JLG INDUSTRIES INC
DEF 14A, 1997-10-06
CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY & EQUIP
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                           SCHEDULE 14A - INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. )


Filed by the Registrant [X] 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] 
Check the appropriate box: 
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement 
[ ] Confidential, for use of the Commission Only 
    (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) 
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement 
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials 
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to [section] 240.14a-11(c) 
    or [section] 240.14a-12

                              JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.

[ ] 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:

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    2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

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    3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
        filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

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    4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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    5)  Total fee paid:

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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
    Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
    paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
    number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
    1) Amount Previously Paid:

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    2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No:

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    3) Filing Party:

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    4) Date Filed:

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<PAGE>


                             JLG Industries, Inc.


                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                           Monday, November 17, 1997


Dear Fellow Shareholder:

It is my pleasure to invite you to attend the 1997 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of JLG Industries, Inc. The meeting will be held at the Company's
headquarters in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania on Monday, November 17, 1997 at
4:30 p.m. for the following purposes:

    1.  To elect a board of eight directors of the Company to hold office until
        the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors shall
        be elected and qualified.

    2.  To ratify the selection of independent auditors for the 1998 fiscal
        year.

    3.  To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
        Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

The Board of Directors has designated the close of business on October 1, 1997,
as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of,
and to vote at, this meeting or any adjournments thereof.

We hope that you will be able to attend the meeting in person. Whether or not
you plan to attend, please promptly sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy card
in the postage-paid return envelope provided. It is important that your shares
are represented and voted at the meeting.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish to thank you for your cooperation
and continued support.


/s/ Charles H. Diller, Jr.
- --------------------------
Charles H. Diller, Jr.
Secretary

<PAGE>

                                PROXY STATEMENT

                                    GENERAL

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by and on
behalf of the Board of Directors of JLG Industries, Inc. (the "Company") of
proxies to be voted at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company
to be held at the Company's headquarters in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania on
November 17, 1997.

A proxy may be revoked by the person giving the proxy at any time prior to the
close of voting. Prior to the Annual Meeting, a proxy may be revoked by filing
with the Secretary of the Company a written revocation or a duly executed proxy
bearing a later date. During the Annual Meeting, a proxy may be revoked by
filing a written revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date with
the Secretary of the Annual Meeting prior to the close of voting.

It is important that your shares are voted at the Annual Meeting. Whether or
not you plan to attend in person, we urge you to take a moment now to exercise
your right to vote by signing, dating and mailing the proxy card(s) found in
the address pocket of the mailing envelope. If you hold shares in more than one
account, then you will receive more than one card. Please sign, date and mail
each card received to assure that all of your shares will be represented and
voted at the Annual Meeting.

All expenses in connection with the solicitation of proxies will be borne by
the Company. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, the officers,
directors, or other employees of the Company, as yet undesignated, and without
compensation other than their regular compensation, may solicit proxies in
person or by other appropriate means if authorized and if deemed advisable. The
Company has also engaged the proxy soliciting firm of D.F. King & Co., Inc. for
a fee not to exceed $5,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses.

As of October 1, 1997, the record date for the Annual Meeting as set by the
Board of Directors, there were 44,009,117 shares of Capital Stock issued and
outstanding. Each share of Capital Stock entitles the holder to one vote at the
Annual Meeting. There are no other voting securities of the Company.

                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The persons named in the following table have been nominated by the Board of
Directors for election as directors at the Annual Meeting to hold office until
the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors shall be
elected and qualified. Directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast.

Nominees for Directors

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   Director
Name                       Age     Since       Background Information
- ------------------------   -----   ---------   ----------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>      <C>       <C>
L. David Black              60       1990      Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
                                               Executive Officer; prior to 1993, President and
                                               Chief Executive Officer. Director, Columbus
                                               McKinnon Corporation.
Charles H. Diller, Jr.      52       1984      Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
                                               Officer.
George R. Kempton           63       1993      Retired Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
                                               Officer, Kysor Industrial Corporation. Director,
                                               Simpson Industries Inc.
James A. Mezera             67       1984      President, Mezera and Associates, Inc., a
                                               management consulting firm; prior to 1996, Vice
                                               President, Komatsu Dresser Company.
Gerald Palmer               52       1994      Vice President, Technical Services Division,
                                               Caterpillar, Inc.
Stephen Rabinowitz          54       1994      Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
                                               Executive Officer, General Cable Corporation; prior
                                               to 1994, President, AlliedSignal Braking Systems,
                                               AlliedSignal, Inc.
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 Director
Name                     Age     Since       Background Information
- ----------------------   -----   ---------   -------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>      <C>       <C>
Thomas C. Wajnert         54       1994      Chairman of the Board, AT&T Capital Corporation;
                                             prior to 1997, Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                             Executive Officer, AT&T Capital Corporation.
Charles O. Wood, III      59       1988      President, Wood Holdings, Inc., a private
                                             investment firm. Chairman of the Board, Boston
                                             Private Bancorp.
</TABLE>

Each nominee for director listed above has been employed in the capacity noted
for more than five years, except as indicated. There are no family
relationships among any of the above-named directors.


