<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [_] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE
COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
RULE 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12
Athanor Group, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
$125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), or 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2)
or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
[_] $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 (Set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Filing Party:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE>
ATHANOR GROUP, INC.
921 East California Avenue
Ontario, California 91761
(909) 467-1205
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 1998
2:00 P.M.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To the Shareholders of ATHANOR GROUP, INC.
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Athanor Group, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"), which will be
held at the DoubleTree Hotel, 222 North Vineyard, Ontario, California, to
consider and act upon the following matters, all as more fully described in the
accompanying Proxy Statement which is incorporated herein by this reference:
1. To elect a board of five (5) directors to serve until the next annual
meeting of the Company's shareholders and until their successors have
been elected and qualify;
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
Shareholders of record of the Company's Common Stock at the close of
business on March 20, 1998, the Record Date fixed by the Board, are entitled to
notice of and to vote at, the Meeting.
THOSE WHO CANNOT ATTEND ARE URGED TO SIGN, DATE, AND OTHERWISE COMPLETE THE
ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. ANY SHAREHOLDER
GIVING A PROXY HAS THE RIGHT TO REVOKE IT AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED.
By order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Duane L. Femrite
----------------------------
Duane L. Femrite
President
Ontario, California
March 27, 1998
<PAGE>
ATHANOR GROUP, INC.
921 East California Avenue
Ontario, California 91761
(909) 467-1205
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
---------------
Approximate Date Proxy Material First Sent To Shareholders:
March 27, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following information is provided in connection with the solicitation
of proxies for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Athanor Group, Inc. (the
"Company") to be held on May 7, 1998, and any adjournment or adjournments
thereof (the "Meeting"), for the purposes stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting
of Shareholders accompanying this Proxy Statement.
SOLICITATION AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
A form of proxy is being furnished by the Company to each common
shareholder, and, in each case, is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors
(the "Board") of the Company for use at the Meeting. The entire cost of
soliciting these proxies will be borne by the Company. The Company may pay
persons holding shares in their names or the names of their nominees for the
benefit of others, such as brokerage firms, banks, depositories, and other
fiduciaries, for costs incurred in forwarding soliciting material to their
principals. Members of the management of the Company may solicit some
shareholders in person, or by telephone, or by telegraph, following
solicitations of this Proxy Statement, but will not be separately compensated
for such solicitation services.
Proxies duly executed and returned by common shareholders and received by
the Company before the Meeting and not revoked will be voted: FOR the election
of all five (5) of the nominee-directors specified herein unless contrary
choices are specified. Where a specification is indicated as provided in the
proxy, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted and cast in accordance
with the specification made. As to other matters, if any, to be voted upon, the
persons designated as proxies will take such actions as they, in their
discretion, may deem advisable. The persons named as proxies were selected by
the Board of the Company.
If any shareholder gives notice at the Meeting prior to commencement of
voting that the shareholder intends to cumulate his or her votes, then the
directors shall be elected by the cumulative voting method. In such event, the
shareholders shall have the right to cast that number of votes equal to the
number of shares which they hold multiplied by the number of
2
<PAGE>
directors to be elected by them; i.e., for the purpose of this election, five
votes for each share. Each shareholder may cast the whole number of votes for
one candidate, or distribute them among two or more candidates. The persons
named in the accompanying proxy will have discretionary authority to cumulate
votes in the election of directors in favor of one or more candidates.
Your execution of the enclosed proxy will not affect your rights as a
shareholder to attend the Meeting and to vote in person. Any shareholder giving
a proxy has a right to revoke it at any time by either (a) a later-dated proxy,
(b) a written revocation sent to and received by the Secretary of the Company
prior to the Meeting, or (c) attendance at the Meeting and voting in person.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The Company had outstanding, 1,467,854 shares of common stock (the "Common
Stock") as of the close of business on March 20, 1998 (the "Record Date"). Only
holders of Common stock of record on the books of the Company at the close of
business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote at the Meeting. Each
holder of Common Stock is entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Common
Stock held by him/her, except that in the selection of directors, each holder of
Common Stock has cumulative voting rights. Voting on all matters, other than
election of directors, submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Meeting
will be on a noncumulative basis.
There are no other classes of voting securities of the Company other than
the Common Stock. Representation at the Meeting by the holders of the majority
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, either by personal
attendance or by proxy, will constitute a quorum.
