INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the registrant /x/
Filed by a party other than the registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Confidential, for Use of Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
/ / Preliminary proxy statement
/x/ Definitive proxy statement
/ / Definitive additional materials
/ / Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
/x/ $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or Rule
14a-6(i)(2).
/ / $500 per each party per Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3), or Rule
14a-6(i)(2).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)
and 0-11.
/ / 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.
<PAGE>
[DUN & BRADSTREET LOGO]
187 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897
March 10, 1995
Dear Shareowner:
You are cordially invited to attend the 1995 Annual Meeting of Shareowners
of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation on Tuesday, April 18, 1995 at 9:30 A.M. at
1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware.
The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement accompanying this letter
describe the business to be acted upon at the meeting. The Annual Report for the
year ended December 31, 1994 also is enclosed.
Please promptly vote, date, sign and return your proxy for the meeting even
though you plan to attend. You may vote in person at that time if you so desire.
Sincerely,
CHARLES W. MORITZ ROBERT E. WEISSMAN
Chairman President and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
[DUN & BRADSTREET LOGO]
187 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting of Shareowners of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 1995 at 9:30 A.M. at 1209 Orange Street,
Wilmington, Delaware, to take action on the following matters:
1. To elect four Class II directors for a three-year term.
2. To consider and vote upon the Company's Corporate Management
Incentive Plan.
3. To consider and vote upon the Company's Key Employees Performance
Unit Plan.
4. To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the Company's 1991
Key Employees Stock Option Plan, including an amendment to increase the
number of shares available for future stock option grants.
5. To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the Company's 1982
Key Employees Stock Option Plan.
6. To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the Company's 1989
Key Employees Restricted Stock Plan to increase the number of shares
available for future restricted stock grants.
7. To consider and vote upon The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
8. To consider and vote upon the appointment of independent public
accountants to audit the Company's consolidated financial statements for
1995.
9. To consider and vote upon a Shareowner proposal regarding
implementation of the MacBride Principles in Northern Ireland.
10. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. The Company knows of no other business
to be brought before the meeting.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on February 17, 1995
as the record date for determination of Shareowners entitled to notice of, and
to vote at, the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
SHIRLEY A. FORSBERG, Secretary
Dated: March 10, 1995
<PAGE>
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by
the Board of Directors of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation ("Dun & Bradstreet")
of proxies for the Annual Meeting of Shareowners to be held on April 18, 1995.
Dun & Bradstreet and its subsidiaries are referred to herein, in the Notice of
Annual Meeting and in the form of proxy/voting instruction card ("proxy") as the
"Company". These proxy materials are being mailed to Shareowners commencing
approximately March 10, 1995. The principal executive offices of Dun &
Bradstreet are located at 187 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and its
telephone number is (203) 834-4200.
Sending in a signed proxy will not affect a Shareowner's right to attend
the meeting and vote in person. Any Shareowner giving a proxy has the right to
revoke it at any time before it is exercised by executing and returning a proxy
bearing a later date, by giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of
Dun & Bradstreet, or by attending the meeting and voting in person. All properly
executed proxies not revoked will be voted at the meeting in accordance with the
instructions contained therein.
The preceding paragraph does not apply to a participant in the Dun &
Bradstreet Profit Participation Plan (the "PPP") or the DonTech Profit
Participation Plan (the "DPPP"). If such a participant has contributions
invested in Dun & Bradstreet Common Stock, the proxy will serve as a voting
instruction for the trustee of the PPP and DPPP, as well as a proxy for any
shares registered in the participant's own name. Fractional shares held by a
participant in the PPP or DPPP are not printed on the proxy but will be voted by
the trustee as if included thereon. If a proxy covering shares in the PPP or
DPPP has not been received prior to April 11, 1995, the trustee will vote those
PPP or DPPP shares in the same proportion as the respective PPP or DPPP shares
for which it has received instructions.
A proxy which is signed and returned by a Shareowner of record or a
participant in the PPP or DPPP without specification marked in the instruction
boxes will be voted, as to proposals specified in the proxy, in accordance with
the recommendations of the Board of Directors as outlined in this Proxy
Statement. If any other proposals are brought before the meeting and submitted
to a vote, all proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the
persons voting the respective proxies.
In connection with proxy soliciting material mailed to Shareowners,
associates of Dun & Bradstreet may communicate with Shareowners personally or by
telephone, telegraph or mail to solicit their proxies. Dun & Bradstreet also has
retained the firm of Georgeson & Company Inc. to assist in the solicitation of
proxies for a fee estimated at $10,000 plus expenses. Dun & Bradstreet will pay
all expenses related to such solicitations of proxies. Dun & Bradstreet and
Georgeson & Company Inc. will request banks and brokers to solicit proxies from
their customers where appropriate and will reimburse them for reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses.
Shareowners of record at the close of business on February 17, 1995 are
eligible to vote at the meeting. As of the close of business on February 17,
1995, Dun & Bradstreet had outstanding 169,804,661 shares of Common Stock,
including 2,189,978 shares held by the trustee under the PPP and 88,341 shares
held by the trustee under the DPPP. Each such share will be entitled to one
vote. Additional shares held in Dun & Bradstreet's treasury at February 17,
1995, amounting to 18,611,480 shares of Common Stock, will not be voted.
Dun & Bradstreet's by-laws provide that a majority of the shares entitled
to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum at
meetings of Shareowners. Shares that are present in person or represented by
proxy but that abstain from voting are counted for purposes of establishing a
quorum, as are shares where a broker holding stock in street name votes the
shares on some matters but not others.
With respect to the nine matters to come before the Shareowners at the
Annual Meeting, (i) directors shall be elected by a plurality of the voting
power present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to
vote and (ii) the other eight matters shall be determined by the affirmative
vote of the majority of the voting power present in person or represented by
proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. With respect to the
election of directors, only shares that are voted in favor of a particular
nominee will be counted towards such nominee's achievement of a plurality.
Shares present at the meeting that are not voted for a particular nominee or
shares present by proxy where the Shareowner properly withholds authority to
vote for such nominee or broker non-votes will not be counted towards such
nominee's achievement of a plurality. With respect to any of the other eight
matters to be voted upon, if the Shareowner abstains from voting or directs his
proxy to abstain from voting, the shares are considered
<PAGE>
present at the meeting for such matter but, since they are not affirmative votes
for the matter, they will have the same effect as votes against the matter. With
respect to broker non-votes on any such matter, the shares are not considered
present at the meeting for such matter and they are, therefore, not counted in
respect of such matter. Such broker non-votes do have the practical effect of
reducing the number of affirmative votes required to achieve a majority for such
matter by reducing the total number of shares from which the majority is
calculated.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The members of the Board of Directors of Dun & Bradstreet are classified
into three classes, one of which is elected at each Annual Meeting of
Shareowners to hold office for a three-year term and until successors of such
class are elected and have qualified.
The Board of Directors has nominated Mrs. Mary Johnston Evans and Messrs.
Clifford L. Alexander, Jr., John R. Meyer and James R. Peterson for election as
Class II Directors at the 1995 Annual Meeting for a three-year term expiring at
the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareowners. Mrs. Evans and Messrs. Meyer and
Peterson were re-elected directors at the 1992 Annual Meeting of Shareowners.
Mr. Alexander was elected a director by the Board of Directors, effective
February 17, 1993.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION AS DIRECTORS OF
THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
Mr. Charles W. Moritz, who was re-elected as a Class II Director at the
1992 Annual Meeting of Shareowners, has announced his retirement as a director
and as Chairman of the Board of Dun & Bradstreet, effective March 31, 1995, and,
therefore, has not been nominated for election at the 1995 Annual Meeting of
Shareowners. On November 16, 1994, Robert E. Weissman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, was elected to the additional office of
Chairman of the Board of Dun & Bradstreet, effective April 1, 1995. Mr. Robert
A. Hanson, who was re-elected as a Class III Director at the 1993 Annual Meeting
of Shareowners, has reached age 70 and, in accordance with Board policy, will
retire from the Board on April 18, 1995, the date of the 1995 Annual Meeting of
Shareowners.
Except where otherwise instructed, proxies will be voted for election of
all the nominees, all of whom are now members of the Board. Should any nominee
for the office of director be unwilling or unable to serve as a director, which
is not anticipated, it is intended that the persons acting under the proxy will
have discretionary authority to vote for the election of another person in such
nominee's stead in accordance with their judgment.
With respect to directors who are officers of Dun & Bradstreet, the
following information concerning positions with Dun & Bradstreet does not
include positions as officers or directors of subsidiaries of Dun & Bradstreet
which are part of the responsibilities of such persons and for which such
persons receive no separate compensation.
The following information as to principal occupations during the last five
years, and other directorships in companies with a class of securities
registered under Section 12 or subject to Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or registered as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, is based upon information furnished by each person and is
correct to the best knowledge of Dun & Bradstreet.
2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nominees for Class II Directors for terms expiring at the 1998 Annual Meeting:
Positions with Director Principal Occupation Other
Name Dun & Bradstreet Since During Last Five Years Age Directorships
---- ---------------- ----- ---------------------- --- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Clifford L. Alexander, Jr. Director 1993 President, Alexander & 61 MCI Communications
Associates, Inc., Corporation; Dreyfus
Washington, D.C. Third Century Fund;
(consulting firm Dreyfus General
specializing in work-force Family of Funds;
inclusiveness) 1/81 to Dreyfus Premier
present. Family of Funds;
Equitable Resources, Inc.;
Mutual of America Life
Insurance Company; American Home
Products Corp.
Mary Johnston Evans Director 1990 Former Vice Chairman of 65 Baxter International Inc.;
the Board, Amtrak (National Delta Air Lines, Inc.;
Railroad Passenger Household International, Inc.;
Corporation), Washington, Sun Company, Inc.;
D.C. 1975 to 1979. Scudder AARP Funds;
Scudder New Europe Fund.
John R. Meyer Director 1967 Professor, Harvard 67 Union Pacific Corporation;
University 7/1/73 to Missouri Pacific Railroad
present. Company; The Mutual Life
Insurance Company of New York.
James R. Peterson Director 1977 Former President, Chief 67 WMX Technologies, Inc.
Executive Officer, The
Parker Pen Company,
Janesville, WI (writing
instruments and
temporary help services)
1/1/82 to 1/31/85.
3
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class I Directors holding office for terms expiring at the 1997 Annual Meeting:
Positions with Director Principal Occupation Other
Name Dun & Bradstreet Since During Last Five Years Age Directorships
---- ---------------- ----- ---------------------- --- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Hall Adams, Jr. Director 1992 Former Chairman of the 61 McDonald's Corporation;
Board, Chief Executive Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Officer, Leo Burnett
Company, Inc., Chicago, IL
(advertising agency) 1/1/87
to 12/31/91.
Michael R. Quinlan Director 1989 Chairman, Chief Executive 50 McDonald's Corporation;
Officer, McDonald's The May Department Stores
Corporation, Oak Brook, IL Company.
(quick service restaurants)
3/31/90 to present;
President, Chief Executive
Officer 3/1/87 to 3/30/90;
President, Chief Operating
Officer 6/15/82 to 2/28/87.
Robert E. Weissman President, Chief 1981 President, Chief Executive 54 State Street Boston Corporation.
Executive Officer, Officer, The Dun &
Director Bradstreet Corporation
1/1/94 to present;
President, Chief Operating
Officer 1/1/85 to 12/31/93.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class III Directors holding office for terms expiring at the 1996 Annual Meeting:
Positions with Director Principal Occupation Other
Name Dun & Bradstreet Since During Last Five Years Age Directorships
---- ---------------- ----- ---------------------- --- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert J. Lanigan Director 1978 Chairman Emeritus, Owens- 66 Owens-Illinois, Inc.;
Illinois, Inc., Toledo, OH Sonat, Inc.; Sonat
(glass, paper, plastics and Offshore Drilling
other packaging products) Inc.; Chrysler Corporation;
1/24/92 to present; The Coleman Company, Inc.
Chairman of the Board
4/18/84 to 10/15/91; Chief
Executive Officer 1/1/84 to
9/30/90.
Vernon R. Loucks, Jr. Director 1978 Chairman of the Board, 60 Baxter International
Chief Executive Officer, Inc.; Emerson Electric Co.;
Baxter International Inc., The Quaker Oats Company;
Deerfield, IL (medical care Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
products and services)
9/16/87 to present;
Chairman, President, Chief
Executive Officer 7/20/87
to 9/15/87; President,
Chief Executive Officer
5/3/80 to 7/19/87.
Volney Taylor Executive Vice 1984 Executive Vice President, 55
President, Director The Dun & Bradstreet
Corporation 2/1/82 to
present.
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD AND MEETINGS
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors reviews the scope of the
audits of the Company's internal audit staff, receives an annual summary of the
results of such audits and reviews the scope of the audit of the Company's
consolidated financial statements by independent public accountants and their
report on such audit. The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Lanigan
(Chairman), Adams, Hanson, Loucks, Meyer and Quinlan. The Audit Committee held
four meetings during 1994.
The Executive Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of
Directors (the "Committee") establishes, changes and revises all compensation
arrangements for certain executives of the Company consistent with a statement
of executive compensation philosophy adopted by the Board of Directors and
subject to the Committee's own rules of procedure and such limitations as it may
adopt. The Committee has further authority, consistent with the provisions of
the Company's 1991 Key Employees Stock Option Plan, the Key Employees
Performance Unit Plan, the Corporate Management Incentive Plan and the 1989 Key
Employees Restricted Stock Plan, to select participants under the plans, to
determine the number of shares to be covered by options and the provisions of
performance units granted and generally to conduct and administer the plans and
make all determinations in connection therewith as may be necessary or
advisable. The Committee consists of Messrs. Peterson (Chairman), Hanson,
Lanigan, Loucks and Quinlan. The Committee held seven meetings during 1994.
The Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors screens candidates for
membership on the Board of Directors and makes recommendations to the Board of
Directors. Shareowners' recommendations for nominees for membership on the Board
of Directors will be considered by the Nominating Committee; the Nominating
Committee has not adopted formal procedures for the submission of such
recommendations. However, Shareowners may recommend nominees for membership on
the Board of Directors to the Nominating Committee by submitting the names in
writing to: Michael R. Quinlan, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, c/o The
Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, 187 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897. The Nominating
Committee consists of Messrs. Quinlan (Chairman), Alexander, Lanigan, Loucks and
Mrs. Evans. The Nominating Committee held two meetings during 1994.
In addition to the foregoing, the Board of Directors has the following
committees: the Employee Benefits Committee, consisting of Mrs. Evans
(Chairman), and Messrs. Alexander, Meyer, Moritz and Peterson; the Executive
Committee, consisting of Messrs. Moritz (Chairman), Meyer and Weissman
(effective April 1, 1995, the Executive Committee will consist of Messrs.
Weissman (Chairman) and Meyer and Mrs. Evans); the Finance Committee, consisting
of Messrs. Loucks (Chairman), Adams, Alexander, Hanson, Moritz, Peterson and
Quinlan; and the Policy and Planning Committee, consisting of Mr. Meyer
(Chairman) and all directors. During 1994, the following numbers of meetings of
these committees were held: one meeting of the Employee Benefits Committee, no
meetings of the Executive Committee, three meetings of the Finance Committee and
one meeting of the Policy and Planning Committee.
Nine regularly scheduled meetings and two special meetings of the Board of
Directors were held during 1994. No director attended fewer than 75% of the
aggregate of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the committees of the
Board on which he or she served.
PROPOSALS REGARDING APPROVAL OR AMENDMENT
OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS
The Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") was amended in 1993 to provide that,
effective January 1, 1994, with certain exceptions, a publicly held corporation
such as Dun & Bradstreet could not take a federal income tax deduction for
compensation paid to a "covered employee" in a taxable year to the extent that
the compensation deduction exceeds $1,000,000. A "covered employee" is the Chief
Executive Officer on the last day of the taxable year and any other officer who
is among the four highest compensated officers (other than the Chief Executive
Officer) as reported in the Proxy Statement. Generally, these would be the same
officers named each year in the Summary Compensation Table in the Proxy
Statement.
The $1,000,000 limit on deductibility does not apply to compensation that
meets the requirements for "qualified performance-based compensation" under
regulations adopted under the Code. These requirements include the
5
<PAGE>
following: (i) the compensation must be paid solely on account of the attainment
of one or more pre-established, objective performance goals, (ii) the
performance goals must be timely established by a compensation committee
comprising solely two or more outside directors, (iii) the material terms of the
performance goals must be disclosed to and approved by the Shareowners, and (iv)
the compensation committee must certify in writing prior to payment of the
compensation (other than stock option exercises) that the performance goals and
any other material terms were in fact satisfied.
The Board of Directors has decided to amend and seek Shareowner approval
for three benefit plans that provide performance-based compensation to senior
executives so that such compensation can qualify for tax deductibility under the
Code. The three plans are The Dun & Bradstreet Corporate Management Incentive
Plan (the "CMIP"), which provides for annual performance-based bonuses; the Key
Employees Performance Unit Plan for The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation and
Subsidiaries (the "PUP"), which provides for grants of performance units
representing the opportunity to receive cash and restricted stock at the end of
a set period; and the 1991 Key Employees Stock Option Plan for The Dun &
Bradstreet Corporation and Subsidiaries (the "1991 Option Plan").
In addition, the Board of Directors has decided to seek Shareowner approval
for (i) an increase in the number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise
of options under the 1991 Option Plan, (ii) amendments to the 1991 Option Plan
and the 1982 Key Employees Stock Option Plan for The Dun & Bradstreet
Corporation and Subsidiaries (the "1982 Option Plan") to permit disabled or
retired option holders to exercise vested options during a five-year period
after termination of employment rather than the current three-year period, and
(iii) an increase in the number of shares that may be issued to participants
under the 1989 Key Employees Restricted Stock Plan for The Dun & Bradstreet
Corporation and Subsidiaries (the "Restricted Stock Plan"). These amendments are
discussed further below.
Because the proposed changes to the CMIP, the PUP, the 1991 Option Plan and
the Restricted Stock Plan will apply to awards under these plans to be made in
the future, the amounts of such awards are not readily determinable. Amounts
paid or awarded under these plans with respect to 1994 are shown in the Summary
Compensation Table with respect to the executive officers named in the table as
follows: CMIP, in Column (d); PUP, in Column (h); 1991 Option Plan, in Column
(g); and Restricted Stock Plan, in Column (f). In addition, amounts paid or
awarded under these plans with respect to 1994 for all current executive
officers, as a group; all current directors who are not executive officers, as a
group; and all employees, including all current officers who are not executive
officers, as a group, are shown in the following table. Pursuant to the terms of
the 1982 Option Plan, no additional options or stock appreciation rights could
be granted under that plan after January 19, 1992.
1994 PLAN BENEFITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CMIP PUP 1991 Option Plan Restricted Stock
Bonus Payment Options Granted Plan Awards
($) ($) (#) ($)
---------- ------------ ----------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Executive Group .................................. 4,020,549 3,654,494 210,220 2,276,984
Non-Executive Director Group ..................... 0 0 0 0
Non-Executive Officer Employee Group ............. 13,494,956 12,534,001 1,948,038 5,041,881
</TABLE>
PROPOSED CORPORATE MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
The following summary of the CMIP is subject to the complete terms of the
plan, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit A.
1. Eligible Employees and Maximum Award. Executive officers and other
management employees of Dun & Bradstreet and certain of its subsidiaries whose
decisions and actions most significantly affect corporate growth and
profitability are eligible to participate. Currently, approximately 200
employees participate. The maximum award payable to any participant in any
calendar year is $3,000,000.
6
<PAGE>
2. Administration. The Executive Compensation and Stock Option Committee of
the Board of Directors (the "Committee"), upon the recommendation of senior
management, annually selects the participants, determines the guideline bonus
opportunity for each participant and establishes minimum, target and, if
desired, maximum amounts for the performance measures under which bonuses can be
earned. Members of the Committee must be "outside directors" as defined in the
regulations under the Code and may not participate in the plan.
3. Performance Measures and Targets. Participants who are officers of Dun &
Bradstreet (including "covered employees" under the Code) or report to such
officers earn their awards upon achievement of goals consisting of targets
established by the Committee each year for one or more of the following
performance measures: earnings per share, net income, operating income, revenue,
working capital, return on equity, return on assets, total return to
Shareowners, and average sales growth, which in each case may be on a
corporate-wide basis or with respect to one or more operating units, divisions,
acquired businesses, minority investments, partnerships or joint ventures.