Board of Directors

The Company's Board of Directors held five meetings during the 1997 fiscal
year. During that time, each director attended at least seventy-five percent of
the aggregate of (i) the number of meetings of the Board and (ii) the number of
meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he served.

The Board of Directors has established three committees--Audit, Compensation
and Directors and Corporate Governance to devote attention to specific subjects
and to assist the Board in the discharge of its responsibilities. The functions
of those committees, their current members and the number of meetings held
during the 1997 fiscal year are described below.

The Audit Committee, currently consisting of Messrs. Kempton (Chairman),
Palmer, Rabinowitz, and Wajnert, who are all outside directors, met two times
during the 1997 fiscal year. Its functions include recommending the selection
of the independent auditors; conferring with the independent auditors and
reviewing the scope and fees of the annual audit and the results thereof;
reviewing the Company's annual report to shareholders and annual filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission; reviewing the adequacy of the Company's
internal audit function, as well as the accounting and financial controls and
procedures; and approving the nature and scope of nonaudit services performed
by the independent auditors.

The Compensation Committee, currently consisting of Messrs. Mezera, Rabinowitz,
Wajnert and Wood (Chairman), who are all outside directors, principally
evaluates the performance of the Chief Executive Officer; reviews his
evaluation of the other officers' performance; recommends compensation
arrangements for all officers of the Company, including salaries, bonuses and
other supplemental compensation programs; administers the Company's Stock
Incentive Plan; and reviews all other officer-related benefit plans. The
Compensation Committee held three meetings during the 1997 fiscal year.

The Directors and Corporate Governance Committee, currently consisting of
Messrs. Kempton, Mezera (Chairman), Palmer, and Wood, who are all outside
directors, held one meeting during fiscal 1997. This committee is responsible
for identifying and recommending to the Board appropriate areas of expertise to
be represented on the Board; identifying qualified candidates to fill Board
positions; reviewing and recommending the slate of directors to be submitted
for election by the shareholders at each annual meeting; reviewing any
shareholder nominations of directors to determine whether they comply with
substantive and procedural requirements; recommending to the Board staffing of
committees and reviewing the scope of each committees' responsibilities;
reviewing shareholder proposals for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials
and determining whether they comply with substantive and procedural
requirements; recommending to the Board appropriate levels of director
compensation and compensation programs; reviewing and advising the Board
regarding management succession plans; and evaluating the performance of
current directors.

Director nominations, other than those by or at the direction of the Board, may
be made pursuant to written notice received by the Secretary of the Company at
the principal executive offices of the Company no later than ninety days prior
to the anniversary date of the previous year's annual meeting. Such notice must
be accompanied by written statements signed by each person so nominated setting
forth all information in respect of such person that would be required by Rule
14a-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission if such person had
been nominated by the Board of Directors and stating that such person consents
to such nomination and consents to serve as director of the Company if elected.

Directors, who are not employees of the Company, receive compensation for their
services as directors. Each such director currently receives a $16,000 annual
retainer and each committee chairman a $1,000 annual retainer for service as a
committee chairman. In addition, each such director receives $1,000 and $850,
respectively, for each Board meeting or committee meeting attended. Directors
are also reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with
their attendance at meetings and for other services rendered as a director.
Directors, who are employees of the Company, do not receive additional
compensation for services as a director.


                                       3
<PAGE>


The JLG Industries, Inc. Directors Stock Option Plan provides for annual grants
to each non-employee director of an option to purchase 6,000 shares of the
Company's Capital Stock provided the Company earned a net profit, before
extraordinary items, for the prior year.

The Company has a Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan which entitles each
eligible director to defer the receipt of fees payable for services as a
director. Any director, who is not an employee of the Company, is eligible to
participate in the plan. Mr. Mezera elected to participate in the plan during
fiscal 1997. Payments deferred under the plan accrue interest at the prime rate
in effect from time to time. During fiscal 1997, Mr. Mezera received $18,200 in
fees for consulting services performed for the Company.