3
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth, as of the Record Date, information
concerning: (a) beneficial ownership of voting securities of the Company by
persons who are known by the Company to own beneficially more than five percent
(5%) of the Company's Common Stock; (b) beneficial ownership of voting
securities of the Company by each director, nominee for director, and by all
directors and officers as a group; and (c) the percentage of the total votes
held by each person or group described in subparagraphs (a) and (b) immediately
above.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount and Percentage of
Beneficial Ownership
------------------------
Title Name and Address of Number of Percent of
of Class Beneficial Owner Shares Class
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Common Gregory J. Edwards 16,000 1.1%
Stock 2208 Faircloud Lane
Edmund, Oklahoma 73034
Common Duane L. Femrite 189,544 12.9%
Stock 921 East California Avenue
Ontario, California 91761
Common Edmund R. Knauf, Jr. 79,680 5.4%
Stock 1516 North 2nd
Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53081
Common Richard A. Krause 256,983 17.5%
Stock 921 East California Avenue
Ontario, California 91761
Common Robert W. Miller (1) 164,752 11.2%
Stock 921 East California Avenue
Ontario, California 91761
Common All Officers and Directors 706,959 48.2%
Stock as a Group (5 persons)
_____________________________________________
(Footnotes on next page)
</TABLE>
All shares are owned either directly or beneficially by the owner named in
the table except as otherwise indicated in a footnote below.
Percentages of class are based on the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding on December 31, 1997. There were 1,467,854 shares of Common Stock
outstanding on December 31, 1997.
None of the officers or directors of the Company has options to acquire any
shares of Common Stock of the Company. Messrs. Femrite, Knauf, Krause and
Miller are the only persons known to the Company to beneficially own more than
five percent (5%) of its Common Stock.
4
<PAGE>
The Company knows of no contractual arrangements which may at a subsequent
date result in a change in control of the Company.
- ---------------------------
(Footnotes)
(1) Does not include 24,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Miller's
father as to which Mr. Miller disclaims beneficial ownership.
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's directors are to be elected at each annual meeting of
shareholders. The Company's Bylaws authorize between three (3) and seven (7)
directors, the exact amount to be determined by the Board. At this Meeting FIVE
(5) directors, making up the entire membership of the Board of the Company, are
to be elected to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until
their successors are elected and qualify. The nominees for election as
directors at this Meeting are set forth in the table below and are all
recommended by management of the Company. Each of the nominees has consented to
serve as a director if elected.
In the event that any of the nominees for director should become
unable to serve if elected, it is intended that shares represented by proxies
which are executed and returned will be voted for such substitute nominee(s) as
may be recommended by the Company's existing Board.
The FIVE nominee-directors receiving the highest number of votes cast
at the Meeting will be elected as the Company's directors to serve until the
next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are elected and
qualify. Subject to certain exceptions specified below, holders of Common Stock
of record on the Record Date are entitled to cumulate their votes in the
election of the Company's directors (i.e., they are entitled to the number of
votes as determined by multiplying the number of shares held by them times the
number of directors to be elected) and may cast all of their votes as they so
determine for one person or spread their votes among two or more persons as they
see fit. No shareholder shall be entitled to cumulate votes for a given
candidate for director unless such candidate's name has been placed in
nomination prior to the vote and the shareholder has given notice at the
Meeting, prior to the voting, of the shareholder's intention to cumulate his/her
votes. If any one shareholder has given such notice, all shareholders may
cumulate their votes for candidates in nomination. Discretionary authority to
cumulate votes is hereby solicited by the Board. Accordingly, the person named
in the accompanying proxy will have discretionary authority to cumulate votes in
the election of directors in favor of one or more candidates.
The following tables list the nominees for election as directors and
shows certain information concerning each nominee, including the number of
shares of Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by such nominee as of the Record Date:
5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Director
Name Occupation Age Since
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Gregory J. Edwards Director 53 1990
Duane L. Femrite President, Chief Executive Officer, 53 1985
Chief Financial Officer
of the Company
Edmund R. Knauf, Jr. Director 55 Nominee
Richard A. Krause Vice President of the Company 62 1992
President, Alger Manufacturing
Company, Inc.
