BOWNE & CO INC
DEF 14A, 1994-02-02
COMMERCIAL PRINTING
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<PAGE>   1


                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                             EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
     Filed by the registrant /X/
     Filed by a party other than the registrant / /

     Check the appropriate box:
     / / Preliminary proxy statement
     /X/ Definitive proxy statement
     /X/ Definitive additional materials
     / / Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                              BOWNE & CO., INC.
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                              BOWNE & CO., INC.
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
     /X/ $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2).
     / / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
         14a-6(i)(3).
     / / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
         0-11.
 
     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transactions applies:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:(1)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     / / 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 registrations 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:
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------
   1 Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined.
<PAGE>   2
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                TO ASSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING,
                 PLEASE DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND
                 RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                    (LOGO)
 
                              BOWNE & CO., INC.
                              345 Hudson Street
                           New York, New York 10014
 
                                (212) 924-5500
 
                   NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
 
     The 1994 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of BOWNE & CO., INC. will be held
at the offices of the American Stock Exchange, 13th Floor, 86 Trinity Place, New
York, New York, on Thursday, March 24, 1994, beginning at 11:00 A.M. local time,
for the following purposes:
 
          1.  To elect three nominees to serve as Class I directors of the
     Company for three-year terms and until their respective successors shall be
     elected and shall qualify;
 
          2.  To ratify the appointment of auditors of the Company for the
     fiscal year ending October 31, 1994; and
 
          3.  To transact such other business as may properly come before the
     meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
     The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on February 2, 1994,
as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of
and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
                                   By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
                                                        DOUGLAS F. BAUER
                                                             Corporate Secretary
 
New York, New York
February 7, 1994
<PAGE>   3
 
                                     (LOGO)

                               BOWNE & CO., INC.
                               345 Hudson Street
                            New York, New York 10014
 
                                 (212) 924-5500
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
     This Proxy Statement is furnished to the stockholders of BOWNE & CO., INC.
(the "Company") in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the
1994 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the offices of the American
Stock Exchange, 13th Floor, 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York, on March 24,
1994, beginning at 11:00 A.M. local time, and at any adjournment thereof.
 
     Proxies delivered pursuant to this solicitation are revocable at the option
of the persons executing the same, prior to their exercise, by attendance and
voting at the Annual Meeting or by written notice delivered to the Corporate
Secretary of the Company prior to the meeting, and are solicited by and on
behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. Unless previously revoked, all
proxies representing shares entitled to vote which are delivered pursuant to
this solicitation will be voted at the meeting by the named attorneys-in-fact
and agents, to the extent authorized, in accordance with the directions
contained therein. If no such directions are given, the shares represented by
such proxies will be voted in favor of the election of directors, the
ratification of the appointment of auditors, and in accordance with the
discretion of the named attorneys-in-fact and agents on other matters that may
properly come before the meeting.
 
     The cost of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. Proxies may be
solicited by personal interview, telephone and telegraph, as well as by use of
the mails. Banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees or fiduciaries
will be requested to forward soliciting material to their principals and to
obtain authorization for the execution of proxies, and will be reimbursed for
their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in that connection. Employees
of the Company participating in the solicitation of proxies will not receive any
additional remuneration.
 
     On February 2, 1994, the record date for the Annual Meeting, the Company
had outstanding 17,314,636 shares of the Common Stock, and there were no
outstanding shares of any other class of stock. Each holder of the Common Stock
is entitled to one vote for each share of such stock held by him. Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on February 2, 1994, will be
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. A majority of the outstanding shares,
whether present in person or by proxy, is required to constitute a quorum to
transact business at the meeting. The abstention of a stockholder on any issue
submitted to a vote and a proxy given by a broker who fails or is not authorized
to vote on that issue will both be counted in determining the presence of a
quorum but not in tabulating the vote on that issue, and thus neither will have
an effect on the outcome of the vote. Votes will be tabulated by The Bank of New
York.
 
     The Company intends to cause this Proxy Statement to be mailed to its
stockholders of record on or about February 7, 1994.
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   4
 
Principal Stockholders of the Company
 
     As of the record date for the Annual Meeting, the following named
individuals, who are both directors of the Company, and the following group
including all the directors and officers of the Company owned beneficially the
numbers of shares and the percentages of the outstanding Common Stock of the
Company shown respectively below. The inclusion here of shares owned directly or
indirectly by family members or trusts for their benefit is not an admission of
beneficial ownership. Shares of the Common Stock are the only voting securities
of the Company outstanding.
 
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Number        Percent of
          Name                                                            of Shares      Outstanding
- --------------------------                                                ---------      -----------
<S>                                                                       <C>               <C>
Edmund A. Stanley, Jr..................................................   1,100,000          6.4%
Thomas O. Stanley......................................................   1,829,234         10.6%
All directors and executive officers as a group........................   3,593,971         20.8%
</TABLE>
 
     Certain executive officers of the Company are trustees of its Employees'
Stock Purchase Plan and as such have the right to vote the shares held by that
plan on behalf of participants in the plan. Accordingly, they may be deemed to
be beneficial owners of the 454,346 shares held by the plan as of the record
date for the meeting, and those shares are therefore included in the total shown
above as beneficially owned by all directors and officers as a group. Two of the
trustees are also participants in the plan. The shares shown above as owned by
all directors and executive officers as a group also include options to purchase
117,787 shares under the Company's Stock Option Plans which are currently
exercisable by them or will become exercisable within sixty days after the
record date of the Annual Meeting.
 
