<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 Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
240.14a-12
Bemis 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):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(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:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I
<PAGE>
[LETTERHEAD]
BEMIS COMPANY, INC.
March 24, 1998
Dear Stockholders:
The Annual Meeting of Bemis Company, Inc. will be held at the Minneapolis
Club, 729 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Thursday, May 7,
1998, at 9:00 a.m. You are cordially invited to attend. Although the
meeting itself is usually brief, there will be a report on Bemis results in
1997 and comments on the upcoming year. There is also ample opportunity both
before and after the meeting to meet and talk informally with the directors
and officers of the Company. We hope you are able to attend. Whether or not
you can attend the meeting, please take the time to vote your proxy.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and all Bemis employees, thank you for
your continued support of, and confidence in, the Bemis Company.
Sincerely,
/s/ John H. Roe
John H. Roe, III
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
BEMIS COMPANY, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 7, 1998
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bemis Company, Inc. will be held in the
Main Ballroom at the Minneapolis Club, 729 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, on Thursday, May 7, 1998, at 9:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, for
the following purposes:
1. To elect four directors for a term of three years.
2. To vote upon ratification of the appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP
as independent auditors of the Company.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business March 20, 1998, will be
entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Scott W. Johnson, Secretary
March 24, 1998
PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY PROMPTLY
<PAGE>
BEMIS COMPANY, INC.
222 SOUTH NINTH STREET, SUITE 2300
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55402
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MAY 7, 1998
SOLICITATION, EXECUTION AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Bemis Company,
Inc. (the "Company") in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to
be held on Thursday, May 7, 1998. The shares represented by all properly
executed proxies received by the Company prior to the meeting and not revoked
will be voted in accordance with the instructions of the stockholder. A
proxy may be revoked by the person executing it at any time before it is
voted by giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company.
All costs of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company, including
reimbursement of banks, brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
for reasonable expenses incurred by them. Proxies may be solicited
personally, by mail, by telephone, by telecopy, or by telegraph by directors,
officers or other regular employees of the Company without remuneration other
than regular compensation. The Company has engaged the firm of Morrow & Co.,
Inc. to assist in the proxy solicitation effort at a total anticipated cost
of approximately $6,000.
The mailing address of the principal executive offices of the Company is
222 South Ninth Street, Suite 2300, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402. This proxy
statement and the form of proxy which is enclosed are being mailed to
stockholders commencing on or about March 24, 1998.
RECORD DATE, OUTSTANDING VOTING SECURITIES AND VOTING RIGHTS
Only stockholders of record at the close of business March 20, 1998, will be
entitled to vote at the meeting. On March 1, 1998, the Company had
outstanding 53,380,001 shares of Common Stock. Each share entitles the
stockholder of record to one vote. In connection with the election of
directors, stockholders may exercise cumulative voting.
As set forth below, at the meeting stockholders will elect a class consisting
of four directors for a three-year term expiring in 2001. As provided by
Missouri law and the Company's Bylaws, under cumulative voting each
stockholder has the right in the election of directors to cast as many votes
as equal the number of voting shares held, multiplied by the number of
directors to be elected at the meeting. A stockholder may cast all his or
her votes for one nominee in the class or distribute them among as many
nominees in the class as he or she chooses. The four nominees having the
highest number of votes will be elected as directors to serve a three-year
term expiring in 2001.
Unless otherwise specified in the proxy, a proxy solicited by the Board of
Directors will be voted for the four nominees set forth herein, or votes will
be cumulated for any or all of the nominees, in such manner as the proxies,
in their discretion may determine. Abstentions will be treated as shares
that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the
presence of a quorum but as unvoted for purposes of determining the approval
of any matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders. If a broker indicates
on the proxy card that it does not have discretionary authority to vote
certain shares on a particular matter, those shares will not be considered as
voted for the purpose of determining the approval of such matter.
<PAGE>
OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY'S SECURITIES
The only person known to the Company to beneficially own as of March 1, 1998,
more than 5 percent of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company is set
forth in the following table.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Shares Percent of
Beneficial Owner Beneficially Owned Outstanding Shares
- ---------------- ------------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
U.S. Bancorp 4,388,774 (1) 8.28%
601 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55402
</TABLE>
(1) Based on information as of December 31, 1997, contained in a Form 13G filed
by such beneficial owner with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This includes 2,602,245 shares held as Trustee of the Bemis Investment
Incentive Plan (401-K).
