<PAGE> 1
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 240.14a-11(c) or 240.14a-12
DIODES INCORPORATED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(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):
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(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:
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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> 2
2
DIODES INCORPORATED
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 4, 1999
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ANNUAL MEETING (THE "MEETING")
OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF DIODES INCORPORATED (THE "COMPANY") WILL BE HELD AT THE
RADISSON HOTEL, 30100 AGOURA ROAD, AGOURA HILLS, CALIFORNIA 91301, ON FRIDAY,
JUNE 4, 1999 AT 10:00 A.M. (CALIFORNIA TIME) FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER:
The report of the Board of Directors on the business of the
Company and the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998, together with the report of Moss Adams LLP, the Company's
independent accountants for such period, on those audited financial statements.
TO ACT ON:
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. To elect ten persons to the Board of
Directors of the Company, each to serve until the next annual
meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been
elected and qualified. The Board of Directors' nominees are:
Eugene R. Conahan, Michael R. Giordano, David Lin, M.K. Lu, Shing
Mao, Michael A. Rosenberg, Erich E. Schaedlich, Leonard M.
Silverman, Raymond Soong, and William J. Spires.
2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. To ratify the
appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company's independent
certified public accountants for the year ended December 31, 1999.
3. OTHER BUSINESS. To transact such other business as properly may
come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
ONLY PERSONS WHO ARE STOCKHOLDERS OF RECORD (THE
"STOCKHOLDERS") AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON APRIL 23, 1999 ARE ENTITLED TO
NOTICE OF AND TO VOTE IN PERSON OR BY PROXY AT THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT
THEREOF.
The Proxy Statement, which accompanies this Notice, contains
additional information regarding the proposals to be considered at the Meeting,
and Stockholders are encouraged to read it in its entirety.
As set forth in the enclosed Proxy Statement, proxies are
being solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. All
proposals set forth above are proposals of the Company. It is expected that
these materials will be mailed first to Stockholders on or about April 30, 1999.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE MARK,
DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE
TO BE SURE THAT YOUR STOCK IS VOTED. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT, WHETHER YOU OWN A
FEW SHARES OR MANY. THE PROXY MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE.
Dated at Westlake Village, California, this thirtieth day of
April, 1999,
By Order of the Board of Directors,
DIODES INCORPORATED
/s/ Carl Wertz
Carl Wertz,
Secretary
<PAGE> 3
DIODES INCORPORATED
3050 EAST HILLCREST DRIVE
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA 91362
(805) 446-4800
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING: JUNE 4, 1999
GENERAL INFORMATION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors") of
Diodes Incorporated (the "Company") for use at the annual meeting (the
"Meeting") of the stockholders of the Company to be held on Friday, June 4,
1999, at the Radisson Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, California 91301,
at 10:00 a.m. (California time) and at any adjournment thereof. Michael A.
Rosenberg and Carl Wertz, the designated proxyholders (the "Proxyholders"), are
members of the Company's management. Only stockholders of record (the
"Stockholders") on April 23, 1999 (the "Record Date") are entitled to notice of
and to vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card (the "Proxy") will be mailed
first to Stockholders on or about April 30, 1999.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED
The matters to be considered and voted upon at the Meeting
will be:
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. To elect ten persons to the
Board of Directors of the Company, each to serve until the next annual meeting
of stockholders and until their successors have been elected and qualified. The
Board of Directors' nominees are: Eugene R. Conahan, Michael R. Giordano, David
Lin, M.K. Lu, Shing Mao, Michael A. Rosenberg, Erich E. Schaedlich, Leonard M.
Silverman, Raymond Soong, and William J. Spires.
2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS. To ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company's
independent certified public accountants for the year ending December 31, 1999.
3. OTHER BUSINESS. To transact such other business as
properly may come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
COST OF SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This Proxy solicitation is made by the Board of Directors of
the Company, and the Company will bear the costs of this solicitation, including
the expense of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement
and any other material used in this solicitation of Proxies. This solicitation
of Proxies will be made by mail and may be supplemented by telephone or other
personal contact to be made without special compensation by regular officers and
employees of the Company. If it should appear desirable to do so to ensure
adequate representation at the Meeting, officers and regular employees may
communicate with Stockholders, banks, brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and
others, by telephone, facsimile transmissions, telegraph, or in person to
request that Proxies be furnished. The Company will reimburse banks, brokerage
houses, and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries, for their reasonable
expenses in forwarding proxy materials to their principals. The total estimated
cost for the solicitation of Proxies is $9,000.
OUTSTANDING SECURITIES AND VOTING RIGHTS; REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
The authorized capital of the Company consists of (i)
9,000,000 shares of common stock ("Common Stock"), $0.66-2/3 par value, of which
5,764,352 shares were issued and outstanding on the Record Date (with an
additional 717,115 shares held as Treasury Stock) and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of
Class A Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value ("Class A Preferred Stock"), of which
no shares were issued and outstanding on the Record Date. The Common Stock and
the Class A Preferred Stock are collectively referred to as the "Stock." A
majority of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock constitutes a quorum for
the conduct of business at the Meeting. Abstentions will be treated as shares
present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum.
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<PAGE> 4
Each Stockholder is entitled to one vote, in person or by
proxy, for each share of Common Stock standing in his or her name on the books
of the Company as of the Record Date on any matter submitted to the
Stockholders, except that in connection with the election of directors, each
Stockholder has the right to cumulate votes, provided that the candidates' names
have been properly placed in nomination prior to commencement of voting and a
Stockholder has given notice prior to commencement of voting of his or her
intention to cumulate votes. If a Stockholder has given such notice, all
Stockholders may cumulate their votes for candidates in nomination. Cumulative
voting entitles a Stockholder to give one candidate a number of votes equal to
the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares of
Common Stock owned by such Stockholder, or to distribute such Stockholder's
votes on the same principle among as many candidates as the Stockholder shall
think fit. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes, up to the
number of directors to be elected, shall be elected. Discretionary authority to
cumulate is hereby solicited by the Board of Directors and the return of the
Proxy shall grant such authority.
Of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date,
2,045,093 (or approximately 40.5%) (the "Shares") were held in the name of
Lite-On Power Semiconductor Corporation ("LPSC"), which, in turn, is
wholly-owned by Vishay/Lite-On Power Semiconductor, Pte., Ltd. ("Vishay/LPSC"),
a joint venture between the Lite-On Group and Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.