                    VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

The following table sets forth, as of September 12, 1997, the beneficial
ownership of the Company's Capital Stock by (i) each director or nominee for
director of the Company, (ii) each executive officer of the Company named in
the Summary Compensation Table set forth under the caption "Executive
Compensation", and (iii) all directors and executive officers of the Company as
a group. All ownership information is based upon filings made by such persons
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") or upon information
provided to the Company.

                   Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership

                                                       Acquirable
     Name of Person                    Currently        Within 60     Percent of
     Or Group(1)                        Owned(2)          Days         Class(3)
     ----------------------------      ----------      ----------     ---------
     Charles O. Wood, III              308,000(4)        66,000
     L. David Black                    280,188(5)       354,208        1.4%
     Charles H. Diller, Jr.            224,485          117,769
     Raymond F. Treml                  152,159           51,335
     Rao G. Bollimpalli                 86,902           30,087
     Michael Swartz                     42,341           38,377
     George R. Kempton                  42,000           30,000
     James A. Mezera                    37,000           30,000
     Gerald Palmer                      12,000           46,992
     Thomas C. Wajnert                  12,000           18,000
     Stephen Rabinowitz                  6,000           47,064
     All directors and executive
      officers as a group 
      (11 persons)                   1,203,075          829,832        4.5%

(1) The address of each of the named persons is in care of JLG Industries, Inc.,
    1 JLG Drive, McConnellsburg, PA 17233.
(2) Each person listed has advised the Company that, except as otherwise
    indicated, such person has sole voting and sole investment power with
    respect to the shares indicated, except for certain shares as follows where
    each person has voting but not investment power: Mr. Black, 171,588; Mr.
    Diller, 82,305; Mr. Swartz, 35,735; Mr. Treml, 53,519; Mr. Bollimpalli,
    51,369: and all directors and executive officers as a group, 394,516.
(3) Percentages are not shown where less than 1.0%.
(4) Includes 48,000 shares owned by a family trust.
(5) Includes 3,600 shares owned by spouse.

                                       4
<PAGE>


                            EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Executive Compensation Policies

The Company's executive compensation programs are designed to retain or attract
qualified executives to manage implementation of the Company's business plans
and to provide appropriate incentives, based principally on objective criteria,
that link compensation to Company performance. The Compensation Committee,
which is composed entirely of non-employee directors, reviews executive
compensation levels annually and recommends for Board consideration an annual
compensation package for each executive officer comprised of base salary and
target cash bonuses pursuant to an incentive bonus plan. The target cash
bonuses are awarded on the basis of individual performance objectives and the
Company's achieving targeted levels of return on average shareholders' equity
and other performance objectives. The Committee also determines annually for
each executive officer appropriate levels of stock options or other stock-based
awards under the Company's Stock Incentive Plan. In granting stock options, the
Committee considers the cash value of such awards based on the Black-Scholes
valuation method. The Committee believes the stock-based awards provide
incentives for executive management to promote intermediate-term and long-term
shareholder value.

Total compensation available in the combined package for each officer will
generally be set based on the Company's financial condition, performance
objectives correlated to the Company's annual business plan and comparisons to
the preceding year's package. The Committee also evaluates compensation levels
for comparable positions reflected in survey data provided by the Committee's
independent compensation consultant. The consultant seeks to compile survey
data drawn from a broad group of industrial companies of roughly comparable
revenue size, with roughly comparable officer positions and responsibilities.
In considering all of these factors, the Committee seeks to set base salaries
generally equivalent to median levels reflected in the survey data. In setting
performance-based compensation, the Committee seeks to provide Company
executives with the opportunity to earn total compensation generally at or
exceeding the 75th percentile levels reflected in the survey data. As a
secondary comparative measure the Committee examines compensation practices of
a selected group of capital equipment manufacturers. However, the Committee
believes that the market for skilled senior management is not limited to
capital equipment manufacturers and that a broad industry comparison offers a
better basis for establishing annual compensation packages than comparison to
executive compensation paid by firms included in either the selected group of
capital equipment manufacturers examined by the Committee or the peer industry
group identified in the Performance Graph included in this Proxy Statement.

Compensation for Fiscal Year 1997

Compensation paid to the Company's executive officers for fiscal year 1997
consisted of a base salary and a year-end cash bonus. The Committee also
awarded stock options and restricted share awards under the Company's Stock
Incentive Plan.