Set forth below is certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of
Common Stock of the Company as of March 1, 1998, by each director, each
executive officer of the Company named in the Summary Compensation Table on
page 6 of this Proxy Statement, and all directors and executive officers of
the Company as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Shares Percent of
Beneficial Owner Beneficially Owned (1)(2) Outstanding Shares
- ---------------- ------------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Winslow H. Buxton 6,000 *
Jeffrey H. Curler 705,088 (3) 1.3%
Benjamin R. Field 225,388 *
Robert A. Greenkorn 40,000 *
Scott W. Johnson 139,881 *
Loring W. Knoblauch 7,500 *
Nancy Parsons McDonald 302,188 (4) *
Robert F. Mlnarik 310,959 *
Roger D. O'Shaughnessy 10,000 *
Edward N. Perry 52,840 *
John H. Roe 1,377,526 (5) 2.6%
Winston R. Wallin 32,000 *
C. Angus Wurtele 10,000 *
All directors and executive 3,581,978 6.7%
officers as a group
(17 persons)
*Less than one percent (1%)
</TABLE>
(1) Except as otherwise indicated in the notes below, the listed beneficial
owner has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares.
(2) Includes shares which the following persons have a right to acquire
upon exercise of stock options pursuant to the 1987 Bemis Stock Option
Plan and the 1994 Stock Incentive Plan as follows: Winslow H. Buxton
(5,000 shares); Jeffrey H. Curler (249,363 shares); Benjamin R. Field
(81,902 shares); Scott W. Johnson (91,902 shares); Loring W. Knoblauch
(5,000 shares); Nancy Parsons McDonald (5,000 shares); Robert F. Mlnarik
(174,363 shares); Roger D. O'Shaughnessy (5,000 shares); Edward N. Perry
(5,000 shares); John H. Roe (373,853 shares); C. Angus Wurtele
(5,000 shares); and all directors and executive officers as a group
(1,071,127 shares). Also includes grants (37,000 shares) under the 1984
Bemis Stock Award Plan made subject to restrictions which have not as
yet lapsed to executive officers other than the named executive
officers. Also includes performance based restricted stock award grants
under the 1994 Bemis Stock Incentive Plan which are dependent upon the
Company achieving certain sales and earnings per share objectives as
follows: Jeffrey H. Curler (20,721 shares); Benjamin R. Field
(31,094 shares); Scott W. Johnson (13,008 shares); Robert F. Mlnarik
(18,933 shares); John H. Roe (33,882 shares); and all directors and
executive officers as a group (131,773 shares). Also includes shares
held by the Trustee of the Bemis Investment Incentive Plan as follows:
Jeffrey H. Curler (11,110 shares); Benjamin R. Field (10,545 shares);
-2-
<PAGE>
Scott W. Johnson (1,360 shares); Robert F. Mlnarik (5,592 shares);
John H. Roe (14,104 shares); and all directors and executive officers as
a group (57,379 shares).
(3) Includes 138,140 shares in a trust of which Mr. Curler is a co-trustee.
(4) Includes 164,066 shares in trusts in which Mrs. McDonald has a beneficial
interest.
(5) Includes 320,000 shares in a trust of which Mr. Roe is co-trustee,
72,414 shares owned by Mr. Roe's wife and 80,000 shares in a trust of
which Mr. Roe's wife is a co-trustee in which he disclaims any beneficial
interest. It does not include 8,712 shares in trusts for Mr. Roe's
children in which he disclaims any beneficial interest.
INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO DIRECTORS
Directors are divided into three classes elected on a staggered basis for
terms of three years. The Company has nominated four persons to the class of
directors to be elected at the meeting. Persons elected will hold office for
a three-year term expiring in 2001 and will serve until their successors have
been duly elected and qualified.
DIRECTOR NOMINEES FOR TERMS EXPIRING IN 2001
NANCY PARSONS McDONALD, 59 Director Since 1982
Mrs. McDonald is a director of Hillcrest Corporation, a position she has held
for more than the past five years. She is Chair of the Community Relations
Committee and a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee.
JEFFREY H. CURLER, 47 Director Since 1992
Mr. Curler is President of the Company, a position he has held since 1996,
and Chairman of the Curwood Group, a position he has held since 1995. From
1982 to 1995 he served as President of Curwood, Inc., a subsidiary of the
Company. Mr. Curler is also a Director of Valspar Corporation and is a member
of the Executive and Finance Committee.
C. ANGUS WURTELE, 63 Director Since 1994
Mr. Wurtele is Chairman of the Valspar Corporation, a manufacturer of paints
and related coatings. He has held that position since 1973. Mr. Wurtele is
also a Director of Valspar Corporation, General Mills, Inc. and I.D.S. Mutual
Funds Group. He is a member of the Compensation Committee, the Executive and
Finance Committee and is Chair of the Nominating Committee.
