<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
R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
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[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
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Notes:
<PAGE>
[LOGO]
1999
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Meeting Notice
Proxy Statement
[LOGO] R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
77 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601-1696
Your vote counts. Please take a moment to read the information and instructions
inside.
<PAGE>
1999 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS 3
Meeting Notice
WHERE
First Chicago Center,
One First National Plaza
(at Dearborn and Madison Streets),
Chicago, Illinois 60602
WHEN
Thursday, March 25, 1999 at
9:00 a.m. Chicago time
WHY
. To elect three directors
. To vote on a stockholder proposal
regarding preparation of a
report on pay equity
. To vote on a stockholder proposal
regarding preparation of a
report on global corporate
standards
. To conduct any other business if
properly raised
RECORD DATE
The close of business on
February 9, 1999
You will find more information on the nominees for director and the proposals in
the proxy statement on the following pages. If you are a stockholder of record,
you can vote by mail, by toll-free telephone number or in person at the meeting.
Your vote is important! Please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in
the envelope provided or call the toll-free number -- even if you plan to attend
the meeting. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted.
You will find instructions on how to vote on page 11. Most stockholders vote by
proxy and do not attend the meeting in person. However, as long as you were a
stockholder on February 9, 1999, you are invited to attend, or to send a
representative. Please note that only persons with an admission ticket or
evidence of stock ownership or who are guests of the company will be admitted to
the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Monica M. Fohrman
Secretary
February 18, 1999
<PAGE>
1999 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS 5
Proxy Statement
February 18, 1999
Contents
Proposals
Proposal 1: Election of Directors................................ 6
Proposal 2: Stockholder Proposal Regarding Pay Equity............ 7
Proposal 3: Stockholder Proposal Regarding Global
Corporate Standards.............................................. 9
Your Proxy Vote
Voting Instructions..............................................11
Voting Rules.....................................................11
Company Information
Stock Performance................................................13
About the Current Directors......................................14
The Board's Committees and their Functions.......................16
Director Compensation............................................17
The Company's Largest Stockholders...............................18
Stock Held by Directors and Executive Officers...................20
Executive Compensation...........................................21
Report on Compensation...........................................25
Severance Pay....................................................28
Executive Agreements.............................................28
The Company's Independent Public Accountants.....................30
Submitting Stockholder Proposals and Nominations
for 2000 Annual Meeting..........................................31
Discretionary Voting of Proxies on Other Matters.................31
This proxy statement is issued in connection with the 1999 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for March 25, 1999. This proxy
statement and accompanying proxy card are first being mailed to
stockholders on or about February 18, 1999.
<PAGE>
6 Proposals
Proposal 1: Election of Directors
The company's Certificate of Incorporation provides for three classes of
directors. Each director serves a three-year term, and the terms of directors in
each class expire in rotation. The company's bylaws were amended by the board to
reduce the number of directors from twelve to eleven effective the day of the
1999 Annual Meeting. Therefore, at the meeting stockholders will vote to elect
three directors of Class 2. Our nominees for director are:
[Photo of Joseph B. Anderson, Jr.]
Joseph B. Anderson, Jr.
Chairman and chief executive officer, Chivas Industries L.L.C., a manufacturer
of interior lighting and trim, injection molding and energy absorbing foam
components for the automotive industry, 1994-present
President and chief executive officer, Composite Energy Management Systems,
Incorporated, an automotive parts manufacturing company, 1992-1993
General director, body hardware business unit, Inland Fisher Guide Division,
General Motors Corporation, 1990-1992
Directorships: Quaker Chemical Corporation; Meritor Automotive, Inc.
Committees: Corporate Responsibility & Governance; Human Resources
Age: 55
Director since: 1998
[Photo of Judith H. Hamilton]
Judith H. Hamilton
President and chief executive officer, Classroom Connect, a provider of
materials integrating the internet into the education process, 1999-present
President and chief executive officer, FirstFloor Software, an internet software
publisher, 1996-1998
President and chief executive officer, Dataquest Incorporated, a high technology
market research analysis and consulting firm, 1992-1995
Senior vice president and general manager, systems division, Locus Computing
Corporation, 1991-1992
Directorships: Classroom Connect; Software.com, Inc.
Committees: Audit; Corporate Responsibility & Governance
Age: 54
Director since: 1995
[Photo of Bide L. Thomas]
Bide L. Thomas
President, Commonwealth Edison Company, a producer, distributor and seller of
electric energy, 1987-1992 (retired)
Directorships: MYR Group Inc.; The Northern Trust Corporation
Committees: Audit; Finance
Age: 63
Director since: 1987
The board recommends that stockholders vote for each of our nominees. If any
nominee does not stand for election, proxies voting for that nominee may be
voted for a substitute nominee selected by the board. The board may also choose
to reduce the number of directors to be elected at the meeting.
<PAGE>
Proposals to be Voted On 7
Proposal 2: Stockholder Proposal Regarding Pay Equity
We have been notified that the following stockholders intend to introduce and
support the following proposal at the 1999 Annual Meeting: United States Trust
Company, 40 Court Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108, which has provided
certification indicating that, as of October 28, 1998, it was the beneficial
owner of 5,293 shares of the company's common stock, and Domini Social
Investments, 11 West 25th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010-2001, which has
provided certification indicating that, as of September 19, 1998, it was the
beneficial owner of 20,300 shares of the company's common stock. Based on the
information above, the stockholder proponents own a total of approximately .019%
of the total shares of the company's common stock outstanding on December 31,
1998.
WHEREAS, paying men and women equitably is the law of the land in the United
States, Canada and most of Europe. Despite legislation such as the U.S. Pay
Equity Act of 1963 large disparities remain between women and men performing
similar work. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, in 1997 women earned just 74
cents on the dollar compared to their male colleagues. This means that a woman
must work 15 months to earn what the average man in the same job earns in just
12 months;
WHEREAS, in April 1998, Vice President Al Gore announced new federal initiatives
to strengthen enforcement of the Pay Equity Act. These efforts will focus
greater attention on discriminatory corporate practices, leading to the risk of
not only large financial settlements, but more importantly adverse publicity
that damages corporate reputations;
WHEREAS, our company has already been subject to stringent enforcement of the
Pay Equity Act. On September 30, 1998, R.R. Donnelley settled an action brought
by an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor addressing disparities in the pay
of women and minority professionals and managers. As a part of the settlement,
R.R. Donnelley paid more than $250,000 in back wages to 29 women and minority
employees;
WHEREAS, the preceding workplace discrimination case is not an isolated incident
and therefore could be indicative of a problem that is not being adequately
addressed. In 1993, our company settled a class action race discrimination suit
involving African-American employees. In November, 1996 a class action race
discrimination suit was filed against the company in federal district court on
behalf of African-American workers. The workers, who seek $500 million in
damages in the pending suit, allege that in the wake of a plant closing the
company offered job transfers to white employees, while not offering African-
American employees comparable opportunities for transfer;
WHEREAS, "Discrimination is patently immoral, but it is now increasingly being
seen as unprofitable," stated Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan in a
speech to corporate leaders; R.R. Donnelley's shareholders have already borne
the cost of alleged discriminatory behavior, through the direct financial costs
associated with settling charges of discrimination and through less easily
quantified costs associated with adverse publicity and a reduced ability to
attract employee talent from the broadest possible pool;
WHEREAS, other leading companies, including Merck, Chubb and Manor Care, have
engaged in pay equity studies as a part of their on-going commitment to
workplace diversity, protecting the corporation and its shareholders from claims
of pay discrimination and enhancing their reputations as fair and desirable
places to work;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that shareholders request the Board of Directors
undertake a pay equity study to ascertain whether women and minority employees
throughout the company are paid equitably relative to men and non-minorities
performing similar jobs with comparable skills. The company shall prepare a
report summarizing its findings, including recommendations for addressing pay
inequities should they exist. This report, prepared at reasonable cost and
omitting proprietary information, should be made available to shareholders no
later than August 31, 1999.