Base salaries for fiscal 1997 were generally at or slightly below the median of
survey data provided by the Committee's compensation consultant. For fiscal
1998, after consulting with Mr. Black, the Committee recommended and the Board
authorized Mr. Black to adopt limited salary increases ranging from 3% to 5%
for each officer, with higher percentage increases typically for officers whose
fiscal 1997 salaries were below median survey levels. As part of the Company's
cost reduction initiatives for fiscal 1998, Mr. Black elected not to adopt any
salary increases for officers for fiscal 1998.

At the outset of fiscal 1997 the Committee established under the management
incentive plan a cash bonus matrix based on possible levels of fiscal 1997
operating income (OI), return on average assets (ROA) and return on average
shareholders equity (ROSE) in ranges classified as threshold, target and
distinguished. Demand for the Company's products softened during the second
half thereby limiting financial performance below levels targeted at the
beginning of the fiscal year. 1997 OI and ROSE fell in the incentive plan
threshold range with ROA falling below threshold. Accordingly, cash bonuses
recommended by the Committee and approved by the Board were substantially below
year ago bonuses even though the Company's sales and earnings exceeded year ago
performance.

For fiscal 1997, the Committee also awarded stock options and restricted shares
that provide long- and intermediate-term incentives and that offer
opportunities for officers to earn total compensation generally at or exceeding
the 75th percentile levels reflected in survey data. Stock options, which
provide long-term incentives, were awarded on a basis similar to prior years.
The Committee also awarded restricted shares under a new program with vesting
criteria designed to provide intermediate-term incentives. Unlike stock options
which remain exercisable for 10 years, these shares will vest if at any time
between two and five years after the date of grant the Company achieves a
certain share price appreciation target. In addition, the restricted shares
will vest at the end of five years if the grantee remains an employee of the
Company.


                                       5
<PAGE>

Chief Executive Officer Compensation

The Committee again recognizes Mr. Black's leadership in guiding the Company to
its fourth consecutive year of record sales and earnings. The Committee also
appreciates Mr. Black's willingness to establish "stretch" goals for Company
performance and to stake a large portion of his compensation upon achievement
of these goals.

Despite a record year, as noted above, fiscal 1997 Company performance did not
achieve the "stretch" goals established at the year's outset. Accordingly the
$52,416 cash bonus for fiscal 1997, which was determined by the Committee in
accordance with the matrix set forth in the incentive bonus plan, was
substantially below Mr. Black's fiscal 1996 bonus. Mr. Black's base salary for
fiscal 1997 was $350,016. At his request, the Committee recommended no increase
in Mr. Black's salary for fiscal 1998. In setting the base salary and bonus
targets, the Committee considered survey data provided by the Committee's
compensation consultant. Mr. Black's base salary fell in the second quartile of
survey data. With the bonus, Mr. Black's total cash compensation was in the
first quartile. If the Company had achieved the "stretch" goals, payment of a
bonus commensurate with that achievement would have produced total cash
compensation for Mr. Black approximating the 75th percentile of survey data.

The Committee also awarded Mr. Black options to acquire 62,400 shares of
Capital Stock, with an exercise price equal to the market price on the date the
options were granted. One third of the options become exercisable over each of
the next three years subject to Mr. Black's continuing employment with the
Company. The Committee also awarded Mr. Black 140,000 restricted shares. The
restricted shares may vest at any time between two and five years following the
date of grant if the Company achieves a certain share price target, or at the
end of five years if Mr. Black is then an employee of the Company. With the
options and restricted shares, Mr. Black's total direct compensation somewhat
exceeded the 75th percentile of the survey data provided by the Committee's
compensation consultant. In determining the number of options and restricted
shares awarded to Mr. Black, the Committee based its decision on Mr. Black's
performance.

Discussion of Corporate Tax Deduction for Compensation 
in Excess of $1 Million a Year

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"), precludes a
public corporation from taking a tax deduction in any year for compensation in
excess of $1 million paid to its chief executive officer or any of its four
other highest-paid executive officers. The $1 million annual deduction limit
does not apply, however, to "performance-based compensation" as that term is
defined in Code Section 162(m)(4)(C) and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The Committee believes that Company and executive performance are the most
determinative factors with respect to all components of executive compensation
other than base salaries. Both cash bonuses under the current Management
Incentive Plan and grants of restricted shares for fiscal 1995 and 1996 were
determined by the Committee based on performance criteria. And restricted
shares awarded for fiscal 1997 provide for accelerated vesting upon achievement
of certain performance criteria. However, none of these compensation components
meets the technical performance-based criteria required by Code Section 162(m)
for exclusion from the deduction limit. Compensation expenses in respect of
stock options granted under the Company's Stock Incentive Plan will be excluded
from the deduction limit.

