors in
calculating the individual bonuses. The Bonus Plan formula weights these factors
depending upon the position of the executive. For example, the President of a
Business Unit is measured on factors of 60% Corporate results (30% corporate
revenue and 30% corporate income) and 40% Business Unit service profit. All
other positions are measured on weighted factors of 30% corporate revenue and
70% corporate income before taxes. The formula excludes extraordinary
non-recurring items as occured in 1997. An adjustment to the individual
incentive award (up to 20% upward or 80% downward) may be applied to reflect
individual performance. Because of the extraordinary non-recurring items in
1997, the bonuses for the CEO and the COO were adjusted downward by 38% and 22%
respectively. The Compensation Committee's decisions regarding the amount of
incentive compensation payable in a given year and the allocation of same among
the participants, are based on these factors, the contribution of a particular
employee during the fiscal year and compliance with previously agreed upon goals
and objectives as outlined in the Corporation's strategic plan for 1997. The
Company has elected to comply with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
to the extent it deems appropriate.
The Company also maintains a Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan (the
Incentive Plan) for all executive officers, including the CEO and the other
named officers. Participants in the Incentive Plan are assigned a target
incentive award, stated as a percentage of such participant's base salary
depending upon the participant's position with the Company. The target incentive
award for fiscal 1997 for the CEO, the Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice
Presidents, and Senior Vice Presidents of the Company were 22%, 20%, 18% and
16%, respectively, of base salary.
Participants in the Incentive Plan may be granted one or more types of long-term
incentive vehicles as awards. Awards have been limited to grants of restricted
stock units, performance shares and stock options. The Compensation Committee
determines the percentage of the target incentive award that will be allocated
to restricted stock units and the percentage that will be allocated to
performance shares. Awards in each category are earned only if certain
predetermined criteria are met. In general, restricted stock unit awards are
currently earned based on an employee's continued employment with the Company
for a period of seven years from the date of grant, although the Compensation
Committee can increase or decrease the time period for future grants and may
also include performance criteria. Performance shares are earned only if certain
three-year increase in earnings per share (EPS) performance goals established by
the Compensation Committee are attained. In setting the EPS increase goals for
each three-year period, the Compensation Committee considers prior years'
performance, industry trends, the performance of major financial indicators and
the prevailing economic circumstances. In its discretion, the Compensation
Committee may make adjustments to performance share awards to consider aspects
of performance that may not be reflected in the Company's financial results. The
Company also maintains a Stock Option Plan (the Plan) for executive officers,
including the CEO and other key employees. Participants receive stock option
grants based upon their overall contribution to the Corporation. Such options
are granted at market value at the time of grant.
The purpose of the Incentive Plan is two fold, one to reward superior corporate
performance with a variable component of pay that can only be earned if
performance criteria are met, and secondly, to recognize length of service and
encourage retention through the grants of restricted shares. The Incentive Plan
is intended to encourage stock ownership by senior executives; to balance the
short-term emphasis of the Bonus Plan with a longer-term perspective; to
reinforce strategic goals by linking them to compensation; and to provide
retention incentives for employees considered key to the future success of the
Company.
15
<PAGE> 17
By the Nominating and Compensation Committee
General Paul X. Kelley, Chairman Governor Carroll A. Campbell
Ambassador Richard G. Capen, Jr. Anne Newman Foreman (1)
(1) Took part in the Committee meeting which approved this report due to
the absence of a regular member.
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION, WILSHIRE 5000 EQUITY,
AND S&P SERVICES (COMMERCIAL AND CONSUMER) INDEXES**
(Performance through December 31, 1997)
[GRAPH]
The above graph compares the performance of The Wackenhut Corporation with that
of the Wilshire 5000 Equity, and the S&P Services Index, which is a published
industry index. An outside consulting firm was retained to evaluate the
feasibility of constructing a custom peer group or the selection of a comparable
peer group. The consultant's conclusion was that there is no appropriate
five-year index of large labor-intensive security and protective service
companies presently available and the construction of a custom peer group would
not be appropriate because of the lack of sufficient data on the other large
security companies. The selection of the S&P Services Index was the closest
index the consultants believed appropriate. If there is a published index of
large security companies or when sufficient data is available, the Company may
consider, in future years, changing to a different index or custom peer group in
place of the S&P Services Index.
16
<PAGE> 18
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The Corporation has a joint life policy on George R. Wackenhut and Ruth J.