("Vishay"). See "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management"
and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" for a discussion of the
relationship among Vishay, Vishay/LPSC, LPSC and the Company. An additional
53,125 shares (or approximately 1.1%) were owned by directors and executive
officers of the Company. Vishay/LPSC and each director and executive officer has
informed the Company that it will vote "FOR" the election of the nominees to the
Board of Directors identified herein and "FOR" the appointment of Moss Adams LLP
as the Company's independent auditors.
Each proposal described herein, other than the election of
directors, requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote
at the Meeting. Accordingly, broker non-votes and abstentions from voting on any
matter, other than the election of directors, will have the effect of a vote
"AGAINST" such matter.
A Proxy for use at the Meeting is enclosed. The Proxy must be
signed and dated by you or your authorized representative or agent. Telegraphed,
cabled or telecopied Proxies are also valid. You may revoke a Proxy at any time
before it is exercised at the Meeting by submitting a written revocation to the
Secretary of the Company or a duly executed Proxy bearing a later date or by
voting in person at the Meeting.
Brokers and nominees holding Common Stock in "street name"
which are members of a stock exchange are required by the rules of the exchange
to transmit this Proxy Statement to the beneficial owner of the Common Stock and
to solicit voting instructions with respect to the matters submitted to the
Stockholders. In the event any such broker or nominee has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner by the date specified in the statement
accompanying such material, the broker or nominee may give or authorize the
giving of a Proxy to vote such Common Stock on the matters to be considered at
the Meeting; provided, however, that the broker or nominee may not give or
authorize the giving of a Proxy for any matter if it has notice of any contest
with respect to any matter, and, provided further, that the broker or nominee
may not vote the Common Stock "FOR" any matter which substantially affects the
rights or privileges of the Common Stock without specific instructions from the
beneficial owner. If you hold Common Stock in "street name" and you fail to
instruct your broker or nominee as to how to vote such Common Stock, your broker
or nominee may, in its discretion, vote such Common Stock "FOR" the election of
the Board of Director's nominees and "FOR" the other proposals described herein.
Unless revoked, the shares of Common Stock represented by
Proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions given thereon. In the
absence of any instruction in the Proxy, your shares of Common Stock will be
voted "FOR" the election of the nominees for director set forth herein and "FOR"
the other proposals described herein.
Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
amended its rule governing a company's ability to use discretionary proxy
authority with respect to shareholder proposals with were not submitted by the
shareholders in time to be included in the proxy statement. As a result of that
rule change, in the event a shareholder proposal was not submitted to the
Company prior to March 16, 1999, the enclosed Proxy will confer authority on the
Proxyholder's to vote the shares in accordance with their best judgment and
discretion if the proposal is presented at the Meeting. As of the date hereof,
no shareholder proposal has been submitted to the Company, and management is not
aware of any other matters to be presented for action at the Meeting. However,
if any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the Proxies solicited
hereby will be voted by the Proxyholder's in accordance with the recommendations
of the Board of Directors. Such authorization includes authority to appoint a
substitute nominee or
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nominees to the Board of Directors' nominees identified herein where death,
illness or other circumstances arise which prevent any such nominee for
directors from serving in such position and to vote such Proxy for such
substitute nominee.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of
Common Stock as of the Record Date by (i) each person known to the Company to be
the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (other than depositories), (ii) each executive officer, director
and nominee for director of the Company, and (iii) all directors and executive
officers as a group:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND
NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER(1) OWNERSHIP(2) PERCENT OF CLASS(3)
------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Lite-On Power Semiconductor Corporation ("LPSC") . . . . . . . . . 2,045,093(4) 40.5%
Fidelity Management & Research Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504,000 10.0%
Raymond Soong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180,000(5) 3.4%
Eugene R. Conahan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- *
Michael R. Giordano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51,000(6) 1.0%
David Lin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147,000(5) 2.8%
M.K. Lu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,000(5) *
Shing Mao . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,000(5) 1.9%
Michael A. Rosenberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,000(5) *
Erich E. Schaedlich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- *
Leonard M. Silverman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,000(5) *
William J. Spires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- *
Joseph Liu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103,333(7) 2.0%
Carl Wertz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,792(8) *
All directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons) . . . 690,125(9) 12.1%
</TABLE>
* Less than 1%.
(1) The address of LPSC is 28-1, Wu Shin Street, Ta Wu Lung Industrial
Zone, Keelung City, Taiwan, R.O.C. The address of the directors and
executive officers of the Company is 3050 E. Hillcrest Drive, Westlake
Village, California 91362. The address of Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.
is 63 Lincoln Highway, Malvern, PA 19355-2120. The address of Fidelity
Management & Research Company is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA
02109-3614.
(2) The named stockholder has sole voting power and investment power with
respect to the shares listed, except as indicated and subject to
community property laws where applicable.
(2) Shares which the person (or group) has the right to acquire within 60
days after the Record Date are deemed to be outstanding in calculating
the percentage ownership of the person (or group) but are not deemed to
be outstanding as to any other person or group. Percent of class total
does not take into account 717,115 shares held as treasury stock.
(4) LPSC, which holds 2,045,093 shares of Common Stock, as the record
holder, is owned by Vishay/LPSC, a joint venture owned 65% by Vishay
and 35% by the Lite-On Group.
(Footnotes continued on following page)
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(Footnotes continued from previous page)
(5) Represents shares of Common Stock which the named individual has the
right to acquire within 60 days of the Record Date, by the exercise of
vested stock options.
(6) Represents 1,000 shares of Common Stock held in the name of PaineWebber
Trust for the IRA of Mr. Giordano and 10,000 shares of Common Stock
which Mr. Giordano has the right to acquire within 60 days of the
Record Date, by the exercise of vested stock options.
(7) Includes 93,333 shares of Common Stock which Mr. Liu has the right to
acquire within 60 days of the Record Date, by the exercise of vested
stock options.
(8) Includes 6,667 shares of Common Stock which Mr. Wertz has the right to
acquire within 60 days of the Record Date, by the exercise of vested
stock options.
(9) Includes 637,000 shares which the directors and executive officers have
the right to acquire within 60 days of the Record Date, by the exercise
of vested stock options, and excludes an additional 135,000 shares
which the directors and executive officers will have the right to
acquire upon the exercise of stock options, which options will become
exercisable in installments after the Record Date.