     The Company has also learned that Fidelity Management and Research
Corporation, which has offices at 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02109-3605, filed a quarterly report with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on September 30, 1993, under Section 13(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, which indicated that the firm and twenty-five related investment managers
held an aggregate of 1,325,800 shares of the Company's Common Stock without
voting power, as well as another 5,600 shares with sole voting power. Together
these holdings represented 7.7% of the Company's shares outstanding on the
record date. The Company believes that these shares were acquired in the
ordinary course of the filer's investment management business for the benefit of
several mutual funds including the Fidelity Magellan Fund and the Fidelity
Balanced Fund.
 
     The Company knows of no other person who may be deemed to own beneficially
more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock. Interested persons may write to
either of the two individual stockholders named above or to any other director
or executive officer of the Company in care of the Corporate Secretary of the
Company.
 
Election of Directors
 
     Action will be taken at the Annual Meeting for the election of three
nominees to be Class I directors, each to serve for a three-year term and until
his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. The Board of Directors
recommends a vote in favor of each of its three nominees: Richard H. Koontz,
Beverley B. Wadsworth and Richard R. West. The election will be determined as to
each nominee by a plurality of the votes duly cast by stockholders entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting.
 
     Indicated in the table below are the principal occupations for the last
five years of the three nominees in Class I and of the other seven incumbent
directors, one of whom has chosen not to stand for election to another term.
Their beneficial ownership of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company as of
the record date for the Annual Meeting is also shown in the table.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
                             THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       Director       Shares of
                                                                                        of the       Common Stock
                                                                                       Company       Beneficially
               Name(1)               Principal Occupation and Directorships    Age       Since          Owned(2)
   ------------------------------   ----------------------------------------   ----    ----------    --------------
<S>                                                                           <C>     <C>           <C>
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS CLASS I DIRECTORS, WHOSE TERMS WILL EXPIRE IN 1997:

    Richard H. Koontz............  Chairman of the Board, President and        53        1984           113,905(3)
                                     Chief Executive Officer of the Company

    Beverley B. Wadsworth........  Director, Amsterdam Nursing Home Corpo-     53        1990             3,000
                                     ration; and also Director and Vice
                                     President, Cass County Iron Company;
                                     formerly Chairman of the Board and
                                     President, Continental Guaranty &
                                     Credit Corporation

    Richard R. West..............  Professor of Finance, New York              55        1994(4)          1,000
                                     University; formerly also Dean of the
                                     School of Business, New York
                                     University; also director of Vornado
                                     Inc., Smith Corona Corporation,
                                     Alexander's Inc. and several mutual
                                     funds of Merrill Lynch Asset Manage-
                                     ment, Inc.

Class II directors, whose terms will expire in 1995:

    John R. Haire(5).............  Chairman of the Committee of Independent    68        1979             2,520
                                     Directors, The Dean Witter Group of
                                     Investment Companies; formerly
                                     President, Council for Aid to
                                     Education, Inc.; also director of
                                     Washington National Corporation and
                                     several investment companies managed
                                     by Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc.

    Thomas O. Stanley(6).........  Retired; formerly Staff Vice President,     66        1968         1,829,234(7)
                                     Research Programs, RCA Laboratories

Class III directors, whose terms will expire in 1996:

    Edward H. Meyer..............  Chairman of the Board and President,        67        1983             2,400
                                     Grey Advertising Inc; also director of
                                     The May Department Stores Company,
                                     Harman International Industries, Inc.,
                                     Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. and several
                                     mutual funds of Merrill Lynch Asset
                                     Management, Inc.

    H. Marshall Schwarz..........  Chairman of the Board and Chief             57        1986               400
                                     Executive Officer, United States Trust
                                     Corporation; formerly President
                                     thereof; also director of Atlantic
                                     Mutual Companies

    Wendell M. Smith.............  Chairman of the Board, President and        58        1992
                                     Chief Executive Officer, Baldwin
                                     Technology Company, Inc.; also
                                     director of American Maize Products
                                     Corporation
                                                             
    Edmund A. Stanley, Jr.(5)(6).  Chairman of the Executive Committee of      69        1968         1,100,000(8)
                                     the Company; formerly its Chairman of
                                     the Board; also President, Town Creek
                                     Foundation, Inc. and President, The
                                     Robert Bowne Foundation, Inc.