Wackenhut in the amount of $800,000. The cost of the policy is $16,543 per year
and substantially all of the premium is paid by the Corporation. In this
connection, an agreement provides that $760,000 of the proceeds from the policy
will be paid to the Corporation as reimbursement of the costs.
SERVICE AGREEMENTS. The Company and its consolidated subsidiary, Wackenhut
Corrections Corporation ("WCC"), entered into a services agreement (the "1994
Services Agreement") effective January 3, 1994 pursuant to which the Company
agreed to provide certain services to WCC through December 31, 1995. The Company
and WCC entered into a new services agreement (the "1996 Services Agreement",
and together with the 1994 Services Agreement, the "Services Agreements") on
December 20, 1995, which became effective January 1, 1996, pursuant to which the
Company agreed to continue to provide certain of these services to WCC through
December 31, 1997.
In accordance with the terms of the Services Agreement, WCC paid the Company a
fixed annual fee for services (the "Annual Services Fee") equal to $1,093,000 in
fiscal 1995, $1,100,342 in fiscal 1996 and $1,200,342 in fiscal 1997. Management
of WCC believes that the Annual Services Fees under the Services Agreements are
on terms no less favorable to the Company and WCC than could be obtained from
unaffiliated third parties. If WCC determines that it can obtain any of the
services to which the Annual Services Fees relate at a cost less than that
specified in the Services Agreements, WCC may obtain such services from another
party and terminate the provision of such services by the Company with a
corresponding reduction in the Annual Services Fee.
Under each of the Services Agreements, the services to be provided by the
Company to WCC for the Annual Services Fee include the following:
LEGAL SERVICES. Under each of the Services Agreements, the Company
provides legal advice on all matters affecting WCC, including, among other
things, assistance in the preparation of Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") and other regulatory filings, review and negotiation of joint
venture and other contractual arrangements, and provision of day-to-day
legal advice in the operation of WCC's business, including employee related
matters.
FINANCIAL, ACCOUNTING, TAX AND GOVERNMENT CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
SERVICES. Under each of the Services Agreements, the Company provides WCC
with (i) cash management, (ii) support in the processing of accounts
payable, tax returns and payroll, (iii) conducting periodic internal field
audits, and (iv) purchasing assistance on an as needed basis. Under the
Services Agreements, the Company also provided WCC with assistance in (i)
deployment of new software for accounting and inmate management, (ii)
management and administration of its government contracts, pricing
proposals and responding to government inquiries and audits and (iii) the
preparation of accounting reports, financial projections, budgets, periodic
SEC filings and tax returns.
HUMAN RESOURCES SERVICES. Under Each of the Services Agreements, the
Company provides WCC assistance in the identification and selection of
employees and compliance by WCC with various equal employment opportunity
and other employment related requirements. The Company also assists WCC in
implementing and administering employee benefit plans which comply with
applicable laws and regulations.
Any services provided by the Company to WCC beyond the services covered by the
Annual Services Fees are billed to WCC at cost or on a cost plus basis as
described in each of the Services Agreements or on such other basis as WCC and
the Company agree. The Services Agreements provided WCC the option to utilize
the Company's Domestic Operations Group Food Services Division (the "Food
Services Division") to (i) provide WCC with technical assistance in the areas of
equipment specifications, kitchen layout and design, menu development,
nutritional analysis and field support and training (for which WCC has
reimbursed the Company for direct and indirect costs associated with providing
such services), and (ii) manage and operate the food services at certain of
WCC's facilities (for which WCC agreed to pay the Company a price established on
a negotiated basis which is no less favorable
17
<PAGE> 19
than the charges for comparable services from unaffiliated third parties).
Commencing in October 1995, WCC ceased contracting with the Food Services
Division of the Company to obtain meals for inmates at all but two of the
facilities it managed. Since October 1995, WCC has provided meals for inmates at
the facilities it operates in accordance with regulatory, client and nutritional
requirements.
The following table sets forth certain amounts billed to WCC during fiscal 1995,
fiscal 1996, and fiscal 1997, for services not covered by the Annual Services
Fee paid under the 1994 and 1996 Services Agreement.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL 1995 FISCAL 1996 FISCAL 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Food Services 3,903,000 $ 450,000 $ 461,000
Casualty Insurance Premiums (1) 2,169,000 3,306,000 4,957,000
Interest Charges (Income) (2) (172,000) 40,000 10,000
Office Rental (3) 106,000 269,000 285,000
TOTAL 6,006,000 $4,065,000 $5,713,000
</TABLE>
(1) Casualty insurance premiums relate to workers' compensation, general
liability and automobile insurance coverage obtained through the
Company's Insurance Program. Substantially, all of the casualty
insurance premiums represented premiums to a captive reinsurance
company that is wholly owned by the Company. Under the terms of each
of the Services Agreements, WCC also has the option to continue to
participate in certain other insurance policies maintained by the
Company for which WCC reimburses the Company for direct and indirect
costs associated in providing such services.