Other than as disclosed in the foregoing table, to the
knowledge of the Company, no other person or company (other than Cede & Co., a
depository company) owns of record or beneficially more than 5 percent of the
issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company.
PROPOSAL ONE - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Company's Bylaws provide that the number of directors
shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors, but may not be
less than five nor more than seventeen. The Board of Directors has fixed the
number of directors at ten. The Bylaws further provide for the election of each
director at each annual meeting of stockholders.
The persons named below have been nominated for election to
the Board of Directors to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders
and until their successors have been elected and qualified. All nominees have
indicated their willingness to serve and, unless otherwise instructed, Proxies
will be voted in such a way as to elect as many of these nominees as possible
under applicable voting rules. In the event that any of the nominees should be
unable to serve as a director, it is intended that the Proxies will be voted for
the election of such substitute nominees, if any, as shall be designated by the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any
nominee will be unavailable.
None of the directors, nominees for director or executive
officers were selected pursuant to any arrangement or understanding, other than
with the directors and executive officers of the Company acting within their
capacity as such. There are no family relationships among directors or executive
officers of the Company as of the date hereof, and, except as set forth, as of
the date hereof, no directorships are held by any director in a company which
has a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or subject to the
requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any company registered as
an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
The following table sets forth certain biographical
information of the nominees for director and the executive officers of the
Company as of the Record Date. The term of office of each director expires with
the next annual meeting of shareholders or when a successor is elected and
qualified:
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DIRECTOR
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS AGE POSITION WITH THE COMPANY SINCE (1)
- ------------------------------------- ------- ------------------------------------------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Raymond Soong (2).................. 57 Chairman of the Board 1993
Michael A. Rosenberg (3)........... 70 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director 1989
Eugene R. Conahan (4).............. 48 Director 1998
Michael R. Giordano (5)............ 52 Director 1990
David Lin (6)...................... 52 Director 1991
M.K. Lu (7)........................ 50 Director 1995
Shing Mao (8)...................... 63 Director 1990
Erich E. Schaedlich (9)............ 55 Director 1998
Leonard M. Silverman (10).......... 59 Director 1995
William J. Spires (11)............. 57 Director 1998
Joseph Liu (12).................... 57 Vice President, Far East Operations N/A
Carl Wertz (13).................... 44 Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer N/A
</TABLE>
(1) Directors are elected at each annual meeting of shareholders.
(2) Mr. Soong has been the Chairman of the Board of Silitek Corporation
since 1990 and has been Chairman of the Board of LPSC since 1992. See
"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" and
"Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" for a discussion of
the relationships among Silitek, LPSC, Vishay and the Company. Since
1995, Mr. Soong has also been a director of FabTech, a subsidiary of
LPSC, with whom the Company entered into an agreement in February 1996,
whereby Diodes gained a new supply of processed wafers used in the
manufacture of several types of discrete semiconductors. Mr. Soong is a
graduate of the National Taipei Institute of Technology's Electronic
Engineering Department. After serving as a senior engineer for RCA and
as a chief engineer for Texas Instruments, Mr. Soong, together with
several of his coworkers, founded Taiwan Liton Electronic Co. Ltd.
("Taiwan Liton") in 1975. Taiwan Liton, which manufactures electronic
components and subsystems, is an affiliate of Silitek through common
control, and its stock is listed on the Taipei Stock Exchange. Mr.
Soong is also Chairman of the Board of Taiwan Liton, and the Company's
manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China ("Diodes-China").
(3) Mr. Rosenberg was appointed President of the Company on October 9, 1997
and has served as a director of the Company since 1989. Since 1992, Mr.
Rosenberg also has served as an independent consultant to Vishay.
Vishay, with worldwide sales exceeding $1.5 billion and a Fortune 1,000
company, is the largest U.S. and European manufacturer of passive
electronic components and a major producer of discrete semiconductors,
IRDCs (Infrared Communication Devices) and power integrated circuits.
See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" for a discussion
of the relationships among Vishay/LPSC, Vishay and the Company. Until
1991, Mr. Rosenberg was President, Principal Operating Officer and a
director of SFE Technologies, a manufacturer of electronic components
with principal offices in San Fernando, California. From 1970 to 1990,
Mr. Rosenberg served as Vice President Technology of SFE Technologies.
Mr. Rosenberg is a member of the Company's Executive Committee.
(4) Mr. Conahan has been Vice President, Sales - The Americas of Vishay
since December 1997, and served as General Manager, Film Resistors
Division of Vishay from 1995 to 1997. From 1990 to 1995, Mr. Conahan
served as Vice President, Control Products for Square D Corporation, a
manufacturer of distribution, control and instrumentation equipment.
Mr. Conahan is a member of the Company's Executive Committee.
(Footnotes continued on following page)
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(Footnotes continued from previous page)
(5) Mr. Giordano joined the investment banking firm of Paine Webber
Incorporated as a Senior Vice President-Investment Consulting, when
PaineWebber acquired his previous firm, Kidder Peabody and Company,
Inc. Mr. Giordano advises corporations, foundations, trusts, and
municipal governments in investments and finance. Mr. Giordano was with
Kidder Peabody since 1979. Formerly a captain and pilot in the USAF,
Mr. Giordano received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace
Engineering from California State Polytechnic University and his
Masters degree in Business Administration (Management and Finance) from
the University of Utah. Mr. Giordano also did post graduate work in
International Investments at Babson College. Mr. Giordano is Chairman
of the Company's Audit Committee and Compensation and Options
Committee, and is a member of the Executive Committee.
(6) Mr. Lin, who resigned on October 9, 1997, had served as President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company since March 1993. Mr. Lin
continues to serve as a director of the Company. Mr. Lin is also
President of Silitek and had served as Executive Vice President of
Silitek since 1990, prior to becoming President. See "Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" and "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions" for a discussion of the
relationships among Silitek, LPSC and the Company. Mr. Lin was
previously President of Texas Instruments Asia, Limited, in Taiwan from
1982 to 1990. Mr. Lin has been a director of LPSC since 1991 and a
director of Maxi Switch, Inc., a U.S. based computer keyboard
manufacturer and a member of the Lite-On Group, since 1990. Mr. Lin is
also a director of the Diodes-China joint venture.
