<PAGE>
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
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12
Coherent, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
- ------------------------------------------------
(Name of person(s) filing proxy statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[ ] $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1) or 14a-6(j)(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 transaction applies:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to Exchange Act Rule 0-11: (A)
--------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
---------------------------
_________________________
(A) Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined.
[ ] 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>
[LOGO]
------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MARCH 23, 1995
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of COHERENT
INC. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, will be held on March 23, 1995 at
5:30 p.m., local time, at the Company's principal offices located at 5100
Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, California 95054, for the following purposes:
1. To elect six directors to serve for ensuing terms of one to three years
(one year if Proposal Two is not approved) and until their successors are duly
elected.
2. To approve amendments to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws to reorganize the Board of Directors into three classes with staggered
terms.
3. To approve a new form of indemnification agreement between the Company
and its officers and directors.
4. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche as independent public
accountants to the Company for the 1995 fiscal year.
5. To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the
meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof.
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy
Statement accompanying this Notice.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on January 26, 1995 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting. However to
assure your representation at the meeting, you are urged to mark, sign, date and
return the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible in the postage-prepaid
envelope enclosed for that purpose.
Any stockholder attending the meeting may vote in person even if he or she
has returned a proxy.
Sincerely,
Larry W. Sonsini
SECRETARY
Santa Clara, California
February 3, 1995
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
IN ORDER TO ASSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO
COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE AND
RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
<PAGE>
COHERENT, INC.
5100 PATRICK HENRY DRIVE
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA 95054
------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
------------------------
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
GENERAL
The enclosed Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of
COHERENT, INC. (the "Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to
be held at the Company's principal offices located at 5100 Patrick Henry Drive,
Santa Clara, California on March 23, 1995 at 5:30 p.m., local time, and at any
adjournment(s) thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Company's telephone
number at the address above is (408) 764-4000. These proxy solicitation
materials were mailed on or about February 3, to all stockholders entitled to
vote at the meeting.
RECORD DATE AND SHARE OWNERSHIP
Stockholders of record at the close of business on January 26, 1995 (the
"Record Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and at any
adjournment(s) thereof. At the Record Date, 10,521,101 shares of the Company's
Common Stock, $.01 par value, were issued and outstanding.
REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person
giving it at any time before its use by delivering to the Company (Attention:
Scott H. Miller, General Counsel) a written notice of revocation or a duly
executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the meeting and voting in
person.
VOTING AND SOLICITATION
On all matters other than the election of directors, each share has one
vote. See "Election of Directors -- Vote Required."
The cost of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. The Company has
retained the services of D.F. King & Co., Inc. (the "Solicitor") to aid in the
solicitation of proxies from brokers, bank nominees and other institutional
owners. The Company estimates that it will pay the Solicitor a fee not to exceed
$3,500 for its services and will reimburse the Solicitor for certain
out-of-pocket expenses
1
<PAGE>
estimated to be $5,000. In addition, the Company may reimburse brokerage firms
and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for their expenses in
forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial owners. Proxies may also be
solicited by certain of the Company's directors, officers and regular employees,
without additional compensation, personally or by telephone or telegram.
QUORUM; ABSTENTIONS; BROKER NON-VOTES
The Company's Bylaws provide that stockholders holding a majority of the
shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote shall
constitute a quorum at meetings of stockholders.
Shares that are voted "FOR," "AGAINST" or "WITHHELD" from a matter are
treated as being present at the meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum
and are also treated as votes eligible to be cast by the Common Stock present or
represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and "entitled to vote on the subject
matter" (the "Votes Cast") with respect to such matter.
While there is no definitive statutory or case law authority in Delaware as
to the proper treatment of abstentions, the Company believes that abstentions
should be counted for purposes of determining both the presence or absence of a
quorum for the transaction of business and the total number of Votes Cast with
respect to a particular matter. In the absence of controlling precedent to the
contrary, the Company intends to treat abstentions in this manner. However,
because directors are elected by a plurality vote, abstentions in the election
of directors have no input once a quorum exists. In a 1988 Delaware case, BERLIN
V. EMERALD PARTNERS, the Delaware Supreme Court held that, while broker non-
votes may be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a
quorum for the transaction of business, broker non-votes should not be counted
for purposes of determining the number of Votes Cast with respect to the
particular proposal on which the broker has expressly not voted. Broker
non-votes with respect to proposals set forth in this Proxy Statement will
therefore not be considered "Votes Cast" and, accordingly, will not affect the
determination as to whether the requisite majority of Votes Cast has been
obtained with respect to a particular matter.
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of stockholders of the Company that are intended to be presented
by such stockholders at the Company's 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must
be received by the Company no later than October 5, 1995 and must otherwise be
in compliance with applicable laws and regulations in order to be considered for
inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file reports of
ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or 5 with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the National Association of Securities
Dealers. Such officers, directors and ten-percent stockholders are also required
by SEC rules to furnish the
2
<PAGE>
Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file. Based solely on
its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or written
representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for
such persons, the Company believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements
applicable to its officers, directors and ten-percent stockholders were complied
with.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth as of the Record Date certain information
with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by (i)
any person (including any "group" as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") known by
the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's voting
securities, (ii) each director and each nominee for director to the Company,
(iii) each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table
appearing herein, and (iv) all executive officers and directors of the Company
as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF PERCENT OF
NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES TOTAL
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
ICM Asset Management, Inc. (1)................................................. 670,750 6.38%
W. 601 Main Avenue, Suite 917
Spokane, Washington 99201
First Pacific Advisors, Inc. (2)............................................... 622,000 5.91%
11400 W. Olympic Boulevard, Suite 120
Los Angeles, California 90064
James L. Hobart (3)............................................................ 232,021 2.21%
Henry E. Gauthier (4).......................................................... 130,579 1.24%
Charles W. Cantoni (5)......................................................... 12,500 *
Frank P. Carrubba (6).......................................................... 12,500 *
Thomas Sloan Nelsen (7)........................................................ 13,500 *
Robert J. Quillinan (8)........................................................ 39,815 *
Bernard Couillaud (9).......................................................... 18,411 *
Leonard C. DeBenedictis (10)................................................... 32,704 *
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons) (11).............. 517,259 4.92%
<FN>
- ------------------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Represents shares reported by Vickers Corporate Report as being held by ICM
Asset Management, Inc. as of January 16, 1995.
(2) Represents shares reported by Vickers Corporate Report as being held by
First Pacific Advisors, Inc. as of January 16, 1995. Includes 300,000
shares owned by FPA Capital Fund, an investment fund managed by First
Pacific Advisors.
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(3) Includes 2,700 shares held of record by members of Mr. Hobart's family, as
to which shares he disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes 12,500
shares issuable upon exercise of options which are currently exercisable or
will become exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date.
(4) Includes 11,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
Gauthier which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within
60 days of the Record Date.
(5) Includes 12,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
Cantoni which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within
60 days of the Record Date.
(6) Includes 12,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
Carrubba which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within
60 days of the Record Date.
(7) Includes 12,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Dr. Nelsen
which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days
of the Record Date.
(8) Includes 6,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
Quillinan which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within
60 days of the Record Date.
(9) Includes 9,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
Couillaud which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within
60 days of the Record Date.
(10) Includes 10,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
DeBenedictis which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable
within 60 days of the Record Date.
(11) At the Record Date, executive officers and directors of the Company as a
group (10 persons) held options to purchase an aggregate of 275,500 shares
of Common Stock, representing approximately 29.7% of outstanding options at
that date. The numbers set forth in this table include an aggregate of
97,500 shares which are currently exercisable or will become exercisable
within 60 days of such date.
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
NOMINEES
A board of six directors is to be elected at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the
proxies received by them for the Company's nominees named below. In the event
that any nominee of the Company is unable or declines to serve as a director at
the time of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proxies will be voted for
any nominee who shall be designated by the present Board of Directors to fill
the vacancy. It is not expected that any nominee will be unable or will decline
to serve as a director. In the event that additional persons are nominated for
election as directors, the proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by
them in such a manner (in accordance with cumulative voting) as will assure the
election of as many of the nominees listed below as possible, and in such event
the specific nominees to be voted for will be determined by the proxy holders.
If the Classified Board Amendments (See Proposal Two) are approved by the
stockholders, two directors, Messrs. Gauthier and Nelson, will be elected for
terms expiring at the 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, two directors,
Messrs. Hobart and Cantoni, for terms expiring at the 1997 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and two directors, Messrs. Carrubba and Robertson, for terms
expiring at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If Proposal Two is not
adopted, the term of office of each person elected as a director will continue
until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until a successor has been
elected and qualified.
The names of the nominees, all of whom are currently directors of the
Company, and certain information about them as of January 26, 1995, are set
forth below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DIRECTOR
NAME OF NOMINEE AGE SINCE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
- --------------------------------------------- --- --------- ---------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
James L. Hobart.............................. 61 1966 Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company
Henry E. Gauthier............................ 54 1983 President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Company
Charles W. Cantoni (1)(2).................... 59 1983 Vice President, Marketing of Quinton Instrument Co.
Frank P. Carrubba (1)(2)..................... 57 1989 Chief Technical Officer, Philips Electronics N.V.