<PAGE>
8 Proposals to be Voted On
Position of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders support the Board of
Directors and vote AGAINST the stockholder proposal.
The stockholder proponents request that the board undertake "a pay equity study
to ascertain whether women and minority employees throughout the company are
paid equitably relative to men and non-minorities performing similar jobs with
comparable skills." The statement they offer in support of their proposal
consists of (1) general assertions regarding discrimination and (2)
mischaracterizations of legal actions involving the company. There are at least
three reasons why the board recommends that you vote against the proposal.
The first and most important reason is that the proposal is based on a false
premise. The proponents attempt to convey the impression that the company may
have a serious problem with discrimination. This is simply not true. The
proponents reference three legal actions in which the company has been involved.
The proponents, however, mischaracterize these actions:
(1) The first action they reference, the September 1998 settlement, resulted
from a routine audit of company headquarters by the Department of Labor's Office
on Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). All government contractors are
subject to OFCCP audits. In its audit the OFCCP contended that 29 of the 828
persons reviewed were entitled to salary adjustments and/or back pay. The audit
found no systemic problems and no "discrimination." Recognizing the substantial
costs that fighting the government on this would entail, the company settled
with the OFCCP, without making any admission of wrongdoing. In the two other
audits the OFCCP conducted during 1998-99, both of which were of company
facilities employing hundreds of persons, there were no findings of
discrimination or pay irregularities.
(2) The second action they reference, the 1993 settlement, is likewise not
evidence of any company-wide problem. This action, which we settled without
admission of wrongdoing rather than undergo expensive and divisive litigation,
involved hiring and promotion practices at a single, isolated division of the
company. The claims brought in this action had nothing to do with "pay equity."
(3) The third action they reference, the class action case brought against the
company in 1996, proves nothing about the existence of workplace discrimination.
We have vigorously contested these allegations since they were first made. An
accusation of wrongdoing is not evidence of guilt, and to suggest otherwise is
irresponsible.
In sum, then, the proponents offer little to support their suggestion that the
company has a pervasive problem with workplace discrimination. This is not
surprising. The board and management are now, and have always been, fully
committed to ensuring that all of our workplaces are free from the corrosive
effects of impermissible discrimination.
The second reason to vote against the proposal is that federal law already
prohibits the sort of discrimination that the proposal is attempting to uncover.
The Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbid
discrimination on the basis of gender or race in the setting of employee pay. As
our Principles of Ethical Business Conduct makes clear, "[f]or more than 131
years, the policy of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, its subsidiaries and
affiliates has been to conduct business in a lawful and ethical manner."
The third reason to vote against the proposal is that, although it requests a
report "prepared at reasonable cost," the study that the proposal urges the
board to undertake would be expensive. The proposal asks the board to evaluate
the situation of its employees throughout the company and make recommendations
for addressing pay inequities found. While statistical studies could be
conducted, these studies would nonetheless require the board to generate
information relating to hundreds, if not thousands, of employees, comparing
their qualifications, experience and performance with others performing their
job to determine the basis for any pay differentials. Such a study would impose
a substantial burden on the company, both in terms of direct financial cost, and
in terms of diverting the attention of senior management away from their other
responsibilities.
<PAGE>
Proposals to be Voted On 9
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the company's
common stock present in person or by proxy at the 1999 Annual Meeting, and
entitled to vote on the stockholder proposal on conducting a pay equity study,
is required to approve it.
The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote AGAINST the
stockholder proposal.
Proposal 3: Stockholder Proposal Regarding Global Corporate Standards
We have been notified that the following stockholders intend to introduce and
support the following proposal at the 1999 Annual Meeting: the Adrian Dominican
Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan 49221-1793, which has
provided certification indicating that, as of October 13, 1998, it was the
beneficial owner of 100 shares of the company's common stock, the Mercy
Consolidated Asset Management Program, 20 Washington Square North, New York, NY
10011, which has provided certification indicating that, as of October 30, 1998,
it was the beneficial owner of 200 shares of the company's common stock, and the
Dominican Sisters of Hope, 320 Powell Avenue, Newburgh, NY 12550, which has
provided certification indicating that, as of November 2, 1998, it was the
beneficial owner of 100 shares of the company's common stock. Based on the
information above, the stockholder proponents own a total of approximately
.0003% of the total shares of the company's common stock outstanding.
WHEREAS, our company, as a major global corporation, faces a number of complex
problems which also affect our interests as shareholders. The international
context within which our company operates is becoming increasingly diverse as we
approach the year 2000.
Companies operating in this global economy are faced with important concerns
arising from diverse cultures and political and economic contexts, some which
force management to address issues beyond the traditional business focus. These
concerns include human rights, child labor, forced labor, non-discrimination in
the workplace, the environment, and sustainable community development.
We believe global companies need to develop comprehensive codes of conduct to
guide the formulation of company policies, programs and practices to address the
new challenges they face in the global marketplace. In fact many companies are
recognizing these challenges and revising their traditional codes and guidelines
to meet these new realities.
In April 1997 the White House Apparel Industry Partnership issued its report
setting out a Workplace Code of Conduct and Principles of Monitoring for the
apparel and footwear industry. The standards in that report, based on
international human and labor rights conventions, if implemented comprehensively
and diligently, are intended to eliminate poor working conditions for workers in
the United States and abroad.
Our company should be in a position to assure shareholders that its employees
are treated and paid fairly wherever they work in the global economy. One
important element of ensuring compliance is the utilization of independent
monitors made up of respected local human rights, religious and other non-
governmental organizations. A number of global companies are involved in the
development of credible code enforcement mechanisms that include independent
monitoring.
Improving the quality of life for employees and their communities can lead to
increased productivity and enhance the bottom line for the company.
RESOLVED: Shareholders request the Board of Directors to review or amend, where
applicable, its code and standards for its international operations and to
report a summary of this review to shareholders by September 1999. The review
should include the following areas:
1. A description of policies which are designed to protect human rights --
civil, political, social and economic -- consistent with respect for human
dignity and international human rights standards.
<PAGE>
10 Proposals to be Voted On
2. A report of efforts to ensure that the company does not employ children under
the age of fifteen, or younger than the age for completing compulsory
education in the country of manufacture where such age is higher than
fifteen.
3. A report of company policies ensuring that there is no use of forced labor,
whether in the form of prison labor, indentured labor or bonded labor.
4. Establishment of consistent standards for workers' health and safety,
practices for handling hazardous wastes and protecting the environment, as
well as promoting a fair and dignified quality of life for workers and their
communities.
Position of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders support the Board of
Directors and vote AGAINST the stockholder proposal.
The stockholder proposal asks generally that the board "review or amend, where
applicable, its code or standards for its international operations and . . .
report a summary of this review to shareholders by September 1999." It goes on
to request that the report discuss four particular topics. The purpose of the
proposed review and report would presumably be to ensure that the company is
conducting its international operations in an ethical and responsible manner.
The board believes that the proposed review and report are not warranted. The
board and management are already fully committed to ensuring that all of our
facilities, foreign and domestic, are operated ethically and responsibly. The
company's Principles of Ethical Business Conduct states clearly that for "more
than 131 years, the policy of R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, its subsidiaries
and affiliates has been to conduct business in a lawful and ethical manner." The
board's Corporate Responsibility & Governance Committee has special
responsibility in this regard. It is charged with, among other things,
overseeing "the Company's commitment to employee health and safety, equal
employment opportunity and the environment." The Corporate Responsibility &
Governance Committee is made up entirely of outside directors, and is thus able
to provide a form of the independent monitoring that the proponents reference in
their supporting statement.
In addition to these governance elements, we have also implemented a number of
initiatives designed to promote our goal of ethical and responsible corporate
citizenship. For example, we have established the EHS Corporate Leadership
Council. This group, made up of senior executives, reviews the performance of
the company's operations and facilities worldwide to ensure that we conduct our
operations in accordance with all applicable employee health, employee safety
and environmental laws and regulations. And, we recognize our civic obligation
as a major employer in communities ranging from China to Poland to the United
States, with a particular emphasis on education and issues involving children.