Performance measures and targets for participants who are employed by the
Company's operating units are established by the Chief Executive Officer of Dun
& Bradstreet. Except with respect to executive officers (who include "covered
employees") the Committee may also make a portion of the bonus opportunity
subject to achievement of individual qualitative performance goals. No bonus is
earned with respect to a performance measure unless a performance "floor" for
that measure is exceeded; the bonus opportunity with respect to a measure is
earned if the target is achieved; achievement between the floor and the target
results in a lower bonus with respect to that performance measure. An amount
larger than the bonus opportunity for each performance measure can be earned for
exceeding that target. In calculating whether performance targets for "covered
employees" have been met, the Committee will make appropriate adjustments to
exclude the effect of extraordinary corporate transactions, such as
acquisitions, divestitures and reorganizations, and will not take into account
extraordinary or non-recurring accounting changes or items, that affect the
results under applicable performance measures.
4. Other Award Criteria. The Chief Executive Officer may increase or
decrease individual bonuses earned by participants other than executive officers
by up to 20% of the bonus opportunity amount, so as to account for demonstrated
quality of performance or the occurrence of unusual or unforeseen circumstances.
The Committee may decrease, but may not increase (except as indicated below),
bonuses earned by executive officers upon achievement of established performance
targets. The Committee also retains discretion to increase bonuses earned by
executive officers if such officers do not thereby become "covered employees,"
and to make CMIP awards to executive officers in the same manner as to other
participants, even if such awards will not qualify for a tax deduction to the
Company, if the Committee decides that special or unforeseen circumstances make
such awards advisable.
5. Payment of Awards. Payment of earned awards is made as soon as
practicable after the end of the year in which earned. If a participant's
employment is terminated (other than for cause), a pro rata share of any earned
award may be paid. Upon recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer, the
Committee may increase or decrease award payments if, in its sole judgment,
there have been extraordinary occurrences, not anticipated when awards were
approved at the start of the year, which have significantly affected earnings or
other performance measures, provided that no such increase may be made with
respect to awards payable to executive officers.
6. Change in Control. If, as a result of a Change in Control, as defined
under Change-in-Control Severance Agreements later in this Proxy Statement, of
the Company, a participant retires, is assigned to a different position, is
placed on a leave of absence, or is otherwise terminated as an employee (other
than for cause), such participant will receive a full award under the plan for
the year in which termination occurs, instead of a pro rata share of the award
for such year. Expenses incurred solely as a result of a Change in Control shall
not be taken into account in determining the amount of any award under the plan,
and a Change in Control shall not constitute an "extraordinary occurrence" or
the "occurrence of any unusual or unforeseen circumstance" which would justify
an upward or downward adjustment in the amount of any award under the plan.
7. Amendment. The CMIP may be amended by the Board of Directors or the
Committee, except that, without approval of the Shareowners, the Board or
Committee may not (a) change the performance measures with respect to awards of
"covered employees," (b) change the individuals or class of individuals eligible
to participate or (c) change the maximum amount payable to an individual
participant under the plan.
8. Effectiveness. If the CMIP is approved by Shareowners at the 1995 Annual
Meeting, it will be effective in the form approved with respect to grants of
awards to be earned during 1996 and thereafter. If the CMIP is not
7
<PAGE>
approved by Shareowners, the Company may consider whether other compensation
arrangements are appropriate for its key employees.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED CORPORATE
MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN.
PROPOSED KEY EMPLOYEES PERFORMANCE UNIT PLAN
The following summary of the PUP is subject to the complete terms of the
plan, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit B.
1. Eligible Employees and Maximum Awards. Key employees of Dun & Bradstreet
and its subsidiaries who are from time to time responsible for the management,
growth and protection of the business of Dun & Bradstreet and its subsidiaries
are eligible to participate. Currently, approximately 530 employees and retirees
participate. The maximum award (including both cash and restricted stock)
payable to any participant in any calendar year is $6,000,000.
2. Administration. The Committee will select participants from eligible key
employees, determine (subject to the terms of the plan) the terms and conditions
of the performance units to be granted and generally conduct and administer the
plan. Members of the Committee must be "outside directors" as defined in the
regulations under the Code and may not participate in the plan.
3. Performance Units. Performance units represent the opportunity to earn
an award at the end of a period established by the Committee (not to exceed four
years) following the grant, based upon achievement of performance goals for the
period. The goals consist of targets established by the Committee at the start
of each period for one or more of the following performance measures: earnings
per share, net income, operating income, revenue, working capital, return on
equity, return on assets, total return to Shareowners, and average sales growth,
which in each case may be on a corporate-wide basis or with respect to one or
more operating units, divisions, acquired businesses, minority investments,
partnerships or joint ventures. For participants other than executive officers,
qualitative measures may also be used. The Committee also establishes a dollar
payment value for each performance unit which may be in cash or in a combination
of cash and restricted stock issued pursuant to the Restricted Stock Plan. In
calculating whether performance targets for executive officers have been met,
the Committee will make appropriate adjustments to exclude the effect of
extraordinary corporate transactions, such as acquisitions, divestitures and
reorganizations, and will not take into account extraordinary or non-recurring
accounting changes or items, that affect the results under applicable
performance measures.
4. Other Award Criteria. The Committee may increase or decrease targets and
unit payment schedules if there have been extraordinary occurrences, not
anticipated when unit grants were approved, which significantly have affected or
may affect the Company's earnings or other performance measures, except that
(except as indicated below) no increase may be made with respect to awards
earned by executive officers nor any change made in the targets applicable to
executive officers. However, the Committee retains discretion to make such
changes with respect to executive officers if such officers do not thereby
become "covered employees," and to make PUP awards to executive officers in the
same manner as to other participants, even if such awards will not qualify for a
tax deduction to the Company, if the Committee decides that special or
unforeseen circumstances make such awards advisable.
5. Payment of Units. As soon as practicable after the end of an award
period, the Committee shall determine what payments have been earned with
respect to related units. Payment shall be made in cash and restricted stock
shares, if any, promptly after such determination. Participants may receive a
pro rata award in the event of termination of employment (other than for cause)
in certain circumstances.
6. Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of an actual or potential Change
in Control of the Company, (i) all outstanding performance unit grants shall
immediately become payable in full, with the final value of such units
determined as though performance measures and targets for the full award period
had been achieved, (ii) expenses incurred solely as a result of a Change in
Control shall not be taken into account in determining the amount of any award
under the plan, (iii) a Change in Control shall not constitute an "extraordinary
occurrence" which would justify an upward or downward adjustment in the amount
of any award under the plan, and (iv) if the Company has not
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fulfilled a commitment to match a certain percentage of a participant's
performance unit payments with an award under the Restricted Stock Plan, the
Committee shall authorize an immediate cash payment under the PUP to the
participant equal in amount to the value of such restricted stock award.
7. Amendment. The PUP may be amended by the Board of Directors or the
Committee, except that, without approval of the Shareowners, the Board or
Committee may not (a) change the performance measures with respect to awards of
"covered employees," (b) change the individuals or class of individuals eligible
to participate or (c) change the maximum amount payable to an individual
participant under the plan.
8. Effectiveness. If the PUP is approved by Shareowners at the 1995 Annual
Meeting, it will be effective in the form approved with respect to grants of
performance units to be earned over award periods beginning in 1996 and
thereafter. If the PUP is not approved by Shareowners, the Company may consider
whether other compensation arrangements are appropriate for its key employees.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED KEY EMPLOYEES
PERFORMANCE UNIT PLAN.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 1982 AND 1991 KEY EMPLOYEES
STOCK OPTION PLANS
The Board of Directors has amended the 1991 Option Plan in three respects,
subject to approval of the Shareowners. To conform to requirements of the Code
relating to tax deductibility that apply specifically to stock option plans, the
1991 Option Plan must specify the maximum number of options that may be granted
to any individual over a specified period. Therefore, the Board has amended the
1991 Option Plan to specify that options for no more than 1,000,000 shares may
be granted to any participant during the remaining life of the plan (i.e., prior
to February 20, 2001), subject to adjustments for certain changes in the
capitalization of Dun & Bradstreet.
In addition, the Board has amended the 1991 Option Plan to provide for an
additional 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon exercise
of options thereunder. At its adoption in 1991, the 1991 Option Plan provided
for issuance of 7,000,000 shares upon the exercise of options granted, of which
1,619,128 shares remain available for option grants as of February 24, 1995. The
Board deems it advisable to increase the number of available shares so as to
provide for the continued ability to make option grants under the 1991 Option
Plan after the currently available shares are utilized.
The third amendment approved by the Board, which the Board has also
approved for the 1982 Option Plan, provides that, upon a participant's
termination of employment by reason of disability or retirement, any options
held by the participant that had been granted more than a year before such
termination may be exercised until the earlier of five years after the date of
termination or the expiration date of the option, to the extent the option was
exercisable or became exercisable during such period. Both the 1982 and 1991
Option Plans currently provide for a three-year exercise period after
termination in these circumstances. This amendment to each plan, if adopted by
Shareowners, will apply to all options outstanding under either plan on the date
of adoption and to all subsequent option grants.
The following summary of the 1991 Option Plan, as proposed to be amended,
is subject to the complete terms of the plan, a copy of which is attached to
this Proxy Statement as Exhibit C. The summary also applies to the 1982 Option
Plan (except that, as indicated above, no new options or stock appreciation
rights may be granted under the 1982 Option Plan) and indicates where the two
plans differ.
1. Shares Covered and Eligible Participants. The 1991 Option Plan provides
for the granting at any time prior to February 20, 2001, of options covering in
the aggregate not more than 17,000,000 shares of the Common Stock of Dun &
Bradstreet to key employees (including officers but excluding persons who serve
only as directors) of the Company who are from time to time responsible for the
management of the business of the Company. Currently, approximately 1,430
employees and retirees participate in the Plan. Stock appreciation rights
("SAR's") relating to such options also may be granted at any time during such
period. Options for no more than 1,000,000 shares may be granted to any
participant over the remaining life of the 1991 Option Plan.
The 1982 Option Plan provided for the granting of options to key employees
(including officers but excluding persons who served only as directors) at any
time prior to January 20, 1992, although options and SAR's previously
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granted could extend beyond that date. SAR's relating to stock options could
also be granted during such period. Currently, approximately 430 employees and
retirees have outstanding options issued under the 1982 Plan.
2. Administration. The Committee, which must consist of at least three
members of the Board of Directors not eligible to participate in the 1982 or
1991 Option Plans, will select participants from eligible key employees,
determine (subject to the terms of the plans) the provisions of the options and
SAR's to be granted and the number of shares to be covered by the option or
options granted to each participant and generally conduct and administer the
plans. Members of the Committee must be "outside directors" as defined under the
Code.
3. Terms and Conditions. As determined by the Committee, options granted
under the 1982 and 1991 Option Plans may be non-qualified, incentive or other
stock options and will be subject to the following terms and conditions:
A. Option Price. The option price will be determined by the Committee,
but may not be less than 100% of fair market value of the Common Stock at
the time an option is granted.
B. Exercisability. An option will be exercisable in whole or in part
during such period, not longer than ten years from the date it is granted,
as may be determined by the Committee, provided that no option may be
exercised, except in the event of merger, consolidation or other unusual
event, during the year ending on the first anniversary date of the granting
of the option.
C. Payment. Payment in full for all shares purchased upon exercise of
an option will be made at the time of exercise in cash, in shares of Common
Stock or partly in cash and partly in shares of Common Stock. The Committee
may permit an optionee to elect to have a portion of the shares deliverable
upon exercise of the option withheld to provide for payment of any federal,
state or local withholding tax which the Company determines to be due.
Otherwise, withholding taxes will be payable in cash at the time of
exercise.
D. Termination of Employment by Death. If an optionee's employment
terminates by reason of death one year or more after grant of an option,
the option thereafter may be exercised, during the three years after the
date of death or the remaining stated period of the option, whichever
period is shorter, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of death or
thereafter would become exercisable during such three-year period in
accordance with its terms.
E. Termination of Employment by Disability or Retirement. If an
optionee's employment terminates by reason of disability or retirement one
year or more after grant of an option, the option thereafter may be
exercised, during the five years after the date of such termination of
employment or the remaining stated period of the option, whichever period
is shorter, to the extent such option was exercisable at the time of such
termination of employment or thereafter would become exercisable during
such period in accordance with its terms; provided that if the optionee
dies within five years after the date of such termination of employment,
the unexercised option thereafter may be exercised, during either (1) the
period ending on the later of five years after such termination of
employment and one year after the date of death or (2) the period remaining
in the stated term of the option, whichever period is shorter, to the
extent such option was exercisable at the date of death or thereafter would
become exercisable during the remainder of the five-year period after such
termination of employment in accordance with its terms. For purposes of the
plans, "retirement" means termination of employment with the Company after
the optionee has attained age 55 and completed ten or more years of
employment; or after the optionee has attained age 65, regardless of the
length of such optionee's employment. An optionee shall not be considered
disabled unless he or she furnishes such medical or other evidence of the
existence of the disability as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may
require.
F. Other Termination of Employment. Upon termination of an optionee's
employment for any reason, other than death, disability or retirement one
year or more after grant of an option, the option will thereupon terminate.
An authorized leave of absence under certain conditions does not terminate
employment for purposes of the plan.
G. Conditions of Purchase. The Committee may require participants to
agree with Dun & Bradstreet in writing that they are acquiring shares upon
exercise of an option for investment and not with a view to distribution.
The Committee may also, in its discretion, impose as a condition of any
option any restrictions on the transferability of shares acquired through
the exercise of such option as it may deem fit.
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H. Transferability. Options will not be transferable otherwise than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution.
4. Stock Appreciation Rights. As determined by the
Committee, SAR's granted under the 1991 Option Plan will be subject to the
following terms and conditions and such as the Committee may impose. No new
SAR's may be granted under the 1982 Option Plan.
A. Grants. SAR's may be granted by amendment of options previously
granted under the Option Plan or at the time of grant of options. SAR's
will cover the same shares covered by an option (or such lesser number of
shares as the Committee may determine) and will be subject to the same
terms and conditions as the option in addition to those included in the
SAR. Any optionee will be eligible to receive SAR's; however, the
Committee's present policy is not to grant SAR's.
B. Terms of SAR's. A SAR entitles an optionee to surrender an
unexercised related option, or any portion thereof, and to receive in
exchange cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, with a
value equal to the excess of the fair market value on the exercise date of
the Common Stock over the option exercise price for the number of shares
covered by the option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. Shares of
Common Stock covered by an option, or portion thereof, surrendered upon
exercise of a SAR will be unavailable thereafter for further grants of
options. SAR's granted to executive officers will not be exercisable until
more than six months after grant and only during the ten-day period
commencing on the third business day after release of quarterly or annual
results of operations of the Company.
C. Limitation on Exercisability. The Committee will be required to
impose such conditions upon exercisability of SAR's as will result, except
upon the occurrence of a change in capital or other unusual event, in the
amount to be charged against the Company's consolidated income by reason of
SAR's not exceeding, in any one calendar year, two percent of the prior
calendar year's consolidated income before income taxes.
D. Limited SAR's. The Committee will be empowered under the Option
Plan to grant "limited stock appreciation rights" which would be
exercisable only upon the occurrence of specified contingent events
("Limited SAR's"). Limited SAR's may provide for a different method of
determining appreciation, may specify that payment will be made only in
cash and may provide that related options or SAR's or both are not
exercisable while such Limited SAR's are exercisable. Any optionee will be
eligible to receive Limited SAR's; however, the Committee's present policy
is to grant Limited SAR's, if any, only to executive officers of Dun &
Bradstreet.
5. Changes in Capital and Other Events. The 1982 and 1991 Option Plans
provide for appropriate adjustment of options and SAR's, or substitution of new
options, and adjustment in the maximum number of shares underlying options which
may be granted under the plan or to an individual participant in the event of
certain changes in the capitalization of Dun & Bradstreet. In the event of (i)
merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the Shareowners of Dun &
Bradstreet receive cash or securities other than common stock, (ii) a tender or
exchange offer for at least 50% (or a lesser percentage determined by the
Committee) of Dun & Bradstreet's Common Stock, or (iii) the occurrence of a
Change in Control of the Company, as defined in the Plan, the Committee will
accelerate the exercisability of all outstanding options and SAR's and/or adjust
such options and SAR's by substituting publicly traded common stock of the
acquiror or its parent.
6. Amendments. The 1982 and 1991 Option Plans may be amended by the Board
of Directors, except that, without the approval of the Shareowners, the Board
may not (a), except upon a change in capital or other unusual event, increase
the total number of shares reserved or change the maximum number of shares for
which options may be granted to any participant, (b) decrease the option price
to less than 100% of fair market value on the date of grant, (c) change the
employees or class of employees eligible to receive options under the plan, or
(d) materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the plan.
7. Consideration. The consideration to be received by Dun & Bradstreet for
the granting of options under the 1982 and 1991 Option Plans is the continued
employment of participants. Consideration for the issuance of shares under the
plans will consist of the payment of the option price upon exercise of an option
or surrender of a related option upon exercise of a SAR.
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Tax Consequences. Non-Qualified Stock Options--If a participant receives a
non-qualified option, the difference between the market value of the stock at
the date of exercise and the option price will be treated as taxable income to
the employee at the date of exercise and Dun & Bradstreet will be entitled to an
income tax deduction in the same year in an amount measured by the amount of
income taxable to the employee. The optionee will be entitled to a cost basis
for the stock for income tax purposes equal to the amount paid for the stock
plus the amount of income taxable at the time of exercise. Any subsequent sale
of such stock will be entitled to long-term capital gain or loss treatment if
held for more than one year at the time of sale, or short-term capital gain or
loss treatment if held for one year or less at the time of sale.
Incentive Stock Options--If a participant receives an incentive stock
option satisfying the requirements of the Code, does not dispose of shares
received upon exercise of the option less than one year after exercise and two
years after grant of the option and is continuously an employee from the date of
grant of the option to three months before the date of exercise (except in the
event of disability or death), the difference between the option exercise price
and the fair market value of shares received as a result of the exercise (the
"incentive stock option spread") will not be subject to ordinary income tax
until the optionee sells or otherwise disposes of the shares received. In such
event, Dun & Bradstreet is not entitled to a deduction for income tax purposes
in connection with the exercise of the option. Such incentive stock option
spread, nevertheless, is included in the optionee's alternative minimum taxable
income as of the date of exercise. Upon any subsequent sale of the shares
received as a result of the exercise, any amount realized in excess of the
option exercise price will be subject to tax as long-term capital gain and any
loss will be treated as long-term capital loss. For purposes of computing
alternative minimum taxable income in connection with such sale, the optionee's
basis will be increased to equal the fair market value previously taken into
account for alternative minimum tax purposes and the optionee may be entitled to
a credit for any tax paid as a result of the inclusion of the incentive stock
option spread in alternate minimum taxable income for the earlier year. If the
above requirements for incentive stock option tax treatment are not met, the
option is treated as a non-qualified option.
Stock Appreciation Rights--Upon exercise of a SAR, a participant will
recognize taxable income in the amount of the aggregate cash and fair market
value of the Common Stock received. Dun & Bradstreet will be entitled to an
income tax deduction in the amount of such income recognized by the participant.
The participant's tax basis for the Common Stock received upon exercise of a SAR
will be the fair market value of such shares recognized by the participant as
taxable income attributable to the exercise of the SAR.
Other Information. The closing market price of Dun & Bradstreet Common
Stock on February 24, 1995 was $51.25. In addition to the information given
above as to options granted during 1994 to the executive officers named in the
Summary Compensation Table and to all current executive officers as a group and
employees as a group, no current directors who are not executive officers, no
nominees for election as director and no associates of any such directors,
executive officers or nominees were granted options during 1994.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE
1991 KEY EMPLOYEES STOCK OPTION PLAN AND FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 1982
KEY EMPLOYEES STOCK OPTION PLAN.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO 1989 KEY EMPLOYEES
RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
The Board has amended the Restricted Stock Plan to provide for an
additional 600,000 shares of Common Stock which may be issued thereunder. At its
adoption in 1989, the Restricted Stock Plan provided for issuance of 1,800,000
shares to participants, of which 1,005,268 shares remain available for grants as
of February 24, 1995. The Board deems it advisable to increase the number of
available shares so as to provide for the continued ability to make restricted
stock grants after the currently available shares are utilized.