ROGER D. O'SHAUGHNESSY, 54 Director Since 1997
Mr. O'Shaughnessy is President and Chief Executive Officer of Cardinal IG
Company, a private manufacturer of glass, including insulation glass units
for window and door manufacturers and other equipment manufacturers. He has
held this position for more than the past five years.
DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 2000
ROBERT A. GREENKORN, 69 Director Since 1984
Professor Greenkorn became the R. Games Slayter Distinguished Professor of
Chemical Engineering at Purdue University and Vice President of the Purdue
University Research Foundation in 1995. He was previously Vice President for
Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Purdue University, positions he
held for more than the preceding five years. He is a member of the Audit
Committee, the Community Relations Committee and the Nominating Committee.
ROBERT F. MLNARIK, 57 Director Since 1992
Mr. Mlnarik is Vice Chairman of the Company, a position he has held since
1996. Since 1987 he has also served as Chief Executive Officer of Morgan
Adhesive Company, a subsidiary of the Company. He is a member of the
Executive and Finance Committee.
-3-
<PAGE>
WINSLOW H. BUXTON, 58 Director Since 1993
Mr. Buxton is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pentair,
Inc., a diversified manufacturing company which sells general industrial
equipment, and specialty products. He has been President and Chief Executive
Officer since 1992 and Chairman since 1993. He was Chief Operating Officer
from 1990 to 1992. He is also a Director of Pentair and the Toro Company. He
is Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nominating
Committee.
DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 1999
JOHN H. ROE, 58 Director Since 1978
Mr. Roe is Chairman, a position he has held since 1996, and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, a position he has held since 1990. He is also a
director of the Andersen Window Company. He is Chair of the Executive and
Finance Committee.
EDWARD N. PERRY, 51 Director Since 1992
Mr. Perry has been engaged in the private practice of law in the Boston,
Massachusetts area since 1982 and has been a partner at Perkins, Smith &
Cohen, LLP since 1990. He is a member of the Audit Committee, the Community
Relations Committee and the Nominating Committee.
LORING W. KNOBLAUCH, 56 Director Since 1993
Mr. Knoblauch became President and Chief Executive Officer of Talon Automated
Equipment Company in 1997. Talon is a manufacturer of food processing
equipment. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Knoblauch was President-International of
Hubbell Incorporated a manufacturer of electrical products for the
construction industry and electric power companies. From 1974 to 1994, he
was an executive with Honeywell, Inc., a provider of control components,
products, systems and services. He is Chair of the Audit Committee and a
member of the Nominating Committee.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
From 1995 to 1998, each director who was not an officer of the Company was
paid an annual fee of $35,000. The chairs of the Committees of the Board
received an additional $2,500. Effective April 1, 1998, these amounts will
be increased to $40,000 and $42,500, respectively. Under the Company's
Long-term Deferred Compensation Plan, directors may defer all, or a part of,
their compensation and four directors elected to do so in 1997. Also
effective April 1, 1998, directors may receive all or part of their
compensation in Common Stock of the Company. Directors who are not officers
of the Company and who have not been officers of the Company receive an
option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company at the time
they become directors with an exercise price equal to the market value on the
date of grant. Each such option is for ten years and is exercisable at the
market price one year from the date of grant. Directors who are officers of
the Company receive no compensation for service on the Board of Directors.
None of the Company's directors receives any additional fees or consultancy
compensation of any kind for services to the Corporation, nor does any
director receive any pension or retirement benefit for services rendered as a
director.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors held four meetings during the year ended December 31,
1997. All directors attended at least seventy-five percent of board meetings
and meetings of committees on which they served. The Board of Directors has
an Executive and Finance Committee, an Audit Committee, a Community Relations
Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating Committee.
The Executive and Finance Committee met once in 1997. It has such powers as
are delegated to it by the full Board and in addition reviews finance matters
and makes recommendations thereon to the Board.
-4-
<PAGE>
The Audit Committee held two meetings in 1997. It reviews the scope and
procedures used in auditing the Company's books and reviews the Company's
financial statements with management, the internal audit staff and
independent auditors. It also recommends the engagement of independent
auditors to the Board.
The Community Relations Committee held one meeting in 1997. It oversees the
activities of the Bemis Foundation, including the appropriate level of
corporate giving to the Foundation and the governance of, and dispositions
by, the Foundation, and makes recommendations thereon to the Board.