The review and report that the proponents suggest would therefore be duplicative
of many of the efforts we are already undertaking. They would also be expensive
and time-consuming. Given that the above-mentioned policies and initiatives are
already in place, the review and report the proponents request would not result
in any additional benefit to the stockholders or our employees.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the company's
common stock present in person or by proxy at the 1999 Annual Meeting, and
entitled to vote on the stockholder proposal on conducting a review of the
company's standards for its international operations, is required to approve it.
The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote AGAINST the
stockholder proposal.
<PAGE>
Your Proxy Vote 11
Voting Instructions
You are entitled to one vote for each share of the company's common stock that
you own as of the record date. Below are instructions on how to vote, as well as
information on your rights as a stockholder as they relate to voting. Some of
the instructions vary depending on how your stock is held. It's important to
follow the instructions that apply to your situation.
If you prefer to vote by mail or by telephone and your shares are registered in
your name, or if you hold your shares as a participant in the company's Dividend
Reinvestment Plan, Employee Monthly Investment Plan or Tax Credit Stock
Ownership Plan, you may do so using the enclosed proxy card or by calling the
toll-free number listed on your proxy card. If you are a participant in the
company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Employee Monthly Investment Plan or Tax
Credit Stock Ownership Plan, any proxy you submit or vote by telephone will be
counted as representing these shares as well as any other shares you may own, as
long as the shares are all registered in the same name. The telephone voting
procedure is designed to verify stockholders through use of a Control Number
that is provided on each proxy card. The procedure allows you to vote your
shares and to confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. Please
see your proxy card for specific instructions.
If your shares are held in "street name," you should vote your shares as
directed by your broker or other nominee.
If you plan to attend the meeting and vote in person, your instructions depend
on how your shares are held:
. Shares registered in your name -- check the appropriate box on the enclosed
proxy card and bring either the admission ticket attached to this proxy
statement or evidence of your stock ownership with you to the meeting. The
ticket will serve as your admission and your authorization to vote in person.
. Shares registered in the name of your broker or other nominee -- ask your
broker to provide you with a broker's proxy card in your name (which will
allow you to vote your shares in person at the meeting) and either bring the
admission ticket attached to this proxy statement or evidence of your stock
ownership from your broker.
Remember that attendance at the meeting will be limited to stockholders as of
the record date (or their authorized representatives) with an admission ticket
or evidence of their share ownership and guests of the company.
If your shares are registered in your name, you may revoke your proxy at any
time before it is exercised. There are several ways you can do this:
. By delivering a written notice of revocation to the secretary of the company.
. By executing another proxy that bears a later date which is voted at the
meeting.
. By voting by telephone at a later time.
. By voting in person at the meeting.
If your shares are held in street name, you must contact your broker to revoke
your proxy. In tallying the results of the voting, the company will count all
properly executed and unrevoked proxies that have been received in time for the
1999 Annual Meeting. To hold a meeting of stockholders, a quorum of the shares
(which is a majority of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote) is required
to be represented either in person or by proxy at the meeting.
Voting Rules
When voting to elect directors, you have three options:
. Vote for all three nominees.
. Vote for only some of the nominees.
. Withhold authority to vote for all nominees.
If a quorum is present at the meeting, the three persons receiving the greatest
number of votes will be elected to serve as directors. Because of this rule, any
shares that are not voted or whose votes are withheld will not influence the
outcome of the election.
<PAGE>
12 Your Proxy Vote
When voting on all other proposals, you again have three options, but different
from those pertaining to the election of directors:
. Vote FOR a given proposal.
. Vote AGAINST a given proposal.
. ABSTAIN from voting on a given proposal.
Each matter other than the election of directors requires the affirmative vote
of a majority of the shares present at the meeting and entitled to vote on the
proposal. Abstaining is the legal equivalent of voting against a proposal. Non-
voted shares will not affect the result.
If you return your proxy with no votes marked, your shares will be voted as
follows:
. FOR the election of all three nominees for director.
. AGAINST the stockholder proposal regarding pay equity.
. AGAINST the stockholder proposal regarding global corporate standards.
It is possible for a proxy to indicate that some of the shares represented are
not being voted as to certain proposals. This occurs, for example, when a broker
is not permitted to vote on a proposal without instructions from the beneficial
owner of the stock. In these cases, non-voted shares are considered absent in
the tallies for those proposals.
The company actively solicits proxy participation. In addition to this notice by
mail, the company encourages banks, brokers and other custodian nominees and
fiduciaries to supply proxy materials to stockholders, and reimburses them for
their expenses. However, the company doesn't reimburse its own employees for
soliciting proxies. The company has hired Morrow & Co. to help solicit proxies,
and has agreed to pay them $8,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses.
As of the record date, there were 133,414,487 shares of common stock
outstanding. This does not include 7,474,563 shares held in the company's
Treasury. Each outstanding share is entitled to one vote on each proposal.
<PAGE>
13
Company Information
Stock Performance
The graph below compares five-year returns of the company's common stock with
those of the S&P 500 Index and a selected peer group of companies. The figures
assume all dividends have been reinvested, and assume an initial investment of
$100 on December 31, 1993. The returns of each company in the peer group have
been weighted to reflect their market capitalizations.
Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return Among R.R. Donnelley, S&P 500
Index and Peer Group*
[GRAPH APPEARS HERE]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDEXED RETURNS
Years Ending
Base
Period
Company Name / Index Dec 93 Dec 94 Dec 95 Dec 96 Dec 97 Dec 98
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
DONNELLEY (R R) & SONS CO 100 96.74 131.60 107.12 130.00 156.03
S&P 500 INDEX 100 101.32 139.40 171.40 228.59 293.91
PEER GROUP #1 100 96.61 122.12 143.16 179.79 195.57
</TABLE>
* Fiscal Year Ended December 31
R.R. Donnelley & Sons provides a broad range of services to publishers,
retailers, catalog merchants and information providers, among others. Because
our services and customers are so diverse, the company does not believe that any
single published industry index is appropriate for comparing stockholder return.
Therefore, the peer group used in the performance graph combines two industry
groups identified by Value Line Publishing, Inc.: the publishing group
(including printing companies) and the newspaper group. The company itself has
been excluded, and its contributions to the indices cited have been subtracted
out. The Value Line indices are those that investment analysts frequently use
when comparing the company with other companies.
Companies in the Peer Group
Below are the specific companies included in the Value Line indices and the
class of stock used if not common stock:
STOCK
COMPANY CLASS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banta Corporation
Bowne & Co. Inc.
Central Newspapers A
Deluxe Corporation
Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
Gannett Co., Inc.
Harcourt General Inc.
John H. Harland Company
Houghton-Mifflin Company
Knight-Ridder, Inc.
Lee Enterprises, Inc.
McClatchy Newspapers, Inc. A
McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Media General, Inc. A
Meredith Corporation
News Corp Ltd
The New York Times Company A
Playboy Enterprises, Inc. B
Pulitzer Publishing Company
The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. A
Reuters Group PLC ADR
Scholastic Corporation
The E.W. Scripps Company A
Southam Inc.
Thomson Corp.
The Times Mirror Company A
Tribune Company
The Washington Post Company B
<PAGE>
14 Company Information
About the Current Directors
The information below describes the directors whose terms continue to run until
2000 or 2001. Information on current directors who are up for re-election this
year is provided earlier under Proposal 1.