Robert W. Miller Chairman of the Board, 55 1976
Secretary of the Company
========================================================================================
Number of Shares Percent
of of
Nominee (1) Common Stock (2) Class
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gregory J. Edwards 16,000 1.1%
Duane L. Femrite 189,544 12.9%
Edmund R. Knauf, Jr. 79,680 5.4%
Richard A. Krause 256,983 17.5%
Robert W. Miller 164,752 (3) 11.2%
========================================================================================
(Footnotes on next page)
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------
(Footnotes)
(1) The Company has a Nominating Committee for directors of the Board.
Management's nominees for election as directors at the Meeting were
recommended by the Nominating Committee and approved by the Board of the
Company.
(2) All shares are owned directly by the director named in the table except as
otherwise indicated in a footnote below.
(3) Does not include 24,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Miller's
father as to which Mr. Miller disclaims beneficial ownership.
Listed below are descriptions of the business experience for at least the
past five years for each director and officer listed in the preceding table.
Unless otherwise described below, none of the following persons (i) is related
in any way, or (ii) has been involved in certain legal proceedings in the past
five years.
GREGORY J. EDWARDS President and Chief Executive Officer of CASS Holdings,
L.L.C. ("CASS") since January 1993. CASS owns several
manufacturing and service companies: Milamar Coatings,
L.L.C., a producer of epoxy coating products used in the
industrial and commercial seamless floor coating
business; Berry Manufacturing and Equipment, L.L.C., a
manufacturer of equipment for the maintenance and marking
of pavement services, specializing in designing and
manufacturing joint/crack sealers and thermoplastic
melting equipment: CASS Services, L.L.C., a government
contractor involved with surface preparation and re-
coating for U.S. Naval ships and portable landing mats:
and CASS Financial, L. L. C., an equipment leasing
company. Between July 1991 and January 1993, Mr. Edwards
was self-employed as a financial consultant and investor.
Previously, he was an investment banker with Stephens,
Inc. of Little Rock, Arkansas from mid-1990 to July 1991.
DUANE L. FEMRITE President, Chief Executive Officer of the Company since
April 1995, Chief Operating Officer from January 1987 to
April 1995, and Chief Financial Officer since December
1982. Secretary of the Company from October 1984 to April
1995 and Director of the Company since December 1985.
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
Alger Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Alger) since September
1986 and October 1987 respectively. Director of Core
Software Technology from November 1993 to March 1995. Mr.
Femrite is a Certified Public Accountant.
7
<PAGE>
EDMUND R. KNAUF, JR. Currently self-employed as a consultant and investor.
From 1972 to August 1997 worked in various positions for
Ametek Inc, a global manufacturer of electrical and
electronic products engineered for niche markets,
including Vice President of Business Development for the
Filtration Group from April 1996 to August 1997 and as
Corporate Vice President and General Manager of several
Ametek Divisions from 1990 to 1996.
RICHARD A. KRAUSE Director and Vice President of the Company since December
1992. President and Chief Operating Officer of Alger
Manufacturing Company, Inc. since 1987.
ROBERT W. MILLER Chairman of the Board since 1976. Chief Executive Officer
of the Company from 1976 to April 1995. Corporate
Secretary since April 1995. Director and Vice President
of Alger since 1986. Director of Image Data Corporation
since 1988 and Chief Operating Officer from May 1990 to
July 1992. Elected Chief Executive Officer of Image Data
Corporation on January 7, 1993. Director of Core Software
Technology since September 1991 and currently serving as
Secretary. Director of OneCard International since 1988
and elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of this
company in September 1992.
Directors of the Company are elected annually. The present term of
office of each director will expire at the next annual meeting of shareholders
of the Company or at such time as his successor is duly elected and qualifies.
TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT
Loans and Investments in Core Software Technology (CORE) and Image Data
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporation (IDC)
- -----------------
The Company is currently the single largest shareholder of Core Software
Technology, a California corporation ("Core"), owning 399,845 shares of the
issued and outstanding common stock of Core (after a 1 for 5.5 reverse stock
split in 1997 and the loss of escrowed shares discussed below) representing
approximately 19.8% of the issued and outstanding shares of Core's capital stock
(assuming the options to purchase additional shares of the capital stock of Core
owned by the Company and others are not exercised). As a condition to a closing
of a private placement of the common stock of Core for gross proceeds to Core of
$4,705,000 which closing occurred during 1994 (the "Core Private Placement"),
the original shareholders of Core agreed to deposit certain shares of the common
stock of Core owned by them into escrow. The escrowed shares were to be
released from escrow if Core met certain minimum pretax income requirements in
1997. Core failed to meet the requirement and all shares held in the escrow
account were canceled and returned to Core and the Company has no further rights
with respect to those shares.
