<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission
Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
</TABLE>
Knight-Ridder, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
<PAGE> 2
[KRI LOGO]
KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC.
ONE HERALD PLAZA, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33132
MARCH 6, 1997
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:
You are cordially invited to attend the Company's 1997 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders which will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 1997, at 9:30 a.m. at the
Park Hyatt at the Bellevue Hotel, Broad and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
Shareholders who attended past Annual Meetings have found them interesting and
informative. We hope you will be able to attend.
Your vote is important. Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual
Meeting, please sign, date and return the enclosed Proxy. A prompt return of
your Proxy Card will be appreciated as it will save the expense of further
mailings. If you do attend the Annual Meeting, you may still vote in person if
you wish to.
Sincerely yours,
P. Anthony Ridder
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE> 3
KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC.
One Herald Plaza, Miami, Florida 33132
NOTICE OF 1997 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1997
To the Shareholders of
KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC.
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC. WILL BE HELD AT 9:30
A.M. AT THE PARK HYATT AT THE BELLEVUE HOTEL, BROAD AND WALNUT STREETS,
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ON TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1997 FOR THE FOLLOWING
PURPOSES:
1. To elect 5 directors;
and to consider and vote upon:
2. A proposal recommended by the Board of Directors that the shareholders
ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the
Company for the year 1997 (Proposal No. 1); and
3. A proposal recommended by the Board of Directors that the Company adopt a
Long-Term Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 2);
and to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
The accompanying Proxy Statement contains further information with respect to
the matters to be acted upon at the meeting.
SHAREHOLDERS OF RECORD AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON FEBRUARY 24, 1997 ARE
ENTITLED TO NOTICE OF AND TO VOTE AT THE MEETING.
All Proxies, ballots and vote tabulations that identify the vote of a
shareholder will be kept confidential except to the extent necessary to allow
the independent inspectors to tabulate the results of the vote or to meet
applicable legal requirements.
You are invited to attend the meeting; however, if you do not expect to attend
in person, you are urged to execute and return immediately the enclosed Proxy,
which is solicited by the management. You may revoke your Proxy and vote in
person should you attend the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Douglas C. Harris
Vice President and Secretary
March 6, 1997
<PAGE> 4
KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC.
One Herald Plaza, Miami, Florida 33132
PROXY STATEMENT
1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on Tuesday, April 15, 1997
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation on behalf
of the Board of Directors of Knight-Ridder, Inc. (the "Company") of Proxies
for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 9:30 a.m. on
Tuesday, April 15, 1997 at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue Hotel, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania for the purposes described in the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting of Shareholders. This Proxy Statement, the accompanying Proxy Card and
the Annual Report of the Company for the year ended December 29, 1996 are being
mailed together to shareholders for the first time on March 6, 1997.
Shares represented by a valid Proxy Card received in time for voting will be
voted in accordance with the shareholder's instructions with respect to matters
for which a ballot is provided in the Proxy. If no such instructions are
specified, the Proxy will be voted for the election of the directors nominated
by the Board of Directors, for ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young
LLP as the Company's independent auditors (Proposal No. 1) and for the adoption
of a Long-Term Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 2).
Votes by shareholders will be confidential and not disclosed to the Company
except as necessary to tabulate voting results or as required by law.
COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
Each shareholder or shareholder's Proxy will be entitled to one vote for each
share held of record on February 24, 1997 on all matters which may come before
the meeting. On that date, 93,154,021 shares of the Company's Common Stock
were outstanding and entitled to vote.
The following table sets forth information as of January 31, 1997 with respect
to the only persons known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of
the outstanding Common Stock of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY PERCENT OF
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNERS OWNED CLASS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Southeastern Asset Management, Inc............ 14,267,098 15.2%
6075 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38119
Harris Associates L.P......................... 7,389,275 7.75%
2 North LaSalle Street, #500
Chicago, IL 60602
Regents of the University of California....... 5,300,400 5.65%
300 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, CA 94612
</TABLE>
1
<PAGE> 5
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Charter provides for a Board of Directors divided into three
classes having staggered three-year terms. Five directors are to be elected at
the 1997 Annual Meeting, to hold office until the 2000 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
The individuals nominated by the Board of Directors to stand for election at
the 1997 Annual Meeting for three-year terms are Alvah H. Chapman, Jr., Peter
C. Goldmark, Jr., Barbara B. Hauptfuhrer, and John L. Weinberg, all of whom
were elected by shareholders at the 1994 Annual Meeting and M. Kenneth Oshman,
who was elected to the Board of Directors at the September, 1996 Board meeting.
William S. Lee, whose term would have expired at the 1997 Annual Meeting, died
in July, 1996. The other nine directors who were elected at prior Annual
Meetings will continue to serve their respective terms. Proxies will be voted
for the election of the five nominees of the Board of Directors unless
instructions are given on the Proxy to withhold authority to vote for one or
more of the nominees.
Although it is not contemplated that any nominee will decline or be unable to
serve, the shares will be voted by the proxyholders in their discretion for
another person should that occur unless the Board acts to reduce the number of
directors to be elected.
2
<PAGE> 6
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS FOR TERMS ENDING 2000
ALVAH H. CHAPMAN, JR., age 75 Director since 1962
Former Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company
[PHOTO]
Mr. Chapman graduated and received an honorary degree from the Citadel, as well
as honorary degrees from four other universities. Mr. Chapman joined the
Company in 1960 and held various executive positions; from 1976 until 1988 he
served as Chief Executive Officer, and from 1982 until 1989 he served as
Chairman of the Board. Mr. Chapman is a trustee of the John S. and James L.
Knight Foundation. He also is Chairman of Community Partnership for Homeless,
Inc., Founding Chairman of Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and a
Director of the Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug Free Community and Florida
International University Foundation. He is Advisory Director of We Will
Rebuild Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting South
Florida rebuild after the damage of Hurricane Andrew. He serves on the
Executive Committee of the Board and on the Executive, Audit and Nominating
Committees.
PETER C. GOLDMARK, JR., age 56 Director since 1990
President of The Rockefeller Foundation
[PHOTO]
Mr. Goldmark graduated from Harvard College. He has served as President of The
Rockefeller Foundation since 1988. From 1985 to 1988, he was Senior Vice
President of Times Mirror Company, and prior to that, held posts as Executive
Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Director of Budget
for the State of New York, and Secretary of Human Services for the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts. He is a director of the Dreyfus Third Century Fund and a
member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He serves on the Finance and
Nominating Committees.
BARBARA BARNES HAUPTFUHRER, age 68 Director since 1979
Director of Various Public Companies
[PHOTO]
Mrs. Hauptfuhrer graduated from Wellesley College. She is a director of The
Vanguard Group of Investment Companies and all of the mutual funds in the
Group; The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.; Massachusetts Mutual Life
Insurance Company; IKON Office Solutions, Inc.; and the Raytheon Company. She
serves as a Trustee Emerita of Wellesley College. She is a director of the
Ladies Professional Golf Association. She chairs the Nominating Committee and
serves on the Compensation Committee.
M. KENNETH OSHMAN, age 56 Director since 1996
President, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Echelon Corporation
[PHOTO]
Mr. Oshman earned his BA and BS degree from Rice University and MS and PH.D.
degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford. Mr. Oshman, along with three
associates, founded Rolm Corporation in 1969. He served as Chief Executive
Officer, President and Director until Rolm's merger with IBM in 1984. He then
served as a vice president of IBM until 1986. He currently is a director of
Sun Microsystems and has served as director of a number of other private and
public companies. He will serve on the Nominating Committee.
JOHN L. WEINBERG, age 72 Director since 1969
Senior Chairman Goldman, Sachs & Co.
[PHOTO]
Mr. Weinberg graduated from Princeton University. He received a Master of
Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. He has served as
an investment banker with Goldman, Sachs & Co. since 1950. Mr. Weinberg was
senior partner and Chairman of the Management Committee of The Goldman Sachs
Group, L.P. and its principal affiliate, Goldman, Sachs & Co., until November
30, 1990 when he retired as a general partner and became Senior Chairman of The
Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. Mr. Weinberg is a director of Champion International
Corporation. He is a member of The Business Council. Mr. Weinberg is Chairman
of the Compensation Committee and serves on the Executive Committee of the
Board.