The following summary of the plan, as proposed to be amended, is subject to
the complete terms of the plan, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy
Statement as Exhibit D.
1. Shares Covered and Eligible Participants. The plan provides for the
granting at any time prior to December 31, 1998 of not more than 2,400,000
shares of Dun & Bradstreet Common Stock to key employees (including officers but
excluding persons who serve only as directors) of the Company who are from time
to time responsible for the
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management, growth or protection of the business of the Company. Currently,
approximately 200 employees participate. The shares may be authorized but
unissued shares or treasury shares. Shares forfeited under the Restricted Stock
Plan may be reissued to plan participants.
2. Administration. The Committee, which must consist of at least three
members of the Board who are not eligible to participate in the Restricted Stock
Plan, will select participants from eligible key employees, determine (subject
to the terms of the plan) the provisions of restricted stock awards, and
generally interpret and administer the plan.
3. Terms of Awards. Awards of restricted stock will vest during a period of
from one to ten years after the date of grant, as designated by the Committee at
the time of the award. During this period the participant will not be able to
sell or dispose of the shares. The participant, however, will be entitled to
vote the shares and receive dividends. A participant will forfeit all rights to
restricted stock not yet vested upon termination of employment, except that any
unvested shares will vest if the participant retires, becomes disabled or dies.
In the event of retirement, however, the Committee may determine that some or
all of the restricted stock shall be forfeited or that the restrictions will
continue until their expiration date.
4. Changes in Control or Other Events. The Restricted Stock Plan provides
for appropriate adjustment of awards in the event of certain changes in the
capital of Dun & Bradstreet. Furthermore, in the event of a merger,
consolidation or similar transaction in which the Shareowners receive cash or
securities other than common stock, or in the event of a tender or exchange
offer for at least 50% (or a lesser percentage determined by the Committee)
of Dun & Bradstreet's Common Stock, the Committee will accelerate the vesting of
outstanding awards and/or adjust the awards by substituting publicly traded
common stock of the acquiror or its parent.
5. Amendments. The Restricted Stock Plan may be amended by the Board of
Directors, except that, without the approval of the Shareowners, the Board may
not (a) except upon a change in capital or other unusual event, increase the
total number of shares reserved under the plan, (b) change the employees or
class of employees eligible to receive awards under the plan, or (c) materially
increase the benefits accruing to employees under the plan.
Tax Consequences. Based on current laws and regulations, there will be no
federal income tax consequences to either the Company or a recipient of an award
for the year in which the award is granted, unless the recipient elects to
report as ordinary income in the year of grant the fair market value (determined
without regard to any restrictions) of the shares of Common Stock granted. In
the absence of such an election, the fair market value of any non-forfeited
shares of Common Stock will constitute ordinary income to the recipient at the
time the restrictions lapse. The Company will receive an income tax deduction at
the same time in an amount equal to the amount constituting ordinary income to
the recipient. Gain, if any, which is in excess of value reported as ordinary
income and which is realized upon the subsequent disposition of shares of Common
Stock subject to an award shall constitute capital gain.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO THE 1989 KEY EMPLOYEES RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN.
PROPOSED DUN & BRADSTREET RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
On July 20, 1994, the Board of Directors adopted The Dun & Bradstreet
Corporation Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Directors'
Stock Plan"), subject to approval by the Shareowners at the Annual Meeting. The
Directors' Stock Plan provides for the award to members of the Board of
Directors who are not employees of the Company of 300 restricted shares of Dun &
Bradstreet Common Stock each year, which will become vested in accordance with
the conditions described below. In the opinion of the Board, the Directors'
Stock Plan will align directors' interests more closely with the interests of
other Shareowners and aid the Company in securing and retaining directors of
outstanding ability.
The following summary of the Directors' Stock Plan is subject to the
complete terms of the plan, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy Statement
as Exhibit E.
1. Shares Covered and Eligible Participants. The Directors' Stock Plan
provides for the granting in the aggregate of not more than 50,000 shares of Dun
& Bradstreet Common Stock to non-employee directors of
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Dun & Bradstreet. The shares may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury
shares. Shares forfeited under the plan may be reissued to plan participants.
2. Administration. The Committee generally interprets and administers the
Directors' Stock Plan but shall have no power to select participants under the
plan or to determine the provisions of awards. All current members of the
Committee participate in the plan.
3. Terms of Awards. The plan provides that each non-employee director
shall be granted an award of 300 shares of restricted stock following release of
Dun & Bradstreet's earnings results for the second quarter of each year. Awards
of restricted stock will vest five years after the date of grant. During this
period the participant will not be able to sell or dispose of the shares. The
participant, however, will be entitled to vote the shares and receive dividends.
A participant will forfeit all rights to restricted stock not yet vested upon
involuntary termination of Board service for cause by Board or Shareowner
action. Any unvested shares will vest if the participant retires, becomes
disabled, dies or is involuntarily terminated from Board service without cause
following a Change in Control of Dun & Bradstreet, as defined under
Change-in-Control Severance Agreements later in this Proxy Statement. Upon a
participant's termination of Board service for other reasons or resignation, a
pro rata portion of the restricted stock shall be forfeited based on the number
of months remaining in the five-year restriction period.
4. Changes in Capital or Other Events. The Directors' Stock Plan provides
for appropriate adjustment of awards in the event of certain changes in the
capital of Dun & Bradstreet. Furthermore, in the event of a merger,
consolidation or similar transaction in which the Shareowners receive cash or
securities other than common stock, or in the event of a tender or exchange
offer for at least 50% (or a lesser percentage determined by the Committee)
of Dun & Bradstreet's Common Stock, the Committee will accelerate the vesting of
outstanding awards and/or adjust the awards by substituting publicly traded
common stock of the acquiror or its parent.
5. Amendments. The Directors' Stock Plan may be amended by the Board of
Directors, except that, without the approval of the Shareowners, the Board may
not (a) except upon a change in capital or other unusual event, increase the
total number of shares reserved under the plan, (b) change the participants or
class of participants eligible to receive awards under the plan, (c) materially
increase the benefits accruing to participants under the plan, or (d) effect any
other amendment for which Shareowner approval is required under applicable laws
or rules. In addition, no amendment may be made more than once every six months
other than to comport with changes in the Code or the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act.
Other Information. Effective July 26, 1994, subject to the approval of the
Directors' Stock Plan by the Shareowners at the Annual Meeting, 300 shares of
restricted stock were awarded to each of nine non-employee directors.
Approval of the plan by the Shareowners is not required under Delaware law.
The plan, however, is being submitted to the Shareowners in order that stock
awarded under the plan will be exempt from the short-swing trading restrictions
of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 pursuant to Rule 16b-3
thereunder. The plan states that if the Shareowners do not approve it, the plan
and all awards granted under it will be void. The directors who received awards
in July 1994 have agreed not to vote the shares so awarded unless and until the
Shareowners approve the plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED DUN &
BRADSTREET CORPORATION RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS.
APPOINTMENT OF AND RELATIONSHIP WITH
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Upon recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors of Dun &
Bradstreet has, subject to approval by the Shareowners, appointed Coopers &
Lybrand L.L.P. ("Coopers & Lybrand") as independent public accountants to audit
the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year 1995.
Coopers & Lybrand also acted as independent public accountants for 1994. In
connection with its audit of the consolidated financial statements of the
Company, Coopers & Lybrand also audited the separate financial statements of
certain subsidiaries, audited the financial statements of various benefit plans
of the Company, reviewed certain filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") and performed certain non-audit services.
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The Audit Committee has reviewed each professional service provided by
Coopers & Lybrand during 1994 and the types of professional non-audit services
which may be provided by it in the future, and has concluded that the
performance of non-audit services does not affect the independence of Coopers &
Lybrand in its audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements.
A representative of Coopers & Lybrand is expected to be present at the
meeting. Such representative will have the opportunity to make a statement if he
or she so desires and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
COOPERS & LYBRAND.
SHAREOWNER PROPOSAL ON IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE MACBRIDE PRINCIPLES
The New York City Employees Retirement System, c/o Comptroller of the City
of New York, 1 Centre Street, New York, New York 10007, the beneficial owner
("Owner") of 486,420 shares of Dun & Bradstreet Common Stock ("Shares") on
October 14, 1994; the New York City Teachers Retirement System, c/o Comptroller
of the City of New York, 1 Centre Street, New York, New York 10007, Owner of
249,400 Shares on October 14, 1994; the New York City Fire Department Pension
Fund, c/o Comptroller of the City of New York, 1 Centre Street, New York, New
York 10007, Owner of 38,621 Shares on October 14, 1994; the New York City Police
Pension Fund, c/o Comptroller of the City of New York, 1 Centre Street, New
York, New York 10007, Owner of 146,519 Shares on October 14, 1994; the Adrian
Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan 49221, Owner
of 31,000 Shares on October 20, 1994; the Corporation of the Convent of the
Sisters of Saint Joseph, Mount Saint Joseph Convent, Chestnut Hill,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19118, Owner of 3,000 Shares on October 27, 1994; the
Minnesota State Board of Investment, Suite 105, MEA Building, 55 Sherburne
Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155, Owner of at least 172,326 Shares on November
3, 1994; and the Sisters of Saint Dominic, Mount Saint Dominic, Caldwell, New
Jersey 07006, Owner of at least 100 Shares on November 14, 1994, have advised
the Company that they will introduce at the meeting the following proposal and
statement in support thereof. The New York State Common Retirement Fund, c/o
State Comptroller, State of New York, Office of the State Comptroller, A. E.
Smith State Office Building, Albany, New York 12236, Owner of 1,056,000 Shares
on November 1, 1994; the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate
Word, P.O. Box 230969, 6510 Lawndale, Houston, Texas 77223, Owner of 12,300
Shares on November 7, 1994; the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Health
Care System, 2600 North Loop West, Houston, Texas 77092, Owner of 39,500 Shares
on September 30, 1994; and Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc., 675
Third Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, New York 10017, Owner of 63,600 Shares on
October 24, 1994, have advised the Company that they intend to co-sponsor such
proposal.
Shareowner Proposal
WHEREAS, Dun and Bradstreet Corporation operates a wholly-owned subsidiary
in Northern Ireland, Dun and Bradstreet Ltd. of Belfast;
WHEREAS, the on-going peace process in Northern Ireland encourages us to
search for non-violent means for establishing justice and equality;
WHEREAS, employment discrimination in Northern Ireland has been cited by
the International Commission of Jurists as being one of the major causes of the
conflict in that country;
WHEREAS, Dr. Sean MacBride, founder of Amnesty International and Nobel
Peace laureate, has proposed several equal opportunity employment principles to
serve as guidelines for corporations in Northern Ireland. These include:
1. Increasing the representation of individuals from underrepresented
religious groups in the workforce including managerial, supervisory,
administrative, clerical and technical jobs.
2. Adequate security for the protection of minority employees both at
the workplace and while traveling to and from work.
15
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3. The banning of provocative religious or political emblems from the
workplace.
4. All job openings should be publicly advertised and special
recruitment efforts should be made to attract applicants from
underrepresented religious groupings.
5. Layoff, recall, and termination procedures should not in practice,
favor particular religious groupings.
6. The abolition of job reservations, apprenticeship restrictions, and
differential employment criteria, which discriminate on the basis of
religion or ethnic origin.
7. The development of training programs that will prepare substantial
numbers of current minority employees for skilled jobs, including the
expansion of existing programs and the creation of new programs to train,
upgrade, and improve the skills of minority employees.
8. The establishment of procedures to assess, identify and actively
recruit minority employees with potential for further advancement.
9. The appointment of a senior management staff member to oversee the
company's affirmative action efforts and the setting up of timetables to
carry out affirmative action principles.
RESOLVED, Shareholders request the Board of Directors to:
1. Make all possible lawful efforts to implement and/or increase
activity on each of the nine MacBride Principles.
Supporting Statement
Continued discrimination and worsening employment opportunities have been
cited as contributing to support for a violent solution to Northern Ireland's
problems.
In May 1986, the United States District Court ruled in NYCERS v. American
Brands, 634 F. Supp. 1382 (S.D.N.Y., May 12, 1986) that "all nine of the
MacBride Principles could be legally implemented by management in its Northern
Ireland facility."
An endorsement of the MacBride Principles by Dun and Bradstreet will
demonstrate its concern for human rights and equality of opportunity in its
international operations.
Please vote your proxy FOR these concerns.
Opposing Statement of the Board of Directors
In its statements opposing the adoption of identical Shareowner proposals
presented at the 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994 Annual Meetings of
Shareowners, your Board of Directors confirmed the Company's long-standing
commitment to equal opportunity in employment and pointed to the Company's firm
policy that employment opportunities be extended to applicants and associates on
an equal basis, regardless of an individual's race, creed, color, national
origin, religion, age, sex or handicap. We confirm that this commitment and
policy have not changed over the past year and that they are strongly supported
by your Board of Directors.
The Company's presence in Northern Ireland is limited to a small branch
office of Dun & Bradstreet Limited (Irl.) ("D&B Ireland"), which is located in
Bangor, Co. Down and employs 17 people, and a small branch office of A.C.
Nielsen Co. Ltd. ("Nielsen"), which is located in Belfast and employs 2 people.
These offices adhere to the standards of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland)
Act of 1989 (the "Act") and to the Company's own policy of equal employment
opportunity. In April 1992, D&B Ireland registered with the Fair Employment
Commission as required by the Act. Nielsen is not required to register with the
Fair Employment Commission due to the small number of employees in the Belfast
office. None of the Company, D&B Ireland, Nielsen or, to the Company's
knowledge, the appropriate governmental agencies in Northern Ireland has ever
received any complaint of religious or political discrimination with respect to
the operations of D&B Ireland or Nielsen and the Company is satisfied that the
employment practices adopted by the Bangor and Belfast offices are fair and
non-discriminatory.
The objective of both the MacBride Principles and the Act is to eliminate
employment discrimination in Northern Ireland. The Company wholeheartedly
supports this objective. However, by adopting the MacBride
16
<PAGE>
Principles, the Company would be accountable to two sets of similar, but not
identical, fair employment guidelines. This would be neither necessary nor
desirable, particularly in view of the Company's own internal policies and
practices with respect to the promotion of fair and equal employment
opportunities.
ACCORDINGLY, YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST APPROVAL OF
THIS PROPOSAL.
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Report of the Executive Compensation and Stock Option Committee
Executive Compensation Philosophy
Dun & Bradstreet's executive compensation program reflects the following
executive compensation philosophy, which was developed by the Executive
Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors and adopted by
the Board of Directors in April 1992:
"Dun & Bradstreet's mission is to be the number one worldwide provider of
quality business-to-business information and related services in the
markets it serves. To support this and other strategic objectives as
approved by the Board of Directors and to provide adequate returns to
Shareowners, D&B must compete for, attract, develop, motivate and retain
top quality executive talent at the Corporate Office and operating business
units of the Company during periods of both favorable and unfavorable
world-wide business conditions.
D&B's executive compensation program is a critical management tool in
achieving this goal. 'Pay for performance' is the underlying philosophy for
D&B's executive compensation program. Consistent with this philosophy, the
program has been carefully conceived and is independently administered by
the Executive Compensation and Stock Option Committee (the "Committee") of
the Board of Directors which meets regularly during the year and is
comprised entirely of independent non-employee directors. The program is
designed to link executive pay to corporate performance, including share
price, recognizing that there is not always a direct and short-term
correlation between executive performance and share price.
To align Shareowner interests and executive rewards, significant portions
of each D&B executive's compensation represent 'at risk'
pay opportunities related to accomplishment of specific business goals.
The program is designed and administered to:
o provide annual, intermediate and longer term incentives that help focus
each executive's attention on approved operating-unit and Corporate
business goals the attainment of which, in the judgment of the Committee,
should increase long-term Shareowner value.
o link 'at risk' pay with appropriate measurable quantitative and
qualitative achievements against approved performance parameters.
o reward individual and team achievements that contribute to the attainment
of the Corporation's business goals.
o provide a balance of total compensation opportunities, including salary,
bonus, and longer term cash and equity incentives, that are competitive
with top-ranking, multi-divisional, global companies and reflective of
the Corporation's performance.
o support organizational changes and objectives which are strategic,
structural or cultural."
In seeking to link executive pay to corporate performance, the Committee
believes that the most appropriate measure of corporate performance is the
increase in long-term Shareowner value, which involves improving such
quantitative performance measures as revenue, net income, cash flow, operating
margins, earnings per share ("EPS") and return on shareowners' equity ("ROE").
The Committee may also consider qualitative corporate and individual factors
which it believes bear on increasing the long-term value of the Company to its
Shareowners. These include (i) the development of competitive advantage, (ii)
the ability to deal effectively with the complexity and globalization of the
Company's businesses, (iii) success in developing business strategies, managing
costs and improving the quality
17
<PAGE>
of the Company's products and services as well as customer satisfaction, and
(iv) the general performance of individual job responsibilities.
Components of Executive Compensation Program
Dun & Bradstreet's executive compensation program consists of (i) an annual
salary and bonus, (ii) an intermediate-term incentive represented by potential
performance unit awards, and (iii) a long-term incentive represented by stock
options. As explained below, the bonuses, performance units and stock options
serve to link executive pay to corporate performance, since the attainment of
these awards depends upon meeting the quantitative and, if applicable,
qualitative performance goals which serve to increase long-term Shareowner
value.
Under recent amendments to the Internal Revenue Code, certain incentive
compensation paid to the five most highly-paid executive officers of the Company
is not deductible for federal income tax purposes unless changes are made in the
Company's incentive plans described below, and such changes are approved by
Shareowners. Elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, there are set forth proposals to
make the appropriate changes in several of the Company's incentive plans so that
the Company may claim such tax deductions. If approved by Shareowners, these
changes would affect compensation beginning in 1996.
Salary and Bonus. In December of each year, the Committee sets the annual
salary of each executive officer, including those named in the Summary
Compensation Table below (the "named executives"), for the following year and
establishes a potential bonus opportunity the executive may earn for each of the
quantitative and, if applicable, qualitative performance goals established by
the Committee. These goals currently consist of a mix of targets for the
performance measures of corporate EPS, net income and revenue, as well as, for
certain executive officers, business unit operating income and revenue. The
Committee sets these targets early in the year after a detailed review by the
Board of Directors of the Company's annual operating budget. No bonus is earned
with respect to a performance measure unless a performance "floor" for that
measure is exceeded; the bonus opportunity with respect to a measure is earned
if the target is achieved; achievement between the floor and the target results
in a lower bonus with respect to that performance measure. An amount larger than
the bonus opportunity for each performance measure can be earned, up to a
specified limit, for exceeding the target for that measure.
The bonus portion of compensation is highly leveraged. For example, each 1%
above or below the EPS, net income and revenue targets will have a positive or
negative impact several times greater than 1% on the bonus actually earned
versus the bonus opportunity. In addition, in the case of the 1994 corporate
revenue target, no bonus would have been earned with respect to the revenue
component if 1994 revenue had been below 1993 revenue. In ascertaining the
achieved level of performance against the targets, the effects of certain
extraordinary events, as determined by the Committee, such as (i) major
acquisitions and divestitures, (ii) significant one-time charges, and (iii)
changes in accounting principles required by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board, are "compensation neutral" for the year in which they occurred, that is,
they are not taken into account in determining the degree to which the targets
are met in that year. There were no such events in 1994.
Performance Units. Under Dun & Bradstreet's intermediate-term Performance
Unit Plan, executive officers are granted performance units which represent the
opportunity to earn cash and restricted stock at the end of a set period
(currently three years) following the date of grant, based upon the degree to
which previously established performance goals for that period have been met.
These goals currently include floor and target corporate EPS and revenue growth
performance targets, and there are leveraged payout rates that operate in a
manner similar to the bonus plan described above. A new award period begins each
year. The cash performance unit awards shown as paid in 1994 under "Long-Term
Incentive Payouts" in the Summary Compensation Table were based on corporate EPS
performance targets previously established by the Committee for the 1991-1993
period for the named executives other than Volney Taylor, whose targets included
operating unit revenues as well as EPS, and Serge Okun. Because the actual EPS
results for the 1991-1993 period were slightly below the targets established,
the payments to Mr. Weissman shown in the table were lower than they would have
been if the targets had been met. The award shown as paid to Mr. Okun in 1994
was paid under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan of I.M.S.