8
<PAGE>
Core is the developer and marketer of an on-line geospatial (image,
cartographic, & demographic) information indexing and distribution system and
service, known as ImageNet. Core develops and distributes proprietary client-
server and application software but primarily uses its software products as a
delivery vehicle for ImageNet services. Through the global implementation of
ImageNet, Core seeks to control the channel for distribution of geospatial
information products worldwide. As a single source access vehicle for such
information, the value and utility of ImageNet is a function of content.
Core is attempting to build, a worldwide, on-line database and
distribution infrastructure consisting of commercial and public data providers,
existing international distributors, satellite ground receiving stations, and
value added companies. ImageNet addresses the information access requirements
of an international public policy movement to maximize the benefits of existing
scientific and geographic information and analysis tools.
The Company has also provided a portion of the working capital
requirements of Core during previous years, in the form of a series of loans to
Core. The Company has made loans in the principal amount of $647,622 to Core
and Image Data Corporation ("IDC"), the previous parent of Core, through October
31, 1997, net of $225,116 repaid in 1997. The outstanding balance, plus accrued
interest of $156,905 through October 31, 1997, has been fully reserved in prior
years pursuant to the equity method of accounting.
Robert W. Miller, the Chairman of the Board of the Company, has served
on the Board of Directors of Core since its formation and has served as an
officer from time to time. He is currently the Secretary of Core. Mr. Miller
has served as a director of IDC since 1988. Until July 1992, Mr. Miller was the
Chief Operating Officer of IDC and is currently serving as Chief Executive
Officer of IDC. Duane L. Femrite, the President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company, served on the Board of Directors of Core from November 1993 to
March 1995. Mr. Miller as a director of Core, and Mr. Femrite during his
tenure, were entitled to receive $500 per month and $1000 per board meeting
attended and each committee meeting not held in conjunction with a board
meeting. In addition, they were to be reimbursed for all business related
expenses associated with their duties as directors of Core. Mr. Miller and Mr.
Femrite have assigned the right to receive said fees to R & D Financial (R & D),
a California general partnership of which Messrs. Miller and Femrite are the
general partners. During 1997 R & D received $8,500 in Director fees from Core.
Mr. Miller has allowed Core to use his personal credit card for travel
and other business related expenses. In connection with the use of his credit
card during 1996 and 1997, Core incurred and paid charges on Mr. Miller's card
totaling $128,000. In 1997 Core paid Mr. Miller a fee of approximately $18,000
for the use of his credit card.
Mr. Miller entered into a consulting agreement with Core and assigned
the consulting fees to R & D. The consulting agreement began on January 1,
1995, wherein Mr. Miller agreed to provide services to Core relating to
financial, investor, capital raising, litigation and general business matters
arising out of Core's on-going restructuring, recapitalization and financing
efforts. In exchange for Mr. Miller's services, Core has agreed to pay Mr.
Miller a fee of $50,000 for the calendar year 1995 and $5,000 per month
commencing January 1, 1996. During 1997, R & D received approximately $17,000
in consulting fees from Core. As of December 31, 1997, Core owes $153,000 to R
& D in connection with said consulting agreement.
9
<PAGE>
Mr. Miller was to have received $4,000 per month from IDC with respect
to his services rendered to IDC in accordance with IDC's confirmed Plan of
Reorganization, commencing in April 1993, but has received no compensation to
date. Mr. Miller may receive a portion of the compensation in 1998.
Mr. Femrite and Mr. Miller have a beneficial ownership interest in
11,969 shares of the common stock of Core owned by R & D. Mr. Miller has a
beneficial ownership interest in 8,813 additional shares of the common stock of
Core as well as options to purchase 4,180 shares of the common stock of Core at
exercise prices ranging from $5.50 to $8.25 per share. Mr. Femrite has a
beneficial ownership interest in 7,363 additional shares of the common stock of
Core as well as options to purchase 3,697 shares of the common stock of Core at
$5.50 per share. The above beneficial stock ownership takes into account the 1
for 5.5 reverse stock split of Core's common stock in 1997.