(7) Since June 1998, Mr. Lu has been Group Vice President of Lite-On Group
and President and CEO of Actron Technology Corporation, a manufacturer
of pressfit diodes. From 1991 to June 1998, Mr. Lu was President and a
director of LPSC, and served is such capacity with the Vishay/LPSC
joint venture formed in 1997. From 1983 to 1990, Mr. Lu was General
Manager/Vice President of Silitek. See "Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management" and "Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions" for a discussion of the relationship between
Silitek, LPSC and the Company. Since 1995, Mr. Lu has also been a
director of FabTech. Mr. Lu earned his Bachelor degree in Electrical
Engineering at Tatung Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the
Institute of Administration at National Chengchi University. Mr. Lu is
also a member of the Chinese Management Association and the Chinese
Association for Advancement of Management, and director of the
Diodes-China joint venture.
(8) Since 1988, Dr. Mao has been Chairman of the Board of Lite-On, Inc., a
California corporation located in Milpitas, California, and a wholly
owned subsidiary of Taiwan Liton. See "Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management" and "Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions" for a discussion of the relationships among
Silitek, LPSC, and the Company. Since 1989, Dr. Mao has been a director
of Dyna Investment Co., Ltd. of Taiwan, a venture capital company, and
a director of LPSC. Since 1995, Dr. Mao has also been a director of
FabTech. Before joining Lite-On, Dr. Mao served in a variety of
management positions with Raytheon Company for four years, with Texas
Instruments for 11 years, and with UTL Corporation (later acquired by
Boeing Aircraft Company) for seven years. Dr. Mao earned his Ph.D.
degree in electrical engineering at Stanford University in 1963. Dr.
Mao is a member of the Company's Executive Committee, Compensation and
Options Committee, and the Audit Committee.
(9) Mr. Schaedlich has been Executive Vice President - Worldwide Sales for
Vishay Intertechnology since March 1999, after serving as Senior Vice
President - Worldwide Sales for Vishay Intertechnology since March
1998. Prior to that, Mr. Schaedlich served at Vice President Sales and
Marketing - Europe for Vishay Electronic Components Europe. From 1993
to 1998, Mr. Schaedlich also served as Managing Director of Vishay
Germany, Vishay Benelux, Vishay Switzerland, and Vishay Austria, and
from 1997 to 1998 of Vishay Denmark A/S. In addition, Mr. Schaedlich
serves as Managing Director of Vishay Electronic GmbH and Vishay Europe
GmbH, since 1993 and 1994, respectively.
(Footnotes continued on following page)
7
<PAGE> 9
(Footnotes continued from previous page)
(10) Since 1984, Dr. Silverman has been the Dean of Engineering at the
University of Southern California ("USC"), and has been employed by USC
since 1968. Dr. Silverman is internationally known for his pioneering
work in the theory and application of multi-variable control systems
and signal processing and has more than 100 publications to his credit.
Dr. Silverman has been honored as a Fellow of the IEEE, as a
Distinguished Member of the IEEE Control Society, and has received a
Centennial Medal of the IEEE. He has also received election to the
National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest honors that can be
bestowed on an engineer. Dr. Silverman also serves on the Board of
Directors for Advanced Micro Devices and Netter Digital Entertainment,
Inc., as well as for the Colachis Foundation, the Lord Foundation, and
the M.C. Gill Foundation. Dr. Silverman earned his A.B., B.S., M.S. and
Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering at Columbia University during
the period 1961 through 1966. Dr. Silverman is Chairman of the
Company's Executive Committee and a member of the Company's Audit
Committee.
(11) Mr. Spires has been a Vice President and Secretary of Vishay since
1981. Previously, Mr. Spires served as Vice President - Industrial
Relations since 1980 and has been employed by Vishay since 1970. Mr.
Spires is a member of the Company's Compensation and Options Committee.
(12) In May 1998, Mr. Liu was appointed President of Vishay/LPSC and Vice
President, Far East Operations for the Company. Mr. Liu had served as
Vice President, Operations of the Company since 1994 and Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary since 1990. Mr. Liu was the Company's
Vice President, Administration from 1990 to 1994. Prior to joining the
Company, Mr. Liu held various management positions with Texas
Instruments ("TI"), Dallas, since 1971, including Planning Manager,
Financial Planning Manager, Treasury Manager, Cost Accounting Manager
and General Accounting Manager with TI Taiwan, Ltd. in Taipei; from
1981 to 1986 as Controller with TI Asia in Singapore and Hong Kong;
from 1986 to 1989 as Financial Planning Manager, TI Latin America
Division (for TI Argentina, TI Brazil, and TI Mexico) in Dallas; and
from 1989 to 1990 as Chief Coordinator of Strategic Business Systems
for TI Asia Pacific Division in Dallas. Mr. Liu is also President and a
director of Diodes-China. See "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions" for a discussion of the relationships between
Diodes-China and the Company.
(13) Mr. Wertz, the Company's Controller since 1993, was appointed the
Company's Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer on May 28,
1998. Before joining the Company, Mr. Wertz served in various financial
and accounting positions, most recently as Controller of Westco
Products, a manufacturer and distributor of food products,
headquartered in Pico Rivera, California. Mr. Wertz, a licensed CPA,
began his accounting career with Deloitte & Touche LLP.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee, a
Compensation and Options Committee, and an Executive Committee. The members of
the Audit Committee are Dr. Leonard M. Silverman and Dr. Shing Mao, with Michael
R. Giordano serving as Chairman of the committee. The Audit Committee makes
recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the engagement of the
Company's independent auditors, reviews the plan, scope and results of the
audit, reviews with management the Company's policies and procedures with
respect to internal accounting and financial controls and reviews changes in
accounting policy and the scope of the non-audit services which may be performed
by the Company's independent auditors. The Audit Committee also monitors
policies to prohibit unethical, questionable or illegal activities by the
Company's employees.
The Compensation and Options Committee members consist of Dr.
Shing Mao and William J. Spires, with Michael R. Giordano serving as Chairman of
the committee. The Compensation and Options Committee makes recommendations to
the Board of Directors regarding compensation, benefits and incentive
arrangements for officers and other key employees of the Company including
awards under the Company's Incentive Bonus Plan. The Compensation and Options
Committee also administers the Company's 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan ("1993
ISO Plan"), the 1993 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan ("1993 NQO Plan"), the 1984
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan ("1984 NQO Plan"), and Company's 401(k) profit
sharing plan (the "401(k) Plan").
The Executive Committee members are Michael A. Rosenberg,
Michael. R. Giordano, Dr. Shing Mao, and Eugene R. Conahan, with Dr. Leonard M.