International, Inc. ("IMS"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dun & Bradstreet.
Under this plan, Mr. Okun was granted units with an eventual value determined by
the extent to which IMS earnings growth during a performance period met or
exceeded targets established (subject to Committee oversight) by the IMS
Compensation Committee, which consists of Mr. Weissman, prior to the start of
each performance period.
18
<PAGE>
It has been the Company's practice to award restricted stock to executive
officers who earn cash performance unit awards at the end of an award period,
based on achievement of the same performance goals underlying the cash awards.
The amount of restricted stock that can be earned is determined by the Committee
at the time of the performance unit grant based on its judgment as to the
appropriate amount of incentive compensation that should be in the form of stock
in order to meet competitive compensation trends. The amounts of restricted
stock shown in the Summary Compensation Table as awarded in 1994 to executive
officers other than Mr. Okun were equal to 50% of the cash performance unit
awards earned by the named executives for the 1991-1993 period. As a result,
one-third of the total intermediate-term award consisted of restricted stock.
Restricted stock is Dun & Bradstreet Common Stock that must be held for a
specified period of time after it is issued before it can be sold or disposed
of. (Currently, one third of the restricted stock vests in each of the three
years following the date of issue.) The executive is entitled to receive
dividends and vote the stock during this period. If the executive leaves the
Company other than by retirement, the unvested stock generally is forfeited.
Thus, performance-based restricted stock awards serve as both a reward for
performance and a retention device for key executives, as well as aligning their
interests with Shareowners as a group.
Stock Options. The long-term component of Dun & Bradstreet's executive
compensation program consists of stock option grants. The options permit the
option holder to buy the number of shares of Dun & Bradstreet Common Stock
covered by the option (an "option exercise") at a price equal to the market
price of the stock at the time of grant. Thus, the options gain value only to
the extent the stock price exceeds the option exercise price during the life of
the option. The options may not be exercised for at least one year after grant.
Generally, they may then be exercised in installments of 25% of the grant amount
each year until they are 100% vested and they expire 10 years after the grant
date.
Basis of 1994 Compensation
As indicated in the Company's executive compensation philosophy, a major
factor in the Committee's compensation decisions is the competitive marketplace
for senior executives. The Committee uses the services of outside compensation
consultants to secure data on competitive compensation trends and meets with
these consultants outside the presence of management. In setting competitive
compensation levels, the Company compares itself to a self-selected group of
companies of comparable size, market capitalization, technological and marketing
capabilities, performance and global presence with which Dun & Bradstreet
competes for executives (the "compensation comparison group"). Since the
Company's most direct competitors for executive talent are not the same
companies used for a comparison of Shareowner return, the compensation
comparison group is not the same as the "performance peer group" used for the
5-Year Cumulative Total Return graph discussed below.
In determining the 1994 salary and bonus opportunity for Robert E.
Weissman, the Company's Chief Executive Officer during 1994, and the other named
executives, the Committee's approach was to set compensation opportunity levels
above the median compensation level, but not exceeding the 75th percentile, of
the compensation comparison group of companies. The Committee also took account
of the Company's revenue, cash flow and ROE performance, its ability to meet EPS
targets, improvements in operating margins through increased productivity and
lower costs, and other actions taken to increase the long-term value of the
Company to its Shareowners, without any specific weighting of those factors. In
addition, the Committee took into consideration actions to encourage the
Company's associates to focus on customer satisfaction and to ensure that the
Company's values and ethical business standards are clearly understood and
followed by its associates worldwide.
To recognize Mr. Weissman's increased responsibilities upon his election as
Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 1994, and after considering the
other factors discussed above, the Committee increased Mr. Weissman's 1994
salary by 18.5% over 1993, and increased his 1994 bonus opportunity by 18% over
1993. In determining the performance targets for earning the 1994 bonus, the
Committee believed that revenue growth, net income growth and EPS growth were of
equal significance, and thus these three factors were given essentially equal
weight (34%, 33% and 33%, respectively) in determining the bonus to be earned.
Because the actual results for 1994 were slightly below the targets established,
the bonus payment to Mr. Weissman shown in the Summary Compensation Table was
lower than it would have been if the targets had been met.
For 1994 and at least the five previous years, year-to-year increases in
total annual cash compensation opportunities for Mr. Weissman and the other
named executives have generally reflected a higher percentage increase
19
<PAGE>
in bonus opportunity versus salary in order to provide a strong linkage between
compensation and corporate performance.
The 1994 performance unit grants to the named executives shown in the table
labeled "Long-Term Incentive Plans--Awards in Last Fiscal Year" were made in
December 1994 and are for awards to be earned over the 1995-1997 period. The
amount ultimately paid for these awards is based on a combination of cumulative
three-year corporate EPS and revenue growth targets established by the
Committee.
Generally, the Committee sets the size of stock option grants based on a
multiple of salary, after considering the practices of the compensation
comparison group. In determining the level of option grants, the Committee's
approach is to set the grant levels at slightly above the median compensation
level of the compensation comparison group. The Committee has not specifically
used as a factor the number of options held by the named executive, since to do
so might encourage the executive to exercise options earlier than otherwise.
However, the Committee does review an analysis of the executive's past
compensation, and, where applicable, prospective compensation values based on
various assumptions of retirement age and corporate performance. The table
labeled "Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year" lists the present values
associated with 1994 option grants to Mr. Weissman and the other named
executives, based on the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which is one of
the methods permitted by the SEC to value options.
The Committee believes that the 1994 compensation package for Mr. Weissman
is appropriate from several perspectives. His 1994 salary and bonus ranks
between the 50th and 75th percentiles of the salary and bonus of chief executive
officers in the compensation comparison group. Additionally, Mr. Weissman's
compensation is appropriate in view of the performance of the Company as
indicated in the graphs discussed below.
The first graph following this Report, which is required by the SEC,
compares the Company's five-year cumulative total return to Shareowners (stock
price appreciation plus dividends) from December 31, 1989 to December 31, 1994
with the return for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index ("S&P 500") and an index of
performance peer group companies. Since there is no widely recognized standard
industry group or index comprising Dun & Bradstreet and peer companies, the
BusinessWeek magazine Publishing Group of companies has been used as the peer
group. This is an independently compiled company grouping that includes Dun &
Bradstreet and 12 other companies and approximates Dun & Bradstreet's industry
group. The performance peer group return figures shown in the graph exclude Dun
& Bradstreet and one company which does not have five years of public results.
While Dun & Bradstreet had a return slightly lower than the S&P 500 over the
five-year period, the Company's cumulative total return to Shareowners was
higher than that of the performance peer group. In addition, as shown in the
second graph following this Report, Dun & Bradstreet outperformed the S&P 500
and the performance peer group in ROE over the five-year period.
Executive Compensation and Stock Option Committee
James R. Peterson, Chairman
Robert A. Hanson Vernon R. Loucks, Jr.
Robert J. Lanigan Michael R. Quinlan
20
<PAGE>
(The following tabular information is a description, pursuant to Rule 304
of Regulation S-T, of a graph contained in the paper format of this Proxy
Statement being sent to Shareowners.)
Comparison of 5-Year Cumulative Total Return
Dun & Bradstreet, S&P 500 & BusinessWeek Publishing Group
12/31 12/31 12/31 12/31 12/31 12/31
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
S & P 500 .................. $100.0 $96.9 $126.4 $136.1 $149.8 $151.7
Dun & Bradstreeet .......... $100.0 $96.1 $137.4 $143.6 $159.5 $148.8
Peer Group ................. $100.0 $78.5 $ 91.8 $107.4 $134.8 $121.9
Source: Zacks Investment Research.
Assumes $100 invested on 12/31/89.
Total return calculated to December 31, 1994.
Assumes dividend reinvestment.
The performance peer group consists of McGraw-Hill, Inc., Dow Jones & Company,
Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., Knight-Ridder, Inc., The Times Mirror Company, The New
York Times Company, The Washington Post Company, Tribune Company, Meredith
Corporation, Time Warner Inc., and The E.W. Scripps Company. These companies,
along with Dun & Bradstreet and one company that does not have a five-year stock
price history, constitute BusinessWeek's Publishing Group as published on
December 26, 1994.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(The following tabular information is a description, pursuant to Rule 304
of Regulation S-T, of a graph contained in the paper format of this Proxy
Statement being sent to Shareowners.)
Comparison of 5-Year Return on Average Equity
Dun & Bradstreet, S&P 500 & BusinessWeek Publishing Group
YEAR END
-------------------------------------------
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Dun & Bradstreet ........... 27.22% 24.21% 24.37% 25.58% 34.39% 53.83%
S & P 500 .................. 13.89% 12.53% 9.07% 10.81% 14.83% 16.05%
Peer Group ................. 11.85% 5.60% 5.74% 6.55% 9.49% 11.74%
Source: Compustat.
1994 reflects the latest 4 quarters available (through 3Q94).
1993 & 1994 use Earnings From Operations, prior years use Income
Before Extraordinary Items.
Peer Group weighted by average book value.
21
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<CAPTION>
Long-Term Compensation
-----------------------------------
Annual Compensation Awards Payouts
----------------------------------- ------------------------ ---------
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
Securities
Other Annual Restricted Underlying Long-Term All Other
Compen- Stock Options/ Incentive Compen-
Salary Bonus (1) sation(2) Award(s)(3) SAR's(4) Payouts(5) sation(6)
Name and Principal Position Year ($) ($) ($) ($) (#) ($) ($)
- --------------------------- ---- ------- --------- ------------ --------- ---------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Charles W. Moritz ....... 1994 826,654 669,571 0 565,188 0 1,130,450 76,970
Chairman of the Board 1993 988,615 872,460 1,434 460,072 40,160 920,250 80,066
1992 929,231 839,370 1,055 257,992 54,372 516,000 53,412
Robert E. Weissman ...... 1994 818,173 669,571 2,057 373,500 41,111 747,080 61,063
President and Chief 1993 674,077 591,334 0 306,734 40,160 613,500 54,472
Executive Officer 1992 634,462 569,573 1,712 171,995 37,748 344,000 36,495
Serge Okun .............. 1994 510,000 303,157 0 150,000 16,666 420,000 27,867
Executive Vice President 1993 475,000 450,000 0 249,986 24,788 300,000 29,936
1992 450,000 375,000 0 0 11,774 275,000 5,707
Volney Taylor ........... 1994 481,981 313,348 0 185,438 18,888 370,892 44,119
Executive Vice President 1993 444,423 491,941 0 153,963 27,037 307,988 37,807
1992 419,615 418,750 1,579 72,043 20,086 144,167 23,100
Edwin A. Bescherer, Jr... 1994 456,173 327,233 0 179,375 18,888 358,795 36,651
Executive Vice President- 1993 414,539 352,902 0 138,016 18,634 276,075 31,506
Finance and Chief 1992 394,615 304,771 3,670 68,776 17,662 137,600 21,171
Financial Officer
<FN>
- ----------
(1) Bonus amounts shown were earned with respect to each year indicated and
paid in the following year.
(2) Amounts shown represent reimbursement for taxes paid by the named executive
officers with respect to Company-directed spousal travel.
(3) Amounts shown represent dollar value on the date of grant of restricted
stock granted in each year. In addition, the number and value of the
aggregate restricted stock holdings of the named executive officers at
December 31, 1994 were: Mr. Moritz--16,001 shares ($880,055); Mr.
Weissman--10,616 shares ($583,880); Mr. Okun--6,515 shares ($358,325); Mr.
Taylor--5,210 shares ($286,550); and Mr. Bescherer, Jr.--4,906 ($269,830).
Other than for Mr. Okun, one third of each restricted stock award vests in
each of the three years following the date of the award. For Mr. Okun,
4,115 shares of the restricted stock award are scheduled to vest in full in
February 1996 based on achievement of specific performance criteria and,
for the remaining shares, one third of the restricted stock award is
scheduled to vest in each of the three years following the date of the
award. Dividends are paid at the rate established from time to time for
Dun & Bradstreet Common Stock.
(4) Amounts shown represent the number of non-qualified stock options, without
tandem stock appreciation rights, granted each year.
(5) Amounts shown represent payments made in each year under the Key Employees
Performance Unit Plan or, for Mr. Okun, the IMS Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Plan.
(6) Amounts shown represent aggregate annual Company contributions for the
account of each named executive officer (other than Mr. Okun) under the
Dun & Bradstreet Profit Participation Plan ("PPP") and the Profit
Participation Benefit Equalization Plan ("PPBEP"), plans which are open to
associates of Dun & Bradstreet and certain subsidiaries upon completion of
one year of service. The PPP is a tax-qualified defined contribution plan
and the PPBEP is a non-qualified plan which provides a benefit to
participants in the PPP equal to the amount of Company contributions that
would have been made to the participant's PPP account but for certain
Federal tax laws. The amounts shown for Mr. Okun represent Company-paid
premiums for life insurance provided under the IMS Executive Pension Plan.
</FN>
</TABLE>
22
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
Individual Grants
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
Number of
Securities
Underlying % of Total
Options/ Options/SAR's Exercise
SAR's Granted to or Base Grant Date
Granted (1) Employees in Price Expiration Present Value (2)
Name (#) Fiscal Year ($/Share) Date ($)
---- ---------- ------------ -------- ---------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Charles W. Moritz ......... 0 0.00% -- -- 0
Robert E. Weissman ........ 41,111 1.90% 54.00 12/20/04 444,000
Serge Okun ................ 16,666 0.77% 54.00 12/20/04 180,000
Volney Taylor ............. 18,888 0.88% 54.00 12/20/04 204,000
Edwin A. Bescherer, Jr. ... 18,888 0.88% 54.00 12/20/04 204,000
</TABLE>
- -----------
(1) Amounts shown represent the number of non-qualified stock options, without
tandem stock appreciation rights ("SAR's"), granted in 1994. Options may
not be exercised for at least one year after grant and may then be exercised
in installments of 25% of the grant amount each year until they are 100%
vested. Payment must be made in full upon exercise in cash or Common Stock.
The option holder may elect to have shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise withheld by the Company to pay withholding taxes due. The options
shown include Limited SAR's in tandem with the options. Limited SAR's are
exercisable only if and to the extent that the related option is exercisable
and are exercisable only during the 30-day period following the acquisition
of at least 20% of the outstanding Common Stock pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer not made by the Company. Each Limited SAR permits the holder
to receive cash equal to the excess over the related option exercise price
of the highest price paid pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for Common
Stock which is in effect at any time during the 60 days preceding the date
upon which the Limited SAR is exercised. Limited SAR's can be exercised
regardless of whether the Company supports or opposes the offer.
(2) Grant date present value is based on the Black-Scholes option valuation
model, which makes the following assumptions: an expected stock-price
volatility factor of 0.1235, a risk-free rate of return of 7.8%, a dividend
yield of 4.17%, and a time of exercise of 10 years. These assumptions may or
may not be fulfilled. The amounts shown cannot be considered predictions of
future value. In addition, the options will gain value only to the extent
the stock price exceeds the option exercise price during the life of the
option.
23
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised Value of Unexercised
Shares Options/SAR's at Fiscal In-the-Money Options/SAR's
Acquired Value Year-End (2)(#) at Fiscal Year-End (3)($)
on Exercise Realized (1) -------------------------- --------------------------
Name (#) ($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
-------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Charles W. Moritz .......... 38,610 1,177,605 274,520 81,420 2,017,660 61,574
Robert E. Weissman ......... 3,088 81,832 180,343 99,883 1,172,683 83,890
2,390 40,779
17,760 470,640
9,448 161,207
Serge Okun ................. 0 0 24,949 44,108 116,875 29,629
Volney Taylor .............. 6,640 165,170 101,814 54,247 687,348 40,925
Edwin A. Bescherer, Jr. .... 3,088 77,200 70,657 46,732 361,196 40,925
2,390 37,194
14,186 251,802
</TABLE>
- -------------
(1) Amounts shown represent the value realized upon the exercise of stock
options during 1994, which equals the difference between the exercise price
of the options and the closing market price of the underlying Common Stock
on the date preceding the exercise date.
(2) No SAR's were outstanding at December 31, 1994.
(3) The values shown equal the difference between the exercise price of
unexercised in-the-money options and the closing market price of the
underlying Common Stock at December 31, 1994. Options are in-the-money if
the fair market value of the Common Stock exceeds the exercise price of the
option.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS--AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
Performance Estimated Future Payouts
No. of or Other Under Non-Stock Price-Based Plans (2)
Shares, Units Period Until ------------------------------------------
or Other Maturation Threshold ($) Target ($) Maximum ($)
Name Rights(1)($) or Payout (0%) (100%) (200%)
-------- ------------- ------------ ------------- ------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Charles W. Moritz .... 0 0 0 0 0
Robert E. Weissman ... 1,480,000 Three Years 0 1,480,000 2,960,000
Serge Okun ........... 600,000 Three Years 0 600,000 1,200,000
Volney Taylor ........ 680,000 Three Years 0 680,000 1,360,000
Edwin A. Bescherer, Jr. 680,000 Three Years 0 680,000 1,360,000
</TABLE>
- -------------
(1) Amounts shown represent nominal dollar value of grants under the Dun &
Bradstreet Performance Unit Plan. The material terms of these grants are
described in the Report of the Executive Compensation and Stock Option
Committee above.
(2) Awards may range from 0 to 200% of the nominal grant value based on
achievements within a range of performance goals. Seventy-five percent of
each award will be paid in cash and the remaining 25% will be paid in the
form of restricted stock.
24
<PAGE>
Retirement Benefits
The following table sets forth the estimated aggregate annual benefits
payable under the Dun & Bradstreet Retirement Plan, Dun & Bradstreet's
Supplemental Executive Benefit Plan and Pension Benefit Equalization Plan to
persons in specified average final compensation and credited service
classifications upon retirement at age 65. Amounts shown in the table include
U.S. Social Security benefits which would be deducted in calculating benefits
payable under these plans. These aggregate annual retirement benefits do not
increase as a result of additional credited service after 15 years.
Estimated Aggregate Annual Retirement Benefit
Average Assuming Credited Service of:
Final --------------------------------------------------------------
Compensation 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years 35 Years
- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
$ 550,000 ...... $ 330,000 $ 330,000 $ 330,000 $ 330,000 $ 330,000
700,000 ...... 420,000 420,000 420,000 420,000 420,000
850,000 ...... 510,000 510,000 510,000 510,000 510,000
1,000,000 ...... 600,000 600,000 600,000 600,000 600,000
1,300,000 ...... 780,000 780,000 780,000 780,000 780,000
1,600,000 ...... 960,000 960,000 960,000 960,000 960,000
1,900,000 ...... 1,140,000 1,140,000 1,140,000 1,140,000 1,140,000
2,200,000 ...... 1,320,000 1,320,000 1,320,000 1,320,000 1,320,000
The number of years of credited service for Messrs. Moritz, Weissman, Okun,
Taylor and Bescherer are, respectively, 34, 15, 23, 23 and 16.
Compensation, for the purpose of determining retirement benefits, consists
of salary, wages, cash bonuses, commissions and overtime pay. Severance pay,
contingent payments and other forms of special remuneration are excluded.
Bonuses included in the Summary Compensation Table above are not paid until the
year following the year in which they are accrued and expensed; therefore,
compensation for purposes of determining retirement benefits varies from the
Summary Compensation Table amounts in that bonuses expensed in the previous year
but paid in the current year are part of retirement compensation in the current
year and current year's bonuses accrued and included in the Summary Compensation
Table are not. For 1994, compensation for purposes of determining retirement
benefits for Messrs. Weissman and Bescherer differed by less than 10% from the
amount shown in the table. Compensation for 1994 for purposes of determining
retirement benefits for Messrs. Moritz, Okun and Taylor was, respectively,
$1,699,114, $960,000 and $973,922.
Average final compensation is defined as the highest average annual
compensation during five consecutive twelve-month periods in the last ten
consecutive twelve-month periods of the member's credited service. Members vest
in their accrued retirement benefit upon completion of five years' service. The
benefits shown in the table above are calculated on a straight-life annuity
basis.