Thomas Sloan Nelsen (1)(2)................... 68 1983 Retired Professor of Surgery, Stanford University
School of Medicine
Jerry E. Robertson........................... 62 1994 Retired Executive Vice President, 3M Life Sciences
Sector and Corporate Services
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1) Member of the Compensation Committee.
(2) Member of the Audit Committee.
</TABLE>
5
<PAGE>
Except as set forth below, each of the nominees has been engaged in his
principal occupation set forth above during the past five years. There is no
family relationship between any director or executive officer of the Company.
Mr. Cantoni is Vice President, Marketing of Quinton Instrument Co., a
manufacturer of medical instrumentation products, a position he has held since
October 1994. From August 1988 until September 1994 he was President of
ImageComm Systems, Inc.
Dr. Robertson retired from 3M in 1994. He also is a member of the board of
directors of the following public companies: Manor Care, Inc., Cardinal Health,
Inc., Haemonetics Corporation, Steris Corporation and Life Technologies, Inc.
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors of the Company held a total of five meetings during
the fiscal year ended October 1, 1994. No director serving during such fiscal
year attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board of
Directors and the committees of the Board upon which such director served. The
Board of Directors has two committees, the Audit Committee and the Compensation
Committee. The Board of Directors has no nominating committee or any committee
performing such functions.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which consists of directors
Carrubba, Cantoni and Nelson, held one meeting during the last fiscal year. The
Audit Committee recommends engagement of the Company's independent public
accountants and is primarily responsible for approving the services performed by
the Company's independent public accountants and for reviewing and evaluating
the Company's accounting principles and its system of internal accounting
controls.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors consists of directors
Carrubba, Cantoni and Nelsen, and held one meeting during the last fiscal year.
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the Company's executive
compensation policy and grants stock options to employees of the Company,
including officers pursuant to the Company's stock option plans.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Company
receive $8,000 per year, plus $500 per meeting attended and are reimbursed for
their expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors.
The Company's 1990 Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Directors' Option
Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors on December 8, 1989 and was
approved by the stockholders on March 29, 1990. The Directors' Option Plan
provides for the grant of a non-statutory stock option to purchase 10,000 shares
of Common Stock of the Company to each of the Company's non-employee directors
on the later of the effective date of the Directors' Option Plan (which date was
December 8, 1989) or the date
6
<PAGE>
on which such person becomes a director. Thereafter, each non-employee director
will be automatically granted a nonstatutory stock option to purchase 2,500
shares of Common Stock of the Company on the date of and immediately following
each Annual Meeting of Stockholders at which such nonemployee director is
re-elected to serve on the Board of Directors, if, on such date, he or she has
served on the Board for at least three months. Such plan provides that the
exercise price shall be equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on
the date of grant of the options. Three non-employee directors have been granted
options to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock under such plan
at a weighted average exercise price of $12.98. One non-employee director has
been granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock
under such plan, at an exercise price of $12.75 per share. As of the Record
Date, no shares had been issued on exercise of such options.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee is composed of Directors Carrubba, Cantoni and
Nelsen. During fiscal 1994, the Company paid Dr. Thomas Nelsen $60,000 in
consulting fees. Dr. Nelsen has more than 40 years of experience as a physician
and, before his retirement, was a Professor of Surgery at Stanford University
School of Medicine. Utilizing this experience, Dr. Nelsen has worked closely
with the Company in developing and refining new laser products for the medical
field. Management believes that this arrangement is at least as favorable as
could be negotiated with an outside consultant.
VOTE REQUIRED
Every stockholder voting for the election of directors may cumulate such
stockholder's votes and give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number
of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of votes to which the
stockholder's shares are entitled, or distribute the stockholder's votes on the
same principle among as many candidates as the stockholder thinks fit, provided
that votes cannot be cast for more than six candidates. However, no stockholder
shall be entitled to cumulate votes unless the candidate's name has been placed
in nomination prior to the voting and the stockholder, or any other stockholder,
has given notice at the meeting prior to the voting of the intention to cumulate
the stockholder's votes.
If a quorum is present and voting, the six nominees receiving the highest
number of votes will be elected to the Board of Directors. Votes withheld from a
nominee and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining the
presence or absence of a quorum and votes withheld will be treated as votes
against a nominee. See "Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting --
Quorum; Abstentions; Broker Non-Votes."
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR"
THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE
7
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL TWO
CLASSIFICATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO DIRECTORS
This proposal is to approve amendments to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws (the "Classified Board Amendments") in order to
classify the Board of Directors into three classes as nearly equal in number as
possible, each of which, after an interim arrangement, will serve for three
years with one class being elected each year. Under existing provisions of the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, directors of the Company are
elected annually for terms of one year. The specific language of the Classified
Board Amendments will be substantially as set forth in Exhibits A and B to this
Proxy Statement. The Classified Board Amendments would make the changes
described below with regard to the matters referenced in this paragraph.
THE CLASSIFIED BOARD AMENDMENTS
ADOPTION OF A CLASSIFIED BOARD. Delaware corporate law provides that the
Certificate of Incorporation of a corporation may provide that the directors be
divided into up to three classes. The Classified Board Amendments will divide
the directors into three equal classes. The directors of each class will serve
three-year terms and the term of one class will expire each year.
To implement a classified Board, the Classified Board Amendments would
permit Class I, Class II and Class III directors initially to be elected at the
1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders for terms of one year, two years and three
years, respectively. See "Proposal One -- Election of Directors" above. If the
Classified Board Amendments are adopted, Class I directors elected at the 1995
Annual Meeting of Stockholders will hold office until the 1996 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders; Class II directors elected at the meeting will hold office until
the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; and Class III directors elected at the
meeting will hold office until the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. At each
Annual Meeting of Stockholders commencing with the 1996 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, directors elected to succeed those in the class whose terms then
expire will be elected for a three-year term so that the term of one class of
directors will expire each year. Thus, after 1995, stockholders will elect only
one-third of the directors at each Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Each director
will serve until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his earlier
death, resignation or removal.
The number of directors to be elected at the 1995 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders is six. The Board of Directors presently has no arrangements,
commitments or understandings with respect to increasing or decreasing the size
of the Board or any class of directors. The Board has the authority under the
Certificate of Incorporation to amend the Bylaws for such purpose without
further stockholder approval. For information regarding the nominees for
election to the Board of Directors at the 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
and the class of directors in which each director will initially serve if the
Classified Board Amendments are adopted, see "Proposal One -- Election of
Directors" above.
8
<PAGE>
REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. Under Delaware corporate law, directors of a
corporation whose board is classified may be removed by stockholders only for
cause, unless the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation provides
otherwise. The Classified Board Amendments will allow any director or the entire
board of directors to be removed, with or without cause, by the majority of
shares then entitled to vote in an election of directors; provided, however,
that so long as stockholders of the Company are entitled to cumulative voting,
if less than the entire board is to be removed, no director may be removed
without cause if the votes cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect
him if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire board of directors.
REASONS FOR ADOPTION OF THE CLASSIFIED BOARD AMENDMENT
The Board of Directors believes that dividing the directors into three
classes is advantageous to the Company and its stockholders because by providing
that directors will serve three-year terms rather than one-year terms, the
likelihood of continuity and stability in the policies formulated by the Board
will be enhanced. It also believes that the staggered election of directors will
promote continuity because, at any given time, at least two-thirds of the
directors will have at least one year of experience as directors of the Company.
The Board of Directors also believes the Classified Board Amendments would,
if adopted, effectively reduce the possibility that a third party could effect a
sudden or surprise change in control of the Company's Board of Directors. The
Classified Board Amendments would serve to ensure that the Board and management,
if confronted by a surprise proposal from a third party who has acquired a block
of the Company's Common Stock, will have sufficient time to review the proposal
and appropriate alternatives to the proposal and to attempt to negotiate a
better transaction, if possible, for the stockholders.
The Board of Directors of the Company believes that if a potential acquiror
were to purchase a significant or controlling interest in the Company, such
potential acquiror's ability to remove the Company's directors and obtain
control of the Board and thereby remove the Company's management would severely
curtail the Company's ability to negotiate effectively with such potential
acquiror. The threat of obtaining control of the Board would deprive the Board
of the time and information necessary to evaluate the proposal, to study
alternative proposals and to help ensure that the best price is obtained in any
transaction involving the Company which may ultimately be undertaken. The
Classified Board Amendments are designed to reduce the vulnerability of the
Company to an unsolicited takeover proposal, particularly a proposal that does
not contemplate the acquisition of all of the Company's outstanding shares, or
an unsolicited proposal for the restructuring or sale of all or part of the
Company.
9
<PAGE>
EXISTING ANTITAKEOVER PROTECTION
STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL OF CERTAIN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS. The Company is
subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
("Section 203"). Under Section 203, certain "business combinations" with
"interested stockholders" of Delaware corporations are subject to a three year
moratorium unless specified conditions are met.
Section 203 prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business
combination" with an "interested stockholder" for three years following the date
that such person becomes an interested stockholder. With certain exceptions, an
interested stockholder is a person or group who or which owns 15% or more of the
corporation's outstanding voting stock (including any rights to acquire stock
pursuant to an option, warrant, agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon
the exercise of conversion or exchange rights, and stock with respect to which
the person has voting rights only), or is an affiliate or associate of the
corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of such voting stock at any time
within the previous three years.