3
<PAGE> 7
CONTINUING DIRECTORS
JAMES I. CASH, JR., age 49 Director since 1995
James E. Robison Professor of Business Administration Term Expires 1999
Harvard University, Graduate School of Business Administration
[PHOTO]
Professor Cash graduated from Texas Christian University. He received a Master
of Science degree in Computer Science and his Ph.D. in Management Information
Systems from Purdue University. He has been a member of the Harvard Business
School Faculty since 1976. Professor Cash is a trustee of Massachusetts
General Hospital and the Massachusetts Computer Software Council. He is a
director of Cambridge Technology Partners, Chubb Corporation, State Street Bank
and Trust, Tandy Corporation and WinStar Communications, Inc. Mr. Cash serves
on the Finance and Environmental Affairs Committees.
JOAN RIDDER CHALLINOR, age 69 Director since 1989
Director of Various Educational Term Expires 1998
Organizations
[PHOTO]
Dr. Challinor attended Wells College and received her Ph.D. in History from The
American University, Washington, D.C. She is a presidential appointee to the
U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, a board member
of a number of educational organizations, including the French-American
Foundation and the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women at Radcliffe
College (chairperson), and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Committee of
the Adams Papers. She serves on the Audit, Environmental Affairs and
Nominating Committees.
JOHN C. FONTAINE, age 65 Director since 1995
President of the Company Term expires 1998
[PHOTO]
Mr. Fontaine graduated from the University of Michigan and the Harvard Law
School. For a number of years he was a partner in the New York law firm of
Hughes Hubbard & Reed. He joined the Company as Senior Vice President and
General Counsel in 1987. Thereafter, he has served in various executive
capacities, becoming President in 1995. Mr. Fontaine is a Director of
Century Aluminum Company, Chairman of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and of
the Governing Council of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a member
of the Trustees' Council of the National Gallery of Art. He serves on the
Executive Committee of the Board and the Executive Committee.
JESSE HILL, JR., age 70 Director since 1980
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Term Expires 1999
of Atlanta Life Insurance Co.
[PHOTO]
A native of St. Louis, Mr. Hill graduated from Lincoln University of Missouri
and received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of
Michigan. Mr. Hill served with Atlanta Life Insurance Co. since 1949, becoming
President and Chief Executive Officer in 1973 and retiring as Chairman and
Chief Executive in 1994. He serves on the boards of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and
National Service Industries, Inc. He is Chairman of the Audit Committee and
serves on the Finance Committee.
C. PETER McCOLOUGH, age 74 Director since 1982
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Term expires 1998
Officer of Xerox Corporation
[PHOTO]
A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Mr. McColough, following a career in sales,
served as President of Xerox from 1966 through 1971 and as Chief Executive
Officer from 1968 to 1982. He serves on the Compensation, Nominating and
Environmental Affairs Committees.
4
<PAGE> 8
THOMAS L. PHILLIPS, age 72 Director since 1983
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Term expires 1999
Officer of the Raytheon Company
[PHOTO]
Mr. Phillips graduated and received a master's degree from Virginia Polytechnic
Institute. He has honorary degrees from eight universities. He joined
Raytheon in 1948 and served as Chief Executive Officer from 1968 to March 1991
and Chairman of the Board from 1975 to March 1991, when he retired. He is a
director of Raytheon Company, Digital Equipment Corporation and SRA
International, Inc. Mr. Phillips is a trustee of State Street Research
Management Company and Gordon College. He is Chairman of the Finance Committee
and serves on the Compensation Committee.
P. ANTHONY RIDDER, age 56 Director since 1987
Chairman of the Board and Term expires 1999
Chief Executive Officer of the Company
[PHOTO]
Mr. Ridder graduated from the Univerity of Michigan. He spent the early part
of his newspaper career in various editorial and business capacities at several
of the Company's newspapers and joined the San Jose Mercury News in 1964. He
served as its general manager until 1977 when he was named Publisher. In 1986,
Mr. Ridder became President of the Newspaper Division of the Company and in
1989, he became President of the Company. He was named Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board in 1995. He is a director of the Seattle Times
Company, Associated Press, Newspaper Association of America, the United Way of
Dade County and the Florida International University Foundation. He is
Chairman of the Operating and Executive Committees and serves on the
Environmental Affairs Committee.
RANDALL L. TOBIAS, age 55 Director since 1994
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Term expires 1999
Eli Lilly & Co.
[PHOTO]
Mr. Tobias is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly
and Company. He was named to that position in June 1993. He had previously
been vice chairman of the board of AT&T since 1986, and had been employed by
AT&T since 1964. Mr. Tobias is a director of Eli Lilly and Company, Phillips
Petroleum, Inc., and the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. He is a member of the
Business Council and the Business Roundtable. He is a vice chairman of the
board of trustees of Duke University, and a trustee of the Colonial
Williamsburg Foundation. Mr. Tobias serves on the Environmental Affairs
Committee.
GONZALO F. VALDES-FAULI, age 50 Director since 1992
Regional Chief Executive Term expires 1998
Barclays Bank PLC
[PHOTO]
Mr. Valdes-Fauli was born in Havana, Cuba in 1946. He graduated from Spring
Hill College in Mobile, Alabama and received his master's degree from
Thunderbird Graduate School for International Management. He has spent his
professional life in banking, specializing in international matters. He joined
Barclays Bank in 1980. He is a trustee and member of the Executive Committee
of the University of Miami and a director of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida.
Mr. Valdes-Fauli serves on the Finance and Audit Committees.
5
<PAGE> 9
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table provides information with respect to the shares of the
Company's Common Stock beneficially owned as of February 15, 1997 by each
director and by each other member of management named in the table on page 11
and by all directors and officers as a group. None of such persons
beneficially owned more than 1% of the Company's Common Stock. All directors
and officers of the Company as a group beneficially owned 5.6% of the Company's
Common Stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Number of Shares
of Common Stock
Shares Other Than Shares Subject Beneficially Owned
Name Option Shares(2) to Options(1)(2) (1)(2)(3)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
James I. Cash........................... 400 400
Joan Ridder Challinor................... 106,794 106,794 (4)
Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. .................. 248,183 248,183 (5)
Mary Jean Connors....................... 14,416 80,735 95,151 (5)(6)
John C. Fontaine........................ 10,327 95,335 105,662 (5)
Peter C. Goldmark, Jr................... 400 400
Barbara B. Hauptfuhrer.................. 2,400 2,400 (7)
Jesse Hill, Jr.......................... 1,600 1,600
Ross Jones.............................. 12,563 70,002 82,565 (6)
C. Peter McColough...................... 800 800
Frank McComas........................... 11,377 17,335 28,712 (5)(6)
M. Kenneth Oshman....................... 30,000 30,000 (8)
Thomas L. Phillips...................... 2,400 2,400
P. Anthony Ridder....................... 139,322 337,668 476,990 (5)
Randall L. Tobias....................... 2,000 2,000
Gonzalo F. Valdes-Fauli................. 1,200 1,200
John L. Weinberg........................ 28,000 28,000
All directors and officers as
a group (30)........................ 4,205,185 1,014,537 5,219,722 (9)(10)
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
(1) For purposes of computing the amounts and percentages shown, the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding includes any shares which may be acquired by
a named person or group upon the exercise of stock options which may be
exercised within sixty days after February 15, 1997.
(2) All shares and option grants have been restated to reflect the July 10,
1996 stock split.
(3) Except as otherwise indicated, the beneficial owner has sole voting and
investment power.
(4) Does not include 150,000 shares owned by a trust in which Mrs. Challinor
has an income interest; she has neither the power to vote these shares nor the
power to direct their disposition and she disclaims beneficial ownership of
them.
(5) Includes shares owned by, or jointly held with, spouses as follows: Mr.