Change-in-Control Severance Agreements
Beginning in 1989, the Company entered into agreements with the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above (as well as other
officers and key associates of Dun & Bradstreet and its domestic subsidiaries)
providing for certain benefits upon actual or constructive termination of
employment in the event of a Change in Control (as defined below) of the
Company. With respect to the named executive officers, if, following a Change in
Control, such an executive officer's employment is terminated other than for
cause or by reason of death, disability or normal retirement, or the executive
officer terminates employment for "good reason" (generally, an unfavorable
change in employment status, compensation or benefits or a required relocation),
such executive officer shall be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to
three times salary plus bonus opportunity, continuation of welfare benefits and
certain perquisites for three years, outplacement consulting in the amount of
20% of salary plus bonus opportunity, immediate vesting of all deferred
compensation and benefit plan entitlements and payment of any excise taxes due
in respect of the foregoing benefits. The term of each agreement continued until
December 31, 1992, and has been automatically extended for additional one-year
terms subject to termination by the Company. There is an automatic 24-month
extension following any Change in Control. A Change in Control generally is
deemed to occur if:
25
<PAGE>
(i) any person becomes the owner of 30% of Dun & Bradstreet's voting
securities; (ii) during a two-year period the majority of the membership of the
Board of Directors changes without approval of two-thirds of the directors who
either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election was
previously so approved; (iii) the Shareowners approve a merger or consolidation
with another company in which Dun & Bradstreet's voting securities do not
continue to represent at least 50% of the surviving entity; or (iv) the
Shareowners approve a liquidation, sale or disposition of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets.
Compensation of Directors
Cash Compensation. In 1994, each director not employed by the Company was
paid a retainer at an annual rate of $30,000 in quarterly installments. In
addition, each such director was paid a fee of $1,200 for each Board or
Committee meeting attended in 1994 and, effective July 1, 1994, each such
director who was Chairman of a Committee of the Board of Directors was paid an
additional retainer at an annual rate of $4,000 in quarterly installments. If a
Board or Committee meeting lasted more than half a day or if such meeting was
held other than on a date regularly scheduled for a Board meeting, the regular
$1,200 fee was doubled for such meeting. Directors who were employed by the
Company received no retainers or fees.
Each director not employed by the Company may elect on or before December
31 of any year to have all or a specified part of the retainer and fees during
the subsequent calendar year or years deferred until such director ceases to be
a director. New directors may similarly so elect at the beginning of their
terms. Such deferred amounts are held for the account of directors and bear
interest at prescribed rates. Deferred amounts and accrued interest are paid in
accordance with a director's election in a lump sum or five or ten annual
installments commencing on the tenth day of the calendar year following the year
in which such person ceases to be a director of Dun & Bradstreet, except that
the balance of a director's account is paid in a lump sum on the tenth day of
the calendar year following the director's death to the director's estate or to
such beneficiary as was previously designated by the director. A director may
change or terminate an election to defer retainers and fees, effective as of the
end of the calendar year in which notice of such change or termination is given
to Dun & Bradstreet.
Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company, (i) a lump sum
payment shall be made to each director of the amount credited to the director's
deferred account on the date of the Change in Control and (ii) the total amount
credited to each director's deferred account from the date of the Change in
Control until the date such director ceases to be a director shall be paid in a
lump sum at that time. In addition, any notice by a director to change or
terminate an election to defer retainers and fees given on or before the date of
the Change in Control shall be effective as of the date of the Change in Control
rather than the end of the calendar year.
Restricted Stock Plan. As previously indicated, on July 20, 1994, the Board
of Directors adopted the Directors' Stock Plan, subject to the approval of the
plan by Shareowners at the 1995 Annual Meeting of Shareowners. Under the terms
of such plan, each director not employed by the Company is granted an award of
300 shares of Dun & Bradstreet Common Stock on the fourth full New York Stock
Exchange trading day following the Company's release of its earnings results for
the second quarter of each year, beginning with the year 1994. Accordingly, each
such director was granted an award of 300 shares of Dun & Bradstreet Common
Stock on July 26, 1994. Pursuant to the terms of the plan, these awards will
become void if the Shareowners do not approve the plan. Information regarding
the plan is contained in this Proxy Statement under the heading "Proposed Dun &
Bradstreet Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors" and a copy of the
plan is attached as Exhibit E hereto.
Retirement Plan. Directors who serve as such for at least five years,
including at least two years during which the director was not also employed by
the Company, participate in a retirement benefit plan. Upon reaching age 70 (or
age 65 in the case of a director who retires due to disability), a director
satisfying such criteria is entitled to receive annually, after retirement from
the Board, an amount equal to the annual retainer being paid directors
(exclusive of meeting fees) at the time the director retires. To receive any
such benefits, a former director must agree to be available to consult with and
render advice to the Company. Conduct detrimental to the Company results in
forfeiture of retirement benefits. Benefits cease upon a former director's
death.
Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company, (i) a director
already receiving benefits under the plan shall have the present value of the
remaining benefits payable to the director paid in a lump sum, (ii) a director
26
<PAGE>
who has five or more years of eligible service at the time of a Change in
Control shall have the present value of such director's accrued benefits at that
time paid in a lump sum, (iii) a director who has at least two but less than
five years of eligible service at the time of a Change in Control shall have a
pro rata portion (based on the number of full years of service) of the present
value of the benefits such director would be entitled to had he or she completed
five years of eligible service paid in a lump sum, (iv) a director who has less
than two years of eligible service at the time of a Change in Control but who
subsequently completes two years of eligible service shall have forty percent of
the present value of the benefits such director would be entitled to had he or
she completed five years of eligible service paid in a lump sum at that time,
and (v) upon the persons referred to in (ii), (iii), and (iv) above ceasing to
be directors, such persons shall have the present value of any additional
benefits accrued by them under the plan after the initial lump sum payment paid
in a lump sum.
Consulting Agreement
As indicated earlier in this Proxy Statement, Charles W. Moritz has
announced his retirement as a director and as Chairman of the Board of Dun &
Bradstreet, effective March 31, 1995. Under an agreement with the Company, Mr.
Moritz will be retained as a consultant from April 1, 1995 through March 31,
1997 with compensation at an annual rate of $250,000. Mr. Moritz will also
currently receive a pro-rata 1995 bonus of $180,000 for the portion of the year
ending March 31, 1995.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS
The following table sets forth the number of shares of Dun & Bradstreet
Common Stock, par value $1 per share, the only outstanding equity security
(other than stock options) or voting security of Dun & Bradstreet, beneficially
owned by each of the current directors, each of the executive officers named in
the Summary Compensation Table above, and all directors and executive officers
of Dun & Bradstreet as a group, at December 31, 1994. The table also sets forth
the name and address of the only persons known to Dun & Bradstreet to be the
beneficial owners (the "Owners") of more than five percent of the outstanding
Common Stock and the number of shares so owned, to Dun & Bradstreet's knowledge,
on December 31, 1994. Such information is based upon information furnished by
each such person (or, in the case of the Owners, based upon a Schedule 13G filed
by such Owners with the SEC) and is correct to the best knowledge of Dun &
Bradstreet. It should be noted that in certain cases shares required under rules
of the SEC to be shown as beneficially owned are shares to which the indicated
person holds only rights to acquire within 60 days through exercise of stock
options. Unless otherwise stated, the indicated persons have sole voting and
investment power over the shares listed. All directors and executive officers as
a group own less than 1% of the Common Stock. Percentages are based upon the
number of shares of Dun & Bradstreet Common Stock outstanding at December 31,
1994, plus, where applicable, the number of shares that the indicated person or
group had a right to acquire within 60 days of such date.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Number of Shares and Nature of Ownership
---- ----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Hall Adams, Jr. .............. 500 Direct
300 Restricted Stock Grant (1)
----------
800
----------
Clifford L. Alexander, Jr. ... 400 Direct (2) (3)
300 Restricted Stock Grant (1)
----------
700
----------
Edwin A. Bescherer, Jr. ...... 18,340 Direct
4,906 Restricted Stock Grant (4)
70,657 Rights to Acquire Within 60 Days by Exercise of Options
----------
93,903
----------
Mary Johnston Evans .......... 1,000 Direct
300 Restricted Stock Grant (1)
----------
1,300
----------
</TABLE>
27
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Number of Shares and Nature of Ownership
---- ----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Robert A. Hanson ............. 400 Direct
300 Restricted Stock Grant (1)
----------
700
----------
Robert J. Lanigan ............ 6,200 Direct (5)
300 Restricted Stock Grant (1)
----------
6,500
----------
Vernon R. Loucks, Jr. ........ 700 Direct (6)
300 Restricted Stock Grant (1)
----------
1,000
----------
John R. Meyer ................ 2,500 Direct (2) (3)
300 Restricted Stock Grant (1)
----------
2,800
----------
Charles W. Moritz ............ 75,514 Direct
16,001 Restricted Stock Grant (4)
274,520 Rights to Acquire Within 60 Days by Exercise of Options
----------
366,035
----------
Serge Okun ................... 500 Direct
6,515 Restricted Stock Grant (4)
24,949 Rights to Acquire Within 60 Days by Exercise of Options
----------
31,964
----------
James R. Peterson ............ 3,400 Direct
300 Restricted Stock Grant (1)
----------
3,700
----------
Michael R. Quinlan ........... 500 Direct
300 Restricted Stock Grant (1)
----------
800
----------
Volney Taylor ................ 63,736 Direct
5,210 Restricted Stock Grant (4)
101,814 Rights to Acquire Within 60 Days by Exercise of Options
----------
170,760
----------
Robert E. Weissman ........... 104,921 Direct
10,616 Restricted Stock Grant (4)
180,343 Rights to Acquire Within 60 Days by Exercise of Options
----------
295,880
----------
All Directors and Executive
Officers as a Group ........ 1,276,177 (7)
----------
The Capital Group
Companies, Inc.
and its subsidiary,
Capital Research and
Management Company,
333 South Hope Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90071 ...... 12,286,440(8) (9)
----------
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) Represents shares of restricted stock granted under The Dun &
Bradstreet Corporation Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors,
which shares are scheduled to vest in 1999; the holders of these shares have
agreed not to vote them unless and until such plan is approved by
Shareowners at the 1995 Annual Meeting of Shareowners.
28
<PAGE>
(2) As to which the indicated person has shared voting power.
(3) As to which the indicated person has shared investment power.
(4) Represents shares of restricted stock granted under the 1989 Key Employees
Restricted Stock Plan, which shares are scheduled to vest in 1995, 1996
and 1997.
(5) These shares are held in two revocable trusts (one trust holding 5,000
shares and the other 1,200 shares) for the benefit of Mr. Lanigan in which
he is the settlor and sole beneficial owner and over which he has sole
investment control.
(6) Includes 300 shares held in a Keogh Plan for the benefit of Mr. Loucks.
(7) Includes all shares beneficially owned, regardless of nature of ownership,
and all rights to acquire shares within 60 days.
(8) Represents 7.24% of the total outstanding Common Stock on December 31, 1994.
(9) The Capital Group Companies, Inc. ("CGCI") and its wholly-owned
subsidiary, Capital Research and Management Company ("CRMC"), jointly filed
a Schedule 13G with the SEC on February 8, 1995. This Schedule 13G shows
that CRMC, a registered investment adviser, had, as of December 31, 1994,
sole dispositive power (but no voting power) over 10,571,900 shares of
Common Stock. Because of the SEC's ownership attribution rules, the Schedule
13G also shows CGCI as having sole dispositive power over such shares, as
well as sole voting and dispositive power over an additional 950,740 shares
and sole dispositive power (but no voting power) over a further 763,800
shares.
OTHER MATTERS
Dun & Bradstreet knows of no matters, other than those referred to herein,
which will be presented at the meeting. If, however, any other appropriate
business should properly be presented at the meeting, the persons named in the
enclosed form of proxy will vote the proxies in accordance with their best
judgment.
SHAREOWNER PROPOSALS FOR 1996 ANNUAL MEETING
Shareowner proposals intended to be presented at the Dun & Bradstreet
Annual Meeting of Shareowners in 1996 must be received by Dun & Bradstreet no
later than November 11, 1995.
March 10, 1995
29
<PAGE>
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<PAGE>
Exhibit A
THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION
CORPORATE MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
The purpose of this plan is to promote the interests of the Shareowners and
all others who benefit by the continuing success of The Dun & Bradstreet
Corporation ("Dun & Bradstreet") and its subsidiaries (collectively, the
"Company") by providing incentive to those executives whose decisions and
actions most significantly affect the growth and profitability of the Company.
1. Participants
The participants in this plan will be those officers and managers of the
Company, its profit centers, resource units, and profit center groups whose
decisions and actions most significantly affect corporate growth and
profitability, none of whom shall be a participant in any other annual
corporate-wide management cash incentive compensation plan. Each year in
November the senior officers of the Company shall recommend to the Chief
Executive Officer employees for participation in the plan for the following year
and the amount of guideline bonus opportunity for each of them under the plan.
To be recommended, an employee will normally (1) be earning in excess of
$100,000 gross compensation, and (2) be an officer of Dun & Bradstreet or have a
reporting relationship to an officer, or (3) be a general manager of a Company
subsidiary, profit center, resource unit, or profit center group or have a
reporting relationship to a general manager.
Such recommended employees as are approved by the Chief Executive Officer
shall then be recommended to the Executive Compensation and Stock Option
Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors by the Chief Executive
Officer as participants in this plan as of January 1 of the following year.
From and after the 1996 Annual Meeting, the Committee shall be composed
solely of two or more "outside directors" as defined in the regulations under
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").
2. Incentive Awards
Each participant's guideline bonus opportunity shall be stated as a dollar
amount. Participants may earn amounts ("awards") equal to, greater than or
less than their guideline bonus opportunity as follows:
(a) Participants who are or who report to officers of Dun & Bradstreet
(excluding operating unit general managers), shall earn their award on the
basis of one or more of (1) the following performance measures (the
"corporate performance measures") established by the Committee for each
year: earnings per share, net income, operating income, revenue, working
capital, return on equity, return on assets, total return to Shareowners,
and average sales growth, each of which may be on a corporate-wide basis or
with respect to one or more operating units, divisions, acquired
businesses, minority investments, partnerships or joint ventures; and (2),
with respect to participants other than executive officers of Dun &
Bradstreet (as such are determined by the Committee), priority objectives
or other qualitative measures. Executive officers shall include "covered
employees" as defined in the regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(b) Participants who are or who report to operating unit executive or
senior vice presidents (or their functional equivalent) shall earn their
award on the basis of a combination of corporate and operating unit or
individual performance measures established by the Committee.
(c) Participants who are or who report to division, profit center or
resource unit general managers shall earn their award on the basis of a
combination of corporate and operating unit or individual performance
measures as recommended by the operating unit executive or senior vice
presidents of Dun & Bradstreet and as approved by the Chief Executive
Officer.
(d) Each year the Chief Executive Officer shall recommend to the
Committee for its approval, such approval to be given no later than March
31 of each year, (1) a minimum amount ("floor"), a target amount
A-1
<PAGE>
("target") and, if desired, a maximum amount ("ceiling") for that
year's corporate performance measures, and (2) minimum, target and, if
desired, ceiling, performance measures for each Company division, profit
center and/or resource unit having employees who are participants in the
plan, provided that the Committee may delegate to the Chief Executive
Officer the establishment of the performance measures referred to in clause
(2) above. Performance measures for individual divisions, profit centers
and/or resource units may be consolidated, as appropriate, for the purpose
of establishing corporate, operating unit, or sub-unit measures. The floor,
target and ceiling figures may, but need not, be based upon budgeted
operating results, and will be established solely for the purpose of
administering the plan.
(e) Awards shall be earned as follows in relation to the
pre-established performance measures approved by the Committee: no award
will be earned unless the performance floor for that portion of the award
is exceeded; the guideline bonus opportunity is earned if the target amount
is achieved; an amount greater or less than the guideline bonus opportunity
can be earned for a level of performance above the performance floor as
determined by established performance measures.
(f) The Chief Executive Officer may adjust individual awards earned
under the performance measures upward or downward, by an amount of up to
20% of the participant's guideline bonus opportunity, to account for
demonstrated quality of performance or the occurrence of unusual or
unforeseen circumstances, except that no such adjustment may be made with
respect to awards earned by executive officers. The Committee may adjust
awards earned by executive officers under the performance measures downward
only. The total of plan awards for any year may not exceed 110% of the
total earned amount. Notwithstanding the above, in no event shall a Change
in Control (as defined below) constitute the occurrence of unusual or
unforeseen circumstances which would justify an upward or downward
adjustment in an award.
(g) In calculating whether the performance targets for executive
officers have been met, the Committee (A) will make appropriate conforming
adjustments in the performance measures or the targets to exclude the
effects of any corporate transactions such as acquisitions, divestitures
and reorganizations, and (B) will not take into account extraordinary
accounting changes or items (as defined under generally accepted accounting
principles), restructuring charges, nonrecurring events, or any unusual
events affecting earnings by more than 10 percent, which in any such case
affect the results that otherwise would have been attained under the
applicable performance measures.
(h) Notwithstanding the restrictions contained herein with respect to
executive officers, the Committee may decide to make awards or allow
payment of awards to executive officers without regard to said restrictions
(i) if the Committee decides that special or unforeseen circumstances make
such action advisable or (ii) if such executive officers do not thereby
become "covered employees."
3. Limitation on the Amount of Incentive Awards
The total of all payments to an individual participant under this plan in
any calendar year shall not exceed $3,000,000.
4. Miscellaneous
A. Each participant will be notified in writing at the time of his or her
approval as a participant, of the amount and terms of his or her salary and
guideline bonus opportunity.
B. Payment of awards earned by participants will be made as soon as
practicable after the end of the year in which they have been earned and
approved by the Committee.
C. If a participant dies, retires, is assigned to a different position, is
granted a leave of absence, or if the participant's employment is otherwise
terminated (except with cause by the Company), a pro rata share of the
participant's award based on the period of actual participation may, at the
Committee's discretion, be paid to the participant after the end of the year if
it would have become earned and payable had the participant's employment status
not changed. Notwithstanding the above, if as a result of a Change in Control a
participant retires, is assigned to a different position, is placed on a leave
of absence or if the participant's employment is terminated before the end of
the calendar year (except for cause), he or she shall receive a full award for
that year.
A-2
<PAGE>
D. The Chief Executive Officer may approve participation for promoted,
transferred or newly-hired employees for less than a year ending December 31
except where the annualized compensation level of such participant may require
Committee approval.
E. At the end of any year, the Committee, on the recommendation of the
Chief Executive Officer, may increase or decrease the amount of award payments
to any or all participants if in its sole judgment there have been extraordinary
occurrences, not anticipated when awards were approved at the start of the year,
which have significantly affected earnings or other performance measures, except
that no increase may be made with respect to awards earned by "covered
employees" as defined in the regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code.
Notwithstanding the above, in no event shall a Change in Control constitute an
extraordinary occurrence which would justify an increase or decrease in the
amount of award payments.
F. The Committee may terminate this plan at any time, to become effective
as of January 1 of the following year.
G. For all purposes of this plan, "Change in Control" means:
(a) Any "person", as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")
(other than Dun & Bradstreet, any trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of Dun & Bradstreet, or any
corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the Shareowners of Dun &
Bradstreet in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of
stock of Dun & Bradstreet), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of Dun & Bradstreet representing 30% or more of the combined
voting power of Dun & Bradstreet's then outstanding securities;
(b) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other
than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement
with Dun & Bradstreet to effect a transaction described in clause (a), (c)
or (d) of this Section) whose election by the Board or nomination for
election by Dun & Bradstreet's Shareowners was approved by a vote of at
least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either
were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority thereof;
(c) the Shareowners of Dun & Bradstreet approve a merger or
consolidation of Dun & Bradstreet with any other company, other than (1) a
merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of Dun
& Bradstreet outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting
power of the voting securities of Dun & Bradstreet or such surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (2) a merger
or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of Dun &
Bradstreet (or similar transaction) in which no "person" (as hereinabove
defined) acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of Dun &
Bradstreet's then outstanding securities.
(d) the Shareowners of Dun & Bradstreet approve a plan of complete
liquidation of Dun & Bradstreet or an agreement for the sale or disposition
by Dun & Bradstreet of all or substantially all of Dun & Bradstreet's
assets.
H. This Corporate Management Incentive Plan became effective January 1,
1977. The changes in this revision are effective upon approval by the
Shareowners at the 1995 Annual Meeting.