Directors of Class 1 -- Terms expire in 2001
[PHOTO OF MARTHA LAYNE COLLINS]
Martha Layne Collins
Executive scholar in residence, Georgetown College, 1998-present
Director of International Business and Management, University of Kentucky, 1996-
1998
President, Martha Layne Collins & Associates, a consulting firm, 1988-present
President, St. Catharine College, Springfield, Kentucky, 1990-1996
Directorships: Eastman Kodak Company; Mid-America Bancorp (dba Bank of
Louisville)
Committees: Audit; Executive
Age: 62
Director since: 1987
[PHOTO OF WILLIAM L. DAVIS]
William L. Davis
Chairman and chief executive officer of the company, 1997-present
Senior executive vice president, Emerson Electric Company, manufacturer of
electrical, electronic and related products, 1993-1997
Executive vice president, Emerson, 1988-1993
Directorship: Mallinckrodt, Inc.
Committee: Executive
Age: 55
Director since: 1997
[PHOTO OF OLIVER R. SOCKWELL]
Oliver R. Sockwell
Executive-in-residence, Columbia University Graduate School of Business, 1997-
present
President and chief executive officer, Construction Loan Insurance Corporation
(Connie Lee) and its subsidiary, Connie Lee Insurance Company, financial
guarantee insurance companies, 1987-1997
Committees: Audit; Corporate Responsibility & Governance
Age: 55
Director since: 1997
[PHOTO OF STEPHEN M. WOLF]
Stephen M. Wolf
Chairman, USAirways Group, Inc. and US Airways, Inc., 1996-present
Chief executive officer, USAirways Group, Inc. and US Airways, Inc., 1996-1998
Senior advisor to Lazard Freres & Co., an investment banking firm, 1994-1996
Chairman and chief executive officer, UAL Corporation and United Air Lines,
Inc., 1987-1994
Directorships: Philip Morris Companies, Inc.; US Airways Group, Inc.
Committees: Finance; Human Resources
Age: 57
Director since: 1995
<PAGE>
Company Information 15
Directors of Class 3 -- Terms expire in 2000
James R. Donnelley
[Photo of James R. Donnelley]
Vice chairman of the board of the company, 1990-present
Directorships: Sierra Pacific Resources; PMP Communications Limited
Committees: Executive; Finance
Age: 63
Director since: 1976
Thomas S. Johnson
[Photo of Thomas S. Johnson]
Chairman and chief executive officer, GreenPoint Financial Corp. and its
subsidiary, GreenPoint Bank, 1993-present
President, Manufacturers Hanover Corporation and Manufacturers Hanover Trust
Company, diversified financial institutions, 1989-1991
Directorships: GreenPoint Financial Corp.; GreenPoint Bank; Alleghany
Corporation; Online Resources & Communications Corporation
Committees: Finance; Human Resources
Age: 58
Director since: 1990
George A. Lorch
[Photo of George A. Lorch]
Chairman, president and chief executive officer, Armstrong World Industries,
Inc., a manufacturer of floor coverings, ceiling systems and industrial
products, 1994-present
President and chief executive officer, Armstrong, 1993-1994
Executive vice president, Armstrong, 1988-1993
Directorships: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.; Household International, Inc.;
Warner Lambert Company
Committees: Corporate Responsibility & Governance; Human Resources
Age: 57
Director since: 1996
M. Bernard Puckett
[Photo of M. Bernard Puckett]
Former president and chief executive officer, Mobile Telecommunication
Technologies Corp., a paging and wireless messaging provider, 1994-1996
Senior vice president, corporate strategy and development, IBM Corporation,
1993-1994
Vice president and general manager, applications solutions, IBM, 1991-1993
Directorships: P-Com; IMS Health; Software.com, Inc.; Nielson Media Research
Committees: Audit; Executive; Finance
Age: 54
Director since: 1995
In 1998, the board met six times. Each director was present for at least 75% of
the total number of meetings of the board and those committees of which the
director was a member.
<PAGE>
16 Company Information
The Board's Committees and their Functions
The board has five standing committees, whose names and responsibilities are
described below:
Audit Committee -- recommends the selection of independent public accountants to
the board. The committee reviews the scope of independent and internal audits
and assesses the results. Each January, the committee reviews the results of the
independent public accountants' audit before the earnings report is released
publicly. The committee periodically reviews the performance of the company's
accounting and financial personnel. The committee also reviews the company's
financial disclosure documents, management perquisites, material litigation and
regulatory proceedings and other issues relative to potentially significant
corporate liability and reviews and monitors the company's codes of conduct. The
committee met three times in 1998.
Corporate Responsibility & Governance Committee -- oversees the company's
employee health and safety, equal employment opportunity and environmental
commitments. The committee recommends nominees for election to the board of
directors as well as appointees to fill any board vacancy. The committee may
recommend changes to policies and guidelines concerning board practices and
membership, including criteria for membership, committee structure, tenure and
board and director performance evaluation. The committee met four times in 1998.
Executive Committee -- can exercise all of the authority of the full board of
directors, except for specific powers delegated to other committees and certain
other actions described in the company's by-laws. The committee meets as
necessary and did not meet in 1998.
Finance Committee -- reviews the company's financial policies and makes
recommendations regarding the company's financial condition and allocation of
funds, including dividend payments. The committee also reviews the performance
and management of the company's Retirement Benefit Plan. The committee met six
times in 1998.
Human Resources Committee -- determines the compensation (including annual
salary, bonus and other benefits) of senior officers. As appropriate, the
committee also institutes and monitors performance standards for senior
officers. The committee recommends new employee benefit plans and changes to
stock incentive plans, votes on amendments to the non-stock employee benefit
plans and administers all employee benefit plans. It also recommends candidates
for election as corporate officers. The committee met six times in 1998.
<PAGE>
Company Information 17
Director Compensation
Directors who are not officers of the company receive the following annual fees
for their services to the board:
. $32,000 for serving as a director.
. $1,000 for each committee of which they are a member.
. An additional $2,500 for each committee chairmanship they hold.
. $1,000 for each day they attend board and/or committee meetings.
. $1,000 for each non-meeting day the company requests them to spend on
committee work.
The 1993 Stock Ownership Plan for Non-Employee Directors permits directors who
are not employees to apply some or all of their fees toward the purchase of
company common stock at fair market value. Non-employee directors may also elect
to have some or all of their fees issued in the form of stock options with the
same terms as the options described in the next paragraph (beginning in 1999),
or to defer some or all of their fees. Any deferred amounts will, at their
election, either earn the same rate of interest as five-year U.S. government
bonds or be converted into shares of phantom stock. A director can receive his
or her deferred fees, along with the interest or gains earned, in a lump sum or
in as many as ten equal annual installments. In either case, payments are made
after the director reaches age 65 or leaves the board, whichever comes later.
The 1995 Stock Incentive Plan provides for grants of stock options to each non-
employee director every year immediately after the annual meeting. These options
provide the future right to buy 4,000 shares of the company's common stock at
fair market value on the date granted. The options may be exercised beginning
one year from the date the option was granted or the day immediately preceding
the next Annual Meeting (whichever is sooner) and ending ten years after the
option was granted.
Under the retirement plan for directors, each director who was active as of
January 1, 1997 elected one of the following:
. Receive a credit for the present value of his or her earned annual retirement
benefit as of December 31, 1996 (based on a deferred compensation agreement).
. Convert the present value of his or her earned annual retirement benefit into
shares of phantom stock.
. Continue to receive the annual retirement benefits the plan offered before it
was changed.
In addition, non-employee directors who are first elected on or after January 1,
1997 or who meet the following criteria will receive phantom stock each year if:
. They were active board members as of January 1, 1997.
. They had been on the board less than ten years as of that date.
. They chose either the first or second option above.
The phantom stock will be credited as of January 1 each year until the beginning
of the director's tenth year on the board, with the number of shares determined
by dividing 35% of the director's annual retainer by the fair market value of a
share of common stock.
<PAGE>
18 Company Information
Beneficial Ownership of Stock
The Company's
Largest Stockholders
The table below lists all institutions and individuals known to hold more than
5% of the company's common stock. This information has been furnished in each
case by the stockholders themselves. The percentages shown are based on
outstanding shares of common stock as of December 31, 1998.