Chapman -- 15,364 shares owned jointly with Mrs. Chapman; Ms. Connors -- 2,365
shares owned by Mr. Geoffrey Tomb, her spouse; Mr. Fontaine -- 6,921 shares
owned jointly with Mrs. Fontaine; Mr. McComas -- 552 shares owned jointly with
Mrs. McComas; Mr. P. Anthony Ridder -- 2,653 shares owned by Mrs. Ridder and
898 shares owned jointly with Mrs. Ridder. Ms. Connors and Mr. Ridder disclaim
beneficial ownership of the shares owned by their respective spouses. Messrs.
Chapman, Fontaine and McComas share voting and investment power with their
respective spouses as to those shares owned jointly.
(6) Includes interests with respect to approximately 3,187 shares in the case
of Ms. Connors, 2,679 shares in the case of Mr. Jones and 4,449 Shares in the
case of Mr. McComas arising as a result of the deferral of portions of their
1996 bonus and the investment of such deferred amounts in the Company's Common
Stock.
(7) Does not include shares owned by The Vanguard Group of Investment
Companies or the mutual funds in the Group, of which Mrs. Hauptfuhrer is a
director. Mrs. Hauptfuhrer disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
(8) All shares are owned by a partnership in which Mr. Oshman has a 97% income
interest. He has the power to vote those shares and the power to direct their
disposition and he claims beneficial ownership as to 97% of the shares.
(9) Includes 3,520,382 shares held by the John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation as to which Mr. Chapman shares voting and investment power and
disclaims beneficial ownership.
(10) Includes interests with respect to shares arising as a result of the
deferral by some officers of all or portions of their 1996 bonus and investment
of such deferred compensation in the Company's Common Stock.
6
<PAGE> 10
BOARD COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors conducts its business through meetings of the Board and
the activities of its Committees. The active standing Committees of the Board
are the Nominating Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Audit Committee,
the Finance Committee and the Environmental Affairs Committee.
The Nominating Committee reviews the composition of the Board and recommends
changes in its membership as and if needed. During 1996, the Committee was
comprised of Barbara B. Hauptfuhrer, Chairperson, Joan Ridder Challinor, Alvah
H. Chapman, Jr., Peter C. Goldmark, Jr. and C. Peter McColough. The Committee
met once in 1996.
The Committee considers nominees for the Board of Directors recommended by
shareholders. A shareholder wishing to submit a recommendation for the Board
should mail his or her recommendation to the Committee at the Company's
Executive Offices, One Herald Plaza, Miami, Florida 33132. A shareholder
wishing to nominate a person for election to the Board at next year's Annual
Meeting must notify the Secretary by November 6, 1997.
The Compensation Committee approves salary levels of all corporate officers of
the Company and incentive compensation for certain senior officers of the
Company. It also authorizes grants under the Company's Employee Stock Option
Plan. During 1996, the Committee was com-prised of John L. Weinberg, Chairman,
Barbara B. Hauptfuhrer, William S. Lee(1), C. Peter McColough and Thomas L.
Phillips, all of whom are outside directors. The Committee met six times in
1996. Randall L. Tobias was appointed to the Committee in the fall of 1996.
The Audit Committee, which in 1996 was comprised of Jesse Hill, Jr., Chairman,
Joan Ridder Challinor, Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. and Gonzalo F. Valdes-Fauli,
reviews the activities of the internal audit staff, the independent auditors'
report and the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent
auditors, and makes recommendations to the Board respecting these matters.
Both the internal and the independent auditors have free access to the
Committee and, from time to time, the Committee directs them to carry out
special assignments. The Committee met once in 1996.
The Finance Committee periodically reviews the Company's financial position and
capital structure and makes recommendations to the Board concerning financings.
The Finance Committee, which met once in 1996, was comprised of Thomas L.
Phillips, Chairman, James I. Cash, Jr., Peter C. Goldmark, Jesse Hill, Jr. and
Gonzalo F. Valdes-Fauli.
The Environmental Affairs Committee oversees the policies of the Company
formulated to carry out the Company's commitment to preserving the natural
environment of the communities it serves and the safety of its workplaces. The
Committee was comprised of William S. Lee, Chairman(1), James I. Cash, Jr.,
Joan Ridder Challinor, C. Peter McColough, P. Anthony Ridder and Randall L.
Tobias. The Committee met once in 1996.
In 1996, the Board of Directors met six times. Each of the nominees for
election at the Annual Meeting and each of the continuing directors (other than
Mr. Goldmark) attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and of the
Committees of the Board on which he or she served and was eligible to attend.
Mr. Goldmark attended 63% of the meetings that he was entitled to attend.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Messrs. Weinberg, Lee(1), McColough and Phillips and Mrs. Hauptfuhrer served as
members of the Company's Compensation Committee during 1996. None of them was
or is an officer or employee of the Company or any of its sub-sidiaries. None
of the Company's executive officers served on the compensation committee or
board of a company of which a member of the Company's Compensation Committee or
other director of the Company was an executive officer or an executive officer
of that company was one of the Company's directors.
- ----------------------
(1) Mr. Lee died in July, 1996. He was present at all the Compensation and
Environmental Affairs Committees meetings held before his death.
7
<PAGE> 11
John L. Weinberg is Senior Chairman of Goldman, Sachs & Co., an investment
banking firm that regularly performs services for the Company such as acting as
a financial advisor and serving as principal or agent for the Company in the
purchase and sale of securities. In the future, Goldman, Sachs & Co. may be
called upon to provide similar or other services for the Company.
Barbara B. Hauptfuhrer is a director of The Vanguard Group of Investment
Companies. The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies provides continuing
services in connection with administering and investing funds in the Investment
Savings (401(k)) Plan of the Company.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY
Decisions affecting the compensation of senior management of the Company are
made on behalf of the Board of Directors by the Compensation Committee, which
is composed entirely of outside directors.
This section of the Proxy Statement discusses the compensation awarded by the
Committee for 1996 services to the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, Mr. Ridder, and the four management members of the Company's
Executive Committee, who are the Company's senior policymaking executives --
Mr. Fontaine, President of the Company; Mr. Jones, Senior Vice
President/Finance & CFO; Mr. McComas, Senior Vice President/Operations; and Ms.
Connors, Senior Vice President/Human Resources. The discussion includes a
report of the Compensation Committee regarding the Company's compensation
policies and explaining the standards applied in determining compensation to
Mr. Ridder.
The Compensation Committee report is followed by tables that summarize the
compensation of members of senior management for the past three years, stock
options granted to and exercised by senior management in 1996 and the estimated
pension benefits that senior management will receive upon retirement. The
section concludes with a graph that compares the total return on the Company's
stock over the past five years with the total return on stocks of certain other
publicly-held newspaper companies (including the Company) comprising the S&P
Publishing/Newspapers Index and on the stocks of the companies which make up
the S&P 500 Stock Index.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The following is a report of the Compensation Committee to the Knight-Ridder
shareholders:
Compensation Policies. The Committee operates on the principle that the
compensation opportunities of Knight-Ridder's executive officers, including its
chief executive officer and the other executive officers named in the table on
page 11, should be competitive with compensation of senior executives at
comparable companies. The Committee has a policy of basing a significant
portion of the cash compensation of senior executive officers on the operating
performance of the Company. The Committee also administers the Company's Stock
Option Plan, under which an executive's compensation is directly dependent on
the performance of the Company's stock. The Board of Directors has recommended
that shareholders at the 1997 Annual Meeting approve a Long-Term Incentive Plan
under which an executive's rights to receive a stock award would be contingent
on and related directly to the total return received by shareholders on their
investment in the Company's stock over a three-year period compared to the
return received by holders of stock of peer companies.
Salary and bonus make up the current compensation of senior executives. The
long-term compensation program consists of the Company's Stock Option Plan. If
approved by shareholders, the Long-Term Incentive Plan being presented to this
meeting will become part of the long-term compensation program beginning in
1997.
1996 Compensation Review. During 1996, the Committee reviewed the Company's
executive compensation program with the assistance of SCA Consulting,
specialists in executive compensation. Among other things, the Committee
reviewed data comparing the compensation of executives of the Company with that
of the other companies included in the performance graph on page 14, as well as
with a broader range of newspaper and media companies.
Data for 1995 and for the 1993 - 1995 period showed that salary levels and
stock option compensation of Company executives were generally comparable to
the median compensation paid by
8
<PAGE> 12
both groups of comparative companies, but that over the same period the cash
bonuses of Company executives were lower than the median paid by the
comparative companies as were total benefits under its long-term incentive
program.
The Committee establishes senior executive salaries based on its review of the
executive's performance and compensation history and information regarding
salary levels at comparable companies. It awards cash bonuses under, or taking
into consideration, the Company's Incentive Compensation Plan.
Under the Incentive Compensation Plan, participants are eligible for cash
bonuses ranging from 25% of salary in the case of participants whose annual
salary is less than $50,000 to 50% in the case of those whose salary exceeds
$250,000. Thirty-five percent of an executive's bonus potential is tied to his
or her performance of individual objectives established at the beginning of
each year and 65% of the executive's bonus potential is tied to the financial
performance of the Company or one of its operating units compared to budget.
For 1996, the measures of financial performance were operating profit and
economic value added (EVA) (increases in operating profit after deducting the
cost of capital).
If the Company or operating unit meets its financial budget, the executive
receives 100% of that part (65%) of the potential bonus tied to financial
performance; performance below or exceeding budget results in payment ranging
from 10% of the targeted bonus (in the case of financial performance equal to
91% of budget) to 150% of the targeted bonus (if the budget is exceeded by
10%). In 1996, the Company's performance surpassed its financial targets.
In 1997, the Committee reviewed the adequacy of grants under the Plan and, as a
result, increased the maximum bonus that can be awarded to a plan participant
based on the Company's financial performance to 200% of the portion of the
target bonus based on financial results beginning in 1997 if the budget is
exceeded by 10%. The Company also advised plan participants that beginning in
1997 a larger part of their bonus awards would be based on EVA.
Messrs. Jones and McComas and Ms. Connors are participants in the Plan.
Although Messrs. Ridder and Fontaine are not participants in the Plan, the
Committee considers the criteria and standards under the Plan as well as
information concerning senior executive incentive compensation at comparable
companies in determining their bonuses.
In 1996, cash bonuses for Messrs. Ridder, Fontaine, Jones and McComas and Ms.
Connors were based upon the Company's operating profit and EVA in comparison to
budget and upon an assessment of individual performance during the year. In
the case of participants in the Plan, specific individual performance goals
were set at the beginning of the year and performance against the goals
measured at the end of the year. The individual overall performance of Messrs.
Ridder and Fontaine was judged by the Committee on a subjective basis.
1996 Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ridder became Chief
Executive Officer on March 24, 1995 and Chairman on July 21, 1995. In December
of 1995, the Committee authorized an increase in his salary to $725,000 from
$625,000 effective March 1, 1996. Based on studies available to the Committee,
we believe that Mr. Ridder's 1996 salary was in the range of the median salary
paid by comparable companies.
Mr. Ridder was awarded a bonus for 1996 of $695,000. As we noted above, Mr.
Ridder is not a participant in the Company's Incentive Compensation Plan
although the Committee has for a number of years, including 1996, considered in
part the criteria that would have been applicable to him had he been a Plan
participant. The Committee was advised by SCA Consulting that in order to
provide a more competitive bonus to Mr. Ridder, the Committee should set his
bonus target at 70% of his salary and increase the potential bonus that could
be achieved if the Company exceeded its financial budgets. As we stated
earlier, in 1996 the Company surpassed both its EVA and operating profit
budget. The maximum bonus that Mr. Ridder could have received under the Plan
(with the modifications applicable to Mr. Ridder recommended by SCA Consulting
to the Committee), in light of the level of Company performance, would have
been $721,000.
In awarding Mr. Ridder $695,000, the Committee took into account that the
Company's operating income and earnings per share based on operations reached
an all-time high in 1996.
9
<PAGE> 13
The Committee granted Mr. Ridder a 1996 stock option covering 70,000 shares,
the same as in 1995.
Other Officers. The compensation of Messrs. Fontaine, Jones, McComas and Ms.
Connors was determined in accordance with the policies discussed earlier in
this report. As in the case of Mr. Ridder, the amounts of their bonuses were
directly related to operating profit performance compared to the 1996 operating
profit and EVA budgets and also reflected assessments of their individual
performances.
Tax Considerations. Provisions of the federal tax law deny a company a tax
deduction to the extent an executive's total compensation (excluding certain
categories of compensation) exceeds $1 million in any year . It is the policy
of the Company to defer payment of that portion of an executive's cash
compensation which might exceed the $1 million limit. As a result of this
policy, payment of a significant portion of Mr. Ridder's 1996 bonus award will
be deferred.
---------------------
All members of the Committee concur and join in this report to the
Knight-Ridder shareholders.
John L. Weinberg, Chairman
Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer
C. Peter McColough
Thomas L. Phillips
Randall L. Tobias
10
<PAGE> 14
SENIOR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes the compensation during the past three years of
the chief executive officer and each of the four management members of the
Company's Executive Committee in 1996, who are the Company's senior
policy-making executives.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-Term
Annual Compensation Compensation
------------------------------------- ----------------
Other Stock All
Annual Option Other
Salary Bonus Compensation Awards Compensation
Name and Principal Position Year ($)(1) ($)(2) ($)(3)(4) (# of shares)(5) ($)(3)(6)(7)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
P. Anthony Ridder 1996 708,333 695,000 -- 70,000 13,612
Chairman and CEO 1995 602,996 195,000 -- 70,000 12,079
1994 518,000 315,000 -- 56,000 8,808
John C. Fontaine 1996 511,847 430,000 -- 50,000 21,166
President 1995 463,834 150,000 -- 50,000 13,865
1994 430,180 265,000 -- 40,000 14,187
Ross Jones 1996 412,583 250,696 -- 34,000 7,777
Senior Vice President/Finance & CFO 1995 381,167 127,738 -- 34,000 7,505
1994 364,167 196,458 -- 28,000 8,243
Frank McComas 1996 332,917 188,510 -- 33,000 7,096
Senior Vice President/Operations 1995 269,578 154,777 80,625 16,000 5,733
1994 216,809 103,352 -- 18,000 5,435
Mary Jean Connors 1996 306,250 181,530 -- 33,000 5,335
Senior Vice President/Human 1995 262,500 84,295 -- 24,000 5,201
Resources 1994 237,500 119,205 -- 20,000 5,125
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) The 1994 and 1995 salary shown for Mr. McComas includes $7,674 and $815,
respectively, for personal use of a company vehicle.
(2) The 1994 bonus shown for Mr. McComas includes $75,000 paid to Mr. McComas
when he moved to Miami to become a corporate officer.
(3) The Company does not have a restricted stock plan or any long-term
incentive plan other than its Stock Option Plan. The Company has recommended
that its shareholders approve adoption of a Long-Term Incentive Plan at the
1997 Annual Meeting. If approved by shareholders, the Long-Term Incentive Plan
will become part of the long-term compensation program beginning in 1997.
Except as disclosed in tables in this proxy statement, none of the named
officers received a perquisite or benefit in 1996 in an amount exceeding
established reporting thresholds.
(4) The amount shown for Mr. McComas for 1995 relates to expenses incurred by
the Company in connection with his move to Miami when he became a corporate
officer.
(5) The option grants for 1994 and 1995 have been restated to reflect the July
10, 1996 stock split.
(6) In the case of each executive, the amounts shown represent Company
contributions to the Company's Investment Savings (401(k)) Plan and the cost of
Company-provided insurance on the life of the executive named. The Company's
401(k) contributions in 1996 were as follows: Mr. Ridder -- $4,500; Mr.
Fontaine -- $4,500; Mr. Jones -- $4,500; Mr. McComas -- $4,500; and Ms. Connors
- -- $4,500. The life insurance amounts in 1996 were as follows: Mr. Ridder --
$9,112; Mr. Fontaine -- $16,666; Mr. Jones -- $3,277; Mr. McComas -- $2,596;
and Ms. Connors -- $835.
(7) No officer of the Company has an employment contract. The Company does
have agreements with executive officers of the Company, including persons
listed in the above table, which entitle the executive to receive a severance
payment equal to three times the executive's annual salary and cash bonus if,
following a change in control (as defined) of the Company, the executive's
employment is terminated or the executive's compensation, position or benefits
are reduced.
11
<PAGE> 15
STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED
The Company's long-term incentive program consists of its Stock Option Plan
pursuant to which the Compensation Committee may grant key executives options
which give the executive the right in the succeeding ten years to purchase
shares of the Company's stock at the market price at the option grant date.
The options granted in 1996 are exercisable in three equal installments vesting
over a three-year period from the date of grant.
Options permit executives who contribute to the performance of the Company and
the market price of its stock to benefit along with the shareholders in
increases in the value of the stock.
The following table sets forth information regarding stock options granted in
1996 to each of the executive officers named earlier in the Summary
Compensation Table.
STOCK OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of % of Total
Securities Options
Underlying Granted to Exercise Grant Date
Options Employees in Price Expiration Present Value
Name Granted Fiscal Year ($/share) Date($)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
P. Anthony Ridder 70,000 5.30% 39.313 10-Dec-2006 676,200
John C. Fontaine 50,000 3.79% 39.313 10-Dec-2006 483,000
Ross Jones 34,000 2.57% 39.313 10-Dec-2006 328,440
Frank McComas 33,000 2.50% 39.313 10-Dec-2006 318,780
Mary Jean Connors 33,000 2.50% 39.313 10-Dec-2006 318,780
</TABLE>
The "grant date present value" shown is a hypothetical value based upon
application of the "Black-Scholes" model which often is used to estimate the
market value of transferable options by calculating the probability, based on
the volatility of the stock subject to the options, that the stock price will
exceed the option exercise price at the end of the option term. The
assumptions used in calculating the Black-Scholes value of the options were
expected volatility of .16, risk-free rate of 6.11%, a dividend yield of 2.03%
and exercisable in three equal annual installments vesting over a three-year
period from the date of grant.
The Company's stock options are not transferable and, the Black-Scholes
estimate notwithstanding, an option granted under the Stock Option Plan will
have value to the optionee only if and to the extent the market price of the
Company's stock rises above the market price on the date the option was
granted.
STOCK OPTIONS EXERCISED
The following table summarizes information regarding stock options exercised in
1996 by each of the officers named in the table on page 11 and the number of
unexercised options held by them at the end of the year.
12
<PAGE> 16
AGGREGATED STOCK OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEARAND FISCAL YEAR-END STOCK
OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Value of
Securities Unexercised
Underlying In-the-
Unexercised money
Options at Options at
Shares Fiscal Fiscal
Acquired on Value Year-end (#)(1) Year-end ($)(2)
Exercise Realized Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Name (#)(1) ($) Unexercisable Unexercisable
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
P. Anthony Ridder 50,000 692,075 362,668/135,332 4,765,692/594,986
John C. Fontaine 36,000 288,935 95,335/96,665 1,017,395/424,978
Ross Jones -- -- 70,002/65,998 731,856/292,893
Frank McComas 21,100 247,962 17,335/49,665 212,936/161,439
Mary Jean Connors 1,500 13,922 80,735/55,665 1,012,720/207,900
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Options granted prior to 1996 have been restated to reflect the July 10,
1996 stock split. (2) The amount shown is the amount by which the market value
at year-end of all shares subject to unexercised options exceeded the exercise
price of those options.
(2) The amount shown is the amount by which the market value at yeaer-end of
all shares subject to unexercised options exceeded the exercise price of those
options.
PENSION BENEFITS
The following table sets forth the annual benefits payable as a straight-life
annuity under the Company's retirement program to an officer retiring in 1996
at age 65 with a specified combination of final average earnings (salary and
bonus) and years of service with the Company. The benefits shown are not
subject to any deduction for social security.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PENSION PLAN TABLE
Years of Service
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remuneration 15 20 25 30 35 40
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 125,000....... 35,556 41,157 46,759 52,361 55,486 58,611
200,000....... 58,056 67,407 76,759 86,111 91,111 96,111
300,000....... 88,056 102,407 116,759 131,111 138,611 146,111
400,000....... 118,056 137,407 156,759 176,111 186,111 196,111
500,000....... 148,056 172,407 196,759 221,111 233,611 246,111
600,000....... 178,056 207,407 236,759 266,111 281,111 296,111
700,000....... 208,056 242,407 276,759 311,111 328,611 346,111
800,000....... 238,056 277,407 316,759 356,111 376,111 396,111
900,000....... 268,056 312,407 356,759 401,111 423,611 446,111
1,000,000....... 298,056 347,407 396,759 446,111 471,111 496,111
1,200,000....... 358,056 417,407 476,759 536,111 566,111 596,111
1,300,000....... 388,056 452,407 516,759 581,111 613,611 646,111
1,400,000....... 418,056 487,407 556,759 626,111 661,111 696,111
</TABLE>
The salary and bonus of the senior officers of the Company is set forth in the
summary compensation table at page 11. As of the end of 1996, Mr. Ridder had
35 years of services with the Company, Mr. Fontaine 9, Mr. Jones 4, Mr. McComas
27 and Ms. Connors 17.
13
<PAGE> 17
PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY'S STOCK
The following graph compares the cumulative total return on the Company's stock
during the past five years with the average cumulative total return during the
same period on the stocks which comprise the S&P 500 Stock Index and the S&P
Publishing/Newspapers Index.
The S&P 500 Stock Index is comprised of 500 U.S. companies in the industrial,
transportation, utilities and financial industries, weighted by market
capitalization. The S&P Publishing/Newspapers Index is comprised of Dow Jones
& Company, Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., Knight-Ridder, Inc., The New York Times
Company, The Times Mirror Company and Tribune Company, weighted by market
capitalization.
The graph reflects the investment of $100 on December 31, 1991 in the Company's
Common Stock, the S&P 500 Stock Index and the S&P Publishing/Newspapers Index.
Dividends are assumed to have been reinvested as paid in the Company's Common
Stock and in the stocks in the S&P 500 Stock Index and quarterly in the stocks
in the S&P Publishing/Newspapers Index.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURNKNIGHT-RIDDER, INC., S&P
PUBLISHING/NEWSPAPERS INDEXAND S&P 500
INDEXDECEMBER 31, 1991 - DECEMBER 31, 1996
[GRAPH]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Knight-Ridder, Inc. $100.00 $112.33 $118.62 $103.07 $130.90 $162.89
S&P 500 $100.00 $107.62 $118.46 $120.03 $165.13 $203.05
S&P Publishing/Newspapers $100.00 $111.83 $129.52 $119.65 $150.75 $191.66
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE> 18
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors of the Company who are not employees of the Company receive an annual
retainer of $30,000 plus $1,000 for each Board and Committee meeting attended
as compensation for their services. The chairperson of each Board Committee
also receives an annual retainer of $2,500. Directors of the Company are
eligible to enter into individual agreements to defer with interest all or a
portion of the directors' fees payable to them until such later dates as may be
provided in the agreements.
Directors who have never been employed by the Company and who were age 65 and
over in April, 1996 are eligible to receive a retirement benefit commencing
upon retirement from the Board at or after age 65 with at least five years of
service or because of disability following at least two years of service. The
annual lifetime benefit ranges from 50% of the annual retainer in the case of
directors who retire after five years of service on the Board to 100% of the
retainer in the case of directors who retire with 10 or more years of service.
Directors who have never been employed by the Company and were under age 65 in
April, 1996 participate in a retirement program under which they are credited
with interests in 600 shares of Company stock annually.
Mr. Chapman, a former chief executive officer of the Company, has a retirement
agreement with the Company, which provides for payment of a $79,900 annual
benefit to him for his life and thereafter to Mrs. Chapman if she survives him
for her life, in addition to benefits payable under the Company's retirement
program.