5. Amendments
The Committee may amend or discontinue this plan, but no amendment or
discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of a participant
without the participant's consent, or which, without the approval of the
Shareowners of Dun & Bradstreet, would change (a) the performance measures in
Section 2(a) with respect to "covered employees", (b) the individuals or class
of individuals eligible to participate in the plan, or (c) the maximum amount
payable to an individual participant under the plan.
A-3
<PAGE>
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<PAGE>
Exhibit B
KEY EMPLOYEES PERFORMANCE UNIT PLAN
FOR
THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
1. Purpose of the Plan
The purpose of the Plan is to aid The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation ("Dun &
Bradstreet") and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") in securing and
retaining key employees of outstanding ability and to motivate such employees to
exert their best efforts on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries by
providing incentive through the award of performance units. The Company expects
that it will benefit from the added interest which such key employees will have
in the welfare of the Company as a result of their interest in the long-term
performance of the Company.
2. Administration
The Board of Directors of Dun & Bradstreet shall appoint an Executive
Compensation and Stock Option Committee (herein called the "Committee")
consisting of at least three members of the Board of Directors who shall
administer the Plan and serve at the pleasure of the Board. Each member of the
Committee (a) shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan, (b) shall not at
any time within one year prior to his or her appointment have been eligible for
selection as a person to whom stock may have been allocated or to whom stock
options or stock appreciation rights of Dun & Bradstreet or any of its
affiliates may have been granted, except as permitted under regulations adopted
under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (c), from and after
the 1996 Annual Meeting, shall be an "outside director" as defined in the
regulations under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). The
Committee shall have the authority, consistent with the Plan, to determine the
provisions of the performance units to be granted, to interpret the Plan and the
performance units granted under the Plan, to adopt, amend and rescind rules and
regulations for the administration of the Plan and the performance units, and
generally to conduct and administer the Plan and to make all determinations in
connection therewith which may be necessary or advisable, and all such actions
of the Committee shall be binding upon all participants.
3. Eligibility
Key employees (but not members of the Committee and any person who serves
only as a director) of the Company, who are from time to time responsible for
the management, growth and protection of the business of the Company, are
eligible to be granted performance units under the Plan. The participants under
the Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Committee, in its
discretion, from among those eligible, and the Committee shall determine, in its
discretion, consistent with the terms of the Plan, the terms and conditions of
the performance units granted to each participant. The granting of a performance
unit under the Plan shall impose no obligation on Dun & Bradstreet or any
subsidiary to continue the employment of a participant and shall not lessen or
affect the right to terminate the employment of a participant.
4. Performance Units
Performance units ("Units") granted under this Plan shall be subject to the
following terms and conditions:
(a) Award Period. The Award Period for a Unit shall be established by
the Committee at the time of grant and shall be not more than four (4)
calendar years in length. The Committee may provide that the Award Period
for such Units shall begin with the calendar year during which such Units
are granted.
(b) Valuation of Units. (i) Payment values for each Unit, which may be
in cash or a combination of cash and restricted stock issued pursuant to
the Key Employees Restricted Stock Plan or other restricted stock plan of
Dun & Bradstreet as in effect from time to time, shall be established by
the Committee, together with targets to be
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achieved during the Award Period for one or more performance measures, no
later than March 31 of the first year of the Award Period; such performance
measures, targets and Unit payment schedules shall govern the valuation of
Units for award payment determination purposes.
(ii) The Committee shall select performance measures for each Award
Period from the following: (1) earnings per share, net income, operating
income, revenue, working capital, return on equity, return on assets, total
return to Shareowners, and average sales growth, each of which may be on a
corporate-wide basis or with respect to one or more operating units,
divisions, acquired businesses, minority investments, partnerships or joint
ventures; and (2), with respect to participants other than executive
officers of Dun & Bradstreet (as such are determined by the Committee),
priority objectives or other qualitative measures. Executive officers shall
include "covered employees" as defined in the regulations under Section
162(m) of the Code.
(iii) The Committee may increase or decrease targets and/or Unit
payment schedules if in its sole judgment there have been extraordinary
occurrences, not anticipated when Unit grants were approved, which
significantly have affected or may affect the Company's earnings or other
performance measures, except that no increase may be made with respect to
awards earned by executive officers, and no change in the targets
applicable to executive officers may be made during the Award Period.
Notwithstanding the above, any expenses incurred either before or after a
Change in Control (as defined below) occurs, as a result of a Change in
Control, as determined by the Company's outside accountants as of the date
the Change in Control occurs, shall not be taken into account in
determining whether performance criteria and targets have been achieved,
and in no event shall a Change in Control constitute an extraordinary
occurrence which could justify a change in performance criteria, targets
and/or Unit payment schedules.
(iv) In calculating whether the performance targets for executive
officers have been met, the Committee (A) will make appropriate conforming
adjustments in the performance measures or the targets to exclude the
effects of any corporate transactions such as acquisitions, divestitures
and reorganizations, and (B) will not take into account extraordinary
accounting changes or items (as defined under generally accepted accounting
principles), restructuring charges, nonrecurring events, or any unusual
events affecting earnings by more than 10 percent, which in any such case
affect the results that otherwise would have been attained under the
applicable performance measures.
(c) Payment of Units. As promptly as practicable after the completion
of an Award Period, the Committee shall determine what, if any, award
payments have been earned with respect to related Units. Payment shall be
made to participants in the combination of cash and restricted stock
shares, if any, that had been established by the Committee, promptly after
the date the Committee makes such determination. For purposes of such
payment, restricted stock shares shall be valued at the closing market
price on the business day before the date of such determination. The
Company shall require payment by participants of any amounts the Company
may determine to be necessary to withhold for federal, state or local
taxes, except that the Committee may permit a participant to elect to have
a portion of any restricted stock deliverable in payment of an award
withheld to provide for payment of any such taxes.
(d) Termination of Employment. Units held by a participant whose
employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries terminates for any
reason less than one year after the date of grant of such Units shall be
canceled. If employment terminates more than one year after the date of
grant by reason of disability, death or retirement, the participant shall
receive full payment of the final value of the Units the participant has
been granted. If employment terminates more than one year after the date of
grant by reason of termination by the Company (other than for cause), the
Committee may, at its discretion and subject to such limitations and at
such time or times as it may deem advisable, provide for a pro rata payment
of the final value of the Units the participant has been granted. If
employment terminates more than one year after the date of grant for any
reason not specified above in this Paragraph 4(d), Units held by a
participant shall be canceled. Participants shall receive no payment with
respect to canceled Units. Pro rata payment shall be based upon the number
of completed months of the Award Period during which the participant was an
employee relative to the total number of months in the full Award Period.
Such payment shall be made as promptly as practicable after the completion
of the applicable Award Period unless the Committee shall determine, in the
event of the participant's termination by the Company (other than for
cause), to make an earlier payment. The full amount of any award payment to
terminated participants hereunder shall be paid in cash.
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(e) Non-Assignability. Each Unit granted under this Plan shall by its
terms be nontransferable by the participant except by will or the laws of
descent and distribution. Each Unit shall be payable during a participant's
lifetime only to the participant.
(f) Limitation on Value of Units. The total of all payments to any
participant under this Plan, including dollar payments and the value of any
accompanying restricted stock, in any calendar year shall not exceed
$6,000,000.
(g) Other Terms and Conditions. The Committee may impose such other
terms, provisions and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as it
shall determine in its sole judgment. Notwithstanding the restrictions
contained herein with respect to executive officers, the Committee may
decide to make awards or allow payment of awards to executive officers
without regard to said restrictions (i) if the Committee decides that
special or unforeseen circumstances make such action advisable or (ii) if
such executive officers do not thereby become "covered employees".
5. Transfers and Leaves of Absence
For purposes of the Plan: (a) a transfer of an employee from the Company to
a subsidiary or vice versa, or from one subsidiary to another, (b) a leave of
absence, duly authorized in writing by the Company, for military service or
sickness or for any other purpose approved by the Company if the period of such
leave does not exceed 90 days, and (c) a leave of absence in excess of 90 days,
duly authorized in writing by the Company, provided the employee's right to
re-employment is guaranteed either by statute or by contract, shall not be
deemed a termination of employment.
6. Change in Control
(a) Upon the occurrence or potential occurrence of certain events defined
by the Committee, including without limitation, a merger, consolidation,
combination, reorganization or other transaction in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation or in which the determination of whether performance
criteria and targets of outstanding Units will be satisfied at the end of the
Award Period otherwise is impaired, or a "Change in Control" of the Company,
Units held by a participant, including Units held less than one year after the
date of grant of such Units, shall immediately become payable in full, with the
final value of such Units determined as though performance criteria and targets
for the full Award Period had been achieved.
(b) For all purposes of this Plan, "Change in Control" means (i) any
"person", as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (other than the Company,
any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan
of the Company, or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Shareowners of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock of the Company), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power
of the Company's then outstanding securities; (ii) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute
the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person
who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction
described in clause (i), (iii) or (iv) of this Section) whose election by the
Board or nomination for election by the Company's Shareowners was approved by a
vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who
either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority thereof; (iii) the Shareowners of the Company
approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other company other
than (1) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities
of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of
the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation or(2) a merger or consolidation effected to
implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no
"person" (as hereinabove defined) acquires more than 50% of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or (iv) the Shareowners of
the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an
agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all
of the Company's assets.
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(c) If the Company has not fulfilled a commitment to make a restricted
stock award under a Company restricted stock plan to the participant at the time
of the payment of his Units, the Committee shall authorize an immediate payment
in cash under this Plan to the participant equal in amount to the value of such
restricted stock award without restrictions.
7. Amendments
The Committee may amend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment or
discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of the participant
under any Unit theretofore granted without the participant's consent, or which,
without the approval of the Shareowners of the Company, would change (a) the
performance measures in Paragraph 4(b) with respect to "covered employees", (b)
the individuals or class of individuals eligible to participate in the Plan, or
(c) the maximum amount payable to an individual participant under the Plan.
8. Effectiveness
The revisions to the Plan approved by the Board of Directors in 1995 shall
be effective upon approval by the Company's Shareowners at the 1995 Annual
Meeting.
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Exhibit C
1991 KEY EMPLOYEES STOCK OPTION PLAN
FOR
THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
1. Purpose of the Plan
The purpose of the Plan is to aid The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (herein
called the "Company") and its subsidiaries in securing and retaining key
employees of outstanding ability and to motivate such employees to exert their
best efforts on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries by providing
incentive through the award of stock options and stock appreciation rights. The
Company expects that it will benefit from the added interest which such key
employees will have in the welfare of the Company as a result of their
proprietary interest in the Company's success.
2. Stock Subject to the Plan
The total number of shares of Common Stock of the Company which may be
issued under the Plan is 17,000,000. The maximum number of shares for which
options may be granted from the 1995 Annual Meeting during the remaining term of
the Plan to any individual optionee shall be 1,000,000. The shares may consist,
in whole or in part, of unissued shares or treasury shares. Issuance of shares
of Common Stock upon exercise of an option or reduction of the number of shares
of Common Stock subject to an option upon exercise of a stock appreciation right
shall reduce the total number of shares of Common Stock available under the
Plan. Shares which are subject to unexercised stock options which terminate or
lapse may be optioned again under the Plan.
3. Administration
The Board of Directors of the Company shall appoint an Executive
Compensation and Stock Option Committee (herein called the "Committee")
consisting of at least three members of the Board of Directors who shall
administer the Plan and serve at the pleasure of the Board. Each member of the
Committee shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan and shall not at any
time within one year prior to appointment have been eligible for selection as a
person to whom stock may have been allocated or to whom stock options or stock
appreciation rights of the Company or any of its affiliates may have been
granted pursuant to the Plan or any other plan of the Company or its affiliates,
except as permitted under regulations adopted under Section 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. The Committee shall have the authority, consistent with
the Plan, to determine the provisions of the stock options and stock
appreciation rights to be granted, to interpret the Plan and the stock options
and the stock appreciation rights granted under the Plan, to adopt, amend and
rescind rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, the stock
options and the stock appreciation rights and generally to conduct and
administer the Plan and to make all determinations in connection therewith which
may be necessary or advisable, and all such actions of the Committee shall be
binding upon all participants. The Committee shall require payment of any amount
the Company may determine to be necessary to withhold for federal, state or
local taxes as a result of the exercise of a stock option or a stock
appreciation right. Fair market value of the Common Stock as of a given date
shall be determined in accordance with procedures established by the Committee.
4. Eligibility
Key employees (but not members of the Committee and any person who serves
only as a director) of the Company and its subsidiaries (within the meaning of
Section 425(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (the "Code")),
who are from time to time responsible for the management, growth and protection
of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, are eligible to be granted
stock options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan. The participants
under the Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Committee, in its sole
discretion, from among those eligible, and the Committee shall determine, in its
sole discretion, the number of shares to be covered by the stock options or
stock appreciation rights or both granted to each participant. An employee may
not be granted a stock option, however, if at the time such option is to be
granted, such employee owns stock of the
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Company or any of its subsidiaries possessing more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any such
subsidiary. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the attribution rules of
stock ownership set forth in Section 425(d) of the Code shall apply. The
granting of a stock option or stock appreciation right under the Plan shall
impose no obligation on the Company or any subsidiary to continue the employment
of an optionee and shall not lessen or affect the right to terminate the
employment of an optionee.
5. Limitations
No stock option may be granted under the Plan after February 19, 2001, but
stock options theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.
6. Terms and Conditions of Stock Options
Stock options granted under the Plan shall be, as determined by the
Committee, non-qualified, incentive or other stock options for federal income
tax purposes, as evidenced by option grants, and shall be subject to the
foregoing and the following terms and conditions and to such other terms and
conditions, not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee shall determine:
(a) Option Price. The option price per share shall be determined by
the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of
the Common Stock on the date an option is granted.
(b) Exercisability. Stock options granted under the Plan shall be
exercisable at such time and upon such terms and conditions as may be
determined by the Committee, but in no event shall an option be exercisable
more than ten years after the date it is granted.
(c) First Year Non-Exercisability. Except as provided in Paragraph 9
of the Plan, no stock option shall be exercisable during the year ending on
the first anniversary date of the granting of the option.
(d) Exercise of Stock Options. Except as otherwise provided in the
Plan or the option, a stock option may be exercised for all, or from time
to time any part, of the shares for which it is then exercisable. The
purchase price for the shares as to which an option is exercised shall be
paid to the Company in full at the time of exercise at the election of the
optionee (i) in cash, (ii) in shares of Common Stock of the Company having
a fair market value equal to the option price for the shares being
purchased and satisfying such other requirements as may be imposed by the
Committee or (iii) partly in cash and partly in such shares of Common Stock
of the Company. The Committee may permit the optionee to elect, subject to
such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, to have the
number of shares deliverable to the optionee as a result of the exercise
reduced by a number sufficient to pay the amount the Company determines to
be necessary to withhold for federal, state or local taxes as a result of
the exercise of the option. No optionee shall have any rights to dividends
or other rights of a shareowner with respect to shares subject to an option
until the optionee has given written notice of exercise of the option, paid
in full for such shares and, if requested, given the representation
described in Paragraph 6(h) of the Plan.
(e) Exercisability Upon Termination of Employment by Death. If an
optionee's employment by the Company or a subsidiary terminates by reason
of death one year or more after the date of grant of a stock option, the
option thereafter may be exercised, during the three years after the date
of death or the remaining stated period of the option, whichever period is
shorter, to the extent to which such option was exercisable at the time of
death or thereafter would become exercisable during the three-year period
after the date of death in accordance with its terms.
(f) Exercisability Upon Termination of Employment by Disability or
Retirement. If an optionee's employment by the Company or a subsidiary
terminates by reason of disability or retirement one year or more after the
date of grant of an option, the option thereafter may be exercised, during
the five years after the date of such termination of employment or the
remaining stated period of the option, whichever period is shorter, to the
extent to which such option was exercisable at the time of such termination
of employment or thereafter would become exercisable during such period in
accordance with its terms; provided, however, that if the optionee dies
within a period of five years after such termination of employment, any
unexercised stock option may be
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exercised thereafter, during either (1) the period ending on the later of
(i) five years after such termination of employment and (ii) one year after
the date of death or (2) the period remaining in the stated term of the
option, whichever period is shorter, to the extent to which such option was
exercisable at the time of death or thereafter would become exercisable
during the remainder of the five-year period after such termination of
employment in accordance with its terms. For purposes of this Section 6,
"retirement" shall mean termination of employment with the Company or a
subsidiary after the optionee has attained age 55 and completed ten or more
years of employment; or after the optionee has attained age 65, regardless
of the length of such optionee's employment. An optionee shall not be
considered disabled for purposes of this Section 6, unless he or she
furnishes such medical or other evidence of the existence of the disability
as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may require.
(g) Effect of Other Termination of Employment. If a participant's
employment terminates for any reason, other than disability, death or
retirement one year or more after the date of grant of a stock option or
stock appreciation right as described above, each stock option and stock
appreciation right held by such participant shall thereupon terminate.
(h) Additional Agreements of Optionee and Restrictions on
Transfer. The Committee may require each person purchasing shares pursuant
to exercise of a stock option to represent to and agree with the Company in
writing that the shares are being acquired without a view to distribution
thereof. The certificates for shares so purchased may include any legend
which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on
transfers. The Committee also may impose, in its discretion, as a condition
of any option, any restrictions on the transferability of shares acquired
through the exercise of such option as it may deem fit. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may impose conditions
restricting absolutely the transferability of shares acquired through the
exercise of options for such periods as the Committee may determine and,
further, in the event the optionee's employment by the Company or a
subsidiary terminates during the period in which such shares are
nontransferable, the optionee may be required, if required by the related
option agreement, to sell such shares back to the Company at such price and
on such other terms as the Committee may have specified in the option
agreement.
(i) Nontransferability of Stock Options. A stock option shall not be
transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution. During the lifetime of an optionee an option
shall be exercisable only by the optionee. An option exercisable after the
death of an optionee may be exercised by the legatees, personal
representatives or distributees of the optionee.
7. Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights
(a) Grants. The Committee also may grant stock appreciation rights in
connection with stock options granted under the Plan, either at the time of
grant of options or subsequently. Stock appreciation rights shall cover the
same shares covered by an option (or such lesser number of shares of Common
Stock as the Committee may determine) and shall be subject to the same
terms and conditions as the option except for such additional limitations
as are contemplated by this Paragraph 7 (or as may be included in a stock
appreciation right granted hereunder).
(b) Terms. Each stock appreciation right shall entitle an optionee to
surrender to the Company an unexercised option, or any portion thereof, and
to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount equal to the
excess of the fair market value on the exercise date of one share of Common
Stock over the option price per share times the number of shares covered by
the option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. The date a notice of
exercise is received by the Company shall be the exercise date. Payment
shall be made in shares of Common Stock or in cash, or partly in shares and
partly in cash, valued at such fair market value, all as shall be
determined by the Committee. Stock appreciation rights may be exercised
from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice of
exercise stating the number of shares of Common Stock subject to an
exercisable option with respect to which the stock appreciation right is
being exercised. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued in
payment for stock appreciation rights, but instead cash will be paid for a
fraction or, if the Committee should so determine, the number of shares
will be rounded downward to the next whole share.
(c) Limitations on Exercisability. The Committee shall impose such
conditions upon the exercisability of stock appreciation rights as will
result, except upon the occurrence of an event contemplated by limited
stock
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appreciation rights granted pursuant to Paragraph 7(d) or contemplated by
the provisions of Paragraph 9, in the amount to be charged against the
Company's consolidated income by reason of stock appreciation rights not to
exceed, in any one calendar year, two percent of the Company's prior
calendar year's consolidated income before income taxes. The Committee also
may impose, in its discretion, such other conditions upon the
exercisability of stock appreciation rights as it may deem fit.
(d) Limited Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant limited
stock appreciation rights which are exercisable upon the occurrence of
specified contingent events. Such stock appreciation rights may provide for
a different method of determining appreciation, may specify that payment
will be made only in cash and may provide that related stock options or
stock appreciation rights or both are not exercisable while such limited
stock appreciation rights are exercisable. Unless the context otherwise
requires, whenever the term "stock appreciation right" is used in the
Plan, such term shall include limited stock appreciation rights.
8. Transfers and Leaves of Absence
For purposes of the Plan: (a) a transfer of an employee from the Company to
a 50% or more owned subsidiary, partnership, venture or other affiliate (whether
or not incorporated) or vice versa, or from one such subsidiary, partnership,
venture or other affiliate to another, (b) a leave of absence, duly authorized
in writing by the Company, for military service or sickness or for any other
purpose approved by the Company if the period of such leave does not exceed 90
days, or (c) a leave of absence in excess of 90 days, duly authorized in writing
by the Company, provided the employee's right to re-employment is guaranteed
either by statute or by contract, shall not be deemed a termination of
employment under the Plan.
9. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization or Other Events
Upon changes in the Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock
dividend, stock split, reverse split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation,
combination or exchange of shares, separation, reorganization or liquidation,
the number and class of shares available under the Plan as to which stock
options or stock appreciation rights may be granted (both in the aggregate and
to any one optionee), the number and class of shares under each option and the
option price per share, and the terms of stock appreciation rights shall be
correspondingly adjusted by the Committee, such adjustments to be made in the
case of outstanding options without change in the total price applicable to such
options. In the event of a merger, consolidation, combination, reorganization or
other transaction in which the Company will not be the surviving corporation, an
optionee shall be entitled to options on that number of shares of stock in the
new corporation which the optionee would have received had the optionee
exercised all of the unexercised options available to the optionee under the
Plan, whether or not then exercisable, at the instant immediately prior to the
effective date of such transaction, and if such unexercised options had related
stock appreciation rights the optionee also will receive new stock appreciation
rights related to the new options. Thereafter, adjustments as provided above
shall relate to the options or stock appreciation rights of the new corporation.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in the stock option or stock
appreciation right, in the event of a Change in Control, merger, consolidation,
combination, reorganization or other transaction in which the shareowners of the
Company will receive cash or securities (other than common stock) or in the
event that an offer is made to the holders of Common Stock of the Company to
sell or exchange such Common Stock for cash, securities or stock of another
corporation and such offer, if accepted, would result in the offeror becoming
the owner of (a) at least 50% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company or
(b) such lesser percentage of the outstanding Common Stock which the Committee
in its sole discretion determines will materially adversely affect the market
value of the Common Stock after the tender or exchange offer, the Committee
shall, prior to the shareowners' vote on such transaction or prior to the
expiration date (without extensions) of the tender or exchange offer, (i)
accelerate the time of exercise so that all stock options and stock appreciation
rights which are outstanding shall become immediately exercisable in full
without regard to any limitations of time or amount otherwise contained in the
Plan or the options or stock appreciation rights and/or (ii) determine that the
options and stock appreciation rights shall be adjusted and make such
adjustments by substituting for Common Stock of the Company subject to options
and stock appreciation rights, common stock of the surviving corporation or
offeror if such stock of such corporation is publicly traded or, if such stock
is not publicly traded, by substituting common stock of a parent of the
surviving corporation or offeror if the stock of such parent is publicly traded,
in which event the aggregate option price shall remain the same and the number
of shares subject to
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option shall be the number of shares which could have been purchased on the
closing day of such transaction or the expiration date of the offer with the
proceeds which would have been received by the optionee if the option had been
exercised in full prior to such transaction or expiration date and the optionee
had exchanged all of such shares in the transaction or sold or exchanged all of
such shares pursuant to the tender or exchange offer, and if any such option has
related stock appreciation rights, the stock appreciation rights shall likewise
be adjusted. For purposes of this Paragraph 9, "Change in Control" means (i) any
"person", as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (other than the Company,
any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan
of the Company, or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
shareowners of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership of stock of the Company), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power
of the Company's then outstanding securities; (ii) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute
the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person
who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction
described in clause (i), (iii), or (iv) of this sentence) whose election by the
Board or nomination for election by the Company's shareowners was approved by a
vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who
either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority thereof; (iii) the shareowners of the Company
approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other company, other
than (1) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities
of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of
the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation or (2) a merger or consolidation effected to
implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no
"person" (as hereinabove defined) acquires more than 50% of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or (iv) the shareowners of
the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an
agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all
of the Company's assets.
10. Use of Proceeds
Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to exercise of
stock options granted under the Plan shall constitute general funds of the
Company.
11. Amendments
The Board of Directors may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no
amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the
rights of any optionee under any option theretofore granted, without the
optionee's consent, or which, without the approval of the shareowners of the
Company, would:
(a) Except as is provided in Paragraph 9 of the Plan, increase the
total number of shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan or change the
maximum number of shares for which options may be granted to any optionee.
(b) Decrease the option price to less than 100% of fair market value
on the date of grant of an option.
(c) Change the employees (or class of employees) eligible to receive
stock options under the Plan.
(d) Materially increase the benefits accruing to employees
participating under the Plan.
12. Effectiveness of the Plan and Amendments
The Plan became effective upon approval by the shareowners at the 1991
Annual Meeting. The Amendments proposed in 1995 shall be effective upon approval
by the shareowners at the 1995 Annual Meeting. Paragraph 6(f) as amended shall
apply to all options outstanding at the date of the 1995 Annual Meeting or
thereafter.
C-5
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<PAGE>
Exhibit D
1989 KEY EMPLOYEES RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
FOR
THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
1. Purpose of the Plan
The purpose of the Plan is to aid The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (herein
called the "Company") and its subsidiaries in securing and retaining key
employees of outstanding ability and to motivate such employees to exert their
best efforts on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries by providing
incentive through the grant of restricted stock awards ("Awards"). The Company
expects that it will benefit from the added interest which such key employees
will have in the welfare of the Company as a result of their proprietary
interest in the Company's success.
2. Stock Subject to the Plan
The total number of shares of Common Stock of the Company that may be
issued under the Plan is 2,400,000. The shares may consist, in whole or in part,
of unissued shares or treasury shares. If any shares awarded under the Plan are
reacquired by the Company pursuant to the Plan, such shares may thereafter be
reissued under the Plan.
3. Administration
The Board of Directors of the Company shall appoint an Executive
Compensation and Stock Option Committee (herein called the "Committee")
consisting of at least three members of the Board of Directors who shall
administer the Plan and serve at the pleasure of the Board. Each member of the
Committee shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan and shall not at any
time within one year prior to his appointment have been eligible for selection
as a person to whom stock may have been allocated or awarded or to whom stock
options or stock appreciation rights of the Company or any of its affiliates may
have been granted under this Plan or any other plan of the Company or its
affiliates, except as permitted under regulations adopted under Section 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Committee shall have the authority,
consistent with the Plan, to determine the provisions of the Awards to be
granted, to interpret the Plan and any agreements with participants under the
Plan governing the terms of Awards ("Award Agreements"), to adopt, amend and
rescind rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan and the Awards,
and generally to conduct and administer the Plan and to make all determinations
in connection therewith which may be necessary or advisable, and all such
actions of the Committee shall be binding upon all participants.
4. Eligibility
Key management and other employees (but not members of the Committee and
any person who serves only as a director) of the Company and its subsidiaries,
who are from time to time responsible for the management, growth or protection
of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, are eligible to be granted
Awards under the Plan. The participants under the Plan shall be selected from
time to time by the Committee, in its discretion, from among those eligible, and
the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, consistent with the terms of
the Plan, the terms and conditions of the Awards granted to each participant.
The granting of an Award under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the
Company or any subsidiary to continue the employment of a participant and shall
not lessen or affect the Company's or subsidiary's right to terminate the
employment of a participant.
5. Duration of the Plan
No Award may be granted under the Plan after December 31, 1998.
6. Restricted Stock Awards
Awards granted under this Plan shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
(a) The prospective recipient of an Award shall not, with respect to
such Award, be deemed to have become a participant or to have any rights
with respect to such Award until and unless such recipient shall have
executed
D-1
<PAGE>
an Agreement or other instrument evidencing the Award and its terms and
conditions and delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company and
otherwise complied with the then applicable terms and conditions under the
Plan.
(b) Each participant shall be issued a certificate in respect of
shares of restricted stock awarded under the Plan. Such certificate shall
be registered in the name of the participant, and shall bear an appropriate
legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to
such Award substantially in the following form:
"The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock
represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including
forfeiture) of the 1989 Key Employees Restricted Stock Plan for The
Dun & Bradstreet Corporation and Subsidiaries and an Agreement entered
into between the registered owner and The Dun & Bradstreet
Corporation. Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file in the
offices of the Secretary's Department of The Dun & Bradstreet
Corporation."
(c) All certificates for restricted stock delivered under this Plan
shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as
the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange
upon which the Company's Common Stock is then listed and any applicable
federal or state securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or
legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to
such restrictions.
(d) The Committee may adopt rules which provide that the stock
certificates evidencing such shares may be held in custody by a bank or
other institution, or that the Company may itself hold such shares in
custody until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and may require
as a condition of any Award that the participant shall have delivered a
stock power endorsed in blank relating to the stock covered by such Award.
(e) Recipients of Awards under the Plan are not required to make any
payment or provide consideration other than the rendering of services.
7. Restrictions and Forfeitures
The shares of Common Stock awarded pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to
the following restrictions and conditions:
(a) During a period set by the Committee of no less than one year nor
more than ten years commencing with the date of an Award (the "Restriction
Period"), the participant will not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge,
assign or otherwise dispose of restricted stock awarded pursuant to said
Award. Within these limits the Committee may provide for the lapse of such
restrictions in installments where deemed appropriate.
(b) Except as provided in Section 7(a), the participant shall have
with respect to the restricted stock all of the rights of a shareowner of
the Company, including the right to vote the shares and receive dividends
and other distributions.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(d), upon termination of
employment for any reason during the Restriction Period, all shares still
subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the participant and will be
reacquired by the Company.
(d) In the event of a participant's retirement, disability, or death,
all restrictions with respect to such participant's restricted stock shall
lapse (subject to Section 7(e)) and such participant or his beneficiary
shall be entitled to receive (if held in custody by the Company, a bank or
other institution) and retain all of the stock subject to the Award;
provided, however, that, in the case of retirement, the Committee in its
sole discretion may determine that such restrictions shall not lapse as to
all or a portion of an Award or that all or any of the shares subject to
restriction shall be forfeited.
(e) The Committee may impose any conditions on an Award it deems
advisable to insure the participant's payment to the Company of any
federal, state or local taxes required to be withheld with respect to such
Award.
D-2
<PAGE>
8. Transfers and Leaves of Absence
For purposes of the Plan: (a) a transfer of an employee from the Company to
a subsidiary or vice versa, or from one subsidiary to another, (b) a leave of
absence, duly authorized in writing by the Company, for military service or
sickness or for any other purpose approved by the Company if the period of such
leave does not exceed 90 days, or (c) a leave of absence in excess of 90 days,
duly authorized in writing by the Company, provided the employee's right to
reemployment is guaranteed either by statute or by contract, shall not be deemed
a termination of employment under the Plan.
9. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization or Other Events
Upon changes in the Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock
dividend, stock split, reverse split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation,
combination or exchange of shares, separation, reorganization or liquidation,
the number and class of shares available under the Plan as to which Awards may
be granted and the number and class of shares under each Award shall be
correspondingly adjusted by the Committee. Except as otherwise specifically
provided in the Agreement relating to any Award, in the event of a Change in
Control, merger, consolidation, combination, reorganization or other transaction
in which the shareowners of the Company will receive cash or securities (other
than common stock) or in the event that an offer is made to the holders of
Common Stock of the Company to sell or exchange such Common Stock for cash,
securities or stock of another corporation and such offer, if accepted, would
result in the offeror becoming the owner of (a) at least 50% of the outstanding
Common Stock of the Company or (b) such lesser percentage of the outstanding
Common Stock which the Committee in its sole discretion determines will
materially adversely affect the market value of the Common Stock after the
tender or exchange offer, the Committee shall, prior to the shareowners' vote on
such transaction or prior to the expiration date (without extensions) of the
tender or exchange offer (i) accelerate the termination of the Restriction
Period so that all restrictions with respect to a participant's restricted stock
shall immediately lapse without regard to any limitations of time or amount
otherwise contained in the Plan or the Agreement and/or (ii) determine that the
Awards shall be adjusted and make such adjustments by substituting for Common
Stock of the Company subject to Awards, common stock of the surviving
corporation or offeror if such stock of such corporation is publicly traded or,
if such stock is not publicly traded, by substituting common stock of a parent
of the surviving corporation or offeror if the stock of such parent is publicly
traded, in which event the number of shares subject to an Award shall be the
number of shares which could have been purchased on the closing day of such
transaction or the expiration date of the offer with the proceeds which would
have been received by the participant if the participant had exchanged all of
such shares in the transaction or sold or exchanged all of such shares pursuant
to the tender or exchange offer. For purposes of this Paragraph 9, "Change in
Control" means (i) any "person" as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (other
than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Company, or any corporation owned, directly or
indirectly, by the shareowners of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company), is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; (ii) during
any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director
designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to
effect a transaction described in clause (i), (iii) or (iv) of this Section)
whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's
shareowners was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors
then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or
whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved cease for
any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; (iii) the shareowners of
the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
company, other than (1) a merger or consolidation which would result in the
voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined
voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (2) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or
similar transaction) in which no "person" (as hereinabove defined) acquires more
than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
securities; or (iv) the shareowners of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the
Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.
D-3
<PAGE>
10. Amendments
The Board of Directors may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no
amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the
rights of any participant under any Award theretofore granted, without the
participant's consent, or which, without the approval of the shareowners of the
Company, would:
(a) Except as is provided in Section 9 of the Plan, increase the total
number of shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan.
(b) Change the employees (or class of employees) eligible to receive
Awards under the Plan.
(c) Materially increase the benefits accruing to employees
participating under the Plan.
11. Effectiveness of the Plan
The Plan shall be submitted within one year of the date of its adoption to
the shareowners of the Company for their approval, and if not so approved within
that period, the Plan and all Awards granted hereunder shall be void and of no
force or effect.
D-4
<PAGE>
Exhibit E
THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
FOR
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
1. Purposes of the Plan
The purposes of the Plan are to encourage the directors of The Dun &
Bradstreet Corporation (the "Company") who are not employees or officers of the
Company to own shares of the Company's Common Stock, thereby aligning their
interests more closely with the interests of other shareowners, to aid the
Company in securing and retaining directors of outstanding ability, and to
encourage the highest level of director performance by providing incentive
through the grant of restricted stock awards ("Awards").
2. Stock Subject to the Plan
The total number of shares of Common Stock of the Company that may be
issued under the Plan is 50,000. The shares may consist, in whole or in part, of
unissued shares or treasury shares. If any shares awarded under the Plan are
reacquired by the Company pursuant to the Plan, such shares may thereafter be
reissued under the Plan.
3. Administration
The Plan shall be administered by the Executive Compensation and Stock
Option Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors. The Committee
shall have the authority, consistent with the Plan, to interpret the Plan and
any agreements with participants under the Plan governing the terms of Awards
("Award Agreements"), to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations for the
administration of the Plan and the Awards, and generally to conduct and
administer the Plan and to make all determinations in connection therewith which
may be necessary or advisable, and all such actions of the Committee shall be
binding upon all participants.
4. Participation
Each member of the Board of Directors from time to time who is neither an
officer nor an employee of the Company shall be a participant in the Plan.
5. Restricted Stock Awards
Each participant shall be granted an Award of 300 shares of Common Stock on
the fourth full New York Stock Exchange trading day following the Company's
release of its earnings results for the second quarter of each year, beginning
with the year 1994. Awards granted under this Plan shall be subject to the
following terms and conditions:
(a) The prospective recipient of an Award shall not, with respect to
such Award, be deemed to have become a participant or to have any rights
with respect to such Award until and unless such recipient shall have
executed an Award Agreement or other instrument evidencing the Award and
its terms and conditions and delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the
Company and otherwise complied with the then applicable terms and
conditions under the Plan.
(b) Each participant shall be issued a certificate in respect of
shares of restricted stock awarded under the Plan. Such certificate shall
be registered in the name of the participant, and shall bear an appropriate
legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to
such Award substantially in the following form:
"The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock
represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including
forfeiture) of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation Restricted Stock Plan
for Non-Employee Directors and an Agreement entered into between the
registered owner and The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. Copies of such
Plan and Agreement are on file in the offices of the Secretary's
Department of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation."
E-1
<PAGE>
(c) All certificates for restricted stock delivered under this Plan
shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as
the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange
upon which the Company's Common Stock is then listed and any applicable
federal or state securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or
legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to
such restrictions.
(d) The Committee may adopt rules which provide that the stock
certificates evidencing such shares may be held in custody by a bank or
other institution, or that the Company may itself hold such shares in
custody until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and may require
as a condition of any Award that the participant shall have delivered a
stock power endorsed in blank relating to the stock covered by such Award.
(e) Recipients of Awards under the Plan are not required to make any
payment or provide consideration other than the rendering of services as
directors.
6. Restrictions and Forfeitures
The shares of Common Stock awarded pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to
the following restrictions and conditions:
(a) During a period of five years commencing with the date of an Award
(the "Restriction Period"), the participant will not be permitted to sell,
transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of restricted stock awarded
pursuant to said Award (except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution).
(b) Except as provided in Section 6(a), the participant shall have
with respect to the restricted stock all of the rights of a shareowner of
the Company, including the right to vote the shares and receive dividends
and other distributions.
(c) Upon a participant's involuntary termination of Board service for
cause by Board or shareowner action during the Restriction Period, all
shares still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the participant
and will be reacquired by the Company.
(d) Upon a participant's retirement, disability, death, or involuntary
termination of Board service, except for cause, following a "Change in
Control" as defined in Section 7, all restrictions with respect to such
participant's restricted stock shall lapse and such participant or such
participant's beneficiary shall be entitled to receive (if held in custody
by the Company, a bank or other institution) and retain all of the stock
subject to the Awards.
(e) Upon a participant's resignation or other termination of Board
service during the Restriction Period for reasons other than those set
forth in Section 6(c) and (d), a portion of the shares still subject to
restriction shall be forfeited by the participant and will be reacquired by
the Company. The number of restricted shares of Common Stock forfeited
shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares by a fraction, the
denominator of which is 60 months and the numerator of which is the number
of whole months remaining in the Restriction Period.
7. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization or Other Events
Upon changes in the Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock
dividend, stock split, reverse split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation,
combination or exchange of shares, separation, reorganization or liquidation,
the number and class of shares available under the Plan as to which Awards may
be granted and the number and class of shares under each Award shall be
correspondingly adjusted by the Committee. Except as otherwise specifically
provided in the Award Agreement relating to any Award, in the event of a Change
in Control, merger, consolidation, combination, reorganization or other
transaction in which the shareowners of the Company will receive cash or
securities (other than common stock) or in the event that an offer is made to
the holders of Common Stock of the Company to sell or exchange such Common Stock
for cash, securities or stock of another corporation and such offer, if
accepted, would result in the offeror becoming the owner of (a) at least 50% of
the outstanding Common Stock of the Company or (b) such lesser percentage of the
outstanding Common Stock which the Committee in its sole discretion determines
will materially adversely affect the market value of the Common Stock after the
tender or exchange offer, the Committee shall, prior to the shareowners' vote on
such transaction or prior to the expiration date of the tender or exchange offer
(i) accelerate the termination of the Restriction Period so that all
restrictions with
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<PAGE>
respect to a participant's restricted stock shall immediately lapse without
regard to any limitations of time or amount otherwise contained in the Plan or
the Award Agreement and/or (ii) determine that the Awards shall be adjusted and
make such adjustments by substituting for Common Stock of the Company subject to
Awards, common stock of the surviving corporation or offeror if such stock of
such corporation is publicly traded or, if such stock is not publicly traded, by
substituting common stock of a parent of the surviving corporation or offeror if
the stock of such parent is publicly traded, in which event the number of shares
subject to an Award shall be the number of shares which could have been
purchased on the closing day of such transaction or the expiration date of the
offer with the proceeds which would have been received by the participant if the
participant had exchanged all of such shares in the transaction or sold or
exchanged all of such shares pursuant to the tender or exchange offer. For
purposes of this Section 7, "Change in Control" means (i) any "person" as such
term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act") (other than the Company, any trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or
any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareowners of the Company
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the
Company), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities; (ii) during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any
new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into
an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (i),
(iii) or (iv) of this Section) whose election by the Board or nomination for
election by the Company's shareowners was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors
at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was
previously so approved cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
thereof; (iii) the shareowners of the Company approve a merger or consolidation
of the Company with any other company, other than (1) a merger or consolidation
which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving
entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of
the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger
or consolidation or (2) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a
recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no "person"
(as hereinabove defined) acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of
the Company's then outstanding securities; or (iv) the shareowners of the
Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement
for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets.