(2) WCC charged interest on intercompany indebtedness and charges interest
on intercompany loans at rates that reflect the Company's average
interest costs on long-term debt, exclusive of mortgage financing.
Prior to WCC's IPO, for purposes of computing interest expense, it was
assumed that debt represented 50% of WCC's total capital.
(3) Effective January 3, 1994, WCC entered into a two-year lease agreement
with the Company providing for the rental of approximately 5,361
square feet of office space at its corporate headquarters in Coral
Gables, Florida at an annual rate of $106,400 ($19.84 per square foot)
plus certain common area maintenance charges (on terms which WCC
believes to be no less favorable to WCC and the Company than could
have been obtained from unaffiliated third parties). In 1995, the
Company sold the office building and relocated its headquarters to
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in March 1996. WCC has relocated its
corporate offices to the Company's new headquarters, and has
negotiated a lease on terms which WCC believes will be no less
favorable to WCC and the Company than could have been obtained from
unaffiliated third parties.
Management of the Company believes that the services provided for the Annual
Services Fees and the other services that will or may be provided under each of
the Services Agreements are, or will be, on terms no less favorable to the
Company and WCC than could have been obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
Under the terms of each Services Agreements, the Company has further agreed that
for so long as it provides WCC with any services (including those provided under
the Services Agreement) and for a period of two years thereafter, The Company
and its affiliates will not directly or indirectly compete with WCC or any of
its affiliates in the design, construction, development or management of
correctional or detention institutions or facilities in the United States.
Additionally, during the period described above, the Company will not (and will
use its best efforts to cause its affiliates not to) directly or indirectly
compete with WCC or any of its affiliates in the design, construction,
development or management of correctional or detention institutions or
facilities outside the United States.
18
<PAGE> 20
Nevertheless, in the United States, the Company's North American Operations
Group may continue to bid for and perform any of the services that it currently
performs. These services include prisoner transit, court security services and
food services. WCC has also agreed that it will provide the Company with the
first opportunity to participate on a competitive basis as a joint venture in
the development of facilities outside the United States.
Other Transactions and Relationships. Prior to its IPO, WCC borrowed money from
time to time from the Company for working capital and general corporate purposes
and was charged interest on the basis described above. Upon consummation of its
IPO, all outstanding indebtedness of WCC to the Company was repaid.
From time to time, the Company has guaranteed certain obligations of WCC and its
affiliates. These guarantees remained in place following WCC's IPO and may be
called upon should there be a default with respect to such obligations.
The Company anticipates that it may, from time to time, use the services of the
law firm of Venable, Baetjer and Howard, of which Mr. Benjamin R. Civeletti, a
Director Nominee of The Wackenhurt Corporation is a partner.
George C. Zoley, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of WCC,
also serves as Senior Vice President of the Corporation, and a Director of each
of Wackenhut Corporations (U.K.) Limited, Wackenhut Corrections Corporation
Australia Pty Limited, Premier Prison Services, Ltd., Premier Custodial
Development, Ltd., Australasian Correctional Services Pty Limited, and
Australasian Correctional Management Pty Limited, affiliates of the Company.
James P. Rowan, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company also
serves as the General Counsel and Secretary of WCC. George R. Wackenhut,
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, also serves as
Chairman of the Board of WCC and, together with his wife, Ruth J. Wackenhut,
through trusts over which they have sole dispositive and voting power, control
approximately 50.05% of the issued and outstanding voting common stock of the
Company. Richard R. Wackenhut, the President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Company, is also a Director of WCC. He is the son of George R. and Ruth J.
Wackenhut.
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION
Directors of the Corporation who are not Officers were paid during fiscal year
1997 an annual retainer fee at the rate of $ 20,000 per year plus $1,250 for
each Board Meeting attended, $500 for each committee meeting attended as
committee members, and $750 for each committee meeting attended as committee
chairmen. Each Director also receives from the Corporation annually, an option
to purchase 2,000 shares of Series B Common Stock of the Corporation.
No Directors or their affiliates were compensated for services rendered to the
Corporation during 1997 other than the compensation described above.
SECTION 16 FILING VIOLATIONS
All SEC Forms 3, 4 and 5 filings appear to have been made when due. Those
Directors and Officers not required to file a Form 5 for 1997 have furnished the
Corporation with a statement that no filing is due.