In fiscal 1997 the Company's highest-paid executive, Mr. Black, received cash
compensation totalling $402,432 and compensation of $97,500 in respect of
vesting of restricted shares granted for fiscal 1995. Thus, in fiscal 1997 the
deduction limit did not affect the Company, and as a general matter, the
Committee does not anticipate that cash compensation (including bonuses) paid to
any of the five highest-paid executive officers in any year in the near future
will approach $1 million. However, there is the possibility that, if the
Company's stock price appreciates substantially, vesting of restricted shares
that do not meet the requirements of Section 162(m) could cause the threshold to
be exceeded for fiscal years subsequent to fiscal 1997.

Accordingly, the Committee will continue to monitor this matter and, if
warranted and consistent with compensation objectives, will consider
modifications to the Management Incentive Plan and/or future restricted share
awards to maximize the Company's compensation related tax deductions.

This report is submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors.

James A. Mezera
Stephen Rabinowitz
Thomas C. Wajnert
Charles O. Wood, III
 

                                       6
<PAGE>


The following tables and narrative identify the Company's executive officers
and set forth compensation information for the Company's Chief Executive
Officer and its four most highly compensated executive officers (the "named
executive officers") as of the end of the 1997 fiscal year.

Summary Compensation Table

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  Long Term
                                                                                 Compensation
                                 Annual Compensation                                Awards
                             ----------------------------                   ----------------------
Name, Age and                                                   Other        Restricted                  All
Principal                                                      Annual          Stock                    Other
Position                      Year    Salary    Bonus(1)   Compensation(2)   Awards(3)    Options   Compensation(4)
- ---------------------------- ------ ---------- ---------- ----------------- ------------ --------- ----------------
<S>                          <C>    <C>        <C>        <C>                 <C>          <C>         <C>
L. David Black, 60           1997   $350,016   $ 52,416                                    62,400      $76,335
Chairman of the Board,       1996    300,000    354,406                       282,865      55,810       14,713
President and Chief          1995    253,008    177,106                        94,438      95,400        8,312
Executive Officer

Charles H. Diller, Jr., 52   1997    196,008     26,092                                    24,700       51,699
Executive Vice               1996    180,000    189,000                       150,775      22,105       13,845
President and Chief          1995    165,000     99,000                        36,104      28,800       12,249
Financial Officer

Michael Swartz, 52           1997    165,000     21,964                                     9,300       22,380
Senior Vice                  1996    145,608    152,900                       122,008       8,335       14,749
President-Marketing          1995    133,608     66,804                        24,369      13,800       16,233

Raymond F. Treml, 57         1997    150,000     17,471                                     8,400       38,481
Senior Vice                  1996    133,008    122,200                        97,495       7,605       14,998
President-Manufacturing      1995    122,016     61,008                        22,276      12,600       12,358

Rao Bollimpalli, 59          1997    138,000     16,073                                     7,800       33,850
Senior Vice                  1996    120,000    110,300                        87,968       6,865       14,701
President-Engineering        1995    110,016     55,008                        20,070      11,400       13,888
</TABLE>

(1) Reflects bonuses earned during the fiscal year, but paid during the
    following fiscal year.

(2) Excludes the value of perquisites and other personal benefits. The
    incremental cost to the Company of providing such perquisites and other
    personal benefits did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of annual
    salary and bonus for any of the named executive officers.

(3) The restricted shares were awarded September 4, 1996 with respect to the
    fiscal year ended July 31, 1996 and September 6, 1995 with respect to the
    fiscal year ended July 31, 1995. Total restricted shares held and the
    aggregate market value at July 31, 1997 for the Named Executive Officers
    were as follows: Mr. Black, 25,290 shares valued at $279,783; Mr. Diller,
    12,014 shares valued at $132,911; Mr. Swartz, 9,203 shares valued at
    $101,813; Mr. Treml, 7,654 shares valued at $84,676; and Mr. Bollimpalli,
    6,903 shares valued at $76,368. Dividends are payable on the restricted
    shares and vesting of the awards is in three equal annual installments
    beginning one year following the date of grant. Does not include
    restricted shares awarded September 3, 1997 under the Company's new
    Mid-Term Incentive Plan for fiscal 1998.