For purposes of Section 203, the term "business combination" is defined
broadly to include mergers with or caused by the interested stockholder, sales
or other dispositions to the interested stockholder (except proportionately with
the corporation's other stockholders) of assets of the corporation or a
subsidiary equal to ten percent or more of the aggregate market value of the
corporation's consolidated assets or its outstanding stock; the issuance or
transfer by the corporation or a subsidiary of stock of the corporation or such
subsidiary to the interested stockholder (except for transfers in a conversion
or exchange or a pro rata distribution or certain other transactions, none of
which increase the interested stockholder's proportionate ownership of any class
or series of the corporation's or such subsidiary's stock); or receipt by the
interested stockholder (except proportionately as a stockholder), directly or
indirectly, of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial
benefits provided by or through the corporation or a subsidiary.
The three year moratorium imposed on business combinations by Section 203
does not apply if: (i) prior to the date on which such stockholder becomes an
interested stockholder the board of directors approves either the business
combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an
interested stockholder; (ii) the interested stockholder owns 85% of the
corporation's voting stock upon consummation of the transaction which made him
or her an interested stockholder (excluding from the 85% calculation shares
owned by directors who are also officers of the target corporation and shares
held by employee stock plans which do not permit employees to decide
confidentially whether to accept a tender or exchange offer); or (iii) on or
after the date such person becomes an interested stockholder, the board approves
the business combination and it is also approved at a stockholder meeting by
66 2/3% of the voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.
Section 203 has been challenged in lawsuits arising out of ongoing takeover
disputes, and it is not yet clear whether and to what extent its
constitutionality will be upheld by the courts. Although the
10
<PAGE>
United States District Court for the District of Delaware has consistently
upheld the constitutionality of Section 203, the Delaware Supreme Court has not
yet considered the issue. The Company believes that so long as the
constitutionality of Section 203 is upheld, Section 203 will encourage any
potential acquiror to negotiate with the Company's Board of Directors. Section
203 also has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquiror to make
a two-tiered bid for the Company in which all stockholders would not be treated
equally. Section 203 should discourage certain potential acquirors unwilling to
comply with its provisions.
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN. In December 1988, the Board of Directors of the
Company adopted and has since implemented a Shareholder Rights Plan (the "Rights
Plan"). Under the Rights Plan, the Company has declared a dividend of one common
share purchase right (a "Right") for each share of Common Stock outstanding on
November 17, 1989 (the "Record Date") and each share of Common Stock issued
thereafter, unless the Board of Directors resolves otherwise, until the earlier
of (i) the date the Rights become exercisable, (ii) redemption of the Rights by
the Company, or (iii) November 2, 1999, the termination date of the Rights Plan.
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one share
of Common Stock at a price of $80.00 per share, subject to adjustment.
The Rights are not exercisable until the occurrence of specified events.
Upon the occurrence of such an event (which events are generally those which
would signify the commencement of a hostile bid to acquire the Company), the
Rights then become exercisable (unless redeemed by the Board of Directors),
provided that appropriate registrations, qualifications and clearances have been
obtained from state and federal securities regulatory authorities. If the
acquiror were to conclude the acquisition of the Company, the Rights would then
become exercisable for shares of the controlling/surviving corporation, at an
exercise price equal to 50% of the value of those shares. If the Rights were
exercised at this time, significant dilution in the capital stock of the
controlling/surviving corporation would result, thus making the acquisition
prohibitively expensive for the acquiror. In order to encourage a bidder to
negotiate with the Board of Directors, the Rights Plan provides that the Rights
may be redeemed under prescribed circumstances by the Board of Directors.
The Rights are not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and will
not interfere with any tender offer or business combination approved by the
Board of Directors. The Rights Plan is intended to protect the stockholders in
the event of (a) an unsolicited offer to acquire the Company, including offers
that do not treat all stockholders equally, (b) the acquisition in the open
market of shares constituting control of the Company without offering fair value
to all stockholders, and (c) other coercive takeover tactics which could impair
the Board's ability to fully represent the interests of the stockholders.
11
<PAGE>
The Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company as currently
constituted do not contain any other provisions which management considers to
have an "anti-takeover effect." Cumulative voting with respect to the election
of directors is provided under the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of
the Company.
The Board of Directors is not presently aware of any attempt by any third
party to obtain control of the Company through a tender offer or otherwise. The
Company has not experienced any problems with respect to the continuity and
stability of the Board of Directors or corporate management and policies.
Nonetheless, in view of the increasing use in recent years of unsolicited
takeovers as acquisition techniques, the Board of Directors believes that
anti-takeover devices such as the ones described above are appropriate measures
which will help to assure such continuity and stability in future periods.
Accordingly, the Board of Directors may consider adopting other anti-takeover
devices in the future, although none is currently being considered.
The existing and proposed provisions are intended to encourage persons
seeking to acquire control of the Company to initiate such an acquisition
through arm's-length negotiations with the Company's Board of Directors. The
Classified Board Amendments would not prevent a negotiated acquisition of the
Company with the cooperation of the Board, and such a friendly acquisition could
be structured in such a manner as to shift control of the Board to
representatives of the acquiror as part of such negotiated acquisition.
POSSIBLE DISADVANTAGES OF THE CLASSIFIED BOARD AMENDMENTS
Since the Classified Board Amendments will increase the amount of time
required for a takeover bidder to obtain control of the Company without the
cooperation of the Board, even if the takeover bidder were to acquire a majority
of the Company's outstanding Common Stock, the Classified Board Amendments could
tend to discourage certain tender offers which stockholders might feel would be
in their best interests. Because tender offers for control usually involve a
purchase price higher than the current market price, the Classified Board
Amendments could also discourage open market purchases by a potential takeover
bidder. Such tender offers or open market purchases could increase the market
price of the Company's stock, enabling stockholders to sell their shares at a
price higher than that which otherwise would prevail. In addition, the
Classified Board Amendments could make the Company's Common Stock less
attractive to persons who invest in securities in anticipation of an increase in
price if a takeover attempt develops. Since these provisions will make the
removal of directors more difficult, it will increase the directors' security in
their positions and, since the Board has the power to retain and discharge
management, could perpetuate incumbent management.
12
<PAGE>
VOTE REQUIRED
Approval of this Proposal Two requires the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. An abstention is not
an affirmative vote and, therefore, will have the same effect as a vote against
the proposal. See "Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting -- Quorum;
Abstentions; Broker Non-Votes."
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR"
THE CLASSIFIED BOARD AMENDMENTS
13
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL THREE
APPROVAL OF FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
GENERAL
The stockholders are being asked at the Annual Meeting to approve proposed
agreements (the "Indemnification Agreements") to be entered into between the
Company and its directors and officers, including future directors and officers,
and, at the discretion of the Board, with key employees, in substantially the
form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
The present indemnification agreements between the Company and its directors
and officers were prepared in 1988 prior to the Company's reincorporation in
Delaware. These existing indemnification agreements provide the Company's
officers and directors with the fullest permissible scope of indemnification
under California law. The proposed Indemnification Agreement provides for the
maximum indemnification allowed under applicable Delaware law and under the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation. Although California and Delaware
indemnification laws are similar, Delaware law provides a somewhat broader scope
of protection for directors and officers.
The Board of Directors believes that the Indemnification Agreements serve
the best interest of the Company and its stockholders by strengthening the
Company's ability to attract and retain over time the services of knowledgeable
and experienced persons to serve as directors, officers and key employees who,
through their efforts and expertise, can make a significant contribution to the
success of the Company.
The Indemnification Agreements are intended to compliment the indemnity and
other protection available under applicable law, the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws, and to provide for indemnification of Indemnitees to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
OTHER PROTECTION
Section 145 of Delaware General Corporation Law ("Delaware Law") provides a
detailed statutory framework covering indemnification of any Indemnitee who has
been or is threatened to be made a party to any legal proceeding by reason of
his or her service on behalf of the Company. Delaware Law mandates that
indemnification shall be made to any such person who has been successful "on the
merits" or "otherwise" with respect to the defense of any such proceeding, but
does not require indemnification in any other circumstances. Delaware Law
further provides that in derivative suits a person shall not be indemnified by
the corporation for any loss or damage suffered by it on account of any action
taken by him or her as a director, officer or agent of the corporation unless he
or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation or, with respect to a
criminal matter, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was
unlawful. Furthermore, indemnification is not available in derivative actions if
the Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless
the court in which such
14
<PAGE>
action is or was pending shall determine upon application that, in view of all
the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnification for expenses which such court shall determine to be proper.
Indemnification for expenses incurred in settling a derivative action is
permitted. The Company may advance the expenses incurred in defending such a
proceeding upon the giving of an undertaking, or promise, to repay such sums in
the event it is later determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company has implemented the
applicable statutory framework by requiring that the Company indemnify its
officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law.