Mr. Fontaine has a retirement agreement which provides for the payment to him
of an annual benefit of up to $200,000 annually upon retirement or earlier
termination due to disability and a death benefit payable to his surviving
spouse.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS
Peter B. Ridder, President and Publisher of the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, is a
brother of P. Anthony Ridder. Alvah H. Chapman, Jr.'s son-in-law, Robert L.
Hilton, is Circulation Home Delivery/Distribution Manager at The Wichita Eagle.
These persons related to directors of the Company received aggregate
compensation from the Company in 1996 of $560,812.
See "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" on page 7 for
information concerning transactions between the Company and organizations with
which Mrs. Hauptfuhrer and Mr. Weinberg are associated.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires that the Company's directors and
officers file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of the Company's
equity securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York
Stock Exchange and furnish the Company with copies of such reports. The
Company believes that all directors and officers filed on a timely basis all
such reports required of them during 1996, except that the Company was late in
filing reports correcting the number of shares acquired by Clark Hoyt under the
Company's 401(k) Plan and the grant to Polk Laffoon of a stock option under the
Company's Stock Option Plan; Peter E. Pitz filed one late report regarding a
sale of shares of Common Stock; and Joan Challinor filed one late report of a
gift of Common Stock.
PROPOSALS
PROPOSAL NO. 1 -- RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Certified Public Accountants, have been
appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company to examine the books and
accounts of the Company for the year 1997. They have served as the Company's
independent auditors since 1951. The Board of Directors recommends that
shareholders approve and ratify this appointment.
Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the meeting and will
have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. They will be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR PROPOSAL NO. 1.
15
<PAGE> 19
PROPOSAL NO. 2 -- ADOPTION OF A LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN.
At the present time, the Company's long-term incentive compensation program
consists only of the Stock Option Plan and does not include a restricted stock
award program such as is in place at many of the Company's peer companies. In
order to remedy this situation and to encourage senior management members to
focus on the Company's goal of improving returns to shareholders, the Board has
recommended that shareholders approve a Long-Term Incentive Plan. This Plan is
directly tied to the Company's total shareholder return relative to that of the
five other companies in the S&P Publishing/Newspapers Index (the same companies
used in the total shareholder return comparison on page 14 of this proxy
statement).
Under the Plan, an executive's right to earn a stock award would be contingent
on and related directly to the total return received by shareholders on their
investment in the Company's stock over a three-year period compared to the
return received by holders of stock of the peer companies.
The Plan will cover the three-year performance period commencing January 1,
1997 and ending December 31, 1999. At the beginning of the performance period,
each participant will receive a grant of restricted shares of Company stock
having a value (based on the average closing price of the stock for December
1996) equal to 75% of the participant's salary as of January 1, 1997 multiplied
by the number of years (three) in the performance period. Participants added
after the start of the performance period would receive a prorated grant based
on the remaining length of the performance period.
The number of shares that will actually vest at the end of the three years
(i.e., the number of shares an executive will be entitled to receive) will
depend on the Company's total shareholder return ("TSR") compared to the median
TSR of its five peer companies. No vesting will occur unless the Company's TSR
is positive, regardless of relative ranking, nor will shares vest if the
Company's TSR is below the peer median. If these conditions are met, 15% of
the shares will vest if the Company's TSR is equal to the median TSR of the
peer companies; 20% will vest if the Company's TSR is 1% above the median; and
100% of the shares will vest if the Company's TSR is 5% above the median (with
interpolation for results between these amounts).
At the time of vesting, participants will also receive, in cash or in shares of
Company stock, as determined by the Compensation Committee, an amount equal to
the amount they would have received if dividends had been paid to them on the
vested portion of their award and such amounts had been reinvested in Company
stock from the time of payment to the time of vesting.
The Compensation Committee will administer the Long-Term Incentive Plan and
determine, in its sole discretion, which employees will receive grants. The
Committee will make these determinations on an individual basis which reflects
its assessment of which senior executives of the Company and its operating
companies are key to TSR. The Committee has determined that up to 25
executives will participate in the Plan and has granted awards to 17 senior
executives, including the executives listed on page 11. The awards to these
five executives and certain groups of employees are shown on the next page.
Awards under the Plan will be forfeited if the participant dies, becomes
disabled or retires before the end of the first year of the performance period.
If death, disability or retirement occurs after one year has passed, vesting
will occur at the end of the performance period based on the Company's
performance for the entire period, with the participant's vested award reduced
on a pro-rata basis to reflect the period of actual service. Termination of
employment for any other reason results in immediate forfeiture of awards under
the Plan.
The Long-Term Incentive Plan will be reevaluated in three years, with a
recommendation made at that time as to whether or not it should be continued.
The Plan can be amended and extended by the Committee without shareholder
approval.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR PROPOSAL NO. 2.
16
<PAGE> 20
NEW PLAN BENEFITS
Long-Term Incentive Plan
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dollar Number of Unvested
Name and Principal Position Value ($)(1) Shares Granted(2)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
P. Anthony Ridder......................................... 1,631,250 41,598
Chairman and CEO
John C. Fontaine.......................................... 1,203,750 30,697
President
Ross Jones................................................ 990,000 25,246
Senior Vice President/Finance & CFO
Frank McComas............................................. 956,250 24,385
Senior Vice President/Operations
Mary Jean Connors......................................... 787,500 20,082
Senior Vice President/Human Resources
Executive Group........................................... 3,937,500 100,410
Non-Executive Officer Employee Group...................... 4,109,625 104,799
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) This column represents 75% of the individual's salary as of January 1, 1997
for the three-year performance period established in the Plan.
(2) The number of shares granted equals the Dollar Value divided by the average
daily closing price of the Company's Common Stock during December 1996, which
was $39.21.
VOTE REQUIRED
The presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual
Meeting. To be elected, each director must receive the affirmative vote of the
holders of a plurality of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to
vote and represented at the Annual Meeting. Approval of Proposals No. 1 and 2
will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote and represented at the
Annual Meeting.
Shares represented at the meeting in person or by proxy which abstain on a
matter or are not voted by a broker because the proxy has not received
necessary authorization will be counted in determining the presence of a
quorum. Such shares will have no effect on the election of directors. With
respect to Proposals No. 1 and 2, abstentions will count towards the total vote
on the applicable proposal and as such will have the effect of a "no" vote.
Broker non-votes will not count for or against the proposal for the purposes of
determining the total vote on the proposal.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 1998 ANNUAL MEETING
Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented at the 1998 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders and for inclusion in the Company's Proxy State-ment and form of
Proxy relating to that meeting must be received by the Secretary of the Company
at the Company's Executive Offices, One Herald Plaza, Miami, Florida 33132, by
November 6, 1997. It is suggested that propo-sals be submitted by Certified
Mail -- Return Receipt Requested.
GENERAL
A shareholder may revoke his or her Proxy by giving notice to the Company in
writing or at the meeting.
All expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of Proxies will be
borne by the Company. In addition to solicitation by mail, arrangements may be
made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to
send material to their principals, and the Company may reimburse them for their
expenses in so doing.
17
<PAGE> 21
To the extent necessary and in order to insure sufficient participation in the
meeting, officers and regular employees of the Company may, without additional
remuneration, in person or by telephone or telegram, request the return of
Proxies. In addition, the Company has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. for
assistance in the solicitation of Proxies. For its services, D.F. King will
receive a fee estimated at $9,000 plus reimbursement for reasonable and
customary out- of-pocket expenses.
Except as stated above, the Board of Directors knows of no other business to be
presented at the meeting; but if any other matters come before the meeting, the
persons named in the enclosed Proxy will vote the Proxies in accordance with
their best judgment.
Douglas C. Harris
Vice President and Secretary
18
<PAGE> 22
KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
P. ANTHONY RIDDER, JOHN C. FONTAINE and CRISTINA L. MENDOZA, or any of them,
with full power of substitution, are hereby authorized to represent the
undersigned and to vote all shares of Common Stock of KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC. held
of record by the undersigned on February 24, 1997 at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of said Company to be held on April 15, 1997 and at any
adjournment(s) thereof:
THIS PROXY IS CONTINUED ON THE REVERSE SIDE
PLEASE SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY
This Proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated in the
spaces provided below. If no instruction is indicated, this Proxy will be voted
for the nominees listed below and for Proposals No. 1 and No. 2.