In January 1996 the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") served Mr. Miller
with a Notice of Federal Tax Lien with respect to approximately $400,000 in
taxes and penalties purportedly owed by IDC. In connection therewith, the IRS
has collected approximately $23,000 from Mr. Miller and currently collects $500
per month from Mr. Miller. In connection with Core's previous acquisition of
the assets of IDC, Core agreed to indemnify and hold Mr. Miller harmless from
and against any liabilities relating to or arising out of IDC's business,
including taxes and penalties owed by IDC to the IRS. In connection with such
indemnity, Core reimbursed Mr. Miller in the approximate amount of $23,000
during 1997. Mr. Miller anticipates that any additional funds collected by the
IRS, in conjunction with such levy, will be reimbursed by Core.
On September 7, 1995, the Company made a loan to Mr. Miller in the
principal amount of $25,000. During 1996 the loan was increased to $40,000.
The loan bears interest at the rate of 10% per annum and is secured by 25,000
shares of the common stock of the Company, owned by Mr. Miller. The loan was
renewed as of October 31, 1997 on the condition that Mr. Miller makes a $5,000
principal reduction by January 31, 1998 and pays all current interest through
October 31, 1997. If payment was not made by the designated date, Mr. Miller
had agreed to assign to the Company all of his right, title and interest in and
to any cash distributions (net of applicable income tax liability) to which he
was entitled from R & D until all principal and interest, on the loan, is paid
in full. The $5,000 payment was not made as of January 31, 1998 and accordingly
the Company has received the above referenced assignment.
During the first quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company made a short-term
loan of $80,000 to Fluid Light Technologies, Inc. (FLT) that is due and payable
on March 31, 1998. The Company also received a three-year option to purchase
$80,000 of common stock in FLT. FLT is in the business of developing,
manufacturing and marketing systems to control the motion or flow of light
through neon glass tubes. Mr. Miller is a director of Fluid Light Technologies
Inc.
10
<PAGE>
REMUNERATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Executive Compensation
- ----------------------
The following table sets forth all plan and non-plan compensation
awarded to, earned by, or paid to the Company's four most highly compensated
executive officers, each of whose annual salary and bonus was in excess of
$100,000 and to the Company's Chief Executive Officer regardless of compensation
level, for services to the Company during the three fiscal years ended October
31, 1997.
ANNUAL COMPENSATION
-------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Principal
Position Year Salary Bonus Other (1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Duane L. Femrite 1997 $144,192 25,000 2,949
President, Chief Executive 1996 133,308 44,000 2,162
Officer and Chief Financial 1995 129,038 10,000 3,826
Officer
Richard A. Krause 1997 $156,423 35,063 3,750
Vice President and 1996 145,308 52,328 3,750
President of Alger 1995 141,673 41,066 4,748
Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Robert W. Miller 1997 $144,270 25,000 1,500
Chairman of the Board 1996 136,498 44,000 1,432
Corporate Secretary 1995 125,000 10,000 1,250
</TABLE>
(Footnotes)
(1) Other compensation includes contributions made to the Company's 401-
K Plan. Does not include use of automobile paid for by the Company.
Employment Agreements
- ---------------------
Effective January 1, 1991, the Company entered into written employment
agreements with Robert W. Miller, as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer, and Duane L. Femrite, as President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief
Financial Officer, and Secretary of the Company. Effective January 1, 1993,
Alger entered into a written agreement with Richard A. Krause as President and
Chief Operating Officer. Each of the employment agreements is identical as to
its terms except for the description of the duties that each employee is to
provide.
Each agreement is for an initial term of five (5) years, renewable
automatically for additional one (1) year periods unless either the employee,
the Company, or Alger wishes to terminate it. The employment agreements for
Robert W. Miller, Duane L. Femrite and Richard A. Krause were automatically
renewed on January 1, 1998, for an additional year.
11
<PAGE>
The agreements provide that the salaries of the employees shall be
determined by the Board of Directors but may not be less than the salary paid in
the preceding year. Each employee shall be entitled to the use of an automobile
at the Company's expense and shall be entitled to all benefits and perquisites
available to the Company's other employees.
If the agreement terminates because of the death of the employee, then
the employee's heirs and/or successors shall continue to receive the employee's
salary, monthly, for a period of twelve (12) months. If the agreement should
terminate for any reason other than cause or death of the employee, including,
without limitation, employee's voluntary termination, the Company shall pay the
employee a lump sum payment equal to employee's then monthly salary multiplied
by the number of years during which the employee was employed by the Company, or
Alger, as the case may be, prorated for any partial year of employment. Payment
is limited to twenty-four (24) years of employment.