Delaware Law provides that a director shall not be held personally liable
for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided (as
specified in the Delaware Law) that such limitation of liability shall not act
to limit liability for the following conduct: (a) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (b) for acts
or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or
knowing violation of law; (c) for any violation of Section 174 of the Delaware
Law; or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS
The Indemnification Agreements provide the Indemnitees with the maximum
indemnification allowed under applicable law. Since the Delaware statute is
non-exclusive, it is possible that certain claims beyond the scope of the
statute may be indemnifiable. The Indemnification Agreements provide a scheme of
indemnification which may be broader than that specifically provided by Delaware
Law. It has not yet been determined, however, to what extent the indemnification
expressly permitted by Delaware Law may be expanded, and therefore the scope of
indemnification provided by the Indemnification Agreements may be subject to
future judicial interpretation.
The Indemnification Agreements provide that the Company shall indemnify an
Indemnitee who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or
was a director, officer, key employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary
of the Company. The Company shall advance all expenses, judgments, fines,
penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including taxes imposed on Indemnitee
on account of receipt of such payouts) incurred by the Indemnitee in connection
with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any civil or criminal
action or proceeding as described above. The Indemnitee shall repay such amounts
advanced only if it shall be ultimately determined that he or she is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Company. The advances paid to the Indemnitee
by the Company shall be delivered within 20 days following a written request by
the Indemnitee. Any award of indemnification to an Indemnitee, if not covered by
insurance, would come directly from the assets of the Company, thereby affecting
a stockholder's investment.
15
<PAGE>
The Indemnification Agreements set forth a number of procedural and
substantive matters which are not addressed or are addressed in less detail in
Delaware Law, including the following:
First, in the event an action is instituted by the Indemnitee under the
Indemnification Agreements to enforce or interpret any of the terms therein,
Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to such
action, unless as a part of such action, a court of competent jurisdiction
determines that each of the material assertions made by the Indemnitee were not
made in good faith or were frivolous. In the event of an action instituted by or
in the name of the Company under the Indemnification Agreements or to enforce or
interpret any of the terms therein, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid
all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by the
Indemnitee in the defense of such action, unless as a part of such action the
court determines that each of the Indemnitee's material defenses to such action
were made in bad faith or were frivolous. Delaware Law does not set forth any
procedure for contesting a corporation's determination of a party's right to
indemnification.
Second, the Indemnification Agreements explicitly provide for partial
indemnification of costs and expenses in the event that an Indemnitee is not
entitled to full indemnification under the terms of the Indemnification
Agreements. Delaware Law does not specifically address this issue. It does,
however, provide that to the extent that an Indemnitee has been successful on
the merits, he or she shall be entitled to such indemnification.
Third, in the event the Company shall be obligated to pay the expenses of
any proceeding against the Indemnitee, the Company shall be entitled to assume
the defense of such proceeding, with counsel approved by the indemnified party,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, upon the delivery to the
Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. The Company shall have
the right to conduct such defense as it sees fit in its sole discretion,
including the right to settle any claim against Indemnitee without the consent
of the Indemnitee.
Fourth, indemnification provided by the Indemnification Agreements is not
exclusive of any rights to which the Indemnitee may be entitled under the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation, its By-Laws, any agreement, any vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors, Delaware Law, or otherwise. The
indemnification provided under the Indemnification Agreements continues for any
action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified capacity even though
the Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity at the time of the
action, suit or other covered proceeding.
Finally, the Indemnification Agreements provide for certain exceptions to
indemnification which include the following: (a) indemnification for liabilities
where the law prohibits indemnification; (b) indemnification or advancement of
expenses with respect to proceedings or claims initiated or brought voluntarily
by an Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except with respect to proceedings
brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under the
Indemnification Agreements or
16
<PAGE>
any other statute or law or otherwise as required under Section 145 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law; and (c) indemnification for expenses in the
payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by the Indemnitee of
securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, or any similar or successor statute.
The proposed Indemnification Agreements, together with the limitations on
the directors' liability provided by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
and by Article VI of the Company's Bylaws, reduce significantly the number of
instances in which directors might be held liable to the Company for monetary
damages for breach of their fiduciary duties. Therefore, the current directors
of the Company have a direct personal interest in the approval of the
Indemnification Agreements.
THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION OF THE INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT ATTACHED TO
THIS PROXY STATEMENT AS EXHIBIT C, WHICH YOU ARE URGED TO READ AND CONSIDER
CAREFULLY.
At present there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving an
Indemnitee where indemnification would be required or permitted under the
Indemnification Agreements. The Company is not aware of any threatened
litigation or proceeding which may result in a claim for indemnification under
the Indemnification Agreements by an Indemnitee.
INDEMNIFICATION OF LIABILITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
The Securities and Exchange Commission has expressed its opinion that
indemnification of directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company
against liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by an Indemnitee of
the Company in the successful defense of any such act or proceeding) is asserted
by such Indemnitee in connection with securities which have been registered by
the Company, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
VOTE REQUIRED
Section 144 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that no
contract between a corporation and one or more of its directors is either void
or voidable solely because such director or directors are parties to such
contract if the material facts as to the transaction and as to such director's
interest are disclosed or known to the stockholders and such contract is
approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders, or the contract has been
approved by a disinterested majority of the board, or the contract is fair to
the Company as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the board
of directors, a committee thereof, or the stockholders.
17
<PAGE>
Since the Company intends to enter into these Indemnification Agreements
with each of the directors, the Indemnification Agreements must either be fair
to the Company or be approved by the requisite vote of stockholders. Although
the Company believes that the form of Indemnification Agreement is fair to the
Company, and that stockholder approval may not therefore be required to validate
the Indemnification Agreements, the Company believes that it is appropriate to
submit the Indemnification Agreements to the stockholders for their
consideration. If the Indemnification Agreements are approved by the
stockholders, they are not void or voidable and the Company's stockholders may
not later assert a claim that the Indemnification Agreements are invalid due to
improper authorization; however, the stockholders may challenge the validity of
the Indemnification Agreements on other grounds. If the Indemnification
Agreements are not approved by the stockholders, the invalidity of such
agreements could hereafter be asserted by the stockholders. In such an instance,
the person asserting the validity of the Indemnification Agreements will bear
the burden of proving that they were fair to the Company at the time they were
authorized.
Approval of the Indemnification Agreements will require the affirmative vote
of a majority of the votes present or represented and entitled to vote on this
subject matter at the meeting and held by disinterested stockholders. Since each
director is an interested party with respect to this matter, shares owned
directly or indirectly by any director may not be voted on this proposal
although they will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is
present. An abstention is not an affirmative vote and, therefor, will have the
same effect as a vote against the proposal. A broker non-vote will not be
treated as entitled to vote on this subject matter at the meeting. See
"Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting -- Quorum; Abstentions; Broker
Non-Votes."
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR"
THE APPROVAL OF THE FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS
18
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL FOUR
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors has selected Deloitte & Touche, independent public
accountants, to audit financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1995, and recommends that stockholders vote for
ratification of such appointment. In the event of a negative vote on
ratification, the Board of Directors will reconsider its selection. Deloitte &
Touche has audited the Company's financial statements since the fiscal year
ended September 25, 1976. Representatives of Deloitte & Touche are expected to
be present at the meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they
desire to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR"
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE
19
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION
The following table shows, as to the Chief Executive officer and each of the
other four most highly compensated executive officers whose salary plus bonus
exceeded $100,000, information concerning compensation awarded to, earned by or
paid for services to the Company in all capacities during the last three fiscal
years (to the extent that such person was the Chief Executive Officer and/or an
executive officer, as the case may be, during any part of such fiscal year):
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
-------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION
----------------------------------------------------- AWARDS
OTHER ANNUAL ------------- ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) COMPENSATION (1) OPTIONS (#) COMPENSATION ($)
- ------------------------------------ --------- ----------- ----------- ---------------- ------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James L. Hobart 1994 $ 233,918 $ 96,433 -- 12,500 $ 19,516(2)
Chairman and Chief 1993 $ 224,994 $ 96,901 -- 12,500 $ 17,885
Executive Officer 1992 $ 224,994 $ 70,697 -- 12,500 $ 15,592
Henry E. Gauthier 1994 $ 223,431 $ 92,134 -- 11,000 $ 15,654(3)
President and Chief 1993 $ 215,010 $ 91,310 -- 11,000 $ 15,857
Operating Officer 1992 $ 215,010 $ 71,981 -- 11,000 $ 13,627
Robert J. Quillinan 1994 $ 160,235 $ 61,474 -- 6,000 $ 11,081(4)
Vice President and Chief 1993 $ 161,177 $ 60,792 -- 6,000 $ 10,679
Financial Officer 1992 $ 155,034 $ 42,426 -- 6,000 $ 9,539
Bernard J. Couillaud (5) 1994 $ 155,885 $ 64,932 -- 6,000 $ 11,146(6)
Vice President 1993 $ 133,662 $ 78,668 -- 6,000 $ 9,536
and General Manager 1992 $ 118,712 $ 32,122 -- 12,750 $ 7,768
Leonard C. DeBenedictis (7) 1994 $ 196,232 $ 64,649 -- 6,000 $ 9,031(8)
Vice President 1993 $ 159,994 $ 122,543 -- 6,000 $ 10,844
and General Manager 1992 $ 145,976 $ 51,481 -- 12,000 $ 10,003
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1) In accordance with the rules of Securities and Exchange Commission, amounts
relating to fiscal 1992 and fiscal 1993, if any, and amounts totalling less
than $50,000 have been omitted.
(2) Includes $13,746 contributed by the Company under defined contribution
plans and $5,770 in life insurance benefits.
(3) Includes $13,403 contributed by the Company under defined contribution
plans and $2,251 in life insurance benefits.
</TABLE>
20
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(4) Includes $10,129 contributed by the Company under defined contribution
plans and $952 in life insurance benefits.
(5) Dr. Couillaud became an executive officer on March 23, 1992. The amounts
for 1992 reflect annual compensation paid to Dr. Couillaud in all
capacities for the year.
(6) Includes $9,815 contributed by the Company under defined contribution plans
and $1,331 in life insurance benefits.
(7) Includes compensation paid to Mr. DeBenedictis prior to his resignation on
August 26, 1994.
(8) Includes $7,516 contributed by the Company under defined contribution plans
and $1,515 in life insurance benefits.
</TABLE>
STOCK OPTION GRANTS AND EXERCISES
The following table shows, as to the individuals named in the Summary
Compensation Table above, information concerning stock options granted during
the fiscal year ended October 1, 1994.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
---------------------------------------------------- POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
NUMBER OF VALUE AT ASSUMED
SECURITIES ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
UNDERLYING % OF TOTAL PRICE APPRECIATION FOR
OPTIONS OPTIONS GRANTED EXERCISE OPTION TERM (3)
GRANTED TO EMPLOYEES IN PRICE ($/ EXPIRATION ----------------------
NAME (#)(1) FISCAL YEAR (2) SH) DATE 5% ($) 10% ($)
- --------------------------------------- ----------- --------------- --------- ----------- --------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James L. Hobart........................ 12,500 4.64% $ 12.75 5/13/00 $ 52,355 $ 118,216
Henry E. Gauthier...................... 11,000 4.08% $ 12.75 5/13/00 $ 46,072 $ 104,030
Robert J. Quillinan.................... 6,000 2.23% $ 12.75 5/13/00 $ 25,130 $ 56,744
Bernard J. Couillaud................... 6,000 2.23% $ 12.75 5/13/00 $ 25,130 $ 56,744
Leonard C. DeBenedictis (4)............ 6,000 2.23% $ 12.75 5/13/00 $ 25,130 $ 56,744
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1) The Company's 1979 Stock Option Plan, 1981 Incentive Stock Option Plan and
1987 Stock Option Plan (collectively the "Option Plans") provide for the
grant of options to officers and key employees of the Company. Options
granted under the Option Plans may be either "nonstatutory options" or
"incentive stock options." The exercise price is determined by the Board of
Directors or its Compensation Committee and may not be less than 100% of
the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the
options. The options expire not more than six years from the date of grant,
unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors or its Compensation
Committee, and may be exercised only while the optionee is employed by the
Company or within thirty days after termination of employment or within six
months after death. The Board of Directors may determine when options
granted may be exercisable. The 1979 Stock Option
</TABLE>
21
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Plan terminated on December 10, 1989 and no further options may be granted
thereunder. The 1981 Incentive Stock Option Plan terminated on December 10,
1991 and no further options may be granted thereunder. The Company has not
granted any stock appreciation rights.
(2) The Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 222,350 shares to
all employees other than executive officers and granted options to purchase
an aggregate of 47,500 shares to all executive officers as a group (6
persons), during fiscal 1994.
(3) This column sets forth hypothetical gains or "option spreads" for the
options at the end of their respective ten-year terms, as calculated in
accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each
gain is based on an arbitrarily assumed annualized rate of compound
appreciation of the market price at the date of grant of 5% and 10% from
the date the option was granted to the end of the option term. The 5% and
10% rates of appreciation are specified by the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission and do not represent the Company's estimate or
projection of future Common Stock prices. The Company does not necessarily
agree that this method properly values an option. Actual gains, if any, on
option exercises are dependent on the future performance of the Company's
Common Stock and overall market conditions.
(4) Mr. DeBenedictis resigned effective August 26, 1994.
</TABLE>
22
<PAGE>
The following table shows, as to the individuals named in the Summary
Compensation Table above, information concerning stock options exercised during
the fiscal year ended October 1, 1994 and the value of unexercised options at
such date.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES
UNDERLYING VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS/SARS IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
SHARES AT OCTOBER 1, 1994 (#)(2) AT OCTOBER 1, 1994($)(3)
ACQUIRED ON VALUE REALIZED -------------------------- --------------------------
NAME EXERCISE (#) ($)(1) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- --------------------------------- ------------ -------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James L. Hobart.................. 0 $ 0 25,000 37,500 $ 98,438 $ 82,813
Henry E. Gauthier................ 14,250 $ -3,563 22,000 33,000 $ 86,625 $ 72,875
Robert J. Quillinan.............. 14,500 $ 23,750 6,000 18,000 $ 21,750 $ 39,750
Bernard J. Couillaud............. 5,000 $ 18,025 12,000 18,000 $ 56,875 $ 39,750
Leonard C. DeBenedictis (4)...... 19,500 $ 58,500 10,500 21,000 $ 43,313 $ 55,875
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1) The value realized is calculated based on the closing price of the
Company's Common Stock as reported by the NASDAQ National Market System on
the date of exercise minus the exercise price of the option, and does not
necessarily indicate that the optionee sold such stock.
(2) The Company has not granted any stock appreciation rights and its stock
plans do not provide for the granting of such rights.
(3) The market value of underlying securities is based on the difference
between the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on October 1, 1994
of $14.00 (as reported by NASDAQ National Market System) and the exercise
price.
(4) Mr. DeBenedictis resigned effective August 26, 1994.
</TABLE>
OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT AND INVESTMENT PLAN AND SUPPLEMENTARY RETIREMENT PLAN
Effective January 1, 1979, the Company adopted the Coherent Employee
Retirement and Investment Plan. Employees become eligible to participate after
completing one year of service. Under this plan, the Company will match employee
contributions to the plan up to a maximum of 6% of the employee's individual
earnings. An employee is not entitled to any part of the Company's contribution
until the completion of his or her third year of employment. After the end of
the third year of employment, 20% of the Company's contribution vests.
Thereafter, an additional 20% of the Company's contribution vests at the end of
each year of completed service until the end of the seventh year of employment
when such contributions become 100% vested. Effective as of 1985, the plan was
23
<PAGE>
amended and restated to conform the plan to new regulations and to qualify under
Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to permit
employees to make contributions to the plan from their pre-tax earnings.
Effective January 1, 1990, the Company adopted the Supplementary Retirement Plan
which provides that certain senior management may contribute income to a trust
fund. The Company will match such contributions up to 6% of the participant's
income. Such contributions are subject to the same vesting requirements as
contributions made under the Employment Retirement and Investment Plan.
MANAGEMENT BONUS PLAN
The Company's Management Bonus Plan provides for the payment of quarterly
cash bonuses to members of management designated by the Board of Directors
determined by a formula based on improvements of pre-tax profits, cash flow and
asset management over preset threshold levels for each operating group or
business unit. Those employees who participate in the Bonus Plan who are not
assigned to an operating group or business unit receive an average of such
amounts.
PRODUCTIVITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Under the Company's Productivity Incentive Plan (the "Incentive Plan")
450,000 shares of Common Stock were initially reserved and 81,824 shares of
Common Stock are currently available for issuance to employees of the Company
and its designated subsidiaries who are customarily employed for at least twenty
hours per week. The purpose of the Incentive Plan is to enhance an employee's
proprietary interest in the Company and to create an incentive for the Company's
success.
The Incentive Plan provides for the quarterly distribution of cash or Common
Stock, at the election of each participant, based upon the quarterly
profitability of the Company. The amount of cash or number of shares of Common
Stock distributed to each participant is determined by dividing a participant's
"incentive compensation" by the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock
at the end of each three-month period.
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
The Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan") was adopted
by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders in 1980. A total of
2,287,500 shares of Common Stock were initially reserved and 705,935 shares of
Common Stock are currently available for issuance thereunder. The Purchase Plan
permits employees who are employed for at least twenty hours per week and more
than five months in a calendar year to purchase Common Stock of the Company
through payroll deductions, which may not exceed 10% of an employee's
compensation, at the lower of 85% of the fair market value of the Common Stock
at the beginning or at the end of each twelve-month period. The Purchase Plan
provides for two offerings during each fiscal year, each having a duration of
twelve months.
24
<PAGE>
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY SET FORTH IN ANY OF THE COMPANY'S
PREVIOUS FILINGS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, THAT MIGHT INCORPORATE FUTURE FILINGS, INCLUDING THIS
PROXY STATEMENT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, THE FOLLOWING REPORT AND THE PERFORMANCE
GRAPH ON PAGE 28 SHALL NOT BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO ANY SUCH FILINGS.
INTRODUCTION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors establishes the general
compensation policies of the Company, and establishes the compensation plans and
specific compensation levels for executive officers. The Committee strives to
ensure that the Company's executive compensation programs will enable the
Company to attract and retain key people and motivate them to achieve or exceed
certain key objectives of the Company by making individual compensation directly
dependent on the Company's achievement of certain financial goals, such as
profitability and asset management and by providing rewards for exceeding those
goals.
COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
BASE SALARY. The Committee establishes base salaries for executive
officers, normally within ten percent of the average paid for comparable
positions at other similarly sized companies as set forth in national and local
compensation surveys. Base pay increases vary according to individual
contributions to the Company's success and comparisons to similar positions
within the Company and at other comparable companies.
BONUS PLANS. Each executive officer participates in the Management Bonus
Plan which provides for the payment of a quarterly bonus determined by a formula
based on improvements of pre-tax profits and asset management over preset
threshold levels for each operating group or business unit.
STOCK OPTIONS. The Committee believes that stock options provide additional
incentive to officers to work towards maximizing stockholder value. The
Committee views stock options as one of the more important components of the
Company's long-term, performance-based compensation philosophy. These options
are provided through initial grants at or near the date of hire and through
subsequent periodic grants. Options granted by the Company to its executive
officers and other employees have exercise prices equal to the fair market value
at the time of grant. Stock options generally vest over a four year period. The
initial option grant is designed to be competitive with those of comparable
companies for the level of the job that the executive holds and is designed to
motivate the officer to make the kind of decisions and implement strategies and
programs that will contribute to an increase in the Company's stock price over
time. Periodic additional stock options within the comparable range for the job
are granted to reflect the executives ongoing contributions to the Company, to
create an incentive to remain at the Company and to provide a long-term
incentive to achieve or exceed the Company's financial goals.
25
<PAGE>
OTHER. In addition to the foregoing, officers participate in compensation
plans available to all employees, such as a quarterly profit sharing plan and
participation in both the Company's 401(k) retirement plan and employee stock
purchase plan. See "Executive Compensation -- Other Employee Benefit Plans."
COMPENSATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The factors considered by the Compensation Committee in determining the
compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, in addition to survey data, include
the Company's operating and financial performance, as well as his leadership and
establishment and implementation of strategic direction for the Company.
The Compensation Committee considers stock options to be an important
component of the Chief Executive Officer's compensation as a way to reward
performance and motivate leadership for long-term growth and profitability. In
1994, Mr. Hobart was granted an option to purchase 12,500 shares with an
exercise price equal to the fair market value at date of grant ($12.75 per
share). This option becomes exercisable at the end of four years. The Committee
believes that the quantity of shares granted to Mr. Hobart is consistent with
its philosophy of granting options to many management personnel rather than
concentrating grants on a few senior executives.
COMPENSATION LIMITATIONS
Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, adopted in August 1993,
and regulations adopted thereunder by the Internal Revenue Service,
publicly-held companies may be precluded from deducting certain compensation
paid to an executive officer in excess of $1.0 million in a year. The
regulations exclude from this limit performance-based compensation and stock
options provided certain requirements, such as stockholder approval, are
satisfied. The Company is studying these regulations and currently intends to
take the necessary actions to cause its stock option plans to qualify for the
exclusions. The Company does not currently anticipate taking actions necessary
to qualify the Company's executive annual cash bonus plans for the exclusions.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Frank Carrubba
Charles Cantoni
Thomas Sloan Nelsen
Dated: October 18, 1994
26
<PAGE>
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
The following table sets forth information with respect to all executive
officers of the Company who had indebtedness outstanding during the past fiscal
year. This indebtedness arose as a result of the delivery of promissory notes in
connection with the exercise of stock options.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LARGEST
AMOUNT BALANCE AT
NEW LOANS INTEREST MATURITY OUTSTANDING OCTOBER 1,
NAME DURING 1994 RATE(S) DATE(S) DURING 1994 1994
- -------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------- ---------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James L. Hobart............................. -- -- -- $ 487,089 $ 487,089
Henry E. Gauthier........................... $ 171,000 5.36% 3/3/99 $ 677,872 $ 677,872
Robert J. Quillinan......................... $ 169,183 5.34-7.05% 2/28/99- $ 394,061 $ 394,061
8/29/99
Leonard C. DeBenedictis (1)................. $ 210,863 7.05% 8/4/99 $ 322,415 $ 322,415
Robert Gelber............................... $ 49,458 7.05% 8/23/99 $ 179,940 $ 179,940
Bernard J. Couillaud........................ $ 56,092 5.34-5.35% 9/28/98- $ 56,092 $ 56,092
2/28/99
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1) Mr. DeBenedictis resigned effective August 26, 1994.
</TABLE>
All promissory notes are full recourse and are secured by the shares of
Common Stock of the Company issued upon exercise of the options. Interest is
paid annually.
See "Election of Directors -- Director Compensation" for a description of
Dr. Nelsen's consulting arrangement with the Company.
COMPANY STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE
The following graph shows a five-year comparison of cumulative total
stockholder return, calculated on a dividend reinvestment basis and based on a
$100 investment, from September 30, 1989 through October 1, 1994 comparing the
return on the Company's Common Stock with the Standard & Poors 500 Stock Index
and High Technology Composite Index. No dividends have been declared or paid on
the Company's Common Stock during such period. The stock price performance shown
on the graph following is not necessarily indicative of future price
performance.
27
<PAGE>
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COHERENT INC S & P 500 INDEX HIGH TECH COMPOSITE
<S> <C> <C> <C>
9/19 89 100 100 100
9/19 90 51.47 90.76 85.92
9/19 91 82.35 119.04 105.44
9/19 92 50 132.2 107.4
9/19 93 83.82 149.39 129.55
9/19 94 82.35 154.89 150.82
</TABLE>
OTHER MATTERS
The Company knows of no other matters to be submitted to the meeting. If any
other matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the
persons named in the enclosed form of Proxy to vote the shares they represent as
the Board of Directors may recommend.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dated: February 3, 1995
28
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
SECOND RESTATED AND AMENDED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
COHERENT, INC.
(ORIGINALLY INCORPORATED ON JANUARY 11, 1989)
Henry E. Gauthier and Scott H. Miller certify that:
1. They are President and Assistant Secretary of Coherent, Inc., a Delaware
Corporation.
2. The Restated and Amended Certificate of Incorporation of this
corporation are amended and restated to read as follows:
FIRST. The name of the corporation is Coherent, Inc. (the "Corporation").
SECOND. The address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of
Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of
Wilmington, County of New Castle, zip code 19801. The name of its registered
agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
THIRD. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted
by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which
corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
FOURTH. This Corporation is to issue one class of shares, designated
"Common Stock." The total number of shares which this Corporation shall have
authority to issue is Fifty Million (50,000,000) shares of Common Stock with a
par value of $.01 per share.
FIFTH. The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
SIXTH. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by
statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or
repeal the By-laws of the Corporation.
SEVENTH. The number of directors which constitute the whole Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall be as specified in the By-laws of the
Corporation.
EIGHTH. At all elections of directors of the Corporation, each holder of
stock or of any class or classes or of a series or series thereof shall be
entitled to as many votes as shall equal the number of votes which (except for
this provision as to cumulative voting) he or she would be entitled to cast for
the election of directors with respect to his or her shares of stock multiplied
by the number of directors to be elected, and he or she may cast all of such
votes for a single candidate or may distribute them among the number to be
elected, or for any two or more of them as he or she may see fit.
NINTH. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors of the Corporation
shall be elected to hold office until the expiration of the term for which they
are elected, and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified;
except that if any such election shall not be so held, such election shall
<PAGE>
take place at a stockholders' meeting called and held in accordance with the
Delaware General Corporation Law. The directors of the Corporation shall be
divided into three classes as nearly equal in size as is practicable, hereby
designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The term of office of the initial
Class I directors shall expire at the next succeeding annual meeting of
stockholders, the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire
at the second succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and the term of office
of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the third succeeding annual
meeting of the stockholders. For the purposes hereof, the initial Class I, Class
II and Class III directors shall be those directors so designated and elected at
the annual meeting of stockholders scheduled to be held on March 23, 1995. At
each annual meeting after the annual meeting of stockholders scheduled to be
held on March 23, 1995, directors to replace those of a Class whose terms expire
at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third
succeeding annual meeting and until their respective successors shall have been
duly elected and qualified. If the number of directors is hereafter changed, any
newly created directorships or decrease in directorships shall be so apportioned
among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as is
practicable.
TENTH. Any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with
or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to
vote at an election of directors; provided, however, that, so long as
stockholders of the corporation are entitled to cumulative voting, if less than
the entire board is to be removed, no director may be removed without cause if
the votes cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect him if then
cumulatively voted at an election of the entire board of directors.
ELEVENTH. Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State
of Delaware, as the By-laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be
kept (subject to any provision contained in the statutes) outside the State of
Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors or in the By-laws of the Corporation.
TWELFTH. Elections for directors need not be by ballot unless a stockholder
demands election by ballot at the meeting and before the voting begins or unless
the By-laws so require.
THIRTEENTH. To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General
Corporation Law as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, a director of
the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article Thirteenth, nor the adoption of
any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this
Article Thirteenth, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article
Thirteenth in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or
claim that, but for this Article Thirteenth, would accrue or arise, prior to
such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.
A-2
<PAGE>
FOURTEENTH. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or
repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the
manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon
stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
3. The aforementioned Second Restated and Amended Certificate of
Incorporation has been adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242
and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed this Second Restated and Amended
Certificate of Incorporation of this day of , 1995.