Class I director, whose term will expire on the date of the Annual Meeting(9):

    Bertram J. Cohn..............  Managing Director, First Manhattan Com-     68        1977             4,854
                                     pany; formerly Limited Partner
                                     thereof; also director of Orion
                                     Capital Corporation
</TABLE>
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
- ---------------
(1) See "Certain Committees of the Board" for memberships on committees.
(2) The following directors each own in excess of 1% of the outstanding Common
    Stock of the Company: Edmund A. Stanley, Jr. (6.4%), and Thomas O. Stanley
    (10.6%). No other director or nominee owns in excess of 1%.
(3) Includes options to purchase 48,825 shares which are currently exercisable
    by Mr. Koontz under the Company's Stock Option Plans or will become
    exercisable within sixty days after the record date of the Annual Meeting,
    but excludes shares held by the Employees' Stock Purchase Plan referred to
    under "Principal Stockholders of the Company," of which he is a trustee.
(4) Mr. West was elected by the Board to fill the vacancy created by the
    retirement of Franz von Ziegesar from the Board as of January 15, 1994.
(5) The Company's by-laws provide that no director may continue to serve on the
    Board of Directors, and no other person may be nominated or elected to the
    Board, after he or she has attained the age of seventy. In view of this
    provision, Edmund A. Stanley, Jr., and Mr. Haire have advised the Company
    that they currently intend to step down from the Board on or before July 9,
    1994 and February 11, 1995 respectively, and may not therefore serve out the
    entire terms for which they have been elected. A vacant seat on the Board
    may be filled by a candidate elected by the remaining directors until the
    next following Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(6) Edmund A. Stanley, Jr., and Thomas O. Stanley are brothers.
(7) Includes 318,230 shares held by Mr. Stanley's spouse, as to which shares he
    disclaims beneficial ownership.
(8) Includes 300,000 shares held by Mr. Stanley's spouse, as to which shares he
    disclaims beneficial ownership.
(9) Because Mr. Cohn will not be replaced after his current term expires, the
    Board will consist for the foreseeable future of nine members, which was for
    many years its traditional number.
- ---------------
 
Certain Committees of the Board
 
     The Board of Directors has four standing committees, the function and
present membership of which are as identified below.
 
     The Executive Committee has much of the authority of the Board of Directors
other than for fundamental corporate changes or actions which require the vote
of the full Board according to New York State law or the Company's by-laws. The
members are Edmund A. Stanley, Jr. (Chairman), Bertram J. Cohn (retiring), John
R. Haire and Richard H. Koontz.
 
     The Audit Committee selects independent public accountants to serve as the
Company's auditors, reviews with the chief financial officer of the Company and
the auditors the scope and results of their audit, the fees charged and the
other activities performed by the auditors for the Company, and reviews internal
controls and inquires into special accounting and related matters. The members
are Beverley B. Wadsworth (Chairman), Bertram J. Cohn (retiring), Wendell M.
Smith and Thomas O. Stanley.
 
     The Compensation and Nominating Committee reviews and approves salaries and
benefits for the executive officers of the Company and the chief operating
officer of each subsidiary, as well as significant changes in retirement and
other employee benefit plans, prior to submission to the Board of Directors for
approval. The Committee also considers and recommends for Board approval
candidates for the Board of Directors who have been suggested by management,
other members of the Board, stockholders and other interested parties.
Stockholders may suggest Board candidates by writing to the Chairman of the
Committee, in care of the Corporate Secretary of the Company. The members of the
Committee are Edward H. Meyer (Chairman), John R. Haire, H. Marshall Schwarz,
Wendell M. Smith, Edmund A. Stanley, Jr., and Beverley B. Wadsworth.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   7
 
     The Finance Committee reviews the investment portfolio and financial
reports of the Company, approves its investment policies and the allocation of
assets to various investment programs of the Company, and reviews the investment
performance of the fund managers of the trusts for the Company's Pension Plan,
Profit-Sharing Plan and Employees' Stock Purchase Plan. The members are Thomas
O. Stanley (Chairman), Edward H. Meyer and H. Marshall Schwarz.
 
Meetings, Attendance and Fees
 
     During the Company's fiscal year ended October 31, 1993, the full Board of
Directors had five meetings. The Audit, Finance, and Compensation and Nominating
Committees each met twice. The Executive Committee did not meet but took action
four times during the year with resolutions unanimously adopted by the written
consent of its members. No member of the Board attended fewer than 75% of the
aggregate number of meetings of the Board and the committees on which he or she
served, except that Wendell M. Smith was unable to attend two meetings that had
been respectively scheduled prior to his election to the Board and his
appointment to a committee.
 
     Directors who are not officers or employees of the Company are currently
paid an annual retainer of $13,500, plus a fee of $750 for each Board meeting
attended. The annual fee for members of the Executive Committee who are not
officers or employees is $1,000. Those directors who serve on the Audit,
Finance, and Compensation and Nominating Committees are paid a fee of $750 for
each committee meeting attended, and the chairman of each such committee a fee
of $1,250 for each meeting at which he or she presides. All directors are
offered reimbursement for travel expenses, if any, incurred in connection with
Board and committee meetings attended.
 
     The Company has a retirement plan for non-management members of the Board
who are not entitled to benefits under the Company's Pension Plan for employees.
Under this retirement plan, the amount of the benefit will be five times the
aggregate of annual retainer payments made by the Company to an eligible
director during his or her last twelve months of Board service, subject to
certain vesting rules. The director will be eligible to receive this benefit in
five annual installments after he or she either reaches the age of sixty or
retires from the Board, whichever occurs later. There are also provisions for
distribution of the unpaid benefit in the event of a director's death or a
change of corporate control.
 