The descendants of company founder Richard Robert Donnelley (1836-1899) and
their families own approximately 16% of the company's common stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Stockholder Comments
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
FMR Corp. FMR Corp. is the parent holding
82 Devonshire Street company for Fidelity Management
Boston, MA 02109 & Research Company and other
subsidiaries. This amount reflects
the total shares held by each
subsidiary.
Northern Trust Corporation Northern Trust Corporation is the
50 South LaSalle Street parent holding company for The
Chicago, IL 60675 Northern Trust Company and other
subsidiaries. This amount reflects
the total shares held by each affiliate,
including shares reported elsewhere
in this statement as belonging to
James R. Donnelley.
Oppenheimer Group, Inc. Oppenheimer Group, Inc. is a
Oppenheimer Tower holding company. This amount
World Financial Center reflects the total shares held
New York, NY 10281 by each subsidiary.
Dodge & Cox Dodge & Cox is an investment advisor.
One Sansome Street This amount reflects the total shares
35th Floor held by clients.
San Francisco, CA 94104
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Company Information 19
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
% of Total Investment Voting
Number of Shares Outstanding Authority Authority
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
16,374,685 12.19% Sole, all shares Sole, 807,185 shares;
(as of January 7, 1999) shared, 15,567,500 shares
13,038,281 9.71% Sole, 3,919,831 shares; Sole, 7,572,933 shares;
(as of December 31, 1998) shared, 8,252,809 shares; shared, 2,836,036 shares;
no investment authority, no voting authority,
865,641 shares 2,629,312 shares
10,989,009 8.18% Shared, all shares Shared, all shares
(as of December 31, 1998)
9,355,678 6.97% Sole, all shares Sole, 8,497,648 shares;
(as of September 30, 1998) shared, 105,800 shares;
no voting authority,
752,230 shares
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
20 Company Information
Stock Held by Directors and Executive Officers
The table below lists the beneficial ownership of common stock as of December
31, 1998 by all directors and nominees and each of the persons named in the
tables under Executive Compensation below, including the company's executive
officers. In calculating the percentages of outstanding stock, each listed
person's stock options that are or will be exercisable by March 1, 1999 have
been added to the total outstanding shares.
Beneficial Stock Ownership of Directors and Executives
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Sole Shared
Restricted Stock Voting Voting Total % of Total
Name Shares(1) Options Authority(2) Authority(3) Shares(5) Outstanding
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
DIRECTORS
Joseph B. Anderson, Jr. 0 0 0 0 0 *
Martha Layne Collins 0 24,000++ 2,400 0 22,400 *
James R. Donnelley 6,400 85,400 1,100,911 4,910,731/(4)/ 6,072,762 4.37%
Judith H. Hamilton 0 12,000++ 3,173 0 11,173 *
Thomas S. Johnson 0 32,000++ 8,538 0 36,538 *
George A. Lorch 0 12,000++ 2,533 0 10,533 *
M. Bernard Puckett 0 16,000++ 3,843 0 15,843 *
William D. Sanders 0 32,000++ 8,494 0 36,494 *
Oliver R. Sockwell 0 4,000++ 1,000 0 1,000 *
Bide L. Thomas 0 20,000++ 3,061 0 19,061 *
Stephen M. Wolf 0 16,000++ 30,000 0 42,000 *
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
William L. Davis 205,530 1,000,000 275,689 0 875,689 *
Cheryl A. Francis 25,000 372,000 30,000 0 167,400 *
W. Ed Tyler 13,500 329,500 52,637 0 155,137 *
Jonathan P. Ward 18,300 563,500 49,854 0 351,354 *
Combined totals of directors and executive officers 7,817,384 5.62%
</TABLE>
*Less than one percent.
++Non-employee director stock options.
1 Subject to limits on sale or transfer, and can be forfeited under certain
conditions.
2 Sole authority to invest and vote shares; includes restricted stock.
3 Shared authority to invest and vote shares.
4 Does not include 40,013 shares owned by a family member to which beneficial
ownership is disclaimed.
5 Includes stock options that are or will be exercisable by March 1, 1999.
<PAGE>
Company Information 21
Executive Compensation
The summary compensation table summarizes the compensation of the company's
chief executive officer and three highest-paid other executive officers during
recent years.
Summary Compensation Table
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
Restricted All Other
Name and Salary Bonus/(1)/ Other Stock Awards Options Compensation
Year Principal Position ($) ($) ($) ($) (#) ($)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1998 W.L. Davis 700,000 1,000,000 170,293/(2)/ 0 0 27,705/(3)/
1997 Chairman and CEO 552,784 459,600 233,759 9,727,229 1,000,000 4,049,721
1998 C.A. Francis 393,750 406,250 13 0 31,000 7,382/(3)/
1997 Executive VP 375,000 332,571 82 0 165,000 7,382
1996 and CFO 300,000 0 0 0 151,000 5,117
1998 W.E. Tyler 101,023 145,687 1,371 0 25,000 1,419,566/(4)/
1997 Former 386,000 342,327 5,775 0 0 5,565
1996 Executive VP 368,000 0 21,679 0 31,000 6,745
1998 J.P. Ward 525,000 600,000 3,646 0 60,000 13,119/(3)/
1997 President and 457,739 405,949 4,301 0 175,000 6,259
1996 COO 420,000 0 22,446 0 31,000 7,538
</TABLE>
/1/ Amount paid out under Management Incentive Plan described on page 25, plus
discretionary bonus awards.
/2/ Includes $99,450 of club dues paid by the company.
/3/ Premiums paid by the company in connection with whole life insurance
policies owned by the named executive officers.
/4/ Consists of $6,745 in premiums paid by the company in connection with whole
life insurance policies owned by Mr. Tyler; $897,033 to be paid over a
period of not less than 36 months from the date of Mr. Tyler's resignation;
$459,000 which is the value of 10,200 shares of restricted stock; $6,788 of
other personal benefits granted to Mr. Tyler on May 28, 1998; $10,000 of
reimbursed attorney's fees; and $40,000 for financial planning services. See
the description of Mr. Tyler's severance agreement on page 30 for more
information.
<PAGE>
22 Company Information
As of December 31, 1998, the named executives' holdings of restricted stock were
valued as follows:
Detail Table 1: Restricted Common Stock
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares of Restricted Value ($)
Name Common Stock
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
W.L. Davis 205,530 9,004,783
C.A. Francis 25,000 1,095,313
W.E. Tyler 13,500 591,469
J.P. Ward 18,300 801,769
</TABLE>
Restricted stock pays dividends at the same rate and time as other common stock.
Restricted stock generally vests on the fifth anniversary of the date it was
granted, although restricted stock held by Mr. Davis vests as described in his
executive agreement (see page 28) and restricted stock held by Mr. Tyler vests
as described in his executive agreement (see page 30).
The following table details options to purchase common stock that were granted
in 1998 to the individuals named in the summary compensation table:
Detail Table 2: Option Grants in 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Securities % of Total Options
Underlying Granted to Exercise Expiration Grant Date
Name Options Granted Employees in 1998 Price Date Present Value
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
W.L. Davis -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
C.A. Francis 31,000/(1)/ 1.95% 41.5625 3/25/2008 $447,020
W.E. Tyler 25,000/(1)/ 1.57% 41.5625 10/8/2001/(2)/ $360,500
J.P. Ward 60,000/(1)/ 3.77% 41.5625 3/25/2008 $865,200
</TABLE>
/1/ Options become exercisable over a four-year period starting on the grant
date, at the rate of 20% a year, with the final 40% exercisable at the end
of the fourth year except that, according to an agreement between the
company and Mr. Tyler, his final 40% will be exercisable on July 10, 2001.
This schedule could be accelerated upon death, disability or a change in
control.
/2/ Under the terms of the company's stock incentive plan and an agreement
between the company and Mr. Tyler, Mr. Tyler's options will expire on this
date.