The Compensation Committee held three meetings in 1997. It approves the
compensation of the principal officers and also reviews management's
recommendations on officer and key employee compensation, company-wide
compensation structure, benefit plans and benefit awards.
The Nominating Committee held four meetings in 1997. It recommends nominees
for election to the Board of Directors, reviews the performance of the
highest ranking officer and other senior officers and recommends to the full
Board a successor should the position of highest ranking officer become
vacant. The Nominating Committee will consider names of nominees to the
Board submitted by stockholders in writing addressed to the attention of the
Nominating Committee at the executive offices of the Company in Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
COMPLIANCE SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires that the
Company's directors, executive officers and persons who own more than ten
percent of the Company's Common Stock file initial reports of ownership of
the Company's Common Stock and changes in such ownership with the Securities
Exchange Commission. To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of
copies of forms submitted to the Company during and with respect to 1997 and
on written representations from the Company's directors and executive
officers, all required reports were filed on a timely basis during 1997.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
During 1997, the Company's subsidiaries, Curwood, Inc. ("Curwood") and
Milprint, Inc., purchased, at market competitive prices, approximately
$5,532,000 of cores, pallets and miscellaneous packaging supplies from
Centracor, Inc. ("Centracor"). Centracor also acts as a distributor for
Curwood and in 1997 purchased $243,000 of product from Curwood. Centracor is
owned by Michael Curler, brother of Jeffrey H. Curler.
During 1997, the Company's subsidiaries, Curwood and Perfecseal Mankato
Corporation, purchased, at market competitive prices, approximately
$7,693,000 of rigid film, miscellaneous packaging supplies and laminator and
rewinder time from Rexam Extrusions. Prior to December 1997, Rexam
Extrusions was a subsidiary of Bowater P.L.C. Ron Johnson, brother-in-law of
Jeffrey H. Curler, is President of Rexam Extrusions; and in December 1997,
Mr. Ron Johnson purchased Rexam Extrusions from Bowater P.L.C.
During 1997, the Company's Packaging Machinery and Distributor Products
Divisions purchased, at market competitive prices, approximately $127,000 of
parts or assemblies from Quality Tool, Inc. which is owned by Bill Roe,
brother of John H. Roe.
At the request of the Audit Committee, consisting entirely of outside
directors, Price Waterhouse LLP conducted a review of the above transactions.
Based on Price Waterhouse LLP's report, the Audit Committee determined that
these transactions were at least as fair to the Company as if they had been
consummated with non-related parties.
-5-
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table shows and sets forth certain information concerning the
compensation paid to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and each of its
four other most highly compensated executive officers during the last three
years.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Long-Term Compensation
Compensation Awards Payouts
------------ ------ -------
Restricted
Name and Stock Stock LTIP All Other
Principal Position Year Salary Bonus(1) Awards(2) Options Payouts(2) Compensation(3)
- ------------------ ---- -------- -------- ---------- ------- ---------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John H. Roe 1997 $560,000 $347,000 --- --- $3,524,800 $11,675
Chief Executive 1996 525,000 531,563 --- 81,777 --- 11,675
Officer 1995 450,000 540,000 --- --- --- 11,610
Jeffrey H. Curler 1997 400,000 223,000 --- 75,000 1,762,400 6,431
President 1996 375,000 329,906 --- 45,432 --- 6,373
1995 300,000 300,000 --- --- --- 5,913
Robert F. Mlnarik 1997 375,000 294,000 --- --- 1,762,400 11,550
Vice Chairman 1996 350,000 295,313 --- 45,432 --- 11,400
1995 300,000 300,000 --- --- --- 7,752
Scott W. Johnson 1997 275,000 134,000 --- --- 881,200 5,120
Senior Vice 1996 255,000 202,247 --- 31,113 --- 4,933
President 1995 230,000 216,000 --- --- --- 4,628
Benjamin R. Field 1997 275,000 134,000 --- --- 440,600 9,970
Senior Vice 1996 255,000 202,247 --- 31,113 --- 9,407
President 1995 230,000 216,000 --- --- --- 8,602
</TABLE>
(1) Includes, for the years indicated, performance bonuses earned pursuant to
the Bemis Executive Incentive Plan. See "Report of the Compensation
Committee" herein. Also includes for Mr. Mlnarik an additional bonus of
$100,000 based on his contribution to the Company's efforts in preparing
for, and selling, its packaging machinery operations.
(2) Until 1991, the executive officers regularly participated in a broadly
based Restricted Stock Award Program which was not performance based. Non
executive officers participated both before and after 1991. Grantees
receive the stock upon the expiration of the restrictive period (usually
six years). The payout amounts shown above were for awards made in late
1991. During the restrictive period, grantees receive payments equal to
the dividends which would have been paid if the underlying stock had been
distributed. As of December 31, 1997, the five named executive officers
held the following number of restricted shares of Common Stock of the
Company for which restrictions then lapsed: John H. Roe 80,000 shares;
Jeffrey H. Curler 40,000 shares; Robert F. Mlnarik 40,000 shares; Scott W.
Johnson 20,000 shares; and Benjamin R. Field 10,000 shares. As of the same
date, 85 grantees (including the above named individuals) held an aggregate
of 626,399 restricted shares of Common Stock with a total market value of
$27,599,139 for which restrictions then lapsed The fair market value of
each such share at that date was $44.06. As of March 1, 1998, none of the
executive officers listed above holds an award under this program. As of
January 1, 1998, grantees (but none of the above named executive officers
nor any other executive officers) were awarded grants of an additional
486,500 shares of Common Stock for which restrictions would lapse in six
years. As of that date, employees (but none of the above named executive
officers) held grants for 864,000 shares (including the 486,500 shares
mentioned in the previous sentence and including 37,000 shares held by
executive officers not listed above) with an aggregated value of
$38,067,400. The five named executive officers also hold performance based
restricted stock awards as described in "Long-Term Incentive Plans-Awards
in 1997" herein. See "Report of the Compensation Committee" herein.
-6-
<PAGE>
(3) All other compensation for all named executive officers consists of life
insurance premiums paid by the Company and the Company match on the Bemis
Investment Incentive Plan, the Company's 401(k) plan, in the following
respective amounts for 1997: John H. Roe $8,550 and $3,125; Robert F.
Mlnarik $8,550 and $3,000; Jeffrey H. Curler $3,306 and $3,125; Scott W.
Johnson $1,995 and $3,125; and Benjamin R. Field $6,885 and $3,085.
STOCK OPTIONS
The following table summarizes option grants made during 1997 to the
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table.
OPTION GRANTS IN 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percent of Potential Realizable Value at
Total Assumed Annual Rates of
Options Options Exercise Expiration Stock Appreciation for
Granted(1) Granted(2) Price Date Option Term(3)
---------- ---------- -------- ---------- ------------------------------
Name 5% 10%
- ---- -- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jeffrey H. Curler 75,000 50% $45.03 10/07/07 $2,120,691 $5,382,466
</TABLE>
(1) Options vest over the first three years of the ten-year option term. The
options were granted at the fair market value of the shares subject to the
option on the date of grant.
(2) Reflects the percent of options granted to all employees during the year.
(3) Potential realized values shown above represent the potential gains based
upon annual compound price appreciation of 5 percent and 10 percent from
the date of grant through the full option term. The actual value realized,
if any, on stock option exercises will be dependent upon overall market
conditions and the future performance of the Company and its Common Stock.
There is no assurance that the actual value realized will approximate the
amounts reflected in this table.
The following table shows the option exercises in 1997 and the total number of
unexercised options and the aggregate dollar value of the in-the-money
unexercised options held by the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table as of December 31, 1997.
OPTION EXERCISES IN 1997
AND
AGGREGATED YEAR END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Options Exercised Number of Unexercised Value of Unexercised In-The-
in 1997 (1) Options at Year End Money Options at Year End (1)(2)
--------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------------
Shares Value Presently Not Presently Presently Not Presently
Name Acquired Realized Exercisable Exercisable Exercisable Exercisable
- ---- -------- ---------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John H. Roe 100,000 $2,847,500 319,995 54,518 $8,603,667 $640,587
Jeffrey H. Curler --- --- 128,931 105,288 3,012,766 355,884
Robert F. Mlnarik --- --- 128,931 30,288 3,012,766 355,884
Scott W. Johnson --- --- 71,160 20,742 1,710,437 241,644
Benjamin R. Field --- --- 61,160 20,742 1,305,749 241,644
</TABLE>
(1) Value of exercised options is calculated by determining the difference
between the fair market value of the shares underlying the options at
the date of exercise and the exercise price of the options.
(2) Value of unexercised options is calculated by determining the difference
between the fair market value of the shares underlying the options at
December 31, 1997 ($44.06 per share) and the exercise price of the
options.
-7-
<PAGE>
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS - AWARDS IN 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Estimated Future Payouts
Performance or Under Non-Stock
Number of Shares, Other Period Until Price-Based Plans Period (# of Shares)
Name Units or Other Rights Maturation or Payout Threshold (1) Maximum (1)
- ---- --------------------- -------------------- ------------- -----------
<C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John H. Roe 9,416 Six Years 4,708 9,416
Jeffrey H. Curler 6,215 Six Years 3,108 6,215
Robert F. Mlnarik 5,341 Six Years 2,671 5,341
Scott W. Johnson 3,672 Six Years 1,836 3,672
Benjamin R. Field 21,758 Six Years 10,879 2,758
</TABLE>
(1) Grantees of performance based restricted stock awards under the 1994
Bemis Stock Incentive Plan ("Awards") are eligible to receive all of the
shares upon the expiration of a six-year restrictive period assuming the
Company's achievement of combined annualized sales and earnings per
share growth over the six-year performance period. At a designated
minimum percentage of combined annualized sales and earnings per share
growth, grantees receive 50 percent of their Awards. Grantees receive
an increasing pro rata share of their Awards for growth from the
designated minimum percentage to the designated target percentage, at
which point they receive 100 percent of their Awards. During the
restrictive period, grantees receive payments equal to the dividends
which would have been paid if the underlying stock had been distributed.
See "Report of the Compensation Committee" herein.
REPORT OF THE BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors is
composed entirely of non-employee directors and is responsible for
establishing compensation policies and setting the total compensation for all
executive officers, including the five most highly compensated officers named
in the accompanying tables. For several years, the Committee has utilized
the services of the firm of Towers Perrin as consultants on executive
compensation, compensation policies and programs. The following report
describes the Company's executive compensation philosophy and programs and
discusses the factors considered by the Committee in determining the
Compensation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the other executive
officers for 1997.
PHILOSOPHY
The Company seeks to attract, retain and motivate a top quality, experienced,
performance-oriented senior management team. The officer compensation
program is designed to help in meeting this important objective.
The guiding principles of the Company's officer compensation program are:
- - Create a strong and direct link between officer compensation and the
Company's financial and stock performance.
- - Provide a fair and competitive base salary, with a bonus opportunity
tied to the Company's annual financial performance. Annual bonus awards
will vary significantly in relation to changes in financial performance
and compensate the officers, as a group, with premium pay for superior
financial results, and below average pay for below average financial
results. Bonus awards, at target levels of performance, are competitive.
- - Create a significant and meaningful long-term incentive tied to the
Company's long-term growth, financial success, and return to shareholders.
Incentives will vest over a sufficiently long period of time to retain
management and encourage long-range planning.
-8-
<PAGE>
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
During the past several years, the Committee has utilized the services of the
firm of Towers Perrin as consultants on executive compensation to conduct a
comprehensive review of the Company's executive compensation philosophy and
programs. As part of their initial review in 1995, Towers Perrin presented
and has annually updated, information on executive base salaries, bonus and
long-term compensation programs of Fortune 500 manufacturing companies which
Towers Perrin and the Committee deemed to be comparable to the Company.
Factors which the Committee believed to be determinative in selecting
comparison companies include size, type of business and geographic location.
The Committee felt that this group of comparison companies was preferable to
the peer index companies used in the total return performance graph in the
Proxy Statement because the peer index companies had such a large range in
sales volume ($200,000,000 to over $6,000,000,000) that an executive
compensation comparison using those companies would be inappropriate. On the
basis of this analysis, the Committee made certain adjustments in both salary
and long-term compensation in 1995 which have remained substantially in place
since then.
The target total cash compensation (salary plus bonus) for executive
officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, was left at the fiftieth
percentile of equivalent positions for the comparison companies. The annual
bonus opportunity for the Chief Executive Officer at the required level of
performance was left at sixty percent of salary. For 1997, the required
level of performance was increased from 1996's eight percent annual
improvement in earnings per share to 10 percent. The committee also added a
sales growth multiplier increasing the earned bonus by 10 percent if sales
increased by more than 10 percent over the previous year and decreasing the
bonus by a like amount if sales increased less than 8 percent. The Committee
believes this bonus opportunity was competitive. For other executive
officers, the bonus opportunity at target performance was left at ranges from
40 to 54 percent of salary. Superior performance results in premium bonus
awards, and substandard performance results in bonus and total cash
compensation below target. The Committee believes this approach
appropriately aligns executive officer motivation with the interests of
shareholders. The total cash compensation in 1997 for all executive officers
was consistent with this philosophy.
The Committee's study of comparative companies in 1995 also reinforced its
commitment to provide incentives for management to seek long-term growth for
the Company. Accordingly, in 1995 the Committee decided that a combination
of stock options and performance based restricted stock awards afforded a
balanced long-term opportunity for the executive officers, including the
Chief Executive Officer. Thus, the Committee decided to grant stock options
to executive officers every three years and performance based restricted
stock awards annually. During 1997, no stock options were granted to Mr.
Roe but stock option grants were made to three other executive officers. On
January 1, 1997, the Committee granted Mr. Roe six-year performance based
restricted stock awards for up to 9,416 shares of Common Stock. Receipt of
all of the shares is conditioned upon the Company achieving a performance
target based on six year annualized sales and earnings per share growth.
Also on the same date, the other executive officers received lesser grants of
performance based restricted stock awards on the same terms as did Mr. Roe.
See "Summary Compensation" and "Stock Options" herein.
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA), imposes a $1,000,000
cap on deductibility of executive compensation. By action of the
shareholders in 1997, all executive bonuses are intended to qualify as
performance based compensation and thus are not subject to this limitation.
-9-
<PAGE>
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
Mr. Roe's base salary was increased effective January 1, 1998 to $600,000
from $560,000, which was his salary throughout 1997. Mr. Roe received a
bonus of $347,000 in February 1998 with respect to 1997 (compared with a
bonus of $532,000 the previous year). This amount was consistent with the
bonus formula set by the Committee at the beginning of the year and was a
direct result of the Company improving its earnings per share 9.4 percent
over 1996 (after appropriate adjustments for non-recurring gains and charges)
and increasing sales by more than 10 percent. The Committee feels that the
bonus compensation to Mr. Roe and the other executive officers was
appropriate considering the Company's performance in 1997.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Winslow Buxton, Chair
Winston Wallin
C. Angus Wurtele
BEMIS RETIREMENT PLAN
The Bemis Retirement Plan (the "Retirement Plan") is a noncontributory
defined benefit plan with a social security offset which provides benefits
determined primarily by final average salary and years of service. The
following table shows estimated annual retirement benefits under the
Retirement Plan which would be payable at age sixty-five as a straight life
annuity. If an employee's benefits are reduced pursuant to Internal Revenue
Code limitations, the Bemis Company, Inc. Supplemental Retirement Plan
provides that the Company will make a direct payment to that individual in a
lump sum amount equal to the amount of the reduction or provide benefits over
time equivalent to those otherwise payable under the Retirement Plan but for
the Internal Revenue Code limitations. The benefits shown in the table below
include these additional payments and do not reflect the statutory
limitations.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PENSION PLAN TABLE
Years of Credited Service at Normal Retirement Date
----------------------------------------------------
Final Average 30 and
Salary 15 20 25 Above
------------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
200,000 46,000 61,000 77,000 92,000
300,000 71,000 95,000 118,000 142,000
400,000 96,000 128,000 160,000 192,000
500,000 121,000 161,000 202,000 242,000
600,000 146,000 195,000 243,000 292,000
700,000 171,000 228,000 285,000 342,000
800,000 196,000 261,000 327,000 392,000
900,000 221,000 295,000 368,000 442,000
1,000,000 246,000 328,000 410,000 492,000
1,100,000 271,000 361,000 452,000 542,000
1,200,000 296,000 395,000 493,000 592,000
</TABLE>
Compensation covered by the Retirement Plan for purposes of calculating final
average salary includes salary and bonus amounts stated on the Summary
Compensation Table. The estimated credited years of service for each of the
named executive officers are as follows: John H. Roe 33 years; Robert F.
Mlnarik 26 years; Jeffrey H. Curler 23 years; Scott W. Johnson 19 years; and
Benjamin R. Field 34 years.
-10-
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph shows the cumulative total return to holders of the Common
Stock of the Company for the last five years. The graph also shows the
cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and an index of
a group of peer companies against whom the Company competes and against whose
performance the Company is often compared by financial analysts. The total
return to stockholders of those companies comprising the peer group are weighted
according to their stock market capitalization. The companies in the current
peer group are: Avery Dennison Corporation; Ball Corporation; Crown Cork & Seal
Company, Inc.; Sealed Air Corporation; Sealright Co., Inc.; Sonoco Products;
Stone Container Corporation; and Union Camp Corporation. The graph assumes the
investment of $100 in each group on January 1, 1993, and the reinvestment of all
dividends when and as paid.
[CHART]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31
-----------------------------------------------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Bemis Company 100 96.14 99.96 109.32 160.76 195.82
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Peer Group 100 99.47 106.31 120.70 145.56 162.63
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
S & P 500 100 110.08 111.53 153.45 188.68 251.64
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
-11-
<PAGE>
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
A further purpose of the meeting is to vote upon the ratification of the
appointment of independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 1998.