PROPOSAL NO. 2
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Although not required by the By-Laws, the Board of Directors, in the interest of
accepted corporate practices, asks shareholders to ratify the action of the
Board of Directors in appointing the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP to be the
independent certified public accountants of the Corporation for the fiscal year
1998, and to perform such other services as may be requested. If the
shareholders do not ratify this appointment, the Corporation's Board of
Directors will reconsider its action. Arthur Andersen LLP has advised the
Corporation that no partner or employee of Arthur Andersen LLP has any direct
financial interest or any material indirect interest in the Corporation other
than receiving payment for its services as independent certified public
accountants.
19
<PAGE> 21
A representative of Arthur Andersen LLP, the principal independent certified
public accountants of the Corporation for the most recently completed fiscal
year, is expected to be present at the shareholders meeting and shall have an
opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires. This representative
will also be available to respond to appropriate questions raised orally at the
meeting.
SHAREHOLDERS PROPOSAL DEADLINE
Shareholder proposals intended to be presented at the April 23, 1999, Annual
Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Corporation for inclusion in the
Corporation's proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting by
December 1, 1998.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to come before the
shareholders' meeting. However, if any other matters properly come before the
meeting or any of its adjournments, the person or persons voting the proxies
will vote them in accordance with their best judgment on such matters.
By order of the Board of Directors
James P. Rowan
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Assistant Secretary
March 19, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A COPY OF THE CORPORATION'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 28, 1997, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE SCHEDULES THERETO,
REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, WILL BE MADE
AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE TO INTERESTED SHAREHOLDERS UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO
ROBERT P. HARWOOD, VICE PRESIDENT, INVESTOR/PUBLIC RELATIONS, THE WACKENHUT
CORPORATION, 4200 WACKENHUT DRIVE #100, PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, 33410-4243.
20
<PAGE> 22
APPENDIX A
WACKENHUT CORRECTIONS CORPORATION
4200 WACKENHUT DRIVE #100
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA 33410
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints George R. Wackenhut and Richard R.
Wackenhut as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his or her substitute, and
hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse
side, all the shares of Common Stock of The Wackenhut Corporation held of record
by the undersigned on March 2 ,1998, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held at the Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach, 100 South Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, Florida,
at 9:00 A.M., April 23, 1998, or at any adjournment thereof.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WILL BE VOTED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE SPECIFIED,
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3. ON ANY OTHER BUSINESS WHICH
MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE JUDGEMENT OF THE PERSONS NAMED AS PROXIES.
(Continued, and to be signed, on other side.)
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FOLD AND DETACH HERE
<PAGE> 23
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3. Please mark [ X ]
your vote as
indicated in
this example
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS NOMINEES;
Julius W. Becton, Jr. Edward L. Hennessy, Jr.
VOTE FOR all nominees VOTE WITHHELD Alan B. Bernstein Paul X. Kelley
listed to the right (except as to all nominees. Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Nancy Clark Reynolds
as marked to the contrary). Benjamin R. Civiletti John F. Ruffle
[ ] [ ] Ann Newman Foreman George R. Wackenhut
Richard R. Wackenhut
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any
individual nominee, strike a line through the nominee's
name in the list above.
2. Proposal to approve for the fiscal year 1998 FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
the Appointment of ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP [ ] [ ] [ ]
as the independent certified public accountants
of the Corporation.
3. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Please date and sign exactly as name appears below. Joint owners
should each sign. Attorneys-in-fact, Executors, Administrators,
Trustees, Guardians, or corporate officers should give full title.
Date: 1998
------------------------------------------------------,
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Signature
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Signature if held jointly
PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ADDRESSED ENVELOPE.
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- FOLD AND DETACH HERE -
</TABLE>
April 2, 1998
Dear Shareholder,
This letter is to inform you of an error on the Proxy card that you recently
received as a stockholder in The Wackenhut Corporation.
The original card listed ten (10) Directors for election to the Board. In fact,
there are eleven (11) Director nominees. The individual omitted from the
original list is nominee, John F. Ruffle.
Herewith is a corrected Proxy card with a postage paid return envelope. You are
not required to return this corrected Proxy card unless you wish to make a
change to your original vote.
While this error will not have any effect on the timing of the Annual Meeting,
we apologize to Mr. Ruffle for this inadvertent error and regret any
inconvenience you may have been caused.
Sincerely,
James P. Rowan
Senior Vice President
and General Counsel