<PAGE>
Company Information 23
The company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing method to calculate the value
of stock options as of the date of grant. The accuracy of this model depends on
key assumptions about future interest rates, stock price volatility and dividend
yields, among other factors. The grant date present value of these options was
calculated using the figures below:
Detail Table 3: Estimated Grant Date Present Value of Options
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Grant Expiration Volatility Annual Risk-free
Name Date Date Factor Yield Dividend Rate Rate of Return
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
W.L. Davis N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
C.A. Francis 3/26/98 3/25/2008 22.60% 1.92% $0.80 5.65%
W.E. Tyler 3/26/98 10/8/2001/(1)/ 22.60% 1.92% $0.80 5.65%
J.P. Ward 3/26/98 3/25/2008 22.60% 1.92% $0.80 5.65%
</TABLE>
/1/ Under the terms of the company's stock incentive plan and an agreement
between the company and Mr. Tyler, Mr. Tyler's options will expire on this
date.
The following table reflects options exercised in 1998 by the individuals named
in the summary compensation table.
Detail Table 4: Options Exercised During 1998 and Year-End Option Values
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised
Underlying Unexercised In-the-Money Options
Options at 12/31/98(#) at 12/31/98($)/(2)/
Shares Acquired Value --------------------------------------------------------
Name on Exercise(#) Realized($)/(1)/ Exercisable/Unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
W.L. Davis -0- -0- 100,000/900,000 1,356,250/5,425,000
C.A. Francis -0- -0- 27,400/344,600 265,388/380,363
W.E. Tyler 38,500 939,329 102,500/227,000 1,485,794/372,050
J.P. Ward 8,000 175,500 126,500/437,000 2,028,794/446,425
</TABLE>
/1/ Value realized is determined by subtracting the exercise price from the fair
market value on the date of exercise. Fair market value is the average of
the high and low prices reported in the NYSE Composite Transactions report.
/2/ Value of unexercised options is determined by subtracting the exercise price
from the fair market value on December 31, 1998. Fair market value is the
average of the high and low prices reported in the NYSE Composite
Transactions report.
<PAGE>
24 Company Information
Retirement Benefits
Under the company's Retirement Benefit Plan, employees who met the eligibility
requirements accrued retirement benefits during 1998 equal to 1.5% of
compensation up to covered compensation (which is the average of the Social
Security wage bases for the thirty-five-year period beginning in 1963) and 2% of
remaining compensation up to $160,000 (the maximum compensation on which
benefits can accrue under current law). In addition, from time to time the
company has made available enhanced benefit accruals under the Retirement
Benefit Plan in the form of past service improvements for employees who meet the
eligibility requirements. Compensation covered by the Retirement Benefit Plan
includes wages and salaries, supplementary compensation and commissions.
Benefits are paid monthly after retirement for the life of the participant
(straight life annuity amount) or, if the participant is married or chooses an
optional benefit form, in an actuarially reduced amount for the life of the
participant and surviving spouse or other named survivor. If payment of actual
retirement benefits is limited by any government regulations, an amount equal to
the reduction will be paid as a supplemental benefit under the company's
Unfunded Supplemental Benefit Plan.
The following table shows estimates of the annual benefits payable to the named
executives upon retirement at age 65. These estimates include the annual
benefits computed on service through December 31, 1998 and additional annual
benefits they may earn in the future, assuming they continue in the company's
employ to age 65 at current base pay plus incentives.
Detail Table 1: Retirement Benefits
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
24
Benefits accrued Estimated benefits Estimated
Name through 12/31/98 1/1/99 through age 65 total benefits
W.L. Davis 247,000 582,000(1) 829,000(1)
C.A. Francis 63,003 511,851 574,854
W.E. Tyler 126,960 16,226(2) 143,186(2)
J.P. Ward 157,996 454,895 612,891
</TABLE>
24
1 According to an agreement between the company and Mr. Davis, these benefits
will be paid to him annually beginning at age 65 if he remains employed by the
company through March 18, 2002.
2 According to an agreement between the company and Mr. Tyler, Mr. Tyler will
cease to earn additional benefits on July 10, 2001.
<PAGE>
Company Information 25
Report on Compensation
Committee Approach to Compensation Evaluation
The Human Resources Committee determines the annual salary, short-term and long-
term cash and stock incentive compensation, and other compensation of executive
officers.
The committee considered the following factors in setting compensation for 1998:
. Company performance, both separately and compared to other companies.
. The individual performance of each executive officer.
. A number of comparative compensation surveys.
. Historical compensation levels and stock awards.
. The overall competitive environment for executives and the level of
compensation necessary to attract and retain executive talent.
. The recommendations of professional compensation consultants and management.
Companies used for executive compensation pay comparison purposes include a
broad group of companies similar in revenue size to the company, as well as
printing and publishing companies also similar in revenue size to the company.
The companies used to define the market for pay comparison purposes include 7 of
the 29 companies in the peer group used in the performance graph. Because the
committee believes that the company's competitors for executive talent are more
varied than the peer group chosen for comparing stockholder return in the
performance graph, the committee relies on market data comprised of a broad
array of companies in various industries for comparative analysis of executive
compensation.
Executive Officers Generally
Generally, total compensation for executive officers is targeted between the
50th and 75th percentile of the market. The committee determines the individual
components of the total compensation package based on the desired mix between
salary and at-risk components of short- and long-term compensation.
As described below, approximately 40% through 60% (depending on the level of
responsibility of an executive officer) of targeted annual cash compensation is
linked to company performance.
Salary: The committee annually reviews the base salary of each executive
officer. For 1998, the base salaries for named executive officers were targeted,
on average, at the median salaries at comparable companies. Increases in base
salaries for 1998 were determined based on this market positioning goal and on
individual performance.
Management Incentive Plan: In 1998, the company implemented a new Management
Incentive Plan. The new Plan is designed to provide incentive compensation to
executive officers which is closely tied to the creation of value for company
shareholders.
Prior to 1998, the company had both an annual incentive compensation plan and a
long-term incentive plan for its executive officers. The new Plan combines
aspects of both an annual and long-term plan by adding a "banking" feature. The
committee believes this new Plan is designed to encourage and reward sustained
value creation together with achievement of annual objectives, and employee
retention.
Awards under the Plan are based on achieving preset Economic Value Added
(EVA/R/) improvement targets, earnings per share objectives, and other
individual and strategic objectives. EVA represents the cash operating earnings
of the company after deducting a charge for capital employed and constitutes
about 60% of the award determination. In general, company EVA improvement
objectives are based on an analysis of external financial performance
expectations, independent of the company's budgeting process, and are set for
three years. Earnings per share objectives are closely aligned with EVA
improvement objectives and reflect the company's commitment to a traditionally
recognized performance measure and constitute about 20% of the award
determination. The other 20% of the award
<PAGE>
26 Company Information
determination is based on achieving both the objectives established annually
under the company's Strategic Inclusion Plans (which set measurable goals in
recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce) and achievement of individual
objectives.
Each year, the incentive award is calculated for each participant and credited
to an account. The participant receives an award payment equal to the percentage
of the account balance determined by the committee. The remaining balance is
then carried over to the following year. For administrative purposes, each
account has an initial credited amount equal to a target award. This credit is
designed to avoid substantially below target payouts for target performance in
the early years of the Plan. In no circumstances will this credit be paid to a
participant and no account balance can fall below the credited amount as a
result of a payout. If a calculated award payout would otherwise reduce the
balance below the initial credited amount, the payout is reduced to an amount
that maintains the initial credited amount. Because award payouts are uncapped,
superior financial performance, if sustained over time, can result in annual
payouts well above targeted levels. However, poor financial performance may not
only reduce or eliminate current year payouts, but may reduce earned amounts
from prior years, including reduction of the initial credited amount. Thus
amounts previously credited are at risk to the participants in following years.
The committee also retains discretion to increase or decrease awards otherwise
calculated under the Plan.