(4) For fiscal 1997, includes payments pursuant to the Company's Supplemental
    Medical Care Reimbursement Plan for its Named Executive Officers to
    reimburse medical expenses incurred by them or their dependents and not
    paid by other employee benefit plans (Mr. Black $4,154; Mr. Diller $1,455;
    Mr. Swartz $2,652; Mr. Treml $2,051; and Mr. Bollimpalli $573); payments
    pursuant to the Company's Annual Physical Examination Plan (Mr. Black
    $2,653; Mr. Diller $3,349; Mr. Swartz $4,682; Mr. Treml $3,873; and Mr.
    Bollimpalli $3,087); contributions to the Company's discretionary, defined
    contribution retirement plan (Mr. Black $13,781; Mr. Diller $17,655; Mr.
    Swartz $15,046; Mr. Treml $17,929; and Mr. Bollimpalli $18,932); and
    contributions pursuant to the Company's Executive Deferred Compensation
    Plan (Mr. Black $55,747; Mr. Diller $29,240; Mr. Treml $14,627; and Mr.
    Bollimpalli $11,258).


                                       7
<PAGE>


Stock Options/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               Potential Realizable
                                                                                             Value at Assumed Annual
                                                                                                  Rates of Stock
                                                                                                Price Appreciation
                                       Individual Grants                                        for Option Term(3)
                           -----------------------------------------                         ------------------------
                                           % of Total
                                            Options
                                           Granted to
                             Options/      Employees     Exercise or
                              SAR's        in Fiscal     Base Price        Expiration
Name                        Granted(1)       Year        Per Share           Date(2)             5%           10%
- ------------------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------------   ----------   -----------
<S>                        <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>                   <C>          <C>
L. David Black               62,400           29%         $ 11.84       September 2, 2007    $464,637     $1,177,482
Charles H. Diller, Jr.       24,700           11            11.84       September 2, 2007     183,919        466,087
Michael Swartz                9,300            5            11.84       September 2, 2007      69,249        175,490
Raymond F. Treml              8,400            4            11.84       September 2, 2007      62,547        158,507
Rao Bollimpalli               7,800            4            11.84       September 2, 2007      58,080        147,185
</TABLE>

(1) Consists solely of options to purchase shares of Capital Stock.

(2) Options become exercisable in equal amounts over a three year period
    beginning September 3, 1998. To the extent not already exercisable, the
    options generally become exercisable upon a change in control. A change in
    control means either (i) any person or group becomes the beneficial owner of
    25% or more of the voting power of the Company's Capital Stock; or (ii) the
    election within a twelve-month period of three or more directors whose
    election is not approved by the majority of the Board of Directors; or (iii)
    the incumbent directors cease to be a majority of the Board of Directors.

(3) The potential realizable value illustrates value that might be
    realized upon exercise of the options immediately prior to the expiration
    of their term, assuming the specified compounded rates of appreciation in
    the market price of the Capital Stock over the terms of the options. The
    potential realizable value to all shareholders using the specified 5% and
    10% rates of appreciation and the outstanding shares at July 31, 1997
    would be $325,586,707 and $825,100,640, respectively. The Company's use of
    these hypothetical appreciation rates specified by the Securities and
    Exchange Commission should not be construed as an endorsement of the
    accuracy of this method of valuing options. The value realized by the
    holders of the options will depend upon the actual performance of the
    Capital Stock over the term of the options.


Aggregate Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year 
and Fiscal Year End Option/SAR Values

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              Value of Unexercised
                                                                Number of Unexercised             In-the-Money
                                                                       Options                      Options
                          Shares Acquired                       At Fiscal Year End(1)        At Fiscal Year End(2)
Name                        on Exercise     Value Realized   Exercisable   Unexercisable   Exercisable   Unexercisable
- ------------------------ ----------------- ---------------- ------------- --------------- ------------- --------------
<S>                      <C>               <C>              <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>
L. David Black                                                 354,208       129,006        $2,814,318     $631,853
Charles H. Diller, Jr.                                         117,769        48,336           905,562      236,361
Michael Swartz                14,400           $254,808         38,377        22,158           276,066      123,788
Raymond F. Treml              10,000            178,800         51,335        21,270           390,120      123,400
Rao Bollimpalli               27,798            482,465         30,087        20,380           229,069      123,073
</TABLE>

(1) The Company does not have any outstanding stock appreciation rights.
(2) Value is calculated based on the difference between the option exercise
    price and the closing market price of the Company's Capital Stock on July
    31, 1997, multiplied by the number of shares underlying the option.