Silverman serving as Chairman of the committee. The Executive
8
<PAGE> 10
Committee promotes communication between the management and the Board of
Directors by receiving the periodic reports of the management of the Company on
the business, results of operations, and prospects of the Company.
The Board of Directors met one time during fiscal year 1998.
The Compensation and Options Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Executive
Committee each met once during fiscal year 1998. All of the persons who were
directors of the Company or members of committees were present for all of the
meetings during fiscal year 1998.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PLANS
The 1993 ISO Plan provides for the issuance of up to 1,000,000
shares of the Company's authorized but unissued Common Stock. Options granted
under the 1993 ISO Plan are not transferable, except by will or the laws of
descent or distribution. A vested but unexercised option is normally exercisable
for 90 days after termination of employment, other than by death or retirement.
In the event of death, unmatured options are accelerated to maturity. An option
granted under the 1993 ISO Plan may not be priced at less than 100% of fair
market value on the date of grant and expires 10 years from the date of grant.
The 1993 NQO Plan became effective retroactively to July 6,
1993, upon approval by the shareholders at the Company's 1994 annual meeting.
The 1993 NQO Plan provides for the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of the
Company's authorized but unissued Common Stock. Options may be exercised by the
optionee during his or her lifetime or after his or her death by those who have
inherited by will or intestacy. A vested but unexercised option is normally
exercisable for 90 days after termination of employment, other than by death or
retirement. In the event of death, unmatured options are accelerated to
maturity. The Compensation and Options Committee, which administers the 1993 NQO
Plan, has full discretion to determine whether or not options granted under the
1993 NQO Plan shall have a right to relinquish up to one-half of an unexercised
position of an option for an amount of cash, if concurrently, the holder of the
option exercises a portion of the option and purchases a number of shares of
stock at least equal to the number of shares which could have been purchased
under the portion of the option relinquished ("SAR"). However, the Board of
Directors has expressly stated that it has not and does not intend to grant such
SAR. The shares to be issued upon exercise of options under the 1993 NQO Plan
require a three-year vesting period. The option price is 100% of the fair market
value of such shares on the date the option is granted. Options expire ten years
from the grant of the option.
The 1984 NQO Plan provides for the issuance of up to 300,000
shares of the Company's authorized but unissued Common Stock. Options granted
under the 1984 NQO Plan are not transferable, except by will or the laws of
descent or distribution. A vested but unexercised option is normally exercisable
for 90 days after termination of employment, other than by death or retirement.
In the event of death, unmatured options are accelerated to maturity. An option
granted under the 1984 NQO Plan may not be priced at less than 100% of fair
market value on the date of grant and expires 10 years from the date of grant.
Under the terms of the 1984 NQO Plan, no options can be granted after 1994.
The Company maintains a 401(k) profit sharing plan for the
benefit of qualified employees. Employees who participate may elect to make
salary deferral contributions to the Plan up to 6% of the employees' eligible
payroll. The Company makes a contribution of $1 for every $2 contributed by the
participant. In addition, the Company may make a discretionary contribution to
the entire qualified employee pool, in accordance with the 401(k) Plan.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
All directors each received $750 for each meeting of the Board
of Directors attended during the year ended December 31, 1998. No additional
amounts are paid to directors for committee participation or special
assignments. The Board of Directors may modify such compensation in the future.
Both employee and non-employee directors are eligible to receive grants of stock
options.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the
Company's directors, executive officers and any persons holding ten percent or
more of the Common Stock are required to report their ownership of Common Stock
and any changes in that ownership to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") and to furnish the Company with copies of such reports. Specific due
dates for these reports have been established and the Company is required to
report
9
<PAGE> 11
any failure to file on a timely basis by such persons. Based solely upon a
review of copies of reports filed with the SEC during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998, all reporting persons filed reports on a timely basis, except
for Messrs. Schaedlich, Conahan, and Spires, who filed late Form 3's in
connection with their election to the Company's Board of Directors in June 1998.
To avoid the inadvertent failure of directors, executive officers and
stockholders to timely file these reports in the future, the Company will
periodically advise such persons of their filing obligations.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND RELATED INFORMATION
SUMMARY OF CASH AND CERTAIN OTHER COMPENSATION
The following sets forth certain summary information concerning
compensation paid or accrued by the Company to its executive officers (the
"Named Executives") for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 1998, 1997
and 1996:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long Term Compensation
----------------------------------------
Annual Compensation (1) Awards Payouts
------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------
Other Securities All
Name and Annual Restricted Underlying Other
Principal Compen- Stock Options/ LTIP Compen-
Position Year Salary($) Bonus($) sation($) Awards($) SARs(#) Payouts($) sation($)
- -------- ---- --------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
MICHAEL A. 1998 -- (2) -- -- -- -- -- --
ROSENBERG 1997 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
President 1996 -- -- -- -- 30,000(3) -- --
and Chief
Executive
Officer
JOSEPH LIU 1998 140,000(4) 49,600 -- -- -- -- --
Vice President, 1997 120,000 99,300 -- -- -- -- --
Far East 1996 120,000 30,000 -- -- 50,000(5) -- --
Operations
CARL WERTZ 1998 87,000(6) 27,300 -- -- 25,000(7) -- --
Chief Financial 1997 70,000 14,500 -- -- -- -- --
Officer, 1996 65,700 6,000 -- -- 10,000(5) -- --
Secretary and
Treasurer
</TABLE>
(1) Certain of the Company's executive officers receive personal benefits
in addition to salary and cash bonuses, including car allowances, life
insurance payable at the direction of the employee, contributions under
the Company's 401(k) Plan, and group health insurance. The aggregate
amount of such personal benefits does not exceed the lesser of $50,000
or 10% of the total annual salary and bonus reported for the Named
Executives.
(2) Mr. Rosenberg was appointed President on October 9, 1997. Mr. Rosenberg
receives no direct compensation from the Company, other than issuance
of the Company's stock options and reimbursement of expenses while on
Company business. In addition, Mr. Rosenberg receives cash compensation
directly from Vishay for his services as a consultant to Vishay. See
"Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" for a discussion of
the relationship among Silitek, LPSC, Vishay and the Company.
(3) Options were granted pursuant to the Company's 1993 NQO Plan at an
exercise price of $6.00 and are exercisable annually in three equal
amounts over a three-year vesting period. Options granted to Mr.
Rosenberg were for his services as a member of the Company's Board of
Directors.