In 1998, the Plan resulted in calculated awards as shown in the "1998 Incentive
Award" column in the following table. These calculated awards were credited to
the executives' accounts. Actual payouts from the accounts are shown in the
"1998 Incentive Payout" column.
Management Incentive Plan Bank Balance
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
January 1, 1998 1998 Incentive 1998 Incentive December 31, 1998
Name Administrative Credit Award Payout Bank Balance
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
W.L. Davis 945,000 1,580,293 841,764 1,683,529
C.A. Francis 374,063 619,462 331,175 662,350
W.E. Tyler/(1)/ N/A 145,687 72,844 72,844
J.P. Ward 603,750 1,014,531 539,427 1,078,854
</TABLE>
/1/Mr. Tyler's bonus was calculated using the same factors as the other named
executive officers and has been pro rated for the period prior to his
severance date of April 3, 1998. Under an agreement between the company and
Mr. Tyler, 50% of his incentive award was paid in February 1999 and 50% will
be paid July 10, 2001.
Discretionary Bonuses: The committee may pay discretionary bonuses to executive
officers when circumstances warrant. Discretionary bonuses were paid to the
named executive officers as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table on page
21. These bonuses were in recognition of the substantial progress made during
1998 in accelerating the company's efforts at implementing fundamental process
improvements as reflected in achieving EVA positive performance from operations
one year ahead of plan.
Stock Awards: Executive officers are granted stock options to align the
interests of management more closely with those of stockholders by increasing
stock ownership and tying a meaningful portion of compensation to the
performance of the company's stock. In addition, to emphasize the importance of
stock ownership by management, the committee and management have implemented
stock ownership guidelines for officers which require all officers to hold
company stock having a market value relative to salary. The minimum ownership
guideline is owning stock having a market value at least equal to base salary,
with the level of target ownership increasing as levels of responsibility
increase, up to five times base salary, which is the ownership guideline for the
CEO.
<PAGE>
Company Information 27
Option grants with exercise prices in excess of fair market value on the date of
grant are periodically made to certain executive officers to supplement the
target total pay structure so that total pay opportunity for those executive
officers, including these premium priced options, would approximate the 75th
percentile of the market. The committee believes that the incremental pay
opportunity provided by these premium priced options is warranted by the
significant appreciation in the company's stock price required in order for the
options to have value, which focuses executives on creating shareholder value.
The committee makes restricted stock grants only on a selective basis for
specific retention and recruiting requirements. In 1998, there were no new
grants of premium priced options or restricted stock to any of the named
executive officers.
Deductibility of Executive Compensation: Tax laws limit the deduction a publicly
held company is allowed for compensation paid to certain executive officers.
Generally, amounts paid in excess of $1 million to a covered executive, other
than performance-based compensation, cannot be deducted. The committee considers
ways to maximize the deductibility of executive compensation, but intends to
retain the discretion the committee deems necessary to compensate executive
officers in a manner commensurate with performance and the competitive
environment for executive talent.
CEO Compensation
Mr. Davis' total compensation for 1998 was established pursuant to his
employment agreement with the company, as described in the "Executive
Agreements" section on page 28. Mr. Davis' compensation was established using
substantially the same criteria that were used to determine compensation levels
for other executive officers, discussed at the beginning of this report. Mr.
Davis' total compensation is near the 60th percentile of the market, and may be
increased to the 75th percentile based on performance. Approximately 60% of Mr.
Davis' targeted annual cash compensation is linked to company performance
through the objectives set forth, and the banking feature of, the Management
Incentive Plan.
Mr. Davis' base salary of $700,000 is below average for CEOs in the compensation
surveys used by the committee, ranking approximately in the 30th percentile.
Including his target bonus, his cash compensation is approximately in the 40th
percentile.
The Human Resources Committee
Thomas S. Johnson, Chairman
Joseph B. Anderson, Jr.
George A. Lorch
William D. Sanders
Stephen M. Wolf
EVA is a registered mark of Stern Stewart & Co.
<PAGE>
28 Company Information
Severance Pay
The company has adopted a Severance Pay Program consisting of severance
agreements between the company and the named executive officers and certain
other officers and key employees.
Under the severance agreements, an executive is entitled to certain payments and
benefits if, after a change in control of the company, the executive is
terminated by the company for reasons other than cause or if the executive
leaves the company after a change in control because of any of the following
conditions:
. A decrease in responsibilities or compensation.
. A job relocation that requires a change in residence.
. A significant increase in travel.
These agreements do not apply to executives who are terminated for cause,
retire, become disabled or die.
Severance benefits include:
. A lump-sum payment of up to three times current salary and bonus.
. Cash payment in lieu of outstanding stock bonus awards under the company's
Stock Incentive Plans.
. Cash payment equal to the value of outstanding stock options.
. Cash payment equal to three years' additional accrued benefits under the
company's Retirement Benefit Plan.
. Life, disability, accident and health insurance benefits for 24 months after
termination.
If any of this compensation is subject to the federal excise tax on "excess
parachute payments," the company also agrees to pay an additional amount to
cover these taxes.
Executive Agreements
The Davis Agreement
On March 18, 1997, William L. Davis joined the company as chief executive
officer and executed an employment agreement. The initial term of the Davis
Agreement ends March 31, 2002, with an automatic extension through March 31,
2004 unless terminated by the company or by Mr. Davis with six months' prior
written notice. Mr. Davis receives a base annual salary of $700,000 and
participates in annual and long-term performance bonus plans adopted by the
company's Human Resources Committee. Beginning in 1998, these plans have been
replaced by the Management Incentive Plan described in the Report on
Compensation above. When Mr. Davis joined the company he was granted stock
options for 500,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $30.125.
Twenty percent of these shares vest on March 18 each year from 1998 to 2000, and
the remaining shares vest on March 18, 2001. Mr. Davis also received options to
purchase 500,000 shares of common stock at $45.1875 (150% of the price of the
common stock) vesting on or after March 18, 2000 if the fair market value of the
common stock exceeds that price for ten consecutive trading days (which occurred
in June and July, 1998).
Mr. Davis was awarded the following restricted stock grants:
. 50,947 shares vesting in three installments in November 1997 through November
1999.
. 269,291 shares with 80,744 shares vesting on February 1, 1998, 45,008 shares
vesting on November 1, 2000, 80,604 shares vesting on November 3, 2001 and
62,935 shares vesting on October 1, 2004.
<PAGE>
Company Information 29
The Davis Agreement requires the company to provide Mr. Davis with yearly
retirement payments, upon his reaching the age of 65, which together with
payments received through social security benefits, benefits payable from
retirement plans of his former employers and the benefits otherwise payable
under the company's Retirement Benefit Plan, equal $907,000 or 50% of his "final
average compensation" (as defined in the Davis Agreement), whichever is greater.
However, if Mr. Davis leaves the company voluntarily or for cause anytime before
March 18, 2002, the pension amount will be reduced in proportion to the length
of time he was employed prior to the fifth anniversary of the Davis Agreement.
Mr. Davis was awarded the following cash signing bonuses to cover amounts
forfeited from his previous employer:
. $1,812,612 immediately paid into a deferred
payment account.
. $1,908,606 paid in November 1997 into the deferred account.
. $179,507 paid in November 1997.
The deferred amounts accrued interest quarterly at the rate of five-year U.S.
bonds, and were paid to Mr. Davis on January 15, 1998. The company also
reimbursed Mr. Davis for relocation expenses.
If Mr. Davis dies before the initial employment term expires, his estate will
receive a termination bonus in addition to all stock options described above.
The termination bonus will equal his previous year's salary, prorated for the
portion of the year worked prior to his death. If he should become disabled, the
company or Mr. Davis may terminate this agreement. In addition to the
termination bonus described above, Mr. Davis would receive 60% of his last base
salary plus full benefit and pension accrual until he reaches age 65. Mr. Davis
will be entitled to certain benefits if his employment is terminated by the
company without cause or by him for "Good Reason" (as defined in the Davis
Agreement), including:
. A lump sum severance payment of 250% of his current base salary and target
bonus (300% if termination results from a change in control).