Please mark
your votes as [ x ]
indicated in
this example
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote "For All Nominees" and
"For" Proposals No. 1 and No. 2.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Election of the following nominees as Directors
for Terms Ending 2000: FOR All WITHHOLD FOR ALL In their discretion, the
Alvah H. Chapman, Jr., Peter C. Goldmark, Jr., NOMINEES NOMINEES proxies are authorized to
Barbara B. Hauptfuhrer, M. Kenneth Oshman [ ] [ ] vote upon such other matters
and John L. Weinberg. as may properly come before the
meeting.
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
write the name of that nominee in the space below.
_________________________________________________________
Proposal No. 1: Ratification of Appointment of Ernst &
Young LLP as Independent Auditors. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN NOTE: Please mark, date and sign
[ ] [ ] [ ] as your name appears below and
return in the enclosed envelope.
If acting as executor, adminis-
trator, trustee, guardian, etc.,
Proposal No. 2: Adoption by the Company of a Long-Term you should so indicate when signing.
Incentive Plan. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN If the signer is a corporation,
[ ] [ ] [ ] please sign the full corporate name,
by duly authorized officer.
I will attend the annual meeting in
Philadelphia.
[ ] [ ]
YES NO
</TABLE>
Signature Signature Date
----------------------- ----------------------- -------
<PAGE> 23
Copy of Benefit Plan not included in Proxy
Statement distributed to Shareholders
<PAGE> 24
KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
The Knight-Ridder Long-term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is intended to motivate
and reward senior executives for creating shareholder value that is equal to or
greater than that created by other leading newspaper companies. Specific Plan
objectives include:
o Focus participants on total shareholder return ("TSR"), defined
as stock appreciation plus dividends (assuming that dividends are
reinvested in Knight-Ridder stock)
o Link rewards to the level of TSR achieved as well as to
Knight-Ridder's TSR relative to that of other companies that
comprise the S&P Publishing/Newspaper Index
o Provide participants the opportunity to earn compensation
commensurate with performance, including superior rewards for
superior performance
The Plan covers a single three-year period, from 1997 through 1999. Early in the
period, participants will receive grants of restricted shares of Knight-Ridder
stock. Vesting of these shares will depend on the TSR for Knight-Ridder stock
from December 1996 through December 1999 compared to the median TSR for the
stock of the other companies in the S&P Publishing/Newspaper Index during the
same period. Depending on the TSR for Knight-Ridder relative to the median of
the comparison companies, anywhere between 0 and 100% of the restricted shares
will vest.
If and when vesting occurs, participants will have the right to sell the shares.
Upon vesting, participants will also receive a payment (in either cash or stock)
equal to the dividends that were paid on the vested shares between January 1,
1997 and December 31, 1999, as well as any additional value that would have
accrued if each of those dividends had been invested in Knight-Ridder stock on
the last business day of the quarter in which it was paid. Unvested shares will
be forfeited, and no dividend-related payments will be made on them.
PLAN ADMINISTRATION
The Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the
Knight-Ridder, Inc. Board of Directors (the "Committee"). The Committee has the
authority to interpret the provisions of the Plan and to make any rules and
regulations necessary to administer the Plan. The Committee's decision is final
in all matters of judgment pertaining to the Plan, and the Committee may,
without notice, amend, suspend or revoke the Plan.
<PAGE> 25
PARTICIPATION
Participants will include selected officers whose participation is approved by
the Committee based on the Committee's assessment of their ability to have
significant impact on Knight-Ridder's TSR.
Participants can be added up until December 31, 1998 (i.e., as long as there is
at least one year of the performance measurement period remaining) in the event
of promotions or new hires who meet the participation criteria.
GRANT SIZE
The value of the shares granted to each initial participant will equal 75% of
the individual's salary as of January 1, 1997 for each year of the Plan. The
number of shares granted will equal this value divided by the average daily
closing price of Knight-Ridder's stock during December 1996.
If a participant is added to the Plan after the initial grant is made, the value
of the shares at grant will be reduced from three times 75% of salary on a pro
rata basis to reflect the number of full calendar months in the period of
participation. The salary to be used for this purpose shall be the annual rate
of salary in effect for the participant as of the first day of the month in
which the award is made. The stock price for computing the number of shares
shall be the average daily closing price of KRI stock during the last completed
calendar month prior to the making of the award.
VESTING
As long as Knight-Ridder's TSR is positive, the percentage of restricted shares
that vest will be determined based on the relationship between Knight-Ridder's
TSR and the median TSR of the five companies (other than Knight-Ridder) in the
S&P Publishing/Newspaper Index. If Knight-Ridder's TSR is not positive, then no
shares will vest, regardless of relative positioning.
The five other companies in the S&P Publishing/Newspaper Index are Dow Jones &
Company, Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., The New York Times Company, The Times Mirror
Company, and Tribune Company. The median will equal the middle-ranked TSR of the
five companies. If any of the five Companies in the S&P Publishing Newspaper
Index changes substantially or is no longer part of the Index at the end of the
performance period, then the median comparison shall be with the five Companies
that then make up the S&P Publishing Index.
If one or more of these companies changes substantially or no longer exists by
the end of the performance measurement period, the Committee will decide on the
companies that will be used for the relative TSR comparison.
TSR for each company will equal compound annual price appreciation plus
dividends, assuming the dividends were reinvested in the company's stock at the
end of each quarter in which a dividend is paid. The beginning stock price for
each company will equal the average daily closing price for December 1996, and
the ending stock price will equal the average daily closing price for December
1999. The attached document entitled "Calculation of Total Shareholder Return"
describes the procedure for calculating compound annual TSR and illustrates the
approach with examples.
<PAGE> 26
If Knight-Ridder's TSR is positive, then the relationship between vesting and
TSR relative to the peer median will be as follows:
o No shares vest if TSR is below the peer median
o 15% of the shares vest if TSR is equal to the peer median
o 20% of the shares vest if TSR is equal to 1% above the peer
median
o 100% of the shares vest if TSR is equal to 5% above the peer
median
o Interpolation will be used to determine the number of shares that
vest for TSR between median and 1% above median and between 1%
and 5% above median
All TSR calculations for purposes of the Plan will be rounded to one decimal
point.
Once shares have vested, participants are free to either continue to hold them
or to sell them. Participants may not assign their awards under the Plan before
the awards have vested.
OTHER PLAN FEATURES
TERMINATION
Plan participation will end and vesting rights will be forfeited if a
participant dies, becomes disabled, or retires on or before the end of the first
year of the performance measurement period (i.e., December 31, 1997). If death,
disability or retirement occurs on or after January 1, 1998, then vesting will
occur on the same date as for participants who continue to be employed through
the end of the performance measurement period, but on a pro rata basis to
reflect the percentage of the three-year period that was worked. Participants
will receive a form to complete designating a beneficiary in the event of death
on or after January 1, 1998.
Termination for reasons other than death, disability, or retirement will result
in immediate forfeiture of vesting rights and termination of participation in
the Plan.
DIVIDEND-RELATED PAYMENTS
In January 2000, the vesting percentage for the shares will be calculated. If
shares have vested, the payments due to participants associated with the
dividends will be paid. The amount of these payments will be determined by
calculating the number of shares that would result from the reinvestment of
dividends on one share of KRI stock (as described in the attached document under
the heading "Calculating the Impact of the Reinvestment of Dividends") and
multiplying this amount by the number of shares which have vested. The
Committee, in its discretion, shall determine whether the amount so calculated
will be paid in cash or shares of KRI stock. If payment is to be made in stock,
Knight-Ridder will deliver to the participant the number of shares of KRI stock
resulting from the above calculation, plus cash in lieu of any fractional share.
If payment is to be made in cash, or to determine the cash equivalent of a
fractional share, the KRI shares will be valued using the average daily closing
price of the KRI stock during December 1999. Required tax amounts will be
withheld.