The agreements permit the employee to engage in other employment or
business opportunities provided that such outside activities do not interfere
with employee carrying out his duties to the Company, are not competitive with
the Company, and do not result in employee breaching any of his fiduciary
obligations to the Company or its shareholders.
Directors' Remuneration
- -----------------------
Effective May 7, 1998, outside Directors are to receive an annual
honorarium of $5,000 per year and $600 per meeting. The Board has a Nominating
Committee that is charged with the responsibility of nominating a slate of
candidates to serve as directors of the Company. Outside directors on the
Compensation Committee, Audit Committee, and Nominating Committee receive $100
for each meeting attended when such committee meetings are held on a day that
the full Board does not meet. The Audit Committee, Nominating Committee, and
Compensation Committee met once in 1997.
12
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholders who wish to present proposals for action at the 1999
Annual Meeting should submit their proposals in writing to the Secretary of the
Company at the address of the Company set forth on the first page of this Proxy
Statement. Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented at the 1999
Annual Meeting (a) must be received by the Secretary no later than December 20,
1998, for inclusion in next year's proxy statement and proxy card, and (b) must
satisfy the applicable conditions established by the Securities and Exchange
Commission for shareholder proposals.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16 (A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16 (a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten
percent of the Company's Common Stock to file with the Securities Exchange
Commission initial reports of stock ownership and reports of changes in stock
ownership. To the Company's best knowledge, all the Company's directors,
executive officers, and persons owning more than 10% of the Company's Common
Stock filed all required reports required by section 16 (a) on a timely basis.
ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Company's Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1997 (the "Annual Report"), which includes audited financial
statements and schedules thereto, is being mailed with this Proxy Statement to
stockholders as of the Record Date. The Annual Report to the shareholders is
not incorporated in this Proxy Statement and is not deemed to be a part of the
proxy solicitation material.
OTHER MATTERS
The Management of the Company does not know of any other matters which
are to be presented for action at the Meeting. Should any other matters come
before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof, the persons named in the enclosed
proxy will have the discretionary authority to vote all proxies received with
respect to such matters in accordance with their judgments.
13
<PAGE>
FORM 10-KSB AND EXHIBITS TO FORM 10-KSB
Copies of the Company's Form 10-KSB and the exhibits to the Company's
Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, will be furnished to any person from whom
the accompanying proxy is solicited upon written request to the Company's
Secretary at Athanor Group, Inc., 921 East California Avenue, Ontario,
California 91761. A copying charge of $.25 per page will be made for each page
of the exhibits requested.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Duane L. Femrite
----------------------------------
Duane L. Femrite
President
Ontario, California
March 27, 1998
SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO SPECIFY THEIR CHOICES, DATE, SIGN, AND RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PROMPT RESPONSE IS HELPFUL AND
YOUR COOPERATION WILL BE APPRECIATED.
14
<PAGE>
PROXY ATHANOR GROUP, INC.
921 East California Avenue
Ontario, California 91761
THIS PROXY IS SOLICTED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Duane L. Femrite as Proxy, with the
power to appoint his substitute and with full power to act alone, and
hereby authorizes him to represent and vote as designated below, all
the shares of Common Stock of Athanor Group, Inc. held of record by
the undersigned on March 20, 1998 at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on May 7, 1998. If authority to vote the
shares is granted by the undersigned, the shares may be voted
cumulatively by the proxy holder for less than all the nominees for
director.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:
[_] FOR all nominees listed below [_] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote
(except as marked to the for all nominees listed below
contrary below)
(INSTRUCTION: to withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee, mark the box next to the nominee's name below.)
[_] Robert W. Miller [_] Duane L. Femrite [_] Richard A. Krause
[_] Gregory J. Edwards [_] Edmund R. Knauf, Jr.
2. In his discretion, the Proxy is authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
(PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON REVERSE SIDE)
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER
DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER FOR THE ELECTION OF THE
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1.
Dated:__________ , 1998
-----------------------
Signature
-----------------------
Signature if held
jointly
Please sign exactly as name
appears to the left. When
shares are held by joint
tenants, both should sign.
When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator,
trustee, or guardian, please
give full title as such. If a
corporation, please sign in
full corporate name by
President or other authorized
officer. If a partnership,
please sign in partnership
name by authorized person.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY
USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE
