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SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
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 [_]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [X]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
ERLY INDUSTRIES INC.
---------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
THE POWELL GROUP
FARMERS RICE MILLING COMPANY, INC.
NANETTE N. KELLEY
-----------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
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IMPORTANT MATERIALS FOR SHAREHOLDERS OF ERLY INDUSTRIES INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
OF
THE POWELL GROUP
FARMERS RICE MILLING COMPANY, INC.
NANETTE N. KELLEY
IN OPPOSITION TO MANAGEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
SEPTEMBER 26, 1997
Definitive copies of this proxy statement, the accompanying letter and the
enclosed form of proxy are expected to be furnished by and on behalf of The
Powell Group ("TPG"), Farmers Rice Milling Company, Inc. ("Farmers Rice") and
Nanette N. Kelley (together with TPG and Farmers Rice, "The Powell Group") on
or about September 5, 1997, in connection with the solicitation by The Powell
Group from the holders of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Common Stock"), of ERLY Industries Inc., a California corporation
("ERLY" or the "Company"), of proxies by The Powell Group for use at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for Friday, September 26, 1997 at
Westwood Marquis Hotel, 930 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, California at 10:00
a.m. or any adjournments or postponements thereof (the "Annual Meeting").
At the Annual Meeting, five directors are to be elected to hold office until
the next annual meeting and until their successors have been elected and
qualified. In addition, the Company proposes to amend its Articles of
Incorporation to eliminate cumulative voting (the "Cumulative Voting
Proposal") and to eliminate the right of shareholders to take action by
written consent (the "Written Consent Proposal"). The Powell Group is
soliciting your proxy in support of the five nominees named below (the "Powell
Nominees") to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board" or "Board of
Directors") and against the Cumulative Voting Proposal and the Written Consent
Proposal. Shares represented by proxies on the accompanying BLUE proxy card
(the "Blue Proxy") which are returned properly executed will be voted in
accordance with the instructions thereon and in the discretion of the proxies
named therein with respect to any other matter that properly comes before the
Annual Meeting. Where no vote is specified on the BLUE Proxy but such proxy is
returned and signed, the proxy represented thereby will be voted AGAINST the
Cumulative Voting Proposal, AGAINST the Written Consent Proposal, FOR the
election of the Powell Nominees and in the discretion of the proxies named
therein with respect to any other matter that properly comes before the Annual
Meeting.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. If you agree with the reasons for The Powell Group's
solicitation set forth below and believe that the election of the Powell
Nominees to the Board of Directors can make a difference, The Powell Group
urges you to vote for the election of the Powell Nominees, no matter how many
or how few shares you own, by signing, dating and mailing the enclosed BLUE
Proxy.
The Powell Group urges you NOT to sign any proxy card sent to you by the
Company. If you have already voted the Board of Directors' proxy card, you
have every right to change your vote by signing and mailing the enclosed BLUE
Proxy to The Powell Group in the envelope provided. ONLY YOUR LATEST DATED
PROXY WILL COUNT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
If your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank or nominee,
only they can vote such shares and only upon receipt of your specific
instructions. Accordingly, please contact the person responsible for your
account and give instructions for such shares to be voted.
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If your shares are registered in more than one name, the BLUE Proxy must be
signed by all such persons to ensure that all shares are voted.
GENERAL
Only holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on August
22, 1997 (the "Record Date") are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Holders of record of shares of Common Stock on the Record Date are urged to
submit a proxy even if such shares have been sold after the Record Date. The
Powell Group believes that on the Record Date, there were 5,220,337 shares of
Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Holders of shares of
Common Stock have one vote for each share, and may have cumulative voting
rights, with respect to the election of directors. No shareholder may cumulate
votes unless a shareholder has announced at the Annual Meeting his or her
intention to do so, but if any shareholder makes such an announcement, all
shareholders may cumulate votes. Cumulative voting rights entitle a
shareholder to give one nominee as many votes as is equal to the number of
directors to be elected, multiplied by the number of shares owned by him or
her, or to distribute his or her votes on the same principle among two or more
nominees, as he or she sees fit. The five nominees for director receiving the
highest number of votes at the Annual Meeting will be elected. The Powell
Group intends to exercise cumulative voting rights at the Annual Meeting so
cumulative voting will be applicable. The Powell Group proxyholders intend to
cumulate and cast their votes, at their discretion, in order to elect as many
of the Powell Nominees as possible. DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO CUMULATE VOTES
IS HEREBY SOLICITED BY THE POWELL GROUP.
A proxy executed by a shareholder may be revoked at any time prior to the
time that the vote authorized by the executed proxy is taken by submitting a
written, dated revocation of such proxy covering the same shares. A revocation
may be in any written form validly signed by the record holder as long as it
clearly states that the proxy previously given is no longer effective and must
be executed and delivered prior to the time that the vote authorized by the
executed proxy is taken. The revocation may be delivered to The Powell Group,
P.O. Box 788, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821 Attn.: Nanette N. Kelley. Although
a revocation delivered only to the Company will be effective to revoke a
previously executed proxy, The Powell Group requests that if a revocation is
delivered to the Company, a photocopy of the revocation also be delivered to
The Powell Group, at the address set forth above, so that The Powell Group
will be aware of such revocation. The principal executive offices of the
Company are located at 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1800, Los Angeles,
California 90024, and its phone number is (213) 879-1480.
REASONS FOR THE SOLICITATION
The Powell Group believes that shareholders should vote FOR the Powell
Nominees so that the Board of Directors may be replaced with a slate of
nominees, each of whom is committed to enhancing value for all shareholders by
turning the Company around and making it profitable on a consistent basis. The
Powell Group believes that the current management of ERLY is entrenched and
ineffective, has not operated the Company so as to enhance shareholder value
and lacks the capacity to manage the Company for the benefit of its
shareholders over the long term. The Powell Group believes that management,
particularly Gerald D. Murphy and his son Douglas A. Murphy, is interested in
running the Company for its own benefit, even when their actions may be to the
detriment of shareholders. In general, The Powell Group believes that, under
the circumstances, the only viable option for ERLY's shareholders is to
replace management entirely.
The Powell Group believes that since 1987, the management of ERLY has done
virtually nothing to enhance the value of the Company's Common Stock. During
this period, the Company has suffered through several failed diversification
attempts, a liquidity crisis which brought the Company close to bankruptcy, a
default on its public debt in 1993, delisting of its Common Stock from NASDAQ
for nearly a year, over-leverage with very expensive mortgage notes and a
dismal return to shareholders. In The Powell Group's estimation, the Company's
Common Stock has woefully underperformed the stock market since 1987. On
August 31, 1987, ERLY stock traded at
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$7 1/64 per share (as adjusted for stock dividends in the interim years). On
March 10, 1997, when Farmers Rice and Nanette N. Kelley first purchased shares
of the Company's Common Stock, it closed at $9.00 per share. On June 9, 1997,
the date on which The Powell Group first commenced meeting with a small group
of the Company's shareholders to discuss the Company's performance, the ERLY
Stock traded at $9 7/8 per share. On August 29, 1997, it traded at $8 7/8 per
share. During the same time period, the return of S&P Food Products Companies
has increased approximately 244% and the return of the S&P 500 has increased
approximately 173% while ERLY's stock price has increased only 26.5%.
On July 17, 1997, The Powell Group met with Mr. Gerald D. Murphy, the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, to discuss The Powell Group's desire to
enhance shareholder value for the benefit of all shareholders of the Company.
The Powell Group also explained that in order to achieve its goals of
enhancing shareholder value that it was willing to engage in a consent/proxy
solicitation to remove the existing directors and to replace them with The
Powell Group's qualified and experienced nominees. At the meeting, Ms. Nanette
N. Kelley, President and Chief Executive Officer of each of TPG and Farmers
Rice, expressed The Powell Group's willingness to facilitate a sale of the
Common Stock owned by Mr. Gerald Murphy and Mr. Douglas Murphy, the President
and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, at or near fair market value. Ms.
Kelley also outlined various other terms and conditions including The Powell
Group's willingness to allow the Murphys to remain in a consulting capacity in
order to effect an orderly transition of the Board in the event that the Board
and management decided not to resist the proposed consent/proxy solicitation.
Mr. Murphy asked for a three-week period to consider the proposals and to talk
to shareholders. Ms. Kelley indicated that The Powell Group was prepared to
move forward promptly and requested another meeting on July 18, 1997 at 9:00
a.m. On July 18, 1997, The Powell Group met again briefly with Mr. Murphy,
whose counsel stated Mr. Murphy's rejection of The Powell Group's proposals to
nominate and/or elect The Powell Group's nominees as directors of the Company
and indicated that Mr. Murphy did not wish to sell his shares of Common Stock.
After the meetings on July 17 and 18, through intermediaries, Mr. Murphy
indicated a possible willingness to sell his shares in the Company at a price
of $25.00 per share, more than twice the stock's trading price. The Powell
Group disregarded Mr. Murphy's offer in the belief that it represented neither
a realistic proposal (in light of the then current trading price for the
stock) nor a good faith offer to sell his shares. As a result of Mr. Murphy's
rejection of The Powell Group's proposals, The Powell Group has determined to
proceed with the proxy solicitation.
On July 24, 1997, Farmers Rice filed a derivative complaint on behalf of the
Company and its 81% owned subsidiary American Rice, Inc. ("ARI") against
Gerald D. Murphy, Douglas A. Murphy, the Company and ARI in the United States
District Court, Central District of California. In the complaint, Farmers Rice
alleged (1) breach of fiduciary duty, (2) waste of corporate assets and (3)
illegal corporate loan. The derivative complaint further requested injunctive
relief prohibiting the Company and ARI from making on-going payments on behalf
of the Murphys and requiring on-going indemnification by the Murphys to the
Company and ARI. The Company and ARI, joined by the Murphys, have filed a
motion to dismiss the complaint solely for failure to make a demand on the
board of directors of the Company before filing the lawsuit. Farmers Rice
intends to vigorously oppose the motion. A hearing on such motion is scheduled
to take place on September 22, 1997.
On July 30, 1997, Nanette Kelley and Farmers Rice delivered to the Company a
request to inspect the accounting books and records of the Company pursuant to
California law. The Company denied this request and on August 13, 1997,
Farmers Rice and Nanette Kelley filed a petition for a writ of mandate in Los
Angeles Superior Court against the Company to compel inspection of the
accounting books and records. A hearing on the motion to grant the relief
requested is presently scheduled to take place on September 17, 1997.
On August 15, 1997, Farmers Rice and Nanette Kelley delivered to the Company
a request for a list of non-objecting beneficial owners ("NOBO List") of
shares of Common Stock. They also requested a Cede or similar list in the
Company's possession showing the identities of holders of Common Stock. The
Company denied the request and on August 20, 1997, Farmers Rice and Nanette
Kelley filed a petition for a writ of mandate to compel inspection and copying
of shareholders lists and to postpone the date of the Annual Meeting.
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On August 26, 1997, Farmers Rice and Nanette Kelley submitted to the Company
another request for a record shareholders list as of the Record Date and any
NOBO List or Cede list, as of the Record Date, which were in the Company's
possession or were to come into the Company's possession in connection with
the Annual Meeting. The parties have resolved the litigation with respect to
the shareholders' lists and Farmers Rice and Nanette Kelley will receive the
lists subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions on their part,
including taking the motion off calendar, dismissing the petition without
prejudice and providing an affidavit required by Rule 14a-7 of the federal
proxy rules. The date of the Annual Meeting will not be postponed.
In the event The Powell Group's proxy solicitation results in its obtaining
control of the ERLY Board of Directors, the new board of directors (the
"Powell Board") intends to restructure the Company's management and to elect
Ms. Kelley as the President and Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Spain as the
Managing Director of the Company.
The Powell Group also believes shareholders should vote AGAINST the
Cumulative Voting Proposal and the Written Consent Proposal. The Powell Group
believes that each of these proposals is being introduced by the Company in
order to entrench management in direct response to the efforts by The Powell
Group to exercise its shareholder rights. The Powell Group believes that the
ability of shareholders to act by written consent provides an important means
for shareholders to participate in corporate decision making and should be
retained. The Powell Group actively considered entering into a consent
solicitation, among other things, to remove the incumbent directors and to
call a special meeting of shareholders to elect their replacements. Although
The Powell Group did circulate preliminary consent materials to a very limited
number of shareholders, when it became apparent that the Company intended to
hold its Annual Meeting on September 26, 1997, The Powell Group elected not to
proceed with the removal effort by written consent and instead chose to engage
in a proxy contest with respect to the election of directors at the Annual
Meeting. However, should the Company decide to delay the Annual Meeting or
move the record date for the meeting, The Powell Group could decide to proceed
with the consent solicitation. The Powell Group believes that management's
Written Consent Proposal would make it more difficult for The Powell Group or
any other shareholder to hold management accountable and to act independently
from management to approve fundamental matters relating to the Company.
Cumulative voting in the election of directors as described above under
"General" is required under California law with certain exceptions and is
designed to provide for fair representation at the Board level for minority
shareholders. A simple majority of shareholders in attendance at any
shareholders meeting is required to elect each director, but with cumulative
voting, a group of minority shareholders can be assured of representation on
the board if it holds just over one-sixth ( 1/6) of the outstanding shares.
Absent cumulative voting, a simple majority of the Company's shareholders in
attendance at an annual meeting would be entitled to elect all of the members
of the Company's Board, which means that, if existing management, which
currently owns approximately 38% of the outstanding shares, can obtain proxies
for only 13% of the outstanding shares, management could remain in control of
the Company and, in the Powell Group's view, unaccountable to shareholders
indefinitely. Moreover, The Powell Group believes that cumulative voting for
directors promotes the presentation of differing views of shareholders and is
therefore an important element of corporate shareholder democracy.
Consequently, The Powell Group recommends you vote AGAINST the Cumulative
Voting Proposal and the Written Consent Proposal.
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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Carefully review the Proxy Statement and the enclosed materials. YOUR VOTE
IS IMPORTANT. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON YOUR
PROXY IS THE ONLY MEANS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO VOTE. No matter how many or how
few shares you own, please vote FOR the election of the Powell Nominees for
director and AGAINST the Cumulative Voting Proposal and the Written Consent
Proposal by so indicating and by signing, marking, dating and mailing the
enclosed BLUE Proxy promptly.
If you own shares of the Company but your stock certificate is held for you
by a brokerage firm, bank or other institution, it is very likely that the
stock certificate is actually in the name of such brokerage firm, bank or
other institution. If so, only it can execute a BLUE Proxy and vote your
shares of Common Stock. The brokerage firm, bank, or other institution holding
the shares for you is required to forward proxy materials to you and solicit
your instructions with respect to the granting of proxies; it cannot vote your
shares unless it receives your specific instructions.
If your shares are held in your name, please mark, sign, date and mail the
enclosed BLUE Proxy to The Powell Group in the postage-paid envelope provided.
If your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank nominee or other
institution, you should receive a voting instruction form and envelope from
such institution which should be used to give your instructions to the person
responsible for your account. Only that institution can vote your shares and
only upon receipt of specific instructions from you. Remember, no matter how
many shares you own, your vote is important. Please act promptly in executing
and mailing your BLUE Proxy.
The Powell Group has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. ("D.F. King") to assist
in the proxy process. If you have any questions about giving your proxy or
require assistance in voting your shares, please contact:
D.F. KING & CO., INC.
77 Water Street
New York, New York 10005
(212) 269-5550 (call collect) or
CALL TOLL FREE: (800) 290-6430
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THE POWELL GROUP AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS
TPG is a diversified holding company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Founded in 1895, TPG owns and operates subsidiaries in the business of rice
milling, rice farming and rice hull-fired power generation. TPG also has
interests in radio broadcasting, travel management, land development,
commercial real estate development and holdings, timber holdings and
residential construction. Nanette N. Kelley, elected President and Chief
Executive Officer of TPG in 1991, led a restructuring of TPG's business which
occurred over the course of three years. Thereafter, she implemented a
strategic plan which included selling unprofitable assets, integrating TPG's
rice business and real estate business and acquiring positions in the radio
broadcast industry.
TPG's wholly-owned subsidiary, Farmers Rice Milling Company, Inc., a
Louisiana corporation ("Farmers Rice"), engages in the purchase and milling of
rough rice and the sale of rice and rice byproducts. Its mill is located at
Chloe, Louisiana, approximately five miles east of Lake Charles, Louisiana,
and is capable of milling 900 cwts (hundred weights) of rough paddy rice per
hour. Hardy Rice Dryer, a division of Farmers Rice, operates in Lacassane,
Louisiana as Louisiana's largest rough rice and soybean storage facility. The
mill is equipped with modern milling, sorting, conveying and aspirating
equipment and has the ability to mill a wide spectrum of rice mixtures to meet
government, export and domestic specifications. It purchases its rough rice
from farmers, agricultural cooperatives and brokers and sells the milled rice
to grain exporters in the United States, foreign governments and other large
consumer groups. The mill does not produce packaged rice for the domestic or
foreign retail trade. The mill also produces rice bran and broken rice for the
domestic brewing and animal feed businesses. The mill employs 56 people in the
milling process and operates 24 hours a day all year, with the exception of
downtime for fumigation, maintenance and unforeseen market conditions.
The Powell Group does not believe that it is a direct competitor of the
Company or ARI. Farmers Rice and ARI are approximately 300 miles apart, and,
as a result, the two companies purchase substantially all of their rice from
different suppliers. In fact, The Powell Group estimates that less than one-
half of one percent of the rough rice purchased by Farmers Rice is available
to ARI for purchase in its market area. Farmers Rice is in the rice commodity
business, with no private labels and no packaging in sizes smaller than 25
pound bags. ARI, according to its public filings, is in the private label rice
business and sells branded, packaged rice in sizes as small as one-pound bags.
As a consequence, ARI sells to different purchasers through different
distribution channels than Farmers Rice. Even though a portion of ARI's
business could be characterized as a commodity business similar to Farmers
Rice, given their geographic separation, rice processed and sold by the two
companies to private labellers is not, except in rare circumstances, resold at
the retail level in common market areas. Because the two companies are not in
direct competition, The Powell Group does not believe that there are material
conflicts of interest that would arise on the Board of Directors from the
operations of the two companies, if The Powell Group's nominees were elected
to the ERLY Board.
Although this Proxy Solicitation is being undertaken by TPG, Farmers Rice
and Nanette N. Kelley, certain other persons may be deemed "participants" in
this proxy solicitation, including each of the Powell Nominees (in addition to
Ms. Kelley, William D. Blake, Robert Arthur Seale, Eugene A. Cafiero and John
M. Spain), First Global Securities, Inc. ("First Global"), The Powell Group's
financial advisor, and Noble B. Trenham, the Co-Chairman and Chief Investment
Officer of First Global. In July 1987, Mr. Trenham and certain other parties
were the subject of a civil injunctive action by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") alleging certain violations of the securities laws,
including Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Without
admitting or denying the allegations against him, Mr. Trenham consented to the
entry of a final judgment permanently enjoining and restraining him from
further violations of those provisions of the federal securities laws which he
was alleged to have violated. In connection with the entry of judgment, Mr.
Trenham waived, and the court did not enter, any findings of fact or
conclusions of law.
In connection with the Company's 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Mr.
Trenham discussed with Mr. Gerald Murphy the possibility of adding Mr. Cafiero
to the ERLY Board of Directors. Prior to the meeting, Mr. Murphy met Mr.
Cafiero and appeared to be agreeable to Mr. Trenham's proposal but suggested
that the addition should occur shortly after the meeting rather than at the
annual meeting and following a meeting
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between Mr. Cafiero and ERLY's outside directors. Although Mr. Cafiero met
with two outside directors of ERLY, no further steps were ever taken by Mr.
Murphy to add Mr. Cafiero to the Company's Board of Directors following the
annual meeting. In 1989, First Global, Mr. Trenham and certain other
shareholders considered, but did not pursue, a proxy contest for the election
of directors, after Mr. Murphy agreed to propose and elect Mr. Mark C.
Hungerford as a director of ERLY.
As of the date hereof, Farmers Rice owns an aggregate of 171,933 shares of
the Company's Common Stock and Nanette N. Kelley owns an aggregate of 16,400
shares of the Company's Common Stock, together, representing in the aggregate
approximately 3.6% of the Common Stock currently outstanding. The Powell Group
and the other participants in the proxy solicitation listed above together own
an aggregate of 202,975 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately
3.9% of the Common Stock currently outstanding. See "Security Ownership--
Security Ownership of The Powell Group and Other Participants." Accordingly,
The Powell Group believes that its interests are aligned with the interests of
all ERLY shareholders.
In the event The Powell Group's proxy solicitation results in its obtaining
control of the ERLY Board of Directors, the new board of directors of the
Company intends to restructure the Company's management as the first step in
its efforts to enhance shareholder value. The new board intends to elect
Nanette N. Kelley as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and
John M. Spain, Managing Director of TPG and Farmers Rice, as Managing Director
of the Company. The Powell Group generally intends to reorganize the Company
and ARI, to reduce their combined annual operating costs, expand their global
sales, stabilize relations with major customers and enter into new markets.
Based upon discussions with potential financing sources and subject to the
repayment terms of the notes described below, The Powell Group believes that
under new management it will be possible to refinance ARI's $100 million
principal amount of 13% Mortgage Notes at more favorable interest rates
thereby further reducing the Company's combined expenses. The Powell Group
expects to consider elimination of the Company's non-core business operations
through the possible sale of such operations, although The Powell Group at
present has not identified any specific assets or operations for elimination.
The Powell Group further expects to consider combining the Company's
operations with that of The Powell Group, with Farmers Rice as a wholly-owned
subsidiary, but has no present plans to do so. If and to the extent that any
such transaction requires the approval of shareholders of the Company, the
shareholders of the Company will be given the opportunity to vote on such
transaction. The Powell Group may also consider reducing overhead costs by
closing the Company's headquarters in Los Angeles and consolidating executive
offices in Louisiana. Except for the election of officers described above, The
Powell Group does not currently have any specific plans to implement its
objectives and will require additional information and time to analyze and
understand fully the existing operations of ERLY before proposing any specific
plans. Any actions undertaken, however, will be with a view towards enhancing
value for all ERLY shareholders.
Upon a change in control of the Company which also results in a change in
control of ARI or in the event of certain changes in the composition of the
board of directors of ARI, the holders of ARI's 13% Mortgage Notes due 2002
shall have the right to require ARI to repurchase the notes at a purchase
price of 101% of the accreted value of the notes as defined. In such event,
Powell may seek a waiver from the lenders not to exercise such rights. Powell
may also seek, to the extent possible, to refinance such debt; however, the
notes by their terms are not redeemable prior to July 31, 1999 and then only
at a redemption price of 107% of par declining to 100% of par on July 31, 2001
and thereafter. In the event that the holders of the 13% Mortgage Notes
exercise their right of redemption at 101% of the accreted value of the notes,
The Powell Group estimates that the cost to the Company to refinance the
notes, including the payment of the redemption premium, would be approximately
$950,000, which The Powell Group believes would be substantially less than the
savings generated by reduced interest costs. By refinancing the 13% Mortgage
Notes at 9-10% fixed rates (which The Powell Group believes is a fair estimate
of new interest rates that might be obtainable), annual interest costs will be
reduced by almost $5 million.
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INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED
UPON AND RELATED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Except as described herein, neither The Powell Group, the other participants
in this proxy solicitation nor any of their respective associates (i) has
engaged in or has a direct or indirect interest in any transaction or series
of transactions since the beginning of the Company's last fiscal year or in
any currently proposed transaction, to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party where the amount involved was in excess of $60,000,
(ii) is the beneficial or record owner of any securities of the Company or any
parent or subsidiary thereof, (iii) is the record owner of any securities of
the Company of which it may not be deemed to be the beneficial owner, (iv) has
been within the past year, a party to any contract, arrangement or
understanding with any person with respect to any securities of the Company or
(v) has any agreement or understanding with respect to future employment by
the Company or any arrangement or understanding with respect to any future
transactions to which the Company will or may be a party.
See "Security Ownership" for information regarding beneficial ownership of
Common Stock by the participants in this proxy solicitation, persons who
beneficially own more than 5% of the Common Stock and the management of the
Company.
THE POWELL GROUP'S SLATE
William D. Blake, Eugene A. Cafiero, Nanette Noland Kelley, Robert Arthur
Seale and John M. Spain are the Powell Nominees for election to the Company's
Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. Biographical data on each of the
Powell Nominees is set forth below.
WILLIAM D. BLAKE (64) is one of The Powell Group's nominees for director.
Mr. Blake has served since 1961 as General Manager of Quatre Parish Company
and of John A. Bel Estate and since 1988 as President of The Lacassane
Company. These companies are primarily focused in the agriculture/land
holdings field. Mr. Blake's experience extends particularly to the rice,
timber, oil and gas and real estate industries. Mr. Blake also manages a
substantial block of real estate in Louisiana. Mr. Blake has served on the
Board of Directors of the Arts and Humanities Council, the Chamber of
Commerce, the Coordinating Council on Drug Abuse, Kiwanis Club and Community
Development Foundation. He has also served on the Committee of 100 for
Economic Development (Louisiana), the Louisiana Association for Business and
Industry and the Louisiana Council for Fiscal Reform. Mr. Blake graduated from
Louisiana State University in 1955 with a degree in geology.
EUGENE A. CAFIERO (71) is one of The Powell Group's nominees for director.
Mr. Cafiero has been Chairman of Voltarc Technologies, Inc., a major
manufacturer of specialty lamps and wiring devices for germicidal, aerospace,
reprographic, illuminated sign and other applications, since 1993. From 1986
to 1993, Mr. Cafiero served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KD
Holdings, Inc. and KDI Corporation, a diversified manufacturing company. Mr.
Cafiero also served as Chief Executive Officer of Ariadne Australia, Ltd. and
President and Chief Executive Officer of Mid-American Communications. Mr.
Cafiero is the past president and director of Keene Corporation, a
manufacturer of bearings, lighting fixtures, electronics and laminated
products for printed circuit boards and other applications; past president and
chief operating officer and vice chairman of Chrysler Corporation; principle
founder of Computerized Security Systems, maker of electronic locks for the
lodging industry. Mr. Cafiero is a graduate of Dartmouth College and holds a
Master of Science in Industrial Management from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Wittenburg University. He
has served as an overseer at the Tuck School of Business and on the Visiting
Committee of the MIT Sloan School of Business Management.
NANETTE N. KELLEY (38) is one of The Powell Group's nominees for director.
Mrs. Kelley has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Powell
Group since 1991. Mrs. Kelley has served on the Board of Directors of the
Baton Rouge Symphony, on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the
Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce and as a Board Member and Vice
Chairman of the Academic Distinction
8
<PAGE>
Fund. She is currently serving as Secretary/Treasurer of St. James Place, an
accredited Continuing Care Retirement Center, after having served as Chairman
and Vice Chairman. She presently serves on the Board of Trustees of the
Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation, as well as on the Council for a
Better Louisiana, as a Board Member for the LSU College of Business
Administration Partnership for Excellence, as a Trustee for the Public Affairs
Research Council, as a Member of the Executive Committee of and Forum Officer
for the Young President's Organization, and as Vice Chairman of General Health
Systems, an integrated health care delivery system. She serves on the Board of
Directors of Union Planters Bank and The Lacassane Company. She has been
recognized by the Center for Creative Leadership and Beta Gamma Sigma Business
Fraternity. Mrs. Kelley teaches at Louisiana State University in the
undergraduate and MBA programs. She is Music Committee Chairman at her church
and sings in the choir. She holds pilot licenses for single-engine and multi-
engine land and instrument flying machines.
ROBERT ARTHUR SEALE (55) is one of The Powell Group's nominees for director.
Mr. Seale was a senior partner and administrative head of the Personal Tax &
Estates Group of the law firm Vinson & Elkins in Houston, Texas until his
retirement in March 1997. Mr. Seale had practiced law with Vinson & Elkins
since 1969. His practice focused on tax and financial structuring of
businesses involved in mining, aircraft manufacturing, thoroughbred racing and
breeding, banking and real estate development. During the last five years Mr.