<PAGE> 27
EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
The Plan does not constitute a contract of employment, nor does participation in
this Plan guarantee participation in any other plan.
EFFECTIVE DATE
The Plan is subject to approval by shareholders at the Knight-Ridder 1997 annual
meeting of shareholders. The Plan can be amended and extended by the Committee
without shareholder approval.
ANTI-DILUTION PROVISION
In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend,
combination of shares, rights offer, merger, consolidation, spin-off, sale of
assets, payment of an extraordinary dividend, or any other change in or
affecting the corporate structure or capitalization of Knight-Ridder, each
restricted share then subject to an award under the Plan shall be converted
into, exchanged for, or credited with the number and kind of securities or
property into which each outstanding share of Knight-Ridder common stock shall
be deemed to be converted or exchanged or which shall be deliverable with
respect to each outstanding share of Knight-Ridder common stock as a result of
such event, and the provisions of this Plan shall continue to apply to such
substituted securities or property.
<PAGE> 28
CALCULATION OF TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN
KNIGHT-RIDDER LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
This memo outlines the methodology for calculating total shareholder return
(TSR), which is defined as annualized stock price appreciation plus reinvested
dividends. For the purposes of the Long-term Incentive Plan, TSR will be
calculated over a three year performance period. The calculation is described
below, and reference is made to the attached exhibits.
CALCULATING TSR: SIMPLIFIED EXAMPLE
To calculate TSR, one must first determine the total return (stock appreciation
plus dividends paid) at the end of the period analyzed. A simplified example of
this calculation is illustrated in Exhibit 1, assuming that the period analyzed
is only one year.
o The stock price at the beginning of the period is $40.00
o The stock price at the end of the period is $43.30
o An $0.80 dividend is paid on the last day of the year
o When the $0.80 dividend is added to the ending stock price, the
total value to the shareholder equals $44.10
o This results in a total dollar return of $4.10, or $44.10 minus
$40.00
o The TSR for the one year period analyzed equals $4.10/$40.00, or
10.2% per year
CALCULATING THE IMPACT OF THE REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS
Because we are calculating TSR over a three-year period, and because dividends
are typically paid on a quarterly basis, we assume that dividends paid are
reinvested in the company's stock on a quarterly basis. It is standard practice
to assume that dividends are reinvested in the company's stock when calculating
TSR. For the Long-term Incentive Plan, we will be calculating each peer
company's TSR assuming that the dividends it pays are reinvested in that
company's own stock.
The calculation of the reinvestment of dividends is as follows (see Exhibit 2):
o We start the beginning of the period (December 31, 1996) with
1.000 share worth $40.00
<PAGE> 29
o Dividends equal to $0.200 per share are paid quarterly at the end
of each quarter
o At the end of the first quarter (March 31, 1997), the dividend
paid is used to purchase additional shares. This is the method by
which the "dividend reinvestment" is calculated
- Quarterly dividend per share of $0.200 on 1.000 shares means
that dividend of $0.200 is paid
- Dividend of $0.200 is reinvested in the company's stock at
the closing stock price at the end of that quarter. Since
the stock price at that time is $40.80, this dividend is
used to purchase an additional .005 shares ($0.200/$40.80),
bringing the total number of shares to 1.005
o This process of assuming that dividends are reinvested in the
company's stock is repeated at the end of the following quarter,
beginning with 1.005 shares
- Quarterly dividend per share of $0.200 on 1.005 shares
equals total dividends of $0.201
- Dividends of $0.201 are reinvested in company stock at the
closing stock price at the end of that quarter. Since the
stock price at that time is $41.62, this dividend is used to
purchase an additional .005 shares ($0.201/$41.62), bringing
the total number of shares to 1.010
o This process is repeated until the end of the period analyzed
CALCULATING TSR: ACTUAL EXAMPLE
Once the total number of shares at the end of period is determined, the TSR can
be calculated (Exhibit 3).
o The beginning value is equal to the closing stock price on the
first day of the period (shown here as $40.00)
o The ending value is equal to the closing stock price on the last
day of the period times the ending number of shares (shown here
as $50.73 X 1.067 = $54.15)
<PAGE> 30
o The total gain is therefore $14.15 ($54.15 - $40.00). This equals
a return of 35.4% on the $40.00 starting price, calculated on a
point-to-point basis. However, TSR is calculated on a compound
annual growth basis, and so the return must be annualized
o A 35.4% point-to-point return over a three-year period is equal
to a 10.6% compound annual return per year:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Beginning
Value Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
of Shares 11.1% Return 11.1% Return 11.1% Return
- --------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$40.00 $44.25 $48.95 $54.15
($40.00 x 1.106) ($44.25 x 1.106) ($48.95 x 1.106)
</TABLE>
With a financial calculator, the 10.6% compound annual growth rate can be
derived by inputting $40.00 as the beginning value, $54.15 as the ending value,
and 3 as the number of periods. Mathematically, this is equivalent of
calculating the cube root of the point-to-point return of 35.4%: 1.354>(1/3) =
1.106.
<PAGE> 31
EXHIBIT 1
===============================================================================
ILLUSTRATIVE
CALCULATION OF ONE-YEAR TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN
===============================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total
Stock Dividend Value of
Date Price Per Share Shares
- ------------- ----------- --------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Dec. 31, 1996 $ 40.00 -- $ 40.00
Dec. 31, 1997 $ 43.30 $ 0.80 $ 44.10
Total Return $ $ 4.10
TSR 10.2%
($4.10/$40.00)
</TABLE>
===============================================================================
<PAGE> 32
EXHIBIT 2
===============================================================================
ILLUSTRATIVE
CALCULATION OF DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
===============================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares at Additional Shares at
Beginning Stock Dividend Total Number of End of
Date of Quarter Price Per Share Dividends Shares Quarter
- ------------- ---------- ------ --------- --------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Dec. 31, 1996 -- $40.00 -- -- -- 1.000
Mar. 31, 1997 1.000 $40.80 $0.200 $0.200 0.005 1.005
Jun. 30, 1997 1.005 $41.62 $0.200 $0.201 0.005 1.010
Sep. 30, 1997 1.010 $42.45 $0.200 $0.202 0.005 10.14
Dec. 31, 1997 1.014 $43.30 $0.200 $0.203 0.005 1.019
</TABLE>
===============================================================================
<PAGE> 33
EXHIBIT 3
===============================================================================
ILLUSTRATIVE
CALCULATION OF TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN
===============================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares at Additional Shares at Total
Beginning Stock Dividend Total Number of End of Value of
Date of Quarter Price Per Share Dividends Shares Quarter Shares
- ------------- ---------- ------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec. 31, 1996 1.000 $40.00 -- -- -- 1.000 $40.00
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mar. 31, 1997 1.000 $40.80 $0.20 $0.20 0.005 1.005 $41.00
Jun. 30, 1997 1.005 $41.62 $0.20 $0.20 0.005 1.010 $42.02
Sep. 30, 1997 1.010 $42.45 $0.20 $0.20 0.005 1.014 $43.06
Dec. 31, 1997 1.014 $43.30 $0.20 $0.20 0.005 1.019 $44.13
Mar. 31, 1998 1.019 $44.16 $0.25 $0.25 0.006 1.025 $45.26
Jun. 30, 1998 1.025 $45.05 $0.25 $0.26 0.006 1.031 $46.43
Sep. 30, 1998 1.031 $45.95 $0.25 $0.26 0.006 1.036 $47.61
Dec. 31, 1998 1.036 $46.87 $0.25 $0.26 0.006 1.042 $48.82
Mar. 31, 1999 1.042 $47.80 $0.30 $0.31 0.007 1.048 $50.11
Jun. 30, 1999 1.048 $48.76 $0.30 $0.31 0.006 1.055 $51.43
Sep. 30, 1999 1.055 $49.73 $0.30 $0.32 0.006 1.061 $52.77
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec. 31, 1999 1.061 $50.73 $0.30 $0.32 0.006 1.067 $54.15
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Return $ $14.15
Point-to-Point Return 35.4%
-----------------------------------------
TSR 10.6%
-----------------------------------------
</TABLE>
===============================================================================