Compensation Committee Interlock and Insider Participation
 
     No directors other than those identified above as members of the
Compensation and Nominating Committee served on that Committee during the 1993
fiscal year. No member of that Committee was an officer or employee of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries during the year, but one member of the
Committee, Edmund A. Stanley, Jr., had been President of the Company prior to
his retirement from that office in 1974. None of the executive officers of the
Company has served on the board of directors or on the compensation committee of
any other entity, any officer of which served either on the Board of Directors
or on the Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Company, except for one
charitable foundation which is exempt from tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and which is affiliated with the Company.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   8
 
Executive Compensation
 
     The following table summarizes the aggregate cash compensation, including
incentive compensation, paid by the Company to the Chief Executive Officer and
to each of the other four most highly compensated executive officers of the
Company during the last three fiscal years:
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Long-Term
                                                                        Compensation
                                                                        ------------
                                                  Annual Compensation      Shares
               Name and                           --------------------   Underlying   All Other
          Principal Position             Year      Salary      Bonus      Options    Compensation(*)
- ---------------------------------------  -----    --------    --------  ------------ -----------
<S>                                       <C>     <C>         <C>          <C>        <C>
Richard H. Koontz......................   1993    $325,000    $450,000     20,000     $ 143,439
  President                               1992     310,000     350,000     20,226       112,190
     and CEO                              1991     300,000     230,000     20,000        60,266

James P. O'Neil........................   1993     150,000     140,000      7,500        38,754
  Vice President,                         1992     140,000     100,000      5,000        30,768
     Finance                              1991     140,000      60,000       --          18,971

Brendan Keating........................   1993     140,000     120,000      6,000        32,946
  Vice President                          1992     135,000      85,000     15,000        26,729
                                          1991     130,000      50,000     10,000        16,771

Allen D. Marold........................   1993     130,000     115,000      5,000        30,056
  Vice President, Human                   1992     125,000      90,000      4,000        25,978
     Resources and Administration         1991     125,000      40,000       --          15,633

Thomas J. Vos..........................   1993     130,000     105,000      5,000        28,030
  Vice President,                         1992     130,000      80,000      9,000        25,827
     Marketing                            1991     125,000      45,000      5,000        16,040
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(*) The amounts listed in this column represent the total of the Company's
    contributions under its Profit-Sharing Plan and under its Employees' Stock
    Purchase Plan, as well as certain payments made under a supplemental
    arrangement related to the former. The Profit-Sharing Plan is a defined
    contribution plan meeting regulatory requirements, under which contributions
    are determined annually by the boards of directors of the participating
    subsidiaries, subject to limitations imposed by Internal Revenue Service
    regulations. The Employees' Stock Purchase Plan, also a defined contribution
    plan meeting regulatory requirements, permits employees of participating
    subsidiaries, if they qualify and elect to participate, to contribute up to
    $100 per month and provides for matching contributions by the Company equal
    to one half of such amounts. The aggregate of all contributions to the
    Employees' Stock Purchase Plan is invested by the trustees in shares of the
    Company's Common Stock, and dividends thereon are likewise reinvested. The
    supplemental arrangement was adopted with respect to key employees who would
    otherwise be adversely affected by the limits imposed by the Employee
    Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, upon the Company's
    contributions to the Profit-Sharing Plan.
 
    The figures listed in the table exclude non-cash compensation which is
    not properly categorized as salary or bonus. Such non-cash compensation
    included customary perquisites and did not exceed 10% of the compensation
    listed for any executive officer of the Company. The cost to the Company of
    group employee benefit plans for medical, hospitalization and dental
    benefits, long-term disability insurance and other fringe benefits with
    respect to executive officers of the Company is also excluded from the
    figures listed because the plans under which such benefits are paid are
    available generally to all salaried employees of the Company and do not
    discriminate in favor of the executive officers of the Company.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
 
     Two successive Stock Option Plans have been adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company and approved by its stockholders, both providing for
the grant of incentive stock options to the five executive officers of the
Company identified above, as well as to other key employees, to purchase shares
of the Company's Common Stock. The 1981 Stock Option Plan expired by its terms
as of December 16, 1991, although a number of options granted thereunder remain
outstanding. The 1992 Stock Option Plan was approved by the stockholders on
March 26, 1992. An option granted under either of these plans may be exercised
until the tenth anniversary of the date when granted, unless the option has
terminated earlier in accordance with its provisions. When each option may be
exercised during that term was or will be determined by the Board or by the
Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board on the date of that grant,
although the Board or the Committee may, at its discretion, accelerate the
exercisability of any outstanding option. The purchase price of shares purchased
pursuant to options granted under either of the plans may not be less than the
fair market value of the Common Stock of the Company, determined as provided in
the plans, on the date of the grant.
 