8. Amendments
The Board of Directors may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no
amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the
rights of any participant under any Award theretofore granted, without the
participant's consent, or which, without the approval of the shareowners of the
Company, would:
(a) except as is provided in Section 7 of the Plan, increase the total
number of shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan;
(b) change the participants (or class of participants) eligible to
receive Awards under the Plan;
(c) materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under
the Plan; or
(d) effect any other amendment to the Plan for which approval by the
shareowners of the Company is required pursuant to any applicable law or
rule.
In addition, no amendment or alteration shall be made more than once every
six months, other than to comport with changes in the Internal Revenue Code, the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules promulgated therewith.
9. Effectiveness and Term of the Plan
The Plan became effective upon its approval by the Board of Directors as of
July 20, 1994. The Plan shall be submitted within one year of such date to the
shareowners of the Company for their approval, and if not so approved within
that period, the Plan and all Awards granted hereunder shall be void and of no
force or effect. If so approved by the shareowners, the Plan shall remain in
effect until amended or terminated by action of the Board.
E-3
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION
PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD APRIL 18, 1995
AT 9:30 A.M. AT 1209 ORANGE STREET, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
ROBERT E. WEISSMAN, EDWIN A. BESCHERER, Jr., and EARL H. DOPPELT, or any of
them, with full power of substitution, and/or Bankers Trust Company, the Trustee
of the Dun & Bradstreet Profit Participation Plan (the "PPP") and of the DonTech
Profit Participation Plan (the "DPPP"), are hereby authorized and/or instructed
to represent and/or vote all the shares of Common Stock of The Dun & Bradstreet
Corporation which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of
Shareowners on April 18, 1995, and at any adjournment thereof:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES
IDENTIFIED IN ITEM (1) AND FOR ITEMS (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) AND (8).
(1) Election of Class II Directors for a three-year term expiring at the 1998
Annual Meeting of Shareowners. Nominees: Clifford L. Alexander, Jr., Mary
Johnston Evans, John R. Meyer and James R. Peterson.
[ ] FOR all nominees listed above, except vote withheld from the
following nominees (if any):
________________________________________________
[ ] WITHHOLD authority to vote for all nominees
(2) Approval of the Corporate Management Incentive Plan. Mark only one.
[ ]FOR [ ]AGAINST [ ]ABSTAIN
(3) Approval of Key Employees Performance Unit Plan. Mark only one.
[ ]FOR [ ]AGAINST [ ]ABSTAIN
(4) Approval of amendments to the 1991 Key Employees Stock Option Plan. Mark
only one.
[ ]FOR [ ]AGAINST [ ]ABSTAIN
(5) Approval of amendment to the 1982 Key Employees Stock Option Plan. Mark only
one.
[ ]FOR [ ]AGAINST [ ]ABSTAIN
(6) Approval of amendment to the 1989 Key Employees Restricted Stock Plan. Mark
only one.
[ ]FOR [ ]AGAINST [ ]ABSTAIN
(Please Turn Over and Sign)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7) Approval of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation Restricted Stock Plan for
Non-Employee Directors. Mark only one.
[ ]FOR [ ]AGAINST [ ]ABSTAIN
(8) Approval of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as independent public accountants for
the year 1995. Mark only one.
[ ]FOR [ ]AGAINST [ ]ABSTAIN
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST ITEM (9).
(9) Approval of a Shareowner proposal regarding implementation of the MacBride
Principles in Northern Ireland. Mark only one.
[ ]FOR [ ]AGAINST [ ]ABSTAIN
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. A PROXY WHICH IS SIGNED
AND RETURNED BY A SHAREOWNER OF RECORD OR A PARTICIPANT IN THE PPP OR IN THE
DPPP WITHOUT SPECIFICATION MARKED IN THE INSTRUCTION BOXES WILL BE VOTED FOR
ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES IDENTIFIED IN ITEM (1), FOR ITEMS (2), (3), (4), (5),
(6), (7) AND (8), AND AGAINST ITEM (9). THE TRUSTEE OF THE PPP AND OF THE DPPP
WILL VOTE ALL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK HELD IN THE PPP AND IN THE DPPP FOR WHICH
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED PRIOR TO APRIL 11, 1995 IN THE SAME
PROPORTION AS THOSE RESPECTIVE PPP AND DPPP SHARES FOR WHICH IT HAS RECEIVED
INSTRUCTIONS.
Dated: , 1995
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
Signature(s)
Please sign exactly as the name
appears at left. Joint owners
should each sign. Executors,
administrators, trustees, etc.
should so indicate when signing and
sign as required by the authority
held.
Proxy form begins on the reverse
side. Please vote, date, sign, and
return immediately.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
1982 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1982 KEY EMPLOYEES STOCK OPTION PLAN
FOR
THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
1. Purpose of the Plan
The purpose of the Plan is to aid The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (herein
called the "Company") and its subsidiaries in securing and retaining key
employees of outstanding ability and to motivate such employees to exert their
best efforts on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries by providing
incentive through the award of stock options and stock appreciation rights. The
Company expects that it will benefit from the added interest which such key
employees will have in the welfare of the Company as a result of their
proprietary interest in the Company's success.
2. Stock Subject to the Plan
The total number of shares of Common Stock of the Company which may be
issued under the Plan is 7,600,000. The shares may consist, in whole or in part,
of unissued shares or treasury shares. Issuance of shares of Common Stock upon
exercise of an option or reduction of the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to an option upon exercise of a stock appreciation right shall reduce
the total number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan. Shares
which are subject to unexercised stock options which terminate or lapse may be
optioned again under the Plan.
3. Administration
The Board of Directors of the Company shall appoint an Executive
Compensation and Stock Option Committee (herein called the "Committee")
consisting of at least three members of the Board of Directors who shall
administer the Plan and serve at the pleasure of the Board. Each member of the
Committee shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan and shall not at any
time within one year prior to appointment have been eligible for selection as a
person to whom stock may have been allocated or to whom stock options or stock
appreciation rights of the Company or any of its affiliates may have been
granted pursuant to the Plan or any other plan of the Company or its affiliates.
The Committee shall have the authority, consistent with the Plan, to determine
the provisions of the stock options and stock appreciation rights to be granted,
to interpret the Plan and the stock options and the stock appreciation rights
granted under the Plan, to adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations for
the administration of the Plan, the stock options and the stock appreciation
rights and generally to conduct and administer the Plan and to make all
determinations in connection therewith which may be necessary or advisable, and
all such actions of the Committee shall be binding upon all participants. The
Committee shall require payment of any amount the Company may determine to be
necessary to withhold for federal, state or local taxes as a result of the
exercise of a stock option or a stock appreciation right. Fair market value of
the Common Stock as of a given date shall be determined in accordance with
procedures established by the Committee.
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4. Eligibility
Key employees (but not members of the Committee and any person who serves
only as a director) of the Company and its subsidiaries (within the meaning of
Section 425(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (the "Code")),
who are from time to time responsible for the management, growth and protection
of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, are eligible to be granted
stock options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan. The participants
under the Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Committee, in its sole
discretion, from among those eligible, and the Committee shall determine, in its
sole discretion, the number of shares to be covered by the stock options or
stock appreciation rights or both granted to each participant. An employee may
not be granted a stock option, however, if at the time such option is to be
granted, such employee owns stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or of any such subsidiary. For purposes of the preceding
sentence, the attribution rules of stock ownership set forth in Section 425(d)
of the Code shall apply. The granting of a stock option or stock appreciation
right under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company or any subsidiary
to continue the employment of an optionee and shall not lessen or affect the
right to terminate the employment of an optionee.
5. Limitations
No stock option may be granted under the Plan after January 19, 1992, but
stock options theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.
6. Terms and Conditions of Stock Options
Stock options granted under the Plan shall be, as determined by the
Committee, non-qualified, incentive or other stock options for federal income
tax purposes, as evidenced by option grants, and shall be subject to the
foregoing and the following terms and conditions and to such other terms and
conditions, not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee shall determine:
(a) Option Price. The option price per share shall be determined by
the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of
the Common Stock on the date an option is granted.
(b) Exercisability. Stock options granted under the Plan shall be
exercisable at such time and upon such terms and conditions as may be
determined by the Committee, but in no event shall an option be exercisable
more than ten years after the date it is granted.
(c) First Year Non-Exercisability. Except as provided in Paragraph 9
of the Plan, no stock option shall be exercisable during the year ending on
the first anniversary date of the granting of the option.
(d) Limitation on Incentive Stock Options. The aggregate fair market
value (determined as of the time the options are granted) of the stock with
respect to which incentive stock options
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may be exercised for the first time by any optionee in any calendar year
shall not exceed $100,000. This limitation shall apply to incentive stock
options granted after December 31, 1986 under all stock option plans of the
optionee's employer corporation and its parent and subsidiary corporations,
if any.
(e) Exercise of Stock Options. Except as otherwise provided in the
Plan or the option, a stock option may be exercised for all, or from time
to time any part, of the shares for which it is then exercisable. The
purchase price for the shares as to which an option is exercised shall be
paid to the Company in full at the time of exercise at the election of the
optionee (i) in cash, (ii) in shares of Common Stock of the Company having
a fair market value equal to the option price for the shares being
purchased and satisfying such other requirements as may be imposed by the
Committee or (iii) partly in cash and partly in such shares of Common Stock
of the Company. The Committee may permit the optionee to elect, subject to
such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, to have the
number of shares deliverable to the optionee as a result of the exercise
reduced by a number sufficient to pay the amount the Company determines to
be necessary to withhold for federal, state or local taxes as a result of
the exercise of the option, up to the amount calculated by applying the
optionee's maximum marginal tax rate. No optionee shall have any rights to
dividends or other rights of a shareowner with respect to shares subject to
an option until the optionee has given written notice of exercise of the
option, paid in full for such shares and, if requested, given the
representation described in Paragraph 6(i) of the Plan.
(f) Exercisability Upon Termination of Employment by Death. If an
optionee's employment by the Company or a subsidiary terminates by reason
of death one year or more after the date of grant of a stock option, the
option thereafter may be exercised, during the three years after the date
of death or the remaining stated period of the option, whichever period is
shorter, to the extent to which such option was exercisable at the time of
death or thereafter would become exercisable during the three-year period
after the date of death in accordance with its terms.
(g) Exercisability Upon Termination of Employment by Disability or
Retirement. If an optionee's employment by the Company or a subsidiary
terminates by reason of disability or retirement one year or more after the
date of grant of an option, the option thereafter may be exercised, during
the five years after the date of such termination of employment or the
remaining stated period of the option, whichever period is shorter, to the
extent to which such option was exercisable at the time of such termination
of employment or thereafter would become exercisable during such period in
accordance with its terms; provided, however, that if the optionee dies
within a period of five years after such termination of employment, any
unexercised stock option may be exercised thereafter, during either (1) the
period ending on the later of (i) five years after such termination of
employment and (ii) one year after the date of death or (2) the period
remaining in the stated term of the option, whichever period is shorter, to
the extent to which such option was exercisable at the time of his death or
thereafter would become exercisable during the remainder of the five-year
period after such termination of employment in accordance with its terms.
For purposes of this Section 6, "retirement" shall mean termination of
employment with the Company or a subsidiary after the optionee has attained
age 55 and completed ten or more years of employment; or after the optionee
has attained age 65, regardless of the length of such optionee's
employment. An optionee shall not be considered disabled for purposes of
this
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Section 6, unless he or she furnishes such medical or other evidence of the
existence of the disability as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may
require.
(h) Effect of Other Termination of Employment. If a participant's
employment terminates for any reason, other than disability, death or
retirement one year or more after the date of grant of a stock option or
stock appreciation right, each stock option and stock appreciation right
held by such participant shall thereupon terminate.
(i) Additional Agreements of Optionee and Restrictions on Transfer.
The Committee may require each person purchasing shares pursuant to
exercise of a stock option to represent to and agree with the Company in
writing that the shares are being acquired without a view to distribution
thereof. The certificates for shares so purchased may include any legend
which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on
transfers. The Committee also may impose, in its discretion, as a condition
of any option, any restrictions on the transferability of shares acquired
through the exercise of such option as it may deem fit. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may impose conditions
restricting absolutely the transferability of shares acquired through the
exercise of options for such periods as the Committee may determine and,
further, in the event the optionee's employment by the Company or a
subsidiary terminates during the period in which such shares are
nontransferable, the optionee may be required, if required by the related
option agreement, to sell such shares back to the Company at such price and
on such other terms as the Committee may have specified in the option
agreement.
(j) Nontransferability of Stock Options. A stock option shall not be
transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution. During the lifetime of an optionee an option
shall be exercisable only by the optionee. An option exercisable after the
death of an optionee may be exercised by the legatees, personal
representatives or distributees of the optionee.
7. Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights
(a) Grants. The Committee also may grant stock appreciation rights in
connection with stock options granted under the Plan, either at the time of
grant of options or subsequently. Stock appreciation rights shall cover the same
shares covered by an option (or such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as
the Committee may determine) and shall be subject to the same terms and
conditions as the option except for such additional limitations as are
contemplated by this Paragraph 7 (or as may be included in a stock appreciation
right granted hereunder).
(b) Terms. Each stock appreciation right shall entitle an optionee to
surrender to the Company an unexercised option, or any portion thereof, and to
receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount equal to the excess of
the fair market value on the exercise date of one share of Common Stock over the
option price per share times the number of shares covered by the option, or
portion thereof, which is surrendered. The date a notice of exercise is received
by the Company shall be the exercise date. Payment shall be made in shares of
Common Stock or in cash, or partly in shares and partly in cash, valued at such
fair market value, all as shall be determined by the Committee. Stock
appreciation rights
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may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written
notice of exercise stating the number of shares of Common Stock subject to an
exercisable option with respect to which the stock appreciation right is being
exercised. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued in payment for
stock appreciation rights, but instead cash will be paid for a fraction or, if
the Committee should so determine, the number of shares will be rounded downward
to the next whole share.
(c) Limitations on Exercisability. The Committee shall impose such
conditions upon the exercisability of stock appreciation rights as will result,
except upon the occurrence of an event contemplated by limited stock
appreciation rights granted pursuant to Paragraph 7(d) or contemplated by the
provisions of Paragraph 9, in the amount to be charged against the Company's
consolidated income by reason of stock appreciation rights not to exceed, in any
one calendar year, two percent of the Company's prior calendar year's
consolidated income before income taxes. The Committee also may impose, in its
discretion, such other conditions upon the exercisability of stock appreciation
rights as it may deem fit.
(d) Limited Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant limited
stock appreciation rights which are exercisable upon the occurrence of specified
contingent events. Such stock appreciation rights may provide for a different
method of determining appreciation, may specify that payment will be made only
in cash and may provide that related stock options or stock appreciation rights
or both are not exercisable while such limited stock appreciation rights are
exercisable. Unless the context otherwise requires, whenever the term "stock
appreciation right" is used in the Plan, such term shall include limited stock
appreciation rights.
8. Transfers and Leaves of Absence
For purposes of the Plan: (a) a transfer of an employee from the Company to
a 50% or more owned subsidiary, partnership, venture or other affiliate (whether
or not incorporated) or vice versa, or from one such subsidiary, partnership,
venture or other affiliate to another, (b) a leave of absence, duly authorized
by the Company, for military service or sickness or for any other purpose
approved by the Company if the period of such leave does not exceed 90 days, or
(c) a leave of absence in excess of 90 days, duly authorized in writing by the
Company, provided the employee's right to re-employment is guaranteed either by
statute or by contract, shall not be deemed a termination of employment under
the Plan.
9. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization or Other Events
Upon changes in the Common Stock of the Company by reason of a stock
dividend, stock split, reverse split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation,
combination or exchange of shares, separation, reorganization or liquidation,
the number and class of shares available under the Plan as to which stock
options or stock appreciation rights may be granted, the number and class of
shares under each option and the option price per share, and the terms of stock
appreciation rights shall be correspondingly adjusted by the Committee, such
adjustments to be made in the case of outstanding options without change in the
total price applicable to such options. In the event of a merger, consolidation,
combination, reorganization or other transaction in which the Company will not
be the surviving corporation, an optionee shall be entitled to options on that
number of shares of stock in the new corporation which the
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<PAGE>
optionee would have received had the optionee exercised all of the unexercised
options available to the optionee under the Plan, whether or not then
exercisable, at the instant immediately prior to the effective date of such
transaction, and if such unexercised options had related stock appreciation
rights the optionee also will receive new stock appreciation rights related to
the new options. Thereafter, adjustments as provided above shall relate to the
options or stock appreciation rights of the new corporation. Except as otherwise
specifically provided in the stock option or stock appreciation right, in the
event of a Change in Control, merger, consolidation, combination, reorganization
or other transaction in which the shareowners of the Company will receive cash
or securities (other than common stock) or in the event that an offer is made to
the holders of Common Stock of the Company to sell or exchange such Common Stock
for cash, securities or stock of another corporation and such offer, if
accepted, would result in the offeror becoming the owner of (a) at least 50% of
the outstanding Common Stock of the Company or (b) such lesser percentage of the
outstanding Common Stock which the Committee in its sole discretion determines
will materially adversely affect the market value of the Common Stock after the
tender or exchange offer, the Committee shall, prior to the shareowners' vote on
such transaction or prior to the expiration date (without extensions) of the
tender or exchange offer, (i) accelerate the time of exercise so that all stock
options and stock appreciation rights which are outstanding shall become
immediately exercisable in full without regard to any limitations of time or
amount otherwise contained in the Plan or the options or stock appreciation
rights and/or (ii) determine that the options and stock appreciation rights
shall be adjusted and make such adjustments by substituting for Common Stock of
the Company subject to options and stock appreciation rights, common stock of
the surviving corporation or offeror if such stock of such corporation is
publicly traded or, if such stock is not publicly traded, by substituting common
stock of a parent of the surviving corporation or offeror if the stock of such
parent is publicly traded, in which event the aggregate option price shall
remain the same and the number of shares subject to option shall be the number
of shares which could have been purchased on the closing day of such transaction
or the expiration date of the offer with the proceeds which would have been
received by the optionee if the option had been exercised in full prior to such
transaction or expiration date and the optionee had exchanged all of such shares
in the transaction or sold or exchanged all of such shares pursuant to the
tender or exchange offer, and if any such option has related stock appreciation
rights, the stock appreciation rights shall likewise be adjusted. No optionee
shall have any right to prevent the consummation of any of the foregoing acts
affecting the number of shares available to the optionee, but the optionee's
remedy shall be limited to a determination by an appropriate court of the number
of shares or cash to which the optionee shall thereafter be entitled and
appropriate orders for the issuance of such shares or payment of such cash. For
purposes of this Paragraph 9, "Change in Control" means (i) any "person", as
such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (other than the Company, any trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the
Company, or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareowners of
the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of
the Company), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities; (ii) during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any
new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into
an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (i),
(iii), or (iv) of this sentence) whose election by the Board or nomination for
election by the Company's shareowners was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors
at the beginning of the
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period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; (iii) the
shareowners of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with
any other company, other than (1) a merger or consolidation which would result
in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined
voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (2) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or
similar transaction) in which no "person" (as hereinabove defined) acquires more
than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
securities; or (iv) the shareowners of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the
Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.
10. Use of Proceeds
Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to exercise of
stock options granted under the Plan shall constitute general funds of the
Company.
11. Amendments
The Board of Directors may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no
amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the
rights of any optionee under any option theretofore granted, without the
optionee's consent, or which, without the approval of the shareowners of the
Company, would:
(a) Except as is provided in Paragraph 9 of the Plan, increase the
total number of shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan.
(b) Decrease the option price to less than 100% of fair market value
on the date of grant of an option.
(c) Change the employees (or class of employees) eligible to receive
stock options under the Plan.
(d) Materially increase the benefits accruing to employees
participating under the Plan.
12. Effectiveness of the Plan
The Plan shall be submitted within one year of the date of its adoption to
the shareowners of the Company for their approval, and if not so approved within
that period, the Plan and all options and stock appreciation rights granted
hereunder shall be void and of no force or effect.
7