Compensation Pursuant to Plans

The Company maintains a non-qualified defined benefit plan that provides for
payments, following retirement or in other specified circumstances, equal to
the average of the officer's base salary plus cash bonus for the two calendar
years in which the sum is the highest, multiplied by 65% for Mr. Black, 60% for
Mr. Diller and 55% for Messrs. Swartz, Treml and Bollimpalli; offset, however,
by the actuarial equivalent of benefits provided to the officer in conjunction
with the Company's contribution to other employer sponsored retirement plans,
the actuarial equivalent of retirement benefits provided by previous employers
of the officer; and 50% of the officer's social security benefit. The
retirement benefit is payable in the form of a ten year certain life annuity,
with options for a joint and survivor annuity and an actuarial equivalent lump
sum payout. The officer may elect to receive a reduced retirement benefit in
the case of early retirement. The plan provides for 25% vesting per year after
two years of service, with full vesting after five years of service. The
Company also provides a separate retiree medical plan to the officers, together
with their spouse and eligible dependents. Based on their annual compensation
through


                                       8
<PAGE>


the end of the Company's 1997 fiscal year, the offsetting benefits identified
in the Plan and assuming normal retirement age has been attained, the named
executive officers would be entitled to projected annual payments under the
plan as follows: Mr. Black, $398,000; Mr. Diller, $147,000; Mr. Swartz,
$116,000; Mr. Treml, $83,000; and Mr. Bollimpalli $73,000.

The Company has an Executive Deferred Compensation Plan which allows officers
to defer all or a portion of their base salary and/or cash bonus. Provided that
the officer elects to defer some portion of his base salary and/or cash bonus,
the Company will contribute to the officer's account an amount equal to the
amount that would have been contributed by the Company to the account in the
Company's Savings Plan in the form of matching and profit sharing
contributions, but for the various limitations in the Code. Payments deferred
and contributions received under the plan currently accrue interest at the
prime rate in effect from time to time.

The Company also maintains an executive severance plan which will provide a
severance benefit of three times the aggregate of base salary and cash bonus
for Mr. Black and two times the aggregate of base salary and cash bonus for
Messrs. Diller, Swartz, Treml and Bollimpalli, with base salary and cash bonus
being the amounts paid the officer for the final twelve calendar months of
employment. The severance benefit is payable in the form of a lump sum upon
involuntary termination of employment by the Company, unless the termination is
for one of the specified reasons which includes disloyalty or conviction of a
felony. The severance benefit is also payable in certain other circumstances in
connection with a change of control and will be adjusted to gross-up for any
excise tax applicable to compensation in excess of limits presented in Section
280G of the Code. No severance benefit is payable if the officer is entitled to
a retirement benefit under the supplemental executive retirement plan, except
in connection with a change of control. The severance benefit includes
continuation of Company provided life and medical insurance in the event of a
change in control.


                                       9
<PAGE>


Performance Graph

The following graph compares the cumulative return on the Company's Capital
Stock over the past five years with the cumulative total return on shares of
companies comprising Standard & Poor's 500 Stock and Diversified Machinery
Group indices. Cumulative total return is measured assuming an initial
investment of $100 on July 31, 1992 and the reinvestment of all dividends paid.
On September 18, 1996, the Company shares began trading on the New York Stock
Exchange. Consequently, the Company reexamined its NASDAQ market and peer group
indices and those used by other manufacturing companies in similar industries
and concluded that the Standard & Poor's indices presented a more appropriate
comparison than presented in prior years. As required in the year of change,
the NASDAQ market and peer industry group indices previously used are presented
for comparative purposes.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

[Line Chart]

                   Peer         S&P   
                 Industry    Machinery
           JLG    Group        Group   NASDAQ   S&P 500
           ---    -----        -----   ------   -------
                    
1992       100      100         100      100      100
1993       158      109         132      124      150
1994       372      114         151      136      190
1995       764      144         191      166      231
1996      2345      168         194      181      241
1997      1404      256         316      266      337

<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
 Year Ended July 31,                         1992      1993      1994      1995       1996      1997
 JLG Industries, Inc.                       $ 100     $ 158     $ 372     $ 764     $2,345    $1,404
 S&P 500                                      100       109       114       144        168       256
 S&P Diversified Machinery Group Index        100       132       151       191        194       316
 NASDAQ Market Index                          100       124       136       166        181       266
 Peer Industry Group Index                    100       150       190       231        241       337
</TABLE>


                                       10
<PAGE>

                             CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

During fiscal 1997, the Company purchased wire harnesses from General Cable
Corporation. Payments in fiscal 1997 totalled $2,630,087. Mr. Rabinowitz is
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of General Cable
Corporation. Such purchases were in the ordinary course of business and at
competitive prices and terms. The Company anticipates that additional purchases
will occur in fiscal 1998.