(4) Mr. Liu also receives reimbursement of expenses while on Company
business, which is not included in this figure.
(Footnotes continued on following page)
10
<PAGE> 12
(Footnotes continued from previous page)
(5) Options granted in 1996 were issued pursuant to the Company's 1993 ISO
Plan at an exercise price of $6.00 and are exercisable annually in
three equal amounts over a three-year vesting period.
(6) Mr. Wertz, the Company's Controller since 1993, was appointed as the
Company's Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer on May 28,
1998.
(7) Options granted in 1998 were issued pursuant to the Company's 1993
Incentive Stock Option Plan ("1993 ISO Plan") at a exercise prices of
$5.00, $7.50 and $10.00 and are exercisable annually in three equal
amounts over a three year vesting period. The 1993 ISO Plan provides
for the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's authorized
but unissued Common Stock. Options granted under the 1993 ISO Plan are
not transferable, except by will or the laws of descent or
distribution. An vested but unexercised option is normally exercisable
for 90 days after termination of employment, other than by death or
retirement. In the event of death, unmatured options are accelerated to
maturity. An option granted under the 1993 ISO Plan may not be priced
at less than 100% of fair market value on the date of grant and expires
10 years from the date of grant.
STOCK OPTION GRANTS
The following table contains information concerning the grant of stock
options during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 to the Named Executives:
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN FISCAL YEAR 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of
Stock Price
Appreciation
Individual Grants for Option Term (1)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Number of Percent
Securities of Total
Underlying Options/SARs
Options/SARs Granted to Exercise or
Granted Employees Base Price Expiration
Name (#) in FY 1998 ($/Sh) Date 5%($) 10%($)
--------------- -------------- -------------- ------------- ------------- --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CARL WERTZ 8,334 2.1 5.00 10/01/09 26,206 66,411
" 8,333 2.1 7.50 10/01/10 5,370 45,571
" 8,333 2.1 10.00 10/01/11 0 24,738
</TABLE>
(1) The Potential Realizable Value is the product of (a) the difference
between (i) the product of the closing sale price per share at the date
of grant and the sum of (A) 1 plus (B) the assumed rate of appreciation
of the Common Stock compounded annually over the term of the option and
(ii) the per share exercise price of the option and (b) the number of
shares of Common Stock underlying the option at December 31, 1998.
These amounts represent certain assumed rates of appreciation only.
Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises are dependent upon a
variety of factors, including market conditions and the price
performance of the Common Stock. There can be no assurance that the
rate of appreciation presented in this table can be achieved.
11
<PAGE> 13
STOCK OPTION EXERCISES AND HOLDINGS
The following table contains information with respect to the
Named Executives concerning the exercise of options during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998 and unexercised options held by the Named Executives as of
December 31, 1998:
AGGREGATED OPTION / SAR EXERCISES IN FISCAL YEAR 1998
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES
ACQUIRED
ON VALUE VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
EXERCISE REALIZED NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED "IN-THE-MONEY" OPTIONS/SAR
NAME (#) ($) OPTIONS/SARS AT 12/31/98(#) AT 12/31/98 ($)(1)
- -------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------
Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Rosenberg -- -- 40,000 10,000 62,500 --
Joseph Liu -- -- 93,333 16,667 62,500 --
Carl Wertz -- -- 6,667 28,333 -- --
</TABLE>
(1) The value of unexercised "in-the-money" options is the difference
between the closing sale price of the Company's Common Stock on
December 31, 1998 ($5.00 per share) and the exercise price of the
option, multiplied by the number of shares subject to the option.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO STOCKHOLDERS
The Report of the Compensation and Options Committee of the
Board of Directors to Stockholders shall not be deemed incorporated by reference
by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into
any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this
information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such
Acts.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation and Options Committee (the "Committee")
consists of three directors, Dr. Shing Mao, William J. Spires, and Michael R.
Giordano, who are not employees or former employees of the Company. The
Compensation and Options Committee makes recommendations to the Board of
Directors regarding compensation, benefits and incentive arrangements for
officers and other key employees of the Company including awards under the
Company's Incentive Bonus Plan. The Compensation and Options Committee also
administers the Company's 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan ("1993 ISO Plan"),
the Company's 1993 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan ("1993 NQO Plan"), and the
Company's 1984 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan ("1984 NQO Plan").
The Company's general approach to compensating executive
officers is to pay cash salaries which are competitive with salaries paid to
executives of other companies in the Company's industry, which are of similar
size and engaged in a similar line of business, and to employ a subjective
assessment of the individual's experience and past and potential contribution to
the Company.
The Company's policy in compensating executive officers is to
establish methods and levels of compensation that will provide strong incentives
to promote the profitability and growth of the Company and reward superior
performance. Compensation of executive officers includes base salary,
performance-based incentive bonuses and stock-based programs. Salaries are
established by the Committee based on the Committee's subjective assessment of
the executive's scope of responsibility, level of experience, individual
performance, and contribution to the business.
The Company believes that the emphasis on performance-based
and stock-based compensation serves to align the interests of the executive
officers with the interests of the Company's stockholders. The Company also
seeks to establish overall compensation levels that are sufficiently competitive
to attract, retain, and motivate highly
12
<PAGE> 14
competent management personnel. Base salaries for Messrs. Wertz and Liu are paid
in accordance with subjective criteria set by the Committee.
The Company's performance, for purposes of compensation
decisions, is measured under the annual bonus plan against goals established
prior to the start of the fiscal year by the Committee, and is reviewed and
approved by the Committee. The Company's annual bonus plan is based on specific
financial performance results. Bonuses, set at a fixed amount and paid as a
percentage of the total, are based upon reaching a percentage between 80% and
120% of the goal. Mr. Wertz's bonus is based upon subjective criteria set by the
Committee. Mr. Liu's bonus is based on subjective criteria set by the Committee
for net sales, and profit before tax at Diodes-Taiwan and Diodes-China, as well
as, return on assets at Diodes-China.
COMPENSATION FOR THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
No cash compensation, other than expense reimbursement, has
been paid by the Company to Michael A. Rosenberg, the Company's President since
his appointment in October 1997. Mr. Rosenberg serves as a consultant to Vishay
Intertechnology, Inc., and he is compensated directly by Vishay for such
consulting services. Mr. Rosenberg is however, eligible to participate in, and
receive stock option grants through, the Company's 1993 Non-Qualified Stock
Option Plan. Shares granted to Mr. Rosenberg previously were for his services as
a member of the Company's Board of Directors. Any Shares that may be granted to
Mr. Rosenberg in the future will be based upon the Committee's subjective
assessment of the performance of Mr. Rosenberg and the Company.