______________________________________
Henry E. Gauthier, President
______________________________________
Scott H. Miller, Assistant Secretary
A-3
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAWS
Section 3.3 of Article III of the Bylaws of the Company is amended in its
entirety as follows:
3.3 ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS
Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these by-laws, at each annual meeting
of stockholders, directors of the corporation shall be elected to hold office
until the expiration of the term for which they are elected, and until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified; except that if any such
election shall not be so held, such election shall take place at a stockholder's
meeting called and held in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law.
The directors of the corporation shall be divided into three classes as nearly
equal in size as is practicable, hereby designated Class I, Class II and Class
III. The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the
next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, the term of office of the
initial Class II directors shall expire at the second succeeding annual meeting
of stockholders and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall
expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders. For the purposes
hereof, the initial Class I, Class II and Class III directors shall be those
directors so designated and elected at the annual meeting of stockholders
scheduled to be held on March 23, 1995. At each annual meeting after the annual
meeting of stockholders scheduled to be held on March 23, 1995, directors to
replace those of a Class whose terms expire at such annual meeting shall be
elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting and until their
respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. If the number
of directors is hereafter changed, any newly created directorships or decrease
in directorships shall be so apportioned among the classes as to make all
classes as nearly equal in number as is practicable.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
COHERENT, INC.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement ("AGREEMENT") is entered into as of the
day of , 199 by and between Coherent, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY") and [ ]("INDEMNITEE").
RECITALS
A. The Company and Indemnitee recognize the continued difficulty in
obtaining liability insurance for its directors, officers, employees, agents and
fiduciaries, the significant increases in the cost of such insurance and the
general reductions in the coverage of such insurance.
B. The Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial increase in
corporate litigation in general, subjecting directors, officers, employees,
agents and fiduciaries to expensive litigation risks at the same time as the
availability and coverage of liability insurance has been severely limited.
C. Indemnitee does not regard the current protection available as adequate
under the present circumstances, and Indemnitee and other directors, officers,
employees, agents and fiduciaries of the Company may not be willing to continue
to serve in such capacities without additional protection.
D. The Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly
qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company and, in part, in
order to induce Indemnitee to continue to provide services to the Company,
wishes to provide for the indemnification and advancing of expenses to
Indemnitees to the maximum extent permitted by law.
E. In view of the considerations set forth above, the Company desires that
Indemnitee be indemnified by the Company as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:
1. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) INDEMNIFICATION OF EXPENSES. The Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law if Indemnitee was or is or
becomes a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to
be made a party to or witness or other participant in, any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute
resolution mechanism, or any hearing, inquiry or investigation that
Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such
action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism,
whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other (hereinafter
a "Claim") by reason of (or arising in part out of) any event or occurrence
related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee,
agent or fiduciary of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or is
or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer,
employee, agent
<PAGE>
or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, or by reason of any action or inaction on the part of
Indemnitee while serving in such capacity (hereinafter an "INDEMNIFIABLE
EVENT") against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees and all
other costs, expenses and obligations incurred in connection with
investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including
on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in, any
such action, suit, proceeding, alternative dispute resolution mechanism,
hearing, inquiry or investigation), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts
paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the
Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of such Claim
and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a
result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement
(collectively, hereinafter "EXPENSES"), including all interest, assessments
and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such
Expenses. Such payment of Expenses shall be made by the Company as soon as
practicable but in any event no later than twenty days after written demand
by Indemnitees therefor is presented to the Company.
(b) REVIEWING PARTY. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the
obligations of the Company under Section 1(a) shall be subject to the
condition that the Reviewing Party (as described in Section 10(e) hereof)
shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any case in which the
Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section 1(c) hereof is involved)
that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable
law, and (ii) the obligation of the Company to make an advance payment of
Expenses to Indemnitee pursuant to Section 2(a) (an "EXPENSE ADVANCE") shall
be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the
Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so
indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be
reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agree to reimburse the Company) for all
such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has
commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent
jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified
under applicable law, any determination made by the Reviewing Party that
Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law
shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the
Company for any Expense Advance until a final judicial determination is made
with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been
exhausted or lapsed). The Indemnitee's obligation to reimburse the Company
for any Expense Advance shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged
thereon. If there has not been a Change in Control (as defined in Section
10(c) hereof), the Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of
Directors, and if there has been such a Change in Control (other than a
Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's
Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in
Control), the Reviewing Party shall be the Independent Legal Counsel
referred to in Section 1(c) hereof. If there has been no determination by
the Reviewing Party or if the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee
substantively would not be permitted to be indemnified in
C-2
<PAGE>
whole or in part under applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to
commence litigation seeking an initial determination by the court or
challenging any such determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect
thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and the Company
hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding.
Any determination by the Reviewing Party otherwise shall be conclusive and
binding on the Company and Indemnitee.
(c) CHANGE IN CONTROL. The Company agrees that if there is a Change in
Control of the Company (other than a Change in Control which has been
approved by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were
directors immediately prior to such Change in Control) then, with respect to
all matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitees to
payments of Expenses and Expense Advances under this Agreement or any other
agreement or under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws as
now or hereafter in effect, Independent Legal Counsel (as defined in Section
10(d) hereof) shall be selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). Such counsel, among
other things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee
as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be permitted to be
indemnified under applicable law or this Agreement and the Company agrees to
abide by such opinion. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the
Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such
counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims,
liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its
engagement pursuant hereto.
(d) MANDATORY PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement other than Section 9 hereof, to the extent that Indemnitee
has been successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without
limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any
action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation referred to in Section
(1)(a) hereof or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein,
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee
in connection therewith.
2. EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE.
(a) ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company shall advance all Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee. The advances to be made hereunder shall be paid by
the Company to or on behalf of Indemnitee as soon as practicable but in any
event no later than twenty days after written demand by Indemnitee therefor
to the Company.
(b) NOTICE/COOPERATION BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee shall, as a condition
precedent to Indemnitee's right to be indemnified under this Agreement, give
the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of any Claim made
against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under
this Agreement. Notice to the Company shall be directed to the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company at the address shown on the signature page
of this Agreement (or such
C-3
<PAGE>
other address as the Company shall designate in writing to Indemnitee). In
addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and cooperation
as it may reasonably require and as shall be within Indemnitee's power.
(c) NO PRESUMPTIONS; BURDEN OF PROOF. For purposes of this Agreement,
the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or
without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of NOLO CONTENDERE, or
its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet
any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a
court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable
law. In addition, neither the failure of the Reviewing Party to have made a
determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular standard of
conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by the
Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did
not have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by
Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that Indemnitee should be
indemnified under applicable law, shall be a defense to Indemnitee's claim
or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any particular standard
of conduct or did not have any particular belief. In connection with any
determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee
is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the burden of proof shall be on the
Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.
(d) NOTICE TO INSURERS. If, at the time of the receipt by the Company
of a notice of a Claim pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, the Company has
liability insurance in effect which may cover such Claim, the Company shall
give prompt notice of the commencement of such Claim to the insurers in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The
Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause
such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a
result of such action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation in
accordance with the terms of such policies.
(e) SELECTION OF COUNSEL. In the event the Company shall be obligated
hereunder to pay the Expenses of any Claim, the Company shall be entitled to
assume the defense of such Claim with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, upon the delivery to Indemnitee
of written notice of its election so to do. After delivery of such notice,
approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by
the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this
Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with
respect to the same Claim; provided that, (i) Indemnitee shall have the
right to employ Indemnitee's counsel in any such Claim at Indemnitee's
expense and (ii) if (A) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been
previously authorized by the Company, (B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably
concluded that there is a conflict of interest between the Company and
Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense, or (C) the Company shall not
continue to retain such counsel to defend such Claim, then the fees and
expenses of
C-4
<PAGE>
Indemnitee's counsel shall be at the expense of the Company. The Company
shall have the right to conduct such defense as it sees fit in its sole
discretion, including the right to settle any claim against Indemnitee at
the Company's expense without the consent of the Indemnitee.
3. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION RIGHTS; NONEXCLUSIVITY.
(a) SCOPE. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify Indemnitee to the
fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification
is not specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement,
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws or by
statute. In the event of any change after the date of this Agreement in any
applicable law, statute or rule which expands the right of a Delaware
corporation to indemnify a member of its Board of Directors or an officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary, it is the intent of the parties hereto that
Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits afforded by
such change. In the event of any change in any applicable law, statute or
rule which narrows the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member
of its Board of Directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, such
change, to the extent not otherwise required by such law, statute or rule to
be applied to this Agreement, shall have no effect on this Agreement or the
parties' rights and obligations hereunder except as set forth in Section
8(a) hereof.
(b) NONEXCLUSIVITY. The indemnification provided by this Agreement
shall be in addition to any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, its Bylaws, any agreement, any
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware, or otherwise. The indemnification provided under
this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action Indemnitee
took or did not take while serving in an indemnified capacity even though
Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity.
4. NO DUPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. The Company shall not be liable under this
Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against
Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment
(under any insurance policy, Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw or otherwise)
of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.
5. PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision
of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of
Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for all of the
total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for
the portion of such Expenses to which Indemnitee is entitled.
6. MUTUAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge
that in certain instances, Federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit
the Company from indemnifying its directors, officers, employees, agents or
fiduciaries under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and
acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to
C-5
<PAGE>
undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of
indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the
Company's right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.
7. LIABILITY INSURANCE. The Company shall, from time to time, make the
good faith determination whether it is practicable or in the best interests of
the Company or its stockholders for the Company to obtain and maintain a policy
or policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies providing the
officers and directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful
acts, or to ensure the Company's performance of its indemnification obligations
under this Agreement. Among other considerations, the Company will weigh the
costs of obtaining such insurance coverage against the protection afforded by
such coverage. In all policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance,
Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide
Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably
insured of the Company's directors, if Indemnitee is a director; or of the
Company's officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of the Company but is an
officer; or of the Company's key employees, if Indemnitee is not an officer or
director but is a key employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
have no obligation to obtain or maintain such insurance if the Company
determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, if the
premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage
provided, if the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so
as to provide an insufficient benefit, or if Indemnitee is covered by similar
insurance maintained by a subsidiary or parent of the Company.
8. EXCEPTIONS. Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:
(a) EXCLUDED ACTION OR OMISSIONS. To indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses
resulting from acts, omissions or transactions for which Indemnitee is
prohibited from receiving indemnification under this Agreement or applicable
law;
(b) CLAIMS INITIATED BY INDEMNITEE. To indemnify or advance expenses
to Indemnitee with respect to Claims initiated or brought voluntarily by
Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except (i) with respect to actions or
proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under
this Agreement or any other agreement or insurance policy or under the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect
relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events, (ii) in specific cases if the
Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such Claim, or
(iii) as otherwise required under Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined
to be entitled to such indemnification, advance expense payment or insurance
recovery, as the case may be;
C-6
<PAGE>
(c) LACK OF GOOD FAITH. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses
incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any proceeding instituted by
Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court of competent
jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by
Indemnitee in such proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous;
or
(d) CLAIMS UNDER SECTION 16(B). To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses
and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee
of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute.
9. PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of
action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee,
Indemnitee's estate, spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal
representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of
such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be
extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal
action within such two-year period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any shorter
period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action, such
shorter period shall govern.
10. CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PHRASES.
(a) COMPANY. For purposes of this Agreement, references to the
"Company" shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any
constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent)
absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had
continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors,
officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries, so that if Indemnitee is or was
a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent
corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or
other enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under the
provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent
corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(b) OTHER ENTERPRISES. For purposes of this Agreement, references to
"other enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; references to
"fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with respect
to an employee benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of
the Company" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee,
agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves
services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with
respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or its beneficiaries;
and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably
believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an
employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner
"not opposed to the best interests of the Company" as referred to in this
Agreement.
C-7
<PAGE>
(c) CHANGE OF CONTROL. For purposes of this Agreement a "Change in
Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if, on or after the date of this
Agreement, (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan
of the Company acting in such capacity or a corporation owned directly or
indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the
total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding Voting
Securities, (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who
at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the
Company and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or
nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote
of at least two thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who
either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to
constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the stockholders of the Company
approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation
other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting
Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing
to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the total voting
power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving
entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the
stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the
Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in
one transaction or a series of related transactions) all or substantially
all of the Company's assets.
(d) INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Independent Legal Counsel" shall mean an attorney or firm of attorneys,
selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(c) hereof, who shall
not have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitees within
the last three years (other than with respect to matters concerning the
rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under
similar indemnity agreements).
(e) REVIEWING PARTY. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Reviewing
Party" shall mean any appropriate person or body consisting of a member or
members of the Company's Board of Directors or any other person or body
appointed by the Board of Directors who is not a party to the particular
Claim for which Indemnitee are seeking indemnification, or Independent Legal
Counsel.
(f) VOTING SECURITIES. For purposes of this Agreement, "Voting
Securities" shall mean any securities of the Company that vote generally in
the election of directors.
C-8
<PAGE>
11. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.
12. BINDING EFFECT; SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
hereto and their respective successors, assigns, including any direct or
indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, spouses, heirs,
and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any
successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business
and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance
satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall
continue in effect with respect to Claims relating to Indemnifiable Events
regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other enterprise at the
Company's request.
13. ATTORNEYS' FEES. In the event that any action is instituted by
Indemnitee under this Agreement or under any liability insurance policies
maintained by the Company to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof or
thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee with respect to such action, regardless of whether Indemnitee is
ultimately successful in such action, and shall be entitled to the advancement
of Expenses with respect to such action, unless, as a part of such action, a
court of competent jurisdiction over such action determines that each of the
material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made
in good faith or was frivolous. In the event of an action instituted by or in
the name of the Company under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the
terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action (including costs and expenses
incurred with respect to Indemnitee's counterclaims and cross-claims made in
such action), and shall be entitled to the advancement of Expenses with respect
to such action, unless, as a part of such action, a court having jurisdiction
over such action determines that each of Indemnitee's material defenses to such
action was made in bad faith or was frivolous.
14. NOTICE. All notices and other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing, shall be effective when given, and shall in any
event be deemed to be given (a) five (5) days after deposit with the U.S. Postal
Service or other applicable postal service, if delivered by first class mail,
postage prepaid, (b) upon delivery, if delivered by hand, (c) one business day
after the business day of deposit with Federal Express or similar overnight
courier, freight prepaid, or (d) one day after the business day of delivery by
facsimile transmission, if delivered by facsimile transmission, with copy by
first class mail, postage prepaid, and shall be addressed if to Indemnitee, at
the Indemnitee's
C-9
<PAGE>
address as set forth beneath Indemnitee's signature to this Agreement and if to
the Company at the address of its principal corporate offices (attention:
Secretary) or at such other address as such party may designate by ten days'
advance written notice to the other party hereto.
15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby
irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware
for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of
or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this
Agreement shall be commenced, prosecuted and continued only in the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, which shall be
the exclusive and only proper forum for adjudicating such a claim.
16. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in
the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a
single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining
provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement
(including, without limitations, each portion of this Agreement containing any
provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, that is not
itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect
to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable.
17. CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and its provisions
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, as
applied to contracts between Delaware residents, entered into and to be
performed entirely within the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict
of laws principles thereof.
18. SUBROGATION. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company
shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of
recovery of Indemnitee who shall execute all documents required and shall do all
acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company
effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
19. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. No amendment, modification, termination or
cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing signed
by both the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
20. INTEGRATION AND ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes and merges all previous
written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements
relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto.
C-10
<PAGE>
21. NO CONSTRUCTION AS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in
the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
COHERENT, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By: __________________________________
Title: _______________________________
Address: 5100 Patrick Henry Drive
Santa Clara, CA 95054
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY:
______________________________________
[Name of Indemnitee]
Address: _____________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
C-11
<PAGE>
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
COHERENT, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
March 23, 1995
The undersigned stockholder of Coherent, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and
Proxy Statement, each dated February 3, 1995, and hereby appoints Henry E.
Gauthier and Robert J. Quillinan, or either of them, proxies and attorneys-in-
fact, with full power to each of substitution, on behalf and in the name of the
undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of Coherent, Inc. to be held on March 23, 1995, at 5:30 p.m., local time, at the
Company's principal offices located at 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara,
California 95054, and at any adjournment(s) thereof and to vote all shares of
Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there
personally present, on the matters set forth below:
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:
/ / FOR all nominees listed below / / WITHHOLD authority
(except as indicated). to vote for all nominees
listed below.
IF YOU WISH TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE(S), STRIKE
A LINE THROUGH THAT NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW:
James L. Hobart Charles W. Cantoni Thomas Sloan Nelsen
Henry E. Gauthier Frank P. Carrubba Jerry Robertson
2. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPANY'S RESTATED AND AMENDED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS TO REORGANIZE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
INTO THREE CLASSES WITH STAGGERED TERMS:
/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
3. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE A NEW FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
COMPANY AND ITS OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS:
/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
4. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE AS THE INDEPENDENT
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS TO THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
1995:
/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
and in their discretion, upon such other matter or matters which may properly
come before the meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof.
<PAGE>
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO CONTRARY DIRECTION IS
INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, FOR ADOPTION OF THE
AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPANY'S RESTATED AND AMENDED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
AND BYLAWS, FOR ADOPTION OF A NEW FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, FOR
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS,
AND AS SAID PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY COME BEFORE THE
MEETING AND ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF.
Dated: , 1995
--------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
Signature
---------------------------------------------
Signature
(THIS PROXY SHOULD BE MARKED, DATED, SIGNED
BY THE STOCKHOLDER(S) EXACTLY AS HIS OR HER
NAME APPEARS HEREON, AND RETURNED PROMPTLY IN
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PERSONS SIGNING IN A
FIDUCIARY CAPACITY SHOULD SO INDICATE. IF
SHARES ARE HELD BY JOINT TENANT OR AS
COMMUNITY PROPERTY, BOTH SHOULD SIGN.)