                       SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP served as the Company's independent
auditors throughout fiscal year 1997 and the Board of Directors, on the
recommendation of the Audit Committee, has selected the firm as the Company's
independent auditors for fiscal 1998. The Board of Directors recommends
ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent
auditors for fiscal year 1998. Representatives of the firm of Ernst & Young LLP
are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, with the opportunity to make
a statement if they desire to do so, and to respond to appropriate questions.
If the selection is not ratified, the Board of Directors will reconsider its
action.


                              VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

The matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting will be voted upon in the
order in which they are listed in the Notice. The proxy form accompanying this
Proxy Statement provides boxes by means of which shareholders executing the
proxy forms may vote for or withhold a vote on the election of all or any of
Board of Directors' nominees for election as directors. Proxies will be voted
in accordance with such direction or, if no such direction is indicated, will
be voted in favor of the election of each of the nominees. Each of the nominees
has consented to serve as director and the Board of Directors has no reason to
believe that any of the nominees will not be available to serve if elected.
Should any of the nominees cease to be available for election before the Annual
Meeting, the proxy will, unless authority to vote has been withheld by the
person giving the proxy, be voted for a substitute nominee designated by the
Board of Directors. Duly executed proxies will be voted as directed on the
other questions specified on the proxy and, in the absence of such direction,
will be voted for each proposal.


                             SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Shareholder proposals intended to be presented at the 1998 Annual Meeting must
be received in writing by the Company before June 18, 1998, in order to be
considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials relating to that
meeting.


                                OTHER BUSINESS

The Board of Directors of the Company knows of no other matters that may come
before the Annual Meeting. As to any other business that may properly come
before the meeting, proxies will be voted in accordance with the best judgment
of the persons voting such proxies.


BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


/s/ Charles H. Diller, Jr.
- --------------------------
Charles H. Diller, Jr.
Secretary

October 3, 1997


                                       11
<PAGE>


                                   [JLG logo]



                              JLG Industries, Inc.
                                  1 JLG Drive
                         McConnellsburg, PA 17233-9533
<PAGE>

                              JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                  1 JLG DRIVE
                         MCCONNELLSBURG, PA 17233-0533

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

    The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting
of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, and does hereby appoint L. David Black and
Charles H. Diller, Jr., and each of them, or such person or persons as they or
any of them may substitute and appoint as proxy or proxies of the undersigned to
represent the undersigned and to vote all shares of JLG Industries, Inc.'s
Capital Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally
present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of JLG Industries, Inc. to be held
on Monday, November 17, 1997 at 4:30 p.m., and at all adjournments of such
meeting.

    THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IN THE ABSENCE OF DIRECTION, PROXIES
WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL THE PROPOSALS.

                                     (over)

                [triangle up] FOLD AND DETACH HERE [triangle up]

<PAGE>


The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR its nominees and
proposals 2 and 3.

1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
    [ ] FOR all nominees listed (except as marked to the contrary)

    [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for nominees listed

Nominees:      L.D. Black; C.H. Diller, Jr.; G.R. Kempton; J.A. Mezera;    
               G. Palmer; S. Rabinowitz; T.C. Wajnert; and C.O. Wood, III. 
             
(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any nominees, write nominee's
name on the line provided below):

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.  Ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for the
    ensuing year.
    [ ] FOR    [ ] AGAINST    [ ] ABSTAIN


3.  In the discretion, upon any other business that may properly come before the
    meeting or any adjournment thereof.


                                    Dated:                                , 1997
                                          --------------------------------

                                    --------------------------------------------

                                    --------------------------------------------
                                                   Signature(s)

Please sign exactly as your name appears hereon. When shares are held by joint
tenants, all should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If as a corporation,
please sign in corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If as a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

PLEASE VOTE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.

                [triangle up] FOLD AND DETACH HERE [triangle up]

                                 Annual Meeting

                                       of

                       JLG Industries, Inc. Shareholders

                           Monday, November 17, 1997
                              JLG Industries, Inc.
                                  1 JLG Drive
                               McConnellsburg, PA



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