STOCK OPTIONS
The Committee strongly believes that the interests of senior
management must be closely aligned with those of the Company's stockholders.
Stock options are granted to officers and selected employees whose contributions
and skills are important to the long-term success of the Company. Stock options
granted to executive officers to date have been granted at no less than the fair
market value as of the date of grant with a ten year term. If employment is
terminated, the term of the grant is 90 days from the termination date. To
encourage retention, the ability to exercise options granted under the plans is
subject to vesting restrictions. The Committee's policy is to award an initial
grant at the date of employment, which vests over three years, and is in
recognition of the executive officer's potential contribution to the Company.
The three year vesting period may be increased or decreased at the Committee's
discretion. After three years, it is at the Committee's discretion to award
additional grants based upon future contribution. Decisions made by the
Committee regarding the timing and size of other option grants take into
consideration Company and individual performance, competitive market practices,
and the size and term of option grants made in prior years. The Committee does
not consider current option holdings when granting additional options.
The Company's stock option plans have been amended and
approved by the stockholders so stock options that have been awarded can qualify
for exclusion under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as
performance-based compensation.
Dated: April 2, 1999
Compensation and Options Committee
of the Board of Directors
Michael R. Giordano
Shing Mao
William J. Spires
COMPENSATION AND OPTIONS COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation and Options Committee consists of three
directors, Dr. Shing Mao, William J. Spires, and Michael R. Giordano. No person
who served as a member of the Company's Compensation and Options Committee
during the 1998 fiscal year has ever been an officer or employee of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries.
13
<PAGE> 15
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the yearly
percentage change in the cumulative total stockholder return of the Company's
Common Stock against the cumulative total return of the American Stock Exchange
Market Index ("AMEX Market Index") and a Company-constructed electronics
manufacturing and distribution peer group for the five fiscal years ending
December 31, 1998. The graph is not necessarily indicative of future price
performance.
The graph shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any
general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any
filing under the Securities Act or under the Exchange Act, except to the extent
that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and
shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG DIODES INCORPORATED, AMEX MARKET INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX(1)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
- ------------------------------------- ------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Diodes Incorporated $ 100 $ 93.02 $ 195.35 $ 134.88 $ 181.39 $ 93.02
AMEX Market Index 100 88.33 113.86 120.14 148.71 179.21
Peer Group Index (weighted average) 100 118.95 242.09 204.89 329.49 412.41
</TABLE>
(1) Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 1993 in the Common Stock of
Diodes Incorporated, the stock of the companies in the AMEX Market
Index, and in the stocks of the peer group companies, and that all
dividends received within a quarter, if any, were reinvested in that
quarter. The peer group companies consist of Microsemi Corporation,
Nu-Horizons Electronics Corporation, Siliconix, Inc., Semtech
Corporation, Sterling Electronics Corporation, Unitrode Corporation,
Savior Technology Group (which acquired former peer group company
Western Microtechnology, Inc. in 1997), and Taitron Components, Inc.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
LPSC is the record owner of 40.5% of the Company's issued and
outstanding Common Stock, excluding treasury stock, at December 31, 1998, and
the Record Date. In August 1997, the ownership of LPSC was transferred to
Vishay/LPSC, a newly formed joint venture between the Lite-On Group and Vishay.
Vishay holds a 65% interest in the joint venture, and the Lite-On Group holds
the other 35%.
14
<PAGE> 16
During the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997,
approximately 25% and 32%, respectively, of the purchases of products for resale
by the Company, amounting to approximately $12,320,000 and $15,630,000,
respectively, were from Vishay/LPSC. These products, which were also available
generally from other sources, were negotiated at prices competitive with prices
charged by other vendors of similar products in similar quantities. There are no
special or exclusive trading agreements or understandings between the Company
and LPSC, other than the Company's previously filed marketing agreement with
LPSC.
In February 1996, the Company announced an agreement with
FabTech whereby the Company may purchase processed wafers used in the
manufacture of several types of discrete semiconductors. The Company has
provided FabTech with approximately $2.5 million in working capital to be used
in upgrading, reconfiguring, and starting up operations at an existing wafer
fabrication facility located in Lee's Summit, Missouri. The Company earns
interest from FabTech on the $2.5 million advance at a rate equal to the
Company's current cost of capital. FabTech is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Vishay/LPSC.
The Company's Taiwan and China manufacturing facilities
receive wafers from FabTech, among others. Output from the FabTech facility
includes wafers used in the production of Schottky barrier diodes, fast recovery
epitaxial diodes (FREDs), and other widely used value-added products. Schottky
barrier diodes are employed in the manufacture of the power supplies found in
personal computers, telecommunications devices and other applications where high
frequency, low forward voltage and fast recovery are required.
Raymond Soong, who became a director and Chairman of the Board
of the Company effective March 16, 1993, is also the Chairman of the Board of
Silitek, Vishay/LPSC, Taiwan Liton, and the Diodes-China joint venture.
Michael A. Rosenberg, President, Chief Executive Officer and a
director of the Company, also serves as a consultant to Vishay, for which
consulting services he is compensated by Vishay.
David Lin, who has been a director of the Company since 1991,
was from March 1993 to October 1997, President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. Mr. Lin is the President and a director of Silitek.
Mr. Lin is also a director of the Diodes-China joint venture.
Silitek is affiliated through common ownership and control
with Taiwan Liton, and both companies are members of the Lite-On Group. Both
Silitek and Taiwan Liton are public corporations in Taiwan with stock registered
on the Taipei Stock Exchange.
Dr. Shing Mao, who is a director of the Company, is Chairman
of the Board of Lite-On Milpitas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Taiwan Liton. Dr.
Mao is also a director of Vishay/LPSC, and since 1995, has also been a director
of FabTech.
M.K. Lu, who has been a director of the Company since 1995, is
also Group Vice President of the Lite-On Group. From 1983 to 1990, Mr. Lu was
General Manager/Vice President of Silitek. Mr. Lu is also a director of the
Diodes-China joint venture.