     During the 1993 fiscal year, options were granted under the 1992 Stock
Option Plan to each of the five previously identified executive officers of the
Company. In each case, the option price was the fair market value of the Common
Stock as determined by taking the mean between the highest and the lowest sales
prices reported on the American Stock Exchange on December 17, 1992, the date of
the grant. The options allow each holder to purchase 50% of the covered shares
on and after the fourth anniversary of the grant, and the remaining 50% on and
after the fifth anniversary. The individual grants were as follows:
 
                       OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     Potential
                                                                                Realizable Value at
                                        % of Total                                Assumed Annual
                              Number     Options                                  Rates of Stock
                            of Shares   Granted to                              Price Appreciation
                            Underlying  Employees   Exercise                    for Option Term(*)
                             Options    in Fiscal     Price       Expiration    -------------------
           Name              Granted       Year     Per Share        Date          5%        10%
- --------------------------- ----------  ----------  ---------    -------------  --------   --------
<S>                         <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>            <C>        <C>
Mr. Koontz.................   20,000     18.3%       $14.875     Dec. 16, 2002  $187,096   $474,138
Mr. O'Neil.................    7,500      6.9%        14.875     Dec. 16, 2002    70,161    177,802
Mr. Keating................    6,000      5.5%        14.875     Dec. 16, 2002    56,129    142,242
Mr. Marold.................    5,000      4.6%        14.875     Dec. 16, 2002    46,774    118,535
Mr. Vos....................    5,000      4.6%        14.875     Dec. 16, 2002    46,774    118,535
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(*) This presentation is intended to disclose the potential value which would
    accrue to the option holder if the option were exercised the day before it
    will expire and if the value per share had appreciated at a compounded
    annual rate of either 5% or 10%, as indicated above each column. The
    application of an absolute mathematical formula results in a higher
    potential realizable value for options granted at a time when the market
    value is relatively high. The assumed rates of appreciation of 5% and 10%
    are prescribed by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission on
    disclosure of executive compensation. The Company does not advocate or
    necessarily agree that these rates are indicative of future growth in the
    market price of the Common Stock.
- ---------------
 
     No options granted under the aforementioned 1992 Stock Option Plan have yet
become exercis-
able. Three of the Company's five previously identified executive officers
exercised stock options granted under the aforementioned 1981 Stock Option Plan
during the 1993 fiscal year. In the following table, where those exercises are
listed, amounts have been calculated to represent the realized values using the
closing prices of the Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange for the
respective dates of exercise:
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
                AGGREGATED OPTIONS EXERCISED IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                       AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Value of
                                                               Number of                    Unexercised
                                                              Unexercised                  In-the-Money
                          Number                              Options at                    Options at
                         of Shares                          Fiscal Year-End               Fiscal Year-End
                         Acquired         Value       ---------------------------   ---------------------------
         Name           on Exercise     Realized      Exercisable   Unexercisable   Exercisable   Unexercisable
- ----------------------  -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------
<S>                     <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>
Mr. Koontz............     27,750        $355,125        41,325         94,601        $353,047       $584,356
Mr. O'Neil............      6,455          69,356        16,995         31,250         113,323        194,719
Mr. Keating...........         --              --         5,492         37,500          29,402        243,375
Mr. Marold............        964          11,207        17,500         21,000         145,062        131,000
Mr. Vos...............         --              --        18,000         31,000         143,688        206,625
</TABLE>
 
     The Company has no employment contract with any of the five previously
identified executive officers and, except as described below, no compensatory
arrangement with any of those officers under which benefits will become payable
as a result of the termination of employment or a change of corporate control.
The Company does not grant stock appreciation rights or award restricted stock
to any of its executive officers, and has not adjusted or amended the exercise
price of any stock option previously granted. The Company also has no long-term
incentive plan under which the award of benefits is a function of changes in the
market price of the Common Stock or other performance criteria.
 
     Along with most other employees of the Company, the five previously
identified executive officers participate in the Company's Pension Plan, which
is a defined benefit plan meeting regulatory requirements. Benefits under the
Pension Plan, payable upon normal retirement at the age of sixty-five as a life
annuity or an actuarial equivalent thereof, are based upon age, length of
service and an average of the participant's five highest consecutive years of
compensation.
 
     The Company also has a Supplemental Retirement Program for the five
previously identified executive officers, as well as certain other key
employees, which is a non-qualified program governed by individualized
agreements between each of those individuals and the Company. The program
provides supplemental benefits that are generally computed at 50% of the average
of the participant's annual salary and bonus for the immediately preceding five
years, less the benefit payable from the aforementioned Pension Plan. The
program normally gives full supplemental benefits to participants who retire
after attaining the age of sixty-five or partial benefits at retirement after
the age of fifty-five based upon the actual years of service. The occurrence of
certain events resulting in a change of corporate control may accelerate the
vesting and payment of partial benefits. In addition, there are provisions for
benefits in the event of death or disability while employed, regardless of the
age of the participant.
 
     Inasmuch as the five previously identified executive officers of the
Company will, by their normal retirement at the age of sixty-five, have become
fully vested under both the Pension Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Program
described above, their respective years of service will not be a factor in
calculating the annual benefits that will become payable to them at normal
retirement. Those benefits may be estimated, depending upon their respective
average compensation, from the following table:
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
 
                           RETIREMENT BENEFIT TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Average                Annual
                       Remuneration            Benefit
                       ------------            --------
                         <S>                   <C>
                         $150,000              $ 75,000
                          200,000               100,000
                          300,000               150,000
                          400,000               200,000
                          500,000               250,000
                          600,000               300,000
                          700,000               350,000
</TABLE>
 
     The following table indicates the beneficial ownership of the Common Stock
by each of the five previously identified executive officers of the Company as
of the record date for the Annual Meeting, except as otherwise noted:
 
                      SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF NAMED OFFICERS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Number
                                         of         Percent of      Nature of
               Name                   Shares(*)    Outstanding      Ownership
- ----------------------------------   -----------   ------------    ------------
<S>                                  <C>           <C>             <C>
Mr. Koontz........................     113,905     Less than 1%       Direct
Mr. O'Neil........................      28,550     Less than 1%       Direct
Mr. Keating.......................       6,821     Less than 1%       Direct
Mr. Marold........................      20,389     Less than 1%       Direct
Mr. Vos...........................      21,649     Less than 1%       Direct
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(*) The figures in the table include options to purchase shares which are
    currently exercisable by each named owner under the Company's Stock Option
    Plans or which will become exercisable within sixty days after the record
    date for the Annual Meeting, together with shares held by the Employees'
    Stock Purchase Plan for the benefit of each named owner. Although the most
    recent balances reported by the Employees' Stock Purchase Plan as of the
    date hereof did not yet include contributions made during the fiscal quarter
    ended January 31, 1994, such contributions represented not more than an
    additional 50 shares for any participant named in the table.
- ---------------
 
Report of the Compensation and Nominating Committee
  of the Board of Directors on Executive Compensation
 
     The Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors submits
this report as a summary of policies and practices applicable to the
compensation of the Company's executive officers, including the five individuals
named on the preceding pages, during the Company's most recently completed
fiscal year. In the Committee's opinion, the compensation received by the
Company's executive officers during fiscal 1993 was consistent with the
long-standing policies that govern the compensation of the Company's key
executives and was altogether appropriate and in keeping with the best interests
of the Company, its employees and shareholders.
 
     The Company is the industry leader in a highly specialized field
characterized by strong competitive pressures and stringent requirements for
personalized service, confidentiality, accuracy and fast turnaround in the
preparation, printing and distribution of financial, corporate and commercial
documentation. To attain and maintain this position through the employment and
retention of capable key executives, the Company has established an executive
compensation program which properly recognizes each executive's contributions to
the Company's operating performance based upon the
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
 
attainment of targeted profitability as well as the accomplishment of planned
objectives. The policy of the Company is to keep salaries for its key
executives, including that of the Chief Executive Officer, at modest but
competitive levels. These salaries are augmented by incentive compensation which
appropriately recognizes individual performance during the year that has
resulted primarily in the achievement of targeted levels of profitability and
also, to a lesser degree, in the accomplishment of certain defined, strategic
objectives both quantitative and qualitative. Those objectives are the
successful integration of new products and services and newly acquired business
units, introduction of new technologies, improvement of internal organization,
heightening of quality awareness, operational efficiencies, significant
cost-reductions, and in some cases other objectives. A careful application of
these guidelines during fiscal 1993 determined the aggregate compensation
disclosed on the preceding pages for the named individuals as well as the
remuneration for other key executives of the Company.
 
     With respect to the Chief Executive Officer's incentive compensation, the
primary determinant is reaching a predetermined, targeted level of net income
for the Company. This performance is measured by employing a formula which uses
net income as its basis. The Committee decided to provide an additional amount
of incentive compensation to the Chief Executive Officer. This additional amount
was principally attributable to net income having exceeded the targeted level
and also reflected our subjective assessment of certain qualitative factors
which resulted in the long-term strengthening of the Company including the
specific strategic objectives listed in the preceding paragraph.
 
     Periodic incentive stock option grants are proposed by the Chief Executive
Officer for the Company's key employees other than himself and are subject to
approval by the Committee. The Committee may also establish an incentive stock
option grant for the Chief Executive Officer. The purpose of the successive
option plans described elsewhere in this Proxy Statement is not only to retain
capable executive officers and other key employees, but also to provide an
inducement for them to promote the best, long-term interests of the Company and
its shareholders through their ownership of the Common Stock. The number of
options granted in each case is determined by the grantee's individual
performance and opportunity for contribution to the overall profitability of the
Company. Value added to the Company through these sustained efforts is reflected
in an appreciating equity position for each optionee as his or her options
become exercisable on an incremental basis over a period of years.
 
     During fiscal 1993, all the actions and recommendations of this Committee
which required Board approval were ratified unanimously by the full Board of
Directors. Furthermore, it should be noted that the specific profit targets,
strategic objectives, details of the formula used in calculating the Chief
Executive Officer's incentive compensation, and other quantitative or
qualitative factors involved confidential business information, and the specific
disclosure thereof may have a substantial adverse effect on the Company.
 
     This report was submitted on January 5, 1994 by the undersigned, being all
the members of the Compensation and Nominating Committee:
 
                                                      Edward H. Meyer, Chairman
                                                      John R. Haire
                                                      H. Marshall Schwarz
                                                      Wendell M. Smith
                                                      Edmund A. Stanley, Jr.
                                                      Beverley B. Wadsworth
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   13
 
Performance Graph
 
     The following graph compares on a cumulative basis the yearly percentage
change over the last five fiscal years in (a) the total stockholder return on
the Company's Common Stock with (b) the total return on the Standard & Poor's
500 Index ("S&P 500") and (c) the total return on the Standard & Poor's
Commercial Services Index ("S&P Commercial Services"). Such yearly percentage
change has been measured by dividing (i) the sum of (A) the amount of dividends
for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and (B) the
difference between the price per share at the end and that at the beginning of
the measurement period, by (ii) the price per share at the beginning of the
measurement period. The S&P 500 has been selected as a broad equity market
index. Inasmuch as Standard and Poor's Inc. has included the Company in its
commercial services classification, the S&P Commercial Services Index has been
chosen as an industry index. The latter includes the capital-weighted
performance results of those companies in the commercial services classification
that are also included in the S&P 500. The price of each unit has been set at
$100 on October 31, 1988, for the preparation of the graph.
 
                COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
          AMONG BOWNE & CO., INC., S&P 500 AND S&P COMMERCIAL SERVICES
                        (FISCAL YEARS ENDING OCTOBER 31)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     S&P 
  MEASUREMENT PERIOD             BOWNE & CO.,     COMMERCIAL 
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED)                INC.          SERVICES        S&P 500
- ---------------------            ------------    ------------      -------
        <S>                        <C>             <C>             <C>
        1988                       $100.00         $100.00         $100.00
        1989                         93.98          106.04          126.40
        1990                         72.40           81.79          116.94
        1991                        108.85           95.92          156.12
        1992                        122.47           94.72          171.66
        1993                        177.97           87.04          197.31
</TABLE>
 
     The immediately preceding sections entitled "Report of the Compensation and
Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors on Executive Compensation" and
"Performance Graph" do not constitute soliciting material for purposes of Rule
14a-9 of the Securities and Exchange Commission, will not be deemed to have been
filed with the Commission for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, and are not to be incorporated by reference into any other filing
made by the Company with the Commission.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   14
 
Ratification of Appointment of Auditors
 
     At its meeting held December 16, 1993, the Board of Directors appointed the
accounting firm of Ernst & Young to be the auditors of the Company for the
fiscal year ending October 31, 1994, subject to the ratification of such
appointment by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. This firm is
considered to be a well-qualified firm. Should a majority of the shares duly
voted at the Annual Meeting fail to concur in the appointment of Ernst & Young,
the selection of auditors will be reconsidered by the Board of Directors.
 
     The Company has been informed that neither Ernst & Young nor any member
thereof has any relationship with the Company or its subsidiaries other than
that arising from such firm's employment as auditors. Representatives of Ernst &
Young are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will be afforded an
opportunity to make a statement, if they wish, and to respond to appropriate
stockholders' questions, if any.
 
     The firm of Ernst & Young has served as the Company's auditors since 1991.
The services rendered by Ernst & Young to the Company with respect to the 1993
fiscal year included (1) examination of the consolidated financial statements
contained in the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders and in its Annual
Report on Form 10-K, (2) examination of the financial statements of the
Company's employee benefit plans, (3) consultation on various accounting
matters, (4) meetings with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, (5)
preparation of federal and state tax returns for the Company and its
subsidiaries, (6) tax services in connection with the employee benefit plans,
and (7) miscellaneous tax services as required. The Audit Committee annually 
reviews the services rendered by the Company's auditors and the possible 
effect thereof on auditor independence and has approved the nature of such 
services.
 
     The Board of Directors recommends a vote for the ratification of the
appointment of Ernst & Young as the Company's auditors for the fiscal year
ending October 31, 1994. The vote required for such ratification is a majority
of the votes duly cast by stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
 
Insurance Statement
 
     Pursuant to New York State law, stockholders are advised that the Company
has renewed its insurance policy covering directors and officers of the Company
and its subsidiaries against certain liabilities they may incur in performing
their duties, and also insuring the Company against obligations to indemnify
those persons against such liabilities, for one year commencing June 16, 1993.
This coverage is provided by Federal Insurance Company with a premium of
$119,780.
 
Other Matters
 
     Although there is no business, so far as is known to the Company, except
that set forth above to be presented for action by the Company's stockholders at
the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the shares represented by the proxies
solicited herewith will be voted on any other matters and proposals that may
properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment thereof, in accordance with
the discretion of the persons named therein as attorneys-in-fact and agents
unless contrary instructions are received.
 
Proposals of Security Holders
 
     A proposal by a security holder intended to be presented at the Company's
1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and to be included in the Proxy Statement
therefor must be received at the Company's principal executive offices at 345
Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, marked to the attention of the
Corporate Secretary, no later than October 11, 1994.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   15
 
                           AVAILABILITY OF FORM 10-K
 
     THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER WITHOUT CHARGE, UPON THE
WRITTEN REQUEST OF THAT STOCKHOLDER, A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON
FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1993, AS FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. SUCH REQUESTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO:
DOUGLAS F. BAUER, CORPORATE SECRETARY, BOWNE & CO., INC., 345 HUDSON STREET, NEW
YORK, NEW YORK 10014.
 
           PLEASE DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT
                PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE TO
                     WHICH NO POSTAGE NEED BE AFFIXED IF
                         MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   16




[LOGO]

Bowne & Co., Inc.                                                       PROXY
345 Hudson Street 
New York, N.Y. 10014

          This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors.

    Revoking any prior appointment, the undersigned hereby appoints Richard H.
Koontz and Douglas F. Bauer, and each of them, attorneys-in-fact and agents
with power of substitution, to vote as proxy for the undersigned as herein
stated, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Bowne & Co., Inc., to be held
at the offices of the American Stock Exchange, 86 Trinity Place, New York, New
York, on Thursday, March 24, 1994, beginning at 11:00 A.M. local time, and at
any adjournment thereof, with respect to the number of shares the undersigned
would be entitled to vote if personally present.