. Termination bonus.
. Continued benefit coverage and pension accrual for 30 months.
If Mr. Davis is terminated by the company without cause or if there is a change
in control of the company, all stock options and restricted stock awards not yet
vested will become fully vested.
Mr. Davis has agreed to certain limitations on his ability to compete with, or
solicit employees from, the company for two years after the termination of the
Davis Agreement.
The Francis Agreement
The Francis Agreement establishes certain terms under which Cheryl A. Francis is
employed as executive vice president and chief financial officer of the company.
In addition to base salary and participation in the company's incentive plans,
Ms. Francis was granted 10,000 shares of restricted common stock, options to
purchase 25,000 shares of common stock and premium-priced options to purchase
120,000 shares of common stock.
The Francis Agreement does not provide for a term of employment. However, if Ms.
Francis is terminated by the company for any reason other than cause before June
30, 2005, she will receive an amount equal to $838,525 (increased beginning on
October 16, 1995 by the company's borrowing rate) minus the total of:
. Ordinary income actually recognized by Ms. Francis upon the exercise of her
options.
. Ordinary income she would realize if such options were exercised on her
termination date.
. The value of her 10,000 shares of restricted common stock on their vesting
dates.
Ms. Francis is 100% vested in retirement benefits under the company's Retirement
Benefit Plan. She will receive a $10,130 additional credit in annual age 65
benefits for each full year she is employed by the company between December 31,
1995 and January 1, 2019.
<PAGE>
30 Company Information
The Tyler Agreement
As part of a reorganization of the company's management announced October 21,
1997, the company entered into an agreement with W. Ed Tyler which described the
obligations of the company to Mr. Tyler in the event his employment terminated
for any reason (including his voluntary resignation) other than termination by
the company for cause before December 31, 1998. Mr. Tyler resigned from the
company on April 3, 1998. Under the Tyler Agreement, the company is obligated to
pay Mr. Tyler severance amounts consisting of twice his annual base salary at
the date of his resignation, paid over a period of not less than 36 months, and
a prorated bonus for 1998. The company also agreed to allow Mr. Tyler to
continue to receive health, welfare and retirement benefits, as though he were
actively employed, up through July 10, 2001.
Mr. Tyler's previously granted stock options continue to vest through July 10,
2001, at which time all outstanding stock options other than premium priced
stock options will accelerate. A restricted stock award of 15,000 shares he
received in 1995 that would otherwise vest in 2000 was cancelled and replaced
with a new restricted stock award for 10,200 shares. Of the shares in this
restricted stock award, 6,000 shares will vest on December 31, 2000, and the
balance will vest on July 10, 2001. Mr. Tyler is also allowed to continue to
draw from his financial planning account, although the company will make no
additional contributions. The company agreed to reimburse $10,000 in attorneys'
fees associated with preparing this agreement.
Mr. Tyler's continuing obligations to the company after termination, including
non-competition obligations through July 10, 2001, are consideration for any
severance-related payments made under the Tyler Agreement.
The Company's Independent Public Accountants
The company has not selected its independent public accountants for 1999. The
board of directors normally makes the selection after the Audit Committee has
reviewed audit proposals for the year. After its review, the Audit Committee
will recommend an independent public accountant for 1999 to the board, which
will make the final selection. Arthur Andersen LLP has served as the company's
independent public accountants for the past 33 years. Representatives of that
firm are expected to attend the 1999 Annual Meeting, where they may make a
statement and will be available to respond to questions.
<PAGE>
Company Information 31
Submitting Stockholder Proposals and Nominations for 2000 Annual Meeting
Any proposals that stockholders wish to present at the 2000 Annual Meeting must
be received by October 20, 1999 in order to be considered for inclusion in the
company's proxy materials. The 2000 Annual Meeting is currently scheduled to be
held on March 23, 2000. The Corporate Responsibility & Governance Committee will
consider stockholders' nominees for the board of directors and stockholder
proposals submitted for the meeting.
A stockholder wishing to nominate a candidate for election to the board, or make
a proposal, is required to give appropriate written notice to the secretary of
the company, which must be received by the company between 60 to 90 days before
the meeting. If notice or public announcement of the meeting date comes less
than 75 days before the meeting, stockholders are required to submit a notice of
nomination or proposal within ten days after the meeting date is announced.
A nomination or proposal that does not supply adequate information about the
nominee or proposal and the stockholder making the nomination or proposal will
be disregarded. All proposals or nominations should be addressed to: Secretary,
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, 77 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601-
1696.
Discretionary Voting of Proxies on Other Matters
The company's management does not currently intend to bring any proposals to the
1999 Annual Meeting other than the election of three directors, and does not
expect any stockholder proposals other than those described here. If new
proposals requiring a vote of the stockholders are brought before the meeting in
a proper manner, the persons named in the accompanying proxy card intend to vote
the shares represented by them in accordance with their best judgment.
By order of the Board of Directors
Monica M. Fohrman, Secretary
Chicago, Illinois, February 18, 1999
<PAGE>
PROXY
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
Chicago, Illinois
================================================================================
This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors for the Annual
Meeting on March 25, 1999.
The undersigned hereby appoints William L. Davis, James R. Donnelley and Cheryl
A. Francis, or any of them, proxies for the undersigned, each with full power of
substitution, to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of R. R. Donnelley &
Sons Company to be held on March 25, 1999 at nine o'clock a.m., Chicago time,
and at any adjournments thereof, and to vote as specified in this Proxy all the
shares of stock of the Company which the undersigned would be entitled to vote
if personally present.
Your vote with respect to the election of Directors and the other proposals may
be indicated on the reverse. Nominees for Directors are: (1) Joseph B. Anderson,
Jr., (2) Judith H. Hamilton and (3) Bide L. Thomas.
Your vote is important! Please sign and date on the reverse and return promptly
in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
This card also provides voting instructions for shares held in the Dividend
Reinvestment Plan, shares held for the benefit of Donnelley employees in the Tax
Credit Stock Ownership Plan ("TRASOP") and the Employee Monthly Investment Plan
("EMIP").
================================================================================
Comments________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(If you have written in the above space, please mark the "Comments" box on the
reverse of this card.)
.FOLD AND DETACH HERE.
Admission Ticket
[DONNELLEY LOGO]
RR Donnelley & Sons Company
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Thursday, March 25, 1999 at 9:00 AM
First Chicago Center at One First National Plaza
Dearborn & Madison Streets
Chicago, Illinois
This ticket admits the named Stockholder(s) and one guest. Photocopies will not
be accepted. You may be asked for identification at the time of admission.
<PAGE>
[X] Please mark your votes as in this example 7827
This Proxy, when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein.
If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of Directors
and AGAINST proposals 2 and 3.
================================================================================
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of Directors.
================================================================================
FOR WITHHELD
1. Election of Will Change of
Directors Attend Address/
(See reverse) Annual Comments on
Meeting reverse side
For, except vote withheld from the following Nominee(s):
-----------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
================================================================================
The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST proposal 2.
================================================================================
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Stockholder Proposal
regarding Pay Equity
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST proposal 3.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
3. Stockholder Proposal
regarding Global Corporate
Standards
================================================================================
4. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When
signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, officer,
general partner, etc., please give full title as such.
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
SIGNATURE(S) DATE
. FOLD AND DETACH HERE .
R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY
Dear Stockholder:
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company encourages U.S. and Canadian residents to take
advantage of a convenient way by which you can vote your shares by telephone. If
you vote by telephone, you do not need to return this proxy card.
To vote your shares by telephone you must use the voter control number in the
box above, just below the perforation.
On a touchtone telephone call toll-free 1-800-OK2-VOTE 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. The telephone response system will lead you through the simple process of
voting your proxy. Your voter control number above must be used to access the
system.
Your telephone vote provides the same authorization to vote your shares as if
you marked, signed, dated and returned your proxy card.
Your vote is important.