During 1998, Michael R. Giordano, a director of the Company
and Senior Vice President-Investment Consulting at the investment banking firm
of PaineWebber, Inc., has, from time to time, assisted directors and executive
officers of the Company in stock option exercises and subsequent stock sales of
the Company's Common Stock. Mr. Giordano is also the pension consultant for the
Company's 401(k) plan and has, from time to time, in such capacity assisted
Vishay/LPSC in stock transactions. Compensation received by Mr. Giordano for
services rendered to the Company and Vishay/LPSC for services other than as a
director in 1998 was less than $1,000.
Joseph Liu, Vice President, Far East Operations, is also
President of Vishay/LPSC and President and a director of the Diodes-China joint
venture.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
THE ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' NOMINEES.
15
<PAGE> 17
PROPOSAL TWO - RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The firm of Moss Adams LLP, certified accountants, has been
the Company's independent accountants since 1993 and has been selected by the
Board of Directors to serve as its independent accountants for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 1999. Professional services rendered by Moss Adams LLP for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 consisted of an audit of the Company's
financial statements, consultation on interim financial statements, services
related to filings with the SEC, meetings with the Company's Audit Committee and
consultation on various matters relating to accounting and financial reporting.
All professional services rendered by Moss Adams LLP during fiscal 1998 were
furnished at customary rates and terms. The Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors met with representatives of Moss Adams LLP during the past fiscal
year. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Giordano, Mao, and
Silverman. Representatives of Moss Adams LLP are expected to be present at the
Meeting. They will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire,
and respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
Stockholders are being asked to ratify the appointment of Moss
Adams LLP as the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 1999. Ratification of the proposal requires the affirmative
vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock represented and voting at the
Meeting.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
THE RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Under certain circumstances, stockholders are entitled to
present proposals at stockholder meetings. Any such proposal to be included in
the proxy statement for the Company's 2000 annual meeting of stockholders must
be submitted by a stockholder prior to December 31, 1999, in a form that
complies with applicable regulations. Recently, the SEC amended its rule
governing a company's ability to use discretionary proxy authority with respect
to shareholder proposals which are not submitted by the shareholders in time to
be included in the proxy statement. As a result of that rule change, in the
event a shareholder proposal is not submitted to the Company prior to March 15,
2000, the proxies solicited by the Board of Directors for the 2000 annual
meeting of shareholders will confer authority of the holders of the proxy to
vote the shares in accordance with their best judgment and discretion if the
proposal is presented at the 2000 annual meeting of shareholders without any
discussion of the proposal in the proxy statement for such meeting.
ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K
The Company's Annual Report of the fiscal year ended December
31, 1998 accompanies or has preceded this Proxy Statement. The Annual Report
contains consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
and the report thereon of Moss Adams LLP, the Company's independent auditors,
for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.
STOCKHOLDERS MAY OBTAIN WITHOUT CHARGE A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED
WITH THE SEC PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE ACT, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31, 1998, BY WRITING TO THE COMPANY; ATTN: INVESTOR RELATIONS, 3050 EAST
HILLCREST DRIVE, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA 91362, OR EMAIL THE REQUEST TO
[email protected].
OTHER MATTERS
Management knows of no business which will be presented for
consideration at the Meeting other than as stated in the Notice of Meeting. If,
however, other matters are properly brought before the Meeting, it is the
intention of the Proxyholders to vote the shares represented by the Proxies on
such matters in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors and
authority to do so is included in the Proxy.
Dated at Westlake Village, California, this thirtieth day of
April, 1999,
By Order of the Board of Directors,
DIODES INCORPORATED
/s/ Carl Wertz
Carl Wertz,
Secretary
16
<PAGE> 18
REVOCABLE PROXY DIODES INCORPORATED REVOCABLE PROXY
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS -- JUNE 4, 1999
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned stockholder(s) of Diodes Incorporated (the "Company") hereby
nominates, constitutes and appoints Michael A. Rosenberg and Carl Wertz, and
each of them, the attorney, agent and proxy of the undersigned, with full power
of substitution, to vote all stock of the Company which the undersigned is
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the
"Meeting") to be held at the Radisson Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills,
California 91301, on Friday, June 4, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. (California time), and
any adjournments thereof, as fully and with the same force and effect as the
undersigned might or could do if personally thereat, as follows:
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
FOR all nominees listed below [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for [ ]
(except as marked to the contrary below) all nominees listed below
Discretionary authority to cumulate votes is granted
</TABLE>
Nominees: Eugene R. Conahan; Michael R. Giordano; David Lin; M.K. Lu: Shing Mao;
Michael A. Rosenberg;
Erich E. Schaedlich; Leonard M. Silverman; Raymond Soong; and William J. Spires.
(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any one or more nominees, write
that nominee's or nominees' name(s) in the space provided below)
2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
TO ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company's independent
certified public accountants for the year ending December 31, 1999.
FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN [ ]
3. OTHER BUSINESS
In their discretion, the proxyholders are authorized to transact such other
business as may properly come before the Meeting and any adjournment thereof.
FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN [ ]
Please Sign And Date On Reverse Side
<PAGE> 19
REVOCABLE PROXY REVOCABLE PROXY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE OF "FOR" THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE
NOMINEES AND FOR RATIFICATION OF MOSS ADAMS LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1999. ALL
PROPOSALS TO BE ACTED UPON ARE PROPOSALS OF THE COMPANY. IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS
IS PRESENTED AT THE MEETING, THIS PROXY SHALL BE VOTED BY THE PROXYHOLDERS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys and
proxyholders, or either of them, or their substitutes, shall lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof, and hereby revokes any and all proxies
heretofore given by the undersigned to vote at the Meeting. The undersigned
hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and the Proxy
Statement accompanying said notice.
Date:
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
(Name of Stockholder, Printed)
-------------------------------
(Signature of Stockholder)
-------------------------------
(Name of Stockholder, Printed)
-------------------------------
(Signature of Stockholder)
(Please date this Proxy and
sign your name as it appears on
your stock certificate(s).
Executors, administrators,
trustees, etc., should give
their full titles. All joint
owners should sign.)
I (We) do [ ] do not [ ] expect
to attend the Meeting.
This Proxy will be voted "FOR" the election of all nominees whose names
appear above unless authority to do so is withheld. Unless "AGAINST" or
"ABSTAIN" is indicated, the Proxy will be voted "FOR" the ratification of the
appointment of Moss Adams LLP as the Company's independent auditors. PLEASE
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE POSTAGE PREPAID
ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