Seale has been involved in the tax-free reorganizations of closely held
businesses into family partnerships and "split-offs" of corporations for
business purposes. Mr. Seale currently serves as the Chair of the University
of Texas Health Science Center Planned Giving Committee, President of The
Vivian L. Smith Foundation for Neurologic Research, President of The Lyons
Foundation, Director of The Margaret and J.A. Elkins, Jr. Foundation, Chairman
of Child Advocates, Inc. Endowment and a Director of Child Advocates, Inc. Mr.
Seale is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Association and a Fellow of the Houston Bar
Association. He earned both his undergraduate and Juris Doctor degrees from
Louisiana State University in 1964 and 1967, respectively.
JOHN M. SPAIN (48) is one of The Powell Group's nominees for director. Mr.
Spain has been the Managing Director of The Powell Group since 1995. From 1989
to 1995, Mr. Spain served as the Station Manager and Director of New
Operations for Baton Rouge television station WBRZ-TV. Prior to that time, Mr.
Spain was WBRZ-TV's News Director. Mr. Spain is the current Chairman of the
Baton Rouge Visitors and Convention Committee and President of the Executive
Committee for Louisiana Arts and Science Center. He is the Past President of
the Radio Television News Director's Association and Past Chairman of the ABC
Television Network's News Advisory Board and has served on the National
Accrediting Council for Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and the
National Board of Directors of the American Heart Association.
Each of the nominees has consented to serve as a director and, if elected,
intends to discharge his or her duties as director of the Company in
compliance with all applicable legal requirements, including the general
fiduciary obligations imposed upon corporate directors.
The Board of Directors of the Company has a single class of directors. At
each annual meeting of shareholders, the directors are elected to a one-year
term. The current board was elected on or about September 17, 1996. The
nominees proposed by The Powell Group, if elected, would serve as directors
for terms expiring in or about September 1998 or until the due election and
qualification of their successors. The Powell Group has no reason to believe
any of its nominees will be disqualified or unable or unwilling to serve if
elected. However, in the event that any member of The Powell Group's slate
should become unavailable for any reason, or should it become necessary or
appropriate for The Powell Group to nominate additional persons, The Powell
Group will seek to vote, to the extent permitted by law, the proxies for such
other persons as it nominates.
9
<PAGE>
VOTE REQUIRED
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Five directors shall be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve until the
next annual meeting and until their successors shall be elected and qualified.
As described above under "General," in voting for directors, each shareholder
has the right to cumulate his or her votes and give one candidate a number of
votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number
of votes to which his or her shares are entitled, or to distribute that total
number of votes among as many candidates as he or she desires. The five
candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected.
CUMULATIVE VOTING AND WRITTEN CONSENT PROPOSALS
The affirmative vote of a majority of the Company's outstanding shares of
Common Stock is required to approve each of these proposals which will be
voted on separately.
BROKER NON-VOTES
A "broker non-vote" is a vote withheld by a broker on a particular matter
because the broker has not received instructions from the customer for whose
account the shares are held. Broker non-votes and abstentions will be treated
as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining
the presence of a quorum. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect
on the election of directors. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have the
effect of a no vote on the Cumulative Voting and Written Consent Proposals
because, as stated above under "--Cumulative Voting and Written Consent
Proposals," the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares is
required to approve each of these proposals.
10
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth as of August 22, 1997 (unless otherwise
indicated), to the knowledge of The Powell Group and based on a review of
publicly available information, each person reported to own beneficially more
than 5% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock and each of the directors
and executive officers of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS OF AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP PERCENT OF CLASS(1)
- ------------------- -------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Gerald D. Murphy(2)(3)................ 1,590,817 30.2%
Douglas A. Murphy(2)(4)............... 632,552 12.0%
William H. Burgess(5)(6).............. 210,000 4.0%
Richard N. McCombs(2)(6).............. 137,482 2.6%
Bill J. McFarland(2)(6)............... 46,522 *
Alan M. Wiener(2)(6).................. 4,009 *
Thurston F. Teele(6)(7)............... 0 --
Kennedy Capital Management, Inc.(8)... 585,518 11.2%
All directors and executive officers
as a group (11 persons)(6)(9)........ 2,013,501 37.3%
</TABLE>
- --------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Computed on the basis of 5,220,337 shares outstanding as of August 22,
1997 as reported in the Company's Preliminary Proxy Statement, filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 1997 (the "ERLY
Proxy"). The percentage of shares held assumes that options held by the
particular individual, if any, that are exercisable on August 22, 1997, or
within 60 days of such date, have been exercised, and no others.
(2) The address of such beneficial owner is 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite
1800, Los Angeles, California 90024.
(3) Such information, except percentages, is derived from the ERLY Proxy.
Includes 581,463 shares owned directly by Mr. Gerald Murphy's son, Douglas
A. Murphy, and 5,050 shares held in trust for Mr. Gerald Murphy's
grandson. Also includes 51,089 shares which Douglas A. Murphy has the
right to acquire pursuant to outstanding stock options.
(4) Such information, except percentages, is derived from the ERLY Proxy.
Includes 51,089 shares which Mr. Douglas Murphy has the right to acquire
pursuant to outstanding stock options.
(5) Mr. Burgess' address is 550 Palisades Drive, Palm Springs, California
92262.
(6) Such information, except percentages, is derived from the ERLY Proxy.
(7) Mr. Teele is the President of Chemtronics Industries, Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company. His address is 1133 20th Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20036.
(8) Such information is derived from a Schedule 13G dated February 7, 1997
filed by Kennedy Capital Management, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Kennedy Capital Management, Inc. is an investment advisor. The
address of Kennedy Capital Management, Inc. set forth in its Schedule 13G
is 10829 Olive Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63141.