    The shares covered by this proxy, when properly executed, will be voted (1)
for the election of directors; (2) for the ratification of the appointment of
auditors; and (3) in accordance with the discretion of the named
attorneys-in-fact and agents on any other matters which may properly come
before the meeting, unless instructions to the contrary are indicated on the
reverse side hereof.

    The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Proxy
Statement dated February 7, 1994, relating to such Annual Meeting.

                      (Continued, and to be dated and signed, on the other side)
<PAGE>   17

Mark boxes /X/ in blue or black ink. Then sign, date and return this card 
promptly using the enclosed envelope.

1.  Election of three Class I Directors:
             Richard H. Koontz
             Beverley B. Wadsworth
             Richard R. West

    For all nominees  / /     Against all nominees  / /      Exceptions*  / /
                    
                                                       
    *To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark the box for
     "Exceptions" and strike out that nominee's name.

2.  Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young as auditors for fiscal
    1994:

    For  / /                    Against  / /                   Abstain  / /

3.  The proxies are authorized to vote in accordance with their discretion on
    any other matters which may properly come before the meeting.

If you have noted an address change or comments on either side of this card, 
mark here:  / /


(Signatures should conform exactly to name imprinted
on this card. Executors, administrators, guardians,
trustees, attorneys-in-fact and officers signing for
corporations should state full title or signatory
capacity.)


Dated _________________________________ , 1994

Signed _______________________________________

______________________________________________

<PAGE>   18


[LOGO]

Bowne & Co., Inc.                                                     PROXY
345 Hudson Street
New York, N.Y. 10014

     This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors.

    Revoking any prior appointment, the undersigned hereby appoints
Richard H. Koontz and Douglas F. Bauer, and each of them,
attorneys-in-fact and agents with power of substitution, to vote as proxy
for the undersigned as herein stated, at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of Bowne & Co., Inc., to be held at the offices of the
American Stock Exchange, 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York, on
Thursday, March 24, 1994, beginning at 11:00 A.M. local time, and at any
adjournment thereof, with respect to the number of shares the undersigned
would be entitled to vote if personally present.

    The shares covered by this proxy, when properly executed, will be
voted (1) for the election of directors; (2) for the ratification of the
appointment of auditors; and (3) in accordance with the discretion of the
named attorneys-in-fact and agents on any other matters which may properly
come before the meeting, unless instructions to the contrary are indicated
on the reverse side hereof.

    The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Proxy
Statement dated February 7, 1994, relating to such Annual Meeting.

                 (Continued, and to be dated and signed, on the other side)
<PAGE>   19


Mark boxes /// or /X/ in blue or black ink. Then sign, date and return this 
card promptly using the enclosed envelope.

1.  Election of three Class I Directors: 
             Richard H. Koontz
             Beverley B. Wadsworth
             Richard R. West

    / / For all nominees        / / Against all nominees       / / Exceptions*

   *To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark the box for 
    "Exceptions" and strike out that nominee's name.

2.  Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young as auditors for 
    fiscal 1994:

    / / For                     / / Against                    / / Abstain

3.  The proxies are authorized to vote in accordance with their discretion on 
    any other matters which may properly come before the meeting.


(Signatures should conform exactly to name
imprinted on this card. Executors, administrators,
guardians, trustees, attorneys-in-fact and
officers signing for corporations should state
full title or signatory capacity.)


Dated _________________________________,  1994


Signed _______________________________________

______________________________________________
<PAGE>   20


[LOGO]

Bowne & Co., Inc.                                    VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
345 Hudson Street                               (Employees' Stock Purchase Plan)
New York, N.Y. 10014

        Your signature is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors.

    Revoking any prior instructions, the undersigned participant in the Bowne &
Co., Inc. Employees' Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"), as beneficial owner of
certain shares under the Plan, hereby instructs the Trustees of the Plan and
their proxies to vote as indicated on the reverse side hereof at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of Bowne & Co., Inc., to be held at the offices of the
American Stock Exchange, 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York, on Thursday,
March 24, 1994, beginning at 11:00 A.M. local time, and at any adjournment
thereof, with respect to the aggregate number of shares held by the Trustees
for the account of the undersigned as of February 2, 1994. Any shares under the
Plan as to which no such voting instructions are received will be voted by the
Trustees in their sole discretion.

    The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Proxy
Statement dated February 7, 1994, relating to such Annual Meeting.

                      (Continued, and to be dated and signed, on the other side)
<PAGE>   21

Mark boxes /// or /X/ in blue or black ink. Then sign, date and return this
card promptly using the enclosed envelope.

1.  Election of three Class I Directors: 
      Richard H. Koontz 
      Beverley B. Wadsworth 
      Richard R. West

    / / For all nominees         / / Against all nominees       / / Exceptions* 

   *To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark the box for
    "Exceptions" and strike out that nominee's name.

2.  Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young as auditors for 
    fiscal 1994:

    / / For                      / / Against                    / / Abstain

3.  The Trustees are authorized to vote in accordance with their discretion on 
    any other matters which may properly come before the meeting.


(Signature should conform exactly to name imprinted on
this card.)

Dated _____________________________________ ,  1994

Signed_____________________________________________


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