While neither Missouri law, the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation
nor the Company's Bylaws require submission to the stockholders of the
question of appointment of auditors, it has been the policy of the Company's
Board of Directors since 1968 to submit the matter for stockholder
consideration in recognition that the basic responsibility of the auditors is
to the stockholders and the investing public. Therefore, the Audit Committee
of the Board of Directors recommends stockholder ratification of the
appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP, which has served as independent public
auditor for the Company for more than sixty years. If the stockholders do
not ratify this appointment, other certified public accountants will be
considered by the Audit Committee. A representative of Price Waterhouse LLP
will be present at the meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement and
to respond to questions.
Proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will be voted for ratification of
the appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP unless stockholders specify otherwise
in their proxies.
STOCKHOLDER SUBMISSIONS
All stockholder proposals to be presented at the next annual meeting of the
stockholders to be held in 1999 and to be included in the proxy statement and
form of proxy relating thereto must be received by the Company not later than
December 1, 1998.
The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters to be presented to
the meeting. However, if any matter other than those referred to above
should come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in
the enclosed proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Scott W. Johnson
Scott W. Johnson, Secretary
-12-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
BEMIS COMPANY, INC. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON
222 SOUTH 9TH STREET, SUITE 2300 BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402 PROXY The undersigned hereby appoints Benjamin R. Field and Scott W.
- --------------------------- Johnson as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his
substitute and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote,
and in their discretion to cumulate votes for any or all of the
nominees for election as directors (other than for any nominees
as to whom authority to vote is withheld), as designated below,
all the shares of stock of Bemis Company, Inc. held of record
by the undersigned on March 20, 1998, at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held on May 7, 1998.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1. To elect four directors / / FOR all nominees listed below / / WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
for a term of three years. (EXCEPT AS MARKED TO THE CONTRARY BELOW) to vote for all nominees listed below
Jeffrey H. Curler, Nancy Parsons McDonald, Roger D. O'Shaughnessy, C. Angus Wurtele
(INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE,
WRITE THAT NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW.)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. To vote upon ratification of the appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP as independent auditors of the Company.
/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
</TABLE>
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
(continued on reverse side)
<PAGE>
4. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 20, 1998 will
be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY
WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES.
Please sign exactly as name appears on the
Proxy. When shares are held by joint tenants,
both should sign. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee or guardian,
please give full title as such. If a
corporation, please sign corporate name in
full by President or other authorized
officer. If a partnership, please sign in
partnership name by authorized person.
DATED: -----------------------------, 1998
------------------------------------------
Signature
------------------------------------------
Signature if held jointly
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY
CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
<PAGE>
BEMIS COMPANY, INC. VOTING INSTRUCTIONS TO TRUSTEE
BEMIS INVESTMENT
INCENTIVE PLAN
- --------------------
I hereby direct First Trust National Association,
as Trustee of the Bemis Investment Incentive
Trust, to vote at the Annual Meeting of the
Stockholders of Bemis Company, Inc. ("the
Company") to be held on May 7, 1998 (or at any
adjournment thereof) the Common Stock of the
Company allocated to my Bemis Investment Incentive
Plan.
I understand this card must be returned to the
Trustee no later than April 24, 1998 if my voting
instructions are to be honored. If it is not
received by the Trustee by April 24, 1998, or if
it is received but the voting instructions are
invalid, the stock with respect to which I could
have instructed the Trustee will be voted by the
Trustee in the same proportion as votes actually
cast by plan participants.
The Trustee is hereby directed to vote as indicated below on the following
proposals which are more fully described in the Company's Notice of Annual
Meeting and Proxy Statement dated March 20, 1998.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
1. To elect three directors / / FOR all nominees listed below / / WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
for a term of three years (EXCEPT AS MARKED TO THE CONTRARY BELOW) to vote for all nominees listed below
</TABLE>
1. Jeffrey H. Curler 2. Nancy Parsons McDonald 3. Roger D. O'Shaughnessy 4.
C. Angus Wurtele
(INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, WRITE
THAT NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(continued, and to be signed on reverse side)
<PAGE>
2. To vote upon ratification of the appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP as
independent auditors of the Company.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
</TABLE>
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
4. In its discretion, the Trustee is authorized to vote upon such other business
as may properly come before the meeting.
THIS VOTING CARD WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS VOTING CARD
WILL BE VOTED BY THE TRUSTEE IN THE SAME PROPORTION AS VOTES ACTUALLY CAST BY
PLAN PARTICIPANTS.
Dated:
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Signature
Please sign, date and promptly return
this card using the enclosed envelope
addressed to First Trust National
Association.