(9) Includes 173,314 shares which officers of the Company have the right to
acquire pursuant to outstanding stock options.
11
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF THE POWELL GROUP AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS
The names, business addresses, principal business occupations (unless
disclosed elsewhere in this Proxy Statement) and number of shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned as of August 22, 1997, unless otherwise noted, by The
Powell Group and other participants in this solicitation are set forth below.
The number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned includes shares in
which the persons set forth in the table have either investment or voting
power. Unless otherwise indicated, all of such interests are owned directly,
and the indicated person or entity has sole voting and investment power.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS OF AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP PERCENT OF CLASS(1)
- ------------------- -------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
The Powell Group(2)..... 171,933(3) 3.3%
Farmers Rice Milling
Company, Inc.(2)....... 171,933 3.3%
Nanette N. Kelley(2)(4). 188,333(5) 3.6%
William D. Blake(6)..... 14,630 *
John M. Spain(2)........ 171,933(3) 3.3%
Eugene A. Cafiero(7).... 0 --
Robert Arthur Seale(8).. 0 --
First Global Securities,
Inc.(9)................ 5 *
Noble B. Trenham(10).... 12(11) *
</TABLE>
- --------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Computed on the basis of 5,220,337 shares outstanding as of August 22,
1997 as reported in the ERLY Proxy.
(2) The business address of such person is P.O. Box 788, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana 70821.
(3) Includes 171,933 shares held by Farmers Rice Milling Company, Inc.
(4) Ms. Kelley's husband is Timothy Kelley. Mr. Kelley disclaims beneficial
ownership of all of the shares owned by Ms. Kelley pursuant to the terms
of a marriage contract between Mr. and Mrs. Kelley.
(5) Includes 171,933 shares held by Farmers Rice Milling Company, Inc. and
16,400 shares held of record by Ms. Kelley.
(6) The business address of such person is P.O. Box 1447, Lake Charles,
Louisiana 70602. Mr. Blake's wife is Kay Blake. Ms. Blake may be deemed to
share beneficial ownership with respect to some or all of the shares owned
by Mr. Blake. Ms. Blake disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
(7) The business address of such person is 400 Captain Neville Drive,
Waterbury, Connecticut 06705.
(8) The business address of such person is 1331 Lamar Street, Suite 1170,
Houston, Texas 77010.
(9) First Global Securities, Inc. is a broker dealer. The business address of
First Global Securities, Inc. is 790 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 500,
Pasadena, California 91101.
(10) Mr. Trenham's principal business occupation is serving as Co-Chairman and
Chief Investment Officer of First Global Securities, Inc. The business
address of Mr. Trenham is 790 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 500,
Pasadena, California 91101. Mr. Trenham's wife is Susan W. Trenham whose
principal business occupation is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman
of First Global Securities, Inc. Ms. Trenham may be deemed to share
beneficial ownership with respect to the shares owned by First Global
Securities, Inc. and Mr. Trenham.
(11) Includes 5 shares held by First Global, Securities, Inc. and 7 shares
held of record by Mr. Trenham.
12
<PAGE>
PURCHASES AND SALES BY FARMERS RICE MILLING COMPANY, INC. WITHIN THE LAST TWO
YEARS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DATE NUMBER OF SHARES
---- ------------------
<S> <C>
3/10/97................................................... 171,933 (purchase)
PURCHASES AND SALES BY NANETTE N. KELLEY WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS:
<CAPTION>
DATE NUMBER OF SHARES
---- ------------------
<S> <C>
3/10/97................................................... 16,400 (purchase)
PURCHASES AND SALES BY WILLIAM D. BLAKE WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS:
<CAPTION>
DATES NUMBER OF SHARES
----- ------------------
<S> <C>
9/23/96................................................... 1,000 (purchase)
2/24/97................................................... 1,000 (purchase)
4/1/97.................................................... 2,000 (purchase)
4/16/97................................................... 1,000 (purchase)
4/17/97................................................... 1,000 (purchase)
6/24/97................................................... 1,600 (purchase)
7/7/97.................................................... 2,000 (purchase)
7/21/97................................................... 1,000 (purchase)
7/25/97................................................... 500 (purchase)
</TABLE>
SOLICITATION EXPENSES
Proxies will be solicited by mail, telephone, facsimile and other electronic
means, telegram and/or personal solicitation, by officers, employees and
agents of The Powell Group, including its financial advisor, First Global, and
its employees. The Powell Board may also solicit proxies. Other than First
Global, no such persons shall receive additional compensation for such
solicitation. The Powell Group has agreed to pay First Global a fee of
$505,000, plus expenses, if the proxy solicitation is successful. Noble B.
Trenham, a participant in this solicitation, is Co-Chairman and Chief
Investment Officer of First Global.
In addition, The Powell Group has retained D.F. King to act as an advisor in
connection with this proxy solicitation. The Powell Group has agreed to pay
D.F. King a fee estimated not to exceed $50,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses for services in connection with this proxy solicitation.
Approximately 50 persons will be used by D.F. King in its solicitation
efforts.
If your shares are registered in your own name, you may mail your proxy to
The Powell Group in the postage paid envelope provided.
If your shares are held in "street name"--held by your brokerage firm or
bank--immediately instruct your broker or bank representative to execute The
Powell Group's BLUE Proxy on your behalf. You should also mark, sign, date and
return your BLUE Proxy (or voting instruction form) to your broker or banker
when you receive it in the mail. If you have additional questions, please
call:
D.F. KING & CO., INC.
77 Water Street
New York, New York 10005
CALL: (800) 290-6430
FAX: (212) 809-8839
13
<PAGE>
The Powell Group anticipates that a total of approximately $750,000 will be
spent in connection with the proxy solicitation. Actual expenditures may vary
materially from the estimate, however, as many of the expenditures cannot be
readily predicted. To date, expenses of approximately $150,000 have been
incurred in connection with the solicitation. The entire expense of preparing,
assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and any other proxy
solicitation materials and the cost of soliciting proxies will initially be
borne by The Powell Group. The Powell Group believes that the actions it is
taking are in the best interest of all the Company's shareholders.
Accordingly, if the Powell Nominees are elected pursuant to this proxy
solicitation, The Powell Group intends to request reimbursement from the
Company for these expenses. This request will not be submitted to a vote of
the Company's shareholders. Banks, brokerage houses and other custodians,
nominees and fiduciaries may be requested to forward The Powell Group's
solicitation material to the beneficial owners of the shares they hold of
record, and The Powell Group will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-
pocket expenses.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. NO MATTER HOW MANY OR HOW FEW SHARES YOU OWN, PLEASE
VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE POWELL NOMINEES BY MARKING, SIGNING, DATING AND
MAILING THE ENCLOSED BLUE PROXY PROMPTLY. PLEASE ACT TODAY.
WE ASK THAT YOU VOTE TO REMOVE THE CURRENT DIRECTORS--DIRECTORS WHO SHOULD
BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACT THAT IN OUR OPINION YOUR STOCK, AS
DEMONSTRATED IN THE COMPARATIVE STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE INFORMATION INCLUDED
HEREIN, HAS WOEFULLY UNDERPERFORMED THE STOCK MARKET SINCE 1987.
IN ADDITION, WE ASK THAT YOU VOTE AGAINST THE CUMULATIVE VOTING PROPOSAL AND
THE WRITTEN CONSENT PROPOSAL, BOTH OF WHICH WE BELIEVE DIMINISH OUR RIGHTS AS
SHAREHOLDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AFFAIRS OF OUR COMPANY.
14
<PAGE>
IMPORTANT
Your vote is important, no matter how many shares you own. To support The
Powell Group, please promptly take these few easy steps:
1. If your shares are registered in your own name(s), please mark, sign,
date and mail the enclosed BLUE Proxy to The Powell Group in the postage-paid
envelope provided.
2. If your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank nominee or
other institution, only it can sign a BLUE Proxy with respect to your shares
and only after receiving your specific instructions. Accordingly, please mark,
sign, date and mail the enclosed BLUE Proxy or voting instruction form you
received from the brokerage firm, bank nominee or other institution in whose
name your shares are held in the postage-paid envelope provided. Please do so
for each account you maintain. To ensure that your shares are voted, you
should also contact the person responsible for your account and give
instructions for a BLUE Proxy to be issued representing your shares.
3. After signing the enclosed BLUE Proxy or voting instruction form, do not
sign or return any card or form sent to you by ERLY, not even as a vote of
protest. Remember, only your latest dated proxy will count.
If you have ANY questions about giving your proxy or require assistance,
please call:
D.F. KING & CO., INC.
77 Water Street
New York, NY 10005
(212) 269-5550 (Collect)
or
CALL TOLL-FREE
(800) 290-6430
15
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROXY
ERLY INDUSTRIES INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE
THE POWELL GROUP, FARMERS RICE MILLING COMPANY, INC.
AND NANETTE N. KELLEY
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS ON
SEPTEMBER 26, 1997
The undersigned hereby revokes all prior proxies given by the undersigned
and appoints Nanette N. Kelley and John M. Spain, or any one of them, as
Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes
them and each of them to represent and to vote, as designated below, at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on September 26, 1997 or any
adjournment thereof, all the shares of Common Stock of ERLY Industries Inc.
which the undersigned is entitled to vote thereat.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN. UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION
OF THE POWELL GROUP'S NOMINEES AS DIRECTORS, AGAINST THE PROPOSALS TO AMEND
THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO ELIMINATE CUMULATIVE VOTING AND TO ELIMINATE
SHAREHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT AND IN THEIR DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER
MATTERS THAT PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.
(Continued and to be signed on other side)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- FOLD AND DETACH HERE -
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[X] Please mark
your votes
as this
1. ELECTION OFDIRECTORS: FOR ALL WITHHOLD
NOMINEES AUTHORITY TO
LISTED VOTE FOR ALL
BELOW NOMINEES BELOW
[_] [_]
William D. Blake
Robert Arthur Seale
Nanette Noland Kelley
Eugene A. Cafiero
John M. Spain
TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, CHECK THE "FOR ALL
NOMINEES LISTED BELOW" BOX ABOVE AND STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THAT NOMINEE'S NAME
IN THE LIST ABOVE.
2. ELIMINATION OF FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
CUMULATIVE VOTING: [_] [_] [_]
3. ELIMINATION OF FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
SHAREHOLDER ACTION [_] [_] [_]
BY WRITTEN CONSENT:
4. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER
MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
herein by the undersigned shareholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY
WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE AND AGAINST PROPOSALS 2.
AND 3.
Please sign exactly as your name appears on the stock certificates evidencing
your shares. If your shares are registered in more than one name, the
signature of all such persons should be provided. A corporation should sign in
its full corporate name by a duly authorized officer, stating his/her title.
Trustees, guardians, executors, and administrators should sign in their
official capacity, giving their full title as such. If the shares are held in
the name of a partnership, please have the authorized persons sign on behalf
of the partnership. The proxy card votes all shares in all capacities.
A PROXY EXECUTED BY A SHAREHOLDER MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE TIME
THAT THE VOTE AUTHORIZED BY THE EXECUTED PROXY HAS BEEN TAKEN.
THE POWELL GROUP STRONGLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE AND
A VOTE AGAINST PROPOSALS 2. AND 3.
Signature(s)__________________ Title:____________________ Dated:_______ , 1997
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL YOUR BLUE PROXY TODAY. [IMPORTANT--PLEASE
FILL IN DATE]
